1980-07-11_REVISION - M1977493 (8)

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1 . INTRODUCTION The Climax Molybdenum Company is instrumental in meeting the demands of American industry for molybdenum. As a Division of AMAX Inc. , the operations at Climax maintain this country' s self-sufficiency in molybdenum, as well as being the nation' s second largest producer of tungsten, this country' s largest and only tin producer , and providing substantial amounts of iron pyrite . The Climax mine and mill currently processes from 45,000 to 50,000 tons of ore per day depending on market demand and operating efficiencies. The 60 years of mining operations at Climax have produced a total tonnage production of approxi- mately 360 million tons, providing more than 1 . 5 billion pounds of molybdenum. The proven and probable mineral reserves at Climax are 480 million tons. At today' s production rates and economics, this will provide an additional production life of approximately 35 years. The mineral products produced at Climax facilities are not of end use quality, and require further processing at conversion plants located throughout the world. Plant operations proceed on a 24-hour per day, seven- day week. The Climax mine employs from 2, 000 to 2 , 850 workers, according to production needs . The Climax Molybdenum Company was formed in 1916 , with development and preparation of the ore body and processing circuits underway the following year and first production com- mencing in early 1918. After little more than a year ' s operation, the end of World War I brought about an end to market uses for molybdenum and the property was closed. By 1924 a peace time market had been established and mine production resumed at the rate of 400 tons of ore per day. In 1932 , production was increased to 1 , 200 tons per day. Between 1936 and 1940 plant capacity increased to 18,000 and during the war efforts of World War II , production in- 1-1