Production (long tons) 1973 7,486,000 1972 6,715,000 1971 6,682,000 1970 7,282,000 1969 6,657,000 Iron Ore Iron ore is found in many forms and in considerable supply throughout the world. Successful development of an iron ore deposit requires an efficient blend of mining, processing and transportation methods to gain a position among those competing to supply the world's steel industries. Many different and innovative combinations of these factors are currently in evidence, suited to the location, quality and geological characteristics of particular ore bodies. Utah participates in four such iron ore projects. With shipments commencing in 1944, the Iron Springs mine near Cedar City, Utah, U.S.A., represents one of the company's early entries into the mining business. By conventional open-pit mining methods combined with a unique traveling magnetic concentrator that processes low grade alluvial deposits, Iron Springs produces iron concentrates for delivery by rail to the United States Steel Corporation's Geneva Works at Provo, Utah. Shipments in 1973 were 580,000 short tons. CF&I Steel Corporation owns several iron ore mines nearby at which Utah, as a contractor, performs stripping and mining operations. Utah Development Company, which is 90%-owned by Utah International, holds a one-third interest in Mount Goldsworthy Mining Associates, a group involved in operating and developing hematitic iron ore properties in Western Australia. The first such venture was the construction of the Mount Goldsworthy mine, crushing and shiploading facilities at Port Hedland and a railroad to link the two installations. Since the first shipments from the Mount Goldsworthy deposit in 1966, the mining operations have been expanded on several occasions. The most recent expansion program completed in 1973 included the development of new ore bodies at Shay Gap and Sunrise Hill. With these new operations, total shipments in 1973 rose to 8.0 million dry long tons, substantially all of which were delivered to the Japanese steel industry, with a relatively small quantity sold to France. A deposit from which the Mount Goldsworthy group could realize substantial future production is designated as Mining Area C, where the presence of some 750 million tons of good quality iron ore is indicated. Detailed feasibility studies and discussions with potential customers and the Australian government are in progress to determine whether a mining operation at this location is viable at this time. Utah owns 46% of Marcona Corporation, which through subsidiaries operates iron ore mines in Peru and New Zealand and owns a fleet of vessels engaged in ocean shipping. Marcona was originally formed in 1952 to develop large iron ore deposits near the southern coast of Peru. In In the foreground, a 6-cubic yard (5-cubic meter) shovel loads iron ore into a 32-ton (29-metric ton) truck at the Iron Springs mine near Cedar City, Utah, U.S.A. In the background, a blast hole drill prepares 9-inch (23-centimeter) holes into which a charge is placed and detonated to loosen the ore. 18