decreases. No data are presently available on the grades or volumes of offshore deposits but it seems 

 reasonable to predict about 500 tons of monazite ore in offshore beach deposits.'*^ However, because of 

 the very low grade it would not be feasible to exploit these deposits unless concentrations of black sands 

 were large enough to support the operation. 



Monazite also occurs in beach sands along the California coast and thoriamite-uranothorianite is found 

 in sands and gravels in Cahfornia and Alaska. Again, low grade and insufficient volume of these sands 

 does not permit profitable exploitation. 



Thorium also is present in manganese nodules from the Pacific in concentrations ranging from 24 to 

 143 parts per million. However, a number of onland granites average 25 to 50 parts per million. 



Overall, it appears unlikely that monazite or other thorium-bearing minerals will be recovered from 

 U.S. offshore sources before the year 2000 except as a possible by-product of black sand operations. 



TDM 



Uses. An unusual combination of properties— low fusibility, malleability, resistance to corrosion and 

 fatigue, and ability to alloy with other metals— accounts for the many uses of tin. The largest use of tin is 

 as a protective coating for copper, steel, and other stronger materials, mainly in the form of tinplate for 

 cans. The second largest use of tin is in soft solders— tin lead alloys; because tin alloys readily with most 

 metals, it is the essential constituent of the solders. Another large use of tin is in making brass and 

 bronze. Substantial quantities are also used in possible alloys in producing babbitt, pewter, type metal, 

 and diecasting. Small quantities of tin are consumed in chemical reagents and compounds used in making 

 glass, ceramics, and other products. 



Present levels of utilization of tin in long tons. 



World 230,000 



United States 85,486 



Ranges of demand projections to the year 2000. 



Prospective supplies and prices. U.S. resource base is neglible. However, most of the world 

 requirements of tin at least until 1985 can be supplied from presently known reserves of about 4.5 

 million tons of contained tin, principally in the Far East. Substantial undeveloped resources are also 

 available to meet potential demand. Since a large part of the world supply of tin comes from politically 

 unstable countries, poUtical upheavals could occur that might affect the future supply and price of tin. 



Although the average price of tin has declined in recent years the price has become more stable 

 largely through the influence of the sales from government surplus stocks and to stabilizing actions 



VIM58 



