Wartime Bauxite Mining In Arkansas

FEW people realize the tremendously important part that Saline and Pulaski Counties in central Arkansas have played in the winning of the war. The present favorable war situation might have been very different if we had not had the bauxite produced during the past two years from these two small areas, a total of about 15 square miles. As a general statement, it can be said that the Arkansas bauxite deposits are, individually, relatively small, irregular in thickness, somewhat scattered and, therefore, compared with coal or iron-ore or open-pit copper deposits, relatively ill adapted to a rapid and drastic expansion in output. A few years ago it would have seemed an impossibility for these two counties to produce over six million long dry tons of bauxite in one year. However, with the cooperation of the operators, that is what happened in 1943, when the state of Arkansas achieved the seemingly impossible with a production of 6,020,684 1 long tons (dried equivalent) of bauxite ore during the calendar year, compared with an average annual production of 323,725 2 tons in the period 1931 to 1941. It became apparent early in the year 1941 that the United States soon might be drawn into the war, and, therefore, that an immediate study of the domestic metal situation was necessary. Aluminum is by far the most important metal used in the manufacture of aircraft and many other implements of war and it was evident that there would have to be a tremendous increase in the domestic production of bauxite, which is practically the only present source of this metal. As more than 95 per cent of the known bauxite reserves of the United States was in Arkansas, careful preliminary studies were made in that state by representatives of the United States Bureau of Mines, the United States Geological Survey and the War Production Board in the summer of 1941. Reserves in other states also Were studied. The result of these studies was a recommendation by the War Production Board that mining in the bauxite-producing areas of Arkansas be geared for maximum production, in order to supply sufficient ore for this country's war requirements and, if necessary, to supply the war needs of Canada as well. The annual goal of eight million long tons (dry Weight) set for Arkansas by the War Production Board Was exceeded in 1943, when in August the output reached a rate equivalent to more than 8,300,000 long tons, dry basis. Because of the comparatively small tonnage of bauxite reserves, Congress appropriated funds for an extensive drilling program to be carried out by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the Geological Survey. Drilling began in May 1942 but owing to delay in delivery of drills, and trucks upon which the drills were mounted, the program did not get into peak operation until early in 1943. By the end of July 1944, the Bureau of Mines records indicated an addition to the Arkansas reserves of 10,000,000 long tons (wet basis) in place