of Hawthorne; and a locality 3 miles northwest of Newnansville. Dr. C. A. Simmons of Hawthorne is credited by Johnson as having been the first to recognize and to make use of the Florida phosphate. Dr. Simmons is said to have recognized the phosphatic character of the Hawthorne rocks as early as 1879. A mill for grinding this rock as a fertilizer was operated as early as 1883 or 1884. Professor Eugene Smith, State Geologist of Alabama, and also Mr. L. C. Johnson, in papers published during 1885, described the Florida phosphates and recognized the localities known up to that time as belonging to formations later than the Vicksburg. In 1886, Dr. John Kost, State Geologist of Florida, reported phosphate deposits extending through several townships in Wakulla County between Sopchoppy and the Ocklocknee River. Samples from this locality were reported as containing as much as 23.85 per cent of phos phoric acid, (59.05 per cent phosphate of lime).* Phosphates along Peace River are reported to have been observed by Captain J. Francis LeBaron as early as 1881. Again in 1886 Captain LeBaron made an extended inves tigation of the Peace River district. His plans for developing the phosphates, however, do not seem to have met with success, and other parties took up the development of this industry. The first shipment of phosphate from the State is reported to have been made in 1888, three thousand tons having been sent during this year to Atlanta. It was during 1888, also, that rock phosphate in large quantities was discovered in Florida. While putting down a well near Dunnellon in the spring of 1888, Mr. Albertus Vogt observed fossil teeth in a white subsoil. This ma. terial proved upon analysis to be a good grade calcium phosphate. This chance discovery resulted in the speedy location of extensive phosphate deposits in this and adjoining sections. These discoveries were followed by an exceptionally *Mineral Resources, 1886, p. 617. active period of development. An excessive number of mining companies were floated, transportation was inadequate, and, on account of exaggerated reports of the quantity of phosphate obtainable, prices were depressed. In spite of these conditions, however, the output, as reported by the National Geological Survey, steadily increased with succeeding years. In 1889, 8,100 tons were produced; in 1890, 46,501 tons; in 1891, 112,482 tons; in 1892, 287,343 tons, and in 1893, 438,804 tons. The year 1894 is marked by the entrance of Tennessee into the market as a phosphate producer, 19,188 tons having been marketed from that State during that year. During this same year Florida became a leading phosphate producer, having for the first time an output in excess of that of South Carolina. The industry, moreover, was becoming established on a firmer and more rational basis and has continued to grow with succeeding years. The output since and including the year 1904 has exceeded one million tons annually. The amount produced in 1907 was 1,386,578 long tons valued at over six and a half million dollars.* By way of comparison it may be added that the total output of Florida for twenty years from 1888 to 1907 inclusive, will closely approximate the total output of South Carolina for the forty years, 1868 to 1907. The output in the United States during 1907 was 2,356,486 long tons, more than half of which was produced in Florida. The world's output of phosphate for the year 1905 was something more than 3,500,000 tons. Of this amount Florida produced 1,194,106 tons, or slightly more than one-third. (Min. Resources, 1906.) Varieties:-Phosphate is an extremely variable mineral. Four leading forms or varieties are commonly recognized in the Florida deposits. They are known as hard rock phosphate, soft phosphate, river pebble phosphate, and land pebble phosphate. No soft phosphate has been produced for a number of years. The relative amount *U. S. Geol. Survey, Mineral Resources, for 1907, 1908. of the remaining' three grades produced, may be inferred from the statistics of 1906. Of hard rock there was produced in Florida in that year 587,598 tons; of land pebbdle phosphate 675,444 tons; of river pebble phosphate 41,463 tons. Location:-The phosphates of Florida lie principally in a comparatively narrow curved belt reaching from west of the Apalachicola River, southeast and south to the Gulf in Manatee and Lee Counties, a distance of 350 miles.* The pebble phosphate occurs in the southern part of the area. The principal deposits of rock phosphate occur in the central part of the area in Columbia, Alachua, Marion and Citrus Counties. Origin and Occurrence:-The origin and occurrence of the Florida phosphates have given rise to extended discussion, and much additional investigation will be required in order to determine doubtful points. First of all, it is not to be assumed that all phosphates originate in the same way. Moreover, phosphates occur in several geological periods and the deposits have been subjected, since their formation, to varying conditions. Phosphoric acid in solution in the water may replace the carbonate of a limestone, forming calcium phosphate. This replacement process is clearly an agent in the formation of rock phosphate. Shells are found occasionally in which the original calcium carbonate has been changed to phosphate, proving the possibility of the formation of the mineral in this way. Phosphoric acid in quantities sufficient to form large deposits of phosphate may have been supplied from any one of several sources. It is well known that phosphatic material in small quantities occurs widely scattered through various formations. As a result of the progressive decay and wearing away of the surface rock, phosphatic material is concen; trated at a lower level, either mechanically, due to the *Eldridge, G. H.; A Preliminary Sketch of the Phosphates of Florida. Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng., Vol XXI, 196-231. 1893. fact that the resisting power of the nodules is greater than that of the surrounding material, or chemically by the replacement process. The hard rock phosphate area has not in the view of several geologists, been continuously exposed since its first appearance above water in Oligocene time. Later formations, originally present, are believed to have been largely removed by erosion. Phosphate, usually of a low grade, occurs in the Upper Oligocene formations in several localities between the Suwannee and the Apalachicola Rivers and in several localities in east central Florida. The Miocene deposits usually contain some phosphatic material, as do also the Pliocene. These later formations, if originally present over the Vicksburg Limestone in the hard rock phosphate section may have served as a source of phosphate which, with the decay of these rocks, accumulated either chemically or mechanically at a lower level. Several other possible sources of phosphoric acid have been suggested. Among these may be mentioned the probability of the addition of phosphoric acid to the limestone from the rookeries of birds. The land pebble phosphate occurs in the Pliocene formation and represents apparently a stratified deposit of chemical origin. Future of the Phosphate Industry:-An estimate of the total amount of phosphate in Florida is difficult. The deposits are local and scattered and their extent is to be determined only by extensive prospecting. It is safe to say, however, that the industry, both in the extent of production and in the method of mining, is still in its infancy. Practically all of the high grade phosphate produced is now exported to foreign markets. This condition is unfortunate. Phosphate is one of the earliest of soil constituents to be exhausted, and it is apparently only a matter of time until the American demand will exceed the supply. More regrettable is the waste which accompanies mining. While the phosphate companies operate as economically as present conditions will permit, a large loss in phosphate salts is known to occur. |