An examination was made of a wolfram vein seven miles north of Broken Hill, on July 8th, 1943. This report contains brief notes on the nature of the vein and the mineral specimens examined.

Australia wide mineralogical maps have recently been generated and released by CSIRO and Geoscience Australia using the 14 band satellite-borne ASTER imaging sensors. Seventeen map products related to surface composition have been produced for the geoscience community. Band parameters were developed based on spectral absorption features representing either abundance of mineral groups, specific minerals and their chemistry, vegetation cover or regolith related characteristics. A detailed study was undertaken, investigating the geoscience exploration capabilities of these newly released map products, individually, and integrated with airborne geophysics and digital elevation models over the Mt Fitton test site in northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. This site includes the Mt Fitton talc deposits, gold prospects, and areas of hydrothermal activity and metasomatism.

The most important known deposits of what are commonly referred to as the beach sand minerals are situated along the most easterly part of the Australian coast. The geographical distribution, physiography, formation, origin, composition, and reserves of heavy minerals along the east coast are discussed in this report.

The occurrence of radioactive minerals with cobaltiferous deposits in the Carcoar area has been known since 1894, but until recently they have not received much attention. The present geological survey has been carried out following the discovery of three rather significant radioactive anomalies in the north-eastern part of the mined area, during radiometric surveys in 1950 and 1951. The geological survey has shown that the cobaltiferous-uranium deposits occur in strong north-south shears in an area of Silurian slates and volcanic rocks intruded by diorite sills and dykes, close to the south-eastern boundary of a large mass of hornblende diorite. Opportunities occur for the discovery of other uranium deposits in parallel shears outside the area, in which radioactive anomalies have already been found. This report gives a detailed account of the geological survey. Geology, geological structure, the workings, deposits, and mineralization are discussed, and recommendations are made for future testing and surveying of the area.

In October, 1951, the Geological Section of the Bureau of Mineral Resources recommended a geophysical survey at the newly-developed Rye Park tungsten deposit. The purpose of the survey was the delineation of the main mineralised areas around a granite cupola. The geology of the area, survey methods, and field operations are described in this report. The result of the survey and of diamond drill hole testing are discussed.

The presence of asbestos at various places in the Harts Range has been reported from time to time, and, in recent months it was reported that the largest of these deposits consisted of Chrysotile. A brief examination of this deposit was made in October, 1944, and specimens of the asbestos then collected were specifically identified as anthophyllite. This report comprises notes on locality, geology, and mineral occurrence, and includes a locality and sketch plan.

An earlier reconnaissance survey indicated that monazite is the only likely source of thorium in Australia and further, that the beach sands on the eastern coast for approximately 170 miles on either side of the Queensland-New South Wales border contain by far the largest reserves of monazite. For this reason a special investigation of these sands was conducted. An inspection was made during September, 1944, of the beach sand deposits and of the various plants engaged in the production of concentrates from the sands. Samples were taken, where necessary, to supplement the known information about the composition of the sands and of the different mill products, mainly with a view to ascertaining the distribution and disposal of monazite in the concentrates. The production procedures, disposal practices, and total production of monazite are discussed in this report. An accompanying locality map is included.

During August, 1944, a mineral specimen received at this Branch from Mr. C.R. Wright of Alice Springs was tentatively identified as altered allanite, and on testing with the Geiger-Muller apparatus was found to be radio-active. In October, 1944, the site of the discovery was visited by the writer and further specimens were collected. A portion of these specimens, which are also radio-active, was forwarded to the Division of Industrial Chemistry, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne, where the sample forwarded was identified by R. Grenfell Thomas as triplite. Triplite is essentially a fluo-phosphate of manganese and iron. Later a further small parcel of specimens was received and it is now realised that the specimens so far examined contain more than one mineral, but apparently no allanite. This report comprises detailed descriptions of the deposit and the triplite.

Quartz crystals occur in the county of Dampier near the head of Tuross River 13 miles east-southeast from Countegany and about 5 miles east-southeast from Tuross Post Office. The presence of small quartz crystals in this locality has been known to Mr. L.W. Schaeffer of Tuross for many years, but only recently has he found larger crystals and undertaken more systematic prospecting. This report comprises notes on the quartz crystals, following an examination of the locality, 1944.

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.