§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the reserves of low-grade iron ore in Leicestershire, the average depth of the overburden, the iron oxide content and the acreage covered.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
Separate information is not available in respect of Leicestershire alone. There are proved reserves of low-grade iron covering 13,000 acres in Leicestershire and south Lincolnshire of about 350 million tonnes. The average depth of overburden of these ores is 15 metres and the average iron content, as mined, is 32 per cent.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the reserves of low-grade iron ore in Oxfordshire, the average depth of the overburden, the iron oxide content and the acreage covered.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
The proved reserves of low-grade iron ore in Oxfordshire are about 200 million tonnes with an average depth of overburden of three metres. The average iron content of these ores, as mined, is 22 per cent. and the deposits cover 6,000 acres.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the reserves of low-grade iron ore in Northamptonshire, the average depth of the overburden, the iron oxide content and the acreage covered.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
326WThe proved reserves of low-grade iron ore in Northamptonshire are about 450 million tonnes with an average depth of overburden of 20 metres. The average iron content of these ores, as mined, is 30 per cent. and the deposits cover 25,000 acres.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the extent of the reserves of iron ore so far worked in Northamptonshire.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
BSC estimates that 275 million tonnes of iron ore have been worked so far in Northamptonshire.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy when it is proposed to develop the Leicestershire and Oxfordshire reserves of iron ore.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
BSC has no immediate plans for the development of the reserves in Leicestershire, south Lincolnshire or Oxfordshire.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent it is intended to increase domestic production of low grade iron ore to blend with high grade imported ores.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI have been asked to reply.
The possibilities of increasing the domestic production of low-grade iron ore to blend with high-grade imported ores are kept under review by BSC, but it has no proposals for increased production in the immediate future.