Page 57 - califmining1923

STATISTICS OF ANNUAL PRODUCTION. 55

Total Output of Tin in Cailfornia.
Tear Pounds Value

1881 _ 125,289 $27,504
1892 — - . — 126,000 32,400
Totals _ _ 251,288 $59,964

TUNGSTEN.
Bibliography: Reports 'XV, XVII, XVIII. Bulletins 38, 67, 91.
U. S. G. S. Bull. 652. Proc. Colo. Sci. Soe. Vol. XI. South
Dakota School of Mines, Bulletin No. 12. Eng. and Min. Jour.-
Press, Vol. 113, pp. 666-669, Apr. 22, 1922.
Tungsten ore has been produced in California principally in the
Atolia-Randsburg district in San Bernardino and Kern counties, fol-
lowed by the Bishop district in Inyo County, with small amounts
coming from Nevada County and from the district near Goffs, in
eastern San Bernardino. Most of the California tungsten ore is
scheelite (calcium tungstate), though wolframite (iron-manganese
tungstate) and hiibnerite (manganese tungstate) also occur. The
deposits at Atolia are the largest and most productive scheelite deposits
knovrn,^ and the output has in some years equaled or exceeded that of
ferberite (iron tungstate) from Boulder County, Colorado. It is inter-
esting in this connection to note that, in practically all other tungsten
producing districts of the worlds wolframite is the important con-
stituent. Burma, the largest producer, reported ^ for 1917-1919, yields
of 4537, 4443, and 3577 tons of wolframite concentrates, respectively,
most of which was obtained from placers, in part associated with cas-
siterite (tin oxide).
Imports of foreign tungsten ores and alloys into the United States
during 1923 amounted to 275 long tons, valued at $215,580, compared
with 1665 long tons of ore valued at $281,251 in 1922, 1441 long tons at
$276,757 in 1921, 1740 long tons, at $779,593 in 1920, 8400 Ions: tons
at $6,261,190 in 1919, and 10,362 long tons valued at $11,409,237, in
1918, which ores were duty free up to September 22, 1922. Owing to
lack of protection against the cheap coolie labor of Asiatic tungsten
mines, and the low market prices, practically all of the tungsten mines
in the United States were closed down from the middle of 1919 to the
latter part of 1923. Quotations during 1922 ranged around $2.50 per
unit, up to September. Present quotations are $8.50-$9.00, on a basis
of 60%. The Tariff Act of 1922, which became effective September 22,
1922, placed a duty on tungsten ore or concentrates of 45^ per pound
on the metallic tungsten contained therein. Duties are also provided
for imported tungsten-bearing alloys.
lU. S. G. S., Bull. 652, p. 32.
2U. S. Commerce Reports, No. 78, April 5, 1921, p. 95.