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10. One category of MDC minerals includes the non-ferrous ores (tin, lead, zinc, tungsten) and some of the non-metalliferous minerals such as fluorspar (essential for Steel-making), barytes and witherited Proven and probable reserves* of minerals in this category are not likely to last beyond about twenty years at the present rate of extraction, and in some cases very much less. These minerals are often referred to as lode" minerals (para. 38). Mining industries based on domestic supplies of these minerals may soon cease unless new discoveries continue to be made or development results at existing mines continue to be satisfactory. Geological and mining informa- tion shows that prospects are favourable in some instances, but there is no certainty beyond a few years ahead.
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11. For reasons which we set out in more detail later in the Report, the amount of money spent in this country on searching for new deposits of minerals in this category (with some exceptions) has been steadily decreas- ing for many years, and mines have been closing more rapidly than new ones have been opened. Some efforts to revive production were made during the War but there was little chance of success when the work had necessarily to be planned on a short-term basis and in most cases had to be started from the beginning by trying to make new discoveries. A rela- tively high contribution to the national economy could be made by indus- tries mining the non-ferrous ores and minerals such as fluorspar and barytes if substantial new deposits could be found, as these minerals are the“ import savers and world supplies are being increasingly drawn upon. It would seem only prudent to take all reasonable steps to search for and develop new sources of supply at home.
400 05
**
•
CANDAI
12. Another category of MDC minerals, all of great importance at present, are the non-metallic minerals, salt, gypsum and anhydrite, china clay, ball clays, and fullers' earth. These minerals occur usually as regular bedded deposits beneath the surface, but frequently of considerable lateral extent and thickness (para. 40). China clay is an exception, the mode of occurrence being peculiar to that mineral. In all cases, however, reserves for many years ahead are probable or at least can be proved relatively cheaply. While a good deal more information is needed to confirm existing resources,
there is no immediate prospect of shortage of reserves, perhaps for as far as fifty or even one hundred years ahead. As a direct consequence, we find that large and flourishing undertakings have been built up on mineral occur- rences of this kind. It has been possible for the industries to plan ahead, and to provide the necessary capital to build and equip relatively large and expensive plants and installations knowing that operations can be foreseen over a long period.
13. Nevertheless we have concluded that it is unwise, even in the case of these non-metallic mineral industries, to assume that future operations can proceed safely, particularly on an expanding scale, without some attempt being made now to assess the implications of the drain on reserves,
" in
* Throughout this Report we use the terms “proved"," probable" and "possible relation to underground mineral reserves in a strictly technical sense defined as follows:-
97 Proved -A mineral deposit which has been exposed on three sides, i.e., is blocked
out and ready for extraction.
66
"Probable":-A mineral deposit which has been exposed on two sides or sometimes
one side only.
"Possible
mineral deposit, the existence of which is inferred from geological
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whether ip beerelated 6 diminishing resources or Pta gother considerations such as claims of other land uses or inefficient working. Moreover, although there is no urgent necessity, as in the case of non-ferrous ores, for the discovery of new deposits of these bedded minerals, that possibility must not be overlooked. One important new mineral discovery in this group has occurred during the course of our enquiry. This is the confirmation of the existence in N.E. Yorkshire, at a depth of over 3,500 feet, of beds of potash salts recorded for the first time in this country a few years ago. Further details about the occurrence and its potentialities are given în Chapter III. The economie significance of this discovery has yet to be determined, but its potential future importance cannot be overestimated as all our domestic requirements of potash salts are at present imported, chiefly from the Russian Zone of Germany, France, and Palestine,
"
"
*£14. Previous official enquiries into the mineral industries (see Chapter VI) have anticipated some of our conclusions, a confirmation that certain of the industry's difficulties and deficiencies are of a long-standing nature. In one respect only, over a long period of years, has action been taken by the Government which in principle was designed to be of direct benefit and encouragement to the industry and that relates to Income Tax. The Income Tax Act, 1945, removed an anomaly in the incidence of taxation whereby mining companies could not claim allowances on expenditure on assets of a wasting nature, e.g. shafts and crosscuts. This had long been claimed as unfair tax discrimination against mining and a deterrent to exploration and enterprise.
The C
alteration must be regarded as an important and positive enactment for the encouragement of mineral development. **
un raigs ferenim do mohcailspolien en bribiege moiabaommpo. 15. The additional incentive to mining companies to undertake mineral exploration which may have resulted from the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1945, has been offset by the application of the Town and Country Planning Acts, 1947, to mineral workings. The complications introduced into the mining industry by the incidental consequences of these Acts are referred to in Chapter VIII; in our opinion some further reforms are neces- sary if the mineral industry is to make real progress, otherwise there is a danger that the extinction of parts of it may be brought nearer. od) to joggen 243 m noWLOG HEND ONT TO ST539 3996. A vez o 25 16.A large part of our Report (Chapters II-V) is devoted to a summary of information we have been able to obtain about the mineral resources of the country. It was felt desirable to carry this part of our investiga tion as far as practicable as it is the first official enquiry made into this particular aspect of the mineral industry, and it provides a constructive approach towards a permanent mineral development policy. Unfortunately, as we have already indicated, the lack of specific information about reserves and related questions is greatest in the case of those minerals where an incur
to increase in output is most desirable so much so that it is quite
quite impossible in our view, as things stand at present, to attempt estimates as to what might or might not be achieved. All we can do is to recommend ways in which some at least of the present uncertainty about future production of these minerals can be removedni The merits of claims which are con- tinually being made about potentialities of some of the districts where these minerals occur should be properly and scientifically examined while a nucleus of the industry still exists on which any expansion could be based, and while local knowledge and experience are still available
3,.
17. For a similar reason we have not examined the problem of recruit- ment of pining labour which would have to be satisfactorily resolved if
30 662
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any large expansion of output was justified on technical grounds. In our view this angther Inaftos cannot at present be again theif night perspec- tive and they should be left until the much more fundamental questions of the probable future value and likely extent of our mineral resources have been determined in greater detail.
18. We decided not to undertake an investigation into certain questions concerning, for instance, such matters as the control over production and marketing, and more especially selling prices. The structure of certain of the non-metalliferous mining industries, however, suggests that in matters of this kind the appropriate Minister, if he thinks fit, might ask the recently constituted Monopolies Commission to carry out an investigation.
19. At the Minister's request we have conducted three special enquiries since our appointment which necessitated more detail investigations than our terms of reference envisaged. In so far as the conclusions of these enquiries are relevant they are now embodied in this Report. a vill
:
33
20. We appreciate that for many reasons it will be difficult for our recommendations to be considered in relation only to the MDC minerals; one of these is the arbitrary nature of the line of demarcation between minerals we have considered and those outside our terms of reference. Although we have framed our recommendations solely with regard to MDC minerals we have no reason to suppose that, apart from some of our recommendations dealing directly with actual or possible shortage of resources, they would not in general apply equally to bedded ironstone, oil shale, and the mineral substances of widespread occurrence. This applies particularly to our recommendation regarding the nationalisation of mineral rights. It must be remembered, however, that on the whole we are dealing with smaller industries and a very much smaller land use problem because the mineral workings concerned are mainly underground and very restricted locally.
at baina: 19 21. Northern Ireland. We should like to take this opportunity of thanking the Government of Northern Ireland for their assistance and co-operation in providing information regarding the resources of minerals and the possibili- ties of new discoveries in Northern Ireland. This information has enabled us to give a complete picture of the present position in this respect of the United Kingdom as a whole. While we should at once make it clear that our recommendations are intended to apply only to Great Britain, we should like to make the comment that conclusions drawn from the study of the information available from Northern Ireland give further support on technical grounds to our recommendations on the official steps which should be taken in future to acquire further knowledge of our minerals and to promote development.
*
3
22. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER I-MINERAL PRODUCTION IN UNITED KINGDOM.
A
:
This summarizes the relative position of the MDC mineral industries in comparison with all the other mineral industries of the country, and includes a short historical note and some statistics.
CHAPTERS II-V—MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
These comprise a series of accounts of the more important mineral resourdes cand 1mifier industries likely to be of consequence in the future; for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
6
15
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CHAPTER VE ZNAHID POLICY: PAST AND PRESENT.32 of 662d ler and PoszukA short summary of the history of official administrative arrange- biments, responsibilities and enquiries, and of the administrative arrange- dments now in force. Enning day woollwer vaser vidrockst bonanoarh Potong 100 bnotza svi tu at noteborg LATE etabel quiaim or d
CHAPTER VII-MINING TAXATION.
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The claims of the mining industry in respect of Income Tax con- cessions are discussed, but it is concluded that, except in one relatively minor respect, action in other directions by the Government is now required, and that Income Tax concessions would not provide permanent or equitable solution.com wed me ben „coitutiva
TDA oft af er ton teavitusconst al
CHAPTER VIII-MINERAL RIGHTS AND PLANNING.
The implications of Town and Country Planning legislation are set out! in" relation to mineral rights and mineral development. It is recommended that the Town and Country Planning Acts, 1947, be amended to secure the unification of mineral rights and to leave the way open for a more positive mineral development policyanobr
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CHAPTER IX-PRINCIPLES OF FUTURE POLICY.
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The main conclusion of this chapter is that the Government should assume a new role, largely technical in character, in order to acquire information about mineral resources and to undertake exploration where necessary, if this cannot or should not be undertaken by private enterprise. The objects are to make new discoveries, to encourage exploration and development by the provision of information, and to du provide adequate technical knowledge to ensure that reserves are worked
efficiently.
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CHAPTER X THE NEED FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION.
This chapter sets out in more detail the arguments in support of a comprehensive survey of mineral resources of the country being undertaken as soon as possible, and the kind of work involved.
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THE CHAPTER XI-THE FUTURE ORGANISATION OF MINERAL DEVELOPMENT.
A new permanent organisation, to be known as the "Mineral Development Commission is proposed. It should be mainly technical in character and under the control of the Ministry of Fuel and Power. Mineral rights should be vested in it. Government responsibilities for mineral production, the functions of the Commission and suggestions as to its organisation and relationship to the Ministry of Fuel and Power are discussed.
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CHAPTER XII SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
23. Throughout our enquiry we have received the utmost co-operation on the part of all those mining companies, institutions and other bodies, and individuals, whom we have consulted. In no case have we been refused
the information, technical or otherwise, for which we have asked.
7
A
21
formal list of those who have given evidence and assistance is set out in Appendix Padhis cannot be complete, however, since duging the yourse of our visits to the various mineral areas of the country we have met and discussed informally many problems with persons of widely different interests in the mining industry and profession. To all we extend our grateful thanks.
MONITAMAT PHIUM-IV ASTUR
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24. Special mention should be made of the services rendered to us by the Director (as an Assessor) and many other Officers of the Geological Survey and Museum (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research). Much of the geological information about mineral resources has been provided for us by that Institution, and we have been fortunate in having the company of its representatives in our visits in the field.
CHIMPAAN Q7 200H JADMIN-1112 UTVEC 25. The services of other Government Departments have been at our disposal through Assessors whose help at different times and in many directions has been most valuable. The Departments are smoot so Ministry of Town and Country Planning adi gurude, of bebnoms Scottish Office.angoloval testin schizog tom s sot nego yew
Board of Trade.
Ministry of Supply*
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We have also gratefully to acknowledge assistance received from the Forestry Commission, the Board of Inland Revenue, the Central Land Board and Imperial Institute (Mineral Resources Department)$100 on
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nopstwin: to nonivong en ongelovab bra noiterolqxe b26. Our investigation in Scotland was undertaken by a especial Sub- Committee constituted as follows:-
100
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Mr. L. C. Hill (Chairman ; member of Mineral Development Committee). Professor G. Hibberd (Royal Technical College, Glasgow). TARO
nemerson fresh etom al tuo atos organo aid T Dr. M. Macgregor.
#sotope Jetsaim to wavuz gyianodonato e Mr. E. G. Willis, M.P. (member of Mineral Development Committee). Mr. A. S. Butler, Department of Health, Scotland (Assessor).
Mr. T H. Whitehead, Assistant Director, Geological Survey and Museum coil (Scottish Office) (Assessor). motelangie lustisming wen A
We are greatly indebted to Professor Hibberd and Dr. Macgregor, and to Mr. Butler and Mr. Whitehead for giving up so much of their time, and for their invaluable assistance and advice.
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A JA NORDEN SA 0 2001ut of moisebola lanenim not b27. Finally, we wish to place on record our appreciation of the painstaking and untiring efforts of our secretarial staff. Mr. W. C. C. Rose, our Secretary, has technical qualifications and considerable knowledge and experience of the mineral industries of the country, and the services he has rendered to us have been invaluable. Miss P. D. Scott (who has acted as Assistant Secretary) and Miss P. Beckerman have together been responsible for all the clerical work, including typing services, the demands for both of which have been heavy. During the latter stages of our investigation Mr. J. Simpson, who also has technical qualifications, gave considerable and valuable assistance to the Secretary.
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The Ministry of Supply kindly made available to us the reports and records of the Non- ferrous Mineral Developmen6Control (Controller, Sir William dolarke KBO and of Non- ferrous Minerals Development Ltd. made during the War. 100
8
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Page 34HAPTER I
For Page 34 of 662
MINERAL PRODUCTION IN UNITED KINGDOM
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28. The mineral raw materials worked in this country may be broadly grouped into coal (and some other fuels), building materials, non-metallic minerals, iron ores and non-ferrous ores, the relative values of which in the past are shown in the following table! 2011
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0100,520, VALUE OF MINERAL PRODUCTION IN UNITED KINGDOM
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000,000, VOLA 0000,801,5 203,16
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18561900 1913
£ 1928
1937
LIV 1947
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153,41
193.2
396-7
Building Materials* Non-Metallic Minerals NT Iron Ores.CE... DETIST: MET,371
$8.410
03-616.9
03-6 |||~ 16·9506-2 560·7 (1854 1.40005-7 814-2
31447
17.9
28-4
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23.93
2.86
8.2
4-6
3341
3.6
3.91
Non-Ferrous Ores 208.00 464-40581-02321-4
200-18
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045
000.86014 000,05 814,085
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** Gypsum is included with Non-Metallic Minerals, although is it used mainly as a building material. ITS e52.410 001028 - er0,00
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29. With the exception of the unbedded iron ores, haematite and magnetite, the MDC minerals fall within the groups non-metallic minerals and ferrous.ores
tore in the above table
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30: Prominent members of the non-metallic mineral group are salt, used for the chemical industry and for domestic purposes, china clay for the paper and pottery industries, gypsum for special plaster making, anhydrite for the manufacture of sulphate of ammonia and sulphuric acid, and fullers' earth. Others of importance are the special plastic clays known as ball clays used in the ceramic industry barytes and witherite used for paint making and for the preparation of barium compounds, and fluorspar used chiefly as a flux for steel making. The only source of supply of witherite in the world is in the North of England (pr 56). General speaking, the produc- tion of minerals in this group provides the whole of domestic requirements and, in addition, a substantial surplus of salt, china clay, ball clay and fullers' earth, is available for export. The margin between production and con- sumption of fluorspar and barytes is narrow. Fluorspar production may have to be supplemented by imports unless it can be increased, or a fall in pro- duction arrested in the near future: About 15,000 tons of barytes was imported in 1947. „zbro suonat-aot smos to gdinim si dipoodIA AL i zloop to aberband got, vuruco 21 m babesoung and best bag egedo
31. From the historical point of view, there was a marked expansion in the output of the non-metallic minerals, notably china clay, gypsum and barytes, towards the end of the last century just about the time when production of metallic minerals began to decline (para. 32). Salt, the annual production of which had for many years been around the 2 million tons mark, was an exception, the chemical industry, not experiencing any marked expansion in this period. Fluorspar production, which was negligible in the last
66 century, expanded rapidly from about the year 1900 brwards.
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