Ironsands Tests at Onekaka

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1949, Page 5

Ironsands Tests at Onekaka

WELLINGTON, September 7. . Tronsands demonstration tests would l)ogin shortly at Onekaka, said the Minister of Tndustries ahd COnrmereC (Mr. Nordmever) today. The Minister added that the preliminary work had involved the erection of a small plant for the preparatio'n • of sir'ter — in which form the concentrated sand is fed to the furnace — the erection of an electrie furnace, and the assembly of concentrated ironsands, together with coal, char, and coke as fuel necessarv for the smelting operations. Tulfieient sinter had been prepared to produce about 80 tons of basic pig iron. Tlie Minister said the opportunity would be taken to produce several tons of pig iron in the electrie furnace from Onekaka ore. The tests wopld be under the charge of Profeasor le Moine, the late Professor of Metalurgy at the University of Paris, and associated with him would be a smelting technician from Norway whefe^the production of iron in an electfie furnace from titaniferous ores is a regular practice. Tt was anticipated the test would be well under way by the middle of Heptember, said the Minister. A laboi-a-tory had, been set up on the site with the equipment necessary for analysing the ])ig iron and the furnace slag. Professor le Moine Will be assisted by members of the staff of the Uohiinion Laboralorv and the Donlinioii Physical Labratory.