Page 235

  235Calcium and Calcium Compounds 
By Avery H. Reed1 
 Calcium metal was manufactured by one company in Connecticut. Calcium-magnesium
chloride was produced by two companies in California and three companies
in Michigan. Synthetic calcium-magnesium chloride was manufactured by three
companies, in New York, Ohio, and Washington. - 
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION 
 Pfizer, Inc., produced calcium metal at Canaan, Conn., by the Pidgeon process,
in which quicklime and aluminum powder are heated in vacuum retorts. At a
temperature of 1170° C, calcium vaporizes and is collected at one end
of the retort. 
 Leslie Salt Co. and National Chloride Co. of America produced calcium-magnesium
chloride from dry lake beds in San Bernardino County, Calif. Output declined
32%. 
 The Dow Chemical Co., Michigan Chemical Corp., and Wilkinson Chemical Corp.
recovered calcium-magnesium chloride from 
wells in Gratiot, Lapeer, Mason, and Midland Counties, Mich. Output decreased
3%. 
 Total production of natural calciummagnesium chloride was 4% less than that
of 1971 and was 9% below the 1969 record high. 
 Allied Chemical Corp., Syracuse, N.Y., PPG Industries, Inc., Barberton,
Ohio, and Reichold Chemicals, Inc., Tacoma, Wash., manufactured synthetic
calcium-magnesium chloride as a byproduct of soda ash. Total output decreased
2% below the 1968 record. 
CONSUMPTION AND USES 
 Calcium metal was used as a reducing agent to separate metals such as columbium,
tantalum, thorium, titanium, uranium, vanadium and zirconium from their oxides;
to form alloys with aluminum, lead, lithium, magnesium, and silicon; as a
scavenger in the steel industry; and in the manufacture of calcium hydride.
 The principal use for calcium-magnesium chloride was to melt snow and ice
from roads, streets, bridges, and pavements. It was also used to keep down
dust on roads and driveways and as an accelerator for concrete. 
 1 Physical scientist, Division of Nonmetallic Minerals. 
Table 1.—Price quotations for caldum chloride 
(Per short ton) 
Grade 
Dec. 27, 1971 
Dec. 24, 1972 
Flake or pellet, 94—97% 1                                        
Flake, 77—80% 1                                               
Powdered, 77% minimum'                                       
Liquor, 40%'                                            
Granulated, U.S.P.'                                        
$ 55.00 
44.00 
52.50 
16.50 
780.00 
$ 56.50 
4450 
52.50 
17.00 
78-0.00 
' Paper bags, carload lots, plant, freight equalized. 
' Tank cars, freight equalized. 
' 225-pound drums, freight equalized. 
 Source: Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter, v. 198, No. 26, Dec. 28, 1971; Chemical
Marketing Reporter, V. 202, No. 26, Dec. 25, 1972.