Minerals For
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
All Needs
Since the gold-rush days that changed the course of Australian history in the middle of the nineteenth century, mining has been one of Aus« tralia’s richest enterprises.
AUSTRALIA today produces some 80 mineral products and tht total annual value of output is about £A2IO million.
Thus mining is one of the most important of the country’s primary industries. It has special importance as an export industry.
Mining output today earns abou 10 per cent, of Australia’s expon income. Among the most impon tant of the minerals and metals ex ported are lead, copper, zinc, uranium rutile, zircon, blue asbestos, silve and manganese.
Australia’s most abundant miners resource, however, is coal, whic: provides most of the country’s needs!
Highly mechanised mining hs lowered cost of production anr enabled Australia to expand exports!
The principal market is Japan, whic: is now taking about one million ton of coking coal a year for its stec
industry. j.
Discovery of large bauxite deposit in the far north of Queensland am in Northern Territory could maW Australia a leading exporter of thr mineral and form the basis for ■; greatly expanded aluminium industry: Except for a few commodities, liM mineral oils and phosphate rock, moic commercial minerals are found on tfcf Australian continent.