VII. TIN Tin resources of the world are generally—and probably cor rectly—considered to be smaller than those of any of the other major industrial metals and nearer to exhaustion. Necessarily in making this statement price is a factor to be considered. If the market price soars, deposits of progressively lower grade will become profitable. Likewise, economies to be effected in mining, and higher recoveries resulting from improved methods of ore dressing and smelting will tend to expand the resources of the world. Still another factor is the possibility of discovering new fields of substantial importance, the most likely areas being interior Africa, French Indo-China, Siam, and China. As long ago as 1926 some authorities forecast a fairly uniform rate of produc tion, at about 15o,000 tons annually, for ten years to be followed by a gradual decline. However, the most apprehensive observers, today, foresee supplies to meet any reasonable demand for a gen eration or more.
Production of tin in the major countries is subject to artificial control under Government sanction so that figures of annual out put are not necessarily in accord with potential production. How
ever, in 1937 a record-breaking output of 208,000 long tons was recorded and the following percentages consequently reflect rea sonably well the normal capacity: For many years the Malay States has been the leading producer, the tin coming exclusively from placer operations. New and larger dredges have been built and the reserves of exploitable ground are larger today than ever before. The Netherlands East Indies yielded second place to Bolivia in 1938, because the Indies output was purposely restricted on account of the low market price for tin. The mines are placers controlled by the Government. Boli vian production once exceeded 45,000 tons, mostly from lode mines, but since 1935 output has been about 25,00o tons annu ally. The greatest increases for the years 193o-39 have been shown by Siam, China, and the Belgian Congo. Output from the latter was almost negligible up until 193o. Siam promises to become a factor of growing importance. Nigeria, on the other hand, appears to have passed its peak unless entirely new discoveries are made.
(A. B. P.)