Papua May Get New

Gulf Alumina Refinery; Misima Mines

Metals Wealth

OFFICIAL statements made at the end of July indicated the likeli hood of an early start being made with the two major industries in Papua, forecast by P7M during the past year. They are— • Establishment of gold and base metal mining on Misima Island by a new Australian Company, Pacific Islands Mines Ltd. (See PIM of November, 1957, p. 33). • Establishment of a large re finery for alumina ore, at Hall Sound (behind Yule Island), operated by massive hydro-electric power from the Purari River —a plan made by British Aluminium and associated concerns. (See PIM of June, 1957, p. 20, and July, 1958, p. 23).

Mr. A. G. Palmer, mining engineer and a director of Pacific Mines Ltd., said that his Co, had acquired rights over about 22 square miles of Misima, and was seeking another 20 square miles. It was hoped that, by the end of 1958, the Co. would com mence large-scale exploratory operations in the area from which the Block Ten, New Misima and Cuthbert companies took so much gold prior to World War 11.

There were strong indications, said Mr. Palmer, that rich deposits of lead and zinc existed on Misima at lower levels than those hitherto worked, and it was believed there was good gold there, too.

Mr. Palmer planned a visit to Misima during August. His Co. was registered with a nominal capital of £500,000.

Bauxite Possibilities

As indicated in July PIM (page the plan to treat the alumina great deposits of bauxite at Weipa, in North Queensland, at a special refinery in Papua, is still under investigation.

The Australian Minister for National Development (Senator Spooner), said in Townsville late in July that the two alternative means of refining the Weipa alumina were located respectively in North Queensland and in Papua. He obviously was referring to proposals to generate hydro-electric power from the Purari River, in Papua, and from coal, on the Blair Athol coalfield in North Queensland.

Senator Spooner said that the choice would be made by Federal Cabinet. That means—if he was not misreported—that the Australian Government now is giving important co-operation to the British Aluminium interests, in developing S6ction of the aluminium industry.

Senator Spooner commented upon the fast-flowing rivers of Papua, and the short distance between the Weipa deposits and the coast of Territorv 5 faCt ° rS m favour of the emtory.