| Abstract |
The survey on the mineral kyanite summarizes the supply-demand position of the United States, including information on production, imports, consumption, exports, capacity, substitute materials, and pertinent history. The properties and principal uses of kyanite are described. Mining, beneficiation, and processing methods are discussed and also the geology and reserves of domestic and foreign deposits. An extended presentation of the structure of the industry is given, which includes processing facilities, pertinent laws, taxation policies, tariffs, Government controls, and wartime experiences. Other special data are given for particular commodities. The kyanite-group minerals and synthetic mullite are important to the national defense for production of superduty mullite refractories used primarily in the metallurgical and glass industries. The domestic reserve of kyanite totals many millions of tons, but is not suitable for many strategic applications. Natural Indian kyanite and fused synthetic mullite are considered strategic and critical materials to be acquired for the national stockpile. (Author) |
