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MINERAL INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA, 1923,

DATA COMPILED FROM DIRECT RETURNS FROM PRO-
DUCERS IN ANSWER TO INQUIRIES SENT OUT BY
THE CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU,
'ferry building, SAN FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA.

CHAPTER ONE.
The total value of the mineral output of California for the year
1923 was $344,024,678 being an increase of $98,840,852 over the 1922
total of $245,183,826. There were fifty-four different mineral sub-
stances, exclusive of a segregation of the various stones grouped under
gems ; and all but one of the fifty-eight counties of the state contributed
to the list.
As revealed by the data following, herein, the salient features of
1923 compared with the preceding year, were : The continued increase
in petroleum yield, although of lower prices per barrel; increases in
cement, copper, lead, natural gas, brick and tile, and crushed rock;
and decreases in gold and silver values. The net result was an increase
in the grand total of all groups of nearly one hundred million dollars,
as stated above. Petroleum accounted for an -increase of $69,350,044
in total value accompanying an increase in quantity of over 124,000,000
barrels.
Of the metals: copper increased from 22,883,987 pounds worth
$3,090,582 to*S8,346,860 pounds worth $4,166,989 ; lead, from 6,511,280
pounds and $358,120 to 9,934,522 pounds and $695,416; quicksilver,
from 3466 flasks and $191,851 to 5458 flasks and $332,851. Gold
decreased from $14,670,346 to $13,379,013, in spite of which, as in 1922,
California continued to account for approximately 30% of the gold out-
put of the United States.
Of the structural group: cement advanced from 8,962,135 barrels
valued at $16,524,056 to 10,825,405 barrels and $25,999,203; miscel-
laneous stone (comprising crushed rock, sand and gravel, paving blocks,
and grinding-mill pebbled) from a total valuation of $10,377,783 to
$15,395,652 ; brick and hollow building blocks or tile from $7,994,991
to $9,738,082 ; magnesite, from 55,637 tons and $594,665 to 73,963 tons
and $946,643 ; with granite and lime also registering gains.
In the 'industrial' group there w^ere a number of fluctuations, the
more important increases being shown by diatomaceous earth, lime-
stone, mineral water, pottery clay, gypsum, and talc. One new item,
sulphur, was added in 1923 to this list, which has not been produced
commercially in California for many years. In the saline group, all
items increased, but particularly borates, salt, and potash, the gain
for the group amounting to a total of $1,479,570 more than the previous
year's figures.