MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN ATOMIC ENERGY PROGRAMS, JULY-DECEMBER 1954 Raw Materials Production of uranium concentrates by all sources was as scheduled during the latter half of 1954. Anticipated increases in production occurred as new domestic and foreign sources came into production. Construction of new production facilities and expansion of existing facilities moved ahead in this country and abroad. Exploration activity by Government agencies and private industry reached record levels and research and process development studies into more economical and feasible methods of recovering uranium from its ores continued. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Uranium ore and concentrates production attained new levels. Uranium mining now ranks as a major segment of the domestic nonferrous metal mining industry from the standpoint of dollar value of product produced and the number of persons engaged in the industry. The entrance of many long-established mining companies into the uranium business during the past year or two is evidence of the growing importance of this new industry. Ore Production The number of producing uranium mines in the United States greatly increased after mid-1953. The tonnage of ore produced during the last half of 1954 increased substantially over the preceding 6-month period. The uranium production area was extended also. The Colorado Plateau remains the principal domestic source of uranium ore with some production now being obtained from South Dakota and Wyoming and from primary vein sources in the Marysvale, Utah, area. Occasional ore shipments are made from the Colorado Front Range, the Boulder Batholith region of Montana and from Nevada and California. New mines were opened in Fremont and other counties in western Wyoming and in the vicinity of Globe, Ariz. Uranium ore was also produced at Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe), Pa., where the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. is operating a small uranium mine. Ore Processing Current ore production is in excess of current processing capacity, resulting in a build-up of large stockpiles of ore at a number of points. This resulted from the Commission's policy of providing ready markets for new areas soon after they are discovered, thereby encouraging the development of the new area. When sufficient ore reserves are developed arrangements are made for local processing facilities. Contracts were completed for a substantial increase in milling capacity through expansion of existing plants and through new construction. Other projected new plants are being designed. The Commission's effort has continuously been to arrange for privately owned plants for the necessary ore processing. By far the greatest percentage of the ore processing is carried out by private industry. In November, the Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc., placed a processing mill for the treatment of uranium ores into operation at Shiprock, N. Mex. Mines in the nearby Lukachukai and Carrizo Mountains will provide the bulk of the ore for this plant, which was expanded during construction to provide for a higher production capacity than was originally planned. Expansion of existing mill facilities was completed in October by the Vanadium Corporation of America at Durango, Colo. Additional expansions are now underway at the Grand Junction, Colo., plant of Climax Uranium Co. and the Salt Lake City, Utah, plant of the Vitro Uranium Co. At Bluewater, N. Mex., the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. is constructing a large new plant to treat sandstone type ores. Anaconda's present facilities at Bluewater, N. Mex., also are being expanded. Additional mills or expansions to existing plants are being considered to process ores from other areas such as Monogram Mesa and Gypsum Valley in Colorado, Big Indian Wash and White Canyon in Utah, and the Black Hills area of South Dakota. The Commission selected the H. K. Ferguson Co. to build a major addition to its mill at Monticello, Utah. New Ore-Buying Stations Construction of new uranium ore-buying and sampling stations was completed at White Canyon and Moab, Utah, in October and November, respectively. The American Smelting and Refining Co., operating the Commission's ore-buying and sampling stations at Marysvale and Monticello, Utah, and Edgemont, S. Dak., is also the operator of the new stations. Another new ore-buying and sampling plant is under construction at Riverton, Wyo., scheduled for completion early |