INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION GUIDE FOR NONFERROUS METALS AND MINERALS IN POLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00391R000100060009-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: November 1, 1957
• Content Type: OUTLINE

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Intelligenae Collection Guide
for Nonferrous Metals and Minerals in Poland
('Ef the nonferrous metals produced in Poland, zinc is the,
most important in terms of both the value and the tonnage of output,
The production of zinc has been large enough not only to satisfy
domestic needs, but also to permit substantial exports. Poland also
produced lead along with zinc, but production has not teen adequate to
supply all of the domestic needs Recently, production of two other
nonferrous metals, copper and aluminum, has begun Whereas output
of copper is still short of domestic needs, output of aluminuinmay
be sufficient for current requirements
Of the various non-metallic minerals produced in Poland,
sulfur is currently; and also pote-itially, the most important Like
the other European Satellites, P.land mines pyrites for sulfur con-
tent. The discovery in 1953 of deposits of elemeiltal sulfur indicate,
however, that Poland may become the first producer in Eastern Europe
of elemental sulfur from such deposits.
II ` Zinc and Lead.
In general, zinc and lead occur together in various kinds
of ores and are producd.d as co products. Both metals are widely used
in industrial applications. Although Poland's production plans and
output of zinc metal have been announced by the government, corresponding
data are not available on lead.,
A Zinc
1 Background
Primary zinc isrrecovered from its ores either by a process
of distillation in one of several. types of furnaces (retorts) or by
electrolysis. The product -- slabs, blocks or pigs -- is made in a
considerable range of grades according to the purity of the metal.
Because of its great resistance to atmospheric corrosion,
the main use of zinc is in coatings to improve the s:vice life of steel
products- Zinc is also widely used in alloyed form -- zinc alloys can
be melted and used at relatively low temperatures, have little shrinkage,
are dimensionally stable., and solidify to a smooth finish. The auto--
mobile industry uses a large number of zinc castings, including such
items as radiator grills,. carburetors, fuel pump bodies, and parts for
hydraulic brakes. Another important use of zinc isJ.n brass, which in
turn has a variety of uses ranging from cartridge cases to costume
jewelry. The applications of rolled zinc are the familiar ones of
photoengraving plates, dry cell batteries, and roofing materials.
1
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Poland produces zinc metal from both domestic and imported
ores. Zinc concentrates are shipped in from the USSR, Bulgaria,
-i_North Korea; and Communist China. Quantities of metal pro
1ac.ud in r:*?:cess of its own requirements are exported to both Bloc
and Western nations
A new zinc refinery, the Boleslaw plant near Olkusz
(50?17'N; 19034'L), began operating in 1955 It is reportec:.to have
doubled Poland's capacity for zinc refining. The plant is also:
reported to receive its supply of raw material entirely from domestic
sources.
2. Recyairements
a. What is the present annual capacity and zinc output of
the Boleslaw plant? What part is represented by electrolytic
facilities? How much of Poland's total,refiaing capacity for zinc
is represented by this plant? Are there any plans for expansion?
b Is zinc ore concentrated at the Boleslaw plant? If not,
where do the concentrates received by the refinery originate? 'What
is the metal content of the concentrates received or produced?
C. c What efforts are being made to expand Poland's output
of zinc ore and concentrates? Whar percentage of the annual output
of refined zinc comes from domestic ores?
d. What is the cost of the locally produced ores and
concentrates to the refineries? What disposition as made of the
output of zinc metal? Where are the plants that receive the largest
shipment of zinc, and that are the products of such plants? How
much do these plants pay for zinc metal? What percentage of the
total output of zinc metal is exported, arid what countries receive:
the largest quantities?
B. Lead
1 Background
Lead metal generally is recovered from concentrated ore,-
by smelting in blast furnaces Usually the bullion so produced must
be refined to remove impurities and to recover other metals
The softest of the bast metals, lead can be easily alloyed
and cheaply fabricated into cast, rolled, and extruded products for
many applications if transportation, convnunications, and construction
Some of the more important uses of lead are in storage batteries, cable
coverings, high-octane gasoline, plumbing,-ammunition, solder, typemetal,
bearings, pigments, and shielding against radioactive radiation
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Although lead is produced in Poland as a co-product with
zinc, little specific information is available: The output of lead
r~.eta.:L in 1950 is estimated at no more than 30,000 tons, buti~.chlisI
~,e,oab1y we,.i not adequate for domestic needs because some metal was
i:.ipor?ted in the form of ingot fro~,i foreign sources.
2 Reouireinents
a. What is the current annual output of lead metal in
Poland? Wnat is the production of each plant? Hoy' much. of the out-
put is derived from domestic concentrates, and how much from imported
materials?
b ?nat countries ship lead concentrates to Poland? How
much lead metal is imported.; and where does is originate? How does
Poland p.y for its lead imports?
c, What is the average ratio of lead to zinc in the locally
mined ores? In the locally produced concentrates? What is the cost
of the locally produced ores and concentrates to the refineries?
d l,WWhat is the lead content of domestic and imported.
concentrates?
e :n What is the total annual consumption of lead metal in
Poland? tl'zat plants receive the largest shipments of lead, and what
do such plants manufacture? How much do these plants pay for lead
metal?
III. Aluminum
A Background
Aluminum metal is reduced electrolytically from aluminum
oxide (alumina), which usually is manufactured from the ore, bauxite.
Four to five tons of European bauxite are required to produce the two
tons of alumina necessary for the production of each ton of metal
Because of its light weight, strength, and relatively low
cost, aluminum has no equal as an alloy base incthe^mganufacture of many
parts used in aircraft. Tb e: and other desirable characteristics also
make it possible for aluminum to beiused iii place of other, more costly
metals. As a substitute for relatively scarce copper in the electrical
;machinery m-ndustry, for example, aluminum has become particularly
important throughout the Bloc
R iliande--w' a y.~'plgntbfor the production of primary aluminum
was completed in 1954 at Skawina (49?00'N; 19?50'E) and came into
full operation in 1955 Its output in that year was 20,400 metric
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tons . It is believed that the alumina supplies for tie Skawi is plant
are imported, mainly from Hungary.
Aftor considering the necessary investment, Poland has
~.. rella'i its plans for expanding aluminum capacity. It appears that
the lack of adequate domestic supplies of bauxite or other aluminous
raw materials and of electric power were instrumental in the decision
not to expand Poland's aluminum industry at this time.
B Requirements
1. What are Poland's total annual requirements for aluminum?
What plants receive the largest aluminum shipments and what do they
manufacture? Are Poland's requirements eppected to increase appreciably
during the current Five Year Plan (1956-6U)? If so, what sectors of
the economy will acount for the increase?
2 What is the reaion for Poland exporting primary aluminum
during 056-57?
3. Are facilities for processing aluminum into rolled drawn,
extruded, and cast products being developed? If so, locate and
describe such fabricating plants, and note any plans for additional
facilities.
4. What evidence exists of current planning for the domestic
production of alumina to supply the Skawina reduction plant?
5. How much do toe fabricating plants pay for aluminum from
the Skawina plant? U hat is the price paid by Poland for the importedG
alumina?
IV. Copper
A. Background
Measured either by tonnage or value of output, copper is one
of toe most important nonferrous metals in thv world. The electric
and thermal conductivity is next to that of silver; and it is strong,
malleable, ductile, and corrosion resistant. In its more important
application, the electrical industry, it is used for the most part in
its purest metallic form. Alloyed, primarily as brass and bronze, it
is used throughout all industry in cast and wrought products. Apart
from general military and structural applications, it is a key item in
the development of all industrialized nations, because of its importance
to electrification and communicat,pns programs.
Most copper ores are made into concentrates which can be
smelted in reverberatory furnaces to produce matte. This matte is then'
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charged to a converter, which resembles very closely the Bessemer con-
verter so well known in the steel industry. he product of the con.
verter is generally called blister copper. As a final step of
_rificai,ion, blister copper usually is refined by electrolysis. The
actrolytic copper is caot in shapes suitable for alloying or fab
icatiou. hose shapes include ingots, billets, and wire--bars.
Throughout the Bloc copper continues to be in short supply,.
L Poland copper production was of minor significance until 1955
when an electrolytic refinery at Legnica (Liegnitz, 51012'N; 1o?12'E)
began operating A smelter is reported to have been erected recently
at the zinc works at Trzebinia (50?l0'N; 190291B). This plant
apparently furnishes the Legnica plant with blister copper. Some
electrolytic refining e pacity for copper exists in the lead zinc
refinery at Szopienice (50?16'N; 19?J7'E)
B. Requirements
1 What is the country's total production and/or capacity
for refined copper? What portion of this capacity is represented by
the Legnica plant? Is copper still being refined at the Szopienice
lead-zinc refinery?
2 Does Poland supply this refining capacity from domestically
produced ores, concentrates, and blister? If hot, from where and in
what forms is material received?
3. Are facilities for processing copper into semifinished
products being developed? If so, what is known of their output (cast,
drawn; and extruded products)? Are they to be supplied with domes-
tically refined copper, or are some requirements to be met from
imported metal?
1. What are Poland's total annual requirements for refined
copper? What portion is supplied by domestic industry? Can a use
pattern be provided for major consuming sectors of the economy?
5, Is there a copper concentrator at Legnica? If so, describe.
6 How much copper is imported by Poland? Does all of the
copper imported remain in Poland,orsis part re-exported to other Bloc
countries? If so, to what countries and in what quantities?
7 How much does Poland pay for imported copper? How
much do the consuming plants pay for copper?
V. Sulfur
A.. Background
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As in all other nations, sulfur is important to the industrial
development of Poland because its principal derivative, sulfuric
acid, is essential to basic industry. The process of converting
)i,tural sulfur to acid is simple and cheap compared with that involved
extracting sulfur from pyrites and gypsum. The United States is
ique amo-i&, the 1s..:cge inuistrial nations of the world in being
abundantly c:.:.dowed with J_G.rge, exploitable deposits of elemental sulfur.
Poland, as does the rest of the countries in the Bloc, relies
on pyrites as its major source of sulfur The recent discove_-.es of
native sulfur deposits in the vicinity bf Tarnobrzeg (50035'N?_ 21041'E)
may, however; be of considerable importance to Poland if the deposits
are as large and a^ rich as reported. As far as J.k-r known, commercial
production iB not :3chedu wed to begin before 1956. The USSR and Czechos -
lova is have also express ed inoeres-u in the exploitation of these
deposits.
B Requirements
1. What progress an.l/or plans have been made for exploiting
the Tarnobrzeg deposits?
2. What is the planned productions of sulfur for 195d? When
will full production heg:Ln, and what will be the annual output- when
capacity operation is attai_7ed?
3. What is to be the annual capacity of the sulfur refining
facilities?
4. Where are the sulfuric acid plants located and what is
the capacity of each?
November 1957
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