26 
CHROMITE. 
Chromite or chrome iron ore, when pure, consists of a com 
pound of ferrous oxide and chromic oxide, represented by the 
formula FeO.C^Os. It occurs in peridotite and serpentine 
rocks, in irregular masses or disseminated in small grains which 
must be won by crushing and concentrating. It is also found 
in sand resulting from the disintegration of these rocks. 
Chromite is used in the chemical industry for making 
chromic acid and the various salts of chromium, which in turn 
are used for making paint and ink pigments, and other purposes. 
It is also employed as a source of chromium in the manu 
facture of chrome steel. In this case the iron content is also 
utilized. Chromite is very basic in chemical reaction and 
highly refractory, suiting it to the manufacturing of fire bricks 
for certain metallurgical purposes, and also for the lining of 
basic open hearth steel furnaces, the only use to which it is put 
in Canada at present. 
When used for refractory purposes silica is an objectionable 
impurity and should be reduced by concentration to at most 
five per cent. 
It costs about $18 a ton delivered in Ontario. 
Amount of chromite used in the manufacturing industries, 
as reported by the consumers;— 
Location 
No. of firms 
reporting 
consumption 
Domestic 
Imported 
Tons 
Tons 
Maritime Provinces 
_ 
Quebec 
— 
— 
— 
Ontario 
1 
— 
50 
Prairie Provinces 
— 
— 
— 
British Columbia 
— 
— 
— 
Canada (Total) 
1 
— 
50