Antimony, Lead And Zinc Exploitation In Hunan During Late Qing Dynasty And Early Republic Of China(1895-1918)

This paper discusses lead, zinc and antimony exploitation in Hunan during late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China(1895-1918).And other related issues are discussed. Including the background of the rise of modern mining, the development of modern antimony lead and zinc exploitation and modernization of antimony lead and zinc exploitation during late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.In this paper, the development of antimony, lead and zinc mining in Hunan from 1895 to 1918 is discussed. It thinks The Hunan Mining Industry General Bureau's founding in 1895 was a turning of mining industry in Hunan Province. It marked the rise of modern mining industry in Hunan. From 1895 until the end of World War I, Hunan mining industry experienced its rise flourishing and decline. The process was related to modern imperialist aggression and China's becoming a semi-feudal and colonial society.This paper discusses the Modernization of Hunan antimony, lead and zinc mining betweenl895 and 1918, especially the training of talents of modern mining, the introduction of new equipment and mining technology innovation. It thinks that antimony lead and zinc exploitation in Hunan Province had been gradually modernized. However, it was only limited to the local circumstances, because talents, technology and capital was insufficient. On the whole, indigenous production was still quite common.The paper also discusses the factors that hindered modernization of Hunan antimony, lead and zinc mining from 1895 to 1918. It thinks that limitation of the level of domestic industry, lack of capital, political instability, social unrest, imperialist aggression as well as traditional tendencies and idea were the main factors. As a result of these factors, the path from tradition to modern was crammed with difficulties for Hunan mining industry during late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.