SEARCH FOR COAL

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 10

SEARCH FOR COAL

' Survey Of Dominion’s Resources PROGRESS WITH WORK Conservation Of Valuable Natural Asset The progress being made with the geological and chemical survey of the Dominion’s coal resources, a work which was begun in 1936, was reviewed by the Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. McMillan, in an interview yesterday. This work, he said, was being undertaken by the Dominion Laboratory and the geological survey branches of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and was directed by a coal survey committee including representatives of the Mines and Iron and Steel Departments.

"The Blackburn area has been surveyed. and about 18 months’ work is required to fiilish the coal survey in the Greymouth area,” said Dr. McMillan “The survey has helped cooperative parlies to find new blocks of coal by suggesting the most likely places for driving. For example, one party was advised to push through a fault, and, as a result, coal was found on the other side of the fault. The survey party Ls also working on the whole area surrounding the Strongman State Mine. "A beginning has been made with the sampling of brown coal, and this work has been finished in Otago and Southland. The sampling of the North Island brown coals is proceediug. At present there Ls only a seasonal demand for the Southland brown coal, which depends on the winter market. If further uses could be developed for our lower-grade coals, such as blending with the bituminous coals, this would result in a steady demand for the Southland and Otago brown coals throughout the year.” The Minister said that with the rapidly-growing industrial development of the Dominion and the increasing specialization of -industrial processes, the information that this survey was of fundamental importance, and was providing a sound basis for the most economic utilization and conservation of one of the country’s most valuable natural assets.