684 MINERALS YEARBOOK

* World production of pyrites (including cupreouà pyrites), 19fJ8—32,
in metric tons—
Continued






Country
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
Japan:
Gross weight                  Sulphur content                
Norway:
Gross weight                  Sulphur content                
Poland:
593,272
(2)
738,535
321,630
~
618,743
(2)

739, 597
323,844
561,400
(2)

730,951
324, 084
(2)
(2)

359,951
160,071
(2)
(2)

(2)
(2)
Gross weight                   Sulphur content                
Portugal:
Gross weight                   Sulphur content                
Rumania:
10,668
(2)

242,122
(2)
9,410
(2)

384,350
(2)
11,046
4,860
400,224
(2)
3,591
1,580

287,118
(2)
(2)
(2)

(2)
(2)
Gross weight                   Sulphur content                
Russia:'
23,715
(2)
23,851
(2)
*, 24,264
(2)
24, 784
(2)
(2)
(2)
Gross weight                   Sulphur content                
Spain:
Gross weight  Sulphur content                
Sweden:
Gross weight  Sulphur content                
Union of South Africa:
152,041
(2~

3,624,819
1,439, 747
.
19,996
12,394
(2)
(2)

3,867,250
1,496,756

72,055
32,082
241,718
(2~

3,416,465
1,517,789

60,441
27,738
(2)
(2~

2, 593,933
1,089,000

57,610
25,900
(2)
(2)

~
(2)

(2)
(2)
Gross weight                   Sulphur content               
3,754
(2)

4,440
(2)
4, 116
(2)

4,441
(2)
3,603
(2)

5,585
(2)
3,768
- (2)

2,011
(2)
3,436
(2)

(2)
(2)
United Kingdom:
Gross weight                   Sulphur content               





United States:





Gross weight                   Sulphur content               
Yugoslavia:
Gross weight                   Sulphur content                
317,836
115,124

64,273
(2)
338,817
122,303

61, 153
(2)
353,090
126,220

50,345
(2)
336,153
123,453

29,495
(2)
189,478
65,866
.
(2)
(2)
 1 In addition to the countries listed, Chosen reports production as follows:
1928, 60 kilograms; 1929, 60 kilograms; 1930, 50 kilograms. Belgium also
reports production, but figures are not shown separately.
 ' Data not available.
2 estimated quantity of sulphur in smelter gases used for acid making.

 ' Year ended Sept. 30.


 Spain.—The figures for the production of pyrites in 1932 for Spain,
the principal world producer, are not available, but the decline in exports
indicates that production was at a lower rate. Exports of iron pyrites from
Spain declined from 1,396,795 metric tons in 1931 to 1,324,000 tons in 1932.
Cupreous iron pyrites declined from 510,982 tons to 352,000 tons in the same
period. The Rio Tinto Co. has over 6 million tons of pyrites in process.
 For several years the Rio Tinto Co. has been studying the problem of extracting
sulphur from pyrites. Recently, more extensive experiments have been carried
on to develop a process covered by Spanish patents 109102 and 110351. In
this process a properly proportioned mixture of pyrites, coke, limestone,
and siliceous flux are charged into a Rio Tinto blast furnace, which is so
constructed that gas, vapors, and dust do not escape in charging. The sulphur-
and dust-laden gases from the furnace are conducted to a dust collector,
where the heavier particles remain. From the dust collector the gases go
to four Cottrell precipitating chambers in series of two, where the sulphur
is deposited on the plates. An agitating device on the top of each chamber
removes the sulphur, which settles to the bottom and is withdrawn through
a suitable opening. The heated gases are then cooled below the temperature
at which sulphur condenses, and the condensed liquid sulphur formed in the
boilers is removed ~tt the