Illinois
State Geological Survey
r\ \
ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
3 3051 00000 1895
,. LW01S GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY UBHArtY
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
http://archive.org/details/fluorsparindustr59hatm
STATE OF ILLINOIS
HENRY HORNER, Governor
DEPARTMENT REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION
JOHN J. HALLIHAN, Director
DIVISION OP THE
STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
M. M. LEIGHTON, Chief
URBANA
In Cooperation with the
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF MINES
BULLETIN NO. 59
THE
FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
THE ILLINOIS-KENTUCKY DISTRICT
By
Paul Hatmaker
Former Mining Engineer, Building Materials Section,
Bureau of Mines
AND
Hubert W. Davis
Assistant Mineral Economist, Metal Economics Division,
Bureau of Mines
PRINTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
URBANA, ILLINOIS
1938
STATE OF ILLINOIS
Hon. Henry Horner, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION
Hon. John J. Hallihan, Director
Springfield
BOARD OF
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
Hon. John J. Hallihan, Chairman
Edson S. Bastin, Ph.D., Geology William Trelease, D.Sc, LL.D., Biology
William A. Noyes, Ph.D., LL.D., Henry C. Cowles, Ph.D., D.Sc, Forestry
Chem.D., D.Sc, Chemistry Arthur Cutts Willard, D.Engr., LL.D.,
Louis R. Howson, C.E., Engineering President of the University of Illinois.
STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIVISION
Urban a
M. M. Leighton, Ph.D., Chief
Enid Townley, M.S.,
Jane Titcomb, A.M.
RESOURCES
GEOLOGICAL
Coal
G. H. Cady, Ph.D., Senior Geologist
L. C. McCabe, Ph.D.
James M. Schopf, Ph.D.
Earle F. Taylor, M.S.
Charles C. Boley, B.S.
Non-Fuels
J. E. Lamar, B.S.
H. B. Willman, Ph.D.
Robert M. Grogan, M.S.
H. C. Heilbronner, B.S.
Oil and Gas
A. H. Bell, Ph.D.
Chalmer L. Cooper, M.S.
G. V. Cohee, Ph.D.
Frederick Squires, B.S.
Charles W. Carter, Ph.D.
James L. Carlton, B.S.
Areal and Engineering Geology
George E. Ekblaw, Ph.D.
Richard F. Fisher, B.A.
Subsurface Geology
L. E. Workman, M.S.
J. Norman Payne, Ph.D.
Elwood Atherton, Ph.D.
Gordon Prescott, B.S.
Stratigraphy and Paleontology
J. Marvin Weller, Ph.D. {on leave)
Petrography
Ralph E. Grim, Ph.D.
Physics
R. J. Piersol, Ph.D.
M. C. Watson, Ph.D.
Donald O. Holland, M.S.
Assistant to the Chief
Geological Assistant
GEOCHEMISTRY
Chief Chemist
Frank H. Reed, Ph.D.
W. F. Bradley, Ph.D.
G. C. Finger, M.S.
Mary C. Neill, M.S.
Fuels
G. R. Yohe, Ph.D.
Carl Harman, B.S.
Non-Fuels
J. S. Machin, Ph.D.
F. V. Tooley, M.S.
Analytical
O. W. Rees, Ph.D.
Norman H. Nachtrieb, B.S.
George W. Land, B.Ed.
P. W. Henline, B.S.
Mathew Kalinowski, B.S.
MINERAL ECONOMICS
W. H. Voskuil, Ph.D., Mineral
Economist
Grace N. Oliver, A.B.
EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION
Don L. Carroll, B.S.
PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS
George E. Ekblaw, Ph.D.
Chalmer L. Cooper, M.S.
Dorothy Rose, B.S. {on leave)
Alma R. Sweeny, A.B.
Meredith M. Calkins
Consultants: Ceramics, Culi.en Warner Parmelee, M.S., D.Sc, University of
Illinois; Pleistocene Invertebrate Paleontology, Frank Collins Baker, B.S.,
University of Illinois.
Topographic Mapping in Cooperation with the United States Geological Survey,
(44426— 3M— 1-38) 2«*$«g£».
(December 1, 1937)
Y\D, S~Z?
Contents
PAGE
Introduction 7
Acknowledgments 11
Description 12
Nomenclature 12
Properties 12
Uses 13
Substitutes 15
History of production 16
Origin and occurrence 18
Illinois- Kentucky district 18
Western States 21
Mining districts of the United States 21
Illinois-Kentucky 21
California 27
Colorado 27
New Mexico 27
Nevada 28
New Hampshire 28
Other States 28
Prospecting and exploration 28
Mining 31
Milling 33
Mechanical separation 33
Flotation 37
World production 37
Domestic production statistics and mine stocks 40
Imports 40
Tariff history 51
Exports 52
Domestic consumption 52
Transportation 54
Markets and prices 55
Prices 55
Typical contracts and terms 61
Distribution methods 61
Distribution of domestic consumption 63
Distribution by grades 63
Distribution by industries 64
Basic open-hearth steel 64
Electric-furnace steel 72
Ferro-alloys 73
Foundries 73
[3]
Contents, Continued
PAGE
Distribution of domestic consumption — Continued
Distribution by industries — Continued
Other metallurgical uses :...'. 74
Glass 75
Enamel 78
Hydrofluoric acid and derivatives 80
Cement manufacture and miscellaneous 84
Optical fluorspar 85
Notes on foreign deposits 86
Argentina '. 87
Australia 87
Canada 87
China 87
France 88
Germany 88
Great Britain 88
India 89
Italy 89
Newfoundland 89
Norway 90
Russia 90
Union of South Africa 90
Spain 91
Switzerland 92
Other countries 92
Summary 92
Past and present consumption and sources of supply 92
Future trends in consumption 93
United States 93
Foreign 94
Future sources of supply and reserves 94
United States 94
Foreign 97
List of domestic fluorspar mines or deposits 97
List of consumers of fluorspar in the United States 101
Bibliography 114
Index 123
[4]
Illustrations
FIG. PAGE
1. Fluorspar production in the United States, 1900-1936 8
2. Fluorspar production in the United States, 1900-1936, by chief producing states 9
3. Production of basic open-hearth steel and fluorspar in the United States, 1900-
1936, and fluorspar available for consumption, 1910-1936 10
4. Fluorspar imported into and produced in the United States, 1910-1936 11
5. Fluorspar vein at the 500-foot level of the Daisy mine, Rosiclare Lead & Fluor-
spar Mining Co., Rosiclare, 111 19
6. Method of driving drift, Daisy mine, Rosiclare, 111 32
7. Picking belt and gyratory crusher, fluorspar mill, Rosiclare, 111 34
8. Jig room of fluorspar mill, Rosiclare, 111 36
9. Fluorspar imported into the United States from chief foreign sources, 1910-1936 41
10. World production and international trade in fluorspar in 1934 and flow to United
States markets from principal producing districts 47
11. Loading station on the Ohio River near Rosiclare, 111. for barge transportation,
Hillside Fluor Spar Mines 54
12. Average prices per ton of fluorspar at mines in the United States, 1880-1936. ... 60
13. Basic open-hearth steel furnace being charged with molten iron 67
14. Consuming districts of fluorspar in the United States, in relation to producing
areas 96
Tables
TABLE
NO.
1. Fluorspar shipped from mines in the United States, 1935-1936 14
2. Cryolite imported into the United States, 1922-1936 15
3. World production of fluorspar, 1913-1935 38-39
4. Fluorspar produced in the United States, 1880-1936, by States 42-44
5. Stocks of fluorspar at mines or shipping points in the United States, 1927-1936. 46
6. Fluorspar imported into the United States, and ratio of imports to imports plus
domestic shipments, 1910-1936 46
7. Fluorspar imported into the United States, 1910-1936, by countries 48-51
8. Fluorspar reported by producers as exported from the United States, 1922-1936 52
9. Fluorspar available for consumption in the United States, 1922-1936 52
10. Consumption of fluorspar in the United States, average for 1932-1936 53
11. Railroad freight rates on fluorspar 56-57
[5]
Tables, Continued
TABLE
NO. PAGE
12. Quoted prices per short ton of fluxing-gravel fluorspar in the United States, 1932-
1936 58-59
13. Consumption of fluorspar in the United States, 1932-1936 63
14. Distribution of shipments of fluorspar from mines in the United States, 1932-
1936 64
15. Distribution of shipments of fluorspar from mines in the United States, 1935-
1936 64
16. Fluorspar shipped from domestic mines for use in the manufacture of steel, 1922-
1936 65
17. Consumption and stocks of fluorspar at basic open-hearth steel plants, 1922-
1936 66
18. Average consumption of fluorspar per ton of steel by various steel plants, 1932-
1936 66
19. Production of basic open-hearth steel ingots and castings, 1898-1936 67
20. Analyses of gravel fluorspar used in steel plants 69
21. Screen analysis of gravel fluorspar 69
22. Consumption of fluorspar at electric-furnace steel plants, 1927-1936 72
23. Consumption of fluorspar in the manufacture of ferro-alloys and stocks, 1927-
1936.. 73
24. Fluorspar shipped from domestic mines for use in foundries, 1922-1936 73
25. Analyses of fluorspar used in cupolas 74
26. Fluorspar consumed and in stock at foundries, 1927-1936 74
27. Fluorspar shipped from domestic mines for use in glass manufacture, 1925-1936 75
28. Analyses of fluorspar used in the manufacture of glass 76
29. Screen analysis of 500-gram sample of coarse-ground fluorspar through 24-mesh
screen 77
30. Consumption of fluorspar in manufacture of glass and stocks, 1927-1936 78
31. Fluorspar shipped from domestic mines for use in the manufacture of enamel,
1924-1936 78
32. Analyses of fluorspar used in making enamels 79
33. Screen analysis of No. 1 fine-ground fluorspar 79
34. Consumption and stocks of fluorspar at enamel plants, 1927-1936 80
35. Fluorspar sold for use in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid in the United
States and ratio of sales of imported fluorspar to total, 1927-1936 80
36. Fluorspar shipped from domestic mines for use in the manufacture of hydro-
fluoric acid and derivatives, 1922-1936 81
37. Consumption and stocks of acid fluorspar at chemical plants, 1927-1936 84
38. Fluorspar shipped from domestic mines for miscellaneous purposes, 1922-1936. . 85
39. Estimated fluorspar reserves in the Western States 95
[6]
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE
ILLINOIS-KENTUCKY DISTRICT '
By Paul Hatmaker2 and Hubert W. Davis"
INTRODUCTION
THE FLUORSPAR industry is regarded as one of the smaller nonmetallic
mineral industries; nevertheless, the annual domestic production normally
is valued at more than $2,000,000. From 1911 to 1936 the annual value has
fluctuated from about $600,000 in 1911 to nearly $5,500,000 in 1918; from 1921
to 1930 the average was somewhat less than $2,250,000; from 1931 to 1935 it
fell to an average of $1,123,000; and in 1936 the value was more than
$3,000,000.
The domestic fluorspar industry represents a capital investment in the neigh-
borhood of $10,000,000 and in years of good demand for fluorspar it gives em-
ployment to 1,500 to 2,000 wage earners. In 1929 the industry paid out about
$1,500,000 in wages and salaries and about $1,000,000 for supplies, materials,
fuel, and machinery, notwithstanding that domestic mines supplied only 73 per
cent of the United States demand during that year. A comparison of the
relative size on a national scale alone, however, does not illustrate adequately
the great importance of fluorspar mining in the economic life of the sections
of the states where the mines are located, particularly in the Illinois-Kentucky
producing district where there is no other industry except agriculture. Because
of its rugged character some of the land is not tillable, and much is rather poor
for farming. Steady operation of the mines, therefore, is essential to the liveli-
hood of the labor dependent on them and to the welfare of the communities,
which are the center of the fluorspar-producing industry.
About a dozen companies in a small area along the Ohio River in southern
Illinois and western Kentucky produce most of the domestic supply. In 1936 this
area shipped 161,647 short tons of fluorspar, 92 per cent of the domestic total
(figs. 1 and 2).
The status of the steel industry largely determines the prosperity of the
producers, as basic open-hearth steel plants use about three-fourths of all fluor-
spar consumed in the United States (fig. 3). Fluorspar, however, is raw mate-
rial for a number of other manufacturers.
Imports of fluorspar into the United States were relatively large up to 1930,
since which time they have declined sharply. For example, of the 158,597 short
i Work on original manuscript completed June 1932; revised August 1937.
'- Former Mining Engineer, Building Materials Section, Bur. Mines.
3 Assistant Mineral Economist, Metal Economics Division, Bur. Mines.
[7]
8 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
tons of fluorspar delivered to domestic consumers in 1930, 63,009 tons (about
40 per cent) came from abroad, whereas of the 200,908 tons sold to domestic con-
sumers in 1936, only 24,917 tons (about 12 per cent) were from foreign sources.
Exports are negligible. Foreign supplies enter the Atlantic seaboard markets
and usually penetrate westward as far as Pittsburgh, the battleground of
domestic versus foreign fluorspar; during the World War, however, imports
were severely curtailed at a time of great demand (fig. 4).
This paper describes the major features of the domestic industry, from the
occurrence of the crude fluorspar to the ultimate utilization of the finished
product. The emphasis, however, is placed upon the economic factors. As
production is essentially a matter of scientific and engineering skill, technologic
300,000
250,000
200,000
150.000
100,000
50,000
1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930
Figure 1. — Fluorspar Production in the United States, 1900-1936.
1935
problems are mentioned only in sufficient detail to indicate the methods by which
they have been solved successfully by the operator. For the technology of
production the reader is referred to an earlier United States Bureau of Mines
publication4 and to more recent papers5 prepared by men intimately associated
with the industry.
4 Ladoo, R. B., Fluorspar, Its mining-, milling, and utilization, with a chapter on
cryolite: U. S. Bur. Mines, Bull. 244, 1927.
5 Cronk, A. H., Mining methods of the Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co., Rosi-
clare, Illinois: U. S. Bur. Mines, Inf. Circ. 6384, 1930.
Reeder, E. C, Methods and costs of mining fluorspar at Rosiclare, Illinois: U. S.
Bur. Mines, Inf. Circ. 6294, 1930; Milling methods and costs at the Hillside Fluorspar
Mines, Rosiclare, 111.: U. S. Bur. Mines, Inf. Circ. 6621, 1932.
INTRODUCTION
50,000
s °
I
150,000
100.000
50.000
ILLINOIS
/
1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935
Figure 2. — Fluorspar Production in the United States, by Chief Producing States.
The technology of utilization likewise is described only enough to complete
the picture. As utilization methods change rapidly, the producers should acquaint
themselves with new conditions and prepare to meet them. The basic open-
hearth steel industry, for example, uses less fluorspar per ton of steel than former-
ly, and the effect upon fluorspar production is obvious. Consumption of fluorspar
in glass, enamel, and hydrofluoric acid, however, has been increasing in recent
years.
In addition to a discussion of production, marketing, and utilization, certain
data bearing on the future of the domestic industry are summarized. The most
important of these are ore reserves (from which must come the production of
tomorrow) and possible market conditions.
o
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FLUORSPAI
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JMPTION —
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1 / AVAIL,
1 / CONSI
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[10]
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
11
280,000
240,000
200,000
(ft
z
o
»" 160,000
H
cc
O
s
120.000
80,000
40,000
■PRODUC1
ION
/
/
V
A /
\ \ /
j \
-^ —
w
/
-IMPORT
s
\ V
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1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934
Figure 4. — Fluorspar Imported into and Produced in the United States, 1910-1936.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
THE original manuscript of this report was completed in June, 1932, under
the auspices of the United States Bureau of Mines. It has since been revised
by H. W. Davis of the Bureau, the junior author, in collaboration with W. H.
Voskuil, F. H. Reed, and J. E. Lamar of the Illinois Geological Survey.
Acknowledgment is made for review and many helpful suggestions by R. C.
Allen and E. L. Brokenshire of Oglebay Norton and Company, John T. Fuller
and Roy Miller of Franklin Fluorspar Company, Paul M. Tyler of the United
States Bureau of Mines, E. S. Bastin of the University of Chicago, and L. W.
Currier of the United States Geological Survey.
In the preparation of this report the authors have drawn freely upon past
Mineral Resources and Minerals Yearbook chapters describing the fluorspar in-
12 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
dustry; United States Bureau of Mines Bulletin 244, "Fluorspar: Its Mining,
Milling, and Utilization," by R. B. Ladoo; and various reports of the United
States Tariff Commission. Data on origin, occurrence, and reserves of the West-
ern deposits have been derived mainly from a report by E. F. Burchard of the
United States Geological Survey.6
The producers and consumers have cooperated in supplying needful data
for this report. Their help is deeply appreciated.
DESCRIPTION
NOMENCLATURE
THE term "fluorite" is applied to the mineral composed of calcium fluoride
and usually relates to chemically pure crystals or crystal fragments. The
term "fluorspar" is now used almost exclusively, both in the commercial and
scientific sense. Originally it was called "fluor" from the Latin root fluo (signify-
ing / flow), but "spar" is a generic name for numerous nonmetallic minerals
(especially those lustrous and cleavable), and "fluor" and "spar" were later com-
bined into one word. Fluorspar is commonly called "spar" in the industry, and
this term alone is used frequently in this report. However, this term has a more
general meaning, being applied also to barite (heavy spar), feldspar, calc-spar
(calcite), gypsum, and siderite, depending upon the mining locality.
In England, fluorspar is known as Derbyshire spar or Durham spar, depend-
ing upon the locality. "Blue John" is a term applied locally to a fibrous colum-
nar variety found in Derbyshire and used for vases and ornaments. Fluorspar
was also called "fluate of lime" in the United States during the early days. The
terms "false emerald" and "false amethyst" (or similar designations according to
color) also have been applied to finely colored varieties.
PROPERTIES
Fluorspar is a fairly heavy, medium-hard, brittle, glassy mineral composed
chiefly of calcium fluoride (CaF2). It crystallizes in the isometric system, a
common form being the cube. Crystals have distinct octahedral cleavage, and
fragments can easily be shaped into octahedrons. Cleavage is especially noticeable
in well-developed crystals. Certain types are almost perfectly transparent,
whereas others are quite opaque. Colors range from delicate tints to deep shades
of green, yellow, blue, lavender and old rose ; orange, brown and black are rather
rare. Massive varieties may be white or colorless.
Fluorspar, fourth in the Mohs scale of hardness, is harder than calcite but
softer than apatite or feldspar. Its specific gravity is 3.0 to 3.25. A cubic foot
cf pure massive fluorspar may weigh 188 to 203 pounds; calcite weighs about 170
pounds and quartz about 166 pounds a cubic foot. Milled gravel spar, containing
10 to 15 per cent calcite and silica, usually weighs 130 to 135 pounds per cubic
foot (about 15 cubic feet per ton). Fluorite, being 10 to 20 per cent heavier
than calcite and 13 to 22 per cent heavier than quartz, can be separated from
these commonly associated minerals by gravity concentration.
6 Burchard, E. F., Fluorspar deposits in western United States: Amer. Inst. Min.
Met. Eng\, Tech. Pub. 500, 1933.
USES 13
The luster is commonly vitreous. The streak is typically white ; however,
purple varieties may pulverize to a faint lavender or a light pink. Fluorspar is
quite brittle and breaks with a conchoidal or splintery fracture.
Flawless transparent fluorspar has a very low index of refraction (that is,
it bends light rays only slightly), disperses light faintly, and commonly displays
no double refraction. Because of its characteristic optical qualities fluorite is
used in optics.
Fluorspar melts at 1,270° to 1,387° C. ; pure calcium fluoride melts at
1,378° C. When heated, the mineral usually flies apart or decrepitates. It is
virtually insoluble in water but is attacked by strong acids. Some varieties of
fluorspar glow in the dark (phosphoresce) after moderate heating. Specimens
exhibiting a bluish fluorescence also have been known.
USES
The most important use of fluorspar is as a flux in basic open-hearth steel
furnaces. Other metallurgical processes using fluorspar include the manufacture
of alloy steel and ferro-alloys in the electric furnace, the preparation of aluminum,
and foundry work.
The next most important use at present is in the chemical industry, where
fluorspar is used as raw material in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid and its
derivatives, closely followed by the ceramic industries, where fluorspar is used in
opal or opaque and colored glass and in various enamels for coating metal ware.
Comparatively little fluorspar is used in the manufacture of cement, calcium
carbide and cyanamid, abrasives, heat resistant brick, and carbon electrodes.
Small quantities of clear fluorspar crystals are used for optical purposes, and also
a small amount of the colored material may find its way into jewelry and stone
ornaments.
Utilization of fluorspar is described in greater detail in the section on dis-
tribution of domestic consumption by grades and industries, page 63.
Table 1 summarizes the relative importance of domestic shipments for the
major uses in 1935 and 1936.
14
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
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SUBSTITUTES
15
SUBSTITUTES
No other substance appears to be as satisfactory as fluorspar for a general
slag thinner and conditioner. Certain furnace charges, such as those containing
relatively large ratios of high-manganese ore, high-manganese pig iron, or hema-
tite, may require little or no fluorspar. Such components of the charge, how-
ever, can not be considered substitutes for fluorspar, as they merely provide con-
ditions wherein spar is not needed.
Calcium chloride is the best substitute for fluorspar in steel making. Reports
indicate, however, that several times as much calcium chloride (50 or more pounds
per ton of steel) is required, and the cost at least equals that of fluorspar. More-
over, the chloride is hygroscopic and deliquescent, making it less suitable for stor-
age and handling. Data are not available as to the quantity of calcium chloride
now being employed in steel manufacture, but it is believed that it is very small.
Table 2. — Cryolite Imported into the United States, 1922-1936.
Year
Short tons
Value
Total
Per ton
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
4,367
7,140
7,078
11,025
8,511
5,672
7,735
8,711
9,313
8,857
4,236
4,638
4,984
9,295
14,130
$196,302
319,959
320,670
690,651
557,598
410,876
529,176
670,841
695,794
580,621
291,357
298,316
376,868
646,390
1,076,538
$44.95
44.81
45.30
62.64
65.51
72.44
68.41
77.01
74.71
65.56
68.78
64.32
75.62
69.54
76.19
In lieu of the use of fluorspar, furnace slags may be made more liquid by
modifying their composition through addition of more lime and other bases, in-
cluding compounds of sodium and potassium, iron scale, bauxite, and ilmenite.
None of these, however, is as easy to manage or has proved, in the long run, as
generally efficient or economical ; consequently, fluorspar has maintained its popu-
larity among steel men.
In the manufacture of opal glass and in the refining of aluminum the pic-
ture is somewhat different. Fluorspar is used in making opal glass as a source
of fluorine to produce cloudy or white opaque effects. Cryolite is also an im-
portant source of fluorine; this mineral is sodium aluminum fluoride (Na3AlF„)
containing sodium (Na) 32.8 per cent, aluminum (Al) 12.8 per cent, and fluo-
rine (F) 54.4 per cent. As fluorspar theoretically contains 48.7 per cent of fluo-
rine, a ton of pure fluorspar evidently contains 974 pounds of fluorine, whereas
a ton of pure cryolite contains 1,088 pounds.
16 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Cryolite occurs in commercial quantities and is mined at only one locality in
the world, Ivigtut, southern Greenland. The greater part of the product is
shipped to Copenhagen; the rest is exported to the United States whence some
is reexported to Canada. Cryolite imported is used chiefly in the metallurgy of
aluminum and in making opaque glass. Synthetic cryolite is invading the field
of the natural mineral and the literature indicates that its entree is in the alu-
minum, enamel, and insecticide industries.
Table 2 shows the imports of cryolite into the United States from 1922
to 1936.
In making opaque glass and enamels, manufactured fluorine salts such as
artificial cryolite, sodium silicofluoride, and sodium fluoride are sometimes used.
The mineral lepidolite may also be used as a source of fluorine, although it is
commonly used for its content of alumina, potash, and lithia. Bone ash and other
calcium phosphates also have been mentioned as fluorspar substitutes. At present
it has no substitute in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid and its derivatives.
HISTORY OF PRODUCTION
Agricola (1529) considered fluorspar a highly useful if not indispensable
fluxing agent, but improved metallurgical processes and the fact that it was
considered rare and relatively costly, retarded extensive use until just before the
beginning of the twentieth century. Rapid growth in basic open-hearth steel
manufacture, however, expanded domestic fluorspar production from 15,900
short tons in 1899 to a maximum of 263,817 tons in 1918.
Fluorspar was first used in this country by the Indians or by prehistoric
folk who carved ornaments from clear beautifully colored fluorspar. Intricate
artifacts have been found, the small turtle being a favorite design.
Occurrences of fluorspar or "fluate of lime" (as it was then called) near
Franklin Furnace and Hamburg, New Jersey; Middletown, Connecticut; Rose-
brook's Gap, New Hampshire ; and Woodstock, Virginia, were recorded as early
as 18147. Additional deposits in Maryland on the west side of the Blue Ridge,
in New York near Saratoga Springs, in Vermont at Thetford, and in Massachu-
setts near Southampton were listed in 1816.8
The presence of fluorspar in southern Illinois near Shawneetown was re-
corded as early as 1818. 9 It was noted in 182210 on Peters Creek 17 miles from
Shawneetown, at the three forks of Grand Pierre Creek 27 miles from Shawnee-
town, and 30 miles southwest of Cave in Rock, as well as in Smith County,
Tennessee; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Westmoreland, New Hampshire;
and elsewhere.
Small but unknown quantities were used in the United States during the
first half of the nineteenth century. The first recorded use of American fluor-
spar, so far as known, was in 182311 when it was reported that "2 ounces of
pure fluorspar from Shawneetown were used (also 4 ounces of sulphuric acid) in
7 Bruce, Archibald, Mineralog. Jour., vol. 1, pp. 32-33, 1814.
8 Cleaveland, Parker, Elementary treatise on mineralogy and geology, vol. 1, 1st ed.,
p. 134, 1816.
o Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 1, pp. 49, 52-53. 1818.
io Cleaveland, Parker, An elementary treatise on mineralogy and geology, vol. 1, 2d
ed., pp. 199-200, 1822.
li Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 6, pp. 354-356, 1823.
HISTORY OF PRODUCTION 17
making fluoric acid." In 183712 fluorspar, which was sold for $60 a ton and was
said to have been used with magnetic iron pyrite in the smelting of copper ores,
was mined from a vein near Trumbull, Connecticut. In 1838 Jackson13 recorded
the occurrence of green fluorspar at Long Island in Bluehill Bay, Maine, and
stated that it was sold in apothecary shops for 50 cents a pound but that the
demand was limited.
Although fluorspar deposits were known in southern Illinois early in the
nineteenth century no mining was attempted until 1842 when development was
undertaken in Hardin County near the present Rosiclare mine. Since 1842 it was
mined more or less continuously, but shipments apparently did not begin until
about 1870.
Meanwhile, fluorspar was discovered in western Kentucky. In 1835 an
attempt was made to work deposits in Crittenden County. Up to the Civil War
other primitive attempts were made, notably in Livingston County near Smith-
land. In the early seventies prospecting and mining were resumed somewhat
generally, chiefly in Crittenden County, and in 1873 the first shipments of
Kentucky fluorspar were made from the Yandell mine near Mexico in that
county.
In the late sixties the presence of fluorspar in Colorado was recorded, and
actual mining began in the early seventies when shipments were made from
deposits in Jefferson and Boulder counties.
By the end of the nineteenth century fluorspar associated with other minerals
was known to have a broad geographical distribution ; but exploitation in the
United States had been confined chiefly to Illinois, Kentucky, and Colorado.
Although an exact record of production prior to 1880 is not available the total
output during the nineteenth century probably did not exceed 165,000 short
tons, Illinois contributing about 80 per cent.
Most of the fluorspar produced before 1887 was used in the manufac-
ture of glass, enamels, and hydrofluoric acid ; the rest probably was used as a flux
in melting iron in foundries and in smelting gold, silver, copper, and lead. By
1887 the annual requirements for these uses had reached about 5,000 short tons.
In 1888, basic open-hearth steel was first made as a commercial product in
the United States, and in that year the production of fluorspar increased to 6,000
tons. The progress of steel making apparently was slow for a few years, for in
1893 it was confined virtually to four plants. Considerable advance, however,
was made thereafter, and the production in the United States reached the
million-ton mark in 1897 and the two-million-ton mark in 1899.
In response to increasing demand the production of fluorspar likewise ex-
panded. In 1891 it reached 10,044 tons, probably half of which was used by
steel plants, and by 1899 increased to 15,900 tons, probably two-thirds of which
was similarly used. Further increase in the production of basic open-hearth
steel during the twentieth century is reflected in the fluorspar industry in that
about three-fourths of the total fluorspar now consumed in the United States
is used in this type of steel plant.
12 Shephard, C. U., Connecticut Geol. Survey Rept., p. 80, 1837.
13 Jackson, C. T., Geology of Maine, 2d Rept., p. 125. 1838.
18 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
The use of fluorspar in the manufacture of glass, enamels, and hydrofluoric
acid also increased substantially during the twentieth century, and additional
uses were discovered.
The Rosiclare mine in Illinois continued to furnish most of the domestic
supply until 1896. In that year, however, Kentucky again became a producer
and from 1898 to 1904 produced more than Illinois due to the exploitation of
deposits in Crittenden, Livingston, and Caldwell counties. Meanwhile, con-
siderable development was being carried on in Illinois, and in 1905 when these
new properties had reached the productive stage Illinois regained first place.
Arizona and Tennessee were added to the producing States in 1902, and a
year later fluorspar mining in Colorado was resumed with the opening of the
basic open-hearth steel plant at Pueblo. The first record of fluorspar produc-
tion in New Mexico was in 1909. Shipments were first reported from New
Hampshire in 1911, Utah and Washington in 1918, Nevada in 1919, and Cali-
fornia in 1934.
Table 4, pages 42-45, presents statistics of production by States from 1880
to 1936. Data prior to 1880 were not obtained, nor for certain years thereafter
were statistics compiled for Kentucky and Colorado, hence the total figures are
slightly incomplete. The total unrecorded output is believed to have been about
25,000 short tons. If this amount is added to the 3,824,205 tons reported from
1880 to 1936, the total production since the beginning of operations in the United
States may be stated as approximately 3,849,000 tons, of which Illinois has con-
tributed 58.8 per cent, Kentucky 33.8 per cent, and Colorado 5.2 per cent, a
total of 97.8 per cent. Most of the remaining 2.2 per cent was furnished by
New Mexico.
ORIGIN AND OCCURRENCE
Fluorspar deposits occur in both igneous and sedimentary rocks as veins fol-
lowing faults, fissures, or shear zones; as horizontal or bedding replacement
deposits; or as incrustations in vugs or caves. Any such body of fluorspar may
weather to gravel spar. Residual gravel spar should not be confused with the
milled product for the steel trade, which is known as gravel fluorspar.
Even where fluorspar is enclosed by sedimentary rocks, such as limestone,
sandstone, or shale, evidence of igneous activity usually may be found. In the
Illinois-Kentucky district, for example, dikes, sills, and plugs of igneous rock have
penetrated the sedimentaries typical of that locality. The origin of commercial
deposits of fluorspar is believed to be closely connected with igneous activity.
ILLINOIS-KENTUCKY DISTRICT
The Illinois-Kentucky district is in the eastern foothills of the Ozark uplift,
which extends across the southern tip of Illinois and western part of Kentucky.
The country rock is limestone, shale, and sandstone of diverse kinds and char-
acteristics. The region has been faulted intensely and subsequently the surface
has been eroded, partly subduing any inequalities caused by rock movement.
The Illinois and Kentucky fluorspar fields are separated only geographically
by the Ohio River. The fluorspar deposits along the Rosiclare fault at Rosiclare,
Illinois, have been among the greatest in the world. This vein is nearly vertical,
strikes east of north and west of south, and has been productive over a length of
ORIGIN AND OCCURRENCE
19
about 3 miles. The Rosiclare fault has been located but not worked extensively
south of the river. Fluorspar occurs at an explored depth of 720 feet in the
Rosiclare vein in roughly lenticular ore bodies between which the rock walls
may enclose masses of calcite or may pinch closely with little or no mineralization.
Adjacent to the Rosiclare fault are minor faults which also are mineralized.
1 SiII».K«
»«; %■' ::,:-*«
s 'Wmb,,. tm- '■■■
Figure 5. — Fluorspar Vein at the 500-foot Level of the Daisy Mine, Rosiclare
Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co., Rosiclare, III.
Not much surface gravel spar has been found in the Rosiclare district, except
for a comparatively large body between the upper walls of a southern section
of the Hillside mine. Such material is the result of weathering of vein and
country rock. Fluorspar, being quite resistant to weathering agencies, survives
the solution of disintegration of such enclosing softer materials as calcite or lime-
stone and accumulates in gravel-like deposits at or near the surface. The com-
parative absence of such residual ore bodies at Rosiclare is doubtless explained
by their removal by erosion in the area of active erosion bordering the Ohio
River.
In the veins just below the surface fluorspar may occur as a rib standing
between clay walls. Here the softer wall rocks have been altered, but the fluor-
spar is virtually undisturbed. As mining progresses downward the walls become
more consolidated until a zone of little or no general alteration is reached. In
many places calcite is the predominant vein filling, and at some points on produc-
20 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
tive veins it is the only mineral present. At other places, on the other hand, it
is entirely absent. Progressive or consistent changes in proportions of fluor-
spar and calcite with increasing depth have not been established for the field
as a whole.
Whether calcite ultimately supplants all the fluorspar is a question of much
scientific interest but of secondary economic importance, because drainage is the
dominant factor in determining practical mining depth. A peculiar condition of
the district is the frequent occurrence of watercourses in the limestone country
rock and along the faults. These old solution channels, originating when the
relative level of the water table was much lower or formed from ground-water
circulation below the water table, have been noted at the greatest depths so far
explored. These channels add constantly to the water that must be handled. As
the workings extend deeper and more ground is opened the water increment
rises, adding greatly to mining costs. Ultimately a depth will be reached be-
low which it will be unprofitable to mine at present prices and by known
technique.
The watercourses may not persist in depth and very deep ore bodies might
be mined by isolating such workings from those connected with the upper water-
laden horizons. That problem, however, will concern a future generation of
mining engineers.
The ore shoots consist mostly of massive fluorspar, sometimes banded paral
lei with the walls, with varying quantities of calcite and other accessory miner-
als (fig. 5). Shale walls may impart a blue tint to the ore, whereas a white
or cream color is common between limestone walls. A center slip often occurs
along the middle of the vein filling. Masses of the wall rock lodged as foreign
material in the vein filling are frequent.
As a rule galena is more abundant near the surface than at depth. Quartz is
common in some places, particularly near sandstone walls. Sphalerite has been
found in limited amounts in the Illinois field but in considerable abundance in
several areas in Kentucky. Barite appears only in limited quantities. Other
accessory minerals include chalcopyrite, marcasite, smithsonite, and petroleum.
Considerable quantities of lead and zinc sulfides have been recovered, but these
by-products generally have had less importance in recent years.
Near Cave in Rock are extensive and important flat-lying or bedding de-
posits which have been formed by replacement of the limestone by fluorite. These
deposits were formed by mineralizing solutions that rose along joints or minor
faults in the country rock and were trapped by the comparatively impervious
layers of shale which are found as a significant stratigraphic feature near the
base of the Rosiclare sandstone and immediately above the bedding deposits. Be-
low the shale the rising solutions spread out and eventually formed mushroom
or flat-lying deposits. The present ground surface is near the horizon where
these ore bodies originally were formed so that subsequent erosion has facilitated
discovery and exploitation. These deposits contain many vugs in which optical
spar, the flawless clear variety of fluorite, frequently is found.
The Kentucky deposits are similar to those in the Rosiclare district. In
Kentucky, however, the proved ore bodies are less extensive and smaller, but more
numerous. Deposits of gravel or residual spar are more abundant in Kentucky,
possibly because they are farther removed from the eroding action of the Ohio
River.
MINING DISTRICTS 21
WESTERN STATES
In the Western States fluorspar occurs under a wide variety of conditions, —
as fillings in fractures and shear zones forming more or less well-defined veins
and as replacements of the country rock. Much occurs in igneous formations,
whereas in the Illinois-Kentucky district enclosing rocks of sedimentary origin
predominate.
In the Castle Dome district, Arizona, fluorspar occurs in fractured and
jointed volcanic rocks which intrude and overlie gneisses and slates, probably of
pre-Cambrian age. Silver-bearing galena is an accessory vein mineral.
Near Afton, California, fluorspar is present in crevices in andesites and por-
phyries. Silica and calcite have been noted, but no metallic sulfides.
At Wagon Wheel Gap, Colorado, a large vein of fluorspar cuts rhyolitic
tuffs and breccias, following a zone of sheared rhyolite. Accessory minerals
include pyrite, barite, quartz, calcite, and clay. In the Jamestown district,
which has produced gold, silver, and lead, fluorspar is a common vein filling; in
some instances it has replaced the country rock, forming ore bodies capable of
producing low-grade lump. At Northgate fluorspar appears as veins and
sheets in a faulted and jointed, light-pink, coarse-grained granite. Small quan-
tities of barite and pyrite also have been found.
In New Mexico fluorspar occurs as vein deposits in igneous and sedimen-
tary rocks and as replacements in limestone, in places accompanied by much
secondary quartz. Barite, galena, and calcite are other accessory minerals.
The Nevada deposits near Beatty consist of fillings in veins and brecciated
zones and replacements in dark-gray limestone country rock which has been
intruded by rhyolite.
Fluorspar generally occurs with such associated minerals as calcite, quartz,
barite, and metallic sulfides and in diverse geological formations. Individual
conditions are important economically and affect the successful development of
deposits.
MINING DISTRICTS OF THE UNITED STATES
ILLINOIS-KENTUCKY
The principal known fluorspar deposits in the Illinois-Kentucky district
occur in Hardin and Pope counties, Illinois, and in Crittenden, Livingston, and
Caldwell counties, Kentucky — an area about 40 miles wide and 60 to 70 miles
long in the lower Ohio River country just above Paducah, Kentucky. The indus-
try is centered chiefly in and around Rosiclare and Cave in Rock, Illinois, and
Marion, Kentucky.
Both Rosiclare and Marion are served by the Illinois Central Railroad.
Rosiclare and Cave in Rock are on the Ohio River and therefore have river
transportation facilities. Kentucky producers, however, ship fluorspar by barges
on the Ohio and Cumberland rivers. Barge shipments have become important to
operators in the district since completion of the dams and locks which main-
tain a 9-foot stage of water to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Labor in the district is 100 per cent white native American and relatively
abundant. Many workers own small farms and alternate agriculture with
mining. The people as a whole have strong personal ties in the locality. Labor
22 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
turnover is low. As a whole, the men are characterized by a keen native intel-
ligence. By nature they are extremely loyal if treated with the impartial justice
they demand.
Educational facilities in the district are ample, comprising grade and high
schools. Many graduates of the high schools have continued their education in
colleges and universities.
Rosiclare has a modern well-equipped hospital which provides singularly
competent surgical and medical care for the community.
The majority of the operators recognize the value of safety work among
the employees. The United States Bureau of Mines periodically conducts
classes in first aid and mine rescue work. The men take much interest in it
and teams are organized to render immediate aid in case of accident. Safety
consciousness is kept vigorous by regular conferences of mine officials with the
foremen and the workmen, by the encouragement of suggestions, by contests, by
close inspection of all working places, and by the use of safety posters.
Electric power in the district is purchased from utility companies by some
operators, but others generate their own power with coal as fuel. Such plants
provide power for Rosiclare and Elizabethtown, Illinois. At the smaller opera-
tions wood is sometimes used for steam raising. Mines along the Ohio River
usually bring in their coal by barge ; some, however, use rail facilities.
Much timber is required in the fluorspar mines, and one large company owns
extensive timber lands and has its own woods crew.
Illinois — Fluorspar shipments from Illinois amounted to 82,056 short tons
in 1936, a noteworthy increase over the 1935 shipments of 44,120 tons. Produc-
tion came from two principal districts, the Rosiclare and the Cave in Rock
districts. The principal mines at Rosiclare are the properties of the Aluminum
Ore Co., the Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co., and the Hillside Fluor
Spar Mines, which control most of the Rosiclare, Daisy, Blue Diggings, and
Argo veins, the Rosiclare being the most important.
The Rosiclare vein is a nearly vertical mineralized fault extending from
south of the Ohio River northward across the river into Illinois more than
4l/2 miles. It has not been explored extensively south of the Ohio River. On
the Illinois side it has been developed to a depth of 720 feet and has yielded
ore bodies as long as 1,500 feet and as wide as 25 to 30 feet. Between sepa-
rate ore bodies there may be bodies of calcite or vein pinches.
The chief developments along the Rosiclare vein, beginning at the Ohio
River, are the Extension, Annex, Good Hope, and No. 4 workings, belonging to
the Aluminum Ore Co.; the Rosiclare mine (developed to the 720-foot level and
served by four or more shafts, including the Rosiclare, Plant, Cincinnati, and an
air shaft) of the Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co.; the Hillside mine of
Hillside Fluor Spar Mines; and the Eureka workings of the Rosiclare Lead &
Fluorspar Mining Co.
The Hillside and Eureka mines are the only parts of the Rosiclare vein now
being worked to any extent, as many of the older workings have been under
water since 1924 when the Rosiclare mine was flooded. High water from the
Ohio River, wet weather, flows of water encountered simultaneously in several
of the lower levels, and a cave-in at the south end of the mine which allowed an
inflow from the Franklin No. 4 workings were too much for the pumps and
bailers. Although 3,600 gallons a minute were raised, the dramatic fight to save
the mine was a losing one. Small tools and portable equipment were removed
MINING DISTRICTS 23
so far as possible, and the levels were successively abandoned only when further
salvage work could no longer be done. The pumps were shut down on January
20, 1924. The Rosiclare mine is not lost, however, and much ore will yet be
mined when market conditions warrant. Production in the Rosiclare district
now comes chiefly from the Hillside mine on the Rosiclare fault and from the
Daisy mine on the Daisy and Blue Diggings veins.
The Blue Diggings fault is perhaps a mile long and roughly parallels the
Rosiclare fault. Although the latter is nearly vertical or dips steeply westward the
Blue Diggings fault dips much more flatly to the east. The Daisy fault appears
to be a fracture between the two; the mineralization and throw diminish greatly
at the south end near the Blue Diggings vein and at the north end nearest the
Rosiclare fault. The Daisy fault is at least three-fourths mile long (it may
prove to be much longer) and dips rather steeply westward. The south portion
of the Blue Diggings fault is owned by the Aluminum Ore Co., which developed
it to the 500-foot level. The shaft at the Blue Diggings mine was recently un-
watered, preparatory to sinking it an additional 200 feet in the hope of discov-
ering larger reserves of acid-grade fluorspar. In addition to the Rosiclare, Daisy,
and Blue Diggings faults, a fourth fault, the Argo, about 400 feet west of the
Blue Diggings vein, has produced small tonnages of spar.
No important veins have been discovered east of the Rosiclare fault or west
of the Argo fault in the vicinity of Rosiclare. These two faults are only about
1,500 feet apart, and between them are the Daisy and Blue Diggings veins.
The Daisy mine, one-half mile north of Rosiclare, is the chief present oper-
ating unit of the Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co. and since flooding
of the Rosiclare mine it has been the largest producer in Illinois. The mine
has been developed to a depth of 700 feet by a foot-wall shaft measuring 5j/£ by
15 feet inside timbers. Crosscuts from the 180, 412, 537, and 640 levels of the
Daisy mine have explored and developed the Blue Diggings vein lying to the west.
Development, preparatory to exploitation of a new ore body at the 700-foot level
of the Blue Diggings vein of the Daisy mine, is now in progress. This discovery,
one of the big events in the history of the district, opened an ore body of virtually
solid acid-grade fluorspar varying in thickness from 6 to 9 feet up to more than 20
feet. Mining is now carried on principally below the 412-foot level.
Ore from the Daisy mine is hauled in side-dump cars over a standard gage
railway to the mill, eight-tenths mile south at the plant and shaft of the Rosi-
clare mine. This company operates a gravity-concentrating mill and a grinding
plant producing fine- and coarse-ground fluorspar for the ceramic trade. A
narrow-gage railway from the mill to a river loading station transports incoming
coal and outgoing spar for river shipment.
The Hillside mine, just east of the Daisy, is the property of Hillside Fluor
Spar Mines, which controls the Rosiclare vein for somewhat less than one-half
mile, the productive length having been about 1,800 feet. The mine is devel-
oped by a 4-compartment, 6 by 20 foot inside-timber, footwall shaft reaching a
depth of 600 feet. Levels have been driven 170, 250, 350, 450, and 550 feet
below the collar. Ore from the mine goes direct to a well equipped gravity con-
centration mill. Additional mill equipment has been added to retreat accu-
mulated tailings. Concentrates are shipped by rail and by barge.
Many smaller mines and prospects near Rosiclare have produced fluorspar
from time to time. Literally, the woods are full of old workings, most of them
abandoned, which in all have produced appreciable tonnages of fluorspar. The
24 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
more important small properties now active include the Empire-Knight-Doug-
las group (operated by Knight, Knight & Clark) in Pope County near Eichorn;
the Hamp mine (owned by the Aluminum Ore Co.) and the Lee mine (owned
by Hillside Fluor Spar Mines) both in Hardin County near Karbers Ridge;
the Stewart mine (operated by Fluorspar Products Corporation) in Hardin
County near Rosiclare; and the Dimick, Rose, Humm, and Preen prospects also
in Hardin County near Rosiclare.
The Cave in Rock district of the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar field is the
easternmost producing area in Illinois. It is about 4 miles northwest of the
town of Cave in Rock, and adjoins the Rosiclare district. In 1935 L. W. Currier
of the United States Geological Survey, acting in cooperation with the Illinois
State Geological Survey, made a study of the Cave in Rock district and has
provided the following description of the deposits.14
The Cave in Rock deposits are nearly horizontal, tabular and lenticular
masses that have replaced certain beds of the Fredonia limestone. The ore
bodies are generally elongated in conformity with local minor structural
features that apparently controlled the localization of 'ore.' Minor fissures
of little or no displacement, genetically connected with regional faults, served
as channels of access for rising hydrothermal solutions which, reaching dense
or impervious beds through which the fissures failed to extend or in which
they were greatly reduced, spread laterally along limestone beds of favorable
texture and composition. Such beds became replaced by fluorspar, with
preservation of the bedding and cross-bedding of the limestone, and the
consequent development of characteristically banded ore. In most places a
shale bed at the base of the Rosiclare sandstone forms the roof rock of the
deposits, and marks the stratigraphic horizon at which the largest and best
ore bodies have been found. Some deposits also have been found at several
lower horizons in the Fredonia, below either dense limestone beds, or a lower,
thin, calcareous sandstone bed known locally as the 'sub-Rosiclare' sandstone.
The exploited bedding deposits underlie a broad, low, plateau-like emi-
nence known as 'Spar Mountain,' and an isolated remnant to the southwest
known as 'Lead Hill.' Spar Mountain is bordered along the south and south-
east sides by an escarpment about 100 feet high, part way up the slope of
which the Rosiclare sandstone crops out. The same horizon is exposed at the
south end of Lead Hill near the top. A general north and northeast regional
dip of the formation brings the ore horizon progressively lower to the north,
so that in a distance of about 1 mile it passes entirely below the surface.
The deposits are penetrated by opencuts, adits, and shafts, according
to their topographic positions. Underground developments consist of drifts
from which crosscuts, rooms, and pillars are developed irregularly, according
to the economic limits of the ore bodies. The main drifts commonly follow
lines of greatest mineralization, many of which coincide with the directions
of local structural axes or mineralized fissures. Mining costs are low, as the
ore breaks easily, the roof requires but little timbering, and very little under-
ground water is encountered.
Owing to its purity and general freedom from deleterious minerals the
ore requires only simple milling operations. Washing in a log washer or
trommel, hand picking, crushing, sizing, and jigging are practised. At a
few points abundant quartz forbids exploitation, but this mineral appears to
be closely restricted and is practically absent from the chief ore bodies.
Calcite and barite are present in spots but are not general in distribution.
Galena is prominent at a few places but is not present in most of the ore
bodies; sphalerite is rarely found.
4 Published by permission of the Director of the United States Geological Survey.
MINING DISTRICTS 25
Some of the material mined from the bedding deposits is exceptionally
high in fluorspar and low in silica. In places selective mining can produce
run-of-mine material carrying in excess of 90 per cent fluorspar with silica
much less than 5 per cent, the industrial silica limit for standard fluxing
spar, but it is general practice to remove 'ore' that, with simple milling, will
easily give a product that meets the industrial specifications. Material from
some of the 'ore' bodies can be readily milled to meet the strict requirements
for 'acid' fluorspar.
The principal operators in the district are (1) Benzon Fluorspar Co.,
(2) Victory Fluorspar Mining Co., (3) Crystal Fluorspar Co., and (4) Fluor-
spar Products Corporation.
The Benzon Fluorspar Co., post office address Cave in Rock, operates
the original 'Spar Mountain' mines on the south and southeast escarpment.
The mines include the Oxford pits, West Morrison, Lead adit, 32 cut, Cleve-
land, Green, and Defender. Both opencut work and underground mining
are practised. Several adits have been driven on the 'ore' horizon, and from
them drifts and rooms are developed irregularly according to the economic
limits of the mineral bodies. The company is also prospecting the horizon
below the 'sub-Rosiclare sandstone', south and east of the escarpment, where
fluorspar bodies of undetermined extent have been discovered. The company
also operates a mill for cleaning and concentrating the fluorspar. The greater
part of the marketable product is then delivered to storage bins at a wharf
on the Ohio River at Cave in Rock. Some, however, is shipped by rail.
The Victory Fluorspar Mining Co., post office address Elizabethtown,
operates two shafts about 1,000 feet apart on the flat summit of Spar Mountain,
and about 500 feet north of the escarpment. An irregular system of drifts
and rooms has been developed, but the workings of the two mines are not yet
connected. A small mill had been operated at the original shaft, but in 1935
a new mill, having a capacity of 160 tons of mill feed per shift, was erected
at No. 2 shaft, and replaced the older plant. The marketable fluorspar is
transported by motor trucks to loading bins on the Ohio River at Cave in
Rock and to the railroad at Rosiclare.
The Crystal Fluorspar Co., post office address Rosiclare, operates a mine
at the base of the escarpment in the eastern part of the field, about half a mile
from the Benzon mines. The mine is entered by a low incline, and a shallow
shaft is used for hoisting ore to the surface, at the level of the feeding plat-
form of a 50-ton concentrating mill. The marketable product is transported by
motor trucks to the Illinois Central Railroad at Rosiclare.
The Fluorspar Products Corporation, post office address Elizabethtown,
operates several adits on the south end of Lead Hill. The workings are at
several levels, not connected. Run-of-mine material is hand picked in part,
and in part is milled at a plant at the Stewart mine, about 10 miles west of
Lead Hill. This plant is situated on a railroad spur.
Kentucky — Adjacent to and separated from the Illinois field only by the
Ohio River is the western Kentucky fluorspar district. The ore bodies occur
primarily in fissure veins and are similar to the vein deposits of Illinois, except
that they appear to be more numerous and of smaller dimensions. Weathering
of the deposits has been more severe, or erosion has been less, so that residual or
secondary deposits of gravel spar have had more economic importance in Kentucky.
Production has come chiefly from Crittenden County, but Livingston and
Caldwell counties also have been important producers ; a comparatively small
output has come from Mercer and Woodford counties, in central Kentucky.
As in Illinois the hills of western Kentucky contain many old, abandoned work-
ings, some of which are active from time to time.
The Tabb vein system, the most important in Kentucky, embodies the Tabb,
Wheatcroft, HafTaw, Pogue, Blue & Marble, Pigmy, and other mines. The
26 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Columbia vein system also has major importance; it includes the Franklin, Mary
Belle, Ada Florence, Memphis, and Keystone mines among its properties. Many
other major and minor fault systems occur, in which have been developed such
mines as the Lucile, Beard, Brown, Big Four, Davenport, and Watson, in Crit-
tenden County; the Bonanza, Guill, Klondike, C. R. Babb, and Nancy Hanks
in Livingston County; and the Crook, Crider, and Marble, in Caldwell County.
Other Kentucky mines and prospects include : Bachelor, Loveless, and Two
Brothers, in Crittenden County; Green, Gossage, Hudson, Lola, Mitchell, Min-
eral Ridge (John-Jim), and Split Nickel in Livingston County; and the Tyrie,
Hollowell & Hobby, and Walker in Caldwell County.
An improved demand for Kentucky fluorspar which began in 1933 resulted
in the shipment of 80,241 short tons in 1936, a tonnage exceeded only in 1918.
Most of the output came from mines of the fissure-vein type, which employ
mechanical equipment, but a considerable quantity was reclaimed from mill
ponds, waste dumps, and old workings of abandoned mines. The same situation
existed in 1935. A number of the relatively small producers log-wash their crude
material and sell the product to the local mills for further beneficiation. Others,
without log washers, sell direct to local mills.
The Aluminum Ore Co. owns or controls among other properties, the
Franklin, Mary Belle, Brown, Ebby Hodge, Memphis, Susie Beeler, Beard,
Haffaw, Split Nickel, and Cross mines, and operates a well equipped concen-
tration and grinding mill at Marion, Kentucky, and a concentration and flota-
tion mill at Rosiclare, Illinois. The company suspended active mining opera-
tions during the first half of 1930. Since then, however, many of the mines
have been operated by lessees and contractors.
The Lafayette Fluorspar Co. operates mines near Mexico, Kentucky, on the
Tabb vein system and owns the Big Four mine on the La Rue fault system. The
Tabb vein property is developed to the 400-foot level by shafts. A modern
concentrating mill produces metallurgical-grade fluorspar only. Power is pur-
chased from the Kentucky Utility Power Co.
The Kentucky Fluor Spar Co. operates a mill at Marion, Kentucky, and
buys most of its crude supply, thereby furnishing a local market for many small
mines and prospects. The equipment includes complete concentrating and
grinding facilities.
Among other important mines in western Kentucky from the standpoint
of past, present, and future production are the Watson (Eagle), Lucile, Holly,
Davenport, Pigmy, Keystone, Blue & Marble, Bachelor, and Pogue in Critten-
den County; the Crook, Crider, Marble, Hollowell & Hobby, and Walker in
Caldwell County; and the Klondike, Nancy Hanks, Bonanza, C. R. Babb, and
John-Jim in Livingston County.
In recent years deposits of fluorspar averaging 5 to 6 feet wide have been
discovered in Livingston County, across the Ohio River from the Fairview-
Rosiclare deposits in Illinois.
Fluorspar also occurs in Mercer and Woodford counties in central Ken-
tucky, and a relatively small and irregular production was made prior to 1923.
No output was reported from 1922 to 1935. In 1936, however, the Faircloth
mine, in Woodford County, was reopened.
MINING DISTRICTS 27
CALIFORNIA
Shipments of fluorspar from California, amounting to 181 short tons, were
reported from a deposit near Afton, San Bernardino County, during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1934. The fluorspar was hand sorted and shipped to steel
plants. No fluorspar was produced or shipped in 1935 and 1936.
COLORADO
Colorado has produced about 200,000 short tons of fluorspar between the
early seventies, when mining began, and the close of 1936. Shipments increased
from 742 short tons in 1933 to 6,537 tons in 1934 and 9,412 tons in 1936.
Greatly increased production from mines in Chaffee County and renewed pro-
duction in Mineral County are chiefly responsible for the larger shipments since
1934. Most of the fluorspar was sold for metallurgical purposes.
The Colorado Fuel & Iron Corporation operates the Wagon Wheel Gap
mine I14 miles southwest of Wagon Wheel Gap, Mineral County, Colorado.
The output is consumed in the company steel plant, at Pueblo, Colorado. The
mine has been developed systematically and to 1936 had produced 110,000 tons
of spar (55 per cent of the total recorded production of the State up to that
time).
Production of fluorspar near Salida in Chaffee County from 1929, when
the deposits were opened, through 1936 was about 11,400 tons, of which 5,100
tons were mined in 1936. The movement of considerable fluorspar from Chaffee
County to eastern markets indicates low production costs.
Comparatively small mines have been operated intermittently in the James-
town district, Boulder County. Production from the county through 1936
totaled about 58,000 tons (29 per cent of that for the State through 1936).
Jackson County near Northgate had some importance as a producer be-
tween 1922 and 1926, but recent production has been small. The county's output
has been about 15,000 tons (7.5 per cent of the State total through 1936).
Other counties producing small tonnages include Custer, El Paso, Gilpin,
Jefferson, Ouray, and Park.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico has produced 64,595 short tons of finished spar from
1909, the first year of production, through 1936. Distribution by counties
follows: Dona Ana County 39 per cent, Luna County 37 per cent, Grant
County slightly less than 12 per cent, and Sierra County somewhat over
12 per cent. In 1936, 2,126 tons, chiefly flotation concentrates, were shipped.
Present production is derived mainly from near Deming, Luna County, and
Lordsburg, Grant County. Ore from the Deming area is treated in the
flotation mill near Deming, which makes high-grade concentrates from a highly
siliceous feed.
Other chief activities have been reported at the Tortugas and Heathden
mines near Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, the Hot Springs mine 4]/z miles
south of Hot Springs in Sierra County, at and near the Nakaye mine about 5
miles north of Derry in Sierra County, at the Alamo mine near Derry in Sierra
County, at the Sadler mine in Luna County 8 miles north of Nutt, and at the
Great Eagle mine near Red Rock, Grant County.
28 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
NEVADA
Present fluorspar operations in Nevada are confined to the Daisy mine 4-1/2
miles southeast of Beatty in Nye County and to the Baxter mine 5]/% miles from
Broken Hills in Mineral County. There is a concentrating and grinding mill
at Beatty.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Fluorspar mines near Westmoreland, Cheshire County, which have been idle
since 1923, were reopened in 1934 and small quantities of fluorspar were produced
and shipped in 1935 and 1936. A concentrating plant was completed in 1935.
OTHER STATES
Shipments of fluorspar have been reported from Arizona, Tennessee, Utah,
and Washington, and some fluorspar has been mined in Texas. The known de-
posits in these States, however, are now unimportant economically.
Fluorspar of mineralogic or scientific interest only occurs in many other
States, including New York and Virginia. Whether or not these minor occur-
rences will ever have economic importance is problematical. It seems unlikely
that any large new fluorspar-producing district remains undiscovered ; however,
scientific prospecting is progressing too rapidly to say that no new commercial
deposits will ever be uncovered.
PROSPECTING AND EXPLORATION
Fluorspar is widely distributed in minute quantities but occurrences of com-
mercial value in the United States are not numerous; and new deposits are not
discovered easily even in districts where it is known to occur. Some operators
in the Illinois-Kentucky district, however, have been able to find more than
enough new ore to balance depletion.
New ore is located both by surface and subsurface work. The more im-
portant indications guiding surface prospecting in the Illinois-Kentucky district
are gravel-spar showings in the soil or subsoil, the trace or location of faults,
and characteristic iron stains in soil or clay overburden. It is likewise signifi-
cant that in Illinois commercial quantities of fluorspar generally have not been
found in the strata above the Rosiclare sandstone and that, as pointed out by
Bastin, in the case of the bedding deposits the "maximum mineralization occurs
nearest the shale parting between the Rosiclare sandstone and the Fredonia lime-
stone." A knowledge of stratigraphic geology therefore also aids prospecting.
Obviously, finding gravel or lump fluorspar at the surface indicates ore.
However, due to slumping and spreading of the original vein filling during
weathering of the less resistant enclosing rock material, the extent of a gravel
deposit is not a reliable guide to the size of the ore body in place below. Many
productive deposits of gravel spar have been found overlying a vein too narrow to
be worked profitably when solid walls were reached. On the other hand, import-
ant ore bodies have been found, the upper horizons of which consisted only
of a rib of solid or lump spar between clay walls, not showing at the surface and
with no development of gravel spar. The presence of gravel spar therefore should
be used cautiously in predicting ore bodies beyond the limits of the actual
workings.
PROSPECTING AND EXPLORATION 29
Faults are the most common sources of ore bodies and the most important
geologic features for which to look. They are the result of tremendous stresses
in the rock formations which have produced breaks or fractures along which a
differential movement of the opposing faces has occurred. Consequently, at the
present erosion surface a fault may be marked by juxtaposition of two different
kinds of rock at the same level.
Many faults show topographic features such as scarps, perhaps having a bluff
or ridge of sandstone along one side, whereas the opposite side, being a softer rock,
has become eroded. Other faults show no such topographic features, both sides
of the fault being at the same elevation. Sink holes may characterize one side of a
fault, perhaps because solution along the fracture has facilitated the formation
and determined the frequency and trend of a series of sinks. Certain faults are
characterized by sharply tilted rock that has been displaced or dragged down by
the movement.
Soil, loess, or clay near a vein or above a mineralized fissure may be stained
vivid red from iron-bearing solutions. With practice faults can be traced across
country by noting exposures in highway or railroad cuts and carefully interpreting
geological and topographical features.
More precise locations of faults may be made by the use of the Gish-Rooney
earth resistivity apparatus, which has recently been used by the United States
Geological Survey and the Illinois State Geological Survey in their cooperative
work in Hardin County, Illinois. A report on this work is in preparation for
separate publication.
Shallow prospect shafts (usually served by a hand windlass), pits, and
trenches ordinarily follow preliminary reconnaissance. The endeavor is to learn
the exact trace of a fault and to explore it to depths of about 50 feet, usually the
economic limit to which a prospect shaft can be sunk by windlass.
Churn drilling may determine the exact location or presence of a fault
and often is of considerable help in gathering exact knowledge of rock conditions
before shaft sinking. Holes may be drilled along a line about at right angles with
the direction of the fault. The exact elevations of key horizons, such as an
easily recognizable sandstone or shale stratum, are correlated, allowance being
made for normal dip of the strata between the holes. If elevations of a particu-
lar horizon, taken from two holes far apart, are very different, additional holes
may be drilled in the intervening territory until the break in rock sequence is
found. Where the faults are nearly vertical, churn-drill holes yield little infor-
mation on mineralization.
Much diamond drilling has been done in the Illinois-Kentucky district, but
it has unsatisfactory features. Many ore bodies are erratic in shape and size;
the diamond drill may miss ore by a narrow margin, thus unwarrantably con-
demning territory. The drill may encounter a flat-lying stringer or seam of spar
a few inches thick and of no appreciable extent, but the core may contain the same
amount of ore as one which cuts a stringer from an ore body containing thousands
of tons of spar. Mud pockets and solution channels cause loss of the bit through
caving and at best are a constant menace and source of annoyance. Properly
interpreted, however, diamond drilling has been found useful to pilot rock cross-
cuts underground, to locate faults, or to explore territory that would be too costly
or otherwise inexpedient to invade with winzes, shafts, or crosscuts.
Vertical exploration is commonly by shafts, winzes, or raises and lateral work
by drifts. Rock pinches along the fault must be followed by barren drifts to reach
such ore as may be beyond the present workings. Bodies of calcite may occur be-
30 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
tween ore shoots. In all such exploration work it is important at all times to be
sure that the drift is following the true wall, for a false wall may mask an ore
body. As horses and minor slips are common along many faults it is easy to
misinterpret conditions and misdirect the drift. In exploration headings complete
data on the kind and character of the wall rock should be available at all times.
Such information may be obtained by short test holes or by occasional short
crosscuts. These precautions prevent a barren rock drift from skirting blindly
an unobserved ore body.
If the distance between parallel faults is not too great, crosscuts may be
driven from one to the other. If there is a reasonable chance of mineralization it
is usually considered better practice to open up the ground by a rock drift without
preliminary diamond drilling. Under ordinary conditions it costs only four or
five times as much per foot for a crosscut as for a drill hole. One crosscut will
yield much more satisfactory data than several holes, and if ore is found the
crosscut provides the means for immediate development or further exploration.
Ore occurrences of each mining district have their individual peculiarities.
The bedding deposits near Cave in Rock, for example, differ considerably from
other Illinois-Kentucky ore bodies. These horizontal lenses of ore, some of which
are mushroom shaped, may be connected by extremely thin vertical cracks or frac-
tures in the beds of limestone. These cracks appear insignificant to one unfamiliar
with the local deposits, nevertheless they are important guides to new ore
bodies.
Certain New Mexico deposits outcrop as conspicuous ridges, due to the sili-
ceous nature of the ore. Others show little or no relief. It is reported that one
western occurrence was overlooked for some time because the spar resembled
quartz, for which it was mistaken.
Recently, considerable interest has been manifested in geophysical prospecting
as applied to fluorspar deposits. Preliminary experimental work in the Illinois-
Kentucky district has checked the location of known faults and known ore bodies.
This method of prospecting undoubtedly will have considerable if not vital im-
portance in the future when it becomes necessary to locate ore bodies not now in
sight. Many faults appear barren on the surface, but it seems reasonable to sup-
pose that some of them will be mineralized at depth. Below the zone of calcite
dominance of known veins additional bodies of fluorspar may occur at levels
perhaps below the downward extension of the watercourses and solution chan-
nels. Moreover, horizontal or bedding deposits, such as are mined near Cave in
Rock, may be found by geophysical means. Geophysical science may shed
considerable light upon these and other problems of exploration and prospecting
that no large operator can afford to neglect indefinitely.
Keeping accurate and complete records of all geological data is most impor-
tant. Mine maps should show both the plan and section of mine workings, the
nature and character of the rock, and the presence of minor slips or fractures.
Strike, dip, and character of the vein or fault fillings and widths of ore should
be plotted. Where the vein filling consists of fluorspar mixed with calcite or
other gangue material the full stope width and the width of actual fluorspar
should be measured. These data are absolutely necessary for intelligent estima-
tion of ore reserves and are extremely valuable in outlining both exploration and
development work.
MINING 31
The character of the wall rock should be noted so that geological cross-
sections can be made. Many faults are the hinge variety with maximum dis-
placement at one point, diminishing away from the zone of greatest movement.
Vertical cross-sections at intervals provide information on the probable longi-
tudinal extent of the fault. Many faults feather out, and whereas it is good min-
ing practice to drive through pinches or barren spots on the vein, ultimately the
fault movement becomes so slight that no further exploration is justified. Geo-
logical data of this character also are valuable in predicting the character of the
ground in prospect in projected development work. Drifting costs depend consid-
erably upon the character of the ground encountered. As such work commonly is
done on contract a forecast of conditions assists the mine superintendent in let-
ting such contracts upon a sound basis.
Complete maps and mine workings are vital in a catastrophe. Although
excellent safety records are now being achieved by operators, serious mine catas-
trophes have occurred, caused by unexpected falls of ground in some section of
the mine or by the sudden inrush of mud runs or water. In such emergencies
exact knowledge of the position of all mine workings is absolutely essential to
rescue work. Neglecting to keep detailed and up-to-date mine maps because of
the expense involved is nothing short of criminal.
MINING
Mining methods and costs at two mines in southern Illinois are described
in detail in Information Circulars 6384 and 6294,15 United States Bureau of
Mines. These papers are available in many libraries. General data on mining
methods are given in United States Bureau of Mines Bulletin 244.16 It is not
within the scope of this paper to repeat a detailed description of mining practice
as applied to the fluorspar deposits. A brief outline of such methods will give
some understanding of the problems involved.
Fluorspar mining is somewhat like the mining of valuable metal deposits
which occur as isolated or detached bodies of ore sharply contrasted with the
enclosing country rock in rather definite structural form along faults, fractures,
or shear zones or in flat-lying lens-shaped beds.
Much fluorspar has been mined at shallow depths. Surface operations
include opencuts, prospect pits, and trenches and often require no other tools than
picks, shovels, and crowbars. In the Illinois-Kentucky district the walls at or
near the top of the ground are generally dirt and clay, and after removal of over-
burden the fluorspar can readily be loosened by hand and shoveled into trucks.
Light blasting is frequently employed to break bowlders and loosen chunks of
solid spar.
Opencut operations, especially along steep ore bodies, require certain precau-
tions. The walls must be supported to avoid caving during wet weather.
Records should be kept to guide future work, as surface gouging may interfere
with underground mining operations later.
Workings from prospect shafts not more than 50 feet deep may proceed
with little other hoisting equipment than a windlass and a bucket. The simplest
possible mining method may be employed, with only sufficient timber to hold
15 See footnote 5, p. 8.
16 Ladoo, R. B., Fluorspar: Its mining-, milling, and utilization: U. S. Bur. Mines,
Bull. 244, pp. 27-35, 1927.
32
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Two men generally
the walls (and back) long enough to extract the ore.
operate the windlass.
At small mines more than 50 feet deep single-compartment shafts with
wood headframes are used. The ore is hoisted in buckets which are loaded at
the face and trammed by hand on narrow-gage tracks to the shaft. Hoisting is
by gasoline engine. te
Figure 6.— Method of Driving Drift, Daisy Mine, Rosiclare, Illin<
Underground mining methods depend considerably upon the character of the
ore body and the nature of the walls. Mines that exploit fissure-vein deposits
generally use shrinkage stopes, overhand stopes with stulls, or some system of
square-sets. Bedding deposits such a those near Cave in Rock, Illinois, are gen-
erally worked by a room-and-pillar system.
Steeply inclined ore bodies are commonly developed by shafts sunk in the
footwall or the vein, by crosscuts leading to the ore body, and by drifts along the
veins at convenient levels (fig. 6). These drifts may be spaced vertically 100
to 200 feet apart, but 100-foot intervals are probably most convenient.
MILLING 33
At larger mines the main shafts usually contain two hoisting compartments
and a ladderway to provide space for air and water pipes and electric power
conduits. Steel headframes generally have been adopted, and hoisting is done
with double-drum electric hoists pulling skips or cages. At the various station
levels ore and waste pockets facilitate handling of broken ore and rock, which
are trammed by hand or by storage-battery locomotives.
After drifts have opened the ore body vertical raises may be driven to explore
and develop the upper extension of the ore shoot. Winzes are sometimes em-
ployed to develop the ore below the level, but where conditions permit it is usually
more convenient and less costly to carry the mining scheme up from a given
level or horizon.
Square-set mining generally is used at the upper levels of the ore bodies, be-
cause the walls there are usually clay, mud, or other soft, unconsolidated mate-
rial. Here the ore may be gravel spar or a rib that has not been disintegrated
appreciably by weathering. Such ore bodies generally are mined by removing
vertical slices from the top of the ore shoot and placing square-sets of heavy oak
timbers to hold the soft wall material, which is kept from falling into the stope
by lagging. As one vertical slice is removed and timbered a second is started ;
if the open ground shows signs of taking undue weight back filling with waste
may become necessary.
Where wall conditions permit, shrinkage stopes are used at lower levels. If
the ore shoot has been developed by drifting, one overhand stope is taken out
along the back and shot into the level. Heavy stulls are placed at short intervals
to form the roof of the level and the floor of the shrinkage stope. Stout poles
are placed tightly together upon these stulls, and ore chutes are installed. Raises
are started at the end of the stope to provide a manway, and stoping is begun.
The fluorspar is drilled with stopers, jackhammers, or mounted machines and
shot on to the poles. Just enough ore is drawn through the chutes to provide a
working space between the top of the broken ore and the back of the stope.
Air and water lines follow along the footwall as stoping progresses. Manways
are cribbed off the broken ore. As the back of the stope approaches the level
above raises may be punched through to provide air circulation. A floor pillar
perhaps 10 to 15 feet thick is usually left. When the stope is completed, broken
ore is drawn off as required ; when the level is to be abandoned, some or all of
the floor pillar may be recovered.
Crude ore as delivered from the mines contains minerals associated with the
fluorspar and a certain amount of waste country rock. The actual fluorspar con-
tent varies with the character of the ore body, and often as much as 50 or more
per cent of the crude ore must be eliminated by milling.
MILLING
MECHANICAL SEPARATION
Milling separates the impurities or foreign substances and reduces the
fluorspar particles to the proper size for ultimate utilization. Impurities are
separated by hand picking, washing with water, gravity concentration by jigs
and tables, and flotation, — a new development in the industry. For most uses
reduction in size amounts to beneficiation, because the ore must be broken to free
34
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
the particles of spar from the gangue. Size reduction is by hand sledges, gyra-
tory or jaw crushers, and rolls. For certain uses a finely ground product is de-
sired, and size reduction is carried much beyond complete unlocking of the
impurities.
Figure 7. — Picking Belt and Gyratory Crusher, Fluorspar Mill, Rosiclare, Illinois.
Some residual deposits of gravel spar yield metallurgical grades by crushing
and washing, but many surface deposits which are most amenable to such treat-
ment have been worked out. These deposits consist of small pieces of fluorspar in
a matrix of clay or dirt, which are fairly pure because calcite or limestone, the
usual gangue material, has been removed by weathering.
The bulk of the fluorspar marketed requires much more thorough finishing.
Selection begins at the working faces underground, where as much waste as possi-
ble is left in place and care is taken to shoot the ore lightly to avoid excess of
fines. Larger chunks of ore, not passing the grizzlies at the shaft ore pockets, are
MILLING 35
washed with a hose and waste bowlders discarded. At the mill ore coarser than
about three-fourths inch is cleansed with water jets and fed mechanically to a
iong, slow, endless belt where acid and No. 1 lump, No. 2 lump, possible optical
crystals, and coarse waste are picked off by hand and consigned to the several bins
for further disposal (fig. 7). Tramp iron may be removed by a magnetic pulley.
High-grade spar from the picking belt may be stocked ready for shipment
as lump material or dried by steam coils, pulverized, and carefully screened
for the ceramic trade. Additional mill treatment (other than flotation) produces
fluxing grades, although in some instances high-grade concentrates suitable for
grinding are drawn from jigs.
Primary breaking of coarse material from the end of the picking belt is
done usually by a gyratory or jaw crusher set to discharge about a minus 1-inch
material. The product is then crushed by rolls to minus three-fourths inch and
joins the undersize, which by-passes the picking belt. The pulp at one mill is
dewatered at this point by a chain drag, and the overflow goes to a sludge pond.
The pulp is now clean, washed material ranging in size from three-fourths
inch to very fine sand. Three types of fragments are present, — practically pure
fluorspar, gangue material containing no appreciable fluorspar, and pieces of in-
terlocked ore and waste. Fluorite has a specific gravity of 3 to 3.25 ; the gangue
material is about 2.7. As the difference is small the pulp must be sized very
closely to insure efficient separation by gravity methods.
First sizing generally is done by a scalping screen (either revolving or vibrat-
ing) which removes any material coarser than about three-fourths inch. Such
oversize is sent through rolls for further reduction. The pulp is then divided
into two main parts — that finer than three-fourths inch and coarser than about
2 mm, and that finer than 2 mm. The minus three-fourths inch plus 2-mm
material is carefully separated into perhaps four or five different sizes, each of
which goes to a separate jig (fig. 8). The minus 2-mm pulp (sand size) is con-
veyed to the table section of the mill.
Pulp less than about 2 mm in size, from the mill circuit, is generally treated
on tables. Hydraulic classifiers may be employed to prepare the feed for the
different tables. As galena is very brittle, it shatters readily into comparatively
fine particles. Considerable galena therefore is recovered from the tables. A
fluorite concentrate is also produced. At one mill the first set of four tables
produces lead concentrates, fluorspar concentrates, and a middling product which
is reclassified and passed to a second set of tables where lead, fluorspar, and waste
are further separated.
Milling practice is much the same in principle as in the Illinois-Kentucky
district. Decrepitation (the heating of fluorspar to about 1,200° F., when it
tends to fly apart and can be separated from gangue which is not so affected)
has been used at the Rock Candy mill, British Columbia, and at several plants in
New Mexico with some success.
36
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
WORLD PRODUCTION 37
FLOTATION
The flotation of fluorspar ores is the subject of United States Patent
1785992, issued December 23, 1930, to J. C. Williams and O. W. Greeman,
assignors to the Aluminum Co. of America, of which the Aluminum Ore Co.
is a subsidiary. The United States Bureau of Mines made preliminary studies
of the flotation of fluorspar at its Mississippi Valley Experiment Station, Rolla,
Missouri.17
Merchantable fluorspar is now recovered by this process, the Aluminum Ore
Co. mill having been placed in commercial operation at Rosiclare, Illinois, March
18, 1929, after much preliminary laboratory work. The prime object of this
plant is to produce acid-grade concentrates. From 1929 to 1931, this mill treat-
ed 37,439 short tons of fluorspar-bearing materials, which yielded 12,341 tons of
No. 1 acid-grade concentrates and 1,398 tons of No. 2 concentrates for use
chiefly in the manufacture of cement. The mill was inactive from 1932 to
1935, but resumed operations in 1936.
At the Aluminum Ore Co. flotation mill four reagents are used — a depress-
ant, a collector, a frother, and a froth conditioner. Essentially the process re-
duces the ore pulp to minus 65 and plus 325 mesh with a minimum of fines.
Colloidal material is removed, as it has an adverse effect upon the recovery of
fluorspar. Lead, silica, and calcite are depressed, and the fluorspar is floated.
The consistency of the float-feed pulp averages 1 part of ore to 7 parts of water.
This pulp is prepared for the flotation machines in a conditioner where the col-
lecting and frothing agents are added and is warmed by steam. Depressing and
froth-conditioning agents are added in the flotation machines.
The percentage of mill recovery varies in direct proportion to the CaF.
content of the pulp, other factors being equal. It also varies with the particle size
of the pulp, the horizons in the mine from which the ore is taken, and the silica
and calcite content.
Although good results have already been obtained by this process, much
work remains. The flow sheet of the present mill is constantly being changed
as experience indicates the need of major or minor improvements.
WORLD PRODUCTION
Complete data on world production of fluorspar are not available, but table
3 gives information on the principal producing countries from 1913 to 1935.
The United States produced more fluorspar annually than any other coun-
try from 1913 through 1926. Germany captured the lead in 1927, since which
time it has alternated between the United States and Germany. The rapid
growth of the industry in Germany and France since the World War and in
Russia in 1934 and 1935 is strikingly revealed. The industry in Great Britain
has declined somewhat, but not as much as her exports to the United States.
17 Coghill, W. H., and Greeman, O. W., Flotation of fluorspar ores for acid spar: U.
S. Bur. Mines, Rept. Investigations 2877, 1928.
38
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
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WORLD PRODUCTION
39
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w
40 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION STATISTICS AND MINE STOCKS
Table 4 gives data on production of fluorspar in the United States from
1880 to 1936. Except for figures prior to 1906, which represent actual produc-
tion, these data apply to tonnages shipped from the mines as reported by opera-
tors. Stocks of crude ore and finished products provide discrepancies when
figures in the table are considered as production, but such differences are adjust-
ed by succeeding years. For all practical purposes shipments may be said to
approximate production.
Stocks at the mines, however, are important because they may be liquidated
at any time. The magnitude of the tonnage of fluorspar in stock from 1927
to 1936, chiefly in the Illinois-Kentucky district, is revealed in table 5.
IMPORTS
Since 1910, the first year for which complete data on imports are available,
an average of about 1 ton of fluorspar has come into the United States for every
4 tons shipped from domestic mines. This ratio has fluctuated widely for indivi-
dual years, however, as is evident from table 6. Figure 4, page 11, shows this
relationship graphically.
Before August 1909, when a duty of $2.68 per short ton became effective,
fluorspar was imported into the United States duty free, but a record of the
quantity is not available. However, virtually all imports had come from England,
mostly after 1906, when it was found that fluorspar could be obtained easily and
cheaply from the tailings of old Derbyshire lead mines. In consequence the
production from these waste dumps, most of which was shipped to the United
States, increased rapidly from about 1,100 short tons in 1906 to 17,000 tons in
1909. Mines in Derbyshire and Durham also increased their yield rapidly, and
up to August 1909 about 150,000 short tons had been exported to the United
States. The effect of the duty was not apparent immediately, as the total im-
ports into the United States in 1910 were 42,488 short tons (38 per cent of
the fluorspar available for consumption in the United States in that year). In
1911 imports dropped to 32,764 tons (27 per cent of the total available for
consumption). The ratio of imports to domestic requirements fell to 18 per cent
in 1912 and to 16 per cent in 1913 after which, due chiefly to the interruptions
to commerce caused by the World War, imports decreased until 1919, when
the ratio to domestic requirements was 5 per cent, notwithstanding a decrease
to $1.34 a short ton in duty effective October, 1913.
In 1920 a substantial increase was noted, the ratio of imports to domestic
requirements rising to 12 per cent. The ratio increased steadily to 1927, when
it was 39 per cent, in spite of an increase in duty from $1.34 to $5 a short ton
effective September 22, 1922. The ratio of imports to domestic requirements
declined to 25 and 27 per cent, respectively, in 1928 and 1929 but increased
to 40 per cent in 1930, the highest ratio since statistics of imports have been
recorded. Since 1932 the ratio has declined sharply and fell to 13 per cent in
1936.
IMPORTS
41
10,000
10,000
30,000
20,000
I 0,000
2 °
o
I-
30,000
cr
I 20,000
if)
1 0,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
SPAIN
AFRICA
FRANCE
/
i
V
mC
GERMANS
/
UNITED
KINGDOM
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
Figure 9. — Fluorspar Imported into the United States from Chief
Foreign Sources, 1910-1936.
42
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 4. — Fluorspar produced in the
Arizona
California
Colorado
Year
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Total
Average
Total
Average
Total
Average
1880. . .
1881. . .
1882. . .
1883...
1884. ..
1885. . .
1886. . .
1887. . .
1888. . .
1889. . .
1890. . .
1891. . .
1892. . .
1893. . .
1894. . .
1895. . .
1896. .
1897. . .
1898. .
1899. .
1900. .
1901. .
1902. . .
500)
79 >
75j
$6,593
$10.08
1903 . . .
1904. . .
1905. . .
1,156
300
3,300
701
350
268
721
1,639
4,432
1,978
247
8,669
17,104
38,475
9,687
12,852
3,143
2,309
6,044
12,301
11,776
10,440
6,432
1,815
4,808
9,248
529
333
742
6,537
6,978
9,412
$ 8,200
1,800
11,400
4,266
2,100
1,608
4,226
9,8'34
26,592
12,992
1,482
42,457
196,633
416,780
150,739
251,308
39,907
20,169
59,710
135,411
153,707
128,211
82,503
18,040
56,607
101,758
5,921
3,330
6,778
83,132
88,454
109,411
$ 7.09
1906. . .
6.00
1907. . .
3.45
1908. ..
34
30
252
435
7.41
14.50
6.09
1909. . .
6.00
1910. . .
6.00
1911. . .
5.86
1912. . .
6.00
1913. . .
100
800
8.00
6.00
1914. . .
6.57
1915. .
6.00
1916. . .
199
135
364
45
181
2,587
1,080
5,537
450
3,264
13.00
8.00
15.21
10.00
18.03
4.90
1917. .
11.50
1918. .
10.83
1919. .
15.56
1920. .
19.55
1921. .
12.70
1922. .
8.73
1923. .
9.88
1924.
11.01
1925.
13.05
1926
12.28
1927
12.83
1928
9.94
1929
11.77
1930
11.00
1931
11.19
1932
10.00
1933
9.13
1934
12.72
1935. .
181
(b)
(b)
12.68
1936. .
40
(b)
(")
11.62
Total . .
1.782
'•20 ,<)XH
"12.05
181
(b)
(b)
104,720
2,235,466
11.48
a n«'KinniriK with 190G figures represent shipments from mines.
b Value for Nevada in 1933; California and Nevada in 1!K54; Nevada, New Hampshire,
■.tnd Utah In l!K!.r); arid Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Utah in 1!>:!<; included
with New Mexico,
IMPORTS
43
United States, 1880-1936, by States5
Illinois
Kentucky
Nevada
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Total
Average
Total
Average
Total
Average
4 000
$ 16,000
16,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
22,500
15,400
14,000
30,000
45,835
55,328
78,330
89,000
84,000
47,500
24,000
40,000
25,159
$ 4.00
4.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
4.50
4.40
4.00
5.00
4.82
6.71
7.80
7.27
6.77
6.33
6.00
8.00
7.06
4 000
4 000
4 000
4 000
5 000
3 500
1,500
1,500
$ 6,600
6,000
$4.40
4.00
3 500
6 000
9,500
8,250
10,044
12 250
12 400
7 500
4 000
5,000
1,500
1,500
7,675
12,600
15,450
13,500
29,030
30,835
19,096
22,694
11,868
21,058
6,323
7,800
17,003
12,403
10,473
19,622
19,077
19,219
19,698
43,639
87 , 604
32,386
46,091
15,266
52,484
45,441
47,847
44,826
62,494
57,495
69,747
70,827
39,181
23,462
14,725
34,614
43,163
68,679
80,241
12,000
12,000
63,050
73 , 650
81,900
76,398
143,410
153,960
111,499
132,362
79,802
133,971
48,642
53,233
124,574
96,574
61,186
113,903
128,986
129,873
123,596
697,566
2,069,185
883,171
1,246,942
294,513
970,059
945,402
988,940
833,794
1,167,129
1,040,338
1,426,766
1,390,603
763,370
437,642
225,052
469,451
690,990
1,017,451
1,409,433
8.00
8.00
8.21
5.85
5.30
5.66
4.94
4.99
5.84
6.83
6.72
6.36
7.69
6.82
7.33
7.79
5.84
5.80
6.76
6.76
6.27
15.98
23.62
27.27
27.05
19.29
15.48
20.81
20.67
18.60
18.68
18.09
20.46
19.63
19.48
18.65
15.28
13.56
16.01
14.81
17.56
3,562
3,300
23,000
12,600
37,405
121,550
57,620
122,172
220,206
160,623
141,971
172,838
232,251
277,764
481,635
695,467
550,815
426,063
624,040
746,150
1,373,333
2,887,099
2,430,361
3,096,767
315,767
1,493,188
1,443,490
1,288,310
1,024,516
1,012,879
863 , 909
1,154,983
1,284,834
836,473
468,386
156,279
543,060
567,396
685 , 794
1,525,606
6.97
4.20
6.15
6.62
5.05
7.10
6.62
5.68
5.65
5.45
5.55
5.87
7.00
6.69
6.42
5.77
5.36
5.90
8.77
21.74
26.21
25.74
25.31
17.81
22.19
20.76
18.82
18.85
18.78
17.53
19.17
18.95
16.69
16.25
15.05
17.07
15.54
18.59
3,000
6,086
18,360
11,413
17,205
33,275
28,268
25,128
31,727
41,852
47,302
68,817
103,937
85,854
73,811
116,340
126,369
156,676
132,798
92,729
120,299
12,477
400
532
$5 , 600
8,672
$14.00
16.30
83,855
65,045
62,067
54,428
53,734
46,006
65 , 884
67,009
44,134
28,072
9,615
36,075
33,234
44,120
82,056
455
1,357
974
395
49
505
631
1,040
2,126
6,603
23,400
14,267
5,697
882
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
14.51
17.24
14.65
14.42
18.00
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
2,242,863
30,219,652
$13.47
1,301,636
20,934,966
$16.08
8,464
b65,121
d 15.65
Average for 1902-1920.
Average for 1911-1923.
A Average for 1919-19:52.
f Average for 1918-1924.
44
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 4.
New Hampshire
New Mexico
Tennessee
Year
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Total
Average
Total
Average
Total
Average
1880
1881. . .
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890. .
1891. .
1892
1893.
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902. .
128
196
76
260
360
> $3,400
1,720
1,800
1903 . .
$8.50
1904. .
1905 . .
6.62
1906.
5.00
1907.
1908.
1909.
710
4,854
4,307
196
5,372
$3,728
26,250
22,612
1,176
42,976
$5.25
5.41
5.25
6.00
8.00
1910
1911
800
300
200
250
650
800
1,274
1,059
531
202
567
690
142
$6,400
1 , 500
1,200
2,000
5,200
7,864
19,110
21,243
12,826
4,040
13,721
15,353
3,160
$8.00
5.00
6.00
8.00
8.00
9.83
15.00
20.06
24.15
20.00
24.20
22.25
22.25
1912
1913
1914
1915
485
3,880
8.00
1916
1917
1918
3,437
2,346
6,353
3,507
2,180
4,328
2,580
2 , 639
1,989
2,613
2,589
2,438
2,312
1,026
529
994
2,040
2,726
2,045
64,348
37,643
101,460
60,186
30,992
50,861
35,178
40,325
33,058
47,978
50,162
35,682
30,775
13,629
6,956
•'19,889
•49 , 887
b68 , 823
•'66,818
18.72
16.05
15.97
17.16
14.22
11.75
13.63
15.28
16.62
18.36
19.38
14.64
13.31
13.28
13.15
b13.27
b17.49
b17.39
•'14.78
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927.
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935. . .
1936
12
257
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
6
116
19.33
Total. .
7 , 734
•'113,617
«15. 22
64 , 595
b945,272
•'13.58
1,020
7,036
6.86
+ 5
Concluded.
Utah
Washington
Total
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Total
Average
Total
Average
Total
Average
4,000
4,000
4,000
4,000
4,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
6,000
9,500
8,250
10,044
12,250
12,400
7,500
4,000
6,500
5,062
7,675
15,900
18,450
19,586
48,018
42,523
36,452
57,385
40,796
49,486
38,785
50,742
69,427
87,048
116,545
115,580
95,116
136,941
155,735
218,828
263,817
138,290
186,778
34,960
141,596
121,188
124,979
113,669
128,657
112,546
140,490
146,439
95 , 849
53,484
25,251
72,930
85,786
123,741
176,231
$16,000
16,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
22,500
22,000
20,000
30,000
45,835
55,328
78,330
89,000
84,000
47,500
24,000
52,000
37,159
63,050
96,650
94 , 500
113,803
271,832
213,617
234,755
362,488
244,025
287,342
225,998
291,747
430,196
611,447
769,163
736,286
570,041
764,475
922,654
2,287,722
5,465,481
3,525,574
4,718,547
724,094
2,531,165
2,505,819
2,451,131
2,052,342
2,341,277
2,034,728
2,656,554
2,791,126
1,746,643
931,275
392,499
1,039,178
1,391,405
1,860,638
3,111,268
$4.00
4.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
4.50
4.40
4.00
5.00
4.82
6.71
7.80
7.27
6.77
6.33
6.00
8.00
7.34
8.21
6 08
5.12
5 81
5 66
5.02
6 44
6.32
5.98
5.81
5 S3
5.75
6.20
7.02
6.60
6.37
5.99
5.58
5.92
10.45
20
166
$ 465
4,784
28.82
$13.73
20.72
25 49
268
25.26
20.71
78
3,196
17.00
17 88
188
20.68
184
19.61
18.06
18.20
18.08
18.91
19.06
18.22
17.41
15.54
14.25
16.22
180
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
15.04
54
17.65
1,138
60
3,824,205
54,562,187
14.27
46
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 5. — Stocks of Fluorspar at Mines or Shipping Points in the United States,
1927-1936, in short tons.
Year
Crude1
Ready-to-ship
Total
1927
47,956
23,122
71,078
1928
60,456
12,162
72,618
1929
55,773
18,128
73,901
1930
51,464
56,201
107,665
1931
43,186
62,541
105,727
1932
41,999
55,211
97,210
1933
42,008
44,777
86,785
1934
33,326
50,586
83,912
1935
24,185
40,043
64,228
1936
24,023
29,958
53,981
i The greater part of this crude (run-of-mine) fluorspar must be benefieiated before it
can be marketed.
Table 6.
-Fluorspar Imported into the United States, and Ratio of Imports
to Imports Plus Domestic Shipments, 1910-1936.
Domestic
Imports for con-
Ratio of imports
Year
shipments,
sumption into the
to imports
short
United States,
plus domestic
tons
short tons
shipments, per cent
1910
69,427
42,488
37.96
1911
87,048
32,764
27.35
1912
116,545
26,176
18.34
1913
115,580
22,682
16.41
1914
95,116
10,205
9.69
1915
136,941
7,167
4.97
1916
155,735
12,323
7.33
1917
218,828
13,616
5.86
1918
263,817
12,572
4.55
1919
138,290
6,943
4.78
1920
186,778
24,612
11.64
1921
34,960
6,229
15.12
1922
141,596
33,108
18.95
1923
121,188
42,226
25.84
1924
124,979
51,043
29.00
1925
113,669
48,700
29.99
1926
128,657
75,671
37.03
1927
112,546
71,515
38.85
1928
140,490
47,183
25.14
1929 ,
146,439
54,345
27.07
1930
95 , 849
64 , 903
40.37
1931
53,484
20,709
27.91
1932
25,251
13,236
34 . 39
1933
72,930
10,408
12.49
1934
85,786
16,705
16.30
1935. .
123,741
176,231
16,340
25,504
11.66
1936
12.64
IMPORTS
47
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48
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 7. — Fluorspar Imported into the
Africa
Argentina
Australia
Austria-
Hungary
Year
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
1910...
11
$50
1911...
1912. . .
1913. . .
1914. . .
1915. . .
1916. . .
1917. . .
1918. . .
1919. . .
1920. . .
30
$1,080
11
$426
1921. . .
1922. . .
486
10,380
11,125
7,906
8,506
7,069
2,661
6,387
2,712
3,672
1,587
712
1,997
1,347
948
8,415
157,625
147,977
108,647
136,502
90,966
36,471
75,856
31,069
40,375
14,809
12,449
31,872
23,739
19,424
1923. . .
1924. . .
1925. . .
1926. . .
1927. . .
1928. . .
20
$360
1929. . .
1930. . .
1931. . .
1932. .
196
1933. .
1934. .
1935 .
1936
Total.
67,525
937,276 20
360
11
622
11
50
Imports Aug. 1 to Dec.
prior to Aug. 1, 1909.
Quantity not recorded.
31, 1909, 6,971 tons, valued at $26,377; not recorded separately
Table 7 shows the relative importance of the various countries that have
supplied fluorspar to the United States from 1910 to 1936. The United Kingdom,
Germany, France, Africa and Spain have provided the largest quantities. The
country named is not always that in which the fluorspar was originally mined.
For instance, the fluorspar imported from Australia was mined in South Africa,
and the fluorspar credited to Belgium presumably was mined in Germany.
Imports of fluorspar into the United States from the United Kingdom
decreased from an average of 19,300 short tons for the 18 years 1910-1927 to
an average of 6,600 tons from 1928 to 1930. Since the latter year this move-
ment has almost ceased. The United Kingdom maintained her position as the
main foreign source of supply for the United States through 1920 and from
1922 to 1926. The predominance of the United Kingdom as a source of
imported fluorspar is shown by comparison of her share with the total recorded
from 1910 to 1936; the United Kingdom contributed 367,987 short tons (45
IMPORTS
49
United States, 1910-1936, by countries3
Belgium
Canada
China
Czechoslo-
vakia
France
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
618
913
902
7,068
4,370
2,877
(b)
213
$ 3,813
21,973
13,532
110,532
52,855
32,679
5
3,216
71
$1,187
712
75
1,624
566
449
34
$ 761
35
90
506
559
645
449
756
1,345
739
202
112
27
112
$1,183
5,089
5,816
5,992
3,961
8,200
11,534
7,957
1,811
671
413
990
6
232
2,537
11,163
11,711
15,072
16,850
23,313
4,462
1,578
204
$2,782
78
27
591
20,887
90,737
31
1,109
560
10,310
4,250
21
86,279
141,434
21
519
159,059
184 238
11
170
280
2,313
33,646
9 588
1 247
187
1
2,962
14
1,595
16,039
274
5,302
19,098
258,454
5,542
53,617
61
1,352
88,717
745,936
c Less than 1 ton of optical fluorspar.
d Optical fluorspar.
(Table 7 concluded on pages 50 and 51)
per cent) out of 809,373 short tons. If a record were available of the fluorspar
imported into the United States prior to 1910, her share possibly would be 54
per cent of the total imports.
Imports of fluorspar into the United States from Germany were small
before the World War, ranging from 100 to 300 tons annually prior to 1913.
Immediately after the war the imports remained insignificant, amounting to
407 short tons in 1920 and 215 tons in 1921. In 1922, however, the imports
jumped to 5,804 short tons, and Germany thus became an important source
of imported fluorspar. In 1930 she contributed 23,797 tons to United States
markets. Since 1927 Germany has been the chief source of imported fluorspar.
The total imports from Germany for 1910 to 1936 were 192,603 short tons
(24 per cent of the total imported during this period from all sources).
50
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 7.
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Newfoundland
Year
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
1910
142
198
256
320
184
127
$ 1,386
1,919
2,444
3,073
1,818
1,154
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
407
215
5,804
8,580
6,834
11,680
20,465
31,829
17,601
16,488
23,797
6,491
5,842
4,333
8,224
9,843
12,943
9,450
4,420
49,196
67,595
69,357
103,845
171,769
230,821
150,872
140,860
189,587
77,067
70,294
54,836
98,565
119,275
160,937
1921
1922
1923
268
1,585
4,278
1,379
449
1,033
1,258
1,802
1,523
1,457
533
60
55
$ 2,471
14,804
32,208
15,434
5,969
9,600
10,528
17,198
24,267
11,848
4,533
587
589
11
1,177
$ 180
13,951
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
320
745
$ 2,646
1934
10,460
1935
1936
4,317
31,497
Total
192,603
1,780,540
15,680
150,036
1,188
14,131
5,382
44 , 603
Imports of fluorspar into the United States from France were first recorded
in 1923, when 232 short tons were imported. Thereafter imports from France
increased successively, reaching 23,313 short tons in 1930. France has been the
third largest source of imported fluorspar, contributing 88,717 short tons (11
per cent of the total imported) from 1910 to 1936.
Thus, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France have supplied 649,307
short tons of fluorspar (80 per cent of the total imported) from 1910 to 1936.
Africa, Spain, Canada, and Italy, in the order named, have been smaller but
important sources of imported spar.
Figure 10 shows the flow of fluorspar from foreign countries to the United
States markets in 1934 and the approximate location of the major world deposits.
TARIFF HISTORY
Prior to 1909, fluorspar was not specifically mentioned in the tariff law;
it was included in the blanket provision for crude minerals which were free of
duty under various acts.
TARIFF HISTORY
51
Concluded.
Soviet Russia
in Asia
Spain
United Kingdom
Total
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
Short
tons
Value
42,335
32,566
25,920
22,362
10,021
7,040
12,323
12,998
11,659
6,041
17,096
1,644
23,836
22,862
29,365
21,635
29,407
18,449
9,360
4,828
5,756
$133,716
78,673
69,172
68,390
37,125
21,724
54,000
110,785
147,391
94,099
144,142
12,031
206,950
202,548
298,391
195,229
281,735
168,840
56,585
30,580
60,995
42,488
32,764
26,176
22,682
10,205
7,167
12,323
13,616
12,572
6,943
24,612
6,229
33,108
42,226
51,043
48,700
75,671
71,515
47,183
54,345
64 , 903
20,709
13,236
10,408
16,705
16,340
25,504
$135,152
80,592
71,616
71,463
38,943
22,878
54,000
114,598
169,364
107,631
265,630
69,306
299,188
432,319
555,642
468,847
18
$277
2,948
978
680
7,168
6,784
4,068
2,659
4,262
4,914
5,094
5,701
$ 33,915
3,650
5,178
52,039
53,612
31,786
24,881
28,690
35,316
35,432
31,365
747,237
595,185
408 , 700
480,975
544,656
211,435
dl
17
466
378
229
2,534
132,665
105,043
183,286
179,049
259,262
18
277
45,256
335,864
367,987
2,476,242
809,373
6,804,662
The rates of duty on fluorspar beginning with 1909 have been as follows:
Act of 1909, effective August 1909, $3 per long ton
(equivalent to $2.68 per short ton).
Act of 1913, effective October 1913, $1.50 per long ton
(equivalent to $1.34 per short ton).
Act of 1922, effective September 22, 1922, $5.60 per long ton
(equivalent to $5 per short ton).
Act of 1922, effective November 16, 1928, $8.40 per long ton
(equivalent to $7.50 per short ton) on fluorspar
containing not more than 93 per cent of calcium flu-
oride. The rate of duty on fluorspar containing
more than 93 per cent of calcium fluoride remained
$5 per short ton.
Act of 1930, effective June 18, 1930, $8.40 per long ton
(equivalent to $7.50 per short ton) on fluorspar con-
taining not more than 97 per cent of calcium flu-
oride. The rate of duty on fluorspar containing
above 97 per cent remained $5 per short ton.
52
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
EXPORTS
Exports of domestic fluorspar have never had major importance. Most of
the fluorspar exported from the United States is shipped to Canada. The bulk
of it is of metallurgical grade, but some ground spar for the ceramic trade is
exported.
Table 8. — Fluorspar reported by Producers as Exported from the
United States, 1922-1936.
Short
tons
Value
Year
Short
tons
Value
Year
Total
Average
Total
Average
1922. . .
1923. . .
1924. . .
1925. . .
1926. . .
1927. . .
1928. . .
2,296
1 , 144
617
1,055
2,132
385
398
$40,966
25,312
14,489
17,574
34,915
7,507
6,586
$17.84
22.13
23.48
16.66
16.38
19.50
16.55
1929. .
1930. .
1931. .
1932. .
1933..
1934..
1935. .
1936. .
506
281
311
25
71
522
313
240
$11,621
6,160
5,599
553
967
8,602
4,651
4,079
$22.97
21.92
18.00
22.12
13.62
16.48
14.86
17.00
DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION
The total tonnage of fluorspar available for consumption in the United
States can be approximated by adding domestic shipments to imports and deduct-
ing exports. Table 9 shows this quantity from 1922 to 1936.
Table 9. — Fluorspar Available for Consumption in the United States, 1922-1936.
Year
Short tons
Year
Short tons
1922
172,408
1929
200,278
1923
162,270
1930
160,471
1924
175,405
1931
73,882
1925
161,314
1932
38,462
1926
202,196
1933
83,267
1927
183,676
1934
101,969
1928
187,275
1935
139,768
1936
201,495
In effect the foregoing figures represent the current market demand, whether
for immediate utilization or for consumers' stocks. These tonnages show the
actual quantity moving to domestic consumers, both from domestic mines and
from ports of entry; the quantity of spar consumed varies somewhat from these
figures. More detailed data on the quantities of spar actually consumed by the
various industries in the United States for the period 1932 to 1936 are given in
table 10.
DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION
53
The relative amounts of spar moving from the several points of origin to
the different industries are affected to no small degree by problems and costs of
transportation.
Table 10. — Consumption of Fluorspar in the United States, by purity and use.
[average for 1932-1936.]
Purity and use
Short
tons
Per-
centage
of total
Purity and use
Short
tons
Per-
centage
of total
Acid:
Hydrofluoric acid and
derivatives
11,800
8,800
3,900
300
10.33
7.71
3.42
.26
Metallurgical:
Basic open-hearth
steel
Electric-furnace steel .
Ferro-alloys
Foundry
Other
82,400
4,400
500
1,400
700
72.15
Ceramic:
Glass
3.85
.44
Enamel
Cement
1.23
.61
Total
114,200
100 . 00
54
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
TRANSPORTATION
Not much fluorspar is consumed near the domestic producing districts.
Except for Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia the bulk of both domestic
and imported spar must be transported considerable distances to markets. The
question of distance is even more acute with material from western deposits.
Pittsburgh is nearer ports of entry on the Atlantic coast than it is to the
Illinois-Kentucky district. For example, it costs $1.77 more to ship a ton of
fluorspar by rail to Pittsburgh from Rosiclare, Illinois, than from Baltimore.
As competition in the industry is very keen, a slight difference in transporta-
tion cost may determine where an order for spar is placed.
Shipments of fluorspar move by rail, by water, and by a combination of rail
and water. Table 11 lists railroad freight rates from the principal points of
origin to the chief consuming centers. The rates were in effect April 5, 1932,
except from Salida, Colorado, which were in effect August 10, 1937. Rates in
effect at present may be obtained from the Interstate Commerce Commission,
Washington, D. C, or local freight agents.
aiigii
; few*.,:
■: ::::::?r:i:: , .ff^^Pf
Figure 11. — Loading Station on the Ohio River near Rosiclare, Illinois,
for Barge Transportation, Hillside Fluor Spar Mines.
The Ohio River is the means of transporting considerable fluorspar in
barges from the Illinois-Kentucky district to Pittsburgh and other steel areas
(fig. 11). Completion of the river system of locks and dams provided such
an impetus to river movement that 46,895 short tons of spar were transported
in 1936 compared with 23,000 tons in 1935.
MARKETS AND PRICES 55
Independent barge lines and transportation barge lines owned by certain
steel companies participate in this river movement. The fluorspar is loaded
in barges on the return up-bound trip after the tows have taken their cargoes
of various commodities to down-bound trans-shipping points.
Rates by independent barge lines are fairly uniform and the cost per short
ton at present is as follows:
$2.05 to Portsmouth, Ohio.
2.10 to Steubenville, Ohio.
2.20 to Freedom and Pittsburgh, Pa.
2.30 to Monessen, Pa.
The unloading charge at up-river points is 25 cents per ton, and the cargo
insurance rates approximate 5 cents a ton.
The barges are loaded rarely with less than 300 tons and usually with not
more than 600 tons, depending upon river stage conditions. Loading into the
barge is done by the shipper and unloading by the buyer. All transportation
costs beyond the loading dock at Kentucky-Illinois points are charged to the
buyer.
The combination river and rail rates per short ton from Rosiclare, Illinois,
to Youngstown, Ohio, follow:
Barge rate, Rosiclare, Illinois, to Freedom, Pa $2.20
Unloading charge from barge to railroad car at Freedom 25
Insurance, approximate 05
Rail rate, Freedom, Pa., to Youngstown, Ohio 1.20
Surcharge 06
River-rail rate, total 3.76
All-rail rate 5.25
Methods and costs of transportation therefore are important factors in the
ultimate price for which fluorspar is sold and must be considered carefully by
both buyers and sellers in negotiating contracts.
MARKETS AND PRICES
PRICES
The average price of all fluorspar produced in the United States from 1880
to 1916, inclusive, was $6.07 per short ton. During this time the average
price per ton for any year was never less than $4 nor more than $8.21. From
1917 to 1931 inclusive, however, the average price per ton for all domestic spar
sold was $19.17, with a low of $10.45 in 1917 and a high of $25.49 in 1919.
For the 5 years 1932-1936 the average price dropped to $16.11 a ton, with a low
of $14.25 in 1933 and a high of $17.65 in 1936. The average price for the
pre-war years 1909 to 1913, inclusive, was $6.39, whereas for 1926 to 1930 the
price was $18.49.
Among the causes of this tripling of fluorspar prices were (1) stimulated
war demand and (2) higher war and postwar production costs, which have
never dropped to pre-war levels.
During the war imports of foreign spar were greatly curtailed, although
steel production was keyed to a high pitch. Materials which facilitated steel
production in any way generally were used lavishly and were bought without
regard for price. In contrast with the stagnation in the fluorspar industry
from 1931 to 1933, it is interesting to recall that during the World War rep-
56
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 11. — Railroad
Freight
\
DOMESTIC PRODUCING CENTERS
From: \ npo:
Ari-
zona
Colorado
Illinois
Ken-
tucky
Nevada
Dome
Boul-
der
North-
gate
Salida
Wagon
Wheel
Gap
Rosi-
clare
Shaw-
nee-
town
Marion
Beatty
Fallon
Alabama: Birmingham.
California:
Los Angeles
$10.80
4.60
6.60
9.56^
$ 9.80
10.00
10.00
4.60
$16.90
10.00
10.00
11.90
$12.40
8.70
8.70
4.60
$12.10
12.30
12.30
2.30
16.70
12.70
9.90
8.20
9.10
9.90
13.30
13.30
13.50
14.30
16.50
16.50
16.10
9.90
6.80
8.20
15.10
16.70
14.50
13.90
14.10
14.70
15.70
15.70
15.10
15.10
16.70
14.70
14.70
12.10
14.00
14.50
9.90
$ 3.80
17.00
17.00
7.00
7.50
4.40
3.50
2.40
3.50
3.50
3.35
3.75
3.90
4.25
3.65
7.30
5.25
5.70
5.00
2.40
5.25
7.90
5.25
4.70
5.25
5.25
8.80
8.40
5.55
5.55
7.50
5.25
5.25
3.80
$ 3.40
"7.90
7.20
4.00
3.10
2.00
3.10
3.10
3.95
3.35
7.00
4.95
5.30
5.60
2.00
4.95
4.95
4.40
4.95
4.95
5.25
5.25
7.20
4.95
7.00
3.40
$ 3.40
17.60
17.60
7.60
7.50
4.00
3.60
2.40
3.60
3.60
3.35
3.75
3.90
4.25
3.65
7.20
5.25
5.70
5.10
2.40
5.25
7.90
5.25
4.70
5.25
5.25
9.00
8.80
5.55
5.55
7.50
5.25
5.25
3.40
$16.80
4.50
6.50
14.00
18.00
$10.80
7.00
San Francisco
Colorado: Pueblo
Delaware: Wilmington. .
Georgia: Atlanta
Illinois:
Chicago
5.00
9.56|
12.60
10.80
10.80
13.00
7.20
6.00
7.20
7.20
7.60
5.90
8.00
7.50
15.00
15.00
10.80
East St. Louis
10.80
Indiana:
Gary
10.80
7.60
8.00
16.80
10.80
Kentucky:
12.60
12.60
Michigan: Detroit . .
15.00
15.00
15.00
12.60
Minnesota: Duluth . . .
Missouri:
Kansas City
10.80
10.80
4.60
5.90
7.50
7.50
5.10
6.00
10.80
St. Louis
10.80
New York:
Buffalo
New York
Ohio:
12.60
"i6.80
16.80
15.00
15.00
12.60
Mansfield
Youngstown
12.60
16.10
15.80
12.40
14.40
14.40
13.40
14.80
15.50
11.20
7.70
5.10
12.60
Oklahoma:
Okmulgee
18.10
Sand Springs
Pennsylvania:
17.80
Newell
Pittsburgh
12.60
12.40
13.80
11.60
16.80
12.60
Tennessee: Chattanooga
Washington:
Youngstown (Seattle).
West Virginia:
Parkersburg
10.80
18.70
12.60
10.80
12.20
7.20
15.80
16.80
15.00
10.80
10.00
7.60
8.00
13.40
5 . 25
4.10
4.95
4.30
5.25
4.30
Wisconsin: Milwaukee. .
10.80
Note: All rates are per net ton of 2,000 pounds. Rates furnished by the Interstate Commerce Com-
mission, Apr. f), 1932, except from Salida, Colorado, which were supplied August 10, 1937.
MARKETS AND PRICES
57
Rates
dn Fluorspar.
PORTS OF
ENTRY
New Mexico
Balti-
more
Buf-
falo
Los
Angeles
Mobile
New
Orleans
New
York
Phila-
delphia
San
Fran-
cisco
Engle
Hatch
Mesilla
Park
Seattle
$10.20
8 00
$10.20
8.00
8.00
3.15
$10.20
8.40
8.40
3.15
11.40
10.20
8.00
8.40
8.40
8.00
10.20
10.20
10.20
10.20
10.20
11.40
10.20
8.40
5.00
8.40
10.20
11.40
10.20
10.20
10.20
10.20
7.60
5.35
10.56
$12.00
$12.80
$2.90
$8.00
$13.00
$12.40
$7.70
$14.10
8 00
$7.70
11.25
9.30
3.15
14.00
2.80
10.60
6.16
7.30
6.83
6.16
5.70
5.76
5.49
4.96
5.29
"4.69
9.40
9.20
7.30
3.66
2.81
4.22
4.69
4.55
3.96
13.20
13.20
4.60
3.48
1.69
3.48
2.40
10.80
4.15
6.16
12.80
5.60
13.10
6.00
7.40
6.80
6.00
5.80
5.60
5.40
5.40
5.40
5.60
4.40
7.80
8.20
7.40
16.40
16.40
}
\
/
}
}
}
}
14.60
3.40
11.60
6.70
7.84
7.37
6.70
6.23
6.29
6.03
5.49
5.83
4.20
5.22
9.60
9.80
7.84
3.66
14.40
1.24
11.20
6.34
7.48
7.01
6.34
5.87
5.94
5.67
5.13
5.47
1.69
4.87
9.60
9.60
7.48
3.66
2.25
4.40
4.87
4.73
4.13
13.60
13.60
4.80
3.66
11.25
22.00
13.20
13.20
13.20
8.00
6.20
4.02
J HO. 00
\b 8.60
/ a9.00
\ b7.60
5.54
12.20
12.20
12.20
/ a7.30
\ b5.90
9.40
6.20
4.02
a10.00
b 8.60
a9.00
b7.60
5.54
12.80
13.00
12.80
a7.30
b5.90
8.00
8.40
8.00
8.40
13.20
13.20
27.40
26.00
8.00
8.00
13.20
27.40
14.40
fa13.00
\b11.50
a7.20
b7.20
HO. 50
b9.10
13.20
13.20
13.20
5.00
8.40
5.00
8.40
13.20
13.20
/ a7.20
\ b7.20
Ja10.50
\ b9.10
25.00
26.00
3.60
4.80
4.60
3.60
4.60
15.00
20.50
20.20
13.60
12.80
13.20
14.20
14.60
13.60
14.00
14.80
9.80
9.80
4.76
5.22
4.96
4.49
13.60
13.60
5.20
4.02
3.00
4.02
4.40
11.80
10.20
7.60
5.35
10.20
7.60
5.35
15.00
20.50
20.20
30.20
26.00
26.00
10.20
10.20
10.20
4.40
15.00
14.40
14.80
3.66
2.93
11.20
15.00
30.20
10.20
13.20
10.20
10.20
13.20
10.20
8.40
30.20
5.20
6.00
14.40
14.10
15.00
13.20
8.80
9.40
13.20
9.30
13.20
/ a9.00
\ b7.60
14.20
a9.00
b7.60
\
I
4.69
6.70
4.33
6.34
8.40
13.20
27.40
a Applies on traffic from Panama Canal Zone, Cuba, insular possessions of U. S., all foreign countries
except Canada, Newfoundland, Island of Miquelon, and St. Pierre, Europe, and Africa.
"Applies on all traffic from all foreign countries except as provided in footnote (a).
58
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
resentatives of the larger consumers were stationed at the mines for the sole
purpose of seeing that their companies were shipped their proper quota. Under
stress of these conditions domestic production and price of fluorspar increased to
record heights.
Even after the war, when increased imports of foreign spar appeared in
domestic markets, prices did not return to former levels. Many factors have
contributed to higher prices since the war. Wholesale commodity prices in
general were 50 per cent higher in 1926 than in 1913; also labor costs had
increased. Such advances in cost of labor and supplies, moreover, have been
enlarged in the total cost of the finished product, as the grade of crude domestic
ore has generally been lower since the war.
Local changes in costs of production may also affect price levels. Because
competition is keen in the industry, sporadic production of fluorspar that can
be mined and sold profitably at a lower price than that from established sources
of supply may be offered to consumers at price concessions to get the business.
Such a condition naturally forces down all prices, as each operator desires to
obtain his share of the trade. Under normal conditions the market for metal-
lurgical fluorspar is a buyers' market, with the purchasing agents generally
cracking the whip in regard to prices, specifications, and terms of sale and
delivery. With any change in world conditions curtailing imports, the market,
as during the World War, becomes a sellers' market, and the seller can dictate
prices, specifications, and terms of sale.
Market quotations in the Pittsburgh district usually set the price level
for metallurgical fluorspar in the United States because this region is both a
leading market and the meeting ground of domestic and foreign material. Based
on Pittsburgh transactions, price quotations are made on domestic fluorspar
Table 12. — Quoted Prices per Short Ton of Fluxing-gravel Fluorspar
in the United States, 1932-1936.
Month
Illinois-Kentucky (f. o. b. mines)
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
January. . .
February. .
March. . .
April
May
June
July
August. . . .
September
October . .
November
December .
$15.00
15.00
14.00
12.50
11.50
11.25
10.25
10.25
9.50
9.75
9.00
9.00
$9.00
10.25
9.00
9.75
11.75
12.25
14.00
14.50
14.75
14.50
15.00
15.75
$15.00
15.50
16.00
17.00
17.00
17.00
15.00
16.00
16.00
16.00
16.00
15.00
$13.00
13.00
13.00
13.00
13.00
13.00
13.00
14.00
14.00
14.50
16.00
16.00
$17.00
17.50
17.00-18.00
18.00
17.00-18.00
17.50-16.50
17.00
17.00
18.00
18.00
18.00
18.00
(Continued on p. 59)
MARKETS AND PRICES
5 9
f. o. b. the nearest shipping point to the mines or mills or f. o. b. at ports of
entry. Location of deposit or country of origin is seldom a factor to the buyer
except that experience may have associated certain definite desirable or objec-
tionable qualities with material from a given source. Prices are based on the
short ton and usually apply to material loaded in railway cars. In the Illinois-
Kentucky district, however, prices are also quoted on spar loaded in barges for
transportation on the Ohio River.
Prices quoted for small lots are generally somewhat higher than prices
for large tonnages sold on contracts. Such transactions, negotiated usually by
the producer or his sales agent and the purchasing agent of the consumer, may
also involve price concessions contingent upon general industrial conditions,
stocks on hand at consuming plants, and the current state of foreign supplies.
Heavy stocks at the mines tend to depress prices and are always a threat to
the general price level until liquidated.
Ground spar is quoted in bulk and bags or barrels. Table 12 gives
monthly price quotations of fluxing-gravel fluorspar at Illinois-Kentucky mines
and at seaboard from 1932 to 1936 inclusive. The actual average selling
prices of all grades of domestic fluorspar sold from 1880 to 1936 are shown
graphically in figure 12.
The value assigned to foreign fluorspar in table 7 is the foreign or export
value, whichever is higher. The cost to consumers in the United States in-
cludes, in addition, the duty, loading charges at the docks, ocean freight, in-
surance and consular fee, and freight from docks to manufacturers' plants.
Information concerning ocean freight and loading and other charges on fluor-
spar imported from the various countries into the United States is not available ;
Table 12.— Concluded.
Month
Imported (at seaboard, duty paid)
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
January. . ,
February. ,
March. . .
April
May
June
July
August. . .
September
October. .
November
December.
$17.
17.00-
17.00-
17.00-
17.00-
17.00-
16.00-
16.00-
16.00
16.00
16.00
16.00
00
-17.40
-17.40
-17.40
-17.40
-17.40
-17.40
-16.75
-16.75
16.75
-16.75
-16.75
$16.52-
16.52-
16.52-
16.52-
16.07-
16.07-
16.07-
17.86-
18.08-
18.08-
18.08-
18.08-
16.96
16.96
16.96
16.96
16.96
16.96
16.96
18.30
18.53
18.53
18.53
18.53
$18.50
18.50
18.50-19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
$19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00
19.00-18.50
18.50
18.50
18.50-20.00
20.00
20.00
50
$20.00
20.00
20.00-21
21.50
21.50
21.50
21.50
21.50
21.50
22.00
22.00
22.00-23.00
60
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
MARKETS AND PRICES 61
however, the detailed charges for a cargo of 200 long tons of metallurgical
fluorspar shipped from St. Raphael, France, to the United States in 1930 were
as follows:
Duty at $8.40 a long ton $1,680.00
Ocean freight at $3.16 a ton 632.00
Insurance 5.00
Loading charges at 75 cents a ton 150.00
Consular fee 2.50
$2,469.50
According to reports to the United States Bureau of Mines by importers,
the selling price at tidewater, duty paid, of the imported fluorspar sold to steel
manufacturers averaged $19.04 a short ton in 1936; the selling price at tide-
water, duty paid, of imported ground fluorspar sold to manufacturers of glass
and enamel averaged $27.53 a short ton ; and the selling price of fluorspar sold
for use in making hydrofluoric acid averaged $25.15.
TYPICAL CONTRACTS AND TERMS
Large consumers buy the bulk of their fluorspar on contract, generally cover-
ing a definite tonnage to be delivered within a stated time and specifying the
minimum content of calcium fluoride and the maximum content of impuri-
ties that will be accepted. The contract generally includes penalties for ex-
cesses of impurities above the specified limits. Premiums are seldom paid for
unusual purity. By mixing and grading, therefore, producers endeavor to ship
a product containing the minimum calcium fluoride content specified and the
maximum content of impurities tolerated.
In times of excessive competition, however, producers may ship material
higher in grade than specified to maintain good will. Such practice of course
amounts to a slight shading of price.
A sample contract form used by one of the important fluorspar agents
is given on page 62.
Metallurgical gravel fluorspar is generally shipped in bulk in open-top cars,
which may be dumped or unloaded with crane or clamshell bucket, or in barges,
which also may be unloaded with crane or clamshell bucket. Acid-lump fluorspar
is generally shipped in box cars. Ground fluorspar is shipped in bulk in box cars
lined with heavy paper and packed in bags holding 125 pounds or in barrels
holding 450 to 500 pounds. An extra charge is made for packing in bags and
barrels, the amount depending on the nature of the container. Bags in good
condition may be returned for repacking, when the usual allowance of 10 cents
a bag is made. Freight on bags to the mine must be paid by consumer.
Barrels are not returnable.
DISTRIBUTION METHODS
Much of the domestic fluorspar of commerce is sold through established
sales agencies, who handle other raw materials used in the iron, steel, ceramic,
and chemical industries and are thus in close contact with the consumers. Such
sales agencies either operate their own mines or have contracts with producers
whereby the producer agrees to supply and the sales agency agrees to handle the
entire output of the producer. A sales agent may even be bound by contract to
market only the products of a single operator.
62
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
ORIGINAL FLUORSPAR CONTRACT
issued from the office of
No
Buyer's No
Date
Seller:
By: - :
Buyer:
Quantity:
Grade:
Price: Per ton of 2,000 lbs. $ f.o.b _
Washed gravel and No. 2 lump fluorspar to average not
less than 85% calcium fluoride and not more than 5% sil-
ica, the buyer to have the right to reject any shipment less
than 80% calcium fluoride or more than 7% silica. On
completion of contract the buyer may deduct l/85th of
the delivered price for each per cent of calcium fluoride
less than 85%, but in determining calcium fluoride con-
tent, 2l/?% shall be added or subtracted therefrom for
each per cent by which the silica content shall be less or
more than 5%, and fractions in proportion.
Payment: Cash on 15th of each month, to , for ship-
ments during preceding calendar month. If the buyer fails
to make any payment when due, , as such
agent, shall have the right to cancel the contract or to post-
pone shipment of undelivered balances until prior ship-
ments are paid for by buyer. Railroad weights, nearest
shipping point of origin, shall govern both buyer and seller.
Shipment :
Route: Via
If shipment is to be made in installments, this contract for
all purposes shall be treated as separate for each install-
ment.
The seller shall not be liable in damages for failure to de-
liver caused by strikes, accidents or other causes beyond its
reasonable control. The contract is completely set forth
herein.
Not valid until accepted Buyer
by an officer of
By By
Buyer's Copy
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
63
Small producers who do not have selling connections and who are unable
to guarantee a definite tonnage or to make delivery over a stated period gener-
ally find it difficult to sell direct to consumers. In the Illinois-Kentucky dis-
trict, however, larger producers frequently purchase the product of their smaller
neighbors.
Most of the fluorspar imported into the United States is handled by
brokers, agents, or dealers who make selling contacts, negotiate contracts, and
handle the detail of passing the fluorspar through the customs at the port of
entry and on to the customer. Representatives of both domestic and foreign
producers are commonly in close touch with purchasing agents of the larger
consumers. All concerned are specialists in such commodity markets and each
must have knowledge not only of the broader phases of production but also
of the distribution of fluorspar to the various consuming industries.
DISTRIBUTION OF DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION
DISTRIBUTION BY GRADES
Commercial fluorspar is graded according to ( 1 ) purity as acid, ceramic,
and metallurgical fluorspar and (2) particle size as lump, gravel and ground
fluorspar. Distribution by purity of acid, ceramic, and metallurgical fluorspar
from 1932 to 1936, is indicated in table 13.
Table 13. — Consumption of Fluorspar in the United States, 1932 to 1936, by purity.
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
Purity-
Short
tons
Per
cent
of total
Short
tons
Per
cent
of total
Short
tons
Per
cent
of total
Short
tons
Per
cent
of total
Short
tons
Per
cent
of total
Acid
Ceramic ....
Metallurgical
7,000
9,500
39,500
12.50
16.96
70.54
7,800
10,300
66,500
9.22
12.17
78.61
1 1 , 000
1 1 , 500
88,100
9.94
10.40
79.66
12,900
16,100
108,400
9.39
11.72
78.89
20,100
17,400
144,900
11.02
9.54
79.44
Total
56,000
100.00
84,600
100.00
110,600
100.00
137,400
100.00
182,400
100.00
During the 5-year period 1932-1936 acid fluorspar consumption ranged
from 9.2 to 12.5 per cent of the total, ceramic fluorspar from 9.5 to 17.0 per
cent, and metallurgical fluorspar from 70.5 to 79.4 per cent.
Distribution of domestic shipments from 1932 to 1936, according to purity
and size, is shown in table 14.
Table 14 shows that 83 per cent of the fluorspar shipped from domestic
mines during the five years 1932-1936 was of metallurgical grade and that
during the same period 84 per cent of the total was gravel fluorspar. Distribu-
tion of acid, ceramic, and metallurgical fluorspar from domestic mines fluctuates
considerably from year to year. During the 5-year period 1932-1936 shipments
of acid fluorspar ranged from 1.3 to 7.2 per cent of the total, of ceramic fluorspar
from 9.2 to 19.2 per cent, and of metallurgical fluorspar from 76.9 to 84.1 per
cent.
64
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 14. — Distribution of Shipments of Fluorspar from Mines in the
United States, 1932-1936, by purity and size, per cent.
Purity
Size
Year
Acid
Ceramic
Metal-
lurgical
Miscel-
laneous
Lump
Gravel
Ground
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
2.9
1.3
1.9
2.7
7.2
19.2
13.5
11.6
11.6
9.2
76.9
84.1
84.1
83.7
81.7
1.0
1.1
2.4
2.0
1.9
5.1
3.0
3.7
4.3
6.8
75.8
83.9
86.5
85.2
83.4
19.1
13.1
9.8
10.5
9.3
Average
4.0
11.4
82.7
1.9
4.9
84.3
10.8
Table 15 shows the distribution of imported fluorspar for 1935 and 1936
(and the selling price at tidewater, duty paid). Data were compiled chiefly
from information courteously furnished the United States Bureau of Mines
by importers.
Table 15. — Distribution of Fluorspar Imported into the United States, 1935-1936.
1935
1936
Industry
Short
tons
Selling price
at tidewater,
including duty
Short
tons
Selling price
at tidewater,
including duty
Total
Average
Total
Average
Steel
Glass
Enamel
Hydrofluoric acid.
5,702
1,969
920
7,715
$102,635
49,803
24,447
189,794
$18.00
25.29
26.57
24.60
15,096
394
544
8,883
$287,454
10,397
15,428
223,419
$19.04
26.39
28.36
25.15
Total
16,306
366,679
22.49
24,917
536,698
21.54
In 1931 a striking change occurred in the relative distribution of fluorspar
imported into the United States. Previous to that year the steel industry had
been the chief purchaser of foreign fluorspar, but since 1931 this industry has
accounted for less than one-half of the total imports.
DISTRIBUTION BY INDUSTRIES
BASIC OPEN-HEARTH STEEL
Purpose — Fluorspar is used as a flux or slag conditioner in the basic open-
hearth process of steel making. It is added to the furnace charge in the form
of gravel to increase the fluidity of the slag, to assist in the purification of the
molten metal, and to decrease the time necessary for producing steel from the
metallic charge.
Extent of market — Formerly about 80 per cent of the fluorspar mined in
the United States and 80 to 90 per cent of that imported was used in the steel
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
65
industry, chiefly in the basic open-hearth process. Since 1931, however, chiefly
due to the low rate of steel operations and increased duty, only about 45 per
cent of the total spar imported was sold as fluxing spar.
Shipments of fluorspar from domestic sources to steel plants from 1922
to 1936 are shown in table 16.
Table 16.
-Fluorspar Shipped from Domestic Mines for Use in the
Manufacture of Steel, 1922-1936.
Year
Short tons
Average value
Year
Short tons
Average value
1922
122,403
$16.24
1929
118,904
$17.08
1923
96,713
18.23
1930
76,837
16.13
1924
104,349
17.72
1931
39,832
14.16
1925
91,760
16.16
1932
18,881
12.13
1926
105,614
16.51
1933
60,279
12.77
1927
93,196
16.35
1934
70,672
15.03
1928
108,064
15.19
1935
101,168
13.77
1936
141,618
16.22
Table 17 shows the total consumption of fluorspar in basic open-hearth
steel furnaces, the consumption of fluorspar per ton of steel, and the stocks at
steel plants from 1922 to 1936, inclusive.
The principal feature of this table is the almost gradual decrease in amount
of fluorspar used per ton of steel until 1933. In 1934, however, the quantity
increased considerably, but tended downward again in 1935 and 1936.
Table 18 shows the variation in average consumption of fluorspar per
ton of basic open-hearth steel, over a period of five years, in plants that make
about 88 per cent of the total.
The cost of fluorspar is a relatively small item in the total cost of making
a ton of steel. In the Chicago district, for example, the average cost at all
plants of fluorspar used in the production of a ton of steel in 1936 was about
5.6 cents, based on $16.50 a ton for fluorspar at Illinois-Kentucky mines, $3.50
for freight to Chicago, and $1.50 for handling, interest, and other charges.
Similarly, the cost of fluorspar per ton of steel in the Pittsburgh district was
about 6.1 cents. All-rail freight to Pittsburgh is figured at $5.25 a ton.
It is evident that even major fluctuations in the market price of fluorspar
have a very slight effect upon the total cost of making a ton of steel.
Steel ingots and castings are produced by the several processes known as
basic open-hearth, acid open-hearth, Bessemer, crucible, and electric, depending
upon the type of furnace used. In the United States about 90 per cent of all
steel ingots and castings produced in 1936 was by the basic open-hearth process.
Domestic production of steel ingots and castings by the basic open-hearth pro-
cess, from 1898 to 1936, is shown in table 19.
Figure 3, page 10, shows graphically the rapid growth in the output of
basic open-hearth steel and its relationship to the fluorspar industry.
Utilization in steel. — In the basic open-hearth furnace limestone is spread
upon the bottom, the metallic charge is added, and the heat is started. As the
charge melts the limestone rises to the top and floats on the surface of the molten
bath. Fluorspar may be added at this stage in amounts usually not less than
6 pounds per ton of steel or 200 to 600 pounds per heat; it is shoveled into the
furnace by hand as needed according to the judgment of the furnace operator
or helper.
66
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
tocks of fluor-
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DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
67
Table 19.
-Production of Basic Open-hearth Steel Ingots
and Castings, 1898-1936.
Year
Long tons
Year
Long tons
1898
1,569,412
1917
32,087,507
1899
2,080,426
1918
32,476,571
1900
2,545,091
1919
25,719,312
1901
3,618,993
1920
31,375,723
1902
4,496,533
1921
15,082,564
1903
4,734,913
1922
28,387,171
1904
5,106,367
1923
34,665,021
1905
7,815,728
1924
30,719,523
1906
9,658,760
1925
37,087,342
1907
10,279,315
1926
39,653,315
1908
7,140,425
1927
37,144,268
1909
13,417,472
1928
43,200,483
1910
15,292,329
1929
47,232,419
1911
14,685,932
1930
34,268,316
1912
19,641,502
1931
22,130,398
1913
20,344,626
1932
11,742,682
1914
16,271,129
1933
20,057,146
1915
22,308,725
1934
23,440,000
1916
29,616,658
1935
30,447,000
1936
43,615,000
Figure 13. — Basic Open-hearth Steel Furnace Being Charged with Molten Iron.
68 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
In figure 13, molten iron is being poured into a basic open-hearth furnace.
Piles of miscellaneous fluxing materials, such as fluorspar, are shown on the
charging floor.
The chemical reactions that occur when fluorspar is used in steel making
are not well understood, and authorities differ not only as to the chemical
reactions but also as to the role fluorspar plays in smelting and the nature of
the results obtained. One authority states that the chief functions of the fluor-
spar are to render the slag fluid enough to hasten the transfer of heat from the
flame to the steel beneath the slag, which reduces the time or duration of the
heat, and to enable the slag to flow readily when the furnace is tapped. Many
open-hearth slags when tapped are only partly liquid. Fluorspar lowers the
melting point of the solid portion of the slag to an extent depending upon the
amount added and therefore renders it more fluid.
Fluorspar is also held to eliminate sulfur through volatilization from the
slag. The importance of this is in question, however, and Schwerin18 has made
an excellent review of this problem. Fluorspar is also believed to be an effec-
tive agent in removing phosphorus from the molten metal, although calcium
is regarded as the chief phosphorus remover.
At some furnaces fluorspar is added from the time the lime has risen from
the bottom to the surface of the bath until the heat is tapped and sometimes
shortly before tapping. One authority states, however, that fluorspar, when
used, should be added shortly after the open-hearth charge is melted and all the
lime has risen from the bottom. The fluorspar is introduced in varying amounts
only if the slag contains an excessive amount of free lime or is too viscous. If one
addition does not bring about the desired fluidity or fusion of free lime another
addition of like amount is made. However, fluorspar is never added within
one-half hour prior to tapping of the heat, a precaution taken to guard against the
possibility of fluorides entering the finished product as a result of reactions be-
tween calcium fluoride in the slag and certain elements in the metal.
Good steel can be made without fluorspar, but the benefits gained by its use
far outweigh the few cents cost per ton of steel, and fluorspar will doubtless
maintain its favor among steel men for many years to come.
Although fluorspar is used at all basic open-hearth steel plants it is not used
in all furnace heats. Fluorspar is not required where considerable iron ore
must be added to eliminate carbon, as in such heats the oxide of iron in the
slag insures enough fluidity. For high-manganese pig iron less fluorspar is needed
than for ordinary pig iron. Also, less fluorspar is required when steel is made by
the duplex process. On the other hand, considerably more fluorspar is usually
necessary when dolomite, which may make a viscous slag, is used instead of lime-
stone, or when scrap, which requires a high-lime charge, is the chief furnace bur-
den instead of pig iron ; therefore, the average quantity of fluorspar used per ton
of basic open-hearth steel varies widely among the various steel plants, usually
ranging from 1 to 50 pounds. In general, the average is 5 to 8 pounds of fluor-
spar per ton of steel, or a very small proportion of the furnace charge.
Chemical specifications. — Most basic open-hearth steel manufacturers specify
that fluorspar shall analyze not less than 85 per cent calcium fluoride, not more
than 5 per cent silica, and not more than 0.3 per cent sulfur. However, fluorspar
carrying as little as 80 per cent calcium fluoride and 6 to 7 per cent silica is some-
times accepted, especially by western steel plants, and some consumers do not
is Schwerin, J;., Metals and alloys, vol. 5, pp. 61-66, 83-88, 118-123, 1934.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
69
object to a larger amount of sulfur. As a rule, content of other elements is not
guaranteed, but the consumer prefers the absolute minimum of lead and zinc.
Representative analyses of fluorspar used in steel plants appear in table 20.
Table 20. — Analyses of Gravel Fluorspar used in Steel Plants, per cent.
CaF2
Si02
CaC03
Fe203
AhO.,
S
BaS04
86.59
87.50
4.83
4.00
4.80
3.07
3.10
7.70
7.20
7.50
1.23
0.40
.60
0.43
.55
Trace
.12
Trace
86.70
88.92
1.96
4.16
87.80
3.
06
A minimum of silica is specified because, as generally computed, one part
of silica requires 2l/? parts of fluorspar to flux it; a fluorspar containing 85 per
cent calcium fluoride and 5 per cent silica would be equivalent to 721/2 units of
net calcium fluoride. With some manufacturers a sliding scale is acceptable,
and for each 2Yi units of calcium fluoride above 85 per cent the silica is allowed
to go up 1 point. A fluorspar containing 87 \/i Per cent calcium fluoride and 6
per cent silica is therefore equivalent to one containing 85 per cent calcium
fluoride and 5 per cent silica; however, when the fluorspar contains less than
12Yi units of net calcium fluoride the contract usually provides for an adjustment
in price, as shown by the first paragraph of the sample contract form on page 62.
Physical requirements. — Manufacturers of basic open-hearth steel gener-
ally require that fluorspar be in the form of gravel, all of which will pass
through a 1-inch square opening; the fines are to be not less than 15 per cent
of the total. However, variation in size requirements is not uncommon, and
fluorspar in lumps several inches in diameter is sometimes used. A screen analysis
of typical gravel fluorspar is given in table 21.
Table 21. — Screen Analysis of Gravel Fluorspar1.
On or
Total Percentage
On or
Total Percentage
Opening,
Mesh
between
sieves,
Opening,
inches
Mesh
between
sieves,
inches
percent
On
Passing
percent
On
Passing
0.371
6.25
6.25
93,75
0.0328
20
8.33
64.78
35.22
0.263
3
11.62
17.87
82.13
0.0232
28
7.30
72.08
27.92
0.185
4
8.61
26.48
73,52
0.0164
35
9.62
81.70
18.30
0.131
6
6.41
32.89
67.11
0.0116
48
8.07
89.77
10.23
0.093
8
6.91
39.80
60.20
0.0082
65
4.48
94.25
5.75
0.065
10
8.34
48.14
51.85
0.0058
100
3.28
97.53
2.47
0.046
14
8.31
56.45
43.55
1 These data are averaged from four typical screen analyses of No. 2 gravel.
By courtesy of the Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co.
70 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Too great a percentage of fines or dust is objectionable because it may be
lost in the furnace draft or it settles reluctantly in the molten bath. On the other
hand, material one-half to 1 inch in size may not be assimilated readily by the
slag; therefore, the bulk of the material should be under one-half inch to about
48-mesh.
Objectionable impurities. — In basic open-hearth steel practice calcium
carbonate is the least objectionable impurity in fluorspar because calcium car-
bonate is itself a flux ; however, it is uneconomical to buy limestone at fluorspar
prices. Silica is much more objectionable because it requires a certain amount of
fluorspar or limestone to flux it and to preserve the necessary basicity of the slag.
The sulfur content must be as low as possible, usually less than 0.3 per cent.
Sulfur may be derived from any zinc or iron sulfides (sphalerite or pyrite) or
from barite (BaS04) present in the ore. Such impurities should be (and usually
are) eliminated from the fluorspar product during the milling process. Barite
is probably objectionable more because it is a diluent than because of its sulfur
content. Sulfur is very objectionable in steel, but its importance as an impurity
in fluorspar is often over-emphasized. As only a fraction of 1 per cent of spar
is actively employed, no appreciable quantity of sulfur would be added1 to the
finished metal even though the fluorspar contained as much as 5 per cent of barite.
Basic open-hearth steel markets. — Approximately 78 per cent of the fluor-
spar sold in the United States in 1936 was shipped to 100 basic open-hearth
steel plants in 24 States. Most of these plants, however, are in the eastern part
of the United States and are more or less centralized in certain well-known
districts.
The six specific market areas for metallurgical fluorspar in basic open-hearth
steel plants in the eastern United States follow.
1. The Pittsburgh-johnstown-Steubenville-Butler area, which
in 1936 consumed 32,500 short tons of fluorspar (24.3 per cent of the
total consumed in basic open-hearth steel plants). Steel plants in this
region comprise the largest single market in the United States. Of
the 32,500 tons consumed in this area in 1936, 22,100 tons were
used in the Pittsburgh district.
2. The Youngstown-Canton-Farrell area, which in 1936 con-
sumed 19,200 short tons of fluorspar (14.3 per cent).
3. The Harrisburg-Philadelphia-Claymont-Baltimore area,
which in 1936 consumed 15,000 short tons of fluorspar (11.2 per
cent).
4. The Cleveland-Lorain area, which in 1936 consumed 7,400
short tons of fluorspar (5.5 per cent).
5. The Buffalo area, which in 1936 consumed 5,600 short tons
of fluorspar (4.2 per cent).
6. The Bridgeport-Phillipsdale-Worcester area, which in 1936
consumed 1,100 short tons (0.8 per cent).
Thus, the steel plants in the above areas consumed 80,800 short tons of
fluorspar in 1936, (60.3 per cent of the total consumed in the basic open-hearth
steel industry).
Costs of production and transportation limit the markets in which sellers
of fluorspar can profitably compete; the import duty further limits the markets
for imported fluorspar. The cost of producing fluorspar in France, Germany,
Newfoundland, and Spain (the principal countries which now export to the
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION 71
United States), is relatively much lower than in the Illinois-Kentucky district.
Fluxing grade fluorspar imported from these sources, notwithstanding a duty
of $7.50 a short ton, is sold in western Pennsylvania and to a smaller extent
in eastern Ohio and the Panhandle of West Virginia in competition with that
from the Illinois-Kentucky district. Previous to 1931 the market in this area
was divided between domestic and imported fluorspar. Since 1931, however,
the greater part of the fluorspar sold in this area has come from the Illinois-
Kentucky district.
Since basic open-hearth steel plants near the Atlantic coast in eastern Penn-
sylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and
Maryland are farther from domestic mines and relatively nearer to the ports of
entry for imported spar, the greater part of the spar sold to steel plants in this
area comes from foreign sources. In 1936 about 16,000 short tons of fluorspar
were consumed by basic open-hearth steel plants in this area.
In the Middle West the chief markets for fluorspar are at steel plants in the
Chicago district (which includes Gary and Indiana Harbor, Indiana) ; the St.
Louis district (which includes Granite City and Alton, Illinois) ; Peoria, Illi-
nois; Kokomo, Indiana; Duluth, Minnesota; and Kansas City, Missouri. The
total consumption in this area in 1936 amounted to 30,800 short tons (23 per
cent of the total consumed in basic open-hearth steel).
The Chicago district, the largest market in the Middle West, consumed
22,400 short tons of fluorspar in 1936 (16.7 per cent of the total consumed in
the basic open-hearth steel industry). In fact, the consumption of metallurgi-
cal fluorspar in this district in 1936 slightly exceeded the consumption of fluor-
spar in steel plants located strictly in the Pittsburgh district.
The second largest market in the Middle West is the St. Louis district,
which in 1936 consumed 4,000 short tons of fluorspar. Although the consump-
tion of fluorspar in basic open-hearth steel plants at Kansas City, Kokomo,
Peoria, and Duluth aggregated 4,400 short tons in 1936 the consumption at each
locality is comparatively small, ranging from 600 to 1,600 tons.
In general, all fluorspar used in steel plants in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota,
and St. Louis, Missouri, is from the Illinois-Kentucky district, although some
fluorspar from the Colorado-New Mexico district is used in steel plants in these
areas. Most of the fluorspar used at Kansas City is from the Colorado-New
Mexico district.
In the South important markets for fluorspar are Birmingham and Ala-
bama City, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia. This area consumed 4,500 short
tons of fluorspar in 1936 (3.4 per cent of the total consumed in the basic open-
hearth steel industry). All the fluorspar sold in this market is from the Illinois-
Kentucky district.
In the West the largest market for fluorspar is the steel works in Pueblo,
Colorado, which obtains its supply chiefly from Colorado. On the Pacific coast
the chief consumers of fluorspar are the steel plants at Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Pittsburg, and Torrance, California ; and Youngstown, Washing-
ton. The quantity consumed annually is comparatively small and is supplied
mainly by mines in New Mexico and Nevada and by imported fluorspar, chiefly
from Germany and Spain.
In 1936 the total consumption of metallurgical fluorspar in the West, in-
cluding the Pacific coast, was 5,500 short tons (4.1 per cent of the total con-
sumed in the basic open-hearth steel industry).
72
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Other important markets are Dearborn and Ecorse, Michigan; Ashland
and Newport, Kentucky; and Mansfield, Middletown, and Portsmouth, Ohio.
Smaller markets are Lima, Marion, and South Columbus, Ohio ; Sand Springs,
Oklahoma; South Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Bettendorf, Iowa. In 1936
the total consumption of fluorspar in basic open-hearth steel plants at Lima,
Mansfield, Marion, Middletown, Portsmouth, and South Columbus, Ohio, and
Ashland and Newport, Kentucky was 7,800 short tons.
Stocks. — Steel companies generally keep several months' supply of fluorspar
in stock at their plants. At the end of 1936, for example, 59,200 tons of spar,
equivalent to 44 per cent of the 1936 consumption in basic open-hearth steel
plants, was so reported. Based on the amount consumed in 1936 this amount
was sufficient to last over 5 months. Such a large tonnage represents a consid-
erable investment, and the interest charges are correspondingly high. On the
other hand, this insures consumers against sudden fluctuations in supply and
price, enabling them to take advantage of price declines and to buy when gen-
eral market conditions are most favorable.
Table 17, page 66, shows stocks of fluorspar at basic open-hearth steel
plants and the annual consumption of fluorspar at these plants from 1922 to 1936,
inclusive. During this period stocks at the steel plants have averaged nearly a
7-month supply for the furnaces.
ELECTRIC-FURNACE STEEL
Metallurgical-grade fluorspar is used in certain electric-furnace plants,
chiefly in making alloy steels. It is used in the same manner as in the basic
open-hearth furnace but by no means as universally. The quantity of spar used
by individual plants per ton of steel ranges from a few pounds to 50 pounds.
The general average is about 20 pounds. Electric furnaces for steel manufacture
provided a market for about 4 per cent of the fluorspar sold in 1936.
Table 22.
-Consumption of Fluorspar at Electric-furnace Steel Plants,
1927-1936, short tons.
Year
Consumption
Year
Consumption
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
4,700
6,100
6,500
3,600
3,100
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
2,100
3,400
4,300
5,400
6,900
Chemical requirements are generally the same as those for basic open-
hearth furnaces. Special nut size (one-half to 1 inch and free from fines) is
usually required. However, variation in size is not uncommon.
The chief markets afforded by electric-furnace steel plants are in Illinois,
Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania ; plants in these States consumed 89 per
cent of the total fluorspar consumed in electric-furnace steel plants in 1936.
The largest consumers of fluorspar in the manufacture of electric-furnace steel
also manufacture steel by the basic open-hearth process. In fact, 63 per cent of
the total fluorspar consumed in electric-furnace steel plants (table 22) in 1936
was used by manufacturers who also made basic open-hearth steel.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
73
FERRO-ALLOYS
Fluorspar is used to a small extent as a flux in making ferro-alloys by the
electric-furnace process. For this purpose a fluorspar comparatively high in
calcium fluoride and low in silica is usually required. It should be fine
enough to insure good distribution in the furnace.
The average quantity of fluorspar used per ton of ferro-alloys varies widely
and irregularly from year to year and depends greatly upon the nature of the
alloys. For instance, in 1936 the average consumption at different plants ranged
from 0.7 pound to 260 pounds and in 1927 from 1.2 to 190 pounds. The chief
markets are at Niagara Falls, New York, Keokuk, Iowa, and Langeloth and
Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. Consumption and stocks from 1927 to 1936 follow.
Table 23. — Consumption of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Ferro-alloys
and Stocks, 1927-1936, short tons.
Year
Consumption
Stocks
Year
Consumption
Stocks
1927
500
100
1932
200
100
1928
800
400
1933
300
200
1929
1,100
200
1934
500
200
1930
1,100
300
1935
700
300
1931
300
200
1936
800
200
FOUNDRIES
The function of fluorspar in iron foundries is also that of a flux. It is
valuable chiefly in the production of the finer grades of castings, such as auto-
mobile cylinders and blocks, and in heating and plumbing equipment. The
market consumes only about 1 per cent of the fluorspar used annually in the
United States. Most of the larger foundries using fluorspar are in Illinois, Indi-
ana, Michigan, and New York. Shipments from domestic mines to foundries
from 1922 to 1936 follow.
Table 24. — Fluorspar Shipped from Domestic Mines for Use in Foundries, 1922-1936.
Year
Short tons
Average value
Year
Short tons
Average val"e
1922
2,998
$19.02
1929
3,498
$19.93
1923
3,748
21.20
1930
2,209
18.69
1924
7,138
22.35
1931
1,123
16.10
1925
6,275
19.31
1932
524
14.57
1926
6,212
19.55
1933
1,039
13.27
1927
4,533
18.69
1934
1,489
15.99
1928
3,694
17.93
1935
2,336
12.44
1936
2,326
15.79
In foundry practice a small quantity of fluorspar helps to melt the lime
accumulation at the air inlets, to produce a more liquid slag, and to promote the
removal of such impurities as phosphorus and sulfur from the iron. It may be
added in the cupola or in the ladle before the molten iron is poured and has
74
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
particular value for continuous melting practice and for handling iron having a
relatively high sulfur content. If fluorspar is used in the cupolas the charge melts
more rapidly and with a thinner slag; and the iron can be maintained at a higher
temperature, which results in sharper castings. It is reported that 3 per cent
by weight of ground fluorspar placed in the bottom of the ladle slags off the
impurities and thus produces a more malleable iron with greater tensile strength.
Cleaner castings are also obtained. The quantity of fluorspar used in cupolas
varies considerably but probably averages 15 to 20 pounds per ton of metal.
Chemical requirements for cupola use are virtually the same as those for
basic open-hearth steel practice, although fluorspar containing as little as 82 per
cent of calcium fluoride and as much as 8 per cent silica is sometimes accepted.
Typical analyses of fluorspar used in cupolas follow.
Table 25. — Analyses of Fluorspar Used in Cupolas, per cent.
CaF2
SiOL>
CaC03
87.0
4.5
7.5
88.5
4.3
6.0
92.0
3.5
3.67
82.0
8.0
1.3
88.4
4.0
7.1
Fluorspar for cupola use is usually sold in lumps from nut size to about 12
inches in diameter. However, variation in size requirements is not uncommon,
as fluorspar of gravel size and ground material are sometimes used.
Consumption and stocks of fluorspar in foundry practice from 1927 to 1936
are shown in the following table. Special attention is directed to the decline in
consumption during the last few years.
Table 26. — Fluorspar Consumed and in Stock at Foundries, 1927-1936, short tons.
Year
Consumption
Stocks
Year Consumption
Stocks
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
3,400
3,300
2,700
1,600
1,000
1,000
1,000
700
800
600
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
600
900
1,600
1,900
1,900
500
600
500
800
700
OTHER METALLURGICAL USES
Small quantities of fluorspar are used in other metallurgical operations,
such as the production of nickel and monel metal, reducing aluminum, smelting
refractory ores of gold, silver, and copper, refining lead and silver, and extract-
ing various rare metals from their ores. The quality and size of fluorspar
depend on the particular use. For instance, in the production of nickel and
monel metal a lump fluorspar high in calcium fluoride and absolutely free from
lead is required. In reducing aluminum a ground fluorspar showing by analysis
98.5 per cent calcium fluoride, 0.62 per cent silica, and 0.74 per cent calcium
carbonate is generally used.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
7 5
Although nonferrous smelters afford a comparatively small market for
fluorspar, the gain in shipments from 868 tons in 1935 to 1,931 tons in 1936 was
noteworthy.
GLASS
Purpose — Fluorspar is used in the manufacture of opal or opaque glass
and colored glass. It provides a source of fluorine which is regarded as essen-
tial or desirable in the manufacture of such glass products as lamp globes, shades,
bulbs, soda fountain tops and accessories, table and counter tops, liners for fruit
jars, containers for toilet and medicinal preparations, tableware, novelties, and
bars and rods for lavatories.
Extent of market — The glass industry is not a large market for fluorspar
on a tonnage basis. Shipments of fluorspar from domestic mines for use in glass
manufacture from 1924 to 1936 follow.
Table 27. — Fluorspar Shipped from Domestic Mines for Use In
Glass Manufacture, 1924-1936.
Year
Short tons
Average value
Year
Short tons
Average value
1924
6,094
$35.16
1930
3,158
$32.92
1925
6,767
31.23
1931
5,279
30.74
1926
7,507
32.01
1932
3 , 596
28.30
1927
5,968
30.91
1933
6,778
21.83
1928
6,499
30.14
1934
7,343
22.77
1929
5,742
31.98
1935
10,256
22.22
1936
11,014
24.27
Utilization. — Material for the glass and enamel trades commonly brings
a much higher price than that for the metallurgical industry because rigid speci-
fications require not only a purer product but much more care in preparing fluor-
spar for these trades. From 50 to 500 pounds of pulverized or ground fluorspar
are used for each 1,000 pounds of sand in the glass batch. Pot glasses making
extremely rich dense opals may use as much as 500 pounds of spar, but this
does not represent the bulk of glass made. When as little as 50 pounds of spar
is used the fluorine content of the batch is built up further with cryolite. This
market for fluorspar depends upon the popularity of opal glass, which normally is
strong. Substitutes are not a serious threat to fluorspar, although experiments
with other materials are carried on from time to time.
Fluorspar is not ordinarily bought on general specifications because of the
rather limited number of companies from which it is purchased. The following
notes, however, indicate the approximate requirements for spar used in the glass
trade.
Chemical specifications. — Usual specifications as to content are that the
fluorspar shall contain not less than 95 per cent CaF2 and not more than
3 per cent Si02, 1 per cent CaCO.,, and 0.12 per cent Fe2Ov However,
manufacturers of certain glass use a fluorspar containing a much lower content
of CaF2 and higher contents of Si02 and CaC08. The material must be prac-
tically free of lead, zinc, and sulfur. The following specifications of a large
76
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
consumer of fluorspar in the glass industry are probably representative, with
some variations.
Our specifications call for a limit of 0.12 per cent iron oxide content.
Really we would object strongly if we obtained much fluorspar with that
much iron in it as it colors the glass, and we have been receiving fluorspar
from responsible sources around 0.06 per cent.
Calcium fluoride content has been placed at a minimum of 90 per cent.
However, we receive most of it well above 95 per cent, and our price is based
on that. If the diluting material is something such as silica which is used
in the glass, it would not interfere with the process but would with the price.
Calcium carbonate content must not vary too much as it affects the
formula used in the glass batch. We do not want lead, zinc, or sulfur, so this
specification is not a usual one in the glass trade. We do this because we
neutralize these materials rather accurately, and too much of them will
give us an off shade in color.
All our material is bought in bulk and is finely ground, generally nearly
100 mesh. We can stand considerable variation in this.
The following table gives representative analyses of fluorspar used in the
glass industry.
Table 28. — Analyses of Fluorspar used in the Manufacture of Glass, per cent.
CaF2
Si02
Fe2C»3
A1203
CaC03
MgC03
S
97.02
97.86
97.40
1.43
.72
1.55
.98
1.13
.76
1.35
.55
.52
1.24
0.04
.06
.14
0.15
.08
.26
1.26
1.01
.54
.98
1.21
.37
.85
.85
.71
1.28
0.12
.26
Trace
Trace
0.027
97.54
0.50
.28
.34
.31
.22
97.38
98.53
97.49
98.38
98.67
.05
.88
Trace
96.92
Physical specifications — The glass industry requires ground fluorspar. It is
generally pulverized so that approximately 55 per cent will pass a 100-mesh
screen and 15 or more per cent a 200-mesh screen.
Fine-ground fluorspar is screened so that about 70 per cent will pass 100
mesh and about 43 per cent 200 mesh. Extra fine-ground fluorspar is also pre-
pared. Table 29 gives a detailed screen analysis of a coarse-ground fluorspar
used in the glass industry.
The color of ground fluorspar is very important and must be watched
closely by producers. For glass manufacture the color must be virtually snow
white ; even very light shades of brown or yellow or specks of black, such as
may be produced by the presence of small quantities of galena or other impuri-
ties, are to be carefully avoided. Iron is highly objectionable, as even minute
quantities impart a green or yellow tint to the glass.
Silica is objectionable only because it is a diluent of the fluorspar. It is
reported that one company has used fluorspar containing as much as 13 per cent
Si02, but such instances are singular and doubtless involved substantial price
concessions.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
77
Calcium carbonate is objectionable and generally should be less than 1.25
per cent. An excess of lime in the batch tends to make the glass brittle and easy
to break. Variations in lime content naturally tend to interfere with the formula
control of the glass batch.
Impurities such as lead, zinc, barium, or sulfur are objectionable because
their removal or neutralization by costly oxidizing agents is an added expense.
Market districts. — Fluorspar was used in the manufacture of glass at 56
plants in ten States in 1936. Five plants, however, one each at Washington
and Jeannette, Pennsylvania, Winchester and Muncie, Indiana, and Lancaster,
Ohio used 71 per cent of the total consumed in the glass industry in 1936.
The other plants used fluorspar in quantities ranging from less than a carload
to 400 tons in 1936.
Sources of supply. — In 1936 the glass industry consumed 11,600 short
tons of fluorspar. Mills at Rosiclare, Illinois, Marion, Kentucky, and Deming,
New Mexico, were the only domestic sources of ground spar in 1936. There
are also mills with grinding units at Derry, Hot Springs, and Mesilla Park,
New Mexico, but they have been inactive for several years. Imports of spar
for the glass trade in 1936 amounted to only 394 short tons. However, Ger-
many, Spain, and Italy have been important sources, and during the 5 years
1931-1935 supplied an average of 2,100 tons a year.
Total consumption and stocks. — According to table 30, in which the annual
consumption of fluorspar is compared with stocks at glass plants for the 10-
year period 1927 to 1936, glass manufacturers carry only about a 2-month sup-
ply of ground spar on hand. It will also be noted that consumption declined
somewhat from 1927 to 1930 but increased substantially from 1931 to 1936,
Table 29. — Screen Analysis of 500-gram Sample of Coarse-ground Fluorspar
through 24-mesh screen.
Screen
Quantity
ING ON
' Remain-
Screen
Cumulative
Weight
Quantity
Mesh
Opening
passing
(per cent)
Grams
Per cent
Grams
Per cent
On
35
0.0164
89.48
51.5
10.30
51.5
10.30
40
.0150
83.70
28.9
5.78
80.4
16.08
60
.0087
67.24
82.3
16.46
162.7
32.54
80
.0069
62.80
22.2
4.44
184.9
36.98
100
.0058
53.92
44.4
8.88
229.3
45.86
120
.0046
44.68
46.2
9.24
275.5
55.10
140
.0042
40.20
22.4
4.48
297.9
59.58
160
.0038
28.20
60.0
12.00
357.9
71.58
180
.0033
20.58
38.1
7.62
396 . 0
79.20
200
.0029
14.02
32.8
6.56
428.8
85.76
Through
200
70.1
14.02
498.8
99 78
78
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 30. — Consumption of Fluorspar in Manufacture of Glass and Stocks,
1927-1936, short tons.
Year
Consumption
Stocks
Year
Consumption
Stocks
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
6,800
6,200
6,600
4,300
7,100
900
1,200
1,000
1,000
1,000
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
6,700
7,000
7,700
11,000
11,600
700
1,300
1,600
1,700
2,300
ENAMEL
Purpose. — Fluorspar is an important ingredient in enamels used for coating
steel and cast iron to make hospital and kitchen ware, plumbing fixtures such
as bathtubs and kitchen sinks, barber and beauty-parlor chairs, linings for
refrigerators, table and counter tops, reflectors, signs, stove parts, facing for
brick and tile, art pottery, structural materials, earthen cooking ware, and other
similar products. Such enamels are dense, opaque, white, or colored.
Extent of market. — As the enamel business is fairly stable there is a rather
steady demand for fluorspar during normal times. Cryolite competes with and
may be substituted for fluorspar. In certain cases, although not all, there are
advantages in using cryolite in spite of the cost differential. Synthetic cryo-
lite, which is becoming a competitor of natural cryolite, is being made indirectly
from fluorspar.
The domestic fluorspar entering the enamel trade from 1924 to 1936 is
shown in table 31.
Table 31. — Fluorspar Shipped from Mines for Use in the Manufacture of
Enamel, 1924-1936.
Year
Short tons
Average value
Year
Short tons
Average value
1924
3,471
$34.85
1930
2,188
$33.61
1925
3,237
31.22
1931
1,996
32.79
1926
3,410
33.27
1932
1,261
28.80
1927
3,813
31.44
1933
3,100
24.82
1928
4.713
30.23
1934
2.590
26.20
1929
3,879
32.39
1935
4,087
24.64
1936
5,249
24.62
Utilization. — Fluorspar is used in enamel batches in a similar manner as in
glass manufacture. Of the enamel batches 0 to 15 per cent is fluorspar or
cryolite.
One company reports that its enamels contain 0 to 6 per cent fluorspar. The
function of the spar is as a flux and as an auxiliary opacifier. Spar is not a
strong enough opacifier to give a white enamel, but a cloudy effect is attained
which decreases the amounts required of other and more costly opacifiers. Clear
or dark enamels require little or no fluorspar.
Specifications. — Chemical requirements for fluorspar in enamels are usually
the same as for glass. Enamelers require a high-grade fluorspar, usually contain-
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
79
ing 95 to 98 per cent calcium fluoride and less than 2.5 per cent silica. A small
content of silica is not injurious, but as calcium carbonate tends to increase the
brittleness of the enamel it must be kept as low as possible. Iron, lead, zinc,
and sulfur are objectionable impurities, as these elements in any appreciable
quantity would stain or color the enamel. Some representative analyses of fluor-
spar used in enamels are given in table 32.
Table 32. — Analysis of Fluorspar Used in Making Enamels, per cent.
CaF2
Si02
Fe203
AI2O3
CaC03
MgC03
S
98.00
1.00
2.50
.72
1.60
1.43
0.15
.40
1.01
.90
1.26
95.00
97.86
97.15
0.06
.08
.04
0.08
0.26
Trace
97.02
.15
.12
Trace
Ground fluorspar, usually about 60 or more per cent passing through a 100-
mesh screen, is required in enamels. Such material is finer than that specified
by the glass trade. Table 33 gives a detailed screen analysis of a ground fluor-
spar used in enamels.
Table 33. — Screen Analysis of No. 1 Fine-ground Fluorspar*.
Total Percentage
Opening
inches
Mesh
On or between
sieves, per cent
On
Passing
On
0.0116
48
9.60
9.60
90.40
.0082
65
15.54
25.14
74.86
.0058
100
13.71
38.85
61.15
.0041
150
8.18
47.03
52.97
.0029
200
25.79
72.82
27.18
Through
.0029
200
27.10
99.92
b.08
a Analysis of a car shipment to the enamel trade.
b Loss in sample.
Courtesy Oglebay Norton & Co.
Market districts. — The markets for fluorspar used in making enamels are
more widely distributed but smaller than in the glass industry. In 1936, for
example, fluorspar was used at 70 plants in 14 States. The largest markets are
at Chicago, Illinois; Frankfort, Indiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Kohler, Wis-
consin ; Cleveland, Ohio ; Chattanooga, Tennessee ; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ;
and Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Sources of supply — Most of the fluorspar entering the enamel industry in
1936 was produced at Rosiclare, Illinois, Marion, Kentucky, and Deming, New
Mexico. A little was produced at Beatty, Nevada. Imports of this grade were
not so formidable in 1936, being only 544 tons. During the 5 years 1931-1935,
however, imports averaged nearly 900 tons a year.
Total consumption and stocks — The consumption of fluorspar in enamel
declined sharply from 5,800 tons in 1927 to 2,400 tons in 1932. Since 1933,
however, consumption has increased progressively and reached 5,400 tons in
1936. Stocks held at manufacturing plants are nominal only, as table 34
indicates.
80
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Table 34.
-Consumption and Stocks of Fluorspar at Enamel Plants,
1927-1936, short tons.
Year
Consumption
Stocks
Year
Consumption
Stocks
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
5,800
5,700
5,200
4,000
3,000
800
900
700
600
700
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
2,400
3,200
3,500
4,900
5,400
600
1,100
700
900
1,200
HYDROFLUORIC ACID AND DERIVATIVES
Purpose. — Fluorspar is the basic material in the manufacture of hydrofluoric
acid which is used to a considerable extent in the electrolytic refining of metals,
the pickling of metals, chromium plating, the etching of glassware, and in
the removal of silica and iron oxide from graphite. It is also used in chemical
analysis, in the textile and bleaching industry, the manufacture of inorganic
and organic fluorides, the removal of efflorescence from stone and brick, the
processing of filter and special papers, and the preparation of fungicides, anti-
septics, etc. The use of fluorspar as a chemical raw material is discussed in a
paper by Reed and Finger.19
Extent of market. — The chemical industry provides the second largest
outlet for fluorspar; it consumed 11 per cent of the United States total in 1936.
The market for acid-grade fluorspar during the 10 years 1927-1936 has been
almost equally divided between domestic and imported fluorspar, as shown in
table 35.
Table 35. — Fluorspar Sold for Use in the Manufacture of Hydrofluoric Acid
in the United States and Ratio of Sales of Imported Fluorspar
to Total, 1927-1936.
Total
(Short
tons)
Imported
Year
Total
(Short
tons)
Imported
Year
Short
tons
Per cent
of total
sold
Short
tons
Per cent
of total
sold
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
11,248
19,246
19,540
13,477
10,942
7,500
3,300
6,634
3,643
6,556
66.7
17.1
34.0
27.0
59.9
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
4,356
4,921
10,648
11,048
21,510
3,618
3,971
8,982
7,715
8,883
73.5
80.7
84.4
69.8
41.3
Average
12,694
6,080
47.9
Table 36 shows shipments of fluorspar from domestic mines for use in
the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid from 1922 to 1936.
19 Reed, F. H., and Finger, (3. C, Fluorspar as a ehemieal raw material: Chem. Indus-
tries, vol. 39, pp. 577-581, 193G.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
81
Table 36. — Fluorspar Shipped from Domestic Mines for Use in the Manufacture
of Hydrofluoric Acid and Derivatives, 1922-1936.
Year
Short tons
Average value
Year
Short tons
Average value
1922
4,782
$24.81
1929
12,906
$27.45
1923
6,976
30.19
1930
9,834
26.45
1924
3,150
28.39
1931
4,386
24.65
1925
4,455
25.60
1932
738
19.79
1926
3,410
23.20
1933
950
19.58
1927
3,748
26.24
1934
1,666
21.43
1928
15,946
36.69
1935
3,333
22.42
1936
12,627
25.82
Utilization. — Hydrofluoric acid is made by treating acid spar with sulfuric
acid in suitable iron kilns, calcium sulfate being produced as a by-product. The
reaction is expressed by the equation
CaF2 + H2S04 -> 2HF + CaS04.
Two types of acid are now commercially available, aqueous and anhydrous grades.
The hydrofluoric acid passes off as a vapor, and is either collected in water in
suitable lead cooling and absorbing towers for equeous acid, or condensed by a
refrigerating system to the anhydrous grade. The anhydrous acid is made under
very rigidly controlled conditions.
The aqueous acid is usually made up into 30, 40, 48, and 52 per cent and
"fuming" grades; the strongest acid contains about 65 per cent hydrofluoric acid.
It is generally shipped in lead carboys or more recently in special rubber bar-
rels. The anhydrous acid is shipped in iron containers although magnesium,
copper, and brass can also be used.
Considerable acid fluorspar enters the aluminum industry. The fluorspar
is used first to make hydrofluoric acid. With this acid a synthetic or "artificial"
cryolite can be, and is, manufactured in a limited amount, which with natural
cryolite is used in a molten bath from which aluminum is recovered by elec-
trolytic methods. The manufacture of synthetic cryolite will become of increas
ing importance because of the nationalism sweeping over the world and the
desire of each nation to become independent of a monopoly supply of the natural
mineral. Synthetic cryolite is not only being used in the metallurgy of alu-
minum but is also becoming of increasing importance in the enamel and insecticide
industries.
A new use is rapidly being developed for acid fluorspar in the manufacture
of new refrigerating mediums known as the "Freons" of which there are six
different kinds. They are all synthetic organic compounds containing chlorine
and fluorine. The most common and the one used to the largest extent is "Freon-
12," or "Kinetic-12" or in short "F-12"; in the trade, the name Freon usually
refers to this compound which is chemically known as dichlorodifluoromethane
(CC12F2). Other "Freons" are "Freon-11" or "F-ll" and also known to the
trade as "Carrene" (trichloromonofluoromethane — CC13F), "Freon-21" or
"F-21" (dichloromonofluoromethane — CHC12F), "Freon-22" or "F-22" (mono-
chlorodifluoromethane — CHC1F2), "Freon-113" or "F-113" (trichlorotrifluoro-
ethane — C2C13F3), and "Freon-114" or "F-114" (dichlorotetrafluoroethane —
C2C12F4).
82 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
These compounds are nonexplosive, noninflammable, noncorrosive, and
practically nontoxic. A study of the physiological properties of Freon is the sub-
ject of United States Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3013, "Toxicity
of dichlorodifluoromethane : a new refrigerant", May 1930. Results of experi-
ments as to the stability, noninflammability, behavior when exposed to flame
and hot metal surfaces, and corrosive action on common metals of these com-
pounds are embodied in National Board of Fire Underwriters, Miscellaneous
Hazard No. 2375, "Report on the comparative life, fire, and explosive hazards of
common refrigerants," November 1933.
Freon is used not only in household and larger mechanical refrigerating
units in cold storage for perishable products but also in the air-conditioning field
of buildings, mines, railroad passenger cars, etc. Approximately 1,700 tons of
acid spar were used in the manufacture of the new refrigerants in the first ten
months of 1935, since which time there has been a noteworthy increase.
The Kinetic Chemicals, Inc., a du Pont subsidiary, Wilmington, Delaware,
controls and manufactures the "Freons" and many of the refrigerator manu-
facturers are offering equipment containing these gases, particularly Freon.
Other organic fluorine compounds are being used as dyes, and patents have
been issued covering their use as solvents, fire extinguishing agents, drugs,
color photographic materials, insulating and cooling dielectrics for electrical
apparatus such as transformers, capacitors, switches, etc. In general, these
compounds possess unique properties not found in other compounds and are un-
usually stable. All in all, the field of organic fluorine chemistry promises to have
considerable ultimate importance to fluorspar producers.
There are many other derivatives of hydrofluoric acid that are of indus-
trial importance, namely, its salts: hydrofluosilicic acid (H2SiF6), sodium flu-
oride (NaF), sodium bifluoride (NaHF2), sodium silicofluoride or sodium
fluosilicate (Na2SiF6), potassium fluoride (KF), and potassium bifluoride
(KHF2), ammonium fluoride (NH4F), ammonium bifluoride (NH4HF2),
and ammonium silicofluoride [(NH4)2 SiF6], magnesium fluoride (MgF2), and
magnesium silicofluoride (MgSiF6), zinc fluoride (ZnF2), and zinc silicofluoride
(ZnSiFf!), barium fluoride (BaF2), and barium silicofluoride (BaSiFG), cal-
cium silicofluoride (CaSiF6), chromium fluoride (CrF3), aluminum fluoride
(AlFo), and antimony fluoride (SbF3). Among the miscellaneous compounds
are the cerium, iron, copper, silver, lead, lithium, strontium, boron, bismuth,
beryllium, manganese, uranium, tantalum, and titanium fluorides which have
been referred to in the literature as being useful in various places.
The uses of these compounds have been discussed in some detail in the
paper by Reed and Finger to which reference has been made in the early part
ol this discussion. Therefore, a brief resume at this point will suffice to point
out the manifold applications of these compounds. Hydrofluoric acid is used
chiefly in the preparation of fluosilicates, lead refining and plating, textile bleach-
ing, and as an antiseptic. The sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts are
used as preservatives, antifermentatives, and insecticides (several common roach
and lice powders contain essentially sodium fluoride). The aluminum industry
uses the sodium and aluminum salts. Glass and enamel opacifiers include the
fluorides of zinc, barium, magnesium, sodium, and aluminum as well as the sili-
cofluorides of the latter two. Zinc fluoride is used in insecticides and for pre-
serving wood. The textile printing and dying industries use the chromium
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION 83
salt. Barium fluoride is used in embalming fluids and as an antiseptic. In the
manufacture of the new organic fluorine compounds such as the "Freons", etc.,
antimony fluoride is an essential constituent. Along this line boron fluoride is
becoming of increasing importance not only in the synthesis of some of the or-
ganic fluorine compounds but also as an excellent polymerizing agent.
The ammonium, potassium, and sodium bifluorides or acid fluorides find exten-
sive use as antiseptics, as laundry sours, in the etching of glass, and in chemical
analysis.
The silicofluorides of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum are used as concrete
and wall hardeners, and in antiseptics. Cryolite (sodium aluminum fluoride)
and aluminum fluoride are being used in aerial insecticide campaigns against
the Mexican bean beetle and the cotton boll weevil. Calcium silicofluoride is
used chiefly in ceramics. Cerium fluoride in arc lamp pencils produces a light
with certain fog penetrating powers.
The chemical industry requires exceptionally high-grade fluorspar and
generally insists upon close adherence to certain rigid specifications.
Specifications. — The manufacture of hydrofluoric acid requires fluorspar
of a high degree of purity, manufacturers generally specifying a minimum of
98 per cent calcium fluoride. Both silica and calcium carbonate should be less
than 1 per cent. Calcium carbonate neutralizes sulfuric acid, and 1 per cent
or more of it causes considerable foaming upon mixing. Silica forms hydro-
fluosilicic acid in such proportions that for every part of silica nearly four parts
of fluorspar and more than five parts of sulfuric acid of 66° B. are wasted.
Metallic minerals such as lead, zinc, or iron are highly objectionable ; barite
also is undesirable.
A representative analysis of acid-grade fluorspar from the Illinois-Ken-
tucky field follows:
Per cent Per cent
CaF, 98.50 Fe*03 06
Si02 45 A1203 14
CaCO, 81 Pb Trace
S 018
A product containing as low as 97 per cent CaF2 and 1.5 per cent Si02
occasionally is sweetened with an extremely pure fluorspar and used as acid
spar. Moreover, some of the fluorspar produced by the Aluminum Ore Co.
for use in the aluminum industry may grade as low as 96 per cent CaF2 and
1 per cent Si02. The base scale is 98 and 1, however, and price adjustments
are made for any lower-grade material.
The manufacture of hydrofluoric acid requires a finely ground fluorspar, gen-
erally ranging from 80- to 100-mesh; however, most manufacturers of hydro-
fluoric acid prefer to buy the fluorspar either in the lump or gravel form and to
grind the material in their own plants.
Market districts. — The markets for acid fluorspar are confined to only 8
plants. By far the largest market is at East St. Louis^ Illinois. Important al-
though somewhat smaller markets are at Carney's Point, Delaware ; Easton,
Marcus Hook, and Newell, Pennsylvania ; and Cleveland, Ohio. These six
plants use about 99 per cent of the total fluorspar consumed in the United
States in the chemical industry.
Sources of supply. — The Illinois-Kentucky district supplies virtually all
the domestic acid fluorspar. Imports come from South Africa, Germany, New-
foundland, and Spain.
84
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Total consumption and stocks. — Stocks of acid spar at consumers' plants
average considerably more than those of other grades of fluorspar. Table 37
shows that slightly more than a year's supply was kept on hand at the plants
from 1930 to 1933 but during 1934, 1935, and 1936 only 4 to 8 months supply.
Table 37.
-Consumption and Stocks of Acid Fluorspar at Chemical Plants,
1927-1936, short tons.
Year
Consumption
Stocks
Year
Consumption
Stocks
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
15,500
20,500
15,600
12,600
12,000
13,000
11,000
14,000
15,000
14,000
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
7,000
7,800
11,000
12,900
20,100
11,000
8,000
7,700
5,600
6,900
CEMENT MANUFACTURE AND MISCELLANEOUS
There is a small demand for fluorspar in the manufacture of cement in the
United States. About 1,000 tons of fluorspar were used by cement plants in both
1929 and 1930, since when the consumption has declined to a few hundred
tons annually. During the past few years several plants in the United States,
chiefly those making rapid-hardening cement, have been using fluorspar in their
process. Fluorspar is used to some extent in the manufacture of Portland
cement abroad.
It is reported20 that the addition of fluorspar to the raw materials permits
lowering of the fusing point, thereby resulting in considerable fuel economy. It
is further reported that the addition of only 0.25 to 1 per cent fluorspar was the
practice for some time, but experiments have shown that the addition of 3 to 5
per cent fluorspar gives the best results. The clinker obtained in this way is
very fragile; therefore grinding is greatly facilitated, with an appreciable econ-
omy in power. The addition of fluorspar is said to eliminate the formation of
rings in the rotary kilns, thus reducing to a minimum the periods of stoppage
and increasing the life of the refractory lining.
The use of fluorspar in cement manufacture has been discussed in consid-
erable detail by Becker,21 who concludes as follows:
An admixture of fluorspar can not be expected to produce successful
results in every mix, of which fineness, temperature of sintering, and duration
of the sintering remain.
The fineness of the raw mix, and particularly the conditions of sintering,
should be selected with special consideration of a new mix. In a given case
one may also vary the components of the raw mix accordingly, the variation
being most easily produced by a change of the lime content.
Only in relatively rare cases does a plant require but one change—the
aiding of the sintering process — and accomplishes it by the selection of
a proper quantity of admixture. In most cases some of the other plant
processes must be altered to suit the lower sintering temperatures or lighter
sintering.
20 Chermette, A., and Sire, L., Ue spath fluor dans le massif central, ses applica-
tions: Rev. de l'lnd. Min., Mem., vol. 6, pp. 515-528, Paris, 1926.
21 Recker, Hans, Use of fluorspar in cement manufacture: Rock Products, vol. 30, pp.
83-84, Sept. 3, 1927.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSUMPTION
85
It remains an established fact, however, that fluorspar greatly benefits
the sintering process. Proofs of any detrimental effect on cement properties
produced by CaFa have not been furnished.
All of my personal experience and all test results reported by others
bring one conclusion: Sintering is aided and the sintering temperature is
lowered.
The phenomena of quick or slow-setting properties, of good or poor
hardening, observations of soundness, ease of grinding, etc., are the results
of low sintering in its effect on the raw mixes used and the handling during
sintering.
Lea and Desch22 also discuss briefly the use of fluorspar in cement in their
book which appeared in 1935.
Small quantities of fluorspar have been used in the recovery of potassium
compounds from flue dust of cement works in the United States, but this saving
of potash has been discontinued.
Table 38. — Fluorspar Shipped from Domestic Mines for Miscellaneous
Purposes, 1922-1936.
Year
Short tons
Average value
Year
Short tons
Average value
1922
213
$18.02
1929
1,004
$14.96
1923
1,839
20.85
1930
1,342
16.32
1924
160
21.13
1931
557
14.13
1925
120
39.00
1932
226
11.91
1926
372
21.47
1933
713
15.44
1927
903
17.59
1934
1,504
17.55
1928
1,176
16.23
1935
2,248
13.76
1936
3,157
16.19
OPTICAL FLUORSPAR
There is limited market for flawless transparent crystals of fluorspar which,
used as lenses, are necessary in the better microscopes and small telescopes. The
quantity consumed annually probably is not more than a few hundred pounds.
The market, although definite, can absorb only a certain amount, therefore the
demand is easily satisfied. Hughes23 states:
The unit value of optical fluorite varies considerably depending directly
upon the size of the flawless pieces. The price during the past few years
has fluctauated from $1 to $10 a pound for material of average quality, but
especially fine specimens may be sold for $10 or more each. Only about
5 per cent of the fluorspar sold as optical material actually is consumed in
lenses and other equipment. For this reason one manufacturer has adopted
a policy of paying only for the finished parts. On this basis one crystal
may be used satisfactorily for two or three lenses and be paid for at a rate
comparable to $50 or $75 a pound, while 25 or 30 pounds of fluorspar
ordinarily sold as optical fluorite may bring only $4 or $5. This system
of payment encourages more careful selection of crystals and eliminates
such material which obviously is too imperfect for optical use. The actual
price for each transaction usually is established by negotiation with the
prospective consumer or dealer.
22 Lea, F. M., and Desch, C. H., The chemistrv of cement and concrete, pp. 123, 127,
Edward Arnold & Co., London, 1935.
23 Hughes, H. H., Iceland spar and optical fluorite: U. S. Bur. Mines, Inf. Circ. 6468.
pp. 1-17, 1931.
86 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Fluorspar of optical grade has certain very desirable light-transmitting quali-
ties. It bends light only slightly, disperses light faintly, and normally displays
no double refraction. Pogue states:24
Due to its low refractive power and very weak color dispersion, this
mineral is especially suitable for correcting the spherical and chromatic
errors of lens systems. * * *
For optical use a specimen of fluorite must contain a portion at least
one-fourth of an inch in diameter, free from flaws, and colorless or nearly
so. Crystals, or pieces bounded more or less completely by plane surfaces,
are more likely to qualify than irregular masses. As the surfaces of most
crystals are dull, a corner of such a specimen should be broken off with
a sharp blow so as to expose the interior. In doing this it is desirable to
rest the specimen on a wooden base and break off the corner along an
incipient cleavage plane by means of a knife blade or chisel ; such planes
are usually present and may be located by moistening the specimens with
kerosene. If the specimen looks promising, it is better to proceed no further,
as fluorite is fragile and a misdirected blow will fill a clear piece with a
network of fractures. A peculiarity of fluorite of optical quality is its
conchoidal (irregularly curved) fracture and the absence of a strong
tendency to break into pieces bounded by smooth planes in the fashion of
the ordinary mineral.
* * * As to color, material that is absolutely water clear is of course
the most desirable and, in fact, is essential for highly specialized uses ; but
faint tints of green, yellow, and purple do not in themselves render
material altogether unsuited for optical use. Flaws must be lacking from
the portion to be used, but flaws are present in the bulk of fluorite due both
to cracks (incipient cleavages) and to inclusions of bubbles or of visible
impurities; accordingly, the most detailed search is necessary to find pieces
free from these objections. Moreover, careless handling, even jolts resulting
from shipping, may develop flaws in clear material; hence, the utmost
care must be exercised in separating material of optical promise from
its crude associations and in suitably packing such material.
NOTES ON FOREIGN DEPOSITS
Discussion of utilization is the final step in describing the past and present
fluorspar industry. The future can be appraised only in so far as it can be shown
whether or not prevailing conditions will be perpetuated. The foregoing sec-
tions have described the industry from a domestic viewpoint. Fluorspar is
also an important commodity in other countries. Foreign deposits are men-
tioned briefly to round out the world picture and to allow the factors relevant
to the future to be summarized.
Fluorspar occurs in many countries of the world besides the United States.
Deposits in Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Newfoundland, Russia,
South Africa, and Spain have yielded important tonnages of commercial spar, and
smaller quantities have been produced in several other countries. Certain occur-
rences in other countries are potential sources of supply when economic condi-
tions justify exploitation. Many other places where fluorspar is found are of
mineralogical interest only.
The following discussion is designed to cover briefly some of the more im-
portant points of the foreign deposits. More detailed information can be ob-
tained by consulting past Minerals Yearbook and Mineral Resources chapters of
the United States Bureau of Mines on fluorspar or references listed in the
bibliography. Production data for 1931 to 1935, so far as available, are shown
in table 3 of world production on pages 38-39.
24 Pogue, .1. E., Optical fluorite in southern Illinois: Illinois State Geol. Survey, Bull.
::x, pp. 419-425, 1918.
FOREIGN DEPOSITS 87
ARGENTINA
Fluorspar occurs at San Roque, Province of Cordoba, associated with
pyrite, quartz, chalcedony, and mica, in fissure veins traversing biotite gneiss
east of the gneiss-granite contact of the Andes. Pegmatite dikes are common.
The fluorspar veins strike northwest and have been traced for several hundred
yards. Their widths range from 1 foot or less to as much as several yards.
Fluorspar occurs in colorless, light green, yellow, blue, violet, or almost black
bands. These deposits have not been developed actively, owing to their remote-
ness from markets.
AUSTRALIA
Deposits of fluorspar occur in the Yass and Tumbarumba divisions, New
South Wales; the Emmaville division, Queensland; and Beechworth and Wool-
shed, Victoria.
Most of the production from New South Wales has come from the old
Woolgarlo silver-lead mine in the Yass division and from Carboona in the
Tumbarumba division. In the Emmaville division, Queensland, fluorspar occurs
with wolfram and copper ores in the vicinity of "The Gulf." A large tonnage
of spar is said to occur in small, irregular deposits. Other deposits in Queens-
land occur in the Herbertson district.
CANADA
The principal Canadian deposits occur in British Columbia and in Ontario.
The British Columbia deposit, consisting of fluorspar associated with iron and
copper minerals, is on Kennedy Creek near Lynch Creek station on the Kettle
River Railway north of Grand Forks. Silica is associated so intimately with
the spar that production of a high-grade concentrate is difficult. This handicap,
together with high freight rates to markets in the United States and Canada,
has restricted operations in this area. Decrepitation was at on time a unique
feature of the mill process.
The Ontario deposits occur near Madoc in the central part of southeastern
Ontario. The ore occurs mainly as lenses in fault fissure veins in a complex
series of pre-Cambrian sedimentaries. The deposits apparently are unable to
produce large tonnages of market-grade fluorspar.
CHINA
According to the China Year Book for 1928 (ch. 2, pp. 66-106) important
fluorspar deposits occur ( 1 ) in Kaipinghsien and Pulantiet of southern Fengtien,
(2) at Kaiohsien of Shantung, and (3) between Sinchang and Chenghsien in
Chekiang. The deposits of Chekiang and Fengtien appear to be the most im-
portant, these provinces having produced 4,498 metric tons during 1925. The
bulk of it was exported to Japan and the United States. Chekiang Province
appears to have been the most active. The production of fluorspar in China
in 1934, the latest year for which data are available, was 5,050 metric tons.
In 1924 the total mining area conceded for fluorspar was 16,408 square
li, or about 26,250 square miles, as compared with 23,389 square miles in 1921.
88 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
FRANCE
France, like Germany, has displayed amazing enterprise in the develop-
ment of her fluorspar deposits since the World War.
Fluorspar occurring in France is characterized by its exceptional purity.
Much of the ore, especially from the Puy-de-D6me district, is used in chemical
works. The most important deposits are found in the Department of Var on
the northern Mediterranean coast, which produced 26,000 metric tons in 1929,
or about half of the total production in France. Modern mining and milling
equipment has been installed since the war. The product, which may contain
93 per cent or more calcium fluoride, is attractive to American buyers because
of its high grade. The deposits are situated favorably to the ports of St. Raphael,
Toulon, and La Napoule. Toulon is frequently visited by tramp steamers
which load cargoes of cork and cork waste for the United States. These steamers
can afford to take fluorspar as ballast at low rates.
Other fluorspar districts of France include Saone-et-Loire, Aveyron-Lozere,
Haute-Loire, Indre, Rhone, and Nievre.
GERMANY
Important fluorspar deposits occur in Anhalt, Baden, Bavaria, Prussia, Sax-
ony, and Thuringia. In general, the spar occurs in fissure veins associated with
barite and with lead, copper, iron, and zinc minerals. Deposits in the Harz
Mountains, Prussia, are closely related to the silver veins which have been
worked for centuries.
According to available information, reserves are more than ample to enable
Germany to continue as an important source of supply. One mine in Bavaria
is reported to contain about 1,700,000 tons of unmined spar.
Although fluorspar operations have been numerous since the war there has
been a marked tendency toward consolidations into strong operating units.
Moreover, mining and milling technique has shown great progress. Develop-
ment of the industry as a whole has been intensive and thorough. It is reliably
reported that the German spar mines will be able to produce 100,000 tons annu-
ally for many years to come.
GREAT BRITAIN
In England important deposits of fluorspar occur in Derbyshire and
Durham. Less important occurrences are found in Cornwall and Devon and in
Flintshire.
Most of the mines were first opened for lead, and much lead mining was
done before fluorspar had appreciable commercial value. Both the Derbyshire
and Durham districts are characterized by old extensive underground work-
ings which contain more or less unmined spar (originally considered waste
gangue material) and by old dumps or hillocks on the surface which have been a
fruitful source of spar. Many old underground workings are very extensive.
In Derbyshire and Durham the topography is semimountainous, with ridges
rising as much as 800 feet above the valleys. Mine water is removed by drain-
age adits into the hillsides and by pumps from workings that extend below
the drained areas.
Spar in Derbyshire occurs only in the upper part of the Mountain lime-
stone formation of Carboniferous age and is found in veins and pipes associated
FOREIGN DEPOSITS 89
with galena, calcite, silica, and barite. In this district the rocks have been
folded considerably. With depth the fluorite is displaced by barite and calcite.
Spar from this district is quite low in silica, and some of the material is of acid
grade.
In Durham the fluorspar occurs only in veins in flat-lying beds of limestone,
ganister, calcareous shales, and sandy shales. The wall rocks contain appreciable
silica, and the spar itself it somewhat siliceous. Acid grades are difficult to ob-
tain, and it is even hard to make "85 and 5" grades. Barite is virtually absent.
The fluorspar industry in Durham and Derbyshire has not been developed
as intensively as in the United States. A large proportion of the English out-
put was obtained formerly by simply screening and hand-sorting the waste dumps
of old lead mines. This material was obtainable at quite low cost, but these
high-grade dumps were more or less depleted of material easy to obtain by the
end of the World War. The log washer, known and used by operators in this
country for two generations or longer, was patented in England about 15 years
ago. Jigs and tables, however, together with accessory crushing and screening
equipment, have been installed in a number of mills. At some operations lead
constitutes a valuable by-product.
INDIA
Unimportant occurrences of fluorspar have been reported at Barla in the
Kishangarh State, Rajputana, and at Sleemanabad, Jubbulpore district, but these
have yielded no commercial production. According to the records of the Geo-
logical Survey of India25 the Tata Iron and Steel Co. investigated the Rajputana
occurrence but found very little fluorspar present, and reported that European
fluorspar would be less costly. Apparently, the spar is associated with calcite
and quartz in a vein only about 1 foot thick traversing gneiss.
Occurrences of fluorspar, which at present are of mineralogic interest only,
have been reported from at least seven other localities in India.
ITALY
Important deposits of fluorspar in veins 6 to 12 feet wide occur at (1)
Monte Fronte near Vetriolo (Val Sugano, Province of Trento) ; (2) Valle della
Sarn in the Province of Bolzano (Trento) ; (3) Collio (Val Trompia) ; (4)
the vicinity of Varese ; (5) Val Brembana; and (6) Sarrabus.
Certain veins have been developed quite extensively. In the Bolzano dis-
trict alone, proved, probable, and possible ore reserves of more than 1,000,000
tons have been estimated.
NEWFOUNDLAND
Fluorspar occurs in the vicinity of Cape Chapeau Rouge, Districts of
Burin East and Burin West, near East St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, and
9 1/£ square miles comprising 48 locations have been recorded according to the
Minister of Agriculture and Mines for Newfoundland.
The fluorspar occurs in fissure veins in granite. -,;
25 Pascoe, E. H., Quinquennial review of the mineral production of Tndia, 1924-1928:
India Geol. Survey Records, vol. 64, p. 384, Calcutta, 1930.
26 Kaufmann II, Rudolph, Reconnaissance of the regional and economic geology of the
St. Lawrence area, Newfoundland, with notes on fluorite (Senior Thesis): Dept. of Geol-
ogy, Princeton University, 1936.
90 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Mining of fluorspar was begun in March 1933, since which time through
1936 about 18,300 short tons have been shipped. The deposit is virtually on
tidewater at Little St. Lawrence Bay; it is reported to be extensive. The dis-
tance from the deposit to the dock from which shipments are made is approxi-
mately one mile, and the fluorspar is shipped chiefly by water. The geographical
location is favorable for water shipments both to Atlantic ports and by St.
Lawrence River and Great Lakes waterways to Great Lakes ports. The methods
of mining employed are trenching or openpit and shafts.
Shipments in 1936 totaled 9,368 short tons, of which 1,822 tons of acid-
grade and 2,358 tons of fluxing-grade went to consumers in the United States,
2,007 tons of special-grade lump (93 to 95 per cent CaF2) to Ontario, and
3,181 tons of fluxing-grade to Nova Scotia.
NORWAY
Deposits of fluorspar of potential economic importance occur near Dalen,
Telemark County, and near Kingsberg, Buskerud County. Some development
work has been done, indicating workable widths of ore of marketable grade,
but no extensive mining operations have been begun. The deposits are reported
to be capable of producing eventually 20,000 to 25,000 tons annually if mar-
ket conditions warrant the necessary capital expenditures to bring the mines
to full production capacity.
U. S. S. R. (RUSSIA)
The most important fluorspar deposits in the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics until comparatively recent years were those in the Transbaikalia region
beyond Lake Baikal in the Far East province.27 Deposits were also known at
Aurakhmat in Central Asia and occurrences of fluorspar have been reported in
the district of Svetensk. Only the Abagatuevsk mine was worked in 1926-1927.
The price of the fluorspar at the mine in 1926 was 60 rubles ($30) a metric ton
but declined to 50 rubles ($25) in 1927. The Ural province reported a small
production in 1922, 1923, and 1924.
The fact that most if not all the fluorspar deposits exploited in the Soviet
Union have been far removed from the industrial centers in the Urals, Donets
Basin, and Karelia makes of much importance the discovery in comparatively
recent years of a new deposit on the shore of Kara Sea, covering a large area
including the mainland and Novaya Zemlia. The purest fluorspar so far found
in U. S. S. R., which resembles that of Illinois and Kentucky but averages higher
in grade, was disclosed in 1933 by prespecting along the Amderma River, which
runs north into the Kara Sea. The construction of a 15 J/2 mile railroad has been
proposed from these deposits to Kara Sea in order that fluorspar may be shipped
to Archangel by boat.28
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA
The occurrence of fluorspar has been reported in South Africa near Zee-
rust in the Marico district of Western Transvaal; near Hlabisa, Zululand ; in
27 Mineral resources U.S.H.R.: Geol. Commission, Second Ann. Kept., 192G-1 927, pp.
7f>l -7f>(>, Leningrad, 1928.
28 Discovery of fluorspar deposits: liur. Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Russian
Econ. Notes, No. 278, p. 9, Washington, July 30, 1934.
FOREIGN DEPOSITS 91
the Warmbad area, Transvaal; and on Gamib near Kalkfontein, South-West
Africa.
According to Abbey29 fluorspar from the Marico district is shipped to the
coast by rail via Mafeking. The more important deposits are on the farms of
Malmani Oog, Bufrelshoek, and Witkop. The ore occurs in gash veins and in
pipes or chimneys in limestone, dolomite, and chert formations.
According to the Department of Mines of the Union of South Africa:30
A flotation plant has recently been erected [in the Marico district] with
a view to producing fluorspar of about 200 mesh and of the following speci-
fications: Calcium fluoride, 98 per cent minimum; silica, 1 per cent maxi-
mum; and calcium carbonate, 1 per cent maximum. The lump spar at present
being exported is of the same specifications.
Another producer has erected a small plant and in addition to lump
spar can supply ground spar containing calcium fluoride not below 90 per
cent, maximum CaC03 1 per cent, silica 4 per cent, water under 0.25 per cent.
The ground spar is supplied in the following mesh per linear inch — 100
mesh, 85 per cent; 150 mesh, 80 per cent; 200 mesh, 70 per cent.
A considerable deposit of very pure fluorspar (99 per cent calcium fluoride)
is reported to have been opened about 50 miles from the railway in Kalkfontein
district, South-West Africa, according to consular report by M. K. Moorhead,
Johannesburg, South Africa, October 23, 1931.
No work is now being done in the Hlabisa or Kalkfontein areas, but produc-
tion near Warmbad continues mainly for local consumption.31 The Hlabisa
deposits have been described as fissure veins occurring in country rock devoid
of limestone.32
All shipments to the United States have been acid-grade material, generally
averaging 98 per cent or more calcium fluoride and less than 1 per cent silica.
Increased mining costs due to depletion of the easily accessible surface ore and
comparatively high transportation and other handling costs, together with stiff
competition from Europe, have adversely affected the South African producers.
Operators state, however, that with improved market conditions and firmer
prices, production could be increased greatly.
SPAIN
The more important fluorspar occurrences of Spain are in Barcelona,
Oviedo, Gerona, Cordoba, and Guipuzcoa provinces.
In Barcelona near Papiol fluorspar occurs in fissure veins associated with
lead. It is reported that the mines were opened originally for lead but were
unsuccessful as lead mines owing to the leanness of the ore. The lead, however,
forms a valuable by-product of the fluorspar. The vein is said to have been
traced a length of about 3 miles and to show widths to 15 feet. Some spar is
available from old dumps of former lead operations.
29 Abbey, G. A., American Vice Consul, Johannesburg, South Africa, Production of
fluorspar in South Africa, Ms. Rept., Oct. 30, 1930.
30 Industrial minerals: Dept. Mines, Union of South Africa, Pretoria, Quart. Inf. Circ,
p. 23, August 1936.
3i Industrial minerals: Dept. Mines, Union of South Africa, Pretoria, Quart. Tnf. Circ,
p. 26, February 1936.
32 Kupferburger, W., Fluorspar veins near Hlabisa, Zululand: Trans. Geol. Soc. South
Africa, vol. 37, pp. 87-96, Johannesburg, 1935.
92 THL FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
SWITZERLAND
Some optical spar was at one time mined from the high mountain chalks of
Bern; and fluorspar associated with barite, galena, and quartz occurs near Lem-
brancher in the Dranse Valley. In the Trappist mine the vein is about one meter
wide but may widen locally to three meters. In 1922 a deposit of fluorspar was
discovered on the side of Mont Chemin between Martigny and Lembrancher.
Production from these sources so far has had little economic importance.
OTHER COUNTRIES
Fluorspar is known to occur in many other countries, including Brazil,
Bolivia, Chosen, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, and Persia. As data covering some
of these deposits may be obtained by consulting past Mineral Resources chapters
of the United States Bureau of Mines or references listed in the bibliography it
is unnecessary to repeat such information in this paper.
SUMMARY
PAST AND PRESENT CONSUMPTION AND SOURCES OF SUPPLY
Up to the end of the nineteenth century only about 165,000 short tons of
fluorspar had been consumed in the United States, virtually all of which came
from mines in the Illinois-Kentucky district.
In the decade 1900-1909, due to the progress in basic open-hearth steel pro-
duction, consumption of fluorspar rapidly increased and amounted to about 552,-
000 tons (about 55,200 tons annually), of which mines in the Illinois-Kentucky
district contributed 71.3 per cent, the United Kingdom 27.2 per cent, and Ari-
zona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Tennessee the remainder.
During the 15 years following (1910-1924), chiefly because of greatly
expanded operations at basic open-hearth steel plants, consumption of fluorspar
in the United States totaled about 2,270,000 tons (about 151,300 tons annu-
ally). Sales of fluorspar to consumers in the United States during this period,
however, amounted to about 2,351,000 tons (about 156,700 tons annually), of
which mines in the Illinois-Kentucky district supplied 78.1 per cent; Arizona,
Nevada, New Hampshire, and Washington together 7.3 per cent ; the United
Kingdom 11.8 per cent; and other foreign countries 2.8 per cent.
In the so-called normal years 1925-1929 a total of about 910,000 tons (about
182,000 tons annually) of fluorspar were consumed in the United States. Of
this quantity the metallurgical industry used about 85 per cent, ceramic plants 7
per cent, and chemical industry 8 per cent.
During the 5-year period 1925-1929 total sales of fluorspar to consumers
in the United States amounted to 934,739 short tons (about 186,900 tons annu-
ally), of which the Illinois-Kentucky district furnished 62.9 per cent; Colorado
3.8 per cent; Nevada and New Mexico 1.5 per cent; Germany 10.5 per cent;
the United Kingdom 8.9 per cent; France 6.1 per cent; Africa 3.5 per cent; and
other foreign countries 2.8 per cent.
Prices of domestic fluorspar sold during the 5 years 1925-1929 averaged
$16 to $17 per short ton for fluxing-gravel, $31 to $32 for ceramic-ground, and
$25 to $26 for acid-lump.
In the subnormal years 1930-1934 the total consumption of fluorspar in the
United States declined to 483,000 tons (about 96,700 tons annually) ; total sales
were only 458,051 tons (about 91,600 tons annually), due to low activity in the
SUMMARY 93
industries using fluorspar and to liquidation of the large stocks accumulated by
consumers. During this period the proportions consumed by the ceramic and
chemical trades increased to 10.6 and 10.4 per cent, respectively, while the
metallurgical industry decreased to 79 per cent. There also was a noteworthy
shift in the source of supply of fluorspar after 1930. For example, of the total
sales in the United States during the 4 years 1931-1934 domestic mines supplied
79.4 per cent and foreign countries 20.6 per cent, whereas during 1925-1929
domestic mines contributed 68.2 per cent and foreign sources 31.8 per cent.
The decline in imports into the United States was mainly due to low activity
in the steel industry, an advance in the rate of duty, and unfavorable rates of
exchange in certain countries, chiefly Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
Prices of domestic fluorspar sold during the 5 years 1930-1934 averaged $12
to $16 per short ton for fluxing-gravel, $23 to $33 for ceramic-ground, and $20
to $26 for acid-lump.
Accelerated activity in the steel industry, coupled with improvement in the
ceramic and chemical trades, resulted in a consumption of 137,400 tons of fluor-
spar in the United States in 1935. Both domestic producers and importers
shared in the increase. Total sales to consumers in the United States in 1935
were 139,554 tons, of which domestic producers supplied 88.3 per cent and im-
porters only 11.7 per cent. The Illinois-Kentucky district furnished 80.6 per
cent, Colorado 5.0 per cent, Germany 5.9 per cent, and Spain 3.5 per cent.
Despite the improved demand for fluorspar in 1935, the average selling price
of fluxing gravel decreased from $15.28 a ton f. o. b. Illinois-Kentucky mines in
1934 to $13.76 a ton in 1935.
Increased demand for fluorspar chiefly by manufacturers of basic open-
hearth steel and hydrofluoric acid was reflected in consumption of 182,400
short tons of fluorspar in 1936. As a consequence, domestic sales and imports
were substantially higher in 1936, total sales to consumers in the United States
amounting to 200,908 tons, of which domestic producers supplied 87.6 per cent
and importers 12.4 per cent. The Illinois-Kentucky district furnished 80.7
per cent, Colorado 4.7 per cent, Germany 6.3 per cent, Spain 2.8 per cent, and
Newfoundland 2.1 per cent.
The improved demand for fluorspar in 1936 was accompanied by a substan-
tial increase in the average selling price of fluxing-gravel, from $13.76 a ton
f. o. b. Illinois-Kentucky mines in 1935 to $16.53 a ton in 1936.
FUTURE TRENDS IN CONSUMPTION
UNITED STATES
The quantity and grade of fluorspar that will be consumed in the future
can be evaluated partly by consideration of past trends. Steel has influenced pro-
foundly the prosperity of the domestic fluorspar industry, as is strikingly re-
vealed in figure 3, page 10. Two facts are apparent: (1) That fluorspar con-
sumption until 1921 followed the curve of steel regularly and precisely, and
(2) that since 1921 fluorspar consumption has not kept pace with increased
production of basic open-hearth steel. The latter is due almost entirely to the
fact that since 1921, chiefly as a result of refinements in furnace practice, less
spar per ton of steel has been consumed.
Steel, however, will continue to dominate the fluorspar market. It is true
that the price of fluxing spar is much below that of acid and ceramic grades and
94 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
that in proportion more profit is returned from sales of high-grade fluorspar;
nevertheless, the normal output from mines and mills can be maintained only
by maintaining the volume of fluxing grades without which the higher grades
of spar could not be produced, except at much higher prices than they now com-
mand. The future requirements of ceramic grades may continue at the 1935-
1936 level or may advance somewhat, and demand for acid grades very probably
will increase greatly in importance ; . but in the near future, at least, steel will
''call the tune."
No doubt can be entertained as to the future of the steel industry. The
long-time trend is definitely upward. So long as our present industrial order
endures, steel will continue to play a vital and increasingly important part.
Although the manufacture of steel may require less spar in the future, there is
no evidence that fluorspar will cease to be a valuable and highly useful agent in
basic open-hearth practice, both at home and abroad.
FOREIGN
The world production of steel was about 124 million gross tons in 1936,
thus exceeding all previous records. The United States produced about 48
million tons, whereas Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Saar,
Luxemburg, France, Belgium, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, and Italy, produced about 66 million tons. In the United
States, however, 43 million tons were produced by the basic open-hearth process.
Of the 66 million tons produced in Europe, possibly two-thirds were made in
basic open-hearth furnaces.
Precise data are lacking as to the trend in European furnace practice, but
Russia appears to offer the greatest possibilities for the future. Much European
iron ore is high in phosphorus and is used for making steel by the Bessemer
process, particularly in Saar, Luxemburg, France, and Belgium. On the other
hand, basic open-hearth practice predominates in the United Kingdom, Ger-
many, Poland, and Russia and is strong in Sweden. Basic open-hearth practice
also predominates in Japan and Canada as well as in the United States.
Evidently, European markets can absorb enough fluorspar to maintain
European fluorspar production at a fairly large volume, a strong factor in keep-
ing costs at a minimum. Large deposits, low labor costs, and favorable min-
ing conditions will make the fluorspar available as fast as is required abroad
with a large surplus available for export to the United States.
The foreign situation depends also upon world politics. Social and eco-
nomic revolutions and possible wars could change the picture almost overnight.
Probably no other event has such far-reaching economic effects as warfare.
FUTURE SOURCES OF SUPPLY AND RESERVES
UNITED STATES
Present reserves of fluorspar constitute the future sources of supply. The
Illinois-Kentucky district is the most important producing region in the United
States. According to available statistics 3,849,000 tons of fluorspar have been
produced in the United States since the beginning of operations through 1936.
Of this total the Illinois-Kentucky district has contributed 92.6 per cent, Colo-
rado 5.2 per cent, and New Mexico 1.7 per cent. Only an insignificant quantity
(0.5 per cent or about 20,000 tons) has been produced from other states.
SUMMARY 95
The Illinois-Kentucky field doubtless will continue to be the chief source
of domestic fluorspar for many years. Various estimates have been made of the
reserves of the district. The United States Tariff Commission report covering
investigations in 1926 included an estimate of reserves of 2,660,000 tons of fin-
ished product in the Illinois-Kentucky district. If production since then is de-
ducted this estimate indicates a reserve of slightly more than 1,550,000 tons at
the end of 1936, with no credit for ore discovered since 1926.
In the spring of 1927 operators in Illinois and Kentucky estimated reserves
in the district as approximately 5,000,000 tons of salable fluorspar, representing
the total tonnages of proved, probable, and possible ore, the possible ore being
calculated so conservatively as to class it virtually as probable ore. After subse-
quent production is deducted a reserve of about 4,000,000 tons of merchantable
fluorspar is indicated at the end of 1936, making no allowance for ore discov-
ered since 1927.
The figures given above included an estimated reserve of 80,000 tons for
the bedding deposits of the Cave in Rock district. A recent detailed study of
the district by L. W. Currier33 of the United States Geological Survey, reveals
a possibility of a much greater tonnage. On the basis of structural studies of
the deposits and geologic mapping, he makes an estimate of 500,000 to 700,-
000 tons of fluorspar for this district. This estimate is based entirely on geo-
logic factors, since relatively little "ore" has been blocked out or proved in ad-
vance of mining.
An estimate of probable reserves of fluorspar in the Western States was
made by E. F. Burchard34 of the United States Geological Survey in 1928 from
field work during 1926 and 1927 and from certain data gathered by other inves-
tigators. The estimated probable reserves of all grades of spar, mostly flux-
ing, amounted to 1,035,000 short tons.
Table 39. — Estimated Fluorspar Reserves in the Western States.
Short tons
Arizona 90,000
California 75,000
Colorado 400,000
New Mexico 400,000
Nevada ^
Utah V 70,000
Washington. . . .)
Total 1,035,000
Figures of ore reserves must be regarded cautiously. More precise esti-
mates would comprise not only the exact tonnages in the different classes of
proved, probable, and possible ore but would indicate also the production cost
of each class, Doubtless, much fluorspar is included in the foregoing estimates
that can be won only at a considerably higher cost than would be economical
under present operating conditions; obviously it would be impossible to predict
how much of it may be mined profitably on the basis of operating costs 5, 10,
or 20 years hence. On the other hand, it is possible that additional reserves
will have been discovered by the end of 15, 20, or 30 years which will auto-
matically prolong the life of the domestic deposits.
as Currier, L. W., Geologic factors in the interpretation of fluorspar reserves in the
Illinois-Kentucky field: U. S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 886-B, 10 pp., 1937.
34 Burchard, Ernest F., Fluorspar deposits in Western United States: Am. Inst. Min.
and Met. Engrs., Tech. Pub. No. 500, 26 pp., February 1933.
96
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
LIST OF MINES OR DEPOSITS 97
Even a brief consideration of domestic reserves invites attention to the fact
that a certain amount of fluorspar necessarily must be lost if production ever
falls to the point where mines are closed before the deposits are exhausted.
Enforced shutdowns, which sometimes lead eventually to abandonment of the
workings, involve huge losses to the operators. Some mines so shut down per-
haps never regain an efficient working basis due to cave-ins and other catastro-
phes during the period of neglect.
Even discounting unfavorable operating conditions, however, reserves of
merchantable spar in the United States appear to be 3 to 5 \/i million tons. It
may be asserted with some confidence that sufficient domestic fluorspar is now
in sight to satisfy at least 15 or 20 years of normal demand. Abnormal con-
ditions such as wars, with the withdrawal of foreign supplies, would of course
tend to deplete domestic reserves more quickly.
FOREIGN
Future production of fluorspar abroad will depend upon the virility of for-
eign enterprise, availability and cost of ore, development of foreign markets, and
world political conditions.
Foreign enterprise, notably in Germany and France, has shown amazing
vigor during the past 6 or 7 years. Ore reserves abroad, according to available
information, appear to be almost of the same order as those in the United
States and may prove greater. Many European deposits are being developed
intensively with a thoroughness that promises continuance in the future. This
development does not depend upon United States markets alone. Shipments to
the United States are a relatively small part of the European production. In
1929, for example, approximately 254,000 short tons of fluorspar were produced
in Europe and only about 46,600 tons were exported to the United States.
Thus, about 82 per cent of European spar was consumed at home and about
18 per cent in United States markets.
Foreign production, now so well established, doubtless will continue on a
firm basis. Periods of industrial inactivity can not be considered as representing
long-time trends in the industry, either abroad or in the United States. Fluor-
spar has and will continue to have marked importance to the industries of the
world.
In conclusion, this report lists domestic producers and consumers. The
bibliography at the end will be helpful to those seeking more detailed discussions
of individual phases of the fluorspar industry.
LIST OF
DOMESTIC FLUORSPAR MINES OR DEPOSITS
The following list gives the names and addresses of owners or lessees of
fluorspar mines and deposits in the United States together with the location of
the property. It includes mines that are worked more or less regularly, those
worked sporadically, and many (but not all) deposits that have been prospected
sufficiently to indicate the possible existence of fluorspar in commercial quan-
tities. Profitable operation under present economic conditions is hindered or pro-
hibited at many of the properties listed because of the nature of the deposit, high
mining cost, lack of adequate or proper milling equipment, and distance from
markets or transportation, or both.
98
the fluorspar industry
Sources of Supply of Domestic Fluorspar.
Owner or lessee
Add)
Location of mine or
deposit
Cook, Amos. .
Luckie, E. M.
Purcell, S. W. and Martin, A. P.
DeLuce, Mrs. Eliza,
Modesti, Althee...
Whitlock, Claude J.
Atkinson, C. W
Boulder Fluorspar & Radium Co.
Crystal Fluorspar Co
Evans, John.
Evans, L. R
Fluorite Mining Co
Harlow Estate, W. P
Lehman Fluorspar Co
Terry, E. R
Walker, George
American Fluorspar Corp
Chaffee County Fluorspar Corp.
Colorado Fluorspar Corp
Fahnestock, J. L
Lionelli, Joe
Salida Fluorspar Co
Colorado Fluorspar Corp.
Colorado Fuel & Iron Corp.
Aluminum Ore Co.
Benzon Fluorspar Co....
Crystal Fluorspar Co....
Cullum & Sons, Fred
Dimick, W. E
Fluorspar Products Corp.
Hillside Fluor Spar Mines.
Cowdrey
Pueblo
ILLINOIS
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Cave in Rock
Rosiclare
Elizabethtown
Rosiclare
Elizabethtown
Chicago
ARIZONA
Greenlee County
Safford
Duncan
Lordsburg, N. Mex.
Do.
Pima County
Tucson
Tucson
Yuma County
Yuma
Dome
Los Angeles, Calif.
Do.
CALIFORNIA
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino
Afton
COLORADO
Boulder County
Boulder
Jamestown
Denver
Do.
Boulder
Do.
Jamestown
Do.
Do.
Do.
Denver
Do.
Boulder
Do.
Jamestown
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Chaffee County
Colorado Springs
Salida
Salida
Do.
Do.
Do.
Omaha, Nebr.
Poncha Springs
Salida
Salida
Do.
Do.
Jackson County
Cowdrey
Mineral County
Wagon Wheel Gap
Hardin County
Karbers Ridge,
Rosiclare
Cave in Rock
Do.
Elizabethtown
Rosiclare
Cave in Rock,
Rosiclare
Karbers Ridge,
Rosiclare
LIST OF MINES OR DEPOSITS
99
Sources of Supply of Domestic Fluorspar — Continued.
Owner or lessee
Addi
Location of mine or
deposit
ILLINOIS— Continued
Jackson, J. M
Jefferson Mineral Corp
Rorer & Lanham
Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar
Mining Co
Sunbeam Fluorspar Co
Victory Fluorspar Mining Co
Crabb, Oscar
Knight, Knight & Clark
Taylor, R. F
Arrow Fluorspar Co
Crook Corporation, S. L.. . .
Glass Fluorspar Co
Hughett, John
Lester, C. F
Princeton Spar Co
Senator Fluorspar Co
Aluminum Ore Co
Bellamy, J. G
Clark, Joe
Conyer, J. O
Corley, Robert B
Cox, F. G
Crider, W. H.. .
Damron, George
Davidson, R. P
Delhi Foundry Sand Co
Denny, O. S
Eagle Fluor-Spar Co
Forester, R. J
Gugenheim Mining Co
Haynes Fluorspar Co
Hillside Fluor Spar Mines. .
Hodge Mining Co
Holly Fluorspar Co
Kentucky Fluor Spar Co.. . .
Lafeyette Fluorspar Co
McClain, R. A
McMaster, Hunter & Tabor
Marion Mineral Co
National Fluorspar Co
Perry & Loyd
Pigmy Corporation
Hardin County (cont'd)
Rosiclare
Rosiclare
Indianapol
is, Ind.
Do.
Rosiclare
Hicks
St. Louis,
Mo.
Rosiclare
Louisville,
Ky.
Cave in Rock
Elizabethtc
wn
Elizabethtown
Pope County
Rosiclare
Herod
Do.
Rosiclare
Elizabethtown
Eichorn
KENTUCF
HY
Caldwell County
Princeton
Crider
Crider
Do.
Princeton
Do.
Princeton
Princeton
Do.
Do.
Cincinnati,
Ohio
Crider
Princeton
Princeton
Crittenden County
Pittsburgh,
Pa.
Crayne, Marion,
Mexico, Salem
Marion
Mexico
Do.
Marion
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Sheridan
Mexico
Marion, Mexico
Salem
Salem
Marion
Marion
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Salem
Salem
Du Quoin,
111.
Do.
Marion
Do.
Do.
Do.
Chicago, 111.
Do.
Marion
Do.
Do.
Sheridan
Do.
Marion
Duluth, M
inn.
Marion, Mexico
Youngstown, Ohio
Marion
Mexico
Mexico
Fredonia
Mexico
Marion
Salem
Do.
Mexico
St. Louis,
VIo.
Mexico
100
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Sources of Supply of Domestic Fluorspar — Continued.
Owner or lessee
Address
Location of mine or
deposit
Reed, A. H
Reiter, W. A
Shewmaker & Shewmaker
Williamson, T. W
Zaiser & Zaiser
Co.
Aluminum Ore
Brasher, J. A
Collins, Arthur
Curtis Fluorspar Co
Davis Mining Co..
Delhi Foundry Sand Co..
Eagle Fluor-Spar Co
Flanery, C. A
Grassham & Pace
Haynes, W. V
Johnson, B. A
Klondike Fluorspar Corp.
Knight, Knight & Clark.
Loveless, Dewey
May, Ernest
Myers, Vaughn
Roberts & Frazer
United Mining Co
Wallace Fluorspar Co....
Baxter, V. S.
KENTUCKY— Continued
Marion
Mexia, Texas
Marion
Do.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Pittsburgh, Pi
Salem
Do.
Chicago, 111.
Lola
Marion
Salem
Marion
Paducah
Marion
Lola
Smithland
Rosiclare, 111.
Salem
Lola
Marion
Do.
Lola
Sturgis
Jones, Ralph E Wilmore
NEVADA
Broken Hills
Crowell, J. Irving, Jr Beatty
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New England Fluorspar Co Boston, Mass.
NEW MEXICO
Hayner & Manasee
Great Eagle Mining Co.
Osmer, Louis L
Duryea Estate, J. T
La Purisima Fluorspar Co.
Las Crucef
Lampasas, Tex.
Silver City
New York, N. Y.
Deming
Crittenden County
(cont'd)
Marion
Frances
Marion
Mexico
Marion
Livingston County
Salem
Salem
Lola
Do.
Do.
Lola, Salem
Salem
Do.
Do.
Salem
Lola
Smithland
Carrsville
Salem
Lola
Do.
Salem, Carrsville
Lola
Salem
Woodford County
Wilmore
Mineral County
Broken Hills
Nye County
Beatty
Cheshire County
Westmoreland
Dona Ana County
Mesilla Park
Grant County
Lordsburg
Silver City
Luna County
Silton
Deming
LIST OF CONSUMERS
101
Sources of Supply of Domestic Fluorspar — Concluded.
Owner or
lessee
Address
Location of mine or
deposit
NEW
MEXICO— Continued
Sierra County
Alamo Fluorspar M
Cox Fluorspar Co...
[ills
Hot Springs
Caballo
Derry
Cutter
Fluorspar Mines of
Kinetic Chemicals, I
America
nc
Hot Springs
Wilmington, Del.
Hot Springs
Derry
Socorro County
Fluorspar Mines of
America
Hot Springs
TENNESSEE
Oscuro
Smith County
Purnell, R. C
Carthage
TEXAS
Hudspeth County
Melton, W. B
Allamoore
Hot Wells
Presidio County
Warner, W. G
Marfa
UTAH
Shafter
Beaver County
Mortensen, Bart W..
Parowan
Lund
Tooele County
Dole, Frank E
Salt Lake City
WASHINGTON
Clive
\
Ferry County
Mitchem, P. H. & A
. w
Los Angeles, Cal.
Keller
LIST OF
CONSUMERS OF FLUORSPAR IN THE UNITED STATES
Consumers of fluorspar in the United States, classified according to the
industries in which the mineral is used and each industry arranged alphabeti-
cally by States and by location of consuming plant, are listed below and shown
on the map, figure 14, page 96. The address given is usually that of the
purchasing agent.
102
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Consumers of Fluorspar in Steel Plants in the United States.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Alabama :
Republic Steel Corp
Kilby Car & Foundry Co
Tennessee Coal, Iron &
Railroad Co
Cleveland, Ohi
Anniston
Birmingham
0
Alabama City
Anniston
Ensley, Fairfield
California:
Pacific Coast Steel Corp....
Alloy Steel &c Metals Co
Warman Steel Casting Co
American Manganese Steel Co...
Judson Steel Corp
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Huntington Pai
New York, N.
San Francisco
Do.
Torrance
-k
Y.
Huntington Park,
South San Francisco
Los Angeles
Do.
Los Angeles, Oakland
Columbia Steel Co
Pittsburg, Torrance
Torrance
National Supply Co. of Delaware.
Colorado:
American Manganese Steel So....
Colorado Fuel & Iron Corp
New York, N.
Pueblo
Y.
Denver
Pueblo
Connecticut:
American Tube & Stamping Co...
(Stanley Works)
New Britain
Bridgeport
Delaware:
Worth Steel Co
American Manganese Steel Co....
Claymont
New York
Claymont
New Castle
District of Columbia:
Naval Gun Factory
Washington
Washington
Georgia :
Atlantic Steel Co
Atlanta
Atlanta
Illinois:
Laclede Steel Co.. .
Burnside Steel Foundry Co
Crane Co
St. Louis, Mo.
Chicago
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
New York, N.
Chicago Heigh
New York, N.
Cleveland, Ohi
Chicago
Eddystone, Pa.
Granite City
New York, N.
Peoria
Chicago
Y.
ts
Y.
0
Y.
Alton
Chicago
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Chicago Heights
Do.
Do
Kensington Steel Co
Pettibone Mulliken Co
Trojan Electric Steel Co
American Manganese Steel Co....
Columbia Tool Steel Co
Railway Steel-Spring Co
National Malleable & Steel
Castings Co
American Steel Foundries
General Steel Castings Corp
(Commonwealth Division)
Granite City Steel Co
East St. Louis,
Granite City
Granite City
Do
Western Electric Co
Keystone Steel & Wire Co
Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp
(Chicago)
Peoria
South Chicago
LIST OF CONSUMERS 103
Consumers of Fluorspar in Steel Plants in the United States — Continued.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Illinois — Continued
International Harvester Co
Republic Steel Corp
Chicago
Youngstown, Ohio
South Chicago
Do.
Indiana:
Joslyn Manufacturing &
Supply Co
Fort Wayne
Chicago, 111.
Indiana Harbor
Youngstown, Ohio
Kokomo
New Castle
Fort Wayne
Gary
Indiana Harbor
Do.
Kokomo
New Castle
Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp
Inland Steel Co
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co....
Continental Steel Corp
Ingersoll Steel & Disc Co
Iowa:
Bettendorf Co
Zimmerman Steel Co
Bettendorf
Do.
Bettendorf
Do.
Kentucky:
American Rolling Mill Co
Andrews Steel Co
Middletown, Ohio
Newport
Ashland
Newport
Maryland:
Rustless Iron & Steel Corp
Bethlehem Steel Co
Baltimore
Bethlehem, Pa.
Baltimore
Sparrows Point
Massachusetts :
General Electric Co..
Watertown Arsenal
Schenectady, N. Y.
Watertown
Cleveland, Ohio
Everett, Lynn
Watertown
Worcester
American Steel & Wire Co
Michigan:
1
Clark Equipment Co
Buchanan
Dearborn
Ecorse
Buchanan
Dearborn
Ecorse
Ford Motor Co
Great Lakes Steel Corp
Minnesota:
American Steel & Wire Co
Cleveland, Ohio
Duluth
Missouri :
Sheffield Steel Corp
Scullin Steel Co
Southern Manganese Steel Co
Kansas City
St. Louis
Do.
Kansas City, St. Louis
St. Louis
Do.
New Jersey:
Crucible Steel Co. of America....
John A. Roebling's Sons Co
New York, N. Y.
Trenton
Harrison
Roebling
New York:
Republic Steel Corp
Youngstown, Ohio
New York
Cortland
Depew
Syracuse
Watervliet
Bethlehem, Pa.
Buffalo
Wickwire Spencer Steel Co
Wickwire Bros
Do.
Gould Coupler Corp
Depew
Dewitt
Dunkirk, Watervliet
Lackawanna
Onondaga Steel Co
Ludlum Steel Co
Bethlehem Steel Co
104
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Consumers of Fluorspar in Steel Plants in the United States — Continued.
Name of consumer
New York — Continued
Simmonds Saw & Steel Co
General Electric Co
Crucible Steel Co. of America....
Ohio:
American Steel Foundries
Republic Steel Corp
Barium Stainless Steel Corp
Timken Steel & Tube Co
National Malleable & Steel
Castings Co
Otis Steel Co
Ohio Steel Foundry Co
National Tube Co
Sharon Steel Corp
Empire Sheet & Tin Plate Co
Marion Steam Shovel Co
American Rolling Mill Co
Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co
Wheeling Steel Corp
Bonney-Floyd Co
Buckeye Steel Castings Co
Follansbee Bros. Co
Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co....
Oklahoma:
Sheffield Steel Corp
Pennsylvania:
Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp
Vulcan Crucible Steel Co
Beaver Falls Steel Co
Bethlehem Steel Co
National Alloy Steel Co
Braeburn Alloy Steel Corp
Allegheny Steel Co
Universal Steel Co
American Rolling Mill Co
Union Electric Steel Corp
Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp
Lukens Steel Co
Colonial Steel Co
American Steel & Wire Co
General Steel Castings Corp
(Eddystone Works)
Erie Forge & Steel Co
Pittsburgh Steel Foundry Corp...
Central Iron & Steel Co
Address
Location of plant
Lockport
Lockport
Schenectady
Schenectady
New York
Syracuse
Chicago, 111.
Alliance
Youngstown
Canton, Cleveland,
Columbia Heights,
■ ■■>
Warren, Youngstown
Canton
Canton
Do.
Do.
Cleveland
Cleveland
Do.
Do.
Lima
Lima
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Lorain
Sharon, Pa.
Lowellville
Mansfield
Mansfield
Marion
Marion
Middletown
Middletown
Norwood
Norwood
Wheeling, W. Va.
Portsmouth, Steubenville
Columbus
South Columbus
Do.
Do.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Toronto
Chicago, 111.
Youngstown
Youngstown
Do.
Kansas City, Mo.
Sand Springs
Pittsburgh
Aliquippa, Pittsburgh
Aliquippa
Aliquippa
Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls
Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Johnstown,
Steelton
Blawnox
Blawnox
Braeburn
Braeburn
Brackenridge
Brackenridge
Bridgeville
Bridgeville
Middletown, Ohio
Butler
Pittsburgh
Carnegie
Chicago, 111.
Clairton, Duquesne,
Farrell, Munhall,
North Braddock
Coatesville
Coatesville
Pittsburgh
Colona (Monaca)
Cleveland, Ohio
Donora
Eddystone
Eddystone
Erie
Erie
Glassport
Glassport
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
LIST OF CONSUMERS
105
Consumers of Fluorspar in Steel Plants in the Unitee
States — Concluded.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Pennsylvania — Continued
Harrisburg Steel Corp
Harrisburg
Irvine
Conshohoken
Latrobe
Do.
McKeesport
Pittsburgh
New York, N. Y.
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Do.
Philadelphia
Do.
Do.
New York, N. Y.
Reading
Cleveland, Ohio
Pittsburgh
Chicago, 111.
Washington
Phillipsdale
Houston
Newport News
Norfolk
Roanoke
Bremerton
Renton
Seattle
San Francisco, Calif.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Weirton
Kaukauna
Milwaukee
Racine
South Milwaukee
Harrisburg
Irvine
Ivy Rock
Latrobe
Do.
McKeesport
Do.
National Forge & Ordnance Co...
Alan Wood Steel Co
Latrobe Electric Steel Co
Vanadium Alloys Steel Co
Firth-Sterling Steel Co
National Tube Co
Pittsburgh Crucible Steel Co
Pittsburgh Steel Co
Midland
Midvale Co
Edgewater Steel Co
Oakmont
American Bridge Co
Pencoyd
Philadelphia
Do.
Henry Disston & Sons (Inc.)
Philadelphia Navy Yard
Phoenix Iron Co
Crucible Steel Co. of America. . . .
Carpenter Steel Co
Pittsburgh
Reading
Sharon
National Malleable & Steel
Castings Co
American Sheet & Tin Plate Co.. .
American Steel Foundries
Jessop Steel Co
Vandergrift
Verona
Washington
Phillipsdale
Houston
Rhode Island:
Washburn Wire Co
Texas :
Hughes Tool Co
Virginia:
Newport News Shipbuilding
& Dry Dock Co
Newport News
Norfolk Navy Yard
Portsmouth
Norfolk & Western Railway Co...
Washington :
Puget Sound Navy Yard
Pacific Car & Foundry Co
Washington Iron Works
Pacific Coast Steel Corp
Roanoke
Bremerton
Renton
Seattle
Youngtown
West Virginia:
Follansbee Bros. Co
Weirton Steel Co
Wisconsin :
Moloch Foundry & Machine Co...
Milwaukee Steel Foundry Co
Racine Steel Castings Co
Follansbee
Weirton
Kaukauna
Milwaukee
Bucyrus-Erie Co
106
the fluorspar industry
Consumers of Fluorspar in Iron Foundries in the United States.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Alabama:
American Radiator Co
New York, N. Y.
Birmingham
California:
Washington Eljer Co
Los Angeles
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Los Angeles
Richmond
Standard Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
Connecticut:
Crane Co
Bridgeport
New Britain
Bridgeport
New Britain
North & Judd Manufacturing Co..
Illinois:
Crane Co
Chicago
Joliet
Kewanee
New York, N. Y.
Chicago
Joliet
Kewanee
Litchfield, Springfield
Moore Bros. Co
Walworth Co
American Radiator Co
Indiana:
New York Central Ralroad Co...
Perfect Circle Co
Studebaker Corp
Collinwood, Ohio
New Castle
South Bend
Elkhart
New Castle
South Bend
Iowa:
French & Hecht (Inc.)
Davenport
Newton
Davenport
Newton
Maytag Co
Massachusetts :
Richards Co
Boston
Springfield
Maiden
Gilbert & Barker
Manufacturing Co
West Springfield
Michigan:
Ford Motor Co
Dearborn
New York, N. Y.
Detroit
Do.
Flint
Muskegon
Do.
Pontiac
Sparta
Ypsilanti
American Radiator Co
Cadillac Motor Car Co
Detroit
Do.
Packard Motor Car Co
Do.
Buick Motor Co
Flint
Campbell, Wyant & Cannon
Muskegon
Do.
Pontiac
Sparta
Ypsilanti
Sealed Power Corp
Wilson Foundry & Machine Co.. . .
Central Specialty Co
Minnesota:
American Radiator Co
New York, N. Y.
St. Paul
Missouri :
American Radiator Co
New York, N. Y.
Kansas City
New Jersey:
American Radiator Co
New York, N. Y.
Harrison
Bayonne
Driver-Harris Co.. .
LIST OF CONSUMERS
107
Consumers of Fluorspar in Iron Foundries in the United States — Concluded.
Name of consumer
New York:
American Radiator Co
Standard-North Buffalo
Foundry Co
Kennedy Valve Manufacturing Co
General Electric Co..
Ohio:
Hill & Griffith Co
Fox Furnace Co
Electric Auto-Lite Co
Estate Stove Co
Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co
Quality Castings Co.
Toledo Machine & Tool Co
Pennsylvania:
Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Co
Hays Manufacturing Co
Standard Stoker Co
Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Tennessee:
Crane Enamelware Co
Wisconsin:
Kohler Co
Rundle Manufacturing Co
Add)
Location of plant
New York
Buffalo
Elmira
Schenectady
Cincinnati
Elyria
Fostoria
Hamilton
Norwood
Orrville
Toledo
East Pittsburgh
Erie
Do.
Wilmerding
Chattanooga
Kohler
Milwaukee
Black Rock (Buffalo)
Buffalo
Elmira
Schenectady
Cincinnati
Elyria
Fostoria
Hamilton
Norwood
Orrville
Toledo
East Pittsburgh
Erie
Do.
Wilmerding
Chattanooga
Kohler
Milwaukee
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Ferro-alloys in the United States.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Iowa:
Keokuk Electro-Metals Co
Keokuk
Keokuk
New York:
Electro Metallurgical Co
Vanadium Corp. of America
New York
Do.
Niagara Falls
Do.
Ohio:
United States Vanadium Corp....
Ohio Ferro- Alloys Corp
Columbiana
Canton
Columbiana
Philo
Pennsylvania:
Vanadium Corp. of America
Climax Molybdenum Co
New York, N. Y.
Do.
Do.
Bridgeville
Langeloth
Washington
Molybdenum Corp. of America..
West Virginia:
Electro Metallurgical Co
New York, N. Y.
Alloy
108
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Glass
in the United States.
Name of consumer
California:
Owens-Illinois Glass Co..
Illinois:
Owens-Illinois Glass Co
Inland Glass Works (Inc.)
Ball Bros. Co
Peltier Glass Co
Indiana:
Owens-Illinois Glass Co
Macbeth-Evans Glass Co
Sneath Glass Co
Kokomo Opalescent Glass Co
Canton Glass Co
Ball Bros. Co
General Glass Corp
Maryland:
Carr-Lowrey Glass Co
New Jersey:
Owens-Illinois Glass Co
Kimble Glass Co
New York:
Dannenhoffer Glass Works
Demuth Glass Manufacturing Co
Gleason-Tiebout Glass Co
Corning Glass Works
Louis C. Tiffany Furnaces
Gillinder Brothers (Inc.)
Ohio:
Rodefer Glass Co
Houston-Wells Glass Co
Cambridge Glass Co
Owens-Illinois Glass Co
Hocking Glass Co
Lancaster Glass Co
Advance Glass Co
Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Co
Libbey Glass Co
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co
Oklahoma:
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co
Ball Bros. Co
Kerr, Hubbard & Kelly
Pennsylvania:
Macbeth-Evans Glass Co
Consolidated Lamp & Glass Co..
Address
Location of plant
Toledo, Ohio
Los Angeles
Toledo, Ohio
Alton, Chicago Heights,
Streator
Chicago
Chicago
Muncie, Ind.
Hillsboro
Ottawa
Ottawa
Toledo, Ohio
Gas City
Charleroi, Pa.
Elwood
Hartford City
Hartford City
Kokomo
Kokomo
Marion
Marion
Muncie
Muncie
Winchester
Winchester
Baltimore
Baltimore
Toledo, Ohio
Bridgeton
Vineland
Vineland
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Do.
Do.
Do.
Brooklyn, Maspeth
Corning
Corning
Corona
Corona
Port Jervis
Port Jervis
Bellaire
Bellaire
Bremen
Bremen
Cambridge
Cambridge
Toledo
Columbus
Lancaster
Lancaster
Do.
Do.
Newark
Newark
Toledo
Toledo
Do.
Do.
Wheeling, W. Va.
Zanesville
Wheeling, W. Va.
Ada, Blackwell
Muncie, Ind.
Okmulgee
Sand Springs
Sand Springs
Charleroi
Charleroi
Corapolis
Corapolis
LIST OF CONSUMERS
109
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Glass
in the United States — Concluded.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Pennsylvania — Continued
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co
Point Marion Glass Novelty Co...
Ford City
Guyaux
Jeannette
Do.
Do.
Monaca
Philadelphia
Point Marion
Philadelphia
Washington
Wheeling, W. Va.
Washington
Muncie, Ind.
Toledo, Ohio
Clarksburg
Do.
Follansbee
Wheeling
Muncie, Ind.
Huntington
Morgantown
Do.
New Martinsville
Long Island City, N. Y.
Shinnston
Sistersville
Weston
Williamstown
Ford City
Guyaux
Jeannette
Do.
Do.
Jeannette Shade & Novelty Co
McKee Glass Co
Phoenix Glass Co
Monaca
Gill Glass and Fixture Co
L. J. House Convex Glass Co
Gillinder & Sons (Inc.)
Philadelphia
Point Marion
Tacony (Philadelphia)
Washington
Do.
Duncan & Miller Glass Co
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co
Mississippi Glass Co
Do.
Texas:
Ball Bros. Co
Wichita Falls
West Virginia:
Owens-Illinois Glass Co
Charleston, Fairmont,
Akro Agate Co
Huntington
Clarksburg
Do.
Master Marble Co
Jefferson Glass Co
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co
Grafton
Ball Bros. Co
Huntington
Do.
Sinclair Glass Co
Beaumont Co
Morgantown
Do.
New Martinsville
Morgantown Glass Works
New Martinsville Glass
Manufacturing Co
Paul Wissmach Glass Co
Paden City
Marion Glass Co
Lawrence Glass Novelty Co
Westite Co
Sistersville
Fenton Art Glass Co
Williamstown
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Chemicals in the United States.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Delaware:
Kinetic Chemicals (Inc.) .
Wilmington
Carney's Point
Illinois:
Aluminum Ore Co
Pittsburgh, Pa.
West Chicago
East St. Louis
Lindsay Light & Chemical
Co
West Chicago
Indiana:
U. S. S. Lead Refinery (Inc.)
New York, N. Y.
East Chicago
Ohio:
Harshaw Chemical Co...
Cleveland
Cleveland
Pennsylvania:
Sterling Products Co
Easton
New York, N. Y.
Easton
General Chemical Co
Marcus Hook, Newell
110
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Enamel, Vitrolite, and
Glazes in the United States.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of
plant
California:
Smoot-Holman Co
Inglewood
Los Angeles
Do.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Inglewood
Los Angeles
Do.
Richmond
California Metal Enameling Co...
Washington Eljer Co
Standard Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
Illinois:
Roesch Enamel Range Co
Belleville
Chicago
Do.
Do.
Cicero
Des Plaines
North Chicago
Belleville
Chicago
Do.
Do.
Cicero
Des Plaines
North Chicago
Century Vitreous Enamel Co
Federal Electric Co
General Porcelain Enameling
& Manufacturing Co
Chicago Vitreous Enamel
Product Co i
Benjamin Electric
Manufacturing Co
Chicago Hardware Foundry Co...
Indiana:
Ingram-Richardson Mfg. Co.
of Indiana (Inc.)
Marietta Manufacturing Corp....
Columbian Enameling &
Stamping Co.
Frankfort
Indianapolis
Terre Haute
Frankfort
Indianapolis
Terre Haute
Kentucky:
Standard Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Louisville
Maryland:
Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Co.. .
Jones Hollow Ware Co
Baltimore
Do.
Do.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Baltimore
Baltimore
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Porcelain Enamel &
Manufacturing Co
Standard Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
A. Weiskittel & Son Co.. .
Massachusetts:
General Electric Co
Schenectady, N. Y.
Lynn
Michigan:
Detroit-Michigan Stove Co
Michigan Enameling Works
Detroit
Kalamazoo
Detroit
Kalamazoo
New Jersey:
Rundle Manufacturing Co
Central Stamping Co
Milwaukee, Wis.
Newark
Camden
Newark
New York:
Republic Metal Ware Co
Buffalo
Canandaigua
Buffalo
Canandaigua
LIST OF CONSUMERS
111
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Enamel, Vitrolite, and
Glazes in the United States — Continued.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
New York — Continued
Vitreous Enameling &
Stamping Co
New York
New York
Titanium Alloy
Manufacturing Co
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
Pfaudler Co
Rochester
Rochester
Ohio:
Bellaire Enamel Co
Bellaire
Bellaire
Canton Stamping & Enameling Co.
Canton
Canton
Republic Stamping
& Enameling Co
Do.
Do.
Limberg Enameling Works
Cincinnati
Cincinnati
Enamel Products Co
Cleveland
Cleveland
Ferro Enamel Corp
Do.
Do.
Perfection Stove Co
Do.
Do.
Ebco Manufacturing Co
Columbus
Columbus
Beach Enameling Co
Coshocton
Coshocton
Pfaudler Co
Rochester, N. Y.
Elyria
Barnes Manufacturing Co
Mansfield
Mansfield
Humphryes Manufacturing Co....
Do.
Do.
Belmont Stamping &
Enameling Co
New Philadelphia
New Philadelphia
National Sanitary Co
Salem
Salem
Moore Enameling &
Manufacturing Co
West Lafayette
West Lafayette
Roseville Pottery Co
Zanesville
Zanesville
S. A. Weller Co
Do.
Do.
Pennsylvania:
Ingram-Richardson
Manufacturing Co
Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls
Conemaugh Iron Works
Blairsville
Blairsville
John Dunlap Co
Pittsburgh
Carnegie
O. Hommel Co
Do.
Do.
Beaver Enameling Co
Ellwood City
Ellwood City
Ellwood Co
Do.
Do.
Roberts & Mander Stove Co
Philadelphia
Hatboro
Federal Enameling &
Stamping Co
McKees Rocks
McKees Rocks
Marietta Hollow Ware &
Enameling Co
Marietta
Marietta
United States Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
Pittsburgh
Monaca
Ceramic Color and Chemical
Manufacturing Co
New Brighton
New Brighton
Standard Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Vitro Manufacturing Co
Do.
Do.
Richmond Radiator Co
Uniontown
Uniontown
Iron City Sanitary
Manufacturing Co
Pittsburgh
Zelienople
112
THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
Consumers of Fluorspar in the Manufacture of Enamel, Vitrolite, and
Glazes in the United States — Concluded.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
Tennessee:
Chattanooga
Do.
Nashville
Chattanooga
Do.
Nashville
Samuel Stamping Enameling Co.. .
Tennessee Enamel
Manufacturing Co
West Virginia:
Fletcher Enamel Co
United States Stamping Co
Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Co
Charleston
Moundsville
Toledo, Ohio
Dunbar
Moundsville
Parkersburg
Wisconsin :
Malleable Iron Range Co
Kohler Co
Beaver Dam
Kohler
Wilwaukee
Do.
Do.
Do.
Sheboygan
Do.
Beaver Dam
Kohler
Geuder, Paeschke & Frey Co
A. J. Lindemann & Hoverson Co..
Rundle Manufacturing Co
A O Smith Corp
Milwaukee
Do.
Do.
Do.
Polar Ware Co
Vollrath Co.
Sheboygan
Do.
Consumers of Fluorspar in the
Manufacture
OF
Cement
in the United States.
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
California:
Monolith Portland Cement Co....
Los Angeles
Monolith
Missouri:
Missouri Portland Cement Co
St. Louis
Prospect Hill
New York:
Glens Falls Portland Cement Co.. .
Glens Falls
Glens Falls
Ohio:
Southwestern Portland Cement Co.
Osborn
Osborn
Pennsylvania:
Coplay Cement Manufacturing Co.
Coplay
Coplay
Texas:
Trinity Portland Cement Co
Dallas
Eagle Ford, Houston
Washington:
Superior Portland Cement (Inc.) .
Seattle
Concrete
Wyoming:
Monolith Portland-Midwest Co...
Los Angeles,
C
alif.
Laramie
list of consumers
Consumers of Fluorspar for Miscellaneous Purposes in the United States.
113
Name of consumer
Address
Location of plant
California:
Federated Metals Corp
San Francisco
San Francisco
Colorado :
American Smelting & Refining
Co..
New York, N.
Y.
Leadville
Idaho:
Sullivan Mining Co
Kellogg
Kellogg
Illinois:
Federated Metals Corp
Evans-Wallower Zinc Co
Chicago
East St. Louis
Chicago
East St. Louis
Michigan :
Michigan Smelting & Refining
Co.
Detroit
Detroit
Nebraska:
American Smelting & Refining
Co
New York, N.
Y.
Omaha
New Jersey:
American Smelting & Refining
Federated Metals Corp
Rouse & Shearer
Co
New York, N.
Do.
Trenton
Y.
Perth Amboy
Newark
Trenton
New York:
Aluminum Co. of America...
American Valve Co
Nassau Smelting & Refining C
The Carborundum Co
0..
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Coxsackie
Tottenville
Niagara Falls
Massena, Niagara Fj
Coxsackie
Tottenville
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
ills
National Carbon Co
North Carolina:
Aluminum Co. of America....
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Badin
Ohio:
Lincoln Electric Co.
Shepherd Chemical Co
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Pennsylvania:
American Smelting & Refining
(Federated Metals Division)
Co
New York, N.
Y.
Pittsburgh
Tennessee:
Aluminum Co. of America....
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Alcoa
Texas:
Texas Mining & Smelting Co..
Laredo
Laredo
West Virginia:
International Nickel Co
New York, N.
Y.
Huntington
114 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following references are classified in broadly defined groups. A cer-
tain amount of overlap, however, is inevitable. The sequence under the various
headings is chronological, with the older references appearing first.
GENERAL
Mineral Resources of the United States, Fluorspar and cryolite: U. S. Geol. Survey
ann. pubs, from 1882 to 1924; U. S. Bur. Mines ann. pubs, from 1924 to 1931.
Minerals Yearbook, Fluorspar and Cryolite: U. S. Bur. Mines ann. pubs.
The Mineral Industry, Fluorspar, McGraw-Hill Book Co., (Inc.), New York, published
annually since 1892.
Egglestone, W. M., The occurrence and commercial uses of fluorspar: Trans. Inst. Min.
Eng., vol. 3 5, pt. 2, pp. 236-268, London, 1908.
Hutchinson, R. S., The Rosiclare Lead & Fluorspar Mining Co.: Mine and Quarry, vol. 5,
pp. 505-507, May 1911.
Broome, Birgit, Uber Kristalle von Flussspat mit krummen Flachen: Geol. Foren.
Forh., vol. 42, pp. 368-377, Stockholm, November 1920.
Crowell, B., Fluorspar industry: Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 113, pp. 95-96, Jan. 21, 1922.
Blayney, J. M., jr., Developing the fluorspar industry: Iron Trade Rev., vol. 70, pp.
404-409, Feb. 9, 1922.
Engineering and Mining Journal-Press, Fluorspar producers improved their mines and
mills during 1921: vol. 113, p. 1013, June 10, 1922.
Equipment of fluorspar mines: vol. 115, p. 10, Jan. 6, 1923.
Mitchell, A. M., Fluorspar; its occurrence and production: Blast Furnace and Steel Plant,
vol. 12, pp. 54-57, January 1924.
Davey W. P., Study of crystal structure and its applications: Gen. Elec. Rev., vol. 28,
pp. 343-346, May 1925.
Drechsler, Franz, Zur Mineralfuhrung and Chemie oberpfalzer Flussspatgange, Natur-
wiss. Ver. zu Regensburg, Berlin, No. 17, pp. 1-46, Regensburg, 1925.
Green, J. A., Developing the fluorspar industry: Min. Cong. Jour., vol. 12, pp. 176-177,
March 1926.
Jones, G. H., Suggests fluorspar be sold on analysis basis: Iron Age, vol. 119, p. 1551,
May 26, 1927.
United States Tariff Commission, Fluorspar: Report to President of the United States:
28 pp., Washington, 1928.
Engineering and Mining Journal, Fluorine from fluorspar by electrolysis: vol. 127,
p. 1005, June 22, 1929.
UNITED STATES
Bain, H. F., Principal American fluorspar deposits: Min. Mag., vol. 12, pp. 115-119,
August 1905.
Burchard, E. F., Our mineral supplies — fluorspar: U. S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 666, pp.
175-182, 1919.
ARIZONA
Allen, M. A., and Butler, G. M., Fluorspar in Arizona: Arizona State Bur. Mines,
Bull. 114, 19 pp., July 15, 1921.
COLORADO
Burchard, E. F., Fluorspar in Colorado: Min. and Sci., Press, vol. 99, pp. 258-260,
Aug. 21, 1909.
Emmons, W. H., and Larsen, E. S., The hot springs and mineral deposits of Wagon
Wheel Gap, Colorado: Econ. Geol., vol. 8, pp. 235-246, April-May 1913.
Lunt, H. F., A fluorspar mine in Colorado: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. Ill, p. 925,
Dec. 18, 1915.
Aurand, H. A., Fluorspar deposits of Colorado: Colorado Geol. Survey, Bull. 18, 94 pp.,
1920.
Hibbs, J. (}., Boulder County fluorspar: Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 109, pp. 494-495,
Feb. 21, 1920.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 115
CONNECTICUT
Shepherd, C. U., Connecticut Geol. Survey Rept., p. 80, 1837.
ILLINOIS-KENTUCKY
Ulrich, E. O., and Smith, W. S. T., Lead, zinc, and fluorspar deposits of western Kentucky:
U. S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 213, pp. 205-213, 1902; U. S. Geol. Survey, Prof. Paper 36,
218 pp., 1905.
Harwood, F. H., The fluorspar and zinc mines of Kentucky: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 86,
pp. 87-88, Feb. 7, 1903; pp. 101-102, Feb. 14, 1903.
Bain, H. F., Fluorspar deposits of the Kentucky-Illinois district: Mines and Minerals,
vol. 25, pp. 182-183, November 1904.
Fluorspar deposits of southern Illinois: U. S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 225, pp.
505-511, 1904; U. S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 255, 75 pp., 1905.
Miller, A. M., The lead and zinc bearing rocks of central Kentucky: Kentucky Geol.
Survey, Bull. 2, 35 pp., 1905.
Fohs, F. J., Fluorspar deposits of Kentucky, with notes on production, mining, and
technology of the mineral: Kentucky Geol. Survey, Bull. 9, 296 pp., 1907.
Kentucky fluorspar and its value to the iron and steel industries: Trans. Am.
Inst. Min. Met. Eng., vol. 40, pp. 261-273, 1909.
.The fluorspar, lead, and zinc deposits of western Kentucky: Econ. Geol.,
vol. 5, pp. 377-386, June 1910.
Reed, A. H., Fluorspar in Kentucky and Illinois: Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 97, pp. 164-165,
Jan. 17, 1914.
Weller, Stuart, and others, Geology of Hardin County: Illinois State Geol. Survey,
Bull. 41, 416 pp., 1920.
Weller, Stuart, Geology of the Golconda quadrangle: Kentucky Geol. Survey, ser. 6,
vol. 4, 148 pp., 1921.
Currier, L. W., Fluorspar deposits of Kentucky: Kentucky Geol. Survey, vol. 13, ser. 6,
189 pp., 1923.
Spurr, J. E., The Kentucky-Illinois ore — magmatic district: Parts 1 and 2: Eng. and
Min. Jour., vol. 126, pp. 695-699, Oct. 30, 1926; pp. 731-738, Nov. 6, 1926.
Schwerin, Martin, An unusual fluorspar deposit: Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 126, pp.
335-339, Sept. 1, 1928.
Bastin, E. S., The fluorspar deposits of Hardin and Pope Counties, Illinois: Illinois
State Geol. Survey, Bull. 58, 116 pp., 1931.
Currier, L. W., Geologic factors in the interpretation of fluorspar reserves in the Illinois-
Kentucky field: U. S. Geol. Survey, Bull. 886-B, 10 pp., 1937.
MAINE
Jackson, C. T., Geology of Maine: 2d Rept., p. 125, 1838.
NEW MEXICO
Burchard, E. F., Fluorspar in New Mexico: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 103, pp. 74-76,
July 15, 1911.
Darton, N. H., and Burchard, E. F., Fluorspar near Deming, New Mexico: U. S. Geol.
Survey, Bull. 470, pp. 533-545, 1911.
Engineering and Mining Journal-Press, Tortugas fluorspar mine purchased by New
York interests: vol. 115, p. 200, Jan. 27, 1923.
Johnston, W. D., jr., Fluorspar in New Mexico: New Mexico Bur. Mines, Bull. 4, 128 pp.,
Socorro, 1928.
TENNESSEE
Safford, J. M., Geology of Tennessee: pp. 224, 268, 284, Nashville, 1869.
Nelson, W. A., Mineral products along the Tennessee Central Railroad: Tennessee
Geol. Survey, Resources of Tennessee, vol. 3, p. 151, July 1913.
Hayden, H. H., Fluorspar in Tennessee: Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 4, p. 51, October 1921.
116 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
UTAH
Heikes, V. C, A fluorspar deposit in Utah: Mineral Resources U. S., 1921, pt. 2, pp.
48-49, 1924.
VIRGINIA
Watson, T. L., Lead and zinc deposits of Virginia: Virginia Geol. Survey, Bull. 1,
p. 42, 1905.
WISCONSIN
Bagg, R. M., Fluorspar in the Ordovician limestone of Wisconsin: Bull. Geol. Soc. Am.,
vol. 29, pp. 393-397, September 1918.
FOREIGN
WORLD
Medenbach, F. K., Vorkommen, Gewinnung, Verarbeitung und wirtschaftliche Bedeutung
des Flussspates, 248 pp., Wetzlar, Nov. 21, 1933.
ARGENTINA
Valentine, Juan, tiber das Flusspatvorkommen van San Roque in der argentinischen
Provinz Cordoba: Ztschr. prakt. Geol., Jahrg. 4, pp. 104-107, Halle/Salle, March
1896.
Beder, Roberto, Los filones de fluorita en la Quebrada del Rio Seco: Petroleos y Minas,
Ano II, pp. 21-22, Buenos Aires, Oct. 15, 1922.
AUSTRALIA
Smith, George, Occurrence of pure fluorspar in New South Wales: New South Wales
Dept. Mines Ann. Rept., 1918, p. 76, Sydney, 1919.
Chemical Engineering and Mining Review (Melbourne), A Victorian fluorspar mine:
vol. 13, p. 420, Sept. 5, 1921.
Saint-Smith, E. C, Fluorspar lode near Alma-den Chillagoe district: Queensland Govt.
Min. Jour., vol. 24, pp. 418-419, Brisbane, Nov. 15, 1923.
Queensland Department of Mines Annual Report, 1930, Other minerals: pp. 17, 21, 22,
24, 40, 108, Brisbane, 1931.
BOLIVIA
Lindgren, W., Fluorspar in Bolivian tin mines: Econ. Geol., vol. 19, pp. 765-766,
December 1924.
CANADA
Miller, W. G., and Knight, C. W., The pre-Cambrian geology of southeastern Ontario:
Ontario Bur. Mines, Rept. 22, pt. 2, p. 105, Toronto, 1914.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 117
CHINA
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118 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
GERMANY, Continued
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GREENLAND (CRYOLITE)
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HUNGARY
Zsivny, Victor, liber ein neues Fluoritvorkommen im Ungarn: Ann. Musei Nat. Hungarici,
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INDIA
Holland, T. H., and Fermor, L. L., Quinquennial review of the mineral production of
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ITALY
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JAPAN
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MEXICO
Pena, Manuelo, Los criadores de fluorita en Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Senora: Boletin
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 119
NORWAY
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RUSSIA
Vernadski, V. I., and Fersman, A. E., Sur l'exploration des gisements des mines d'alumi-
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genesis: Soc. Russe de Min. Mem., vol. 57, no. 2, ser. 2, pp. 227-244, Moscow, 1928.
(In Russian, English summary, pp. 243-244.)
SOUTH AFRICA
Wagner, P. A., Fluorspar: South African Jour. Ind., vol. 1, pp. 1516-1520, Pretoria,
December 1918.
South African Mining and Engineering Journal, A fluorspar industry: vol. 42, p. 304,
Johannesburg, Nov. 21, 1931.
Mining and Industrial Magazine of Southern Africa, More about Natal fluorspar: vol. 13,
p. 672, Johannesburg, Nov. 25, 1931.
SOUTH AMERICA
Miller, B. L., and Singewald, J. T., The mineral deposits of South America, pp. 54, 60,
62, 64, McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New York, 1919.
}/- SPAIN
Navarro, L. F., Ortosas cristaKzades de Zarzalejo (Madrid) : Real Soc. Espanola de
Hist. Nat. Bol., t. XIX, pp. 137-143, March 1919.
SWEDEN
Wallerius, I. D., En Flussspatforande Pegmatlt vid Jarkolmen S. Om Goteborg: Geol.
Foren. Forh., vol. 35, pp. 296-300. Stockholm, April 1913.
SWITZERLAND
Koenigsberger, J., Fluoritvorkommen in der Schweiz (nordlich der Alpen) : liber alpine
Minerallagerstatten ; erster Teil, Abh. der K. Bay. Akad. d. Wissensch. Math.-
Phys. Klasse, Bd. 28, Abh. 10, pp. 21-25, Munich, 1917.
120 THE FLUORSPAR INDUSTRY
TURKESTAN
Ouklonsky, A. S., Materials for mineralogy of Turkestan: the fluorspar of Breech-
Mullah: Trans. Sci. Soc. Turkestan, vol. 1, pp. 277-288, Tashkent, 1923. (In Russian.)
COST OF PRODUCTION
United States Tariff Commission, Fluorspar — cost of production: 53 pp., June 21, 1927.
MINING AND MILLING
Burchard, E. F., Fluorspar mining at Rosiclare, Illinois: Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. 92,
pp. 1088-1090, Dec. 2, 1911.
A modern fluorspar mining and milling plant: Iron Trade Rev., vol. 49,
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Luedeking, C. C, History and present methods of fluorspar mining in Illinois: Jour.
Ind. and Eng. Chem., vol. 8, pp. 554-555, June 1916.
Blayney, J .M., jr., The mining and milling of fluorspar: Eng. and Min. Jour., vol. Ill,
pp. 222-225, Jan. 29, 1921.
Gross, John, Separation of sphalerite, silica, and calcite from fluorspar: U. S. Bur. Mines,
Rept. of Investigations 2264, 3 pp., 1921.
Darlington, H. T., "Boiling-over" concentration: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 124, pp.
217-218, Feb. 18, 1922.
Ladoo, R. B., Fluorspar mining in the Western States: U. S. Bur. Mines, Rept. of
Investigations 2480, 35 pp., 1923.
Iron Age, Mining and milling of fluorspar: vol. 112, p. 335-339, Aug. 9, 1923.
Coghill, W. H., Classification and tabling of difficult ores with particular attention
to fluorspar: U. S. Bur. Mines, Tech. Paper 456, pp. 1-40, 1929.
Drier, R. W., Photo-electro metallurgy; fluorspar concentration: Ind. and Eng. Chem.,
vol. 22, pp. 156-157, February 1930.
Williams, J. C., and Greeman, O. W., Recovery of fluorspar from ores thereof: U. S.
Patent 1,785,992, Dec. 23, 1930.
Bierbrauer, E., and Gleichmann, H., Die Aufbereitung der Spatkupferprodukte der Grube
eisenhardter Tiefbau und ihre Erganzung durch die Flotation: Kaiser Wilhelm
Inst.,, Eisenf. zu Dusseldorf, Mitt., vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 121-129, Dusseldorf, 1931.
MARKETING
Sweetser, A. L., The fluorspar market and the local supply: Eng. and Min. Jour.,
vol. 106, pp. 1031-1032, Dec. 14, 1918.
Reed, A. H., Marketing of fluorspar: Eng. and Min. Jour. -Press, vol. 117, pp. 489-492,
Mar. 22, 1924.
Iron Trade Review, River transportation facilitates distribution of fluorspar: vol. 85,
pp. 1443-1444, Dec. 5, 1929.
UTILIZATION
Halland, A. S., Cryolite and its industrial applications: Ind. and Eng. Chem., vol. 3,
pp. 63-66, February 1911.
Springer, L., Der Flussspat bei der Glasschmelze : Sprechsaal, Jahrg. 47, pp. 4-5, Jan. 1;
pp. 20-21, Jan. 8; Coburg, 1914.
Goldmerstein, L., Prolonging the life of the Bessemer process: Iron Age, vol. 93, pp.
250-251, Jan. 22, 1914.
The fluorine process in the open-hearth: Iron Age, vol. 93, pp. 724-725,
Mar. 19, 1914.
Lang, H., Fluorite in smelting: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 108, p. 492, Mar. 21, 1914.
Keeney, R. M., Fluorspar in electric smelting of iron ore: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 109,
p. 335, Aug. 29, 1914.
Hamilton, W. S., The action of fluorspar on basic open-hearth slags: Met. and Chem.
Eng., vol. 13, p. 8, January 1915.
Iron Age, Fluorspar and basic slags: vol. 95, p. 397, Feb. 18, 1915.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 121
UTILIZATION, Continued
Teesdale, C. H., Use of fluorides in wood preservation: Am. Wood Preserver's Assoc.
Bull., Wood Preserving, vol. 3, pp. 80-81, October-December 1916; vol. 4, pp. 6-10,
January-March 1917.
Nissen, O., Aluminum manufacturing processes used in Europe: Chem. and Met. Eng.,
vol. 19, pp. 804-815, December 1918.
Wagner, P. A., Report on certain minerals used in the arts and industries; VII, Fluorspar:
Industries Bull. Ser., Bull. 29, 7 pp., Pretoria, 1919.
Bainbridge, F., The effect of fluorspar additions on the phosphates in basic slag: Iron
and Steel Inst. Carnegie Schol. Mem., vol. 10, pp. 1-40, London, 1920.
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Eng., vol. 23, pp. 1123-1124, Dec. 8, 1920.
Iron Age, Fluorspar in open-hearth practice: vol. 109, pp. 783-784, Mar. 23, 1922.
Jones, G. H., Fluorspar and its varied uses in manufacture: Cement, Mill and Quarry,
vol. 21, pp. 37-41, Dec. 5, 1922.
Fluorspar — its uses in steel manufacture and other industries: Raw Material,
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Osann, B., Fluorspar has part in cupola melting: Foundry, vol. 51, p. 980, Dec. 15, 1923.
Barton, L. J., Refining metals electrically: Foundry, vol. 52, pp. 861-864, Nov. 1, 1924.
Doelter, C, Uber Thermoluminescenz bei Flussspat: Centralbl. f. Min. Geol. u. Pal.
no. 14, pp. 419-421, Stuttgart, 1924.
Iron Trade Review, Use less fluorspar to ton of steel: vol. 76, p. 1323, May 21, 1925.
Iron Age, Fluorspar in cupola practice: vol. 119, pp. 997-998, Apr. 7, 1927.
More about fluorspar in the cupola: vol. 119, p. 1662, June 9, 1927.
Brokenshire, E. L., Fluorspar and its uses: Min. and Met., vol. 10, pp. 425-428,
September 1929.
Doelter, C, Halogenide des Calciums: Fluorit: Handbuch der Mineralchemie, vol. 4,
no. 17, pp. 193-270, Stuttgart, 1930.
Geiger, H. L., Fluorspar in the open-hearth slag: Blast Furnace and Steel Plant, vol. 19,
pp. 412-414, March 1931.
Dyson, G. Malcolm, The industrial compounds of fluorine: Chem. Age, vol. 25, pp.
472-473, London, Nov. 28, 1931.
RADIOACTIVITY
Hirschi, H., Radiophosphoreszenz und Radio-Thermophosphoreszenz am Farblosen. Fluorit
von Sembrancher (Wallis) : Schweiz. Min. u. Petrogr. Mitt., vol. 3, No. 3/4, pp.
253-257, Zurich, 1923.
Wick, F. G., Spectroscopic study of the cathodo-luminescense of fluorite: Phys. Rev.,
vol. 24, pp. 272-282, September 1924.
Thermoluminescence excited by exposure to radium: Jour. Soc. Am., vol. 21,
pp. 223-231, April 1931.
Hess, F. L., Radioactive fluorspar from Wilberforce, Ontario: Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 22,
pp. 215-221, September 1931.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Bidtel, E., Valuation of fluorspar: Ind. and Eng. Chem., vol. 4, pp. 201-202, March 1912;
vol. 6, p. 265, March 1914.
Engineering and Mining Journal, A method for the complete analysis of fluorspar:
vol. 123, p. 639, April 1927.
Lundell, G. E. F., and Hoffman, J. I., The analysis of fluorspar: U. S. Bur. Standards
Jour. Research, vol. 2, Res. Paper 51, pp. 671-683, January-June 1929.
Schrenk, W. T., and Ode, W. H., Determination of silica in the presence of fluorspar:
Ind. and Eng. Chem., vol. 1 (Anal, ed.), pp. 201-202, Oct. 15, 1929.
Index
A
Abbey, G. A., work 91
Acid fluorspar, manufacture 81
uses, new 81, 82
Acknowledgments 11
Aluminum industry, use of acid fluor-
spar 81
American Journal of Science, work. ... 16
Analysis, chemical, bibliography 121
Apparatus, earth resistivity, use in
locating faults 29
Argentina, bibliography 116
fluorspar, occurrence 87
Arizona, bibliography 114
Australia, bibliography. . . 116
fluorspar, occurrence 87
B
Bauxite, as substitute for fluorspar. ... 15
Becker, Hans, work 84
Bedding deposits, method of working. . 32
Bibliography 114
Bolivia, bibliography 116
fluorspar, occurrence 92
Brazil, fluorspar, occurrence 92
Bruce, Archibald, work 16
Burchard, Ernest F., work 12, 95
C
Calcium chloride, as substitute for
fluorspar 15
California district, shipments 27
Canada, bibliography 116
fluorspar, occurrence 87
"Carrene," manufacture 81
Cement, rapid-hardening, use of fluor-
spar in 84
Chermette, A., work 84
China, bibliography 117
fluorspar, occurrence 87
Chosen, fluorspar, occurrence 92
[ 123
PAGE
Churn drilling, use in locating faults.. . 29
Cleaveland, Parker, work 16
Coghill, W. H., work 37
Colorado, bibliography 114
Colorado district, operators 27
production 27
Colors, discussion 12
Connecticut, bibliography 115
Consumers 7, 10
cement manufacture 112
chemicals manufacture 109
enamel manufacture 110-112
ferro-alloys manufacture 107
glass manufacture 108-109
iron foundries 106-107
list 101-113
miscellaneous purposes 113
steel plants 102-105
vitrolite manufacture 101-113
Consumption 71
domestic 52-63
by grades 63
by purity and use 52
future trends 93
foreign 94
United States 93
past and present 92
Contracts, penalties 61
premiums 61
Contract form, sample 62
Cronk, A. H., work 8
Crosscuts, use in locating faults 30
Cryolite, as source of fluorine 15
imports 15, 16
occurrence in commercial quantities. 16
synthetic or "artificial", importance. 81
manufacture 81
Crystals, transparent, use in making
lenses 85
Cuba, fluorspar, occurrence 92
Currier, L. W., work 95
]
124
PAGE
D
Department of Mines, Union of South
Africa, work 91
Deposits, domestic, list 97-101
foreign 86
Argentina 87
Australia 87
Canada 87
China 87
France 88
Germany 88
Great Britain 88
importance 86
India 89
Italy 89
Newfoundland 89
Norway 90
other countries 92
Spain 91
Switzerland 92
Union of South Africa 90
U. S. S. R. (Russia) 90
Illinois-Kentucky district, location. . 21
minor 28
Desch, C. H., work 85
Description 12
Diamond drilling, use in locating faults 29
Distribution, by industries 64
basic open-hearth steel 64
consumption 65, 66
variation in 65
cost 65
impurities, objectionable 70
markets 70
extent 64
purpose 64
requirements, physical 69
shipments from domestic sources 65
specifications, chemical 68
stocks 66
utilization in steel 65
cement manufacture and miscel-
laneous 84
electric-furnace steel 72
chemical requirements 72
consumption 72
PAGE
Distribution, by industries — Cont'd,
electric-furnace steel — Cont'd.
markets 72
enamel 78
analysis 79
screen 79
consumption and stocks 79-80
market 79
extent 78
purpose 78
specifications 78
supply, sources 79
utilization 78
ferro-alloys 73
consumption 73
grade required 73
foundries 73
chemical requirements 74
consumption 74
glass 75
consumption and stocks 77-78
market, districts 77
extent 75
purpose 75
specifications, chemical 75
physical 76
supply, sources 77
utilization 75
hydrofluoric acid and derivatives.. 80
consumption and stocks 84
market, districts 83
extent 80
purpose 80
specifications 83
supply, sources 83
utilization 81
metallurgical uses, other 74
quality and size 74
optical fluorspar 85
change 64
methods 61, 63
of domestic consumption, by grades. 63
Districts, Illinois-Kentucky 18
barite 20
chalcopyrite 20
description 18
fluorspar deposits 18, 19
galena 20
gravel spar, occurrence 19
lead sulfide 20
125
PAGE
Districts, Illinois- Kentucky — Cont'd.
marcasite 20
petroleum 20
quartz 20
smithsonite 20
sphalerite 20
watercourses, occurrence 20
zinc sulfide 20
mining, United States 21
California 27
Colorado 27
Illinois-Kentucky 21
New Hampshire 28
New Mexico 27
Nevada 28
other States 28
Districts, Western States 21
accessory minerals 21
E
Earth-resistivity apparatus, use in
locating faults 29
Enameling, use of fluorspar in 78
analysis, screen 79
consumption and stocks 79, 80
domestic product, use of 78
market, districts 79
extent 78
purpose 78
specifications 78, 79
supply, source 79
utilization 78
England, bibliography 117
Exports 8, 52
ground 52
metallurgical grade 52
F
Faults, as indication in fluorspar pros-
pecting 29
location by churn drilling 29
crosscuts 30
diamond drilling 29
earth-resistivity apparatus 29
shafts, winzes, raises 29
Finger, G. C, work 80
Flotation, mill recovery, percentage. . . 37
reagents used 37
PAGE
Fluorine, compounds, uses 82
cryolite as a source of 15
fluorspar as a source of 15
Fluorite, application of term 12
Fluxing agent 16
in steel 68
chemical reactions when so used. . 68
chemical specifications 68
impurities, objectionable 70
physical requirements 69
value when so used 68
Foreign and Domestic Commerce,
Bureau, work 90
France, bibliography 117
fluorspar, grade 88
occurrence 88
"Freon", manufacture 81
physiological properties 82
use in refrigerating units 82
G
Germany, bibliography 117
fluorspar, occurrence 88
Glass manufacture, use of fluorspar. . .75-77
analysis 76
screen 77
color 76
consumption and stocks 77
market 75-77
objections 76, 77
specifications, chemical 75
physical 76
supply, source. . 77
Grades, method of obtaining 33-35, 63
Gravel fluorspar 18
analysis, screen 69
use in steel plants, analyses 69
Gravel spar 18
as an indication in fluorspar pros-
pecting 28
Great Britain, fluorspar, occurrence. . . 88
Greeman, O. W., work 37
Greenland, bibliography 118
Guatemala, fluorspar, occurrence 92
H
Hardness 12
Hughes, H. H., work 85
Hungary, bibliography 118
126
INDEX
Hydrofluoric acid and derivatives, use
of fluorspar in 80
consumption and stocks 84
market, districts 83
extent 80, 81
purpose 80
specifications 83
supply, sources 83
types used 81
uses 81
utilization 81
compounds, use of. 82, 83
derivatives, industrial importance. .82, 83
use of fluorspar in, specifications. ... 83
supply, sources 83
Illinois, bibliography 115
Illinois-Kentucky district, Blue Dig-
gings fault . 23
Cave in Rock deposits 24
operators 25
Daisy fault 23
Daisy mine 23
description 23
educational facilities 22
Eureka mine 22
Hillside mine 22
description 23
industry, center 21
Kentucky mines 25, 26
operators 26
production 25, 26
labor 21, 22
power sources 22
production 22, 25
Rosiclare mine 22, 23
description 22
developments 22
safety work 22
shipments 22
timber 22
Ilmenite, as a substitute for fluorspar.. 15
Imports 7,8,11,40,42-46,48-51
Impurities, separation method 33
India, bibliography 118
fluorspar, occurrence 89
Industry, domestic, capital investment 7
cost of supplies, materials, fuel,
machinery, etc 7
PAGE
Industry, domestic, capital, invest-
ment— Cont'd.
employment statistics 7
location 7
wages and salaries 7
production, annual domestic, value.. 7
distribution 7-9
scope of report 8
Iron scale, as substitute for fluorspar. . 15
Iron stains, as indication in fluorspar
prospecting 28
Italy, bibliography 118
fluorspar, occurrence 89
7
Jackson, C. T., work 17
Japan, bibliography. . . 118
K
Kaufmann, Rudolf, work 89
Kentucky, bibliography 115
See Illinois-Kentucky district.
Kinetic-12, manufacture 81
Kupferburger, W., work 91
L
Ladoo, R. B., work 8, 12, 31
Lea, F. M., work 85
Lenses, use of crystals of fluorspar for. 85
Lime, as substitute for fluorspar 15
Lump fluorspar, as indication in fluor-
spar prospecting 28
M
Maine, bibliography 115
Maps, mine, character 30, 31
importance 31
Markets 55, 71
Marketing, bibliography 120
Mexico, bibliography 118
fluorspar, occurrence 92
Milling, flotation 37
mechanical separation 33
Milling methods, bibliography 120
Mineral Resources, U. S. S. R., citation. 90
Mines, domestic, list 97-101
large 33
127
PAGE
Mines, domestic, list — Cont'd.
shrinkage stopes 33
small. 32
square-set methods 33
surface 31
underground 32
vertical raises 33
Mining methods, bibliography 120
description 31
Illinois- Kentucky district 31
inclined ore bodies, development. ... 32
large mines 33
open-cut 31
shrinkage stopes 33
small mines 32
square-set 33
surface operations 31
underground 32
vertical raises 33
N
Nevada district, operations 28
Newfoundland, fluorspar, occurrence. . 89
New Hampshire district, operations. . . 28
New Mexico, bibliography 115
New Mexico district, mines 27
production 27
Nomenclature 12
Norway, bibliography 119
fluorspar, occurrence 90
0
Occurrence, Arizona 18
California 18
Colorado ...17, 18
early . .16-18
Connecticut 16, 17
Illinois 16, 17
Kentucky 17
Maine 17
Maryland 16
Massachusetts 16
Nevada 18
New Hampshire 16, 18
New Jersey 16
New Mexico 18
New York 16, 17
Tennessee 16, 18
Utah 18
PAGE
Occurrence, — Cont'd.
Vermont ^
Virginia 16
Washington jg
West Virginia 15
Optical-grade fluorspar 85, 86
Ores, flotation 37
Ore bodies, steeply inclined, method of
developing 32
Ore occurrence, peculiarities 30
Origin and occurrence 18
Illinois- Kentucky district 18
Western States 21
P
Pascoe, E. H., work 89
Persia, fluorspar, occurrence 92
Pogue, J. E., work 86
Potassium compounds, as substitute
for fluorspar 15
from flue dust of cement works, use
of fluorspar to recover 85
Prehistoric use 16
Prices 55,58-60,92,93
change in, cause 58
Production, cost, bibliography 120
domestic, statistics and mine
stocks. 40,42-45
expansion 16
history 16
statistics, by States, table 42-45
world 37-39,47
table 38,39
Properties 12
Prospecting and exploration 28
indications 28
A'
Radio activity, bibliography 121
Raises, use in locating faults 29
Reed, F. H., work 80
Reeder, E. C, work 8
Reserves, future 94
foreign 97
United States 94-97
Russia, bibliography 119
128
INDEX
PAGE
S
Schwerin, L., work 68
Separation, mechanical 33
Shafts, use in locating faults 29
Shephard, C. U., work 17
Shipments, Arizona 28
from mines, distribution by purity
and size 64
Tennessee 28
Texas 28
type 61
Utah 28
Washington 28
Sire, L., work 84
Size, reduction method . .33-35
Sodium compound as a substitute for
fluorspar 15
South America, bibliography 119
Spain, bibliography 119
fluorspar, occurrence 91
Spar, acid, consumption 84
use in manufacture of refrigerants. 82
Specific gravity 12
Stocks at mines or shipping points. ... 46
Substitutes 15, 16
bauxite 15
calcium chloride 15
ilmenite 15
in making enamels 16
opal glass 15
opaque glass 16
iron scale 15
lime 15
potassium compounds 15
sodium compounds 15
Supply, future sources 94
foreign 97
United States 94-97
past and present sources 92
PAGE
Sweden, bibliography 119
Switzerland, bibliography 119
T
Tariffs, history 50, 51
Tennessee, bibliography 115
Transportation 54
by water 54, 55
costs 54
freight rates 54, 56-59
Turkestan, bibliography 120
U
Union of South Africa, bibliography. . 119
fluorspar, occurrence 90
United States, bibliography 114
Uses 13, 63
early 17
in manufacture, of enamels 17, 18
of glass 17, 18
of hydrofluoric acid 17, 18
of steel 17
prehistoric 16
relative importance 14
to recover potassium compounds
from flue dust 85
U. S. S. R., fluorspar, occurrence 90
Utah, bibliography 116
Utilization, bibliography 120
technology 9
V
Virginia, bibliography 116
W
Weight, discussion 12
Winzes, use in locating faults 29
Wisconsin, bibliography 116
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