The ferrous metals industry is increasing its output of oxygen-converter steel and electric steel; more steel is being cast by the continuous method, and there is an increase in the output of finished rolled stock without a large increase in the production of iron. The structural changes in the methods of producing metal and accelerating the metallurgical processes involve changes in the range of refractories needed, and greater demands on their quality are being experienced.Stabilizing the production of iron and reducing the proportion of open-hearth steel reduces the demands for aluminosilicate refractories; the growth in the production of converter steel and electric steel increases the demand for magnesia refractories.The refractories industry is experiencing a shortage of magnesia raw materials for making even standard magnesia refractories, and so it is necessary to import periclase powder (calcined magnesite).The main volume of imports (to !991, more than 97%) consisted of Korean, low-grade calcined magnesite containing only 89-90% MgO. Reports from the Finance Office of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Refractories [i] mention that in order to increase the quality of goods made with Korean periclase it is necessary to introduce specialist lines and to take certain management measures.Thus, making satisfactory refractories from the powder requires greater expenditure than ~ith the use of domestic raw materials~

The Ukrainian SSR possesses vast, well exploitedmineral, raw-material stocks which can completely satisfy the needs of refractories and other sections of the republic wit]] high-grade plastic fireclays and secondary kaolins. In the balance sheet of enterprises belonging to the "Yuzhogneupor" Commission there are substantial stocks of fireclays and secondary clays; and a large proportion of these materials are sent to enterprises of the associations within the general regional output from mining.Fireclays from the Novo-Raisk deposits are highly plastic raw materials for making refractories. Operating this site, the Druzhkovsk mining commission, within the contours of the existing quarries, is assumed of stocks of fireclays for 24 years. The total output of higher grades of fireclays (DN0 and DNI) expected in 1989 and 1990 is stable, and equals 220,000 tons per annum.In themore distant future it is planned to build the "Zapadnyi" mine for the :introduction of mining capacity amounting to 500,000 tons a year. To increase the supplies of prepared powders for bonding fireclays in refractory concerns it is intended to expand, in the 13th and 14th five-year plans, the department handling milling powdered clays, bringing the production volume to 500,000 tons per annum.The unique natureof the fireclays of the Chasov Yar deposits is due to the concentration of iron oxides, the high plasticity, and the low sintering temperature. In the period up to 2005 the Chasov Yar combine as a whole will be provided with all needed stocks ,of fireclays. The Planning Commission of "Yuzhogneupor" is planning to substantially expand the work done on maintaining mining capacity. In the 13th year plan they should introduce the first starter complex of the Block I mine, and in the 14th -a third stage of the ;Severny mine.To increase the effectiveness of the mining operations it is necessary firstly, to increase the all-round nature of the use of the mined raw materials. In this direction, only the first step has been taken -the combine together with the Mining branch of the All-Union Institute of Refractories has organized the utilization of previously unrealized semiacid varieties of raw materials for making wash-drilled suspensions (clay mark ChP). In the period 1985-1987 clay grade ChP has been supplied by the mining-exploration organizations in amounts 170,000 tons.Secondary kaolin of the Vladimir deposits are characterized by high-alumina concentrations and low-iron contents, and insignificant amounts of alkalis. While preserving the present volume of kaolin mining the Ve!ikoanadol'sk refractories combine will be completely supplied with stocks of this raw material up to the year 2005.The prospects for the development of the Kirovograd mining commission are connected with the development of the Oboznovsk deposits of secondary kaolin. In the 13th five-year plan the capacity of the mine, according to plan, will increase to 420,000 tons a year. The kaolin of the Oboznovsk deposits is similar in quantity to the kaolin of the Kirovograd depos...