Magnetic Process For Ironsands

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 14

Magnetic Process For Ironsands

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 12. Early this week an Auckland firm, Mason Bros-, Ltd., will begin “round-the-clock” magnetic processing of about 500 tons ,of ironsands from the west coast of the North Island to separate iron particles from the rest of the sand. ”

The chairman of directors of the New Zealand Iron and Steel Investigating Company (Mr W. Fisher) said tonight it was hoped to have most of the iron concentrate sent overseas by the end of the month for testing. The balance would be sent early next month. The tests, which will determine the best method of steel production from the iron, will be carried out in Norway, America, Canada, and England. It is expected they will be completed by the end of April On Saturday, Mr N. H. Keyser, of the Batelle Memorial Institute, of Columbus, Ohio, consultants to the investigating company, arrived in Auckland. He spent some time discussing the work carried out at the institute in respect of the feasibility of an iron and steel industry based on the use of ironsands, with Mr Fisher and the Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall!. Tomorrow he will report on the study to a meeting of the company’s directors in Auckland. Tonight Mr Keyser said: “As a result of the work that has been completed I feel there are good grounds to think it will be possible to establish an iron and steel industry in New Zealand. “But, of course, this will depend to a big extent on the tests to be carried out soon. I am happy with the way the investigation is heading.” Economic and technical aspects of the project were being examined and so far certain processes had shown

themselves more attractive than others. He declined to say whether these were ones connected with the use of natural gas. “We have not narrowed down the processes to any particular one,” he said. Mr Keyser expects to be in New Zealand at least a week.