Mercury, METALLURGY

OF. The commercial supply comes from the sulphide, cinnabar. The mercury of Spain was known early in the Christian era; the Idria mine was opened ab. 1500. Since 1850 much of the world's yield has come from California, but relatively le in recent years. The total production 1894 was 3,952 metric tons (2,204.6 lbs.), S 204.6 lbs.), Spain 1,653, California 1,056, Austria 521, Mexico 268, Italy 258, Ru ia 196. The present market price is $0.57 per lb. Cinnabar is easily reduced to mercury; a simple roasting in a current of air converts the sulphur into sulphurous acid gas, while the metal is freed and vaporizes, and is caught by condensation. When lime is present with the ore, a simple heating will cause it to react on the mercury sulphide, forming sulphide and sulphate of lime, and liberating the metal. The figure shows the type of furnace used at Idria, Austria. The ore is piled upon hollow arches in has pub. poems, 1851-87.