Document wr6G54LbxzowBNDqeX9Q8vyDJ

Minerals 197 Volume METALS, MINERALS Prepared by sta BUREAU OF N49798 684 MINERALS YEARDOOK, 1973 Although mullitc-bascd ceramics offer a number of advantages (notably superior mechanical stability and resistance to ther mal shock), development of such products has been hampered by inadequacies, both qualitative and quantitative, in the avail able supply of requisite constituents. Prepa ration of appropriate ceramic powders of suitable purity by organo-mctall.ic and freeze-dry techniques is costly, tedious, and often hazardous due to the use of volatile solvents that may be both flammable and toxic. Direct mixtures of alpha-alumina and silica do not react readily to form mullitc, while those of amorphous alumina and silica, although highly reactive, generally produce mullite with an unacceptable pro portion of residual corundum. In the course of research directed toward the processing of aluminosilicate ceramics, an improved method was developed for preparing mullite powder. A weakly acidified colloidal suspension of gamma*alumina was mixed with similarly dispersed amorphous silica, and the resulting hydrosol mixture was then caused to gel by gradually increasing the pH by dropwise addition of aqueous ammonia. Subsequent drying of the gelled material, followed by grinding and firing, yielded a fine-grained product that was shown by chemical and spectrographic an alysis and X-ray diffraction to be mullitc of theoretical composition and outstanding purity. A feature of the powder was the globular form of the particles, notably dif ferent from the acicular habit of mullitc obtained in other procedures. In a subsequent phase of the same re search, experiments were carried out on the sintering of the newly available mullite powder under high pressure in an evacu ated and induction-heated graphite die. Two journal articles were published presenting information on this experimental work and its conclusions.12 Orifice rings, vital components in auto matic machines for mass production of glass containers, used to be fabricated from clay- bonded sillimanitc or mullitc, but the parts so obtained were often deficient in resistance to wear and thermal shock. A switch to harder high-alumina materials for this pur pose has posed difficult machining prob lems with additional complications from the increasing demand for single-, double-, and triple-gob orifices in a profusion of shapes and sizes. Diamond-tool techniques in use by Emhart Corp., Hartford. Conn., for the precision coring of orifice blanks formed by slip casting or press extrusion of the newer materials were described in an industrial journal.w 19 Ghate, B. B.. D. P. H. Hasselm&n. and R. M. Sprites. Synthesis and Characterization of Hl*h Purity, Fine Grained Mullite. Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., v. 62, No. 9, September 1973, pp. 670-672, Penty, R. A., D. P. H. Haaaelman, and R. M. Snrlfr**. PrcRAiiro Sintering Klnet'cs of Fine Grained Mullite by the Change In Pressure and Temperature Technique. Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., v. 62, No. 9, September 1973, po. 682-693. 13 American Ceramic Society Bulletin. Preci sion Orifice Rings Formed by Diamond Drills. V. 62, No. 9, September 1973, p. 690. Lead By J. Patrick Ryan World production and consumption of lend, continuing an upward trend, again reached record high levels in 1973. Free world mine production increased about 1%, with most of the net gain coming from Canada, Mexico and Peru. Refined lead production also was up about 1%. Con sumption of metal rose nearly 5% and exceeded production, the deficit being balanced essentially by withdrawals from producers and Government stocks. The world production deficit and continued strong demand was reflected in rising prices. The? monthly average London Metal Ex change (LME) cash price increased 86% and exceeded the U.S. producers average price rluring most of the year. The average equivalent LME price in 1973 was 19.47 cents, The average domestic price of lead on n nationwide basis in 1973 was 16.29 cents per pound. both domestic mine and smelter produc tion of lend were down slightly in 1973 from the 43-year record high levels achieved in 1972. Output from the new Brushy Creek mine, which began production at midyear, was not enough to offset losses due to closure of the Federal and Mayflower mines late in 1972. Secondary smelter out put increased G% to 654,300 tons, a new record that amounted to nearly 49% of total smelter and refinery production of lend. Demand for lead in the transportation field continued to grow as requirements for batteries and gasoline antiknock com pounds together increased nearly 4%. The quantity of lead used in battery manufac ture again reached a new record high, and lend used in antiknock additives was only slightly less than in 1972. Lead used in pig ments increased 22%. Of the total lead con sumption of 1.54 million tons, batteries ac- counted 18%; pig solder, 5% Stocks primary at the be at yearen 118,500 to to 124,000 and trans about 24 committe of lead to Americ pany (AS pany ann accelerate tario lea Utah, int of conce 15,000 to 1.2 millio begin in Legisla Tlic Gen reported plus lead totaled 2 238,913 t mitments aside pro represent The stoc duced to April 12 committe end, of for dispo 1972. Ac ernment tons, lea ' Physic Metals--M 686 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 of 874,330 tons on December 31. Following reduction of the stockpile ob jective, an omnibus bill (H.R. 7153) was introduced in the Congress which would authorize the General Services Administra tor to dispose of various materials from the national and supplemental stockpiles, in cluding 464,900 tons of lead representing the difference between the old and new objectives. By yearend, no further action had been taken on the bill. Bills (H.R. 3743, S607) to amend the Lead-Base Paint Poisoning Prevention Act were introduced in the 93d Congress, 1st session. These bills essentially provide for reducing the lead content of paints, con ducting research to determine the safe level of lead in residential paint products, and would prohibit the use of lead-base paint in some consumer products and in future housing built with Federal aid. A compro mise bill won final Congressional approval in October and became Public Law 93-151 on November 9. The lead and zinc flexible tariff bill (H.R. 6437) reintroduced in Con gress in March contained a provision for increasing tariffs on lead in imported con centrates, unwrought and wrought metals, waste and scrap, and on manufactures of lead when exceeding specified limiting quantities. No further action was taken on the bill by the 93d Congress, 1st session. On December 9, the Environmental Pro tection Agency (EPA) published revised regulations applicable to gasoline refiners designed to reduce the lead content of gasoline 60%-65% over a 5-year period, 1975-79. The new schedule, based on the total pool average lead content per gallon for each 3-month period, is as follows: January I, 1976 ___-1.7 January 1, 1976 _____ 1.4 January 1,1977 1.0 January 1,1978 .8 January 1,1979 .6 grams per gallon grams per gallon gram per gallon gram per gallon gram per gallon The provision that at least one grade of lead-free gasoline--0.05 gram per gallon-- be made available by July 1, 1974, remained unchanged. Responding to load dumping charges by the Bunker Hill Company, the U.S. Treas ury Department made a determination in October that primary lead metal from Australia and Canada was being sold in the United States at less than fair market value within the meaning of the Antidump ing Act. Following the determination by Treasury, the U.S. Tariff Commission in stituted an investigation and held hearings in December on the question of injury, and on January 10, 1974, the Commission ruled that the dumping had caused or threatened injury' to the domestic primary lead industry. As a result of the Commis sion's ruling, imports of primary lead from Australia and Canada sold at less than fair value will become subject to special dump ing duties. On December 7, the Cost of Living Council removed its price control on lead and several other nonferrous metals to assure adequate domestic supplies of the metals vital for many capital-goods pro ducers. The Council's action was said to be sufficient to encourage expansion of do mestic capacity and supply as well as to bring domestic prices closer into line with world market prices. Lz0UU1 UJ a 1,600 LEAD 1,400 1,200 1,000 r 2 800 - 600 - 400 200 - Iui s. y fc tc " a. 0 3( 20 10 0 >950 1955 (960 Figure 1.--Trends in the lead industry 688 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Tabic 1.--Salient lead statistics (Short tons unless otherwise specified) 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 United States: Production: Domestic ores, recoverable lead content Value -________________ thousands__ Primary lead (refined) : From domestic ores and base bullion _____________________ _____ From foreign ores and base bullion Antimonial lead (primary lead content) ________ ______ _____________ Secondary lead (lead content) __ _____ Exports of lead materials excluding scrap - Imports, general: Lead in ore and matte_________ Lead In base bullion_______ ____ _ Lead In pigs, bars, and old Stocks December 31 (lead content) : At primary smelters and refineries At consumer plants Consumption of metal, primary and secondary ___________ _____________________ Prices Common lead, average, cents per pound ' World: Production: Mine .................................................................. Smelter _______________ ________..________ Price: London, common lead, average, cents per pound ------------------------------------- 509,013 $151,636 613.931 124,724 16,260 603,906 4,668 109,252 1.993 285,342 101.860 126,404 J .389,358 14.93 3,566,061 3.553.468 13.09 671.767 678,560 $178,609 $169,679 628.086 138.644 673,022 76,993 11.666 697.390 7,747 16,116 596,797 5.925 112.406 296 251.480 65,998 41 198.970 192,986 133.502 121,660 126,577 1.360.562 1.431.514 15.69 13.89 3,741,546 - 3,742,950 3,628.422 r 3,690,730 13.76 11.62 618,916 $186,046 r 677,398 103,001 8,185 616.697 8,376 101,514 896 245.625 146.673 118,644 1.486,264 16.03 3,802,086 3,744,660 13.68 603,024 $196,466 667,266 107,260 13,223 664,286 66,676 102,483 4 180,788 89,847 124.121 1,641,200 16.29 3,852,190 3,800,753 19.47 r Revised. ] Quotation for 1969-71 at New York and for 1972 and 1973 on a nationwide, delivered basis. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION MINE PRODUCTION After rising for 5 consecutive years to a 43-ycar high in 1972, mine production dropped about 3% in 1973 to 603,000 tons. Monthly production reached a maximum of 55,900 tons in May, slightly less than the maximum achieved in 1972. Production from Missouri mines, which accounted for 81% of the Nation's total, was down slightly. Output in Idaho, which provided 10% of the total, was virtually unchanged. Utah's output dropped sharply following the closure of the Mayflower mine at yearend 1972. Output of lead at Kcnnecott's Burgin mine also was lower than in 1972 due to a shortage of skilled miners together with delays attributed to adverse under ground mining conditions.3 The Buick mine jointly owned by Amax Lead Co. of Missouri (AMAX) and Homestake Mining Co. was again the leading lead producer with an output of 1.6 mil lion tons of ore, an increase of 10% over that of 1972. Production of lead concen trate was up 19% to 225,000 tons. The six leading mines, all in Missouri, contributed 75% of the total IJ.S. mine production of lend. The 10 leading mines produced 86%, and the 25 leading mines contributed 99%. About 4,900 persons were employed in the Nation's lead, lead-silver, and lead-zinc mines and mills in 1973. Output of lead and zinc from these mines per man year was approximately 150 tons. Average grade of lead ore mined was 6.55% lead and 1.08% zinc compared with 5.89% lead and O.73% of zinc in 1972. St. Joe Minerals Corp. reported that out put from its southeast Missouri mines declined 29,000 tons to 283,602 tons owing to lbe phasing-in of its new production fa cilities at Brushy Creek, which replaced the Federal mine in the Old Lead Belt that closed in October 1972. ,St. Joe, the Nation's largest lead mining company has four minemill operations in the New Lead Belt of southeast Missouri: Fletcher, Viburnum, Indian Creek, and Brushy Creek. The com pany stated that the higher grade ore (4%8%) and improved mining and milling technology in the New Lead Belt operations has brought n substantial increase in pro ductivity compared with operations in the Old Lead Belt. St. Joe estimates its proven - Kenncrott Copper Crp. 1973 Annua! Report. P. 11. LEAD lead reserves at 50 million tons--enough for 15 years production at the current rate of mining--and its probable ore reserves at an additional 100 million tons, or 30 years of production.8 Ozark Lead Co. produced 59,199 tons of lead in concentrate from its Ozark mine operations compared with 69,100 tons in 1972. The fallofT in production resulted from a 2-monlh labor strike and a shortage of skilled underground maintenance per sonnel.4 The Bunker Hill Company reported that production of lead from company owned and controlled mines in Idaho aggregated 31.000 tons, about the same as in 1972. The company reported that proven and probable ore reserves at ycarend in the Bunker Hill mine totaled 2.01 million tons averaging about 3.6% lend, 5.1% zinc, and 2.1 ounces of silver per ton.6 Hccla Mining Co. reported that ore production at the Star-Morning mine, jointly owned by Hccla (30%) and Bunker Hill (70%). in creased 2,200 tons to 265,780 tons. Hccla's share of the 1973 production of Icad-zincsilver ore was 79,734 tons assaying 5.18% lead, G.G8% zinc, and 2.79 ounces of silver per ton. Hcda's share of the computed ore reserves increased 21,000 tons to 286,000 tons at ycarend. Hccla's Lucky Friday mine produced 176,859 ions of silvcr-Icad-zinc ore assaying 11.2% lead, compared with 192,020 tons assaying 10.4% lead in 1972. The de cline in 1973 mine output was attributed largely to a continued shortage of skilled underground miners. Ore reserves at Lucky Friday at ycarend totaled 510,000 tons, about 74,000 tons less than a year earlier.8 Lead output in Colorado, reversing the rising trend of the preceding 5 years, de clined about 3,200 tons to 28,100 tons in 1973, Both the Lcadville unit (Resurrec tion mine) and the Idarado Mines reported lower production during the year. The Lcadville unit, a joint venture of ASARCO and Ncwmont Mining Corp., produced 199.000 tons of lead-zinc-silver ore and re covered 7,200 tons of lead.7 Owing largely to a manpower shortage, the mine did not produce at more than about 75% of its rated capacity of 700 tons of ore per day during the year. Ore reserves at yearend were estimated at 2.62 million tons averaging 4.98% lead, 9.71% zinc, 2.53 ounces of silver and 0.067 ounce of gold per ton. Idarado Mining Co. mined and milled 378,200 tons of lcad-zinc-copper ore in 1973 c Ore reser lion tons 0.77% c 0.02 ounc Park C The Ana announce vclopmen the Onta City, Ut deepenin foot leve per-day duction week is 1975. Off zinc con centratc will be p the origi and ope from 187 SMELT Revers output o cries in 43-year in 1972. foreign o offset the domestic mestic p 7,300 ton was abo 674,500 t derived 85% in at prima consecut nearly 1 antimony to 7.5%. The H Joe Mine of lead more tha below its _________ 3 St. Jo Pp. 2, 7, 4 Page 6 Gulf nual Rep Hecla 6-7. 7 ASAR Newmo Pp. 9-10. 690 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 of a planned 3*week shutdown to install new environmental control equipment.8 ASARCO reported that its lead smelters maintained production at 1972 rates but continued to operate below capacity owing to environmental restrictions. The Glover, Mo., custom smelting and refining plant produced 82,300 tons of lead compared with 80,400 tons in 1972. Most of the concentrate treated at the Glover plant continued to come from the Ozark mine at Sweetwater, Mo. Concentrates from nine other domestic mines in four States and from one mine in Honduras also were treated at Glover. The East Helena, Mont., smelter operated con tinuously during the year processing crude ore and concentrates from about 94 domes tic mines in 9 States and from mines ih Canada, Peru, Colombia, and Australia. The El Paso, Tex., lead smelter processed ores and concentrates from approximately 24 domestic mines in 6 States and from mines in Peru, Canada, Honduras, Nicara gua, Australia, and Mexico. Refined metal output at the company's Omaha, Nebr., re finery, which processed lead bullion from the East Helena and El Paso smelters, to taled 165,100 tons, 22,400 more than in 1972. AMAX reported that its smelter at Buick, Mo., produced 135,000 tons of refined lead in 1973, about 2,000 tons more than in 1972. About 57% of the total production was for the owners' account, and the remainder was refined on toll for other producers.9 The Bunker Hill smellcr-rcfmcry of Gulf Resources & Chemical Corp. at Kellogg, Idaho, operated continuously, except for a 4-day strike shutdown, and produced 130, 200 tons of lead in all forms, about 1,600 tons less than in 1972. The reduction in output was due in part to the work stop page and partly to efforts to comply with air pollution standards.10 The company treated concentrates from nine domestic mines in five States and from mines in Canada. Secondary smelter production of lead from recycled materials increased about 37,700 tons to a new record output of 654, 300 tons, about 49% of the total smelter and refinery production. Approximately 140 secondary plants were engaged in recovery of lead and lead alloys from scrap materials during the year. Secondary output repre sented about 42% of total lead consump tion in 1973. * Page 9 of work cited in footnote 3. n AMAX. 1973 Annual Report. Pp. 16-17. 10 Page 7 of work cited in footnote 6. Major secondary smelting companies reporting to the Bureau of Mines Company American Smelting & Refining Co. (including Federated Metals Div.) East Penn Mfg. Co______ --_______________ General Battery Corp _____________________ Gopher Smelting & Refining Co__________ Gould, Inc __________________________________ Nassau Smelting & Refining Co_________ NL Industries, Ine. (including Magnus Meta] Division and Master Metals, Inc.) RSR Corp. (including Murph-Murdock Division and Quemetco Division). Richardson Graphics _______________ ___....... Schuylkill Metal Corp __________________________ Seiteinger's Inc Selco, Div. of Contract Manufacturers, Inc -- U. S. S. Lead Refinery, Inc -----------------------------Hyman Viener, and Sons______________________ Willard Smelting Co------------------------------------------- Plant San Francisco, Calif.. Whiting, Ind., Omaha, Nebr., Newark, N.J., Houston, Tex. Lyons Station, Pa. Reading, Pa. St. Paul, Minn. Omaha, Nebr., Philadelphia. Pa. Tottenville, N.Y. French Camp and Los Angeles, Calif., Atlanta, Ga., Chicago and Granite City, III., Detroit, Mich., St. Louis Park. Minn., St. Louis, Mo., Fremont, Nebr., Pedricktown and Perth Amboy, N.J., Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio, Dallas and Houston, Tex. City of Industry, Calif., Indianapolis, Ind., Middletown, N.Y., Dallas, Tex., Seattle, Wash. Chicago, 111., Philadelphia, Pa. Baton Rouge, La. Atlanta, Ga. Tampa. Fla., Columbus, Ga., Florence, Miss. East Chicago, Ind. Richmond, Va. Charlotte, N.C. LEAD RAW MATERIAL SOURCES Domestic mines delivered 603,000 tons of recoverable lead in concentrates to six do mestic primary smelters. This represented 88% of the total production of 687,700 tons of primary refined lead and antimonial lead, about the same proportion as in 1972. Lead recovered from imported concentrates smelted during the year amounted to nearly 111,500 tons, about 6,500 tons more than in 1972. Lead recovered from lead scrap processed at primary plants dropped to about 1,100 tons contained in antimonial lead compared with a total of 7,000 tons in 1972. Raw material stocks at the beginning of the year at primary plants totaled 197, 300, of which 101,900 tons was in process and 2,500 tons was in secondary materials. At yearend, stocks of primary materials awaiting process contained 88,500 tons of lead, material in process 78,200 tons, and seconda 169,500 Scrap 867,800 About nearly New sc and res aggrega total in predom quantiti babbitt of the mestic scrap, m 2,700 t than in talcd n more smelter 84,300 IDAHO MINK Stor Unh Bunkar Hill Ooyrack Silva, Sior ET SMEIT1NO A KEMNINO LOCATIONS 1. El Poie, Taios ASAB 2. East Halano, Montano ASH 3. Oaioho, Nabrotko ASAK 4. Olovar, Missouri ASAI 5. Buick, Minour! AMAX A. Marculonavm , Missouri St. Jot Minarels 7. Katlogg, Idaho, Bunkor Hill COIOBADO MIMES Ida,ado loodvlllo Sunny tida Camp Bird Eogla Figure 2.--Lead mines and smelters i 692 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 CONSUMPTION AND USES Lead consumption in the United States increased nearly 4% in 1973 to a new record of 1.54 million tons. Monthly re quirements ranged from a new record high of 143,200 tons in March to a low of 101,900 tons in July. In the metal products category, which accounted for 72% of the total lead consumption, the 6% increase in battery requirements more than offset combined de creases in ammunition, cables, calking, and tubes. Significant gains also were recorded in the quantity of lead used in brass, pipes, teme and type metals. The growth in re quirements for battery lead largely re flected the continued increase in the num ber of both on-thc-road and off-the-road motor vehicles that use battery power for starting, lighting, ignition (SLI), and trac tion. A total of 57.1 million SLI-type bat teries were produced in 1973, about 43.4 million of which were for replacement, 12.6 million were original equipment, and the remainder were exported. The quantity of lead used in gasoline antiknock compounds decreased 1.4%, reflecting a reduction in the average lead content per gallon of gaso line from about 2.6 grams per gallon in 1972 to about 2.2 grams per gallon in 1973. Soft refined lend represented 66% of the total consumption, antimonial lead ac counted for 29%, and lead in other alloys mainly solders and bearing metals, ac counted for 4% of the total. Lead in cop per-base scrap accounted for 1% of con sumption. The domestic supply of lead metal from all sources--primary and secondary produc tion, imports for consumption, stock changes, and stockpile releases--totaled about 157,000 tons more than reported con sumption and exports. The apparent ex cess supply in 1973 amounting to about 10% of reported consumption was at tributed partly to unreported consumption and stock buildup, especially by small pro ducers and dealers that do not report to the Bureau of Mines. The compound annual growth rate in lead consumption during the 10-year period 1964-73 averaged about 2.5% owing largely to increased demand for batteries, which showed an annual growth of 6% during the period and accounted for ap proximately 50% of the total domestic con sumption in 1973 but only 37% in 1964. Per capita lead consumption was 14.6 pounds compared with 14.2 pounds in 1972. Lead used in pigments, particularly red lead and litharge, increased 28% and ac counted for 7% of the total consumption in 1973. Lead antiknock compounds, and miscellaneous and oilier unclassified uses decreased slightly and accounted for 18% and 3% of (he total, respectively. Lead used in other metal products, virtually lhe same as in 1972. accounted for 22% of the total. The Lead Industries Association (LIA) reported the expanding use of ternc-coatcd stainless steel in exposed architectural ap plications for protection against corrosion. The terne metal alloy coating is 80% lead and 20% tin. LIA also reported the in creasing use of sheet lead in sound barrier applications such as accoustical polyure thane foam material used in machinery noise control panels designed to meet Oc cupational Safety and Health Administra tion (OSHA) standards. LEAD PIGMENTS Lead requirements for the production of lead oxides and pigments totaled 510,000 tons, about 13% more than in 1972. The quantity of lead used in making both white and red lead decreased and constituted only 4% of the total lead consumed in pigments and oxides. Litharge production used about 32% of the total lead requirements, and black oxide production used 64% of the total. Most of the litharge shipments went to battery manufacturers and is included in "Other" in tabic 20. Litharge shipments increased nearly 31,500 tons and comprised 75% of the total shipments in 1973.. Lith arge shipped for use in the ceramics in dustry increased 55% in 1973 and amounted to 20% of the total shipments for the year. Prices.--The price of basic carbonate white lead in carload lots, freight allowed, remained unchanged at 23.9 cents per pound. The quoted price of red lead oxide (Pb30) 95%, in carload lots at works, was advanced from 18.75-18.90 cents per pound in January to 19.25 cents in Febru ary, 20.25-20.45 cents in April, 20.75-21.20 cents in May, to 21-21.20 ccnLs in June, and remained unchanged thereafter to yearend. The price quotation on lead silicate (PbSiOj) ranged upward from 20.75-21.75 cents per pound in January, 21.75 cents in April, to 23.0 cents in June and was un- LEAD changed thereafter. The price quotation of commercial-grade litharge, powdered, in carload Jots at works ranged upward from 18 cents per pound in January to 19.5 cents in April, 20-20.25 cents in May, to 20.25 cents in June, and remained un changed to December when the price quo tation was advanced to 21.25-22.75 cents. The value of shipments of white lead, red lead, and litharge amounted to $72.9 million in 1973, an average of $356 per ton compared with $61.1 million and $344 per Ion in 1972. Foreign Trade.--Exports of pigment- grade lead at $132,700 than pigme valued at countries. Imports ments and quantity an Litharge, w imports, de yellow, com 40% less th tually all th the chrome STOCKS Inventories of refined and antimonial lead at primary refineries declined steadily through the first 7 months then trended upward in the last 5 months from the July low. Metal stocks totaling 64,500 tons at the beginning of the year decreased to about 26,100 tons at yearend. Stocks of lead in base bullion declined about 2,700 tons during the year, but the lead content of ore and matte stocks declined nearly 14,700 tons. Stocks of and secon 124,100 ton crease of ab Refined so total comp i972Stocks of ers plants t resented les sumption. PRICES The U.S. producer price for commongrade lead on a nationwide basis was re ported by Metals Week at 14.50 cents per pound on January 1, was advanced 0.5 cent to 15.0 cents on January 12, to 15.5 cents on February 6, and 16.0 cents on March 6. On April 30, the price quotation became split at 16.0-16.5 cents continuing un changed at 16.5 cents per pound to June 1. Thereafter, the price was frozen at this level under price control regulations until December 6 when the controls on lead were lifted by the Cost of Living Council. On December 10, the producers quoted price was increased to a range of 18-19 cents per pound. The average monthly producer price increased from 14.50 cents in Decem ber 1972 to 17.72 cents in December 1973, a 22% gain price for th with 15.03 c The Lon price, in te strong worl from a low ary to 22. sharply ea 30,28 cents the month. the year w monthly av 245.10 cent price of 1 quotation e first time in FOREIGN TRADE Exports of lead metal and scrap materials increased sharply due principally to world prices being substantially higher than do mestic prices, which were frozen for most of the year. The outflow of lead materials and scrap ( the quantit record. Wro stituted 53% which wen 694 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 and Italy; the remaining 47% was contained in scrap materials, most of which was shipped to Canada, Japan, and Brazil. General imports of lead materials into the United States dropped nearly 19% to a total of 283,300 tons valued at $76.1 million. Receipts of lead in concentrates and other crude materials were near the same level as in 1972, but metal receipts dropped nearly 27% to about 178,096 tons, the smallest quantity of metal imports since 1951. The decline in lead imports was attributed partly to price regulations in the United States and partly to the effect of dumping charges filed against Canadian and Australian exporters by a major domcstic producer and the subsequent determination by the U.S. Treasury Department sustaining such charges. Peru was the leading supplier of crude lead materials with nearly 23% of the total, followed by Australia, Honduras, and Canada. Canada continued to be the leading metal supplier with 35% of the total, followed by Australia 26%, Peru 24%, and Mexico 11%. WORLD REVIEW In 1973 mine production of lead in non* Communist countries (which includes Yugo slavia) based on data compiled by the Bureau of Mines totaled 2.95 million tons, about 7% more than in 1972. The Bureau estimated mine production in Communist countries at 0.87 million tons. Smelter out put of lead in 1973 in non-Communist countries, reported as primary metal in sofar as possible to determine by the Bureau, totaled 2.92 million tons. In addi tion, the Bureau of Mines estimated 0.88 million tons of metal produced in Com munist countries to provide a world total of 3.80 million tons of primary lead, about 1% more than in 1972. The United States maintained its rank as the leading mine producer of lead in 1973, accounting for approximately 16% of the world total, followed by the U.S.S.R., Australia, Canada, Peru, Mexico, and Yugoslavia, each with production ex ceeding 100,000 tons of lead in ore mined; these seven countries produced 67% of the world total. The 1% gain in the non-Com munist country lead output was largely due to production gains in Mexico, Peru, Canada, Yugoslavia, Morocco and Australia, which more than offset losses in Japan, Spain, and the United States. The North America area increase was about 1% and the 1.21 million tons produced represented 41% of the non*Communist country total and 31% of the estimated world total. The United States also continued to be the leading producer of primary lead metal as well as secondary lead. The U.S.S.R. again, ranked second, followed by Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, the Peo ple's Republic of China and Bulgaria. The nine countries each produced more than 100,000 tons and together accounted for 69% of the world total. The North America area accounted for 37% of the non-Com munist country metal output and 28% of the estimated world output (excluding U.S. secondary production). The 1% gain in primary metal output by non-Communist countries came chiefly from increases in Australia, Mexico, and Japan. The smelter output data for some countries, particu larly France, Japan, and West Germany, includes secondary metal. According to preliminary data compiled by the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), consumption of refined lead in 1973 by non-Communist countries amounted to 3.8 million tons, about 5% more than in 1972. Most of the increase came from West European countries and Japan. The U.S. accounted for about 40% of the non-communist total consumption. ILZSG comparative statistics on metal pro duction and consumption in non-Commu nist countries indicate a new supply deficit of about 90,400 tons in 1973, compared with an indicated surplus of 33,000 tons in 1972. The indicated deficit was reflected in pro ducers stocks, which declined about 106,000 tons during the year to nearly 160,000 tons at ycarend. Consumers' stocks in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan combined decreased about 23,700 tons to 172,000 tons at yearend. Trade data for the first 9 months of 1973 compiled by ILZSG disclosed that im ports of lead bullion and refined lead into Communist countries from the rest of the world totaled about 58,200 tons, 19,700 tons more than exports compared with 40,800 and 11,000 tons, respectively, in the cor responding period of 1972. LEAD Australia.--Mine output of lead increased nearly 1% to 447,000 tons, and Australia maintained its rank as the world's third ranking lead-producing country. M.I.M. Holdings Limited treated 2.26 million tons of silver-lead-zinc ore at its Mount Isa operations averaging 6.6% lead and recovered 124,000 tons of lead bullion, 3,800 tons less than in 1972. In June 1973, the company reported primary silver-leadzinc ore reserves at the Mount Isa mine at 60.6 million tons averaging 6.9% lead, 6-4% zinc, and 4.8 ounces of silver per ton. At the Hilton mine primary silver-lcadzinc ore reserves were estimated at 40.8 million tons averaging 5.8 ounces of silver per ton, 7.7% lead, and 9.6% zinc.u Lead production at the Port Pirie smelter operated by Broken Hill Associated Smelter, Fly. Ltd. was 201,660 tons, nearly 19,000 tons less than in 1972. E.Z. Industries Ltd. continued to expand productive capacity at its West Coast mines in Tasmania. During the year, the com pany milled 546,600 tons of zinc-lcad-coppcr ore chiefly from the Rosebery and Her cules mines containing 5.3% lead and re covered nearly 25,200 tons of lead concen trate, a 15% gain in ore milled and a 5% gain in output of lead concentrate com pared with production in 1972. The higher mine output achieved under the double production capacity plan was partially off set by the effects of a 5-wcek labor strike. The adoption of long-hole open slope drill ing and improved loading equipment con tributed to the increased tonnage mined at the Rosebery mine compared with that of the preceding year. Ore reserves totaled 10.3 million tons at fiscal yearend. About 96% of the total reserve was in the Rose bery mine; the remainder was in the Her cules and Farrell mines.11 North Broken Hill Ltd. reported that it mined 556,700 tons of lead-zinc-silver ore, about 6,000 tons less than in 1972. The grade of ore was 12.4% lead, 9.20% zinc, and 6.2 ounces of silver per ton, and production was 91,700 tons of lead con centrate containing 67,250 tons of lead and 29.2 million ounces of silver. Ore reserves on June 30 totaled 5.0 million tons, about the same as last year.13 Canada.--Canadian mine output of lead contained in ores and concentrates increased 2% in 1973 to 427,400 tons. The gain in output came chiefly from increases at mines in the Yukon and Northwest Territories and Br counted duction Gom British output per da closed develop jointly Bankcn wallis and sh lurgica gan un prepara were d per-day pacity were e ing 3.2 4.0 oun Com Sullivan Pine P tories, compan produc creased with a 10.0%; million zinc an centrate sources tons m Sullivan lion to bined totaled million also re Polaris ing 4.7 lead." Bruns Ltd. re of lead lead co in 197 Imperia smelter 11 M.I. port. Pp 11E. Pp. 9-11 u Nor PP- 2. 8 14 Com P. 89. 704 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Table 13.--Lead consumption in the United States, by month (Short tons) Month 1972 1973 ___ 122,272 136,308 Month 1972 1973 ... April ............................... ... May _____ ___________ _ June ________ -______ --_ July ................................. ... 132.311 122,367 129,012 126.661 91,439 143,197 128,432 128,776 129,124 101,894 December .. Total i ... 120.600 120.208 1,641,209 1 Includes lead which went directly from scrap to fabricated products and lead contained in .leaded zlne oxide and other pigments. Table 14.-Lead consumption in the United Statesi in 1973,> by class of product and type of material (Short tons) Product Soft lead Lead in antimoniat lead iliu,. Lead in copper- base scrap ToUl Meta) products ____ Storage batteries _............................... Pigments ___________ .............................. Chemicals __________ .............................. Miscellaneous _______.............................. Unclassified ________ ............................ Total _________ 415,471 108.766 276.026 12,208 19,750 70,426 353,976 328 14.604 1,188 440,621 68,228 48 811 69.087 16,239 .. 16,239 339,033 769,447 108,766 275,364 26,860 21,749 1 1,641,209 1 Includes lead that went directly from scrap to fabricated products, and lead contained in leaded zinc oxide and other pigments. Tabic 15.--Lead consumption in the United .States in 1978, by State1 (Short tons) State Refined soft lead Igcad in antimonial lead Load in alloys Lend in copperbase scrap Total California . ..................... .............. Colorado ......____________________ ........... Connecticut ................................................. ...... District of Columbia ___ _____ _ ______ Florida ................................ .......... ...................... Georgia .......................... .......... ............................. Illinois _____________ _____ _____ __________ Indiana _____________________ _____ _________ Kansas ........... ................ .............................. ....... Kentucky ........................ ................................... .. Maryland ............................................... .............. Massachusetts .............................. ...................... Michigan ____________________--.................. Missouri __ _____ ............... .......... ............ Nebraska ............................................................. New Jersey -_____________________________ New York _...__________________ _________ Ohio ......................................................................... Pennsylvania ___________ Rhode Island .............. Tennessee ............... Virginia ______ __________________________ _ Washington ______ ______ __________ ________ West Virginia ______ __________ _______ _ Wisconsin__ Alabama and Mississippi ............. ............. Arkansas and Oklahoma......... ...................... Hawaii and Oregon ________ ............... Iowa and Minnesota ________________ Louisiana and Texas ...________ ____ .. Montana and Idaho _______________ ______ New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont. Delaware ____________________ North and South Carolina________ ______ Utah. .Nevada, Arizona ______ ___..._____ Total ...................................................... 87,55!) 1.259 10,959 118 4,806 61,197 96,295 116,641 12.092 7,673 1,060 2,884 13,571 30,047 3.428 129,780 48.934 12,716 65,413 3,866 1,413 663 17,816 20,119 6,361 6.123 5,806 4,081 6.636 216,419 842 8.635 10,068 33 1,015.362 41,223 1.145 9,500 8,929 25,671 44.303 51,035 10,279 13,595 8,526 684 21,321 9,855 988 15,467 3,414 4,543 51,211 335 17,530 2,653 910 432 9,832 7.169 3.600 6,959 12,722 38,391 11.223 7,076 .. 440,521 5,453 79 338 11,001 3,638 43 2 2,883 20 2,785 2.014 1.524 7,427 11,532 8,067 4,950 . 207 1,03! 1 23 85 .. 3.750 1.556 __ 678 __ 69,087 799 1,496 _ 1,610 466 133 7 294 67 1.093 1,636 718 458 2,395 2,673 133 68..1.. 432 463 __ 141 471 __ 173 __ -16,239 135,034 2,483 21,955 118 13,735 87,206 153,209 171.780 22,547 21,270 12,476 3,882 37,744 43,009 7.576 153.392 64.388 27,720 124,147 4,201 19,283 5.028 18,727 20.551 16,648 13,755 9,491 11,040 23.249 266,837 842 20.709 17,144 33 1.541.209 1 Includes lead that went directly from scrap to fabricated products and lead contained In leaded zinc oxide and other pigments. LEAD Tabic IC.--Production and shipment* of lead pigm Product Produc tion (short tone) Short tons Shipments Value 3 Averag per ton White lead: Dry ............. _ In oil n____ . Total . ... Red lead ______ Litharge ______.. Black oxide __ .. 7,811 304 8,115 24.168 139,800 306,689 9,728 338 10,066 19,773 147,622 ._ 14,466,278 230.201 4.696,479 7,266,019 49,160,732 __ $459 681 467 367 333 __ 1 Excludes basic lead sulfate, figures withheld to fidential data. At plant, exclusive of container. n Weight of white leaf! only, but value of paste. a Tabic 17.--Lead content of lead and zinc pigments1 manufacturers, by {Short tons) 1972 Lead in pigments produced from -- Ore Domes For tic eign Pig lead White lead ______ Red lead _________ Litharge _________ Black oxide ______ Leaded zinc oxide Total ______ 6,462 21,608 130,014 292,462 WW 460,906 W Withheld to avoid disclosing individual company co 1 Excluding lead in basic lead sulfate. Tabic 18.--Distribution of white lead (dry an (Short tons) Industry 1 .................................... .................................... Other ___________________________ ................................... Total ........................................ ............................. .. 6 4 10 1 Excludes basic lead sulfate, figures withheld to fidential data. Table 19.--Distribution of red lead (Short tons) Industry 1 Storage batteries Other ___________ ............ ............ ............ 9 9 3 22 W Withheld to avoid disclosing individual company co 706 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Table 20.--Distribution of litharge shipments, by industry (Short tons) Industry 1969 1970 1971 1972 Oil refining ____ Paints .................. Other __________ ____ - __ _. __ _ 21,570 w i .q ii 1.794 135,719 24.678 W 2,016 1,316 1,663 116,771 146,343 24,337 W 1,413 3,085 2,081 116,928 147,844 23,188 W 1,262 7,316 2,162 113.694 147,622 1073 36.910 620 3,112 6,078 134,424 179,144 W Withheld to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data; included with "Oth er." Table 21.--U.S. imports for consumption of lead pigments and compounds Kind 1972 Quantity (short tons) Value (thousands) White lead .............................................................. Red lead ----Litharge _______________________ ___ _________ Chrome yellow Other lead pigments Other lead compounds _____________________ Total ______________________ ___________ 600 1.289 16,368 7.630 1,348 425 26,650 $216 377 4,147 3,809 490 205 9,244 1973 Quantity Value (short tons) (thousands) 401 r>U3 14,318 4,492 357 354 20,616 $268 188 4,840 2.972 139 195 8,602 Table 22.--Stocks of lead at primary smelters and refineries in the United States, Dec. 31 (Short tons) Stocks 1969 1970 1971 1972 Refined pi* lead ...................................................... Lead In antlmoniaMead ____________________ Lead in base bullion .................... Lead in ore and matte ........................................ Total ................................................................. 21.283 4,448 12.726 63,403 101,860 90.866 6.988 11.710 83,421 192,986 46,762 6,318 13,803 66,777 121,660 60,840 3,626 11.614 69.693 146,673 1973 22,018 4,062 8,846 54,922 89.847 1969 1970 1971 1972 Table 23.--Consumer stocks of lead in the United States, Dec. 31, by type of material (Short tong, lead content) Year Refined softlead Lead in antimonial lead Lead in alloys Lead in copper-base scrap 67,304 82,823 81,934 74,161 49,649 42.420 36,700 36,167 8,506 7,344 6,979 6,977 945 915 964 1,249 Total 126,404 133.602 126,677 118,644 LEAD Table 24.--Average monthly and yearly quot (Cents per pound) U.S. producer London Metal Exchange January ______ February -------March _______ April --------------May __________ June --------------July _________ August _______ September ___ October ______ November ____ December ____ Average 14.00 14.60 16.50 16.57 16.60 15.60 16.60 16.41 16.00 14.67 14.50 14.60 16.03 11.40 13.33 14.51 14.32 14.40 14.10 13.77 13.60 13.71 13.46 13.48 13.98 13.68 1 Metals Week. Quotations for United States on a nationwid Table 25.--U.S. exports of lead, b Unwrought lead and lead alloys: Belgium-Luxembourg _______ Brazil _________________________ Canada ____________ __________ Dominican Republic ________ Germany. West ---------------------- Greece _________________- -- - Honduras ____________ _______ Hong Kong _____________ _ Italy --------------------------------------- Jamaica --------------- ------------------ Japan ______________ ______ Korea, Republic of -------------- Mexico _______________________ Netherlands __________________ Philippines ---------------------------- Portugal ------------------- - Singapore ____---------------- Spain ------------------------------------ Switzerland ------ ----------------- Taiwan --------------------------------- Turkey ________ ------------------- United Kingdom ------------- Venezuela ________ __________ Other __ _____________ ---- Total _____ - Wrought lend and lead alloys: Australia _______________ _-- Belgium-Luxembourg -- -- Brazil --------- ------------------------Canada _____________________ Colombia __ ___________ Denmark_____________________ Dominican Republic ------- - Ecuador _____________________ France ____________ ----------Germany, West --------------- -- Hong Kong -------------------------Italy ---------------------- -------------Jamaica ----------------------------- Japan ______________________ Korea. Republic of ----------- Mexico ____________ ______ __ Netherlands ---------------------- Panama ------- ------- ------------- South Vietnam ------ ------------ Sweden ------- ----------------------Taiwan ________ _________ See footnotes at end of table. Quantity (short tons) 766 28 663 14 4 56 21 3,203 6 30 1 338 958 35 28 25 11 282 13 19 39 6 37 14 19 42 27 114 102 301 28 1 67 51 1230 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 oxide from automobile exhaust using catalysts obtained by thermal activation of granular hydrous stannic oxide gel in the temperature range of 200 to 500BC.ao In February the Tin Research Institute opened a new office at 2600 El Camlno Real, Palo Alto, California 94306. It will serve more efficiently the interests of tin users in the western United Slates. 2f) Fuller, M. J., and M. Warwick. The Catalytic Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide on Tin(IV) Oxide. ,J. Catalysis, v, 20, 1973, pp. 441-460. Titanium By F. W. Wessel Production of all titanium commodities increased during 1973. Ore production ben efited from a full year's operation by Tita nium Enterprises in Clay County, Fla., and the opening of the American Smelting and Refining Company (Asarco) plant at Manchester, N.J. Pigment production in creased because of plant expansions, prin cipally that of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. at New Johnsonvillc, Tenn. In dustrial demand for titanium metal rose sharply during the last quarter. Midyear indications of decreased housing starts had no apparent effect on the de mand for pigment. Plastics industry de mand was particularly strong, increasing about 35% over the previous year. The paper industry also is trending toward use of more pigment per unit weight of paper. Worldwide criticism of waste-disposal practices at sulfate-process pigment plants prompted producers to adopt some type of pollution control. One European producer estimated a 15% increase in cost of prod uct as a result. New sulfate-process capac ity, accordingly, is being contemplated mainly in the less industrialized nations. Chloridc-p being app limited wo Imports about 15% increased facilities under co board in wan, and ended. Ilm during th and titani ter case the Unite Price in lent and prices wer creased b than 20% about 8% prices, co Council, w The po such as t 1 Physical a Is--Minera Tabic 1.--Salient titanium s 1969 United States: Ilmenite concentrate: Mine shipments................short tons.. 893,034 Value...................................thousands.. $18,636 Imports................................short tons .. 28,624 Consumption.................... ......... do.... 1,003,601 Titanium slag: Imports............................. 82,329 Consumption.................... ......... do____ 138,663 Rutile concentrate, natural and synthetic: Imports............................... ......... do____ . 204.898 Consumption.................... 186,432 Sponge metal: Imports for consumption...__ do____ , 6,746 Consumption.................... 20,124 Price: December 31, per pound............ $1.32 World production: Ilmenite concentrate................short tons... 2,777,263 Titanium slag............................ ......... do____. 764,898 Rutile concentrate, natural.. ......... do____. 436,821 1970 920,9 $18,6 96,1 972,8 134,9 129,2 243 ,2 189.1 6,9 16,4 $1. 3,109,1 863,3 469,5 1232 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 international capital is apparently finding the situation there somewhat less congenial than formerly. At yearend a commission formed by the European Community was studying tita nium pigment operations and seeking a so lution to its waste disposal problems. Legislation and Government Programs. --About midyear the stockpile objectives for both rutile and titanium sponge were revised to zero. Disposal of 17,385 tons of rutile was authorized by Congress: of this quantity, 13,756 tons was sold by yearend for a total of $2.75 million. While deliver ies of sponge under the 1972 contracts con tinued, small quantities of older sponge in inventory were released for sale. Government exploration assistance for rutile, available through the Office of Min erals Exploration, U.S. Geological Survey, remained at 75% of the approved cost of exploration. The depletion allowance for ilmenite and rutile remained at 22% for domestic deposits and 14% for foreign de posits. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Concentrates.--Production and shipments of titanium-mineral concentrate in 1973 in creased 12.9% and 9.4%, respectively; the quantity of Ti02 contained in the ship ments increased 11.0%. The average grade of concentrate shipped was 57.4% Ti02, a small increase over 1972 levels. The ton nage increases resulted from a full year's production at the new mine of Titanium Enterprises at Green Cove Springs, Clay County, Fla., and one-half year's produc tion at the Asarco mine, Manchester town ship, Ocean County, N.J. Production con tinued at the mines of E. I. du Pont de Nemours Jk Co., Starke and Highland, Fla,: Humphreys Mining Co., Folkston, Ga.; SCM Corp., Glidden-Durkec Div., Lakehurst, N.J., and NL Industries, Inc., Taha- wus, N.Y. At Asarco's New Jersey property, con struction was completed early in spring, and operations began in late June. The sand contains 4% heavy minerals; the con centrates contain 63% Ti02. Some zircon and sillimanite are rejected. The sand re portedly contains no rutile. The dredge ca pacity is 1,200 tons per hour, but normal downtime, moving, etc., will limit daily production to an average of 20,000 tons. Operating capacity is estimated at 165,000 tons of product annually. The mine will probably operate for at least 20 years. The Humphreys Mining Co. operation at Folkston, Ga., has probably had its last full year of operation at that locality- It is expected that the company will turn its attention to another sand deposit just within fhe Florida border and close enough to Folkston to permit trucking of the rough heavy-mineral concentrate to the dry plant there. Ferroalloys.--Production of ferrotitanium increased to 1,156 tons in 1973, about 75% of the total representing the higher tita nium-content alloys. Producers continued to be Shieldalloy Corp,, Newfield, N.J., Union Carbide Co., Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Foote Mineral Company, Cambridge, Ohio. Scrap and ores were used as raw ma terial. Metal.--Production of titanium sponge was 50% higher than in 1972. Part of this increase was to fulfill General Services Ad ministration contracts to procure the mate rial for the Federal stockpile; shipments were marie throughout the year by both producers. There was also a sharp increase in demand from industrial sources during the last 4 months of 1973. Producing com panies were Titanium Metals Corp. of America (TMCA) , Henderson, Nev., owned by NL Industries, Inc. and Alle gheny Ludlum Steel Corp.; and RMI Co., Ashtabula, Ohio, ownedl by National Dis tillers & Chemical Corp. and United States Steel Corp. Production of titanium ingot was 28,932 tons, a 43% increase over 1972 levels. As in 1972, the following nine companies pro duced ingot. ' Company Plant location Crucible Steel Company of Midland, Pa. America. , , w, , Howmet Corp..................................... Whitehall, Mich. Martin Marietta Aluminum, Inc.. Torrance, Calif. Oregon Metallurgical Corp............. Albany, Oreg. RMI Co............................................... Niles, Ohio Teledyne Titanium, Inc.................. Monroe, N.C. Titanium Metals Corp. of Henderson, Nev. America. Titanium West, Inc.......................... Reno, Nev. TiTech International, Inc............... Pomona, Calif. Pigment.--Demand for all grades of tftania pigment continued to be strong dur- TITANIUM ing 1973. Production increased 7.5% during the year, and shipments about 10.5%. Rutile-type pigment accounted for 72% of total production and was produced by all seven manufacturers. Anatasc-type pigment was produced by five companies. Strikes and mechanical difficulties, arc es timated to have cost the pigment industry more than 12,000 tons of production. At yearend, companies producing titania pig ment, and their plant locations, were as follows: American Cyanamid Co., Savan nah, Ga.; Kerr-McGcc Chemical Corp., Hamilton, Miss.; E. I. du Pont de Nem ours & Co., Antioch, Calif., Edge Moor, Del., and New Johnsonvillc, Tcun.; NL In dustries, Inc., Sayrcville, N.J., and St. Louis, Mo.; New Jersey Zinc Co. (a Gulf & Western Industries, Inc. unit), Gloucester, N.J., and Ashtabula, Ohio; SCM Corp., Glidden-Durkee Div., Baltimore, Md.; and Sherwin-Williams Chemical Co., Ashtabula, Ohio. Du Ponl's New Johnsonvillc plant capac ity reached 228.000 ions per year by yearend. Work continued during the year at du Pont's Edge Moor plant, where chlo ride process capacity was replacing sulfate process units. The chloride-process plant will have 112,000 to and startup is sched April, du Pont's Pig considering construc per-year pigment pla near Brunswick, Ga. ronmcntal groups concerning du Pont waste disposal. At la was looking at altern eastern Slates. Sherwin-Williams Zircon Mines Ltd. Company have conc which Sherwin-Wil 50,000-ton-per-year p thetic rutile on the furnished by RZM. C for late in 1974. American Cyanam was notified early i tania pigment plant not in compliance quality laws in its p sulfatc-proccss sludg River. At a cost of tained the right to oped by Ishihara Sa neutralizing acid wa Tabic 2.--Production and mine shipments of titanium co from domestic ores in the United States Year Production (short tons, gross weight) Quantity (short tons gross weight) Sh TIO (sh 1969................................... 1970................................... 1971................................... 1972 r................................. ............................... 1973................................... 696.727 893,034 920.964 713,610 743,401 813,400 48 48 38 42 46 RevlBed. 1 Includes a mixed product containing rutlJe, leucoxene, and altered JImenJte. Table 3.--Titanium metal data (Short tons) 1969 1970 Sponge metal: Imports for consumption................................... ... Industry stocks................................................. Government stocks (DPA inventories) 1..._ ... Consumption......................................................... Scrap metal consumption.......................... ........... ... Ingot: * Production.............................................................. Consumption......................................... ............ Net shipments of mill products .............................. 6,746 20.386 7,566 6,931 2,516 19,994 16,414 7,242 24,381 23,687 14,480 ' Revised. i As of June 30 each year. s Includes alloy constituents. 1 Bureau of the Census, Current Industrial Reports Series BDCF-263. 197 2, 2, 19, 12, 6, 18 17 11 1234 MINERALS YEARDOOK, 1973 during usable gypsum. In May, the Geor gia Ports Authority announced its intent to issue revenue bonds to finance construc tion of pollution abatement facilities based on the Ishihara process. Ground was bro ken on September 19, and the treatment complex will be operating by the end of 1974. Universal Gypsum Co. of Georgia, a subsidiary of Universal Chemical and Min eral, Inc., will operate the new plant, the cost of which is estimated at $20 million. Table 4.--Titanium pigment data (TiOi content) Year Shipments Production -- ----- ----------- - -- -- (short tons) Quantity Value, f.o.b. 1969 1970..' .. 1971. ' .. 1972 ' 1973. ' .. 664,253 655,293 677.751 r718,177 p 772,392 654.490 643,746 684,698 762,026 NA 334,521 320,014 311,140 368,664 NA p Preliminary. 'Revised. NA Not available. 1 Includes interplant transfers. Source: Bureau of the Census, CONSUMPTION AND USES Concentrates.--Consumption of ilmenite was 3% greater than in 1972. Consumption of Sore! slag was 7% greater. Consumption of rutile, including the synthetic, increased N%. Metal,--Consumption of sponge and ingot increased 54% and 30%, respectively. Shipments of mill products gained 15% over those of 1972. Beginning about Sep tember 1, an increase in demand for tita nium became evident, originating primar ily in the industrial sector. As a material of chemical engineering construction, the metal found increased use in petrochemical plants, chlor-alkali cells, and copper-leach ing hardware. Scrap consumed For making ingot increased 29% above 1972 levels. There is some evidence that about 4 mil lion pounds of ingot went into inventories, principally those of consumers, during the year. Pigments.--Preliminary figures showed a 10.5% increase in shipments. The quantity in excess of the 7.5% increase in produc tion was accounted for, as in 1972, by de livery of imports and of pigment with drawn from stocks. The plastics industry, consuming pigment at an accelerated rate during 1972 and most of 1973, showed in dications of stabilized demand late in the year; the industry was operating near ca pacity, and some feedstocks were becoming harder to obtain. Table 5.--Consumption of titanium concentrates in the United States, by product (Short tonn) Year and product Ilmenite 1 Gross TiOt weight content 1969............................................................... ..1.003,601 1970............................................................... .. 972,314 1971............................................................... .. 898,783 541,840 519,766 486,271 Titanium slag Gross TiOt weight content 138.553 129,247 143.554 98,070 91,639 101,751 Rutile Gt o s h weight TiOt content .186,432 189,172 225,498 178,090 181,402 216,916 1972: Alloys and carbide............................ .. Pigments............................................. .. Welding-rod coatings and fluxes.. -Miscellaneous *................................... .. c) 775,618 () 10,766 Total......................................... ........... .. 786,384 (*> 453,248 () R, 174 461 ,422 c) 264,096 (*) 264,095 o 187,608 () 187,608 (*) 208,704 11,022 23,032 242,758 (*) 199,894 10,392 21,946 232,231 1973: Alloys and carbide............................... .. Plgmenta................................................... .. Welding-rod coatings and fluxes.. -Miscellaneous <...................................... .. () 795,728 <'> . 12,005 Total......................................................... 807,733 (*) 470,087 () 9,144 479,231 <*) 281.791 281,791 (*) 199.287 199,287 232,969 10,636 33,303 276,907 221,668 10,069 31t648 263,366 i Includes mixed product containing rutile, leucoxene. and altered Itmenlte. < Included with "Miscellaneous" to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data. 1 Included with "Plgmenta" to avoid disclosing Individual company confidential data. 1 Includes ceramics, chemicals, glass fibers, ana titanium metal. TITANIUM Table 6.--Distribution of titanium-pigment shipments (Percent) Industry 1969 Distribution by ^ross weight: Paints, varnishes, ana lacquers...................... ....................... Paper................................ ............................................... ................. Floor coverings..........................'..................................................... Rubber....................................................................... Coated fabrics and textiles (oil cloth, shade cloth, artificial leather, etc.)................................................................................. Printing Ink.................................................................. '____ Roofing granules............................................... ......................... .. Ceramics........................................................................................... Plastics (except floor covering and vinyl-coated "fabrics and textiles)................................................................................. . Other (Including export)............................................. '. ]........ . 68.5 17.0 2.3 2.6 1.3 2.3 .9 2.0 6.2 6.9 Total.............................................................................................. .. 100.0 Distribution by titanium dioxide content: Paints, vamlshee, and lacquers............ ....................... .......... . Paper.................................................................................................. . Floor coverings.............................................................................. . Rubber.......................................... ..................................'.'' . Coated fabrics and textiles (oil cloth, shade cloth, artificial leather, etc.)................................................................................. . Printing ink...................................................................................... . Roofing granules............................................................................. . Ceramics............................................................................................ . Plastics (except floor covering and vinyl-coated fabrics and textiles)................................................................................. . Other (Including export).............................. ...... ................. . 54.3 19.6 2.6 3.0 1.4 2.6 l.l 2.4 7.1 6.0 Total.............................................................................................. . 100.0 197 69 17 1 2 1 2 1 6 6 100 66 19 2 8 1 2 1 2 7 6 100 STOCKS In 1973, stocks of rutile in the United States continued to decline; yearend inven tories were 9% 'below those at yearend 1972. Slag inventories decreased by 22% but ilmenite in inventories increased by 10% during the year. Yearend stocks of ti* tanium sponge were 1,941 tons, and of ti tanium scrap 4,447 tons, representing in creases of 7% and 2%, respectively. Figures for titanium scrap refer to metal in the hands of ingot and mill shapes producers only. An appreciable but undetermined quantity of scrap was in the inventory of steel and ferroalloy plants. Industry stocks of titanium dioxide declined for the third successive year, from 54,982 tons on Janu ary I to 34,122 ton crease. Table 7.--Stocks in the United (S Ilmenite: 1971...............-....... 1972 '..................... 1978........................ Titanium slag: 1971........................ 1972 '..................... 1973........................ Rutile: 1971....................... 1972 r..................... 1973........................ Estimate. r Re PRICES Concentrates.--Published price quota tions for ilmenite, $22 to $24 per long ton at the beginning of 1973, increased to $32 on August 17 and to $38 on December 21. These figures are nominal; almost all do mestic production of ilmenite is captive. Australian ilmenite prices increased to A$I1-A$12 f.o.b. Australian ports. Indian ilmenite remained unchanged at 3.95 f.o.b. Indian west sian ilmenite con 11.32 per metric Rutile, bulk, f.o Great Lake ports, short ton until M went to $210. On increased to $310 the year. Correspo 1236 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 were A$I15 to A$125 per long ion until May, when quotations went to A$125 to A$I30. In July another small increase be came effective; quotations were A$127 to A$IS2 f.i.d. (free in container depot, a new basing .point) . Additional increases were noted in October and December; the yearend price was A$147 to A)152. Rutile released from the Federal stockpile during the last half of 1973 brought prices of $170 per short ton in August and $226 in November. Titanium slag (70% to 71% Ti02). quoted at $50 per long ton f.o.b. plant at Sorcl, Quebec, went to $53 in mid-August and $60 at the yearend. Manufactured Titanium Dioxide.--Con tinued heavy demand for all grades of pig* ment and increasing raw material costs permitted no relaxation of upward price pressures. In lots of 20 tons minimum, prices at yearend were within the follow ing ranges: Prices (cents per pound) Amwc: .. Paper grade.......................................... 24-24 14 Otner grades.......................................... 27>$-29H Rutile: Standard grade..................................... 27J/$-28H Premium grades.................................... 28]/$-30 Matcrial shipped as slurry was generally y2 cent per pound cheaper. Late in December, one pigment maker announced prices, effective January 1, 1974, to be 3CH/2 cents* per pound for premiumgrade rutile and 29/2 cents per pound for standard-grade rutile and the higher anatasc grades. During the first half of 1973, several major European producers increased prices for pigment. The Kronos group of West Germany raised its prices 8% in European markets and 12% in markets outside Eu rope in March. In May, British Titan, Ltd., increased its prices by 18 per ton (approximately 2 cents per pound) . Metal.--Domestic sponge began the year at $1.32 per pound. The price increased to $1.42 to $1.45 in May, and ended the year at that level, although at the end of the year a further increase seemed imminent. Sponge imported from Japan, priced at $1.20 to $1.25 at yearend 1972, went to $1.34 to $1.37 in May, to $1.28 to $1.33 in August, and finally ended the year in the $1.36 to $1.38 range. FOREIGN TRADE Titanium dioxide exports in 1973 amounted to 20,769 tons, double the 1972 figure. Of this total, Japan received 20%, other Far East countries 31%, Western Eu rope 17%, Latin America and the West In dies 16%, and Canada 11%. Exports of un wrought, waste, and scrap titanium were 18% higher than in 1972; 47% went to the United Kingdom, 20% to Italy, and 14% to Belgium. The average valuation was 43>4 cents per pound compared with 31 cents in 1972. Exports of wrought titanium (ingots and mill shapes) were up 33% from 1972 levels. Canada imported 38% of the total, the United Kingdom 23%, and France, West Germany, and Italy a total of 25%. As a result of changes in the titanium industry product mix over the past few years import statistics for titaniferous raw materials no longer give a clear, complete picture of foreign trade. Six different ma terials are being imported in significant quantities: Umenite, rutile, Sorel slag, syn thetic rutile (beneficiated ilmenite), Sorel- flux, and titaniferous iron ore. There are only three T.S.U.S.A. categories for titanif erous raw materials: 601.5120 IJmenite and ilmenite sand, 601.5140 Titanium min erals n.e.s., and 603.6200 Titanium slag. In addition, some synthetic rutile is imported under category 603.7 (Other metal-bearing materials) . In 1973, imports as reported by the Bu reau of the Census, Department of Com merce, were 216,350 toils of ilmenite and ilmenite sand, 311,153 tons of titanium minerals n.e.s., and 100,327 tons of tita nium slag. However, the results of a Bu reau of Mines canvass showed consumption of 281,791 tons of slag in 1973, of which only 22,373 tons came from inventory. Since all slag and the great bulk of ti taniferous iron ore was imported from Canada, and since Canada was the sole source of slag and of Sorelflux, the raw monthly data for imports from Canada were analyzed. The governing parameter was the declared valuation in U.S. dollars per short ton. Entries in the $5 to $25 TITANIUM range were reclassified as titaniferous iron ore, which included Sorelflux and material * for aggregate. Entries in the $30 to $40 range were classified as ilmenite, and those in the $40 to $65 range were classified as Sorcl slag. These classifications were for Canadian imports only; data for other im ports were accepted on the basis of f.o.b. prices in the country of origin. Synthetic r dared valua Some entries noted in b 601.5140 list $110 were id tries in the fied accordin Commodity ------------601.612 Ilmenite.......................... Titaniferous Iron ore... Slag................................... Rutile (natural)........... Rutile (synthetic)_____ Total.................. . XX Not applicable. 96,26 88,61 11,18 23.80 .-..-..-...-........ 2-1--6-,8--6 Of the 98,262 tons of ilmenite tabulated, 28,571 tons was reported from the Baha mas, a country which has no ilmenite production. Deducting this figure pending verification leaves a total ilmenite import of 69,691 tons. Certain shipments from Japan, India, and Australia, totaling 37,515 tons, were entered under category 603.7000. These shipments met the declared-valuation crite rion for synthetic rutile; however, addition of this quantity to the synthetic rutile tab ulated above would result in an import volume far in excess of known world pro ductive capacity. Therefore, pending verifi cation, the data will not be used. The data of table 9 are presented in accordance with the foregoing computa tions. Imports of ilmenite from Australia dou bled in 1973. the increase presumably com ing from the new operations in Western Australia. Imports of Sorel slag from Can ada amounted to 237,000 tons, a 20% de crease from the (revised) 1972 figure. Ru- tile from Au 1972, but sub rutile from J total imports the 1972 tot off-grade tita port district presumably seabed petrol gate. Imports of titanium inc total, 5,172 Japan (2,937 and the Uni Japanese ma valuation of responding v was 77 cents United Kin sources of 51 roalloys value Imports o 60,419 tons, still about 7 Table 8.--U.S. exports of titanium produ (Short tons and thousand dollars) Year Ores and concentrates Meta] and alloy sponge and scrap Interm shap prod Quantity Value Quantity Value Quant 1971.................. .... 1972.................. . 1978.................. ... 1,760 1,494 299 1.711 1,189 394 3,610 2.166 868 4,142 3.601 4 6 7 1238 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Table 9.--U.S. imports for consumption of titanium concentrates, by country i (Short tons and thousand dollars) 1971 Quantity Value 1972 Quantity Value 1979 Quantity Value Ilmenite: Finland.................................................... India............................................-.......... Malaysia.................................................. Sweden..................................................... Titanium alag 4............................................... 21,953 5,838 302 28,093 162,661 218 14,334 122 317 18 > 185 358 14,836 6,561 298,259 142 11 *2 165 13,124 29,690 172 * 3,360 16,327 20,242 69,691 237,248 378 6 30 224 236 876 10,981 Rutile: 196,655 Austria ................................................... Denmark ............................................... India......................................................... Japan........................................................ Malaysia ................................................ Sierra Leone............-....................... -- 13,176 18,054 Total.................................................... 227,784 Tltanileroufl iron ore 7.................................. 134,120 21,664 *' 1,118 1,472 24,254 2,423 220,026 22 20 448 -220,633 82,133 24,041 a 26 -24,074 954 174,764 134 28,472 6,406 23 -- 208,808 88,613 24,378 18 2,272 483 6 ** 27,168 1,395 i Data adjusted by Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior. * May have been used in heavy aggregate. Data does not add to total shown because of Independent rounding. All from Canada. Includes synthetic rutile. Country of transshipment rather than country of production. , .... . , ,. T Includes materials consumed for purposes other than production of titanium commodities, principally heavy aggregate and steel furnace flux. Ail from Canada. Table 10.--U.S. imports for consumption of unwrought titanium and waste and scrap (Short tons and thousand dollars) Country 1971 Quantity Value 1972 Quantity Value 1978 Quantity Value ............ ............ Germany, West................................. ............ ............. Netherlands....................................... .............. South Africa, Republic of.............. UB^.R............................................... ............. United Kingdom........................................... Total..................................... ........... 4 118 41 2,623 3 214 120 3,023 3 128 28 1 4,376 3 331 131 5,000 12 10 141 0) 2,346 2 2 1,408 263 4.173 9 10 147 1 4,265 2 1 2,109 420 6,954 768 120 17 811 11 2,960 12 1,628 824 6,641 404 116 20 492 9 6,608 17 2,604 1,401 10,471 1 Less than H unit. Principal suppliers were West Germany and Canada, 28% each, and the United Kingdom and France, 14% each. Imports of synthetic rutile from all three producing nations--Australia, India, and Japan--continued during the year. Ship ments were reported from both current production and inventory. WORLD REVIEW Australia.--It was announced in August that Australia's Federal budget for 1973-74 for the first time contained no provision for tax concessions to private companies, including mining companies. In addition the Federal Government is restricting ex ports of minerals by setting minimum prices. Restrictions inspired by environmental considerations were reported to have pre vented mining of about one-fourth of the known mineral sand reserves on Australia's TITANIUM east coast, at an estimated cost of A$300 million in exports. NL Industries' $7.5 mil lion beach sand project in Queensland was rejected by Stale authorities "for environ mental reasons" although rehabilitation of the land following beach sand mining is usually successful. Elsewhere on the cast coast, production slowly advanced from the iow fourth quar ter of 1972. Totals for the year for New South Wales and Queensland were 351,000 tons of rutile and 38,900 tons of ilmenite. A process by which ilmenite is upgraded to rutile grade, jointly owned by the Com monwealth Scientific and Industrial Re search Organisation (CSIRO) and Murphyores Incorporated Pty. Ltd., was being tested jointly by Murphyores and Mitsu bishi Chemical Industries, Ltd., in a pilot plant at Kurosaki, Japan. Planning began about midyear for a commercial-scale plant, using the process, to be built in Australia. Successful exploitation will per mit expanded use of east coast ilmenites, which were in minimal demand for pig ment production because of their chro mium and vanadium content. Mining activity along a 100-mile stretch of the Australian west coast continued at a high level during the year. Expansion of mineral sands production is proceeding from Jurien Bay to Geraldlon, where proved and probable reserves exceed 130 million tons of heavy-sand products. Com panies involved are Allied Eneabba Pty. Ltd., Ilmenite Pty. Ltd., A. V. Jennings Industrics (Australia) Ltd., and Westcoasl Rutile Pty. Ltd. Allied Eneabba formally commissioned its 45,000-ton-per year pilot plant on April 6. Operations at this scale apparently were successful, since in November it was an nounced that the company will begin con struction of a 350,000'ton-per-year plant at a cost of about $12.4 million, to be fully operational by late 1975. Anticipated an nual production at that time will be 200,000 tons of ilmenite and 50,000 tons of rutile. Lcucoxene, zircon, monazitc, and kyanite will also be produced in commer cial quantities. During the pilot operation it became dear that dredging the deposit from a moving dredge pond was unsatis factory; future mining will be conducted by dry methods. For the time being, ex ports will be made from the port of Gcraldton, but it is possible that the company will build p operation. contemplate The litig claims in th cided in fa A final ap London is stands, Allie reduced to concentrates tile. Howev change in tions. A. V. Je Ltd., began scale in Ma lion full-sca erational in 120,000 tons coxene, 40,0 con West Coa company, o of Australia laroi Mines study on it ploration i heavy sands tion scale w ilmenite, 19 tons of ruti itc. South of established Tutunup a tralian's pr yearend. M ganup and midyear, E was underta Tioxide Au tion in the ceeded 230,0 Project M at Hardy In indicated re menite. The as soon as tained. Western struction of Capel, near duce a synt and is expe The compan 1240 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 tons of upgraded ilmenite between Febru ary I, I969f and June 30, 1973. Brazil.--Cia. Vale do Rio Doce and two Japanese companies, Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., and G. Itoh, Ltd., signed an agreement to evaluate anatase resources in a carbonatite formation near AraxA, Minas Gerais. The Departamento Nacional de Produ^Ao Mineral (DNPM) evaluated re serves at 1,600 million tons of ore contain ing 10% TiO.,. The same two Japanese companies also signed an agreement with Cia. Brasileira de Tecnologia Nuclear to appraise the possibility of exploiting il menite beach sand resources in Espfrito Santo to blend with the anatase as feed Cor a titania pigment plant. Earliest possi ble target date will be 1976. Canada.--In December, Quebec Iron 8c Titanium Corp. announced plans to ex pand throughput of ilmenite ore at its Sore!, Quebec, plant to 2.2 million tons. The expansion will cost 38.8 million. An additional $2.6 million will be invested in pollution abatement at Sorel. Project com pletion is scheduled for mfd-1975. Cana dian pigment production was reported at 46,318 tons for the year. India.--Recent estimates of ilmenite re serves and resources in India were placed at 356 million tons by the Geological Sur vey of India; by extension, reserves of ru tile, monazite, and other associated miner als also are substantial. Indian Rare Earths, Ltd., a government corporation, is the sole beach sand mining entity. Annual capacity of the two company beneficiation plants, one at Manavalakurichi, Tamil Nadu, the other at Chavara, Kerala, totals 175.000 tons of ilmenite, 7,700 tons of ru tile, and some zircon, monazite, garnet, and sillimanite. A 30% expansion at Chavara, underway during the year, will bring total ilmenite capacity to more than 200.000 tons. The synthetic rutile facility of Dhrangadhra Chemical Works, Ltd., based on the Benilite process and obtaining its hydro Table II.--Titanium: World production of concentrates (ilmenite, rutile, and titaniferous slag), by country (Short tons) C ountry 1 1971 1972 1973 p Ilmenite:* ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ Malaysia ............................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ United States *................................................................. ........................ 914.116 10.906 153.772 72.752 2,619 171.941 707,198 981 26,033 102,396 683,075 Total*................................................ ......... t2,846,789 781,324 3,849 164,795 78.774 2,331 167,743 670,723 829 25,295 90,944 681.644 2,668,251 781,493 4,599 175,267 79,000 *2,400 167,800 803,610 *880 26,088 93,700 804,355 2,939,192 Rutile: Brasil* ......................................... .. . Sierra Leona......................................... Total................................................... ......... . ............ .......................... ......... 404,233 129 3,210 13.163 ......... r423.825 349,899 454 3,379 '2,800 366,532 361,422 46 3,400 2,900 367,768 Titaniferous slag: .......................... .......................... 853,000 6,097 920,400 3,668 942,700 4,690 Total.................................................. .......................... 869,097 924,068 947,390 Estimate. p Preliminary. ' Revised. ., ... ., , , , , In addition to the countries listed, the U.S.S.R. also produces titanium concentrates, but available informa tion is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels. . , .. * Titaniferous alas production in Canada and Japan, reported under thts heading in previous years, Is reported separately In this edition. Ilmenite produced in Canada goes almost entirely Into slag production; separate figures .are not available. Includes leueoxene. . .... . Production of Comiss&o Nacional de Energia Nuclear only. *Exports. .... . Includes a mixed product containing Ilmenite, leueoxene, and rutile. * Contains 70% to 71% TJOt. TITANIUM chloric acid from a source adjacent to its location at Sahupuram, Tamil Nadu, was reported to have exported 38,000 tons of product lo the United States up to March 31, 1973. The synthetic rutile contains 90%-92% Ti02, 0.25% V206, and 0.2% Cr2Os. Political difficulties have delayed the au thorization to construct a titanium prod ucts complex at Chavara, issued originally to Ballarpur Paper and Strawboard Mills in 1968. Italy.--The sulfate-process pigment plant of Montecatini Edison S.p.A. (Montedison) at Scarlino was the target of much criti cism because of its practice of disposing of waste by dumping at sea. Quantities dumped ranged from 2,500 to 3,000 tons per day. Montedison sought temporary so lutions by converting a portion of its ef fluent to ferrous oxide and reclaiming sul furic acid, and also by disposing of its waste at depths below the normal habitat of most marine life. However, in Septem ber a local magistrate ordered seizure of the two ships used to move waste to the dumping grounds. As a long-range solu tion, Montedison was committed to adopt a process developed by New Jersey Zinc Co. to separate out: ferrous sulfate and concentrate the remaining acid sufficiently for reuse. However, the recovery plant will pTobably be operative no earlier than mid-1976; meanwhile resumption of opera tions depends on further court action. Montedison also contracted to build a 100,000-ton-pcr-year pigment plant in the U.S.S.R., payment to be received in the form of pigment produced at the plant. Japan.--Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., reported that experience with its synthetic rutile product in making chloridc-proccss titania pigment has been favorable. KerrMcGee Chemical Corp. uses some of Ishi hara rs material in the feedstock to its pig ment plant at Hamilton, Miss. Following environmentally-induced shut downs of pigment plants during 1972, supplies declined to less than domestic de mand. As a result, Japan had no pigment available for export, and was offering to import from producing nations at prices somewhat in excess of those current in the United States. The shortfall of Japanese production was estimated at 11,000 tons for the year. Japanese companies produced 7,173 tons of sponge 1973. The three spo Co., Ltd., Nippon S The indu capacity p Malays was repor a plant t as a byp tions. The Ma traded w the Unite an ilmen the Benili ity is stat per year. 35% of w yet-unnam States. Mexico. pigment Quimicos. maulipas, ride-proces chlorine-ca necessary constructio plants is e Norway sion of m of Titania subsidiary production menite flo scale-up w 1973. The 45% titan 0.16% va mum of plant also magnetite a sulfide nickel and Poland. ment plac GmbH, L lagenbau, struction plant. Th be 40,000 near Stet pected on Norwegian 1242 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Sierra Leone.--Ownership of the 60% share of Sierra Rutile, Ltd., was trans ferred from Armco Steel Corp. to Bethle hem Steel Corp. during the year. Engineer ing studies, begun in 1972, continued during 1973, and in October Sierra Rutile began to staff key positions. A 100-tonper-day pilot plant was under construction. Full-scale production at 20,000 tons of feed per day is expected by mid-1975; at this scale, 200 tons of rutile per day may be produced. In September, the Bayer-Preussag Min ing Co. resumed operations at the adjacent Bonthc and Moyamba mines, on a limited scale. Spain.--Pigment from the 30,000-tonper-year sulfate-process plant under con struction at Huelva by a joint venture of Union Explosivos Rio Tinto (55%) and British Titan, Ltd. (45%), was expected to come on the market in 1975. The cost of the facility was estimated at $20 million. Some imports of ilmenite will be necessary at first. New plans called for expansion to 60,000 tons annually by 1976 and 100,000 tons by 1978. Meanwhile du Pont, which early in the year had been considering Spain as the site of a 100,000-ton-per-year plant, abandoned its interest about mid year. Taiwan.--Woodall-Duckham, Ltd., un dertook construction of a 30,000-lon-pcryear synthetic rutile plant for Taiwan Alkali Co. at Kaohsiung. It will use the Bcnilite process, which is reputed to be pollution free. The sources of the feed stock and the grade of the product were not specified. Laporte Industries, Ltd., re portedly has signed a forward contract for delivery of 2,000-2,500 tons of the syn thetic rutile. U.S.S.R.--Reports indicated that a titaniferous slag containing 83% titanium diox ide is beiiig made at Zaporozhe. The slag is chlorinated; the tetrachloride is purified and fed to KroII-type reaction furnaces. New sponge-production facilities were said to be under construction during the year. Yugoslavia.--A sulfate-process pigment plant of 27,000 tons annual capacity was opened June 30 at Celje. The plant, jointly owned by a Yugoslav and an East German corporation in a 51:49 ratio, was to export part of its production to East Germany. On July 7 production at the $31 million plant was halted by fire. Resump tion of full production is expected early in 1974. TECHNOLOGY Mineral Deposits, Ltd., an Australian company mining rutile and zircon at Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales, installed Reichert cone concentrators as roughing units in its wet separation plant. A quite low operating cost is claimed. Total power consumption is quoted at 1.36 kilowatthours per ton of sand mined.2 Since silicates in certain proportions in terfere with the effective chlorination of il menite in fluidized bed equipment, a mineral-dressing procedure has been de vised by which the silicates may be sepa rated on the basis of their selective wetting by an immiscible liquid and consequent spherical agglomeration.3 A method for using sulfate-process pig ment plaht effluent constructively, thereby solving a waste disposal problem, is being tried in Western Australia. Laporte Indus tries, Ltd., has contracted with Hancock & Wright for the latter to locate part of its manganese dioxide pilot plant at Laporte's Bunbury pigment facility. Treat ment of lean manganese ore with the fer rous sulfate wastes permits subsequent extraction of high-grade manganese diox ide; ferric hydroxide becomes the waste product and is relatively less toxic and eas ier to dispose of than the sulfates.4 In spite of the inability of technical ob servers to find adverse effects in the oceanic dumping areas, pressure against discharging of sulfate-process waste at sea is increasing; the practice soon may no longer be permitted.3 Three courses are open to the sulfate-process pigment pro ducers: (I) Something useful may be made from the effluent; (2) the effluent * World Mining. Mining and Concentrating Beach Sands. V. 26, No. 11, October 1973, pp. 49-50. * Sparks, B. D., and R. H. T. Wong. Selective Spherical Agglomeration of Ilmenite Concentrates. Can. Min. &: Met. Bull., v. 66, No. 729, January 1973, pp. 73-77. * Industrial Minerals. MnOj: TiOa's New Friend? No. 74, November 1973, p. 29. * Chemical Week. Heavy Going Ahead for Waste Discharging at Sea. V. 112, No. 26, June 27, 1973, pp. 45-47. TITANIUM can be treated to separate something--most probably sulfuric acid--which can be recy cled to the process; or (3) the effluent can be filtered and otherwise treated to make a solid having no pollution potential. Gyp sum, copperas, iron powders and ferric oxide, and recycle sulfuric acid are most commonly mentioned as end products of effluent treatment. Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd., makes syn thetic rutile by treating partially reduced ilmenite with sulfuric acid. The original plant reached its 27,000-ton capacity by the end of 1971, expanding to 40,000 tons by the end of 1973.6 The product has been used experimentally as feed to chlorinators making titanium tetrachloride for conversion to titanium sponge. Toho Tita nium Ltd., reported satisfactory results and intends using the material commercially.? Basing its work on earlier studies by The Dow Chemical Co. and the U.S. Bu reau of Mines, Dow and Howmet Corp. are jointly operating a pilot plant to pro duce, by fuscd-salt electrolysis, a titanium metal which will be competitive with Kroll-process sponge. The work is being done at Howmet's research center in White hall, Mich. Advantages claimed for the process include smaller capital investment, substantially lower energy needs, fewer pollution control problems, and a higher quality product. Some of the metal pro duced was converted to ingot, which has obtained some consumer acceptance.8 The Wyatt division of U.S. Industries Inc,, developed and successfully used a technique by which large sections of tita nium metal can be welded in the field. A shield over the welding area permits main tenance of a protective gas atmosphere. Airco, Inc., developed a method for con- verting li usable se wasted, n hearth-typ and oxyg sultant m ity. Initia pounds a ble appli tries har at ambie atures is A new veloped with the contains mium an zirconium manganes 25% stro resistant Made n ing of i method content o spectrom in the mium.12 0 Kataok Upgrades Eng., v. 80 7 Metal No. 5778, 8 Metals tanium Ve 10. * Iron A Titanium 27. 10 Iron A No. 20, M 11 Titani With 6/4? 11 O'Shau Levels of sorption S II, Septem J302 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Table 4.--Vermiculite exfoliating plants in the United States in 1973 Company State County Nearest city or town Arl-ZonoUte Co ----------- --------- -------- Arizona __________ Maricopa_________ Phoenix. J. P. Austin Assoc., Inc----------------- Pennsylvania _____ Beaver ------------ Beaver Falls. J. J. Brouk & Co., Inc Missouri -_____ ___ St. Louis _________ St. Louis. Carolina Wholesale Florists, Inc -- North Carolina___ Lee ------------------------ Sanford. Certain-teed Products Corp,, Building Materials Div. Minnesota ________ Hennepin --------------- Minneapolis. Cleveland Building Materials Supply Co., Cleveland Gypsum Co. Div. Ohio Cuyahoga------------------------------------- Cleveland. W. R. Grace & Co., Construction Products Div. Arkansas __________ Pulaski ____________ North Little Rock. California _____ .... Alameda .......... Newark. Los Angeles ...... Los Angeles. Orange ___________ Santa Ana. Colorado___________ Denver __ Denver. Florida ........... .......... Broward __________ Pompano Beach. Duval _____________ Jacksonville. Hillsborough ______ Tampa. Illinois ....._____ Cook --_______ ___ Chicago. Kentucky --------------- Campbell --------------- Newport. Louisiana __________ Orleans New Orleans. Maryland ______ ___Prince Georges_____ Muirkirk. Massachusetts_... Hampshire___ _____ Easthampton. Michigan __________ Wayne Dearborn. Minnesota _________ Hennepin ! Minneapolis. Missouri ___________ St. Louis ....._ St. Louis. Nebraska __________ Douglas Omaha. New Jersey_______ Mercer Trenton. New York_________ Cayuga WeedsDort. North Carolina___Guilford High Point. Oregon_________ _ Multnomah ______ _ Portland. Pennsylvania _____ Lawrence ________ New Castle. South Carolina ___ Greenville ________ Traveleva Rest. Laurens Enoree. Tennessee _______ Davidson .... Nashville. Washington ______ Spokane Spokane. Wisconsin ________ Milwaukee ................ Milwaukee. Hyzer & Lewellen _________ Pennsylvania _____ Bucks Southampton. International Vermiculite Co Illinois Macoupin -------------------------------- Girard. Koos, Inc ___________________ La Habra Products, Inc----------------McArthur Co Mica Pellets, Inc -------------------..... B. F. Nelson Manufacturing Co -- Patterson Vermiculite Co ........ Robinson Insulation Co Schmelrer Sales Associates, Inc__ The Schundler Co --------------------------Southwest Vermiculite Co--------------Strong-Llte Products Wisconsin ________ Kenosha ________ _ California ________ Orange ........... Minnesota ____-___ Ramsey ___________ Illinois ....._____ De Kalb ....__ Minnesota _____ ___ Hennepin ________ South Carolina___ Laurens Montana __________ Cascade North Dakota ..... Ward ___-_____ ___ Florida Hillsborough ----------------------------New Jersey______ Middlesex______ ___ New Mexico_____- Bernalillo ------- Arkansas Jefferson ------------------------------- Kenosha. A nnheim. St. Paul. De Kalb. Minneapolis. Lanford. Great Falls. Minot. Tampa. Edison. Albuqueraue. Pine Bluff. Supreme Perlite Co-------------------------- Oregon ___________ Multnomah ________ Portland. Texas Vermiculite Co Oklahoma _____ ___ Oklahoma ----------- - Oklahoma City. Texas Bexar ----------------------------------------- San Antonio. Dallas ____________ Dallas. Vermiculite of Hawaii, Inc_______ Vermiculite Industrial Corp ,-------Vermiculite-Intermountain, Inc -- Vermiculite Products, Inc _______ Hawaii ........... Honolulu -------- Pennsylvania _____ Allegheny ________ Utah Salt Lake-------------------------------------- Texas Harris-------------------------------- Honolulu. Pittsburgh. Salt Lake City. Houston. Zinc By Albert D. McMahon,1 John M. Hague,2 an In many ways 1978 was an outstanding year for zinc in the United States. Highs and lows for items of supply and denjand were established, and unique situations de veloped. It was the best year on record for slab zinc consumption anti the worst year for slab zinc production; it was the lowest and highest year for imports of concentrates and metal, respectively; the highest for stockpile releases and exports of concen trates and metal; and prices rose to record levels in both U.S. and world markets. The Government ceiling price control of zinc, administered by the Cost of Living Coun cil, was on and off twice, and the shortage of zinc continued throughout the year. Of the 98 mines accounting for zinc mine production in the United States, the lead ing 25 mines produced 93% of the total. Missouri, with its byproduct zinc from lead mines in the fairly new southeast lead belt, became the leading zinc-producing State, while Tennessee and New York fell back owing to strikes and operating problems. Smelter production of slab zinc declined 11% because of a decrease in zinc concen trate imports and the use of more domestic concentrates for American-process zinc oxide. This loss of raw material for the smelters was partially compensated by acquisitions of slab zinc from the national stockpile for remclting and direct ship ment to consumers. Closure of the hori zontal retort smelter at Amarillo, Tex., was delayed as the Texas Air Control Board rescinded a previous order and is sued a variance permitting, operations' to continue until May 30, 1975. The State of Oklahoma in a similar action extended the variance for the horizontal zinc smelter at Bartlesville, Okla., until June 30, 1975, when it will be replaced by an electrolytic plant. Rehabilitation of the Sauget, 111., electrolytic plant was completed, and erec tion of two new plants with a combined annual ca was being Demand of the yea ever, beca months, t increase ov The ma imports c domestic increased metal incre prices in t zinc flexib pend the trates were bills were Committee Under t duce obje terials, th 560,000 to ditional su lation auth was signed 28, 1973. Phase 3 stabilizatio 1973, aboli established the Cost Prices adv cents per they were order. The December Council ab on zinc. T mediately Pun<j- . Legislati The Gene 1 Physical Metals--Min 5 Mining1 Metals--Min 1304 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 sold 266,315 short tons of zinc from the stockpile during 1973. Government agen cies received 117 tons, which was trans ferred under anlhorizaiion of Public l.aw 89-9, leaving a balance of 21,980 short tons. Commercial sales totaled 266,11)8 tons as authorized by Public Law 92-283 of April ceiling on zinc and allowed limited price increases, but on June 13, 1973, phase 4 was established by Presidential order which froze the price of zinc once again. Ibis status remained until December 6, 1973, when the Cost of Living Council was abol ished and zinc pricing was decontrolled. 26, 1972. Of the latter amount. 62,177 tons was sold under the set-aside program, anil 204,923 tons was sold to the seven par ticipating primary zinc producers under terms of their long-term contracts. At yearend there remained under Public Law 92 283 approximately 30,(J8.r> tons of zinc to be released through primary domestic pro ducers and 25,000 tons in the set-aside program. Based on inventory, actual move ment of zinc from the stockpile in 1973 was 272,574 tons. This amount includes the drawdown of some of the zinc that was transferred to the Treasury Department in 1970. The lead and zinc flexible-tariff bill and I he bill to suspend the duty on imports of zinc concentrates were reintroduced in Congress in March 1973. Each incorporated a significant change from the previous bills. The nesv flexible-tariff bill permitted a larger quantity of zinc metal to enter the United States before the fiigh duties be came effective, and the duty suspension bill on zinc concentrates was for 2 years. At yearend, both bills were in the House: Ways and Means Committee. Another bill, also in the House Ways and Means Com mittee, proposed suspension of the duty on imports of zinc metal. By June 30, 1973, all the zinc that was provided for the initial 75,000-ton set-aside program was sold; therefore, on July I, 1973, the set-aside program was revised up wards to allow releases of 25,000 tons of zinc per quarter as long as zinc remained in the authorization and at the same time allowing the primary producers to draw more zinc. In the revised program, 5,000 Ions of Special High Grade zinc was pro vided, and consumers were limited to pur chases of 120 tons of Special High Grade per quarter or 480 tons of High Grade, Intermediate, or Prime Western. On every quarterly allocation the consumers ordered more zinc than what was made available; The International Lead and Zinc Study Croup held its 17th session in Geneva from November 7-12, 1973, to review develop ments leading to the current situation and the outlook for these metals. Representa tives from 28 of the 30 member countries attended. Representatives of several inter governmental organizations were also present. The strong growth in zinc con sumption featured in 1972 continued through most of 1973, but a slowdown in the rate of growth was forecast for 1974. The 1973 forecasts for mine and metal production were adjusted to increases of 3% and 5%, respectively, over 1972 pro consequently, the orders were reduced in duction; zinc metal consumption, rising proportion to what was available. strongly in most countries, was expected to In April, the stockpile objective for register an increase of 10%, following one zinc was reduced from 560,000 tons to 202, 700 tons, which created a surplus of 357,300 tons.. New legislation, Public Law 93-212, authorizing disposal of this quantity was of 11% in 1972. Producers' stocks were drawn down to very low levels, and a large statistical deficit developed. This situation was expected to continue into signed by the President on December 28, 1974.The various price rulings through 1973. This bill provided that 150,000 tons out the world created a complex basis for of zinc be sold direct to the consumers, zinc sales. In the United States domestic 75,000 tons during the second quarter of production was subject to Government 1974 and 25,000 tons each following quarter price control, substantially under world for the balance. The remaining 207,300 tons markets at 20.25 to 21 cents per pound, was for the participating primary zinc pro but imported metal was sold in the United ducers. States at much higher levels. The European The President's economic stabilization producer price increased in stages to 31.54 program entered phase 3 on January II, cents per pound, while the London Metal 1973, which removed the mandatory price Exchange quotation increased dramatically ZINC to over 95 cents per pound. The Statistical Committee set up an ad hoc working party to review the importance of secondary materials as a source for lead and zinc. Other topics di eluded new min sumption trend long-term proje Table 1.--Salient zinc statistics United States: Production : Domestic ores, recoverable content short tons.. Value ...............................thousands-- 663,124 634,136 $161,612 $163,650 Slab 7.1 ne: From domestic ores..short tons.. From foreign ores From scrap _______________ do____ 468,764 681,843 70,663 403,963 473,868 77,166 Total ..................................... do____ Secondary zinc1 __________ do____ Exports of slab zincdo____ Imports (general) ; Ores (zinc content) ____________ do____ Slab zinc ----------------- do____ Stocks, December 31: At producer plants ____________do____ At consumer plants ___________do____ Government stockpile ..................do____ Reprocessed USA zinc a ________ Consumption : Slab zinc .............................. short tons.. All classes ............ Price: Prime Western3 do____ , World : cents per pound.. Production : Mine........................................ short tons.. Smelter ........................... do____ Price: Prime Western grade, London cents per pound.. 1,111,160 307,714 9,298 964,967 264,074 288 602,120 324,776 626,759 270,413 65,788 102,007 1.142,186 NA 98,314 92,674 1,141,490 NA 1,386,380 1,186,951 1,814,167 1,671.696 14.66 16.32 6,888,298 6.023,488 6,482,489 6,320,771 12.96 13.36 r Revised. NA Not available. 1 Excludes redistilled slab zinc. 3 Included In total amount withdrawn from Government stockpile M)6n 70, ICant St. Louis price: 1071-73 delivered price. Year 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 .1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 World World smelter production (thousand tons) World mine production (thousand tons) U.S. smelter production (primary) 528 563 603 633 693 727 776 814 797 854 893 986 1.061 1.119 966 923 1.072 1.095 907 726 796 520 1,105 1.243 1.343 1,614 1,789 1,726 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1.214 1,031 889 943 563 886 1.080 1,613 1.492 1.767 1.768 1.754 1.891 1.727 1,152 996 1.250 1.491 1.600 1.777 1,930 1.935 123.886 140.822 156.927 159.219 186,702 203.849 224.770 249,860 210.424 255,760 269,184 286,526 338.806 346,676 353.049 489.519 668,343 669,573 517,927 465,743 463,377 200,500 354.277 510,434 517,339 572,946 618,422 592.516 602.581 625.447 498,045 291.996 207.148 307.182 363.590 420,634 492.132 556,904 446.341 U.S. produc tion 165.948 184,798 212.660 198,630 222.613 234,795 221,726 259,951 234,526 305.423 327,712 345.260 378.816 406.416 415,662 587,595 703,317 713,359 636.091 548.846 587,524 256,640 472.032 610.690 637.977 710.847 774,563 718,541 695,170 724,478 595,425 410,318 285,231 384.280 438,726 517.903 575,574 626,362 516.703 Table 2.--Zinc statistics, 1900-73 (Short tons except as noted) United States Imports slab zinc zinc content Exports metal Exports ore. zinc content 884 278 448 202 341 428 1,021 1,709 881 9,454 1,960 3,349 11,115 6,100 880 904 684 257 35 70 8,177 7,470 52 21 25 24 22 59 2 226 281 274 310 1,890 1.725 4,444 11,660 37,208 7,230 NA NA NA NA NA NA 25.076 26.115 19,675 25.535 16.705 14.905 14,899 9.424 9.631 31.384 104.005 84,976 25.522 13.471 13.332 2,268 1.003 2.099 1,508 13.536 14.567 9,513 1,667 14.411 25,839 780 1.904 2,133 14,277 10,520 172 8,812 18.583 22,401 3,390 3,237 1,521 10.147 5,516 4,670 563 1,233 334 9,244 14,355 7,505 13.486 74,510 131,410 206.365 220,064 106,650 146.297 114.267 4.955 34.801 32.943 76,241 76.351 42.920 45.695 25,289 14,411 4,633 643 6.471 1,145 5.105 1.617 37 249 -- 42.062 44.156 55.733 39.411 35,911 30.946 27.720 20.352 26.108 12,455 19.711 18.281 23.349 17,713 11.110 832 78 1.320 6___2 1.695 2.804 368 68.951 95.252 46,716 4,518 7_1_ 1_3 809 3.621 461 245 314 135 Slab zinc production from secon dary materials NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 7,050 7.159 9,273 12,784 14.043 26.064 25.991 20.545 29,764 28,776 16,835 9,918 19,748 21,371 17,573 32.988 39.434 35,486 39.181 40.799 42.784 48.666 47.348 34.849 21,625 14.718 30.087 19.691 28,650 42.209 51,554 31,613 Consump tion. slab. apparent primary Consump tion, ore. direct Price cents per pound E. St. Louis 99.399 141,679 152.682 154.381 180.911 200,438 220,781 226.969 214.167 270,730 245.884 280,059 340,341 295.370 299,983 364,855 459,317 413.643 423.792 323,964 323,043 203,600 373.090 446,514 448,257 500.097 557.026 516.373 626,500 634.300 450,900 370.000 259,000 350,300 359,900 473.000 582.000 610.QQ0 421,000 NA NA NA NA NA 60,305 66.247 56.931 48.004 54,139 50.592 46.122 64.032 70.622 70.619 79.572 90.276 97.573 102.778 100,210 116.979 57.229 94.913 117.543 109,357 111.227 129.791 121.946 124,090 138.104 104.561 74,532 54.932 71.622 76.331 85.722 95.991 111.622 69.099 4.30 4.00 4.76 5.25 5.00 5.90 6.20 5.50 4.20 6.40 5.40 5.70 6.90 5.60 5.10 14.20 13.60 8.90 8.00 7.00 7.80 4.70 5.70 6.70 6.30 7.66 7.37 6.25 6.03 6.49 4.56 3.64 2.88 4.03 4.16 4.33 4.90 6.52 4.61 Oo O s z W w > f Co KW > Wa o o p; 09 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 :::: 1947 1948 1949 --- -- 1953 1954 1955 -- 1956 -- 1-- -- _-- 1961 1962 -- 19b3 -- 1964 -- 1965 -- 1966 -- --- 1968 _____ 1969 _____ 1970 -- 1971 --- -- -- 1.819 1,786 1,928 1,984 2,028 1,788 1.435 1.534 1,763 1,881 2.012 2,170 2,460 2,600 2,700 2.930 3.100 3,200 3,010 3.150 3.335 3,580 3.755 3.844 4,071 4,353 4,498 4,548 5,101 5.482 6,321 6,229 5.646 5,795 NA Not available. 1 Delivered. 1.972 2.124 2.284 2,308 2,224 2,270 1,781 1,745 1,950 2,048 2,105 2,370 2.850 2,940 2,930 3,200 3.430 3.470 3,370 3,440 3,680 3.845 3,930 4,036 4,440 4,742 4,942 6,330 6,464 5,888 6,023 6.079 6,221 6.377 507.236 675,275 822,020 891,872 942,309 869.302 764.561 728.262 802,495 787,764 814,782 843.467 881,633 904,479 916.105 802,425 963.504 983.610 985,796 781,246 798,666 799,516 846,795 879.395 892,584 954.084 994.402 1,025.066 938,830 1.020,891 1.040.597 877,811 766.433 633,180 541,319 583,807 665,068 749,125 768.025 744.196 718,642 614,358 574,833 637.608 629,977 593,203 623,375 681,189 666,001 547.430 473,471 514.671 542.340 531,735 412,005 425.303 435,427 464,390 505,491 529.254 574,858 611,153 572.558 549.413 529.446 553,124 534,136 502,543 478,318 478.850 30,898 16,468 34.554 36,394 56,155 63.626 97.116 104.743 72,312 93,232 126,925 155,974 88,043 115,705 234.576 156,858 195,696 244,978 269,007 195.199 156.963 120,767 127,562 141,957 144,757 118,340 152,990 278,175 222,112 304.576 324,776 270,413 319.668 822.612 588,725 36.100 180,320 289,213 368.408 539.049 422,694 381.719 272.056 297.959 264.203 241.179 278.573 302,777 449,636 513,724 455,427 478,044 525,350 526,014 461,560 500,115 457,155 415,700 467,398 372,769 357,145 428.040 521,320 534,092 543,366 602.120 525.759 342,521 254,868 199.053 4.515 79,091 89.309 133.938 97,439 21,576 7,782 47,224 106,669 65.537 58.709 12,917 36,510 57.714 17.969 24.994 18.069 8.S13 10,785 2,073 11.629 75,144 50,055 36.102 33.853 26,515 5.939 1,406 16,809 33,011 9.298 288 13.346 4,324 14.566 303 448 1 89 1.404 3.547 2.925 1.140 3,090 3.370 2.953 854 7 1 13 1.670 136 17 39 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 50.428 48,917 59.503 53.195 48.215 49.037 49,242 44.516 59.542 62,320 55.041 66,970 48,657 55,111 52,875 68.013 66.042 72.127 72.481 46.605 57,818 68.731 55.237 58,880 60.303 71.596 83,619 83.263 73.505 79,865 70.563 77,156 80.923 73.718 87,466 626.000 733.057 827.435 728.169 816.777 388,626 852.311 810,242 786.360 817,735 852,783 985,927 884.299 1.119.812 935^620 877,884 1.031,821 1.105.113 1.207,268 1.354.092 1.423.666 1.250,673 1.350,666 1.385.380 1.186,951 1,254,059 1,418.349 1,503.938 84.S96 95,917 134,815 115.002 114,700 142,256 130.992 133.995 145.923 132.649 5.12 6.34 7.48 8.25 8.25 8.25 8.25 8.73 10.50 13.58 109.277 118.244 99.247 118.135 16.21 10.86 10.69 12.30 114^301 124J81 129^651 11 63 12 01 14.50 13.85 13.50 14.66 15.32 1 16.13 1 17.75 1 20.66 1308 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Tirxrn FHOUSANO SHOUT TONS Figure 1.--Trends in supply and consumption in the United States. WORLD TOTAL (thousand short tons) 1951-55 avg. 2,610 1956-60av8. 3,159 1961-65 avg. 3,956 1966-70 avg. 5,071 1971-72 avg. 5,395 1973 5,769 Figure 2.--Trends of United States percentage o 1310 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 1951- 1956- 1961- 1966- 1971 1972 1955 1960 1965 1970 Figure 3.--Trends in foreign and domestic line prices. 1973 DOMESTIC PRODUCTION MINE PRODUCTION Mines in the United States produced 478,850 tons of recoverable sine, 532 tons more than in 1972 and the first increase since 1969. Production was reported in 18 States. Seven States recorded increases over that of 1972, and II States registered de creases. Missouri with its byproduct tine recovery from lead ores led the Nation in zinc production with 33% more than in 1972. New York moved up into second place with a 34% increase, and Tennessee dropped to third with a decline of 37%. Colorado, Idaho, and New Jersey followed in order, repeating the 1972 pattern. The States east of the Mississippi River ac counted for 52% of the U.S. 1973 mine prod notion. Sources of zinc production for 1973 arc shown in table 5 according to the principal mctnl or combination of metals extracted. The percentage distribution is as follows: Zinc ore. 57%; 7.inc-lcad ore, 19%; lead ores. 1R%; copper-zinc and coppcr-lead-duc ores, 5%; all other sources, 1%. The 25 leading mines listed in table 6 accounted for 93% of the domestic re coverable mine production. The five lead ing mines produced 43%. and the first 10 mined 63%. Missouri attained first place among the zinc-producing States with a 33% increase ZINC over 1972. Byproduct zinc production from St. Joe Minerals Corp.'s four operating lead mines in the New Lead Belt in southeast Missouri (Fletcher, Viburnum, Indian Creek, and Brushy Creek) increased in 1973, and more is expected in 1974. The mills at Fletcher and Brushy Creek are among the most modern in the industry and incorp ora te computer-controlled processes allowing the entire plant to be operated by only a few employees.* The Missouri mine-mill-smeltcr complex, owned jointly by American Metal Climax, Inc. (AMAX) and Ilomcstakc Mining Co., benefited from higher production, favorable ore gTade, and higher prices. About 1.6 million tons of ore were mined and milled in 1973, an in crease of 10% over 1972. Production of zinc concentrate was up 42% to 116,500 tons/ The Magmont mine at Ilixby, Mo., operated by Cominco American Incorporated, a joint venture of Cominco, Ltd. and Dresser In dustries, Inc., produced 934,000 tons of ore averaging 8.3% combined lead and zinc compared with 1,034,000 tons of 7.9% ore in 1972. Except for a 1-month strike in June, a high level of production was maintained throughout the year.5 Byproduct zinc output by the Ozark Lead Co. was lower in 1973 because of a 2-month strike which ended on April 30 with agree ment on a 3-ycar labor contract. A shortage of skilled underground maintenance per sonnel also adversely affected production. In 1973, Ozark Lead Co. was awarded the national Sentinels of Safety trophy for out standing underground mine safety per formance. This award is sponsored by the Bureau of Mines and the American Mining Congress. Ozark was honored for the sec ond consecutive year--the first time a U.S. mine has achieved that distinction since 1928. Mine production in New York, all from the Balmat-Edwards mining complex of St. Joe Minerals Corp., increased 34% in 1973, and higher production is expected in 1974. St. Joe has concentrated on exploration and continued the modernization and un derground development programs at the Balmat-Edwards mines. Two mills treat 5,000 tons of ore per day and produce a 55% zinc concentrate. The Balmat mill has over 85% of that capacity and is one of the most automated mills in the world.7 Tennessee dropped to third place after ranking first among the mine-produring States for 15 years. The decline of 37% Was due p mines for Mineral C Occidenta leaseholdi Tenn., to exploratio cussed wi The Ne in Elmwo initial pr The Je Zinc Co. United S operated Smelting started co at the Y bo more Mascot m Operat industrial Co., at C revamped sales incre Produc and Virg dined for tons, 6.4% pany is program phasis o progress at the Fr In Col 1973 to 5 low that Eagle min zinc, alth The Res shared eq (a 100% Mining operation year. The of its rat 3 St. Joe p. 7. 4 Americ Report. P 5 Cominc 8 Kennec Pp. 11 an 'Page 1 8 Occide port. P. 1 0 Gulf & Report. P 10 Ameri 1973 Annu 11 Cities 2 and 30. ,a Page 1312 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 day, due largely to a manpower shortage. However, because of an increase in ore grade, higher metal prices, and carefully controlled costs, the mine, operated by ASARCO, had a profitable year. The aver age grade of ore milled in 1973 was 8.95% zinc, 3.96% lead, 2.8 ounces of silver, and 0.07 ounce of gold per ton, compared with 7.6% zinc, 3.9% lead, 2.4 ounces of silver, and 0.07 ounce of gold per ton in 1972. Ore reserves as of January 1, 1974, were esti mated at 2,619,000 tons averaging 9.71% zinc, 4.98% lead, 2.53 ounces of silver, and 0.067 ounce of gold per ton, compared with 2,609,500 tons averaging 9.92% zinc, 5.16% lead, 2.53 ounces of silver, and 0.068 ounce of gold per ton at yeatend 1972. The New. mont Mining Corp, Idarado mine was the third largest producer in Colorado, and the Sunnyside mine of Standard Metals Corp. ranked fourth. Idarado's 1973 tonnage milled was only slightly below that of 1972. Additional income from higher metal prices in 1973 was offset by higher operating costs and by increased development expenses re quired to open more slopes and add to broken ore reserves. In 1973, the mill treated 378,150 tons of ore averaging 3.44% zinc, 2.55% lead, 0.56% copper, 1.39 ounces of silver, and 0.052 ounce of gold per ton. This compares with 386,500 tons milled in 1972 averaging 3.74% zinc, 2.74% lead, 0.72% copper, 1.74 ounces of silver, and 0.063 ounce of gold per ton. Ore reserves at the end of 1973 were 3,241,000 tons averaging 4.61% zinc, 3.36% lead, 0.77% copper, 1.77 ounces of silver, and 0.02 ounce of gold per ton, compared with 2,865,000 tons in 1972 containing averages of 4.80% zinc, 3.31% lead, 0.74% copper, 1.75 ounces of silver, and 0.03 ounce of gold per ton.n Mine production of zinc in Maine in creased to 19,640 tons as the Blue Hill mine completed its first full year of opera tion. The ore body is a difficult one to mine, and at yearend the designed produc tion of 1,000 tons per day had not been attained over a 7-day-pcr-wcek basis. Milling throughout the year was restricted to 5 days per week owing to the inability to develop enough ore faces in the mine for a greater production rate. During 1973, 230,200 tons of ore averaging 10.69% zinc and 0.63% copper was milled to produce 885 tons of copper and 23,030 tons of zinc in separate concentrates. Minable ore re serves, including an allowance for dilution and based on past mining experience, on December 31, 1973, were estimated to be 742.000 tons grading 5.68% zinc and 1.7% copper.14 Mine production of zinc in Idaho for 1973 increased 19% to 46,107 tons. Ore production at the Bunker Hill mine in creased about 17%. reflecting greater pro duction of zinc ores from the upper levels of the mine which have been under de velopment for the last 2 years. Zinc metal content of ore increased 25%, while lead and silver remained unchanged from 1972. Ore reserves were nearly the same as in 1972 with the development of new reserves to replace those mined during the year. The intensified mine exploration program, which began in 1973, is on schedule and will continue for 4 more years. Gross pro duction from the Star mine equaled that of 1972, although zinc production was off by 8%. Higher metal prices more than offset rising operating costs, and the mine experienced its first profitable year since 1967. In 1973 production from company owned and controlled mines amounted to 38.000 tons of zinc, 31,000 tons of lead, and 2.6 million ounces of silver.15 The Star Morning mine, 30% owned by Hccla Min ing Co. and 70% owned by the Bunker Hill Co., produced 265,781 tons of ore in 1973 assaying 6.68% zinc, 5.18% lead, and 2.79 ounces of silver per ton compared with 263,595 tons in 1972 containing 7.36% zinc, 5.33% lead, and 2.87 ounces of silver per ton.15 During 1973 an independent contrac tor operating the Day Mines, Inc., Monitor mine produced 20,674 tons of ore averag ing 7.90% zinc, 2.71% lead, and 0.86 ounce of silver per ton from the Gray Rock sec tion. Ore reserves were increased to provide adequate ore for an additional 3 years of production at the current rate.17 Mine production of zinc in Utah declined 23%. Zinc, lead, and silver production at the Kennecott Copper Corp. Tintic Divi sion (Utah) decreased in 1973 owing to a critical shortage of skilled miners and mechanics. Also, adverse underground min itig conditions inhibited development work and production.18 13 Newmont Mining Corp. 1973 Annual Report. Pp. 9-10. 14 Kerr Addison Mines Limited. 1973 Annual Report. Pp. 1-6. 11 Gulf Resources A Chemical Corp. 1973 An nual Report. P. 7. w Heda Mining Co. 1973 Annual Report. P. 7. 1T Day Mines, Inc. 1973 Annual Report. P. 3. 18 Kennecott Copper Corp. 1973 Annual Re port. P. 11. ZINC Zinc mine production in Arizona for 1973 was 17% lower than in 1972. The Bruce mine near Bagdad, Ariz., is operated by the Cyprus Bruce Copper and Zinc Co,, a wholly owned division of Cyprus Mines Corp. In 1973, mine output of ore was 93,000 tons with-an' average grade of 12.7% zinc and 3.68% copper. Concentrates pro duced contained 3,000 tons of copper and 9,500 tons of zinc. Record earnings were achieved owing to good metallurgical re sults, acceptable production costs, and high average prices received for copper, 60.8 cents per pound, and zinc, 26.4 cents per pound. Exploration did not add much to known reserves, but surface and under ground drilling will continue in 1974. Known ore reserves of 467,000 tons with an average grade of 12.4% zinc and 3.72% copper will sustain the operation for about 5 years.10 In 1973, mine output of zinc in New Mexico declined 3% from that in 1972. At the ASARCO Ground Hog mine, the zinc content of ore produced was 13,500 tons, compared with 14,000 tons in I972.30 UV Industries, Inc., anticipates some zinc pro duction from the reopening of the Hanover mine in New Mexico. Byproduct zinc will be recovered from the copper ore processed at the Continental Mill No. I at Bayard, N. Mcx. A 2-ycar program will define the extent of the copper, iron, and zinc re serves.31 * In Washington, 1973 mine production dropped slightly to 6,378 tons. Pend Oreille Mines fc Metals Co. mined and milled 212,289 tons of ore and produced 10,834 tons of zinc concentrate. Development of the Ycllowhcad Area is underway with several headings being driven from the Ycllowhcad Exploration Decline. Several areas of low- to high-grade lead-zinc ore have been intercepted, but continuity of mineralization is still a problem that pre cludes making at) accurate estimate of minable ore reserves.33 The Callahan Mining Corp. has resumed work at its zinc-lead property near Colville, Wash., under an agreement reached in the last quarter of 1973 granting United States Borax k Chemical Corp. and the British Newfoundland Exploration Ltd. the right to earn jointly up to 51% interest in the property through work expenditures. The program, which will include geologic work and drilling during 1974, is designed to test potential for increasing ore reserves indicated undergro Wisco creased tucky pr respectiv SMELT U.S. s electroly 1973, a d The de closure Blackwe plant at during zinc con domestic zinc oxid Drawd for the plants w slab zinc 154,327 the year to custom for upgr Smelte creased 749,500 be attrib Zinc Co pansion Monaca, Refine ters and from th foreign produced decrease that of increased Prima plants w was 33% Smelter 11% an distilled materials 2% and redistille 10 Cypru Pp. 9-10 90 Paye ^ 31 UV I x Pend .Sharehold 33 Calla P. 6. 1314 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 ZINC more than doubled over that of 1972 and was 4% of the total. Production of all grades of zinc declined except for a 9% increase for Prime Western. Distribution of the total grades was as follows: Special High, 40%; High, 4%; Intermediate, 6%; Brass Special, 10%; and Prime Western, 40%. ASARCO is considering the construction of an electrolytic zinc refinery on 1,400 acres of land on the Ohio River, near Stephensport, Ky, If undertaken, the plant would be completed by 1976 and would produce about 180,000 tons of zinc per year and significant byproduct sulfuric acid and cadmium. ASARCO's reasons for choosing the Stephensport area were the availability of rail and river barge transportation at the plant site, and its closeness to both ASARCO Tennessee zinc mines and the principal Midwestern markets for refined zinc and sulfuric acid." The cost for con struction of the plant was revised upward to .$150 million, up $50 million from a previous estimate.50 During 1973, ASARCO installed an elec tric melting furnace at its electrolytic zinc plant in Corpus Chrisli, Tex., to provide a cleaner and more efficient operation than was possible with the two gas-fired rever beratory furnaces which it replaced. The $3.7 million program to convert from in plant generation of electric power to pur chased power continued and is expected to be completed in 1974. Regarding the Ama rillo, Tex., plant, a variance was granted in July by the Texas Air Control Board to allow the plant to operate until May 30, 1975. The operation will be phased out at that time, or shortly thereafter, as the ex penditures necessary to meet the applicable air quality standards arc not justified at this horizontal retort zinc smelter." The Sauget, III., electrolytic zinc plant, purchased by AMAX in 1972, underwent extensive rehabilitation with initial pro duction commencing in May 1973. A total of 25,000 tons of refined zinc was produced for the year, and an output of 70,000 tons is expected in 1974. Full capacity of 84,000 tons of zinc should be reached by 1975, and an annual production of 1.35 million pounds of cadmium and 150,000 tons of sulfuric acid is also expected. Completion of prcleach facilities late in 1974 will per mit the processing of high-magnesium bearing zinc concentrates. At full produc- lion, the Sa 12% of tota By the en out of the zontal reto although si tinue throu duction in The change Prime West to Special H will provide bility to su to other p St. Joe largest zinc one-third o 231,085 ton 1973, slight under its 2 sion progra that will in 40.000 tons zinc smelte Special Hig concentrate fast-growing line of zinc Zinc oxid important Corp., now the United 62.000 tons 70.000 tons is underway mately $5 m facilities to of this cap 1974. In 1973 c mental imp smelter tota $6 million w tinuing pro in full com air and wa The New increase of sales for fis was 103,000 ----------------- 24 Enginee To Bufid Lar 174, No. 6, M M Metals W V. 45, No. 1 36 Page 14 21 Page 18 "Pages 3 1316 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1978 1972, while pigment production was 177,000 July 1, 1975. The State of Oklahoma ex tons, an increase of 20%. The strong de tended its variance until June 30, I975.33 mand for zinc metal and oxides, combined The company announced later that it with reduced U.S. production capacity, con will build a 50,000-ton-per-year electrolytic tributed to a maximum level of opera plant at Bartlesville to replace the 66-year- tions.* old horizontal retort smelter. The scheduled The New Jersey Zinc Co. announced that completion date was set for May 31, 1975.34 it is considering building an electrolytic In the latter part of 1973, Engelhard zinc refinery and a zinc oxide plant near Minerals & Chemicals Corp. contracted to Clarksville, Tenn., and modernizing its purchase for $4 million the assets of Na Palmcrton, Pa., zinc plant. If undertaken, tional Zinc Co., Inc. Title to the proper the Clarksville refinery would begin pro ties at Bartlesville, Okla., was taken on duction in 1977, and by 1979 the plant February II, 1974. The plan to erect an should have an annual capacity of 160,000 tons. The new plant would use zinc con centrates produced at company mines in electrolytic zinc plant at the old site will hold firm. The new installation, estimated to cost approximately $30 million, should Tennessee and Virginia. The moderniza be onstream in early 1976, and the com tion program at Palmerton includes im pany hopes to continue operation of the proved mix houses, modifications of the retort furnaces until they arc replaced by roasting and acid plant, mechanization of the new electrolytic process, but this will bagroom oxide handling, revisions of ma be subject to extension of the existing terials handling systems, and new dust- variances issued by pollution control author control facilities. The modernization pro ities.33 gram will also increase production capacity Secondary Zinc Smelters.--Zinc recovered for French process and American process from zinc-bearing scrap was 387,539 tons in zinc oxide.80 1973, nearly the same as in 1972. Semi The Bunker Hill Co., a division of Gulf manufactured forms of zinc- and copper- Resources & Chemical Corp., of Kellogg, base alloys accounted for 98% of the new Idaho, produced 98,300 tons of zinc in and old scrap. New scrap, chiefly zinc- and 1973, down from 101,700 tons in 1972. The copper-base alloys from manufacturers and annual capacity of the zinc plant is ap drosses from galvanizing and die casting proximately 104,000 tons. The drop in pro pots, accounted for 76% of all the scrap duction was caused by a work stoppage and processed. Recovery of new scrap decreased, by domestic price controls which made it while old scrap increased to replace that difficult to compete successfully in world which was not recovered in new scrap. The ore markets for quality concentrates. Total zinc was recovered in alloys, 53%, princi net sales in 1973 were 1102.4 million, com pally brass and bronze; in metal, 32%; pared with $91.9 million in 1972. and in chemical products, 15%. The Bunker Hill Co. continued work Slag-Fuming Plants.--Slag-fuming plants with the Bureau of Mines on construction process hot and cold lead blast furnace of a plant adjacent to the smelter for slags and residues which contain from 11% large-scale testing of the Bureau's citrate to 23% recoverable zinc to produce zinc process for sulfur dioxide removal from oxide fume. The oxide is either sent to stack gas. The plant was completed, and zinc smelters or electrolytic refineries for startup trials have been initiated. The recovery of zinc, or sold to the consumers company has budgeted $2.5 million to as zinc oxide. During the year three plants maintain compliance with regulations under were operating; ASARCO at El Paso, Tex., the Environmental Protection Act. His torically Bunker Hill Co. has expended a grand total of $22 million on pollution control and related facilities.31 National Zinc Co., Inc., at Bartlesville, Okla., was under attack by the Oklahoma Air Pollution Board, but was granted a 1-year variance to secure financing for an $18 million plant addition to eliminate pollution" The Federal deadline to comply with the pollution law or dose down is 80 Page 31 of work cited In footnote 9. 30 American Metal Market. N.J, Zinc Planning 160.000-Ton Smelter. V. 81, No. 133, July 10, 1974, p. 1. 31 Page 7 of work cited in footnote 16. 33 Tulsa Tribune. Pollution Agency Grants Ex tension. V. 79, No. 42. Feb. 21, 1973, p. 9B. 33 Tulsa Tribune. Antipollution Controversy In Bartlesville Is Dying Down. V. 79, No. 31, Feb. 8. 1973, p. 21A. 31 Metals Week.. National Zinc To Build Zinc Plant in Oklahoma, V. 45, No. 2, Jan. 14, 1974, p. 1. ,, 53 Engelhard Minerals ft Chemicals Corp. 1973 Annual Report. P. 3. ZINC and East Helena, Mont., and The Bunker Hill Co. at Kellogg, Idaho. Byproduct Sulfuric Acid.--In 1973, there were nine plants with facilities for roasting zinc sulfide concentrates. Seven plants were equipped with sulfuric-acid-producing facil ities, one of which operated solely for producing calcine for subsequent proces sing to zinc oxide or zinc metal. Two horizontal retort smelters did not have sulfuric-add-producing facilities, one of these s ber, b In 197 acid fr smelter 859,103 Zinc creased tons in accoun zinc du CONSUMPTION AND Consumption' of slab zinc in the United States in 1973 was 1,503,938 tons, an in crease of 6% over that of 1972. The zinc content of the ore and concentrate used directly in galvanizing or to make pigments and salts was 129,651 tons (118,305 in 1972), and the zinc content of secondary materials to make alloys, zinc dust, and compounds totaled 298,336 tons (307,369 in 1972). Total consumption of zinc for all classes was 1,931,925 tons, an increase of 5% over that of 1972. Slab zinc consumption was reported by 650 users in 1973. Of the total slab zinc consumed, zinc-base alloys accounted for 610,606 tons (41%); galvanizing, 563,837 tons (37%); brass products, 197,650 tons {13%); rolled zinc, 40,763 tons (3%); zinc oxide. 61,734 tons (4%); and other uses, 29,348 tons (2%). Most of the use categories showed gains over last year. The largest gain was in galvanizing, with an increase of 45,033 tons over that of 1972, followed by die casting alloys with a gain of 31,793 tons over 1972. A net gain of 85,589 tons was realized over last year. While gains were recorded for most of the use cate gories, losses were noted in slush and sand casting alloys, rolled zinc, and other uses. Distribution of slab zinc consumed by grade in 1973 was as follows: Special High Crade, 739,447 tons (49%); High Grade, 167,460 (11%); Intermediate, 37,384 tons (3%); Brass Special, 132,148 tons (9%); Prime Western, 426,559 tons (28%); and Rcmelt, 934 tons (less than 0.1%). Com pared with 1972, except for the small de cline in Remelt, consumption of all grades of slab zinc increased. The largest increase was in Special High Grade with a gain of 41,866 tons. Slab zinc consumed by rolling mills was 40,763 tons in 1973, a decrease of 10% from zinc p Strip a was us were n year a in hal tons o therefo zinc w pared The 1973 w Pennsy 195,382 (11%); New Y ing six of the highest and M 140,465 Prod mentfl and zi zinc ox withhe compan Prod tons, in and sh to pro 43,900 dry bas portion years. The duction (Americ (French materia 1318 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 from secondary material and 44% from ore or intermediate products. Lead-free zinc oxide was produced at 12 plants in the United States, and leaded zinc oxide was produced at only ] plant. At least eight plants produced zinc sulfate, and five pro duced zinc chloride. Production of zinc oxide by The New Jersey Zinc Co. and St. Joe Minerals Corp. were described under Smelter and Refinery Production. A third producer using ores or concentrates as a major source material was ASARCO with plants at Columbus, Ohio, and Hillsboro, III. Other major zinc oxide producers, such as the Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., Hillsboro, 111., plant and the Sherwin-Williams Coffeyville. Kans., plant, used calcines, fume, and secondary materials as raw materials. Consumption and Uses.--The apparent consumption of zinc oxide increased by 5% from about 259,000 tons in 1972 to 273,000 tons in 1973. Analysis of domestic shipments by industry usage showed the rubber industry as consuming 51% of U.S. shipments, and reported destinations of imported oxide indicated a still higher percentage of imports going to rubber manufacturers. The second-ranking use was photocopying with a 7% annual increase, and third ranking was chemicals with a 15% annual increase. Use of zinc oxide in paints decreased slightly, probably owing to fewer housing starts in 1973, The use of zinc oxide in agriculture may have been partly concealed in "other" or "chemical" destinations. Agriculture is the chief use for zinc sulfate, with lesser amounts going for rayon, flotation reagents, and chemicals. The use of leaded zinc oxide in rubber and paints increased substantially during 1973, regaining the volume of several years ago. Zinc chloride usage declined slightly but continued to be a significant part of zinc compound consumption; incomplete industry returns precluded analysis of ship ments by industry. Prices.--Zinc oxide and compound prices tended to follow increases in the price of zinc metal, but the changes were often announced several days after the metal price change. At the beginning of 1973 prices ranged from 15.75 cents per pound for activation-grade zinc oxide through 18.75 cents for French process to 22 cents for U.S.P. grade. On January 29 price in creases were initiated that averaged about 2 cents for each grade. On or about April I several companies posted further increases of 1 to 2 cents per pound. By June other suppliers had come up to a scale that ranged from 19 cents for activation grade through 22 cents for French process to 24 cents for U.S.P. grade. Prices remained steady during the period June 13 to Decem ber 6, when zinc prices were controlled by (he Cost of Living Council. During the second week in December, after release from price control, three companies raised prices about 9 cents per pound so that at yearend most quotations ranged from 30.5 cents for American process lead-free pig ment grade through 31.5 cents for French process to 33.5 cents for U.S.P. grade. Leaded zinc oxide was quoted at 17 cents per pound in January 1973 and had risen lo 30.25 cents by January 1974. The price of zinc sulfate in June 1973 was reported as $13 per 100 pounds, granular monohy drate industrial, 36% zinc,, bags in car-load lots. By yearend this price had become $18.50 per 100 pounds. Foreign Trade.--Exports of zinc oxide in creased by 24% during 1973 to a record 7,600 tons, and lithoponc exports decreased by 29% lo less than 1,000 tons. Imports of almost all classes of zinc compounds in creased in 1973 to a total of 36,500 tons, a 40% gain. As in 1972, zinc oxide was the major component of imports of zinc com pounds, with a 42% gain to 27,500 tons. The net imports of zinc oxide, 19,850 tons, thus became about 7% of U.S. supply. Mexico, Canada, and France were major sources, and other European Community countries contributed small tonnages. ZINC STOCKS Producer Stocks.---According to the monthly data reported by producers to the Zinc Institute, Inc., stocks at the begin ning of the year were 31,775 tons. By midyear they declined to 22,168 tons, but at yearend they increased to 29.233 tons, just 2,542 tons short of what stocks were at the beginning of the year. The GSA stock pile gave considerable relief; 167,447 tons of zinc passed through the producers either as remelt or direct shipment. Consumer Stocks.--Slab zinc inventories at consumer tons at the be 9% to 114,3 Western zinc largest decrea than that at Government GSA stockpile 949,583 tons to that 272,574 t domestic sup stockpile. 1320 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 PRICES The year began with a three-tier price structure for domestic Prime Western zinc, 18.0, 18.5, and 18.52 cents per pound. Phase 3 of the President's economic stabili zation program, effective January 11, 1973, removed the mandatory price ceiling on zinc, and by February I, the price of Prime Western zinc was increased to 19.0, 19.25, and 19.5 cents per pound. On March 9, another round of price increases began, and by March 28, all the producers but one had increased their price of Prime Western zinc to 20.25 cents per pound. One com pany, National Zinc Co., Inc., increased its price to 20.5 cents per pound, and on April 19, this same company increased its price to 21 cents per pound while the other producers kept their price at 20.25 cents per pound. During all of this period, the price of Special High Grade zinc was 1 cent per pound higher than that of Prime Western zinc. On June 13, 1973, by Presi dential order, the price of zinc was frozen to the last round of increases. Phase 4 of price controls became effective August 12, 1973, when the base price for zinc was set at the price during the last fiscal quarter prior to January 11, 1973, (18 cents per pound). Cost increases were passed through on a dollar-for-doHar basis without the maintenance of profit margins allowed under phases 2 and 3. The Cost of Living Council required a 30-day notice from pro ducers with $100 million sales or more for any price increases. The ceiling prices pre vailed until the Cost of Living Council abolished the control on zinc on December 6, 1973. One company immediately raised its price of Prime Western zinc to 32 cents per pound, and others quoted prices be tween 28 and 30 cents per pound where they remained to yearend. The foreign producer price (mostly Canada, Peru, and Australia) was always at least 1 cent per pound higher than the U.S. producer price. Coming into the year, imported zinc (Prime Western equivalent) was 19.5 and 20 cents per pound. This price remained in effect until March 8, when the price became 21 cents per pound, but one company representing the Australian pro ducers increased the price of zinc to 22.5 cents per pound on March 29 and to 23.5 cents per pound on May 29. Effective June 12, imported zinc (Prime Western equiva lent) ranged from 22.3 to 23.5 cents per pound; however, one Canadian firm passed on the 0.7-cent-per-pound tariff to its U.S. customers. A second Canadian company followed suit on June 30, and a third company raised its price but absorbed the tariff. Effective August 1, 1973, imported zinc (Prime Western equivalent) ranged from 24.3 to 27.5 cents per pound. The high price of 27.5 cents per pound was set on July 26 by an Australian firm. On Sep tember 20, the spread increased to 24.3 to 31.0 cents per pound, but on October 1 the range narrowed to 27.3 to 31.0 cents per pound. The high side of the price range increased on November 27 to 36.5 cents per pound, and the final increase for the year on December 21, 1973, occurred on the low end of the range with a price of 31.0 cents per pound. The European producer price for Good Ordinary Brand (GOB) zinc (Prime West ern equivalent) was 173 per metric ton (18.5 cents per pound U.S. equivalent) at the first of the year. During the year the European producer price increased five times, as follows: February 28, 190 per metric ton; June 14, 205 per metric ton; July 16, 220 per metric ton; September 24, 250 per metric ton; and on November 27, 300 per metric ton. The last conver sion to U.S. equivalent was 31.5 cents per pound and was the price that prevailed to the end of the year. The London Metal Exchange (LME) price for zinc started the year at a lower level than the U.S. producer price and the European producer price. The monthly average price for zinc in January was 17.5 cents per pound, but during the year the price fluctuated upward until it reached a record high on December 4, 1973, of 99 cents per pound. The price then declined to 63 cents per pound at yearend. ZINC Figure 6.--Average monthly prices in 1973 fo zinc and equivalent foreign g FOREIGN TRADE Exports of slab zinc increased more than three-fold from 4,324 tons to 14,566 tons in 1973, of which 15% went to Brazil, 15% to Japan, 12% to Venezuela, and 11% to Colombia. Exports of rolled zinc products, sheets, plates, strips, etc., in creased 3% over those of 1972; Canada re ceived nearly half, 1,201 tons. General imports of zinc in ore declined 22% to 199,053 tons in 1973, the lowest since 1940. Canada supplied 62%, or 124,261 tons, and receipts from Mexico accounted for 17%, or 33,878 tons. General imports -of metal increased 13% to 588,725 tons. Canada w The other Belgium-L Imports 12% to 1 imports of significantl ore for the a buildup bonded wa sumption to 587,429 slightly les the second 1322 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 of metal exceeded the quantity of zinc in imported ores and concentrates. No change took place in the tariff rates in 1973. The duties on unmanufactured zinc and zinc-containing materials were as follows; Slab zinc, 0.7 cent per pound; zinc ores, concentrates, and fume, 0.67 cent per pound (on zinc content less specified allowable deductions for processing losses); zinc scrap, including skimmings and drosses, 0.75 cent per pound; and zinc dust, 0.3 cent per pound. The duty rate for unwrought alloys of zinc, which includes diccasting alloys, was 19% ad valorem. The bill to suspend the U-S. tariff on zinc concentrates (H.R. 6191) passed the House on May 7, 1974. after which it was submitted to the Senate Finance Com mittee. WORLD REVIEW World mine production of zinc in 1973 gained about 3% over that of 1972, con tinuing the slow but steady growth rate apparent in recent years. Zinc motnl pro duction also increased, with gains in Europe and Canada more than making up for the loss of production in the United States. The consumption of zinc in the developing countries continued to grow at a faster rate (12%) than the world average (7%) and helped to maintain a worldwide short age, driving up prices and spurring the use of substitute materials where available. The generally tight supply situation in creased interest in secondary materials and concern for gathering information about their availability and use. Byproducts and scrap were used in greater amounts for production of both zinc metal and zinc compounds. Argentina.--Compania Mincra Aguilar, a subsidiary of St. Joe Minerals Corp., sus tained a 2-wcek strike in November which was settled after the national government intervened and negotiated a 20% wage in crease. Production of zinc concentrates in 1973 was 9% less than in 1972 and was estimated to contain about 43,700 tons of zinc. Two zinc smelters affiliated with Aguilar but not affected by the strike pro duced about 40,900 tons of zinc in I973.-11 Australia.--Mine production of zinc in Australia declined 6% in 1973 to 526,400 short tons of zinc in concentrates. Exports to the United States included 7,281 tons of zinc in concentrates and 42,077 tons of slab zinc, 10% of Australian zinc produc tion. The decrease in national mine produc tion was due in part to the failure of a stope wall in the New Broken Hill Con solidated Mines at about the No. 17 level during the first week in October. The temporary closure of haulage on the No. J5 level caused a shortfall in production at this most productive Australian zinc mine during the last quarter. Zinc Corp., North Broken Hill, Mount Isa Mines, West Coast Mines, and Cobar mines contributed a normal or slightly reduced zinc produc tion during 1973. Broken Hill South, Ltd,, recovered about 8,000 tons of zinc from dumps, partially replacing the loss of pro duction from the closed Broken Hill South mine. Published ore reserves and announced plans for expansion predicted greater zinc production from Australia in the future. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) was developing the Hilton mine, about 12 miles north of Mount Isa, and was increasing capacity at the Mount Isa concentrator. Both mines have large reserves of zinc-Icad-silver ores, 36 million tons at Hilton and 56 million tons at Mount Isa." MIM also holds largo reserves or resources of zinc-lcad ores in the McArthur River area, Northern Terri tory, estimated to contain 200 million tons assaying 9% zinc.M E-Z, Industries, Ltd., planned to expand zinc capacity at its mines in Tasmania and its smelter at Risdon to a yearly production of 242,000 tons of zinc. Smeller production in 1973 was 328,000 short tons of zinc: Risdon (E-Z Industries) 213,000, Cockle Creek (Conzinc Rio Tinto of Australia) 65,000, and Port Pirie (BHAS Proprietary, Ltd.) 50,000. Belgium.--Zinc production increased 9% during 1973 to a total of 309,800 tons. Ex ports to the United States were about 39,400 tons of slab zinc. Metallurgie Hoboken-Overpelt was constructing a new eiec- Lead and Zinc Statistics, Monthly Bulletin of the International Lead and Zinc Study Group. V. 14. No. 6. June 1974. pp. 16-17. 5T M.I.M. Holdings Ltd. Annual Report for the Year Ending June 30, 1973. P. 7. Mount Isa Mines. Metals Sourcebook. No. 21. Oct. 29, 1973. p. 2. ZINC trolytic zinc refinery at Overpelt scheduled for commissioning in mid-1974; the older zinc retorts were shut down progressively so that zinc production decreased in 1973 from the 1972 output. Sorit de Prayon, S.A. sustained its first full year of produc tion at its new electrolytic plant at Ehein. Socit des Mines et Fonderies de Zinc de la Viellie Montagne, with four plants in Belgium, produced a total of 281,000 tons of ingot zinc, 5% more than in 1972, but plants in France participated in this pro duction. Brazil.--The two electrolytic zinc plants in Brazil produced 24,600 tons of zinc in 1973, achieving a 43% increase from pro duction in 1972. Both plants are supplied by the silicate and oxide ores from Vazantc, Minas Gerais. The Compnnhia Mincra de Mctais, one of the two producers, has an nounced plans to increase production to about 29,000 tons annually by 1977, using a new process developed by Metais and a German firm, Lurgi Chemie und Huettenlechnik. Canada.--Mine production of zinc in creased again in 1973 to 1.49 million short tons of zinc content in concentrates. Zinc smelter production increased to 587,000 tons in 1973, a 12% increase from the 525,000 tons in 1972. Canada thus retained by a wide margin Us position as the world's largest zinc-mining country and passed the United States to become the third largest zinc-refining country. A substantial part of this production came to the United States. Of a lotal of 874,900 short tons of zinc in concentrates exported from Canada. 124,300 tons was imported into the United States; of 463,000 tons of metal exported, 345.000 tons came to the United States as general imports. Consumption of zinc in Canada was estimated as 140,000 tons, a 9% in crease from 1972 consumption. In the Northwest Territories, Pine Point Mines Ltd., with Cominco, Ltd., acting as operator, was the major zinc producer mining 3,896,000 tons of ore averaging 6.0% zinc and 2.9% lead. Concentrates from this operation were sold to Canadian refineries, chiefly Cominco, 62%. The re mainder was exported with Europe receiv ing 20%, Japan, 10%, India, 5%. and South America and United States, collectively, 3%.00 Cominco continued exploration of silver-zinc deposits near Bathurst Inlet and at the Polaris lead-zinc deposit on Little . Cornwallis Island. Several thousand tons of high-grade ore shipped from lurgical testing a joint venture temational Lt velop a zincshore of Baffi Arctic deposits development and the logis require carefu grade of the d exploitation. The major z Anvil Mining 2,899,000 tons operation and taining 118,00 of lead, and The Anvil co creased from 8 ing 1973. Anv nounced explo kon Territory regional geoch areas of favo Barrier Reef have its new of Mayo dril 1974. British Col creased about van mine of producer. Com H.B. mine n replace the c from the Blu 1972. Other m province were (suspended o Silmonac at Sa at Rcmac, the and Western MacDonald Mi ing and millin discontinued o has been unsu serves but w properties. Ex peared to fall gulf continued Robb Lake le encouraging re sions were pl " Pine Point P. 3. 40 Page 12 of il TexasguJf. 1973, p. 6. 1324 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 northern British Columbia and to make a link in southwest British Columbia by passing the Fraser River Canyon; mineral traffic and the development of new mining areas were primary reasons for the pro posed construction. The Cominco smelter at Trail produced 248,000 tons of zinc in 1973; operations were hampered in Decem ber by an electrical failure and fire in the roaster control room, but by yearend zinc output had returned to normal. In Manitoba, Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd. achieved an 8% increase in zinc production in 1973 to 82,882 tons, and began development work on the new Centennial mine. Nine operating mines in the Flin Flon area produced continuously during the year. Ore reserves in the Flin Flon district at yearend were 18,000,600 tons containing 3.1% copper, 2.9% zinc, 0.03 ounce of gold, and 0.5 ounce of silver per ton.4* Sherritt Gordon Mines. Limited, continued to operate the Fox Lake copperzinc mine and in May began production from the new copper-zinc Ruttan mine. Production of zinc in concentrates at the two mines was 7,060 tons at Fox Lake and 17,130 tons at Ruttan, making Sherritt Gordon a major zinc producer, in addition to its substantial copper production. Con centrates went to Hudson Bay at Flin Flon, !o Mitsubishi Metal Corp. in [npan. and to a zinc plant in the United States.41 *F4r3ee port Canadian Exploration Co., in a joint venture with Bcth-Cnnada Mining Co., dis covered a copper-zinc deposit near Reed Lake, Manitoba; a preliminary estimate of the tonnage and grade was given at 1 mil lion tons with about 2% copper and 4% zinc. The two companies are subsidiaries of Freeport Minerals Co. and Bethlehem Steel Corp., respectively. The largest zinc producer in Ontario was Ecstall Mining Ltd., a subsidiary of Texasgulf,. Inc., with a production of about 295,000 tons of zinc in concentrates from the Kidd Creek mine and 107,100 tons of zinc metal from the nearby zinc plant at Hoyle. Annual capacity of the refinery was to be increased from 120,000 to 150,000 tons per year. Production from the open pit mine will be gradually replaced by underground mining within a few years. During 1973, the Canadian Development Corporation, a Crown Corp., acquired a large share of the stock of Texasgulf, Inc., through a public tender offer. Other zinc mines active in Ontario were Mnttagami Lake Mines Ltd., Mattabi mine averaging over 3,000 tons per day grading 11.36% zinc, 1.10% copper, 1.06% lead, and 5.30 ounces of silver per ton and Noranda Mines Limited, Geco mine producing 4,880 tons per day grading 4.53% zinc, 1.70% copper, and 1.63 ounces of silver per ton.44 The construction of a 1,200 ton-per-day concentrator and mine was started in the Sturgeon Lake area by Sturgeon Lake Mines Ltd. and Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. At Parham in southeastern Ontario the Long Lake mine, a small mine by modern standards, began operation in March, pro ducing about 7,000 tons of crude ore per month with a 10-man crew running the mine and heavy media plant. The up graded ore, 4,600 tons per month, is trucked to St. Joe Minerals Corp. at Balmat, N.Y. Lynx Canada Exploration Ltd. and Ca nadian Reynolds Metals Co. Ltd. share ownership of the mine. Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd. began construction of a new zinc oxide plant near Brampton, Ontario. The planned initial capacity was 60 tons, increasing ultimately to 100 tons per day; as produc tion reached capacity, an older plant in Montreal operated by a subsidiary of Hud son Bay, 7,ochcm Ltd., would be gradually dosed down. Mattagaini Lake Mines, Ltd., continued to be a major zinc producer in Quebec, milling 1,387,000 tons of ore averaging 7.48% zinc. 0.57% copper and 0.84 ounce of silver per ton. The Orchan Mines mill treated 270,100 tons averaging 7.39% zinc and 0.97% copper from the Orchan mine and 180,130 tons averaging 3.33% zinc and 1.45% copper from the Garon Lake mine. Kerr Addison Mines continued to operate the Normetal Mine and the Joutel Mine, producing 12.500 tons and 13,100 tons of zinc in concentrates, respectively. The Lake Dufault division of Falconbridge Copper Ltd. produced 18,795 tons of zinc in con centrates as a coproduct of copper produc tion from ore that averaged 3.65% copper and 4.41% zinc. Manitou Barvuc Mines Ltd. reopened the Louvem silver-zinc mine and operated its mill at a rate of 20,000 tons per month through 1973. The Sullivan Mining Group Ltd. closed 48 Hudson Bay Mining 4 Smelting Co. Ltd. 1973 Annual Report P. 13. 43 Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd. 1973 Annual Report. P. 4. 44 Noranda Mines Limited. 19,73 Annual Re port. Pp. 10-15. ZINC the Weldon mine in June 1973 but con tinued operations at the Cupra and D Estrie divisions, both producing zinc concentrates from copper-zinc ores. Develop ment of the Clinton Copper Mines property was started with joint control by Dome Mines, Ltd.; reserves contain minor amounts of zinc. Total production of the Sullivan Group for fiscal year 1972-73 was 9,115 tons of zinc. Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Ltd., owned The Bu 50% contro suffered fro but manag zinc in con production Canadian 1973 and pacity are 1 by Mattagami Lake Mines, Noranda, Or chan Mines, and Kerr-Addison, announced Com that its electrolytic zinc plant is to be expanded from the present capacity of 400 tons to 620 tons per day by 1975, The ex pansion will cost $30 million to $45 mil lion and will increase yearly production capacity from 145,000 to 225,000 tons. hi New Brunswick, the Brunswick Min ing & Smelting Corp. Ltd. continued to Canadian El Zinc Ltd., Quebec ..... Cominco, Ltd Trail, Briti Columbia Hudson Bay, Smelting C M Ecstall Minin operate the No. 6 and No. 12 mines and Timmins, the concentrator treated 3,288,000 tons of Finland.-- ore averaging 9.8% combined lead and kola produc zinc." The conversion of the zinc-lead metal in 19 Imperial-type smelter at Belledune to a hasalmi an lead smelter was completed early in 1973 centrates c and zinc concentrates are now shipped over 3,899 tons o seas. During 1973, Amax Base Metal Group, and Vuonos operating the Heath Steele Mines, produced 1,078,000 tons of ore yielding 78,000 tons of zinc concentrate. An expansion program tons, zinc trates from France.--P started in 1972 proceeded toward an even France in 1 tual increase in mine-mill production of less than in about onc-Lhird when completed in 1975 estimated to The Sullivan Mining Group, Ltd., an fcrcnce mad nounced plans to resume its Nigadoo River ducers' stock Mines operations in the Bathurst district, Germany, subject to negotiating satisfactory smelter West Germa contracts. sliorf tons a Nova Scotia was the scene of exploration maximum u at a potential zinc-lead property in the German lead Gays River district. The mining division onc-third of of Imperial Oil Ltd. was drilling on the the five, the property, of Cuvier Mines with three drill uled for sh rigs testing zinc-lead mineralization in dolo- Consumption mitized limestone over a wide area. A large with 37% g tonnage of ore was reported to average Honduras-- 2.75% lead and 3.39% zinc. duced during A deposit with a similar Appalachian- 272 tons of c type environment at Daniel's Harbor in well as subs Newfoundland was the subject of a feasi and lead in bility study by Newfoundland Zinc Mines, venture betw Ltd., a subsidiary of Teck Corp., with American Metal Climax, Inc. as a coven turer. A high-grade portion of the ore body was reported to contain 4,400,000 tons averaging 8.8% zinc. "Paae 12 o `"Page 18 o 20 O "Zinc Inst "16- 4 Rosario R port P. 6. 1326 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 ami ASARCO was formed to drive an ex ploratory tunnel beneath the old Rosario mine. India.--Although lead and zinc prospects arc known throughout India and Govern ment statistics claim large ore reserves, Indian zinc smelter production in 1973 was only one-third of its rated capacity and ac counted for only 16% of its consumption with the balance made up from imports. Hindustan Zinc, Ltd., produced 2,200 ions and has a capacity for 19.800 tons per year, and Cominco Binani Zinc Ltd. pro duced 11,800 tons hut has a capacity for 22.000 tons per year. Hindustan's Debari smelter was shut down for much of the year because of a breakdown of the melt ing furnace, and at Cominco Binani labor disputes put the plant out of action for 3 months. Hindustan Zinc announced plans to increase mine capacity in the Zawar area and to. expand smelter capacity to 45.000 tons by 1978-79. Ireland.--Tara Exploration and Develop ment Co. Ltd. started to develop its po tentially large mine at Navan, County Meath, in July 1973, with an inclined entry and a 1,000-foot vertical shaft. Commercial production of ores was scheduled to begin in late 1975. The development program proceeded despite a setback by an adverse judicial decision concerning ownership of the northern part of the proposed state mining lease containing about 10 million tons of ore. The balance of the ore body, now under development, was said to con tain about 67 million tons grading 10.9% zinc and 2.6% lead. Near the end of 1973, an agreement was negotiated with Noranda Mines Limited under which Noranda would arrange a $6 million line of credit in return for warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of Tara and other considerations subject to Tara obtaining an acceptable state mining lease. As a result of this as sociation, Tara, together with its control ling parent, Northgatc Exploration Ltd., and Noranda, began a joint study as to the feasibility of constructing an electro lytic zinc reduction plant in Ireland.80 Two other major lead-zinc mines in Ire land continued production in 1973. The Tynagh mine of Irish Base Metals Ltd. in County Galway produced 16,500 short tons of zinc, 1,300 tons of copper, and 45,000 tons of lead in concentrates. The mine at Silvermines, County Tipperary, 75% owned by Mogul of Ireland Ltd., treated 9)7,400 tons of ore to produce con centrates containing 59,500 tons of zinc and 17,600 tons of lead." The Irish Government announced in September 1973 that the 20-year tax holiday on profits of base metal mines was to end. A new tax system, beginning April 1, 1974, will allow prospecting and depreciation de ductions with special provisions for com panies already in production and relief for marginal mines. Italy.--Production of slab zinc in Italy reportedly increased from 171,800 tons in 1972 In 209.500 Ions in 1973. This reflected the operation during 1973 of the new Im perial Smelting furnace by Ammi Sarda, S.p.a., at Porto Vesme, Sardinia. Italy is still a net importer of zinc, importing about 53.000 tons of metal in 1973. Japan.--Japan once again achieved world record production with a total of 929.000 tons of zinc metal. Mine produc tion supplied about 291,000 tons of zinc in concentrates. Consumption of zinc in creased 14% to 834,800 tons in 1973, and demand for rcmcltcd zinc metal increased by 20% to 59,300 tons, making total slab zinc consumption about 894,100 tons/'3 Akita Zinc Co. Ltd. reported that the pro gram to double capacity at its IIjima plant to 14,000 tons per month was expected to be completed in the summer of 1974 with full production at the end of the year. At the end of 1973. Mitsui Mining Sc Smelting Co. Ltd. was increasing the ca pacity of its Hikoshima refinery from 5,500 to 7,700 tons per month. However, all Japanese zinc producers predicted setbacks in scheduled zinc production in 1974 owing to power restrictions caused by the energy shortage. Mexico.--Production of zinc from mines in 1973 continued at a rate about tlic same as in 1972, slightly over 299,000 short tons. Smelter output of primary metal was be low that of 1972, 74,000 tons versus 87,500 tons. Exports of zinc concentrates and metal from Mexico to the United Stales de creased sharply in 1973 from exports in 1972. U.S. general imports of zinc from Mexico were about 33,900 tons of zinc in concentrates and 1,900 tons as slab zinc, compared with 57,300 tons of zinc in con-* 51 '"'Tara Exploration and Development Co. Ltd. 1973 Annual Report. P. 6. 51 International Mogul Mines Ltd. 1973 Annual Report. P. 4. M Metals Week. Japan's Consumption of Zinc Increased. V. 45, No. 24, June 17, 1974, p. 6, ZINC centrales and 8,400 tons of slab zinc in 1972. Indusirias Pcnoles, S.A., inaugurated its new electrolytic zinc refinery at Torredn on October 30, 1973. The new plant was expected to produce 115,000 tons of zinc annually as well as 200,000 tons of sul furic acid and 935 tons of cadmium. The feed to the plant will be mainly Mexican concentrates, thus cutting Mexican exports of zinc concentrates from about 300,000 tons (gross) to 100,000 tons per year and gaiiving about S5R million per year in foreign exchange. Two feasibility studies concerning con struction of zinc refineries in Mexico were undertaken during 1973, one conducted by Asnrco Mexicans, S.A. and Dowa Mining Co. of Japan and the other by Zincamcx, S.A. and Mitsui. The Asarco MexicanaDowa study indicated that the proposed smelter would require imports of zinc ores or concentrates from outside Mexico, and thereafter negotiations made little progress. Netherlands.'--Construction of the new electrolytic zinc plant at Budel was sub stantially completed in 1973, and full pro duction was expected for the third quarter of 1974/ The older retort smel'ter was being gradually phased out. Production of primary zinc in the Netherlands in 1973 was about 33,600 short tons. Nicaragua.--Neptune Mining Co., owned 51.8% by ASARCO and 36% by Rosario Resources, produced over 12.000 tons of zinc and 138 tons of cadmium in zinc concentrates from the Vesubio mine. Ro sario acquired the Rosita copper mine and the Siuna gold mine and announced plans to do exploration work in adjacent areas for base metals as well as gold and silver. Peru,--The Cerro dc Pasco Corp. prop erties in Peru were expropriated by the Peruvian government effective January 1, J974, after talks, carried on during the second half of 1973, concerning a partial takeover, were unsuccessful. However, op erations were still under Cerro control throughout 1973 and resulted in a high level of zinc output. Refined zinc pro duced by tlie Cerro smelter was 73,959 short tons, and zinc concentrates and cal cines produced for export amounted to 115,728 tons of zinc content.84 Compania Mineralcs Santander, Inc., a subsidiary of St. Joe Minerals Corp., produced 69,725 tons of zin less than i Peruvian o contained added to duction giv tons. Of th in concent metal cam Poland.-- was estima 1973, maki zinc in Eur production 1971-75 5-y Poland co concentrate porting abo of concentr Poland has internation about 38,00 addition t munist cou Spain.--T del Zinc pl that would 82,000 tons 1975. Astu increase ca 000 tons pe using the the new i completion produced 1 1973 conta metal prod 117,900 ton Sweden, tion of sla short tons zinc in Sw Norway wa mine in G duction lat production annual pro Cominco, L gron Mines Angel mine Greenex, A to contain lead and z ton. M Rio Tint and Accoun r'4 Cerro C 1328 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Yugoslavia.--Zinc metal production in Yugoslavia in 1973 was 60,820 short tons, an increase of 13% over that of 1972. Three plants were the major contributors, the electrolytic plant of TrcpCa at ZvecAn, the electrolytic plant at Sabac-Zorka, and the new imperial furnace smelter at Zloiovo (Titov Vclcs) which started production in the summer of 1973. The annual capacity of the Titov Velcs smelter should eventually become 72,000 tons of zinc and 39,000 tons of lead, all destined for export. Two new lead and zinc concentrators at Kriva Feja and Leposavci in Serbia were completed in 1973. Concentrates will go to the Trcp&i smelter. The TrepCa Enterprise was reno vating or developing several mines in Ser bia and one in Montenegro in a program to increase lead and zinc mine production. Yugoslavian mine production of zinc was estimated as 110,000 tons of zinc in con centrates in 1973. TECHNOLOGY Research at the Bureau of Mines Rolla Metallurgy Research Center was conducted to develop a workable means for separating and recovering zinc and lead from flue dusts, slags, and other metallurgical pro cessing wastes. The project included con struction and operation of a continuous system for the recovery of zinc and lead from electric furnace steelmaking dusts. An evaluation of other zinc-bearing waste such as lead blast furnace slag will also be made. Another project at Roila was to develop low-cost hydromctallurgical processes for recovering zinc and elemental sulfur from sphalerite concentrate with minimum evo lution of sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, or other pollutants. A project on reduc tion of zinc sulfide with iron was underway at the Albany Metallurgy Research Center. The objective was to determine the prac ticability of winning zinc from sulfide concentrates by direct reduction with iron, thereby bypassing sulfurous gas forma tion. The Reno Metallurgy Research Cen ter was conducting a research project to develop an aqueous chlorine or anodic oxidation leaching process for extracting metal values from lead-zinc sulfide con centrates, and to develop techniques for recovering metal values from leaching solu tion in a marketable form. Results of several research investigations or studies were published by the Bureau of Mines and Geological Survey." Gulf 8c Western Industries, Inc., and Occidental Petroleum Corp. were engaged in a $i0 million joint venture to perfect a practical zinc chloride rechargeable bat tery system that would power urban and recreational vehicles." The International Lead-Zinc Research Organization (ILZRO) sponsored numerous projects in 1973 to develop fundamental data on particular applications of zinc or zinc-containing materials. Progress reports of these projects are released annually by means of the ILZRO Research Digest. Work during the year involved an ILZRO Prototype House which illustrates a variety of zinc applications, improvement of die casting processes, galvanizing, alloy develop ment, and plating.6T A comprehensive coverage of zinc-related investigations and an extensive review of current world literature on the uses of zinc and its products are contained in monthly issues of the 1973 Zinc Abstracts published by the Zinc Institute. Inc., 292 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, and provided free of charge. r,r'Kelly, J.E., and H.M. Harris. Contact Angle of Zinc on Some Ceramic Materials and Metals. J. Testing and Evaluation, JTEVA, v. 2, No. 1, January 1974, pp. 40-43. McMahon, A.D., C.H. Cotterill, J.T. Dunham, and W.L. Rice. The U.S. Zinc Industry: A His torical Perspective. BuMines IC 8629, 1974, 76 PP. Petrick, A., Jr., H.J. Bennett; K.E. Starch, and R.C. Weisner. The Economics of Byproduct Metals (in Two Parts). 2. Lead, Zinc, Uranium, Rare-Earth, Iron, Aluminum, Titanium, and Lithium Systems. BuMines IC 8570, 1973, 99 pp. Powell, H.E., and L.W. Hlgley. Recovery of Zinc, Copper, Silver, and Iron from Zinc Smelter Residue, BuMines RI 7754, 1973, 15 pp. Wedow, H.. Jr., T.H. Kilsgard, A.V. Heyl, and R.B. Hall. Zinc. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 820, 1973, pp. 697-711. 00 Page 15 of work cited in footnote 9. 8T Pages 1-27 of work cited in footnote 47. ZINC Tabic 3.--Mine production of recoverable zinc in th ' (Short tons) State 1969 19 Arizona _________.. _____ _____________ California _______________ _....____. Colorado ______________ _____ ____ _ Idaho -..___________________________.... Illinois _______________ ______________________ Kansas _____ ____________ ____ _ Kentucky Maine ________________ ______________ Missouri ____________ _ Montana ___________ __________ _____________ Nevada ______________ ________ ____ ...___.... New Jersey ...________________ ________ New Mexico ____________________________ ___ New York Oklahoma ______________________ Pennsylvania _____ ______________________ ___ South Dakota _______ ___________________ ___ Tennessee _______________________ ______ ___ Utah Virginia ________________________ Washington _______ ______________ __________ Wisconsin _______ ____ ____________ _____ ___ Other States ____________ ______ _____ Total ______..._._...._................................................ 9,039 3.327 63,716 65,900 13,766 1.900 4.988 7.639 41,099 6,143 941 26,076 24,308 58,728 2,744 33,035 124,532 34.902 18.704 0.738 22,901 653,124 9, 3, 66, 41. 16, 1, 4 9 60. 1 28, 16 68, 2 29 118 34 18 11 20, 534 Table 4.--Mine production of recoverable zinc in th (Short tons) January ________ .............. Februnry ____ ____ ............. March______________........... .. April_______ ....... ............. May . ______________........... June ________ .... .............. July .......................... .............. 1972 37,747 40,087 46.579 41,704 44,007 41,905 36.329 1973 40,807 36,881 39,218 37,204 40.086 37.731 40.354 AuKUBt .... Septembe October . November Decembe Tota Table 5.--Production of zinc and lead in the United Stat ore, from old tailings, etc., in terms of r (Short tons) Zinc ore Gross weight (dry basis) Zinc con tent Arizona _______ California _______ Colorado _________ Idaho ____________ Illinois___________ Kentucky________ Maine________ ___ Missouri__________ Montana ________ New Jersey _____ New Mexico____ New York_______ Pennsylvania____ Tennessee _______ Utah ____________ Virginia ________ Washington _____ Wisconsin _______ Other States ____ Total _____ Percent of total zinc-lead 224,942 9,270 (2) 230,172 21,313 423 (3) 19.640 193,402 128,367 1,093,838 382,511 2,134,789 577.348 379,014 33,027 12,035 81,456 18,867 69,570 16,683 8,672 6,353,653 271,676 57 See footnotes at end of table. Lead con tent 2,600 9 (2) 204 2,484 2,304 2,637 844 11,082 2 Lead o Gross weight (dry basis) Zin con ten 222 692 244,660 2,04 7,685,647 82,36 195 600 12 7.831,928 84,40 -- 1330 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Table 5.--Production of zinc and lead in the United States in 1973, by State and class of ore, from old tailings, etc., in terms of recoverable metals--Continued (Short tons) State Copper-zinc, copper-lead and copper-zinc-lead ores Gross weight (dry basis) Zinc con tent Lead con tent All other sources 3 Gross weight (dry basis) Zinc con tent Lead con tent Total Gross weight (dry basis) Zinc con tent Lead con tent Arizona ______.... .. California _______ Colorado ________.. Idaho ............... ...... Illinois ..... ............ Kentucky .............. Maine ______ _____ Missouri _ ______ Montana _ _ _____ New Jersey _____ New Mexico_____ New York _____ _ Pennsylvania ____ _ _ Tennessee __ ____ ... Utah ........... ............ Virginia ________ Washington _____ Wisconsin _____ Other States ____ . Total ......... Percent of total zinc-lead 93,284 390,364 . 1.322,930 .. 1,806.568 8,407 10,310 __ 4,602 .. 23,319 5 192 8,818 __ _. __ 9,010 1 61.571,820 20 5,257 * 12 107,602 1.196 312.459 768 66,848 = 5.250 _ _ 273 _ 25,686 59 2.803.668 .. _228 . _ _61.372 .. 64,954.612 .. 2 .. 7.808 571 1 10 1.937 1.012 * 541 .. _ _ 152 __ .4 . __ ._ l . .. 4.228 61,665,104 5.479 ].195.393 1,440,645 66,848 .. 230.172 7,585.647 26.209 193.402 2.933.577 1,093.838 382.511 3,457,7] 9 188.311 577,348 274.161 379,014 12 8,427 763 20 44 58.339 28,112 46.107 61.744 5,250 641 273 _ _ 19,640 204 82,350 487,143 73 33,027 .176 . 12.327 2.556 81,455 2,304 18,857 .. 64,172 16.800 13.733 16.683 2.637 6,378 2,217 8.672 844 .. 6 81,695,390 478.850 603,024 11 100 100 J Zinc-lead ore, and ore from "other sources" combined to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data. 9 Zinc ore and ore from "other sources" combined to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data. 3 Lead and zinc recovered from copper, gold, silver, and fluorspar ores, and from mill tailings and miscellaneous cleanups. Tabic C.--Twenty-five leading zinc*producing mines in the United States in 1973, in order of output Rank Mine County and State Operator Source of zinc 1 Balmat ...................... St. Lawrence, N.Y____ St. .Tor Minerals Corn_____ 7.inr ore. AMAX Load Co. of Mo____ Load ore. 3 Sterling Sussex, N.J _____ New Jersey Zinc Co _______ Zinc ore. 4 Bunker Hill ______ Shoshone, Idaho 6 Eagle Eagle, Colo Bunker Hill Co _________ __ Lead-zinc ore. New Jersey Zinc Co_______ Zinc ore. 6 Zinc Mine Works __ Jefferson, Tenn __ U.S. Steel Corn______ _________ 7 Blue Hill ................. Hancock, Maine______ Kerramerican Inc __________ Do. Do. 8 New Jersey Zinc Co______ Do. 9 New Market__ ___ Jefferson, Tenn _____ __ American Smelting and Do. Refining Company. 10 Burgin....... ................ Utah, Utah Kennecott Copper Corp Lead-zinc ore. 11 Austinville and Ivanhoe , -_______ Wythe, Va __............... .. New Jersey Zinc Co_______ Zinc ore. 12 Star Unit.................. Shoshone, Idaho ........... Bunker Hill Co. and Hecla Mining Co. Lead-zinc ore. 13 LeadvilJe ..... ............ Lake, Colo .................. . American Smelting and Refining Company. Do. ____do______ ____ ______ _____ Do. 15 Jefferson City 16 Edwards Jefferson, Tenn ........... New Jersey Zinc Co_____ -_ Zinc ore. St. Lawrence. N.Y____ St. Joe Minerals Corp_____ Do. Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc_ Do. 18 Idarado _____ _____ San Miguel, Colo ____ Idarado Mining Co _________ Copper-lead-zinc ore. 19 Bruce Yavapai, Ant_______ _ Cyprus Mines Corp ............... Copper-zinc ore. 20 Sunnyside San Juan, Colo ______ Standard Metals Corn _____ Lead-zinc ore. 21 Pend Oreille ______ Pend Oreille, Wnsh ___ Pend Oreille Mines A Do. Metals Co. 22 Ozark 23 Young Reynolds, Mo__ _____ Ozark Lead Co ........................ Lead ore. Jefferson, Tenn _____ American Smelting and Zinc ore. Refining Company. ' 24 Magmont Iron, Mo Cominco American Inc____ Lead ore. 25 Viburnum *29 ____ Washington, Mo______ St. Joe Minerals Corp__________ Do. ZINC Table 7.--Primary and redistilled secondary slab zinc (Short tons) Primary : From domestic ores From foreign ores Total ...................... Redistilled secondary __ Total (excludes zinc recovered by remelting) 468,7 681,8 _1,040.6 70,5 1,111,1 1 Excludes processed GSA stockpile zinc. Table 8.--Distilled and electrolytic zinc, pr produced in the United States, by met (Short tons) Method of reduction Electrolytic primary ______ Distilled ___________________ Redistilled secondary: At primary smelters __ At secondary smelters Total ________________ 1969 453,6 687,0 60.6 9,94 1,111,1 Table 9.--Distilled and electrolytic zinc, primary a the United States, by gra (Short tons) Grade 1969 1 Special high ...................... ........ ............................... High...................... ............ .......... ............................... Intermediate _____________ _ ............................... Brass special _ _______ . __ ............................... Prime western ____________ ............................... Total _________________ ............................. 468,792 136,416 67.180 89,306 369.466 1,111,160 40 10 6 7 32 65 Tabic 10.--Primary slab zinc produced in the United (Short tons) State 1969 1 Illinois _ _____________ ________ Montana _ ___________________ ........................... Oklahoma _______ ___________ ........................... Pennsylvania*_____ __ . Texas _____________________ _. Total . 174,034 143.675 9 11 14 12 22 17 87 1 Prior to 1972, included West Virginia. Tabic 11.--Primary slab zinc plants by group capacit Type of plant Pla Electrolytic plants : Amnx Zinc Co., Inc___________________________ American Smelting and Refining Company __ Bunker Hill Co Horizontal-retort plants: American Smelting and Refining Company __ Blackwell Zinc Co., American Metal Climax, Inr..1 _________________________________ National Zinc Co ____________________________ _ Vertical-retort plants: New Jersey Zinc Co St, Joe Minerals Corp_________ 1 Zinc operations ended November 1973. Sauget, Corpus C Kellogg, Amarillo, Blackwel Bartlesvi Palmerto Joscphtow 1332 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Table 12.--Secondary slab zinc plants, by group capacity in the United States in 1973 Company W. J. Bullock, Inc____ Gulf Reduction Co____ Hugo-Neu-Proler Co_ Pacific Smelting Co__ Prolerizeri-Shilm-Ncu Co Plant location Fairfield, Ala -______ _ Houston. Tex ________ Terminal Island, Calif Torrance, Calif ___... Jersey City, N.J ____ Slab zinc capacity (abort tons) 40,100 Table 13.--Stocks and consumption of new and old zinc scrap in the United States in 1973 (Short tons, gross weight) Class of consumer and type of scrap Stocks Jan. 1 1 Receipts ______Consumption New scrap Old scrap Total Stocks Dec. 31 Smelters and distillers: New clippings------ --------------Old zinc ______ ________ -- Engravers' plates _______ ____ Skimmings 8nd a9hes --------Sal skimmings Die-cast skimmings Galvanizers' dross __________ Diecastirigs Rod and die scrap Flue dust Chemical residues -_____ Total........................................... Chemical plant, foundries. and other manufacturers: New clippings -----------------------Old zinc Engravers' plates Skimmings and ashes ______ Sal skimmings _________ ____ Die-cast skimmings .................. Galvanizers' dross Diecastings _________________ Rod and die scrap _ Flue dust_______ ____________ Chemical residues____________ Total_______ ______ _________ All classes of consumers: New clippings_______....... Old zinc Engravers' plates Skimmings and ashes ______ Sal skimmings Die-cast skimmings ....__ __ Galvanizers' dross _____ DIecastings . Rod and die scrap__ Flue dust _______________ ____ Chemical residues__ _________ Total__________________ 63 474 248 7,482 70 2,125 16,620 2,128 107 1,430 30,747 696 6,688 1,755 63,180 261 7,243 59,809 40,088 1,935 4.033 15,320 200.008 708 __ _64,657 6,830 63,531 __ 4,705 15.320 156,751 . 5,659 1.853 .. __ 38,698 2,011 _ 48,221 708 5.669 1.853 64.657 6,830 63,631 38,698 2.011 4,705 15.320 203.972 61 503 160 6,006 331 2,638 12,898 3,618 31 768 .- 26,783 2 1 _ 4,670 6.942 _. ii? 4 230 496 12,382 65 476 248 12,162 7.012 2,126 16,620 2,165 111 1,660 496 43,129 21 12 -. 10.313 4,645 -.. 140 65 4.445 28,289 47,930 717 5,700 1,755 73,493 4,906 7.243 59.809 40,228 2,000 8,478 43,609 247,938 21 _. _ 12,397 6,256 _ 4.425 27,822 60,921 729 _ 77,054 6,266 6,830 63,531 _. 9,130 43,142 206,672 21 44 ... .. 12,397 6,266 156 66 __ 226 5,663 1,853 __ .. 38,854 2,077 _ 48,447 156 66 4.425 27,822 51,147 729 5,663 1,853 77,054 6,256 6,830 63,531 38.854 2,077 9,130 43.142 255,119 2 9 __ 2,686 6,331 ... 21 3 260 963 9,166 53 512 160 8,691 6,662 2.638 12,898 3,639 34 1,008 963 35,948 1 Figures partly revised. Table H.--Production of zinc products from zinc-base scrap in the United States (Short tons) Products 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 Redistilled slab zinc ___________ Zinc dust Remelt zinc Remelt die-cast slab Zinc-die diecasting alloys -------------------Galvanizing stocks Secondary zinc in chemical products .. 70,553 33,747 3,978 16,979 4,401 1,849 45,298 77.156 29.606 3,494 16.686 4,361 762 42,238 80,923 29,095 1,690 18.339 3,316 633 45.312 ' 73,718 40.569 5.850 13,555 3,927 872 50,047 87,466 36,531 1,096 12,596 4,786 670 56,591 Revised. ZINC Tabic 15.--Zinc recovered from scrap processed in th and form of recovery (Short tons) Kind of scrap 1972 F New scrap: Zinc-base ............................. Copper-base ....................... Aluminum-base________ Magnesium-base _______ _ Old scrap : Zinc-base ______ Copper-base ___ Aluminum-base . Magnesium-base Total ............... _ . _ . . 146.620 168.834 3,649 281 308,384 42.998 32,456 3,864 69 79,377 387,761 137,671 162,190 4,035 306 294,202 60,301 38,494 4,436 106 93,337 387.639 As me By By T In zinc In bras In alum In mag In che Zin Zin Zin Mis T G r Revised. ' Includes zinc content of redistilled slab made from reme Table 16.--Zinc dust produc United States Year 1969____ 1970 ____ 1971____ 1972 ____ 1973 ____ Quantity (short tons) 65,055 51.136 60,269 69.368 56,154 V Total (thou sands) $21,361 20,045 19,691 24.669 29,279 Table 17.--Consumption of zinc in (Short tons) Slab r.inc________ ________ Ores (recoverable zinc content) ' ___ Secondary (recoverable zinc content)- 1969 1,386,380 126,712 302,075 1,814,167 1070 1,186,95 124,78 269,86 1,571.69 ' Revised. 1 Includes ore used directly in galvanizing, 3 Excludes redistilled slab and remelt zinc. 1334 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Table 18.--Slab zinc consumption in the United States, by industry use (Short tons) Industry and product 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 Galvanizing : Sheet and strip ..... ...................... ............... Wire and wire rope __.......... Tubes and pipe __ Fittings (for tube and pipe) ................... Tanks and containers ....... ............ . ____ Structural shapes_______ ____________ Fasteners ...................... ................................... .. Pole-Jine hardware Fencing, wire, cloth, and netting ........ Other and unspecified uses............... .......... Total ............................................. ................ .. Brass products: Sheet, strip, and plate ____________ ____ Rod and wire _____________ ______________ Castings and billets ------------------ -----------Copper-base ingots ____________..._____ . Other copper-base products _____ ________ Total .............................. -- ......................... Zinc-base alloy: Diecasting alloys Dies and rod alloy..... ............ .. .- ---------Slush and sand-casting alloy ...................... Zinc oxide _______- -- - 268,682 32,348 65,898 11.418 5,561 19,454 5,536 9,409 17,984 !>7,0[ 493,381 90.777 56,989 10,928 5,958 13,642 1.175 179,469 565,839 504 10,048 576.391 48,650 41.447 253,J 55 30.867 64,479 9,498 3,924 18,761 5,318 9.938 18,114 60,205 474,249 61,672 41,459 9,086 4,606 9,946 978 127,747 453,490 87 10,059 463,636 41.065 43,829 255,336 29,895 65,122 10,240 2.759 18,689 5,159 8,358 20.232 59,063 474,762 78.929 46,514 9,399 4.479 10,440 725 150,486 504,823 270 11.018 516,111 38.852 40,043 294,205 30,769 64,549 1J.106 3,645 20,302 4,310 8.437 21.996 68,886 618,204 106,406 63.143 8.886 6.840 7.137 736 192.147 666,932 56 12.773 679,761 45,216 61,992 321,927 34,316 68,048 11.969 2,941 2L.714 4,782 8,193 25,418 64,530 663,837 109,682 63.164 10,868 6,000 6,896 1,16! 197.660 598.725 111 11,770 610,606 40,763 61.734 Other 1 .................................................... .. ... Total ---- ------------------------------------------- ----- Grand total -------------------------------- ---------- 7.562 38.480 46,042 1.385,380 3,986 32.440 36.425 1.186.951 4,575 29,240 33,815 1,254,059 6.300 24.729 31.029 1,418,349 7,466 21,882 29,348 1.503,938 * Includes zinc used in making zinc dust, wet batteries, desilverizing lead, bronze powder, alloys, chemicals, castings, and miscellaneous uses not elsewhere mentioned. Table 19.--Slab zinc consumption in the United States in 1973, by grade and industry use (Short tons) Industry Special high grade Galvanizing ________ . Brass and bronze . .. _ .. Other .. Total .............. 40,242 43,745 696.867 16,553 25,930 17, no 730,447 1 Includes select grade. High grade Inter mediate 31,745 113,421 13,739 479 2,876 6.206 167.466 16,235 86 14 20,462 195 392 37,384 Brass special 125,083 6.795 269 __ __ 1 132,148 Prime 1 western 350.054 33,668 388 3,269 32,733 6,547 426,659 Remelt 478 35 329 ____ 92 934 Total 563.837 i y /,6ku (j J U.bUlj 40,763 61.734 29,348 1.503,938 ZINC Table 20.--Rolled zinc produced and quantity av the United States Production : 1 Photoengraving plate ___ Sheet zinc less than 0.376 Inch thick ______________ Strip and foil ____________ Total rolled zinc 2 _____ Exports ________________________ Imports ________________________ Available for consumption ... Short tons 13,418 28,189 r 43.473 2,419 486 41,314 Value Total (thou sands) Av po 17,100 28,820 2,138 310 r Revised. 1 Figures represent net production. In addition, 41,764 tons i reroUed from scrap originating In fabricating plants operating Includes other plate over 0.376 inch thick, and rod and w to publish these data separately. Table 21.--Slab zi.nc consumpti.on in the United States (Short tons) Alabama ______ Arizona ______ Arkansas _____ California _____ Colorado ______ Connecticut ___ Delaware _____ Florida _______ Georgia _______ Hawnii _______ Idnho __________ Illinois ________ Indiana _______ Iowa __________ Kansas________ Kentucky _____ Louisiana _____ Maine' _________ Maryland _____ Massachusetts _ Michigan _____ Minnesota_____ Mississippi ____ Missouri ______ Nebraska______ New Jersey __ New York ____ North Carolina Ohio ___________ Oklahoma ____ Oregon________ Pennsylvania __ Rhode Island __ South Carolina Tennessee _____ Texas ________ Utah ................. Virginia ______ Washington ___ West Virginia _ Wisconsin ____ Undistributed _ Total ' _. Galvanlzers 61,320 W_ 38,269 W 3,647 W W W W __ 54,763 62,296 W __ W 1,758 W 27.389 2.630 6,681 2,841 W 8,018 W 2,026 14,366 108,241 8,013 1,060 83,334 W W W 13,721 W W 919 W 1,275 71,913 663.369 Brass mills W __. _ 3.032 W 42,172 W __ __ __ 27,431 W __ w W __ __ w w __ __ w w 6,672 W W . w w _ __ \v w w _ w w 118,308 197,615 W Withheld to avoid disclosing individual company confide tribuled." `Includes brass mills, brass ingot makers, and brass foundrie 2 Includes producers of zinc-base alloy for diecastings, stampi 3 Includes slab zinc used in rolled zinc producLs and in zinc * Excludes remelt zinc. 1336 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Tabic 22.--Production and shipments of zinc pigments and compounds1 in the United States Pigment or compound Produc* tion (short tons) 1972 ---------------- Shipment, -------- . Produc. Quantity ------------ T"T----------- (short Total Average tons) (thou- per sands) ton /[fn, (short tons) 1973 Shipments Quantity (short tons) Value 2______ Total (thousands) Average per ton Zinc oxides _ Zinc sulfate . 237,01 T> 246,807 38,897 39,696 584.244 5343 0,220 132 202,470 43,866 202,833 40.197 588.378 0,010 5360 122 Excludes leaded zinc oxide, iithopone, and zinc chloride; figures withheld to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data. * Value at plant, exclusive of container. 3 Zinc oxide containing fi% or more lead is classed as leaded zinc oxide. Table 23.--Zinc content of zinc pigments1 and compounds produced by domestic manufacturers, by source . (Short tons) Pigment or compound 1972 Zinc in pigments and com pounds produced from-- Sec~ Slab ondary u zinc mate rial Total zinc in pig ments and com pounds 1973 Zinc in pigments and com pounds produced from-- Slab zinc Secondary mate rial Total zinc in pig ments and com pounds Zinc oxide......... Zinc sulfate -- 109.133 6,113 62,117 __ 31.106 8,280 192,366 13,393 112.638 67,457 6,339 .. 31,821 8,226 211,916 14,666 'Excludes leaded zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, and Iithopone; figures withheld to avoid disclosing In dividual company confidential data. Table 24.--Distribution of zinc oxide shipments, by industry1 iShort tons) Industry I960 1970 1971 1972 1973 Rubber .................. ................ 1 16,988 11 1.421 124.472 129,170 129,462 Paints ..................................... 25,170 21,894 24,990 27,244 26,116 Ceramics ................................................ 9,469 9,011 8,125 10.702 11,678 Chemicals ................................................ 22,775 19,435 18,901 22.781 26,187 Agriculture ........................................... 4,007 2,246 1,615 1.101 2,044 Photocopying _____ 27,666 31,850 34,504 36,190 38,724 Other ........................................................ ............... 14,74817,42614,89618,67918,623 Total ........................................... 219.723 213,283 227,503 245,867 252,833 'For information on leaded zinc oxide shipments prior to 1971, refer to the 1970 Minerals Yearbook. Table 25.--Distribution of zinc sulfate shipments, by industry (Short tons) Year Agriculture Gross weight Dry basis Other i Gross weight Dry basis Total Gross weight Dry basis 1969 1970 1971 1973 ................................... -- ................................. ................................... -- ................................... 19.029 17.213 16,268 10.496 13,909 16.424 14,803 13.812 8,602 8,353 46,663 36,866 33.035 29,099 31,288 33,861 26,572 28,690 25,936 24,902 64.692 64,069 49.303 39.595 45,197 50,286 41,376 42.502 34,537 33,256 Includes rayon; Bureau of Mines not at liberty to publish these data separately. ZINC Tabic 2G.--Stocks of slab tine at zinc-reduction plants (Short tons) Stocks At primary reduction plants ___________ At secondary distilling plants __________ Total ............................................................. 64,903 886 66,788 97,6 98.3 Tabic 27.--Consumers stocks of slab zinc at pla (Short tons) Special high grade High grade Inter mediate Bras spec Dec. 31, 1972 ' Dec. 31. 1973 46,696 47,776 9,562 9,703 570 2,296 17,2 14,3 r Revised Tabic 28.--Average monthly U.S., LME, and Eur Prime Western Zinc and eq (Metallic zinc, cents per po Month January ____________________ February ______ __ _ _ March ______________ _ _ ,, Anri) ____________________ __ May ______ _____ _ June ____________ July ....... .......... .... August ______ _______ _ ,, September _ _ October _______ ____ _ November __________ _ December __ _____________ . Average for year___ United States 17.00 17,00 17.30 17.74 17.88 18.00 18,00 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.11 17.76 1972 LME ' cash 17.21 17.66 17.99 17.90 17.61 16.77 16.49 16 48 16.69 16.48 17.16 17.00 17.13 Europea produce 17.49 17.71 17.81 17.7G 17.78 17.48 17.76 17.78 17.72 17.38 17.31 18.40 17.73 1 London Metal Exchange. Source*. Metals Week. 1338 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1973 Table 29.--U.S. exports of slab and sheet zinc, by country Destination 1971 Quantity (short tons) Value (thousands) Slabs, pigs, blocks: Belgium-Luxembourg Brazil __________________ Canada _______ Chile ................................... Colombia Costa Rica _______ ____ El Salvador Guatemala Italy ----------------------------Japan .. Laos __________________ Malaysia __________ ___ Netherlands .................... Panama ___________ _ .. Philippines ______ _____ Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom______ Venezuela ..... .............. .. Other ---- ---------------------- Total Sheets, plates, strips, or other forms, n.e.c.: Algeria Argentina Australia _____,, Canada___. Chile ................................... Colombia ______________ Costa Rica _ Dominican Republic___ Ecuador Egypt ................................. El Salvador Hong Kong ------------------ Jamaica _______________ Japan ....... .................. ...... Lebanon _ _______ ______ New Zealand -- . . .. . Peril ------ - -------------... Philippines ....... .............. Republic of ............... Spain _________________ __ 1 233 8 _. _ __ __ _. _. 3,024 10,005 75 13.346 __ 01 86 1,065 2 4 14 51 8 __ 14 (') 1 16 28 13 1 43 2 4 1 101 .. _ $1 63 3 _ _. .. __ __ _ 738 1,501 __ 31 2.337 __ 34 76 946 2 4 13 20 8 _ 13 f) 4 17 19 10 1 . 36 l 1 90 -- United Kingdom .. ... Total ............................ * Less than J/> unit. 119 34 29 1.686 124 32 31 1,486 1972 Quantity (short tons) Value (thousands) __ 1 349 10 __ _ __ _. _ 3 __ __ 3.786 110 65 4,324 _ $1 70 5 _ _ __ __ __ __ __ 2 __ ._ 668 42 26 714 __ 32 51 1,329 23 7 12 15 8 10 33 6 20 84 26 20 41 81 14 :: 166 ... 4 22 156 120 139 2.419 __ 23 42 1,194 16 5 11 12 8 __ 10 3r9} 23 60 23 18 31 65 9 :: 140 3 13 169 106 108 2,138 1973 Quantity (short tons) Value (thousands) 221 2,123 509 459 1,651 607 528 220 110 2,151 110 108 1,488 209 759 964 __ no 1.817 412 14,566 $89 1,492 101 608 891 188 277 87 44 1,325 95 75 610 85 458 328 __ 109 1,138 259 8,259 22 28 24 1,201 26 24 n 21 27 36 15 49 49 __ 82 9 38 34 17 62 20 62 132 70 66 2 2,480 23 21 23 986 21 26 11 17 29 25 14 61 38 _64 13 30 50 131 59 38 7 2,100 Tabic 30.--U.S. exports of zinc, by class Year Slabs, pigs, or blocks Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) 1971 ........... , . 1973 ............ 13.346 4.324 14,566 $2,337 714 8.259 Sheets, plates, strips, or other forms, n.e.c. Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) 1.686 2,419 2.480 $1,486 2.138 2.100 Zinc scrap and dross (zinc content) Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) 2,000 1,446 7.032 $504 431 2,717 Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) 6,042 15.077 $2,709 3,076 10,565 ZINC Table 31.--U.S. exports of zinc Kind 1972 Quantity Value Quan (short (thou (sh tons) sands) ton Zinc oxide Lithopone __ Total . 6.172 1,395 7,567 $2,306 458 2,764 7.6 9 8,6 Table 32.--U.S. imports (or consumption o Country ORES 1 Australia ___________________ __ Bolivia _____ _______________ _. ... Brazil _ _____________ ______ ______ Canada ___________ __ _____ __ ... Germany. West_______ ____ __ _ ._ Guatemala . __ __ -- Honduras ____________________ ... Ireland ._____ ______ _____ __ . Mexico ______ __ _____ ____ ___ ... Morocco _ _______ __ __ ____ ... Nicaragua _____________________ Peru _____ ._____ ______ __ South' Africa, Republic of ... Other ______________ ____ _______ ... Total _______ ___________ ... BLOCKS, PIGS, OR SLABS Australia ______________________ ... Belgium-Luxembou rg ________ ... Bulgaria_______ ________ __ _ _ . . Canada ___________ _ _ __ ... Ecuador _____ __________________ Finland ________ _. ........... .... ... France _______ _________________ ... Germany, West ______ __ . ... Japan ______ ______ _________ __ . . Mexico ._____ ______ ____ _____ ... Netherlands _____ ______ . Norway ........................ ........ ........ ... Peru __________ ________ _______ ... Poland _. __ __ .. ______ ___ .. South Africa, Republic of____ ... Spain .. _____________________ .. Taiwan ._________ __________ U.S.S.R _____..................... ............ United Kingdom ______________ . . Yugoslavia ______ ____________ ... Zaire - ____________ ______ ____ ... Zambia ______ ______________ ... Other ________ _____ ___________... Total ___________________ ... 1971 Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) Qu (s to 4,738 _ 267,666 3,617 22,486 1.965 121,016 8,631 100 16 467,368 37,096 9.365 . 149,700 32,417 2.211 6.138 8,705 10.130 18.745 2,206 24,412 2,608 4,740 6.071 745 138 8,898 316 716 324.256 $720 696 38,688 628 __ 2,934 310 14,925 868 3,088 19 2 62,678 11,634 2,701 42,698 __ 9,270 752 1.772 2.308 2.442 5,849 329 7,283 729 1.422 1,476 _. 196 39 2,444 91 194 93.628 109 1 3 2 39 8 9 174 41 39 272 6 11 31 30 8 14 30 4 1 1 1 22 616 1 Does not include zinc ores and concentrates for refining an 11,791 short tons (SI.816,250) ; Mexico 14 short tons ($2,723) Ireland 10 short tons ($981) ; Republic of South Africa 82 sho short tons ($735,226) ; Mexico 171 short tons ($27,437) ; Ireland lands 98 short tons ($17,596) : Belgium-Luxembourg 16 short short tons ($790,626) ; Mexico 11,816 short tons ($1,832,676) ; H Nicaragua 6,431 short tons ($363,030); Peru 1.287 short tons ($15,467). Less than Vj unit. 1340 MINERALS YEARBOOK: 1973 Table 33.--U.S. general imports of zinc, by country Country ORES Germany, West ______________ South Africa, Republic of .. Other _________________________ Total ___________________ BLOCKS, nos, OR SLABS Australia _____________________ Belgium-Luxembourg _______ Bulgaria______________________ Canada _____________ _________ Ecuador ______ _______________ Finland ______________________ France ______________ ________ Germany, West _______ _____ Japan _________________ ....___ Mexico _______________________ Netherlands _________________ Norway ______________________ Peru ........................ -................... Poland _________________ _____ Romania___________ ____ _____ South Africa, Republic of ... Spain _____________ ______ ____ U.S.S.R. ............................ ............ United Kingdom ------------------Yugoslavia ______ _____ ______ Zaire .................................. ............ Zambia ____________________ Other ............... -............ ............ Total -------------------------- 1 Less than V unit. , .. __ .. .. .. . _ . . __ .. 1971 Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) Quantity (short tons) 2.857 209.084 ._ 138 21,512 3,975 89,845 16,026 61 24 342,521 38,552 9,365 150,868 31.702 2.211 3.661 8.705 10,130 13.283 2,205 23,873 2,618 1,221 4.740 6.071 800 138 8.898 31 r, 1.212 319,568 $201 30,027 __ 13 3,230 657 __ 11,099 __ 2.375 11 3 47,616 6.R71 136.634 1,162 . 723 17,370 5,978 __ 67,315 10,960 16,256 4,690 9 254,868 12.056 2.701 43,050 9,348 752 1,085 2.308 2,442 4.220 329 7,132 764 354 1,422 1,475 210 39 2,444 91 332 92,554 39,623 39,616 271,130 909 8,583 11,825 31,358 30,072 8,394 14,001 30,625 4.199 5,526 __ 1.102 1,563 1.543 22,493 60 522,612 Value (thou sands) Quantity (short tons) $239 19,483 260 130 2,415 885 __ 7,106 1,163 2.007 779 (l> 34.467 14.441 13,998 91,826 301 2.572 4.225 11,551 10,968 2,276 5,096 9,760 1,514 1,603 __ 381 563 589 6,860 _ 21 178,545 7,282 124.261 848 __ 6,029 2,001 619 33.878 11,244 12.981 -- 10 199.053 42.076 39,908 221 344,697 121 14,183 10,727 8,203 42,668 1.913 3.229 220 19,343 13,168 __ 329 11 .3,599 8,474 6.792 28.440 273 13Q 588,725 Value (thou sands) $286 22,067 147 __ 539 401 93 6.057 1,324 -- H 31,718 19.256 21,186 199 148,236 46 6,581 5,705 4,562 19,039 732 2,095 300 7,171 8.873 __ 264 10 2,777 5,365 6,984 12,488 140 47 271,065 Tabic 34.--U.S. imports for consumption of zinc, by class ^ear 1971 . .................. 1972 . .................. 1973 . .............. Quantity (short tons) 467,368 174,063 153,898 Value (thousands) Blocks, pigs, slabs Quantity Value (short tons) (thousands) $62,678 24,275 24,667 .324,255 516.643 587.429 $93,628 176,707 270,213 Sheets, plates, strips, other forms Quantity Value (short tons) (thousands) 509 $2-37 485 310 236 159 Old and worn out Quantity Value (short (thou- tons) sands) 1971 . ... - . 1,114 $147 1972 - . 814 235 1973 - ............................. 1,537 583 Dross and skimmings Quantity Value (short (thou- tons) sands) 853 2,068 2,515 $140 r 357 491 Zinc dust Quantity (short tons) Value (thou- sands) 8,184 9,197 4,671 $2,949 3.822 2,298 Total value (thousands) $159,779 r 205,706 298,411 l in addition, manufactures of sine were imported as follows: 1971 $1,346,752; 1972 --$2,040,029 ; 3 973--$3,406,781. ZINC Tabic 35.--U.S. imports for consumption o Kind Zinc arsenate .............. Zinc oxide .............................. Zinc sulfide................-..................................................... Ltthopone ________________________________________ Zinc chloride ____________________________________ Zinc sulfate _____________________________________ Zinc cyanide _____________________________________ Zinc hydrosulfite ____________ Zinc compounds, n.a.p.f ________________________ Total ............................................ Qu (sho 19 1 3 26 1342 MINERALS YEARBOOK. 1973 Tabic 36."Zinc: World mine production (content of ore), by country (Short tons) Country 1 North America: Canada3 __________________________ Guatemala (exports) _____________ Honduras __________________________ Mexico ____________________________ Nicaragua _________________________ United States _______________ _____ South America: Argentina ______ -_________________ Bolivia3 ____________ ______________ Brazil --------------------------------------------- Chile ........................................................ Colombia ____________...v_____ Ecuador ______ ____________________ Peru ------------- -------- -----------------------Europe: Austria ........... ............ -............-- Bulgaria ------------- -------------------------Czechoslovakia ____________________ Finland ___________________________ France ---- --------- ---------------------------Germany, East " ................................ Germany, West __________________ Greece ------------------------------------------- Greenland _________________________ Hungary * ----------- ------------------------Ireland ____________________________ Italy ______________________________ Norway ________________ -.............. Poland ____________________________ Portugal __________________________ Romania (recoverable) * ............... Spain ______________________ ______ Sweden ___________________________ U.S.S.R.* ............................................... Yugoslavia ....... ................................. . Africa: Algeria ----------------------------------------Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville) Morocco ----------- ----------------------------South Africa. Republic of _______ South-West Africa, Territory of * Tunisia __________________________ Zaire ------------- ------------------------------- Zambia (smelter) ______________ Asia: Burma ---------------------------------- ------ China, People's Republic of * -- India ......... ................ ........ ................ - Iran * 5 ......... -..........--------- ---------- Japan _____________________-- Korea, North _________________ Korea, Republic of ------------------- Philippines ------------- -------------------- Thailand * ........................................... Turkey ..................-............................. Oceania : Australia ________________________ New Zealand _______ ______ _____ Total..... .....................-.......... .......... 1,397,246 ` 668 25,236 292,081 4,471 602,643 r 48.361 49.689 r 18,651 ' 2,186 12 :i 139 r 350,615 23.229 r 88,000 9,440 56.093 16.689 11,000 146.487 15,664 6,300 96,500 116,700 11,813 213.400 2,265 43,900 96,496 109.176 717,000 108.791 17,413 r 698 13,600 174 ' 48.167 13.000 r 120.400 62,904 r 4.413 ! 10,000 9.089 64.000 324.541 149.000 31,042 4.271 (7) 26.706 * 498,957 r 2,170 ' 6,079.365 1,409,388 340 25.678 299,656 19,285 478,318 49,318 46,372 19.600 1,281 ' * 95 64 416,020 22,576 * " 88.000 10.210 54,998 14.650 f 8,800 134,188 18,739 5,300 104.500 113,075 17,562 215.000 1,971 44.000 98,612 125,364 717.000 106,628 16,400 2,373 21,500 2,215 38,296 11,200 110.500 66,711 4,428 110.000 9,776 66,000 309.911 154.000 39.600 6.074 (7) 27,155 558,155 1,821 6,220.692 1,489,331 309 21,681 299,137 12,228 478,860 44,864 66,206 * 32,000 1,766 NA 60 466,062 24,417 88,000 ' 11,000 64,687 14,700 6,600 135,368 23,038 50,800 6,300 75,830 85,976 21,323 230,000 769 46,000 104,069 126,400 740.000 110.000 15,900 * 2.400 20,171 18,756 41,798 8.800 97,600 58,814 4,402 110,000 13,682 66,000 290,964 160,000 63,077 5,921 132 24,486 626,396 1.423 6,377,392 Estimate. 9 Preliminary. r Revised. NA Not available. 1 Tn addition to the countries listed. North Vietnam also produces zinc., but available information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels. 3 Zinc content of concentrates. . 3 Sum of production by COMIBOL and exports by medium and small mines. * All data for 1971 are for fiscal year ending June 30. 1971: data for 1972 and 1973 are a sum mation of company figures for calendar year 1972 and 1973 for Tsumeb Corp. Ltd. and for fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, and June 30. 1973. for Rosh Pinah mine and Berg Aukas mine. Output of Tsumeb Corp. Ltd. for period July 1. 1971, through December 31, 1971 (which is not otherwise covered in this tAble), was 3.161 short tons. 8 Year beginning March 21 of year stated. ... . .. , , ., Contained in zinc concentrates. Additional quantities of zinc may be contained as o byproduct in lea'd concentrates produced, but information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of such production, if any. 7 Revised to zero. ZINC Table 37.--Zinc: World smelter prod (Short tons) Country 1 North America: Canncla ________________________________________ Mexico -------------- United States ______________________________________________ South America : Argentina ______________________ _________ __________ Brazil ____________________________________ _________ Peru .............. Europe: Austria 2 ......................... Belgium 3 __________ ___________________________________ Bulgaria 2 ___________ Finland ............. France Germany, East 0 2______________ Germany, West ____________________ _________________ Italy ________ _____ ____________________________________ Netherlands ___________________________________________ Norway ______________________________ Poland2 _______________________________________ Romania ____________________ Spain ---------------------------------------------------------------------------U.S.S.R.o .......................................................... United Kingdom __________________________________________ Yugoslavia2 ______________ Africa : South Africa, Republic of ___________________________ Zaire ................................... ...................................... ................... Zambia _______________________________________________ Asia : China, People's Republic of ___________________________ India ______ ____________________________________________ Japan _________________________________________________ Korea, North c ............................................................. Korea, Republic of ___________________________________ Oceania: Australia Total _______________________ ______________________~6,228^9 * Estimate. n Preliminary. r Revised. 1 In addition to the countries listed. North Vietnam also p is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels. 3 Includes production from reclaimed scrap.