:

AND ALUMINUM

W. C. PHALEN

BAUXITE.

PRODUCTION.

The production of bauxite in the United States in 1913 was 210,241 long tons, valued at $997,698-a marked increase over the production of any previous year in the history of bauxite mining. This increase is attributable in large measure to the impetus in the aluminum industry. During the year the demand for aluminum has shown a steady and rapid growth, marked by steady expansion and improvement in existing plants and progress in the work on new power sites where largely increased hydroelectric power for use in reducing the metal will be in operation during the next few years. Work was commenced at a new plant in the spring of 1914.

The figures given above for the production and value of bauxite in 1913 represent an increase in quantity of 50,376 long tons, or 31.5 per cent, compared with 2.7 per cent the preceding year; in value the increase amounted to $228,766, or 29.8 per cent, compared with 2.4 per cent the preceding year.

The States which produced bauxite were, as usual, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee. Arkansas led in 1913, its output exceeding that of the previous year. The ore mined in this State came from Saline and Pulaski counties. The production of Tennessee increased substantially. The ore mined in this State came from the Mission Ridge deposits near Chattanooga and from the new mine of the National Bauxite Co., near Keenburg, Carter County. The recent developments in the Tennessee fields are described in the following pages. The production in Georgia and Alabama declined. In the former State the falling off was slight, but in Alabama it was considerable. In Georgia ore was mined near Halls Station, Bartow County, near Hermitage, Floyd County, and near McIntyre, Wilkinson County. Considerable prospecting and development work was done in the vicinity of Rome, Floyd County. The Alabama ore came from the vicinity of Rock Run, Cherokee County.

The average price of bauxite per long ton at the mines for the last four years has been as follows: 1910, $4.81; 1911, $4.82; 1912, $4.81;

1913, $4.75.

The following table gives the production and value of bauxite from 1889 to 1913, inclusive:

Production of bauxite in the United States, 1889–1913, by States, in long tons.

The following table gives the annual production, imports, consumption, and value of bauxite in the United States during the last five years.

Production, imports, and consumption of bauxite in United States, 1909–1913, in long

1909.

1910.

1911.

1912.

1913.

tons.

The following table shows the world's production of bauxite from 1910 to 1912, so far as the figures are at present available. World's production of bauxite, 1910–1912, in long tons.

The figures in this table were obtained from the official statistical reports of the different countries represented. The official figures for the United Kingdom were obtained from Mines and Quarries, London, and for the year 1911 the figures for France and India were also obtained from this source, the official French figures not being available. The figures for France in 1910 came from the French official publication "Statistique de l'industrie minérale." Figures for Italy were obtained from the Revista del servizio mine

rario.

BAUXITE INDUSTRY, BY STATES.

TENNESSEE.

CHATTANOOGA DISTRICT.

Bauxite was mined in 1913 at two localities in the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tenn.-(1) near the east end of the McCallie Avenue tunnel through Missionary Ridge and (2) at Sherman Heights. This work has been done by the National Bauxite Co., which is reported to have purchased the Bennett property, near the end of the Missionary Ridge car line, about 2 miles south of the tunnel. Between Sherman Heights and the tunnel are the holdings of the Aluminum Co. of America, on which some prospecting has been done in previous years. All the deposits that have been worked are situated on the southeast slope of the ridge.

Tunnel deposits.-Chattanooga, Tenn., is separated from the country to the east by Missionary Ridge, which rises to a height of about 1,000 feet, or approximately 300 feet above the flood plain of Tennessee River, on which the city is built. Hamilton County, of which Chattanooga is the county seat, has recently constructed through the ridge a tunnel 931 feet long, which is an eastward continuation of McCallie Avenue, and has thereby opened a direct route into the city from the country east of the ridge.

During the construction of the tunnel bauxite was encountered at a point 60 feet from the east end and extending some distance to the west. This distance is not known, as no records were kept. Lignite was observed by the writer at the east end of the tunnel, as were also the characteristic variegated clays usually associated with bauxite. The residual soil here is also filled with chert débris. Still farther east of the tunnel the bauxite is being worked on a small scale by the National Bauxite Co. It thus appears that there may be two distinct pockets or deposits of the ore in this immediate locality.

The company is working only on a small scale at the eastern deposit, having the mineral rights on a small acreage that is privately owned. When the deposit was examined by the writer early in May, 1913, two shallow pits had been sunk and a tunnel 60 feet long had been excavated. The deposit is being worked on a royalty basis, a certain sum corresponding to a certain tonnage being guaranteed to hold the lease. After this tonnage is removed a certain royalty per ton is to be paid. The ore after removal is hauled to Sherman Heights, where it is dried. It is stated that the ore mined will average 50 per cent alumina (Al,O,).

Sherman Heights.-The most important deposits of bauxite in Tennessee at the present time are situated near Sherman Heights, on the southeast slope of Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga. The

Production of bauxite in the United States, 1889–1913, by States, in long tons.

The following table gives the annual production, imports, consumption, and value of bauxite in the United States during the last

five years.

Production, imports, and consumption of bauxite in United States, 1909–1913, in long

The following table shows the world's production of bauxite from 1910 to 1912, so far as the figures are at present available. World's production of bauxite, 1910-1912, in long tons.