Fluorspar made available for consumption in the United States, 1919–1925, in

1919.

1920

1921.

1922

1923

1924

1925

1 Not available.

'Reported by producers; none recorded by Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.

A more detailed statement of consumption by the different industries is given under "Utilization."

The following table gives the amount of fluorspar imported into the United States, by country of origin.

Fluorspar imported into the United States, 1923–1925, by countries

England seems to be the second largest consumer, although definite statistics are not available. Apparently the British consumption of fluorspar, largely in the iron and steel industries, has ranged from about 30,000 tons to 50,000 tons per annum in recent years.

The German consumption of fluorspar in the past seems to have been between 10,000 and 15,000 tons yearly, but is reported to be increasing. The iron and metal smelting industries account for 79 to 84 per cent of the consumption, chemical industry 5 per cent, glass industry 10 to 15 per cent, enamel industry 5 per cent, and the optical industry 5 per cent.

In recent years Canada has consumed 12,000 to 15,000 tons a year, mostly in the steel industries in Ontario and at Sydney, Nova Scotia. Most of the Canadian fluorite mined is used in Canada and in addition 8,000 to 13,000 tons annually have been imported from the United States and England.

Before the World War, Russia imported considerable quantities of fluorspar from England, probably for metallurgical uses. No data on consumption in Russia are available.

Mexico for many years has used small quantities of fluorspar from local deposits for smelting refractory ores, as a flux in the steel industry, and for the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid.

Japan uses fluorspar in the steel industry and in making glass and enamels. In 1920 the steel industry used 230 metric tons, and it is said that the total imports (no domestic production) probably did not exceed 300 tons. Fluorspar analyzing as low as 50 per cent CaF, is obtained from Korea and used in making steel.

In Australia the steel works at New Castle, New South Wales, have used in recent years about 2,000 tons annually, obtained from local sources. A small quantity is used by enameling works at

Sydney.

In South Africa consumption has been small, but some fluorspar is used in steel and other metallurgical industries, in the chemical industry, and in glass and enamel.

Probably all countries that have any industrial development consume some fluorspar for chemical, smelting, and ceramic uses, but only in countries which are large manufacturers of iron and steel can a large consumption be expected.

PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES

Except for a few years during and subsequent to the World War, the Illinois-Kentucky district has produced more than 90 per cent of the fluorspar mined in this country. The following table shows the production by States:

Domestic fluorspar shipped from mines in the United States, 1918-1925

1 1918: New Hampshire, Utah, and Washington. 1919: Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Utah. 1922: New Hampshire and Utah.

? Some lump spar included with gravel.

Domestic fluorspar shipped from mines in the United States, 1918-1925—Continued

1 1918: New Hampshire, Utah, and Washington. 1919: Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Utah. 1922: New Hampshire and Utah.

2 Some lump spar included with gravel.

Domestic fluorspar shipped from mines in the United States, 1918-1925-Contd.

11918: New Hampshire, Utah, and Washington. 1919: Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Utah. 1922: New Hampshire and Utah.

Figure 1 shows the relation between the production and consumption of fluorspar and the production of basic open-hearth steel.

RESERVES

No data are available for accurate estimation of fluorspar reserves in the United States or in the world, because very few fluorspar companies have ever attempted to estimate their reserves fully. Most

companies do not even block out or develop any large tonnage in advance of mining. A few of the largest companies do adequate development work and block out ore several years in advance of mining, but no example can be cited of a company fully exploring its property by drilling or other prospecting.

Upon the basis of past and present production and of such reports as are available, the largest fluorspar reserves in the world, named in

FIGURE 1.- -Production and consumption of fluorspar and basic open-hearth

steel

order of present importance, are in the United States, England, and Germany. Countries having reserves of moderate known importance are Italy, France, Canada, and South Africa (Transvaal). In other countries fluorspar deposits are either known to be small or at great distances from transportation and markets, or adequate information is not available.

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