TABLE III
Page 35
PRODUCTION OF NON-METALLIC MINERALS
(tons)
Barytes Witherite Fluorspar
China Clay
Gypsum
Fullers' WEarth
Salt
(Annual
Average)
1854-1860
.
11,000
...
1,725 Negligible 65,237
n.a.
1861-1870
...
5,000
3,100 Negligible|_95,650
n.a.
1871-1880
8,350
4,100
380 188,400
66,800
1881-1890
11,090
6,830
290
362,600
114,500
*12,000 |· 1,323,000 8,000 970.000 n.a. 2,132,000 15,200 2,182,000
1891-1900.
11,050
7,070
370
370
498,700 176,500
17,500 1,953,000
1901-1910
22,480
7,500
31,000
634,000
231,800
23,800 1,854,000
1911
...
23,949
9,939
55,231
787,576
276,684
31,454 2,069,000.
-
1912
23,592
8,695
47,246 860,649
285,291
34,129 2,063,000
1913
28,881
7,885 053,663838,651
285,338
31,609 | 2,198,000
1914
30,494
5,052
33,816 835,480
265,365
37,862 1,873,000
1915.
39,075
1916 1917
...
...
5,475
33,123
559,554
247,229
29,298 1,870,000
53,076
: 7,689
54,731
589,023 219,284
29,106 1,827,000
46,846
6,775
64,874 463,632
173,015
27,916 1,890,000
1918
...
53,527
4,710
53,498 | 419,305
178,734
23,290 1,858,000
1919
51,406
3,585
36,860 463,711
220,003
24,785 1,814,000
1920
...
56,520
· 3,511
54,683
777,511
286,978
29,000 2,038,000
1921
29,263
1922
35,718
1923
43,497
1924
1925
...
1926
...
36,570
806 23,137 435,844 5,231 33,343 7,877 49,031 47,540 7,227 49,492 41,534 7,147 39,079 6,205 35,883
264,840
20,242 1,306,170
666,834 257,460
24,187 1,772,629
720,533 806,364
317,676
28,590 1,886,882
371,703
23,484 2,045,762
1927
...
40,160
6,693
39,724
850,160 414,529 825,954 465,191 869,232 | 506,350
24,710
1,933,590
23,965 1,727,443
22,978 | 1,983,486 ·
1928
41,857
8,044
46,862
787,296 525,063 |||
23,957
1,946,318
1929
47,938 9,157 41,762
826,046 412,477 412,477
23,139
1,974,170
1930
50,610 8,095
29,788
716,319 || 424,267
19,837
2,067,564
1931
38,224
7,356
19,922
570,524 424,500
16,309 1,897,564
1932
50,381
6,258
15,427 |
508,850
425,438
16,471 | 2,216,199
1933
61,509 5.111
28,058
28,058
596,609
489,493
489,493
16,603 2,364,175
1934
63,582 10,412
34,216
690,129
606,002
17,895 2,519,873
1935
...
68,723
9,409
31,146 ||
707,572 | 635,210
17,806 2,700,092
1936
...
64,319
8,751
32,962 |
746,922 || 683,677
1937
56,426
11,882
42,160
830,946 700,858
1938
66,404
9,914
33,331
585,888 660,527
19,656|| 2,817,588 21,278 3,070,889 20,725. 2,629,706
1939
84,930 9,881
38,173
707,967 | 625,012
25,849 3,204,038
1940
111,370
12,965
44,896 |
442,157 | 569,272
27,440 3,377,852
1941
91,828
9,709
1942
85,914
12,813
1943
89,274
11,835
1944
87,997 10,839
1945
1946
1947
41,566 250,007 619,290 43,226 195,906 624,483 54,236 177,617 606,275 48,154 192,871 82,449 10,766 43,582 96,549 14,376 80,019 14,727
33,548 3,392,333
31,4953,597,557
32,972 | 3,374,858
506,869
280,600 540,401
40,231 3,372,594 37,702 3,234,344
46,454
44,305
502,137 | 647,043 513,792 | 819,151
44,519 | 3,353,529 46,001 3,139,299
Anhydrite production appears on page 15.
∙n.a. = not available.
32. Although the mining of some non-ferrous ores, for instance, tin, copper and lead, has proceeded in this country for hundreds of years, it was not until the early part of the last century that the industry assumed real importance. An expanding market for base metals at this time resulted in all time records in home ore production being achieved during the period : 1850-1870. Thereafter, however, there was a gradual decline brought about mainly by the exhaustion of the more easily worked deposits and the fall in metal prices (pages 87-88) due to the development of more prolific and cheaperPsources of fsupplies overseas. Tin and leat mining fhave continued on a reduced scale, but copper mining to all intents and purposes ceased in the last century and is unlikely to be revived.
10
33. Production of haematite iron ore has come mainly from West Cumberland and the Furness district of Lancashire, from the Forest of Dean and from South Wales. The first-mentioned districts have been of far greater importance than the other two. As in the case of non-ferrous ores, this industry reached its maximum production towards the close of the last century, since when output has declined to but a fraction. In 1947 output of haematite iron ore was only 2 or 3 per cent. of total domestic iron ore requirements. For figures of haematite production see paras. 163 and 174.
TABLE IV.
Jurele.
PRODUCTION OF NON-FERROUS METAL ORESTERER
old(tons) unbgirl to
^! (in terms of metal) tego mi bodo DO PE
17
(Annual
Average)
#a. Tungsten
Tin
(mineral
concentrates,
approximately
Bucht
Copper
Lead
Zinc
65 per cent. WO3)] dług
nebunica burondoe it disep bas
anods 23rchive 14,45064,703
1851-1860
:6,400 on
$2,500
1861-1870
1871-1880
"Ora ?
9,403
13
11.810
67,529
3,230
9,654
22
~4,950
57,427
1881-1890
...9,233
10328d 103 daddie
5,786
1891-1900
$6,465
son88ies on 26
2,160 39,708 81
575 90s 28,040 0
10,503
1901-1910
38,280
·4,583
and $211 bord
$20-20,976
siti6,792.00
1911
4,872
266
329
17,990
6,098
1912
5,254
193
232
19,154
6,062
1913
5,288
1914
5,056
182iidiker
379
18,13034
5,823
205
338
19,378
1915
4,968
9331
5,208
148
15,520
1916
04,69738 394 -930 4:2713312573
4,096 0.
#$3,000
1917...
$3,936 at
241 1 20:20:187,
#18711247
2,730,2
1918
3,954
1919
1973
3,271
1920
3,065
144 127
17905
10,895
3,227
10,260
2,424
10,943
1:615
1921
679
02100
2009543
#374
0
1922 mad
3370
ohne 37 combi?. 167. Min: 8,863
$645
1923.
1,021
J. 2.
Add 88
1924
K
9,999
956
1,986.
2
121
11,435
1,042
1925
2,339
95
12,463 722
1926
2,327
19
108
15,261836
1927.
2,593
12
177
16,342
1,252
1928
2,761
96
68
14,829
714
1929
3,271
27
68
18,608
851
1930
2,488
128
2:48
20.304
647:
1931
598
100
66
23,602€
196:
1932
1,337
2
61
32,913
1933
1,542
11
40
39,735
4
1934
1,999
190
14
'53,816
445
1935
2,050
219
50
41,230
1.164.
1936
M2,099
1899
62 fe
30,493
4,249
1937
1,986
127
36
26,395
7,588
1938
1,999
218
36
29,745
11,486
1939
1,738
155
38
16,550
8,348
1940
1,619
200
28
13,595
5,943
1941
1,508
128
24
7,968
4,964
1942
1.364
171
17
5,396
3,942
1943
51,359
207
23
4,167
4,579
1944
1,289 :
kir:356
27
3,969
... 8,663
1945
V993
110
20
2,866
3,562
1946
1947
Page 3648f 662
89.
22
802
66
20
Pag15336 of 60m
11
L
C
J
:
CHAPTER II Page 37 of 662
Page 37 MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
34. The next two Chapters deal with the MDC minerals separately for England and Wales, and for Scotland respectively In Chapters III and IV the minerals have been dealt with in alphabetical order for easy reference. In addition, we have added as Chapter V a short summary of the information about the mineral resources of Northern Ireland, by permission of the Northern Ireland Government, thereby giving a fairly complete picture of the information at present available about the more important MDC mineral resources of the United Kingdom as a whole.
•
35. Our objective in Chapters III and IV has been generally to examine the facts available regarding resources of minerals in Great Britain, with particular reference to the following considerations :—
(i) The technical evidence available to justify the 'development or main-
tenance of a profitable mining industry on a long-term basis.
(ii) Where there are only indications of mineral resources, those measures necessary to establish their existence in sufficient quantity and quality for economic exploitation.
36. Wherever we have obtained evidence about the existence of “proved reserves of minerals we have given estimates of tonnages and grade or of the "life" of the deposit on the basis of present output. In all other cases we have been as specific as the evidence justified with regard to future possibilities. Throughout we have used the terms “proved”, “probable”, and "possible" in relation to ore reserves in the sense defined in the footnote on page 4.
37. In referring to future possibilities, we have been mindful that the conditions under which mineral deposits are economic to work are continually changing. Low-grade deposits at present unprofitable to work may later become of commercial importance if new methods of mining, mineral recovery or treatment reduce operating costs. New uses may be found for mineral products, or prices may rise so that minerals useless today may be valuable tomorrow. In such cases, therefore, we have been more con- cerned with establishing the existence of mineral deposits rather than with attempts to assess, except within very broad limits, their potential value
55
38. We have stated in the Introduction (para 2) that the MDC minerals fall into two main groups, the metalliferous and the non-metal- liferous minerals. From the technical point of view, the metalliferous minerals, together with certain non-metalliferous minerals, of which barytes, fluorspar and witherite are the most important, can also be described as the "lode minerals. They are of very restricted geographical distribution and usually, occur in narrow and often highly-inclined or vertical veins which are frequently not visible at the surface. The extent of the deposit, therefore, cannot be accurately determined except by exploration and underground development. Moreover, the mineral content of the veins often changes; the grade of the ore itself, and therefore its value, is subject to constant variation. Thus their location is difficult, and their subsequent development and working carries with it a high degree of risk.
66
Kl
39. In our investigations into the lode" minerals, the lack of precise information was found to be a serious stumbling block to the estimation of resources and their future importance. This could only be remedied by the expenditure off siderable sums of moneyPagexploration2which, in
-12
art
conjunction with underground development of existing mines, might well lead to the diseßvery of further resources. At the momenge however, existing evidence about these minerals is only sufficient to say that proved reserves will last not longer than about twenty years on the present scale of out- put; in some the period is much less, and in the case of lead and zinc proved reserves are negligible.
mitles
܀܂
ALL
40. The remaining MDC minerals, all non-metalliferous, tell a different story. The deposits of gypsum, anhydrite, fullers earth, ball clays and salt are “bedded" that is, they occur generally as flat-lying deposits w
which have often considerable lateral extent and thickness. In most cases the resources are large, are more easily determined, and the element of, specula- tion attending their discovery and development is greatly reduced. They sustain large, well-established and profitable industries which have been able to look ahead to a long-term existence based on relatively large reserves, and have thus not had to contend with the uncertainties facing the lode- mining industries. Although our information covering these bedded minerals is more precise and favourable from the future national point of view, we have nevertheless concluded that in detail it should be much more com- prehensive. The development of these minerals from the long-term aspect is liable to be influenced to a greater extent than the lode minerals by such factors as the claims of other land uses. To enable the resources to be fully utilised and to be developed with the maximum efficiency it is clear that a careful and detailed collection of technical information is needed so that long-term development plans can be prepared and the resources adequately safeguarded. Lai smags awad olift hed ombud.
་
41. A rather different but equally important example is mentioned in the recently published Board of Trade Working Party Report on china clay, a mineral which is exceptional in its mode of occurrence. There is need for the integration of producing china clay units and for greater co-opera- tion within that industry to ensure that deposits are efficiently worked. Otherwise there is a danger that a proportion-which might be large of the resources still available might be sterilised, or rendered uneconomic or more costly to work (page 23) en rode bad ingen, isilered 20
At daw remse N. UIONPARA
-i'
ܐ܂
...C
42. We have included a short survey of occurrences of underground water in the South Northumberland Coalfield which contains barium chloride in solution. This is at present being worked at one colliery and is used as a source of barium for the preparation of “blanc-fixe" an important raw material for the paint industry. We draw attention to similar occur- rences in neighbouring collieries and to the need for a proper examination to be made to ascertain if development on a larger scale is possible (page 18). hat oger faluz qwinoynga sila voj plazoih moAGA DAK 43. Special mention should be made of the potential importance of the discovery of potash brine and beds of potash minerals in North Yorkshire (page 44). Further exploration should be put in hand without delay to get more geological information about the thickness, distribution and composition of the potash salts and their associated minerals, and thus to determine their economic significance oziqque sosetio bạ tol Bowmas quiet cela vellay mub ed to perion musike whì và trung Research boss vinbat semonswab) & the subordonra ocagiu.. mass.Pruriga aaod some, eat medge-lift to ledt es daw u velg HT
god
44. An important conclusion to which we would draw particular atten- tion is the urgent need for fostering research into mining, mineral dressing and processing problems and into the possibility, of developing new uses for mineralean oinetal products
13
are p