WORLD TIN SITUATION

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• Document Page Count: 46
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 4, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 1, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

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_
FOR THE DEPU1Y DIRECTOR,
JOINT INTELLIGENCE GROW,JOINI STAFF
WORLD TIN
SITUATION
\
nc.N
SR-27 Jo. L.)
Published July 1948 ? ?
7
" 7
- '67, 17 . ?
by ?
Date:
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
.xisrEstacEALLiAL
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DISTRIBUTION Drm. 1,7w?, /tzar 71
1?.1.1.th: DD ? REG. 77/l76
The President
Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Date: bj ij 11 By AL,
Secretary of Defense
Executive Secretary, National Security Council
Chairman, National Security Resources Board
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Department of State
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Published July 1948 CONFIDENTIAL
SR-27
A SURVEY OF THE WORLD TIN SITUATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY
TIN SUPPLY AND ITS CONSERVATION DURING WORLD WAR II 1
CONSUMPTION AND USES 5
WORLD MINE PRODUCTION OF TIN 9
WORLD SMELTER PRODUCTION OF TIN 12
PRINCIPAL TIN PRODUCING AREAS 14
1. Far East . 14
a. Malaya . 14
b. Netherlands East Indies 15
c. Siam? (Thailand) . 16
d. China 16
e. Burma 17
f. Australia 17
g. Other Countries of the Far East . 17
2. Africa . ? ? 18
a. Belgian Congo 18
b. Nigeria 18
3. Latin America 19
a. Bolivia 19
b. Argentina 20
c. Mexico 21
d. Brazil 21
4. United Kingdom 22
5. Canada 23
6. USSR 23
APPENDIX
Table A ? Estimated Tin Ore Reserves of the World
Table B ? World Mine Production of Tin (Content of Ore) by Countries,
in Long Tons . . .
Table C ? World Mine Production of Tin by Principal Countries
Table D ? Major Tin Smelters of the World . .
Table E ? Index to World Map of Principal Tin Mines and Major Deposits
World Map of Principal Tin Mines and Important Deposits .
References .
A- 1
A-2
A-3
A-4
A- 5
A-10
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? SUMMARY
The world's major tin-producing areas are the Far East, Bolivia, and Africa. The
principal tin-producing countries of the Far East area are Malaya (the Malayan
Union), Netherlands East Indies, Siam, China, and Burma, which together accounted
for two-thirds of the world's production in 1939. The peak years of world mine pro-
duction of tin were 1940 and 1941 when 239,000 and 246,000 long tons of tin (metal
content of ore) were produced, the years just before the Japanese invasion. The
production in Malaya for these two years was 84,000 and 78,000 tons respectively
and in the Netherlands East Indies 43,000 and 51,000 tons. Most of the ore mined
and concentrated in the Far East was smelted within the area, although some of
the concentrates from the Netherlands Indies were shipped to the Arnhem Smelter
in Holland and to the United States.
Rehabilitation of the mines, plants, and dredges in the Netherlands Indies has
been more rapid than in Malaya and other countries of the Far East, and it is be-
lieved that tin production in the Indies will be restored to prewar levels in 1949 and
in Malaya possibly a year or two later, depending on the speed at which the dredges
can be repaired and equipment replacements obtained. Aside from delay in ship-
ments of new equipment and spares, recovery has been impeded by a coal shortage, and
by labor troubles due to the general social and economic disorganization to which the
shortage of rice has considerably contributed.
Bolivia now ranks second in importance as a tin-producing country, although
in prewar years it ranked third, and its economic well-being is dependent on exports
of tin which constitute about 80 percent of its export trade. All Bolivian production
of tin concentrates has in recent years been shipped to the United Kingdom and the
United States for smelting. Prior to World War II about 75 percent of the tin exports
went to England and the balance to Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Bolivia's pro-
duction is now the chief source for supplying the Longhorn smelter at Texas City,
Texas, but the exports to the United States fall short of smelter capacity.
Bolivia's peak production in recent years was 42,500 long tons (tin content of
concentrates) in 1945, but dropped to 37,700 in 1946 and to 33,259 in 1947. The
average annual tin production for the 5-year war period of 1941 to 1945 was 40,500
long tons. If labor troubles can be avoided and the present price * of 90 cents per
pound f.o.b. vessels at South American ports can be maintained, it is believed that
Bolivia's annual rate of exports of tin should increase substantially in 1948 over 1947.
An agreement for the purchase of 8,000 tons of Bolivian tin per year, in the
form of concentrates, for five years was signed early in March 1947, between Bolivia
* Subsequent to this writing the price was increased to 99 cents f. o. b. vessels at South American
ports.
Note: The information in this paper is as of April 1948.
The intelligence organizations of the Departments a State, Army, Navy, and the Air Force
have concurred in this report.
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and Argentina and ratified in October. As yet there have been no shipments made,
for negotiations as to the method of payment were still continuing in March 1948.
If Argentina intends to use the Bolivian tin for a domestic industry in the near future,
the concentrates would have to be shipped to the United States or United Kingdom
for smelting as Argentine facilities are totally inadequate for the handling of such a
tonnage. Plans for the erection of additional smelting facilities, however, are under
consideration. It is possible that the Argentine government may be considering this
purchase of relatively large tonnage for stockpiling purposes.
The two most important tin-producing countries in Africa are Nigeria and the
Belgian Congo. Nigeria's tin production in 1939 was 9,567 long tons and during the
war it was maintained well above 10,000 tons each year with a peak production of
12,883 tons in 1945. All Nigerian production of tin concentrates is exported to smelters
in England for reduction to metal.
The importance of the Belgian Congo during the war was brought out by the
fact that the mine production of tin increased from 7,140 long tons in 1939 to 17,070
in 1945, most of which was exported to the United States in the form of concentrates
and metal. Exports of tin from the Belgian Congo to the United States for the 5-year
period, 1941 to 1945, amounted to 50,000 tons of metal, and 19,000 tons of tin in con-
centrates for the period 1943 to 1945 inclusive. The production of tin in the Congo
may decline at the less remunerative mines depending on the world market and eco-
nomic factors. The principal tin smelter in the Belgian Congo is at Manono with a
rated annual capacity of 10,500 long tons of refined tin.
The production of tin in the USSR falls far short of domestic requirements,
although active search for tin in recent years has disclosed several tin-bearing de-
posits. Most of these deposits are low grade, difficult of access, and will need greatly
improved transportation facilities for their economic exploitation. According to cap-
tured German documents the production of tin increased during the war to 7,500
tons in 1944, but it is not believed that there has been any increase in mine produc-
tion since the termination of hostilities. It is believed that essential requirements
of tin are at present less and that production of tin in the USSR may be estimated at
about one-half of domestic needs.
The ore reserves of tin are limited and a much greater tonnage of ore will have
to be developed before the USSR may be considered to have attained any semblance
of self-sufficiency with respect to tin.
The mine production of other countries is discussed under tin production for
the individual countries.
The total world's ore reserves have been estimated at 6,541,000 tons of contained
tin, of which Malaya, China, Netherlands East Indies, Siam, and Burma of the Far
East account for 78 percent. Bolivia and the Belgian Congo each account for about
7.7 percent, Nigeria 3.8, and all other countries about 3.0 percent. It is not difficult
to note from the above where lies the largest source of supply and how important it
is to get the mines in the Far East rehabilitated and back to normal prewar produc-
tion. For the world's ore reserves see Table A of Appendix A.
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In contrast to the tin-producing areas, tin is not produced in appreciable amounts
in any important industrial country. The United Kingdom imports its tin primarily
in the form of concentrates, and prior to the war the United States imported refined
tin largely from the Far East and United Kingdom. These two countries together
consumed about 60 percent of the world's output of virgin metal. Now that the
United States has its own tin smelter, it produces more refined tin from Bolivian
concentrates than it imports as metal, but it will undoubtedly increase its imports
of metal from the Far East and other sources when production of refined tin is again
made available.
The Longhorn smelter at Texas City is operated by the Tin Processing Corpora-
tion. Its capacity was originally designed for 18,000 tons of fine tin per year, but
was subsequently increased to 74,000 tons which has never been reached, owing to
the low grade of Bolivian concentrates. Congress has extended the government's
authority to operate the smelter until 30 June 1949, with a proviso that Congress make
a thorough study of the advisability of maintaining a domestic tin-smelting industry
on a permanent basis. Considering the present world tin shortage, it would seem
highly essential to continue the operation of the Texas Smelter, especially in case
our source of supply, other than Bolivia, were cut off.
The United States is entirely dependent on foreign sources for its supply of tin
and is the world's largest consumer of tin. The most important and largest source
of world supply is found in the Far East, and if this source of supply should be cut
off from the United States and the United Kingdom, the only other sources would be
Africa and Bolivia. Of course, if the Far East should be cut off from the United King-
dom, Britain's demands on the Belgian Congo and Nigeria would be greater, which
would no doubt curtail shipments to the United States. It, therefore, stands to reason
that the United States should stockpile sufficient tin to fill its requirements for at
least two or three years, because of the great distances to principal producing areas
and largest ore reserves.
Note: All tonnage figures in this report are long tons unless otherwise indicated.
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? TIN SUPPLY AND ITS CONSERVATION DURING WORLD WAR II
?
The procurement of tin for stockpile purposes was relatively small in the United
States until after the passage of the Strategic Materials Act in June 1940 which au-
thorized purchases by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. By the end of 1941
the Government owned 23,245 long tons of tin contained in ore and concentrates and
50,039 long tons of metal, of which the Reconstruction Finance Corporation held 42,606
tons, the Treasury Procurement 5,478 tons for the strategic stockpile, and the Navy
Department 1,055 tons.
Events following Pearl Harbor necessitated prompt and drastic reduction in the
use of tin. On 17 December 1941, an order was issued placing tin under full allocation
control which forbade the fabrication, sale, transfer or disposal of tin except as au-
thorized by the Director of Priorities. Subsequently, supplementary conservation
orders and regulations were issued. In fact, throughout the war the orders were fre-
quently modified or amended to effect more restricted regulations and were extended
through auxiliary limitation and conservation orders to stop lesser loopholes in the
restraining program. The effectiveness of these orders was demonstrated by the fact
that consumption of primary tin declined from 103,086 tons in 1941 to 46,253 tons in
1943. Toward the end of the war restrictions were slightly relaxed and 55,642 tons
of primary tin were consumed in 1945.
Conservation was generally effected in three ways: (1) through prohibition or
nearly complete prohibition of tin for use in certain items, such as foil for packaging
or decorative purposes, collapsible tubes, and jewelry. (2) A second method was by
reducing the tin content of alloys and tin plate, such as solders, bronzes, and bearing
metals. The greatest saving in this field was obtained by reducing the thickness in
tin plate coating for many uses. Part of this saving was accomplished through specifi-
cation control and part through the introduction of electrolytic plating which made
it possible to produce tin plate with coatings of 0.5 pounds per base box and less as
against 1.0 to 1.5 pounds by dipping. This type of plate was suitable for many ap-
plications and as it became available its use was specified whenever possible. It has
been stated that industrial research has made it possible to produce 26 billion cans
in 1947 with 40 percent less tin than was consumed in 1941 in making 25 billion cans;
electrolytic tin plate, low tin content solders, and other research developments, in
metal can production alone, will have saved some 80,000 tons of tin during the six years
ended December 31, 1947. (3) A third method of conservation was through substitu-
tion. In this field the displacement of metal by glass containers, partly as a result of
concurrent limitations on steel, was the most important factor. Fiber containers found
increasing uses as well as chemically treated plate for certain cans.
As a result of distribution and conservation controls, at no time during the war
period was any war or essential civilian program held up for lack of tin. It must be
remembered, however, that the United States had a fairly good supply of tin in the
form of metal and concentrates when it entered the war and was able to acquire
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STOCKS OF TIN METAL
AND CONCENTRATES (Metal Content)
IN THE UNITED STATES* 1939-1940
THOUSANDS OF LONG TONS
200
175
150
125
100
75
25
0
1939 1940 1941 1942
* End of year.
1943
1944
1945
** Mostly Government. Data prior to December 1941 are not available.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce.
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2
1946
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additional supplies from the Far East before they were cut off by Japan, and from the
Belgian Congo and Bolivia. Should our sources of supply from the Far East as well
as from the Belgian Congo be cut off, our only source of supply would be Bolivia. Our
supplies at present are none too plentiful and it stands to reason that the United States
should build up and maintain a stockpile of tin to meet its needs for a period of at
least two Or three years.' Stocks, of tin metal and concentrates (metal content) in
the united State.a for the:Tears 1939 to 1946 are indicated by the chart on page 2.
According to the Department of Commerce, stocks of tin at the end of 1947 are
given as follows:
Government:
LONG TONS
(TIN CONTENT)
Concentrate
19,282
Pig
24,555
Industrial:
Pig
14,438
Other
9,112
TOTAL
67,387
Does not include strategic stockpile.
During the war, supplies of both tin metal and concentrates available to the
United Nations were allocated by the Combined Raw Materials Board. When that
Board was discontinued at the end of 1945, the United States, United Kingdom, France,
Belgium, and the Netherlands established the Combined Tin Committee to allocate the
pig tin exportable surpluses of the world's major producers among consuming countries.
Concentrates are no longer allocated. Certain countries with smelters, such as the
United Kingdom and Malaya for example, produce more pig than they consume. To
insure an equitable distribution, their surplus of pig tin is allocated to those countries
where smelters are lacking or are not producing enough pig tin to meet their respective
requirements, such as the United States. The allocations to different countries for
1947 have totaled about 57,000 tons of pig tin over half of which was allocated to the
United States.
The imports of tin into the United States by country of origin for the years 1939
to 1947 are given in Table 1.
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TABLE 1-IMPORTS OF TIN INTO THE UNITED STATES BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
(In long tons)
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
Concentrates 1
Argentina
1,609
..
60
..
. .
.
Belgian Congo
..
4,094
7,549
7,401
7,214
350
Bolivia
20,514
20,750
21,048
27,701
25,984
28,566
22,967
French Cameroons
179
161
283
177
129
58
Mexico
114
45
212
61
13
Netherlands East Indies . .
6,220
7,977
2,206
4,894
Siam (Thailand) ...
...
.8
2,280
Other 500 2
3,0002
34
2
72
12
Total 500
3,000
28,670
28,933
25,645
35,548
33,529
38,116
30,503
Metal
Belgian Congo 100
4,899
11,030
11,225
11,550
10,000
6,494
628
4,550
British Malaya 46,785
96,454
104,872
7,791
5
..
12,440
China 3,259 ?
3,889
2,845
3,625
3,338
1,946
. .
2,607
Netherlands
East Indies 5,316
12,101
17,739
3,922
1,847
Portugal 25
104
.
99
364
9
United Kingdom 10,698
4,851
3,641
87
4,208
246
Other ' 3,719 -
2,512
746
4
111
973
24
13,849'
Total 70,102
124,810
140,873
26,753
12,030
13,338
9,413
6,716
33,692
1 The above figures of imports of concentrates are on a tin-content basis. The amount of actu-
ally recoverable refined tin will be less because of treatment and smelting losses.
'Imports of tin concentrates came largely from Bolivia and were consigned for treatment in
private plants in this country.
?3 Japan 9,820 tons; Siam 4,029 tons.
SOURCE: Department of Commerce.
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TABLE 2-CONSUMPTION OF TIN IN THE UNITED STATES
Product
1939
1940
1941
199
Pri- Second- Total
mary ary
Pri- Second- Total
mary ary
Pri- Second-
mary ary Total
Pri- Seco
mary ar,
Tin plate
36,640 1
1
36,640
38,674'
38,674
44,8541
44,854
28,522
Terneplate
317
1,137
1,454
455
1,058
1,513
917
1,129
2,046
339
5
Solder
9,578
7,701
17,279
10,222
8,797
19,019
18,084
10,141
28,225
7,228
6,6
Babbitt
3,850
1,598
5,448
4,473
3,173
7,646
7,495
3,104
10,599
3,195
2,9
Bronze and Brass
3,385
3,051
6,436
5,444
9,216
14,660
10,067
13,103
23,170
10,646
17,0
Collapsible tubes
3,507
"
3,507
3,512
2
3,512
4,233
212
4,445
1,048
Tinning
2,165
172
2,337
2,455
265
2,720
3,987
145
4,132
2,764
Foil
2,001
5
2,001
1,713
1,713
4,292
4,292
576
Chemicals (other
than tin oxide)
167
288
455
52
330
3822
280
690
970
36
2
Pipe and Tubing
, 606
2
606
661
2
661
1,325
2
1,325
143
Tin oxide
651
359
1,010
651
506
1,157
995
495
1,490
84
Type metal
149
990
1,139
84
1,048
1,132
287
1,528
1,815
40
1,1
Galvanizing
1,028
.
1,028
963
963
863
104
967
82
Bar tin
1,100
241
1,341
1,000
91
1,091
1,526
607
2,133
601
1'
Miscl. alloys
404
45
449
353
11
364
480
137
617
558
2
White metal
466
42
508
953
83
1,036
2,463 3
982
2,561
83'
1,
Miscellaneous
569
221
790
659
262
911
938
116
1,054
343
Total
66,583
15,845
82,428
72,324
24,830
97,154
103,086
31,609
134,695
56,288
29,3!
Includes small quantity of pig tin derived from detinning operations.
Small quantity included under "Miscellaneous."
"Includes 454 tons of primary and 20 of secondary.
'Includes 9 tons of primary and 2 of secondary for Britannia ware and 2 tons of primary for pewter.
5 Includes 5 tons of secondary for pewter.
'Includes "Miscellaneous."
'Included under "Chemicals."
SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Mines.
TABLE 2A - CONSUMPTION OF TIN II
PRODUCTS (TIN CONT
199
PRODUCT
Tin plate and terneplate
Solder
Babbitt
Bronze and Brass
Collapsible tubes
Tinning
Foil
Chemicals (other than tin oxide)
Pipe and Tubing
Tin oxide
Type metal
Miscellaneous
TOTAL
'Other and unclassified.
= Includes about 3,000 tons of secondary pig fro
SOURCE: Department of Commerce.
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CONSUMPTION AND USES
? The present shortage of tin is the direct outgrowth of the wartime devastation of
Far Eastern producing areas. On current evidence, this shortage will continue for
some time. Domestic requirements of tin for the year 1948 are estimated at approxi-
mately 90,000 tons under restrictions now in force.
World supply estimates made public by the inter-governmental Tin Study Group
in Brussels in April 1947, indicate that current supplies of tin will fall short of demand
at least until some time in 1949, and for that reason tin will probably continue to be
allocated. The United States normally consumes about one-half of the world's total
output of tin, but is entirely dependent on foreign sources.
Although tin is not used directly in the production of steel, its consumption is
closely linked with the steel industry. The largest use of tin is in the production of
tin plate, that is, steel sheets covered with a layer of tin as a protective coating, the
major part of which is in tin containers needed for packaging food. A small amount
is used to put a lead-tin coating on steel in the manufacture of terne plate. Its use for
plating steel, in solder, and in bearing alloys for use in machines made of steel accounts
for about 60 percent of the tin consumption. Solder, bearing metal, and bronze ac-
count for the bulk of the metal used in alloy form, with lesser amounts in die casting
alloys and similar combinations. Other uses are in collapsible tubes, type metal, foil,
and other products. A small percentage of the total consumption is in industrial uses
in the form of chemical compounds as oxide and chloride.
There are few direct military uses, but on the other hand, war demand considerably
increases the consumption of tin in many of its ordinary. industrial uses, particularly
tin containers, solder, and bearing metal. Such uses as we find of tin in military
equipment are simply adaptations of the ordinary industrial uses, applied to products
that happen to be of a military character.
The total consumption of tin in the United States by finished products is given
in Table 2 and Table 2A for the years 1939 to 1947.
From these tables it will be noted that the proportion of tin used in tin plate
during the years 1939, 1940, and 1941 was much greater than during the years follow-
ing when restrictions were in effect. On the other hand, a larger proportion was
used in alloys of bronze and brass during the war period because of greater requirements
by the military services. As long as tin is in short supply and restrictions remain in
force, the free use of tin for certain finished products will continue to be limited. The
accompanying chart indicates the consumption of primary and secondary tin in the
United States by finished products (tin content) for selected periods 1937 to 1946.
Table 3 gives some idea of the apparent consumption of tin in the leading countries
from 1939 to 1947 in long tons.
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CONSUMPTION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TIN IN
THE UNITED STATES BY FINISHED PRODUCTS (TIN CONTENT)
FOR SELECTED PERIODS DURING 1937-46
Percent
100
80
60
40
20
PRE-WAR
WAR
POST-WAR
OTHER
TINNING
COLLAPSIBLE TUBES
BABBITT
BRONZE AND BRASS
SOLDER
TIN PLATE AND
TERNE PLATE
N,?;?;?;?;c9;*
???:+:?:???%?????
.A.?.?.?.?!?,11.?
.0
.0
/
/
/
/
1937-39
average
1942-44
average
Source: Basic data from Bureau of Mines, U. S. Department of Interior
and U. S. Department of Commerce.
CONFIDENTIAL
6
1946
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TABLE 3-APPARENT TIN; CONSUMPTION, LONG TONS
1939
1940, ?
-1941
. 1942,
1943 '
1944
1945
-1946
1947 .
Africa
Egypt 342
Union of S. Africa 642
Other 185
529_
796
330
, 508
'660
140
681
450
83
.9.3
800'
187
384
1,127
498
, 358
931
138
450
823
74
438
1,200
237
Taal 1,169
1,655
1,308
1,214
1,080
2,009
1,427
1,347
1,875
North and South America
Argentina 1,734
2,065
2,172
1,234
792
992
464
500 1
900
Brazil 1,260
902
1,589
526
231
407
515
850 1
600
Canada 2,601
5,285
7,814
3,769
1,521
1,428
3,300
3,300
4,920
Chile 130
252
345
279
40
81
88
150'
180
United States 3 66,583
72,324
103,086
56,288
46,253
59,156
55,642
54,627
63,078
Other 380
476
633
332
147
365
337
413
668
Total 72,688
81,304
115,639
62,428
'48,984
62,429
60,346
59,840
70,346
Asia
China 400 1
400 1
400 1
India 3,524
2,772
4,203
2,9002
5,160
Japan 11,184
10,800
9,500
11,000
13,000
11,000
3,150
1,800
Netherlands E. Indies 650
500 1
300 1
Turkey 266
790
515
178
94
402
450
450
480
Other 284
417
103
107
126
230
200
352
436
Total 16,308
15,679
15,021
11,285
13,220
11,632
3,800
3,702
7,876
Europe
Belgium 1,217
697
40
17
1,200'
1,500 1
1,800
Czechoslovakia 853
375
3
5001
1,824
Denmark 1,236
523
124
81
85
58
228
777
522
Finland 299
185
42
115
65
38
15
347
162
France 7,726
11,785
945
34
3,171
5,500 1
7,800
Germany 11,000 1
2,560
1,600
1,700
1,840
100
300
Hungary 633
477
19
166
9
51
93
360
Italy 3,716
3,942
1,575
1,903
1,687
6601
3,600
Netherlands 1,220
400 1
1,0001?
1,500 1
1,860
Norway 674
567
70
29
9
1
272
545
420
Poland 1200'
.
61
500 12
880
Portugal 270 1
270 1
270'
270 1
270'
2701
250 1
250 1
5
Roumania 283
386
15
67
115
89
Spain 854 1
1,066
786
110
406
508
600
600'
Sweden 2,917
2,118
51
51
365
568
1,242
Switzerland 1,101
1,360
306
280
117
62
65
628
1,200
United Kingdom 27,279
29,225
30,0001
23,478
17,631
18,435
16,396
25,606
27,384
Yugoslavia 472
588
Other 382
370
97
149
105
71
193
140
870
Total 63,332
56,306
35,852
28,348
22,464
19,751
23,671
39,714
51,790
Australia 2,272
2,616
3,095
3,012
2,338
2,049
1,991
2,0001
2,160
New Zealand 338
543
585
20
424
430
250
250
480
Total 2,610
3,159
3,680
3,032
2,762
2,479
2,241
2,250
2,640
Total World 162,000
160,000
171,500
115,500
100,500
99,500
96,200
110,700
131,400
1 Estimates.
'Imports of country in question as shown from the trade returns of other countries exporting
to it.
3 1939-46 Source: Bureau of Mines.
As from 1942: Ministry of Supply, showing actual consumption.
'Not available.
NOTE: USSR is not included. See Section covering USSR. Most figures for 1947 are approxi-
mations which will undoubtedly be corrected at the meeting of the International Tin Study Group
to be held in Washington during April.
SOURCE: Statistical Bulletin of the International Tin Study Group.
1 CONFIDENTIAL
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At the international meeting in Brussels (April 1947) the Tin Study Group esti-
mated that the quantity of tin likely to be available for consumption in 1947 would be
between 140,000 and 150,000 tons, provided present restrictions were continued. The
actual available tonnage, however, was approximately 135,000 tons.
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WORLD MINE PRODUCTION OF TIN
The principal tin ore deposits are located in remote areas of the world. The
most important producing area includes the Asiatic countries of Malaya, Netherlands
East Indies, China, Siam (Thailand), and Burma, while Bolivia is the major producing
country of the Western Hemisphere. The Belgian Congo and Nigeria were important
producing countries during World War II, the former increasing production of 7,140
long tons in 1939 to over 17,000 tons in 1945.
Other important countries, but with relatively smaller production, are England
(Cornwall), Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Indochina, Japan, and Australia. The pro-
duction of tin from each of these countries ranges from about 1,000 to 3,500 tons per
year. Countries producing a few hundred tons annually are Mexico, Canada, the
French Cameroons, Union of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, and Uganda.
In 1939 the Malay States produced 27 percent of the world's production while
the Netherlands East Indies accounted for 16 percent, Siam 10 percent, China 8.7 per-
cent, and Burma about 5 percent. Including Indochina and Japan, the production
of tin from all the Asiatic countries in 1939 represented over two-thirds of the world's
production.
About 80 percent of the Bolivian tin output comes from the mines owned by the
three large operating companies of Patifio, Hochschild, and Aramayo. The balance
comes from relatively smaller companies. In 1939 the exports of 27,211 tons of tin
in concentrates accounted for about 15.8 percent of the world's production, but this
tonnage was considerably increased during the war years, reaching 42,487 tons in
1945. While Bolivian tin production was increased during the war, the production in
the Far East was greatly curtailed because of Japan's occupation of the Malayasia tin
producing area. This is clearly indicated in Table 4 which covers the world mine
production of tin for periods 1925-29 (average) and 1939 to 1947 by principal produc-
ing areas and countries. A more comprehensive coverage of world mine production
is given in Tables B and C of the Appendix.
At the international meeting of the Tin Study Group held in Brussels in April
1947, the world tin situation was reviewed. In view of the difficulties experienced in
the Far East in obtaining delivery of mining plant and equipment, the shortage of coal,
and the inability of labor to secure sufficient supplies of rice and consumers' goods, the
Study Group, after examining the statistical position, revised downward the estimates
of production made in 1946. As a result, a report of the Statistical Committee gave the
following estimate of world production for the years 1947, 1948, and 1949 in long
tons of contained tin:
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1947
1948
1949
Far East
50,000
96,400
135,200
Africa
25,500
26,700
28,000
South America
41,500
41,500
41,500
Other Countries
6,000
6,500
7,000
TOTAL
123,000
171,100
211,700
Less 5 percent allowance
6,150
8,550
10,585
TOTAL (round figures)
117,000
163,000
201,000
Although progress has been made in the rehabilitation of the mines and dredges,
difficulties in securing necessary equipment and unsettled conditions generally have
continued to obtain. Because of these and other factors which would have a re-
tarding effect, the estimates of production for the Far East and South America may
be considered optimistic.
In prewar years more than two-fifths of the world output of tin was produced
by British capital. Dutch, Chinese, and Bolivian interests had important holdings
while those of Belgian, US and Argentine investors were of minor importance. At the
present time Bolivian, British, and Belgian capital accounts for the most important
portions of world mine production, in that order, while those of the Dutch and Chinese
are comparatively small, but a trend toward the prewar pattern is underway.
For the location of the principal tin mines and tin-producing areas see Table E
of Appendix A and accompanying map.
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TABLE 4-WORLD MINE PRODUCTION OF TIN (CONTENT OF ORE) , 1925-29 (AVERAGE)
AND 1939-47 BY COUNTRIES, IN LONG TONS
1925-29
(average)
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
Far East
Malaya 56,837
46,827
84,028
78,0001
15,748
26,000
9,309
3,152
8,432
27,030
N.E.I. 33,266
27,755
43,193
51,0001
9,812
17,457
6,719
843
6,535
15,910
Siam 8,204
17,325'
17,447
15,0001
7,843
5,839
3,194
1,275
5001
1,400
China 7,085 8
15,000'
11,500 1
12,0001
7,000'
'7,500 1
3,000 1
1,500 1
2,500 1
1,500
Burma 2,228
8,536
5,5001
5,0001
.
1,000 1
500 1
200 1
2
200
Indochina,
French 691
1,467
1,472
1,295
1,029
653
358
100'
2
. .
Japan 590
1,473
1,760
2,177
1,894
1,107
374
2
1,200
Australia 2,830
3,067
3,501
3,494
2,931
2,635
2,547
2,282
2,127
2,100
Total 111,731
121,450
168,455
167,966
46,257
62,191
26,001
9,352
20,094
49,340
Africa
Nigeria 8,319
9,567
12,177
12,229
12,574
12,835
12,512
11,224
10,333
9,400
Belgian
Congo 967
7,140
12,075
15,751
15,754
17,007
16,858
17,070
14,095
14,630
Others
2,062
2,060
1,754
1,618
1,640
1,425
1,351
1,265
1,520
Total 9,286
18,769
26,312
29,734
29,946
31,482
30,795
29,645
25,693
25,550
South America
Bolivia' 37,169
27,211
37,940
42,199
38,293
40,312
38,720
42,487
37,717
33,250
Others 32
1,702
1,553
968
1,073
1,139
1,004
823
631
650
Total 37,201
28,913
39,493
43,167
39,366
41,451
39,724
43,310
38,348
33,900
North America
Canada,
Mexico, U.S. 26
323
394
297
924
779
553
553
690 1
550
Europe
United
Kingdom 2,658
1,633
1,620
1,509
1,363
1,359
1,289
993
793
950
Others 868
2,027
2,323
2,863
3,417
4,4401
2,7801
620 1
2,4151
1,450
Total 3,526
3,650
3,943
4,372
4,780
5,799
4,069
1,613
3,208
2,400
Grand
Total' 163,000
173,000
239,000
246,000
122,000
142,000
102,000
86,000
89,000
111,740
Estimated.
Data not available; estimate included in total.
Exports.
SOURCE: 1925-46 Bureau Mines. 1947 preliminary estimates by the U.S. Section of the Inter-
national Tin Study Group. The Statistical Sub-Committee of the International Tin Study Group
(Conference 19-24 April 1948) has estimated the production of Burma and China for 1947 at 900
and 4,000 long tons, respectively. Other sources consider these estimates to be high because of
the unsettled conditions in these countries.
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WORLD SMELTER PRODUCTION OF TIN
While Malaya produced 27 percent of the world's mine production of tin in con-
centrates in 1939, its smelter production, according to Table 5, accounted for 45 per-
cent of the world's production of refined tin. Next in importance in production of re-
fined tin was the United Kingdom with 20.8 percent. Bolivia was out of the smelting
picture as the major part of its mine production was exported to the United Kingdom
and the balance to other European countries.
During 1940 and 1941, before the Japanese invasion, the smelter production in
Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies was increased by something over 50 percent.
In 1942 and the years following, however, there was an abrupt drop in smelter pro-
duction in the Far East as indicated in Table 5.
There is sufficient smelting capacity in the Far East to provide for US consumption
and when the mines have been rehabilitated, dredges repaired, and other factors
which are impeding production have been overcome, the smelter production is ex-
pected to return to normal. This may take two or three years.
When it became apparent in 1940 that our regular sources of tin supply were
threatened, plans were made for the construction of a federally financed tin smelter.
It was decided to locate the plant at Texas City, Texas, as this location is convenient
for receiving ore from Bolivia and is accessible to a plentiful supply of acid and of
cheap natural gas for fuel. The construction of the Longhorn Tin Smelter was begun
in October of 1941 under the supervision of the Tin Processing Corporation, and
smelting operations began in April 1942. The capacity of the smelter was originally
designed for 18,000 tons of fine tin per year to be produced from Bolivian ores, but
the plant was enlarged to an annual capacity of 52,000 tons when two of the large
tin smelting centers of the world?Singapore and Penang?fell into the hands of the
Japanese. The annual capacity was subsequently increased to 74,000 tons of fine
tin but the highest production to date was 43,500 tons in 1946, owing to the low grade
of Bolivian concentrates. The bulk of the concentrates smelted in the Texas City
smelter originates in Bolivia, although supplementary quantities have been received
from the Belgian Congo and the Netherlands East Indies.
As the Bolivian tin concentrates which come from lode mines are for the most
part low grade, it necessitated building at Texas City a plant to beneficiate them by
?further concentration, roasting and leaching before smelting.
In 1945 and 1946 the smelter supplied the major part of the primary tin consumed
in the United States. During 1947 the Longhorn smelter produced 33,280 long tons
of tin. This drop was largely due to labor difficulties in Bolivia. Since it is the only
major smelter of primary metal in the United States, its output will be essential during
1948 and 1949, especially as the entire output can be sold to the United States.
Legislation was passed by Congress extending the government's authority to oper-
ate the Longhorn Smelter until 30 June 1949, with a proviso that Congress make a
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thorough study and investigation of the advisability of maintaining a domestic tin
smelting industry on a permanent basis.
Capital invested by British Nationals controlled more than two-fifths of the world
smelter production of tin in prewar years, Bolivians held one-fifth, the Dutch and
Chinese combined one-fifth, while German, Belgian, and Japanese had small holdings.
Now the United States, with the federally financed Longhorn smelter, accounts for
about two-fifths of the world output, substantial portions by British and Bolivian in-
terests, while Belgian, Chinese, and Dutch interests are of minor importance. How
much the pattern will change depends on the future of the Longhorn smelter.
A list of the major tin smelters of the world is given in Appendix A in Table D.
TABLE 5-WORLD SMELTER PRODUCTION OF TIN BY COUNTRIES, IN LONG TONS
1929-35
Country (average)
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
Argentina
1,080
881
768
709
552
467
714
500 1
4801
Australia 2,952
3,294
3,544
3,656
3,024
2,565
2,442
2,359
2,000 1
2,000 7
Belgian
Congo
2,711
7,832
11,818
13,963
11,068
10,0001
6,713
2,3721
36,0001
Belgium' 720
3,100'
3
3
3
2,0001
15,000 7
British
Malaya 88,855 4
81,536 4
126,9452
125,0001
10,0001
15,0001
5,0001
2,5001
7,5001
30,0001
Canada
29
553
347
231
379
390
360 1
China 7,080'
14,019
10,517
11,188
7,756
7,091
1,982
1,0001
1,929
3,6001
Germany' 3,444
7,000
3,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
4,000
a
a
Indochina,
French
8
3
69
337
389
213'
141
3
Italy
146
330
72
228
110
a
6
30'
120'
Japan' 606
2,025
1,661
2,620
3,870
2,058
759
121
68
600 1
Mexico a
90
116
150
320
395
286
166
263
240 1
Netherlands 1,0008
14,600 1
2,967
a
3
3
3
3
800 1
8,750
Nether-
lands E.I. 14,749
13,941
22,035
23,0001
8,000'
12,0001
3,000 1
500'
Norway
283
206
98
48
23
27
80
Portugal 28
30
781
1,481
2,381
3,058
373
182
114
240 7
Siam (Thai-
land) 113 79
1,0001
3,5001
2,5001
1,0001
Spain ?
138
112
86
99
121
515
1,111
1,150'
9601
Union of
S. Africa
33
143
535
862
1,150
1,033
858
678 1
United
Kingdom 45,800
37,400
3
40,000
30,000
31,026
25,0001
28,0001
28,5901
27,544
United States .
1,391 11
1,839 "
16,168 11
21,489 "
30,884 '1
40,475 11
43,500
33,280
Total
(esti-
mate) 165,000
181,000
224,000
225,000
103,000
117,000
89,000
86,000
92,000
127,500
Estimates.
'Yearbook of American Bureau of Metal Statistics.
'Data not available; estimate included in total.
'Exports plus difference between carry-over at end and beginning of year.
5 Exports.
Includes production of some secondary tin.
Preliminary data.
O Estimated production in 1929.
Average for 1926-27.
' Average for 1926-28
"Including tin content of ores used direct to make alloys.
SOURCE: Bureau of Mines 1925-46; Department of Commerce 1947.
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PRINCIPAL TIN PRODUCING AREAS
1. FAR EAST.
a. Malaya.
The territory covered by the term Malaya includes the Federated and Unfederated
Malay States, now known as Malayan Union, and the Straits Settlements. Most of
the tin ore produced in the Malay States is treated in smelters located in Straits Settle-
ments.
In the Federated States the deposits are located in Perak, Selangor, Pahang, and
Negir Sembilan, while in the Unfederated States, small tonnages have come from
Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Trengganu.
In 1937 there were more than 1,000 tin mining operations in Malaya and there
were hundreds of companies operating these properties. Approximately 120 dredges
owned by perhaps 75 companies were in operation before the Japanese occupation.
Operations for the most part were profitable but the companies distributed their earn-
ings in dividends and rarely retained more than a small amount as operating capital.
With their dredges damaged, ruined, or sunk, most of them do not possess the money
required to rehabilitate or to purchase new dredges. Many of these companies, even
after they receive compensation from the government for the damage they suffered,
may never again purchase a dredge because the acreage of their holdings which remain
undredged will not be large enough to amortize the investment in a dredge before the
property is exhausted. 'They may hold the property for a time to await developments
or, if they are ,fortunate in being contiguous to another property in similar position,
may either sell the ground, lease it, or amalgamate with the adjoining property and
thus have sufficient acreage to amortize the cost of a new dredge. Another possibility
is the use of dredges which have portable pontoon-type hulls and superstructures which
are more readily and cheaply dismantled and moved than the existing designs. As
most Malayan tin mines are inland from the coast, it is the practice to erect dredges on
the operating sites. This means that for a given type, there will be a greater time
lag between ordering and putting into operation than with tin deposits directly ac-
cessible by boat. In any case, it will result in a much slower rehabilitation. Rehabili-
tation of the tin industry in Malaya has also been retarded by a shortage of coal, high
labor costs, and delays in the delivery of equipment.
Not quite half of the tin concentrates produced in Malaya came from dredging
enterprises, approximately one-third from gravel pumping operations, and the balance,
about one-fifth, from hydraulicking, Dulang washers, and underground lode mines.
Compared with a mine production of 84,028 long tons of tin in 1940 the production
in 1946 was only 8,432 tons and 27,030 tons in 1947.
According to the Statistical Bulletin of the International Tin Study Group exports
of tin metal from Malaya in 1946 and 1947 to countries of destination are given as
follows:
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COUNTRY OF DESTINATION
1946
CONFIDENTIAL
LONG TONS
1947
Canada
1,070
2,580
United States
. . . .
16,250
India
1,445
3,340
Belgium
990
France
1,470
Italy
1,200
United Kingdom
589
335
Other Europe 1
475
6,565
Other countries
45
819
TOTAL
7,284
29,889
1Figures for 1947 are for Europe (Continent) .
b. Netherlands East Indies.
These islands were among the early producers of tin, and lying as they do
in the Oriental tin belt, the ores are of the same character and high grade as the
adjacent deposits of Malaya. About 60 percent of the output is from the island of
Banka and 30 percent from Billiton, with the balance coming from Singkep, Sumatra,
and the Riouw Archipelago. Operations on Banka are entirely alluvial, but on Billiton
and Singkep there are also lode deposits. Mining has been mostly by open-pit methods,
by hand, or with gravel pumps, but dredges have now been introduced.
Although rehabilitation of the tin industry in the Netherlands East Indies may
be retarded by shortages of coal and shipping facilities, the problem of rehabilitation is
quite different from that of Malaya for several reasons. In the Netherlands East Indies
there have been two organizations producing tin?the Banka properties which have
been run by the government1 and the Billiton properties in which the government
holds a majority interest. Consequently, millions of dollars worth of new equipment
can be ordered by the government or by Billiton with the backing of the government.
In the case of dredges, they can be built in Europe or the United States and floated to
the scene of operations which are the submarine deposits along the coasts of the Banka,
Billiton, and Singkep Islands. Two new dredges built in the United States have been
towed across and placed in operation at Banka. The capacity of these dredges is 500,000
cubic yards per month. Also new dredges being built in the Netherlands are expected
to be available in 1948. With the aid of new equipment and the dredges repaired
in 1946, the production in 1947 was 15,910 long tons, as against 6,535 tons in the year
previous.
The Banka mines, which are among the world's lowest-cost tin producers, com-
prise more than a dozen dredges and over 40 open-pits, although many mines are oper-
ated from time to time. Billiton and Singkep have been increasingly mechanized in
recent years.
1 The government has relinquished to the Billiton Company the management of the tin mines
on Banka.
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Tin exports from the Netherlands East Indies in 1946 were 3,797 tons of pig
tin and 4,950 tons in concentrates. Of the 4,950 tons of concentrates 2,101 were ex-
ported to the United States and the balance to the Netherlands. The excess over
production was derived from stocks, left by the Japanese, consisting of 3,818 tons of
metal and 6,618 tons of concentrates (about 70 percent tin). According to J. J. Croston
the Japanese produced 31,354 metric tons of tin during the occupation period. In 1947
exports of concentrates (tin content) amounted to 15,608 long tons.
c. Siam?(Thailand).
The tin deposits of Siam connect with those of Burma on the north and Malaya
on the south, and are of the same general character, predominantly alluvial. The de-
posits lie along the mountain range that forms the backbone of the peninsula, with the
most productive areas on the western side at Puket Island and Tongkah Harbor.
Dredging is carried on in the coastal region and some hydraulic mining in the interior.
Siam is a substantial producer of tin concentrates which are derived almost
entirely from dredging operations and, except for small amounts smelted for local
consumption, the concentrates go to the smelters at the Straits. Most of the produc-
tion was reportedly taken over without much damage to equipment and the Japanese
are supposed to have placed reliance upon this source of supply.
The production of tin in 1940 reached 17,447 long tons followed by 15,000 tons
in 1941. In 1942 the production dropped to 7,843 tons and declined each year there-
after to 1,275 tons in 1945. The production in 1946 has been estimated at 500 tons and
it may have reached 1,400 tons in 1947, but it will probably be 2 or 3 years before the
higher tonnages can again be realized because of lack of equipment and unsettled con-
ditions.
d. China.
China has been an important producer of tin for several centuries, but there
is no record of output for earlier years and records for recent years are confined to ex-
ports, with little or nothing known as to the amounts of metal involved in local con-
sumption.
The ore is found in lodes extending to considerable depths. The output comes
largely from the Kochiu district in southeastern Yunnan, near Mengtze, and from
the neighboring provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. Mining and concentration are
carried on by rather primitive methods and the concentrates are smelted within the
country.
Prior to the war, China shipped some tin to the United States and occasional
shipments were made during the war. The USSR also received substantial amounts
from China. Normally the country possesses the capacity to produce about 15,000
tons of tin per year, but the increased costs in China have greatly reduced production.
As noted in Table B of Appendix A, the mine production of tin in 1945 has been estimated
at 1,500 tons and 2,500 tons for 1946. Until adequate food and other supplies are
made available at reasonable cost, it is unlikely that China will be able to get its produc-
tion back to normal for some time, especially at mines that have required extensive
rehabilitation. Transportation difficulties have also limited exports of tin.
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The tin reserves of China have generally been estimated at 1,500,000 tons,
although there have been other estimates ranging from 652,000 to 1,873,000 tons.
e. Burma.
The Malayan tin deposits extend up the peninsula through the lower portion
of Siam and into Lower Burma. The output of tin from Burma is relatively small
and derived from half a dozen dredging operation enterprises and a few lode-mining
companies. As in the case of Malaya, the producers are individual company opera-
tions and are confronted with similar economic problems.
In contrast to a production of 8,536 long tons in 1939, the output has dropped
to only a few hundred tons after the Japanese occupation and since the end of the
war. Tungsten is associated with most of the ores which adds to the value of metal
recovered.
f. Australia.
Following discovery of the Mount Bischoff tin deposits in Tasmania during
1870, Australia became one of the important tin-producing countries of the world and
ranked first during the period from 1873 to 1882 with the exception of two years. With
the exhaustion of the Mount Bischoff ores, except what is worked by leasers, production
has gradually declined to an annual production between 2,000 and 4,000 tons.
The Australian States, Queensland, Tasmania, and New South Wales, are the
most important and rank about equal in tin output. Of minor importance is the
production from the States of Victoria, Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
The bulk of the Australian tin production comes from a number of relatively
small producers in eastern Australia and the greater part of the output from stream
tin placers. Primary vein deposits are also a source of considerable tin ore and eluvial
deposits immediately below vein outcrops still yield some ore. In Victoria tin is
largely recovered as a by-product of gold dredging along Reedy Creek, Eldorado, near
Wangaratta. The cassiterite produced in Western Australia comes from alluvial de-
posits at Greenbushes in the southern part of the state and from Pilbara district in
the northwest.
Prior to the war the consumption of tin in Australia (including New Zealand)
averaged about 2,000 tons annually, and with the production of over 3,000 tons there
had been an exportable surplus. After 1940, and during the war period, however,
production of tin did not meet requirements and some tin had to be imported. After
the war, lack of manpower and drought continued to hamper tin mining in Australia.
Several small smelters are operated in Australia but the principal one is the
Lempriere Smelter of 6,500 tons capacity, situated at Alexandria (Sydney), N.S.W.,
and owned by 0. T. Lempriere & Company, Pty, Ltd. The capacity of this smelter
is in excess of present Australian and New Zealand requirements.
g. Other Countries of the Far East.
The remaining tin-producing countries are Indochina and Japan. The maxi-
mum production from these countries is approximately 1,500 tons for Indochina and
2,000 tons for Japan.
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The tin mines of Indochina were seriously damaged during the war and some
time will be required for making repairs and bringing the mining operations back to
prewar output. Internal political disturbances may also retard the rehabilitation of
the mines.
Japan has excess smelting capacity but it is a relatively minor factor in
the world tin industry except for the operations of its trading companies such as
Mitsui and Mitsubishi. The Mitsubishi tin smelter is in Osaka and the one of Toyo
is at Oita. The industry was entirely disrupted at the time of the Japanese surrender
and it will probably be some time before production of tin is again back to normal.
2. AFRICA.
a. Belgian Congo.
The importance of the Belgian Congo during the war is brought out by the
fact that the mine production of tin increased from 7,140 long tons in 1939 to 17,070
in 1945, and the imports of tin into the United States from the Congo for the years 1940
to 1946 were as follows:
TIN METAL
CONCENTRATES
(TIN CONTENT)
1940
4,899
27
1941
11,030
1942
11,225
1943
11,550
4,094
1944
10,000
7,549
1945
6,494
7,401
1946
628
7,214
The mine production in 1946 was 14,095 long tons, a drop of about 3,000 tons
from the year previous. Production of tin for 1947 is estimated at 14,630 tons.
Practically the whole output of tin in the Belgian Congo comes from a mineral-
ized belt east of the Lualaba River which includes the southern part of Stanleyville
Province, Costermansville Province, Ruanda-Urundi and the northern part of Elisa-
bethville Province. The greater portion of the output has thus far been obtained
from shallow alluvial and detrital deposits. Some pegmatite lode deposits are worked
where the lodes are soft and the cassiterite is free of the gangue to permit its recovery
by simple washing methods. The most important tin-mining companies are Geomines,
Union Miniere, Sermikat in the Province of Elisabethville, Symetain and Cobelmin
with properties in both the Costermansville Province and southern part of Stanley-
vine Province, and the Somuki Company in Ruanda-Urundi Province. The tin ore
reserves of the Belgian Congo are estimated at 500,000 tons of metal content.
The principal tin smelter in the Belgian Congo is at Manono. During the war
there was another plant converted to tin smelting at Lubudi, but this has since been
discontinued. The annual capacity of the Manono smelter is said to be 10,500 tons.
b. Nigeria.
The tin production of Nigeria is important, the bulk of its output being pro-
duced from alluvial deposits situated in the Bauchi Plateau in the northeastern section
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of the colony. Development has been hindered by shortage of water and inadequate
transportation facilities. The Geological Survey of Nigeria has been remapping the
tin field on the Jos Plateau in a search for new deposits and has resurveyed a con-
siderable area south of Bukuru.
It will be noted from Table B of Appendix A that the mine production of
tin in 1939 was 9,567 long tons and it has been well maintained above 10,000 tons
each year following through 1946, with a peak production of 12,835 tons in 1945.
All the tin ore or concentrates are exported to smelters in England for reduction to
metal.
The ore reserves in terms of fine tin are estimated at 250,000 long tons, although
some estimates have been given as low as 100,000 tons to as high as 300,000 tons.
3. LATIN AMERICA.
a. Bolivia.
Bolivia's economic well-being is dependent upon exports of tin which con-
stitute about 80 percent of its export trade. Prior to World War II about 75 percent
of the tin exports went to England and the balance to Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
The tin belt of Bolivia is on the high plateau of the Andes and extends from the
Peruvian frontier on the north to the Argentine on the south, a distance of about 500
miles. The average width of the tin belt is about 60 miles. The elevation of the
plateau is around 13,000 feet, but the mountain ranges rise to elevations over 20,000
feet. The tin deposits are found at altitudes from 12,000 feet to 15,000 feet.
Bolivia's tin production comes principally from comparatively narrow veins
instead of from placer deposits as in the case of most of the other large tin areas of the
world. The production costs of tin in Bolivia are considerably higher than those of
the placer deposits where large-scale dredging can be applied at low costs. There
are some alluvial deposits in Bolivia, however, and a few are exploited.
The cassiterite obtained in placer operations is in general fairly clean and
offers no great problem in its reduction to metallic tin. In the lode deposits of Bolivia,
however, the cassiterite is often accompanied with the mineral stannite, a copper-iron-
tin sulphide; tealite, a lead-tin sulphide, and other complex tin minerals. In addition,
the tin minerals are associated with various other sulphides, especially iron and zinc,
and with tungsten, bismuth, antimony, and silver minerals. Many of the present tin
mines of Bolivia were formerly worked for their silver content and today both tin
and tungsten ores are mined from the same lode.
The complexity of the Bolivian ores offers a serious problem, first in the
separation of the tin minerals from the crude ore and second in the smelting of the
concentrates to reduce the tin minerals to metallic tin.
The ultimate recovery of tin from Bolivian ores is between 50 and 60 percent.
An improvement in the metallurgical treatment of Bolivian ores offers an excellent
field for increased production. This will not be an easy task, however, and will prob-
ably take some time before a treatment method or process can be developed to effect
high recoveries of tin from these complex ores.
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Considering the high altitude and rigorous condition of living of the work-
ing people, the natives have proved to be the best labor adapted to the particular
conditions. The shortage of labor has hindered greater mining activity which might
partly be remedied by more mechanization, especially at the smaller mines.
The principal producing companies are Patin? Mines and Enterprises Con-
solidated, Inc., Hochschild S.A.M.I., and Compagnie Aramayo de Mines en Bolivie. The
main problem confronting the producers is connected with labor costs and labor
relations. The costs of materials have increased considerably during the past few
years, but the major portion of the increase can be attributed to increased labor
charges. The Bolivian government is vitally interested in maintaining high production
of tin and a high price for exports of the product, as a large proportion of the national
revenue comes from taxes on exports of tin concentrates and the taxes are based on
the selling price. Thus the country's economy depends on high production and high
prices and it can, therefore, be assumed that the government will do all it can to
solve the problems between labor and industry.
The chief source of tin, at present, for supplying the Longhorn smelter at
Texas City, Texas, is Bolivia. As a result of negotiations between Bolivia and the
United States for the purchase of the former's production of tin, the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation agreed on 28 March 1947, effective 1 April, to pay 76 cents per
pound for purchases to be made during the remainder of 1947, for production costs
had risen to a point where the increase in price was necessary in order to maintain
Bolivia as a source of supply. Labor troubles cut production during the summer
months of 1947 so that exports for the year dropped to 33,259 tons. A new price,*
effective 1 January 1948, of 90 cents per pound, f.o.b. vessels at South American ports,
was agreed to by Bolivian producers and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and
if this new price is maintained, Bolivia's annual rate of tin exports should be sub-
stantially increased in 1948.
No systematic and complete survey of Bolivia's tin resources has been made,
but it has been roughly calculated that the proven plus probable reserves of tin of
the country's known mines are estimated to be 500,000 tons of fine tin. The geo-
graphical location of the deposits is the greatest impediment to their development.
Some areas exist which would be capable of much higher production, but their inac-
cessibility precludes intensive exploitation owing to the lack of transportation facilities
and high costs compared with the tin fields of Africa and the Far East.
b. Argentina.
The annual tin production of Argentina for the period 1939 to 1947 has
averaged about 1,000 long tons, which has about equalled domestic consumption.
This production has come almost entirely from placer deposits and the nearby veins of
tin-silver ores at the mines of the Sociedad Minera Pirquitas in the Province of Jujuy.
In the Province of Catamarca there are some tin mine workings as well as in the
Province of La Rioja. Other deposits are said to occur but have not been prospected.
* Subsequent to this writing the price was increased to 99 cents f.o.b. vessels at South American
ports.
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The tin concentrates from the Pirquitas placers are smelted at the company's smelter
in Buenos Aires.
An agreement for the purchase of 8,000 tons of tin per year in the form of
concentrates for five years, at a price of 76 cents a pound during 1947, was signed
early in March 1947, between Bolivia and Argentina and ratified 24 October but none
of the 8,000 tons of tin called for in the contract has as yet gone to Argentina. If it
is intended to use the Bolivian tin for a domestic industry, it should be borne in mind
that the concentrates would have to be shipped to the United States or United Kingdom
for smelting, as Argentine facilities are totally inadequate for the handling of such a
tonnage. Plans for the erection of additional smelting facilities, however, are under
consideration. It is possible that the Argentine government may be considering the
purchase of these relatively large tonnages for stockpiling purposes.
c. Mexico.
According to official figures the production of tin in Mexico is relatively small
and has averaged about 300 long tons per year during the period 1939-1947. The
peak year for this period was 1943 with a production of 426 tons.
Tin occurs in the small mountain ranges found in the high plateaus lying
to the east of the Sierra Madres extending in a zone about 50 miles wide beginning
in the north of the State of Durango and including the States of Zacatecas, Guanajuato,
Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Jalisco, Queretaro, and Michoacan.
The known ore deposits are small and are mainly detrital, but there are some
occurrences in narrow veins. There are no individual tin mining operations of im-
portance. The tin ore is largely recovered through the efforts of numerous small
mining enterprises or individual prospectors who search for the cassiterite on the
surface or in shallow excavations and dispose of their comparatively small production
to small local ore buyers who in turn sell to the larger purchasers.
The most important company in the Mexican tin-producing industry is the
Cia. Estanifera Mexicana which has been engaged in buying, smelting, and export-
ing tin ores since 1932. The headquarters of this company are in the city of San Luis
Potosi, where it operates a plant capable of producing 30 tons per month of 99 percent
tin, which is sold to consumers within the country. Ore not needed for smelting is
sold to buyers in England and the United States. This company buys its ore in small
lots from producers and traders throughout the tin bearing areas.
d. Brazil.
The production of tin in Brazil is small and comes mostly from alluvial de-
posits in the State of Minas Gerais from an area along the Rio das Mortes and its trib-
utaries. According to Anderson of the Bureau of Mines, Minas de Estanho de Sao
Joao d'El-Rei has proposed construction of a gravity-concentration plant with a ca-
pacity of 100-125 tons a day of ore containing cassiterite.
Some tin has been produced in the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Rio
Grande do Sul, usually from placer operations in the vicinity of pegmatite masses.
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The production is smelted locally, producing a good quality of tin. In the state of
Rio Grande do Sul tin-bearing lode deposits have been found near Encruzilhada, and
to the south alluvial deposits on the banks of the Camaquam River, but are considered
relatively unimportant.
Official figures are not available, but the tin production is relatively small
and Brazil's consumption of tin is provided largely by imports.
4. UNITED KINGDOM.
Cornish tin mining, which began before the Christian era, is rapidly becoming
extinct. Available records show that its peak was from the middle of the Civil War
to the depression of 1893 and averaged something over 9,000 tons with a maximum
production of about 11,000 tons in 1871. In the first two decades of the present cen-
tury, production was about half that of the 30-year period mentioned; was more
than halved again in the succeeding two decades; and in 1946 was only 793 tons.
After six years of war the mineral industry of the United Kingdom has been
greatly affected by the sudden change to peacetime conditions. The United Kingdom
ranks second both in the smelting of tin and as a consumer of tin. It is also second
among the world producers of tin plate, which usually accounts for about 40 percent
of its pig tin consumption. Foreign trade in tin was greatly changed by the course
of the war, for prior to the fall of Singapore, imports of tin concentrates increased
materially above the prewar level and reached 83,902 long tons of contained tin in
1940, dropped to little more than half that in 1942, and reached a low point of 32,948
tons in 1944. Pig tin imports fell from nearly 12,000 tons in 193-8 to zero in 1941 and
remained negligible through 1945. Tin exports (including re-exports) averaged about
18,500 tons in 1938-39, dropped sharply to 6,500 tons in 1941, and for the next four
years averaged about 8,500 tons. Of the 6-year (1940-45) total of 56,000 tons, a large
part was sent to the USSR.
Shortage of labor has made it impossible to expand exports of tin plate by re-
opening more plants. Demobilized workers have been reluctant to return to the tin
plate industry and in July 1945, less than 10,000 were employed compared with 25,000
in 1939. If labor were available, the output of 1945 (278,700 tons) could almost be
doubled within a reasonable time.
Normally the United Kingdom imports both tin concentrates, chiefly from Bo-
livia, Nigeria, British Malaya, and South Africa, and some refined tin from British
Malaya, Netherlands, Belgium, and China. The imports of tin concentrates for 1946
amounted to 34,476 tons of contained tin and for the first nine months of 1947 imports
of concentrates totaled 26,572 tons, of which 14,928 came from Bolivia and 10,006
tons from Nigeria. There were no imports of metal.
The smelter production during the period 1939 to 1946 ranged from 40,000 tons
in 1941 to a low of 25,000 tons in 1944. The 1946 production was estimated at 28,590
tons, and 27,544 tons for 1947.
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Consumption of tin in the United Kingdom in 1947:
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LONG TONS
Tinplate
8,932
Solder
5,621
Alloys (white-metal, bronze, etc)
13,535
Foil and collapsible tubes
3,318
Tinned copper wire
716
Tin compounds and salts
868
Tinning
981
Miscellaneous uses
613
TOTAL All Trades
34,584
Of the 34,584 tons, virgin tin accounted for 27,384 tons and
tin in scrap 7,200 tons.
SOURCE: Ministry of Supply.
5. CANADA.
Tin production in Canada during 1946, according to preliminary estimates, totaled
390 long tons recovered as a by-product of lead-zinc ores at the Trail Smelter, com-
pared with 379 tons in 1945. Imports of tin metal in 1946 are reported as 3,677 long
tons.
All tin produced in Canada at present is from the Sullivan lead-zinc mine in Brit-
ish Columbia, but great interest is being shown in the possibility of commercial pro-
duction of tin from the Murray Bay area of Quebec. The Mountain Crest Mines,
Ltd. already is operating mines in the area and planning substantial expansion, and
a new company, the Saguenay Mining and Smelting Company, believed to be a sub-
sidiary, is contemplating sizable operations in the same area.
6. USSR.
The production of tin in the USSR still falls far short of domestic consumption
requirements, although active search for tin, which began in 1925, has disclosed sev-
eral tin-bearing deposits. These deposits are mostly of low grade and situated in
places difficult of access. Development of the tin industry has, therefore, lagged,
and increasing quantities of tin have been imported in recent years.
Although data are lacking as to the output and mining facilities of individual
properties or areas, the Soviet authorities in recent years have emphasized the prog-
ress made by prospecting and developing the tin resources. Starting with negligible
, reserves in 1925, the potential tin reserves of the Soviet Union, as of 1 January 1933,
were estimated at 10,000 tons of metal in the ground, and by 1937 at about 30,000 tons.
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The Chita region is the oldest tin-producing area of the USSR. The Khapcheranga
mine in the Kirensk district of the Transbaikal is perhaps the best known of recent
developments. The metal occurs as cassiterite in several lodes that cut the sedimen-
tary formation for a distance of nearly one kilometer. Also in the Transbaikal is the
Sherlovaya tin deposit. Here the tin is found in numerous small quartz veins, and
in disseminated form in the granite intrusive that forms the Belshaya mountain
range. These two properties are probably the most important for the production
of tin at present. Another important tin deposit in the same district is at Onon on
the left bank of the river of the same name, a few kilometers from the Olovyannaya
station of the Transbaikal railroad. The tin occurs in several quartz lodes and the
distribution of cassiterite is irregular, as are the length and width of the lodes. Wood
and water supplies are available and there is a concentrating plant near Olovyannaya
on the Onon River.
Tin is also found in the Kirgiz and the Tadzhik SSR's. According to recent in-
formation, concentrating installations have been put in operation and are producing
lead, zinc, and tin concentrates. One group of deposits in the Tadzhik SSR is situated
on the northern slope of the Turkestan and Altai ranges. From the standpoint of
tin production, an advantage of these deposits is the absence of copper, lead, antimony,
and other minerals which often impede a clean separation of tin from tin bearing ores.
The tin deposits in the Yakut ASSR are said to be larger and more numerous
than those of the Chita region, but commercial exploitation is handicapped by the
lack of adequate means of transportation, as are the deposits in the very north of the
Khabarovsk Territory.
A new concentrating plant has been constructed and placed in operation by the
Khinganolovo Combine at Khabarovsk but details are not available.
The tin smelters in the USSR, which have been listed below, are reported to be
relatively small, but their condition and individual capacities are not known.
NAME LOCATION
Leningrad Leningrad
Podolsk Podolsk, near Moscow
Altai-Naryn Kazakhstan
Khapcheranga Khapcheranga, Chita
Transbaikal Onon and Ualba, Chita
Sherlovaya Gora Sherlovaya Gora, Chita
Verkhovansk Ege-Khai, Yakutia
Simancha Simancha, near Tetiuke
Novosibirsk Novosibirsk
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According to captured German documents, statistics on the USSR tin economy
covering consumption, production, and imports are given as follows:
YEAR
CONSUMPTION
AMOUNT
(TONS)
YEAR
AMOUNT
(TONS)
1929
4,500
1934
5,900
1930
5,000
1935
7,400
1931
4,500
1936
9,800
1932
3,900
1937
12,500
1933
4,100
1938
13,000
PRODUCTION
1933
390
1943
6,750
1942
5,500
1944
7,500
IMPORTS
1934
5,805
1942
13,500
1935
7,400
1943
12,000
1936
9,800
1944
19,500
1937
12,507
The 19,500 tons for the year 1944 appears high, although apart of it may have
come from Japan as the USSR was not at war with Japan during that year and Japan,
after occupying China, Siam, and Netherlands East Indies, undoubtedly had a sur-
plus for export at that time.
Tin imports of the USSR for the year 1938 giving country of origin, were as follows:
Belgium-Luxemburg 2,740 tons
Netherlands 6,719 tons
United? Kingdom 2,945 tons
TOTAL 12,404 tons
As has been stated, the production of tin in the USSR still falls short of require-
ments. The production record indicates, however, that real progress is being inade
in developing new properties. The big drawback is the fact that the deposits being
developed are for the most part low grade, difficult of access, and will need greatly
improved transportation facilities for their economic exploitation. Also, ore reserves,
much greater than those reported, will have to be developed before the USSR may
be considered to have attained any semblance of self-sufficiency with respect to tin.
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APPENDIX
TABLE A
ESTIMATED TIN ORE RESERVES OF THE WORLD
(Metal Content)
COUNTRY
LONG TONS
Malaya (Malayan Union including Straits Settlements)
1,500,000
China
1,500,000
Netherlands East Indies
1,000,000
Siam (Thailand)
800,000
Bolivia
500,000
Belgian Congo
500,000
Burma
300,000
Nigeria
250,000
Australia
40,000
USSR
30,000
French Indochina
25,000
Portugal
25,000
England (Cornwall) 1
20,000
Argentina
10,000
Canada
6,060-
Brazil
5,000
Others
30,000
TOTAL
6,541,000
Based on prewar rate of consumption the above reserves would supply world needs
for only 30 to 40 years, but further developments will undoubtedly yield additional
reserves.
CONFIDENTIAL A-1
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? ? ?
TABLE B-WORLD MINE PRODUCTION OF TIN (CONTENT OF ORE) BY COUNTRIES, IN LONG TONS
Country
1929-35
(average)
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
Argentina
32
1,655
1,481
921
998
1,070
1,004
700 1
600 1
500
Australia
2,830
3,067
3,501
3,494
2,931
2,635
2,547
2,282
2,127
2,100
Belgian Congo
967
7,140
12,075
15,751
15,754
17,007
16,858
17,070
14,095
14,630
Bolivia (exports)
37,169
27,211
37,940
42,199
38,293
40,312
38,720
42,487
37,717
33,250
Brazil
..
. .
.
. .
S.
..
. .
120
British Malaya
56,837
46,827
84,082
p78,0001
15,748
26,000
9,309
3,152
8,432
27,030
Burma -
2,228
8,536
5,500 1
5,0001
.
1,000 1
500'
200 1
2
200
Cameroons, French
243
218
220
233
194
161
112
111
140
Canada
.
. .
.
? 29
553
347
231
379
390
350
China
7,085 a
15,0001
11,5001
12,0001
7,0001
7,500'
3,0001
1,5001
2,500
1,500
Germany
98
285
293
303
54'7
980 1
980 1
2
2
100
Indochina, French
691
1,467
1,472
1,295
1,029
653
358
100 1
.
. .
Italy
. .
256
309
230
200
.
2
.201
115 1
100
Japan
590
1,473
1,760
2,177
1,894
1,107
374
2
2
1,200
Mexico
2
289
345
212
365
426
317
174
300 1
200
Morocco, French
4
31
20
26
4
11
9
11
12
Netherlands Indies
32,266
27,755
43,193
51,0001
9,812
17,457
6,719
843
6,535
15,910
Nigeria
8,319
9,56'7
12,177
12,229
12,574
12,835
12,512
11,224
10,333
9,400
0>
Peru
47
72
47
75
79
73
54
31
30
Portugal
625
1,486
1,721
2,330
2,6'70
3,460
1,8001
600 1
1,0001
500
Portuguese E. Africa
5
7
6
4
10
6
8
2
2
Rhodesia, Northern
..
. .
16
10
2
3
6
18 .
6
. .
Rhodesia, Southern
15
451
450
231
162
178
123
125
100
120
Siam (Thailand)
8,204
17,325
17,447
15,0001
7,843
5,839
3,194
1,275
500 1
1,400
Southwest Africa
149
156
137
120
110
158
123
185
177
150
Spain
145
106
100
103
239
222
483
950
1,300'
750
Swaziland
138
114
103
131
113
109
77
53
37
40
Tanganyika (exports)
22
224
258
247
193
159
124
137
132
110
Uganda (exports)
98
354
334
302
283
296
288
215
201
170
Union of S. Africa
1,174
482
518
463
508
526
506
493
487
790
United Kingdom
2,658
1,633
1,620
1,509
1,363
1,359
1,289
993 1
793
950
United States
24
34
49
56
6
6
5
TOTAL
163,000
173,000
239,000
246,000
122,000
142,000
102,000
- 86,000
89,000
111,740
1 Estimates.
2 Data not available; estimate included in total.
'Exports.
Data include Sudetenland.
NOTE: The USSR is not included as reliable figures are not available.
SOURCE: 1925-46 Bureau of Mines; 1947 preliminary estimates by the U.S. Section of the International Tin Study Group. The Statistical
Sub-Committee of the International Tin Study Group (Conference 19-24 April 1948) has estimated the production of Burma and China for 1947
at 900 and 4,000 long tons, respectively. Other sources consider these estimates to be high because of the unsettled conditions in these countries.
rivumaaralloo
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CONFIDENTIAL
TABLE C-WORLD MINE PRODUCTION OF TIN BY PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES,
1900, 1910, 1929 to 1947 *
(Tin Content in Long Tons)
Year
Malaya
Netherlands Siam
East (Thai-
Indies land)
Burma China
.
Bolivia
Belgian
Congo
Nigeria
g
Other
Total
World
1900
43,111
17,619
3,900
73 2,932
9,053
0
0
8,712
85,400
1910
45,918
21,404
4,896
137 6,407
22,764
0
573
14,301
116,400
1920
36,927
21,566
6,201
1,648 10,566
29,075
396
5,167
10,754
122,300
1929
69,366
35,920
9,939
2,402 6,776
46,338
1,011
10,734
10,114
192,600
1930
63,974
34,903
11,060
2,749 6,860
38,146
840
8,569
8,899
176,000
1931
54,908
27,480
12,447
2,006 5,948
30,742
188
7,772
7,409
148,900
1932
29,742
15,683
9,261
2,534 7,406
20,583
677
4,263
9,051
99,200
1933
24,904
14,406
10,324
2,399 8,104
14,725
2,225
3,762
10,151
91,000
1934
34,059
18,678
10,587
2,487 8,145
20,634
4,602
4,996
11,012
115,200
1935
45,955
24,719
9,779
2,991 9,398
27,168
6,481
7,029
13,580
147,100
1936
66,806
31,684
12,678
3,108 10,664
24,074
7,310
9,634
14,242
180,200
1937
77,542
39,825
16,494
4,023 10,457
25,024
8,856
10,468
15,511
208,200
1938
43,361
27,299
14,704
7,100 11,605
25,484
8,820
8,977
15,650
163,000
1939
46,827
27,755
17,325
8,536 c715,000 1
27,211
7,140
9,567
13,639
173,000
z?,',3940
84,082
43,193
17,447
5,500 11,500 1
37,940
12,075
12,177
15,086
239,000
1941
78,0001
51,000 1
15,0001
5,000 12,0001
42,199
15,751
12,229
14,821
246,000
1942
15,748
9,812
7,843
500 1 7,0001
38,293
15,754
12,574
14,476
122,000
1943
26,000
17,457
5,839
1,000 1 7,5001
40,312
17,007
12,835
14,050
142,000
1944
9,309
6,719
3,194
500 1 3,000 1
38,720
16,858
12,512
11,188
102,000
1945
3,152
843
1,275
200 1 1,5001
42,487
17,070
11,224
8,249
86,000
1946
8,432
6,535
500
500 1 2,500 l
37,717
14,095
10,333
8,483
91,000
.6-.1947
27,030
15,910
1,400
200 1,500
33,250
14,630
9,400
8,420
111,740
* Source: International Tin Research and Development Council 1900-37, inclusive. Bureau of
Mines 1938-46, inclusive. Preliminary estimates for 1947 made by U.S. Section of International Tin
Study Group. The Statistical Sub-Committee of the International Tin Study Group (Conference
19-24 April 1948) has estimated the production of Burma and China for 1947 at 900 and 4,000 long
tons, respectively. Other sources consider these estimates to be high because of the unsettled
conditions in these countries.
' Estimated.
CONFIDENTIAL A-3
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CONFIDENTIAL
TABLE D?MAJOR TIN SMELTERS OF THE WORLD 1
Country
Name (Annual capacity)
Location
Ownership
(In long tons of tin)
Argentina
Pichetti (1,800)
Buenos Aires
Sociedad Minera Pirquitas, Pi-
chetti y Cia.
Belgium
Hoboken (10,000)
Hoboken
Societe General Metallurgique de
Hoboken
China
Kochiu (8,000)
Kochiu, Yunnan
Yunnan Tin Corporation
PKMA (2,500)
Papu, Kwangsi
Ping Kwei Mining Administration
Malayan Union
Eastern (35,000)
Penang Isle
Eastern Smelting Co., Ltd.
Pulau Brani (40,000)
Pulau Brani (adj.
to Singapore)
Straits Trading Co.
Butterworth (40,000)
Penang Isle
Straits Trading Co.
Netherlands
Arnhem (40,000)
Arnhem
N. V. Hollandsche Metallurcische
Bedrij ven
Netherlands
Muntok (20,000)
Banka Isle
Banka Tin Mining Administration
East Indies
Pangkalpinang (20,000)
Banka Isle
Banka Tin Mining Administration
United Kingdom
Williams, Harvey &
Bootle
Cons. Tin Smelting Co., Ltd.
Co. (40,000)
Cornish Tin Smelting
Redruth
Cons. Tin Smelters Ltd.
Co. (10,000)
British Tin Smelting
Litherland
Cons. Tin Smelting Co., Ltd.
Co. (8,000)
Penpoll Tin Smelting
Bootle
Cons. Tin Smelting Co., Ltd.
Co. (8,000)
Capper Pass & Son, Ltd.
Bristol and Hull
Capper Pass & Son, Ltd.
(2,500)
Belgian Congo
Manono (10,500)
Manono
Geomines
Australia
Lempriere (6,500)
Alexandria
D. T. Lempriere & Co., Pty, Ltd.
(Sydney)
Union of South
Zaaiplaats (2,400)
Potgietersrust
Zaaiplaats Tin Mining Co., Ltd.
Africa
United States
Longhorn (74,000)
Texas City, Texas
Tin Processing Corporation
Nationality of the principal owner is the same as the country in which the smelters are located
except in the case of the colonies where the nationality is the country which controls such colonies.
The companies are incorporated in the country in which they are located, except those in the
colonies which are incorporated in the countries which control those colonies.
The Longhorn smelter (United States) is owned by the United States Government but is oper-
ated by the Billiton interests which are Dutch.
NOTE: The minor tin smelters are not listed, but information as to their capacities and loca-
tions is available in the Central Intelligence Agency.
A-4 CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
TABLE E-INDEX TO WORLD MAP OF PRINCIPAL
TIN MINES AND MAJOR DEPOSITS
CANADA
1. Sullivan
MEXICO
2. Aguascalientes region
3. Durango region
PERU
4. Oroya Smelter
BOLIVIA
5. Fabulosa (Fabulosa Mines Cons.)
6. Chojlla (Intl. Min. Corp.)
7. Mocaya (Intl. Min. Corp.)
8. Araca (Patifio)
9. Caracoles (Aramayo)
10. Colquiri (Hochschild)
11. Oruro (Hochschild)
12. Santa Fe (Empresa Minera Santa Fe)
13. Morocalla (Hochschild)
14. Playa Verde (Bol. Intl. Min.)
15. Huanuni (Patifio)
16. Monserrat (Empresa Minera. Monserrat)
17. Totoral (Sociedad Estanifera Totoral)
18. Llallagua (Patino)
19. Vila Apecheta (Min. Dev. & Inv. Co.)
20. Ocuri (Cia. Estanifera de Ocuri)
21. Potosi (Hochschild)
22. Telemayu-Animas (Aramayo)
23. Oploca (Patifio)
24. Chorolque (Aramayo)
ARGENTINA
25. Sociedad Minera Pirquitas (Pichetti y Cia.)
CORNWALL
26. Geevor
27. East Pool and Agar
28. South Crofty
PORTUGAL
29. Tuella Tin Mines, Ltd.
30. Emp. Port de Estanhas, Ltd.
31. Portuguese American Tin Co.
CONFIDENTIAL A-5
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SPAIN
32. Galicia Prov.
GERMANY
33. Altenberg deposit
ITALY
34. Monte Valerio
35. Canale Seres
NIGERIA
36. United Tin Areas of Nigeria, Ltd.
37. Naraguta Extended Areas, Ltd.
38. Naraguta Tin Mines, Ltd.
39. Jantar Nigeria, Ltd.
40. Nigerian Cons. Mining Co., Ltd.
41. Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria, Ltd.
42. Ribbon Valley Tin Fields, Ltd.
43. Nigerian Tin & Exploration Co., Ltd.
44. Bisichi Tin Co., Ltd.
45. Kaduna Syndicate, Ltd.
46. Gold and Base Metals of Nigeria, Ltd.
47. Keffi Tin Co., Ltd.
48. Naraguta Karama Areas, Ltd.
49. Ex-lands Nigeria, Ltd.
50. Jos Tin Areas, Ltd.
FRENCH CAMEROONS
51. Mayo Darle
52. Obau Mountains
BELGIAN CONGO
STANLEYVILLE PROV.
53. Punia area (Symtain)
54. Kima area (Cobelmin)
55. Kasesa area (Cobelmin)
RUANDA URUNDI
56. Gatumba area (Minetain)
57. Rutongo area (Somuki)
58. Lugarama area (Minetain)
COSTERMANSVILLE PROV.
59. Kabunga (MCL-C.N.Ki.)
60. Kailo area (Cobelmin)
61. Kalima area (Symtain)
62. Shabunda (Cobelmin)
63. Kamituga (MGL)
CONFIDENTIAL
A-6 CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
64. Kampene (Cobelmin)
ELIZABETHVILLE PROV.
65. Manono (Geomines)
66. Mitwaba (Sermikat)
67. Kikole (UMHK)
68. Busanga Mine (UMHK)
UGANDA
69. Ankole Tin Fields, Ltd.
70. Kagera Uganda Tin Fields, Ltd.
71. Central Africa Exploration Co.
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
72. Kapata Syndicate
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA
73. Zaaiplaats Tin Mining Co.
74. Mutue Fides Tin Mining Co.
75. McCreedy Tin Ltd.
76. Leeuwpoort Tin Mines Ltd.
77. Rooiberg Tin Mines Ltd.
78. Nieuwpoort Tin Mines Ltd.
USSR
79. Altai
80. Naryn (Kazakstan)
81. Ichapcheranga
82. Onon deposit
83. Sherlovaya
84. Verkhoyansk
BURMA
85. Peirmedaik
86. Mawchi
87. Kanbauk
88. Heinze basin
89. Kabamaunghla
90. Hermyingyi
91. Kyaukmedaung
92. Heinda
93. Bwabin
94. Theindaw
95. Yemon
96. Thabawleik
97. Karathuri
CONFIDENTIAL A-7
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A001600050001-8
THAILAND (SIAM)
98. Renong Tin Dredging, Ltd.
99. Bangrin Tin Dredging Co., Ltd.
100. Talerng Tin Dredging Co., Ltd.
101. Kamra Tin Dredging, Ltd.
102. Pungah Tin Dredging, Ltd.
103. Thai Tin Syndicate, Ltd.
104. Tongkah Harbour Tin Dredging, Ltd.
MALAYA
105. Kamungting Tin Dredging, Ltd.
106. Larut Tin Fields Dredging, Ltd.
107. Austral Amalgamated Tin, Ltd.
108. Takka Taiping Tin Dredging, Ltd.
109. Southern Kinta Cons.
110. Karamat Tin Dredging, Ltd.
111. Southern Malayan Tin
112. Pengkalen Ltd.
113. Malayan Tin Dredging Co.
114. Pacific Tin Co., Ltd.
115. Kinta Tin Mines, Ltd.
116. Ipoh Tin Dredging, Ltd.
117. Gopeng Consolidated
118. Tronah Mines, Ltd.
119. Kampong Lanjut Tin Dredging, Ltd.
120. Southern Tronoh Tin Dredging ,c0.
121. Renong Tin Dredging Co., Ltd.
122. Rawang Concessions, Ltd.
123. Rawang Tin Fields, Ltd.
124. Pahang Consolidated Co.
125. Fetaling Tin Ltd.
126. Killinghall Tin Dredging Ltd.
127. Ampat Tin Dredging Co., Ltd.
128. Sungei Besi Mines (Hong Fatt) Ltd.
129. Kuala Kampur Tin Fields, Ltd.
130. Hong Kong Tin Dredging Ltd.
131. Sungei Way Dredging
132. Kuchai Tin Dredging Co., Ltd.
133. Ayer Hitam Tin
134. Rantau Tin Dredging, Ltd.
135. Pelapah Tin Dredging
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES
136. Singkep
137. Banka
CONFIDENTIAL
A-8 CONFIDENTIAL
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A001600050001-8
CONFIDENTIAL
138. Billiton
CHINA
YUNNAN PROV.
KOCHIU DISTRICT
139. Malaka (e) (Shing Chang)
140. Li Tao
141. Wa Feng
142. Lao Chang
KWANGSI PROV.
143. Ping Lo
144. Fu Ho Chung
145. Kung Chung
HUNAN PROV.
146. Kiang Hua
147. Chang Ning
148. Lin Wu
KWANGTUNG PROV.
149. Tien Pai
KIANGSI PROV.
150. Tayu
151. Kong Shui Tsei
152. Nan Kong
INDOCHINA
153. Tinh-Tuc ravine (Pia-Ouac),
154. Nam-Pathene ravine (Icham-Mon)
JAPAN
155. Suzunoyama Mine
156. Mitate Mine (Toyo Mining Co., Ltd.)
157. Kurauchi Ohira
158. Ueda-Ohira Mine
159. Ikuno Mine
160. Akenobe Mine (Mitsubishi)
161. Ashio Mine
AUSTRALIA
162. Herberton District, Queensland
163. Mt. Garnet, Queensland
164. Gibsonvale District, New South Wales
165. Mt. Bischoff, Tasmania
166. Rennison Bell, Tasmania
167. Briseis Mines, Tasmania
168. Gladstone Field, Tasmania
169. Aberfoyle Mine, Tasmania
170. Storey's Creek Mine, Tasmania
CONFIDENTIAL A-9
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A001600050001-8
PROVISIONAL EDITION
180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20
80
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 1 60 180
WORLD
PRINCIPAL TIN MINES
AND IMPORTANT DEPOSITS
FOREIGN ECONOMIC ADMINISTRATION
METALS AND MINERALS DIVISIONS
80
LEGENIC
ED Tin-bearing zone,
? Mines and deposit,
(Numbers refer to names in text.)
SOURCE: War Production Board; Bureau of
Mines; Geological Survey; Tariff
Commission; Foreign and Domestic
Commerce; State Department; Foreign
Economic Administration
UNITED STATES
A
143 146
139
?\^? IN DI A
BURMA): ? i? ? :.?
I
88 'THAILAND-
:.
142
153
154
CAM 0000s
250 MILES
. 25 MILES
BAUCHI.::PL AT EAU
100 MILES
A US T R A L I A
(64
40
40
: ..... 110.111
1.69 .114
118
.: 113 6ff
00 ": ,.
? 16.,
.?. ...
124
16
mi."9125.
.121 . MI"--.2
0 ?
I25 122
SUMATRA: . , ? , aici
..... ?
134
'.135
SCALE TRUE ALONG THE EQUATOR
0 1000 2000 3000
MILES
1000
H FH HF Hi ?Hi
MALAYA,:
166
60
NO.1715- M
140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 20 40
OCTOBER 25,1944
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60 80 100 120 140
DRAWN IN THE CARTOGRAPHIC SECTION, F.E .A.
U.S. GPO- S
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A001600050001-8
CONFIDENTIAL
REFERENCES
U. S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbooks
U. S. Bureau of Mines Files
U. S. Bureau of Mines, Foreign Minerals Survey Vol. No. 8
U. S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral Trade Notes
Consular Reports, State Department
"The Industries of The USSR", Intelligence Division, WDGS, War Department, 20
June 1947
"World Tin Supply Situation", Office of Materials Distribution, Department of Com-
merce, 28 May 1947
"Dwindling Tin Supplies and The Reconversion Problem", War, Production _Board,
WPB-9002
"Strategic Mineral Supplies" by G. A. Roush, 1939
"The Mining Journal", London, 1946, 1947 and 1948
"Statistical Bulletin of the International Tin Study Group"
Central Intelligence Agency Files
()I
Document No.
NO CHARGE in Class. 0
DECLASSIFIED
s. CHANCED TO: TS
s
d
DDA Memo, 4 Apr 77
Auth: DDA EEG. 77 1763
Pate:
A-10 CONFIDENTIAL
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/04: CIA-RDP78-01617A001600050001-8
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