4.2.2.1 Production

Development and utilization of magnesite started in the period of Japanese invasion of China. Since 1934, except for excavation of magnesite in a large quantity, and transporting the products to Japan, a series of small-scale kilns were built to calcinate magnesite in the sites to produce xylolite and their products. After the founding of New China, with the development of iron and steel industry, magnesite mining and processing industries have achieved a great development. The production of magnesite increased from 0.01 million tons in 1949, up to 2.746 million tons in 1960. After then, with the restructuring of iron and steel industry, the production of magnesite began to decrease. After 1970s, especially in the 1980s, the iron and steel industry entered into a new development period, an upward trend of magnesite production has been seen, and in 1989, the output of magnesite reached 2.51 million tons. Entering the 1990's, the production of magnesite in state-owned enterprises in China showed a downward trend, it was only 0.6956 million tons in 1997 (Table 4.2.3). It's needed to indicate that at the same time with the production decrease in state-owned enterprises, the township and private mines developed quickly, and the production of them not only filled the vacancy of production, but also greatly exceeded their production. Actually, annual magnesite production is around 6~7 million tons, the production of state-owned mines only accounts for 10%~30% of total production.

Table 4.2.3 Production of magnesite (¡Á103t)

According to the Mineral Commodity Summaries, 1996 issued by US£Á Bureau of Mines, world's magnesite production in 1995 was 2.43 million tons.  Overseas, the highest production was 0.46 million tons in Korea, and the followings are 0.35 million tons in Slovakia, 0.28 million tons in Turkey. This can be seen that the magnesite production in China greatly exceeded that in those countries, and occupied the first in the world.

4.2.2.2 Distribution of Production

Magnesite deposits are mainly distributed in two provinces of Liaoning and Shandong, production mines are also mainly concentrated in Liaoning and Shandong.

After the founding of New China, Dashiqiao magnesite mine was rehabilitated and reconstructed by Anshan Iron and Steel Company in 1950. Up to 1959, a large-sized magnesium refractory combine enterprise integrating mining, sintering and magnesium bricks ma-king was built. There are three subordinate magnesite mines, namely, Xiaoshengshuisi, Qingshanhuai, Huaziyu magnesite mines, which put into production one after another until 1968.

In 1980's, Ministry of Metallurgical Industry set up the Liaoning Magnesite Minerals Company, which had seven subordinate magnesite mines located in an area of Haicheng-Dashiqiao, and was the largest magnesite products manufacturing enterprise in China, combining mining, processing and selling. Of all magnesite mines the Haicheng magnesite mine is the largest one with an annual production capacity reaching 2.5 million tons. The next one is Huaziyu magnesite mine, which formally put into production in 1965 with the designed capacity of 1.5 million t/a, and an actual production capacity of 0.8 million t/a.The Qingshanhuai magnesite mine has explored since 1918 and currently, its production capacity has reached 1.2 million t/a.

Additionally, there are several local medium- and small-sized mines in Liaoning Pro-vince, such as Gaozhuang-Pingerfang magnesite mine in Dashiqiao city, which was exploited with open-pit method by state-operated fused magnesian brick plant of Yingkou county before 1980, and in 1981 it was changed to be run by Baizai township authority, and after the reform and opening up it has been transferred to Gaozhuang village, Pingerfang village and then private owner. The production capacity of it has reached 0.2 million tons per year. Wangjiabao magnesite deposit in Xiuyan county was run successively by more than 10 enterprises includinhg Xiuyan county magnesite mine, Pianling township magnesite mine, No.1 burned magnesite grain plant of Xiuyan county, Dongfeng joint-operated Magnesite Mine and the others, the annual production capacity of the mine reached 0.20 million tons, Shangnianmazhou magnesite mine, Fushun county, was exploited by locality, with a production capacity of 0.1 million t/a.

Shandong Magnesite Mine (Yexian County Magnesite Mine) was built in 1958. It is a subordinate enterprise of the Shandong Provincial Metallurgical Industrial General Co.. It is excavated by open-pit method with a designed production capacity of 0.21 million t/a, and a set production capacity of 0.17 million t/a. It has an open pit mine, a dressing plant, and a calcining industrial yard. The main products are burned magnesite grains, including light-burned magnesia and synthetic magnesia clinker with an annual production of common burned magnesite grains of 50,000 t and synthetic magnesia of 18,000 t/a. It is the second largest raw materials bases of magnesian refractory in the country. Magnesite mineral is associated with talc in Dayuanjia-Shanliujia talc mine. The magnesite ores are comprehensively exploited, with an annually production capacity 80,000 t.

Except for the magnesite production in Liaoning and Shandong provinces, It is excavated in Qianbutou Magnesite Mine in Xingtai County, Hebei Province with a production capacity of 80,000 t/a, in Guixian Magnesite Mine, Hanyuan County, Sichuan Province with a production capacity of 50,000 t/a and in Sidaohongshan Magnesite Mine, Jinta County, Gansu Province with a production capacity of 60,000 t/a.