WORLD'S PRODUCTION.

Although the figures from all the countries producing large quantities of tungsten ores are not yet available, enough are at hand to show that the world's production for 1909 was larger than that for 1908, and was possibly equal to that of 1907. In very few of the returns, however, is the percentage of tungsten trioxide indicated and this is a prime necessity in comparing figures. It is probable that most of the exported ore is richer than 60 per cent in tungsten trioxide, and that the figures are therefore low.

The world's production of tungsten ore, 1905-1909, by countries, estimated as far as possible in short tons of concentrates containing 60 per cent of tungsten trioxide.

a Fourth annual statement of the trade and shipping of the colonies and territories forming the South African Customs Union, 1999, Cape Town, 1910, Table 44. The percentage of tungsten trioxide in the ores is unknown.

Min. Jour., London, vol. 91, October 8, 1910, p. 1174. Exports for 1908 and 1909. c Min. Jour., London, vol. 91, October 22, 1910, p. 1222.

d Ann. Rept. Dept. Mines, New South Wales, for 1909. Sydney, 1910, pp. 58-59. The figures given represent exports of 193.3 long tons of scheelite and 127 long tons of wolframite, a total of 320.3 long tons. Concerning scheelite the report states: "The prices realized locally ranged from £65 ($316) to £130 ($632) per ton for 72 per cent ore. The tungsten ore has therefore been considered to carry 72 per cent WOs. e Min. Jour., London, vol. 88, February 26, 1910, p. 237.

1 Queensland Govt. Min. Jour., Brisbane, March 15, 1910, p. 122.

Progress Min. Ind. Tasmania, Hobart, 1909 and 1910 (quarterly).

Ann. Rept. Sec. Mines for 1909, Melbourne, 1910, p. 25.

Min. Jour., London, vol. 91, November 19, 1910, p. 1320.

Fiscal year June 30, 1908, to June 30, 1909. Min. Jour., London.

Min. Jour., London, vol. 91, November 12, 1910, p. 1306.

Mines and Quarries, Gen. Rept. with Statistics for 1909, pt. 1, Home Office, London, 1910, p. 10.

m Boletim commercial e maritimo, Dezembro, 1909, Lisboa, 1910, p. 791.

n El Comercio Exterior Argentina, Buenos Aires, 1910, p. 191.

• Communicated by Bureau American Republics, September 26, 1910.

P WO3, Min. Jour., London, vol. 91. December 10, 1910, p. 1409. Output of Saxony

Papers and reports relating to minerals and mining, Wellington, 1910, p. 17. The exports of scheelite

for the year were 58 long tons thought to carry 72 per cent.

NICKEL AND COBALT.

By FRANK L. HESS.

PRODUCTION.

The only metallic nickel and the only cobalt known to have been produced in the United States from ores mined in this country during 1909, came from Fredericktown, Mo., where the North American Lead Company operated a smelter for the extraction of nickel, cobalt, and copper from sulphides accompanying galena. Both nickel and cobalt were produced in this country from Ontario ores during the

year.

In refining copper by the electrolytic process, the electrolyte generally soon shows nickel sulphate in solution, and must be watched in order that more than 1 per cent of the sulphate be not allowed to accumulate, as more than 1 per cent is said to affect injuriously the deposition of the copper on the cathodes. Nickel is carried in minute quantities by crude copper from many, places, but which ores produce it can not ordinarily be told, as the refineries which report a nickel saving refine pig copper from many localities and from several countries. In 1909 the United States Metals Refining Company at its Chrome, N. J., plant, the Nichols Copper Company at its Laurel Hill, Long Island refinery, and the Orford Copper Company at its refineries at Constable Hook, N. Y., and Bayonne, N. J., made large quantities of nickel sulphate and nickel ammonium sulphate. The total quantity of the two salts produced during 1909 was 3,101,505 pounds valued at approximately $62,000. It is difficult to estimate how much of the entire quantity should be credited as the production of the United States, possibly a third. The distribution of this quantity among the different States would be impossible.

At Webster, N. C., the North Carolina Nickel Company spent a large amount of money putting in a plant for the electrical reduction of low-grade silicate ores. It is the intention to make a ferronickelsilicon, and thus avoid complicated metallurgical processes. The ferronickelsilicon is to be sold for steel making. The present steam plant and electrical machinery are reported to have cost $600,000. The company plans to utilize also a water power near at hand. Diamond drilling and trenches are said to show a sufficient supply of nickel ore on hand.

IMPORTS.

The imports for consumption of nickel into the United States since 1902, inclusive, as reported by the Bureau of Statistics, have been as

follows:

1902.

1903.

1904.

1905.

1906.

1907

1908.

1909.

Imports of nickel for consumption into the United States, 1902-1909.

a Includes only the nickel content of ore and matte.

The imports for 1909 were divided as follows:

Imports of nickel for consumption into the United States in 1909.

The imports for consumption of cobalt into the United States since 1901 have been as follows:

Cobalt oxide, ore, and zaffer imported into the United States for consumption, 1901-1909,

The United States refines much more nickel than it can use, so that although not an important producer it is a large exporter. Exports since 1901 have been as follows:

Exports of nickel, nickel oxide, and matte from the United States, 1901-1909, in pounds.

VANADIUM.

By FRANK L. HESS.

PRODUCTION.

The larger part of the vanadium used in this country is obtained from ore imported from Cerro de Pasco, Peru, by the American Vanadium Company, of Pittsburg, Pa. The ore is largely patronite, a sulphide of vanadium, with which are various oxides in the weathered part of the deposit.

In this country vanadium was produced in 1909 by the Vanadium Alloys Company, at Newmire, Colo., from the roscoelite-bearing sandstone at that place. Much trouble has been experienced with the melting down of the furnaces in which the ore is given a chloridizing roast, and the percentage of recovery has not been all that could be wished. About the last of the year the plant passed into the hands of the Primos Chemical Company.

The Colorado Vanadium Company established a laboratory at Boulder and pursued experiments on the extraction of vanadium from the Newmire roscoelite, but produced no ore beyond a small quantity needed in its experimental work.

The General Vanadium Company shipped two cars of vanadiferous sandstone from the Jodandy claim in the Paradox Valley, 58 miles northwest of Placerville, Colo. Most of the vanadium in this sandstone is in a black mineral, probably an oxide, but not thoroughly investigated.

In New Mexico occurrences of vanadium minerals are said to have been prospected near Hillsboro and in the Caballos Range, but no production is known to have been made.

TESTS FOR VANADIUM.

So many letters asking for tests for vanadium are received by the United States Geological Survey that the following tests, which have been found effective, are given:

To test for vanadium, the mineral may be digested with nitric acid. If hydrogen peroxide be added to the resulting liquid, a brown color will appear if vanadium is present.

Some vanadium minerals are also attacked by hydrochloric acid and by sulphuric acid. To the solution resulting from the use of either acid, hydrogen peroxide may be added, and a brown solution will show the presence of vanadium, as when nitric acid is used. If

either hydrochloric or sulphuric acid is used, metallic zinc may be added after hydrogen peroxide, and a bright blue color will be given by the reduction of vanadium compounds. The same effect can be obtained in a nitric-acid solution by adding sulphuric acid, evaporating to white fumes, diluting, and adding metallic zinc. If preferred, hydrochloric acid instead of sulphuric acid may be added to the nitricacid solution, but in that case evaporation must be carried almost to dryness at least twice to get rid of the nitric acid. The liquid may then be diluted and more acid added, followed by zinc as described. At times the tests given above are not wholly satisfactory. In such cases, if the apparatus is at hand, through a filtered solution made alkaline with ammonia pass hydrogen sulphide (HS) gas until the solution is saturated. The solution will take a fine garnet or deep wine color if vanadium is present. Copper, if present, is precipitated as a sulphide and does not interfere with the test.

If commercial iron sulphide for making hydrogen sulphide gas is not at hand, pyrrhotite, galena, or zinc blende may be used with hydrochloric acid. The only accessories needed are two test tubes, one of which is closed with a cork in which is inserted a bent tube the other end of which can be placed in the solution to be tested for vanadium.