TARANAKI IRONSANDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17954, 5 December 1932, Page 6

TARANAKI IRONSANDS

USE FOR FERTILISERS NEW VENTURE PROPOSED LONDOiN, Oct. 28. During tlm last 60 years there have been many unsuccessful efforts to exploit Taranaki ironsands commercially. Nine years ago research was begun with a view to utilising tlm sand for manures containing the ferrous metallic salt series. The work lias been going on ever since, and the climax, lias been reached on this side of tlm world in the past three months. Mr. A. E. Broue, who has had tlm matter in hand, hopes to. go back to New Zealand in a month,, and shortly after his arrival, tlm works at Hangitiki and isew Plymouth should be dealing \yith tlm ironsand for tlm pro, duction of fertilisers. Certain experiments and research could not bo completed ip the Dominion, and Mi;. Broue has ' been cp-operating with; eminent, eheinists, both in England and. on the Continent. Mr. Broue states thq vise of ironsands in the fertiliser industry was suggested by the successful application in tlm Dominion ot bog iron or iimonite to tbe sick lands. The cost of treatment of that form of iron being so high, tlm ironsands were tested, their highly-divided state lending itself to, more rapid and simplified treatment and. handling, and proved suitable for the purpose.