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Antimony (Sb, an51) is a bluish-white, brittle, metallic element. Antimony is very unevely distributed around the world. Antimony by the time of World War II had become an important metal in modern industrialized societies. Its major use was to impart strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance to various iron and lead alloys. It was used in lead-acid storage batteries, making it imprtnt to the huge American automobile industry. It was also used as a fire retardant in safety equiment and a variety of household goods, especilly mattresses. One author describes antimony as the most important metal in World War II people have never heard about. It is rarely mentioned as a vital metal in World War II. We probably do not hear much about it because America was able to fill most of its and British requirements, albeit from a single mine. Without that mine, the Allied war effort would have been significntly hampered. Antimony was an imprtant industrial metal. Before the War, the United States was largely dependent on Chinese mines for antimony, primarily from the Xikuangshan Mine in Hunan Province. The NAZI Giverment was active in China before the War and obtainuing strategic metals was one of their objctives. Antimony and tungsten was at the top of their list. Smaller deposits occurred in Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, the Soviet Union, Tajikistan, and Turkey. Much of the antimony not mined in China before the War was shipped to China for smelting. The need for antimony is legendary. The metal was used in countless military applications. This included vital armor piercing amunition, precision optics, hardened lead for bullets and shrapnel, ammunition primers (an combustion-supporting ingredient), tracer ammunition, flares, military clothing, and communication equipment. The two most important World War II applications were manufacturingh tungsten steel and the hardening of lead bullets. The fireproofing compound antimony trichloride (SbCl3) saved the lives of many American soldiers because it was applied to tents and vehicle covers. And military applications have only multiplied since World War II. Japan's invasion of China and than launching the Pacific War, cut off America from its Chinese suppliers. As far as we know, the Germans had no access to antimony during the War. Shortages of the metals needed to produce alloys was a major problem for the Germans in the later years of the War. In particular it hampered the Me-262 jet program. The Japanse had access to the mines in occupied China, but we have no information on the extent to which they were accessed. Fortunately for America, a gold mine in central Idaho called the Stibnite mine produced small quantities of antimony as a byproduct. The mine operators were able to expand antimony production which supplied much of the Allied requirement. The United Srartes reopened idle domestic mines, expaned foreign mines, as well as recovered antimony from scrap became a major supply source, idle domestic mines were reopened, foreign mines expanded production, and recovered antimony from scrap. Imprts from Boliviawere imprtant. The Stibnite mine alone, howevr, produced some 90 percent of the antimony reqquired by American war industries. It was used to produce 40 percent of the tungsten steel needed for the war effort. 【Blackmon】
Antimony (Sb, an51) is a bluish-white, brittle, metallic element. We probably do not hear much about it because America was able to fill most of its and British requirements, albeit from a single mine. Without that mine, the Allied war effort would have been significntly hampered.
Antimony is very unevely distributed around the world. Antimony had become an imprtant industrial metal. The most important antimony ore mineral is stibnite (Sb2S3 ), but more than 100 other minerals also contain antimony. Before the War, the United States was largely dependent on Chinese mines for antimony, primarily from the Xikuangshan Mine in Hunan Province. This is the world's largest antimony deposit, located in the northern area of the Xiangzhong Basin close to Lengshuijiang City. The mine dates to the 16th century and was oruginally worked for tin. Much of the antimony not mined in China before the War was shipped to China for smelting. The German Goverment was active in China before the War and obtainuing strategic metals was one of their objectives. Antimony and tungsten was at the top of their list in China as well as tin. Thus a diplomatic iniative began during the Weimar Era. China at the time was seen as an anti-Western revolutionary power and as a result both the Grmans and Bolsheviks were interested in working with the Kuomingtang. The German interest was both in weakening the Allies as well as seeking business opportunities. Weimar officials did not want to involve the military. The German-educated Zhu Jiahuaand Max Bauer were the two leading figures. At first only private companies were involved, but the two goverments soon were promoting conracts. The pricess was slowed by the outbreak of the Depression (1929). The NAZIs reinvigorated the effort after seizing power (1933). The NAZIs at first were nore interested in China than Japan. Anothr War already dominated Hitler's thinking and a need for raw materils was imporant. In exchange for Chinse raw materials, in contrast to Weimar offered military equipment and training. Formal arrangemts were negotiated. The tough fight the Chinese put up for Shanhai (1937) was largely due to the Grerman technical assistance. The NAZIs gradually lost interest as a miitary alliance with Japan negan to develop. Chinese raw materails were needed by the NAZIs, but as Hitler began to make military moves, it soon became apparent that shipments to Germany could not be maintained. As far as we know this was the only antimony the NAZIs were able to get hold of to build thrir strategic reserve. Smaller deposits occurred in Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, the Soviet Union, Tajikistan (part of the Soviet Union during the War), and Turkey. 【Seal et. al., p. C1.】 The antiomony in the Soviet Union included both Russia and Tajikistan. The largest antimony deposits in Russia were the Sarylakh and the Sentachan antimony-gold deposits in the Yakutiya
region of eastern Russia. There were also mines in Tajikistan TYhis means that the mines were not overun by the NAZIs. It is possible the NAZIs got antimony from the Soviets during the period that they were allies (1939-41). The Soviets shipped huge quantiuties of strategic materials to NAZI Germany, most prominently oil, we are not sure if any antimony was included.
Antimony by the time of World War II had become an important metal in modern industrialized societies. Its major use was to impart strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance to various iron and lead alloys. It was used in lead-acid storage batteries, making it importnt to the huge American automobile industry. It was also used as a fire retardant in safety equiment and a variety of household goods, especially mattresses. One author describes antiomny as the most important metal in World War II people have never heard about. It is rarely mentioned, but was a vital metal in World War II.
Japan's invasion of China and than launching the Pacific War, cut off America from its Chinese suppliers. As far as we know, the Germans had no access to antimony during the War. Shortages of the metals needed to produce alloys was a major problem for the Germans in the later years of the War. In particular it hampered the Me-262 jet program. The Japanse had access to the mines in occupied China, but we have no information on the extent to which hey were accessed. Fortunately for America, a gold mine in central Idaho called the Stibnite mine produced small quantities of antimony as a by product. The mine operators were able to expand antimony production which supplied much of the Allied requirement. The United Srartes reopened idle domestic mines, expaned foreign mines, as well as recovered antimony from scrap became a major supply source, idle domestic mines were reopened, foreign mines expanded production, and recovered antimony from scrap. Imprts from Bolivia were important. The Stibnite mine alone, howevr, produced some 90 percent of the antimony reqquired by American war industries. It was used to produce 40 percent of the tungsten steel needed for the war effort. 【Blackmon】
The need for antimony is legendary. The metal was used in countless military applications. This included vital armor piercing amunition, precision optics, hardened lead for bullets and shrapnel, ammunition primers (an combustion-supporting ingredient), tracer ammunition, flares, military clothing, and communication equipment. The two most important World War II applications were manufacturingh tungsten steel and the hardening of lead bullets. The fireproofing compound antimony trichloride (SbCl3) saved the lives of many American soldiers because it was applied to tents and vehicle covers. And military applications have only multiplied since World War II.
Blackmon, David. "Antimony: The most important nineral you never heard of," Forbes (May 6, 2021).
Seal, Robert R. II, Klaus J. Schulz, and John H. DeYoung, Jr. "Antimony," Critical Mineral Resources of the United States—Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply
Professional Paper 1802–C (U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. Geological Survey: 2017).
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