No exports of magnesite, either crude or calcined, were reported during 1923, but materials made of magnesia (including pipe and boiler coverings), having a weight of 5,391,219 pounds and valued at $337,044, were exported. ANNUAL SUPPLY The annual additions to supply of magnesite (which have been called consumption, although they do not include stocks held at consuming plants) consist of domestic production plus imports, for there are no exports of crude or calcined magnesite. The following table shows that the domestic producers have increased their contribution to the consumption by the aid of the tariff act of 1922. Magnesite supply in the United States, 1918-1923, expressed as crude magnesite, in short tons The caustic calcined magnesite sold in 1923 amounted to 28,470 short tons (equal to about 64,000 tons of crude), of which mines in California produced 95 per cent. The largest producers of caustic calcined magnesite were C. S. Maltby, the Sierra Magnesite Co., and Harker & Hoff, of California, and the American Mineral Products Co., of Washington. During 1923 the Bureau of Standards 3 made tests of caustic magnesia made of magnesite mined at several places and found that (1) the magnesite from different localities should be burned under different conditions; (2) very light calcination produces a magnesia too active for present practice; (3) an oxide should not be condemned because it will not work in a set formula; (4) the character of the aggregate may affect the action of the magnesia; (5) different oxides are required for flooring and for stucco; (6) the character of the magnesia determines in large part its resistance to moisture, but the effect of the "mix" predominates; (7) the character of the magnesia predominates over the "mix" in effecting changes in volume. Calcined magnesite and light magnesium carbonate (chemically prepared) are used in making rubber tires, and a fellowship has been established at the Mellon Institute for further study of this subject.* 3 Bates, P. H., Young, R. N., and Rapp, P., Tests of caustic magnesia made from magnesite from several localities: U. S. Bur. Standards Tech. Paper 239, 1923. Wikoff, A. G., Some research of general interest in progress at the Mellon Institute: Chem. and Met. Eng., vol. 28, pp. 629-630, Apr. 9, 1923. DEAD-BURNED MAGNESITE The dead-burned magnesite sold in the United States in 1923 amounted to 34,410 short tons, equivalent to 77,230 tons of crude, as compared with less than 2,500 tons in 1922. About 90 per cent of the dead-burned output was produced in Washington, but some was produced in Napa and San Benito counties, Calif. Dead-burned magnesite is used as a refractory, particularly in the iron industry, and most of it finds a market east of the Mississippi. Only by the aid of adequate tariff protection can domestic producers compete in the East with foreign competitors. CRUDE MAGNESITE In 1923 the quantity of magnesite sold crude by the producers was only 6,020 tons, more than half of which was later caustic calcined for use as plaster. Most of, the remainder was used by makers of magnesia chemicals, only a very small quantity having been used by makers of high-grade refractory products. Information concerning magnesia chemicals is given on pages 17-18. During the last few years very high grade refractories have been made in small quantities in the electric furnace by fusing magnesite. This product is made by the Carborundum Co. and also by the Vitrefrax Co., which reports that it has a density of 3.67 to 3.69, is the most refractory commercial material known, and has a melting point of 2,800° C. (5,072° F.). It is strongly basic, shows no shrinkage, and is particularly valuable in high-temperature electricfurnace work. A much smaller quantity of carefully selected magnesite is sold each year for the manufacture of metallic magnesium. MARKET AND PRICES The domestic market for magnesite of all grades was mucn improved in 1923 as compared with 1922, but producers still insist that they can not compete in the East with foreign magnesite. The caustic calcined magnesite from India and from Greece can be sold cheaper than domestic material of equal grade. A recent report of the Department of Commerce gives information concerning the foreign and domestic supply of magnesite and the markets for it. 8 Domestic crude magnesite was quoted at $14 a ton during the first four months of 1923, at $12.50 during the period May to August, and at $14 from the 1st of August to the end of the year. Operators reported sales at $10 to $14, but most of the crude magnesite sold brought $13 a ton. So far as known, no imported crude magnesite was offered in the local markets in 1923. Domestic caustic calcined magnesite was quoted at $40 a ton f. o. b. plants in California until late in March, when the quotations declined to $32.50 to $35; they remained at that level until the 1st Chem. and Met. Eng., vol. 28, p. 635, Apr. 9, 1923. 9786°-26-2 of August, when they were raised to $35 to $37 a ton. Producers reported sales of domestic caustic calcined magnesite at prices ranging from $32 to $40 a ton, but the bulk of the output sold at about $35 a ton. Magnesite from Greece was quoted only after March, 1923, and the price was $50 to $52 a ton delivered. 9 Domestic dead-burned magnesite was quoted at $40 to $48 a ton delivered in sacks at Baltimore, Md., or Chester, Pa., and at $32 to $34 a ton in bulk at shipping points in the State of Washington. Producers reported the bulk of sales at $16 to $37 a ton at the plant. Average value per short ton of domestic and imported magnesite, 1918-1923 The companies in California and Washington named below produced magnesite in 1923. Most of them sell the calcined products, though some crude can possibly be had from any of them. California: California Magnesia Co. (Harker & Hoff), 333 Monadnock Building, San California Magnesite Co., 1215 First National Bank Building, San Fran- E. C. Ferguson, Piedra. A. J. Jackson, jr., Morgan Hill. C. S. Maltby, Humboldt Bank Building, San Francisco. Sierra Magnesite Co., 404 Balfour Building, San Francisco. Vail & Maxwell, 820 Syndicate Building, Oakland. Washington: American Mineral Products Co., Valley. (Sold in 1923 to Northwest Double Eagle Mining Co., Valley. Northwest Magnesite Co., Crocker Building, San Francisco, Calif. Eng. and Min. Jour.-Press, vols. 115 and 116, 1923. WORLD'S PRODUCTION World's production of magnesite in 1915–1922, by countries, in metric tons [Unless otherwise stated the quantities in this table represent crude magnesite mined] No data available. Exports from the Republic of Austria for second half of 1919, 8,523 tons crude and 24,268 tons deadburned (sintered). Exports from Republic of Austria computed on a basis of 2.1 tons crude to 1 ton sintered. In addition, 7,026 tons of caustic magnesia was exported in 1920, and 8,252 tons in 1921. •Production of crude magnesite in the present Republic of Austria. In addition there was exported magnesite brick (magnesittegel) as follows: 1915, 729 tons; 1916, 519 tons; 1917, 341 tons; 1918, 355 tons; 1919, 357 tons; 1920, 710 tons; 1921, 337 tons. • Production of crude magnesite. Prior to 1922 only figures of exports available. Production computed on basis of 2.1 tons crude to 1 ton sintered. Australia: AUTHORITIES New South Wales, Dept. Mines Ann. Repts. South Australia, Review of Mining Operations, Dept. Mines. Western Australia, Dept. Mines Rept. Austria-Hungary, 1915-1917, Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, London. Austria, 1919, special report by E. Baldwin, assistant trade commissioner, Warsaw, Aug. 31, 1922; 1920-1921, Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, London; 1922, consular report Nov. 30. 1923. British India, Geol. Survey Rec. Canada, 1915-1920, Canada Dept. Mines Ann. Rept.; 1921-1922, Dominion Bur. Statistics. Cyprus, 1915-1916, Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, London; 1922, official data through American consul, Cairo, Egypt. Greece, 1915-1917, 1919-1922, Tableaux statistiques du mouvement minier; 1918, Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, London. Italy, Rivista del servizio minerario. Norway, 1915-1921, Norges Handel; 1922, Bergverksdrift Offisielle Statistikk. Russia, Gornyi Zhurnal, Moscow, Nos. 6-9, 1922; Nos. 3-4, 1923. Spain, Estadística minera de España. Union of South Africa, Sec. for Mines, Dept. Mines and Industries, Ann. Rept. Venezuela, 1916-1917, 1921, Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, London; 1920, consular report, Mar. 15, 1922. NOTES ON THE MAGNESITE INDUSTRY DOMESTIC INDUSTRY California.-The Sample property, near Piedra, Fresno County, Calif., was operated for a time early in the year. C. S. Maltby produced dead-burned magnesite at the White Rock deposit, near Rutherford, Napa County, until the end of May, when the mine was abandoned and the equipment moved to the old Tulare (Nichellini) deposit, in Chiles Valley, which Maltby has under lease. A 4 by 56 foot oil-fired rotary kiln was also installed, which produced dead-burned magnesite. No magnesite was mined in 1923 from the deposits near Alta and Towle, in Placer County. In San Benito County, at the Sampson mine, under lease to C. S. Maltby, a 7 by 80 foot oil-fired rotary kiln was installed, and a large tonnage of dead-burned and caustic magnesite was shipped. It is reported that the Standard mine, at Sampson Peak, owned by Hugo Fischel, is to be reopened by the Superior Magnesite Co. No operations were reported at the magnesite deposits near Cima or Yermo, in San Bernardino County, though it is rumored that the Master Products Co., of Los Angeles, will open a deposit in the southern part of the State. The largest production of magnesite in California was made at the Red Mountain mine, near Livermore, Santa Clara County, operated by C. S. Maltby. The roasting equipment 10 consists of four upright kilns for burning lump ore and a Scott furnace for handling fines. The ore is crushed to three-fourths inch in size. Pyrometer control of furnace heat at 2,100° F. is used on the Scott furnace. It is reported that there is a large reserve of fines on the dump of this property, which will some day be calcined. A little crude magnesite was shipped from deposits near Morgan Hill, in Santa Clara County. No magnesite was produced in 1923 in Sonoma County, but the Granitite Manufacturing Co., of San Diego, took over the old Sonoma mine, near Guerneville, and expects to ship crude magnesite to a calcining plant in San Diego by the middle of 1924. A little ore was mined near Gustine, Stanislaus County, but none was shipped. The California Magnesite Co. operated its property on the southeast side of Red Mountain, near Patterson, until June. The property is equipped with a one-stack kiln and a small rotary for fines. The calcined product is shipped to Los Angeles for grinding. The Sierra Magnesite Co., the second largest producer of magnesi te in California, operated the Rex, Lindsay, and Tulare mines, near Lindsay and Magnesite, Tulare County, and did considerable development work on the Gill ranch, at the north end of Porterville Hill."1 Crude magnesite is calcined at a well-equipped plant at Porterville in rotary furnaces with pyrometer control. The grades of caustic magnesite produced are made and sold under rigid specifications. Harker & Hoff, organized as the California Magnesia Co., operated the Porterville Hill mines and produced caustic calcined magnesite in a vertical kiln on the ground. The large rotary furnace at the plant was not used in 1923. No magnesite was mined from the deposits near Exeter. In Tuolumne County the Gray Eagle mine was leased in 1923 by Vail & Maxwell, who installed a 12-ton vertical kiln at Chinese Camp during the year and produced caustic calcined magnesite. Nevada. No magnesite was mined in 1923 from the magnesite deposits in Clark County, Nev., which are said to be controlled by Frank Hudson, of San Francisco. It is rumored that the deposits will be worked in 1924. Washington. The Northwest Magnesite Co., operating the Finch, Keystone, and Midnight deposits, near Chewelah, Stevens County, Wash., is the largest producer of magnesite in the State and in 1923 mined more crude magnesite than any other company in the country. All of its output is dead-burned in six electrically controlled rotary kilns and is used by the steel interests for refractory products. It is 10 California State Min. Bur. Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 1, p. 30, 1924. 11 Idem, pp. 30-31. |