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By W. V. Long, D. H. Reynolds, R. B. Bhappu

Equilibrium distribution coefficients were determined for some monovalent and polyvalent ions for several absorbing and exchanging media as functions of pH and initial ion concentration. Among ions studied were NH4 (I), K(I), Ni(II), Ce(III), Th(IV), and Mo(VI). Absorbents used were: ion exchange resins; a tertiary, and a quaternary amine in an inert solvent; and some activated carbons. The ions studied were in aqueous HCI, HNO3, H2SO4, or HC104 solutions. The classical mass action expression proved of little value in describing the variations observed. The data indicate that the determining factors in absorption and ion exchange may be the ionic species in the aqueous solution, which in turn depend upon pH, dilution, and perhaps other conditions. Three sorption processes have become prominent in recovering values from leach solutions. These are: 1) ion exchange, 2) solvent extraction (liquid ion exchange), and 3) physical adsorption by materials of high specific surface. In the first two of these processes the exchange reaction is considered chemical in nature, and is discussed in terms of the mass action principle. The third is considered a surface phenomenon and is discussed in terms of surface areas and various forms (Gouy, Stern, Grahame, etc.) of the Helmholtz double-layer theory. Generally speaking, we have found in chemical analysis and hydrometallurgical studies that there are close similarities between the three sorption processes, and also differences which are difficult to reconcile with any of the usual theoretical treatments. That others have experienced the same troubles is shown by the fact that usable processes, in chemical analysis as well as in hydrometallurgy, generally are discovered by empirical procedures. EXPERIMENTAL CONSlDERATlONS The gaps between theory and practice have allowed many conflicting statements to appear in the litera- ture. To learn, in particular, the behavior of some metallic ions on a cation exchange resin at a constant pH, equilibration studies were made over a wide range of concentrations.' Results are shown in Fig. 1 for four metals in hydrochloric acid solution on a strongly acidic cation exchange resin, AG 50W-X8 (Bio-Rad). The distribution coefficient, defined as D = amount of metal extracted per g of resin/amount of metal unextracted per ml of solution is seen to vary in a way to support all manner of reports about its behavior with changes in solution concentration. The metals used were chosen from those least likely to form stable chloro-complexes. The changes of slope in the various isotherms may reflect formation of unsuspected chloro-complexes of low stability (ion-pairing for example) whose concen-

Jan 1, 1967

By Fred C. Bond

SIX years have passed since the last grindability table was published.' In that time the list has been increased with many new tests, and the development of the new Third Theory of Comminution2 has made possible the reduction of all results to a consistent work index value. In this tabulation all grindability and crushability test results are given in terms of the work index, with formulas for reversion to the older units if desired. The average values for 57 different classes of materials are listed in Table I. The total number of work index values listed is 1211, and the overall average work index is 14.42. The complete tabulation, with each test listed alphabetically both under material type and under company name, can be obtained by writing to the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co., Processing Machinery Department, Milwaukee 1, Wisconsin. The work index Wi is the calculated total work input in kilowatt-hours per short ton required to re- duce from theoretically infinite particle size to 80 pct passing 100 microns, or to approximately 67 pct passing 200 mesh. The work inputs required per ton for the same size reduction of different materials are directly proportional to their work indexes, and according to the Third Theory the work input per ton is inversely proportional to the square root of the diameter of the product particles. Where W represents the work input in kilowatt hours per ton, where F is the feed size, or diameter in microns of the square hole which 80 pct of the feed passes, P the product size, or microns which 80 pct of the product passes, and Rr the reduction ratio F/P, the work index Wi is found from Rr-l 100 When the work index Wi is known, the work input W required to reduce from any feed size F to any product size P is found from W = Wi ( Rr- 1 100

Jan 1, 1954

By J. M. W. Mackenzie

A microelectrophoresis technique has been used to measure the zeta potential of quartz over a range of pH and ferric iron concentration. The results have been discussed in terms of the adsorption of ferric cations and ferric hydroxide to the quartz surface. Possible relationships between the experimental results and the flotation of quartz have been examined. The adsorption of multivalent cations at the surface of quartz has been studied by many investigators who have used a variety of experimental techniques ranging from streaming potential 1 to radiometric2 measurements. Two possible mechanisms of cation activation of quartz have emerged from the results of these investigations viz: the adsorption of the cation to the negatively charged quartz surface, followed by adsorption of the collector anion to the adsorbed cation site, or: formation of a cation-collector complex which is then adsorbed to the quartz surface. In many natural and industrial systems one of the most prevalent activating species for quartz is ferric iron, this is especially so in the acid-circuit, anionic flotation of iron ore. The adsorption of ferric iron to the quartz surface is complicated by the ability of ferric iron to form complexes with anions, a phenomena which is of minor importance in one of the most widely studied quartz activation processes, ca ++ activation.* *The pK value for [ca(oH)+]/ [ca2+] [oh-] is 1.46 indicating that the influence of Ca (OH)+ ions will be minor in all but strongly alkaline solutions. In order to obtain a better understanding of quartz activation by ferric iron the zeta potential of quartz in the presence of ferric iron has been measured over a range of pH and ferric iron concentration. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Materials: Selected samples of "rock clystal" quartz from New England, N.S.W., were ground in a pebble mill, washed for three hours in boiling concentrated hydrochloric acid, washed in hot chromic acid and then washed repeatedly with distilled water until the washing water gave no trace of chloride ion.

Jan 1, 1967

By R. T. O’Brien, J. M. W. Mackenzie

A microelectrophoresis technique has been used to measure the zeta potential of quartz over a range of pH and Ni (11) and Co (Ilj concentrations. Results have been discussed in terms of adsorption of Ni (11) and Co (11) cations and hydroxide precipitates. Possible relationships between the experimental results and the formation of lateritic nickel deposits have been discussed. The adsorption of metallic cations to the surface of silicate minerals is of significance in many industrial and natural processes. In an earlier publication,' the adsorption of Fe (111) to the quartz surface, a phenomenon of importance in flotation, was studied qualitatively using microelectrophoresis techniques. This paper reports the extension of this work to an investigation of the adsorption from aqueous solution of Co (11) and Ni (11) to the quartz surface. The adsorption of these metals was of interest for two reasons; firstly, the importance of such an adsorption process in the formation of nickel deposits by the lateritization of nickeliferous rocks, and secondly, the comparison of electrophoresis data for these metals, whose hydroxides precipitate in the pH range 7-8, with similar data for Fe (111) where the hydroxide first precipitates at pH 2.8. The development of laterites is essentially a near-surface geological process involving vertical and, in part, horizontal redistribution of elements derived from rock-forming minerals. This redistribution of elements leads to the formation of layers within the lateritic profile which are enriched in one or more of these elements and, depending on the nature of the original rocks, continued lateritization may give rise to iron ores, bauxites or nickeliferous laterites. The mechanisms discussed in this paper deal with the last mentioned type of deposit although the considered factors are applicable to laterites in general. Nickeliferous laterites are derived from basic and ultrabasic rocks containing ferro-magnesian silicates. These rocks may be partly or wholly converted to serpentinites. Besides their high Mg, Si and Fe contents, they also contain small amounts of Mn, Al, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn. The nickel content is usually near to 0.2-0.3%, but for economic use this must be increased during lateritization to over 1% and preferably over 2%. The zone of nickel enrichment is usually at some depth within the lateritic profile. Unpublished work by Mr. O'Brien on nickel-bearing laterites in eastern Australia indicated four visually different types of material which were separated from crushed samples under a stereo-microscope. Although chemical analyses indicated that all four types of fragments contained 2-4% nickel and smaller amounts of cobalt, X-ray diffraction and optical studies revealed only quartz, hematite and chromite as well as, in one of the types, a serpentine mineral. No distinct, nickeliferous minerals were detected. Furthermore, it was possible to extract some 60% of the nickel content of the laterites with cold 0.5N hydrochloric acid. It was therefore postulated that much of the contained nickel was present as amorphous, adsorbed material. In considering this fact, as well as the problem of the actual method of transfer and fixation of elements within the lateritic profile, it was further postulated that the transfer of these elements probably took place partly as solutions and partly as colloids and that the fixation of these was caused by adsorption and flocculation. The existence of nickel in solution in water draining from serpentinites has been confirmed by Smurov.2 Although we have no evidence for the transportation of nickel in the colloidal state, it is well accepted that colloids are important in the formation of laterites. Previous work by Mr. Mackenzie' has already indicated that iron may be adsorbed on quartz under conditions which could be expected in a lateritic profile, but no information was available for nickel or cobalt. Although adsorption possibly also takes place on minerals other than quartz, the latter is significant because silica is an important constituent of the silicate parent rocks. During lateritization, it is released to form free quartz and it is likely that it is initially extremely fine-grained. This would provide abundant opportunities for adsorption and it was de-

Jan 1, 1970

By F. F. Aplan

The past year has been another year of vigorous fundamental research in mineral processing as evidenced by the active publication of results, particularly in Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States and USSR. It was also noteworthy for several significant meetings and conferences. The Basic Science sessions at the AIME Annual Meeting continued to attract an increasing audience and the sessions were especially notable for the active discussion of papers. The third Engineering Foundation Conference on Particulate Matter Systems,1 chaired by F. F. Aplan, was held in Milwaukee in August and attracted over 100 experts from five continents. Sessions at this week-long conference covered comminution, particle characterization, separation of fine particles, fluid-solid separations as applied to pollution control, flotation kinetics, particle-particle interactions and particle agglomeration. This popular conference will be continued under John Karpinski of Bethlehem Steel Corp. as 1968 chairman.

Jan 2, 1968

By F. F. Aplan

Mineral processing engineers have recorded an- other year of active research and development work. Most gratifying was the broadly based attendance at the Mineral Processing Fundamental (formerly Basic Science) Committee sessions at the 1968 Annual Meeting of the AIME. Because of the availability of good papers, the active discussion and the growing attendance, sessions have grown from one to three at the annual meeting. Prof. M. C. Fuerstenau of the University of Utah will chair the Mineral Processing Fundamentals Committee for the next two years and we may thus be assured of continued active leadership. The name change from "Basic Science Committee" to the more descriptive "Mineral Processing Fundamentals Committee" approved by the MBD executive council is a welcome improvement. Our profession continues to attract the interest and cooperation of those in other professional groups. The 1968 Engineering Foundation Particulate Matter Conference, under the chairmanship of John Karpinski of Bethlehem Steel, was devoted exclusively to comminution this year. It attracted conferees from five continents and served as a particularly stimulating source of interchange of knowledge from many technical fields. Next year's conference will be under the chairmanship of Professor L,. G. Austin of The Pennsylvania State University. This conference plus the Symposium on Wettability and Flotation to be held at the annual American Chemical Society meeting in Minneapolis in April indicates the success achieved in the inter-disciplinary approach to problems. Other evidence of this spirit of professional cooperation is the forth- coming book on Size Reduction edited by D. W. Fuerstenau. This is the outgrowth of an AIChE symposium on size reduction held in 1965.

Jan 2, 1969

By S. J. Swainson

"It appears to me that the chief progress in milling operations in America have been made in the steady improvement of existing practice through both higher extractions and increased efficiencies of operations rather than by the development of new processes. The recent rapid development of sink-float, or heavy-medium separation, however, is an exception, and is becoming increasingly used to permit the economic treatment of certain low-grade ores that otherwise could not profitably be mined. The use of spirals and of small cyclones, both of which employ the principle of centrifugal force, show promise of increasing adoption through their application and efficiency in special cases." So did our distinguished colleague, O. A. E. Jackson, consulting metallurgist for the Union Corporation and president of the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa, summarize his impressions of a recent tour which he made of various metallurgical and milling plants in North America. I believe that all mineral dressers will agree with Dr. Jackson's concise conclusions.

Jan 1, 1950

By Donald A. Dahlstrom

In 1961 it became increasingly more evident that significant technological changes must be made in minerals beneficiation. The status quo in technology in today's competitive markets will not be tolerated. Higher productivity, greater recoveries and newer and better products must be sought and incorporated with lower operating costs. In other words, "when you build a new mill, don't build an old mill." Recommended reading for proof of the vital necessity of new methods and techniques is in the September 1961 issue of MINING ENGINEERING. The article by one of MBD's cherished and true veterans, E. H. Rose, is entitled "Iron Ore: The BIG Picture". Because of new beneficiation methods for iron ores, nearly 47 million tons of plus 60% iron concentrates will be produced and another 40.1 million tons of capacity will be under construction or committed. Thus in a relatively short period, 87 million tons of this high-grade iron concentrate with record low silica will be available. As Mr. Rose also points out, "in gross tons, without allowance for better grade, this is the equivalent of almost exactly two-thirds of all iron ore used for all purposes in the U.S. and Canada in the peak years of 1953 or 1957." Needless to say, improved mineral beneficiation methods have had far more reaching effects than just the production of higher grade iron concentrate.

Jan 2, 1962

In 1962, minerals beneficiation showed definite signs of coming out of the doldrums into which it has drifted after the uranium boom. Demand by steelmakers for high-grade iron pellets has created the need for concentrating plants to upgrade specular hematite by spiral concentration or flotation and magnetites by magnetic means and flotation. According to a paper given at the AMC annual meeting by C. S. Arms of Pickands Mather, "the shipment of pellets, started in the mid-1950's, has increased to 17.6 million tons in 1961 from North American operations. Many plants already underway will raise this production to about 42 million tons by 1965. This will be a very sizeable percentage of the total iron ore production contemplated by that date." Iron ore concentration methods are gradually raising the assay of pellets into the 65 to 69% Fe range and lowering silica to the 4 to 7% range. Quebec Cartier's Lac Jeannine concentrator went into operation in late 1961 and all grinding units were running by 1962. The Iron Ore Co. of Canada's new Carol Lake plant was started in mid-1962.

Jan 2, 1963

Large equipment for quarrying and for the various stages of crushing and grinding are the trend for new and existing operations. Included are large size haulage units, fast drilling equipment, impact crushers and large mills capable of high tonnage rates for metallic and nonmetallic minerals. In grinding, large-size mills continue as the choice in industries where grinding constitutes a major portion of the processing. Typical is a 10 x 34 ft two-compartment mill in closed circuit with an 18-ft diam air separator for cement. Other cement mill sizes are in the order of 12 x 36 ft, 2500 hp; 10 x 37 ft ball and rod (wet), 1400 hp; 13 x 36 ft, 3000 hp; 13 x 40 ft (wet), 3000 hp. Several installations of combination ball and rod mills have been made, and one of the largest is 12 x 45 ft. In connection with the wet grinding of raw materials, the DSM 270-degree screen has been installed in several cement plants with the intention of producing a material finer than 50 mesh. In ore processing, large autogenous mills (121/2 x 20 ft) are being installed.

Jan 2, 1964

By F. T. Davis

Many contributors have added to the fund of knowledge in the basic sciences related to mineral dressing during the past year. During 1964, the French edition of the Proceedings of the VIth International Mineral Processing Congress together with discussions was printed. Also, complete Preprints of papers delivered at the VIIth IMPC were published in September1. Over a third of the papers presented at VIIth IMPC dealt with fundamentals. COMMINUTION It has been postulated by Ponceleta that flaws need not exist before a stress is applied but rather the flaws are created at the tip of a propagating crack at a stress well below the theoretical breaking stress.

Jan 2, 1965

By F. T. Davis

The annual review of mineral dressing was the subject of considerable discussion at the MBD meeting in New York last February. Because the amount of material now being published is so imposing, it was generally agreed that reviewers should try only to cite the items of importance. In order to conserve even more space, it was agreed to omit bibliographies. In reading these reviews, and those of the past two or three years, one is impressed by the advances in materials handling, the enlargement and the advances in automation of unit process equipment. Although there has been development of a variety of new concentration principles in flotation, magnetic separation, et al., the design of these principles into new plants has not been widespread. The probable reason is that the plants being built today are so large and costly that few are able to face the risk of any significant degree of experimentation. There are exceptions to this; for example, some of the chemical processes, but these are usually because there was no conventional process available. This situation should change in time as the ores amenable to our conventional methods become depleted.

Jan 2, 1967

By J. M. Karpinski, R. O. Tervo

A method and equipment have been developed for measuring the impact strength of grains of brittle materials. It is shown that brittle materials develop a characteristic particle size distribution when fractured by impact. A simple mathematical model has been found to describe this distribution, and one of the parameters of the model has been designated the r value. The r value is directly proportional to impact energy and, for fixed impact energy, it becomes a useful criterion of grain strength. Data are presented on the variation of the r value as a function of sample history, initial size, energy input and number of impacts. The results are interpreted in terms of the flaw theory of brittle fracture. The view is now widely held that brittle materials comprise a strong matrix, throughout which flaws or points of weakness are scattered at random. Failure always starts at one or more of these imperfections, and planes of fracture are established by the geometry of the flaw distribution. This view has been developed extensively by Weibull 1,2 and experiments of a confirmatory nature have been reported.3,4 Thus the process of fracture or size reduction of brittle materials can be regarded as a process of elimination or creation of flaws, and the concept of strength is intimately connected with the size and history of the specimen tested. One consequence of the point of view described above is that brittle materials will fracture to yield similar size distributions, although the impact energy to produce a given amount of fracture may vary greatly from one material to another. Generally speaking, experimental investigations of brittle fracture in solids have been confined to two extreme experimental situations. On one hand, we have tests on single specimens of well-defined, but artificial, geometry and, on the other, empirical data have been obtained on the feed-product relation in a variety of mills. The first situation necessitates specimen preparation, which in the case of brittle materials is equivalent to a priori size reduction, while the second one suffers from the disadvantage that little knowledge is gained about individual fracture events. Also, the statistical significance of single specimen tests may be questioned. Our approach lies somewhere between these two extremes. We test a large population of sized specimens and yet subject each specimen to a single fracture event. In 1956 G.H. Fetterley of Norton Co., Chippawa, Ont., made the empirical observation that product size distributions obtained from impacting sized grits can be described by the following equation where R is the proportion by weight of the grain that remains on a screen having an opening x on a side, x, is a parameter having the dimensions of length, and r is a number. This equation has since been derived on a theoretical basis by Gaudin and Meloy.5 They identify x, with the initial size of the test piece and r with the number of flaws per unit length. As will be shown below, our experiments indicate that both x, and r are functions of energy and hence they should more properly be called the effective initial size and the effective number of flaws respectively. Also, our empirical data give us no basis for assuming that r represents the effective number of flaws per unit length, rather than per unit volume. METHOD AND MATERIALS The impact test machine has been designed to feed specimens, essentially one at a time, into an evacuated chamber, where they fall freely and are struck with random orientation by one or the other of a pair of flat steel vanes. The vanes are mounted at opposite ends of a steel bar, which rotates at a closely controlled angular velocity about a vertical axis. Fig. 1 shows the flat circular vacuum chamber with the cover removed, and the horizontal steel bar with the steel vanes at the ends. The cylindrical pot in which the grains are collected after impact appears at the left. Fig. 2 shows the equipment assembled for a test. The vacuum chamber occupies the central position with the variable speed drive below the table surface, the vacuum pump at the extreme left

Jan 1, 1964

By Andrew P. W. Briggs, Corale L. Brierley

A considerable economic and technical knowledge base has been amassed with the successful and sustained operation of commercial minerals bioleaching/biooxidation plants to extract copper from chalcocite ore and enhance precious metal recovery from sulfidic refractory ores and concentrates. Economic evaluation ofbio-processing must consider the value of the ore, the sulfide-sulfur requiring oxidation to achieve significant metal recovery, the time required for the biological process and, in the case of precious metal feed-stocks, the down-stream reagent consumption. Of these considerations oxygen requirement for the biologically-catalyzed oxidation of sulfide minerals is the prevailing determinant in the capital and operating costs of aerated, stirred-tank reactors for processing concentrates and bio-heaps for processing ores. Oxygen requirement is dictated by the amount of sulfide-sulfur requiring oxidation to achieve desired metal recovery. The testwork program to evaluate a project for application of biooxidation/bioleaching must be designed to insure that factors critical to economic assessment are fully quantified.

Jan 1, 1997

Mining education in Ballarat has a long and proud history dating back to the 1870s. Today the School of Engineering continues this tradition at the University of Ballarat. The recent review of Tertiary Minerals Education by the Minerals Council of Australia has questioned the current situation regarding Minerals tertiary education in Australia and recommendations have been made regarding the future of minerals tertiary education. This paper initially examines the original recommendations made by the Minerals Council of Australia and assesses subsequent changes made to these recommendations. Secondly the paper outlines the future shape of mining education in the light of these recommendations given that they are implemented. Finally the future delivery of mining education is discussed, particularly with respect to the impact of modern technologies.

Jan 1, 2004

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) is commencing a project to develop a National Minerals Information System (NMIS) for New Zealand . Initially, the NMIS project will focus on providing public access via a web site to existing minerals related databases maintained by GNS and some other organisations. Core components are geological maps, GERM (Geological Resource Map), REGCHEM (Regional Exploration Geochemistry), PETLAB (rock catalogue), GEOCHRON (radiometric ages), mineral deposit models, mineral deposit profiles and 3D mineral deposit GIS databases. In addition to developing the web site, the project will include upgrades of some of the databases and the production of derivative products such as mineral resource and prospectivity assessments, and mineral inventories.

Jan 1, 2004

By Dan Witkowsky

In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, mining's importance to society has often been misunderstood and even maligned by the public. Extreme and impractical ideas have often been presented to children because of the lack of accurate, timely resource materials available to educators. In the late 1960s. two mining engineers, S.P. "Pi" Warren and C.L. "Lindy" Barker, became aware of this situation. They proposed to develop a summer field course to provide a factual overview of the minerals industry for teachers. The pair believed that teachers could become better informed to educate students, and future generations, about mining. These two Colorado Mining Association (CMA) members felt that such a course could reduce much of the misunderstanding about this vital industry. This could be done by providing a balanced perspective of mining, not only for kindergarten-through-grade-12 teachers, but also for the students they would be teaching during their careers. Students who better understood the minerals industry could better formulate an unbiased view of it. The course would seek recognized authorities from industry, academia and government who would lecture in their respective fields of expertise. The course would provide a total concept of the coal, aggregate, metals and industrial minerals industries. It would include geology, geophysics, exploration, mining, processing, marketing, product applications, economic, mining history, careers, and environmental responsiblity. When possible, site visits would permit educators to view operations and to meet the men and women who are industry leaders. Teachers would pay a small tuition fee. The balance of the program expenses for each teacher would be paid through scholarships provided by industry and individuals. The "total concept" idea obtained the support of the minerals industry. The support of CMA's Education Committee and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) was obtained in 1968. Colorado's Commission on Higher Education approved teacher recertification credits through CSM's Office of Special Progams and Continuing Education for those successfully completing the program. The first six-week series of classes presenting the total concept of the indus¬try was held at CSM in 1969. In 1977, the CMA Education Foundation Inc. (CMAEF) was established as a Colorado nonprofit corporation. The "Total Concept of the Mining Industry" (Total Concept) course was placed under its sponsorship. CMAEF is dedicated toward this continuing education program (Table 1). In 1994, the course was streamlined to four-weeks for six hours recertification credit.

Jan 1, 1997

By J. N. Murphy

The use of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) regional meetings as a forum to educate teachers on the role of minerals in our society has been immeasurably successful. Each year, on average about 3,500 to 4,000 teachers participate in each of the three regional NSTA meetings. At each of these meetings, nearly 2,000 teachers visit the “Minerals Coalition Booth” and receive free mineral samples and other educational support materials. Some rules of thumb for a successful booth at the NSTA are provided. Considering the level of effort for such a booth, are there alternatives? The NSTA also organizes a national annual meeting with attendance of about 20,000. All who have participated in a regional NSTA agree that the traditional approach of providing a mineral set and teacher materials for a substantial fraction of the 20,000 attendees is not feasible. Conceptual alternatives for minerals education at the national NSTA meeting are introduced and evaluated.

Jan 1, 2001

By Robert A. Clifton

It seems probable that more and more minerals will be used in plastics as time goes on. This must occur because the minerals will; aid in processability, enhance the engineering properties, reduce the cost, and above all conserve large amounts of petroleum based chemicals. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of using the minerals and the ability of the domestic minerals industry to support this possibly very large undertaking. In the author's opinion, it can. This talk is excerpted from a forthcoming Bureau of Mines Information Circular.

Jan 1, 1985

'Industrial Minerals - their mining and use in New Zealand' is the theme of the 1978 Annual Conference of the New Zealand Branch of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. This paper describes the use of phosphate rock, sulphur and potassium chloride (potash) - three industrial minerals which have enabled the farmers of New Zealand to increase production to current levels. The growth of imports of these raw materials for the New Zealand fertiliser industry is well documented in NZ Fertiliser Statistics 1977. This is the most recent of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries annual publications on this Subject prepared from the detailed returns of fertiliser manufacture and sales from each fertiliser works. There are now 12 of these works in New Zealand one of the most recently established being in Whangarie where this conference is being held. Its capacity to manufacture superphosphate will shortly be 300 000 tonnes twice that when it opened late in 1964. New grinding and manufacturing equipment comes on stream early in 1979. This paper illustrates the interdependence of two primary industries, agriculture and mining. New Zealand's economy in the foreseeable future will be based on agriculture so that our standard of living is dependent on the overseas prices and freight costs of the bulk raw materials from which our fertilisers are made. For the year ended 31 March 1978 New Zealand's total exports were $3395 million, of this total $2413 million (71%) came from the products of pastoral agriculture (wheat, wool, dairy and other animal products), $291 million from forest products and $501 (15%) from manufactured exports. Approximately half of the pastoral receipts can be attributed to the fertilisers applied at a total cost of about $200 million including subsidy.

Jan 1, 1978