In company with Mr. L.A. Richardson an inspection was made of this deposit on Friday, December 4th. The workings were plotted and examined, though these sections off the main drives could not be inspected very thoroughly owing to having no lighting available except matches.

The mica used in modern aircraft sparking plugs, of which the attached section is representative, serves a triple purpose, viz: (a) Insulation of the electric current; (b) Protection of the insulating layers from heat; (c) As an effective seal against gas leakage. The use of mica in the construction and manufacture of aero engine sparking plugs is decribed herein.

The following notes on the number of the mica mines in the Harts Range area were collected on a recent water survey. They are very incomplete but it is thought that they may be of interest in view of the possibility of stepping up production in this area. Complete data concerning production, etc. of the mines seems to be impossible to obtain.

Mount Kitchin lies about thirty miles west from Chillagoe in Northern Queensland and is 13 miles by bush-track south-west from the now deserted town site of Arbouin on Cardross copper field. Six claims embrace the mica deposits at Mount Kitchin, but only three of these could be examined, on the 8th October, 1942, in the short time at disposal. The brief examination of these three claims, namely, "Wonder", "Anniversary" and "Southern Cross" confirms the remarks of Mr C.C. Morton in his report dated 1/5/42 to the Chief Geologist, Brisbane, and it appears that the "Southern Cross" and "Anniversary" claims contain the only deposits which may become producers in the future. When compared with the mica deposits of Central Australia the pegmatite bodies at Mount Kitchin are very small.

A preliminary report on these samples was forwarded on 19/2/'42, the final report being delayed until the results of a mineralogical examination of two rock types, prominent in samples from 1542 feet down to 1549 feet was available. The results of this examination are now available.

Ten days were spent in examination of the property, from July 8th to 18th. All accessible underground workings were mapped in detail on a scale of 30 feet to 1 inch and the surface in the immediate vicinity of the mine on the scale of 100 feet to 1 inch. Mr. J.W. Whiting of the New South Wales Geological Survey provided competent assistance during the surface and part of the underground mapping. Mr W.P. Green of Zinc Corporation Limited and his assistants did everything possible to facilitate the examination of the workings. Plans which have been prepared to accompany this report comprise: Surface plan, Plate 1, plans of all levels and of intermediate stopes, Plates 2-8, east-west cross-sections through the lode at 50 feet intervals, Plates 9 to 13, a longitudinal projection of the lode showing the distribution of mineralisation, and a longitudinal section outlining the amount of stoping which has been done, Plates 14 & 15.

The Wymah reefs are situated in fairly rugged mountainous country, between 1,500 and 2,000 feet above sea level, about 25 miles easterly from Albury. This report provides an account of the general and economic geology of the reefs. Prospects and recommendations are discussed.

This report is written in advance of the main report in order that a drilling campaign to test the scheelite deposits can be considered immediately. The descriptions are necessarily brief and moreover the report is not accompanied by the full set of plates which will accompany the main report. Present values suggest that the scheelite deposits could be worked on a much larger scale than the present one. The King Island scheelite mines have been operated during two periods, the first being between 1917 and 1920, and the second from 1938 to date. During the first period 67,710 tons of ore were treated for a production of 589 tons of scheelite concentrate, the average yield of concentrate being 0.87 per cent. During the second period 98,305 tons of ore were treated for a production of 627 tons of scheelite concentrate, the average yield on concentrate being 0.64 per cent. In addition and during the latter period 41,260 tons of tailings were re-treated for a production of 52 tons of scheelite concentrate, the average yield being 0.12 per cent. The mine is being worked at present and some 30,000 tons of ore are treated annually for a recovery of 200 tons of scheelite concentrate.

Plans Nos. 617, 618 and 619 are submitted herewith. These plans show no geophysical results. The resistivity curves have been examined and it is considered that certain conclusions can be drawn regarding the behaviour of the clay bedrock. A preliminary structural interpretation has been made on the basis of depth determinations to an interface, assumed to be the top of the clay bedrock. This involves the analyses of three and four layer curves.

A point has been reached in the prospecting of this field where it is necessary to review results and consider future actions. The bore on site A has been completed and Mr. Knight has concluded his preliminary geological survey of the area. The information now available modifies some of our earlier views. The following statement summarises the position.