1 Subject to revision. 4 MINERALS YEARBOOK


 Gold and natural gas still exceed the average yearly quantity produced during
the boom period; petroleum and salt have held up welL All other mineral commodities
have experienced major declines, with pig iron the greatest sufferer among
the important metals. This and the extreme decreases in copper and zinc production
attest the severity of recession in mineral-consuming activities.
 A few comparisons will indicate the low levels to which quantity production
of some of these commodities fell in 1932. Pig-iron output was the lowest
since 1896. Although the copper yield exceeded that of 1921, a post-war depression
year, it only slightly topped the normal 1898 figure. The output of lead
was the lowest since 1899 and of zinc the smallest since 1905, excluding
1921. Silver yield was the least since 1875. Bituminous-coal and anthracite
production approximated the levels of 1905 and 1890, respectively.
 Comparison of the trend of mineral production in the United States with
that of the rest of the world will now be made. The following table wifi
show that mineral production in the United States in 1932 dropped more than
in other nations:

Comparison of trends of total mineral production, measured by value, in the
world
and the United States during recent years
[Values in billions of dollars. Index numbers based on 1925—29 average=100j
Period
World total
United States

~


value Index
Value Index
Value Index
1925-29 average                     
1930                             
1931                             
19321                             
14.0 10012.5 899.0 647.0 50
5.7 1004.8 833.2 552.4 43
8.3 1007.7 935.8 704.6 55
1 Subject to revision.

 Following the abrupt recession of demand in 1929, mine production abroad
was not decreased as promptly as in the United States. Perhaps there was
earlier realization here that reduction of output was necessary.
 A review of the quantity-production records of some mineral commodities
reveals pronounced diversities between the trends of output in the United
States and elsewhere. The extent to which the burden of recent curtailment
has fallen on America is illustrated in the following table:

Index numbers comparing trends of quantity production of some important mineral
commodities during recent years in the United States with those of the rest
of the world
[Indexinumbers based on 1925-29 average=100}
Commodity
1930

1931

1932 1


United
States
Rest of
world
United
States
Rest of
world
United
States
Rest of
world
Copper 78Lead 87znic 83Gold 100Silver 82Aluminum 130Pig iron 79Coal and lignite
89Petroleum 103

 120 58 109 59 124 50 108 105 103 50 115 101 106 47 103 73 136 98

115
97
96
116
84
102
81
95
138
30
39
35
108
39
59
22
59
90
84
86
80
125
71
72
64
87
138