The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-03-24
Industrial Development of Zinc--Produc-
ton and Uses of Metal are Increasing


manufacture of explosives and fertil-
iaers and in the refining of oils.
Mr.. Siebenthal has stated that the
period between 1885 and 1860 was one
OF experimentation and inconsiderable
production of zinc: i'm fact he estimates
500 tons the production of slab zinc in
1860, the beginning of the second
period in the development of the in
dustry Slowly but consistently this
tonnages grew. until it reached 4OO,-
GOO tons in 1914. The output of slab
zinc rose in 1916. ON account of the
war; to 100000 tons. 1t dropped to
100000 tons in in 1917. to $4,000 tons
in 1918, and to $4,000 tons in 1919 OF
the latter amount about ll5.OO0 tons
was exported In 1920 the output of
slab zinc Appropriated 10000 tons.
and "a satisfactory export market ex-
sted until September when reverse
movement set in and has continued
ever since
Slab zinc was selling at the close
OF the war under four general specific
atoms; high grade. intermediate. brass
special. and Prime Western. with a
zinc content ranging from 1886 to IS,
and "a relatively corresponding diff
ferential i'm price. but since the sign
ing of the armistice this dimerenual
has at times practically disappeared
although many manufacturers con-
tinue to specify the grades and
brands with the work of which they
have become familiar.
About so per cent of the slab zinc
produced prior to 1914 was used in /
zincking or galvanizing plates and /
wire but the requirements of zinc for /
war purposes seriously affected it's |
application for that purpose At
that time about 40 per cent of the
slab produced was used with copper
for making brass, practically one
third of the composition of which is
zinc, and because of the demand for
brass for ammunition and gun parts
the greatest outlet for zinc during the
world war was naturally in this
direction. The remaining 10 per cent
IF the prev output was called into
plates and sheets Two of the new
Uses for sheet zinc are in the manufac-
ure of shingles ad corrugated sheets
These in considerable quantity are
now being used at home and exported
he world over
Use of Zinc Increasing
In rolled as well as in spun and
lrawn form. the use of zinc is multi
arious and is rapidly growing The
War Industries Board, in its efforts
o conserve for war purposes the use
If other metals less plentiful than
inc, published a list of over $50 diff {
erent channels in which zinc in its I
'arious forms can be advantageously G
Utilized. The high explosives sent I
broad during the war We're shipped
n zinc-lined containers. because zinc s
osists atmospheric influences. With ,
mt the zinc sender. an automatic s.
Geographic device, high-speed sig G
FALLING through cables could not be
lone s
Rolled zinc is susceptible to a high s
dun or a frosted polish, and is easily q
Ormed into complicated shapes 1t ?
an be enameled or plated with with r
old, silver nickel, or brass without {
nnealing. and given any of the Z
inishes commonly used for brass II
p bronze articles. Sheet zinc for d
heathing in homes. factories, and A
arm buildings prevents moulding and II
eeps out water. cold. and vermin. r
he durability of zinc is almost o
Xiomatic Just as nature gives to
he fur-bearing animals coats to
rotect them from the cold so the
Gather gives to exposed zinc thin
nd firmly adherent coating Of basic
lrbonate, which completely protects II
from the atmosphere.
Variety of Applications %
The compounds of zinc have vari-
Die applications; for example: Zinc "
zde (made by burning zinc in the y
) is fast growing i'm favor as
gment in paints. to the life of which Oh
adds appreciably; it is essential to q
and durability in rubber p!
itomobile tires, comprising from 40
so per cent of the whole in weight, az
utical preparations. Zinc is used ~
medicine for cauterizing and as an
and disinfectant; in the p'
is, it serves as a preservative of 'i
God, and as an etching medium: in &C
icroscopy for differentiating fbres on
silk. wool, and plants. Zinc ''
lphate Ca compound obtained by P'
e action Of sulphuric acid on zinc) &c
used in medicine as an astringent M
Id an emetic and in electrogalvaniz- p'
g. Lthopone Ga dry white pigment n'
ade of zinc sulphate and barium
lphate) is used in wall paint and
making wall paper and linoleum
nc dust Ca powder obtained by In
omizing molten zinc or by condens-
g zinc vapors) is used as a reducing
ent in dye making and in cyaniding it,
ID sherardizing. It is also employed er
naval vessels in making smoke ur
reens. w
Not a few men still active in the W.
f~,,orrr COMO Of fho vfcroo-- ~,