URANIUM ORE IN GOLD TAILINGS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26122, 26 May 1950, Page 9

URANIUM ORE IN GOLD TAILINGS

TESTS ON WEST COAST INSUFFICIENT QUANTITIES FOR EXTRACTION From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, May 25. Though uranium ore has been found in the acres of gold dredge tailings on the West Coast, it is understood it was not in sufficient quantities to encourage a scheme for its extraction. When the Gillespie’s Beach Dredging Company wound up its operations below Weheka in South Westland, it was announced that an investigation had (been made into the uranium content ( of the tailings, but these had pro- ; duced insufficient to justify l the company taking action. I Wellington officers of the Departi ment of Scientific and Industrial Rei search are believed to have carried out tests on the West Coast and specimens from various areas of tailings have been sent to Wellington for closer examination. This work was carried out secretly, but returns are reported to have been negligible. Uranium ore is found in old rock formations usually containing heavier materials. South African goldfields have uranium bearing stone, but that does not mean that gold bearing mall erial in New Zealand will also con- | tain uranium. The oldest rock fovmai tions are believed to be found in 'South Africa, Canada, and Russia.

Investigations carried out on the West Coast were completed some time