Unless otherwise noted, data presented for each country represent the non-duplicative sum of production of primary blister copper, primary refined copper of nonblister origin, and any primary refined copper derived from unreported quantities of domestically smelted blister copper. Copper content of impure bars and electrolytic copper. Smelter output from domestic and foreign ores, exclusive of that produced from scrap. Production from domestic ores only was as follows: 1969-1,547,496; 1970-1,605,265; and 1971-1,470,815. Includes secondary copper (production from scrap). Partly estimated, partly calculated on the basis of data furnished by CEBRACO. Data are the nonduplicative sum of: (1) the copper content of blister copper production for sale as such; (2) the copper content of blister copper produced for refining in Chile at the Ventanas refinery; and (3) the copper content of fire refined and electrolytic copper (including copper obtained by electrowinning) excluding electrolytic output of the Ventanas refinery. Refined. 7 Belgium reports a large output of refined copper, but this is produced largely from imported blister; estimate of domestic smelter production is based chiefly on reported imports of ores and concentrates. *Series revised; data presented are output of primary smelter. Data presented in previous editions of this chapter represented output of refined metal including secondary (production from scrap). Reported Norwegian copper output is derived in part from copper-nickel matte imported from Canada, and reported Canadian smelter production may also include this material. Norwegian smelter output from domestic ores was as follows (approximately) in tons: 1969- 6,000; 1970-6,300; 1971-6,500. Series revised to exclude secondary copper; data presented in previous editions of this chapter included secondary refined copper. Year ending September 30 of that stated. 12 Year ending June 30 of that stated. Series revised; data presented are output of blister copper (including a relatively small quantity of secondary blister, derived from scrap). Data presented in previous editions of this chapter represented output of refined copper, including a substantial quantity produced from scrap as well as quantities produced from imported blister copper. Refined including secondary. Diatomite By Benjamin Petkof1 Domestic diatomite production declined 10 percent in quantity, but increased 5 percent in value from the previous year. The United States retained its position as a major world producer. Exports of diatomite to nations throughout the world declined almost 8 percent. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Domestic production declined in all of the Western producing States except Nevada, where a slight increase was noted. California remained the largest producing State, followed by Nevada, Washington, Arizona, and Oregon. Eight companies, with a total of 10 operations, mined and prepared diatomite for various end uses during the year. This was a decline of one producing company from the number reported in 1970. The bulk of the diatomite produced during the year was supplied by the following companies: JohnsManville Products Corp., with facilities near Lompoc, Calif.; GREFCO, Inc., with opera tions in Esmeralda County, Nev., and Santa Barbara County, Calif.; Eagle-Picher, Inc., with operations in Pershing and Storey Counties, Nev.; and Kenite Corp., Division of Whitco Chemical Corp., with operations in Grant County, Wash. No plans were announced by any diatomite producer to increase production capacity. Interest continued during the year in the underwater diatomite deposits of Lake Umbagog in New Hampshire. Hearings were held on the State level to determine whether authorization to exploit the deposit would have adverse effects on the lake ecology. Table 1.-Diatomite sold or used by producers in the United States Almost all major end uses registered significant declines in consumption. However, the percentage of total consumption for various end uses changed only slightly from that of 1970. Filtration continued to be the major end use and required almost threefifths of the total material sold or used by Table 2.-Domestic consumption of diatomite, by principal use, in percent of total consumption producers in 1971. The remainder was used for industrial fillers, insulation, lightweight aggregates, pozzolans, soil conditioners, and other miscellaneous uses. 1 Physical scientist, Division of Nonmetallic Minerals. W Withheld to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data, included with "Miscellaneous." PRICES The weighted average value per ton of diatomite for all end uses in 1971, increased 18 percent from that of 1970 and also increased significantly over the comparable value for 1969. Almost all end uses registered significant increases in value per ton: filtration, 18 percent; abrasives, 17 percent; fillers, 24 percent; lightweight aggregates, 2 percent; and miscellaneous uses, 13 percent. Material required for insulation declined 5 percent in value per ton. The increase in price per ton of material for most end uses may indicate World diatomite production in 1971 de- clined almost 70,000 tons from that of 1970. Table 5.-Diatomite: World production, by countries-Continued In addition to the countries listed, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Hungary, Japan, Romania, and Yugoslavia produce diatomite, but available information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels. : Revised to zero. Output was terminated during 1969; export shipments during 1970 were from accumulated stocks. TECHNOLOGY Properly prepared diatomite has been incorporated into the formulation for polyethylene as an antiblocking agent. When polyethylene is extruded or blown in an envelope or sleeve, the polyethylene and the sleeve surfaces are smooth, and therefore, as they come together, they block or stick together. The addition of the diatomite into the polyethylene film serves to inhibit the blocking effect, but preserves the properties of the polyethylene film.2 Experiments using narrow pass-band, thermal infrared imagery in the 3 to 4and 4.5 to 5.5-micron range have indicated that diatomite and other minerals have significant thermal characteristics that can be recognized from properly instrumented aircraft by selecting the correct band.3 Patents issued during the year in both the United States and Canada indicate interest in the development of techniques to remove clay and other contaminants from impure or low-grade diatomites.4 A method was described for removing manganese from well water. The manganese in the water was oxidized by adding potassium permanganate. Diatomite and soda ash were added to the water, and the oxidized manganese was precipitated from solution and removed by diatomite vacuum filters.6 2 Kadey, F. L., Jr. Diatomite. Min. Eng., v. 24, No. 1, January 1972, pp. 38-39. 3 Carter, William D. ERTS-A-A, New Apogee for Mineral Finding. Min. Eng., v. 23, No. 5, May 1971, pp. 51-53. 4 Kouloheris, A. P., (assigned to Cities Service Co.). Beneficiation of Diatomacious Earth. U.S. Pat. 3,572,500, Mar. 30, 1971. Visman, J., and J. L. Picard (assigned to Canadian Department of Energy, Mines, and Resources). Canadian Pat. 89,249, Jan. 11, 1972. 6 Castabile, J., and H. Preston. Diatomite Filter Ends Manganese Problem. J. Am. Water Works Assoc., v. 63, No. 4, April 1971, pp. 230-232. |