CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY EMGiNEERING LIBRARY Cornell University Library TN 460.G78 1919 The mineral Industry of the British Empl 3 1924 004 697 409 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924004697409 IMPERIAL MINERAL RESOURCES BUREAU. THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WAR PERIOD. QUICKSILVER. (1913-1919.) LONBON : FEINTED & PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONEEY OFFICE To be purchased through any Bookseller or directly from H.M. STATIONEEY OFFICE at the following addresses: Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C.Z, and 28 Abingdon Street, London, S.W.I; 37 Peter Street, Manchester; 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardifl; and 23 Forth Street, Edinburgh. 1922 Price Is. Od. net. (^Z /i/S/T Tir)f>tieiaL ^NSTi lUT^ ^ Lcf^J'hDfV^ fino^i^ PREFACE. The following digest of statistical and technical information relative to the production and consumption of Quicksilver will constitute a part of the Annual Volume on the Mineral Resources of the British Empire and Foreign Countries. Although nominally covering only the period of seven yeans ended 31st December, 1919, the digest will be found to contain more recent statistical and other information relative to the British Empire and to certain of the more important Foreign Countries. In this, the first year of publication, an effort has been made to fill in, as far as possible, the hiatus due to the war in the publications relating to mining and metallurgical statistics. Labour, health, and safety statistics have been omitted owing to the difficulty involved in prociuring reliable information for the war period, but in future issues these statistics will be in- cluded in respect of each year. Resort will also be had to graphical representation of statistics of production, consumption, costs, and prices. The weights of ore are expressed in long tons, that is to say the British statute ton of 2,240 lb., those of quicksilver in lb. (avdp.), and values in pounds, shillings, and pence. Mr. H. P. Marriott, a Governor of the Imperial Mineral Re- sources Bureau, is Chairman of the Advisory Technical Committee which has dealt vdth this work. R. A. S. Redmayne, Chairman of the Grovemors. 2, Queen Anne's Gate Buildings, London, S.W.I. March, 1922. CONTENTS. GENERAL PRICES WORLD'S PRODUCTION ... BRITISH EMPIRE : United Kingdom ... Rhodesia Union of South Africa Canada India Australia New Zealand FOREIGN COUNTRIES : Austria France Hungary Italy Jugoslavia ... Russia Spain Turkey Algeria Mexico United States Chile Peru China Japan FAQB. 5 11 12 13 15 16 18 20 21 21 22 24 25 25 28 28 29 30 32 32 33 34 REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE 35 GENEEAL Quicksilver (mercury) is a bright, silver- white, heavy metal, distinguished from all other metallic elements by being liquid at ordinary temperatures. It has a specific gravity of 13'6. It freezes at -40°C., is slightly volatile at ordinary temperatures, and boils at about 350°C. It expands uniformly under heat. The element and most of its compounds are poisonous. Unless sulphur compounds are present, the metal does not tarnish. There are several quicksilver minerals, but only the sulphides, cinnabar and metacinnabarite, are important as sources of the metal. Cinnabar usually has a brilliant red colour and gives a scarlet streak. When pure, it contains 862 per cent, of mercury and 13'8 per cent, of sulphur, but it is usually impure, owing to admixture with clay, iron oxide, or other impurities. Its hard- ness is about 2"5, and its specific gravity about 8"1. The less abundant associated mineral, metacinnabarite, has the same composition as cinnabar, but is greyish-black and gives a black streak. It has a hardness of 3, and a specific gravity of 7"8. Cinnabar generally occurs massive and granular, but also as crystalline and earthy encrustations. Metacinnabarite is usually massive, but is found also in tetrahedral crystals, whereas cinnabar crystals are trapezohedral. Globules of free mercury are often found in the upper portions of cinnabar veins. Cinnabar occurs in rocks of all kinds and ages, but is found as a rule in regions of Tertiary or recent volcanic activity. The richest quicksilver ores worked on a large scale are those of Almaden, in Spain, where the average metal-yield in 1918 was about 6' 5 per cent. Probably the lowest yield from ores that are profitably worked is that of the quicl^silver deposits in California, the average extraction from which in 1919 was only 0'4 per cent. The metal is obtained by subjecting the ore to an oxidizing- roast, whereby the mercury is volatilized, the vapour being con- densed in a system of iron or clay tubes cooled partly by air and partly by water. In modern practice, lump and briquetted ores are roasted in shaft-furnaces ; finely-divided ores in self -feeding roasters ; and easily-reducible or sintering ores in reverberatory furnaces. The product of this roasting-distillation is purified mechanically by straining through dense linen bags, after which it is introduced into wrought-iron bottles, or " flasks," fitted with screw plugs. The Spanish flask contains 34' 507 kilograms 36302 A 2 6 (76 lb. avdp.) of quicksilver. Previous to June, 1904, a California flask contained 76 J lb., but since that date all American flasks have contained 75 lb., which is the weight usually quoted in the English market. The pecuhar properties of quicksilver render it eminently suitable for the construction of barometers, thermometers and other scientific instruments, but the quantity used for these pur- poses is probably less than 2 per cent, of the total production. Quicksilver combines readily, forming alloys known as "amalgams," with gold, silver, copper, lead, tin, cadmium, zinc, potassium and sodium ; less readily with certain other metals on heating or on the addition of a dilute acid ; but does not unite with compact platinum in the absence of sodium. Owing to the readiness with which it combines with free gold and silver, quicksilver has been extensively employed for many years in the " amalgamation process " for the extraction of the precious metals from their ores. A considerable quantity of tin- quicksilver and silver-quicksilver amalgam was formerly used in the " silvering " of mirrors, but nitrate of silver is now almost invariably used for this purpose. Minor quantities of quicksilver are consumed in the preparation of amalgams used in dentistry. Other uses include the preparation of the pigment vermilion (sulphide of mercury), various salts of mercury (calomel, corrosive sublimate, etc.) for medicinal, surgical and other pur- poses, and mercuric oxides and salts employed in the manufacture of certain chemicals into which mercury itself does not enter. Fulminate of mercury, for which there was a large demand during the war, is used as a detonator for high explosives, but to a decreasing extent in small-arms ammunition. This com- pound is made by heating mercury with strong nitric acid and alcohol. The metal is employed extensively in electrical appa- ratus (electrolysers, rectifiers for converting alternating into direct current, mercury- vapour tubes, storage batteries, etc.), and in the manufacture of thermostats, gas-governors, automatic sprinklers, and other appliances. It is finding a rapidly-increas- ing use, in the form of the red mercuric oxide, in certain anti- fouling paints for ships' bottoms. Other uses are in felt-hat manufacture, boiler-compounds and cosmetics. Prices of Quicksilver (London) per bottle (75 lb.), 1914-1921' 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. 1921. January £7/10 £11 to £11/5 £16/10 £19/10 £20 £20 £23 to £21/10 £12/10 February ... )) £11/15 H „ n n £21 to ,, to £12/5 £•24/10 March £7 £12/2/6 to £11/17/6 " u ) M £24/10 .- April » £11/15 M M I £15 £25 £11 May » £11/17/6 to £12/2/6 )' )) 7 £16 to £18 •• •) June 11 £13 to TT tt J £18 £20 £16 July £6/10 to £6/15 £16/10 to £18 £17/10 M £21 to £23 M tt August £6/15 £18 )t T) • £23/10 £18 £10/10 September ... £7 to £7/5 " - £20 ' £21 M £9/10 October £8 to £15/10 toi „ »' , £iy to £15 to £9/10 £11 £16/10 £15 £15/10 to £10 November ... £11 £16/10 £18/10 » ' £17/5 to £20 £15/10 £10 to £10/10 December ... J) £16/10 ,, n 1 £21 to £14 to £10/10 £23/10 £12 The Bureau is indebted to Messrs. Sharps and Wilkins for these prices. Prices of Quicksilver in the United States ■ The average price per bottle of American quicksilver in San Francisco for each year of the period 1913-1920 was as followst : — Year Average price per bottle 1913 40.23 1914 49.05 1915 81.52 1916 98.50 1917 98.29 1918 • 114.03 1919 89.04 1920 75.45 t California Mineral Production for 1920, Bull. No. 90, California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco, August, 1921. 36302 A 3 WOELD'S PRODUCTION Before the war the bulk of the quicksilver produced was ob- tained from Almaden in Spain ; Idria, formerly in Austria but now an Italian possession ; and the Monte Amiata district in Italy. At Almaden, mining aiid metallurgical methods remain primitive, but at Idria the deposits have been exploited im a more systematic and efficient manner. It is probable that either locality, if worked to its full capacity, oould satisfy the world's demand for quicksilver for many years to come. Next in import- ance to the Spanish and Idria imnes are those of Monte Amiata, where, although the deposits are individually of small size, they occur in great numbers over a wide area, and are extensively mined. The only remaining country which produces large quantities of the metal is the United States, where for many years previous to the war quicksilver production showed a slow but fairly regular declinte. High prices during the war period greatly stimulated American production, particularly from the old-established fields in California, but no new deposits of per- manent value were discovered. Quicksilver occurs and is mined in many other countries, but their total output of the metal is relatively small. There are important deposits of cinnabar in the province of Kweichow, south-central China, but these occur in remote localities and comparatively little is known concerning them. During the war the Chinese output was increased substantially, but the industry is in native hands and the larger part of the output is consumed locally. In Russia, notably in the Urals, there have been several promising discoveries of cinnabar within recent years, but the greater part of the Russian production is still obtained from the Nikitovsky deposits in the Bkaterinbslav dis- trict of South Russia. Before the war Germany produced a few tons of quicksilver annually, but statistics of production during the period of hostilities are not available. It is probable that, with better transport facilities, Mexico could produce a greatly increased output of quicksilver from deposits in the State of San Luis Potosi. During the revolution very little mining work was possible in Mexico, but with the return of more settled conditions the Mexican output of quicksilver again became considerable. Both Brazil and Peru have produced small quantities of cinn- abar, and a deposit of this ore has been discovered lately in the Maroni district of Dutch Guiana. Other countries from which small quantities of cinnabar have been obtained are Portugal, Serbia, Algeria, Australia, New Zealand, Japan (including Formosa), the Koniah and Kara Burnu districts in Asia Minor, and Sarawak (Borneo). Cinnabar deposits are known to occur in France, Tunis, Abyssinia, Rhodesia, the Transvaal, Madagascar and New Caledonia, but in the majority of cases these occurrences appear tO' be of but little, if any, economic importance. England has for many years been the chief market for Spanish quicksilver. Prior to the war the Austrian production was con- trolled by Germany, while the Italian output was exported to the United Kingdom and Germnnv. In recent years, the Italiab product has been marketed chiefly in the United Kingdom. The i|ni(ksilver prodmed in the United States is, for the most part, sold in San Francisco. World's Production of Quicksilver' (in lb. avdp.) Country. 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920 New South Wales 1,288 672 New Zealand 1,500 11,296 11,175 3,675 Austria 1,807,280 1,939,960 1,675,040 904,522 1,429,614 925,680 + + Hungary ... 195,715 165,961 139,513 187,500+ 209,380 187,600+ Italy 2,212,816 2,364,892 2,170,940 2,408,972 2,360,484 2,287,762 1,862,380 3,087,804 Russia 60,000+ 82,500t 37,500+ Spain Algeria 2,745,611 2.099,38.', 2,r,;i;i,i;.-ii 1,7.")2,043 1,823,(120 1,260,439 2,703,356 1,899,168 l:i,l4(i 64,960 4(l,.'i-'(l 22,10(1 17,852 441 Mexico 365,265 357,952 2117,145 115,721! 7.1,1 12.^ 860,668 262,144 166,949 United States ... 1,515,975 I,24i;i00 l,.'')77,n.") 2,244,900 2,71 1,92.'') 2,466.225 1,606,125 980,250 Peru 1,014 1,.'J43 2,028 4,631 .(,.'1(16 3,306 China (exports) ... 4,667 131,-167 ■lll.l,5J:i 391,867 576,000 646,800 177,195 100,264 Formosa ... — h\7 554 2,108 — Japan 210 81 83 421 4,941 6,778 1 1,386 5,906 * Purnaoo production except Algeria, in which case the figure sliowi amount of metal in ore produced. Germany and Asia Minor produced during the period, but statistics ate not available. + Estimated. I Included in Italian production. BRITISH EMPIRE The British Empire is almost entirely dependent upon foreign sources for its supply of quicksilver. Ores of the metal are found in small quantities in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and South Africa, but up to the present no deposits of any considerable importance have been discovered within the Empire. United Kingdom'*' ^ Ores of quicksilver have not been found in the United Kingdom, which, however, has long been the most important market for the European pioduct. Most of the output from the S[iaiusli and Italian mine.s was until recently controlled in London. During the war period the United Kingdom was almost entirely dependent upon these two countries for the supply of quicksilver for munition purposes, and the sale of imported Almaden mercury was controlled by the British Government, through Messrs. Rothschild, who for several successive periods have purchased practically the whole of the output of that mine under 10-year contracts with the Spanish Government, the owners of the mine. The firm's last qontract expired on 31st December, 1921, and the Government has resumed control of the sale of quicksilver. (See Spain.) Annual Statuiiieiits of the Trade of the Unite(3 Kingdom. Si;302 A 4 10 Imports of Quicksilver into the United Kingdom Quantity (lb.). From 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. Austria and Hun- gary. France Italy Spam Turkey Mexico Other Foreign Countries. 26 481,699 2,662,50J 67,070 189,870 372,594 2,319,825 6,675 54,395 79,137 186 761,060 2,159,021 1,500 94,451 2,332,800 760 221,464 770,760 880,945 399,350 122,379 304,275 772,805 380 200 337,016 2,481,787 6.283 16,607 198,279 70,731 1,208,111 1,044,283 3,921 156,691 Total from Foreign Countries. 3,401,165 2,832,626 3,016,218 2,555,014 2,173,434 1,077,460 2,841,893 2,682,016 Total from British Poaseasions. — - 27,216 1,200 — — — — Total ... 3,401,165 2,832,626 3,043,434 2,556,214 2,173,434 1,077,460 2,841,893 2,682,016 Valu< i(£). Austria and Hun- gary. France Italy Spain Turkey Mexico Other Foreign Countries. 9 45,394 268,750 6,012 18,379 34,876 221,737 890 5,084 8,046 43 137,415 389,624 198 14,051 513.116 170 46,768 172,393 195,855 101,760 29,152 81,140 198,010 100 39 81,425 684,225 955 3,502 54,547 20,530 342,509 248,438 960 34,898 Total from Foreign Countries. 338,544 270,633 541,331 560,084 499,160 279,280 770,146 701,882 Total from British Possessions. — 5,897 255 — — — — Total ... 338,544 270,633 547,228 560,339 499,160 279,280 770,146 701,882 11 Exports of Quicksil ler from the United Kingdom (Foreign Produce) Quantity (lb.). To 19i:i. 1914. 1916. 1916. 1917. i 1918. 1919. 1920. Union of South Africa 186,425 121,875 12U,150 210,825 76,500 221,650 96,628 183,460 Canada 63,860 137,860 66,450 73,660 6,260 18,276 — Hong Kong British India 627,600 135,675 63,675 26,326 — — 910,660 467,325 199,350 120,825 78,000 257,500 66,926 23,826 639,495 103,260 AuBtraUa 69,825 46,950 72,825 44,775 19,040 31,426 28,160 46,276 Other British PoBses- 33,636 3,3,975 18,375 26,660 21,800 26,800 13,200 79,516 Total to British 1,120,485 597,160 419,475 639,626 188,515 316,876 1,588,123 879.815 Possessions. Belgium 68,776 68,775 . — 106,687 60,210 France 149,700 .331,876 227,7(1(1 276,750 72,800 117,(175 1 144,392 60,626 Germany 136,126 100,425 — — — — — 79,960 Russia 244,500 128,625 109,826 118,200 114,900 — 6,926 9,826 United States 164,500 379,426 68,600 217,660 — 75 682,040 181,500 Japan (including For- 24,000 10,350 86,175 204,375 3,760 371,825 843,000 110,125 mosa and Japanese leased territories in China). Other Foreign Coun- tries, Total to Foreign 113,046 116,660 74,850 68,400 51,25(J 35,241 168,266 80,243 890,646 1,126,976 557,060 835,27:. 245,700 524,216 1.8,W,:!0(i 572,478 Countries. 3,438,423 Total 2,011,131 1,723.125 976,525 1,524,800 434,216 841,092 1,452.293 t Value (£)■ Union of South Africa 12,860 11,308 23,015 45,846 19,493 57,514 25,598 61,160 Canada 5,164 12,990 1 12,202 15,920 1,378 3,627 — — Hong Kong British India 6(1.21. 'i 12,466 1 11,868 5,817 — — 220,074 128,233 lH.Vui; 10,985 ; 14,933 5C.,r,51 17.23(1 j 6,870 137,246 29,831 Australia 6,523 4,397 j 13,461 ;i,87;; 5,243 8,803 0,642 12,286 Other British Possos- .i.JUl 3,047 1 3,37U 5,78'.i 5,6118 7,359 .3,086 24,240 Total to British 106,679 66.193 78,866 139,797 49,042 84,173 3;i:i,246 245,750 Possessions. (1,721 Belgium 6,437 i — •30,183 16,443 France 14,661 46,390 40,108 61,666 17,097 31,934 35,413 12,636 Germany 13,.'!2.') 9,463 — — — — — 26,070 Russia 2;!,62» 11,700 21,004 27,031 28,094 — \ 1,661 3,109 United States 14.960 33,781 9,297 47,066 — 20 127,786 43,693 Japan (including For- 2.--M4 1,092 15,972 44,481 1,013 98,632 217,976 31,777 mosa and Japanese leased territories in • China). Other Foreign Coun- tries. Total to Foreign 10,869 11,168 1 12,735 16,046 14,219 11,127 42,776 22,867 86,206 118.031 99,116 196,688 60,423 141,713 466,796 166,494 Countries. 1 T0T.4L 192,884 173,224 177,971 336,485 109,465 225,886 849,041 402,244 Rhodesia=^ Cinnabar has been found in Rhodesia, but onlj- in amounts so small as to be practically negligible. The quantities and values of the metal imported into Southern Ehodesia during the period under review are shown in the following table : — • Annual Statements of the Tra(ie and Shipping of the Union of South Africa and of Southern and Northern Rhodesia. 36302 A 5 12 Imports of Quicksilv er into Southern Rhodesia Prom Quantity (lb.). 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. United KiDgdom 91 14 700 511 1,570 2,851 13 — Austria-Hungary Germany Italy Spain ... Mexico ... United States 5,625 * — 38,553 750 2,475 2,1,254 10 175 4,130 18,479 2,250 19,577 2,105 660 15,516 3,693 194 2,696 Total from Foreign Countries. # 39,303 23,739 22,784 23,932 16,176 3,693 2,890 Total # 39,317 24,439 23,295 25,502 19,027 3,706 2,890 Value (£). United Kingdom 7 2 60 78 330 743 12 — Austria-Hungary Germany Italy Spain Mexico United States 520 2,343 3,494 62 576 3,382 1 15 869 3,551 423 4,711 459 200 4,492 1,004 z * 95 801 Total from Foreign Countries. 2,863 3,556 3,959 4,435 5,593 4,692 1,004 896 Total 2,870 3.558 4,019 4,513 5,923 5,435 1,016 896 * Quantity not stated. Union of South Africa* Cinnabar occurs at several localities in South Africa, but none of the known deposits has proved to be sufficiently extensive or rich to warrant expenditure on treatment-plant. In the Lemati Valley, about 25 miles from Hectorspruit, on the Delagoa Bay railway, cinnabar is found in the contact zone between quartzites and altered slates and intrusive granite. The ore is also found in the Erasmus mine in the Marico district, where it is associated with galena and zinc-blende. Thin stringers of the mineral have been found at Mosita, near Mafe- king, but the occurrence does not appear to be of economic value. * Annual Reports of the Government Mining Engineer, Union of South Africa. Annual Statements of the Trade and Shipping of the Union of South Africa and of Southern and Northern Rhodesia. The Base Metal Resources of the Union of South Africa, by W. Versfeld ; Dept. of Mines and Industries, 1919. Imports of Q uicksilver into the U7iio7% of South Africa Quantity (lb.). Bh:om 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. United Kingdom India 569 75 2,870 729 1,036 5 2,078 270 28 463 Total from British Poises- sions. 644 2,870 729 1,041 2,078 270 28 463 Austria-Hungary Czechoslovakia France Germany Italy Russia Spain United States 103,053 60 8,148 5,043 16 148,3.50 100 157,472 14,237 17,.322 18,000 75,675 16,176 76 3,750 81,000 124,2113 75,1109 1 750 181,282 1,061 -76 23,850 67,475 48,811 22,875 220,360 2,001 ■.'9,;a7 76,908 615 1,875 11,250 70,074 104,309 17 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. 264,769 iU7,8«2 284,698 183,094 140,212 245,226 106,340 187,525 Total 265,413 300,752 286,427 184,135 112,290 245,496 106,368 187,988 Valu = (£). United Kingdom India 85 7 295 157 279 1 612 197 15 189 Total from British Posses- sions. 92 295 157 280 612 197 16 139 Austria-Hungary Czechoalovalaii France Germany Italy Russia Spain United States 8,981 7 781 432 2 13,695 22 23,980 13,937 1,152 1,540 1,842 7,041 1,896 27,408 12 326 14,434 23,610 10,296 1 173 38,760 240 19 6,948 1 16,671 16,617 5,914 67,156 656 7,083 19,635 226 489 2,700 20,192 29,426 16 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. 48,678 39,174 38,266 63,725 26,943 62,823 Total 24,012 27,703 48,835 39,454 38,768 63,922 26,968 52,962 Canada'" Quartz veins containing pockets of cinnabar have been worked at the western end of Kamloops Lake, British Columbia. The deposits occur at intervals along a belt, 25 miles in length, extending from the western end of the lake northward to Criss Creek, and southward to Tunkwa Lake. The principal deposits are situated in the valley of Copper Creek, others of less import- ance occurring at Tunkwa Lake and in the valley of Criss Creek. The deposits occupy fissures in volcanic rocks of Tertiary age, and are usually associated with dykes of rhyolite or porphyry. The veins carry cinnabar, often accompanied by stibnite, in a gangue of quartz, calcite and dolomite. Estimates of the grade of the ore range from I'O to 2-0 per cent, of quicksilver. • Annual Eeports on the Mineral Production of Canada. Annual Reports of the Trade of Canada. Canada Dept. Mines, Geol. Surv., Summary Report, 1918, (Part B). 14 During the period under review, extensive exploration and development work was carried out on the deposits at Kamloops Lake. A furnace to treat the low-grade ore was erected, but there was no production of metal. At the same time a large amount of prospecting was undertaken on Copper Creek, but no actual mining was done. The deposits situated near Tunkwa Lake and Criss Creek have not yet been adequately explored. Native mercury has been found in the silver ore of Silver Peak, near Hope, British Columbia, and at Sechart Channel, Barclay Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where minute globules of the metal occur scattered through a cinnabar vein traversing felsitic rock. Kaolin is the most important secondary mineral in this deposit, but quartz, serpentine, calcite and chlorite are also abundant. Considerable development work was done on this property in former years, but no mining is now being carried on, and no production of quicksilver has been recorded. hnyorts of Quicksilver into Canada Fiscal years ending March 31 From (Quantity (lb.). 1913. 1914. 1915, 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. United Kingdom Hong Kong 76,946 106,480 42,192 2 6,150 24,376 1,780 11,697 1 22,375 2 Total from British Posses- sions. 76,946 106,480 42,194 6,150 24,375 1,780 11,698 22,377 Austria- Hungary Belgium Italy Spain United States 71,691 26,550 7,600 15,880 96,313 16,000 19,000 23,180 48,163 22,500 154,282 61,299 90,761 450 20,022 31,228 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. 71,591 146,343 105,343 176,782 61,299 90,761 20,472 31,229t Total 148,637 262,823 147,537 182,932 85,674 92,641 32,170 63,606 Value *(£). United Kingdom Hong Kong 8,718 10,376 4,028 1,390 5,539 387 3,291 1 6,498 1 Total from British Posses- sions. 8,718 10,376 4,028 1,390 5,639 387 3,292 6,499 Austria-Hungary Belgium ... Italv Spain United States 7,461 2,641 786 1,523 10,396 1,354 1,679 2,093 5,812 3,651 28,428 10,696 20,608 126 5,739 7,465 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. 7,461 15,346 10,938 32,079 10,596 20,508 5,864 7,465 Total 16,179 25,722 14,966 33,469 16,135 20,895 9,156 13,964 * Values converted to f sterling at the rate of 1 dollar = 4s. 2d. •|- Including 1 lb. imported from Japan. 15 India*^ Tlieic is no production of quicksilver in India. The imports of the metal during the period under review are shown in the following table : — Import-^ of Quicksilver into India Fiscal years ending March 31 Quantity (lb.). Prom 1914. 1916. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. United Kingdom Hong Kong Straits Settlements (in- cluding Labaan). Other British Possessions ir,7,443 23 216 92,579 68 7 l'J2,2ii8 1.11 Ml) 56 115,678 .-.8 57,744 41.769 '776 72,419 28,560 2,625 7.'» 518,1)21 1,736 17 Total from British Pi>ss(.-s- sions. 107,684 '.i2,i;.-,4 i'.i.M,2;(r, iir),7:!i; 100,288 103,679 rjr.i,77:i Austria-Hungary Italy China (exclusive of Hong Kong and Macilo). Japan United States Other Foreign Countries 37,676 :f7() 1,500 750 750 20 8 5,025 32,945 39,32.') 6,ii40 8,260 16,898 152 3,750 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. 38,046 1,500 1,520 8 77,896 1.3,890 20,8(1(1 Total 205,729 94,154 194,756 115,744 178,183 117,669 31(1,673 Value (£). United Kingdom Hong Kong Straits Settlements (in- cluding Labuan). Other British Possessions 16,749 4 20 8,945 8 1 42,829 12 176 11 27,847 10 17,207 10,334 192 24,764 10,481 1,125 25 179,788 703 4 Total from British Posses- sions. 16,773 8,954 43,027 27,857 27,733 36,396 180,496 Austria-Hungary Italy China (exclusive of Hong Kong and Macao). Japan United States Other Foreign Countries 3,752 46 137 166 170 4 2 516 10,802 12,868 2,061 3,005 4,740 53 1,781 Tota.1 from Foreign Coun- tries. 3,798 137 340 1 2 24,186 5,066 6,574 Total 1 20,571 9,091 43,367 27,859 51,919 41,461 187,069 • Annual Reports of Sea-Borne Tra(3e of British India. 16 Exports of Quicksilver from India {Foreign Produce) Fiscal years ending March 31 To Quantity (lb.). 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. Ceylon Hong Kong Other British Possessions 1,647 252 824 1,350 75 40 1,234 168 2,170 1,425 385 — 100 993 1,866 Total to British Possessions 1,799 2,249 1,442 3,980 — 100 2,869 Asiatic Turkey Persia Other Foreign Countries... 1,809 1,678 786 545 225 306 225 — E 3 8,496 959 431 Total to Foreign Countries 4,273 770 630 — — 3 9,885 Total 6,072 3.019 1,972 3,980 — 103 12,744 Value (£). Ceylon Hong Kong Other British Possessions 197 39 103 135 8 2 214 18 582 427 61 — 43 532 861 Total to British Possessions 236 246 234 1,070 — 43 1,393 Asiatic Turkey Persia Other Foreign Countries... 203 225 80 608 57 30 87 42 30 E 1 3,783 412 144 Total to Foreign Countries 72 — — 1 4,339 Total 744 333 306 1,070 — 44 5,732 Australia'^ Cinnabar occurs in many parts of Australia, and efforts were made during the period under review to establish a quicksilver- mining industry in the Commonwealth. To encourage exploration for quicksilver ores, the Government of New South Wales has for many years offered a reward of £500 for the first 50,000 lb. of quicksilver produced from domestic ores. The only output of the metal recorded in Australia during the present century is 2,970 lb. all apparently obtained from the Pulganbar Quicksilver and Copper Mining Company's mine at Ewengar in the Drake division of New South Wales. This mine produced 1,288 lb. of the metal in 1915, and 672 lb. in 1916, no later output being recorded. In Victoria, cinnabar and native mercury have been found in small quantities at Silver Creek, a tributary of the Jamieson Eiver. In Queensland, there are deposits of low-grade cinnabar ore along the coastal region of the State, notably in the Kilkivan district, near Gympie, but this region has not yet been adequately developed. The ore is stated to occur in lodes in granite, diorite, schist, altered sandstone and * Annual Reports of the Uepartment of Mines, New South Wales. Trade and Customs and Excise Revenue of the Commonwealth of Australia (Annual). L. C. Ball, Mercury in Queensland ; Queensland Govt. Min. Journ., 1914, 1 5, 623-629. 17 conglomerate associated in some localities with serpentine. During the years 1874-1892, about 13,700 lb. of quicksilver was produced in the Kilkivan district. Since 1892 there appears to have been no production of the metal in Queensland. Small quantities of cinnabar occiu" scattered over a large area near Willunga, in South Australia, but hitherto no deposits of economic value have been found in this district. Imports of Quicksilver into the Commonwealth of Australia* Fiscal years ending June 30 Quantity (lb.). From 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919, 1920. United Cingdom India Straits SettlementB Papua New Zealand 43,546 2,250 70,789 225 33,281 225 19,964 8,127 375 1,650 12,652 3,750 6,278 33,979 12,750 Total from British Posses- 45,796 71,014 33,506 30,116 22,680 46,729 Italy Spain United States Other Foreign Countries ... 1,125 1,050 4,952 24 1,875 1,678 530 1,850 794 5,610 35,301 3,750 60 375 2,600 2,268 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. Total 7,151 4,083 2,644 40,911 3,810 5,243 52,947 75,097 36,150 71,027 26,490 51,972 Value (£). United Kingdom India Straits Settlements Papua New Zealand 5,623 203 15,865 53 8,128 60 5,925 2,365 112 466 4,127 1,045 2,066 9,756 3,801 Total from British Posses- 5,826 15,918 8,188 8,868 7,238 13,557 Italy Spain United States Other Foreign Countries ... 116 178 894 4 288 364 103 424 201 1,605 10,993 1,095 43 133 7P7 623 Total from Foreign Coun- tries. Total 1,192 755 625 ; 12,598 1,138 1,553 7,018 16,673 8,813 1 21,466 8,376 15,110 • In the year 1918, 410 lb. of mercury salts valued at £163 were imported from the United Kingdom, and 43 lb. valued at £22 from Foreign Countries. In the year 1919, 1,9461b. of mercury salts valued at £741 were imported from the United Kingdom, and 196 lb. valued at £88 from the United States 730 lb. valued at £313 were imported in 1920, entirely from the United Kingdom. 18 New Zeaiand^^ Occurrences of quicksilver minerals have been noted in several regions of recenti volcanic activity in New Zealand, but the only district in which quicksilver-mining has been carried on success- fully is Puhipuhi, in Auckland province, North Island. The lode worked is a band, of quartzos© rock from 2 to 6 feet in thickness, in which cinnabar occurs as fissure-fillings or as a lining to cavities of various sizes. Up to March, 1920,, 1,368 tons of ore from this lode had been treated in a Novak shaft furnace, 29,000 lb. of mercury being produced. At the top of the Puhipuhi Eange, at no great distance from the mine, cinnabar occurs in the soil of a small swamp, and also in the gravels underlying the basalt which caps the range, iittempts have been made to work the swamp, but as yet there has been no production of mercury. There are several other cinnabar occurrences in the North Island of New Zealand, notably the deposits at Eahu Saddle, near Karangahake ; at Oha^awai in the Whangaroa district ; and on the Mangakirikiri stream (a branch of the Kauaeranga river) in the Thames district. These have been worked on a small scale at various times. Quicksilver has been reported also from the alluvial diggings at Nevis, Nokomai, Waipori, and Waitahuna, in the South Island, but so far there has been no production of the metal at these localities. Production of Quicksilver in New Zealand Ore. Quicksilver obtained. Year. Quantity (long tons). Quantity (lb.). Value (£). 1917 1918 1919 1920 68 582 650 t 1,500 11,296 11,175 3,675 t 2,824 2,794 1,378 * New Zealand : Mines Statements (Annual). New Zealand : Mines Dept. Geol. Surv. Branch, Annual Reports. Trade and Shipping of the Dominion of New Zealand (Annual). t Not stated. I'.l Imports of Quicksilver into New Zealand Quantity (lb). From 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. United Kingdom ... Anstralia 2,855 4,140 2,213 1,049 300 766 55 747 37 241 225 390 178 Total from Britisii Possesgiona. 2,855 4,140 2,213 1,349 771 784 466 568 Germany Spain United States 475 198 30 1,125 159 330 423 9,574 9,574 ;ii9 91 140 Total from Foreign Countries. 673 1,314 330 423 319 91 140 Total 3,528 5,454 2,543 1,772 10,345 1,103 557 708 Value (£). 27-2 19 United Kingdom ... Australia 311 411 306 255 93 22 79 95 142 72 Total from British Possessions. 311 411 306 348 238 2'Jl 174 214 Germany ... Spain United States 53 35 4 110 37 104 282 2,352 177 48 44 Total from Foreign Countries. 88 151 104 282 2,352 177 48 44 Total 399 562 410 630 2,590 468 222 258 Exports of Quicksilver from New Zealand Year. Domestic Produce. '''oreign Produce. Quantity Value (lb). (£). Quantity (lb). Value (£). 1915 1916 1917 — — 1,050 220 150 124 60 48 1918 1919 1920 10,067 19,570 3,708 2,122 4,619 900 1,500 3,000 375 853 Note : — Practically the whole of this was consigned to Australia. 20 FOREIGN COUNTRIES Austria"* Next in importance to Almaden, in Spain, the principal quick- silver-producing region in Europe is Idria, in the province of Krain (Carniola). Before the war this district formed a part of the Austrian Empire, but, by the terms of the Treaty of Rapallo, it is now Italian territory. The deposits at Idria occur as irregular veins, more or less horizontal masses, and stockworks, in folded rocks of Triassio age, including shale, fine-grained sandstone, and dolomite. Cinnabar is the only ore occurring in depth, but native mercury is found in the upper portions of the ore-bodies. The gangue minerals a,re pyrite, calcite and dolomite, with a little quartz and gypsum, while carbonaceous materials, including anthracite and idrialite, are frequently associated with the ore. The Idria mines have been worked for more than five centuries , and are estimated to have produced at least 65,000 tons of quick- silver. As mined, the ore averages about I'l per cent, mercury, and it is dressed to give the following products : — (a) Low-grade ore running from 0'34 per cent, to 0'81 per cent, mercury. (b) Ore containing over 2 per cent, mercury. (c) Ore containing over 50 per cent, mercury. Important metallurgical advances were carried out at the Idria reduction works during the period under review, particularly by the introduction of gas-fired furnaces for the treatment of fines. The St. Anna mines, near Neumarkt, about 24 miles east of Laibach, were formerly productive, but are stated to have been idle at the outset of the war. Production of Quicksilver and Vermilion in Austria Tear. Ore treated. Quicksilver, produced. Vermilion, produced. Quantity (long tons). Quantity (lb.). Quantity (lb.). 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 128,509 137,849 107,788 65,034 91,482 73,733 1,807,280 1,939,960 1,675,040 904,522 1,429,514 925,680 t t 138,411 31,738 25,566 13,665 7,934 20,938 * Statistik des Bergbaues in Osterreich, 1915. f Included in Italian production. 21 France* Cinnabar, associated with pyrite and quartz, occurs in the Palaeozoic rocks at M^nildot near Saint-L6 in the department of Manche, and at Chalanches in the department of Isere where it is found in veins of zinc-blende and galena which traverse the crystalline schists of the district. Xative mercury and silver amalgam frequently occur in these deposits. Small veins con- taining cinnabar and native mercury have been found in other districts, notably near Montpellier in H^rault, and at Peyrat in the Haute-Vienne. Cinnabar associated with stibnite and arsenical ores occurs in several districts on the north coast of Corsica. There is no production of quicksilver in France at the present time. Imports and Exports of Quicksilver into and from France VAnr Imports. Exports. Quantity Value* Quantity Value* (lb.). (£). (lb.). (£). 1913 435,731 43,080 19,395 1,920 1914 368,950 a(;,4Kn 11,902 1,160 1915 726,659 147,720 2,64.-. 520 1916 1,252,091' 368,160 it;,,sio 4,800 1917 1,079,960 450,800 6,612 2,760 1918 1,877,367 6i:-!,2K0 61,'J32 20,240 1919 413,691 112,640 10,.'»7',t 2,880 1920 462,179 125,840 119,457 32,520 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 2,') francs := £1. Hungary + Quicksilver-bearing tetrahedrite is mined at several localities in the Carpathian Mountains. At Dobsina in the province of Abauj the ore occurs in veins traversing crystalline schists and gabbros. The tetrahedrite, which frequently contains as much as 16"7 per cent, of quicksilver, is associated with sulphides of lead and antimony in a gangue of quartz. Veins of cinnabar occur in the Thihuthal valley, in that part of the Carpathians which lies between Transylvania and the Bukovina. The deposits occur in a zone of calcite, dolomite and breccia, in the vicinity of a trachyte dyke which cuts highly-altered schists. These districts are now included in Jugoslavia. At Zips, near Iglo, in northern Hungary, quicksilver is obtained as a by-product from iron ore (siderite) which carries mercurial tetrahedrite and some cinnabar. This area has recently been ceded to Czechoslovakia. • Le Commerce de la France (Annual). t Unftarisches Statistisches Jahrbuch (1915). F. L. Ransoms, Quicksilver in 1917 ; U.S. Geol. Surv. Min. Res., Washington, D.C. 22 Production of Quicksilver in Hungary Year Quantity (lb.) 1913 195,715 1914 165,961 1915 139,513 1916 187,500* 1917 . 209,380 1918 187,500* 19i9 187,500* 1920 ... 187,500* Italy t Quicksilver has been obtained in Italy principally from exten- sive deposits of cinnabar occurring in the Monte Amiata district, province of Siena, Tuscany. The Idrian mines (see Austria) are now included in Italian territory, and their future output will appear in the statistics of that country. According to C. de Castro, the principal deposits of the Amiata district occur mainly as irregular masses and impregnations in Eocene limestones close to the