Australia's Identified Mineral Resources is an annual national assessment that takes a long-term view of Australian mineral resources likely to be available for mining. The assessment also includes evaluations of long-term trends in mineral resources, world rankings, summaries of significant exploration results and brief reviews of mining industry developments.

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.

The period 30th to 31st May, 1946, was spent in selecting five sites for diamond drilling at the Cosmopolitan Howley Mine, Brocks Creek district. A description of the geology and the conclusions reached as regards drilling are given in this report. A plan of the mine and sections plan are included.

On June 20th King Island Scheelite N.L. asked for advice on the location of suitable drill holes north of their present 150 and 170ft. faces to determine the geology along the No. 3 fault. In this report a scheme of drilling is set out, which would determine the geological structure of the area and indicate tonnage of ore and overburden. A plan is attached to the report which shows the bench limits, the main geological features and selected diamond drill hole sites.

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.

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.

In the present report it is sought to explain a number of points, including, in particular, to give an explanation as to why the Company now estimates that its annual loss would be £169,000 per annum as against an estimate of £100,000 per annum, given in the statement issued by the Chamber of Mines. Information is also given in this report concerning the present ore reserve position which is closely bound up with the proposed development program.