TABLE 31.--PERCENTAGE OF ANTIMONY PRODUCED AND CONSUMED --------------------+----------+----------- |Percentage|Percentage | of | of Country |production|consumption --------------------+----------+----------- Austria-Hungary | 4 | 4 France | 24 | 20 Germany | (small) | 20 Italy | 2 | 2 United Kingdom | 0 | 12 Serbia | 1 | 0 Asia Minor | 1 | 0 Japan | 0 } | 10 China | 51 } | Algiers | 1 | 0 United States | 0 | 32 Mexico | 11 | 0 Australia (Victoria)| 4 | (small) All other | 1 | (small) | --- | --- | 100 | 100 --------------------+----------+----------- [Illustration: PLATE VI.--Geographical distribution of the antimony deposits of the world. By H. G. Ferguson and D. A. Hall.] In the following discussion of the world’s antimony resources, political control is largely indicated by the country headings, under which are summarized the essential features of the commercial control of production, by ownership of mines and reduction plants, and by trading interests. North America. _United States._--Antimony deposits occur in many places in the United States, but during peace times the comparatively high costs of mining in this country do not permit competition with the Chinese and Mexican mines. A small production of antimonial lead from domestic ores was made prior to the war and a small amount of antimony recovered as a by-product of lead refining, but except for this the country was entirely dependent upon imported antimony. High prices following the outbreak of the war brought a quick response in the production of antimony ores. The mine production of antimony ore in 1915 was about 5,000 short tons containing 2,100 short tons of metal, and in 1916 was 4,500 short tons containing about 1,770 short tons of metal. The lower prices of 1917 were reflected in the decreased output for that year, amounting to 1,060 short tons of ore containing 390 tons of metal. The 1918 production was 190 tons, containing about 50 tons of metal.