duction
of 1909, which was estimated at 6,000 ounces. Only a third part of the
product was exported to the United States, the larger part being sent
to an English refinery. It is reported that two small dreages were in
operation in 1910,one on Patia River and another on Condoto River. A
large part of the production is derived from washing by manual labor.
There is no doubt that the production of platinum could be greatly
increased, but there are many and serious difficulties in the way of
successful mining. Lately it is reported that the Colombian Government
has nullified all concessions on navigable rivers. The main shipping
points are Buena Ventura and Tumaco.
CANADA.
The
occurrence of platinum metals in copper and nickel ores at Sudbury,
Ontario, has already been mentioned. Platinum-bearing gravels have been
worked on Tulameen River, British Columbia,1 and it is possible that a larger production may be expected from that source in the future.
A
discovery of a platinum-bearing dike a few miles from Nelson, British
Columbia, has recently been reported in the press, but details are not
yet available.
NEW SOUTH WALES.
The
small production from New South Wales is mainly derived from gravels at
Fifield, near Parkes. A small quantity is also obtained from beach
sands in some .of the North Coast districts.
WORLD'S PRODUCTION.
The world's output of crude platinum in 1909 and 1910 is given approximately in the following table:
World's production of crude platinum in 1909 and 1910, by countries, in troy ounces.
