Special Aid Needed For Minerals

Mineral resources of Papua- New Guinea are still largely an unknown factor.

GOLD has been discovered in substantial quantities in some areas, and more than £3O million has been spent in a fruitless search for payable oil—although one large well was brought in late in the 1950 s at Puri in Papua. This was accom panied by a big flow of gas for which uses are now being sought.

The search for oil also is continuing but on a much reduced scale.

Minor quantities of platinum, iron, lead, zinc nickel, chrome, sulphur, low-grade coal and bauxite have been reported in various places, while a Canadian group is now actively investigating the possibility of mining a copper deposit near Port Moresby. There has been renewed interest in gold on Misima

(Papua) and in part of the Western Highlands of New Guinea.

Exports of gold have been declin ing in recent years and it is evident that a much more intensive approach to mineral exploration is needed before minerals can be expected to make a more significant contribution to the country’s wealth. In this con nection it would seem that special incentives might be offered to big exploration groups already operating in Australia to transfer at least some of their attention and activities to New Guinea.

In the past few years these com panies have transformed the face of the Australian mineral industry with huge finds of minerals such as bauxite and iron ore. So far New Guinea is virtually untouched by modern mineral exploration methods, and this is one field of endeavour which could be richly rewarding to both the successful explorer and the New Guinean people.