SUMMARY.

The following tabular statement gives the general items regarding domestic and world production and consumption. The figures for domestic items are those compiled by this office, and the figures for the world items are based upon statistics compiled by the Metallgesellschaft, etc.

ZINC.

By C. E. SIEBENTHAL.

INTRODUCTION.

An estimate of the production of primary spelter in 1909 was given out in the form of a press bulletin on January 1, 1910. This was based on reports from every smelter and gave the actual production for the first ten or eleven months with an estimate for the remainder of the year. The total thus obtained was nearly 5 per cent in excess of the final figures of production. This discrepancy arose partly through error in one of the estimates and partly through the inclusion in the estimates of spelter made from secondary materials at the regular smelters. These sources of error will be avoided in succeeding reports.

The complete figures of production and consumption of primary spelter and of recovery of secondary zinc were given in the advance statement of spelter production which was published December 24, 1910. The present report contains in addition tables showing the imports and exports, and a comparison of the mine and smelter production of zinc by States.

The statistics of production in this country have been compiled by the United States Geological Survey from confidential reports by each zinc smelting company in operation during 1909. These reports were procured by the Bureau of the Census and the United States Geological Survey, acting in cooperation. As the metal statistics collected by the Bureau of the Census were obtained in connection with the general census of the industries of the United States by direct visitation of field agents, the time required for the work was much greater than has been found necessary by the Survey in previous years; this accounts for the late appearance of the report. The statistics of the recovery of secondary zinc were collected by the United States Geological Survey. The statistics of domestic consumption are taken in part from the smelter returns and in part from the records of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and the tables for foreign production and consumption were compiled from the sources indicated.

STATE OF ZINC INDUSTRY IN 1909.

The year 1909 was unique in the history of the zinc-smelting industry in the United States. The large stocks at the smelters at the beginning of the year were reduced nearly one-half; the imports were largely increased; the production exceeded all records, and the

In Mineral Resources for 1906, p. 461, zinc derived from ore was called "primary" spelter to distinguish it from the secondary spelter recovered from such sources as drosses, skimmings, and old metal. The former has also been called "virgin" spelter, and the latter has been called "remelted," "reclaimed," and "dross" spelter. The distinctive origin is more plainly suggested by the terms "primary" spelter and "secondary" spelter, and they will be used hereinafter. Where the word "spelter" is used without qualification primary spelter will be understood.

apparent consumption was in consequence very heavily increased, being possibly 40,000 tons in excess of the normal a fact probably to be interpreted as due to the accumulation caused by prospective tariff legislation of excessive stocks in the hands of consumers and dealers. The production of spelter is estimated as equal to the output of 59,344 retorts operating continuously through the year, or about 63 per cent of the total smelting capacity in 1909. The United States regained first place in the world's production of spelter with 30 per cent of the total output.

Abroad the main features of the year were the formation of the zinc convention, which increased and steadied prices throughout the year, and the dissolution of the Galvanized Sheet Iron Association, followed by a break in the price of galvanized sheet iron resulting in heavy sales for the rest of the year. The high level of prices in the United States stimulated exports to that country, and the European receipts of zinc concentrates from Australia were largely increased though perhaps not up to expectation.

PRODUCTION.

The production of spelter in the United States began in 1858 in an experimental way" and regular production began in 1860 at the Lehigh Zinc Works in the East and at the Matthiesson & Hegeler works in the West. Between 1864 and 1870 nine or ten other zinc smelters were established. Statistics of production are recorded for the years 1873 and 1875, and for the census year ending May 31, 1880. Annual statistics have been collected by the United States Geological Survey since 1882. The annual progress of the zincsmelting industry since 1873 is shown in the following table:

Annual production of spelter in the United States from domestic and foreign ores, 1873– 1909, in short tons.

• Including an unknown quantity smelted from foreign ore, small in 1904 but larger in 1905.

PRODUCTION BY STATES.

Two tabulations of the spelter production of the country for a period of years are given, one showing the locality from which the ores were derived, the other the locality in which they were smelted. Each method has its special interests and advantages, depending on

a Ingalls, W. R., Lead and zinc in the United States, p. 314.

whether the view point be that of producer or consumer, or that of

resources.

The state totals given below are compiled entirely from confidential reports by each zinc-smelting company in operation in the United States in the year in question. Only primary spelter is here included, the recovery of secondary spelter being given in a later table.

The following table shows the sources of all ores and concentrates smelted for spelter in the United States in 1906-1909 and the quantity of zinc actually derived from the ores from these respective sources: Production of primary spelter in the United States in 1906–1909, apportioned according to source of ore, in short tons.

The subjoined table is designed to show the localities in which spelter was made.

Production of spelter in the United States, 1903-1909, apportioned according to locality in which smelted, in short tons.

Includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Colorado.