Bsi Minerals

interesting Inquiry in Progress

AN interesting mineralogical e

amination of the British Solom Islands is in progress. There may important results. The official repo< are cautious, but encouraging. T Solomons are the only big Territc left in the Pacific whose mineral i sources have not been intensively e amined.

The truth of the situation cann be ascertained until systemai geological mapping has been e tended a good deal further. Lit; was done before World War After 'that, there were some fum ling efforts at exploration—assist a great deal when aerial photograp of most of the archipelago, taken the US Army Air Force, were mai available.

The Colonial Development a.

Welfare Act made £11,700 availali for a preliminary BSI survey in 52: and a Geological Survey was i tablished in 1950, with Mr. J.

Grover as Senior Geologist. N Grover is there now, carrying with enthusiasm despite enormc difficulties.

A party of geologists under Pi fessor C. E. Marshall, from Sydn University made an investigate there recently, and worked for while with Mr. Grover. They s; the data as yet was insufficient lead to any important conclusio but this party urged a bigger ai more extended investigation. It officially reported that investigatic have shown: ° Sulphur deposits on norths Vella Lavella are of no commerc importance. • Manganese deposits on Hoi savo (near Tulagi) have been ■ amined, and prospecting by drilli is recommended. • Excavations in the Cent!

Guadalcanal mountains, in the Go Ridge district, indicate that the ai "may be a potential source of go production." • The alluvial gold areas of i Sorvohio River (below Gold RidJ were examined and gave encouragi; results. ® The Sutakiki River alluviv should be examined further "in vii of the occurence of quartz re; with widespread mineralisation of t country rock.*’

The foregoing is taken from f careful phrasing of the scientists’ port. Some of the old-time Islan miners may smell something thea