The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-01-13
COEUR D'ALENE SECOND
IN LEAD PRODUCTION
LEAD AND ZINC INDUSTRY IN
192o-lMPoRTS AND
EXPORTS.

} The mine output of lead and zinc
and the refinery output of lead in the
United States increased greatly in
1929. after declines in 1919, and the
smelter output of zinc was but lit
tie under that of 1919. according to a
abatement by c. +. Seibenthal Of the
L. :. geological survey. department of
the interior. compiled from reports
and estimates by producers and 9TH
ers. Data for the western states are
taken from the advance statements
issued by the geological surveys west
ern offices. Statistics of imports and
exports are taken from the records of
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce for II months. with an es-
innate for December
Mine Production.
The output of soft lead by mines of
the Mississippi valley and eastern
states was about 275.OOO short tons.
and that of argentiferous lead by the
mines of the western states was about
1885, 600 tons, a total of $1,000 tons
The corresponding figures for 1919
are $4,000, 2O6 600 and $4,000 tons.
and for 1918 267lS4 S14.47O and $751;
654 tons. The total increase in 1920
was $4,000 tons, as compared with
decrease of 1SS.5OO tons in 1919. The
southeastern Missouri district made
the largest production, 1873, 600 tons. as
compared with 157l5S tons in 1919.
and the Occur d'Alene district of Ida
no came next with about 121 600 tons !
as against 1888 tons in 1919. Utah |
had an output of $1,000 tons. an in
crease from 61,9l5 tons in 1919. The
imports of lead in ore were about IS
600 tons and in bullion about $4,000
tons. a total of $4,000 tons, as com
pared with 65.799 tons in 1919. OF
the imports in 1920 Mexico furnished
about $4,000 tons and Canada 1000
tons. The lead content of lead ore in
bonded warehouses on November 80
was 16,1S7 tons and of base bullion
S2.671 tons. Part of this may have
been smelted or refined. but not ship
ped. and thus may be included in the
smelter stocks
Zinc.
The recoverable zinc content of ore ,
mined in 1920 was about 1000 tons.
compared with $4,000 tons in 1919
and 6S2,24S tons in 1918. The output
of the eastern states was about 1922
900 tons, that of the central states
about $4,000 tons, and that of the
western states about $4,000 tons.
compared with $4,000, sO5. 900 and
10000 tons respectively, in 1919. The
gain in the output of the central states
was made possible by an increase of a..
nearly $4,000 tons in the Joplin dis ,
trict, and the gain in this district was :
chiefly the result of an increase in the
output of Oklahoma, which reached .
total of about 100000 tons, the largest
zinc output ever made by a single
state, but Kansas also made a good =
gain, producing over $4,000 tons. In
1919 Oklahoma produced 17S41O tons
md Kansas 1926 tons In 1920 Mon
ana Quite district almost wholly
apparently produced about 1O2. 900 -
ons. as compared with S4.ss2 tons in y
919, and the New Jersey output de- "
lined to about $4,000 tons from 92. q
u tons in 1919 The output of the
PIPER Mississippi valley was about y
1000 tons. as compared with 1853 =
ons in 1919 ~
Zinc Imports.
The imports of zinc in ore increased
rom 1909 tons in 1919 to about 2s.-
90 tons in 1920. The zinc content Of
re imported from Mexico increased II,
rom 11,225 tons in 1919 to about &c. -
90 tons in 1920 Australia furnished ~
re containing 1852 tons of zinc and w
anada and other countries sent some -
mailer quantities. The zinc content w
zinc ore in bonded warehouses on
ovember 30 was 25, 642 tons. Some "a
this ore may have been smelted but
OF shipped and thus may be included D'
smelter stocks. ~
In January concentrates containing -.
per cent zinc brought in the Joplin
strict $50 a ton. The price soon
Popped to $50, remained practically
ationary for two months. then drop ~
I'd to S45 or below for two months
through the second half of July and VI
ugust the price was s4S, after which vi
fell to $40, remained at that figure "'
rough October, dropped to $50 and
as still less at the end of the year.
Conditions at the End of 1920.
The low price of lead and zinc to-
ard the end of the year caused a
arp curtailment in these industries -,
roughout the country The Frank ="
J Furnace mines of New Jersey were ne
erating at so per cent Of normal ca IL
city, and the zinc mines of east
snnessee and the mines of the upper 'i'
ississippi valley, where only II or Il an
lies were in operation. at about 60 ~
r cent. The disseminated lead dis S''
ct of southeastern Missouri was uu
ming at 20 to rs per cent of its usu- 81
rate and the Joplin district at so to ~
per cent In the Joplin district not ~ ~
80 = y - ~ . ''O''' '''' go'
- - an