Hebrides manganese mine to re-open

In the New Hebrides the Forari manganese mines, on the main island of Efate, have found a part-purchaser who intends to re-open the mines and recontinue manganese exports to Japan Southland Mining Ltd., Fiji manganese miner and prospector for various minerals in Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia and Africa, has paid an undisclosed sum for a 50 per cent, interest in Le Manganese de Vate (LMV) owner of the mines.

LMV, Southland said, would produce 60,000 tons of ore annually and the first shipment —lO,OOO tons—would be in April next year. Contract arrangements with Japanese

buyers were being finalised in late September, Earlier this year a bigger Australian-based miner, Consoli dated Goldfields, rejected an offer to buy the mines because “reserves were too limited” (m/ May, p n 6) , , , . Southland in September said Forari had reserves—reported independent bod y 300,000 tons of 42 per cent - manganese.

The company, referring to its Fiji manganese exports, also added that 8,000 tons of man ganese were booked for Jap anese shipment by October, which would leave about 4,000 tons in stockpile in Fiji.