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PLATINUM AND ALLIED METALS. 337
num ware dropped in value from $90,694 in 1913 to $46,533 in 1914, of more than 49 per cent.
The
following table shows the imports for consumption into the United
States of the remaining platinum-group metals in 1913 and 1914:
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WORLD'S PRODUCTION.
The world's output of new platinum, 1911-1914, is given approximately in the following table:
World's production of new platinum in l911-1914 by countries, in troy ounces.
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The
estimation of the production of platinum in foreign countries for the
calendar year 1914 is more difficult now than heretofore because
little information concerning platinum developments has been published.
The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness for information
concerning the production of various countries to Prof. G. A. Roush,
editor of Mineral Industry; Mr. John McLeish, chief of division of
mineral resources and statistics, mines branch, department of mines.
Ottawa, Canada: Mr. Baliol Scott, editor of Mining Journal, London,
England.
USES.
One
of the most important uses of platinum is as a catalyzer in what is
technically known as " contact mass " in the manufacture of fuming
sulphuric acid and sulphur trioxide. There are several kinds of "
contact mass," the two most used in this country being on asbestos or
magnesium sulphate bases. The mass is made by soaking the base in
solutions containing platinum chloride and afterwards heating it. This
treatment results in a more or less complete distribution
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