Notes on the mica deposit, Hundred of Para Wirra, County of Adelaide, South Australia. Mineral resources and principle workings are described.

The Pioneer tungsten-bismuth mine, Hatches Creek, was discovered in 1917 and worked on a small scale from then until a short time after the conclusion of World War I, when production ceased owing to a fall in tungsten prices. Prices rose again in 1937, and exploration resumed. The general geology, ore bodies, and working of the Pioneer mine are discussed in this report.

The geology, ore reserves, development, costs, and surface operations of the Iron King mine are discussed in this report.

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.

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.

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

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.

The area was visited in company with Mr. R.S. Matheson of the Geological Survey of Australia in December, 1942, when eleven pigmatite bodies bearing mica and beryl were examined. The report furnished after that visit (1943/2), gives details of access, topography, climate and vegetation which are not repeated here. In view of the urgent demand in Australia for "strategic" mica, i.e. mica of quality equivalent to Clear and Commercial-clear, it was recommended that one deposit at Yinnietharra should be opened and prospecting of others carried on simultaneously. As a result of these recommendations, the Deputy Controller of Mineral Production started mining operations on the selected dyke by open-cutting in June, 1943. Although it was stressed in the abovementioned report that poor exposure of the dyke, on which there were no workings, rendered any estimate of the probable yield of marketable mica speculative, the results actually obtained were far below expectations, and a heavy financial loss on the project was incurred. Consequently, while the question of abandoning the mine was under consideration, a detailed examination of the workings was carried out in June, 1944, again in the company of Mr. Matheson, and the results of this investigation, which was not wholly confined to geological aspects, are embodied in the present report.

The Mont Murphy reefs occur in sedimentary rocks, which strike northwest and dip southwest at 45 degrees, about 31/44 mile north from an intrusive granite contact. The reefs, which strike north to northeast and dip steeply east, can be divided into three groups - the No. 1 reef, the No. 2 reef, and the Upper Mount Murphy group. Total positive plus probable ore on present mine exposures adds up to 1,132 tons, containing 18 tons tungstic oxide worth £9,900. Possible additional ore is about 2,500 tons with a tungstic oxide content of perhaps 41 tons. There is little prospect of capital invested being returned but the mine may pay operating costs if working expenses are kept to a minimum.

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