TV IV7 Q|arneU InitietBttg Sibratg THE GIFT OF ,ornmi^9ion Conw« OiHv»r»lty Ubrary TN 490.N6O59 1917 liiifr 3 1924 004 692 475 epoi f ^■^ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924004692475 ROYAL ONTARIO NICKEL COMMISSION Report OF THE Royal Ontario Nickel Commission WITH APPENDIX PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO No. 2365 TORONTO : Printed and Published by'A. T. WILGRESS, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty 1917 S ONT^]/^iO, eoi/^L. ///c<£L- Com HISS I Of^ Printed by WILLIAM BEIGGS Corner Queen and John Streets Toronto A>L TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Text of the Commission 9th September, 1915 xvii Text of Supplementary Commission 19th March, 1917 six Letter of Transmission xxi Frontispiece xxii Summary and Conclusions xxiii Introduction xxiii Conclusions xxr Home Beiining of Nickel xxvi Public Ownership xxvii Uses of Nickel xxviii^ Nickel Deposits xxix Competition xxix Refining Processes xxxii Hydro-Electric Power xxxiii Costs of Befining xxxv Nickel-Copper Steel xxxvi Nickel Statistics xxxvi Nickel as a By-Product xxxviii Price of Nickel xxxviii Losses in Mining, Smelting and Befining xl Sulphur Fumes xli Precious Metals xlii Trade Conditions xlii Acknowledgments xliii Chapter I. — Agitation for Home BEriNiNO or Nickel 1-19 Importance of Sudbury Deposits 1 Discovery of Nickel Steel and Its Effects 1 Why Not Befine in Ontario ? 3 War Eeveals Beal Eeason for Inquiry 4 Governmental Efforts to Establish Home Befining !5 Sir Charles Tupper and Mr. S. J. Bitchie .T Sir Charles ' Report Offer of Ontario Government in 1891 8 Could the Offer Have Been Implemented f 9 Boyalties on Nickel and Copper 10 Dominion Imposes Export Tax T I The Manufacturing Condition for Sawlogs ] 2 Ontario Government Authorizes Second Offer ] ?, Provincial Legislature Tries Licensing System ] r! Imperial Government Shows Interest id The Ontario Government 's Beply jg Ontario Offers Bounty on Befined Nickel ] 7 House of Commons' Committee on Mines and Minerals ] S The Case for the International Nickel Company 19 fiiil Table of Coxtekts No. 62 PAGE Chapter II. — Historical Sketch op Nickel Discoveries 20-56 Beginnings of Mining on North Shore of Lake Huron 20 ■Reconnaissances by Logan and Salter 20 William Gibbard's Report 23 First Discovery of Nickel 24 Nickel on Michipicoten Island 26 The Creightou Mine Foreshadowed 28 Finding the Murray Mine 30 No. 4 and No. 6 Mines 32 The Elsie Mine 33 • Locating the Frood or No. 3 .' 33 The Worthington Mine 34 McAllister or Lady Macdonald and No. 2 Mines 34 Howland Mine 35 The Creighton Deposit Re-discovered 35 The Copper Cliff Mine 37 Mount Nickel Mine 38 The Stobie Mine 38 Crean Hill Mine 39 The Evans Mine 39 The Blezard and Little Stobie Mines 39 The Totten Prospect 40 McConnell or Victoria Mine 40 i , The Vermilion Mine _ 41 Tardy Recognition of Nickel in the Ore 42 : How the Nickel was Identified 42 The Search for Gold 43 A Find in Falconbridge 43 Robinson, Mclntvre and Sheppard Mines 43 Chicago or Inez Mine 44 The Gersdorffite Location 44 . The Garson Mine 44 Sultana and Trillabelle Properties 45 Cameron Mine 45 Cryderman Claims in Falconbridge . 46 The Kirkwood Mine 46 Gertrude Mine 46 Tam 'Shanter and North Star 47 More Finds in Falconbridge 48 The Eastern Range 49 Locations W 1, W 2, W 3 49 Nickel on Blue and Pyrrhotite Lakes 49 Clear and Ella Lakes 50 A Showing in Maclenuan 50 The Northern Range 51 The Levack Mine 51 W R 5 or Ross Mine 52 The Whistle and Wildcat Mines 52 Westward of the Whistle 53 The Ross Mine Offset 53 Ore and a Barren Stretch on Main Contact 53 Big Levack and Strathcona 54 The Contact Again Concealed 54 TJie Alexo Mine 55 The Cobalt Silver Mines 55 1917 T.MiLi: OF (.'ilNTKXTS PAGE Chaptki: III. — The OrKnATixc Xiokel Co.mi'axies 57-!i4 Introduction 57 Karly Cuiiditions of Nickel Industry 58 Xi'w Caledonian Rivalry Overcome 59 The Canadian Copper Company 60 Nickel as Well as Copper 61 Terms of Company 's Charter 62 Beginnings and Growth of Industry 63 The First Smelting Works 63 Experimenting With Refining Processes 64 Reasons for Refining in Canada 65 Amalgamation of Producing and Refining Interests 67 International Nickel Company 67 The Anglo-American Iron Company 68 The Orf ord Copper Company 68 The American Nickel Works 69 The Vermilion Mining Company 70 Jluronian Company, Limited 71 Career of the C'dnsolidated Company 71 The Reorganization of 1912 73 Profits and Assets 73 Expenditures in Sudbury 75 Executive Officers of the Company 75 Reliiiery in Ontario 78 The Mond Nickel Coniimuy, Limited 79 Reliiiiiii;- Process I'rei-eiles Ore Supply 80 New Smelting Plant at Conistcm 80 ("unipnny 's Mines and Power Plants SI The Refinery at Clydach 82 The Company 's Finances 82 Expenditures and Dividends S4 War Taxation 85 The Alexo Mining Oomiiany, Limited 86 British American Nickel Corporaticm, Limited 87 Locating Works at the Murray Mine 8S Other Operating Companies 89 H. II. A'ivian and Company 89 The Dominion Mineral Company 91 The Drury Nickel Company, Limited 91 The Hamilton Companies 92 Lake Superior Power Company 93 The Dominion Nickel-Copper Company, Limited 93 Chapter IV. — Nickel Deposits of the World 93-286 Introduction 95-102 Nickelif erous Rocks 96 Nickel Minerals 97 Classes of Ores 99 J'.y-1'niducts of Nickel Ores 99 Historical Notes on Nickel Mining 100 Nickel Deposits of Various Countries 102 Geology of Sudbury Area 103-125 Grenville Series lOR Timiskaming Sei iis lOfi Greenstones, including Sudburite 106 Table of Contents No. 62 Chapter IV. — Nickel Deposits op the World — Contimted. page The Animikie Series 108 The Keweenawau Series 108 Granite and Granite Gneiss 109 Topography, Sudbury Area 109 Crush Conglomerates and Crush Breccias 110 Commercial Ore Bodies made up of Crush Conglomerates and Crush Breccias 110 Occurrence of the Ore Bodies 113 1. Marginal Ore Bodies 113 2. Offset Ore Bodies 113 The Shape of the Ore Bodies 114 Character of the Sudbury Nickel-Copper Ores 114 The Norite-Micropegmatite 115 The Sudbury-Basin — Its Origin 121 "Later" Granites 122 The Origin of the Sudbury Nickel-Copper Ores 126-133 Igneous or Magmatic Segregation Theory 128 Theory of Deposition from Heated Waters 131 Description of Sudbury Ore Bodies 134-209 Working Mines 134-187 The Crean Hill Ore Body 134 The Creighton Ore Body 140 Geological History 140 Shape and Size of Ore Body 142 Nature of the Ore Body 143 Contact Between Ore Body and Norite Hanging Wall 146 Contact Between Ore Body and Granite Footwall 147 Mineralization of Hanging Wall and Footwall 148 Faults 149 Dikes Intersecting Ore Body 149 Origin of the Ore Body 150 No. 2 Ore Body, Canadian Copper Company 152 The Vermilion Ore Body 155 The Garson " 155 The Levack " 163 The Victoria Ore Bodies 167 The Worthington Ore Body 174 The Murray " 179 The Blezard " 183 Results of Drilling by the E. J. Longyear Company in the Townships of Falconbridge and Garson 185-187 Introduction 185 Local Geology in Falconbridge Township 185 Ore Body 187 Sampling 187 Summary 187 Other Nickel-Copper Deposits, Sudbury 188-209 The Southern Nickel Range 188-202 Sultana and Sultana East Ore Bodies 188 The Chicago Ore Body 188 Ore Bodies Between Chicago and Victoria Mines 189 The Totten, Worthington No. 2, Howland, Robinson, Gersdorffite, and Melntyre Ore Bodies 189 The Crean Hill No. 2, and Adjacent Ore Bodies 190 The Gertrude Ore Body '. 190 The North Star Ore Body 191 1917 Table of Contents vii Chapter 1\'.— Nickel Deposits of the World — Continued. page Lady \'iolet, Clarabelle or No. 6, No. 4, and Lady Maedonald or No. 5 Ore Bodies 191 Evans No. 1, and Copper Cliflf Ore Bodies 192 The Elsie Ore Body 195 The Frood and Stobie Ore Bodies 196 Cameron and Little Stobie Ore Bodies 201 The Mount Nickel Ore Body 201 The Sheppard Ore Body 202 The Kirkwood Ore Body 202 The Eastern Nickel Range 202 The Northern Nickel Range 203 The Whistle Ore Body 203 Norman, Wisner and Morgan Townships 207 Strathcoua and Big Levack Ore Bodies 207 Levack, Cascaden and Trill Townships 208 Ore Bodies not of Marginal or Offset Type, Sudbury 208 Composition of Mine Waters at Sudbury 209 Literature on Sudbury Geology 210 Methods of Mining in Sudbury Area 212-227 Canadian Copper Company's Mines 213-218 Crean Hill 213 Creighton 213 No. 2 Mine 217 No. 3 Mine 217 Dill Quartz Quarry 217 Mond Nickel Company 's Mines 218-222 Frood Extension 218 The Garson Mine 218 Levack " 219 Victoria " 221 Worthington " 221 Bruce Mines 222 Power Plants 222 Lome Power Company 222 1. Nairn Falls Power Plant, Spanish Eiver 222 2. Wabageshik Power Plant 223 Huronian Power Company 223 Mining Costs 225 Labour 225 Workmen 's Compensation Act 226 Concentration of Ores 227 Timiskaming District, Alexo Mine 229 Nickel Ores Elsewhere in Canada 233 Nickel Deposits of Other Countries 233 New Caledonia 234 Historical Notes 235 French Possession 236 Physical and Other Characteristics 237 Mining Progress 242 Composition of New Caledonia Ore 247 Cost of Refining Nickel from New Caledonia Ores 249 Character and Modes of Occurrence of Ores 250 Ore Reserves and Competition 251 Methods of Mining 253 Smelting 257 Table of Contexts No. 63 Chapter IV. — Nickel Deposit.s of the World — Continued. page Transportation 261 Labour 262 Mining Laws 263 Export Duty 264 Cost of Refined Nickel 264 Norway 264 Borneo, Island of Seboekoe , 265 Cuba , . , 267 China , 270 Egypt 270 France 271 Germany and Austria 271 Great Britain 272 Greece 272 India 275 Italy 276 Madagascar 276 Mexico and South Ainerica 277 Phillipine Islands 277 Russia 278 South Africa 278 Spain 280 Tasmania 280 United States 282 Missouri Deposits 284 Other Deposits 285 Imports and Exports 285 Chapter V. — Properties and Uses of Nickel and its CoxiPorNDS 287-320 Metallic Nickel 287 Physical Properties 287 Chemical Properties 288 Commercial Nickel and Effect of Impurities ' 291 Analyses of Commercial Nickel 292 The Samples Analysed . . . 294 Compounds of Nickel 295 Oxides and Hydroxides 295 Metallo-Compounds of Nickel 298 Uses of Nickel and Its Compounds 299 Nickel Steel 300 Direct Use as Metal 302 Nickel Alloys other than Steel 302 Monel Metal 302 Uses of Oxides and Salts 303 Use as a Catalyst 303 Nickel for Utensils 307 Use in Electroplating 307 For Anodes of Storage Batteries 311 For Colouring Ceramic Ware 312 Miscellaneous Uses 312 Nickel Coinage 312 Growth of Nickel Coinage 314 Weight and Cost of Nickel and Nickel-Bronze Coins 316 Nickel and Nickel-Bronze Coinages of the World 317 Nickel-Silver-Zinc Alloy for Coins 320 Cobalt Coinage 320 1917 TAJiLi; OF Contexts ix PAGE Chapter VI.— Xon Fkkuous Nickel Alloys 321-352 IiitroductioM 321 Nickel Industry Preceded by Cobalt "21 Early Use of Nickel Alloys 323 Beginning of Nickel Industry 324 Nickel Coinage ami Electroplating Introduced 325 1. Cupro Nickels (Cojiper-Nickol Alloys) 32li Effects of Oxyj;oii and Carbon 327 Annealing (lupro-Niekcl 32S Nickel-Bronze for Coinage 329 Monol Motal 330 Best Composition of Matte for Monel Metal 331 Physical Properties of Monol Metal 333 Resistance to Corrosion 336 2. Nickel Silvois fCopper-Nickol-Zinc Alloys) ■. 337 Packfong 337 Nifkel Silver 338 Mechanical Properties 339 ManufiM'luring Processes 340 Impurities and Their Effects 341 Heat Treatment of Nickel Silver 342 Rpecial Coi)])or-Nickel-Zinc AUoj-s 343 3. Miscellaneous Non-Ferrous Alloys of Nickel 344 Alloys for Use in Pyrometers 347 Nickel-Coppor-Aluminium Alloys 347 Physical Properties and Uses 348 Nickel Copper Alloys with Chromium and Manganese 349 Acid-Resisting Alloys 350 Nickel All<5ys with Tungsten and Lead 351 Chapter VII. — Niricior, Steki, and Other Nickel Alloys Cont.vixixg Irox 353-423 Bibliography of Nickel Steel 353 Early Experimenters with Nickel Steel 354 Properties of Nickel Steel 35() Effects of Carbon and Manganese 356 Effects of Chromium 358 British Standard Specifications for Automobile Steels 360 Particulars of Test Pieces 363 American Specifications for Structural Nickel Steel 365 Standard Specifications New York Society of Automobile Engineers 368 Nickel-Chromium Steels 372 Low Nickel-Chromium Steels 372 Medium Nickel-Chromium Steels 373 High Nickel-Chromium Steels 373 Nickel-Chromium-Vanadium Steels 377 Amended Classification of Nickel and Nickel-Chromium Steels 378 Physical Properties of Nickel Alloys 381 Nickel and Iron 381 Nickel and Carbon 381 The Influence of Nickel on Low Carbon Steels 383 Effect of Nickel upon Resistivity and Permeability 391 Influence of Nickel on High Carbon Steels 391 The Heat Treatment of Steel 392 Expansibility 397 High- Nickel Steels .-jcis Table of Contents No. 63 Chapteb yil. — Nickel Steel and Other Nickel Alloys Containing Ieon. — Con. page Invar 399 Platinite 399 Thirteen per cent. Nickel Steel 400 Eesistance Wire 400 Non-Magnetic Property of High-Nickel Steel 402 Complex Nickel-Steels and Alloys Used in Their Manufacture 403 Ferro-Nickel 403 Ferro-Nlckel-Chrome 403 Ferro-Nickel-Silicon 403 Nickel-Chromium 403 Nickel Tungsten 403 Nickel Molybdenum 403 Nickel Manganese Steel 404 Resistance of Nickel Steels to Corrosion 404 The Uses of Nickel Steels 404 Increasing Use of Nickel-Chromium Steel 406 Use in Armour-Plate and Projectiles 407 Chromium in Ordinary and Complex Nickel Steels 408 "Natural" Nickel and Nickel-Chromium Steels 410 Nickel-Chrome Ores of Cuba 410 The Mayari Steels 411 Nickel-Copper Steels 413 Experiments by Professor G. A. Guess 414 Possible Production from Sudbury Ores 417 Dr. J. E. Stead on Copper in Steel 418 Effect of Copper in Assisting Resistance to Corrosion 422 Chapter VIII. — Smelting Nickel Ores v 424-457 Introduction 424 Considerations in Making Matte 425 Dressing the Ore .~ 426 Roasting 428 Smelting 429 Converting 430 The Canadian Copper Company 430 Heap Roasting 430 Mechanical Roasting 432 Blast Furnaces 433 The Operation of the Blast Furnaces 435 Reverberatory Furnaces 438 Coal Dust Firing 439 Charge Employed in Reverberatory Furnace 440 Bessemerizing . . '. 442 Charge for Converter 444 Power 447 The Mond Nickel Company 447 Roast Heap Practice 449 Mechanical Roasting 449 Smelting Plant 449 Smelting Operations 449 Converter Practice 451 Power 453 New Caledonia Ore 453 Further Treatment of the Matte 454 Norwegian Ore 455 1917 Table of Co-vtkxts xi PAGE Chapter I.X.—Kkkimxo Processes 458-480 Introduction \ 458 Nickol Matte 459 From J[attc to Metal 460 Losses in Smelting and Refining 460 Matte Costs and Values 461 By-Product Nickel 462 The Orford Process 464 Thompson and Monell Patents 466 Operation of Process and Results 466 Products other than Nickel and Copper 467 The Mond Process 469 1. Roasting 471 2. Extraction 471 3. Reduction 471 4. Volatilization 472 5. Decomposition 472 The Copper Sulphate 473 Production at Clydach 474 New Caledonian Ores 475 Electrolytic Refining 475 Advantages of Electrolytic Method 476 The Hybinette Process 477 Recovering the Nickel 477 Recovering the Copper 478 Experiments by Prof. Guess 479 A Possible Process for Copper Concentrates 480 Chapter X.— Recovery of Metals or the Platinum Group 481-486 Introduction 481 Platinum Group of Metals 481 Recoveries from Blister Copper 482 Concentration of Precious Metals in Matte 483 Associations with Copper 483 Proportions Present in Sudbury Matte 484 International Nickel Company's Recoveries 485 Assay by Ledoux and Company 486 Chapter XI. — Recovery and Utilization of Sulphur 487-494 Introduction 487 The Quantity of Sulphur Liberated 488 Desirability of Saving the Sulphur 488 Losses of Metal from Heap Roasting 489 Utilization of Sulphur Dioxide 490 Sulphuric Acid 490 Uses of Sulphuric Acid 491 Sulphurous Acid in the Wood Pulp Industry 492 Sodium Sulphate by the Hargreaves Process 492 Reducing Sulphur Dioxide to Elemental Sulphur 493 The Thiogen Processes 494 Chapter XII.— Statistics 495-505 Nickel and Copper Production of Sudbury 495 Canadian Copper Company's Production 496 Mond Nickel Company 's Production 497 xu Table of Contents No. 62 Chapter XII. — Statistics — Continued. page New Caledonia's Output 497 Norway 499 Germany 500 United States Imports of Niclcel 501 United States Exports of Nickel 50i Chapter XIII. — Taxation op Mines and Mining Industries 506-528 In the United States ' 506 In Other Countries 507 In the Canadian Provinces 507 Australia and South Africa 508 Position of Ontario 's Mining Industry 509 The Ontario Mining Tax Act 510 Taxation on Acreage 512 Taxation on Tonnage or Output 513 Taxation on Mine Valuation 513 The Pinlay Method of Valuation 514 Effects of Ad Valorem System 516 Difficulties of Appraisal 517 Taxation of Profits 518 Operating the Ontario Act 519 Taxation of Nickel Companies 520 The Interest of the Municipalities 523 What the Profit Tax Has Yielded 524 Dividends Paid by Mining Companies 526 The Rate of Taxation 527 Special War Taxation 527 Chapter XIV. — Bibhogeaphy of Nickel 529 ILLU.STEATIOXS AND DIAGRAMS PAGE Cici^;htim Nickel Mine, Xdvenibcr 21st, 1916 Frontispiece Hospital of the ('inLiidiuii Copper Compaiiy 2 Officials ' luiuscs, Canadian Copper Company 7 Club houses, do. do. 7 Workmen 's houses do. do. 7 • 'lubhousc built Ijy Canadian Copper Company 14 Cupper Cliff school, Copper Cliff 14 Coiicontrating plant at Bruce ilincs 22 Railway cut in outcrop at Min ruy mine 31 Old workings at Murray mine 31 Co]ppoi- Cliff cDjipci-iiickcl mine, IS'M) 36 Copper Cliff cop]]('r-iiickel mine, 191(i 36 Canadian Copper Company, matte y;ird, West Snnlter, 1002 76 Polished and oti'licd surface of ore, slinwiiifj pontlandite, CopinT Cliff mine, Sudbury Area, Ontario 97 Polished surfaces of sulphides and norite, Crei;;liton mine, Sudbury Area, Ontario.... OS Polished sulphides and noiite, Blezard mine, Sudbury Area, Outaiio, and veinlct of pontlandite, Creighton mine 101 (ii-eywacke and slate, Timiskaming series, Sudbury, Ontario 107 Section from Romford Junction to Windy lake 110 Crush-conglomerate and crusli-brcccia. Copper Cliff, Ontario Ill Crush-conghunerate and crush-lireccia, S\idbury, Ontario 112 Character of ore at Creighton mine, Suilbui-y Area, Ontario 114 Cross-sectiources, industries and capacities, both present and future, of tlie Province of <)ntario in cdnnection with Nickel and its Ores, and at the same time into and upon a just and equitable system of ta-xation by the Province of the mines, minerals and mineral industries thereof, as is more fully and particularly set out in the Com- mission issued to the undersigned under the Great Sual of the Province on the 9tli day of September, 1915, have the honour to submit their report. The Report begins by presenting under the heading " Summary and ( in- clusions '"' a brief statement of its contents, and the conditions at which the Com- missioners have arrived on the matters referred to them. The detailed discussion of these matters is contained in fourteen chapters, as follow^ : — I Agitation for Home Refining of Xickel. II Historical Sketdi of Nickel iJiseoxeries. Ill The Operating Nickel Companies. I\' Nickel Deposits of the World. V The Properties and Uses of Nickel and Its Compounds. VI Non-Perrous Alloys. A'll Nickel Steel and Other Alloys of Xickel Containing Iron. VIII Smelting Nickel Ores. IX Refining Processes. X Recovery of Jletals of the Platinum Group. XI Recovery and I'tilization of Sulphur. XII Statistics. XII 1 Taxation of Mines. XR' Kibliography of Nickel. There is an Appendix to the Report, in a separate volume, which contains the testimony of witnesses who appeared before the Commission with regard to the questions under investigation, together with memoranda, M-ritten argument-, and other papers submitted by those interested in the Commission's ]iroceedings. A consiik'rable quantity of such material was received, 'and the Commissioners have exercised their judgment as to what appeared advisable to be printed. Other infor- mation of a confidential kind was placed in the possession of the Commissioners, and has had its due influence upon the decisions they reached. In view of its nature and the conditions under which it was received, such information has not been printed. Tlic wliole is herewith respectfully submitted for Your Honour's consideration. (Signed) George T. Hollowat, Chairman. W. G. illLLER. ilcGRECiOR YOUXG. Thos. W. Gibsox. Secretary. Toitovni. :M;iivh l!i. lOir. Royal Ontario Jirl-el Coi„mi.sfully as a nickel producer with any other country? It will be seen that the Commissioners have no hesitation in answering both of these questions in the affirmative. The Commissioners are of opinion : — 1. The nickel ore deposits of Ontario are much more extensive and ott'er better facilities for the production of nickel at a low cost than do those of any other country. Nickel-t the output has had to be curtailed at times. If the price of nickel should fall, profits w-ill naturally decrease. The nickel industry is to a considerable extent dependent for its success on the highly trained and s|)ecialized technical men wlio superintend it. and who command salaries far beyond those which are jiaid in the government service to tlie most higldy ]ilaeed employees. Besides, nickel is not a necessity of life nor an article of nni\ersal consumption or use, and tiic nickel Imsiness is in no way comparable to those connected with the operation of public utilities, wliere government owner- ship may be beneficial or expedii'nt. In short, flieri' does not seem tn be any good reason why the people of Ontario should be askeil to ailventure so large a sum of money as would be required for the purchase of the nickel deposits and plants. Uses of Nicltel The important question of '" the demand and market for nickel, its ores and products, by-products and alloys" has called for full investigation of all present and probable uses of nickel in its various forms and alloys. The uses of nickel arc fully deseribed in Chapters V, YI and VII. They may be divided into the follnwing groujis : — 1. As a component of alloys, 'i. As a surface coating for other metals. 3. As a chemical or I'atalytie reagent. 4. As pure metal. Of the alloys, nickel steel, as ordinarily termed, is the most important. It contains about three and one-half per cent, of nickel, has great strength and ductility as ciunpared with carbon steel, and is used in various forms in a wide range of industrial operations, and also in the manufacture of armour-plate, ordnance, projectiles, protective deck plate, gun shields, and many other articles of naval and military equipment. The properties of toughness it imparts to steel have rendered its use for industrial purposes of increasing importance, and this field has widened very rapidly. As a structural material nickel steel has been employed in the construction of the ilaiihattan and Queensborough bridges in New York city; in the St. Louis municipal bridge over the Mississippi ; in the Kansas City viaduct and bridge over the ilissouri; in the emergency dam, locks and spillways in the Panama canal; and in the reconstruction of the Quebec bridge, St. Lawrence river. Among other uses of nickel steel the following may be cited: For locomotive forgings, t'lectric railway gears, marine engine works, stationary engine construe- 3xviii Kepoht of the Ontario Nickel Commissiox No. 63 tion, automobile parts (a rapidly increasing use), mill machinery, wire cables, axles and railway rails, especially in tunnels or on curves. ilonel Metal, an invention of the International Nickel Company and named after the president of that company, contains approximately 67 per cent, nickel. 28 per cent, copper, and 5 per cent, manganese and iron. It possesses great incorro- dibility and high tensile strength, which have led to its use in many industries. A few of these uses may be mentioned : Propeller blades, valves, castings for oil stills, permanent roofing, tie rods, holts and nuts, enameling and burning points, shafting and pump rods. Cupro-Nickel is an alloy of approximately 30 per cent, nickel and 80 per cent, copper. It is largely used in the manufacture of bullet jackets and other munition purposes. Bullet casings contain from ] 5 to 20 per cent, of nickel, and are used in order to give a surface to the bullet that will not be destroyed by the rifling of the barrel. Coinage alloys, as a rule, contain about 25 per cent, of nickel and 75 per cent. of copper. This is the material used in the United States five-cent piece or •' nickel." It is now usually called nickel-bronze. A novel alloy of 22.5 per cent, nickel, 60 per cent, silver, and 17.5 per cent, zinc is now (1917) being suggested for two new coins of small denomination in connection wdth the proposed decimalization of British coinage. Down to 25 per cent, of nickel the copper-nickel alloys are white; with less than twenty-five j)er cent, they show a reddish-white tint. There are a great number of such copper-nickel alloys used for plumbers' supplies, piping and castings. Nickel Silver alloys contain from 12 to 25 per cent, nickel alloyed with copper and zinc, say 50 to 66 per cent, of the former, and 20 to 40 per cent, of the latter. They are used for tableware, railway-ear fittings etc. Nickel enters into a great many alloys for electrical use as resistance materials, such as nickel-chromium and nickel-manganese. The use of nickel in the electroplating of metallic objects is widely known, and requires no explanation. A sheet of iron heated in contact with two sheets of nickel can be rolled so as to produce a perfect nickel coating. This material has been used to a certain extent in Germany for the production of kitchen utensils. As a finely divided metal, nickel is used as a carrier of hydrogen in the manu- facture of fats from oils, and this property of nickel is largely made use of by soap-makers. Nickel oxide is useful for colouring or decolourizing purposes in the manufacture of glass, and there are many chemical uses of nickel and its compounds. In the pure metallic form nickel is used in the manufacture of sheets which are stamped into watch cases, cigarette cases, cooking utensils, and the like. It is drawn into wire which is often used for spark plugs and electrical leading-in wires. Pure nickel is also employed in some of the European countries for coins of the smaller denominations. The Commissioners have had the advantage of consulting producers and leading consumers for different purposes in Great Britain and the United States. The opinion is general that the uses of nickel will be extended, and that when normal peace conditions are fully restored, the demand will be greater than it was before the war. A reduction of the price would undoubtedly enlarge the con- sumption and call for increased production. 1917 Sl MMARY AXD COXCLUSION> Xxix Nickel Deposits 111 clm]it(T II is LTivuii an lii>tfii-i(,-al sketch of the early dixjovory uf nickel in Ontario, and of its re-discovery during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and particulars are given regarding the dates and circumstances of locating the various mines and deposits which form the basis of the industry here. The Iii'iKiit contains a comprehensive account of the known Xickel Deposits of the World (C'hapter IV). Those of Sudbury and Xew Caledonia are ile^cribed, and details as to geology, methods of mining, etc.. are given. Mention is made of nickel deposits and nickeliferous iron ores in other parts of the world, such as those of ^Mailagasear, Seboekoe (Borneo) and C'uba, sunie of which have hitherto been but little known. Competition The question of competition from other countries is of primary importance. While competition is not to be feared, it would be futile to try tu shut off the supply of nickel from almost any of the gieat nations. As will be seen from the description of the deposits of the world, nearly every important country has supplies of nickel ore which can be worked if the demand is jrreat, thus ensuring a hiaii price. In the early years of the development of the Ontario nickel industry grave (lillieulties wei'e encountered. Of the three pioneer companies, only the Canadian Copper Company has survived. The chief difficulties were the economical treatment of the ore, the prejudice of the trade against Canadian nickel, and the limited market. Gradually, and not easily, the o'bstaeles were overcome, and from a weak and pi'eearious iiil'aney, the Sndbiii-y nickel industry has grown to be one of the great nu'tal industries of the world. The market for nickel is much more restrieied than for iron, copper, and other so-called common metals. Troiluction has to be more closely considered in relation to consumption. Statistics show that at cci'tain periods the output of nickel from Sudbury ores has not shown a normal inerea.^e; it has oceasidually decreased. This has been ehiefly due to the fact that consumption has not kept pace with production. Much has been done by the refiners of Ontario nickel by means of advertising and research to increase con- sumption and to enlarge the markets. The proven, or positive, ore of the Sudbury area can be conservatively put at 70 million tons, while it is sale to say that the proven, together with the probable and ]iossiblc ore supply, exceeds l.'iH million tons. The International Xickel Com- pany's published estimate of their ore reserves is 5T million ton-, which is for three mines only. Although the Sndbury deposits have been worked for twenty- nine year^. there is vastly more ore proven in the district to-day than there was five years ago. In the last few years the proven reserves in the Creighton, Frood, and Crean Hill mines of the Canadian Copper Company (International Xickel Company) have been very largely increased. The historic Copper Cliff mine is not exhausted, but is lying dormant simply because the company can mine ore more cheaply from Other pro]icrties. Of tlie Mond Xickel Cunijiany's properties, neither the Victoria, the oldest mine of thi^ company and the deepest mine of any kind in Ontario, nor the t^ar-on, XXX Eepokt of the Ontario Nickel Commission No. 62 another of its older mines, shows signs of exhaustion. The great Levack property has been developed only within the last three or four years into a mine now known to have at least 4,500,000 tons of ore, and it may be added that the ore of this mine has been found to be of higher grade than was thought to be the ease in any of the properties in the north nickel range. The Worthington mine, that lay unworked for years, has lately been reopened and possesses important reserves. The Murray mine, now owned by the British America Nickel Corporation, was operated in the early years of the nickel industry in Sudbury and thought to be of little importance. This mine lies right on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Eailway, three miles from Sudbury, and is one of the best examples that can be cited of a great mine lying for years, after its discovery and after considerable work had been done on it, with its importance unrecognized. Several companies had options on it at various times after the Vivians ceased work over twenty years ago, but it is within only the last four or five years that its greatness has been determined. Diamond drilling has proved that it and the adjoining Elsie property contain at least 8,500,000 tons of ore. The apparently important discovery by the Longyear syndicate, during the last few months, of nickel ore bodies underlying the heavy covering of drift in the town- ship of Falconbridge, east of the Garson mine, should also be mentioned. The dis- covery was made by means of diamond drills and proves, what the geological condi- tions would suggest, that not- all the nickel deposits of the district are exposed at the surface. The existence of the Alexo mine, Timiskaming district, in actual operation, so far from Sudbury, is significant of possibilities outside of that area. No such vast deposits of workable ores, considered as a source of metallic nickel, are known in any other country, and there is no reason to believe that any com- petition will arise with which Ontario cannot cope. The sources of competition are discussed in the Chapter on the Nickel Deposits of the World. The competition of New Caledonia calls for special mention. The question has received careful, consideration from the Commission, and in view of its import- ance, one of the Commissioners, accompanied by the Chief Inspector of ilines, visited and spent some time on the island, where by the courtesy of the French government and the officials of the operating companies, they were able to secure first-hand information in regard to its resources and prospects. For many years New Caledonia dominated the nickel market of the world. With its accumulated experience, the financial support of the Eothschilds, a trade prejudice in favour of its product, and long and favoured connections with the principal consumers in Great Britain and elsewhere in Europe before and after the advent of Ontario as a producer. New Caledonia has been unable to keep pace with her younger rival. When the Sudbury industry began, practically the whole of the world's demand for nickel was supplied from New Caledonia. In 1900 about 65 per cent, of the world's nickel came from New Caledonia and about 35 per cent, from Canada. The world's output has increased fivefold since that time, and Ontario now produces over 1917 SlMMARY AND Co\( LL'SIOXS XXxi 80 per cent, nf the whole. The production of Ontario in the last 15 years has increased ninefold; tlie production of New Caledonia by less than "20 per cent. The chief factor that has enabled Sudbury to outdistance its only serious rival is the difference in the size of the ore bodies in the two countries. The principal Ontario deposits contiiin ore that i,s measured in tonnages of millions, while tliose of New Caledonia are reckoned in a few hundreds of thousands. The greatest of her deposits contained about 600,000 tons; few reached 250,000. A determination of the ore reserves in New Caledonia is not possible owing to their uncertain character, but it is probably fair to say that the colony possesses at least as much high grade ore as she has already mined in the forty years of her existence as a producer. This would give a total of say 160,000 tons of metal, which would represent about four years' output from Sudbury at the present rate of production. There being many deposits for selection, the first mines to be worked were naturally the most accessible, and usually those near a harbour. Many mines that were once worked are now abandoned, including the Bornet, which has the record of having been the largest producer. The production of the larger mines is decreasing, and mines such as the Emma in more inaccessible situations are now being opened, necessitating the extension of the railways farther into the interior of the island. There is no evidence to show that any of the new nickel mines are larger than some of the old ones, or that ore can be produced more cheaply from them. The essence of the whole matter in so far as competition from New Caledonia in the open market is concerned, is the cost of the refined nickel produced from its ores. More than a dozen years ago the cost was approximately 19 cents a pound. Immediately prior to the war it had not been lowered. At present with excessive freight rates and increased prices for supplies, the cost is much increased. As long as the price of nickel remains about the same as it has been during recent years. New Caledonia will have an important industry. It will probably expand to some extent, owing especially to the activities of the newer of the two companies that are shipping ore and smelting on the island. But there is no good reason for believing that the competition with Ontario will become any stronger than it has been in the past. Should the price of nickel fall to 25 cents a pound or less, New Caledonia will have difficulty in keeping her mines in operation. Wiile it is true that Ontario has no monopoly it posessses many advantages over all competitors, even under the present conditions of the market as to prices and trade connections. In any keen competition as to prices it is doubtful whether any other locality at present known or suggested could compete with Ontario. It is a matter of record that at one time of low prices the leading New Caledonia company was compelled to suspend all dividends. It may be doubted, further, whether anything but an arrangement of the market between the great interests can prevent the complete domination of the world's trade by the nickel industry of Ontario making the best use of its exceptional resources. A Chapter of the Report is devoted to the history and development of the princi par operating companies connected with the industry in Ontario from its inception. xxxii Eepokt of the Ontario A^ickel Commission Ko^'^ Relining Processes There are three processes, which may be described as standard methods, in use for the refining of nickel from ores like those of Sudbury. These are (1) the Orford process, employed for the treatment of the matte produced by the Canadian Copper Company, (2) the Mond process, and (3) the Electrolytic process. For all these processes, the production of a matte is essential. Matte is made by sub- stantially the same method for all three. The Orford Process is the oldest of the three. It is cheap to operate, and permits of a large output in a confined space, but it does not recover more than a small proportion of the precious metals present in the ores, and there is reason to think that losses of nickel and copper are heavier than in either of the other two processes. In the Orford process, the matte is smelted with sodium sulphate and carbon- aceous matter, such as coal or coke, so that a large proportion of the copper is separated as a double sulphide of copper and sodium, when tapped from the furnace ; this separates as an upper layer above a matte which is much richer in nickel and poorer in copper than the original matte. A repetition of the smelting of this highly nickeliferous matte results in a further separation of copper in the same way, so that finally, the bulk of the copper is obtained as a slag (which is smelted to produce blister copper) together with a matte so rich in nickel and so poor in copper that, after being roasted and leached with acid, to remove the remainder of the copper which it contains, it can be smelted in a reverberatory furnace, for the production of metallic nickel. The leaching processes result in the production of a considerable amount of copper sulphate and nickel sulphate. The former is treated for the production of metallic copper, but the latter is, to a considerable extent, crystallized out, and either treated electrolvtically for the production of high grade electrolytic nickel, or sold as nickel sulphate or as the double sulphate of nickel and ammonium for electro-plating and other purposes. The Orford process, being partly chemical, produces large quantities of nox- ious effluents. At the Bayonne works over 150 million gallons are annually run, into the sea. The plans for the new works at Port Colborne, Ontario, provide for the elimination of this discharge. The Mond Process treats a matte of somewhat difEereut composition, 'because, although it contains about the same total quantity of nickel and copper, the relative proportions of the two are very different. The matte from the Canadian Copper Company averages about 54 per cent, nickel and 25 per cent, copper, whereas that from the Mond Nickel 'Company is much richer in copper and averages about 41 per cent, nickel and 41 per cent, copper. These differences are due to the com- position of the ores treated by the two companies. The matte is refined at Clydach in "Wales. In this process there are probably the smallest losses either of nickel, copper, or the precious metals.' The process comprises roasting to remove the sulphur, leaching with sulphuric acid to obtain a large proportion of the copper, which is ultimately crystallized out and sold as copper sulphate, and the reduction of the oxides of nickel too-ether with the small quantity of copper left in the roasted and leached matte with pro- 1917 Sl-mmahy and Co.vchsioxs txxiii ducer gas, which reduces the iron, copper and nickel to the form of finely divided metal. This material is next treated in a \ortical chamber or tower with producer ga,s at a special temperature, by means of which the nickel is converted into a volatile compound known as nickel carbonyl. This parses to another cham'ber or toner, where it is exposed to a higher temperature, whereby it is decomposed so that the metallic nickel is depfisited on a number of slowly descending grains of nickel previously added in the form of small shot. The residues from the first treatment are either again treated with sulphuric acid to remove the copper and iron, or are smelted again, after whicli the nickel they contain is recovered by repetition of the treat- ment. The residues are finally separated and sold for their precious metal contents. The nickel produced is of high purity, and has an excellent reputation. It may be mentioned that the leaching described as being done upon the original roasted matte, dissolves a considerable quantity of nickel as well as of copper. This is recovered and sold as nickel sulphate, or as nickel ammonium sulphate, for electro-plating and other purposes. The JMond Nickel Company does not make or sell any metallic copper. The Hybinette Process, .employed in Xorway, and about to be employed in Ontario by the British America Nickel Corporation, deposits the nickel clectro- lytically, using soluble anodes made from partly roasted nickel copper matte. The copper is obtained as a crude blister copper, by treating it with the scrap anodes from tbc electrolytic nickel production. The copper thus produced is melted into anodes and electrolytically purified. Without going into details, it may be stated that the Hybinette and other electrolytic processes produce nickel and copper of high quality and with small losses, and tliat they recover the bulk of the precious metala. One great advantage of the electrolytic process is that although the plant occupies considerable space, it can be erected at short notice, and units can be added to the plant, to any extent, as the output requires. No attempt is at present made in working any of the above-described processes to recover the sulphur, which all goes to waste as fumes, except a small portion wliich, in the electrolytic method, becomes converted into sulphuric acid and is used as such in the process. A large number of other processes, many of which are feasible and some of which may become commercially workable, have 'been proposed; but the whole question of Eefining is fully dealt with in Chapter IX. Hydro-Electric Power The Province of Ontario is fortunate in possessing an abundance of water power. In the absence of coal mines this is a feature of great importance in connec- tion with her mining and mineral industries. In the " Water Powers of Canada," (lliKI), published by the Dominion Water Power Branch, Department of the Interior. Ottawa, the following estimate of the available water power in Ontario, and the amount of power so far developed, is given by Mr. H. G. Acres, hydraulic engineer, TIvdro-Electric Commission of Ontario. xxxiv Eepoex of the Ontahio Nioicel Commission No. 62 Division. Potential E.P. Developed B.F. Ottawa River and tributaries 688,000 71,000 Great Lakes tributaries 446,000 137,000 Hudson Bay slope 250,000 22,000 James Bay slope 1,500,000 30,000 International Boundary waters 2,045,0,00 462,000 4,929,000 722,000 For electric furnace work and the manufacture of chemicals, electric power has come into extensive use, by reason both of the high temperatures it is capable of producing, and the power it possesses of dissociating compounds by electrolysis. Particularly is the electric current rapidly taking over the field for the manufacture of special metals and alloys, such as metallic aluminium and ferro-alloys, including ferro-chrome, ferro-molybdenum, ferro-tungsten, ferro-nickel and ferro-silicon. Where the current is cheap, it is also being successfully employed in the direct smelt- ing of ores, including those of copper and, in Sweden, iron ores for the manufac- ture of Swedish charcoal-iron and steel. The great advantage of the electric furnace is the absolute control which can be exercised as regards the output, the extra purity of the products, and the possibility of desulphurizing and otherwise purifying the first product by return to the furnace with the necessary reagents or fluxes. The scale upon which electric power is now utilized in electro-chemical and electro-metallurgical manufactures is strikingly illustrated by the great develop- ment of such industries in the neighbourhood of Niagara Falls, on both sides of the boundary line. This concentration is wholly due to the cheap electric power generated from the great cataract. Further, in every important mining camp in Ontario hydro-electric power is in use for mining, treatment and all other purposes at a cost of about one- third that of power produced from either coal or wood. A description of the power plants of the Canadian Copper Company and the Mond Nickel 'Company is given in Chapter IV of this Eeport, under the heading " Methods of Mining," and a concise and interesting review of the hydro-electric developments and possibilities of the Province and their relations to the mining and refining industries, by Mr. H. G. Acres, will be found in the Appendix under the heading "Ontario Water Power and the Mining Industry" (Section F). The schedules there printed, which were furnished by Mr. E. T. Jefllery, show the cost of electric current in various parts of the United States and elsewhere, in comparison with the cost in Ontario, greatly to the advantage of the latter. The special bearing of this abundant and cheap supply of water power on the nickel industry, consists not only in the use of electric energy generated there- from in the operation of mines, smelters, etc., but also in the fact that it enables the electrolytic method of refining nickel to be employed under advant- ageous conditions as to cost. The Hybinette electrolytic process is the one adopted by the British America Nickel Corporation for the refinery it is to erect at Murray Mine. In the Appendix, under the title "Water Power Development in Norway," a brief history is given of the development of water power in that country. This is rendered interesting owing to the resemblance between Norway and Ontario in climatic and other conditions, and in the fact that both countries are without coal. 1917 Si .MJIAKY AM) CliX( LUSIOXS xxxv Costs of Refining: 'I'lipio are tluei' stops in the pioiluction of refined nickel, namely, miniiii:, sniojtin,;,' iind refining. Iloretorore as rejzards tlie Sndbury industry, only mining and smelting have been done in this CDUiitry, the ilund Company refininu' in AVales. and the International Company, of which the Canadian Cupper Company is the Ontario branch, in New Jersey. The ]\[ond Cdiiipany have furnished the Commissioners, confidentially, a eom- pk'te statement as tn the costs in each of tlie three stages; the International Nickel Company have furnished a statement of costs for mining and smelting, Imt have declined to furnish costs for the third stage, namely, refining. The T.ritish America Nil kei (Jomjiaiiy, now beginning operations in Smlliury, have supplied an e>tiniate as to cost oi' refining nickel iby their iiroeess, as well as tlie cost of operation of this process in Norway, wlicre it has been employed for some years. Keiianling ])roeesses and <'ost- of refining nickel, the' enquiries made hy the Commissioners have led theni to the following conclusions: — The res|)ecti\'e costs of jii-oducing refined nickel from the Suillmry ores by each of the three jn-oeesses mentioned do not dilTer to such an extent as to give any one process a matei-ial advantage o\er the others in competition. An eleetrolytie ])rocess has been a connnereial success on lower grade ores in Xoi'way. The use of elei'trolytie proet'sses by all tlie companies operating in Ontario would not prevent thtur meeting competition from any other quarter. The costs of production are gradually falling through increased eilieieney and larger output, and may be still further reduced. War conditions, resulting in scarcity of labour and increased cost of supplies, are for the present exercising an influence in the opposite direction. The International Nickel Company, until recently, contended on commercial grounds that the Orl'ord process could not be profitably operated in this rrovince. These contentions were largely based on comparative costs as between New Jersey and Copper ClilV. Evidently they do not now apply to the north shore of Lake Erie, where, at Port Colborne, this company is building a retinery. The ^Mond Xickel Company allege that by rea.son of the greater expense due to hiiiher wages, increased cost of fuel and chemicals, and higher freight charges, refin- ing in (Ontario would make a material addition to the cost of their products, namely refined nickel and sulphate of copper. The company have supplied the Commission with figures in support of this view. A sjieeial argument is liased upon the necessity of quick del)\ery for co]iper sulphate, which is marketed in the vine-growing coun- trie> of the Mediterranean, and is required only during a limited season of the year for ilestroying blight on vines. A i-oncise statement of the reasons the company have urged before the Commission will be found in a memorandum submitted by them, and T)riiiti'il in Section "I" of the Appendix. There is nothing to prevent the Hybinette process, of the British America Corporation, being operated as cheaply and as efficiently in Ontario as elsewhere. The costs at Sudbury will be less than tlicy have been in Norway, owing to the larger scale of the operations in Ontario. xxxvi Eepoet of the Ontaeio Nickel Commission No. 63 Nickel-Copper Steel The possibility of utilizing the iron in the Sudbury ores by direct smelting has always been recognized. This iron, amounting to say 40 or 45 per cent, of the weight of the ore, is now wholly lost in the present processes of treatment ; and the practical solution of the metallurgical and commercial problems involved in util- izing the iron would conserve our resources and add to our industries. The steel might be made either from the raw or roasted ore, or from the slag which would contain both nickel and copper, together with nearly all the iron originally present in the ore. Taking a typical Sudbury waste slag as an example, there is a theoretical possibility of obtaining from one million tons (about two- thirds of the 1916 production) over 400,000 tons of nickeliferous pig, containing 3,000 tons of nickel and 3,500 tons of copper. It may be added that in the production of nickel-copper steel direct from the Sudbury ores, the precious metals (gold, silver, platinum and palladium) will be entirely lost. If it should prove practicable to use the slag, instead of the ore, as the source of nickel-copper steel, this objection will not obtain. There is a trade prejudice against the presence of copper in steel, which it would be necessary to overcome. This prejudice does not appear to be justified, and seems to be lessening. Much independent research work has been published on the subject, and the results are presented in Chapter VII of the Eeport. The conclusion is reached that the presence of copper within limits available when using the Sudbury ores or slags, is not objectionable and may be a benefit. In view of the practical importance of the question, the Commissioners ob- tained the services of Mr. G. A. Guess, Professor of Metallurgy in the University of Toronto, to make experiments in the production of nickel-copper steel direct from Sudbury ore, and also to investigate the quality of nickel steels containing copper.' Professor Guisss produced a series of S'^.a per cent, copper-nickel steels, with varying ratios of copper to nickel, in order to study their properties. The steels were forged by the John A^Tiitfield Company of Toronto and found to be of good quality. The percentages of nickel varied from 1.8 to 3.43, and the copper from 1.3 to 0.03. In concluding the description of his experiments Professor Guess says : " The value of this process of producing nickel-copper steel is based on the belief that copper may replace a very considerable amount of the nickel in a 3.5 per cent, nickel steel without producing an inferior article, which belief is, I think, well founded." Details concerning the experiments are given in Chapter VII. Nickel Statistics The Commissioners have endeavoured to obtain reliable statistics both of pro- duction of nickel and its consumption for the different uses in which it is employed. On account of the fact that the prevailing practice is to refine nickel in countries other than the country of origin, it is not possible to procure absolutely complete and satisfactory figures. There is confusion and frequently duplication, by reason of' the statistics of export and import being given for differing fiscal years; ore or matte must be converted into terms of nickel on an assumed basis, and in many instances, statistical authorities differ among them- 1917 HUMilAUY AMJ COXCLUSIOXS XX.Wli SL'lves. Further, the iigures annually obtained and published are those of the estimated contents of the ore and matte exported, and no allowance is made for losses in refining. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the statistics presented in ( hapter XII deal- iiiL; speeially with the subject, may be regarded as fairly correct for the production of nickel, at any rate for the two main sources, New Caledonia and Ontario, and also ft> under five tons, or Is. sd. per lb. for sm.iller lots. Since the war began there has been an increase in price, but not a larpo one compared with other metals, little, if anythin.l,^ more than sufficient to cover the increase in cost of labour, Treipbt and insurance. The influence of lon.u-terni contracts, upon which nickel is iiaually sold, has no doubt tended, along with the elimination of Ccrniany as a market, to keep down the jirice. Rel'ei'cnce may be made to the evidence of Sir Alfred ^lond, which will be found in the Apjiendix. that there was no arraniicment between the producing companies for the regulation of prices or the division of the markets. The statistics of value placed upon the nickel and cojiper contents of the matte in the returns of the producers to the Ontario Bureau of Mines, are merely nominal, 'being for the Canadian Cojipcr Company, 10 cents jier pound for nickel aiul 7 cents for cop]ier, and for the Moml Nickel Company, 1.") cents for nickel and 7\'_i cents for copper. These figures remain stationary from vear to year, not fluctu- ating with changes in the prices of the metals. In the case of the Canadian Copper Company, they appear to have been adopted because they represent the price at which the company sold the matte to the Orford Copper Company before both concerns were merged into the International Nickel Company in 1902. The practical elVect is to credit the entire profits of the business to the refining stage, and to eliminate them from the mining and smelting stages. This is a con- venient method for the companies, since no real change of ownership takes place between the mine and the finished metal. The result, however, is to unduly depress the figures of value in the Ontario statistics, and in dealing with the figures for 1015 the Bureau of ilines adopted a valuation of 2.5 cents per pound for nickel and 10 cents for copper in the matte. The latter figure has been increased to isVj cents for 1916, since the price of refined copper has risen to a height 1 ot hitherto approached during the last forty years. xl Eepoet of the Ontaeio Nickel Commission No. 62 Losses ill Mining, Smelting: and Refining The losses in each department are considerable, but in mining and smelting, at any rate, they are well recognized 'by the two large operating companies. It may be taken for granted- from what the Commissioners have seen of the efficient working of these companies, and from the analyses supplied, that everything is being done to minimize these losses, so far as meets the requirements of companies having large quantities of rich ore for immediate use and in reserve, and very large supplies of low-grade ore proved and ready for working when needed. As to losses in refining, it may be said that there is more room for improve- ment in the treatment of a matte containing about 80 per cent, of metals, nickel and copper, than in the simple production of such matte. The losses on the roast-heaps through leaching are not definitely known, although they have been estimated by the Canadian Copper Company at about 1% per cent, of the total copper and nickel. In addition to losses in mining, and the leaching losses on the roast-heaps, the losses by the Canadian Copper Company in the slags from the smelting at Copper ClifE amounted in the year ending March 31, 1916, to about 8.9 per cent, of the total nickel, and about 9.6 per cent, of the total copper. Although their work is carried on with great efficiency, and it is not suggested that these losses can be reduced, the total, reckoned on 1, 227,187 tons of ore raised in 1916, reaching, as it does, 3,100 tons of nickel an(i 1,400 tons of copper per annum, indicates the importance of any improvement which can be made in metallurgical practice. The smelting losses of the Mond Nickel Company may be taken as similar, except that their roast-heap losses are less, as they employ heap-roasting to a much smaller extent. The Commissioners have to express their appreciation of the frankness with which both companies have discussed the question of losses, and their willingness to consider any possible means of lesieuing them. They point out, however, and the Commissioners agree, that there is no reason to anticipate much further saving on smelting operations, and that the losses in the smelting of nickel-copper ores are always likely to be greater than those inherent in ordinary copper smelting, with which the treatment of the Sudbury ore is fairly comparable. The losses in mining will be gradually reduced as the grade of ore 'mined becomes lower. That processes of flotation will in the future be applied to the Sudbury ores there is good reason to expect, and it is most probable that such processes will enable a larger proportion of nickel to be obtained from a given mine than at present. This will be effected, however, rather by making it possible to treat low grade ores necessarily or conveniently raised while extracting those of better grade, than by stopping actual leaks now existing in any of the stages of treatment. These leaner ores are now left in the mine, or in some cases are stored in dumps, but as the cost of obtaining them is small, being largely covered by that of mining the better ores, they could probably stand the additional expense of concentrating by flotation. A positive gain of this kind is as beneficial as an improvement in metallurgical processes for the prevention of actual smelting and refining losses, and is quite in keeping with the tendency of modern metalluro-ieal methods. 1917 SUMMAKY -VXD CONCLUSIONS xll It may be added that although the amount of nickel and copper varies from time to time in the diflerent deposits, the average of the ore from the several mines has not shown any serious falling off. The copper may have increased relatively to the nickel, or the reverse may have been the ease, but any increase in the amount of copper, so far as the Canadian Cupper Company's deposits are eoncerned, appears to have lieeii due to the inclusion of more rock matter, which is richer in cupriferous mineral than the massive ore. The whole of the Sudbury deposits have shown wonderful eontinuity, and the ratio of nickel to copper, com- monly given for the whole field" as two to one, is remarkably near the truth. The Mond Nickel Company's ore averages more nearly one lting. smelting and refining the Sudbury ores. "While the subject has received attention from tlie operating companies, it lias not been found possible to make any economic use of the large quantities of sulphur that are thus wasted. Attempts are constantly being made to minimize the damage caused by the escape of sulphur. It is believed that in the not distant future smelting nietliods will be developed that will do away with conditions that now exi>t. The roast heaps are the worst offenders both in quantity and in injurious results, h'oasting during the winter months, is less harmful than at any other season of the year. The ilond Xicki'l Company is not now roasting during the summer months, and is making arrangements with a view of discontinuing roast heap jH-actiee altogether if possible. The British America Nickel Corporation does not intend to use roast heaps. The Canadian (Jopper Company has roast heaps continuously in ojieratiqn carrying a total of about '2.jO,i)00 tons of ore. The in- jurious effects will be considerably lessened by the recent change in location of the roast yard. Apart from the question of nuisance and injury, the roasting of the ore in heaps is not the best or most efficient metallurgical practice, and involves unavoidable losses of both nickel and copper. The sulphur driven off at the roast heajis, amounting to over half of the total discharge, cannot be recovered. The tlommission estimates that the total yearly discharges from the heaps, smelters and refineries, is not less than 300,000 tons of sulphur discharged in the form of sulphurous acid gas. and capable of producing nearly a million tons of ordinary sulphuric acid. This is equal to about one-quarter of the total annual consumption of the fnited .States, of which one-fourth (1 million tons) is produced from the diseharL'ed uases from smelters, and exceeds all probable requirements of Canada for numy years. In other countries the recovery of sulphur and other noxions gases has ulti- mately resulted in the development of important industries. Snlpluirnus acid aas could he utilized direct in pulpmaking and uther indu^trie^, hut the iM-esent con- xlii Eepoet of the Ontaeio Nickel Commission No. 63 ditions are not favourable for such use, owing to the distance of such plants from Sudbury. Freight charges on sulphuric acid to points of consumption are consid- ered to be too great to permit of the development of this industry at present. The most desirable method of recovering the sulphur, if feasible, would be as free sulphur, which can be easily transported and for which there is a good demand. Precious Metals The Sudbury ores contain minute quantities of the precious metals. Besides gold and silver, these include platinum, palladium and other rarer members of the platinum group. The ores cannot be profitably treated for these metals alone, but the smelting process automatically concentrates them in the matte, and thus makes it practicable to recover them. The subject is dealt with in Chapter X under the- title. Recovery of the Metals of the Platinum Group. In view of the usefulness and scarcity of platinum, the supply of which is being eked out by substituting palladium wherever the latter is suitable, every source of the metal is worthy of investigation, and every effort should be made within economic limits to obtain it. Trade Conditions The demands and markets for nickel are discussed in various Chapters through- out the Eeport. Prior to the war nickel was sold like any other metal to any country in which there was a market for it, and it was treated solely as an article of commerce without regard to international relations. The Commissioners found no evidence of any arrangement for dividing the markets between the great pro- ducing companies, although the International Nickel Company has the benefit of the United States duty on imports against its competitors. The great French company. La Societe le Nickel, had a branch works in Germany at which it ,refined part of its New Caledonia output. The whole of the Norwegian supply of metal has been sent to Germany during the war. In the United States, where by far the greater part of the nickel refined is of Canadian origin, considerable nickel is produced from New Caledonia matte and as a by- product from the refining of crude copper, and scrap metal containing nickel is also available. Almost every great power has deposits of nickel ores which can be worked when the price of the metal is sufficiently high, and from which its require- ments in time of war could largely be secured. There has been much discussion concerning the possibility of Canadian nickel reaching enemy countries during the war. While the question is not within the jurisdiction of the Commissioners, it was referred to in the conferences with officials of the Imperial Government. For reasons of public policy the measures taken by the Government in regard to nickel, copper, rubber and other contraband materials cannot be disclosed. Acknowiedgments Qovernments, Departments and Institutions Governments of France, liussiu and Norway. OitEAT Britain London: French Eml)assy; Russian Fmbassy; T'niteil States Eniliassy; Board 1. 1' Trade; The Colonial Office; The Fmci^iii Ollice; Home Ollice: Ministry of .Aluni- tions: Olllee of the Higii Commissioner for Canada: Office of the Agent-* leneral I'or Hiitarin; Engineering Standards Connnittee; (invei innent Laboratory; Imperial Institute; Institute of Chemistry; Institute of >retals ; Institution of Civil En- giiu'crs; Institution of Electrical Engineers; Institution of ilining and iletallurgy; Iron ami Steel Institute; National Physical Laboratory; Eoyal (Colonial Institute; The li'oyal ^liiit; Eoyal Societies Club; Society of Chemical Industry. Sheffield: Assay Office. Norway liritisli Legations and Consulates at Kristiauia, l\ri>tianssands, Arendal, ISer- gen ; French Legation, Kristiania. UxiTKD States \ViisIiiii(/lon, 1>.('.: Bureau of Mines; Bureau of Standards; Carnegie Geo- pliysical Laboratory; Smithsonian Institution; United States Geological Survey Otlice. Balliiiiore. Md.: Maryland Geological Survey. Xciv York, N.Y.: Anieriean Institute of Alining Engineers; American Scieiety of Jlechanical Engineers; (Columbia University: Engineers' Club. Lan.'iliui, Mich.: State tieologist; State Tax ('ommission. Madison, ll'/.v. / State Geologist; State Tax Commission. SI. Paul, j\[inn.: State Tax Commission. Canada Oftaini. OnL: Canadian ^Munition Eesouices Commission; Imperial Munitions Board ; Mines Branch ; The Mint. Monfrcdl, Que: McOill University (Prof. A. Stansfield). Toronto, Ont.: Canadian ^lining Institute (Branch); Engineers' Club; In- speclors of ilines; Provincial Assay Office; University of Toronto. ArSTKALlA Siidney: His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales; Government Geolouist of New South Wales. Melbourne: Canadian Trade Commissioner. Adelaide: Government Geologist of South Australia. New Caledonia Xoumio: His Excellency the Governor of New Caledonia; His Majesty's Consul. Companies and Firms France Paris: La Soci^t^ Anonyme le Nickel. fxliiil xliv ' Eepoet of the Ontaeio Nickel Commission No. 62 NOEWAY Arendal: A/S Almendeleg Elektrokemik ; ISTorske Nitrad A/S Bydehavn. Kristianssands and Kristiania: Nikkelraffineringsverk. Odda: Alby United Carbide Factories, Limited; North-Western Cyanamide Company. Tysso: Tyssefaldene. Great Britain Olydach: The Mond Nickel Company, Limited (also London). Swansea: Anglo-French Nickel Company, Limited (also London) ; English Crown Spelter Company, Limited. Llansamlet: Swansea Vale Zinc Company, Limited: London: Dundas Cuni Mining Company, Limited (also Tasmania) ; Hall Motor Fuel, Limited; Johnson, Matthey & Company, Limited; Daniel C. Griffith & Company. Birmingham: The Nickel Company, Erdington; Henry Wiggin & Company, Limited ; H. & J. Beach, Limited ; Barker & Allen, Limited ; J. G. Beddoes & Com- pany; Birmingham Metal & Munitions Co., Limited; W. Canning & Co.; Elkington & Company, Limited; Joseph Lucas, Limited; The Mint, Birmingham, Limited. Newcastle: Newcastle & District Electric Lighting Company, Limited; New- eastle-on-Tyne Electric Supply Company, Limited. Sheffield: Arthur Balfour & Company, Limited; Cammell Laird & (Company, Limited; Daniel Doncaster & Sons, Limited; Thomas Firth & Sons, Limited; W. Jessop & Sons, Limited; Steel, Peech and Tozer, Limited; Walker and Hall, Limited. Widnes: Broughton Copper Company; McKechnie Bros., Limited; United Alkali Company, Limited. Cuba Spanish-American Iron Company; Cuba Copper Co. (El Cobre) ; Juragua Iron Company. Australia Tasmania: Mount Lyell Mi7iing and Hailway Company; Mount BischoflE Mine; Dundas Cuni Mining Company, Limited ; Copper-Nickel Prospecting Syndicate. New South Wales: North Broken Hill, Limited. New Caledoxia La Societe Anonyme le Nickel ; Les Hauts-Fourneaux de Noumea ; The Nickel Corporation; Societe Miniere Caledonienne. United States Baltimore, Md.: Maryland Steel Company. New Yorlc: International Nickel Company (also Constable Hook, N.J.) ; Amalgamated Zinc Company; American Metal Company; New .Jersey Zinc Com- pany; Tire Dwig'ht Lloyd Sintering Company, Inc.: General Chemical Companv: A. Ledoux & Company. Niagara Falls, N.Y.: Carborundum Company; International Acheson Graphite Company. 1917 Si .MMAISY AND CONCLUSIONS xlv Ontaeio, Canada Porquia Junction: Alexu Mining Company. Iroquois Falls: Abitibi Pulp & Paper Company, LimitQd. Soulh Porcupine: Dome I^lines. Limited. Timinins: HoUinger Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited. Cobalt: Conia;,'as ilines, Limited; Xipissing Mining Company, Limited. Coiiislou: Thi' Mond Nickel Company (also Clydaeh. Wales, and Loudon. England). Copper Clifj : The Canadian Copper Cduipany. Murray Mine: British America Nickel Corporation, Limited (also Toronto). Deloro: Deloro Snieltinj; t*t Refining Company, Limited. Niufjaru Falls: The Hydro-Electric PuM'er Commission; Ontario Power Com- pany. St. Catharines : Coniagas Reduction Cnnipany, Limited. Sulpiride: Nichols Chemical Company, Limited. Toronto: Hydro-Electric Power Cumnussion of Ontario; Electrical Develop- ment Company, Limited: Moffat-Irving Steel Works, Limited; The Standard Clieniical Iron and Luml)cr Company, Limitod (also Longford) ; Toronto Power Company. Welland: Metals Chemical Company, Limited. y\'indsor: The Canadian Salt Company, Limited. Individuals Norway ^rcndal: Mr. Emil Hallevig, British Vice-Consul. Kristiunia: Sir. Esmond Ovey, British Legation; Mr. C. L. Paus, Commerical Attache, British Legation; Mons. Mai De Carston, British Vice-Consul; Mons. A. Jolivet, Fi'cnch Legation ; Regnwald Blakstad ; Mr. Berentzen; Mr. T. E. Blichfeldt; Admiral Boresen,\ Kristianssands Nikkelraffineringsverk ; Dr. S. Eyde ; Mr. Karl von Kroiili ; ilons. Callon, Norskc Nitrad A/S Eydehavn ; Mr. V. N. Hybinette. Kristianssands: Mr. Torgny F. Torell, Nickel Works of Kristianssands. France Paris: M. Maurice Carrier, Administrator-Director La Societe Anonyme le Nickel. Australia Melbourne: Mr. D. H. Ross, Canadian Trade Commissioner; Mr. A. S. Patter- son, Representative in Australia of the !Massey-Harris Co. of Toronto; Mr. Bowes Kelly. Director Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co.; Mr. Geo. "Weir, General Manager, North Broken Hill, Ltd.; Mr. D. H. Dureau, Messrs. Brown & Dureau; Mr. Colin Eraser, Collins House. Sydnry: Jlr. Mark Browne, Representative of the Nickel Corporation of New Caledonia; Mr. J. E. Carne, Government Geologist. Adelaide: ^Ir. L. Keith Ward, Government Geologist; Mr. R. Lockhart Jack, Asst. Government Geologist. -xlvi Kepoet of the OxT.mio Nickel Commission No. 63 Queenstown: Mr. E. C. Sticht, General Manager, Mt. Lyell Mine; Mr. V. Sawyer, Asst. to the General Manager, Mt. Lyell Mine. Waratah: Mr. J. D. Millen, General Manager, Mt. Bischoffi Mine. Zeehan: Mr. H. A. Vaudeau; Mr. A. D. Sligo. New Caledonia Noumea: Mr. H. C. Venables, His Majesty's Consul; Mr. A. Frey, Inspector- General La Societe le Nickel ; Messrs. Laroque and Eougy, Les Hants Fourneaux de Noumea; Messrs. Leleu and de Casteljau, Eepresentatives of The International Nickel Company (the Nickel Corporation and La Societe Miniere Caledonienne), as well as other gentlemen in other parts of New Caledonia. Egypt Cairo: Mr. E. H. Greaves, Head of Department of Mines. Gkeat Britain Swansea: Mr. A. P. Eden, Anglo-French Nickel Company, Limited; Mr. A. W. G.mmill, Anglo-French Nickel Company, Limited; Mr.> F. L. Merry; Mr. J. H. Veils, English Crown Spelter Company. Clydach: Dr. C. Langer, Mond Nickel Company, Limited. Llansamlet: Mr. Marmion, Swansea Vale Zinc Company, Limited. Birmingham: Mr. G. A. Boeddicker, Henry Wiggin & Co., Limited; Mr. E. E. Canning^. W. Canning & Company; Prof. Thomas Turner, University of Bir- mingham. London: Sir George Perley, High Commissioner for Canada; Mr. W. L. Griffith, Permanent Secretary, High Commissioner for Canada ; Mr. E. Eeid, Agent- General for Ontario; Mons. Jean Perier, The French Commercial Attache; The Et. Hon. Sir Alfred Mond, Bart., P.C, The Mond Nickel Company, Limited; Mr. E. J. Harding, Secy. Dominions Eoyal Commission, Colonial Office; Dr. Wyndham E. Dunstan, Director Imperial Institute; Sir James J. Dobbie, Govern- ment Laboratorj; Sir Thomas H. Elliott, K.C.B., Eoyal Mint; Sir Thomas K. Eose, Eoyal Mint; Sir Edward Eigg, Eoyal Mint; M^. C. T. Davis, Colonial Office; Dr. E. T. Glazebrook, C.B., National Physical Laboratory, Teddington ; Dr. Walter Eosenhain, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington; Dr. E. G. Spilsbury; Mr. G. C. Brown, Anglo-French Nickel Company; Mr. W. H. Goodchild; Mr. H. N. G. Cobbe; Mr. A. G. Charleton; Mr. D. C. Griffith; Mr. E. H. Humphreys, Eoyal Societies Club; Mr. J. E. Dunn, British America Nickel Corporation, Limited (also Toronto) ; Mr. W. A. Carlyle, British America Nickel Corporation, Limited (also Toronto) ; Mr. J. Allen Howe, Geological Survey; Mr. G. C. Lloyd, Iron and Steel Institute; Mr. Eobert Mond, Mond Nickel Company, Limited; Mr. Bedford McNeill, Mining Engineer; Mr. C. Williamson Milne; .Mr. C. McDermid, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy; Mr. W. B. F. Powney, London County Council Labora- tories; Mr. G. Shaw Scott, Iron and Steel Institute; Mr. B. M. Venables; Mr. W. G. Wagner, G. T. Holloway & Company, Limited; Mr. W. W. Ware Home Office, Whitehall. Sheffield: Mr. Sydney Jessop Eobinson, W. Jessop & Sons; Mr. Arthur Balfour (Dannemora Steel Works); Mr. E. V. Hall; Mr. Wm. Hall; Mr. L 1917 Si-iiMAiiv AM) ('o\ci.(MoN> xlvii .Miiiiiis. Caiiinicll, L;iird \- ( 'o. ; Mr. E. H. Saiiiter, Me~>rs. Steel. IVech iS: Tozer; Mr. R. .\. Wflt^oii and Mr. K. A. Smith, A»a\ Olli.e: Sir Iti.bert A. ITndfteld, IIadtiel.l>, Limited. Liver pool: Mr. W. E. MouL-dulc. UxiTED States Anaconda, Moid.: ilr. Ficdefick Laist. Bnllimorr. Md.: Dr. J. Sinirewald, .Toliiis Hopkins University; Mr. F. W. \Voi)d; .Mr. F. .\. AVeymouth. II iiiiihohll, Ariz.: Mr. (i. ^I. ('(jlvoeoresseF. Consdliilatcil Arizona Copper Co. .\i(iij(ini Falls, .\'.]'..- Dr. E. (i. Aclie.-nn, Internatiniial .\i-lii'~on (ira|5liite Ch. yew Yorlc: Mr. W . A. ]^)0st\viek. International Nickel Conipauy, Limited; Dr. l>a\id H. Browne, International Xickel Company, Limited: Dr. \. R. Ledou-\, Assayer; Dr. Parker C. Milllhiney, Sdiiity of Cluiiiical Industry; Dr. Bradley Stoiiiiiitoii, Secy, .\nieriean Institute of ilininp Eu;:in(X'rs; Dr. .loseph Stnithcrs, Engineers' Club; Dr. \\m. Camplu'll, Professor of ^fitalldiiraphy, Columbia Uni- versity; Jlr. \V. Ii. lunalls, Enuinceriui; and MiniuL' .lournal: Mr. H. W. Cepp, .VmaljraiuatcMl Zinc (De Kavay's), Limited: ilr. Cha^. F. Rand. Vw<. Spanish- American D-iin Comiiauy. M'ashinijlon, D.C.: Mi\ C. C. (iilbert. United States National iluseum : Dr. W. P. IIildei)rand, Bureau of Standards; Dr. Frank L. Hess. United States Geological Survey; Dr. (i. Oti^ Smith. Director V. S. Ceological Survoy ; Dr. F. E. Wright. Carnegie Cecijihysical Laboratory. Oakland, CaL: 'Sh. J. .Alitchell, State Board of Equalization. Denver, Colo.: Mr. .1. B. riiillips. CJhairman Colnrado Tax Commission; Mr. C. P. Link, Ciildiadd Tax Commission. Ldiviini/. Mich.: 'Slv. 1!. F. Bartlcss. Secretary State Tax C(inimi-«ion; ilr. R. C. Allen. Slate Geologist. Minnciipoliii. Minn.: ilr. F. B. Snyder, Attorney-at-Law. SI. Pinil. Minn.: Senator S. Lonl. Chairman State Tax C(innni>sion; Mr. J. G. .Vrmson, State Tax Comuiissii.n : ilr. James T. Hale, State Tax Commission: Mr. Rukard llurd. Engineer, State Tax Commission. Ciirson Cilij. Nev.: Mr. L. F Adanison, Nevada Tax Commission. Stinln Fr. X.M.: JFr. A. E. James. OHnhoma. Olda.: Mr. E. B. Howard, State Auditor. Sail Lnl-e CUij. Utah: ilr. H. Bennion, State Board of Equalization; Mr. W. Bailey. State Board of Equalization. Madison, Wi.9.: Mr. Nils P. Haugen, Chairman State Tax Commission; Mr. Thomas F. Lyons, State Tax Cnmniission ; Mr. C. Atwood, State Tax Commission: Mr. W. 0. Hotchkiss, State Geologist: Prof. T. S. Adams, late State Tax Commis- sioner, now of Yale University. New Haven, Conn.: Mr. C. K. Leith, Professor of Geology, Uni\orsity of Wisconsin. Cuba Santiafjn do Cvba : Mr. M. I. Quiros : Mr. D. B. Whitaker. ' ElCohrv: Mr. E. B. Nagle. Camaguey: Jlr. Clias. L. Drake. Felton: Mr. W. M. Slioop; Mr. .\. H. Weaver xlviii Eepoex of the Ontario Nickel Commission No. 62 Canada— Ontario Belleville: Mr. J. W. Evans, Tivani Steel Company. Cobalt: Mr. Arthur A. Cole, Mining Engineer, Timiskaming and Northern Ontario Eailway Commission. Coniston: The Mond Nickel Company, Ltd. ; Mr. C. V. Corless, Manager, Mr. 0. Hall, Mr. F. J. Eager, Mr. A. L. Sharpe, Mr. W. J. Mumford, Mr. V. P. Eow; Mr. R. N. Palmer. Copper Cliff: Canadian Copper Company; Mr. A. D. Miles, President, Mr. J. L. Agnew; Mr. J. C. Nichols, Mr. Charles Collins, Mr. W. J. Trestrail; Mr. Charles .Miller; Mr. W. J. Hambly; Mr. A. E. Brock; Mr. J. Eogers; Mr. C. H. Hitchcock; Mr. E. T. Corkill. Deloro: Mr. Thos. Southworth; Mr. S. B. Wright; Prof. S. F. Kirkpatrick, Deloro Smelting and Eefining Company, Limited. Kingston: Mr. M. B. Baker, Professor of Geology, Queen's University. Murray Mine: Mr. E. Hibbert, British America Nickel Corporation, Limited. Niagara Palls: Mr. J. H. Jackson, Supt. Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park. Ottawa: Mr. E. G. McConnell, Deputy Minister of Mines; Dr. Eugene Haanel, Director, Mines Branch; Mr. G. C. Mackenzie, Mines Branch; Mr. Albert L. Entwistle, The Mint. St. Catharines: Lt.-Col. E. "W. Leonard, Coniagas Eeduction Company, Lim- ited ; .Mr. Eobert L. Peek. Sudbury: Mr. Thomas Travers, Mayor; Mr. P. Gorman, President Board of Trade; Mr. H. M. Roberts, of the E. J. Longyear Company. Sulphide: Mr. A. Dubois, NichoUs Chemical Company. Timmins: Mr. P. A. Eobbins, Manager, Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd. ; Mr. A. E. Globe, Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd. ; Mr. W. J. Wilson, Mayor. Toronto: Dr. A. P. Coleman, Professor of Geology, University of Toronto; Mr. G. A. Guess, Professor of Metallurgy, University of Toronto; Mr. H. E. T. Haultain, Professor of Mining Engineering, University of Toronto; Mr. W. Lash Miller, Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Toronto; Mr. H. G. Acres, Engineer, Hydro-Electric Commission ; Mr. T. E. JefEery, Engineer, Hydro-Electric Commission; Mr. C. W. Knight, Asst. Provincial Geologist; Mr. Alfred Burton, Secy. Society of Chemical Industry; Mr. E. P. Mathewson, British America Nickel Corporation, Limited; Mr. J. Watson Bain, Professor of Chemical Engineering, School of Practical Science; Mr. W. K. McNeill, Provincial Assayer; Mr. George E. Mickle, Mine Assessor, Bureau of Mines; Mr. A. Nieghorn, NichoUs Chemical Company, Limited ; Mr. W. E. Eogers, Topographer, Bureau of Mines ; Mr. "T. F. Sutherland, Chief Inspector of Mines, Bureau of Mines; Mr. W. J. Bell, Cartographer, Bureau of Mines; Mr. P. A. Jackson, Surveyor, Bureau of Mines. Welland: Mr. J. H. Charles, Metals Chemical Company, Limited. Windsor: Mr. E. G. Henderson, Canada Salt Company, Limited. Montreal, Que. : Prof. Alfred Stansfield, McGill University. CHAPTER I Agitation for Home Refining of Nicl^el Importance of Sudbury Deposits The large bodies of nickel-copper ore in the Suilbury district are, all things coHsJiJ.'icd, the OKi.-t important and valuable of the mineral deposits yet found in Diitario. Their working requires more labour than the mines of aii}- other branch of the iudustry. Their number and dimensions are such as to predicate a long life for the nickel business, and to fully warrant the large invostuients of capital which have been and arc still being made for their equipment and operation. Tliu prodts realized by nickel mining Companies of late years have been large, and were never larger than at the present moment. A considerable porticju of the population of the Sudbury district is directly, and a largo portion indirectly, dependent upon the mining and treatment of the nickel-eopjier or"s for its maintenance and retention on the ground. Lumbering is an im[)ortant business, but it must be admitted that in the Sudbury region it is a disappearing business, for lumbering methods as practised in Canada, have in tlic jiast mainly eoiieerned themselves willi only one erop of trees, namely the first. It would be wrong to belittle thi> agricultural resources of the district. In the central plain, enclosed by the nickel-bearing band of incieirt rocks, there is a tract, of good ami well cultivated land, the prcjducts of which find a ready and insatiable inarkct in the mines and mining iowns and villages. But no one actjuaiiited with the area, extending say from Lake Wanapitei to \Yindy lake, or from the iloud smelting works at t'oniston to the High falls of the Spanisli river, will claim for it a fertile soil or general suitability for farming purposes. The surface is. in the main, rough and rocky, and there are many swamps. In the valleys bi'tween hills of granite or gneiss or greenstone, or in the "flets" bordering the ri\ers and streams, good cro]is of hay, oats and potatoes can be grown. In short, the district is neither better nor worse, from the farmer's point of view, than the territory of which it forms a part — the hard and rugged pre-Camtrian area, stretching along the north shore of Lake Huron, from which in the geologic past, the glaciers swept and ground the surface rocks^ and deposited them as gravel, sand and clay in tlie southern parts of the Province. I'lUt the importance and significance of these ore bodies are not confined to the district in wliich they are situated. Ever since it became known that a small proportion of nickel added to steel greatly enhanced its strength and lessened its tendency to corrosion, it has become increasingly clear that in these nickel deposits Ontariii possesses an element which can and ought to be made to con- tribute materially to her industrial progress. Discovery of Nicltel=Steel and its Effects .\fter the results of James Eilcy's classic experiments were announced in 1889 on the nickel-steel alloys made by ^^Farbeau in France, corroborated as they were 1 V [1] EePOET of the ONTATilO NiCKEL COMMISSION No. 62 P4 o o P( O U a O 1917 Agitation for Home Refining of Nickel 3 by the work of Hall, Gamgee and many other observers, it speedily became established that nickel \vas essential for the manufacture of high-class steel. So extensive a fu'ld of usefulness was thus opened up that nickel, previously employed in the arts on a very small scale, came by degrees into large demand which, especially of recent years, has gone on at an accelerating rate. The chief sources from which the small amount of nickel required had been supplied, were Xew Caledonia, Norway, Sweden, Germany and the United States. In all of these places, except the first, the deposits were small and apparently in- capable of extended production, save perhaps in Norway. In the island of New Caledonia, situated in the South Pacific ocean, and for many years used by the French as a convict colony, nickel deposits were discovered in 1874, and began to be worked in 1S^5. In the early stages of the industry New CaleJnnia was able to maintain her lead in meeting the growing demand, and in fact her mines increased their output more rapidly than did those of Ontario. Thus in 1893 New Caledonia produced 3,180 tons of metallic nickel, Ontario, 1,653; in 1897 the New Caledonian output was li.lTiS tons, that of Ontario 1,!I9!). Five years later, in 1902, the figures were 7,045 tons and 5,945 tons, respectively. In 1903, for the first time, Ontario took the lead with 6,998 tons, as against 4,177 tons for New Caledonia. The latter regained her place in 1904 with 5,327 tons, compared with 4.739 for Ontario, but in the following year, igO."), the Ontario output rose to 9,503 tons, while that of New Caledonia reached 6,765 tons only, and the superiority thus established has since been retained. Indeed, as the statistics show, although the industry in New Caledonia is still vigorous, the gap between its production and that of Ontario has been widening year by year. Why Not Refine in Ontario ? One of the early uses for which nickel-steel was found to be adapted was the manufacture of armour-plate for war vessels. France was early in the field in experi- menting with nickel-steel armour-plate. Trials carried out in 1890 and 1891 by the Navy Department at Washington showed that with a covering of the new armour a battleship was well nigh invulneralile compared with vessels clad with the armour previously in use. The supremacy of the British fleet is sj-nonymous with the maintenance of the British Empire, and popular feeling in Ontario was not long in drawing inferences and conclusions. If nickel-steel armour was the best, of course the British fleet would adopt it. After a somewhat prolonged trial, it did so. Popular feeling was gratified by the fact that the element which con- tributed so strongly to Britain's naval superiority was produced from Ontario mines, although as a matter of fact. New Caledonia nickel only was used in British armour-plate until 1904. It was known that the ore was mined and smelted in this Province, but that the refining took place mainly in the United States, and popular feeling began to ask "Why is nickel not refined in Ontario ?" It may not be possible to enumerate all the elements of this insistent and persistent inquiry, but analysis will reveal at least some of them. There is, first, the natural desire to have all the work on raw material which is produced here dune at homo, up to the point of turning out the finished article. Employment 4 Eeport of the Ontahio Nickel Commission No. 62 is given to Canadian workmen, Canadian chemists and Canadian experts. The rewards of this labour are spent in Canada and swell the volume of Canadian business. There is a feeling of impatience at seeing Canadians hewers of wood and drawers of water, while in another country, technical and skilled work is per- formed in refining an article of Canadian origin. It is felt that Canadian prestige would be enhanced by the establishment of an important industry of the kind, which would "build up Ontario." For some time after smelting began at Sudbury, low grade or "standard" matte only was made, containing say 40 per cent, of nickel and copper combined, and when the production of high grade or Bessemer matte, containing about 80 per cent, of the metals became the established practice, it was considered that a decided step in advance had been taken. But even Bessemer matte failed to silence the query "'Why cannot nickel be refined at home ?" War Reveals Real Reason for Inquiry The outbreak of the great war made clear the most deeply seated and most potent of the feelings which underlay the inquiry. Nickel was a necessity in modern warfare; it was needed for armour-plate, for rifle-barrels, for heavy ordnance, bullet coverings, cartridge cases, automobile parts, and the whole catalogue of military and naval equipment. Not an ounce should go to the enemy ! Every pound of Canadian nickel must be placed at the service of the Mother country and her Allies ! Yet how to ensure this while the metal is refined in a foreign country, liy a foreign company, with the countless opportunities of its passing into the hands of Germans or German sympathizers? It is true that arrangements satisfactory to the British and Canadian govern- ments were made to meet this situation almost immediately after war was declared ; but a certain amount of uneasiness has remained, fed by, newspaper articles and editorials, which was aggravated by the arrival at Baltimore in July last of the German submarine " Deutschland," bringing a cargo of dye stuffs and advertising its intention of returning with a cargo of nickel, and also by a subsequent repeti- tion of the feat, in November. It is the fact of the British Bmpii:e being at war, and at war with a shameless and ferocious enemy, that gives special point to the desire to have our nickel refined at home. The plan adopted to ensure that no Canadian nickel shall find its way into German hands during the war was beyond doubt well calculated to accomplish that end; but it is asked, who can say that- should another world-struggle involve our country or our Empire, a like happy condition will recur? Suppose the United States were to decide she needed for her own use the nickel now being refined there from Canadian ore. Canada might indeed restrain the exportation of matte, but this would not put her in possession of the refined nickel, were there no refineries here. The result might well be a shortage of nickel while the need was at its height, and a shortage of nickel might be a weakness sufficient to determine the issue of a war. Governmental Efforts to Establish Home Refining It is not surprising that it has been an object of governmental endeavour to establish the business of nickel refining in this country from the time the mining of the ore began in Ontario. The question has been in no sense a party one. Every Provincial administration and every Legislative Assembly for the past 1917 AiiiTATiDN FOK Home Refining of Nn kel f> (wiiity-rivc ynirs liiis j,'ivcii time and attention to it. Xor ha.s the di.-rus~i(in been confined to the Provincial arena. The Parliament of Canada has time and again discussed the question, and as lonj;- as nineteen years ago placed in the hands of the (i(ivernor-in-l'ouncil power to impose a duty of ten cents a pound on the nickel and two cents a pound on the coppei- contents of matte exported from Canada — a power wliich lias never been exercised. It will not be out of place to record here, in a summary way, the exertions put forward liy governments and Parliaments and their officials to give effect to the popular feeling. At the very (jutset. and even Ijefore the ores of Sudbury were known td contain nickel, a committee of the House of Commons, in the year ]ssi;. tcjuk action to (insure that the ores should be refined in Canada. Tlie committee refused to report a bill authorizing the Canadian Copper Ccmipany— an Ohio corporation — to carry on operations in tliis {'ountry until its ]iromoters promised to establish their refinery works liei-e, and agreed to have the bill amended accordingly. I'nfortunately, the anienilnient as drawn was permissive only, not compuL-ory, and it failed of eifcet. The story is inm-e fully (old at pa.ye 63. Sir Charles Tupper and Mr. S. J. Ritchie Another early effort 'arose out of the search for a market for the produc'ts of the Sudlinry mines, which naturally exercised the minds of their owners after the ores were f(nmd to eonlain nickel. The first president of the Canadian Co])per Com- jiany, Samuel .7. liifehie, of Akron, Ohio, was not slow in recognizing the signilleanee of (be discovery that the mines of Sudbury were, in reality, nickel rather than coi)per mines. Nickel steel had alieady been used in France for the making of armour-plate for Mar vessels. It contained 5 per- cent, of nickel, and showed a tensile strain of 90 tons with an elongation of 8 per cent. ISTot being averse to combining business with patriotism, Mr. Ritchie thought it would be a good thing for the Unifc-d Stafos. as well as for the Canadian Copper Company, to clothe American battleships with nickel steel. Aimed with the results of Riley's experi- ments, he interviewed Gen. B. F. Ti'aey, Secretary of the Xavy at Washington, and succeeded in having that gentleman institute an inquiry into the merits of the new material. Mr. Ritchie also brought the (Ontario deposits to the attention of Sir John A. JFaedonald, Premier of the Dominion of Canada. The former being about to visit England and the continent of Europe to push Ontario nickel, Sir John requested Sir Charles Tupper, then High Commissioner for Canada at London, to accompany Mr. Ritchie in his travels, and especially to give him every assistance witli the British Government, since the Sudbury deposits were "the largest in the world," and the extended use of the metal would obviously be a great advantage to Canada. Accordingly, in the autumn of f8.s9. Sir Charles and :\[r. Ritchie, along with Lieut. B. H. Buckingham, of the United States navv, representing his government, visited a number of the leading steel and ordnance makers in Britain and Europe, as well as the principal companies engaged in the production and refining of nickel. Among tliese were: Societe le Nickel, which brought Xew Caledonian nickel ore and matte to France, Britain and Germany, and there refined it; the Krupp gun and steel works at Kssen ; the Steel Company of Scotland, Glasgow: Sir 6 Eeport of the Ontario Nickel Commission No . 62 Hussey Vivian's smelting establishment at Swansea; Henry Wiggin and Com- pany, at Birmingham, nickel refiners ; the crucible steel works of William Jessop and Company at Sheffield, and also the Eio Tinto copper mines in Spain. They found all these companies very much alive to the importance of nickel, especially in its use for nickel steel, and also greatly interested in learning about the new source of the metal opened up at Sudbury. Several of the company presidents or managers expressed a desire to become associated with the ore deposits, or offered to contract for' the purchase of the Canadian Copper Company's output of matte. Sir Charles' Report The High Commissioner, in making his report to the Canadian Government in November, 1889, emphasized the value of nickel in producing the new alloy steel which the experts with whom he had conversed were certain would work a revolution in the manufacture of guns and armour-plate. He pointed out that there was at the time a dearth of nickel to such an extent that the development of the nickel steel industry was being hindered, the Jessop firm in SheflBield having orders for thousands of tons which they could not supply for want of nickel. As regards the special interest of Canada, which owned " the governing supply of the world,'' Sir Charles Tupper pertinently asked : " Why cannot Canada herself make this steel)'" Aid from British capitalists and steelmakers would be forth- coming, and Sir .Charles saw no reason why, in Hastings county for instance, a smelting industry could not be established where the iron ores of that district might be reduced and combined with the nickel of Sudbury to make ferro-nickel. Nay, he asked : " Why should Canada not go further and make the nickel-steel and armour-plate on her own territory?" He concludes thus: If the Government takes the proper action, there is no doubt that the best skill and the strongest financial backing in England could be had to carry it on, and it really looks as if it were possible for Canada to control the character and efficiency of the guns and navies of the world. I am glad to say this much from the statements of every expert with whom I have talked. ... I cannot but feel that it is Canada's golden opportunity to move and produce her own iron and steel as well as nickel-steel for other countries. It is possible that Sir Charles Tupper may have been looking through Mr. Eitchie's spectacles when he wrote this report. That gentleman's company owned iron lands in Hastings as well as nickel mines at Sudbury, and to bring the two metals together to form the basis for a large business enterprise, was at that time one of Mr. Eitchie's ambitions. It turned out that the ores of Hastings were unsuitable for the purpose, and his hopes in this particular were never realized. Events, however, have shown that both Sir Charles Tupper and ilr. Eitchie were correct in judging that the discovery of the nickel deposits of Sudbury was an event of first-class importance in the industrial history of Canada. Sir Charles did not indicate the nature of the " proper action " which he suggested that the Canadian government might take, and it does not appear that it took any; but it may be that the offer made by the government of Ontario spoken of below owed its origin to the European visit of S. J. Eitchie and Sir Charles Tupper. That visit, at any rate, bore fruit across the border. After receiving the report of the United States' representative, Lieut. Buckingham, Gen. Tracy lost no time in testing whether the French Government was on the right track in 1917 Agitation' ron Home Refixixg of Xickkl Officials' houses, Canadian Copper Company, Copper Cliff, Sudbury area, Ontario. Club houses, Canadian Copper Company, Copper Cliff, Sudbury area, Ontario. Workmen's houses, Canadian Cupper Company. Copper Cliff, Sudlmry area, Ontario. Eepoet of the Ontahio Nickel Commission No., o4 introducing nickel steel armour into its navj'. He ordered a nickel steel plate from the Creusot works in Prance, also a plain steel plate from the same works, and one from Cammell and Company of Sheffield. These he subjected to a trial at the government proving-groiuids at Annapolis, in September, 1891. The plates were fired at by eight-inch guns, at short range, and the superiority of the nickel steel plate over .^oth plain plates was_ overwhelmingly established. Gen. Tracy at once requested Congress to appropriate one million dollars for the purchase of Sudbury matte, to be used in making nickel steel and armoiu'-plate for the United States navy, and Congress complied with the request. Further trials in France and Germany and also in the United States, confirmed the results already obtained, particularly when the nickel steel armour had been subjected to a process of face- hardening by one or other of several approved methods. United States, Germany, France and Eussia adopted nickel steel plate for the vessels of their navies. The British Admiralty were more conservative, but eventually did the same, and nickel steel armour is now recognized as the best possible protection for battleships by all the navies of the world . Offer of Ontario Government in 1891 In 1891 an earnest effort was made by the Ontario government to interest the government of Great Britain in a joint undertaking which would have for its object the establishment of nickel refineries and nickel steel works in Ontario, with the view of ensuring an ample supply of nickel for British military and naval use, and at the same time of developing the manufacture of nickel and iron in this Province. Sir Oliver Mowat, then Premier, and Hon. A. S. Hardy, Commissioner of Crown Lands, placed the matter in a despatch before^ the Imperial authorities. After rehearsing the great nickel resources of Ontario, and the importance which the metal a short time before had, by Eiley's experiments and those of the United States Navy Department, been conclusively shown to possess, especially for armour- plate, tlie despatch goes on to say : In view, therefore, of the important national uses to which nickel is being applied by foreign governments, and of the consequent demand for mining locations here, it has occurred to the undersigned that an arrangement might be made under which the government of the United Kingdom should acquire a substantial, possibly a controlling", interest in the nickel deposits of this Province. In anticipation of making this offer, and also to permit of the adoption of a new mineral law bettor suited to the circumstances, all the nickel-bearing lands in the Province had been withdrawn fronr sale in December, 1890, and the govern- ment was therefore in a position to recommend the undertaking to the Legislature should the Imperial authorities concur. The area within which nickel had iDcen found was represented as being very large, and although considerable land had been sold for mining purposes, no doubt was entertained of the existence of rich and • extensive ore ranges in much of the unsold territory yet in possession of the Crown. Nor were the possibilities of obtaining revenue for the Provincial chest overlooked. Should the Imperial Government be inclined to enter upon a proposition for negotiations, evidence may be furnished of the existence of nickel-bearing ore in economic quantities throughout the district referred to, from scientific surveys and the reports of explorers, with a view of entering into arrangements (with the assent of the Legislature) for granting to 1917 Agitation for IIume Rkfixixo of Xiokel 9 the Iii\|Hrial (Idvcriiiiiiiit, conjointly with the Pioviiuc, or in such other manner as may be agreed ii]i(in. control ovor part or all of the nickel ore in the Crown lands of the district, subject tn siirh 11 1 rangements for the establishment in Ontario of nickel-steel works or manu- factures, the ili'Nclopmciit of the mines and considiriitions of royalty on the ore, as may be mutually agreed ujniri and as shall be approved liy the Legislature. The ii'dQ minin<,' industry of Ontario which was then (and still is) in a lani;uishinp londitioii, would also he benefitted, for the production of nickel steel was one i