SEARCH BY AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 15

SEARCH BY AIR

NEW MINING FIELDS NEW SOUTH WALES SCHEME [from our own correspondent] BYDNEY, Fob. 14 The State Government proposes to conduct an aerial reconnaissance of western portions of New South Wales, to assist in the search for valuable minerals. Plans are being completed by the Mining Department, whose officers have already made a ground survey of about 1000 square miles south of Nymagee, and it is expected that the aerial work will begin within a few weeks. It will be the first aerial search for mineral wealth conducted by a Government of New South Wales. The search will cover portions of the Cobar district, and from aerial photographs the mining experts will prepare mosaic maps, which will then bo used to facilitate the work of geologists on the ground. The Minister of Mines, Mr. Vincent, recently made available a report from Mr. A* C. Lloyd, geological surveyor, on investigations in the Cobar district during 1935. Mr. Lloyd points out that the large area of old rocks, known to geologists as the Cobar shield, contains several important ore bodies bearing coppor and gold. Those have been mined in the past, and i,n recent years goldmining has been revived near Cobar. A map of tho area of 1000 square miles near Nymagee has been prepared, indicating the distribution of likely formations. A series of ancient sedimentary rocks at Nymagee, Gilgunnia and Shuttlcton are regarded as of particular importance, because they embrace the known gold and copper resources of the area. The geological and geophysical survey will be continued this year.