DISCOVERY OF PLATINUM

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

DISCOVERY OF PLATINUM

ANNOUNCEMENT IN LONDON. AREA IN SIERRA LEONE. GOOD QUALITY OF MINERAL. The officials of the Colonial Office have made the following announcement: “Platinum has been discovered in Sierra Leone. It was first found in May, 1926, by the Director of Geological Survey. Major Junuer, and a recent investigation by him indicates that the platinum bearing area is about 40 square miles in extent and that the deposits, which are alluvial, are likely io be of considerable importance. “One nugget of platinum, weighing .4 grammes, or 4|dwts., was found by Major Junner. The nugget and some smaller grains of platinum have been presented to the Natural History Museum at South Kensington. “An analysis of th? platinum made by the Imperial Institute shows that it compares very favourably in composition with platinum from the Urals and South Africa. The platinum in Sierra Leone is associated with basic igneous rocks, which resemble those of the bush veld igneous complex of South Africa, in which important deposits of platinum metals have been found. “Detailed information regarding the locality of the platinum discoveries will be given to any firm or persons who can satisfy the Sierra Leone Government regarding their financial standing and their bona fide intention and cap«v city to undertake mining operations. In the event of these being likely to prove profitable, the Sierra Leone Government reserves the power to limit the number of prospecting rights issued in re-spect of this locality.” The present value of platinum is about £l4 an ounce.