Prospectors J.C. Paul and T.C. Ash claimed to have discovered wolfram near Lake Koolymilka in the area reserved for the Long Range Weapons project. The general geology and working of the area are briefly outlined in this report, and it is shown that no wolfram or any other minerals of economic importance are present.

The Cobar field was visited during the period 18th to 24th July, mainly in connection with the exploration programme which is taking place in that area. During this visit, however, some information was obtained concerning the operations of the mines controlled by New Occidental Gold Mines, N.L., which company is being assisted financially by the Commonwealth. Estimated operational costs, grade, and production figures are given. The development, exploration, and future of the field are discussed.

This deposit was examined in company with Mr. L.C. Ball, Chief Government Geologist of the Queensland Geological Survey on Wednesday, January 5th, 1944. It has previously been described in some detail by H.G.S. Cribb of the Geological Survey. Since Mr. Cribb's examination was made, the workings southwesterly from the shaft have been extended somewhat, but the owners, Messrs. Elver Bros., at the time of our visit were proposing to abandon that shaft on account of water and the fact that the drives were too long for economic working. The mining method used is expensive, slow and inefficient. Less than 50%, probably only about 30% of the bentonite is recovered by the existing procedure. This report details the origin of the deposits and proposals for future testing.

The mineral resources and mining industry of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea are the subject of this report. Mining operations, production, and geological conditions are discussed. Tables showing the estimated gold and silver production figures for the period 1926-41 are appended.

In view of the shortage of tungsten supplies in allied countries, efforts are being made in Australia to increase production with a view to not only satisfying domestic requirements, but also exporting to Great Britain and the United States of America. The King Island scheelite mine is at present the largest producer of tungsten ore in Australia, and the possibilities of increased production from it were, therefore, among the first to be considered. Geological and geophysical surveys were made in June and July, 1942. A preliminary report was prepared in September and a drilling campaign drawn up to test the deposits with the object of proving sufficient ore-reserves to justify increased production for war purposes. Up till the present, fifteen drill holes have been completed and under a modified programme four remain to be drilled (two of these are in progress). This second preliminary report is based on the drilling and assaying results to date (details of thirteen holes are available).

The following notes on the number of the mica mines in the Harts Range area were collected on a recent water survey. They are very incomplete but it is thought that they may be of interest in view of the possibility of stepping up production in this area. Complete data concerning production, etc. of the mines seems to be impossible to obtain.

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.

The mine is situated on Black Andrew Mountain about 4 miles south of the wall of Burrinjuck Dam and in the parishes of Goodradigbee and Childowla. Surface features were mapped by C.H. Zelman and H.B. Owen in November, 1942 by stadia alidade and planetable, and underground mapping was brought up to date by F. Canavan and H.B. Owen on 20th March, 1944 using tape, alidade and clinometer. This report details the production history, general geology, and economic geology of the Black Andrew mine.

The Dundurrabin copper prospect is 3.5 miles northwest of Dundurrabin sawmill and settlement, and 5 miles from Lyringham, which is connected by road to Grafton, Armidale and Dorrigo. The mine is favourably situated with regard to supplies of water and timber. Development consists of an adit to the lode with a cross-cut through it (Plate I), connected to a shaft from the surface on the south wall of the lode. The shaft has been sunk 30 feet below the adit with another cross-cut at that level through the formation. A few pits and costeans have been put down along the strike. Geology, prospects, and recommendations for further work are discussed.

The overburden (or non-scheelite bearing rocks overlying the ore-bearing rocks) at the mine of the King Scheelite N.L. at Grassy include: 1) A layer of windblown sand ranging in thickness up to 30 feet; 2) An irregular layer of non-mineralised rocks occurring in the north-western part of the present workings; 3) Non-mineralised rocks conformably overlying the lode in the southern part of the workings; 4) Overburden dumped on the southern side of the open cut. The problem of the dumping of the overburden is involved in that of the selection of a suitable site for the treatment plant. Under the proposed scheme to increase production a new site will have to be found for the treatment plant that is to be erected.