THE WORLD'S IRON RESOURCES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3134, 11 September 1922, Page 2

THE WORLD'S IRON RESOURCES.

The great importance of economy in the use of iron and the study of methods to avoid or reduce rusting or oxidation is shown by valuable and interesting statements in a recent article by Professor -I. W. Gregory on "Iron Ore in Europe." In reviewing a report by Mr Max Roosler, of the United States Geological Survey, on "The Iron Resources of Europe" Professor Gregory say;- thai it appeai-.s from this statement that the resources of iron ore in the world are estimated only to be sufiieicnt to maintain the same rate of production as in 1913 for one thousand years. On the other band, if the output of iron should increase, as is quite possible, in fact probable-, in the same ratio as the pre-war rate of even only 5 per cent. per annum, the world's supplies will be exhausted in about 150 years. Last year the total producing of pig iron, which is the basi.s of practically all iron and steel, was only ;i;i.000.000 tons, as against a pre-war maximum of 78.000,000 tons, but this reduction can only be a temporary cue. For example, suppose the Chinese commenced to ii.se iron and steel on a large scale. The demand, on the iron ore supplies would then be very great, as the present output of pig iron would soon be doubled. It; is estimated that if China, used steel in tho same quantity as the inhabitants of tho United States, half a million tons of steel would lie consumed every twenty-four hours. _ It may be interesting to add as showing lliJj enormous output in the United States- and their use of the metal iron is not likely to decrease but will l increase that each blast furnace* there ha- an average output of 120,000 tons per ajinum. the comparative figures being 55.000 in Germany and 28.000 in England. In 1913 each person in the United Slates used 7001b of iron, and in 1917 the production pen- capita was nearlv half a ton. .A similar use in this country would mean that we should have to produce about 2,1.000.000 tons of pig iron. and. even at the American rate of output for 1913. our annual production would have to be M .000.000 tens. a matter of fact the output ol Great Britain has not vet reached 1 1.000.000 tons per annum.' WhiNt Professor Gregory's estimate is nece-sariiy to some, extent speculative yet such a statement from an authority on the subject shows how great is the importance of studying this question of corrosion more closely than has been clone in tho past in order to effect desirable economies.