OCR

of any structural supports. Ore is removed from the stockpile through the Reclaim Belt Conveyor System which is provided in a concrete arch tunnel located beneath the stockpile. The 42 inch belt conveyor in the tunnel is fed from the stockpile by gravity-type feeders. A truck-loading bin at the end of the conveyor marks the start of a five-mile truck haul, and at the end of the haul the ore is dumped into pockets for feeding the Downhill Conveyor System, which transports the ore to four steel storage bins, each of 1500 tons. Crushed ore is hauled from these bins to San Nicolas. Pellet Plant Also in June, and two months ahead of scheduling, the seven million dollar Pellet Plant went on stream just fourteen months after ground was broken. The plant is designed to produce 1,000,000 tons per year of 3/8" pellets with an iron content of 68-69 %, and is the first iron ore pellet plant in South America. In operation, the control room is the nerve center of the whole plant, and from it one operator is able to control feed rates , furnace temperature; equipment starting and stopping, and all other items affect- ing the process. Design and Construction The Primary-Secondary Crushing and Stockpiling Facility was designed by Utah's Palo Alto Design Section, in conjunction with Marcona's Engineering Staff, while the major portion of the Pellet Plant was designed under Marcona's direction by Lurgi, a German firm. Approximate Cost San Nicolas - Stages I, II, III $19,507,06: San Nicolas - Stage IV 19,453,330 San Nicolas - Stage IV Aux. Fac. 1,500, 000 San Nicolas - Stage V 6, 800, 000 San Nicolas - Stage V Aux. Fac. 3, 200, 000