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SUMMARY OF THE BARYTES, BARIUM

CHEMICAL, AND LITHOPONE

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SUMMARY OF THE BARYTES, BARIUM CHEMICAL, AND LITHOPONE INDUSTRIES.

The articles discussed in this report are provided for as follows in the tariff act of October 3, 1913:

10. Barium, chloride of, cent per pound; dioxide of, 12 cents per pound; carbonate of, precipitated, 15 per centum ad valorem.

51. Baryta, sulphate of, or barytes, including barytes earth, unmanufactured, 15 per centum ad valorem; manufactured, 20 per centum ad valorem; blancfixe, or artificial sulphate of barytes, 20 per centum ad valorem. 61. *

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* lithopone and white sulphide of zinc, 15 per centum ad valorem.

BARYTES.

The source of barium is the naturally occurring minerals-barytes (barium sulphate) and witherite (barium carbonate). Metallic barium is, at present, of no industrial importance. The barium compounds manufactured from these minerals, by chemical processes, constitute an important class of commercial articles. Barytes, the more widely distributed ore, is the one generally used. England and Germany possess, in addition to barytes, deposits of witherite, which can be mined economically, and a small portion of the demand is supplied by this mineral. Barytes, on account of its whiteness, high specific gravity, and chemical inertness, is used in the ground form chiefly as a filler in paints, paper, linoleum, and rubber goods. Its use as a raw material in the manufacture of the pigment, lithopone, and the various barium chemicals is important. In 1917, with a maximum consumption of barytes, about 43 per cent was used in the manufacture of lithopone, 25 per cent in barium chemicals, and the remainder in ground barytes. Witherite is used chiefly as a filler in rubber goods and in the manufacture of barium chemicals.

Prior to the war the domestic barytes industry supplied from 55 to 65 per cent of the consumption (80,000 tons in 1913) of crude barytes in the United States. Lithopone was then the only product manufactured in this country on a large scale from crude barytes by chemical processes, and the barytes necessary for its production was imported, chiefly from Germany. Before the war Germany was the largest producer of barytes, with an output of about 300,000

short tons a year. Great Britain ranked second and the United States third. The domestic production of crude barytes, under war conditions, increased fourfold, from about 50,000 tons in 1914 to over 200,000 tons in both 1916 and 1917. The production of the United States is now second only to Germany's prewar output. The production of crude barytes in this country during the war was sufficient to meet domestic requirements.

The domestic industry prior to the war was localized; about 65 per cent of the output of crude barytes was mined in Missouri and supplied mid-western manufacturers of ground barytes. During the war the increased domestic demand was met largely by the development of southern deposits of barytes in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and by a doubling of production in Missouri. The greatest (State) production shifted from Missouri to Georgia in 1916. Since 1915 Georgia has supplied about 50 per cent of the total domestic output. The industry as it now exists is in two distinct localities (1) the middle western district, represented chiefly by Missouri, and (2) the southern district, represented chiefly by Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In addition to these two producing localities, there are two principal markets for crude barytes-the Atlantic coast market (from Baltimore to New York) and the middle western market (St. Louis and Chicago). The western producers and consumers are little affected by a tariff on crude barytes. On the other hand, eastern consumers of barytes before the war secured their supplies chiefly from Germany. Since the cessation of imports the Atlantic coast market has been supplied with crude barytes from the southern producing district, because of the differential in freight rates of $1.24 a short ton (May 29, 1920) in favor of this district over the middle western district. This localization of the industry complicates the tariff problems.

Prior to the war domestic ground barytes produced in the middle western district was able to compete in the Atlantic coast market with imported ground barytes under the duty of $5.25 per ton (act of 1909). At that time foreign competition was chiefly in the crude grade, imports of ground barytes being only about 15 per cent of the imports of the crude. During the war middle western ground barytes continued to supply a large part of the Atlantic coast market, notwithstanding the advantage of the southern district in freight rates. This may be accounted for by the fact that the middle western ore is a softer variety and grinds easier, and by the circumstance that the southern deposits were developed primarily to supply the raw material requirements of the eastern lithopone and barium chemical manufacturers. The producers in the southern district are therefore particularly interested in maintaining the eastern market for crude barytes, while the middle western producers are more in

terested in retaining this same market for ground barytes. The situation in regard to an outlet for middle western crude barytes has been improved during the war by the establishment in the Middle West of lithopone plants, which require crude barytes as their raw material.

The extent and availability of deposits in the United States are important factors in connection with the tariff. Unfortunately, little definite, official information is available, and owing to the general nature of deposits it would be practically impossible to arrive at an accurate estimate of the total domestic resources. Under the stimulus of war conditions the domestic production supplied the entire domestic consumption. The possibility of increasing the present output of barytes appears to be most promising in the Georgia and Tennessee districts. These districts seem to contain large quantities of ore and could probably be developed to meet an increased demand of eastern manufacturers. In these districts, however, geological and geographical disadvantages will probably hinder domestic barytes from competing on even terms in the Atlantic coast market with crude barytes imported from Germany.

BARIUM CHEMICALS.

The barium chemicals discussed in this report include the barium salts mentioned in paragraph 10, and blanc fixe in paragraph 51, of the act of 1913, as well as other barium salts not mentioned specifically in the tariff. These chemicals, which are made either from barytes or witherite, have important industrial uses. The most important are as follows: blanc fixe, or precipitated barium sulphate (which is practically identical with ground barytes in chemical composition, but different in physical properties), used as an inert filler or pigment where a pure white product is necessary; barium carbonate, used chiefly in ceramics in the manufacture of enamel ware and some kinds of optical glass; barium chloride, used principally in the manufacture of blanc fixe and color lakes; and barium dioxide, used as the raw material for the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Prior to the war the United States was wholly dependent on imports for its supply of barium chemicals. Germany was the largest producer and furnished about two-thirds of the domestic requirements. About 90 per cent of the imports in 1914 were represented by three barium salts-barium carbonate, barium chloride, and barium dioxide. The cessation of imports and the war demand for barium chemicals (barium nitrate, blanc fixe, and barium dioxide) resulted in the establishment of an industry in this country. Domestic plants have been located chiefly in the East and Southeast, although there

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