STATISTICS ON MINERAL PRODUCTION IN FLORIDA 



DURING 1918.* 



Herman Gunter 



Collected in Co-operation Between the Florida Geological 

 Survey and the U. S. Geological Survey. 



The total value of the mineral production in Florida during 

 191.8, as shown by statistics recently compiled, is $8,009,646, an 

 increase over that for 1917, amounting to almost one-half mil- 

 lion dollars, the total for this latter year being $7,534,834. 



The total mineral production in 1918 shows a decrease when 

 compared -with the output for 1917. This decrease in quantity 

 is attributable to general labor conditions, transportation fa- 

 cilities and to governmental restrictions in force during the war 

 period. Increased production costs were attended with an in- 

 crease in price of the commodities marketed which is shown 

 by the increase in the total valuation stated above. 



BALL clay or PLASTIC KAOLIN 



The ball clays of Florida are white burning, refractory clays 

 of high plasticity. The clay is quite widely distributed in central 

 peninsular Florida being commercially produced in Putnam and 

 Lake counties. The manner of occurrence is in association with 

 a rather coarse sand and quartz pebbles, from which it is sep- 

 arated by washing. During 1918 three plants were engaged in 

 mining ball clay in Florida. These were the Edgar Plastic 

 Kaolin Company, Edgar; the China Clay Corporation, Oka- 

 humpka ; and the Lake County Clay Company, Okahumpka. 

 The value of the clay produced is not separately given, but is 

 included in the total mineral production of the State. 



*First published as Press Bulletin No. 11, October 6, 1919. Reprinted here 

 with a few additions. 



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