Summary report on the ore prospects of some Western Australian gold mines. The report provides details on production, ore deposits, and operations.

Brief description of limestone from a locality half a mile north of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

The report describes the results of a micropalaeontological examination of samples taken from the depth of 30 to 100 feet.

This geological report on the Jervis Bay firebrick clay deposit and the Jervis Bay aerodrome is comprised in three distinct sections. The first discusses the situation and production history of the area, and describes the geological surveys completed to date. The second describes the geology and topography of the aerodrome. The final section describes the investigation of the firebrick clay and the results of this investigation, with reference to the aerodrome and the proposal for a new runway. Accompanying plans of the clay deposit and the aerodrome are included.

Boring commenced in the Broadbeach area on an East-West line 500 feet south of the northern boundary of DC22. Subsequent boring was carried out along lines 1300 feet, 2100 feet, 2900 feet, 4500 feet, 6125 feet, 7740 feet, 9300 feet, and 10900 feet south of the northern boundary of DC22. The results of the beach sands investigation are presented here. Estimates of the tonnages of heavy-mineral concentrates, the average grades of the heavy-mineral bearing sands and the average thickness of overburden, are tabulated. The complete set of data, from which these figures have been calculated, is attached as an appendix to the report.

This report covers the plane table survey work carried out from December, 1947, to February, 1948, on the ridge running N.W. from the U.S.A. Legation, and from Brick Trig. Station to the Brick Works. The stratigraphy, soil, structure, and topography of the area are discussed in the report.

In July, 1948, the writer visited Roma with the object of collecting material for micropalaeontological study as no similar investigation had been carried out on the sediments in the area which Whitehouse refers to as the Roma Series. Systematic collections were made and the results of the examination so far have been entirely satisfactory. About two hundred samples were collected for examination for foraminifera and where possible specimens of typical species of the larger fossils of the Roma series were gathered. This report comprises a brief overview of the visit, notes on the samples, and notes on foraminiferal assemblages in the deposits in the Roma area.

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.

This report is compiled of four separate reports. (1) "Note on the Application by the Chamber of Mines, W.A." Yield, production, industry costs, and the subsidy proposal are discussed in this report. (2) "Proposal for a Subsidy to the Gold Mining Industry". This report is concerned with details of the economic position of the mines and Western Australian gold industry as a whole. (3) "Supplementary Report on the Proposal for a Subsidy to the Gold Mining Industry". This report summarises the findings of the earlier enquiry into the position of the Western Australian gold industry. (4) "The General Effect on Gold Mine Surplus of Assistance based on Production". The object of this note is to outline briefly some of the principles which require consideration in determining whatever form of assistance may be decided.

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.