A SURVEY OF THE WORLD MERCURY SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01617A001600060001-7
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• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 4, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

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Document No. 0 0 I
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ass. CHANGED TO: TS S C
1 DDA Memo, 4 Apr 77
Auth: DDA.RF,S 77/1763
Date:
State-Army-Navy-Air Force Coordinating Committee
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Atomic Energy Commission
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Published February 1949 CONFIDENTIAL
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A SURVEY OF THE WORLD MERCURY SITUATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY
WORLD PRODUCTION AND RESERVES
ECONOMICS OF MERCURY PRODUCTION
USES
SUBSTITUTES
THE MERCURY CARTEL
PRICES
TARIFFS
THE UNITED STATES
Production, Consumption,
Foreign Trade
and Deposits
Present Situation and Future Outlook
Emergency Supply and Demand
SPAIN
ITALY
MEXICO
CANADA
PERU .
CHILE
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA .
ALGERIA .
GERMANY
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
YUGOSLAVIA
TURKEY .
CHINA .
JAPAN
USSR .
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1-Estimated Measured and Indicated Reserves of Mercury by Countries 2
2-United States Tariff on Mercury 7
3-United States Imports for Consumption by Countries of Origin, 1937-1947 11
4-United States Exports of Mercury, 1937-1947 12
5-Mercury Produced In, Imported Into, and Exported From Germany, 1935-44
(In Flasks of 76 Pounds)
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6-Statistical Summary of the Japanese Mercury Industry 23
7-World Production of Mercury 1938-1947, by Countries (In Flasks of 76
Pounds) 25
8-Statistical Summary of the Mercury Industry in the United States, 1938-47
(In Flasks of 76 Pounds) . 26
9-Mercury Consumed in the United States, 1937, 1942-47, (In Flasks of 76
Pounds) 27
10-Estimated Mercury Reserves of the United States, Including Alaska as of
January 1944 (In Flasks of 76 Pounds) . 28
CHARTS-Mercury Mines of the World.
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A SURVEY OF THE WORLD MERCURY SITUATION
SUMMARY
The present US stockpile of 173,519 flasks of mercury is adequate to assure almost
a three years' supply at the maximum annual consumption of World War II. In
another war, however, the US might consume this supply in two years. The 190 US
high-cost mines, closed down in the face of present low prices, provide a sizable strate-
gic reserve but the ore is low grade. In an emergency, if the US guaranteed high prices
to producers in the Western Hemisphere, production could be increased substantially
as it was during World War II.
The USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia have sufficient supplies for peacetime
requirements. In the event of war a stockpile would be needed to meet sudden increases
in consumption, and to insure a constant flow to consumers if faced with transport diffi-
culties. It is doubtful if the USSR has a large stockpile; it probably counts on stocks
being captured in Spain and Italy if a war should occur. As of August 1948, the com-
bined stocks in Spain and Italy amounted to about 175,000 flasks.
Italy and Spain are the principal world sources of mercury. In normal years
they produce seventy to eighty percent of the world's supply. The only other producers
of consequence are the US, the USSR, and Mexico.
During the war, the US stimulated the production of mercury. High prices and
government assistance caused US production to triple from the year 1939 to 1943;
through purchase contracts negotiated by the US, the output of mercury in Mexico,
Canada, Chile, and Peru was also increased.
At the end of the war, world consumption fell to its lowest level in several decades.
A drop in US consumption, immobilization of Germany and Japan, and large world
stocks, deprived Spain and Italy of markets for most of their production. Heavy pur-
chasing, principally by US firms, during the first half of 1948 reduced Spain's stocks
considerably.
The future will undoubtedly see a marked increase in the peacetime consumption of
mercury. In the US, the new dry cell has provided the largest use. It may eventually
have a profound effect on world-wide consumption. The future use of mercury in
atomic power plants and other related fields may greatly increase its consumption.
Scientific and military uses make mercury a mineral of great strategic importance.
Fortunately the US has more than fulfilled its present stockpile objective. Even so,
limited government purchases might be thought advisable because of the present low
price ($75 a flask). The present price is low and an increase may be expected because of
unexpected heavy purchasing by the United Kingdom and large private purchases in
Note: The intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, Navy, and the Air Force have
concurred in this report; the Intelligence Division, Department of the Army, had no com-
ment. The information herein is as of November 1948.
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the United States. In a future emergency the price might go even higher than it did
in 1943, and would necessitate the use of mine labor which could be used for other
strategic minerals in short supply. Purchases made now at $56 ($75 less $19 import
duty) would also reduce stocks in Italy and Spain which otherwise might fall into
the hands of the Soviets.
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A SURVEY OF THE WORLD MERCURY SITUATION
WORLD PRODUCTION AND RESERVES
Spain and Italy normally produce more than seventy percent of the world's supply
of mercury. The US accounts for fifteen percent, and Mexico, the USSR, and China
all but a small amount of the remainder. World production in 1938 totalled about
150,000 flasks. Italy mined 66,752 flasks and Spain 41,409 whereas in earlier years
Spain had accounted for about sixty percent of the combined output of the two coun-
tries. The US produced 17,991, Mexico 8,519, and the USSR an estimated 8,700 flasks.
Under the impetus of military demands for mercury and consequent rises in the
outputs of Spain and Italy, a World War II high was reached in 1941, when the world
output reached 275,000 flasks. Italy's output that year reached a peak of 94,160 flasks
and Spain, 86,473 flasks. Countries in the Western Hemisphere, however, did not
achieve maximum outputs until 1942 and 1943. Axis control of the main sources of
mercury prompted intensive effort on the part of US authorities to encourage output
in the Western Hemisphere by means of government contracts. These, coupled with
high market prices, were responsible for the excellent production records of the US,
Mexico, and Canada. The US mined 51,929 flasks in 1943 and achieved its highest
annual output since 1872. Mexico produced a high of 32,443 flasks in 1942; Canada's
output was increased from six flasks in 1939 to 22,240 flasks in 1943.
Consumption dropped when the war ended and world production decreased to
131,000 flasks in 1945. The large surplus of mercury accumulated during the war
depressed the 1947-48 prices to the lowest levels in more than ten years. Canada has
stopped operations entirely and the major producers in other countries are operating
at an annual rate of approximately half their World War II peak years.
The principal world mercury deposits are those of Almaden in Spain, those of the
Monte Amiata district in Italy, and in the Western Hemisphere the zone of late volcanics
bordering the Pacific Ocean. Most deposits are roughly veinlike in form, irregular in
size, shape, and grade, and rarely extend more than a few hundred feet in depth,
although a few have been explored to more than 2,000 feet. The individual ore bodies
are usually small. The average grade of ore in the Western Hemisphere averages from
.25 to .65 percent compared with 1.4 percent for the large deposits in Italy and six
percent for large deposits of Almaden in Spain.
In few cases are reserves "blocked out" for more than a few years operations
although the tonnage of indicated and inferred ore may be large. In the US the work
of prospectors and producers in searching for and developing mercury deposits has
been supplemented by the efforts of the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines.
This cooperation stimulated the industry considerably during World War II and added
large tonnages of mercury to domestic reserves. High prices stimulated exploration
? for ore and development of mines in all countries outside Spain and Italy, while the
capture by German armies of the main source in the USSR, the Nikitoka mines, neces-
sitated exploitation of several new deposits in that country.
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The chances of substantially increasing reserves and developing new mines in
Spain, Italy, Canada, the USSR, and China appears to be very good. It is true that in
the US and Mexico the most- promising ground has been well prospected, but it is not
exhausted and more ore bodies will be found in known districts. The relative shallow
depth, irregular shape, and erratic grade of most of the world's mercury deposits,
coupled with the possibility of fluctuating prices and their influence on ore-volume
.determination, complicate the estimating of reserves. Much of what was considered
ore last year is now submarginal at the lower prices now in effect and, therefore, is
not commercial ore and could not be called reserves. In the following table practically
all of the reserves of Spain, Italy, and possibly Yugoslavia, are commercial whereas all
but a few thousand flasks of the total of the remaining countries would be submarginal
at present market prices. The US figure includes all mercury that could be mined at
prices up to $200 a flask.
TABLE 1-ESTIMATED MEASURED AND INDICATED RESERVES OF MERCURY
BY COUNTRIES
COUNTRY RESERVES (IN FLASKS)
Canada
42,000
Chile
8,000
China
25,0001
Italy
800,000
Mexico
83,0001
Peru
8,000
Spain
1,000,000
UNITED STATES
228,200
Union of South Africa
......
USSR
100,000
Yugoslavia
80,000
In general the production of mercury does not necessitate a large capital invest-
ment for development and equipment. Mercury mines are numerous but most of
them are small in size, allowing production to respond rapidly to demand and reduction
of output or cessation of activities to follow closely any decrease in sales. Total world
production in terms of dollar value is small when compared to copper, lead or zinc, but
the importance of mercury is its use in varied and numerous products essential to
civilian and military requirements.
Because of the grade and size of their deposits, Spain and Italy could readily
supply all world requirements if they were unhampered by tariff or cartel restrictions.
Ingenuity and efficiency in the US have permitted the mining and treatment of a
grade of ore lower than that which can be profitably mined in any other country. In
Spain recovery methods at Almaden have persisted, with only minor changes, for over
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400 years. Labor is wastefully used in Spain and yet costs in Spain in 1937 were
about $12.50 a flask while only a few US producers could mine for less than $60. The
Siele mine in Italy which was worked on an efficient basis in prewar years had an
average cost in 1937 of $3.37 a flask with the average grade of ore 4.75 percent. In
recent years inflation and the employment of too large a labor force, have affected Spain
and Italy with consequent rises in production costs. Mining at Almaden is continuing
with no regard for economy or modern mining methods. The Italian mines are com-
pelled to retain a large labor force regardless of curtailment of production due to the
world mercury surplus.
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The properties of high specific gravity, fluidity at ordinary temperatures, elec-
trical conductivity and the poisonous effect of its compounds create demands for more
than 3,000 uses in widely diversified fields. Most of the mercury consumed is in com-
pounds; only a third is consumed as metal. All uses require reduction of ore to metal
since the compounds are made from metallic mercury. Rarely are significant amounts
reclaimed in normal times as with most other metals, although this may be done when
the mercury dry-cell is marketed in large quantities.
One of the main uses for mercury is in pharmaceuticals where its toxic effect is
utilized as an antiseptic; in compounds it inhibits bacterial and parasitic growth. An
increasingly important use is in electrical apparatus; in this group the new mercuric
oxide dry-cell is the most significant. The mercury dry battery, first produced in the US
in 1944, will have a profound effect on world consumption. This new cell will stand up
under high humidity and temperatures, will deliver a constant current, has much
greater power for its size (nearly five times the ordinary dry-cell), has a long shelf
life, and will deliver the same ampere-hours service whether operated continuously or
intermittently. Its use has so far been in military equipment (the new variable-time,
radio-proximity fuse, "walkie-talkies", and many other signal devices), and in hearing-
aids. New uses and more economical methods of production are being developed and
large-scale production should result. Other electrical apparatus utilizing important
quantities of mercury are mercury-vapor lamps, giving off ultra-violet rays which are
used for scientific and medical purposes, fluorescent lights in rectifier tubes, switches
and oscillators.
Significant amounts of mercury are used in industrial and control instruments
such as thermometers, barometers, tank gages, thermostats, flow meters, gas-pressure
gages, gas-analysis apparatus, mercury clutches, and in mercury diffusion pumps that
produce the vacuum required for making radio tubes.
Mercury is used in the electrolytic preparation of chlorine and caustic soda and
as a catalyst in making acetic acid, ammonia, and various other organic compounds.
It is a process material in the making of gasoline, activated carbons, lithopone, hydro-
chloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and many other chemicals.
Other important uses are in fulminate used in detonators and percussion caps, in
antifouling paints for ship bottoms, in tracer bullets, and in making several gases
used in chemical warfare. Mercury is used in agriculture for sprays and seed dis-
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infectants. Dental preparations use large amounts of mercury and small amounts are
still consumed in amalgamation of free-milling gold ore which formerly was the largest
use. Mercury is used in vermilion and for carroting fur felt for hats. The latter use,
however, has declined considerably, for some localities have laws prohibiting the use of
mercury in making felt because of the danger of poisoning. Mercury-vapor boilers
have been used in a few power generating plants, and experimentation in this field is
continuing.
There is little incentive toward substitution in normal times. The amount of
mercury required for most purposes is small and its use has little, if any, influence on
the price of the finished product. The volume of consumption of mercury is, there-
fore, little affected by price changes; consumption is rather a function of technical
developments in industry, such as in the shift from amalgamation to cyanidation in
the recovery of gold from ores, which effected a large decrease in mercury consumption.
The liquid condition which makes mercury applicable for many uses in metallic
form is not found in other metals and substitution is difficult. Most of the mercury
consumed, however, is used in compounds for which substitutes have been found that
could be used under emergency conditions. Lead azide and organic initiators, such as
diazo-dinitro-phenol can be substituted for mercury fulminate in explosives. In some
detonators tetryl and nitromannite are used, decreasing mercury fulminate consump-
tion. Copper-oxide, chromates, and plastic paints can be used to protect ship bottoms
in place of mercury paints. Porcelain and metal powders can be used instead of mer-
cury in many dental preparations. Sulfa-drugs, iodine and other antiseptics, disinfect-
ants and purgatives can be used in place of mercury pharmaceutical compounds. In
agricultural preparations copper can be substituted for mercury while potassium chlo-
rate is replacing mercury for making felt. Other processes can be used instead of those
utilizing mercury as a catalyst in making high-octane gasoline, synthetic rubber and
many other vital products. Substitutes for most of its uses could probably be developed
in an emergency but mercury supplies may be more readily available than the
substitutes.
Spain and Italy were supplying all but a small percentage of the world's mercury
after World War I. Overproduction, accompanied by wide and frequent fluctuations in
prices, developed to the detriment of both countries. On 1 October 1928 these produc-
ers first established a mercury cartel under the name of Consorzio Mercureo Europeo.
The original purpose of the organization was to regulate production and world price,
dispose of large accumulated stocks, with all foreign sales to be made by agents of the
cartel. The first agreement was for a ten-year term but was renewed for an addi-
tional term of ten years. From 1928-1931 Spain's production quota was to be fifty-
five percent of the total sales and after that period Spain was to receive sixty percent
of the total, with Italy mining the remaining percentage in each case. During the
Spanish Civil War and in World War II the outputs of these countries varied from the
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quotas originally agreed to by the cartel. The presidency and central office of the
cartel were to alternate annually.
The first sales agency was set up at Lausanne, Switzerland, for the purpose of
marketing to all countries except the British Empire, where the British firm of "Roura
& Forgas" was to be the cartel's agent. The Lausanne office did not operate success-
fully and was closed down with "Roura & Forgas" becoming exclusive sales agent for
all countries except Italy and Spain. The London firm is believed to have guaranteed
to market at least 30,000 flasks a year for three years at a specific price. Later agree-
ments with "Roura & Forgas" sometimes gave a fixed commission on all sales and, in
some instances, a share of the profits on sales above a certain number of flasks.
When economic sanctions were imposed on Italy in 1935 because of the Italian
invasion of Ethiopia, Spain sold to nations enforcing the embargo while Italian mer-
cury was marketed in the US, Germany, and Japan, which were not parties to the
sanctions.
The cartel was dissolved during the Spanish Civil War because of the Italian aid
to General Franco, but was resumed early in 1939 with Spain allotted fifty-five percent
and the Italian producers forty-five percent of the cartel's sales. "Roura & Forgas"
again became exclusive agents but that firm's contract was terminated on 1 January
1940. Consortium Internationale du Mercure was established in May 1940 to handle
sales to the western allies, but the US and UK negotiated directly with the Spanish
Government in 1942, and thereafter. Deutsche Metallgesellschaft became the exclusive
sales agent for countries occupied by the Axis.
After the end of World War II, Mercurio Europeo was again established and agents
appointed to represent it all over the world. The cartel recently has been considering
appointing a single firm to represent it in world markets, preferably a US concern.
According to the present agreement Spain is allocated 61.5 percent of the cartel's sales
and is to sell to the US while the Italian producers are allowed 38.5 percent of the total
sales. In 1948, however, exports from Spain when compared with those of Italy amount
to much more than those allowed by the cartel agreement.
Although the cartel no longer restricts production of its members, it influences
production in the rest of the world through policies governing the price of its own out-
put. Prior to World War II the cartel maintained a fair price for mercury. It readily
could have forced all other mines in the world to close down by price-cutting, for Spain
and Italy are the world's lowest cost producers. If this had been carried out, con-
siderable agitation against the mercury cartel would have been aroused. Therefore,
it was beneficial to the cartel's interests to maintain a price which was sufficient to
allow a small number of the world's mines to continue to operate. If the cartel were
abolished and mercury was sold on a free market, competition between Spain and Italian
producers would probably force the price so low in normal years that mines in the
rest of the world would not be able to operate.
There are two principal centers for marketing mercury-New York and London-
with prices conforming closely in prewar and postwar years to that asked by the cartel,
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C.I.F. these centers. Since there is a US import duty of $19 per flask, the London price
in prewar years was much lower than that of New York, but rarely as much as $19
lower. Long term fluctuations in prices, generally, have been governed by supply and
demand, resulting from the peacetime industrial uses to which mercury is put. Occa-
sionally some part of demand for the metal is attributable to speculative buyers attempt-
ing to capitalize on war scares or anticipated new industrial uses. Speculative activity
has been responsible in part for unusual price fluctuations.
Following World War I, requirements for mercury declined and prices fell accord-
ingly. The lowest point in the US domestic price during this period was reached in
the depression year of 1921, when the average annual quotation was equivalent to
$46.07 per flask. The London price fell to $43.57 in 1921. Since US mines could no
longer operate at these levels, aid was granted to them by way of an increased tariff
of twenty-five cents a pound ($19 a flask) in 1922.
The return to greater industrial activity during the later "twenties", particularly
in the US, resulted in steadily rising prices. But this was insufficient to account for
the sharp advance to an average price in New York of $118.15 per flask in 1927. In
this case, as normally, the domestic price followed the foreign price. The high foreign
(London) price in 1927 may have been owing in part to an informal agreement between
the principal producers in Spain and Italy, and in part to heavy purchases by consum-
ing countries in anticipation of the establishment of the cartel then under consideration.
After the formation of the cartel in 1928, the London price was held at the equiva-
lent of more than $105 a flask until June 1931, in the face of declining world markets
and increased world stocks. Subsequently, the world-wide depression carried the Lon-
don price down to $41.64 in 1933, or to the lowest point for the period from World
War I to the present, whereas the New York price fell to $57.93 in 1932. The decline
in the world price in 1932-1933 was accentuated by the surpluses produced in the
restricted world markets by mines that benefited by the earlier, sustain-price policy
of the cartel. Prices gradually increased with only slight fluctuations from 1933 until
1939, when World War II began in Europe.
Following the outbreak of the second world conflict, prices in the US rose sharply.
In August 1939, the monthly average was $84.41, and by the middle of September the
quoted price had virtually doubled. The gains were attributed, primarily, to fears
on the part of the cartel's customers that they would be unable to obtain all of their
requirements from either regular or alternate sources. Italy's entrance into the war,
in June 1940, left Spain to meet the demands for cartel metal in non-Axis countries,
and the fulfillment of such demands presented shipping problems.
The cartel price was advanced from $200 at the beginning of 1940 to $250 in
December of that year, considerably above the equivalent price of $201.10 in London.
Both prices were above those prevailing in the US, marking a reversal of the usual rela-
tionship. It was rumored that the high prices were to enable Spain to repay Ger-
many on favorable terms for reported aid in the Spanish Civil War. The London price
rose above that of New York because the UK had to depend on Spain for some of its
requirements.
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Highest New York price was $202.52, average for January 1942. The O.P.A. estab-
lished ceiling prices for February 1942 and the New York price averaged $196.35 for
1942 and $195.21 in 1943. It dropped steadily thereafter, and in August 1948 was $75.00
a flask. Official London prices were set in May 1941 at about $194.20, raised to $281.44
in 1943. Control was removed completely in October 1945. In December 1946 the
London monthly price was less than that of New York for the first time since May
1942. In August 1948 sellers were quoting a London price of $60.00 a flask.
The principal world producers of mercury-Spain, Italy, US, Mexico, and the
USSR-imposed import duties in prewar years to restrict imports as did certain minor
producers-China, Turkey, and India. Duties were levied on mercury imports in
Switzerland, Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay,
and Argentina, non-producer countries, for the purpose of raising revenue.
A tariff on imports of mercury has been in effect in the US since 1883. The duty
of twenty-five cents per pound, or $19 a flask, imposed first in 1922, is still in effect.
Owing to fluctuations in mercury prices this duty represented an ad valorem equivalent
of sixty-nine percent in 1932, nineteen percent in 1940, ten percent in 1942-1943, and
twenty-four percent in January 1948. The tariff is generally credited with stimulating
the domestic mercury industry, and making possible the operation of mines that other-
wise would not have been developed.
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1883 10 cents per pound
1890 10 cents per pound
1894 7 cents per pound
1897 7 cents per pound
1909 7 cents per pound
1913 10 percent ad valorem
1922 25 cents per pound
1930 25 cents per pound
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Production, Consumption, and Deposits.
The peak year production was in 1877 when 79,395 flasks of mercury were mined.
The output was stimulated by the great demand for mercury by the California gold
mines where gold was separated from ores by amalgamation, a method which has
been largely replaced by cyanidation. After 1877 there was a general downward trend
in output and grade of ore with attendant depletion of many mines.
High prices and government assistance increased the output during both World
Wars, reaching a peak of 36,000 tons in World War I, and 51,929 flasks in 1943. With
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the cancellation of government aid in 1944 the price declined and so did production.
In 1946 domestic production amounted to 25,000 flasks, while in 1947 it was 23,244
flasks. Production fell off to 8,900 flasks during the first half of 1948. Unless there
is an increase in the price, it is believed that only one mine will be able to continue
operations during the last quarter of this year.
High prices and government assistance during the war effected intensive pros-
pecting and development, resulting in large increases in reserves. Measured reserves
are small because measured ore is usually extracted during development. The Bureau
of Mines and Geological Survey reported total reserves of the US including Alaska, at
86,000 flasks from ore workable at $100 a flask. An additional 400,000 flasks might be
recovered at a price of $300 a flask, which is about 5'/2 times the present price f.o.b.
Cadiz. Approximately an equal amount could be estimated to occur in Canada, Mexico,
and other producing countries of the Hemisphere.
(Important United States mines are described in Charts I, II, III, IV, and V of the
Appendix.)
California is the main producing state, accounting for more than three-fourths
of the production in 1947, with the New Idria mine in San Benito County by far the
largest current producer in the country. The New Almaden mine in Santa Clara
County is the largest all-time US producer. Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Arkansas, Ari-
zona, Texas, and Alaska all contributed significant quantities to the nation's total
during the war, but are of little importance in normal years. New discoveries of higher-
grade ore found during the war at New Idria and other mines increased the average
grade of ore mined from 0.25 in 1942 to 0.6 percent in 1947.
In 1938 apparent consumption' amounted to about 19,600 flasks. Under the im-
petus of war and the great demand for mercury, consumption reached 62,429 flasks
in 1945, largely because of the great demand for the mercury battery for military pur-
poses. It fell to 31,200 in 1946 with the cancellation of government contracts for mer-
cury products. Returning to a peacetime use pattern, the 1947 total was 35,000 flasks
but another rise is expected in 1948, probably to about 38,000 flasks, with the mercury
battery responsible for most of the increase. P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Indianapolis,
Indiana, controls the patents for the manufacture of the new battery. Large scale
production for peacetime use is believed to be under way in that company's plant in
Tarrytown, New York. A breakdown of US consumption by use is shown in Table 9.
Foreign Trade.
From 1925 to 1939 about thirty percent of the mercury consumed in the US was
imported compared to fifty percent in 1946-1947. Chief prewar foreign suppliers were
Spain and Italy, whereas Mexico and Canada supplied most of the US imports during
the war, except for 1945 when Spain supplied an amount equal to almost ninety per-
cent of that consumed. Most of our future imports are expected to be supplied by
Spain and Italy, although 1,500 flasks were imported from Yugoslavia in 1947. General
1 Apparent consumption equals imports plus production minus exports. Data on mercury
consumption have been compiled regularly only since September 1939. The first calendar year
figures on which a detailed breakdown is available are those of 1942.
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imports from January-July 1948 amounted to 30,615 flasks, of which 21,567 flasks were
from Spain.
Re-exports in prewar years were small, but in 1939 and 1940 the US began shipping
large amounts of mercury to the UK and to Japan. The USSR requested mercury in
1942-1943 to open its offensive, and 22,313 flasks were shipped under lend-lease.
The large surplus of mercury accumulated during the war depressed the 1948
price to the lowest levels in approximately ten years. US consumption reached a nine
year low in 1946, when only 31,200 flasks were used by industry, or about half the
1945 peak level. In 1947 US consumption had risen to 35,000 flasks as a result of
substantial increases in consumption by P. R. Mallory Co., who in December began to
produce the mercury battery for commercial use on a large scale. Domestic produc-
tion in 1947 was only 23,200 flasks and imports 10,228 flasks compared to an output
of 25,348 flasks and imports of 23,062 flasks the previous year. In the first half of 1948
US production was 8,900 flasks, general imports 27,254 flasks, and consumption had
risen to 25,700 flasks. Stocks in Spain as of August 1948 approximate 75,000 flasks and
about 100,000 flasks have been held in Italy where some purchases have been made
by local investors as a hedge against inflation. In view of the large stocks held by the
cartel and the diminished world consumption-Germany and Japan, two of the four
world's largest consumers, are no longer of importance-prices as of August 1948 have
declined to $75 a flask, delivered New York. It is believed that only one US producer
will continue to operate at this price, and if the price does not rise during the last
quarter of 1948 it may discontinue operations. The cartel can readily lower the price
because of its large stocks and the need for US dollars in these countries. It is doubt-
ful, however, if the price will decrease further, in fact a rise may be expected due to
Spain's very large sales in the first half of 1948. Consumption in the US is expected
to exceed 38,000 flasks in 1948 as a result of increased battery requirements, mercury
clutches, and installation of mercury cells for making caustic soda. P. R. Mallory Co.
has constructed a plant for the manufacture of batteries at Belfast, Ireland, to supply
European requirements for the mercury dry-cell, thereby increasing consumption in
that part of the world.
General imports during the first seven months of 1948 have exceeded 30,000 flasks
with over 21,000 coming from Spain. General Electric is reported to be the recipient
of some of these shipments for a mercury boiler installation. The Mallory Co. is also
reported to be purchasing large quantities to take advantage of the low price which is
important to the marketing of the mercury dry-cell.
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An approximate breakdown on arrivals through July is as follows:
Spain ............. 21,567
Mexico ............ 2,533
Italy .............. 1,101
Yugoslavia ......... 413
Japan ............. 3,676
Sweden ............ 75 (re-exports)
Netherlands ....... 1,201
UK ............... 49
Total ........... 30,615 (7 months preliminary)
What the future holds, politically and economically, is merely conjectural. If large-
scale rearmament begins, and this appears most likely, the price and the output of
mercury will substantially increase. The large stocks in Spain and Italy would be
purchased quickly by the US, UK, or USSR and submarginal mines would be reopened
as the price increased. Formerly Spain and Italy dominated world markets and largely
determined the price at which mercury was sold to consumers. In the immediate
future Yugoslavia may become an important factor. Its importance as a mercury
producer, however, could last but a few years, for reserves at the Idria mine are limited,
whereas Spain and Italy are assured of their dominant positions for at least several
decades.
Emergency Supply and Demand.
Mercury is one of the few strategic materials of which the US has fulfilled its pres-
ent stockpile objective. The present stockpile, as of 30 June 1948, is 173,519 flasks com-
pared to a minimum objective of at least 125,000 flasks. The objective is the equivalent
of a two-year supply at the 1945 peak year consumption. In the event of another emer-
gency consumption would undoubtedly exceed that of 1945. New military uses are
being found for the mercury battery which was first manufactured on a large scale in
1945. Further development of the battery should make it necessary for the US to
hold its present stockpile intact. The flow of mercury has returned to prewar channels,
Spain and Italy having resumed their position as the chief world suppliers. In the
event of an emergency these countries probably would be cut off from the US, or at
least present a serious supply problem. The present stockpile may be adequate to
assure the US of a plentiful supply until domestic production, and that of Canada,
Mexico, and Chile could be stimulated. The stockpile is not adequate to meet US needs
during a long war.
There were approximately 200 mines producing in the US during the peak year of
World War II, whereas only three or four are still operating at the current price. The
high cost producers, closed by low market prices, total a strategic reserve of inestimable
benefit to the US in the event of a future emergency. World War II proved the strategic
importance of conserving marginal and submarginal deposits and their value at a time
when it is difficult or impossible to procure supplies from foreign sources. The meas-
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ured, indicated, and inferred reserves of the mines now closed are reported to total
330,000 flasks from ore workable at $195 a flask, and 481,500 flasks from ore workable
at $300 a flask. (See Table 10.)
A high price for a definite period may gradually increase the US mine output to
about 40,000 flasks annually. Similar contracts with Canadian producers and pur-
chases of the production of all of Mexico's mines at World War II prices, may produce
a total annual rate of 60,000 flasks from these two countries within three full years of
operation. In foreign countries payments should be made to the small individual oper-
ators immediately upon delivery of a shipment to the railroad instead of to brokers
who reaped large profits during World War II. Small operators had little capital,
could not wait a long time for payment, and were forced to sell at a low price to obtain
money to keep operating. Chile's output could be increased to 2,500 flasks by a high
price and long term contract. It would take several years, however, before US require-
ments, as well as those of Canada and the UK, could be supplied by Western Hemisphere
production. An increase in the present stockpile by purchases at $50 (duty free) a
flask, or lower, in Spain and Italy would be excellent insurance in event of a future
emergency. The price would have to be raised to at least $200 a flask in an emergency
in order to increase Western Hemisphere production to meet demands, and the time
factor of several years would be necessary. The present US price is as low as it was
in 1934, 1935, and 1936. It is doubtful if it will fall much lower, in fact, increases over
the present price may be expected early in 1949. The difficulties experienced in the
US in obtaining labor for mercury and other mines during World War II would be more
serious in a future emergency. These and transport problems could be prevented,
where mercury is concerned, by purchases made now. Also, a substantial US stock-
pile would mitigate the control the cartel holds over the domestic market in peacetime.
TABLE 3-UNITED STATES IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRIES
OF ORIGIN, 1937-1947
In Flasks of 76 Pounds
COUNTRY
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947'
1948
Canada
7,400
15,581
1,565
1,720
Chile
1,409
2,660
982
477
Honduras
...
23
Italy
336
3
...
...
..
...
...
5,038
1,516
1,101
Mexico
1,533
562
128
6,851
30,112
29,457
16,955
10,852
5,360
1,824
2,533
Nicaragua
...
...
...
...
20
...
...
...
...
Peru
153
...
...
...
Spain
7,042
1,251
2,601
40
104
55,392
3,127
2,161
21,567
Others
510
...
...
...
...
4,607'
5,414
0
Total
1 Less than 1 flask.
' Includes following amounts reexported to USSR and
of origin: 1942, 7,461 flasks; 1943, 14,852 flasks.
' General imports, preliminary figures.
3,107 flasks were imported from Japan and 1,500 flasks
7 months preliminary (general imports).
6 3,676 flasks were from Japan, 413 from Yugoslavia, 1,201
Kingdom, and 75 from Sweden.
SOURCES: Bureau of Mines and Department of Commerce.
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TABLE 4-UNITED STATES EXPORTS OF MERCURY, 1937-1947
1937
454
1938
713
1939
1,208'
1940
9,617
1941
2,590
1942
345 '
1943
385'
1944
750
1945
1,038
1946
907
1947
884
Canada received largest amount, 304 flasks.
Z The largest amounts shipped to individual countries were 5,178 flasks shipped to United
Kingdom and 1,598 to Japan.
1598 flasks were shipped to United Kingdom.
I In 1942, 7,461 flasks and in 1943, 14,852 flasks were exported to the USSR, but these amounts
have been redesignated as "reexports" since they consisted chiefly of imported metal that was
reshipped without changing its form.
SOURCE: Bureau of Mines.
The Almaden mine, 150 miles southwest of Madrid, is the most important mer-
cury deposit in the world. The mine has a record of almost continuous operation since
400 B.C. and its reserves are still believed to be the world's largest potential source of
mercury. There is no accurate production record for the first 1,900 years of opera-
tion but statistics have been recorded since 1500, giving an output of 6,622,434 flasks
mined during the last 446 years. However, since the Civil War in Spain, Italy has
been the largest mercury producer. The all-time peak year of production for Spain
was in 1941 when 86,473 flasks were produced. Almaden accounted for about ninety-
eight percent of this total although two other mines were operating. Spain normally
consumes less than ten percent of its mercury output, the remainder being exported.
Germany was the chief recipient of Spanish exports in prewar years and during the
war. The UK received some of its wartime requirements from Spain. Substantial
quantities were also purchased by the US, especially in 1945 when 55,392 flasks were
imported-a supply equal to one year's requirements at the wartime rate.
The Almaden mine is operated by the Consejo de Administration de las Minas de
Almaden and Arayanes, controlled by the Spanish Treasury. Reports indicate that
it is a wasteful operation with no attempts at economy or modern mining and treat-
ment methods with recovery as low as forty-five percent compared to over ninety per-
cent in Italy. Despite this, profits have been large because the ore is very rich, averag-
ing over six percent mercury and making Almaden by far the richest mercury deposit
in the world. Labor makes up about eighty percent of the cost, largely because of a
false fear of mercury poisoning which makes it necessary to pay workers a full monthly
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wage for only working forty-eight hours a month. The mine ceases operations from
June through September to allow the employees to farm. Due to wasteful mining and
treatment methods coupled with inflation, costs are believed to have risen to the pres-
ent market price, compared to a cost of about $11 a flask early in the war. With modern
mining and milling methods and efficient labor practices, costs could be reduced to $7
a flask or less.
Almaden is over 1,300 feet deep which is unusual, for mercury deposits are nor-
mally shallow. The ore has diminished in grade and volume with depth, but reserves
have been reported at 250,000 tons of measured ore averaging six to eight percent and
at least 650,000 tons of indicated ore averaging two and one-half percent mercury.
These deposits represent about one million flasks of mercury or about twenty-five
years of operation at a normal rate. Large potential reserves of high grade ore are
believed to exist in deposits to the east, along the strike of the formation in which the
mercury occurs at Almaden. These deposits occur in the valley of the Rio Valdeazogue
but are within the Almaden concession. (For description of Almaden mine see
Chart XIII.)
At the end of the war mercury stocks in Spain were reported to total 120,700 flasks.
A considerably decreased world consumption and large stocks in other countries made
sales difficult even at low prices. In 1947 Spain was unable to sell any mercury to US
firms at $65 a flask, plus $19 tariff, until August when a contract for 2,500 flasks was
made with P. R. Mallory Company, makers of the mercury battery. This sale was made
at $55 a flask, f.o.b. Cadiz. United States producers claim the sale was a violation of
the Antidumping Act of 1921. Mallory's agents, Philipp Brothers, requested a reduc-
tion in price to make mercury available for experiments. conducted in manufacturing
the mercury battery for commercial use. The Consejo Almaden agreed to the contract,
stating that the size of the order warranted the discount of slightly more than fifteen
percent, and that a large new market might be developed by the experiments. About
1,250 flasks were. sold to Berk & Company of London at a price of about $60 f.o.b. port,
a smaller discount, but a smaller order. Large orders, such as Mallory's, were given
substantial discounts in prewar years.
In 1947 Spain's mercury output amounted to 35,420 flasks and exports were 18,172
flasks compared with a 1946 production of 41,481 flasks and exports of 10,946 flasks.
During the first six months of 1948 Spanish exports of mercury increased to 52,707
flasks with more than 21,000 flasks shipped to the US. Production for the first half of
the year was 6,358 flasks, thus withdrawals of 46,349 were made from stocks which are
now believed to total at' least 75,000 flasks. Two British firms were reported in July
1948 to have purchased from Spain about 15,000 flasks which is equal to about one
year's consumption in the UK.
The following export figures for the period January 1 to June 30, 1948, were
released by the Spanish Customs Service in "Estadistica del Commercio Exterior de
Espana":
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COUNTRY NUMBER OF FLASKS EXPORTED
United States ................... 23,000
Canada ........................ 6,610
Great Britain, N. Ireland ......... 13,750
Argentina ...................... 1,175
Sweden ......................... 2,061
Holland ........................ 594
Germany ....................... 4,870
Denmark ....................... 60
Portugal ........................ 81
Venezuela ....................... 10
Others ......................... 14
TOTAL FLASKS .............. 52,225
The total of 52,225 flasks does not agree with the total of 52,707 flasks reported
to the US Embassy by Minas de Almaden y Arayanes. Almaden reported exports to
the following countries during the first quarter of the year: Switzerland, 98 flasks;
Australia, 136 flasks; South Africa, 200 flasks; and India, 202 flasks. These are not
included in the Table compiled by the Spanish Customs.
For many years Italy has vied with Spain for the position of the world's largest
mercury producer. Italy's output of 94,161 flasks in 1941 was the all-time annual
peak for any country. Between five and fifteen percent of the country's output is con-
sumed domestically. The all-time peak for exports was reached in 1940 when 73,680
flasks were shipped. Before the war, Germany, the UK, and the US received most of
Italy's exports whereas during the war all shipments went to Germany and Japan. The
two largest producing mines are the Abbadia San Salvatore and the Solforate del Siele.
The Idria mine was ceded to Yugoslavia by the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty at the
end of World War II.
The Abbadia and Siele mines, as well as numerous other prospects, are in the
Monte Amiata district in Siena and Grosseta Provinces, seventy-five miles north of
Rome, within a mineralized area eighteen miles long by six miles wide. Practically
all the mines were damaged during the German withdrawal but have since been repaired.
Surface outcrops in the Monte Amiata district were worked by the Etruscans sev-
eral centuries B.C., but these properties were idle until rediscovered in 1868. The
Abbadia San Salvatore mine has been Italy's largest producer except for 1940 and
1941 when it was surpassed by Siele. The Italian government controls fifty-three
percent of the shares of the company. Reserves are reported to be large with the
ore averaging over one percent mercury. S.A.M.A.,1 which owns Abbadia San Salvatore,
has several other properties which have yet to.be developed.
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The Siele property is six miles south of the Abbadia and. is owned by a private cor-
poration, Stablimento Minerario del Siele, which pays the government an annual con-
cession rent of 10,000 lire plus a royalty of 2,000 lire per flask. Peak year of produc-
tion for the Siele mine was 1940 when 41,479 flasks were mined compared with 37,777
flasks for the entire US for that year. Average grade of ore mined was 2.87 percent in
1940 and about two percent in ' 1944. Measured reserves were 225,000 flasks in 1946
while indicated and inferred were several times this figure. All of this is said to be in
the Solforate del Siele mine and does not include other properties owned by the com-
pany, some of which are now being developed. Siele, as well as Monte Amiata, is a mem-
ber of the cartel but can withdraw at the end of the year by giving three months' notice.
The Argus mine, near the Siele, is also owned by a private company, Societa
Anonima Mineraria Argus of Milan. Maximum annual output has been about 7,000
flasks. The Argus mine is believed to be closed down at the present time because of the
low price.
Mining methods in Italy in prewar years were much different from those of Spain.
Labor was relatively efficient and methods were economical in Italy. Because of greater
efficiency and a high recovery, production costs of mercury in Italy were comparable
to those in Spain although the Italian ore was lower grade. In fact, costs at Siele were
less than half those of Almaden in 1937. When the war ended, costs (based on dollar
equivalents at official exchange rates) in Italy rose near those of Spain due to relatively
greater depreciation of the lire and to the government insisting that a full labor force
be employed despite a reduced output. Costs could be reduced to $10 a flask at Siele
by utilizing the present labor force to its best advantage and with improvements in
stoping, placing fill, timbering, loading mine cars, ventilation and haulage.
During 1946, Sr. Armenise, the president of Stablimento del Siele, approached a
Canadian company, controlled by US capital, with a proposal to sell a stock interest in
the Italian firm. A study of the mine was made by American engineers, who reported
favorably, but the companies were unable to come to terms.
When the war ended, stocks in Italy were very small, for the Germans shipped
all stocks to Germany before their retreat. With an output of 50,822 flasks in 1946 and
53,984 flasks in 1947, large stocks are being built up since sales have been small. Italian
producers were reported to have stocks totalling 90,000 flasks in July 1948 with at least
10,000 flasks held by speculators and consumers. Spain was offering US firms mer-
cury at $54 a flask, f.o.b. Spanish ports, in April 1948, whereas Italian companies were
getting $55 to $60 a flask, f.o.b. railhead in Italy. Siele has reduced its output to less
than 1,000 flasks per month because of its large stocks; it could produce 4,000 flasks
a month if markets were available, whereas Monte Amiata could produce 5,000 flasks
a month. Average annual Italian consumption is about 5,800 flasks. The present
retort capacity of all Italy is about 5,000 flasks a month, of which 3,200 are at the
Amiata plant and 1,800 at Siele.
Although Italy is supposed to receive 38.5 percent of the cartel's sales, exports from
Italy in 1948 have been very much smaller than those of Spain. Italian exports of
mercury have dropped monthly, stocks have increased, and the July production was
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reduced to about 2,800 flasks. The 1948 production is not expected to exceed 29,000
flasks. Monte Amiata and Siele have decreased their respective outputs but these
companies are still forced to keep a larger number of workers than are necessary.
The two small Italian firms, S. A. Mineraria Argus and Soc. Italiana An. Mercurio,
have been hard hit by this crisis. Argus has shut down and dismissed its workers,
while the output of SIAM has been severely curtailed. Conferences of industrialists,
workers and exporters have been held to determine how the situation can be improved.
The Italian Government has assured the industry that it will endeavor to include
mercury in future trade agreements in an attempt to reduce stocks. The mercury
producers are endeavoring to obtain credit from the government, a reduction in taxes
and transport fees, and the right to reduce their labor forces at will. The government
is believed to have approved a fifty percent reduction in the labor force and a reduc-
tion in output to about 2,200 flasks a month.
(Detailed descriptions of Italian mines are given in Charts Nos. XII and XIII.)
The mine output of mercury increased from 7,376 flasks in 1939 to a peak of 32,443
flasks in 1942. Initial stimulation was the high price being offered by the Japanese.
The UK and US were the chief recipients of exports before the war, with small quantities
going to South American countries. Japan offered a higher price than the US in
1940 and 1941 and received large quantities. An agreement reached in July 1941
between the US and Mexico provided that the former would obtain the surplus produc-
tion of certain strategic commodities, including mercury, then placed under export
control by the Mexican Government. The US obligated itself to acquire surpluses of
metal over and above that sold through regular channels to nations in the Western
Hemisphere having export limitations in effect similar to those in Mexico. Toward
the end of 1943 demand for mercury eased and prices began to decline, as did mine
output. By 1947 production had fallen to about 9,700 flasks with a further drop
expected in 1948. At the present low price Mexican producers are finding competition
more difficult than in prewar years. Costs and taxes are higher than ever, and it is
difficult to continue operating.
Mercury deposits are widely distributed in Mexico. Occurrences have been reported
in more than 200 localities scattered through two-thirds of the States of Mexico. There
are six major districts: Nuevo Mercurio, Zacatecas; Sain Alto, Zacatecas; Canoas, Zaca-
tecas; Cuarenta, Durango; Huitzuco, Guerrero; and Huahuaxtla, Guerrero. The Nuevo
Mercurio district is in the desert country of northern Zacatecas and was discovered in
1940. It was the largest producer during the war, accounting for more than 7,000
flasks annually in peak years. The district is made up of a few low limestone hills in
a wide expanse of sand flats. Water has to be shipped forty miles by rail and fifteen
miles by truck. Mineralization is largely found at intersections of faults in anticlines.
There were sixteen principal mines and fifty smaller mines operating at Nuevo Mer-
curio during the war with over 200 prospects. Over 900 retort tubes were in opera-
tion in Mexico in the early years of the war, but by early 1943 these had been replaced
by the newly developed Manfrino and by Herreschoff furnaces.
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The ore deposits in the Sain Alto district of western Zacatecas are of two types,
fissure fillings in sandstone and shale, and shear zones in- rhyolite. Cinnabar occurs
in small rich pockets unsuitable to large scale operations and worked best by the
local "gambusinos". In the Canoas district of southeast Zacatecas the ore is found
in fracture zones in rhyolite. The output from Canoas was relatively small.
The Cuarenta district is located in the semiarid mountain region of northern
Durango and was discovered in 1932. The deposits are situated along fault zones in
rhyolite and along a tilted contact of granite and conglomerate. Greatest production
occurred between 1940 to 1943, when it reached about 3,600 flasks annually. Opera-
tions stopped in August 1943 owing to the decrease in the price of mercury.
The Huitzuco group of mines, sixteen miles east of Iguala in Guerrero, was dis-
covered in 1869. The deposits are novel for the ore is livingstonite, a rare mercury-
antimony sulfide. The ore occurs in lenses and fissure fillings, and was concentrated
by flotation. Mining was discontinued early in 1944 because of the low price of
mercury.
The Huahuaxtla mine, about twenty miles north of Iguala in Guerrero, was dis-
covered in 1923; the main ore deposit occurs in a gouge zone between limestone and
shale. Production reached 2,000 flasks annually early in the war.
The mercury industry in Mexico is finding it difficult to continue producing at
present low prices and the 1948 output has been reduced considerably over that of 1947.
Production amounted to 9,698 flasks in 1947 while exports totalled 9,654 flasks, of which
? 5,578 flasks went to the UK and 2,453 to the US. There is little prospect of improve-
ment or even of maintaining the present position unless the price increases. Mexican
mines cannot compete or maintain large production in a completely free market. Only
a few mines are continuing operations and these are high grading. Representatives of
the cartel recently visited Mexico for the purpose of including Mexican producers in
the cartel. It is reported that this plan has been dropped temporarily because it was
found that Mexico was not a sufficiently important producer at present because of the
low world price.
Mexico has important reserves of mercury which could supply the US with a large
part of its requirements in an emergency. Output could readily be increased by a high
price and a contract for that country's exportable surplus for a fixed period. The
system of purchasing should suit the local conditions in Mexico, that is, payment should
be made to individual producers immediately on delivery of a shipment to the near-
est railhead, regardless of the small size of the shipment. The small operator in Mexico
does not have sufficient capital to wait a long time for payment.
(Descriptions of the individual mines are given in Charts VIII, IX, X, and XI.)
0
Domestic consumption was met by imports of 1,000-2,000 flasks before World War
II, domestic production accounting for only six flasks in 1939. The substantial increase
in price and the impending shortage of mercury in the Western Hemisphere led to
exploration and development of mercury deposits in British Columbia. In 1942 and
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1943 the US Government's Metals Reserve Company contracted for the purchase of
mercury from the Pinchi Lake Mine of Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company,
Ltd., and the Bralorne Takla Mine of Bralorne Mines, Ltd. By 1943 Canadian produc-
tion reached a peak of 22,240 flasks, the Pinchi Lake mine becoming in that year the
largest producer in the Western Hemisphere. The Metals Reserve contract was ter-
minated with Consolidated Mining and Smelting in the fall of 1943 when large stocks
began to build up in the US. The Pinchi Lake mine soon produced a large surplus and
was closed in July 1944 because there, too, large stocks had been built up and the mine
labor was needed at the company's lead mine. From 1940-1944 Pinchi Lake mine
yielded 52,600 flasks of mercury valued at $10,000,000.
The Metals Reserve contract with Bralorne ran until September 1944 when that
company's newly developed property closed, and Canada did not produce mercury in
1945, 1945, or 1947. Both mines occur in the same belt along a major fault zone, 150
miles long and from 200 to 1,000 feet wide. The potential of this mercury belt is
believed to be considerable, but the low price of mercury, the high cost of supplies and
transport, and the shortage of mine labor will prevent the mines from reopening.
The mercury belt, however,. is extremely important to the US and the British Empire
as a major source of mercury in an emergency. The output could readily supply the
emergency requirements of the UK and Canada and provide large amounts to the US.
During an emergency the mercury mines compete with lead, zinc, and other mines
for the mine labor in the area.
Canada imported 2,010 flasks in 1946 and 5,430 flasks in 1947. The increase in
imports was due to the installation of mercury cells for use in a new caustic soda plant.
Aside from this installation Canadian consumption amounted to 2,646 flasks in 1947.
PERU
The Santa Barbara mine, Province of Huancavelica, was first opened by the Span-
iards in 1599 to supply the South American Colonies with mercury for amalgamation
of gold and silver from their ores. The mine closed in 1839 after producing 1,479,000
flasks of mercury making it one of the world's largest all-time producers. High prices
and the attempt to increase the mercury output of the Hemisphere by purchase con-
tracts resulted in the reopening of the Santa Barbara mine and the development of a
new mine in the Chonta district. Production reached a World War II peak of 326
flasks in 1943 but mining ceased entirely in 1946.
(For a description of the mines see Chart No. XI.)
The mercury produced in Chile is mined with gold at the Punitaqui mine in Ovalle
Province. Cinnabar occurs in the northern part of the mine workings. The peak
-year of production was 1943 when 2,561, flasks were produced as the result of a contract
-concluded-on January 26, 1942, between the US and Chile for 9,000 flasks of Chilian
mercury in eighteen months, but this amount was never reached: A new. agreement
was concluded in August 1943, effective for another twelve months. . Prior to 1942
0
0
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0
Chile's output was shipped to the UK, Japan, and South America. Production has
declined in recent years with the decrease in the price of mercury.
(The Punitaqui mine is described in Chart No. XI.)
The Monarch Kop mine in the Letaba district of Transvaal was developed with gov-
ernment financial aid and began producing in 1940. By 1943 production reached 1,189
flasks annually, the country was self-sufficient for the first time, and small amounts
were exported. Imports from Spain and Italy formerly supplied all domestic require-
ments, important amounts being consumed in the gold industry. In 1944 the output
reached a peak of 1,192 flasks and fell off in subsequent years. The mine recently
closed down owing to the low price for mercury and to the exhaustion of developed
reserves. (See Chart XIII.)
Production of Algeria reached 791 flasks in 1940, mined from the Ras-El-Ma deposit
in the Department of Constantine. The deposit is small, the ore averages less than
0.5 percent. The entire output is shipped to France. In 1947 the output amounted
to 348 flasks. (See Chart XIII.)
40
In normal years Germany was the "second largest consumer of mercury with an
average annual consumption of 21,710 flasks for the period 1925-1929 and 18,480
flasks from 1930-1938. With the advent of war German apparent consumption, ex-
ceeded that of the US by approximately 15,000 flasks in 1938 and by 1940 reached a
peak of more than.85,000 flasks. Italy and Spain were the principal. sources of supply.
Spanish mercury was sent to Germany in payment for a debt owed Germany. Ger-
man exports were small until 1943 when 5,570 flasks were exported, mainly to Japan.
TABLE 5-MERCURY PRODUCED IN,,IMPORTgD.INTO,_AND EXPORTED
FROM GERMANY, 1935-44, IN FLASKS OF 76 POUNDS .
1935
116
24,918
435
1936
1,102
19,958
348
1937
174
25,904
174
1938
1,363
32,866
58
1939
1,102
24,802
116
1940
870
84,326
87
1941
522
66,457:
551
1942
522
49,372
435
40
1943
...
60,076
5,570
1944
...
24,860
1,363
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Germany was the largest consumer of mercury in the world in 1940 and 1941.
A large part of this increase resulted from the gradual conversion to mercury cells in
the production of chlorine and caustic soda. Increased consumption also resulted from
the expansion of synthetic rubber plants, mercury-arc rectifiers, and other electrical
devices. The easy availability of mercury to Germany in the prewar period, and the
shortage of other vital materials, encouraged its use in new projects and as a sub-
stitute for materials in short supply.
The only important mercury deposit in Germany is the Landsberg mine at Ober-
moschel near Bingen in the Rhein Palatinate. After being idle for nearly a century,
the mine was reopened with government assistance in 1934 under the general pro-
gram for increasing national self-sufficiency in production. The ore averaged 0.2 per-
cent and production costs were correspondingly high. The government expected the
mine to produce about 3,500 flasks a year, but peak output was 1,775 flasks produced
in 1937. By 1942 only about 522 flasks were mined and the mine closed down, pre-
sumably because sufficient mercury was being received from Italy to supply all needs.
At the end of the war large stocks of mercury were found in Germany (all but 9,000
flasks were shipped to the US stockpile. The 9,000 flasks remaining were sold in
Belgium.
Domestic requirements and a small surplus for exports are normally provided for
by the Mariabana and Mernik mines near Vranov and Teplov in Slovakia. Before
World War II these mines were owned by a French company. Recent details on the
ownership and operation of these mines are lacking. It is probable that they have
come under government ownership as a result of the nationalization of Czechoslovakian
industry. The 1940 output was 2,582 flasks but is believed to have dropped in subsequent
years.
At the end of World War II, the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty gave Yugoslavia
the Italian territory surrounding Trieste, including the Idria mine which had been
ceded to Italy by Austria after World War I. The Idria mine was operated by the
Italian government and its production was subject to cartel control until siezed by
the Yugoslavs. The mine is now operated by Rudnik Ziveta Sreba, controlled by the
Yugoslav government. Idria is one of the largest all-time producers but its reserves
are believed to be limited. Prewar production averaged about 8,000-10,000 flasks
annually. The mine is reported to be operating at the present time; in fact 1,500 flasks
were shipped to the USSR from Yugoslavia in the last querter of 1947, and significant
quantities are being shipped to the USSR. Idria is selling small quantities on world
markets at prices slightly under those quoted by the cartel. It is doubtful if production
could be increased to more than 15,000 flasks per year for reserves are not extensive.
Explorations by the Italians at the beginning of the war failed to reveal any new ore
bodies.
CONFIDENTIAL 20
0
?
40
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0
1940
13,800
1941
14,600
1942
11,050
1943
8;400
1944
1,670
0
There are two principal deposits in Turkey, the Ahirli and Karareis mines both
of which are on the Karaburnu Peninsula and are easily accessible by sea. Turkish
mercury production increased to 597 flasks a year in 1938, but fell off in subsequent
years. During World War II the Turkish army was the principal buyer with small
quantities exported to UK, Egypt, and Palestine. The mines have been worked only
during periods of high prices. Equipment and methods are primitive while the ore
is low grade. The mines are reported to be. capable of a substantial increase in output,
possibly to 5,000 flasks a year, if crushing equipment, a modern furnace, and a new
haulage system were installed.
In 1938 a partnership, the Karareis Mercury Mines Operating Company, Ltd.,
was formed between Karareis, fifty-five percent government owned, and the Turkish
owners of Ahirli. The government then turned over its interests to this company
provided the mines were operated according to government regulations.
0
The largest production since 1925 was in 1939 when 4,918 flasks were mined
while the peak year of exports was in 1940 when shipments totalled 6,258 flasks. There
is a small domestic consumption for amalgamation purposes and in making vermilion
and, possibly, fulminate. The Chinese mercury deposits occur within a belt 420 miles
long by 180 miles wide, extending from western Hunan southwest through Kweichou,
Yunan, and into Kwangsi and Szechuan Provinces. Hunan was the principal producer
through 1940 but Kweichou has had the largest output since that time. The mines
are small and scattered, with the ore averaging about one percent mercury. Mining
methods are primitive and operations are not carried on during the farming season.
Ore is treated in native retort furnaces and losses are high. The mines are largely
controlled by the Chinese National Resources Commission.
When German armies captured the USSR's chief producer of mercury, China,
as well as the US was called upon to make up the deficiency in supply. In 1941 China
exported about 3,480 flasks to the USSR; in 1942 about 5,800 flasks were shipped.
Although China's deposits are small, they are numerous and of considerable po-
tential importance. No study of reserves is believed to have been made and there is
little development ahead of mining. Technical assistance is needed and, should this
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be supplied, China will have an important surplus for export over and above domestic
requirements.
Stock-piling of mercury for war purposes appears to have been started in Japan as
early as 1935 with a sharp increase in purchases from Spain and Italy, Japan's chief
sources of supply. Imports reached a peak of 38,051 flasks in 1941. In the succeed-
ing years imports exceeded 600 flasks in one year only, 1943, when Italy and Germany
shipped a total of 7,842 flasks. Korea was the main recipient of small exports, with
some mercury going to Formosa for amalgamation of gold ores. Mine output was
inconsequential before World War II, amounting to only 368 flasks in 1937, and Japan
depended on imports for its annual requirements of about 12,000-14,000 flasks. Gov-
ernment assistance in the form of subsidies and the discovery in Hokkaido of the
Itomuka mine which accounted for more than three-fourths of Japan's wartime output,
increased domestic production to a peak of 7,096 flasks in the year 1944.
Production amounted to 1,421 flasks in 1946 with only Itomuka and Oketo operat-
ing at the end of the year. Japan's future requirements have been estimated at
5,800 to 8,700 flasks annually of which domestic production may be able to supply
one-half. Japan's known reserves were reported to total 43,964 flasks in 1945, but
much of this is low in grade. Practically all the above-marginal reserves are in the
Itomuka mine. Several of the mines are equipped with flotation plants but at Ito-
muka losses were high and flotation did not prove economical. The average grade
of ore mined declined from 1.9 percent mercury in 1939 to 0.18 percent in 1945. Future
operations will necessitate selective mining to operate economically, together with
efficient exploration, mining, milling and distillation methods.
CONFIDENTIAL 22
0
9
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0
YEAR
IMPORTS
MINE OUTPUT
.
EXPORTS
APPARENT
1930
7,167
121
348
6,940
1931
7,640
102
406
7,336
1932
9,883
69
696
9,256
1933
10,703
234
812
10,125
1934
14,442
196
754
13,884
1935
23,673
148
899
22,922
1936
14,845
429
957
14,317
1937
16,003
368
783
15,588
1938
11,078
716
377
11,417
1939
14,500
1,429
870
15,059
1940
19,020
3,520
870
21,670
1941
38,120
4,323
1,450
40,993
1942
546
5,197
1,450
4,293
1943
7,842
6,706
1,041
13,507
1944
349
7,096
635
6,810
1945
3
3,139
145
2,997
1946
....
1,361
1947.
....
1,619
....
In prewar years the USSR was self-sufficient and the world's fourth largest
producer, with an output of about 8,700 flasks of seventy-six pounds annually, prac-
tically all of which was produced at the Nikitovka mines in the Ukraine. The Ger-
man armies closed in on the mines in 1941, but the Russians removed the equipment
to deposits further east before the Germans arrived. However, the USSR had lost its
one large producer at a time when consumption was almost immediately increased by
war requirements (fulminate primers, pharmaceuticals, etc.) from 8,700 flasks to a
rate of more than 15,000 flasks annually. Large-scale production of mercury deposits
in Asiatic Russia began in 1939 or 1940 with the building and expansion of Im.
Frunze, an antimony-mercury combine. After the loss of Nikitovka, production of
Im. Frunze at Khaidarkan, Chauvai, and Turgai in Central Asia was increased and
exploitation of other deposits began, such as the Chagan-Uzun in the Altai Mountains
and those near Vladivostok in Siberia. Estimated 1943 capacity of the Im. Frunze
combine was believed to be about 5,000 flasks; Chagan-Uzun, 2,500; and the Siberian
deposits, 800.
By the summer of 1942 domestic production is believed to have reached a produc-
tion rate of about 6,500 flasks annually. Chinese mercury shipments amounting to
3,480 flasks in 1941 and 5,800 flasks in 1942 were flown to Russia from Kunming to
alleviate the shortage but supplies still became drastically short. The USSR requested
23 CONFIDENTIAL
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7,000 flasks of mercury from the US during 1942 and almost 8,000 flasks were shipped
during that year through Lend-Lease.
At the end of 1942 USSR authorities requested that additional supplies from both
China and the US be shipped immediately. Preparations were being made for an
offensive and requirements increased considerably.
During 1943 about 15,000 flasks were shipped to the USSR, again under Lend-Lease,
but Chinese shipments dropped off. No further requests to the US were made and the
only imports were in the form of manufactured goods. From 1943 through 1946
the USSR imported 7,366 flasks from China. No mercury was shipped from China to
the USSR during 1947.
The present position of the USSR is apparently one of self-sufficiency where civilian
requirements are concerned; in fact, productive capacity including the Nikitovka
mines, now reported to be back in operation, is believed to equal the wartime demand.
Should purchases be made in the near future by the USSR they would be. limited to low-
priced offerings for stockpile purposes. The Mercurio Europeo, international mercury
cartel, has large stocks of mercury on hand and would like to sell substantial quantities
without materially affecting the market. This could only be done by selling to the
USSR or to other governments for stockpile purposes and may be a possibility.
Although the mercury mines of the USSR and Satellite countries should be able
to meet all domestic demands in event of an emergency, a stockpile would be needed
to maintain a constant flow to industry. Many deposits have been reported but most
of these have yet to be exploited. Lack of equipment is a major limiting factor. With
more intensive exploitation, it is probable that the output of mines in the USSR could
be increased to 17,000 flasks annually within a few years. This would approximate
the World War II rate of consumption. At the same time the Idria mine, now held by
the Yugoslavs could supply at least 8,000 flasks annually to the USSR, and Czechoslovak
production could be increased.
. If the USSR should invade Europe, about 175,000 flasks would fall into the hands
of the Soviets. There are at least 75,0.00 in. Spain and 100,000 in Italy as well as
small stocks in France, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
0
0
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TABLE 7-WORLD PRODUCTION OF MERCURY 1938-47, BY COUNTRIES
(In Flasks of 76 Pounds)
?
0
Algeria 191 256 791 147 121 146 165 326 340 348
Australia :
New South
Wales ... 8 1 2 ... 8 8 8
Queensland ... 3 37 34 15 15 12 3 ...
Austria 1 9 1 8 8 . 4 e 8 8
Bolivia
(exports) ... 7 ... ... ... 51 2 3
Canada 10 6 2,024 7,057 13,630 22,240 9,682 ... ...
Chile 44 1008 100 8 1,305 2,256 2,563 1,181 862 827 8
China 560 4,931 3,403 2,756 4,293 3,133 3,510 1,828 1,189 290
Czechoslo-
vakia 2,900 2,669 2,582 8 , 8 8 8 8 8
Germany 1,392 1,218 957 899 493 3,480 1 8 3,480 8 a 8 8
Italy 66,752 67,154 91,230 94,161 75,885 61,945 22,997 25,527 50,822 53,984
Japan- 592 1,358 3,394 4,323 5,197 6,706 7,096 3,139 1,361 1,619
Korea
(Chosen) 16 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mexico 8,519 7,376 11,653 23,137 32,443 28,321 26,053 16,443 11,661 9,700
New
Zealand 10 ... ... 73 150 93 90 30 ... 8
Peru ... ... ... ... 145 326 152 209 5 ...
Rumania ... 21 176 8 8 8 8
Southern
Rhodesia 2 1 2 3 2 2 ... ...
Spain 41,409 35,912 52,214 86,473 72,288 47,756 34,349 40,694 41,801 35,420
Sweden ... ... ... 59 11 ... 21 1 . 8
Tunisia 270 58 125 88 3 2 ... ... ... 8
Turkey 597 359 500 242 176 271 143 158 75
Union of
S. Africa ... ... 42 204 579 1,189 1,192 852 764 ...
1 1 8
USSR 8,700-
United
States 17,991 18,633 37,777 44,921 50,846 51,929 37,688 30,763 25,348 23,244
Yugoslaviag ... ... ... ... ... .... a a
'Estimates included in the total.
2 Production less than 1 flask.
8 Data not yet available; estimate included in the total.
4 Included under Germany.
8 Includes Austria.
"Estimate.
7 Preliminary.
8 Output of Idria Mine included under Italy until ceded to Yugoslavia after World War II.
Present output believed to be at the rate of 10,000 flasks annually. C.I.A. estimate.
SOURCE: Bureau of Mines.
0
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~r
N O
C9
000 O
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Cl
Ch c+o
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CONFIDENTIAL 226
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TABLE 9-MERCURY CONSUMED IN THE UNITED STATES, 1937, 1942-47,
(In Flasks of 76 Pounds)
0
1937 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947
Pharmaceuticals
8,088
14,563
8,358
11,166
4,093
3,037
Dental preparations
1,198
566
442
537
1,086
598
Fulminate:
Munitions
l
1,931
Blasting caps
} 4,146
J
{ 1,211
1,890
1,115
682
538
Agriculture
1,533
1,993
3,930
2,862
3,134
5,622
Antifouling paint
1,220
2,702
.2,439
1,661
994
760
Electrolytic preparation
of-Chlorine Caustic Soda
549
691
657
597
546
665
Catalysts
3,253
4,432
4,764
3,650
3,310
5,079
Electrical apparatus'
4,550
3,284
7,092
24,468
3,849
6,720
Industrial and con-
trol instruments'
3,529
3,674
3,249
3,776
3,960
4,686
Amalgamation
180
24
29
205
76
119
General laboratory
294
360
265
337
196
199
Vermilion
215
185
2
2
2
Redistilled 1
6,175
5,384
6,613
9,712
5,572
4,653
Other
9,103-
10,880
2,236
2,343
3,167
1,701
35,000'
49,700 6
54,500
3
42,900 6
62,429
31;200 6
35,100
' A partial breakdown of the "redistilled" mercury showed its largest use was for industrial
and control instruments and the remainder for dental preparations, electrical apparatus, and
laboratory purposes.
' Included in "Other."
S A large part was used for chemical warfare purposes.
' Apparent consumption, breakdown not available before 1942.
6 The items do not add up to total which has been increased to cover approximate total
consumption.
SOURCE: Bureau of Mines.
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TABLE 10-ESTIMATED MERCURY RESERVES OF THE UNITED STATES,
INCLUDING. ALASKA, AS OF JANUARY 1944
(In Flasks of 76 Pounds)
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Idaho
Nevada
Oregon
Texas
Washington
Total
a~~~rr
vii 'a zs
Cd .0
cd U
cd.0
Cd V
o
"
cd U j
w
M
0
300 300 600 9,500 14,200 23,700 14,500
30,200 44,700
... 500 500 3,500 3,500 7,000 3,500
3,500 7,000
200 3,500 3,700 200
3,500 3,700
31,000 34,000 65,000 72,400 107,400 179,800 90,300
160,600 250,900
... 1,000 1,000 14,300 3,700 18,000 34,000
5,400 39,400
5,400 8,000 13,400 25,000 50,000 75,000 29,000
75,000 104,000
3,500 1,000 4,500 10,000 6,800 16,800 13,000
7,800 20,800
500 500 1,000 2,500 3,000 5,500 3,000
6,000 9,000
... ... ... 500 500 ...
2,000 2,000
40,700 45,300 86,000 137,400 192,600 330,000 187,500
294,000 481,500
1Ore at most mines is indicated and inferred because ore is extracted during development.
Z Cumulative totals.
SOURCE: Bureau of Mines.
0
0
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No.
Name and Location
Ownership and Nation-
Production
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RF372VES
PRODUCTION METHODS
TRANSPORTATION
on
of Mine or Produc-
ality of Controlling
-.ear Flasks of
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
and Plant Capacities
Labor Deployed
Map
ing Area
Capital
76 pounds
and other Data
ALASKA
1.
Decourcey Mine,
Decourcey Mining Co.
Lenses of cinnabar averaging 1 foot thick occur
Cinnabar lenses developed by
Air service from
Decourcey Mountain
United States Control.
along 5 zones of enrichment in sandstone and shale
surface trenches and adits. Ore
Flat to Decourcey on
Region, 35 miles
beds over 1,800 feet in length and 385 feet in
hand sorted to 30 percent Hg.
charter basis at Jk3O
southwest of Flat
width. Sedimentary beds intruded by dikes and sills
conc. Retort plant constructed
a trio.800 lbs. of
on east slope of
of diabase. Ore bodies vary in dip from 50 to 80
at mine. Output 1944, 400 fl.
freight. From Fair-
Iditarod River.
Alaska Production
degrees. Ore averages 32 lbs. Hg per ton. Reserves:
(est.)
banks to Flat,
Developed ore, 6,970 tons containing 322 lbs. Hg
freight by air is 26
1940 162
per ton.
eta. a pound
1941 Not separated
1942 Not separated
2.
Red Devil Mine, 8
New Idria - Alaska Co.
1943 786
Cinnabar associated with stibnite in brecciated and
Mined underground through adits
Transported by boat
miles west of Sleit-
Headquarters: San
1944 548
altered andesite dikes of Tertiary age intruding
and shafts. Cut and fill method
to United States.
nut, which is on the
Francisco, California.
1945 Not separated
Upper Cretaceous sandstone and shales. Ore occurs in
of mining. 40-ton wood-fired
Owners also operate
Kushokwim. River
United States Control
1946 699
form of lenses in both andesito and sediments along
Gould Rotary furnace. Develop-
New Idria mine in
about midway
the contact. Ore avera,,es l2 Hg. Reserves: 4
ment partially financed by Gov-
California. Mine
between Bethel and
lenses have total indicated reserve 11,000 tons
ernment Funds. Further opera-
could yield 300 to
McGrath. George-
45.3 lbs. Hg/ton. 7 lenses inferred reserve 15,000
tions depend on higher prices.
400 flasks a month
town District
tons 36.7 lbs. Hg/ton.
for a few years at
610 46'N 1570 20'W
high prices.
CANADA
Canada Production
3.(a)
Pinchi Lake Mine
Consolidated Mining
1939 6
The two mines are 90 miles apart but both occur in
Mine developed by a 3-compartment
Pinchi Lake capacity
12 miles from Fort
and Smelting Co.
1940 2,024
the same belt which lies along a major fault zone
shaft, 250 feet deep on 65 degree
increased 20 times
St. James, on
Headquarters Trail,
1941 7,057
about 150 miles long and from 200 to 1000 feet wide.
incline. Six mine levels opened,
in 3 years. Start-
Manson Creek,
B. C. Canadian
1942 13,630
The ore bodies at these two mines and elsewhere along
total of about 5,000 feet of
ad producing in 1940
British Columbia
Control.
1943 22,240
the belt are found in sheared and brecciated lime-
drifts, 6,000 feet of raises and
and tried cold press-
1944 9,682
stone or in carbonitized serpeitine with fault gouge
20,366 feet of diamond drilling.
ing but discontinued
3.(b)
Bralorne Takla Vine
Bralorne Mines Ltd.
1945 ---
and impervious caprock often controlling deposition
Treatment plant capacity 1200 tons
it because it proved
Takla Lake
1946 ---
of cinnabar. At Pinchi Lake, the larger cinnabar ore
ore per day consists of coarse
unsuccessful. Mines
British Columbia
bodies are in limestone overlain by schist. The
crushing by gyratory crushers,
closed down in 1944
Pinchi Lake 52,600
grade varies considerably from 0.25 to 3% Hg.
wedge roasters, rotary kiln fur-
with cancellation of
from 1940-44, value
naces and condensers. Reported
contracts with
$10.000,000.
mercury recovery 95%, impurities
United States.
Bralorne 1,700
0.005%.
in 9 months.
CALIFORNIA
4.
New Idria Mine,
New Idria Quicksilver
Largest producer in
Ore is cinnabar in silicified shale breccia beneath
Mine developed by means of adite
Produces more mer-
57 miles south of
Mining Co.
the United States.
steep thrust fault that brings Jurassic sandstone
at levels 200, 300, 400, 500, 700
cury annually than
Tree Pines, 67 miles
United States Control.
Accounted for more
and serpentine against overturned Cretaceous shale
and 1,000 ft. below outcrop5from
its next three
southeast of Holli-
than 1/3 country's
and sandstone beds. Both ore and silicified zones
1,000 ft. level a three comport-
United States oom-
ster, 55 miles south-
production in 1946.
are controlled by changes in dip and strike of fault
ment winze extends to 1,400 ft.
petitors. 75-100
east of Mendozo.
Second largest all
and are principally in inverted troughs. Main min-
level. Total length of under-
worlonen.
San Benito County.
time producer.
eralized zone, which contains several ore shoots is
ground workings is 20 miles. Ore
Altitude 2,500 to
20-100 feet wide, 1,000 feet long and 1,500 feet
is processed in 4 Gould rotary
5,200 feet.
deep. Ore averages 0.5 - 1.5% Hg. Reserves: Old
furnaces.
dumps and stops fills which contributed much to pro-
duction in recent years are largely exhausted. Newly
discovered ore shoots are large and high grade.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
CONF' ENTIAL
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor asployed
and Other Data
CALIFORNIA (Cont'd.)
5.
Lea Grant Mine,
Ownership not reported.
Cinnabar is disseminated in sandstone?and fills
Shallow surface and underground
20 miles north of
United States Control.
fractures therein. There are at least 5 zones of
workings, widely scattered. 100-
Idria, 45 miles
mineralization. Ore averages 0.2% Hg. Mineralized
ton rotary furnace.
southeast of Holli-
area is about one square mile. Individual ore
ster, San Benito.
shoots are pockety and known reserves are small.
6.
Sulphur Bank Mine,
Bradley Mining Co.
Total production to
Cinnabar disseminated within highly kaolinized zones
Open pit mine. Roughly one
Reserves 1944:
near the southeast
United States.
the end of 1944 was
of altered "bouldery" andesite, especially near con-
square mile in area. Ever-
Measured none, Indi-
arm of Clear Lake,
126, 285 flasks.
tacts and in open spaces formed by joint planes or
increasing amounts of overburden
cated and Inferred
10 miles north of
small faults. Cinnabar also forms thin "paint" in
must be moved in order to main-
34,170 flasks from
the town of Lower
the Franciscan fault breccia beneath the andesite,
tain a constant amount of ore.
165,000 tons of ore.
Lake, Lake County.
chiefly around sandstone boulders in fault breccia
In 1938, 144,999 dry tons of
Gould Rotary furnace.
exposed in bottom of Herman pit. Ore averages
waste rock was excavated and
0.6 - 0.7% Hg.
22,186 tons of 0.72% ore mined.
7.
Abbott Mine
International Metal
Third largest pro-
Details on geology not available. Ore averages
Extensive underground workings,
Transport by truck
eastern boundary of
Development, Inc.
ducer in the United
0.77; Hg. Reserves are comparatively small with
many are caved, Deepest shaft
to 1jilliams, 24
Lake County, 24
United States Control.
States in 1944.
fair chance of discovering new high-grade ore
is 285 feet. 40-ton rotary
miles, then via
miles west of the
shoots. Line closed in August 1946.
furnace.
Southern Pacific,
town of Williams,
Lake County.
8.
Great Western Mine
Bradley Mining Co.
Ore bodies occur in beds of silica-carbonate rock,in
Mine developed by 8 miles
at 2,000 ft. alti-
United States Control.
Franciscan sandstone,and in chert beds. The depos-
underground workings mostly in-
tude on the north
its in silica-carbonate rock are the most important.
accessible, and distributed
slope of Mt. St.
California Prod.
Cinnabar is the ore mineral. Ore averages 0.6% Hg.
through a vertical distance of
Helena, 4 miles by
Reserves are very small.
over 750 feet. Entry to main
road southwest of
1938 12,277
workings by adit, winze inclined
Middletown, Lake
1939 11,127
25? to 30? connects main level
County.
1940 18,629
adit with orebody on lower level.
1941 25,714
Stoning, using square set method
1942 29,906
of mining. Herresbhaft furnace
1943 33,812
of 20 tons daily capacity.
1944 28,052
1945 21 199
9.
Mirabel Mine
Mirabel Quicksilver.
1 946 17,782
Cinnabar occurs in a silica-carbonate rock in ore
Exploration carried to 500 feet
4 miles south of
United States Control.
shoots of both tabular and pipe-like forms. The
below the surface. Extensive
Middletown, State
largest ore shoot is a tabular body 240 feet long,
underground workings.
highway runs by the
20 feet wide and 200 feet high. The ore minerals
property, Lake
are cinnabar, meta-cinnabar and native mercury.
County.
Ore averages 0.1 - 0.5% Hg. Reserves are very small.
10.
Klau Mine
Klau Mining Co. lessee.
Cinnabar occurs as vein networks in a brecciated
A considerable amount of open-pit
1938 - 20 men.
17 miles by road
Mrs. Ellard W. Carson,
shale, the veins often consisting of greenish clayey
work has been done, but the mine
west of Paso Robles
Owner.
material,. Pyrite and marcasite are fairly abundant
has been developed chiefly from a
in Santa Lucia Range.
United States Control.
and are commonly associated with the voinlets and
450-foot inclined shaft near the
Mine is just off
irregular masses of dark red crystalline cinnabar.
center of the property. Most of
road leading to Cam-
Rocks are of Franciscan, Cretaceous and Tertiary age.
the many miles of tunnels, shafts
bria 15 miles over
Ore averages 0.4% Hg. Very little development ahead
and cross-cuts driven on the
the range. San Luis
of mining - Heavy ground.
property are now caved. Rotary
Obispo County.
furnace of 50 ton daily capacity.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS'
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Rnployed
and Other Data
CALIFORNIA (Cont'd.)
11.
Oceanic Mine
American Quicksilver
Ore is of two types: (1) high-grade type is a medium
Extensive underground workings,
1938 - 40 men
40 miles by road
Co.
grained sandstone containing disseminated cinnabar;
shafts, edits, and ore" Bouts.
from San Luis Obis-
United States Control.
(2) is a sandy siltstone containing almond shaped
Shaft to 750 feet depth below out-
po and 5 miles east
nuggets" of replacements of fossil shells by cinna-
cropjlevel interval 70 ft. in
of Cambria. Alti-
bar and some native mercury associated with the
upper workings and 50 ft. in low-
tude 500 ft. San
cinnabar. The ore shoot has a maximum horizontal
er workings. Mined by top slice
Luis Obispo County.
extent of 500 feet and a thickness of 15-40 feet.
method. Ore is crushed in 2 Her-
The mine workings are in rocks of :liocene age.
cules-Blake jaw crushers at the
Reserves total several thousand tons of low-grade
portal of 400 level, transported
ore averaging 0.1 to 0.15% Hg.
by 2,600 ft. aerial tramway to
furnace plant. Gould rotary fur-
nace 75 ton per 24 hours, capaci-
ty, calcined ore trammed to dump
in cars hauled by small gasoline.
locomotive.
California Prod.
12.
Socrates Mine
Contact Quicksilver Co.
The mine workings are along the sheared northern
Mine developed by 6,000 feet of
6 miles southeast
United States Control.
1938 12,277
contact of a serpentine dike which cuts the Francis-
workings on 4 main levels.
from the Geysers, on
1939 11,127
can sandstone. Ore bodies occur along and beneath
Rotary furnace of 30 tons daily
the divide between
1940 18,629
the contact where native mercury is abundant in
capacity.
Big Sulphur and
1941 25,714
cracks and fissures in silica-carbonate rock, or is
Little Sulphur
1942 29,906
disseminated in the sandstone, and variable amounts
Creeks. Sonoma
1943 33,812
of cinnabar nearly everywhere accompanying the
County.
1944 28,052
native mercury. Grade of ore varies considerably.
1945 21,199
The main ore shoot extends from the surface to a
1946 17,782
depth of at least 400 feet; its average length is
about 70 feet. It is rarely over 15 feet wide.
The second main shoot fingers out in depth. It was
160 feet long at the surface and extended downward
at least 250 feet. Most of the rich ore has been
mined.
13.
Mt. Jackson Mine
Sonoma Quicksilver -
The ore shoots are steeplyd9ipping pipes and tabu-
Mine developed by 6,720 feet of
4 miles northeast
Mines, Inc.
lar lodes, and are generally greatest in the verti-
workings on five accessible main
of Guerneville in
United States Control.
cal dimension. They are enclosed in silica-carbon-
levels. Rotary furnaces of 100
west-central
ate rock. Cinnabar is the ore mineral. Grade of
tons and 40 tons daily capacity.
Sonoma County.
ore is about 0.2% Hg. Reserves: Fairly large re-
serves of measurable and indicated low grade ore.
In addition unexplored ground below old workings
appears promising.
14.
Great Eastern Mine
Magee Mercury, Inc.
The ore shoots are steeply dipping pipes and tabu-
Developed by about 5,280 feet of
4 miles northeast of
United States Control.
lar lodes, and are generally greatest in the verti-
accessible workings on 3 main
Guerneville. Ad-
cal dimension. They are enclosed in silica carbon-
levels. Rotary furnace of 80
Koine Mt. Jackson
ate rock. Cinnabar is the ore mineral. Grade of
tons daily capacity.
mine. Sonoma
ore averages 0.1 - 0.2% Hg. Reserves are small and
County
of marginal grade.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
?
No.-
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks o.f
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Enployed
and Other Data
CALIFORNIA (Cont'd.)
15.
Reed Mine
Bradley Mining Co.
The mine lies on a northwest trend-fault between
40 ton rotary furnace.
25 miles west from
United States Control.
serpentine on the southwest and the Knoxville for-
The mine is capable of continuing
Monticello, 25 miles
mation on the northeast. The silica-carbonate rook
production for several years.
east from Lower Lake,
reported to occur along the edge of the serpentine
Yolo County.
acts as the enclosing rock for the cinnabar deposits
and follows a fault zone ranging between-0 and 100
feet ride and extending for a horizontal distance
of more than a mile. Ore averages 0.5% - 0.65% Hg.
16.
Mt. Diablo Mine
Bradley Mining Co.
The deposits are in fracture zones near the foot-
Mine developed by an adit and a
on the eastern slope
United States Control.
walls of serpentine masses in Franciscan rocks. Ore
winze sunk to a depth of 165 feet.
of Mt. Diablo about
zone is 4,000 feet long, 5 to 15 feet wide, 60 to
Two levels below adit, one at 80
10 miles southeast of
650 dip. Meta-cinnabar is the primary ore mineral.
feet depth other at 165 feet.
Concord, and 4 miles
Other constituents of the ore include cinnabar,
Mining is also being carried on
east of Clayton,
marcasite, pyrite, quartz and fragments of country
by open pit and glory-hole
Contra Costa County.
rock. Reserves are small.
methods, 2 rotary ?furnaces, a
California Prod.
new D retort and condensin
unit
g
recently installed
1938 12,277
1939 11,127
17.
Knoxville Mine
George E. Gamble of
1940 18,629
Ore deposits are roughly pipe-like in form and ex-
Mine developed by 2 shafts and
Total production
28 miles east of
San Francisco.
1941 25,714
tend to a depth of more than 500 feet. Ore is cinna-
underground workings. D-retort
120,000 flasks,
Lower Lake in the
United States Control.
1942 29,906
bar and meta-cinnabar in black silicified serpentine
and rotary furnace of 30 tons
fourth largest mine
northern end of
1943 33,812
and Knoxville shale. Ore averages 0.1 - 0.2% Hg.
daily capacity.
in California.
Wapa County and 21
1944 28,052
nine essentially worked out and abandoned except
Opened in 1862.
miles west of Monti-
1945 21,199
for remnants of near-surface ore. Dumps largely
cello, Wapa County.
1946 17,782
exhausted.
18.
Oat Hill Mine
H. W. Gould and R. A.
Cinnabar occurs in at least 10 separate veins and
Mine developed by 21 miles of
9 miles southeast of
Hanan.
is also disseminated throughout the adjacent zone
underground workings with a
Middletown, on The
United States Control,
of highly altered sandstone, particularly below
vertical range of 875 feet.
Livermore estate,
the footwall of the faults. The country rock is
Plant consists of 4' x 64'
Napa County.
kaolinized Franciscan sandstone. Ore averages
rotary furnaces.
0.1 - 0.15% Hg. The ore in the Osceola-Fanny and
Humbolt areas is, practically exhausted. The Eureka,
Manganita, Mercury and Minnesota vein areas are
caved or abandoned but could be reopened.
19.
Falcon or Santa
Falcon Mercury Mine
The ore deposit is in a sheet-like body of silica-
During dry season ore is mined
Acute labor shortage
Ynez Mine
Corp.
carbonate rock which lies along the northwest-trend-
by power shovel from open cuts on
in 1943.
7 miles northeast
United States Control.
ing fault in one of the lenses of Franciscan rock.
hill. Wet season from 2 tunnels
of Santa Barbara on
The ore shoots are small, irregular and tabular.
in hill. Ore is trammed to Jew
north slope of Santa
Cinnabar is the ore mineral. Ore averages 0.1 -
crusher at mill, then is fed by
Ynez mountains.
0.25% Hg. Reserves: 500,000 tons ore indicated.
Cottrell feeders into 3 rotary
Santa Barbara County.
furnaces; 30 tons, and SO tons.
Other equipment: compressors;
1 Universal 1/8 yd. power shovel;
2.- 4 ton trucks; 1 - 2 ton truck;
1 P-4 bulldozer; stopers-jack-
hammers, etc.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
w
CONFIDENTIAL
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Hnployed
and Other Data
CALIFORNIA (Cont'd.)
20.
Red Canyon Mine
Cachuma Mining Co.
The country rock is made up of ribboned, interbedded,
Underground workings, mine is
18 man in 1942 -
(Red Rock), 16
United States Control.
fine-grained greywacke and a shale of Franciscan age.
very well - equipped. lane
short of labor dur-
miles northeast
Operated in recent
The ore shoots are tabular bodies,up to 100 feet in
workings extend to a depth of
ing the war.
from Santa Ynez and
years by National
pitch length, 50 feet wide, and 5 feet thick which
500 feet. There are 8 levels,
14.5 miles from the
Mining and Milling Co.
follow the faults and irregular pipe-like bodies
first 4 are worked out. Equip-
San Marcos Highway.
situated at the intersection of the faults. Cinna-
ment consists of 30 ton Gould
Altitude 2,800 feet,
bar is the most abundant ore mineral with consider-
rotary furnace, adequate conden-
Santa Barbara County
able meta-cinnabar reported. Ore averages 0.23% Hg.
ser system, diesel-driven genera-
tor. 1 - 12 ton truck; 1 - 5 ton
truck.
21.
New Almaden Mine
New Almaden Corp.
Largest all time U.S.
This area is underlain by a broad belt of complexly
The workings, which underlie an
Total recorded pro-
10 miles southeast
United States Control.
producer. Now of
faulted Franciscan sandstone, greenstone and shale,
area of 1 square mile, total at
duction to end of
from San Jose,
minor importance.
These rocks contain masses of serpentine much of
least 50 miles in length and ex-
1940 - 1,040,952
Santa Clara County.
Began producing about
which has been converted to silica-carbonate, the
tend to a depth of 2,450 feet.
flasks.
1820.
host rock for the cinnabar deposit. The ore aver-
Only those above the 800 foot
ages 0.1% to 0.2% Hg. Reserves: Fairly large
level are accessible. The plant
tonnage of low grade ore some of which is marginal
consists of a 100 ton rotary
and some submarginal ore.
furnace.
OREI:ON
22.
Horse Heaven Mine
Horse Heaven Mines,
The ore deposits are closely related to volcanic
Mine developed by shaft and 9
Short of labor in
at the western edge
Inc.
,,
plugs. The oldest rocks in the vicinity of the
mine levels. 50 ton Herreshoff
war years.
of the John Day
United States Control.
mines are a series of andesite flows, tuffs, and
furnace.
Basin where John Day
tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, known as the Clarno
River turns north,
formation. Ore bearing zone is a block 1,200 feet
Central Oregon,
long and 400 feet wide. Cinnabar is the most impor-
Jefferson County.
tant ore mineral but there is also native mercury and
meta-cinnabar. Ore averages 0.15% Hg. Reserves:
Fairly large tonnage of low grade ore.
Oregon Production
23.
Bonanza Mine
Bonanza Mines, Inc.
The cinnabar is concentrated in a thin tuffaceous
Mine developed by 6,250 feet of
Produced 95% of
8 miles east of
United States Control.
1938 4,610
sandstone which lies just beneath a shale-siltstone
drifts, cross-cuts and edits in
Oregon total in 1946.
Sutherlin, 196 miles
1939 4,592
member of the Umpqua formation. Ore averages 0.4 -
the mine as well as several hun-
8,034 tons mined,
south of Portland,
1940 9,043
0.8% Hg. Reserves moderately small as compared to
dred feet of inclined shafts.
8,188 tons furnaced
Douglas County.
1941 9,032
past production.
Plant consists of one 50 ton
and 1,261 flasks
1942 6,935
Herreshoff and 2 - 50 ton rotary
recovered.
1943 4,651
furnaces.
1944 3,159
1945 2,500
24.
Bretz Mine
Bradley Mining Co.
1946 1,326
The known ore-bodies appear to have been localized
Uses the furnace at the Opalite
Bretz Mercury trucked
In southern Malheur
United States Control.
by faults in both lake beds and volcanic rocks.
Mine.
to R.R. at fcDermitt.
County near the
Cinnabar is disseminated in minor amounts in both
Nevada-State line.
rocks but the ore bodies are in unaltered lake beds
20 miles northeast
or in argillized tuff. Ore averages 0.64% Hg.
of town of McDer-
Large reserves averaging about 0.71% Hg. occur along
mitt, Nevada,
the sides of the old pits and dumps.
L
Malheur County.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
 ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7 ?
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Employed
and Other Data
IDAHO
25..
Hermes Mine
Bonanza Mines, Inc.
The ore is in faulted, silicified zone of a lime-
In the main mine area the ore
By truck to rail-
(Bonanza)
United States Control.
stone member of a large roof pendant of the Idaho
does not extend much over 150 ft.
head at Cascade,
at the head of
batholith. The only mercury mineral is cinnabar:
below the surface. Shallow work-
Idaho, 82 miles.
Cinnabar Creek,
Deposits well explored. Ore varies - 0.15 - 0.35% Hg
ings. Two - 75 ton rotary fur-
7,600 ft. altitude.
Idaho Production
Reserves: Several years supply of ore averaging
naces. In 1946 868 flasks of
18 miles by road
0.34% Hg.
mercury were recovered from
from Yellow Pine
1938 ---
7,219 tons of ore.
and 12 miles by
1939 Not separated
road from Stibnite
1940 Not separated
in Valley County.
1941 Not separated
?
1942 Not separated
1943 4,261
26.
Idaho-Almaden Mine
Idaho-Almaden Mines Co.
1944 Not separated
The cinnabar is associated with an opalite gangue.
The mine is worked by open pit
By truck to Weiser,
11 miles east of
United States Control
1945 627
The deposit is a replacement of the folded Payette
and from several shafts, the
on Union Pacific
Weiser which is on
1946 868
sandstone and occurs as a blanket from 20 - 40
deepest being 155 feet with
System.
the Snake River,
feet in thickness beneath a capping of impervious
levels at depths 30 and 50 feet.
4,000 ft. altitude,
shale. Deposit occurs within an area about a mile
Practically exhausted. Closed
Washington County.
long in a northerly direction, and half a mile wide.
dawn several years ago.
Grade 0.33% Hg. Reserves are reported to be small.
NEVADA
27.
Cordaro Mine
Cordaro Mining Co.
The ore body is in clays and tuffs which overlie
Underground workings are over
Largest producer in
near the Nev-Oregon
United States Control.
rhyolitic lavas. Cinnabar is distributed over a
1,200 feet in extent. One ore
state for many years.
line, nearest town
north-east trending area about 300 feet wide and
body ranged from 10 to 15 feet in
Second largest in
is McDermitt on
3,500 feet long. Low grade ore. Reserves small.
width and extended 80 feet below
the U.S. in 1945.
highway U. S. 95,
Churn drilling disclosed a new ore body at 600 feet.
the surface. 120 ton Herreshoff
northern part of
furnace.
Humbolt County.
Nevada Production
28.
White Peak Mine
James 0. Greenan,
1938 336
Two types of deposits:
Mine developed by a 112 foot
67 miles southeast
United States Control.
1939 828
1. Cinnabar-bearing fault zones in rhyolite.
shaft and 325 feet of drifts and
from Winnemucca,
1940 5,924
2. Pre-Tertiary rocks and cinnabar bearing diabase
cross cuts. 10 ton rotary fur-
Humboldt County.
1941 4,238
dikes. The ore shoots in the diabase dikes are
nace.
1942 5,201
as much as 60 feet long, 40 feet down the dip,
1943 4,577
and 8 feet wide. Ore averages 1.5% Hg. Small
1944 2,460
reserves of low grade ore.
1945 4,338
1946 4,567
29.
Red Bird Mine
Fred C. Bacon,
The workings of the mine are in upper-Triassic lime-
Vine developed by surface cuts
Closed in August
1 mile from Tusca-
Twin Falls, Idaho.
stone conglomerate and shale. Cinnabar occurs as
and adits. Most of the ore
1945.
rora, Elko County.
United States Control.
high grade pods and in masses of limestone-conglom-
comes from a stope 10 feet wide,
crate with many mineralized calcite veins forming
150 feet long and extending 70
low grade deposits. No developed ore reserves, min-
feet up the slope from a level
ing keeps pace with exploratory work.
30 feet above the haulage level.
6-tube retort furnace.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7 ?
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Deployed
and Other Data
NEVADA (Cont'd.)
30.
Pershing Mine
22
Pershing Quicksilver
Upper Triassic sediments cut by a few diabase dikes
Mine developed by edits and
Idle in 1945
miles from town
of Lovelock
Co.
United States Control
and sills of Jurassic age. Ore bodies occur where
shafts. There
are 6,135 feet of
.
,
Pershing County.
.
cinnabar is either in closely spaced disseminated
,
main workings. Plant consists of
crystals or fills numerous fractures. Most of the
a 60-ton Herreshoff furnace and a
orebodies lie within the conglomeratic dolomite just
50-ton rotary furnace.
above the buff sandstone. The main ore body is about
700 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 40 to 50 feet deep.
Grade - 0.13% Hg.
ARKANSAS
31.
Humphreys Gold Corp.
Mi
Humphreys Gold Corp.
Several hundred feet of sedimentary strata which are
By truck to Amity on Missouri
Largest
roducer in
ne
16
il
United States Control. Arkansas Production
divisible into two formations (1) the Jackfork sand-
Pacific R.R. 10O-ton Rotary
p
state durin
the war
m
es southeast
stone and (2) the Stanley shale, both are of Pennsyl-
furnace.
g
.
from Amity by road,
1938 Not separated
vania age. They are highly deformed. The mineral-
Clark County.
1939 364
ized zone is 5,200 feet long, 150 feet wide and 40
1940 1,159
to 250 feet deep. Ore averages 0.25 to 0.5% Hg.
1941 2,012
1942 2,392
32.
Parker Hill Mine
Arkansas Quicksilver 1943 1,532
The Parnell Hill mine is opened near the top of the
15-ton Rotary furnace.
and Parnell Hill
Co. 1944 191
Gap Ridge sandstone. The ore is near the upper-
Mine
United States Control. 1945 Not separated
sandstone-shale contact. They are of Pennsylvania
6 miles northwest I
1946 Not separated
age. Reserves: None in sight.
of Murfreesboro, 24
I
miles from Amity.
Pike County.
ARIZONA
Arizona Production
33.
Mazatal Mts.
1938 Not separated
Pine Mountain Mercury 1939 Not separated
Not reported. Ore averages 0.15 to 3.3% Hg. During
Mine developed by a 210 foot ver-
deposits
65 miles south of
Mines Co, 1940 740
Pine Mountain Mine
the last two years the Ord mine in Gila County has
'
tical shaft and several thousand
Mesa, 85 miles
. 1941 873
United States Control
been Arizona
s only producer.
feet of drifts adits and open
southwest of Phoe-
. 1942 701
cuts. 50-ton rotary furnace and
x. Maricopa
1943 541
a 30-ton Foster paddle-conve or
y
C
1944 548
-
type furnace.
y.
1945 Not separated
1946 95
TEXAS
34.
Fresno Mine
Harris Smith, Homer
17 miles from Ter-
lin
a
102 mile
Wilson.
U
it
d St
t
Cinnabar is found in marine Cretaceous rocks which
Medium size rotary furnace.
Largest producer in
g
,
s
n
e
a
es Control.
are overlain by Tertiary volcanic floors and inter-
Texas in 1944
from Alpine,
Presidio Count
calated continental conglomerates. Most of pro-
.
Inactive in 1945.
y.
duction has come from the contact of the Devils
River limestone and Del Rio clay but some deposits
are in or along steeply dipping calcite veins and
raults. Ore averages 0.99% Hg. Reserves are small.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7 ?
CONFNTIAL
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
'of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION 1,tEIHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Employed
and Other Data
TEXAS (Cont'd.)
35.
Study-Butte Mine
Texas Mercury Co.
Deposit is found along a sharply upturned edge of a
Four main levels explore over 3
at the town of
United States Control.
Texa;. Production
sill-like intrusive. The cinnabar occurs in nearly
miles of mineralized area. Most
Study-Butte, 90
vertical fractures in the intrusive and in irregular
of the stopes are 5 to 10 feet
miles from Alpine,
1938 Not separated
bodies along its contacts. Ore averages 0.75% Ag?
wide. Only a few are longer than
95 miles from
1939 Not separated
200 feet or higher than 50 feet.
Marathon, Brewster
1940 Not separated
The ore is hand sorted. Two-
County.
1941 Not separated
medium size rotary furnaces.
1942 Not separated
90 miles by truck to Alpine,
1943 1,769
shipping point.
1944 1,095
1945 2,099
36.
Chisos Mine
United States Control.
1946 ---
Several thousand feet of Cretaceous sedimentary
3 main shafts explore an area
Since 1897 produced
65 miles by road
Operator: The Espera-
rocks which are intruded locally by igeous rocks.
of !.-square mile. The vertical
more than 100,000
from Alpine,
do Mining Co. which
The ore deposits consist of cinnabar in calcite
extent is 840 feet in the eastern
flasks.
Brewster County.
also has the Waldron
veins, in breccia zones, and in blanket bodies along
part of the mine and 800 feet in
mine in Brewster County,
favorable stratigraphic horizons. Ore is low grade.
the western part. 100 ton rotary
No known reserves.
furnace.
MEXICO
37.
San Isidro Mine
Mercurio Mexicano S.A.
Anticlinal structure in limestone and shale with
Developed by 100 foot shaft and
100 workmen in mine.
Nuevo Mercurio dis-
Mexican Control.
cinnabar in veins and bunches 3-12 ft. wide following
300 feet of drifts along vein.
10 workmen in plant.
trict, 10 miles via
1942 250 per mo.
fracture zones. Ore averages 0.5 - 2% Hg. Reserves:
Air drills. Hand methods. 2-40
dirt road from Opal
1943 3,000
33,000 tons of measured ore.
ton Nichols-Herreschoff furnaces.
on Mexican-El Paso
10 mile dirt road to Opal.
Railroad. State:
Shipped from Opal, Zacatecas to
Zacatecas.
Laredo, Texas. Sold to Financi-
ra Miners.
38.
Buenos Aires Mine
Oro Plata y Mercurio
Irregular veins with cinnabar in stringers and
Shaft 100 feet deep with 330 feet
Production to 1942
also Villa Rica Mine
S.A.
1942 100
er mo
bunches following fracture zones in limestone and
of levels on vein. Hand methods.
was 750 flasks. 50
and San Jose Mine
Mexican Control.
.
p
shale. Ore averages 0.3% Hg.
1-40 ton Nichols-Herreschoff fur-
workmen at mine.
at Nuevo Mercurio
nace. 10 miles by dirt road to
10 workmen in plant.
Diet. State:
Opal, by truck. R. R. to Laredo,
Zacatecas.
Texas. Sold to Financiers Miners.
39.
El Coyote Mine
Carlos Sarabia. Owner.
Fracture zones in limestone and shale. Vein of var-
Shallow workings along vein.
Total production to
and others.
Mexican Control.
1942 100 per
iable width. Cinnabar in stringers and bunches. Ore
Mining by hand methods. One
1942 was 1,000 flasks.
Nuevo Mercurio Diet.
month
averages 0.4% Hg.
Nichols-Herreschoff 40-ton furnace.
States Zacatecas.
Mercury shipped 10 miles by truck
to Opal, Zacatecas thence by R. R.
to Laredo, Texas.
40.
La Cruz Mina
Cis Miners Sain Alto
Folds and fracture zones in sandstone and shale.
Vein developed to 400 ft. depth
Entire production
Sain Alto District.
Owner-Operator.
1942 200 per
Cinnabar in veinlete in enriched zone 150-300 feet
and 300 feet in length. Air drill
during the war sold
Reached by R.R. via
Mexican Control.
month
deep. Grade of ore varies from 0.5 - 2% Hg.
Diesel hoist. Concentrated to
to Financiers Miners.
Durango branch to
80% Hg. by Denver Flotation unit.
Total production to
Cantuna.
2-tube retort furnace. Mercury
1942 was 3,000 flasks;
States Zacatecas.
shipped 6 miles by truck to R. R.
100 workmen in mine.
50 workmen at smelter.
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 ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
W Go
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Deployed
and Other Data
MEXICO (Cont'da
41.
Unidad Benificidora
Unidad Benificiadora
1942 10-12 per
Fracture zones in sandstone and shale. Cinnabar in
Underground mining, along vein,
Mercury shipped by
Sain Alto district.
Sain Alto
month
veinlets of variable width, mine workings are
hand methods. Small retort fur-
truck 16 miles to
Reached by R.R. via
Mexican Control.
shallow.
nace.
Cantuna. R.R. to
Durango branch to
Laredo, Texas. Sold
Cantuna. Road 10
to Financiers Minera.
miles to Sain alto
then 6 miles to
mine.
State: Zacatecas.
42.
Carlos Fernandez
Carlos Fernandez
1942 100 per
Fracture zones in sandstone and shale; veins of
Deposit developed to depth of
Mercury shipped by
Property. Sain
Owner-Operator.
month
cinnabar in stringers and bunches of variable width.
100 feet and 200 feet in length.
truck 15 miles to
Alto District.
Mexican Control.
Ore averages 1 Hg.
Hand mining methods. Denver
Cantuna, Zacatecas;
5 miles by road
Flotation equipment.
R.R. to Laredo, Texas
from Sain Alto mine.
Sold to Financiers
State: Zacatecas.
Minera.
43.
Felipe Martinez
Felipe Martinez
1942 30 per
Fracture zones in sandstone and shale. Cinnabar in
Deposit developed to d epth of
Mercury shipped 16
property.
Mexican Control.
month
stringers and bunches 2 - 6 feet wide.
150 feet and length of 150 feet.
miles to Cantuna by
6 miles by road to
Hand mining methods. Retort fur-
truck then R.R. to
mine from Sain Alto.
nace 5De type, 11, tons capacity.
Laredo. Sold to
State: Zacatecas.
Financiers Miners.
25 workmen employed.
44.
Canoes Mine
Thomas B. Miller and
1942 about 100
Fracture zones in rhyolite. Cinnabar in veinlets,
Mine developed by 2 shafts, 130
Mercury shipped 12
Reached via Loreto
Enrique Lopez, owners.
per month
quartz gangue, ground honeycombed by holes. Average
feet deep, mined by hand. Gaso-
miles over dirt road
on Aguascalientes
Mexican Control,
grade .3 to 1% Hg.
line hoists. 1 - 40 ton Nichols-
to Loreto by truck
San Luis Potosi R.R.
Herreschoff furnace. 5-pipe re-
then to Laredo, Texas
and 12 miles via
tort furnaces.
by R.R. Sold to
dirt road.
Credito Minero.
State: Zacatecas.
Large past production.
150 men employed.
Diesel power.
45.
Santa Brigida Mine
Pablo Parkman, Owner.
1943 Est. 100
Two well-defined veins in limestone and shale con-
Veins developed 200 feet in
To Pozos by truck.
2 miles east of
Soc. de Mineros Mexi-
per month
taining cinnabar, calcite and quartz. Veins are 3
depth and 650 feet in length.
R.R. to Laredo,
Pozos, R.R. to
cones - Operators.
and 10 feet in width. Ore varies from 1 to 5% Hg.
Mining by hand methods. Flo-
Texas. Sold to
Pozos, via good
Mexican Control.
tation plant. 15-ton Scott fur-
Credito Minero and
dirt road to mine.
nace and 7-ton pipe retort fur-
Financiers Miners.
State: Guanajuato.
nace.
Several hundred tons
of mercury already
produced. Also some
copper.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
CONFIDENTIAL
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Employed
and Other Data
MEXICO (Cont'd.)
46.
San Antonio Mine
Tobias K. Guzman and
1943 20-30 per
Masses and stringers of cinnabar over large area in
Several stopes open to the cur-
Mercury shipped 12
Guadalcazar district
Associates, Owners.
month
limestone.
face. Shaft 400 feet deep. Gam-
miles by truck to
2 miles south by
Mexican Control.
businos style mining over old
Antiquo Morelos then
southeast of Trini-
stopes, pillar robbing.
51 miles to San Luis
dad.
State: San Luis
Potosi. R.R. to
Potosi.
Laredo, Texas. Ez-
tensive old mine.
Past production said
to be very large.
50 workmen mine.
50 workmen smelter.
47.
Guadalupana-Dulces
Information not avail-
1942 10 per
Mineralized fracture zones in limestone and marl.
"Gambusino" method of mining.
Nombres Mine
able.
month
Cinnabar in stringers and pockets of variable width.
20 ton flotation plant. Several
12 miles southwest
Known and probable reserves 50,000 tons 0.2% Hg.
pipe furnaces.
of `Sootezuma,
reached by R.R. to
Montezuma then 12
miles poor road to
mine.
State: San Luis
Potosi.
48.
Linterna Mines Group
C.D. Moll and
1942-3 40 per
Mineralized fractures and bedding planes in cong:om-
Leased to "Gambusinos" for 50%
Mercury shipped by
Cusrenta district,
Jesus Paiz, opera-
month
erate beds overlying granite. Total reserves all
of production.
truck 25 miles to
25 miles south of
tors. Cie &plot. de
classes, 200,000 tons - 0.3% average grade.
R.B
station at
Rosario.
Villa Cinabrio.
.
State: Durango.
Durango, Sr. Paul
Rosario.
Balleros, Owner.
Mexican Control.
49.
La Cruz Mine
Compania Ecplotadora
1940 1,287
Extensive lenses and fissure fillings in dolomite.
Mined underground by open-stope
Concentrate"
Huitzuco group,
de Mercurio de Huit-
1941 1,349
The ore mineral is livingstonite, a sulfide of mer-
method. Flotation plant; distil-
shipped by truck 16
about 16 miles east
zuco, S.A. Owners and
1942 821
cury and antimony. Average grade 0.13% Hg., 0.60%
lation plant - 8 units.
miles to Iguala
of Iguala.
Operators
1943 882
Sb. The only deposits of livingstonite exploited
thence to Tlalne-
State: Guerrero.
commercially, beside those at Huitzuco, are in the
pantla for refining.
USSR.
Production prior to
?
World War II, 70,000
flasks. Employed
about 300 persons in
1941. Grade of ore
declining,
50.
Huahuaxtla Mine
Dodero Bros. Owners
1942 250 per
Cinnabar in veins from a few inches to 30 feet in
Veins developed to 170 feet in
Shipped from Iguala
about 20 miles
and Operators. Com-
month
width in limestone and shale. Average grade of ore
depth and 1,600 feet in length.
to Laredo by R.R.
north of Iguala, 12
pania Explotadora de
is 0.3% Hg.
Hand mining methods. 100-ton
Past production
miles south of Tax-
Mercurio de Huahuaxtle,
Nichols-Herreshoff furnaces.
large.
co. Reached via
S.A.
C.P. Mercury.
Vex-Acapulco R.R.
Mexican.
State: Guerrero.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
No.
on
Map.
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Hnployed
and Other Data
MEXICO (Cont'd.)
51.
El Moral Mine
Cia Minerales Mex
1942 30-35 per
Cinnabar in veins and disseminated in rhyolite.
Shallow open out mining, hand
15 miles northwest
Lessees and operators,
month
Ore averages 0.25 - 0.33% Hg. Estimated reserves
methods.
of Mascata, 10
Mexican
in 1943 16,000 tons 0.3% Hg.
miles by burro to
mine.
States Jalisco.
PERU
52.
Chonta Mine
Panaminas, Inc. opera-
Cinnabar occurs in cavity fillings and a few narrow
Hand mining, underground
Property is very
Chonta District
tors, a subsidiary of
veins in sedimentary rocks. Grade of ore varies
workings, ore is hand sorted.
inaccessible.
40 miles southwest.
Ventures Ltd. of
Peru Production
between 0.3 - 0.9% Hg. Reserves are small.
20 ton daily capacity Gould
Grade of ore is
of Huanuco.
Canada.
1941 ---
rotary furnace installed in
lower than ex-
Prov. Dos de Mayo.
United States Capital
1942 145
1942. Furnace is coal fired,
pected.
Altitude: 14,600'.
Control.
1943 326
1944 152
1945 209
53.
Santa Barbara Mine
E. E. Fernandini
1946 5
Irregular pockets of cinnabar in nearly vertical
Extensive underground work-
Mercury shipped by
2 miles south of
Owner,
sandstone-limestone beds of Cretaceous age. Ore is
ings. Mill planned for 250
truck to Huancave-
the town of
Peruvian Control.
low grade but the tonnage is large. Reopened in
tone per day; 2 Gould fur-
lice, rail to
Huancavelica.
1943.
naces and a hydroelectric
Callao.
Prov. of Huancave-
plant of 750 kw. capacity
Discovered in 1570
lice.
were started in 1943.
and worked by
Altitude: 12,250'.
Spaniards.
CHILE
54.
Punitaqui Mine
Cia.Minera Punitaqui
1938 44
Gold occurs in a mineralized sheer zone, 30 feet wide
Deposit developed by an adit
Gold-copper concen-
22 miles southwest
Chilean owned and
1939 100(Est)
and 2,500 feet long, in porphyry. The zone has a
2,500 feet long, a shaft 500
trates transported
of Ovalle, Prov.
managed. Headquar-
1940 100(Est)
N - S strike with a 60? dip. Cinnabar occurs in
feet deep, and 4 levels 135 feet
by railway to
of Coquimbo, Cen-
ters: Calla Agus-
1941 1.305
northern part of the mine workings. Ore contains
apart. Ore mined by cut-and-fill
Chagres Copper
tral Chile.
tines 925.
1942 2,256
from 6 - 9 gr. Au, 0.01 - 0.07% Hg, 0.6 - 0.8% Cu.
method. Flotation plant of 400
smelter; mercury
Santiago, Chile.
1943 2,561
Reserves in 1942: Measured ore 300.000 tons, indi-
tons daily capacity. Ore con-
sold to Metals
1944 1,181
cated ore 600,000 tons.
taining cinnabar is treated in
Reserve Co. during
1945 862
distillation furnaces.
the war.
1946 500(Est)
GERMANY
55.
Lendsberg Mine
German Control.
1938 1,363
Cinnabar disseminated in a melaphyre lava bed.
2 revolving tube furnaces
The property
At Obermoschel
1939 1,102
Country rock is Permian. Ore averages 0.2%.Hg.
200 tons daily capacity.
closed down at
near Bingen. A
1940 870
Reserves not reported.
8096 recovery.
the end of 1942
port on the Rhine,
1941 522
presumably because
southwest Germany.
1942 500
sufficient mercury
1943 ---
was being received
1944 ---
from Italy.
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
0
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor. Maployed
and Other Data
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
56.
Mariabana and
Before the war-
1937 2,750
Accurate information on the deposits is lacking.
Accounts for practically all
Output largely
Mernik Mines
French capital, is
1938 2,900
Average grade of ore is 0.3% Hg.
domestic production.
consumed domesti-
near Vranov and
Cinabre Quicksilver
1939 2,669
cally but small
Teplov.
Co.
1940 2,582
amounts have been
in Slovakia.
1941 1.500(Est)
exported.
1942 1,500(Est)
YUGOSLAVIA
57.
Idria Mine
Rudnik Ziveta Sreba
1936 8,928
Veinlets and dissemination of cinnabar in fractured
4 shafts with 13 connecting
Number of work-
Province of
owned by the Yugo-
1937 8,230
schist and dolomite beds forming a syncline. Min-
levels; depth of about
men in
Gorizia in foot-
slay Government.
From 1938 until
eralization extends over length and width of few
1,300 feet; cut-and-fill
Mine Plants
hills of Julian
Formerly operated by
the end of World
thousand feet and minable ore is up to 30 feet in
mining method used. Ore
1936 541 82
Alps, 25 miles
R. Miniere di Idria
War II annual pro-
thickness. Average grade 0.6% Hg. from 1938-43. Ore
hand sorted, coarse goes to
1937 520 80
northeast of
of the Italian Govern-
duction about
reserves limited to less than 10 years at present
vertical furnace and fines
Mercury marketed
Trieste. Ceded
ment.
8,500 flasks.
production rate. Explorations to northwest and south-
to rotary furnace. Distill-
by Cartel agree-
to Yugoslavia
east of deposit have not found new areas of minable
ing temp. 800? F.
meat with Spain
after World War II.
ore.
until taken over
by Yugoslavia.
ITALY
58.(a)
Abbadia San Salva-
S. A. Min. Monte
1936 33,729
The mineralized region covers an area of faulting
Mine on east slope of Mt.
Shipped by rail
tore Mine
Amiata
1937 58,666
18 miles long by 6 miles wide. The Mt. Amiata Mine
Amiata is developed by
from plants to
2 miles north of
Italian Government
For the period
is at the north end and the Siele group in the
adits and shafts, cut-and-
Port of Livorno
the town of Abbe-
Control. Through
1938-43 Monte
middle of the zone. Within this region the only
fill mining used. Waste is
for export.
dia San Salvatore,
Agrarian Sank and
Amiata mined 46%
igneous rock considered to be of importance is the
sorted from the ore in the
Number of workmen
Province of Siena.
the Iri Holding
of Italy's total;
Tertiary Trachyte lying to the north of the Siele
stopes and used for back
in
Workings 2,400 to
Trust.
Siele 32%; others
concession. Sedimentaries, consisting of limestone,
filling. Compressed-air
Mine Plants
3,400 ft. above
in Tuscany i%, Idria
shale and sandstone underlie the greater part of the
rock drills and electric
1936 1,099 284
sea-level.
15%.
district - the most widespread and most important
locomotives were temporarily
1937 744 273
to ore deposition are Eocene. Clays, derived from
replaced at end of war due
Wood fuel used in
the limestone, are probably residual in old lake
to power shortage. Tower
furnaces with some
beds and at Siele were important sources of ore.
furnace for lump ore and
charcoal and coal.
Ore occurs near the fault zone in all Tertiary
Cermak - Spirek (similar to
formations, as veinlets in limestone, and dissemi-
Scott) for fines.
nated in sandstone, where it selectively replaces
calcareous cement along cracks and fractures. Al-
(b)
58
Siele Mines
Stabilimento Miner-
1937 18,009
though relatively small at Siele, the individual
The Solforate section is de-
Haulage is by elec-
.
C arpine Siele,
ario del Siele
1938 17,008
ore bodies are numerous and rich. The cinnabar va-
veloped by 3 main shafts to a
tric locomotives li
Solforate del Siele,
Capital: 32,947,200
1939 22,011
ries from a dark red, crystalline to a light red
depth of 650 feet, connected
miles to the treat-
Grande Putizza,
lire.
1940 41,479
powdery mineral. Pyrite and marcasite are present
by seven major levels over a
ment plant at Siele,
Abetoso Nibbio
Control held by
1941 39,020
with calcite, quartz and gypsum the gangue minerals.
total length of about 3000
Labor: 600 men in
about 100 miles by
Giovanni Armenise
1942 27,013
The average grade of ore mined at Siele in the last
feet and across a width of 175
1946, 500 under-
road northwest of
Italian Capital.
1943 16,658
ten years has varied between 1.86% and 4.75%. The
feet. Mining is confined to
ground, 250 on the
Rome.
1944 1)7,776
average grade of ore mined at Siele in 1945 was
the Solforate section with the
surface and 24 sal-
On the border of
1945 2)5,817
2.25% Hg. compared to 1.52% Hg. at Monte Amiata. Re-
Grande Putizza being developed.
any employees. Av-
Siena and Grosseta
serves at 'Monte Aoniata are reported to be sufficient
Stoping is principally by the
erage wage 11.60
Provinces.
l)for 5 months
for several decades at the normal rate of production.
horizontal cut-and-fill method
(1946). Power con-
Altitude: 1,500 -
Jan.l-May 31.
Measured reserves of Siele are 224,650 flasks, all of
which is adapted to fairly hea-
sumption 110,000
2,200 feet.
2)for 7 months
which is in the Solforate del Siele mine; indicated
vy ground such as at Siele.
to 130,000 kwh per
June 1-Dec
31
120,000 flasks, and inferred 375,000 flasks..
There are 5 Spirek furnaces
month, purchased at
.
.
with a capacity of 16 tons per
53? U.S. per kwh
Operations were sus-
day and 3 with a capacity of 24
in 1946.
pended from May 31,
tons. Recovery is 93%. About
1944 to June 1, 1946
260 pounds of wood is consumed
because of the war.
per ton of ore.
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CONFIDENTIAL
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Employed
and Other Data
ITALY (Cont'd.)
59.
Cerreto Piano Mine
Soo. It. An. Mercurio.
1936 .1,055
Cinnabar disseminated in Eocene limestone beds and
Mine developed by several edits,
Number of workmen in
Near the village of
Italian Control.
1937 974
Pliocene sandstone beds similar to Siele. Ore lower
and about 10,000 feet of drifts
Mine Plants
Cerreto Piano,
grade, averages 0.5% Hg. Developments limited. Ore
and crosscuts. Considerable
1936 189 21
Province of Grosseto.
reserves unknown.
mine timber necessary. Cermak-
1937 144 15
Spirek rotary furnaces.
SPAIN
60.
Minas de Almaden
Consejo de Administra-
1937 28,357
The ore occurs in 3 definite quartzite beds of
Mine is served by 3 shafts, two
Mercury is shipped
130 miles southwest
cion de las Minas de
1938 41,409
Silurian marine origin about 80 feet apart and rang-
to 14 level (1250 feet), third
to ports via the
of Madrid, 65 miles
Almaden and Arayanes,
1939 35,912
ing in width from 20 to 40 feet. The strata dip
to 12 level is for ventilation.
Madrid-Alicante R.R.
north of Cordoba,
a dependency of the
1940 51,803
from 70? to vertical, are fractured, and are inter-
Levels are 60 to 90 feet apart.
Labor is wasted and
Province of Ciudad
Treasury. The council
1941 85,523
stratified with bituminous slate. Cinnabar and free
All of the ore above the 12th
labor cost is 80% of
Real
consists of 7 members
1942 70,034
mercury are disseminated between the grains of sand
level has been mined. Horizontal
the total; 2400 men
Mineral rights con-
appointed by the min-
1943 47,016
in the quartzites and also occur in pockets and
extension is limited by faults.
are employed where
sists of a circle of
istry, comprising a
1944 34,200
fissure fillings. There is some pyrite, calcite and
Length on upper levels is 600
800 would be suffici-
about a 15 mile radi-
president, 2 mining
1945 40,694
sericite. The three mineralized quartzite beds are
feet and 300 feet on lowest lev-
ent. 2 other mines
us from the San Teo-
engineers, 1 industri-
1946 41,000 (Est)
known as the San Pedro - San Diego, San Francisco,
els. A modified cut-and-fill
produce less than 2%
doro shaft.
al engineer, 1 lawyer,
1947 9,229 First
and San Nicolas, and are usually mined from slate
method of mining is used. Mine
of the country's
1 finance expert and
6 months
wall to slate wall. Grade of ore averaged 6.5% from
pillars and shafting are of stone
total. Workers are
a representative of
Production from 1500
1940-45. Measured reserves were reported in 1945 at
masonry. There are 16 coal-fired
paid a continuous
the miners,
to 1946 6,622,434
250,000 tons, 6 to 8kg.; and indicated, 650,000 tons
shaft furnaces, 8-10 tons daily
monthly wage for
flasks. No accurate
over 2 Hg. This would total about one million
capacity, for coarse ore, and 8
working only 8 shifts
record from 375 B.C.
flasks. Large tonnage of inferred ore occurs but
oil-fired furnaces, 8 tons capaci
of less than 6 hours
to 1499 A.D.
estimates are not available.
ty, of the Cermak-Spirek type
each, because of the
-
for fines, with top feed through
local fear of poison-
baffle tiers. Recovery reported
ing.
to be 92%. Plant capacity is
about 10,000 flasks per month.
ALGERIA
61.
Ras-El-Ma Mines near
Soc. Min, Francaise Du
1938 191
Cinnabar with sulphur disseminated in beds of marl
Mined by edits and open-stopes.
Mercury transported
main road between
Mercure.
1939 256
and clay. Ore averages less than 0.5% Hg. Reserves
50-ton flotation plant con-
by rail from mine
Constantine and
Headquarters: Par Jasi-
1940 791
estimated in 1940 at 100,000 tons. 0.4% - 0.5% Hg.
strutted in 1940. Only used one
to Phillipeville.
Philippeville. De-
mapes.
1941 147
single retort in recent years.
Diesel power plant,
partment of Constan-
Operator Edmond Wells.
1942 121
88 workmen in 1943.
tine, Northern
Control not known.
1943 146
Algeria.
1944 165
Let. 340 2'N.
1945 326
Long. 2? 5'W.
1946 340
UNION OF SOUTH AFR1OL
62.
Monarch Kop Mine
The Monarch Cinnabar
1938 Not producing
Cinnabar occurs with quartz and calcite in beds of
A concentrating plant was con-
Supplied all domestic
Letaba district,
(Pty.) Ltd.
1939 Not producing
calcareous chloritic schists 15-20 ft. thick. The
structed in 1942. There are 2
needs and started to
Murchison Range,
British Control.
1940 42
beds are exposed for several hundred feet along sur-
small rotary furnaces at the
export small amounts
East of Gravelotte.
1941 204
^
face. Mine closed dawn recently due to drop in mer-
property. The mine was dis-
in 1943. Mercury
Eastern Transvaal.
1942 5
.9
cury price and exhaustion of developed reserves.
covered in 1936 and began produo-
shipped via Selati
119443 1,1889
94
l'
2
The company received a loan from the government to
develo
s th
t
ing in 1940
to port.
Railway,
1
5
85
p
e proper
y.
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 ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
CONFIDENTIAL
No.
on
Lap
Name and Locgtion
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Employed
and Other Data
TURKEY
63.
Ahirli and Karareis
Karareis Civar Islet-
1937 483
Vein deposits of cinnabar at shallow depths in
"-"orked by underground and open
Reported capable of
Mines
mesi Limited Birketi
1938 597
Cretaceous limestones and in 7iocene basalt. Grade
out methods. Treatment pleat
producing 6000
near Izmur on the
Turkish capital.
1939 359
of ore averages 0.33% Hg. The Karareis property is
250 to 275 flasks per month
flasks of mercury
Aegean Sea. Prov.of
Formerly state parti-
1940 500
said to be richer than Ahirli. These are the only
capacity. Mines need crushing
per year. Turkish
Izmur. Both mines
cipation.
1941 242
Turkish mines from which mercury is regularly
equipment, new furnace and new
army principal buyer
are on the Karaburnu
1942 176
mined although deposits have been reported near
haulage system.
during the war.
Peninsula which juts
1943 186
Odemis, and in Ushak (Usak) district near Konya at
into the Aegean sea.
1944 97
the Baltali Line.
1945 158
1946 ---
U. S. S. N.
64.
Nikitovka Mines
Nikitovka Combine
1933 6,723
Vein deposits of cinnabar, accompanied by quartz,
Before the war, a flotation
Mine was being
at Nikitovka 19 mile
Russian State Control.
1934 7,743
chalcedony, and kaolin. Average grade of ore is
plant was used to raise the
rehabilitated after
south of Artemovsk,
1935 8,700 (Est.)
0.23; Hg. Reports on reserves differ and their
grade to 15-20% Hg. The re-
recapture by Soviet
245 miles south of
1936 8,700 (Est.)
accuracy cannot be determined.
duction plant was removed prior
troops.
Kharkov. Don Basin,
to occupation by the Germans.
Ukraine 480 40' N
38? 00' E.
65.
Khaidarkan deposit,
Antimony Mercury Com-
1943 5,000 (Est.)
At Khaidarkan, cinnabar occurs with quartz,
Potential production of these
After the loss of
Osh Oblast, Kirgiz
bine, Im Frunze.
some stibnite, chalcedony and florite in
deposits was estimated at
Nikitovka in 1941,
390 58' N 710 20' E.
Russian State Control
Paleozoic rocks. The ore mineral at Turgai
6000 flasks annually in 1943.
there was an inten-
Chauvai Deposits,
in Kazakh is livingstonite, an antimony-
sive development of
Osh Oblast, Kirgiz
mercury sulfide, while at Chauvai it is
mercury deposits in
400 08' N, 720 10'
metacinnabar. Total mercury reserves of
USSR.
E.
these deposits is reported to be very large.
66.
Oirotiya Deposits
Russian State Control
Ore is cinnabar disseminated in limestone
Potential production estimated
near Chagan-Uzun
and accompanied by pyrite, stibnite and
at 2500-3000 flasks in 1943.
Altai Krai, Oyrot
calcite.
Aritovo. 50? 05' N,
88? 25' E.
CHINA
67.
Hunan Prov. Deposits
Controlled by National
1938 435
These deposits are part of the Chinese mercury
Ore is mined by hand. Methods
During the war mer-
at Fong-huang, Huang,
Resources Commission
1939 4,664
belt 420 miles long by 180 miles wide, extend-
are wasteful. After handsorting.
cury was shipped to
and Ma-yang.
1940 1,447
ing from Restern Hunan, across Kweichou from
ore is treated in native retort
Kunming by truck
1941 803
northeast to southwest through Yunnan Province
furnaces. Technical assistance
then by plane to
1942 951
and extending into Evangel and Szechuan Provinces,
is badly needed.
Russia
The mines are small and scattered. Ore averages
about 1% Hg.
68.
Szechuan Prov. De-
National Resources
1938 145
posits. At Yuyaig
Commission
1939 174
and Siu-shan.
1940 20
1941 52
1942 52
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 ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
w
CONFIDENTIAL
No.
on
Map
Name and Location
of Mine or Produc-
ing Area
Ownership and Nation-
ality of Controlling
Capital
Production
Year Flasks of
76 pounds
ORE DEPOSITS AND ORE RESERVES
Geological and Mineralogical Notes and Ore Analysis
PRODUCTION METHODS
and Plant Capacities
TRANSPORTATION
Labor Elnployed
and Other Data
CHINA (Cont'd.)
69.
Kweichou Prov.
Kweichou Mining Admin-
1938 1,653
The deposits are scattered over an area of about
Mined by hand, primitive methods,
Mercury statistics
Deposits.
istration for the
1939 2,552
9 sq. miles. The ore is cinnabar containing small
ore is handsorted and treated in
reported by the
At Tungjen, and
National Resources
1940 1,244
amounts of stibnite and native mercury, occurring
native retort furnaces. Losses
Chinese government
Sanho, Wangchai-chaff
Commission.
1941 2,755
as an impregnation of certain beds of magnesium
vary between 30 and 407.
vary considerably
Pachai, Tafahtung
1942 3,828
limestone, and along fissures and bedding planes as
and are not always
and Sunchi, where
1943 3,422
isolated bunches and irregular disseminations.
accurate.
deposits are known
1944 2,987
as Wang-shah-ohang
Tatung-lah and
Yehwuping.
JAPAN
70.
Yamato Mine
Teikoku Suigin Kogyo KK,
1938 46
There are 3 veins consisting of cinnabar and gangue
The deposit is worked by an in-
Mining ceased in
2z miles east of
Imperial Mercury Mining
1939 565
minerals along a fault zone in quartz diorite be-
clined shaft along the principal
September 1945 but
Matsuyama village in
Co. Ltd.
1940 1117
lieved to be Tertiary age. The veins average only
vein. Pine levels driven from
mine was kept un-
Uda-machi, Uda-gun,
Japanese Control.
1941 548
a few inches in thickness but pinch and swell on
the shaft. Mining by underhand
watered in 1946.
Nara Prefecture.
1942 229
both strike and dip. Walls of veins are filled with
stoping. Exploited to a depth of
Reserves are sub-
1943 247
disseminated cinnabar and are richest where the
150 feet and 700 feet laterally.
marginal. Grade of
1944 128
veins split. Laterally the veins split and fade
Concentration is by 50 ton flo-
ore has dropped con-
1945 27
out. Reserves: Measured 27,257 tons, indicated
tation plant, some handpicking.
siderably in recent
72,941 tons averaging 0.03% Hg.
Concentrates shipped to retort
years and mine is
plant at Osaka for distillation.
practically ex-
hausted.
71.
Itomuka Mine
Nomura Mining Co.
1938 Not operating
Cinnabar and native mercury occur in a group of con-
Mining is by open out and under-
In August 1944
24 miles west of the
Japanese Control.
1939 317
jugate shears which split away from a near-vertical
ground methods with the latter of
during peak opera-
town of Rubeshibe
1940 2,156
fault in andesite. The shears dip 20-60o S and have
secondary importance. The deposit
tions 2,833 workers
in Rubeshibe-machi,
1941 3,523
an average length of 200 to 250 feet. Ore is also
has been exploited to a depth of
were employed of
Tokoro-gun, Abashiri-
1942 4,288
found disseminated in the wallrock. The ore min-
about 325 feet. There are 2 flo-
which 221 were women.
shicho, Hokkaido.
1943 4,784
erals are associated with a gangue of marcasite,
tation plants, the Motoyuma, a
370 men were in under.-
1944 5,309
quartz, chalcendony, calcite and a little pyrite.
pilot plant of 50 tons capacity
ground workings and
1945 2,216
Reserves: measured ore - 916,730 tons 0.14% Hg.
and the Itomuka of 200 tons (plannrd
606 people worked in
indicated ore - 201,000 0.16% Hg.
600 tons). Furnaces - 1 Herre-
the open cut.
schoff. Retorts were used for
high-grade ore, 12 tubes at mine
and 6 tubes at Rubeshibe.
SOURCES:
Files of the Foreign Minerals Division, U. S. Bureau of Mines; Mining Division,
U. S. Bureau of Mines; U. S. Geological Survey; Reports of Supreme Command
Allies in the Pacific; Foreign Economic Administration; Consular reports of
Department of State; and Files of the Department of Commerce.
Information was also gathered from Minerals Yearbooksi issues of London Mining
Journal, African World, Engineering and Mining Journal, Mining and Metallurgy.
South African Mining Journal, the Metal Bulletin, and Mineral Trade Notes from
1940 - 1947. Reports of private mining companies were used for obtaining
information on several foreign deposits.
Zb / .m-, 191e
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
Doouaont NO. O 61
'O.CHANGE in C1ass.
DECLASSIFIED
,ass. CI A CED TO: TS S C
DDA I suo, 4 Apr 77
Auth:DDA G. 77/1763
Dato slJrl~.1 _... BY: ---
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 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7
CONFIDENTIAL
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
3342--STATE--1949
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/01/29: CIA-RDP78-01617AO01600060001-7