Description

The question which is raised by the tide of this survey "A second Stone Age?" is meant by its author to be interpreted in a figurative sense, namely in respect to the increasing importance of all those branches of the industry which are manufacturing products from "stones and earth". The meaning of the comprehensive term "mineralogical processing in- dustry" is a synthesis of raw-materials and processing techniques and comprises know-how, science and research in the fields of ceramics (fine-and heavy day ceramics as weIl as refractory building materials) binders (cement -lime - gypsum) glas, and enamel. The answer to the question posed is given in a comprehensive report about the development, the expansion and present-day technical achievements in these fields. The author particularly points out the absolute necessity of mineralo- gical products, and shows that technical progress as the basis of our culture and civilisation would be unthinkable without these products.