The Elements of economic geology

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1773832379

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-172798

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Gregory, John W. http://d-nb.info/gnd/11683014X

Title:: The Elements of economic geology

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Methuen

Year of publication:: 1928

Scope:: XIV, 312 S.; graph. Darst.

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Part II. Ore deposits

Collection:: Economics Books

ORES OF FIVE MINOR METALS 125 distribution is coincident with the great folding and fracturing of the Middle Kainozoic mountain system. ANTIMONY Antimony (Sb; at. wt, 1202; sp. gr., 6-7; melting point, 1150° F,; volatilization-point, 2700° F.) is a minor metal of which the distribution offers an interesting contrast to that of most other ores. It is a constituent of an unusually large number of mineral species owing to its three-fold chemical valency and three oxides, the trioxide, tetroxide, and pentoxide (SbyOj Sb,0,, and Sby0j), its readiness to form alloys, and its strong affinity for sulphur. It occurs in many sulphides combined with silver, lead, copper, mercury, and iron. It is used to harden many alloys such as Britannia metal and pewter (which contains from 5 to 24 per cent. of antimony), and ** white metal ’ which is used for bearings. Its most important alloy is printers’ metal, in which the anti- mony renders the type more durable and also clearer by expan- sion on solidification. Antimony is also used for pigments and drugs. The metal is of a silvery white colour, has a high lustre, but is too brittle for use unalloyed ; it is known as “antimony regulus,” and its ordinary range in price has been from £25 to £45 per ton, occasionally rising to £90; during the War owing to its use for hardening shrapnel bullets, the Price rose to £130 per ton. Early in 1927 it was about £50 per ton. Owing to the large supplies available the price must be expected to fall until it exceeds the pre-war average only by the increase in cost of production. The chief producing country is Central China, where anti- mony occurs mainly in the province of Hunan, S. of the Yangtze-kiang. These deposits have since 1897 enabled China to produce sometimes go per cent. of the world’s out- put. The production of antimony in recent times has usually varied between 10,000 and 20,000 tons. During the War it rose to 80,000 tons. China in 1924 produced 78-3 per cent. of the world's total, the balance coming from twenty-five States. France, the second producer, yielded 4} per cent., Algeria followed with 3-3 per cent., Bolivia 2-7 per cent., and Mexico 2:6 per cent; the output from Australia had fallen to 1-8 per cent. The United States produces a thousandth of the

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