The operational history, orebody, workings, grade, tonnage, and financial considerations relating to the Chesney mine are discussed in this report. Two geological plans are included.

This report arises from an application by Tableland Tin Dredging, N.L. that tin mining be exempt, like gold mining, from taxation. A detailed examination was made of the tin-mining industry, the results of which are attached to the Report: Appendix I outlines the economic position of the Australian tin industry, and Appendix II summarises the positions of the individual mines. Since the application was first submitted, amendments to the Act have considerably improved the taxation position of mining companies. During the investigation the conclusion emerged that, notwithstanding the recent decided improvements in taxation as applied to mining, some further improvements seemed desirable. Since it was found inadvisable, on grounds of economics policy, to make a special case for the tin industry, proposals were put forward for the mining industry as a whole, using data collected from various mines as particular examples of the effects of taxation.

These notes are supplementary to an earlier report (1948/016), and are designed to elucidate certain points brought up in that report. The issues of grade, workings, development, expenditure, production, and future prospects are generally discussed.

Note on production, efficiency factors, and costs of twelve West Australian gold mines. Figures are provided for each mine respectively. A table showing mining and cost statistics is appended.

The enquiry into this mine resulted from an application by the company for a loan from the Commonwealth to carry out exploration and development. The Tindalls Gold Mine has not been examined by the Bureau and unless this is done no definite statement about the ore possibilities of the property can be made. However, from past reports it seems likely that the deposit has a chance of producing a large tonnage of ore. Under present conditions and with the mining methods now employed, it is extremely doubtful whether ore of this grade could be mined at a profit. The ore reserves, mining, milling, costs, and general financial outlook with respect to the mine are discussed in this report.

A total of thirteen rotary cored bores were sunk by the Bureau approximately one mile south of the village of Teralba in the Parishes of Teralba and Awaba, Northumberland County. The Great Northern Seam in places is sufficiently thick for open cut mining but the coal is generally of very poor quality and the overburden to coal ratio much too high to warrant further drilling. Continued prospecting of the Fassifern Seam in this area is not warranted, because of the very poor quality of the coal in this seam. This report contains an account of the operations, and describes the results of the geological investigations. The results of drilling are detailed in the accompanying plates and bore logs.

During late 1951 and early 1952 the Bureau, while searching for open-cut coal in New South Wales, prospected the Big Ben and Donaldson's Seams in the Bloomfield Area which is 3.5 miles south of East Maitland. Drilling involving 21 holes and totalling about 2400 ft. revealed that although the actual coal of the seams was quite good in parts, the seams themselves were subject to marked bending, thinning, and splitting. This not only severely limits open-cut prospects to small areas but will make mining difficult. In the contiguous East Bloomfield, Stoney Pinch and Thornton Areas an additional 16 holes with a total footage of 2,250 feet were drilled and indicated that the seams were characterised by the same rapid variation and offer no better possibilities than the main Bloomfield Area. Operations, including mining, coal analyses, logging, and surveying are discussed. Bore logs and the results of coal sample analyses are appended to this report.

A total of 22 "testing and defining" rotary cored drill holes were drilled by the Bureau and J. McD. Royle Ltd., contractor to the Bureau, during the prospecting for reserves of open-cut coal in the Tomago Stage of the Upper Coal Measures near Buchanan. These 22 holes involved 3640 ft. of drilling and indicated possible reserves of 4,200,000 tons of coal suitable for mining by underground and open cut methods. The geology of the area, and the operations carried out, including mining, logging, sampling, analysis, and surveying, are discussed. The results of the drilling programme are shown in the accompanying maps, and graphic and bore logs.

A total of 25 rotary cored holes were drilled by the Bureau in Portion 49, Parish of Wallarah, County Northumberland, 2 miles south of Swansea. Approximately 1400 ft. of "test and define" drilling proved a possible 200,000 tons of coal suitable to be open cut under an average overburden of 6/1 ratio. The initial drilling programme showed a rolling seam. After surveying, further holes were drilled to locate the displacement which is 10 to 15 ft. in the S.W. corner of the area. No other obstacles are known which would hinder immediate working of the area. The lower split of the Wallarah Seam was tested in three holes but was found to be too thin to warrant further prospecting. The geology of the area is discussed in this report, and the results of the drilling programme are shown in the accompanying graphic and bore logs.

The area investigated lies on the outskirts of Kotara, a suburb in the S.W. of Newcastle. The coal of interest is in the Burwood Seam. Drilling, field work, and surveying were carried out in the area. These operations are described in this report. Drilling results are discussed.