Importance of Cement Market Characteristics to the Industrial Geologist

Author Institution: Mineral Economics Department, College of Mineral Industries, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PennsylvaniaDecisions to develop deposits of calcareous materials for cement production are based largely on anticipated markets for heavy construction which utilizes concrete. The geologist should understand the fundamental factors that underlie such management decisions, so that his field work and reports will more effectively relate to the information requirements of managers in the cement industry. The paper examines the relationships that exist between exploration and development of calcareous raw materials for cement manufacture and changing factors in the marketing of cement. Continued overcapacity, improved technology, changing distribution patterns,ease of entry, economics of scale, and the nature of product demand are some of thecharacteristics of the cement industry that are basic to decisions regarding explorationprograms and property development