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Phosphate.—During 1947, 200 tons of low-grade phosphatic sandstone were produced from the Clarendon deposits, as against 11,047 tons in 1946. Kesumption of imports of rock phosphate from Nauru has coincided with the exhaustion of the more favourable sections of this deposit, and operations have now terminated. In all, 42,685 tons of this material have been produced since operations commenced during the war. Serpentine.—During the year, 31,935 tons of serpentine were produced, as against 20,058 tons in 1946. Of the total amount produced in 1947, 5,276 tons were obtained from North Auckland, 23,363 tons from Piopio, near Te Kuiti, and 3,296 tons from Mossburn, in the South Island. All the serpentine produced was used in the manufacture of serpentine-superphosphate, for which there is continued demand. Since the manufacture of this fertilizer was commenced during the war years, 204,391 tons of serpentine have been used for this purpose. Limestone. —There was again a substantial increase in the production of limestone for use in agriculture, 1,020,810 tons being produced during 1947, as against 929,794 tons in 1946. Production of limestone for agricultural use for the past twenty years has been as follows : Year. Tons. Year. Tons. 1928 .. .. 182,949 1938 .. .. 481,712 1929 .. .. 221,756 1939 .. .. 391,069 1930 .. .. 204,811 1940 .. .. 593,995 1931 .. .. 171,159 1941 .. .. 728,474 1932 .. .. 201,735 1942 .. .. 613,168 1933 .. .. 191,888 1943 .. .. 752,603 1934 .. .. 261,940 1944 .. .. 903,808 1935 .. .. 288,559 1945 .. .. 812,635 1936 .. .. 317,055 1946 .. .. 929,794 1937 .. .. 410,770 1947.. .. 1,020,810 Dolomite.—ln 1947, 7,034 tons of dolomite were produced, as against 3,893 tons in 1946. The greater part of this amount was consumed in the manufacture of soluble-slag fertilizer, but a proportion was finely ground for use as a fertilizer in the cultivation of tobacco. Magnesite. —The production of magnesite for use as a fertilizer in the cultivation of tobacco amounted to 362 tons in 1947, as against 374 tons in 1946. Clay for Bricks, Tiles, (fee.—ln 1947, 150,808 tons of clay for use in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, &c., were produced, as against 109,809 tons recorded in 1946. This substantial increase is due more to better statistical average than to actual increased production. Clay for Pottery, Fillers, &c. —Production of clays in this class amounted to 11,970 tons in 1947, as against 9,425 tons in 1946. With increased activity in the ceramic industry and the development of the paper industry in New Zealand, production of clays of this grade will increase. Pumice. —A total of 3,389 tons of pumice, of which 2,410 tons were exported, were produced in 1947, compared with 3,409 tons, of which 2,539 tons were exported, in 1946. Silica Sand. —During 1947, 14,443 tons of silica sand were produced from deposits at Parengarenga, Aramoho, Hyde, Mount Somers, Pleasant Valley, and Parapara, compared with 16,949 tons obtained from the same deposits in 1946. As in previous years, the deposit at Parengarenga operated by the New Zealand Glass Manufacturers Go. Pty., Ltd., contributed the greatest proportion of this amount, 12,541 tons, a tonnage which would have been greater but for shortages in the soda-ash requirements of this firm.

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