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MINERAL RESOURCES.
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In
the world's output of gold it is seen that since 1905, inclusive,
Africa leads by a large margin and with constantly increasing output.
The production for 1911 of $192,972,000 may be subdivided into
$170,287,000 from the Rand in the Transvaal, $15,606,000 from Rhodesia,
$5,204,000 from the West Coast, and $1,875,000 from Madagascar. The
output from the Rand has been regularly increasing; that from Rhodesia
and Madagascar appears stationary; and that of the West Coast has shown
some decrease in the last three years. The great mines of the Rand may
be expected to supply an increasing output for a few years, and a vast
output for many years more, but the rate of increase will probably
steadily decline as a result of the "maximum-tonnage-milled" policy now
adopted, which means the increasing use of lowrer grade ore.
The
table also shows a general increase in gold production of the United
States (which ranks second in world's output) during the decade, but a
fairly stationary output in the neighborhood of $100,000,000 for the
last four years. The distribution and details are given elsewhere in
this report. From present knowledge of the great gold producers of the
United States and of domestic sources of supply it seems clear that the
majority of the gold mining camps and fields are producing at probably
their maximum annual capacity; and in the absence of important new
discoveries the likelihood appears that there is no material increase
in output ahead.
Third
in rank in world's production of gold is Australasia, including New
Zealand and the six States of Australia. The production is given at
$59,187,900 for 1911. As shown by the table, the total gold output is
on the wane, and from present knowledge no increase can be looked for.
Decline in production is noted from every State and from New Zealand
for nine years. The greatest part of the production is from Western
Australia, where the output was $28,338,000 in 1911. The grade of ore
has been generally on the decrease with depth. Next in rank is
Victoria, which produced about $10,400,000 in gold in 1911. Production
has declined here also, notably from the older fields of Bendigo and
Ballarat. Queensland produced about $7,890,000 in 1911, New South Wales
about $3,740,000, and Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern
Territory the remainder from Australia. New Zealand's output has not
greatly varied in the decade, but has steadily declined. The production
is estimated at $8,500,000 for 1911. There is no present prospect for
increased output of gold from Australasia.
Mexico
took fourth rank in gold production in 1911, with an output of
$29,196,000—a marked increase despite internal political dissension of
the most serious kind. With increasing introduction of modern mining
and metallurgical methods into Mexico and renewed development of the
great metal resources of that country the gold output may be expected
to increase.
The
Russian Empire, including Siberia, ranks fifth in output and produced
about $24,865,000 in gold .in 1911—a marked decrease from the
production of 1910, due mainly to shortage of water in placer workings
in Siberia. The Russian production has been generally increasing, and
a vast placer gold field undoubtedly awaits development in north
Siberia, although this development may be long delayed.
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