“TN ; 430 | Ge ia CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ENCINEERING LIBRARY IMPERIAL MINERAL RESOURCES BUREAU. THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WAR PERIOD. ASBESTOS. (1913-1919.) eis : UBLISHED B’ His MAIESTY'S j STATIONERY OFFICE, To be purchased el y Bookseller or directly from HAL STATIONERY OFFICE at the ister ae addresses: [MPERIAL House, KINGswAy, LONDON, W.0.3, and 28, ABINGDON ag LONDON, Swi: 37, PETER STREET, MAN‘ St. ANDREW'S C CRESOENT, O CARDIFF: FORTH or from B. PONSONBY, fet ta Gi GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN, 1921. Price 1s. Od. Net. w ee OLIT } ie a ; — LPL ENSTITUIE - NSTITUIE, Conidon. IV 730 G78 1919 6 r504979 dd PREFACE. The following digest of statistical and technical information relative to the production and consumption of Asbestos will constitute a part of the Annual Volume on the Mineral Resources of the British Empire and Foreign (‘ountries. 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 issues these statistics will be in- cluded in respect of each year. = Resort will also be had to graphical representation of statistics of production, consuniption, costs, and prices. The weights are expressed in long tons, that is to say the British statute ton of 2,240 Ib , and values in pounds, shillings, ind pence. R. A. 8. REDMAYNE, Chairman of the Governors. 2, Queen Anne’s Gate Buildings, London, 8.W.1. December, 1920. (31029) Wt. 26005—53/406 1000 1/2] H.St. G36 CONTENTS GENERAL WORLD'S PRODUCTION ... BRITISH EMPIRE— United Kingdom Rhodesia eis eee Union of South Africa Canada... nee aes Cyprus... India Australia FOREIGN COUNTRIES— ltaly Russia ... United States... REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE PAGE. 11 14 19 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 5 GENERAL. The name asbestos is applied to several fibrous silicate minerals, which differ from one another in their chemical composition and physical properties. The asbestos of commerce includes serpen- tine asbestos or chrysotile, and several kinds of amphibole asbestos, including tremolite, actinolite, crocidolite, amosite, and anthophyllite. Of these commercial varieties of asbestos, chrysotile has hitherto been of chief importance, on account of its superior refractory quality and strength of fibre. Next in importance to chrysotile come crocidolite and amosite. Tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite are comparatively unimportant. Chrysotile or serpentine asbestos (originally known as karystiolite’ is essentially a hydrated silicate of magnesium. It occurs in serpentine rock in the form of thin parallel or interlacing veins. It has great tensile strength and flexibility, resists attack by acids, and has remarkable fire- resisting qualities, though it dehydrates and loses its tensile strength ut a temperature of about 500° C It is a good insulator for both heat and electricity and is well adapted for spinning. For many years chrysotile has been the principal asbestos mineral used in commerce. The fibre in chrysotile is usually of the cross-fibre type, i.¢., it lies at mght angles to the vein in which it occurs. The length of the fibre varies. The great bulk of the asbestos mined contuins fibres half-an-inch or less in length. Great improvements have been made in the art of spinning short chrysotile fibre, and lengths not exceeding three- eighths of an inch can now be spun. Crocidolite or blue asbestos, a silicate of iron and sodium, has been found in large quantities only in South Africa, where it occurs in narrow interbedded cross-fibre veins traversing the Lower Griqua Town series of banded jaspers and magnetic iron- stones. The fibre rarely exceeds 3 inches in length, but fibres Z-inch to 14 inch in length are common. It has great heat insulating capacity, but its fire-resisting qualities are poorer than those of chrysotile. Asbestos cloth, rope, felt, etc., can be manu- factured from crocidolite fibre, as also can sheets, tiles, cement, and other building materials. It finds an increasing use for boiler and steam-pipe lagging, and for electrical insulation. Amosite is found in the north-eastern Transvaal and is appar- ently a new form of amphibole asbestos. It is closely similar to crocidolite in structure and mode of occurrence, but is of grevish, greenish, or yellowish colour. The fibre possesses tenxile strength and flexibility to a marked extent, though not to the same degree as chrysotile. Its insulating and acid- resisting qualities are high. Mining operations on a commercial scale for amosite were not commenced until 1915, and, con- sequently, the economic value of this mineral has not yet been adequately established. It has, however, already found a con- siderable market in America and Japan. 31929 A3 6 Tremolite is a white silicate of magnesium and calcium, and the fibres of the asbestos variety have a fine, silky texture. The fibres are usually weak, but they possess good insulating and acid- resisting qualities. Tremolite forms the larger proportion of the Italian production of asbestos In Natal, a little tremolite 1s quarried for the manufacture of asbestos tiles, cement, and similar materials. Actinolite is a green variety of tremolite, containing an appreciable percentage of iron oxide. It is of little commercial importance. A fibrous form, quarried near the village of Actinolite in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada, is used for boiler coverings and asbestos plaster. ‘ Anthophyllite is a silicate of magnesium and iron. It 1s quarried chiefly in the States of Georgia and Idaho in the United States. The product from the quarries is too brittle and has too short a fibre to be used for any other purpose than boiler-packing, and the manufacture of asbestos plaster, tiles, etc. The following analyses show the differences of chemical com- position among the several kinds of asbestos :— Chrysotile, | Tremolite | Crocidolite, | 4. osit a ok, Actinolite, - Brough- (theo- Cape Transvaal.| United | astings on, Canada.| retical). Colony. States. [Steheanstts per cent. | per cent.| per cent. | per cent.| per cent. | per cent. Silica... 41°90 57°80 51°10 50°85 57°12 61°82 Alumina ... 0:89 — _— 0°69 0°75 1:12 Ferrous 0°69 _— 35°80 38°37 6°36 6°55 Oxide. Lime ‘i —_ 13°43 — —_ — 1°63 Magnesia... 42-50 28°77 2°30 6°95 29-44 23°98 Soda ai _— _— 6:90 0-21 —_ — Water... 14°05 _— 3-90 2°81 5°47 5°45 The commercial value of asbestos depends chiefly on tensile strength, flexibility, fineness of fibre, dehydration temperature, and temperature of fusion. Other qualifying factors of some importance are heat-insulating capacity, electrical insulating power, and colour. The uses to which asbestos fibre is now put are so various that the whole of these qualities are not essential for every industrial purpose. Where asbestos is required for spinning and weaving into asbestos fabrics, ropes, and engine packing, the qualities of first importance are tensile strength, fire-resistance, and length of fibre. Such articles form only a small proportion of the total output of asbestos manufactures. The larger proportion of the asbestos mined is used in the building and engineering trades. The building industry does not require long fibre in the raw material used. Lengths from } inch upwards are suitable for the manufacture of sheets, tiles, and slabs. It should be re- marked, however, that although the asbestos consumed in the textile trades is smaller in quantity than that consumed in the building trades, it is greater in value. 7 In the engineering trade, asbestos millboard is extensively used as a joint-packing for steam pipes, cylinders, steam chests, etc. - By special treatment asbestos millboard can be made completely watertight, Loose asbestos fibre, and asbestos pressed into sheets or made into mattresses, are widely used for covering steam- pipes and boilers, particularly in connection with marine engines. As an insulating material asbestos is widely used in the elec- trical industry. For this purpose the asbestos is manufactured into boards and sheets, or pressed into the shape of the article to be covered. Finely ground anthophyllite, low-grade tremolite, and the residues from the chrysotile mills, find extensive application in the manufacture of asbestos cement, fire-proof bricks, tiles and other roofing material. Wall plasters and similar fire-proof material are manufactured from very fine asbestos fibre mixed with serpentine. A similar product is used in the construction of cold storage buildings. Nearly all these have double walls packed with some kind of non-conducting material surrounding the cold chambers. There are many fire-proofing materials on the market which lave asbestos as their chief ingredient. These usually take the form of asbestos felt or sheets, reinforced with asbestos cloth or asbestos paper, and are used for ceilings, wainscoting, and similar inside decorative work. Asbestos paints are made in various colours. They have re- markable fire-resisting qualities, and are suitable for all kinds of rough woodwork. Asbestos wool mixed with a solution of sodium silicate makes a fire-proof cement of great strength. It can be made insoluble by subsequent treatment with calcium chloride, silicate of calciuin being formed. Asbestos reduced to a fibrous powder, mixed with powdered clay and refractory earths, made into a paste with water, dried and burned, furnishes a valuable refractory material. WORLD’S PRODUCTION. Before the war Canada held first place as a producer of asbestos, Russia stood second, and South Africa third. During the period under review Canada continued to produce nearly 80 per cent. of the world’s output of asbestos, but the Russian production declined. It is probable that at the present time South Africa occupies the second place as regards output. Russian figures {or the period under review are not available, but it is unlikely that the asbestos mines were worked to any considerable extent during the war. The United States of America is the chief consumer of unmanufactured asbestos. Tngland is the next largest importer, followed by Japan, France, Italy, Austria, and Germany. The commercial grades of asbestos are numerous, and have been standardized only to a limited extent; they vary in value from about £5 per ton for very short fibre, low-grade mill-stock, 31029 A‘4 8. to over £800 per ton for selected high-grade fibre over 2 inches in length (November, 1920). W orld’s Production of Asbestos. In long tons. 1913. 1914, 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. ; 1919. Southern 259 435 1,795 5,497 8,537 7,655 8,696 Rhodesia. : Union of S. 859 1,063 1,909 4,157 5,554 | . 3,280 3,512 Africa. . i : Canada .-. | 118,361 | 96,133 | 95,142 | 105,578 | 126,556 | 128,086 136,669 Cyprus (ex- 1,168 246 1,099 1,291 1,069 228 1,331 ports). India at —_— 5 — _ 148 357 388 Ausiralia ... _— _— 1 36 281 38,034 1,790: Ttaly os 172 168 160 81 84 59 Russia ... | 17,218 | 15,444] 8,551 | 8,062 United States 982 | 1,113] 1,546) 1,321] 1,503 895 | 1,261 BRITISH EMPIRE. The largest and most valuable deposits of asbestos occur within the British Empire. Canada has long been the chief producer of chrysotile asbestos. The Union of South Africa is the only producer of crocidolite and amosite. Increasing quantities of high-grade chrysotile have been produced in recent years from the large deposits in the Victoria and Belingwe districts, Rhodesia, and there is a small output at Amiandos, near Troodos, in Cyprus. Most of the asbestos mined in Australia is used in the manufacture of asbestos cement sheet. India produces a small but increasing quantity of asbestos from deposits in Mysore, ahd ‘efforts are being made to establish an asbestos manufacturing industry in that State. Asbestos is known to occur in a belt of serpentine rocks along the west coast of Newfoundland, as well as in the interior, but there was no production during the period under review. Very little of the asbestos produced within the British Empire is worked up within the country of origin. Most of the Rhodesian and South African asbestos is exported to Great Britain and other parts of Europe for treatment, while the Canadian output is exported largely to the United States, and in smaller quantities to the United Kingdom. United Kingdom.* Asbestiform minerals occur only sparingly in the United Kingdom, and no deposit of economic value is known. Large quantities of unmanufactured asbestos are imported from all the chief producing countries, and the United Kingdom stands second to the United States as a producer of asbestos manufactures. * Annual Statements of the Trade of the United Kingdom. Imports of Unwrought Asbestos into the United Kingdom. Quantity (long tons). From 1913. } 1914. | 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. } 1919. Russia 1,580} 1,253 205} 2,569 _— 97 —_— Germany ... iis 350 265 _ _— aad Portuguese East 193 294 711} 2,705} 1,397] 3,027 205 Africa. Italy ‘ ae 91 75 35 35 34 42 10 United States of | 1,106] 1,607) 3,305| 3,523 777 272 867 America. ; Other Foreign 155 153 404 214 307; — 2 Countries. Total from Foreign | 3,475| 3,647) 4,660) 9,046| 2,515| 3,438] 1,084 Countries. Cape of Good eer 566 832] 2,713] 3,264] 2,493) 1,781] 1,900 Natal us 4 71 B20 30 79 56 418 Rhodesia ... 17 _ 78| 2,045) 2.812] 4,554] 6,190 Canada... 7,539 | 10,113 | 17,493; 12,247] 7,440] 9,941] 7,354 Other British 1 51 259 80 97 117 723 Possessions. Total from British | 8,127] 11,067} 20,863] 17,666! 12,921) 16,449) 16,585 Possessions. Total 11,602 | 14,714 | 25,523 | 26,712] 15,436} 19,887 | 17,669 Value (£). Russia 44,993 | 28,782} 3,990] 74,837 — 2,297 — Germany ... .. | 8,391] 9,074 — — —_— = a Portuguese East | 4,063} 5,845} 15,187 | 77,216} 50,531 /117,820] 9,972 Africa. Italy 2,600} 4,342} 1,581) 1,186) 1,074} 8,568 900 United States of 5,671] 16,583) 35,897} 37,251) 11,916] 7,486] 27,120 America. Other Foreign 2,464} 2,685] 1,538] 5,196) 6,329 — 295 Countries. Total from Foreign | 68,182 | 67,311) 58,1:3 |195,686 | 69,850 |136,171 | 38,287 Countries. Cape of Good Bo 8,455 | 18.877] 77,141 | 95,882 | 87,392 | 64,949] 71,372 Natal : 93{/ 1,884] 8,338; 1,802] 3,129) 1,837] 13,468 Rhodesia ... 258 — 2,432 | 57,526 | 77,223 |208,761 |240,232 Canada _... 73,961 | 92,147 |209,652 |184,517 |159,268 |413,119 |286,857 Other British 14 791| 4,066) 2,083] 6,723] 4,201) 36,020 Possessions. Total from British | 82,781 |113,699 |301,629 |341,810 |333,735 |692,867 |647,949 Possessions. Total . {150,963 |181,010 |359,822 1537,496 |403,585 |829,038 [686,236 10 Value of Imports and Exports of Asbestos Manufactures into and from the United Kingdom. Years. 1913 1914 1915 , 1916 1917 1918 1919 Imports. Value (£). 251,533 203 ,304 190,693 114,237 37,380 11.030 48,511 (Colonial and Foreign Produce.) (£). Exports. Value 104,654 146,956 174,904 230 ,589 203 ,816 128,915 487 ,445 Exports of rer Asbestos from the United Kingdom. Quantity (long tons). To 1913. | 1914. | 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. ] 1919. | Belgium — —-/]-—- —-;ji- — 701 Germany ... 269 163 = — | — = Netherlands — 16 18 131 270 _— 486 France 185 73 885 858 783 761| 1,237 Spain — = — 252 180 — 396 Switzerland 348 482 220 _— 813 Italy ids or 221 144} 1,522) 1,025 575 55 568 United States of 2 62 — 609 460 —_ 187 America. Other Foreign 10 38 2 72 _— _ 231 Countries. Total to Foreign 687 496| 2,775 3,429 2,488 816| 4,619 Countries. Total to British 2 12] 1 _— _ — 1 Possessions. ToTAL 689 508| 2,776} 3,429| 2,488 '816| 4,620 Value (£). Belgium = = = = ca — | 18,756 Germany ... 4,484) 2,699 — — = an Netherlands _— 343 347} 3,081} 9,100} — | 22,765 France 2,595} 1,646 | 26,201] 32,451] 35,972] 38,145] 64,956 Spain ee — — 14|} 4,667] 4,717 — | 12,463 Switzerland —_— — 5,225| 8,990} 6,282 — | 33,465 Italy 6,339] 3,897 | 26,909 | 29,661) 30,688] 3,330) 29,121 Unived States of 30{ 2,413 — | 25,759} 21,112 — | 11,546 America. Other Foreign 397| 1,270 101} 2,158 — — | 13,329 Countries. 7 Total to Foreign | 13,845] 12,268] 58,797 |106,767 |107,871| 41,475 [206,401 Countries. Total to British 8 553 10 _— — a 75 Possessions. TorTaL 13,853 | 12,821 | 58,807 }106,767 |107,871] 41,475 |206,476 il Value of Erports of Asbestos Manufactures from the United Kingdom. (Colonial and Foreign Produce.) Value Year. (£). 1913 Se ase wy 22 ae Utes 1914 on os oy a we 18,855 1915 fe — a a oA 14,913 1916 oe eee os ee ee 16,746 1917 1a Mes ey os aes 4,803 1918 ay ne oa is as 453 1919 3 a aA oe ids 1,467 Rhodesia.* Both chrysotile and amphibole asbestos occur abundantly in many localities in Southern Rhodesia. Chrysotile occurs in large deposits in the Victoria and Belingwe districts, where mining operations in recent years have been conducted on a considerable scale. In the Victoria district the iibre occurs in narrow veins up to 2 inches in width, traversing serpentine in the vicinity of a series of granitic intrusions. The principle mining areas are situated near Mashaba, where there are two companies working on a com- mercial scale. In one of the Muashaba asbestos mines, the proved fibre zone is about 1,000 feet in length by 200 feet in width, with an east and west strike, and a southerly dip of about 45° The fibre in this mine is rarely more than } of an inch in length. In the year 1914 treatment plants were installed to separate the fibre The material alter treatment is classed as No. 1 with fibre over } of an inch, and No. 2 with fibre between 2 of an inch and #s of an inch in length. The distance of the Mashaba asbestos mines from Fort Victoria railway station is from 25 to 28 miles. In the vear 1915 the discovery of the Shabani fields in the Belingwe district gave a great impetus to asbestos mining in Rhodesia, many mines were opened up, and in 1916 machinery Was installed to treat the fibre produced. The asbestos quarries of the Shabani area are situated in a belt of serpentine hills about 16 miles north-east of Belingwe, the formations striking approximately east and west. The ust ste ae serpentine lies on a footwall of talc-schist. So * S, Afr. Journ. Ind., F. P. Mennell, 1918, 1, 1411. Annual Reports of the Secretary of Mines, Southern Rhodesia. Annual Reports of the Rhodesia Chamber of Mines. Annual Statements of the Trade and Shipping of South Africa, and of Southern and Northern Rhodesia. 12 far as it has been. explored, the Shabani asbestos area is about six miles in length by a mile in width, but its limits have not yet been clearly defined. The fibre in this area varies from 3-inch to 2 inches in length. é In both the Belingwe and Victoria districts the fibre is of excellent quality, the veins being almost entirely of the ‘‘ cross ”’ fibre type. ‘‘ Slip’’ fibre occurs on some of the Belingwe claims, where the serpentine has been subjected to severe stresses resulting in the formation of a crushed zone. Asbestos occurs also in the Lomagundi district, in a short range of serpentine hills running approximately east and west and forming a spur of the Umvukwe mountain range. The asbestos claims are situated on the Umvukwe ranch (on which deposits of chromium ore also occur), about 42 miles to the north-east of Sinoia, which is connected by railway with Salis- bury. Seams of fibre ranging from 1 of an inch to 2 inches have been exposed, but only a small amount of exploratory work has as yet been done on the deposits. In the Bulawayo district, asbestos claims have been taken up about 52 miles north of Bulawayo and about three miles south- west of the Lonely Gold Mine. In this area there is a wide belt of serpentine, which forms a series of low-lying, rugged hills, on the northern extremity of which the Lonely Gold Mine is situated, the asbestos deposits being found in the southern portion of the hills. The yield of asbestos fibre in the Mashaba area is said to range from 1 to about 1°5 per cent. of the rock broken, and that of the Shabani area from 1°5 to about 3 per cent. Production of Asbestos in Southern Rhodesia. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£). 1913... she sa 259 5 224 1914 ... se a 435 8,612 1915... sak sb 1,795 32,190 1916 ... cor: a 5,497 99,059 TOUT sa a, 8,537 189,890 1918 ... vee wie 7,655 158,684 TOT cg uae ge 8,749 425,940 - 13 Exports of Unwrought Asbestos from Southern Rhodesia. (Domestic Produce.) Quantity (long tons). To 1913.) 1914.} 1915. | 1916. | 1917. 1918. 1919 United Kingdom... | 222} 151] 1,648 | 5,103 8,669 | 6,967 7,921 Union of South} — _— 9 2 219 266 161 Africa, Anstralia ... — — _ — — _— 375 France _ _ — — — 216 = Holland ie = _ _— — — _ 203 Portuguese East | — — —_ _ — 1 — ca, United States _ _ _ _— 10 _ 4 Japan — _— _— — _ — 15 Total 222 | 151 | 1,657 | 5,105 8,898 7,450 8,679 Value (£). United Kingdom... | 2,496 | 1,686 | 27,194 | 88,831 | 160,717 | 185,549 | 214,543 Union of South | — _ 150 42 6,167 | 4,577 | 4,281 Africa. Australia ... _— — — — _ _ 13,643 France... wef _— — — _— 10,02 _— Holland sgl ae _ _ — _ — 6.786. Portuguese East Africa. _— _ _ _ _- | 8 _— United States wf — _ _— 330 _ 152 Japan ace we | — _ _ _ SS 805 Total wee 2,496 | 1,686 | 27,344 | 88,873 167,214 | aov tee | 240,210 Value of Imports of Asbestos Manufactures into Southern Rhodesia. Value (£). From 1913. | 1914. | 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918.) 1919. United Kingdon ... 65 21 31 84 100 289 61 Union of South _ _ — _— _ 527 23 Africa. Germany a 3/ — - —_ = ee Italy uae ae _ _ —_ a — 7 av United States .. 1 3 3 1 103 29 Total ... 65 25 34 87 101 926 113 14 Union of South Africa.* The Union of South Africa contains asbestos deposits of large size. The material mined during the period under review consisted chiefly of crocidolite and amosite, but chrysotile is also worked. In spite of the commanding position occupied by chrysotile in the world’s markets, the use of crocidolite and amosite for the manufacture of asbestos articles may be expected to increase. Asbestos goods are now being manufactured in South Africa. T'ransvaal.—Within the limits of this province the asbestos minerals known to occur in economic quantities include chryso- ‘tile, crocidolite, amosite, and tremolite. Amosite is found only in the north-eastern Transvaal between Lydenburg and Pietersburg. The deposits occur at the base of the Pretoria Series in a banded siliceous ironstone of sedimentary origin. In the year 1915 the total output of asbestos in the Transvaal amounted to only 49 tons, but by the year 1917 the output had. risen to 2,851 tons, owing chiefly to the discovery and exploita- tion of the amosite deposits in the Lydenburg district. So far as is known at present, the amosite-bearing strata in this district extend for a distance of more than 60 miles, with an average width of about 6 miles. Within this area the mineral occurs as interbedded cross-fibre veins, invariably associated with the banded ironstone. The width of the veins varies up to a maxi- mum of about 12 inches. The veins are worked by underground mining, and have been followed for a distance of 300 feet along the dip, further progress being stopped by water. Three vein-groups can be recognized along the principal asbestos horizon. The upper group is not worked at present. In the middle group there are several veins, most of which carry amosite of economic value. Below these there is a seam carrying good fibre in places only. The only associated rock between the seams, apart from magnesite, is siliceous ironstone. The principal mines are the Egnep and Amosa situated near the farms Penge and Streatham, which furnish about four-fifths of the total output. The maximum length of fibre obtained in this district is 11 inches, and lengths of from 4 inches to 7 inches are continuous over great stretches along’the principal horizon. After grading and drying, the fibre is put up into bags and trans- ported by ox-wagon to Lydenburg station, 65 miles distant. In addition to the Penge-Streatham deposits, well developed amosite veins are worked as far north as Uitval, 50 miles by road from Pietersburg Station. * Asbestos in the Union of South Africa, A. L. Hall. Union of South Africa Geol. Surv. Memoir No. 12, 1918. Annual Reports of the Government Mining Engineer for the Union of South Africa. Annual Statements of the Trade and Shipping of the Union of South Africa, and of Southern and Northern Rhodesia. 15 In the Carolina district chrysotile occurs in bedded cross-fibre veins underlying an altered dolomite and associated with a basic intrusive sill. The whole formation lies at the base of the Pretoria series of slates and shales. The mineral is known to outcrop over a length of twenty miles. Mining operations at the present time are restricted to the Diepgezet and Goedverwacht districts. Previous to 1914 asbestos-mining at Diepgezet was carried on intermittently, but since that year there has been a regular and increasing output. The fibre is of good quality and pale-green or olive-green colour when massive. The teased fibre has a pure-white appearance, and commands a high price in. the market. It has been stated that during the year ending September, 1918, for every ton of asbestos obtained, 42 tons of rock were broken ; and that 62 per cent. of the fibre exceeded 1 inch in length. Later developments show the proportion to be somewhat lower, at about 40 per cent. of 1 inch fibre. No machinery is used on the mines. Cobbing and sifting are all that are required to prepare the fibre for the market. At Goedverwacht production started in the year 1915, since when the average yearly output has been about 120 tons. Hand- picking, cobbing, screening and bagging constitute the dressing operations on the mine. On an average month’s output the proportion of cobbings to screenings 1s 3:7. After drying, the fibre is bugged and transported to Carolina railway station by ox wagon. Crocidolite has been found only in the Haenertsburg goldfields and the Malips River areas of the Pietersburg district. The mineral oecurs on the same geological horizon as the Pietersburg amosite, but is not necessarily confined to the lowest portion of the banded ironstone. In the Malips River district many of the veins are too thin for exploitation, and, where the fibre length is suitable, it often contains disseminated grains of iron ore. On the Haenertsburg goldfields cross-fibre crocidolite veins occur. The fibre has a lavender blue colour and is of good length and quality. On both these fields mining operations were confined to prospect- ing during the period under review. "Premolite has been exploited only on Corea farm north of Mara Siding in the Zoutpansberg district. Cape Province.—Crocidolite is the only variety of asbestos aust in this Province. The fibre area is confined to the Lower (:riqua Town Series of banded ironstones and ferruginous or jaspery rocks. This asbestos-bearing formation extends from the farm Lovedale, twenty miles south-east of Prieska, in a northerly direction as far as Mashowing River in British "Bechuaialand, with a possible extension into the districts of Vryburg and Mafeking. The crocidolite occurs in interbedded cross-fibre veins. The fibre is usually lavender-blue, but colour variations are not un- common, particularly in the Daniels Kuil and Kuruman areas 16 where the colour is pale yellow or rusty brown. Such dis- coloured fibres are harsh to the touch, and command only a limited sale. The asbestos-bearing belt, although presenting an un- interrupted succession of the Lower Griqua Town Series, may for convenience be divided into a southern and northern section. In the southern section are to be found the oldest and most pro- ductive workings. These are spread over an area extending from Prieska to Griqua Town. At'the Westerberg mine, 35 miles north-west of Prieska, there are two distinct interbedded cross-fibre veins, and their persistence has been proved to a depth of 220 feet. The average monthly production of graded fibre amounts to 30 to 35 tons. In individual mines the average fibre lengths vary from about 0°%5 inch on Naauwpoort and 0°75 inch on Leelykstaat, to about 1:0 inch on Stilverlaats. On a property at Keikams Poort, the proportion of fibre over 1 inch has been stated to be 50 per cent. Throughout the southern section cobbing, sieving, grading, and bagging, are the only operations required to prepare the fibre for market. In the northern section a number of small companies have been mining asbestos for some years. The asbestos deposits and workings are scattered along a belt of country up to 18 miles wide, stretching from Owendale nine miles south-west of Daniels Kuil, to Tsenin on the Mashowing River, a distance of about 80 miles. Throughout the northern section the crocidolite is very irregularly distributed. Very little mining work is done; where a deposit is easily accessible it is worked as a quarry or open cut, and abandoned when the fibre deteriorates in quality, or other difficulties arise. Individual seams rarely persist for more than a few yards, when they pinch out and are suc- ceeded by others farther on. The length of fibre is very variable. Lengths up to 43 inches have been found, but an average of about 83-inch is about the length for the northern section as a whole. The usual cobbing, sifting, and grading operations are carried out by hand, and the bagged material is transported by wagon to the railway, over distances varying from 100 to 130 miles. The ‘highly silicified variety of .asbestos known as tiger’s-eye or cat’s-eye occurs sparingly, notably at Naauwpoort in the Hay district. It is quarried on a small scale and used in the manu- facture of ornamental articles. Natal.—Chrysotile occurs somewhat sparingly in Natal. The principal mine worked during the period under review was the Sitilo, situated between Eshowe and Krantzkop in the Tugela Valley, Zululand. The chrysotile occurs in a number of small cross-fibre veins traversing a dark-green serpentine. The fibres average }-inch to 3-inch in length ; they are pale-green in colour, and of inferior quality. ‘ Tremolite has been worked on the Klip River Location, 25 miles from Dundee. 17 Sales and Shipments of Asbestos in the Union of South Africa Transvaal. Cape Colony. | Natal. Totals. Year. eres Quantity| Valuo | Quantity] Value | Quantity} Value | Quantity} Value long tons, (£). [long tons} (£). jlongtons.| (£). |long tons) (#£). | i 1913 — a 837 15.559 21 429 859 | 16,028 1914 27 1,430 1,037 | 18,657 — — 1,063 20,087 1915 49 2,733 1,860 | 33,166 — — | 1,909 35,899 1916 363 8,490 8,775 | 74,293 19 | 287! 4,157 ' 83,070 1917 2,851 | 37,486 2,678 | 40,484) 20 393 5,554 87,564 1918 830 9,829 2,446 | 44,148 | 4 60 | 3,280) 54,037 1919 563 7,699 2,861 | 57,578 88 | 1,149 | 3,512 . 66,426 Leports of Untrought Asbestos from Union of South Africa. (Domestic Produce.) Quantity (long tons). To 113.) 1914.2 1915. | F916 , Wr. 1918: | 1919, | United Kingdom .. 336 652 | 2,760 | 3,619 | 2415 cs | 1 835. 2.050 Australia ... * _ - ci = — | 20d, 1,129 1,100 New Zealand _ _ — —_ — — i Belgium — _ _ _ _ — 195 France 35 40 _— — 49 80 a Germany ... 265 279 _ _ a = as Holland... = _ — = = 186 Italy bee 377 196 — — — _ Portuguese ast _ _ _ _— _— 1 1 Africa. United States 2 _— _— 287 22714; IW) TO Japan _ — —_ 103 480 5 250 T4 Yotal ... 1,015 | 1,167 | 2,750 | 4,000 | 5,119 | 3,395 | 4,929 Value (£). i United eee 5,023 | 11,859 | 44,486 8 00 529 40,661 oe ' 43,788 India a — _ —-i = Australia... — — Satis ee | 4, 468 20,079 21,646 New Zealand _ = —-}— _— _ 150 Belgium — 3} — i = | ST ee France 524 600 _ — | 6886, 1,120: 224 Germany 3,027 | 3,899 _ _— —, eo Holland — _ _— _ _ _— 2,569 Italy .. | 5,641 ) 2,922 - — a Portuguese = East — _ _— _ — 16 | 35 Africa. ' ; United States 28 — | £713 | 33,601 , 2,198 | 11,819 Japan — ; — ,. = 3584 7212 4,749. 2,031 Total ... 15,143 | 19,283 44488 GR S26 | 86,528 | 58,065 | 8b ,044 31029 Ab 18 Value of Exports of Asbestos Manufactures from Union of South Africa. (Foreign Produce.)* Value (£). 1913. | 1914. ] 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. | 1919. United Kingdom ... — _ 1 = oe aS British East Africa 13 25 South West Africa — 14 35 108 60 | | | | Protectorate. Mauritius ... gt _— 10 — —_ —_ — —_ Belgian Congo... 1 4 — 65 192 — 143 Portuguese East — 28 151 80 879 363 150 Africa. | d Portuguese West _ _ _— _— — 4 — Africa. Total... oes 1 42 152 159 | 1,106 488 378 * Asbestos manufactures (South African produce) value £57 and £440 were exported in 1915 and 1919 respectively. Value of Imports of Asbestos Manufactures into Union of South Africa. Value (£). From 1913. | 1914. | 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. |] 1919. United Kingdom ... | 3,756 | 2,925 | 4,102 | 8,852 | 3,877 | 2,462 | 21,431 Canada . a _ 18 283 47 — 252 | 1,021 Australia... ‘as _ — _ = — 1 — Austria-Hungary ... 18) — — —_ — — — Belgium ...—... | 1,788 871 98 | — _— = 314 - Denmark ... a | oe 71) — — = = ae France ata ia 126 6; — — as mes 2 Germany ... w | 1,115 |. 366 3; — = 7 ae; Holland... de 215 | 1,288 909 387 340 _— 1,309 Italy | awe wee 129 _ 558 528 — — ate Sweden... si 8 22 17 4l 222 121 47 Switzerland oe 164 2 351 | 1,202) — — = United States we | 1,126 509 102 419 559 568 625 Total ... ve | 8,445 | 6,078 | 6,423 | 11,476 | 4,998 | 3,404 |24,749 19 Canada.* Canada produces more asbestos than any other country. With the exception of a small production of actinolite from the deposits in Hastings county, Ontario, the asbestos produced in Canada is of the chrysotile variety. (Juebec.—The chief chrysotile deposits occur in the province of Quebec, and are confined to two distinct geological formations, namely, the Laurentian crystalline rocks in the Templeton area north of Ottawa, and the serpentine mountain belt that extends from the boundary of Vermont to the Gasp’ Peninsula. In the Laurentian formation, asbestos occurs in serpentine deposits closely associated with a massive crystalline-hmestone belt which extends over a distance of several hundred miles. Only in the district north of Ottawa does the serpentine carry asbestos. The principal area where these deposits have been worked is Templeton township. The asbestos ix found in a large number of small veins traversing the serpentine in parallel layers. The veins vary in width up to half an inch. The asbestos fibre has a wavy appear- ance, and is light-yellow or light-green in colour. It 1s of fine quality and well adapted for spinning. The asbestos-bearing deposits are very irregularly distributed throughout the limestone, and are individually limited in extent. Few of the deposits when opened up have been found to extend more than several yards in any direction. Other localities where asbestos occurs in the Laurentian rocks are the towaship of Portland West; near St. André Avelin, Cote St. Pierre; in the township of Wentworth south of Silver Lake; on Blanche Lake, in the township of Mulgrave, and at several points along the Ottawa River. Throughout the Laurentian series the asbestos deposits are too small and too scattered to allow of profitable mining operations. Considerable prospecting work has been carried out at different points, but the results have always been disappointing. . The Eastern Townships of the province of Quebec have for many years been the most productive asbestos mining area in the world. Within this region asbestos is known to occur in three separate areas, namely :—(1) the region covering the Gaspé Peninsula; (2) the Thetford and Black Lake area; (3) the PDanville-Ortord-Potton area. In the Gaspé Peninsula asbestos veins have been found in a band of serpentine, associated with hornblende rock, near the mouth of the Dartmouth river. Difficulty of access has pre- vented this region from being adequately explored. * Chrysotile-Asbestos, by F. Cirkel. Canada Dept. of Mines, 1910. Annual Reports on the Mineral Production of Canada. Annual Reports on Mining Operations in the Province of Quebec. Annual Reports on the Trade and Commerce of Canada. 20 The workable deposits of chief importance are confined to a serpentine belt near Black Lake and Thetford. The ser- pentine of this belt generally occurs as disconnected masses, but occasionally it forms mountain ridges of considerable altitude; notably in the vicinity of Black Lake where most of the productive mines are situated. The rock carrying good asbestos veins is generally dark-green'or greyish-green In colour. It frequently contains numerous particles of magnetite and chrome iron-ore. Much of the serpentine is traversed by granite intrusions which range in size from small bands one or two feet in width, up to intrusions one hundred feet in thick- ness. In some places the serpentine is intimately associated with steatite, and chrome iron-ore has been found in pockets up to ten or fifteen feet in thickness. Wherever these two minerals occur together asbestos mining has not been profitable. The veins of asbestos traverse the serpentine in all directions. As a rule the fibre lies at right angles to the walls of the veins, but occasionally it has been drawn out by rock movement, and then appears of greater length and parallel with the walls of the vein. Such fibre is known as ‘‘ slip fibre.”’ The veins vary in width from + inch to 4 inch, and excep- tionally, fibre has been obtained several inches in length. The fibre is generally dark-green,’and has a silky appearance when drawn into threads. It is of good quality and well adapted for spinning. Included in the Thetford and Black Lake area are the East Broughton deposits, where the serpentine occurs enclosed in a highly quartzose slate, probably of pre-Cambrian age. Most of the serpentine is shattered, and is easily mined. The fibre is usually short but occurs up to two inches in length and is of excellent quality. In the Danville area the serpentine rock is much affected by faults, and some of the larger veins are cut off by intrusive dykes. Asbestos up to 4 inch in length occurs abundantly, and the whole of the serpentine is impregnated with fine short fibre giving a first-class milling material. It has been stated that 70 to 80 per cent. of the rock mined goes through the mill. Opencast methods of mining are adopted almost invariably throughout the Canadian asbestos fields. The broken rock after removal from the quarry is either hand-cobbed to remove first- grade asbestos, containing fibre over # inch in length, known locally as crude asbestos, or the whole product is subjected to mechanical crushing: which renders the mineral more amenable to subsequent treatment by pneumatic processes. The material thus obtained is known as fines or mill-stock. Dressing operations vary somewhat with the character of the rock treated, but practically all the asbestos-mining companies have installed machinery for the crushing, fibrizing, screening, and grading of the mine product. 21 Exceptionally high prices were obtained for asbestos during the greater part of the war period. No new discoveries of asbestos were made during the period under review, but many known unworked deposits were opened up. The greatly in- creased production required to supply the world’s urgent demands was met by improved methods of handling the asbestos rock at the quarries. During the year 1918 about 2% million tons of asbestos rock were broken and hoisted. It has been ascertained by diamond drilling, sinking and drifting, that large reserves of asbestos exist in each of the principal mining fields, and that the quality of the fibre does not deteriorate in depth. Ontario.—In the year 1916 chrysotile asbestos was mined in Ontario for the first time. The asbestos-bearing rock is serpentine seamed With stringers and veins of asbestos up to 2) inches in width. The only deposit at present worked occurs at Deloro, near Porcupine, where portions of the rock carry as much as 12 per cent. of asbestos. In the year 1916, 500 lb. of asbestos valued at £21 were shipped, and there was a further shipment of 9 tons in 1917 valued at £448. No chrysotile asbestos was produced in the year 1918, but 204 tons of actinolite were ground and shipped to the United States from Actinolite. The Governors of the Bureau are indebted to Mr. C. S. Bell. of Bell’s United Asbestos Co., T.td., for the following statemens of representative prices of Canadian asbestos fibre during the period under review :— AN N O9T-OST OSI-OFT OFI- Gat GéT-001 001-08 Gg-0¢ 0S-SP 2 oe ee “Orga eye[g Sao] GTT-O0T OTT-OOT 00-06 00T-08 08-SL OF-GE 08-93 eed vee OIQhT anelg wantpeyl O8-G6 08-46 GS-06 G6-06 8T-GI OI-8 OI-8 si fed ay “ eIqrd Hogg OD 01-09 02-09 01-09 01-09 Ob-GE Ge-61 G6-08 sas on = ‘" yo0qg dedeg XX 0S¢-007 0G8-S LG GLE-096 0G6-006 00T GL-OL g9-09 a “+ eiqry Furuuidg unpey X 002-099 00¢ OS¥-00F 0G6-008 002 OST-Sél GéI-00T oy oe erqry Suyuurdg suo] gz 009I-0G6T 000-098 0S2-009 00-00% 008-096 006-SLT 008-GLT = a 2 = epnin GON 0008-0096 0008-0081 0G6T-000T 000T-0¢2 00-007 096-006 0S8—-00€ ih oC sare ai apmip T ‘ON $ $ $ $ $ $ $ “03-6T6T “6I-8T6T “SI-LT6T “LI-9T6T “OT-ST6L “GI-PI6T ‘PI-SI6L (U0} ya0ys rod sae[jop UT) ‘algtg sojsaqsp uvipvung fo saoiug aayvquasasuday Production of Asbestos in Canada. 23 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 Year. Crude Mill-stock Total (long tons). (long tons). (long tons). 4,487 113,874 118,361 3,627 92,506 96,133 3,580 91,582 95,142 4,835 100,743 105,578 5,596 120,960 126,556 3,851 124,235 128,086 3,620 133,049 136,669 24 “PZ “Sp == IOP [ Jo oyea 0g} ye Surproys F oyUT poysoauog y 89Z'TT GGL‘9T FI9‘0B8'S 66P'SES'T GT1'899 909'T3T 861 ‘SIT 80r's Ri RE BTR £90°L L66'F1 PE8'T98'T 60S'StE'T gee'org GOs‘9aT 600°G8T 966'E ee OS BIBL 1986 1BE‘9T 6LF'96F'T 796826 GIG'SLg P86 061 SLI'OTT 908'F ca 2 3 3 1¢0'9 T6?'8I 168'E80'T 686'F69 696888 2PLGIT 188'SIT GGe'g 5 CR RE OT GL 9FG'F 9462S EFS 0FL FIO‘ 663 'F3S PES'66 6er't6 Gout Re a ES GTO T, z 1 “FG9'S BLL'ST g¢c'Z09 PLP'TPP 180‘T9T * 661'98 G6r'‘Z8 roL'g ge RE ORES CTBT 696'E 6FS‘TZ 90T‘86L 180669 GL0‘906 8LZ'ST P2S‘LIT ¥40'¢ se STG "TRIO, “49099 TINA ‘opnig "[Te4OL, "y009g [TAL “opnig «(F) “(804 Su07) onyeA Aqyueng #(F) ener *(su04 Suof) Ay40end “IvOK ‘orysoqsey *s04S0qsV ‘oysagsp pun soysagsy fo squaudiyg pup saypg—nprunp 25 Canada—Shipments of Actinolite. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). £ 1913 59 150 1914 °- 106 272 1915 196 504 1916 223 573 1917 107 275 1918 204 522 1919 71 183 Exports of Asbestos from Canada. Asbestos. Sand and Waste. f Manu- actures. Year. ee ee — Quantity Value Quantity Value | Value (long tons).| (£). (long tons). (£). , (£). 1913 92,689 593,343 22,112 28,904 Not 1914 72,394 478,885 16,956 22,614 stated. 1915 75,521 569,728 22,413 32,794 26,042 1916 86,406 806,763 29,968 50,265 988 | 1917 83,868 | 1,021,526; 46,507 | 989,782 | 11,597 1918 106,655 | 1,622,231 19,771 | 47,512 8,492 1919 106,359 2,005,353 22,595 54,328 48,438 “LIGT UL poystiqnd you srejoq , 26 mee grey T€S'S29'T ¢¢9'90 6h0'C91 co's | _— 9gg‘eLz'T | gog‘gg 9¢'981 L83'6 ne BTeT 929'TZ0'T | 898‘s8 = = = = = = = = st A LT6T * €92908 90¥'98 196'88 | 82a'8 = a 269°689 rae'Gg F1Z‘821 628°S1 Sr) C3 882L'699 T2a‘Gn LP6-GG gae'g _ = 082'8g¢ 98c‘o¢ 100‘¢4T 08¢‘6T sh GT6T a8e'SLF POE'S Lgg'ag 188°2, a82‘61 POS ” 620'PZE Gc0'sg 8962 166°6 sy BT6T ere'e6s 689'36 128'66 OTL'ST 609'L OSL EL TPF €82'69 8El'bF org se eTeT ) “(say Bu0p)) (F) | *(8u04 Buoy) “(F) | “(Sua Buoy) | “(F)—_—*| (S04 Buop)| —“(F) | (e109 Buoy) : enjeA Aqyaengy onjeA Ayyquendy enleA Aqqueng On[eA Aqyyueng onjea Ayyueng “Teo fs ‘#OITJUNOD 10710 ‘Aueuiiey “"89981Q poyla ‘UIeyIg Jeary . POL on on, on, OL, (‘sonpoid o1yseut0q) ‘ppvuvg wotf sojsaqsp fo sqsodaq 27 Value of Inports into Canada of Wrought Asbestos. Fiscal years ending March 31. . Value (£). 1913. 1914. 1915. | 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. United 9,147 | 10,376 | 6,979 | 8,525 | 16,231 | 13,382 | 16,317 Kingdom. Newfound- _ _— 1 a es dos = land. Austria- 408 114 — _ _— _ —_ Hungary., Belgium .. 720 557 361 — — _ _ France 71 112 — 7 _ _ _ Germany ... 725 1,166 638 _— 42 108 — Netherlands 109 = 7 = = a Portugal ... _ — _ _ . 36 15 11 Sweden — = = = = = yg United 92,395 | 86,529 | 39,204 | 31,444 | 65,886 | 96,506 | 125,022 States. Toran ... | 103,575 | 98,854 | 47,190 | 39,976 } 82,195 | 110,011 | 135,352 Value of Imports of Asbestos into Canada. Value Year. (£). 1913 108,350 1914 58,761 1915 . 35,186 1916 bs 69,723 1917 111,964 1918 125 ,980 1919 13,667 Cyprus.* Deposits of asbestos occur at Amiandos, near Troodos, in Cyprus. The mineral mined is a short-fibre chrysotile. In year 1907 a concession was granted to the Cyprian Mining Company, of Trieste, to mine asbestos in the Troodos Forest for ninety-nine years; but this concession was cancelled in the year: 1919, and a mining lease was granted to a local syndicate. In the * The Handbook of Cyprus, Luke & Jardine, 1920, p. 221 ; and Colonial Report (Annual). 28 Exports of Asbestos from Cyprus. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£). 1913 ee aa ee 1,168 — 1914 des ay a 246* 1,913 1915 ome toe oom GOO 9,509 1916 sath si ts 1,291 14,681 1917 nee ees i 1,069 14,072 _ 1918 A ner wid 228 3,080 1919 a6 id! ee 1,331 25,855 * Work interrupted by a fire. India.* Asbestos and asbestiform minerals are known to occur at many localities in India, of which the following may be mentioned :—Tumkhera Khurd, in the Bhandara district of the Central Provinces, which furnishes a few tons from time to time ; Dev Mori, in the Idar State of Bombay, where a consider- able amount of amphibole-asbestos occurs in rod-like masses yielding long but brittle staple fibre up to 8 inches in length; Seraikela State, Singhbhum, where chrysotile asbestos is obtain- able jn long columnar masses also suffering from the same defect of brittleness. The most promising dieptita known at present occur in the Hole-Narasipur Taluk and in the Kabbur block, both in the Hassan district of Mysore. The mineral is the amphibole variety and appears to be an alteration product of amphibolites in proximity to granitic intrusions. It occurs in bunches and aggregates of fibrous material, and at Kabbur long sticks several feet in length are obtainable. The serious defects are brittleness and lack of tenacity of the fibres. It has been sug- gested that these may prove to be merely surface modifications, and deeper workings have been recommended. A serious attempt is being made to start an asbestos industry on a large scale in Mysore, and Indian-made asbestos boiler covering com- positions are already on the market. Most of the asbestos production, shown in the following table, was derived from the Hassan district. Production of Asbestos in India. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£). 1913 sia oa a — aa 1914 es eh okie 5 23 1915 nt ae Ls — 2 1916 si se ita as —. 1917 see sas a 148 303 1918 “83 weed ee 357 965 1919 sai wat ae 388 1,656 * Mineral Production of India (Annual). Rec. Geol. Surv. India. 29 Australia.* New South Wales.—Deposits of asbestos are known to occur in many localities in New South Wales. Specimens have been obtained from Gundagai, the Broken Hill District, Springfield, Barraba, Byng, the Orange district, Rockley, Woodsreef and other areas. The mineral occurs in cross-fibre veins traversing serpentine. It is usually white or light-green, and inferior in strength, flexibility, and texture to the Canadian chrysotile asbestos. During the period under review prospecting operations resulted in the production of ten tons of asbestos from the Gundagai area in the year 1917, and in the year 1918 one hundred and eighty tons of asbestos-bearing rock were raised in the Barraba division. The output for 1919 is given as 1,739 tons of rock containing 143 tons of fibre. Qucensland.—Asbestos is known to occur in the serpentine belt, which extends from Balnagowan near Keppel Bay to Yaamba, Princhester, and Marlborough, in the Rockhampton district. Prospecting operations carried out in the Rockhampton aren during the later part of the period under review proved the existence of ‘considerable quantities of rather inferior asbestos fibre of coarse texture. The serpentine in which it occurs is seamed with asbestos veins up to a foot or more in thickness but the asbestos fibre is harsh and lacks tensile strength. Small quantities of fibre from this district have been used for the manufacture of asbestos-magnesia compositions South Australia. —Asbestos occurs in many places in South Australia. During the period under review, mining operations have heen confined to prospecting, notably in the hundred of Bright, 8 miles from Robertstown, and at Section 1 B Minbrie, 6 to 7 miles from Cowell. In the former area several seams of crocidolite were opened up during prospecting operations. The thickness of the veins was found to be from 1 inch to 4 inches. The fibre obtained was of good quality, but it appears that the work done was not sufficient to prove the value of the deposit. At Minbrie, chrysotile asbestos ranging up to 13 inch in length was found in narrow veins traversing highly serpentinized mag- nesian marble. The average width of the asbestos seams does not exceed } inch The fibre is white and has good tensile strength, but is reported to be unsuitable for spinning. Western Australia.—Chrysotile asbestos is known to occur in many localities in Western Australia, notably at Soanesville, in the Pilbara goldfield. Some years ago these deposits were exten- sively prospected by means of shafts and tunnels. The fibre was found to occur in two parallel bands traversirf& serpentine rock. * Annual Reports of the Department of Mines, New South Wales. Annual Reports of the Under Secretary for Mines, Queensland. Review of Mining Operations in South Australia. Annual Reports of the Department of Mines, Western Australia. Annual Reports of the Secretary for Mines, Tasmania. 30 The bands are separated by a dolerite dyke, which forms the footwall of one band and the hanging wall of the other. The asbestos veins have generally a ribbon structure, though at times they occur as a network of veins. The quality of the mineral varies greatly ; in some sections of the deposit there is abundant asbestos of good quality, in others the quality is poor and not worth mining. The amount of fibre in the rock may: be taken at 10 to 30 per cent. Very little fibre capable of extraction by cobbing was found, the bulk of the material being suitable for mill treatment only. The unfavourable situation of the deposits and high working costs have so far prevented profitable mining operations on these fields. Other localities where asbestos has been noted are Jarman Island, West Pilbara goldfield; Menzies, North Coolgardie goldfield; Hannans Lake; East Coolgardie goldfield; Mount Magnet, Murchison goldfield; the Upper Henry River; and near Moora. : Tasmania.—Deposits of chrysotile asbestos are known to occur in the serpentine belt which extends for a distance of 3 miles in the Beaconsfield district. These deposits do not occur uniformly throughout the belt, and are limited chiefly to the northern end on the slopes of the hills, and in the flats of Andeérson’s Creek. The mineral occurs in narrow veins, traversing the rock without system or continuity. The fibre is of good quality for the purpose for which it is quarried, namely, the manufacture of panelling slabs for roofing and lining buildings. The larger proportion of the fibre does not exceed } inch in length, but fibre up to 1 ingh in length has been found. Very little interest was taken in these deposits until the year 1916, when prospecting operations were resumed at Anderson’s Creek and 15 tons of asbestos rock valued at £30 were produced. In the following year a plant was installed to separate asbestos fibre from the rock, and the output was 271 tons of rock valued at £271. Production for 1918 showed an increase, the output for the year being 2,854 tons, valued at £5,008. The returns for the year 1919 are given in terms of asbestos fibre, and 51 tons of this material, valued at £25 per ton, were produced in that year. FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Italy.* The principal asbestos occurrences in Italy are situated in the Susa and Aosta Valleys, and in the Valtellina district of Lom- bardy. Italian asbestos is of the tremolite (amphibole) variety. In the Susa valley the asbestos occurs on the northern side of the valley, at an elevation of 6,000 feet to 10,000 feet above sea level. The asbestos occurs as floss-fibre and white powder. * Rivista del Servizio Minerario (Annual). 31 In the Aosta Valley the principal mining districts lie on either side of the railway from Ivrea to ChAatillon, a distance of 30 miles. The asbestos is known as ‘* grey fibre,’’ and is made up of long soft fibres. The mineral in the Valtellina district is similar in character to that obtained in the Aosta Valley. The chief mines are situated in the Val Malenco not far from the town of Sondrio at an altitude of 3,600 feet to 7,200 feet above sea level. Throughout the Italian asbestos fields the veins are mined by shafts and levels, dynamite being used to blast the rock. All the asbestos mined during the day is bagged and loaded on sledges drawn down the mountain side by hand labour. At the factories the fibre is graded into three qualities: (1) fibre suitable for spinning, (2) short fibre used m the manufacture of mill- boards and paper, (3) asbestos powder, part of which is reserved for conversion into cement and paint, and the remainder sold for manure. Production, Imports and Exports of Asbestos in Italy. Production. Imports. Exports. Year. | Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value (long tons).| (£).* | (long tons).| (£).* | (long tons). | (£).* { 1913 172 3,834 4,674 62,697 661 14,793 1914 168 3,810 2,666 37,934 501 11,594 1915 160 7,824 5,294 75,319 146 | 3,372 1916 81 2,172 5,341 151,984 255 , 15,534 1917 84 2,841 3,669 343,031 163 18,216 1918 59 2,280 3,110 290,803 116 12,947 1919 * Converted into £ sterling at the rate of 25 lire = £1. Russia. Before the war Russia held second place as a producer of asbestos. The principal mines are situated in the serpentine areas of the Urals. ,There are also deposits of considerable extent in Siberia. Asbestos is known to occur in the Caucasus, but the veins are small and the fibre is of poor quality. The chief mining district in the Urals lies north of Ekaterin- burg in the Bagenova district of Perm. The asbestos is harsher than Canadian asbestos, but is suitable for spinning. The asbestos occurs in cross-fibre veins traversing serpentine. Few of the veins attain a greater length than 100 feet. Mining is carried out by shallow open cuts, and the serpentine is so decomposed that it can be broken by a pick to a depth of 70 feet. Some of the work is still done in a verv primitive manner by the agricultural population of the district. Work is confined to the 32 summer months, but is frequently interrupted to allow harvesting operations to be carried out. A few of the mines have adopted modern methods, and possess mining machinery equipped with electrical power. The broken rock from the quarries is cobbed by hand and graded into five qualities according to the fibre lengths, which vary from 13 inch to } inch. The known Siberian deposits of asbestos are in the Angarsk district near Irkutsk and on the Kamuisht river in the Yenissei Government. Asbestos deposits have also been reported from many districts in the Altai Mountains. The Siberian deposits are little developed and do not contribute an important part of the Russian production. There is a small output of asbestos from Sharopan, Vzhinevi, and echgum, in the Government of Kutais in the Caucasus. United States.* The United States is the country of chief importance in the manufacture of asbestos goods. The industry depends almost entirely upon imported Canadian fibre. Very little high-grade asbestos suitable for spinning has so far been found within the United States. In the year 1913 chrysotile asbestos was dis- covered in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, in the neighbourhood of Ash Creek, and there was a small production in that year. This deposit was extensively mined during the period under review, and a new discovery north of Roosevelt Reservoir, on the Sierra Ancha, was opened up for mining in the year 1917. Both these deposits contain chrysotile asbestos suitable for spinning. The larger part of the American production of crude asbestos is obtained from the anthophyllite deposits near Sall Mountain in Georgia. The mineral is associated with crystalline schists of pre-Cambrian age, and composes the whole rock mass. Only the weathered portion of the deposit is suitable for quarrying, the unweathered rock being too hard for milling. It is stated that 90 per cent. of the rock quarried appears in the finished product. Milling operations consist of grinding and fibrizing to one grade suitable for the manufacture of cement, plaster, roofing material, etc. Similar deposits are quarried in Idaho near Kamiah in Lewis county. The demand for this material is small, and there is only one active producer. American manufacturers of asbestos articles and material hold the foremost position in’ the world’s asbestos industry. This result is largely due to the close proximity of the Canadian asbestos to the American centres of industry. A large number of the most valuable Canadian mines are owned or controlled by American capital. * Annual Reports on the Mineral Resources of the United States. The Mineral Industry, 1913-1918. o3 “916 ‘tequueseq, 0} Ane porsed reaoo seindig § ‘syiodxo snutur ‘syzoduit snd uomonporg | ‘PG ‘8 = AV[Jop | Fo oper 047 4¥ Surz0ys F oyUT poyroauoD | ‘9161 ‘A[ng 04 ao1sd peproser Ajayeredos you syi0dxq ‘epeaeg woaz Apureyy y GL6'0LG'T 8E0'13T G6L'3S 666 Tee‘Gec't LLL‘0@1 618‘L9 192'T ee Wate 6161 1z9'¢¢e'T 612 E21 9901 B29 eee‘oze'l 9F6 221 916'9% G68 me Ge EN 8T6I 290'820'T or9‘0al L82'FZ eo TI6'TF6 6EL‘61T 82F'SOF £09‘ ee ee LI6I = = §922'T $622 €22'889 9TL‘E01 81¢'86 1ze'T Se) SRS aa 9T6I _ _ = = 608'S1F 1#9'¢8 BE0'9T 9FG'T ee URE ae GT61 — _ = a €82'862 99159 196'¢ eIl'T ot ee ee FI6l _ = os = PIS‘ TOF LEL‘98 raitard 686 en We) OS SI6T ie | eaten | Ae eee) ay | eee |e, | eee “Teo 4{-uondumsaoy yuoreddy tsysodxq 2 syoduy “‘motonporg "saqDIg paqiuy) 9Y} Ur soqsagsy 34 REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE. Reports on the mineral production of Canada (Annual). : Chrysotile- Asbestos, its occurrence, exploitation, milling, and uses, by F. Cirkel ; No. 69, Mines Branch, Dept. Mines, Canada. Reports on mining operations in the province of Quebec (Annual). The mineral resources of the United States (Annual). The Mineral Industry (Annual). 1913. Preliminary report on the serpentine and associated rocks of southern Quebec, by J. A. Dresser ; Can. Geol. Surv. Memoir No. 22, 1913. Report on the geology of the country N.E. of Carolina, by A. L. Hall; Ann. Rept. Geol. Surv. 8. Afr., 1913, pp. 57-60. 2 Mineral resources of the north-west division, by T. Blatchford ; West Austr. Geol. Surv., Bull. No. 52, 1913, pp. 30-54. . The pre-Cambrian geology of south-eastern Ontario, by W. G. Miller and C. W. Knight ; Rept. Ont. Bur. Mines, 1913, 22, pt. 2, p. 117. 1914. Asbestos in southern Quebec, by J. A. Dresser ; Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng. (1914), 50, 954-961. : Report on the asbestos, talc, and soapstone deposits of Georgia, by O. B. Hopkins ; Geol. Surv Georgia, Bull. No. 29, 1914. : Geologic reconnaissance of the country between Cape Sorell and Point Hibbs, by L. Hills ; Tasmania Geol. Surv., Bull. No. 18, pp. 14-16. 1915. Memorandum on the asbestos industry in the Cape Province, by G. H. B. Frood ; Ann. Rept. Govt. Min. Eng. 8. Afr., 1915, pp. 76-82. 1916. Queensland mineral deposits, No. 3 Asbestos, by B. Dunstan ; Queens. Govt. Min. Journ., 1916, 17, 372. The genesis of asbestos and asbestiform minerals, by S. Taber ; Trans. Amer. Inst. Mir. Eng., 1917, 5'7, 62-87. 1917. Report on certain minerals used in the arts and industries, No. 1, Asbestos, by P. A. Wagner ; 8. Afr. Journ. Ind., 1917, 1, 251-270. Origin of massive serpentine and chrysotile-asbestos, Black Lake-Thetford area, Quebec, by R. P. D. Graham ; Econ. Geol., 1917, 12, 154-202. Asbestos at Anderson’s Creek, by W. H. Twelvetrees; Tasmania Geol. Surv., 1917, Min. Res. Bull. No. 4. 1918. Rhodesia munitions and resources committee report, 1918, Asbestos, by N. Griffin ; pp. 23-24. , Dominions Royal Commission, Final Report, 1918, Appendix 1, Asbestos, pp. 419-420. ; On the mode of occurrence and distribution of asbestos in the Transvaal, by A. L. Hall; Trans. Geol. Soc. 8. Afr., 1918, 21, 36 pp. Asbestos in the Union of South Africa, by A. L. Hall; 8. Afr. Geol. Surv. Dept. Mines and Ind., Mem. No. 12. : Mineral resources of Rhodesia ; non-metallic minerals, Asbestos, by F. P. Mennell; S. Afr. Journ. Ind., 1918, 1. No. 15, 1411-1412. Asbestos resources of the British Empire ; 8. Afr. Min. Journ., 1918, October 12, pp. 100-101. iis Asbestos industry in Quebec, by O. Bowles, in June Rept. on Mineral Inves- tigations, U.S. Bur. Mines ; Can. Min. Journ., 1919, 40, 588, German mining operations in Serbia, Zeit. des Ver. deutsch. Ingen.; Abstr. Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1919, 38, 47B. Shot-drilling around Thetford mines, Quebec ; Can. Min. Journ., 1919, 40, 36.