Mining Engineering Editorial

GROWTH of the United States to industrial supremacy in the world is mainly because of the rapid exploitation of natural resources. The easily found high grade mineral resources have been depleted and attention has turned to low-grade ores. Progress has been made from the comparatively crude mining and milling techniques, which sufficed for the rich deposits, to more complex technology for exploiting low-grade ores. In spite of this progress the defense program is pointing up the fact that the mining industry is caught short on ability to produce the needed mineral raw materials. The mining industry is digging itself out of business here in the United States.