- US barite production decreased 41% to 383,000 metric tons in 2009 due to a downturn in gas exploration from falling natural gas prices. Imports of 1.43 million metric tons exceeded exports of 49,000 metric tons.
- The leading use of barite is as a weighting agent in drilling muds for oil and gas exploration. Consumption decreased 45% to 1.77 million metric tons in 2009 due to reduced energy demand and prices.
- The three largest barite producers - Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and M-I SWACO - operated mines and mills in Nevada and Gulf Coast grinding plants. Consumption is expected to increase as oil and gas drilling recovers from economic downt
1. Frozen-and-thawed sardine from Oman is being sold as 'fresh' fish in Kerala markets, potentially posing food safety issues. Sardines can be 3 weeks old by the time they arrive from Oman and are sold after being thawed.
2. A health inspector in Maradu was caught accepting a Rs. 5,000 bribe by vigilance officials to sanction a license for a food export company.
3. 32 students and 5 teachers from a school near Kochi refineries were hospitalized after experiencing vomiting, suffocation, and dizziness from a sulphur dioxide leak.
Lisa Waller of BDG International gave a presentation on entering the global trade world. She discussed key government agencies involved in international trade, import and export compliance requirements, common trade documents, incoterms, terms of sale, transportation, liability and insurance considerations, and the roles of international freight forwarders and customs brokers. Waller has extensive experience and qualifications in global trade and emphasized the importance of understanding how global events and regulations can impact international shipments.
The document provides an overview of the fertilizer industry in India. It discusses that India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers globally. It notes the major fertilizers produced in India are urea, DAP, and ammonium phosphates. The document also summarizes India's fertilizer production, consumption trends, major companies, subsidies provided, and regulations governing the industry.
This document provides information about trademark registration requirements and procedures in various Middle Eastern countries and worldwide. It begins with introductions and frequently asked questions about trademarks. It then discusses the 9th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services which organizes trademarks into categories. The majority of the document discusses the specific registration requirements and procedures for trademarks in Gulf Cooperation Council countries like UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc. and other Middle Eastern countries like Algeria, Egypt, Iran, etc. It also provides some sample trademark documentation formats and discusses international registration options through systems like the Madrid System. In the end it lists worldwide registration options and countries that the organization provides trademark services for.
The document provides an overview of imports and exports procedures in the UAE. It discusses the UAE's historic trading culture dating back centuries, when Arab merchants conducted trade along the Silk Road. It outlines the country's strategic geographic location and world-class infrastructure that have established it as a global logistics hub. The document also details the typical processes for importing and exporting goods by sea and land, including required documentation, customs clearance, and transportation and delivery of goods.
This document outlines an Austrian trade mission to the UAE, Oman, and Qatar from February 28 to March 5, 2004. It provides details on the schedule, locations visited, and participating Austrian companies. Twenty companies are listed along with brief descriptions of their products and services, which include armored vehicles, engineering services, kitchens, lighting, industrial chains, and more. Contact information is provided for each company and the organizers
The document provides an overview of the fertilizer industry in India. It discusses that India is the 3rd largest producer and consumer of fertilizers globally. It outlines the history and development of the fertilizer industry in India. It also summarizes the current production, consumption, import trends and major players in the Indian fertilizer industry. Additionally, it discusses the key policies around subsidies and regulations governing the fertilizer industry in India.
1. Frozen-and-thawed sardine from Oman is being sold as 'fresh' fish in Kerala markets, potentially posing food safety issues. Sardines can be 3 weeks old by the time they arrive from Oman and are sold after being thawed.
2. A health inspector in Maradu was caught accepting a Rs. 5,000 bribe by vigilance officials to sanction a license for a food export company.
3. 32 students and 5 teachers from a school near Kochi refineries were hospitalized after experiencing vomiting, suffocation, and dizziness from a sulphur dioxide leak.
Lisa Waller of BDG International gave a presentation on entering the global trade world. She discussed key government agencies involved in international trade, import and export compliance requirements, common trade documents, incoterms, terms of sale, transportation, liability and insurance considerations, and the roles of international freight forwarders and customs brokers. Waller has extensive experience and qualifications in global trade and emphasized the importance of understanding how global events and regulations can impact international shipments.
The document provides an overview of the fertilizer industry in India. It discusses that India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers globally. It notes the major fertilizers produced in India are urea, DAP, and ammonium phosphates. The document also summarizes India's fertilizer production, consumption trends, major companies, subsidies provided, and regulations governing the industry.
This document provides information about trademark registration requirements and procedures in various Middle Eastern countries and worldwide. It begins with introductions and frequently asked questions about trademarks. It then discusses the 9th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services which organizes trademarks into categories. The majority of the document discusses the specific registration requirements and procedures for trademarks in Gulf Cooperation Council countries like UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc. and other Middle Eastern countries like Algeria, Egypt, Iran, etc. It also provides some sample trademark documentation formats and discusses international registration options through systems like the Madrid System. In the end it lists worldwide registration options and countries that the organization provides trademark services for.
The document provides an overview of imports and exports procedures in the UAE. It discusses the UAE's historic trading culture dating back centuries, when Arab merchants conducted trade along the Silk Road. It outlines the country's strategic geographic location and world-class infrastructure that have established it as a global logistics hub. The document also details the typical processes for importing and exporting goods by sea and land, including required documentation, customs clearance, and transportation and delivery of goods.
This document outlines an Austrian trade mission to the UAE, Oman, and Qatar from February 28 to March 5, 2004. It provides details on the schedule, locations visited, and participating Austrian companies. Twenty companies are listed along with brief descriptions of their products and services, which include armored vehicles, engineering services, kitchens, lighting, industrial chains, and more. Contact information is provided for each company and the organizers
The document provides an overview of the fertilizer industry in India. It discusses that India is the 3rd largest producer and consumer of fertilizers globally. It outlines the history and development of the fertilizer industry in India. It also summarizes the current production, consumption, import trends and major players in the Indian fertilizer industry. Additionally, it discusses the key policies around subsidies and regulations governing the fertilizer industry in India.
This document provides guidelines for coal handling units regarding location, storage and handling, transportation, pollution prevention, safety, and legal criteria. Key requirements include locating coal handling units at least 500 meters from residential areas and restricting heights of coal heaps to 5 meters. Mechanized loading and unloading systems must be used. Trucks transporting coal must be covered and weigh scales must prevent overloading. Air and water pollution control measures like dust suppression systems, wind breaks, and tree planting are mandated. Safety measures like fire prevention and an emergency plan are also required.
The document analyzes imports of organic chemicals in India during April 2013. It provides details on the value of imports by mode of transport, ports, Indian states, sectors and countries. The largest shares were through sea ports (78 billion rupees), in the states of Maharashtra (49%) and Gujarat (22%), and from China (26.11% market share). Top imports by 4-digit HS code were worth 90 billion rupees total during the month.
Trade between Asia and the Middle East has grown significantly in recent years, with India emerging as the largest trading partner. The United Arab Emirates has become India's largest export destination and trading partner, surpassing the US and China. Major exports from India to the Middle East include agricultural products, electronics, and skilled labor. Cochin Sea in Kerala exports products like coconut, cashews, seafood and software, with major trading partners being the US, UAE and UK.
The document discusses the poultry sector in India. It notes that egg production in India is growing but still falls short of demand projections. There are also regional imbalances in production. It recommends increasing vertical integration to reduce costs, developing infrastructure for marketing, and exploring opportunities to export value-added egg products and meet standards in international markets. Quality, safety, and meeting import standards are keys to boosting domestic and export sales.
The document summarizes information about green chilies production globally and in India. It provides the following key points:
- Asia accounts for 65.8% of global green chili production, with China being the top producer. India is among the top producers.
- In India, Andhra Pradesh is the leading producer of green chilies, accounting for over 55% of the country's production. Other major producing states include Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.
- Several improved varieties of green chilies have been developed for the Indian market, including varieties from seed companies like Syngenta and Namdhari Seeds.
This section describes how e-waste flows are measured in a harmonized framework. E-waste generated is calculated based on sales data, import/export data, product lifespan, and discarding probabilities. The methodology allows for international comparison by linking country data to standardized product categories and statistical corrections. Key outputs include the amount of e-waste generated per country, year, and product type. This framework provides an unprecedented level of accuracy and harmonization in measuring global e-waste quantities.
The document discusses dates and the date market. It provides background on date production globally and historically. Dates are an important crop in dry, hot regions and have cultural and religious significance. The document then analyzes global date demand, supply, and important varieties. It focuses on demand in Europe, Latin America, and for livestock. The largest date producing countries globally are identified and Tunisia is highlighted as the world's leading producer of deglet nour dates.
The document provides information on various Middle Eastern countries. It lists the countries and their key statistics and facts such as GDP, exports, crude oil and natural gas production. It discusses the economies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Iran, Iraq, and their reliance on oil and gas. It also mentions recent events like the Syrian civil war and impact of sanctions on Iran. Famous cities and tourist sites in the region like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo are highlighted. Cooperation groups in the Gulf like the GCC are also noted.
This document discusses new techniques for reducing exploration risk in challenging subsurface environments like deep water and beneath salt or basalt. It describes how 3D seismic surveys have improved drilling success rates from 25% to 50% but success is still low in some areas like 10% in deep Gulf of Mexico wells. New methods of acquiring seismic data from multiple azimuths and with vertically aligned sources and receivers are providing higher quality images to further reduce risk by illuminating subsurface targets from more directions. Examples from various basins demonstrate how these improvements in seismic technology decrease the chance of drilling dry holes.
Harvard University The energy implications of a nuclear deal between the p51 ...Andy Varoshiotis
The document summarizes a workshop discussing the potential energy implications of a nuclear deal between the P5+1 and Iran. Key points of discussion included:
- Experts anticipated Iran could increase oil production by 800,000 barrels per day within a year of sanctions being lifted, though reaching higher levels would require overcoming obstacles in Iranian decision-making.
- There was debate around how much foreign investment Iran could attract and the challenges it may face re-entering energy markets during a time of low oil prices.
- Lifting sanctions may hasten competition as Iran and other producers increase output and see oil as having limited long-term value, which could impact geopolitics and relations in the region.
Fidel Castro writes a letter to Nikita Khrushchev on October 28, 1962 regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis. Castro expresses gratitude to Khrushchev for defending Cuba from invasion and preventing nuclear war. However, Castro argues that they should take advantage of the current situation to further strengthen Cuba's independence and sovereignty. Castro believes they have accomplished preventing invasion and aggression, and should continue efforts to build a socialist society in Cuba.
Barite that is used as an aggregate in “heavy” cement or radiation shielding cement is crushed and screened to sizes ranging from 4 mesh (Tyler) (4.75 millimeters) to 1 .5 inches (3.75 millimeters) for the coarse grade. New Riverside Ochre Co., I nc. in Georgia is the primary supplier of barite aggregate. (USGS Minerals Yearbook—2004)
A rare opportunity to acquire a superior quality (virtually untapped) marble mining deposits of approximately 80 sampled acres with a conservative estimate of $2.3B in total mineral value, is now available here in the Northwestern United States.
Guatemala produces several minerals including antimony, gold, iron, steel, and lead. In 1999, antimony production was estimated at 440 metric tons and gold production was estimated at 50 kilograms. The mineral industry is dominated by the private sector, with the Ministry of Energy and Mines responsible for policy. The largest cement producer, Cementos Progreso S.A., targeted a production of 2.5 million metric tons in 1999 to meet domestic demand. Petroleum production in 1999 was estimated at around 24,200 barrels per day, a 5% decrease from 1998.
Aggregate production — mining of ordinary stone for construction — fetched nearly $17 billion in the United States in 2012, according to the US Geological Survey.
Drilling grade barite the global outlook IM Mag January 2015ANDREW SCOGINGS
1) Barite is a naturally occurring mineral used primarily as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration. It accounts for over 80% of barite production globally.
2) World barite production and consumption is directly linked to oil and gas drilling activity. Major producers are China, India, the US, Morocco and Turkey, accounting for over 80% of global supply. The US is the largest consumer.
3) While estimates of global barite reserves exist, there is limited reliable data. Production has increased from 5 million tonnes per year in the 1990s to around 8.5 million currently. If trends continue, production could reach 9.5-10 million tonnes by 2020.
1) Barite is a naturally occurring mineral used primarily as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration. It accounts for over 80% of barite production globally.
2) World barite production and consumption is directly linked to oil and gas drilling activity. Major producers are China, India, the US, Morocco and Turkey, accounting for over 80% of global supply. The US is the largest consumer.
3) While estimates of global barite reserves exist, there is limited reliable data. Production has increased from 5 million tonnes per year in the 1990s to around 8.5 million currently. If trends continue, production could reach 9.5-10 million tonnes by 2020.
1) Identify ethical issues2) Analysis of effects and underlying ca.pdfalimacal
1) Identify ethical issues
2) Analysis of effects and underlying causes
Introduction As Peter Munk fended off calls for his resignation in the fall of 2013, the gold
mining company he had founded in 1980 was at the centre of what he called a "perfect storm" of
environmental, community and stockholder pressures. Based in Toronto, Canada, Barrick Gold
Corporation had built its position as the world's biggest gold mining company on a policy of
"responsible mining", which involved careful environmental planning and millions of dollars of
investment in the communities where it mined. At 85 , Munk still guided the corporation as chair
of the board. (Figure 1) But now its success was threatened by tougher requirements from
environmental regulators, community protests, and demands for greater profit-sharing from the
governments of several nations where its most promising mining developments were underway.
Furthermore, the price of gold had dropped precipitously. Shareholders were calling for a
reconstitution of the Barrick's board, saying current members, like Munk, were out of syne with
the current market realities. At the centre of this storm was the huge Pascua Lama mining project
that Barrick was developing high in the Andes, straddling the border of Chile and Argentina. Set
in a remote region among ancient glaciers, the mine would tap into one of the world's largest
gold reserves, believed to hold nearly 18 million ounces of gold and 676 million ounces of silver
2 As the world's first mine to operate across national borders, Pascua Lama would set a
precedent for other ambitious mining projects which Barrick hoped to develop in the same
region. The company had already poured more than $5 billion into the giant construction project,
which it listed as its top priority. 3 Start of production had been delayed to 2016, and it had
already cost billions more than anticipated when it started planning in 1997. It had been a dismal
year for the project. First a court had delayed construction on the Chilean side of the project,
after an indigenous community in the region had alleged that the project would pollute local
water supplies. Then environmental regulators halted construction on the Chilean side until
Barrick could complete the installation of an improved water management system. These
problems and the drop in gold prices sent the company's stock on the Toronto and New York
Stock exchanges tumbling: it had lost nearly 50% of its value since the beginning of the year.
Some analysts were calling on the company to get out of the business of building new mines
altogether. 4 Originally, the governments the Chile and Argentina had welcomed the Pascua
Lama project as a way to bring jobs and economic benefits to a desolate and impoverished
region. Barrick had gone through years of negotiations and made many concessions, including
abandoning a plan to move parts of the glacier, to get the necessary environmental permits. The
company had recruited support am.
This document provides an overview of mining in Quebec, Canada. It discusses Quebec's ranking in the Fraser Institute survey, which fell to fourth place likely due to increased mining duties and regulatory uncertainty. Major commodities produced in Quebec include gold, iron ore, silver, nickel, zinc, and copper. The document also examines issues like restricted land access, social acceptability of mining, and Quebec's Plan Nord initiative to develop the province's vast northern region.
Llave Oro is a Colombian gold exploration company with two principal projects, Popales and El Rayo. Popales is located near Continental Gold's 3.4M oz Buritica deposit and shows similar high-grade vein patterns. Trenching at Popales returned values of up to 8m at 3.5 g/t Au. El Rayo is near AngloGold Ashanti's Gramalote project and shows a 1km shear zone with chip samples up to 16.6 g/t Au. Llave Oro has a experienced Colombian team and is pursuing additional acquisitions and drilling programs to evaluate the projects' potential.
This document provides guidelines for coal handling units regarding location, storage and handling, transportation, pollution prevention, safety, and legal criteria. Key requirements include locating coal handling units at least 500 meters from residential areas and restricting heights of coal heaps to 5 meters. Mechanized loading and unloading systems must be used. Trucks transporting coal must be covered and weigh scales must prevent overloading. Air and water pollution control measures like dust suppression systems, wind breaks, and tree planting are mandated. Safety measures like fire prevention and an emergency plan are also required.
The document analyzes imports of organic chemicals in India during April 2013. It provides details on the value of imports by mode of transport, ports, Indian states, sectors and countries. The largest shares were through sea ports (78 billion rupees), in the states of Maharashtra (49%) and Gujarat (22%), and from China (26.11% market share). Top imports by 4-digit HS code were worth 90 billion rupees total during the month.
Trade between Asia and the Middle East has grown significantly in recent years, with India emerging as the largest trading partner. The United Arab Emirates has become India's largest export destination and trading partner, surpassing the US and China. Major exports from India to the Middle East include agricultural products, electronics, and skilled labor. Cochin Sea in Kerala exports products like coconut, cashews, seafood and software, with major trading partners being the US, UAE and UK.
The document discusses the poultry sector in India. It notes that egg production in India is growing but still falls short of demand projections. There are also regional imbalances in production. It recommends increasing vertical integration to reduce costs, developing infrastructure for marketing, and exploring opportunities to export value-added egg products and meet standards in international markets. Quality, safety, and meeting import standards are keys to boosting domestic and export sales.
The document summarizes information about green chilies production globally and in India. It provides the following key points:
- Asia accounts for 65.8% of global green chili production, with China being the top producer. India is among the top producers.
- In India, Andhra Pradesh is the leading producer of green chilies, accounting for over 55% of the country's production. Other major producing states include Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.
- Several improved varieties of green chilies have been developed for the Indian market, including varieties from seed companies like Syngenta and Namdhari Seeds.
This section describes how e-waste flows are measured in a harmonized framework. E-waste generated is calculated based on sales data, import/export data, product lifespan, and discarding probabilities. The methodology allows for international comparison by linking country data to standardized product categories and statistical corrections. Key outputs include the amount of e-waste generated per country, year, and product type. This framework provides an unprecedented level of accuracy and harmonization in measuring global e-waste quantities.
The document discusses dates and the date market. It provides background on date production globally and historically. Dates are an important crop in dry, hot regions and have cultural and religious significance. The document then analyzes global date demand, supply, and important varieties. It focuses on demand in Europe, Latin America, and for livestock. The largest date producing countries globally are identified and Tunisia is highlighted as the world's leading producer of deglet nour dates.
The document provides information on various Middle Eastern countries. It lists the countries and their key statistics and facts such as GDP, exports, crude oil and natural gas production. It discusses the economies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Iran, Iraq, and their reliance on oil and gas. It also mentions recent events like the Syrian civil war and impact of sanctions on Iran. Famous cities and tourist sites in the region like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo are highlighted. Cooperation groups in the Gulf like the GCC are also noted.
This document discusses new techniques for reducing exploration risk in challenging subsurface environments like deep water and beneath salt or basalt. It describes how 3D seismic surveys have improved drilling success rates from 25% to 50% but success is still low in some areas like 10% in deep Gulf of Mexico wells. New methods of acquiring seismic data from multiple azimuths and with vertically aligned sources and receivers are providing higher quality images to further reduce risk by illuminating subsurface targets from more directions. Examples from various basins demonstrate how these improvements in seismic technology decrease the chance of drilling dry holes.
Harvard University The energy implications of a nuclear deal between the p51 ...Andy Varoshiotis
The document summarizes a workshop discussing the potential energy implications of a nuclear deal between the P5+1 and Iran. Key points of discussion included:
- Experts anticipated Iran could increase oil production by 800,000 barrels per day within a year of sanctions being lifted, though reaching higher levels would require overcoming obstacles in Iranian decision-making.
- There was debate around how much foreign investment Iran could attract and the challenges it may face re-entering energy markets during a time of low oil prices.
- Lifting sanctions may hasten competition as Iran and other producers increase output and see oil as having limited long-term value, which could impact geopolitics and relations in the region.
Fidel Castro writes a letter to Nikita Khrushchev on October 28, 1962 regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis. Castro expresses gratitude to Khrushchev for defending Cuba from invasion and preventing nuclear war. However, Castro argues that they should take advantage of the current situation to further strengthen Cuba's independence and sovereignty. Castro believes they have accomplished preventing invasion and aggression, and should continue efforts to build a socialist society in Cuba.
Barite that is used as an aggregate in “heavy” cement or radiation shielding cement is crushed and screened to sizes ranging from 4 mesh (Tyler) (4.75 millimeters) to 1 .5 inches (3.75 millimeters) for the coarse grade. New Riverside Ochre Co., I nc. in Georgia is the primary supplier of barite aggregate. (USGS Minerals Yearbook—2004)
A rare opportunity to acquire a superior quality (virtually untapped) marble mining deposits of approximately 80 sampled acres with a conservative estimate of $2.3B in total mineral value, is now available here in the Northwestern United States.
Guatemala produces several minerals including antimony, gold, iron, steel, and lead. In 1999, antimony production was estimated at 440 metric tons and gold production was estimated at 50 kilograms. The mineral industry is dominated by the private sector, with the Ministry of Energy and Mines responsible for policy. The largest cement producer, Cementos Progreso S.A., targeted a production of 2.5 million metric tons in 1999 to meet domestic demand. Petroleum production in 1999 was estimated at around 24,200 barrels per day, a 5% decrease from 1998.
Aggregate production — mining of ordinary stone for construction — fetched nearly $17 billion in the United States in 2012, according to the US Geological Survey.
Drilling grade barite the global outlook IM Mag January 2015ANDREW SCOGINGS
1) Barite is a naturally occurring mineral used primarily as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration. It accounts for over 80% of barite production globally.
2) World barite production and consumption is directly linked to oil and gas drilling activity. Major producers are China, India, the US, Morocco and Turkey, accounting for over 80% of global supply. The US is the largest consumer.
3) While estimates of global barite reserves exist, there is limited reliable data. Production has increased from 5 million tonnes per year in the 1990s to around 8.5 million currently. If trends continue, production could reach 9.5-10 million tonnes by 2020.
1) Barite is a naturally occurring mineral used primarily as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration. It accounts for over 80% of barite production globally.
2) World barite production and consumption is directly linked to oil and gas drilling activity. Major producers are China, India, the US, Morocco and Turkey, accounting for over 80% of global supply. The US is the largest consumer.
3) While estimates of global barite reserves exist, there is limited reliable data. Production has increased from 5 million tonnes per year in the 1990s to around 8.5 million currently. If trends continue, production could reach 9.5-10 million tonnes by 2020.
1) Identify ethical issues2) Analysis of effects and underlying ca.pdfalimacal
1) Identify ethical issues
2) Analysis of effects and underlying causes
Introduction As Peter Munk fended off calls for his resignation in the fall of 2013, the gold
mining company he had founded in 1980 was at the centre of what he called a "perfect storm" of
environmental, community and stockholder pressures. Based in Toronto, Canada, Barrick Gold
Corporation had built its position as the world's biggest gold mining company on a policy of
"responsible mining", which involved careful environmental planning and millions of dollars of
investment in the communities where it mined. At 85 , Munk still guided the corporation as chair
of the board. (Figure 1) But now its success was threatened by tougher requirements from
environmental regulators, community protests, and demands for greater profit-sharing from the
governments of several nations where its most promising mining developments were underway.
Furthermore, the price of gold had dropped precipitously. Shareholders were calling for a
reconstitution of the Barrick's board, saying current members, like Munk, were out of syne with
the current market realities. At the centre of this storm was the huge Pascua Lama mining project
that Barrick was developing high in the Andes, straddling the border of Chile and Argentina. Set
in a remote region among ancient glaciers, the mine would tap into one of the world's largest
gold reserves, believed to hold nearly 18 million ounces of gold and 676 million ounces of silver
2 As the world's first mine to operate across national borders, Pascua Lama would set a
precedent for other ambitious mining projects which Barrick hoped to develop in the same
region. The company had already poured more than $5 billion into the giant construction project,
which it listed as its top priority. 3 Start of production had been delayed to 2016, and it had
already cost billions more than anticipated when it started planning in 1997. It had been a dismal
year for the project. First a court had delayed construction on the Chilean side of the project,
after an indigenous community in the region had alleged that the project would pollute local
water supplies. Then environmental regulators halted construction on the Chilean side until
Barrick could complete the installation of an improved water management system. These
problems and the drop in gold prices sent the company's stock on the Toronto and New York
Stock exchanges tumbling: it had lost nearly 50% of its value since the beginning of the year.
Some analysts were calling on the company to get out of the business of building new mines
altogether. 4 Originally, the governments the Chile and Argentina had welcomed the Pascua
Lama project as a way to bring jobs and economic benefits to a desolate and impoverished
region. Barrick had gone through years of negotiations and made many concessions, including
abandoning a plan to move parts of the glacier, to get the necessary environmental permits. The
company had recruited support am.
This document provides an overview of mining in Quebec, Canada. It discusses Quebec's ranking in the Fraser Institute survey, which fell to fourth place likely due to increased mining duties and regulatory uncertainty. Major commodities produced in Quebec include gold, iron ore, silver, nickel, zinc, and copper. The document also examines issues like restricted land access, social acceptability of mining, and Quebec's Plan Nord initiative to develop the province's vast northern region.
Llave Oro is a Colombian gold exploration company with two principal projects, Popales and El Rayo. Popales is located near Continental Gold's 3.4M oz Buritica deposit and shows similar high-grade vein patterns. Trenching at Popales returned values of up to 8m at 3.5 g/t Au. El Rayo is near AngloGold Ashanti's Gramalote project and shows a 1km shear zone with chip samples up to 16.6 g/t Au. Llave Oro has a experienced Colombian team and is pursuing additional acquisitions and drilling programs to evaluate the projects' potential.
This document provides an overview of Llave Oro, a Colombian gold exploration company. It discusses Llave Oro's principal assets, which resemble large gold deposits in the region. It also outlines the management team's experience in Colombia and describes why Colombia is an attractive location for mining investment, noting its geologic potential, policy environment, and major mining projects. The document promotes Llave Oro's stock offering and an opportunity for investment in gold exploration.
This document provides recommendations for diving operators on risk prevention and mitigation procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. It addresses measures for customer and staff safety including physical distancing, disinfection protocols, managing rental equipment, protective measures on boats, and safely conducting buddy checks, gas sharing, and cylinder refills. The 10 key recommendations cover reception areas, disinfection of surfaces and equipment, controlling rental gear, boat operations, buddy checks, and refilling cylinders. Frequent disinfection and physical distancing are emphasized.
This document provides information on ear equalization for scuba divers. It discusses how pressure changes from diving can cause ear injuries if divers do not properly equalize their ears. It describes the anatomy of the ear and equalization process. It then details six methods for equalizing ears, and provides 10 tips to make equalization easier. Finally, it discusses how to deal with other ear problems like barotrauma and vertigo that can occur from diving issues. The overall goal is to help divers understand ear equalization and protect their ears while scuba diving.
Solarus is an innovative renewable energy company that develops and markets the PowerCollector, a hybrid concentrated photovoltaic and thermal collector. The PowerCollector generates both electricity and heat from solar energy, with efficiencies up to four times greater than conventional solar panels. Solarus seeks to provide affordable, clean energy worldwide in order to alleviate energy poverty and promote sustainable development.
This document summarizes an annual general meeting presentation about LNG market outlook and floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). The presentation discusses key LNG market figures from 2016, important facts about FSRUs, an industry overview of FSRUs including active projects worldwide, the regasification process used by FSRUs, and potential FSRU projects in the Eastern Mediterranean region including Israel, Egypt, Malta, and potentially Cyprus. The conclusion emphasizes that security of energy sources will require substantial investment, and that a combination of an FSRU and floating LNG facility could position Cyprus in the global LNG market as a producer and user.
The sponsorship opportunity for the COGA Annual General Meeting on May 25, 2017 costs 1000 Euros. Benefits include having promotional materials at the reception table, displaying banners in the conference room, and showing sponsor logos on screens before the AGM. Interested parties should contact Mr. Polis Peratikos, the Executive Secretary of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry, for more information.
Cyprus Oil & Gas Association AGM agenda officialAndy Varoshiotis
The Annual General Meeting agenda included a members session from 5pm, followed by the official session at 6pm. The official session was to include a keynote speech by the Minister of Energy on the 3rd Licensing Round, addresses by the President of CCCI and President of COGA on LNG imports and an FRSU solution, and a cocktail reception was scheduled afterwards at 7pm.
This document provides information about solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems and net metering from Harvest 4 Energy. It discusses the company's full-service installation process, how PV systems can lower energy costs and gain independence. The document then details the application process, installation requirements, licensing process, expenses, required documents, and financing options for a 3kW net metering PV system. Customers can have a PV system installed and pay it off in about 5 years once energy savings are factored in.
Power for all, Renewable Energy Declaration and statement Andy Varoshiotis
This document outlines the goals of the Power for All campaign to promote universal access to affordable and sustainable energy. It notes that over 1 billion people currently lack access to electricity, most living in rural areas. Providing energy access through centralized fossil fuel systems would be too costly, time-consuming, and environmentally damaging. However, decentralized renewable energy solutions could achieve universal access much more quickly and at lower cost while creating jobs. Therefore, the Power for All campaign urges governments and organizations to support decentralized renewable energy through policies, funding, education, and market development initiatives to accelerate access to energy for all.
Harvest 4 Energy Ltd is a Cyprus-based energy consulting firm that provides various oil and gas services including: 1) drilling, production, and reserves optimization as well as enhanced oil recovery techniques; 2) asset evaluation, management, and compliance services; 3) project management, technical consulting, and training. The company's services span upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas operations as well as related areas like geophysical surveying and pipeline inspection.
The document summarizes the work of the Nuclear Security Project (NSP), led by four former senior U.S. statesmen, which aims to reduce nuclear dangers and build support for a world without nuclear weapons. It provides an overview of the NSP's vision and steps outlined in Wall Street Journal op-eds beginning in 2007. It describes the impact and momentum generated, including endorsements from world leaders. It outlines the NSP's activities like conferences, research, and the documentary Nuclear Tipping Point to further the vision and address challenges.
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1. 2009 Minerals Yearbook
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
BARITE [ADVANCE RELEASE]
February 2011
2. BARITE—2009 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 9.1
BARITE
By M. Michael Miller
Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Raymond I. Eldridge III, statistical assistant, and the world production
table was prepared by Lisa D. Miller, international data coordinator.
In 2009, primary barite production (sold or used by producers)
totaled 383,000 metric tons (t) valued at $19.9 million, and
apparent consumption was 1.77 million metric tons (Mt).
Imports were 1.43 Mt and exports were 49,000 t.
Barite is the mineralogical name for barium sulfate. In
commerce, the mineral is sometimes referred to as barytes. In
this report, the term primary barite refers to the first marketable
product, which includes crude barite that usually has undergone
simple beneficiation methods, such as jigging, tabling, washing,
or more complex methods, such as flotation, heavy-media
separation, and magnetic separation. Most crude barite requires
some upgrading to minimum purity or density levels.
Production
Domestic production and sales data for barite were derived
from voluntary responses to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
canvass of 7 mines and 25 grinding plants. The USGS received
full or partial responses from 6 mines and 21 grinding mills,
representing 80% of the quantity of ground barite sold. Most of
the nonrespondents were grinding mills. Estimates were made
using prior year data and other industry data. Seven mines were
included in the survey—five were producing and two were idle.
Of the canvassed producing mines, four were in Nevada, and
one was in Georgia; the idle mines were in Nevada. There were
25 grinding plants operating at the end of the reporting year.
The Georgia mine and three of the Nevada mines had associated
nearby grinding plants, while the fourth Nevada mine shipped
its ore to its grinding plant in Wyoming. Most Nevada barite
ore was ground at nearby company-owned grinding mills, but
ore also was shipped to grinding mills in Canada and Wyoming.
Some ore was shipped to plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast for
grinding. This has been an uncommon practice in recent years
because the cost of transport made Nevada barite uncompetitive
with imported barite. Although import prices for barite from
China have increased substantially in the past few years,
shipments of barite to the Gulf Coast remain rare. Demand in
the Western United States and Western Canada was so strong in
recent years that Nevada barite producers were able to sell all
their production to western customers.
Crude barite production was 383,000 t in 2009, a decrease
of 41% compared with that of 2008. The value of domestic
production was $19.9 million, a decrease of 36%. The bulk of
mine production was from Nevada, with a small amount from
Georgia. The large decrease in Nevada’s mine production was
caused by the sharp downturn in gas exploration when natural
gas prices dropped as a result of the recession and economic
downturn.
In 2009, there were four active barite mines in Nevada—Big
Ledge Mine (NOV Minerals LP, formerly Spirit Minerals LP)
and Rossi Mine (Halliburton Energy Services-Baroid) in Elko
County, and Argenta Mine (Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids) and
Greystone Mine (M-I L.L.C. operating as M-I SWACO) in
Lander County. In addition to these Nevada operations, there
was one small barite producer in Georgia—New Riverside
Ochre Co., Inc.
Canada’s Bravo Ventures Group Inc. (Vancouver, British
Columbia) announced that it had signed an option agreement
with Baker Hughes (Houston, TX) whereby Baker Hughes
could acquire 100% of any barite ore at Bravo’s Shoshone
Pediment gold project in the Battle Mountain-Eureka gold
trend in central Nevada. Bravo’s plans involved targeting two
potential gold occurrences, both located below the barite beds.
The Bravo property is adjacent to properties Baker Hughes
plans to mine for barite, so this agreement potentially would
provide additional barite ore to supplement production from its
own mining operations (Bravo Ventures Group, Inc., 2009).
Kent Exploration Inc. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
announced that it received mine plan approval from the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management for the company’s Flagstaff, WA,
barite property. The approved mine plan allows the mining of a
maximum of about 91,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) (100,000
short tons per year) of barite from the historic open pit mine
on the property. CE Minerals produced about 77,000 t (85,000
short tons) of barite from the site in the early 1980s and reported
a remaining resource of approximately 1.1 Mt (1.2 million
short tons) grading 4.2 specific gravity. During the first year of
operation, Kent Exploration planned to test the economics of the
project by crushing, separating, and upgrading to 4.1 specific
gravity the estimated 27,000 t (30,000 short tons) of existing
stockpiled barite ore. The company had already signed a supply
agreement with a customer for 18,000 t/yr (20,000 short tons per
year) (Kent Exploration Inc., 2009).
In 2009, the leading companies that mined and ground barite
in the United States were also major oil service companies,
which included Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids (a division
of Baker Hughes Inc.), Baroid Fluid Services (the drilling
fluids and industrial barite subsidiary of Halliburton Energy
Services, Inc.), and M-I SWACO (a joint venture between
Smith International Inc. and Schlumberger Ltd.). Baker Hughes,
Halliburton, and M-I SWACO operated in many countries,
mining barite and providing drilling sales and services.
These three companies operated barite mines with associated
beneficiation mills and grinding plants in Nevada and also
operated grinding plants in Louisiana and Texas.
The fourth active barite producer in Nevada was Spirit
Minerals LP (Wells, NV), which was acquired by National
Oilwell Varco Inc. (Houston, TX) in May 2009 and renamed
NOV Minerals LP (National Oilwell Varco Inc., 2010a, p. 9).
NOV Minerals operated a grinding plant in Evanston, WY,
3. 9.2 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2009
which ground crude barite from its Dry Creek jig mill and crude
barite stockpiled from mining operations in the 1980s.
In 2009, there were 14 grinding operations on the coast of the
Gulf of Mexico (6 in Louisiana and 8 in Texas) that produced
barite to American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications.
These stand-alone grinding plants primarily processed crude
barite imported from China and India that was ground to API
specifications for the oil and gas drilling market. Baker Hughes
had single plants in Morgan City, LA, and Corpus Christi,
TX. M-I SWACO (M-I LLC) operated single mills in Amelia,
LA, and Galveston, TX. Baroid (Halliburton) had two plants
in Louisiana at Lake Charles and New Orleans, and a single
plant in Corpus Christi, TX. In late 2009, Halliburton started
construction of a new grinding mill in Larose, LA. Larose is in
Lafourche Parish, and the new plant location was designed to
allow for easy transport of barite to Halliburton’s wharf facilities
at Port Fourchon that support offshore oil drilling operations in
the Gulf of Mexico (Schmidt, 2009).
In addition to the barite mining companies, there were
a number of other companies that operated grinding mills
primarily designed to process imported crude barite. These
included Excalibar Minerals Inc. (a division of Newpark
Resources, Inc. of Houston), a major barite importer and grinder
with one mill in New Iberia, LA, and two mills in Texas at
Corpus Christi and Houston. These mills primarily supplied
the oil and gas drilling market. The company also operated a
grinding plant in Tennessee mostly serving nondrilling markets.
There were other, smaller companies near the Gulf of Mexico
that received imported barite by ship through ports in Louisiana
and Texas. These included Milwhite, Inc. and U.S. Clay LP
(each with a single plant in Brownsville, TX) and Ambar
Drilling Fluids LP in Houma, LA. At yearend, National Oilwell
Varco was negotiating to acquire Ambar; the deal was expected
to be finalized in early 2010 (National Oilwell Varco Inc.,
2010b).
Grinding plants that produced commercial filler-grade barite
or chemical-grade barite were located primarily in the Southeast,
Midwest, and Texas. Only four companies reported sales of
barite for nondrilling uses, and by far the leading producer was
CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Inc. (Cartersville, GA), which
operated two grinding mills in Georgia, one in Missouri, and
one in Texas. In October, CIMBAR expanded into the Midwest
and added to its product line by acquiring Barretts Minerals
Inc.’s multi-mineral processing plant in Mt. Vernon, IN. The
plant will produce barite in addition to calcium carbonate and
talc (CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Inc., 2009a). In addition,
CIMBAR expanded annual milling capacity at its Houston,
TX, plant by about 362,000 t (400,000 short tons) to expand
the company’s presence in the drilling market (CIMBAR
Performance Minerals, Inc., 2009b).
Consumption
In 2009, apparent consumption of barite decreased by 45%
to 1.77 Mt compared with that in 2008 (table 1). Ground barite
sales decreased by 27% to 2.08 Mt in 2009 from 2.84 Mt in
2008. In 2009, sales by grinding plants in Louisiana decreased
by 28% to 921,000 t. Grinding plant sales in Texas decreased
by 31% to 569,000 t, while sales by plants in all other States
decreased by 20% to 591,000 t (table 2). About 1.96 Mt, or
94%, of barite sales from domestic crushers and grinders was
for petroleum well-drilling markets, and the remaining 6% was
for industrial end uses (table 3).
The leading application for barite is as a weighting agent
in natural gas and oil field drilling muds to suppress high
formation pressures and prevent blowouts. As a well is drilled,
the bit passes through various formations, each with different
characteristics. The deeper the hole, the more barite is needed as
a percentage of the total mud mix. An additional benefit of barite
is that it does not interfere with magnetic measurements taken in
the borehole, either during logging-while-drilling or in separate
drill hole logging.
Barite used for drilling petroleum wells can be black, blue,
brown, buff, or gray depending on the ore body. Most barite
needs to be ground to a small uniform size before it is used
as a weighting agent in petroleum well-drilling mud based on
specifications set by the API or the former Oil Companies’
Materials Association.
The barite is finely ground so that at least 97% of the material,
by weight, can pass through a 200-mesh (Tyler) [75-micrometer
(μm)] screen, and no more than 30%, by weight, can be
less than 6 μm, effective diameter, which is measured using
sedimentation techniques. The ground barite also must be dense
enough so that its specific gravity is 4.2 or greater, soft enough
to not damage the bearings of a tricone drill bit, chemically
inert, and containing no more than 250 milligrams per kilogram
of soluble alkaline salts (American Petroleum Institute, 1993,
p. 6–11). A small percentage of iron oxide is allowable.
Although the current API standard for barite calls for a specific
gravity of 4.2, in 2008 the API began examining a proposal to
lower the barite specific gravity specification to 4.1.
A final vote on the proposal was expected in 2009, and it was
anticipated that a revised API Specification 13A, Specification
for Drilling Fluids Materials, would be issued in 2010 (Moores
and O’Driscoll, 2009). The API standard does not address
heavy-metal impurities, but barite derived from base-metal
deposits may contain heavy metals such as cadmium and
mercury and discharges of these may be regulated under
environmental law. For example, U.S. environmental regulations
pertaining to offshore drilling allow drilling waste discharges
containing barite only if the barite contains less than 3 parts per
million cadmium and 1 part per million mercury (Drilling Waste
Management Information System, undated).
With the contraction of the U.S. economy in 2009, energy
demand was significantly reduced and this resulted in lower
oil and gas prices compared with their peaks in the summer of
2008. Reduced energy demand and lower energy prices were
reflected in 2009 by the large decrease in domestic oil and
gas drilling. Natural gas prices (wellhead), which had peaked
in June 2008 at $10.82 per thousand cubic feet, continued to
slide in 2009, dropping to a low of $2.92 per thousand cubic
feet in September before recovering somewhat to $4.44 per
thousand cubic feet in December. Oil prices (U.S. spot price)
nearly doubled from their low point of less than $32 per barrel
in January 2009 to nearly $70 per barrel in December 2009,
but this was still 40% below its peak of $134 per barrel in
June 2008 (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information
Administration, 2010a, b).
4. BARITE—2009 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 9.3
The sharp decrease in oil and gas prices discouraged
exploration. The weekly U.S. drill rig count in 2009 hit a low
of 876 in late summer before recovering to 1,189 at yearend.
This was still significantly lower than the 2008 yearend count
of 1,721. The average monthly drill rig count for 2009 was
1,086 or nearly 800 operating rigs less than that of 2008. Much
of the rig count decrease was in gas exploration, which was
reflected by the percentage of drill rigs exploring for natural
gas decreasing to 65% from about 80% in 2008 (Baker Hughes
Inc., 2010). These factors caused the sharp decrease in barite
consumption in 2009 compared with that of 2008.
In 2009, sales of domestic and imported barite sold for
industrial uses decreased by 10% to 118,000 t (table 3).
Industrial end uses such as barium chemicals (the largest
by volume is barium carbonate), filler in paint and plastics,
and powder coatings all require the barite to be ground to
a small uniform size. The size depends on the use, but for
paint- and plastic-grade material, it averages about 2 to 3 μm.
Barite-containing materials that are used for sound reduction
in engine compartments are gaining market share among
automotive manufacturers. Barite also is used in the base coat of
automobile finishes for smoothness and corrosion resistance and
continues to be used in friction products for automobiles and
trucks.
Barite that is used as an aggregate in “heavy” cement or
radiation-shielding cement is crushed and screened to sizes
ranging from 4.75 millimeters (0.187 inches) to 3.75 centimeters
(1.5 inches) for the coarse grade. New Riverside Ochre
(Cartersville, GA) is the leading supplier of barite aggregate.
Foreign Trade
Barite exports in 2009 were 49,300 t, a 20% decrease
compared with those of 2008. Most exports went to Canada
(77%) in the form of crude barite, which was ground in Canada
and then consumed for oil and gas drilling in the western
provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. The
bulk of the remaining exports went to Brazil (10%) and Mexico
(9%) (table 4).
Assignment of the correct harmonized tariff schedule
(HTS) number by importers is sometimes problematic. As a
result, in prior years, adjustments were made in an attempt
to classify imports of crude natural barite, ground barite, and
other sulfates of barium by type and use. These adjustments
involved separating, by unit value, imports intended for use
in drilling muds (crude and ground barite), and all other uses
(other sulfates of barium). Beginning in 2008 this practice was
discontinued, and the data shown in table 5 for 2008 and 2009
are as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Combined imports of barite decreased by 45% compared
with those of 2008. Imports totaled only 1.42 Mt, which was
the lowest annual import total in a decade. China continued to
be the primary source accounting for 93% of the total crude and
ground material. Imports for the several forms of barite reported
under the HTS nomenclature “Other sulfates of barium” were
10,600 t, or a decrease of about 24% compared with those of
2008 (table 5).
There is a tariff on U.S. imports of crude barite equal to $1.25
per metric ton, but there is no tariff on imports of ground barite.
As a result, some of the major importers of crude barite have
applied for and received foreign trade zone (FTZ) status for
their grinding mills in the United States. In 2007, M-I SWACO
received FTZ approvals for the company’s grinding plants
in Amelia, LA, and Galveston, TX. In 2008, Baker Hughes
received FTZ approvals for its grinding plants in Morgan
City, LA, and Corpus Christi, TX. In addition, in December,
Halliburton received FTZ approvals for its grinding plants
in Westlake, LA, and Corpus Christi, TX. In 2009, Excalibar
Minerals submitted an application for FTZ status for its Corpus
Christi, TX, grinding mill, but had not received approval by
yearend. FTZ status means that the ground barite produced by
these mills will be reported as imports for consumption and not
crude barite received from foreign suppliers (U.S. Department
of Commerce, Import Administration, 2010).
Transportation
In recent years, more than 80% of U.S. barite consumption
has been supplied by imports (primarily from China). Most
barite imports are shipped in handymax-size bulk carriers
(typically 35,000- to 60,000-t deadweight tonnage). After being
ground to API specifications, barite is transferred directly to
containers on barges docked in canals, lakes, and rivers near the
grinding mills for bulk delivery to offshore drilling platforms.
These near-shore barite staging locations also are convenient
to the clusters of onshore areas with significant petroleum
production in the Petroleum Administration for Defense (PAD)
District 3. The PAD districts were World War II divisions of
the oil-producing areas of the United States; these designations
continue to be used.
Prices
The average sales value for primary barite from mines
and their associated beneficiation plants in the United States
increased to $51.90 per metric ton, an increase of 9% compared
with that of 2008 (table 1). The average sales values for
drilling-grade barite ground in Louisiana and Texas increased
significantly, although these large increases may not reflect
the true change in values. After analyzing the 2008 data, it is
thought that some of the 2008 reported value data and estimates
were too low. Compared with those of 2008, the average sales
value for drilling-grade barite ground in Louisiana increased
to about $145 per ton, while the sales value for drilling-grade
barite ground in Texas increased to about $162 per ton. The
average value for all grades ground in Texas increased to $170
per ton, while the sales value of barite ground in other States
increased to $130 per ton (table 2). Barite for barium chemicals,
filler and extender, and glass increased by 12% to $346 per ton
for 2009 compared with that of 2008 (table 3).
December U.S. published import prices for barite from China,
API grade, lump, including cost, insurance, and freight, U.S.
Gulf Coast, were in a range of $94 to $108 per ton or essentially
unchanged from those of 2008. The price for Indian barite,
however, decreased significantly; December 2009 import prices
were listed in the range of $97 to $99 per ton compared with
a range of $106 to $130 per ton in December 2008. The price
of chemical-grade barite from China decreased from $140 per
5. 9.4 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2009
ton in December 2008 to a range of $92 to $114 per ton in
December 2009 (Industrial Minerals, 2009).
World Review
Ireland.—Sunrise Diamonds Plc (Macclesfield, United
Kingdom) announced that it had been granted a prospecting
license for barite, base metals, gold, platinum, and silver at
a former barite mine near Bantry in County Cork. The mine
was worked from 1864 to 1922 and supplied barite to the local
Irish paint industry. Drilling performed in the 1980s suggested
that the barite ore was more extensive than previously thought.
The company was targeting the Derryginagh barite deposit for
possible production of high-value white barite, which is used
as a filler in paints and plastics (Crain’s Manchester Business,
2009).
Outlook
Long-term U.S. demand for oil and gas is expected to
continue to drive domestic exploration. The global recession of
2008–09 resulted in dramatic decreases in energy consumption
and associated fuel prices. The United States economic recovery
has been slow and energy consumption and fuel prices have
remained low as a result. At yearend 2009, about 65% of
domestic drilling was for natural gas, and future demand for
barite in the United States will likely depend mainly on rising
natural gas consumption and higher natural gas prices. Energy
consumption is expected to increase as the economy improves
and business output increases, which is expected to provide
upward pressure on demand and prices. The U.S. economy
is expected to increase at a modest rate through 2011, and
natural gas prices are expected to edge upward in response. The
monthly number of operating drill rigs was steadily increasing
from its low point in the summer of 2009, which indicated
increasing demand for barite.
In the future, natural gas’ share of U.S. power generation
is likely to increase because of relatively low natural gas
prices and the prospect of stricter environmental controls on
powerplant emissions. These conditions may result in power
companies deferring coal-fired powerplants and building cleaner
gas-fired plants in their place. Increased natural gas use may
be bolstered by recent increases in the Nation’s estimated gas
reserves, which have surged by 35% since 2006, according to
a study released in June 2009 by the Potential Gas Committee
(PGC). The PGC consists of volunteer members from the
natural gas industry, government, and academic institutions,
who biennially assess the size and location of the nation’s
natural gas resource base. Much of this increase in gas reserves
is the result of new and advanced exploration, well drilling, and
well completion technologies, which allows recovery of natural
gas from active and newly developing shale-gas fields (Potential
Gas Committee, 2009). A switch from coal to natural gas in new
powerplants would likely provide a boost to domestic drilling
and increase the demand for barite.
References Cited
American Petroleum Institute, 1993, Specification for drilling-fluid materials—
Specification 13A: Washington, DC, American Petroleum Institute, 47 p.
Baker Hughes Inc., 2010, Baker Hughes investor relations: Houston, TX, Baker
Hughes Inc. (Accessed October 1, 2010, via http://investor.shareholder.com/
bhi/rig_counts/rc_index.cfm.)
Bravo Ventures Group, Inc., 2009, Bravo options barite rights to Baker Hughes:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Bravo Ventures Group, Inc. press
release, April 16, 1 p.
CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Inc., 2009a, CIMBAR Performance Minerals,
Inc. announces the acquisition of the Mt. Vernon, IN multi-mineral processing
plant of Barretts Minerals, Inc. which is a subsidiary of Specialty Minerals,
Inc.: Cartersville, GA, CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Inc. press release,
October 29, 1 p.
CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Inc., 2009b, Houston minerals plant expansion
and API certification: Cartersville, GA, CIMBAR Performance Minerals, Inc.
press release, May 18, 1 p.
Crain’s Manchester Business, 2009, Sunrise prospects for barite in Ireland:
Crain’s Manchester Business, November 25, 1 p. (Accessed
September 7, 2010, at http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/article/
20091125/FREE/911259986/1080/-/-/
sunrise-prospects-for-barite-in-ireland.)
Drilling Waste Management Information System, [undated], Fact sheet—
Discharge to ocean: Argonne, IL, Argonne National Laboratory. (Accessed
September 22, 2010, at http://web.ead.anl.gov/dwm/techdesc/
discharge/index.cfm.)
Industrial Minerals, 2009, Prices: Industrial Minerals, no. 507, December,
p. 68–70.
Kent Exploration Inc., 2009, Kent receives mine plan approval for Flagstaff,
WA: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Kent Exploration Inc. press
release, May 5, 2 p.
Moores, Simon, and O’Driscoll, Mike, 2009, Barytes set for weight loss:
London, United Kingdom, Industrial Minerals, March 5, 3 p. (Accessed
August 17, 2009, via http://www.indmin.com/.)
National Oilwell Varco Inc., 2010a, Form 10–K: Washington, DC, Securities and
Exchange Commission, February 26, 95 p. (Accessed September 8, 2010, at
http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/100226/
NATIONAL-OILWELL-VARCO-INC_10-K/.)
National Oilwell Varco Inc., 2010b, NOV acquires Ambar Lone Star Fluids
Services: Houston, TX, National Oilwell Varco Inc. news item, January 20,
1 p.
Potential Gas Committee, 2009, Potential Gas Committee reports unprecedented
increase in magnitude of U.S. natural gas resource base: Potential Gas
Committee, Colorado School of Mines, June 18. (Accessed
September 23, 2009, at http://www.mines.edu/Potential-Gas-Committee-
reports-unprecedented-increase-in-magnitude-of-U.S.-natural-gas-resource-
base.)
Schmidt, Kathrine, 2009, Construction begins on grinding plant: HoumaToday.
com, December 13, 2 p. (Accessed December 14, 2009, at
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20091213/
ARTICLES/912129960?Title=Construction-begins-on-grindind-plant.)
U.S. Department of Commerce, Import Administration, 2010, Foreign-Trade
Zones Board subzone list: U.S. Department of Commerce, September 3.
(Accessed September 10, 2010, at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/ftzpage/letters/
szlist.html.)
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 2010a,
Cushing, OK WTI spot price fob (Dollars per barrel): U.S. Department of
Energy, September 9. (Accessed September 13, 2010, at http://www.eia.gov/
dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=RWTC&f=M.)
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 2010b, U.S.
natural gas wellhead price (Dollars per thousand cubic feet): U.S. Department
of Energy, August 30. (Accessed September 33, 2010, at http://www.eia.gov/
dnav/ng/hist/n9190us3m.htm.)
GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
U.S. Geological Survey Publications
Barite. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual.
Barite. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources, Professional
Paper 820, 1973.
6. BARITE—2009 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 9.5
Other
Barite. Ch. in Mineral Facts and Problems, U.S. Bureau of
Mines Bulletin 675, 1985.
Barium Minerals. Ch. in Industrial Minerals and Rocks (7th
ed.), Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.,
2006.
TABLE 1
SALIENT BARITE STATISTICS1
(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
United States:
Barite, primary:
Sold or used by producers:
Quantity 489 589 455 648 383
Value 17,600 23,500 20,600 30,900 19,900
Exports:
Quantity 93 72 15 62 49
Value 9,930 12,100 6,300 10,500 10,200
Imports for consumption:2
Quantity 2,690 2,550 2,600 2,620 1,430
Value 162,000 160,000 193,000 208,000 129,000
Consumption, apparent3
3,080 3,070 3,040 3,210 1,770
Crushed and ground, sold or used by processors:4
Quantity 2,720 3,040 2,980 2,840 2,080
Value 238,000 289,000 308,000 317,000 307,000
World, production 7,870 r
7,960 r
7,730 r
8,200 r
6,130 e
e
Estimated. r
Revised
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits.
2
Includes crude, ground, and other barite imports.
3
Sold or used plus imports minus exports.
4
Includes imports.
TABLE 2
CRUSHED AND GROUND BARITE SOLD OR USED BY PROCESSORS
IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE1, 2
2008 2009
Quantity Quantity
Number (thousand Value Number (thousand Value
State of plants metric tons) (thousands) of plants metric tons) (thousands)
Louisiana 6 1,280 $129,000 6 921 $134,000
Texas 7 822 104,000 8 569 96,000
Other3
11 742 84,900 12 591 77,100
Total 24 2,840 317,000 26 2,080 307,000
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2
Includes imports.
3
Includes Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
Barytes. British Geological Survey Mineral Profile, September
2005.
Economics of Barytes, The (10th ed.). Roskill Information
Services Ltd., 2006.
7. 9.6 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2009
TABLE 3
CRUSHED AND GROUND BARITE SOLD OR USED BY PROCESSORS
IN THE UNITED STATES, BY USE1, 2
(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars)
2008 2009
Use Quantity Value Quantity Value
Barium chemicals, filler and/or extender, glass 131 40,400 118 40,800
Well drilling 2,710 277,000 1,960 266,000
Total 2,840 317,000 2,080 307,000
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2
Includes imports.
TABLE 4
U.S. EXPORTS OF NATURAL BARIUM SULFATE (BARITE), BY COUNTRY1
2008 2009
Quantity Value Quantity Value
Country (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)
Brazil 31 $27 4,930 $1,270
Canada 54,800 8,240 37,700 7,020
India 248 68 -- --
Japan 604 136 -- --
Mexico 2,750 1,010 4,310 1,200
Mozambique -- -- 812 201
Oman 250 99 858 152
Trinidad and Tobago 2,600 714 92 38
Venezuela -- -- 202 64
Other2, 3
294 r
226 r
341 214
Total 61,600 10,500 49,300 10,200
r
Revised. -- Zero.
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2
Includes countries with full year quantities of less than 200 metric tons.
3
Includes China, Costa Rica (2009), Ecuador, Israel (2008), Italy (2009), Republic of
Korea (2008), Lebanon (2009), Malaysia, New Zealand (2009), Russia (2008), Taiwan
(2009), and Thailand.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
8. BARITE—2009 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 9.7
TABLE 5
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF BARITE, BY COUNTRY1
2008 2009
Quantity Value2
Quantity Value2
Country (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)
Crude:
Canada -- -- 621 $17
China 1,860,000 $151,000 502,000 54,000
India 48,500 7,180 41,800 3,540
Japan 1 6 6 13
Mexico 10,400 867 5,590 465
Morocco 3,870 307 21,800 1,930
Netherlands 1 2 -- --
Total 1,920,000 160,000 572,000 60,000
Ground:
Canada 672 191 -- --
China 656,000 32,300 826,000 55,400
Germany 787 650 569 548
India -- -- 23,800 1,790
Japan -- -- 88 225
Mexico 3,310 540 764 129
Morocco 4,530 295 -- --
Switzerland 22,200 1,030 -- --
United Kingdom 21 13 -- --
Total 688,000 35,000 851,000 58,100
Other sulfates of barium:
Brazil -- -- 78 39
Canada -- -- 1 2
China 4,650 2,900 3,550 2,230
Germany 5,940 6,430 4,870 6,020
Italy 2,220 1,790 1,540 1,340
Japan 726 1,610 527 1,220
Mexico 20 14 -- --
Spain 302 200 14 12
Switzerland -- -- 2 4
United Kingdom -- -- (3) 3
Total 13,900 12,900 10,600 10,900
-- Zero.
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2
Cost, insurance, and freight value.
3
Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
TABLE 6
U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF BARIUM CHEMICALS1
2008 2009
Quantity Value2
Quantity Value2
(metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)
Chloride 255 $310 466 $551
Oxide, hydroxide, peroxide 6,360 9,860 2,890 5,050
Carbonate, precipitated 3,340 2,410 814 649
1
Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits.
2
Cost, insurance, and freight value.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
9. 9.8 [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2009
TABLE 7
BARITE: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2
(Metric tons)
Country 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009e
Algeria 52,813 64,787 63,098 60,088 60,000
Argentina 3,355 6,276 37,979 3,170 r
4,000
Australiae
20,000 21,000 16,000 16,000 16,000
Bolivia 11,379 8,943 8,245 10,900 r
1,780
Brazil, beneficiated 39,545 19,151 13,311 7,321 r
7,500 p
Bulgariae, 3
76,600 74,500 51,000 40,000 14,300
Burma 2,058 2,930 6,813 5,679 7,623
Canada 23,000 20,000 9,000 12,000 15,000
Chinae
4,200,000 4,400,000 4,400,000 4,600,000 3,000,000
Francee
82,000 30,000 -- -- --
Germany 88,591 85,524 88,265 78,941 r
75,000
Indiae
1,200,000 950,000 1,000,000 1,100,000 1,200,000
Irane, 4
231,184 5
246,000 249,495 r, 5
296,000 r
200,000
Italye
4,722 5
5,000 5,000 5,000 3,500
Kazakhstane, 6
95,000 5
95,000 95,000 95,000 95,000
Laose
28,500 5
29,000 29,000 29,000 29,000
Mexico 268,657 206,106 185,921 140,066 151,791
Morocco3
335,000 506,000 e
492,000 r
573,000 r
430,000
Nigeriae, 7
6,000 6,300 5,000 5,000 5,000
Pakistan 42,087 45,169 44,000 43,000 42,000
Peru 17,300 23,800 27,369 42,660 27,875
Russiae
63,000 63,000 63,000 63,000 63,000
Slovakia, concentrate 13,000 16,000 11,000 12,950 13,000
Spain 38,000 r
45,000 r
35,000 r
-- --
Thailand 101,186 r
96,469 r
8,631 r
9,180 r
9,000
Turkey 157,179 161,993 r
184,041 r
170,000 r, e
150,000
United Kingdome
62,000 50,000 55,000 50,000 50,000
United States8
489,000 589,000 455,000 648,000 383,000
Vietname
116,000 90,000 90,000 80,000 70,000
Other9
4,789 4,708 1,664 2,958 2,950
Total 7,870,000 r
7,960,000 r
7,730,000 r
8,200,000 6,130,000
e
Estimated. p
Preliminary. r
Revised. -- Zero.
1
World totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2
Table includes data available through June 24, 2010.
3
Estimated marketable production based on export data.
4
Data are for fiscal year beginning March 21 of that stated.
5
Reported figure.
6
Estimated marketable barite, however, reported figures are as follows, in metric tons: 2005–06—251,000; and 2007–09—not available.
7
Considerably more barite is produced, but it is considered to be commercially unusable.
8
Crude barite sold or used by producers.
9
Includes Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, and Poland.