ALABAMA MICA DEPOSITS 21 



VALUE. 



Statistical information relative to the value of the mica 

 recovered necessarily bases upon an average valuation; 

 which, owing to the wide range of the various grades 

 produced, does not correctly reflect or indicate actual 

 values. 



As estimated and stated by the United States Geo- 

 logical Survey, the ratio in this country of finished trim- 

 med sheets from the rough block varies widely, ranging 

 from 2 to 33 per cent., a possibly fair average being 10 

 per cent, for such finished sheet recovery. 



As in the making of official returns for the compila- 

 tion of statistics, the various commercial grades of sheet 

 mica, cut and uncut, run-of-mine, punch and washer, 

 clear, and slightly stained, iron spotted, flawed and with- 

 out defect; presenting the most extreme variations in 

 market value, are very commonly lumped together, the in- 

 correctness and unsatisfactory character of estimates 

 based on average mica values necessarily so obtained is 

 clearly evident. 



Official figures of valuation compiled under the disad- 

 vantages stated, and ending with the year 1918, show 

 that in that year as compared with ruling prices during 

 1917, prices realized were 27 per cent higher for punch ; 

 38 per cent, higher for 1 Vz by 2 inches ; 29 per cent, higher 

 for 2 by 2 inches ; 18 per cent, higher for 2 by 3 inches ; 

 13 per cent higher for 3 by 3 inches; and 10 per cent, 

 higher for larger sizes. 



The average prices realized for sheet mica in 1918 

 on domestic output so comprehensively obtained and of- 

 ficially stated, was 45 cents per pound, but was mater- 

 ially influenced by the war basis of price fixing, effective 

 by England in July, and by the United States War Board 

 in October of that year, under the then existing war 

 conditions. 



The following table reflects prices ruling from 1913 

 to 1918 on the average return of valuation basis. 



