Description:
Antimony is a thin white and extremely brittle metal. It has been
found in mineral waters, in coal and in river sands. However, it is
too rare to be of commercial importance.
During the six years from 1908 to 1913, inclusive, the price of
Cookson's antimony ranged from 7.41 to 10.31 cents per pound, with
yearly averages of from 8.24 to 8.58 cents per pound. At these prices
antimony ores cannot be worked profitably under the high cost prevailing
in the mining regions of the United States, unless the deposits
are very extensive and advantageously situated, to which conditions
the antimony deposits of the United States do not conform. As a
result of these conditions, practically all of the antimony metal used
here is imported from Europe, mostlly from England. At present,
however, because of the war and its disturbing effects upon sea traffic,
the prices are raised to such an extent as to enable the working of
some of the American deposits.
These prices, however, are only temporary, and as soon as the war
is over, they will probably drop, and great initial outlay toward the
development of antimony mines would not be advisable. 8 p.