Page 1249

847988—49  1249Minor Metals1
By SAMUEL A. GUSTAVSON'
PAGE
PAGE
Barium                 
1249
Gallium                 
1258
Beryllium               
Boron                  
1249
1253
Germanium              
Indium                 
1259
1259
Calcium                 
1253
Lithium                 
1260
Cerium and other rare-earth
Selenium and tellurium      
1260
metals                
1254
Thallium                
1261
Columbium and tantalum    
1255
Zirconium               
1262
BARIUM
FEW thousand pounds of barium metal are produced annually by the Kemet Laboratories
Co., Inc. (unit of Union Carbide & Carbon Corp.), Cleveland, Ohio, and
King Laboratories, Inc.,
Syracuse, N. Y. The total output of these two companies in 1947 was about
15 percent greater than in 1946. Apparent consumption increased about 36
percent. Prices for the'metal are not quoted in trade journals but may be
obtained diredt~ from the producing companies. *The price varies with the
quantity and purity desired.
 The principal use of barium metal is as a "getter." Bari~im metal has a
high affinity for oxygen and other gases; and, when~a small quantity is vaporized
in an electronic tube, it absorbs most of the gases remaining* in the tube
after mechanical means of evacuation have been used. In this application
the barium often is alloyed with
* other alkaline-earth metals and with light metals.
 ~Barium ores and chemicals are discussed in the Barite chapter of
* this volume.
BERYLLIUM
 United States consumption of beryl concentrates in 1947 increased substantially
over 1946. Combined domestic production and foreign imports were inadequate
to meet refiners' raw-material requirements, the deficit being balanced by
the transfer to industry of stocks of beryl concentrates held by the Office
of Metals Reserve.
 Domestic Mine Production.—South Dakota and New Hampshire were the
more important domestic beryl-producing States in 1947. New Hampshire production
in 1947 exceeded that of 1946 by over 12 times, whereas South Dakota output
declined by 26 percent. The Ashley Mining Corp., operating at West Rumney,
N. H., was the
 1 Discussion of radium and mesothorium, formerly included in this chapter,
is to be found in the Uranium, Radium, and Thorium chapter of this volume.
 2 Figures on Imports and exports compiled by M. B. Price, of the Bureau
of Mines, from records of the U. S. Department of Commerce.