294 ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 



According to H. D. McCaskey the gain of 3891 flasks over 



1911 shows a larger increase than was generally expected, but 

 he does not think it implies a corresponding increase in the 

 output of 1913. A gradual decline in the output of some of the 

 larger ore bodies and possibly unfavorable market conditions 

 and prospects tend toward a reduction of the output. 



The output of 1912 was the largest in California since 1905. 

 The increase was due to two factors: (1) The satisfactory 

 product of the New Guadalupe mine in Santa Clara county. 

 (2) To increased output from several other mines. The New 

 Idria mines in San Benito County are the largest producers in 

 America and in fact produce nearly one-half of the California 

 mercury. The output of these mines for 1912 was slightly less 

 than in 1911 because attention was paid to development work 

 rather than to increased production on account of low prices. 

 Ore reserved for treatment when prices were at a higher level 

 seemed preferable. Sixteen mines were producers for the year 



1912 in California. 



Texas is also a producer of mercury. According to W. B. 

 Phillips there were no material changes in the industry during 

 the year 1912. The Chisos Mining Company carried their 

 explorations into the Buda limestone that underlies the Eagle 

 Ford shales and found about the same quality of ore as in the 

 overlying bituminous shales. A furnace has been constructed on 

 the property to handle a larger tonnage of lower grade ore rather 

 than a smaller tonnage of high grade ore. In the Terlingua 

 district the larger percentage of the ore has come from the hard, 

 dense limestone of the Edwards formation which has yielded 

 ore of extreme richness at comparatively shallow depths. It 

 is Phillips' belief that the future of the mercury industry in Texas 

 will be .more intimately connected with the bituminous shales 

 than with the associated limestones. 



BISMUTH 



Production. The production of metallic bismuth in the United 

 States is very small. The years 1902, 1903, 1907, report no out- 

 put whatever. The United States Metals Refining Company 

 produces a small amount of bismuth as a by-product at its 

 electrolytic lead refinery at Grasselli, Indiana. The bismuth is 

 obtained in the anode muds of lead bullion. The most of the 



