Mineral Hope
p. 67 · Read in the full issue
For Santo
A French Canadian mineral prospector, Mr Armand Beaudoin, believes that the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu contains extensive de posits of gold and copper. The island was recently the scene of an attempt to secede from newly-independent Vanuatu, but now that the rebellion has ended Mr Beaudoin hopes to obtain government support for a full-scale commercial survey of the mineral potential.
Santo is part of the general chain of islands which extends to the north and west through Solomon Islands to the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville which already contains one of the world’s biggest open-pit copper mines.
Mr Beaudoin claimed last month that he had been aware for more than four years of indications of gold and copper on Santo.
He said he had discovered evidence of big deposits while investigating prospecting leases which he had taken out. He said he had delayed seeking a full scale survey because he wanted to wait for the time when the country became independent from France and Britain. (Vanuatu, formerly New Hebrides, achieved indepen dence late in July).