TN Aly C14 ~ LU a GORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ENGINEERING LIBRARY Cornell University Library iii | IMPERIAL MINERAL RESOURCES BUREAU. THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WAR PERIOD. NITRATES. CIST3-1919,) LONDON: RINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICB. To be purchased {bres bh any Bookseller or oe con: BUM. STATIONERY FICE at the ae Be IMPERIAL HOUSE, Nee Ae. LonpDon, W.C.2, a 28, ABINGDON SLtEET, LUNDON, 8.W.1: 37, PETER STREE!, MANCHESTER : 1, ‘St ANDREW'S CRESCENT, ‘CARDIFF FoRIH STREE], EDINBURGH: or from B. PONSONLY. Lep., 116, GkAFION STREET, DUBLIN. 1920. Price 9d. Net. ‘ ‘LM O NS / / Zz CON é a TAL Fil GTS (1 6 8053) A PREFACE. The following digest of statistical and technical information relative to the production and consumption of nitrates will con- stitute a part of the Annual Volume on the Mineral Resources of the British Empire and Foreign Countries. In this the first year of publication an effort has been made to fill in, as far as possible, the hiatus due to the war in the publications relating to mining and metallurgical statistics. Labour, health, and safety statistics have been omitted owing to the difficulty involved in procuring reliable information for the war period, but in future issnes these statistics will be included in respect of each year. Resort will also be had, toa much greater extent than at present, to graphical representation of statistics of production, consumption, costs and prices. R. A. 8. REDMAYNE, Chairman of the Governors. 2, Queen Anne’s Gate Buildings, London, S.W.1. June, 1920. (28489) Wt. 3911— 36/637 1000 8/20 H,St, G2 A2 CONTENTS. GENERAL ... aie a ave PRODUCTION PRICES ae BRITISH EMPIRE aes United Kingdom ... Egypt oe Union of South Africa ... Canada India... Australia... ats FOREIGN COUNTRIES ... Chile... REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE Pace Nuno nm 13 14 16 20 22 22 25 GENERAL. The two mineral nitrates of economic interest are sodium nitrate (Chile saltpetre) and potassium nitrate (true nitre or saltpetre). The alkaline nitrates are readily soluble, and are only to be found in large quantities under exceptional circumstances. This solubility accounts for the migration of the salts from the place of formation, and its recrystallization on the walls and in the cavities of rocks. Sodium nitrate occurs naturally in many parts of the world, but supplies have hitherto been obtained chiefly from the desert region of Tarapaca and Atacama in the northern part of Chile. Potassium nitrate occurs in the soils of old villages, mixed with nitrates of calcium and magnesium, and sodium chloride, and probably results from the combined action of bacteria and air upon nitrogenous organic compounds. It occurs also as efflorescences and impregnations of various rocks in sheltered cliffs, and in caves. The chief uses of nitrates are in the manufacture of nitric acid and explosives, and for fertilizer purposes. Iodine is a by-product obtained in the refining of the nitrate, and at the present time the world’s supply is obtained almost entirely from the oficinas of the Chile nitrate industry. Durimg recent years Chile nitrate has had to compete with artificial nitrates produced by synthetic processes which, when operated on a large scale and under favourable conditions, furnish supplies of nitrate at a sufficiently low cost to compete with mineral nitrate. Prior to the war Germany was the largest con- sumer of nitrates in the world, and she was also the largest pro- ducer of synthetic nitrate. Synthetic nitrate has also been pro- duced to a considerable extent in Norway. Figures for the production of synthetic nitrates are not avail- able for the period under review, but the output was large, and if it could be maintained it would compete to a serious extent with the production of Chile nitrate. One should remember, however, that the output was effected largely in Germany under abnormal conditions ; and it remains to be seen whether the large production which took place under the necessitous conditions of war will be maintained. 6 PRODUCTION. The world’s chief producers of nitrate, excluding synthetic nitrate, are Chile and India. A considerable amount is pro- duced also in Egypt, but the total output is not known definitely. The figure for Egypt given below is the output of one company only. There has also been a small output in the Sanjak of Konia, Turkey, presumably from nitre earths of the kind worked in India. The outputs of Chile, India and Egypt for the period under review have been as follows, in metric tons* :— _ 1913. 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918. 1919. Egypt (a).| 4,740] 3,370] 4,271 | 3,950] 4,347 India (6) .| 14,698] 15,742 | 18394 | 25,465 | 21,632 | 25,145 Chile (a) . 2,773,552 |2,464,42° |1,763,639 |2,914,542 [3,013,517 |2,941,198 | 1,672,374 * The metric ton, long ton, and cwt., referred to at various places in this publica- tion, are equivalent to 2,204 lbs., 2,240 lbs. and 112 lbs. respectively. (a) Sodium nitrate. (6) Potassium nitrate, PRICES. The most notable event as regards prices during the period took place in 1918, when the purchase and sale of Chilian nitrates was centralized by the Allied Governments and the Government of Chile, the Allies purchasing through a joint purchasing board known as the ‘‘ Nitrate of Soda Executive ’’ and the Chilian Government acting for the sellers. The price was then fixed at 13s. for ordinary and 18s. 6d. for the refined nitrate, per Spanish quintal of 101°4 lbs., as compared with 7s. 9d. per quintal in 1913 7 BRITISH EMPIRE. United Kingdom. Great Britain produces no nitrates, and is entirely dependent for the natural product on the imports from Chile. The imports shown in detail in the following tables during the war years apply only to nitrates used as fertilizers. The nitrate used for munition purposes was included by the Board of Customs under ‘‘ Chemicals unenumerated,’’ the detailed figures for which are unavailable. The imports under this head are entered by value only, the figures relating to Chile being as follows* :— 1913 ... .. £197,712 1916 ... .. £5,332,524 1914 ... .. £209,856 1917 ... .. £6,365,716 1915 ... ait ee 1918 ... ... £15,268, 702 1919 . .. £648,409 The Bureau is informed by the Ministry of Munitions that the nitrate of soda imports into the United Kingdom during the period 1914-1918 have been as follows :— Year. Quantity. Remarks, 1914... ... 199,000 tons 1915. ... ... 285,000 _ ,, 1916... ... 888,000 ,, Government account only. 1917... ... 247,000 ,, Government account only. 1918... ... 526,000 _,, (Including about 55,000 tons on private account.) The exports from the United Kingdom increased considerably in 1915, when Russia was dependent very largely for supplies on Great Britain. But after that year, with an ever-increasing demand at home, the exports dropped to practically nothing. The large increase in the imports of saltpetre came entirely from India, giving a great impetus to the industry in that country. ® Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom. 28489 A3 Geo'P1G : 000'9 00‘6T 619'T9¢ 890'864'T | SEI TSL'T 699'06r'T — fe — = or — Geo'F1s 000°9 00S‘6T: | , 619°T9E BoeLer'T | — SerTZL'T 699'06F'T GU) eli = — €90'T Ww eer 199'8 orr'etg o00'9 o0s‘6T. | . 6eg‘o9e PLBCLET | 66P'L29'T 1g6‘6¢P'T — 2 na Lee o6c'tz . | eLiog Lgr'g- — = = ce aa 9F6 GT ZLF'9G oe = = : es 866'L1 ael'L pi Ss “(F) onpea ©. 008 O6T'T 96803 ozs‘Te1 OIG TLT 986 ‘OFT — — _ 9 — — 008 O6T'T 96803 -| FISTET O16 TLI 92607 ee =i = BL Bo Ze e2L, Zor'FG 008 Oor'T 10803 EGF'6S1 86T'E9T ore'9eT = = re i 660% craig T8L a = me oe = 69F'T ror'% -~ = Bic = = 999'T 869 “6161 “SI6L “LIGI 9T6T “GI6I | “FI6I "SI61 *(su0q Suop) AqQUeNd ZN SUOISSESsO,J YS [240,L, selIJUNOD Usle10q [240], ‘ “++ garaqunoy UsIEI0,, 10415 arto emo Ny Aueui10e4 mnsleg eee eee eee vee its [R10 SUOISSEIBOT YSIG [20], SILTYUNOD USTII0, [240], ** goraquNoy UBIEIO,T 1030 ae ary AvMi0 Ny Aaeuies wnisjoq eee wee wor ‘mopbury pay ay2 07 ppog fu aznaqin fo stuoduy Tszeze'c] OS | Tee'T6| 929'TT c99'0z9| eFF'e0s| ZLL‘EarI| FeLOze) ¢ | BPB'F| GL | FHF'ES 6l8'6T | 999'0 wee INO, TLB'LLG's] — | P2E'TG THE'G | BBE'ZES| BOF'SST} LLTOOT| 1eL‘Oz__ — | eee’ | zoo | 820'rs | cus'zt — F29'8 | souyunog uBre10,4 04 [BIO], ‘ : ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ PROG — | — gt. eres | ag90'Tt | 826.9 JFes'e | — | — [TI #883 190'T FOG soLyUNOD USIEI0,] 10490 = = a oa O0r | C0PT ) Giga | — = eS ORIN : “(spurysy BL0'1 — [jer | 008% | zec‘or} stag | 498 J 98e |i — | O9T | TO8 | HOFF | GEE'S | O89 | eoavq Surpnfour) yreMUE sOL‘OT |\OTE'S |:G06'F | 92281 | OL8‘6T| F086 | LFZTI] 69%'e |:T6I's | STFT | Fos'9 | Lore | 60S‘ | O6F'R | stOTsseRBOg YsITIIG [RIO], pee | -Zez'n | cor'h | 686'FT| SrO'6 | Pegs | Tus'e | L68'% | OTS | EoT'T | zor | LOBE | LeL% | LgO's | *** SuoIsEOKFOT YsHIIG 10710 FUT 182 eng | Lee'e | ¢28‘OT| 028°9 | 9292 | BLE = | 2 29% | GIST | OOS'S | eec'r | Ges'a | RTRayeny ‘GIG | *BIGT | “LIGT | “QTGT | “GTGT | “FEGT | “EL6T | “GTGT | “STGT | “LTGT | “9T6T | “ST6T | “PIGT | “eT6r a ! 2 ‘(F) onjea “(sqH0) Aqrqueng ‘mMopbury payup ayy wolf (wophury poy ay} Ut pasnqon{[nun yy) asjadqwg fo sjsodaq 12 Da | ; 8E9'E9 | $20'FST| LLZ‘SET| 9IT‘'F03) 29368 | 698'L | SIB'6 | FOS‘'TE| LaI'8G) Tée'89) FIT'PIT #80'%G| ges‘, | 9OG'OT] “Ow [e90, PPL'ZQ | GLO'FSI| TLO'8E1) &90'F07 G81°68 exer | e9¢'9 | rer'te| 22T‘s¢| 20'89| T60FTT, e90's¢ cus'F | L989 | SeyUNOD UsteL0g 0} [eI], 1Z0'9 | 00Fe | 490‘ ‘Jose's | gze's!] org | gex't | erz'z'| ooc't | sez ess't '| zee'r || g2p | Lorn | seuqunog uBrex0g 10930 686 ST | LOS'6S | 629'v6 | FIL'PSI] — | — — | gog‘or| 926'8t) TPs‘ | F9T‘98 | — _ — | eoLtoury Jo saqeig payuy ee ee Re Be ee | eee OU | See ies ea eee TPL'LE] SIE'TS | LLE'Or | Scr'tr | 60908 | FIT — | 9ze'st| Tox‘ze) €e1'0s| 8g0'9% | 918'L7 | 96 eR ee Ss Bou wL | — {908 [89 2 | 966'2 | zgr'e | ove — |6¢ 8 1¢ 016% | GE9'G | SMOIssEBB0g YSIHIg OF [2101 a7 — {908 | 8¢ LL | 69% | 882 = — 169 &% 18 O1z | 6g9 ‘|: °°: SMOISBeRsOg YSTIUIG 10410 ET = = = — | ers | 99's | — = = = — | 09's | 000'¢ | ““SPUPIST pal 199M WHE ‘eter | ‘gt6t | “2161 | ‘oper | “ster | crrer | eter | “eter | “ster | “216T | ‘9TGT | “ST6T | “PIGT | “eT6T . : : oL , ~°(F) onyeg *(-sqano) £yQUVNg “wmopbury pay ayz mo.f (aonporg ubsasoy) asqadyvg fo sjsodzq ~~ ' ' ; . ‘ i { 13 Egypt.” Nitrate of soda is obtained from the Esna shales in the Qena district. ch 8 From the available information, these shales appear to contain about 1 per cent..of-nitrate of soda mixed with large quantities of common salt.._The dampness_causes the salt to effloresce, and the rural population in the vicinity utilize it as a fertilizer in its impure state. , - The production -shown on p. 6 represents the output of one company only. A considerable amount is collected: by numerous cult7ators, and no definite information is available as to the total output.. Selene , ‘ ; Cs Union of South Africa. Nitrates have been reported from all the more arid districts of the Union, but upon investigation they have so far proved to be merely cave fillings from the excreta of rock rabbits, bats, and the decomposition of the urine of baboons. In the. districts of Prieska and Hay, nitrates, essentially potassium nitrates, occur at a large number of places within the limits of the ferruginous shales of the Lower Griqua Town Series, usually inclined at low angles, and lying along the basal portion of thicker krantzes, often associated with caves, recesses and other places protected from rain. Nitre is also found as incrustations and irregular pockets or short veins on joint faces, bedding planes, etc., as well as in yellow layers, usually where the strata are more thinly bedded. Much attention has been given recently to the question of the development of these nitrates of the Prieska district, but the officials of the Union of South Africa Department of Mines take the view that the deposits are not rich enough to make their exploitation on a large scale a commercial success. Small amounts have been obtained at various times for local uses, but no production figures are available. The Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau has recently (June, 1920) received a report from the Inspector of Mines, Pretoria, in which he states that the efforts lately made to produce nitrates on a large commercial scale from the Prieska shales have proved a failure. Over a hundred tons of rock were treated at Spitzkop for a recovery of about two tons of saltpetre, the cost being exces- sive and resulting in a large loss. The work initiated at Kloof, thirty-four miles north of Prieska, has been suspended ; and, with the exception of a few tanks, all the elaborate and costly plant has been removed. A little undercutting has been done at the base of the cliff, but not to any large extent. Most of the nitre was obtained from the outer twelve inches of crust; and at a depth of four or five feet the yield amounted to only about one pound of saltpetre per ton of rock. * Annuaire Statistique de !’Egypte. d4 Imports of Nitrate of Soda;to the Union of South Africa.* ee off cal estene peel) orf oe ig at FiPus 4 ee es > ee Khe Quantity (ibs.). | ia: | ao. | 197s. | 1916, | 19i7. | 1918. |. 1919. United ~* 96 — J = : Kingdom. Germany ... | 89,600. | ° 13,376 |”: aoe ees -| 11,200. |) 12,000 Norway . ... — 1}; 2,240 | | | bld | LT al Pky Chile “~ ...'| 45,690 | 22,400 2,588 Total ... | 146,496 | 50,016; — 2,588 | — oa ; . Value (£).., a 1913. | 1914: | 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. | 1919. United | : 1 — _ — _— _ ~ Kingdom. Germany ...’ 421 72 _— _— = <= Holland ... 53 41, — = _ — Norway ....° _ 10 _ _ _ = Chile... 212 104) — et ee = Total ... | 687 | 227 : = HO) es am ( * Annual Statement of the Trade and Shipping of the Union of South Africa. Canada. + Nitre has been found in small quantities as a white granular powder in travertine in the Quesnel Mining Division, British Columbia, and appears to have been formed recently by the decay of organic matter. No production of mineral nitrates is reported from this or other localities in Canada. + Statistics from the Annual Report of the Trade and Commerce cf Canada, = OBLBED'S eus‘ees's , ges‘ous': ° 66e'Is¢ QLe'si9'l . —- F8F'SEO'T * . ERE GE eul'tel | 9869, a G9B'L9L $96:F29 ee ee *, LOS '6Ee'% CEFr66ES = LODE SFT 613996 LLZ92B 201°GL6 ys see gag8ag paqttyy) otk ee vets } ae 982 61S mies see soe vee eee ABMION | — eth | a = en = eee gpeproqaeny a = | oa ge8'¢ 89'8 LLg'¢1 meres se UBOTTSE) = = = 68€ ' G00'T i 191s phe Se Se Re aL = a ! f see ae 6L8'T €20 Zz as wee eee aoe see wns [9g = = aa 062'8 6IL'Z1 906'F2 Te sOpsary poz y, -- ‘ L . =e 3) be es : 2: 2 A ; ($) onyed ares 2 000‘F0S‘9 180'102'+8 290°6ZE'09... - 9TS"6SG"9Z I8t'29e'08 | — S06‘S9¢"28 . geo'pIF'IT | zgg'eze'9 | g8eteto'z | = oco'sze'er . oge‘oss'es ee te ong @96'680'19 GLETZB'LL ——9LF'PTE"ES | 1Z6'220'9% - 892'R68'GE | GIT'6IZ'3F ve gageag port _— | GI¢’9 E61'TT Ae — eee eee eee Aemion = é mee, sas, | ae = 2 = sae eee spur] 1aqiON ee ole ae = | 96F'TOT FLL'6ZB 18S'F0F - nets ses £aenaes) = ors ios 006/11 16¢'9a_ FE GELIES me se agua as Ep “gett = 00008 GU9LE = PR ot oo eee 4 rs F8E'LEG | 996 ‘08F OLT‘L86 ses aropsary peyay bs . iS a t * L. “BIGT “LIGL “9161 GIGI | ‘tet Later 1 : as, i “Csqt) 4qryaend re (Le you Ouipus savah yoosy sof) vpog fo aqspny fo sjacdwy uvippung 16 ‘Canadian Imports of Saltpetre (fiscal years ending March 81). ' _ Quantity (Ibs.). lo | 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. | 1918. | 1919. ‘U.K. _ ...] 77,564] 146,611} 6,800; 329,473 {186,037 | 12,216 Hong Kong — =| 260 326, —.| —- France... 5,600 = = a Germany ...| 688,325 560, 700} 99) 9/305 = = = U.S.A. ... | 1,066,822 1,002) 317 12, 1307 1,543,797 [424,048 [924,619 - China... "630 wa ae al epee { ‘ } (2,279,772 | 1,873,596 610,085 |936,835 | 1,838,961 [1,709,628 Value ($). U.K. 3,922| 7,610 498| 35,911| 24,376] 2,045 Hong Kong] | — = 9 Th saa ‘France. Aas 246 — = = a aa Germany...| 32,148} 25,708]; 5,157 — est Sree U.S.A. ... 52,025 51,556| 134,637] 228,505 | 66,498 |183,770 China... 7 = eee ed oes = = 88,348| 84,874| 140,231} 264,423] 90,874 |185,815 India.* Potassium nitrate has been produced in India from very early times. For long the trade was a monopoly of the East India Company who were under an obligation to supply the British Government before other consumers. The trade has always ‘heen subject to extreme fluctuations, the trend of political events having a direct effect on it. It attained its highest values from ‘1860 to 1864, at the time of the American Civil War, for at that period saltpetre was an essential constituent of explosives, and India had practically a monopoly of supplies. The average annual exports then amounted to over 30,000 tons, but the development of the South American nitrate industry caused the Indian trade gradually to decline and exports had fallen to 18,000 or 14,000 tons per annum, in the years immediately preceding the war. The war period witnessed the usual stimulation of the trade. The most important centre of production is the Bihar section of the,Gangetic plain. Here, an agricultural population of over 500 per'square’mile supplies an abundance of organic nitrogen, the climatic conditions are ideal for the growth of the so-called ‘ nitrifying bacteria,’ the soil around the: villages is well-stocked * Records of the Gaclogical Survey of India, Annual Statement of the Seaborne Trade of British India. Accounts relating to the Seaborne Trade and Navigation of British India. . ~ ; 17 with potash from the universal use of wood and cow dung for fuel, and the continuous surface desiccation following a small rainfall, causes the subsoil water to bring to the surface an efflorescence of salts ia which potassium nitrate is conspicuous. Saltpetre is also extracted in the United Provinces and in the Punjab, while small amounts are imported from Nepal every The system of manufacture has been described repeatedly. It consists in dissolving. out the mixed salts from the surface soil collected around the villages, and in effecting a rough separation of the sodium chloride and potassium nitrate. The latter is sent to refineries for purification before export. The manufacture is controlled under licences issued by the Northern India Salt Revenue Department and the first portion of the work is done by a special caste which carries on the opera- tions as an hereditary profession. The crude nitrate earths contain on an average about 3 per cent. to 5 pericent. of saltpetre. The crude product of the Bihar and United Provinces yields 40 per cent. to 50|per. cent. refined salt- petre, the Punjab crude about 30 per cent.; Of especial interest and importance are the various suggestions which have been made in recent years with a view to increasing the sources of supply and improving the methods of production. (See references to technical literature, pages 25-28.) Production of Saltpetre in India. Quantity Value. Year. (long tons). £ 1913... - - 14,462 200,803 1914... as 15,489 272,462 1915 a2 Sass 18,098 373,891 1916... ae 25 ,056 607 ,488 1917... ie 21,284 527 ,666 1918... po 24,741 589,190 1919 18 Imports of Saltpette to India (fiscat: years, ending March 31). Te eo) Ss Quantity (ewes), es ee ea a ae ee ae 1913-14, 1914-15. 1915-16. | 1916-17.| 1917-18. | 1918-19. Total British | . 527 160 222 140 |. 18 1 ‘Empire. aa : Total Foreign OT. il — _ _- = | Countries. | ey Total ... 548 171 222 140 18 1 4 — Value (£). Total British | 345 144 99 | 213 | 85 9 Empire. ; Total Foreign | ° 31: 15 _ = = ore Countries. Total ... 376 159 99 213. 8 | 9 Imports of Saltpetre from Nepal (fiscal years ending March 81).* Quantity Value Year. ewts. £ 1914-15 is 822 457 1915-16... 4,890 3,793 19]6-17 0 5,970 3,975 1917-18 of 5,444 4,037 1918-19 2 5,683 4,553 *Annual Reports on the Trans-frontier Trade of Bihar and Orissa with Nepal, taking 1 maund = 82-25 Ib., and 15 rupees = £1. Small quantities of saltpetre are also exported to Nepal. 19 $8'69E] GSh'F19] 625'6L9| FZT'8EN| FRETS, FOL HES TKU'LEA| FLT Tre] O87'R9F| FLE‘91G| 186 FSP] 8O9'STF| 9T'G8a] Z69'FOE] [e4OL 929'28 | 806'TT | TF'0G } F8G'9 | GL0'2T | LEG'ET | El9'Ks |ZAGI'GL | LTL'S | LOG'FT |9BB'F | TOL‘OT |OOG'TZ |aczirg |“ —*"_ SotugNOD 10490 G96'S3 | LFG'THI]996'8 | OEs'ee | — | 96O'ST | BFL'OF | NG8'9z | LOO'OTT] O00' | F86'61 | — | E9T"6T |0Z6'0G | “** BoLLOUTY Jo soyuyg posta ZUS'El | SLL FT | 06S°6 | Lee | Loss | — __ [error | 896'TT | 2e0's | PO's |apo'L | — e ness sede = = = — |a¢e'ng ; coe'oF | 222°¢9 | — = za — |869'T | 9926 | F2S'08 messes BUT) ‘alate — Pe — aides ‘aides? Senta ‘Tina ‘sciiab = — alates Seal, meh eee eee ane **90uBI 168g | — [esert | — |[S0r'ST BLLiZT FILLE freee | — [G60'1T | — | 9PT'ST | 90F'€% |O0R'8e | Seromepuadeg pue sniyLNey 96909 | — |s6eT [62 | eacter | p29'gs | L108 Porline | — | 10'T | BT Tsing |Ge0'rr |ets'er | moTseD 092'LG1] GZ8'Srb] G29'629] FST‘'6S4 SLE QTE FZ6ZII] LS9'TF | Bix'es| 8B'LEE £61'8LF| 660'82F| 901963] 9E6'281) O€P'9G | " * — Mopsury poyun "GIGT | “SIG | “LIGI | “9T6E | “GIGI | “PIGL | “EI6T | ‘GIGI | “ST6T | “LIGT | “QTL | “ST6T | FIGT | “ST6I 3 OL “(F) onyea : s *(‘sqm0) AqrqyUengy ‘pipuy wor asjadyog fo ssodrq 20 Kzports of Potassium.. compounds . (other sorts) from India. (Domestic produce). | Fiscal years ending March 3l. Vaan ‘Quantity. ‘ Value. a - - ewts. 1 E£ TOISSIA ee ee _ = 1914-15 ... i (a)1,308 Lat S12 1915-16 ... ts = nS LIGA? ans ie |S rs 4 1917-18 ... we (8)15,781 _ 81,633 1918-19 ae 16,555 100,534 (a) Exported to Ceylon. (b) Chiefly to the United States of America, Australia. * i No production of mineral nitrates is reported from Australia. Imports of Sodium Nitrate to Australia (fiscal years ending » June 30). Quantity (cwts.). From : 1914-15. | 1915-16. | 1916-17.; 1917-18.| 1918-19. U.K. as a we 1,500 — 32 —_ Chile... oes or 65,708 | 112,203 | 165,434 53,800. Other Countries ns 300 —_ 6 —_ Total ee cit 67,508 | 112,203 | 165,472 53,800 Value (£). MRS ae. te oaks 885 - 46 ae Chile... ate Sa 32,966 49,463 | 107,926 43,264 Other Countries... its 208 — 5 — Total en sa 34,059 49,463 | 107,977 43,264 Exports of Sodium Nitrate (Foreign Produce) from Australia (fiscal years ending June 30). __ a (cwts.). To . \ ! 1914-15. | 1915-16. 1916-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. . fi i | 3” New Zealand ... tne 742 611 2,972 4,479 Fiji ave Ae se 558 8 4,367 14,409 Japan... ae ties = 2,000 = = Total aes a5 1,300 | 2,619 7,339 18,888 Value (£). New Zealand ... ng 407 428 2,286 5,395 Fiji ‘igs sah et 370 |, | 7° 3,392 11,346 Japan... se aie — tb 1,400 - — ae Total is ; 777 | 1,885 5,678 | 16,741 | * Trade and Coame and Excise Revenue of the Commonwealth of Australia. 21. Australian Imports of Saltpetre (fiscal years ending June 30). Quantity (cwts.). aoe From. = 1914-15. | 1915-16.! 1916-17. 1917-18, 1918-19. : U.K. re 3,790 3,451 997 87 Canada... ave _ — 61 — India ace 1,779 3,435 2,073 4,933 New Zealand 284; — — — USA... 729 636 250 906 Other Foreign Countries 918 _— 40 _— Total 7,500} 7,522 3,421 5,926 Value (£). U.K. 7,131 7,470 | 2,671 355 Canada _— — 163 _— India a, cate | i 2,505 | 5,628! 3,673] 10,580 New Zealand... AY 284 — — — USA: ns 1,084 756 271 1,448 Other Foreign Countries 926 _ 34 _— Total 11,930 | 13,854 6,812 | 12,483 Australian Exports of Saltpetre (Foreign Produce) (fiscal years ending June 30). Quantity (cwts.). To 1914-15.| 1915-16.| 1916-17. 1917-18. | 1918-19. New Zealand _ 155 _— 780 Other British Possessions 55 |. 7 56 13 Pacific Islands (Foreign) _ 15 _— 13 Other foreign countries... 10 — 21 — Total .. 0 us 65 177 77 806 | Value (£). New Zealand. ; _ 362 . _ 1,361 | Other British Possessions 76 20 89 43, Pacific Islands (Foreign) - 33 _ 27 | Other foreign countries ... i4 _ 47 a | Total 415 { 22 FOREIGN ‘COUNTRIES. Chile.* The principal source of the world’s supply of mineral nitrate is in the form of sodium nitrate, which is found in large quantities in Chile. The nitrate industry forms the principal source of income for the Government of Chile. The annual value of the industry'is about $138,000,000 and the revenue to the Government $35,000,000. nad. 28 The nitrate deposits in Chile lie principally in the Atacama and Tarapaca deserts, some 3,500 to 13,000 feet in altitude. The nitrate is shipped from the seaports of Valparaiso, Iquique, Pisagua, Patillos and Antofagasta, all of which places have con- nection by narrow-gauge railways with the nitrate fields. The bed is superficial in formation and of considerable though irregular extent. : ~ The raw nitrate of soda (caliche) is found in beds 6 inches to 6 feet in thickness, lying beneath an overburden of a few feet of loose and crumbly material and gravel, which gets harder as it reaches the caliche. It is a sandy gravel, cemented with salts, and averages about 25 per cent. of sodium nitrate. In its pure state it is a white or colourless salt, but in nature it is ‘usually found to be a reddish-brown or bright lemon-yellow. The northern portion of the field lies only about 13 miles from the coast, but the southern fields are 30 miles inland. In many places the ground water is close enough to the surface to support plant life, and in a few localities adjoining nitrate fields there are some coarse grasses and low shrubs. Generally, however, the nitrate fields show no trace of vegetation of any kind. In part this is due to the salt in the soil, and not entirely to the absence of rainfall. . Most of the nitrate fields are in the tropics, and, in consequence, high temperatures prevail during the day, but, owing to the eleva- tion and the low humidity, the nights are cool, and in winter freezing temperatures are experienced. The altitude, freedom from rain, and yet almost nightly fog and mist,.appear to have some connection with the deposits, most of which occur associated largely with sodium chloride (common salt) or as a mixture of this salt and nitre. Sere ar ae The methods adopted for refining the Chile saltpetre generally differ very little from those employed thirty years ago. The raw material, after passing through the crushers, is lifted to the boiling tanks and leached in stages, usually four or five operations being necessary. The whole operation takes 18 to 20 hours per tank. The strong liquor (caldo) is then run into the settling tanks and clarified and the clear liquor decanted off into open troughs * Final Report-of the Nitrogen Products Committee (United Kingdom). Bulletin of the Pan-American Union (Monthly),. Asociacién Salitrera de Propaganda (Valparaiso) via The International Movement of Fertilisers and Chemical Products Useful to Agriculture (Rome). , 23 through which it is conducted to the crystallizing tanks. The crystalline deposit in the tanks is equal to about 25 to 35 lbs. nitrate from 1 cubic foot of caldo. The mother liquors obtained in refining used to be thrown away, but are now being utilized for the extraction of iodine. The increased demand for nitrates for fertilizers all over the world, and the great possibilities of production by synthetic means, brings into prominence two important aspects of the Chile nitrate industry, viz.: (1) the permanence of the deposits, and (2) the cost of production under pre-war conditions and the probable cost of production under post-war conditions, together with the cost of placing the product on the European market. It has been stated that the Chilian nitrate deposits are nearly exhausted, but according to the Chilian Nitrate Committee's Report, this is not the case. According to that report the quantity of nitrate of soda in the examined ground was estimated at 245 300,000 tons, and ‘‘ these statements therefore conclusively show that there is no fear of the Chilian nitrate deposits being exhausted for 200 years.’’ The cost of production of nitrate (95 per cent. purity containing 15.65 per cent. nitrogen) prior to the war was £5 1Us. per long ton. Sea freight at 25s. and insurance 2s. 6d. per ton added £1 7s. 6d., while loss in weight came to 1lés., and Chilian export duty at 2s. 4d. per quintal added £2 11s. 4d. per long ton. Thus the total pre-war cost on shore in England or on the Continent was £10 3s. 10d. per long ton. The pre-war market price (average 1911-1913) was £10 13s. 9d. During the war the selling price of Chile nitrate rose to £12 12s. 11d. per long ton in 1915, and £17 12s. 6d. in 1916. By the introduction of improved iethods it is believed (Nitrogen Products Committee) that a reduction of 25 per cent. may be brought about in the average cost per quintal of nitrate of soda on the drying floor; and, in the event of severe com- petition to the industry by the synthetic processes, the Chilian Government may be induced to reduce the export duties and property charges rather than lose the market. The Committee referred to above gives the greatest reduction that seems possible in the costs of production of Chile nitrate as follows :— Saving per long ton of nitrate. Chilian duty reduced to 10s. per ton ... ae .. 21 4 Cost of extraction reduced by 25 per cent. (9d. p. ~ quintal) Hee fu ote ws 016 6 Freight reduced to 20s. per ton ar a i» QO 5 0 Total ... a ... £38 210 24 Production of Nitrate in Chile. Quantity Year. (metric tons). 1913 2,773,552 1914 2,464,427 1915 1,763,639 1916 2,914,542 1917 3,013,517 1918 2,841,198 1919 1,672,374 Chilian Exports of Sodium Nitrate. Quantity (Metric tons). To ; 1913. | 1914. | 1915. | 1916. | 1917, | 1918. | 1919. | i Total Europe (in- | 2,008,010] 1,198,317 | 999,749] 1,609,381 | 1,053,786. cluding United | i i Kingdom). | j i \ United States ... | 630,698] 540,148 850,928| 1,226,816 | 1,512,577 Other Countries... | 100,822] 109,076 180,297) 149,103) 202,699 Total . | 2,789,530 | 1,847,586 | 2,080,974 | 2,985,300 | 2,769,062'| 2,932,849} 933,686 | 1 25 REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE. International Institute of Agriculture, Rome; Bulletin of Statistics; International Movement of Agricultural Fertilisers. Nos. 1-9; 1914— 1918. (Statistics and Bibliography in each number.) Asociacién Salitrera de Propaganda; Circular Trimestral (Santiago de Chile), Nos. 56 et 83. (1913-1919.) 1913. Manufacture of nitrates from the atmosphere, by E. K. Scott; Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1913, 359-384. Note sur l’industrie miniére en Egypte rédigée par le Département des Mines; Annuaire Statistique de l’ Egypte, 1913, 5, 579-586. 1914. Nitre near Melrose, Montana, by R. W. Richards; U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. No. 540, 1914, 470-473. Our mineral reserves, by G. O. Smith; U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. No. 599, 1914, 36. Use of Nitrates in the glass industry, by L. Springer; Sprechsaal, 1914, 47, 361-363. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1914, 38, 693. The Chilean nitrate industry, by L. W. Strauss; Min. Sci. Press, 1914, 108, 972-978, 1014-1019, 1049-1052. 1915. The nitrate industry, by E. Cuevas; Proc. Second Pan-Amer. Sci. Congress, 1917, 8, 37-68. Exploracion de los terrenos salitreros en Territorio Peruano, por J. M. Guzman; Bol. Soc. Nac. Min. Chile, 1915, 21-41. Experiments on ammonia, by F. Haber, 8. Tamaru and L. W. Ocholm; Zeits. f. Elektrochemie, 1915, 21, 89-245. The nitrate shales of Egypt, by W. F. Hume; Mém. Inst. Egyptien, 1915, 8. Investigation of sources of potash in Texas, by W. B. Phillips; Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., 1915, 51, 438-450. Production of nitrates from air, by E. K. Scott; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1915, 34, 113-126. Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, by L. L. Summers; Trans. Amer. Electrochem. Soc., 1915, 27, 339-383. The cyanamide process, by F. S. Washburn; Trans. Amer. Electro- chem. Soc., 1915, 27, 385-407. Chilean nitrate industry; U.S. Comm. Rept., 1915, No. 176, July 29. No. 303, Dec. 28. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1915, 34, 870, 1916, 35, 304. 1916. Conditions affecting the establishment of the nitrate industry in the United States, by IL. Addicks; Journ. Ind. Eng. Chem., 1916, 8, 1048. La substitution grandissante des nitrates artificiels aux nitrates naturels et la captation de l’azote atmosphérique, par D. Bellet; Journ. des FEconomistes, 1916, 75, 238-245. Extension, riqueza y duracién augurada a los yacimientos salitreros de Chile, por A. Bertrand; Asoc. Salit. de Prop. Cire. Trim, 1916, 70, 22-27. Mineral studies: the genesis and geology of nitre deposits, by P. N. Chirvinsky; Izvestiya Polytechn. Inst. Novocherkassk, 1916, 5, 36-64, (In Russian, French résumé). See Mineralog. Abstr., 1920, 1, 13. 26 Sources of nitrogen compounds in the United States, by G. C. Gilbert; Smithsonian Institution; Publication No. 2421, Washington, 1916, pp. 12. Sodium nitrate: a new industry, by D. F. Irvin; Min. Sci. Press, 1916, 113, 774-776. Nitrate deposits in Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon, by G. R. Mansfield; U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. No. 620, 1916, 19-44. The genesis of the Chilean nitrate deposits, by J.T. Singewald and B. L. Miller; Econ. Geol., 1916, 11, 103-114, 1917, 12, 89-96. Chilean nitrate industry; 3. UL s. Comm. Rept., "March 6, 1916. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1916, 35, 467. 1917. Bibliography of the production of synthetic nitric acid and synthetic ammonia, by J. C. Boyce; Met. and Chem. Eng., 1917, 17, 328-337. The fixation of nitrogen, by J. E. Bucher; Journ. Ind. Eng. Chem., 1917, 9, 233-253. Potash salts in India suitable for chemical manufactures, by L. L. Fermor ; Indian Munitions Board Handbook, 1917, 83-84. Origin of nitrates in cliffs and ledges, by H. 8. Gale; Min. Sci. Press, 1917, 115, 676-678. Nitrates, by H. S. Gale; U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. No. 666Z, 1917, pp. 4. Production of nitrate of soda in Chile, by I. Hobsbaum and J. L. Grigioni; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1917, 36, 52-62 (Discussion), 62-63. Literature of the nitrogen industries, 1912-1916, by H. R. Hosmer; Journ. Ind. Eng. Chem., 1917, 9, 424-438. Saltpetre: its origin and extraction in India, by C. M. Hutchinson; Bull. Agric. Research Inst., 1917, 68, pp. 24. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1917, 36, 709. ‘ Caliche ’’ deposits of Atacama Desert, Chile, by F. MacCoy; Eng. and Min. Journ., 1917, 108, 1059-1060. The synthesis of ammonia and the oxidation of ammonia to nitric aci¢ by E. B. Maxted; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1917, 36, 777-782. Manufacture of synthetic nitrates by electric power, by E. K, Scott, Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1917, 86, 771-777. 1918. Norwegian manufacture of saltpetre and artificial fertilizer, by H. E. Carlson; U.S. Comm. Rept., Dec. 7, 1918. Modern mill appliances in nitrate leaching, by D. F. Irvin; Eng. Min. Journ., 1918, 105, 987-991. The war and the nitrogen industry, by W. S. Landis; Trans. Amer. Electrochem. Soc., 1918, 34. Studies in nitride formation, E. B. Maxted; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1918, 37, 105-1097. The synthesis of ammonia at high temperatures, by E. B. Maxted; Journ. Chem. Soc., 1918, 118, 158, 386; 1919, 115, 113-119. Abstr. in Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1918, 37, 368A; 1919, 38, 219A. Notes on the catalytic and thermal synthesis of ammonia, by E. B. Maxted; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1918, 37, 232-235T. The Chilean nitrate industry, by A. H. Rogers and H. R. Van Wagenen; Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., 1918, 59, 6-23 (Discussion) 23-26. Direct and indirect methods of nitrogen fixation, by BE. K. Scott; Chem. and Met. Eng., 1918, 19, 411-414. Nitrogen fixation furnaces, by E. K. Scott; Chem. and Met. Eng., 1918, 19, 710-715, 757-761. Nitrate deposits of South-Eastern Oregon, by J. A. Williams; Min. Sci., Press, 1918, 117, 274, 285-289. Proposed Japanese- Chilean nitrate enterprise; Board of Tr. Journ., ‘ole, 101, 191. Note Journ. Soc, Chem, Ind., 1918, 37, 329R. ; 27 1919, Technical utilisation of atmospheric nitrogen by means of the electric flame arc, by H. Andriessens; Zeit. Elektrochem., 1919, 25, 255-264, Abstr. Journ, Soc, Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 814.4. Effect of diminution of pressure on fixation of nitrogen as nitric oxide hy the electric arc, by E. Briner and P. Naville; Helvetica Chim. Acta., 1919, 2, 348-352. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 814A. A New Potash Supply (potassium nitrate as source in S. Africa), by E G. Bryant; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 360T-362T. War-time production of nitrogen compounds in Germany. by Bueb: Journ, Gasheleuchtung, 1919, 62, 2-3. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 219A-220A. Note on the saltpetre industry in India, by J. F. Connolly; Indian Indus- trial Comm., 1916-18 (1919), 5. 772-776. How the nitrogen problem has been solved, by H. J. Creighton; Journ. Franklin Inst., 1919, 187, 705, 733. Saltpetre manufacture in [ndia, by J. C. Fergusson; India Mun. Board Industrial Handbook, 1919, 369-375. The nitrate occurrences in the district of Prieska and Hay, Cape Province, by G. E. B. Frood and A. L. Hall; Union of S. Africa, Geol. Surv. Mem. No. 14, 1919, p. 51. The Chilean nitrate industry during 1918, by D. F. Irvin; Eng. Min. Journ., 1919, 107, 265-267. Nitrogen-fixation in Europe during the War, by J. W. Joyes; Chem. and Met. Eng., 1919, 21, 612-613. Oxidation of ammonia, by W. S. Landis; Chem. and Met. Eng., 1919, 20, 470-477. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 410A. Synthesis of ammonia, by KE. B. Maxted; Chem. Age, 1919, 1, 514-515, 540-542, 590-592. Abstr. in Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 944A. The mineral deposits of South America, by B. L. Miller and J. T. Singewald, London, 1919 (includes a useful bibliography of Chilean nitrate deposits, pp. 325-347). Commercial oxidation of ammonia to nitric acid, by C. L. Parsons; Journ, Ind, Eng. Chem., 1919, 11, 541. Nitric acid and other inorganic chemicals, by M. Rindl; S. African Journ. Ind., 1919, 2, 327-334. a Use of ammonium nitrate as a fertiliser, by E. J. Russell; Journ. Board Agric., 1919, 25, 1331-1339, Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 228A. Costs and efficiencies of nitric and sulphuric acid production; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 224R-226R. Nitrogen fixation in Germany; Zeit. angew. Chem., 1919; Rev. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 189R. Nitrogen fixation (Review of the American Fixed Nitrogen Commission’s work). Min. Journ., 1919, 127, 741-742. Saltpetre; Rept. Indian Industrial Comm., 1916-18 (1919), 372-379. 1920. Nitrate industry in Chile, by A. Bertrand; Chem. Met. Eng., 1920, 22, 655-659. Sur la synthése de l’ammoniac aux pressions trés élevées, par G. Claude; Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci., 1919, 169, 1039-1041; 1920, 170, 174-177. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1920, 39, 187Q. Political and commercial control of the nitrogen resources of the world, by C. G. Gilbert; Chem. Met. Eng., 1920, 22, 443-447, 501-504, 557-559. Catalytic oxidation of ammonia, by B. Neumann and H. Rose; Zeits. f. angew. Chem., 1920, 88, 41-44 45-48, 51-55. Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1920, 39, 264-2654. 28 The commercial oxidation of ammonia, by G. A. Perley; Journ. Ind. Eng. Chem., 1920, 12, 5-16, 119-129. Artificial nitrogenous fertilisers, by E. J. Russell; Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1920, 39, 5R-6R. The demand and supply of fixed inorganic nitrogen in the United States, by A. H. White; Chem. Met. Eng., 1920, 22, 369-371. Ministry of Munitions of War: Munitions Inventions Department. Nitrogen products Committee: Fina] Report, London, 8. O., 1920. pp. 6, 357. (Cmd. 483.) (Contains a classified list of references to official reports and technical papers on pp. 325-326.) The manufacture of nitrate of lime in Norway; Amer. Fert., 1920, 52, 76. ‘