The Chilcot copper mine is situated 15 miles south-south-west from Orange, from which it may be reached by reasonably good road. It was examined during 1942 by Dr. N.H. Fisher, Chief Geologist, Mineral Resources Survey, who recommended that a geophysical survey be made to search for additional ore shoots along the lode channel (1942/020). The geophysical survey was made during the three weeks ending 19th December. Operations were commenced over the area north-east of the mine, extending a distance of 550 feet from the mine, thus covering the part favoured by Dr. Fisher for extension of the lode channel. Later the survey was extended a similar distance to the south-west and the north-eastern part was extended a further 150 feet. Methods used comprised geomagnetic, spontaneous, polarisation, electro-magnetic and potential ratio. Traverses were placed at 50 feet intervals and observations by the various methods were made at intervals of 25 feet and, in some parts, at closer intervals. The results of this survey are discussed herein.

This report describes the results of a micro-examination of rock samples from Mrs. F.F. Bennett's Bore No. 3805. The samples were taken between the depths of 17 feet and 1984 feet.

The Moonta-Wallaroo copper field was discovered in 1860 and has been one of the most productive copper fields in Australia. At the time that large scale mining operations ceased in 1923, copper to the value of over £20,000,000 had been produced. At the present time no active mining is in progress and the old mines are closed and the mining plant completely dismantled. There are two main copper producing areas in the field, namely Moonta and Kadina which are 10 miles apart. There are a number of smaller copper areas between and around the main ones. A recent investigation by Mr. S.B. Dickinson of the South Australian Mines Department indicates that while some of the old mines have small known ore reserves, the cost of re-establishing these mines would be too high to warrant such an enterprise. It is probable that all the surface showings of copper have been fully investigated but it is also probable that many lodes exist which show no surface signs. How these lodes are to be discovered is a matter of immediate concern. The present report deals with an extensive survey of parts of the Moonta and Kadina sections of the field. The work was commenced on a large layout pegged to the south-west of Beddome's and Green's lodes on the centre belt of fracturing at Moonta. Following the findings of the test report, the layout was covered by potential ratio and phase surveys and by a self-potential survey. Upon resumption of field work it was decided to use the electromagnetic method in a large scale test on Beddome's layout. Some self-potential and potential ratio work was carried out on the Kadina layouts, but it was found that these methods suffered from the same disability, namely a great number of effects which obviously were due to lode shears, as had been found in the case of Beddome's layout. In this report, the interpretation is based solely on the results of the electromagnetic surveys.

This report is written as a result of observations made at Mansfield during an examination of the phosphate deposits in company with members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Rural Industries on the 20th March.

Four lines of diamond drill holes were selected at the King Island scheelite mine and holes were drilled as follows: No. 1 line - Nos. 35, 39, 29, 32 and 33; No.2 line - Nos. 34, 37, 22 and 24; No.3 line - Nos. 31, 38, 23, 25 and 26; No. 4 line - Nos. 36, 28, 30, 40 and 27. The results of drilling are described herein. The amounts and the average grades of ore on each of the four lines of drill holes are recorded.

The uranium ores of the Mt. Painter area, in South Australia, although inadequately developed or proved, are the most important sources of uranium compounds yet discovered in Australia. Their chemical treatment is relatively easy, whereas the extraction of uranium from certain other recorded ores is difficult. The possibility of the Mt. Painter ores being amenable to appreciable beneficiation is not remote. The uran-ilmenite from Radium Hill (in South Australia) can be considered as a comparable source of uranium only if the ore is processed for its titanium content so as to obtain the uranium as a by-product. This ore is not amenable to significant beneficiation as regards its uranium content. The remaining minerals listed require several modifications of chemical treatment, detailed consideration of which is not yet justified by known reserves of ore. The recovery of the associated uranium can be effected from any uranium ore without substantial modification of the processes advocated for the extraction of the uranium. The methods suggested for the recovery of uranium from these several minerals aim at the production of sodium diuranate which is a convenient intermediate for conversion into other uranium derivatives. The methods discussed were formerly applied on a small commercial scale to the treatment of South Australian uranium ores, particularly those from the Mt. Painter field.

The Ashford Caves are situated on M.L. 1, Parish of MacIntyre, County of Arrawatta, approximately 12 miles north-westerly from Ashford and 47 miles from rail at Inverell. Claims have been made that there are large reserves of both guano and phosphate rock in these caves. It has been claimed in the Press that 1,200,000 tons of guano are available. The caves were visited on 17.6.43 by the writers in company with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Joint Committee on Rural Industries. The writers' conclusions regarding the guano and phosphate rock deposits are summarised herein.

A brief description of the talc deposits is given in this report. Details including situation, geology, and tonnage are noted.

The following information regarding calcium phosphate deposits or phosphate rock in Tasmania has been obtained from the following sources - published reports and typewritten reports of the Tasmanian Mines Department and my own personal knowledge gained while Government Geologist of Tasmania.

Mullalyup is a small village about 140 miles south from Perth and 33 miles by rail south-east from Bunbury. The main highway between Perth and Bridgetown passes through the village. The region is occupied by Basement rocks which appear to consist mainly of schist and gneiss. The regional strike is about north-west. The hill slopes and lower levels carry a heavy cover of soil and the hilltops are mostly covered with laterite and, in places, high-level gravels. These gravels are widely distributed in this region. The mica occurs, as usual, in pegmatite dykes, and five such deposits are shown on the attached plan. Some difficulty was experienced in locating these deposits owing to the thick undergrowth and hill terrain and it is probable that other pegmatites exist in the locality. Search was confined mainly to the slopes and it was considered that soil in the valleys and laterite on the hill tops would obscure outcrops of any pegmatite dykes, except at intermediate levels.