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<br />:~fuels, char, and other by-products from coal. The proposed plan of
<br />'linvestigations and research on coals of the AWR Basins includes fur-
<br />~ther geologic, quantitative, and qualitative studies to determine
<br />-more accurately the extent, thicknesses, attitudes, quantities, rank,
<br />'physical and chemical characteristics, and analyses of the coals in
<br />'the Basins., In addition, further research should be directed to the
<br />development of safer and more efficient mining methods and commer-
<br />cially feasible processes of extracting marketable products from coal.
<br />
<br />8. The total value of metals produced in the Basins to the end
<br />of 1952 was approximately $3.9 billion. The major metals or metal
<br />ores were, in order of value, zinc, gold, pig iron, lead, molybdenum,
<br />silver, and bauxite. In contrast to the order of cumulative value,
<br />the leading products ,contributing to the $l58 million output of metals
<br />I in 1952 were molybdenum, pig iron, zinc, lead, and bauxite.
<br />
<br />9. The constantly increasing national demand has stimulated
<br />production of most metals; this is particularly true of the more
<br />strategic metals during wars and periods of emergency. Depletion of,
<br />, the higher grade and the more cheaply mined ores of some of these
<br />metals has imposed an urgent need for the discovery of new sources of
<br />supply and for devising methods of utilizing presently uneconomic de-,
<br />posits. The plan proposed to meet these needs includes the following
<br />essential elements: geologic studies; ,application of and further,
<br />research 'on advanced prospecting techniques 'such as geophySics and
<br />geochemistry; exploration of ,indicated and inferred favorable depos-
<br />its; sampling and analyses; mineral beneficiation research on methods
<br />of upgrading presently noncommercial ores; and metallurgical research
<br />on methods of extracting critical metal~ and minerals in usable form.
<br />
<br />lO. The nonmetallic mineral industry is one of the most rapidly
<br />growing industries in the AWR Basins. Illustrative of its increasing
<br />importance in relation to the metals and coal industries is the com-
<br />parison of values of production. The total value of output of non~
<br />metallic mineral products to the end of 1952 was about 45 percent of
<br />the value of all metals and 84 percent of the value of all coal pro-
<br />duced in the Basins, whereas the respective percentages for 1952 were
<br />67 and 286.
<br />
<br />11. Reserves of most nonmetallic minerals now being produced
<br />in the Basins are adequate for many years, and reserves of some of
<br />them are virtually inexhaustible. The productive deposits of some
<br />minerals, however, are not widely distributed, with the result that
<br />many industries, such as those producing high-calcium limestone,
<br />barite, glass sand, sulfur, and sait, are localized at the larger,
<br />bigher grade, and more accessible deposits. The plan of investiga-
<br />tions is designed to lead to the "discovery of workable deposits of
<br />aonmetallic minerals in areas not now productive, and to eventual
<br />utilization of known but less accessibie or submarginal resources.
<br />rhese investigations include geologic studies, mapping, sampling,
<br />inalyses, physical and chemical testing, exploration, mineral benefi-
<br />~iation, and production-feasibility studies.
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