4 



400,000 tons of ore have been recorded in a year and the exports 

 average at 300,000 tons of mineral. The number of miners and 

 employees in this mine is approximately 3,000. The cost of 

 production, under the present rate of exchange, is said not to 

 exceed 4 per ton. This is one of the numerous instances of the 

 advantage of foreign capital in a country with a depreciated 

 exchange. 



There are nine copper mines working in the South of 

 Portugal, most of them run by English capital. There are a few 

 concessions exploited by Spanish and French companies, 



The total export of copper mineral amounts to 350,000 tons- 

 per annum ; the number of miners and employees is approximately 

 5,000; the motive power generated in these mines is 2,036 h.p. and 

 819 k.w. 



The treatment of the ore is not carried out in Portugal. 

 A good many chemical industries might possibly be started there, 

 the more so because salt is abundant on the coast of Portugal. 



Tin is exploited as such by two French companies and a 

 few Portuguese firms, but a good deal of it is found in the wolfram 

 mines, and is being worked simultaneously with the latter. The 

 exports of tin amount to 200 tons per annum. The employees and 

 miners number 440; the motive power is 226 h.p. The average 

 percentage of tin is 60. The wolfram deposits of Portugal are 

 the most important in Europe. They are being exploited by 

 British and French capital. The most interesting group of mines 

 belongs to the Wolfram Mining and Smelting Company, Ltd., 

 of London. The works carried out at Panasquiera, near Fundao, 

 represent a great capital outlay. Theore are a few thousand yards 

 of tunnels built, compressed air is canalised all over the mines 

 for the mechanical drillers; new plants are being erected for the 

 complete treatment of the ore; and hydro- electric schemes are 

 being comtemplated on the River Zezere for the supply of cheap 

 motive power. The installations are perfect, and the 500 miners 

 and employees work in the best harmony with the company. 



The total production of wolfram averages 500 tons per annum, 

 but the percentage of tin, arsenic or lead varies according to the 

 reefs. 



Silver and gold are being exploited on a very small scale, 

 and play no important part' in the economy of the country. 



Uranium ores are found in the districts of Vizeu and Guarda. 

 The most important mine is the Urgeiriga, belonging to Messrs. 

 Burnay and Cie, of Lisbon. These valuable deposits would afford 

 the most interesting field for scientific investigation. The radio- 

 active properties of numerous natural springs and the possible 

 influence of these salts on the public health have not been studied. 



