Industrial Minerals - Lightweight Aggregate Industry in Oregon

The production of lightweight aggregates in Oregon is a new industry, and, like all new enterprises, it is suffering from growing pains characterized by numerous, small operations some of which flourish for a short time and then cease altogether. Norinally all industrial mineral products are produced in a highly competitive atmosphere. At the present time this condition does not exist to a very marked degree in the state because as yet producers have not saturated the constantly expanding market. This paper has been prepared with the intention of outlining very briefly the current status of the various products now heing used as lightweight aggregates in Oregon. The present piche will surely change, perhaps quite radically within even a short space of time. Lightweight Aggregates Used in the Northwest PUMICE Interest in Oregon pumice is not new. Deposits are abundant. Successful development, however, dates only from 1946. During 1948 a total of nine operations was engaged in full or part-time production of aggregate. The postwar building boom and increased public consciousness regarding the value of insulation are the immediate reasons behind the current development. Just how firmly this production of pumice aggregate may be established is something which cannot be foretold at the present time. Much will depend upon how successfully the pumice aggregate construction already installed stands the test of time. Some fine pumice aggregate products have been made and it seems probable that because of its unique properties a certain demand for pumice aggregate will continue in the future. Fire-proof, rodent-proof, decay-resistant properties supplement the lightness in weight and insulation properties of pumice aggregate products in rendering them particularly ideal for many types of construction. In addition there has been fabrication in the form of reinforced fence posts, street markers, and similar products of a specialized-product nature and these are not to be overlooked in terms of future production. Also pertinent to how soundlj pumice aggregate production is established will be possible future competition with other lightweight aggregates. However, this situation will be governed largely by competitive costs of production and marketing. For its present use, which is almost exclusively limited to the manufacturing of building blocks, the market for Oregon pumice aggregate has been extended from the mining area around Rend and Chemult to points as far distant as San Francisco and Seattle. Naturally enough the bulk of the production goes to the Portland and eastern Oregon consumers. Shipments are made by both rail and truck. Early in 1947 the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries made a canvass of all pumice producers in the state. The production for 1956 amounted to 26,614 cu yd and was valued at $13,649 at the plants. The United States Bureau of Mines estimates the production for 1947 as 33,240 short tons valued at $111,380. This is roughly 65,000 cu yd. No data are available for the 1948 production but it is understood to exceed that for 1947. The Oregon pumice occurrences originated largely from the eruption of Mount Mazama, the name of the formerly active volcano and the location of Crater Lake. Other lesser volcanoes throughout the area contributed to the present occurrences, however, and it has been estimated by Moore' that the pumice deposits cover an area of some 3500 square miles. This area lies east of Crater Lake between Bend and Klamath Falls and embraces the southern portion of Deschutes County, the northern part of Klamath County, and the northwest corner of Lake County. Thickness of the pumice ranges from thin skims to local thicknesses of as much as 30 to 40 ft. Fragment size also varies greatly. Any attempt to describe the situation by giving screen analyses would be confusing because of the wide variations to be found in all area of this size. The picture can best be summed up by stating that places showing great variations in fragment size can be found if a search for extremes is made. For mining purposes in connection with aggregate production, it call be stated that miles and miles of pumice exist in which the fragrnent sizes range from an inch or so downward. The usual color of the pumice is a light gray to off-white. A typical pumice analysis shows a silica content of about 69 pct, alumina 15 pct, and sodium oxide about 5 pct. Potash, lime, and water are the next three most abundant constituents, running just a little over 2 pct each. Iron oxides are fairly constant at 2.75 pct. Titanium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus occur in amounts of less than 1 pct. All of the foregoing substances are combined as a glass exhibiting cellular structure. The weight of crushed but otherwise pit-run (undried) pumice runs around 1100 Ib per cu yd according to figures furnished by various producers. The minimum and maximum weights per cubic yard reported are 1050 and 1400 lb, respectively. The 1400 lb per cu yd pumice contrasts with the pumice from most of the other