Australia, antimony ores

Auntmlasia, antimony oies of, 147. Australia, antimony ores of, 57, 68, 64 metal produced in, 202. 

Withinthe last few years Japan has ceased to be a factor in the antimony market. TluG United States cannot produce antimony with profit at prices below 20 c. per lb. Australia and China are likely to become the principal producers of antimony ores. Perhaps, with better facilities of transportation, the South American mines could be worked with profit. 

A major zinc ore is ZnS (sphalerite) which frequently occurs with the major lead ore PbS (galena). The lead-zinc ores usually contain recoverable quantities of copper, silver, antimony, and bismnth as well, Major deposits of Ihis type are worked in Australia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, the former Yugoslav Republics, and the former Soviet Union. Two other important zinc ores are ZnCC>3 (smithsonite) and iron-zinc-manganese oxide (franklinite). Several of these minerals are described under separate alphabetical entries. 

The market for needle antimony had, to a large extent, been artificially sustained by a considerable proportion of the Chinese output being held in strong hands on the Continent. With the appearance of larger quantities of ore from North Africa, Turkey, and Australia, the holders became afraid, and needle antimony was allowed to drop. 

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