Mineral Indicators - Aluminum

In December's marketing of 99.5 percent aluminum ingot, domestic producer pricing remained at 53$ per pound, while dealer quoting rose from 47.5¢ to 48.5¢. BORON Domestic production of boron minerals and chemicals reached an all-time high in 1977--1.4 million short tons valued at $236 million. Combined sales of the three California producers topped the 1976 level by 15 percent in quantity and 28 percent in value, a consequence of healthy demand in the glass and insulation industries. Unprecedented demand for boric acid as a flame retardant for cellulosic insulation stimulated producers to utilize fully all available capacity, thereby achieving a record output of 158,000 tons. One company increased output from its existing boric acid facilities and initiated production at another plant that historically had produced only sodium borates. A second company achieved a previously planned 25 percent plant expansion.