Industrial Minerals In 1965

Production of many industrial minerals reached all-time records in 1965. In keeping with the high level of industrial activity throughout the nation, producers of many industrial minerals operated at capacity or near capacity, notably the producers of phosphate, potash and sulfur. In the case of sulfur, the demand exceeded production and orders were filled, in part, from stocks accumulated in previous years. Industrial minerals as a group continued to increase both in value and quantity at a faster percentage rate than metallic minerals and fuels, The U.S. Bureau of Mines estimated that the value of industrial minerals produced in 1963 was $4318 million vs. $2006 million for metals. Preliminary estimates for 1965 indicate that current value of production was again more than 2% times that of metals, thus making apparent their importance to the industrial life of the nation.