Space-Age Metal In West Aust.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 13

Space-Age Metal In West Aust.

(N Z P.A.-Reuter —Copyright! PERTH, Aug. 26. A Perth contractor is reported to be developing a tantalite deposit believed to be one of the two largest in the world. Tantalite, a rare metal which is highly resistant to heat, is used in rocket nose cones and the leading edges of space ships which must survive tremendous temperatures caused by friction when returning to the earth’s atmosphere. It is also used in nuclear reactors *>nd has many uses in industry. The contractor, Mr Ron Gray, said he had already sold 75 tons of tantalite ore, worth more than £2OOO a ton, to

American interests. The buyer wanted a threeyear contract which would be worth £750,000 and other buyers were becoming interested in the field, Mr Gray said. He said internationally known New York assayers named Ledoux reported that they considered samples from Hill 27 were a completely new form of tantalite of high grade with unusual characteristics.

Mr Gray said he had formed a family company to develop the field, which is at Yalgoo. about 250 miles north of Perth.

The field is particularly important because the other main suppliers of tantalite are in Africa and Brazil where politics are less stable than in Australia.