728 MINERALS YEARBOOK

methane, a synthetic organic compound, in the preparation of which anhydrous
hydrofluoric acid plays an important part.
 This refrigerant is nonexplosive, noninflammable, and practically nontoxic.
A study of its physiological effects is the subject of Bureau of Mines Report
of Investigations 3013, Toxicity of Dichioro-Difluoro Methane: A New Refrigerant,
May 1930. Results of experiments as to its stability, nonflammability, behavior
when exposed to flame and hot-metal surfaces, and corrosive action on common
metals are embodied in National Board of Fire Underwriters Technical Paper
6, Report of Underwriters~ Laboratories on Dichioro-Difluoro Methane.
 This field promises to have considerable ultimate importance to fluorspar
producers, potential demand being estimated at several thousand tons of acid
fluorspar annually. The ultimate market may even be greater than is anticipated.
This refrigerating medium is intended not only for household and larger mechanical
refrigerating units used as cold storage for perishable products but also
for units applicable to air conditioning and sharp freezing. Railroads are
installing refrigerating units for air conditioning of passenger cars.
 In addition another compound (trichloro-monofluoro methane), is being produced
commercially. A number of other halogenated hydrocarbons containing one or
more fluorine atoms, which have properties especially applicable to certain
uses, also will be marketed.

 The uses and specifications for fluorspar are discussed in much detail in
Mineral Resources, 1926, part II, pages 30 to 34.
 Qitoted prices.—'The following table shows the quoted prices on domestic
fluxing-gravel fluorspar at mines in the Illinois-Kentucky district and in
Colorado and on imported fluorspar at seaboard in 1932, also the quoted prices
on domestic foundry-lump and ground fluorspar. These prices are for carload
lots. Prices quoted for smaller lots are generally somewhat higher than prices
for large tonnages sold on contract.

Quoted prices per short ton of fluorspar in the United States in 193fd
Month
Illinois-Kentucky (fob, mines)


 Imported
oora ~ (at sea

ml~es~ bo&cL duty


Fluxing

gravel (not.
less than
85 percent
CaF2 and
not over
5 percent
S102)
Foundry
lump (not
less than
85 percent
CaF2 and
not over
5 percent
SiO,)
Ground
(bulk) (95
to 98 per-
cent OaF2
and not
over 23/i
percent
SiO,) 1
Fluxing
gravel (82
percent
CaF2
and nat
over 5 per-
cent
SiOs) 1
Fluxing
gravel (not
less than
85 percent
CaF2 and
not over
5 percent
S102) 2
January                         
February                        
March                          
April                           
May                           
June                            
July                            
August                          
September                       
October                         
November                       
December                        
$15.00
15.00
14.00
12.50
11.50
11.25
10.25
10.25
9.50
9.75
9.00
9.00
$18.50
 
 
 
 
12.50
 
 
 
 
11.00
10.25
$30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
$10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
$17.00
17.00-17.40
17.00—17.40
17.00—17.40
17.00—17.40
17.00—17.40
16.00—17.40
16.00—16.75
16.00—16.75
16.00—16.75
16.00—16.75
16.00—16.75
' Metal and Mineral Markets, vol. 3, 1932. 2iron Age, vols. 129 and 130,
1932.

INDUSTRY IN 1932, BY STATES

COLORADO

 Only 333 short tons of fluorspar, from one mine in Colorado—the Ranch,
near Brown Canyon, Chaffee County—were produced and shipped in 1932.