Sicilian sulfur

When Davy allowed oxymuriatic acid gas (chlorine) to react with moist sulfur, he obtained hydrogen chloride and oxygen. When he repeated the experiment, using Sicilian sulfur dried over calcium chloride, no oxygen gas was evolved and not a cubical inch of muriatic [hydrochloric] acid. . . and it was found that between 16 and 17 cubical inches of oxymuriatic acid gas [chlorine] had disappeared the whole of the sulfur was sublimed in the gas, and the liquor formed was of a tawny-orange colour [probably sulfur monochloride] (30). 

Esplosivi con guaina (Sheathed Explosives). Accdg to Dr Camillo Belgrano of Codroipo (Udine), as communicated to Dr Omero Vet-tori of Aulla (Massa Carrara), Italian sheaths consist of mixts of Ca fluoride and sulfate with Na bicarbonate. These expls have been used in Sicilian sulfur mines Ref Dr Omero Vettori, private communications July I and August 17,(1964)... 

The developing markets for sulfuric acid in the late eighteenth century increased the demand for Sicilian sulfur. By 1832, sulfur prices had risen to 80/ton, and stocks rose then in 1833 the market broke, with the price... 

Dessau, G., Jensen, M.L. and Nakai, N., 1962. Geology and isotopic studies of Sicilian sulfur deposits. Econ. Geol., 57 410—438. 

Before the discovery of the Frasch process, the only serious competitor to Sicilian sulfur was pyrites. During the pyrites golden years in the last quarter of the 19 century and the early years of the 20, their market share of sulfur in all forms was even greater than Sicily. Pyrites, especially from Spain, were so sue-... 

While the Sicilian sulfur industry is often mentioned as thriving during Roman times, or even before, the ancient literature makes no mention of this. The relevant references where such documentation would have been expected to be foimd are the works of Strabo, who summarized the geography of the Roman world Diodorus Siculus, who wrote a comprehensive history of the world and Pliny, the prolific compiler of global knowledge. 

The works of Renaissance scholars continue to record the importance of the mainland sulfur mines of Italy, but, again, Sicily is seldom mentioned. Even with Biringuccio, the Sicilian sulfur that he mentions is solfataric, not the anhydrite-gypsum deposits that made the island the sulfur capital of the world. 

The major market for Sicilian sulfur was Marseilles, where sulfur refineries and sulfuric acid plants were located. Even before the introduction of the Leblanc process, sulfur imports from Sicily into Marseilles were about 2,000 toimes per year (see Table 3.1). French imports of sulfur were disrupted by the French Revolution and the subsequent reign of Napoleon, as war spread across Europe. With the overthrow of Napoleon and peace returning to Europe, France, where most of the early Leblanc processes had been installed, was the largest customer. Marseilles was the leading chemical manufacturing center in the world in the early 19 century. In 1815, 6,500 tonnes of sulfur were produced in Sicily, most of which went through Marseilles. By the middle of the 19 century, sulfur had become one of the top exports from Sicily ... 

Between 1820 and 1824, British sulfur demand had averaged only 7,000 tonnes per year, but this quickly increased, after the salt tax was repealed. In the period 1825 and 1833, French demand was relatively steady, averaging 12,000 tonnes per year, but Britain roared past them as the major customer for Sicilian sulfur. 

The quality of the sulfur produced by the process was variable. The major grades of Sicilian sulfur were ... 

The inffastmcture system in Sicily was disastrous. The basic problem was the separation between ownership, operations and marketing. There was no system but a bunch of independent factions, each taking care of their own selfish interests. The end result was that there was no incentive for anyone to make investments into the business. Thus, the industry remained primitive and backward. Worsening the situation, the economy of Sicily became more and more dependent on the sorrowful mines, both for emplo5mient and income. On the rare occasions when attempts to modernize the industry and improve efficiency (i.e., job losses) were proposed, they were met with violent demonstrations and strong resistance from local residents and political leaders. This Sicilian sulfur pit trapped the industry, and the island economy, in a state of mediocrity. When serious competition later evolved and their monopoly was broken, only government intervention kept the obsolete industry afloat. 

Such a rapid rise in demand is often accompanied by a parallel rise in pricing, which is resisted by the market place. The degree of resistance is directly proportional to the magnitude of the increase. What started off as a market battle almost turned into a real one An ironic side note was that both sides in the initial trade war were British, one controlling the sulfur trade and the other, the largest consumers in the world, the Leblanc producers of England. What really pushed the British towards war was when French interests had taken over the Sicilian sulfur trade from their countrymen. 

The new price and allocation were a rude shock for the market. The alkali industry (i.e., Leblanc industry), the largest customer of Sicilian sulfur, was again threatened by the high pricing and, more importantly, a cut back in supply. Within a year into the TAC deal, the situation began to deteriorate, especially for the Brit-... 

TAC had been the first cartel that would control the marketing of Sicilian sulfur. After TAC, though, a new cartel was not formed for half a century. Afterwards, they became the standard way of doing business within the Sicilian sulfur industry. 

In the midst of all this success, the Sicilian sulfur empire was on the brink of collapse. What the ASSC did not realize was that a golden horde was massing to overthrow Sicily as masters of the sulfur world. This bayou brimstone came from the marsh lands of Southern Louisiana At the turn of the century, the new formi-... 

However generous it may have been, the claim was condescending to the Sicilian sulfur industry, which had been relegated to a charity case. Uirfortunately for the Sicilians, there was some truth in the statement. 

Whatever the short-comings of ASSC, the Sicilian sulfur industry was better off with them than without them. The members who had been critical of the directors of ASSC soon realized their folly. Making matters worse, as soon as the ASSC decided not to renew their term, they began ruthlessly dumping their stocks onto world markets, escalating the sulfur crisis. Between 1905 and 1906, five thousand miners lost their jobs in Sicily. The livelihood of over 250,000 people was in jeopardy. Riots broke out in Caltanisetta. 

The War protected Europe from Frasch sulfur and global demand surged. Even so, this was a diffrcult year for the industry. Labor trouble and restrictions on fuel supply depressed production. In 1918, the term of COISS was renewed. After the war, the Sicilian industry was back on hard times. Trans-Atlantic vessel rates dropped, allowing the U.S. Frasch producers to be even more competitive in Europe. The two major markets, Britain and France, had switched mainly to American product. In 1921, the Italian government intervened to save the Mtering business, a feature that the Sicilian sulfur industry would henceforth be dependent upon to survive. 

There was no longer any effort to try to modernize the industry there was no point. The Sicilian sulfur industry was now only a government social program. 

Sicily could no longer afford to export any sulfur. The high production costs restricted Sicilian sulfur to mainly domestic usage. Between 1956 to 1962, the number of operating mines declined to 50, and total employment had been cut in half. 

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