The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-02-01
REVIEW OF ZINC MINING.
IN UNITED STATES, 1922.
WAR AND PEACE TIME DEMANDS
coMPARED-RAPID REcoV-
cry OF INDUSTRY.

(Arthur Thatcher, consulting engi-
neer ST. Louis, in review number OF
Engineering and Mining Journal
Press.)
In the four years prior to the great
war the world produced 1000 900 tons
Of zinc. Between and including 1915
and 1918. 100000 tons was produced.
In the four years since the war (1919
to 1920, the production will prove to
have been a little less than 100000
tons. II 100000 tons is assumed as
the amount Withdrawn for war pur-
poses. it would seem that 100000
tons was used during the war period
for Industrial purposes. If it is as
sumed that q little over 100000 tons
has been returned from war supplies
AS zinc, brass and scrap-the
amount absorbed for industrial uses
since the war would be 1000 900 tons.
For Industrial and War Purposes.
Many will object to an estimate of
1900, 900 tons for war purposes. main
tanning that the amount should be
much greater. However if it is real
lied that the United States used for
industrial purposes, during the war
period. 100000 tons-almost the
same amount as in the preceding four
years-only 100000 is left for the re-
mainder of the world; and this seems
little enough; as it is only 40 per cent
of pre-war requirements. If a higher
estimate of the amount withdrawn
for war purposes is made, it would
mean that a larger amount would be
returned from war supplies, and would
thus indicate greater consumption
since the armistice.
The consumption of zinc before the
war increased at the rate of about s
per cent per annum, and there was no
reason to expect a diminution for sew
eral years. If the war had not occur
red, the present consumption probably
would have been about 100000 tons
annually. Since the war, the con-
sumption in this country has increas-
ed about Is per cent whereas the re-
mainder of the world has managed
with about per cent less than in
pre-war times. Our visible stock as
we'll as that in the consumers hands.
has been exhausted; and we are call
ing for an increased amount over that
needed in pre-war days. AS indicated
above the industrial consumption
was restricted during the war, but this
condition was only temporary, and the
demand should now increase at a fast
er rate than it did before the war.
Where will the zinc for this increas-
ing demand be obtained? Conditions
have changed since the armistice;
fuel. transportation and labor have
advanced in price. In foreign coun-
tries, output it not back to the pre-
war average and it will be some time
before an increase will occur. The re-
suits clearly point to the fact that our
production will have to be augmented,
not only to take care of domestic re-
quirements but for export to the re-
mainder of the world.
Although the United States was not
affected as seriously by the war as
were other nations, many changed |
conditions must be faced. Before the |
was about $14 per ton below the value /
of the recoverable zinc, an amount /
that represented the cost of smelling. /
In 1915 and 1916 the difference rose to
about $685. and FASTENED the acquisi-
tion of increased smelling facilities;
new plants were constructed and old
and obsolete plants were rehabilitated
a nd fhaf,s oor, al he.
doubled The inevitable reaction en-
sued. and in 1917 the difference fell to
about $40; in the four years since the
armistice it has averaged about s26
OF course. the increased expense for
fuel, labor and supplies probably
makes the profits no greater than in
pre-war days; and. for the near flu .
-ure, existing smelling charges are
likely to be maintained This indi-
;ates a lower value Tor high grade
Joplin ores of about s12 per ton; or, {
stated in other words, zinc would have
% be about IL cents per pound high
n to make the ore of the same value :
o the miner as it was in pre-war :
lays This applies only to high grade a
'Oplln OitS- A6 the COST Ol SIuellluB y
s based on the ton of ore, the charge :
m low grade ores would rise rapidly. /
rhe high quotations for zinc in 1915 C
md 1916-about II cents per pound n
aused a tremendous boom in zinc =.
mining; and, in spite of the high O
melting cost. exceedingly low grade q
res were shipped from the far west. p
These were slow in reaching the smell y
ers. and, in the years 1916 and 1917 Ii
here was a production of about l. W
$4,000 tons. p
Present mining conditions in the G
United States show that. aside from
he Anaconda Copper and New Jersey
inc companies. with their high grade
letal, we must depend mainly on
oplin. The west, with its low grade
res is -burdened with increased smell ?.