Mineral Facts and Problems: 1960 Edition Page: 66

66

MINERAL FACTS AND PROBLEMS, ANNIVERSARY EDITION
TABLE 1.-Salient statistics of antimony in the United States

[Short tons]

1949-53
(average)

39, 136
1, 865
33, 949
9, 609
2, 477
21, 863
14, 124
8, 937
2, 936
1, 049
22
1, 180
40, 392
40, 138
14, 618
3, 657
21, 863
198
8, 168
38. 45

1954

37, 186
705
32, 365
8, 051
1, 956
22, 358
9, 543
4, 722
2, 802
1, 225
23
771
37, 309
37, 265
12, 180
2, 727
22, 358
44
7, 905
30. 47

1955

41, 015
582
34, 116
8, 382
2, 032
23, 702
14, 413
7, 514
3, 667
1, 834
32
1, 366
29, 784
39, 572
12, 472
3, 398
23, 702
212
8, 915
32. 15

Supply: Total 1
Mine production (recoverable) .......
Smelter production_______ _
Primary antimony smelters .....
Primary lead smelters 2.
Secondary lead smelters-
Imports for consumption
Ore and concentrates
Metal - ...- -
O xide_ - - -- - - -- - - -- - -
Sulfide -
Antimony in alloys_
Distribution: Total 3
Industrial consumption-
Primary:
Ore, metal, sulfide, oxide,
and residues
In alloys_ _ --
Secondary (alloys) _
Exports of ore, metal, and alloys ....
Yearend stocks held by mines and
industry 2
Average price, New York
cents per pound_

1 Total supply avoids duplication by including all smelter production and all imports except ores.
2 Antimony content of antimonial lead from primary sources at primary lead refineries.
3 Does not account for Government acquisitions.

The major peacetime use of antimony is in
storage-battery plates. Approximately 15,000
tons of secondary antimony and 2,500 tons of
primary antimony are required to meet battery
needs each year. Approximately 3,000 tons of
antimony is used yearly in antifriction bear-
ings, almost equal portions being derived from
secondary and primary materials. Annual con-
sumption in type metal is approximately 3,000
tons of secondary and 700 tons of primary an-
timony. Of the dissipative uses of antimony,
ceramics, glass, and paints are the major peace-
time applications. Collectively, they account
for about 3,000 tons of primary antimony in
oxide per year.
In wartime several uses that assume a semi-
dormant role in peacetime emerge as major
consuming items. Flameproofing chemicals
and compounds are examples. During World
War II an estimated 7,000 tons of antimony
was used annually to flameproof military tex-
tiles. Other wartime uses that have signifi-
cance not adequately measured by volume are
ammunition components and pyrotechnic mate-
rials.
Of the countries in the world that produce
antimony ores, only a few have exportable sur-
pluses. Some approach self-sufficiency, whereas
others must supplement their domestic output
with imports of varying quantities of ore,
metal, and oxide. Many consuming countries

produce no antimony and depend entirely upon
imports to satisfy domestic requirements.
Before the Japanese invasion of the main-
land in 1937, China was the dominant supplier
of antimony. In that year Mexico became the
major source of supply for the United States,
although Mexican antimony mines had begun
significant contributions to United States needs
in 1930 when the Laredo (Tex.) smelter began
production. When the domestic smelter indus-
try was expanded during World War II, Bo-
livia also became a major supplier of ore. In
recent years the Union of South Africa has
made substantial shipments of ore to the
United States. China has again assumed a ma-
jor role in the antimony industry, supplying
the Soviet Bloc and parts of industrial Europe
in addition to furnishing ore for the increasing
needs of China's internal industry. The Union
of South Africa traditionally supplies the
United Kingdom antimony smelters, but ap-
preciable quantities are sold in the United
States. Mexican mine output responds quickly
to fluctuations in U.S. demand. Mexican sur-
pluses flow to Europe. The principal buyer of
Bolivian antimony concentrates is the United
States; however, in recent years there has been
an increased offering of Bolivian ore in Euro-
pean markets. Political developments have
made the Bolivian supply undependable.

1956

42, 586
543
35, 961
9, 790
2, 065
24, 106
13, 197
6, 572
4, 321
1, 228
32
1, 044
40, 177
40, 112
12, 897
3, 109
24, 106
65
8, 419
34. 97

1957

41, 392
652
33, 965
9, 485
1, 915
22, 565
15, 625
8, 198
5, 412
1, 571
27
417
35, 022
34, 954
10, 057
2, 332
22, 565
68
7, 382
35. 09

1958

34, 450
649
28, 072
7, 061
1, 496
19, 515
9, 805
3, 427
4, 282
1, 356
95
645
31, 481
31, 395
9, 739
2, 141
19, 515
86
7, 252
31. 76

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