WORLD’S COPPER PRODUCTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 6

WORLD’S COPPER PRODUCTION

AN INTERJSSTXN.G ANALYSIS. Going buck - '.ront.y years, we find that tho ivaria's production of copper steadUy increased np to 1912, wiica tlie total pi induction reached maximum ot 1,024. WO tons (states -jatglaeoruift”). The Uu-m production is to cover tno or •übuiiimWo from Taio o-.vs mined. That tho year 1913 showed a drop in tho total production to I.ohk.dA) tons, was n.tunly due to the internal troubles in .Mexico, which had become oeoonu in tho order of the cop-per-producinK or mining countries; Sloxico, produced in 19115 and 1913 respectively 73,700 and 32,800 tons. The United Stoves have always headed the list with up to 53 per cent, ot the total copper production, and the statistics or the “Engineering ynd Mining- Journal and of - the Motallgesellschaft of. Frankfort (which wo taka from tho 'SchwviKorischo Bauzoituug'’ of December 23rd. m® credit tho United States, in 1913, with a production of 557,400 tons of copper, against 224,000 in 1897. Japan, which had only mined 13,500 tons of copper in 1897. came up to the second place in 1013 with 73,200 tons. Thera followed Spain, and X’ortugal, with a production of 54,700 tons, a figure Which has fluctuated littlo in tho last • twenty years; Australia, wjth 47,300 tons (17,800 in 1 11897); and Chill, with 40,000 tone (22,800 tone). Chili is now said to mine 10,000 tons of ore daily at Chu- ; quicamata, at present tho largest copper mines (still being enlarged) in the World, which are situated 10,000 feet above eea-lovel and receive electric power at 110.000 volts. The countries next in order were, m 1918: Canada, 34,900 tons; Russia, 33,900; Peru. 23,700; Germany, 25,300 tons; Ser£ia. 6400 tons; and Katanga (Belgian Congo), 6900 tons, had only in recent years joined the list of copper-producing countries. With the war. tho copper production decreased in most States, to rise again, in 1915. Tho figures for 1914 and 1915 are: United States, 523,500 and 646.200 tons: Mexico, 36,300 and 31,000; Japan, 72,800 and 75,000; Spain and Fortugal, 37,100 and 35,000; Australia. 37,600 and 33,500; Chili, 40,000 and 47,400; Canada, 84,000 and 47,200; Russia, 31,900 nnd 26,000 (or 16.000?): Peru, 23,600 and 32,400. Germany is the only country (next to Chili) which has steadily gone on increasing its copper production, the figures for 1013, 1914, and 1915 being 25,300, 30,500, and 35,000 tons; the increase is all tho more remarkable, since tho copper ores of the Lower Harz Mountains and tho Mansfeld district are ibv no means rich. The world's totals for 1914 and 1915 were 937,200 and 1,061,600 tons. Wo should mention that the various

statistics arc not always quite in accord; not all the figures aro reliable, S and it is not clear in how far stores from tho preceding year may have been carried over. This applies particularly to tho estimates of output of mines; A, copper production in metallurgical works; B, and copper consumption in tho country; C, to which we now turn; all these figures concern the year 1913. The figures for the United States were: A. 557,100; B, 589,100; C. 318,100 tons. Tho other parts of America, although important as regards A and B, were only assigned a consumption of 3000 tons. In Europe. Germany headed the list with reference to C, the figures being: A, 25,500; B, 41,100; C, 250,500 tons; tho United Kingdom, coming next, is credited with: A, 300, B. 52,100; C, 1-10,300 tons; Trance: A. 0; B. 11,900; O, 103,'0b0 tons; Russia (including Russia in Asia): A, 33,900; B, 34,300; C, 40,200 tons; Austria-Hungary; A, 4100; B, 2300: C, 89,200 tons; Itafy: A. 1600; B. 2300; C, 31,200 tons; Belgium: C, 15,000 tons; Europe totals: A, 139,600; B, 186,400; C. 618,100 tons. These figures, whether quite reliable or not, cer. tainly show that the United States, Germany, England and Franco together consume more than 80 per cent, of tho world’s production of crude copper. It is further estimated that, deducting exports of manufactured copper articles, Germany actually consumed 198,300 tons, the United Kingdom 110,300 tons. Franco 95.900 tons, Russia 39,100 tons, anr] Austria-Hungary 36.600 tons of copper, each country for its own use.