234 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1967 
 
Table 8.—Crushed limestone sold or used by producers, by uses 
Use 
 
1966 
 
1967 
 
 
 
Value 
 
Value 
 
 
Short tons 
——————————- 
Short tons 
—~-—- 
— 
 
 
Total Average 
 
Total 
Average 
 
 
per ton 
 
 
per ton 
Concrete and roads         
Agricultural stone           
C)theruses'               
 
Total.. -       
29,514,572 
880,381 
3,147,492 
 $30,712,720 $1.04 2,048,052 2.33 3,007,052 .96 
28,884,733 
776,967 
2,956,060 
$30,737,421 
2,412,194 
3,519,982 
$1.06 
3.10 
1.19 
 
33,542,445 
 35,767,824 1.07 
32,617,760 
36,669,597 
1.12 
' Includes railroad ballast, riprap, lime, cement, fill, and other uses.

 
 Oystershell was dredged and crushed by five companies in five counties on
State leases. Total output was 1.3 million tons valued at $2.0 million, a
decrease of 9 percent in tonnage and 13 percent in value compared with 1966
figures. Most of the oystershell was used for roads and in concrete, and
a smaller tonnage was used for poultry grit and other uses. The shell was
transported 54 percent by water, 43 percent by truck, and I percent by rail.

 Bradenton Stone Co., Manatee County, was the only dimension limestone producer
reporting output during the year. The company produced a small tonnage of
cut stone for decorative uses. 
 
 Vermiculite. — Exfoliated vermiculite was produced at three plants
of W. R. Grace & Co. in Duval, Hillsborough, and Palm Beach Counties,
and by Verlite Co. at a plant near Tampa, Hilisborough County. Principal
uses of the material were for building plaster, concrete aggregate, loose
fill insulation, and agricultural purposes. 
 
METALS 
 
 Metals accounted for 3 percent of the State's total mineral production value.

 
 Ferroalloys.—Agrico Chemical Co. at Pierce and Mobil Chemical Co.
at Nichols produced ferrophosphorus as a byproduct of elemental phosphorus
manufacture. The value of ferroalloys is not included in the total State
value. 
 
 Rare-Earth Minerals.—National Lead Co. reclaimed rare-earth metal
concentrates from tailings at its Jacksonville mine. Shipments of concentrates
increased considerably over those of 1966. 
 Titanium Concentrates.—Shipments of ilmenite concentrate increased
considerably over those of 1966. E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc.
operated during the year, making shipments from its Highland and Trail Ridge
mines in Clay County. 
 
 Zirconium Concentrates.—Florida led the Nation in zircon output. Shipments
of zirconium concentrate decreased 1 percent in tonnage, but value increased
5 percent over the 1966 figure. Zirconium concentrates were recovered from
ilmenite mining by E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., at its Trail
Ridge operation, and by National Lead Co. at its Jacksonville operation.

 
FUELS 
 
 Mineral fuels production consisted of natural gas, crude petroleum and its
derivatives, and peat and accounted for 3 percent of the State's total mineral
production value. 
 
 Natural Gas.—All natural gas production came from the Humble Oil and
Refining Co., Sunniland field, Collier County, and was used in company operations
as fuel for pumping crude petroleum. Production reports indicate a decrease
in output compared with the 1966 figure. 
 
 Peat.—Peat production and value increased considerably compared with
1966. Six companies in four counties produced 22,000 tons of reed-sedge and/or
humus peat valued at $155,000; most of the material was shredded and sold
in bulk for soil improvement purposes. 
 
 Petroleum.—Crude petroleum production from the State's two oilfields
de