A visit was made to inspect the limestone and dolomite deposits at Cow Flat and Walls Siding. An overview of the working of these deposits, which includes details of the leases, production, prices, plant operations, future developments, and the present positions of the owner companies, is given in this report.

Attention was directed to the inadequacy of supplies of acid grade fluorspar in Australia when the Bureau of Mineral Resources was asked to sponsor an application to import a quantity from England in 1948. The British Ministry of Supply released a proportion of the amount required but advised that the supply position in England was not secure and only limited quantities could be released for export in the future. The Ministry suggested that if known Australian requirements were likely to be heavy, some material might be supplied as a matter of urgency. An investigation of the fluorspar industry in Australia was then undertaken to estimate future requirements and the extent to which these could be met from domestic sources; the results of this investigation are the subject of this report. The uses, grading, consumption, supply, prices, and projected future supplies of fluorspar are discussed.

At the request of the Defence Supply Planning Branch of the Department of Supply an investigation of the Australian graphite industry was undertaken early in 1950. The particular aspects to be considered in this investigation were listed by the Planning Branch as follows: the specific defence significance of graphite and an estimate of peace and probable wartime demands, the experiences during World War II where applicable, the present and future supple position, alternative methods of ensuring that demands are met in an emergency, and the method recommended to meet demands in an emergency. This report should be considered an interim report containing recommendations for early consideration by the Planning Branch.

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.

The scientific search for ore in Australia is still in an early stage of development, because, until recently, a sufficient supply of metals was available from concentrations readily detectable by ordinary prospecting methods. Now the whole mineral supply position is changing and the rate of discovery of new deposits by prospectors in the present century had been quite discouraging. The Australian Government and the Australian mineral industry have recognised the need for mineral exploration both to supply home requirements and to assist in overcoming world shortages. An overview of the situation is presented in this report, which outlines the problem and the corrective reforms and activities undertaken by the state and federal governments, and mining companies, to promote mineral exploration. A summary is given of the exploration and ore-finding work undertaken by mining companies and government agencies between 1930 and 1949.

Report on mine maintenance, costs, equipment, employment, reserves, and workings.

The relevant portions of letters from Non-Metallics Limited addressed to Mr. J.M. Newman, setting out the reasons for their Application for a Commonwealth Grant, and the details of the Company's position are reproduced here.

This report was prepared by the Mineral Economics Section. Part 1 deals with the production of opal and includes sections on the history and present operations in the industry, production and overseas trade statistics, and the types of mining tenures at present available to opal miners. The fields at present being worked are described and the factors which affect production are discussed. Part 2 deals with the marketing of opal and includes sections on the cutting and preparation of stone, markets at home and abroad, and the various factors affecting trade. A number of proposals for improving trade and trading conditions generally are discussed, and the report concludes with a list of references in literature, two graphs showing the value of opal produced in each State and the whole of Australia, from 1890 to 1947, and a map of Australia showing localities mentioned in the text.

A geological reconnaissance was made of an area of approximately 27,000 square miles lying north and west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The report is compiled in two parts. The first concerns general geology and includes accounts of the nomenclature, stratigraphy, structural geology, geological history, and geomorphology of the area. The second part comprises a summary of the economic geology. The mining industry, petroleum prospects, underground water, and recommendations are discussed. A table showing the mineral production figures for the Northern Territory, northern district, is appended.

In January 1949 a brief examination was made of the area bounded by the Port Moresby - Rouna Road, the Rigo Road and the coastline between Port Moresby and Bogora Inlet, with the object of determining whether supplies of water and raw materials for the manufacture of cement were available. Possible quarry sites were chosen and specimens of the likely raw clay materials, of the limestone at Boatless Inlet, of reef limestone and limestone from the Main Road (or "Nine Mile") Quarry collected. Fourteen of these specimens are being analysed for silica, alumina, lime, iron, magnesia, carbon dioxide and water and total alkalies. As the suitability of the various raw materials examined depends largely on their chemical composition, this report must be regarded as only a preliminary one until these results are received. In this report the availability of raw materials and the general geology of the area are discussed, and a description given of the deposits of raw materials examined in the course of the visit.