BALKHASH COPPER SMELTING PLANT BALKHASH, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04753A000400010007-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 21, 2001
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 23, 1957
• Content Type: IM

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1 P SECRET
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
BALKHASH COPPER SMELTING PLANT
BALKHA.SH, USSR
61111NOW
HTA-M43-57
23 OCTOBER 1957
H
CONTAINS SENSITIVE
COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION
' I'
DOCUMENT NO, /
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
11 DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: TS fS C ,,. .
AUTH: HR 70.2
DATE: e%OW REVIEWER
WARNING: HANDLE VIA TALENT CONTROL CHANNELS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
This document contains Information usable only within the TALENT CONTROL SYSTEM.
It is to be seen on a MUST-KNOW BASIS ONLY BY PERSONNEL ESPECIALLY INDOC-
TRINATED AND AUTHORIZED. Reproduction is prohibited unless approved by the
originator.
Declass Review by
NIMA/DOD .TOP SECRET
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W4RNINc
ate I a anal ne#e se of the United States
w'it e paean of the espionage laws,
Title 18,. UBL, Seca. 793 and 794, the trans-
minaion. o; revelatiop of which in any manner
to an tuiauthorited person is prohibited by law.
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BALKHASH COPPER SMELTING PLANT
BALKHASH, USSR
HTA/M-43/57
23 October 1957
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BALKHASH COPPER SMELTING PLANT
BALKHASH, USSR
The Balkhash Copper Smelting Plant, one of the largest copper smelters
and refineries in the USSR, is located on the northern shore of Lake Balkhash
in southeastern Kazakhstan. The plant crushes and concentrates copper ore,
smelts and refines the copper concentrate, and rolls and possibly fabricates
finished copper products. In addition, the plant reportedly processes
molybdenum.
A single-track, electrified railroad connects the plant with the Kounradskiy
mine, approximately nine rail miles to the north of Balkhash. This benched
open pit mine, roughly 3,50'0''in diameter at is upper level, contains approx-
imately 10 miles of rail tracks and 15 operating power shovels. Copper ore is
also shipped to Balkhash from mines in the vicinity of Dzhezkazgan, approx-
imately 350 rail miles to the west of Balkhash..
There is no evidence of any construction under way at the Copper Smelting
Plant. An apparent break in the roof of the electrolysis building indicates the
possibility that this building originally was approximately 500'x 400', and later
enlarged to 780'x 500'.
Major components of the Copper Smelting Plant are described on the
following page and annotated on the accompanying photograph of the plant area.
A second photograph shows the Kounradskiy open pit mine.
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KEY TO ANNOTATIONS
1. Tailings pond.
2 . Slag dump.
3. Pump house. Moves tailings launder from ore dressing plant to tailings
pond.
4. Limestone kilns. Building, 130'x 70', connected by conveyor system with
two kilns.
5. Unidentified installation. Building, 200'x 120', connected by pipe to ad-
jacent tank or gas holder, 75' in diameter.
6. Probable chemical mixing and storage area. One storage-type building,
330'x 90', and two small buildings connected by pipeline or conveyor
with flotation building (see annotation 9).
7. Ore crushing and screening facilities.
8. Ore unloading building, 170'x 90'. Reportedly houses two car tipples
and a primary ore crusher.
9. Flotation building, 680'x 330'. Reportedly houses ball mills, classi-
fiers, and flotation cells.
10. Ore concentration building, 700'x 145'. Reportedly houses three Dorr-
type thickeners.
11. Reported molybdenum processing buildings, 210'x 135' and 250'x 90',
connected by conveyor or pipeline with ore concentration building.
12. Steam plant, 1001x 651.
13. Forge and locomotive repair shop, 300'x 210'.
14. Copper rolling mill and foundry, 520'x 280', with a wing 180'x 801.
15. Machine shop, 450'x 1501.
16. By-products plant. Probably prepares construction materials from waste
of copper smelting plant. Conveyor system services storage bins and
.probable crushing building.
17. Copper rolling mill and machine shop, 470'x 170', with a wing 190'x 110'.
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18. Ore roasting building, 230'x 140'.
19. Ore and flux preparation area. Storage 'bin served by overhead conveyor.
Complex conveyor system between this area and smelter suggests the
presence of crushing and screening facilities.
20. Coal storage and pulverizing area. Coal yard approximately 1, 100' long
served by 350' bridge crane.
21. Pump house at water intake for thermal-electric plant.
22. Thermal-electric plant. Boilerhouse, 300'x 130', with two tall stacks;
generator building, 500'x 1001.
23. Smelter building, approx. 430'x 410'; connects with two tall stacks.
Possible casting building, located between the smelter and electrolysis
buildings, appears to be T-shaped, approximately 340' by 260' over-all.
? Smoke precludes accurate measurements.
24. Electrolysis building, 780'x 5001.
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REQUIREMENT: Prepared in answer to RR/HTA/E/R44/57, requesting de-
25X1D scription of Balkhash Copper Smelting Plant.
REFERENCES:
ATMP: 0244-9998-250, 2nd Ed. , Jan 1956
0244 (0245)-9998-100A, 1st Interim Ed. , Aug 1952
0244 (0245)-9998-0-25, 1st Ed. (Prov ), Apr 1954
14 Mar 1952
OTHER: Air. 6004th it Intel Sv Sq, Report No. 2388-B, dated
6 July 1951
Air. 6004th Air Intel Sv Sq, Report No. 3480-C, dated
14 Feb 1952
Air. 6004th Air Intel Sv Sq, Report No. 3536-B, dated
11 Jan 1952
Air. 6004th Air Intel Sv Sq, Report No. 4408-B,
dated 7 May 1952
Air. 6004th Air Intel Sv Sq, Report No. 5661,
dated 5 Feb 1953
COORDINATES: 46?5 0'N
74?57'E
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HTA/M-1,3/57
Figure 1
BALKHASH COPPER SMELTING PLANT
BALKHASH, U S S R
460 50' N-74? 57' E
SCALE 1:15,250
DATE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
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 OPEN PIT COPPER MINE
KOUNRADSKIY, U.S.S.R.
46? 59'N-75? 02E
SCALE 1:15,250
DATE OF PHOTOGRAPH
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te Waste Rock Dum
Waste Rock Dump
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Waste Roc.`.: Dump
Kounrac.skiy
Maintenance & Repair
Shops
HTA/M.3/57
Figure 2
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