PRODUCTION AND EXPLOITATION OF ANTIMONY In 1929 China contributed 71% of the world's output of anti mony, which was about 35,000 short tons. In 1929 North and South America contributed less than 2o% of the world's output. In 1937 China supplied 43% and North and South America about 45%, chiefly from Mexico ; which produced three times as much antimony in 1937 as in 1929. Prior to the World War the prin cipal producers of antimony were Austria-Hungary, Asia Minor, Borneo, France, and since 1900, China. During the war bel ligerent governments bought large quantities of antimony for the manufacture of shrapnel, shells, and bullets, which require about 12% antimony in the antimonial lead. Antimony also serves as a retarding agent in priming caps. In peace time the chief uses of antimony include antimonial lead for storage bat teries, and covering for telephone cables, and uses in alloys (v. supra). Antimony oxide finds extensive use in enamels and pigments; the sulphide is employed in rubber manufacture.
Principal Producers of Antimony and World Output* (in metric tons) Country China (f) 13,800 17,70o 14,702 Mexico 9,788 Bolivia 3,934 Czechoslovakia 1,090 1,637 829($) United States 490 466 1,056 France 312 ... .
Turkey 271 103 602 World output 20,200 27,800 34,500 (*) "Minerals Yearbook 1938," U.S. Bureau of Mines. (1') Anti mony content of regulus, crude antimony and oxide exported. ($) 1936.