40 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT.
THE PRODUCTION OF PHOSPHATE DURING I9O9.
The total production of phosphate in Florida for the year 19o9 shows a slight decrease over that of the preceding year. The total production for I9O8, exclusive of river pebble, was 1,918,oi long tons. Including river pebble the total production for 19o8 was 1,95o,961 long tons, while for the year 19o9 the total production was 1,862,15i long tons. The decrease in production occurred entirely within the hard rock section, the output of land pebble having actually increased.
The shipment of phosphate for the year 19o9 practically equalled the production both of hard rock and of land pebble. Hard rock shipments amounting to 514,101 long tons have been reported as against the production of 527,582 long tons. For the pebble rock, shipments have been reported amounting to 1,329,102 long tons against the production of 1,334,569 lOng tons.
The phosphate market continued very much depressed during the year. Hard rock phosphate was reported to have been sold as low as from $5 to $6 per ton f. o. b. at mines, while land pebble was sold from $2.75 to $4.25 per ton f. o. b. at mines.
HARD ROCK PHOSPHATE.
The production of hard rock phosphate during 19o9 shows a decided falling off from that of the preceding year, the output having been curtailed by the operators on account of the Pw prices. The amount mined during 19o8 was 768,oi i long tons, while for the year 19o9 the total production reported is 527,582 long tons, a decrease of about 240,000 tons, or about 30 per cent.
As in former years practically all of the hard rock phosphate shipped, was consigned to foreign markets. The total amount of hard rock phosphate consigned for use in the United States during 1909 was 17,456 long tons. Of this amount 13,726 tons were used in Florida. The amount exported during 19o9 was 496,645 long tons.
PEBBLE PHOSPHATE.
While the production of hard rock phosphate was reduced during 19o9, the output of pebble was increased. The amount of pebble rock mined in 1908 was approximately I,I i o,ooo long tons. For the year 1909 the total production of pebble phosphate was 1,334,569 long tons, an increase of over 150,00o0 tons.
Shipments listed by the "American Fertilizer" showv that the total pebble rock exported during 1909 was 509,341 long tons.