Perlite.—Three companies expandedperlite in three counties from ore
mined230 
MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1967 
 
Minerals & Chemicals Corp. The Minerals & Chemicals Division of this
new company specializes in the mining, processing, and sale of kaolin and
attapulgite clays (fuller's earth), lime and limestone, and activated bauxite.

 Kaolin output decreased 4 percent, but value increased 6 percent over 1966
figures. Kaolin was produced by two companies in Putnam County; principal
uses were in whiteware and pottery. 
 Miscellaneous clay output increased 2 percent in both tonnage and value
owing to increased consumption in the manufacture of cement and lightweight
aggregate. 
 
 Gypsum.—Three companies calcined imported crude gypsum for manufacture
of gypsum building products. Two firms operated plants near Jacksonville,
Duval County; and the third firm operated a plant near Tampa, Hillsborough
County. The three plants used nine calcining kettles, two rotary kilns, and
three board machines in the processing and manufacture of gypsum and gypsum
products; total capacity of the plants was in excess of 500,000 tons of calcined
product. Crude ore for the operations was transported by ship from company
owned deposits in Nova Scotia. 
 
 Limc.—Primary lime sold or used established a new record—155,000
tons valued at $2.4 million representing increases of 15 and 23 percent,
respectively, over 1966 levels. Michigan Chemical Corp. manufactured quicklime
for use in recovery of magnesia from sea water. Two other companies produced
primary lime in the form of quicklime and hydrated lime for various chemical
uses. The major market area was Florida, with a small amount being sold in
Georgia. Six companies in six counties recovered 467,000 tons of regenerated
lime valued at $7.6 million for use principally in manufacturing paper and
alkalies and for water treatment. 
 
 Magnesia.—Michigan Chemical Corp. near Port St. Joe produced magnesium
compounds from sea water. Some of the principal uses of the magnesium compounds
were for refractories, building materials, rubber, and chemicals. 
in Colorado; total output was about 7,900 tons valued at 539,000, a slight
decrease from 1966 figures. The expanded material was used for building plaster,
concrete aggregate, soil conditioning, and insulation. 
 
 Phosphate Rock.—Florida led the Nation for the 74th consecutive year
in marketable phosphate rock production, and established a new high for output
within the State. 
 Florida's 1967 production is combined with that of North Carolina to conceal
the latter's output, because there is only one producing company in North
Carolina. Combined marketable production from both States in 1967 was 31.9
million short tons valued at $207.7 million representing 80 percent of the
total national output. This was a 4-percent increase over the 29.8 million
short tons valued at $195.1 million produced in 1966. Marketable production
sold or used totaled 29.8 million tons valued at $193.5 million, of which
agricultural uses accounted for 20.4 million tons, or 69 percent; industrial
uses 349,000 tons, or 1 percent; and exports 9 million tons, or 30 percent.
The exports were valued at $58.7 million. Agricultural uses were for ordinary
superphosphate, triple superphosphate, wet process phosphoric acid, direct
application to the soil, stock and poultry feed, and fertilizer filler. Industrial
uses included the manufacture of elemental phosphorus. 
 Mine production of crude dry ore in Florida and North Carolina was 117.6
million short tons with a phosphorus pentoxide (P205) content of 16.7 million
tons. 
 Monsanto Co. acquired phosphate rights from Owens-Illinois Co. on property
located north of Lake City, Columbia County; supplementing other Monsanto
phosphate interests in the northern portion of the county. The company has
reportedly been doing exploratory drilling in the area for some time. 
 Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc., which previously announced plans for a
large mining complex in Polk County, has apparently abandoned plans for mining
in the area. 
 Several papers describing Florida phos