166 

 THE SULPHUR OF ITALY. 



BY P. BIANCHI. 



The present production of the Italian sulphur mines is not less than 

 300,000 tons yearly, which, taken in a crude state, represents a money 

 value of 1,200,000Z. It is estimated that the annual production in the 

 year 1830 was only one-tenth of the present yield. 



The greater part of the above quantity is derived from Sicily ; the 

 Romagna, however, is commencing to increase the supply, and at the 

 present time contributes about 8,000 tons per annum. 



An important improvement in the method of separating the sulphur 

 from the accompanying limestone has been practised in Sicily for the last 

 ten years. 



The separation of the sulphur from the gangue is always effected by 

 liquation, the necessary heat for the fusion being obtained by burning a 

 portion of the ore ; this operation, which was formerly effected in small 

 cylindrical open kilns (calcarelle), is, by the improved process, performed 

 in heaps which are often 400 times the capacity of the kilns. The ore is 

 arranged in a manner similar to that employed for charcoal burning, the 

 air being excluded by an impermeable covering of earth. 



By the new process, the loss occasioned by the formation of 

 sulphurous acid has been largely diminished, the production is increased 

 by one-fifth, and the new heaps can be placed close to houses and 

 gardens, instead of its 'jeing necessary to keep them several miles off, as 

 was the case with the old system. Another advantage consists in being 

 able to ignite the heaps at any time, doing away with the necessity of 

 keeping large masses of ore in reserve for firing at a particular season of 

 the year, and, lastly, it has converted a process, formerly of the most 

 deadly effect on the workmen employed, into one almost entirely free 

 from danger. 



The mines belonging to the Romagna Sulphur Mining Company of 

 Bologna are eight in number, five of which are in the district in the 

 province of Forli, Romagna, and three at Monte Feltre, in the province 

 of Urbino and Passaro, in the Marches. 



The names of those in the first group of five are, Firmignano, 

 Luzzena, Fosso, Busca, Lontemauro. 



In the second group the mines are named, Perlicara, Marazzana, 

 Montecchio. 



The most important of these are the first one in the first group, and 

 the first two in the second group. 



The refined produce is exported chiefly from Rimini, where the 

 refining establishment is situated, to the principal centres of consump- 

 tion among the large towns of Italy, including Venice, Trieste, Ancona, 

 and to Lombardy, Tuscany, Rome, &c. 



Refined sulphur is used in various manufactories for making sulphuric 



