URANIUM ORE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23376, 6 December 1945, Page 4

URANIUM ORE

Scientists Search For Deposits Supplies Available On West Coast Atomic Energy Bill Passed (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Dec. 5. “There is no doubt that within a year or two of receiving sufficient uranium to carry on, officers of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department will be harnessing atomic energy here in New Zealand.” said the Acting Minister of Mines (the Hon. J. O'Brien), moving the second reading of the Atomic Energy Bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The Minister said that extensive prospecting for uranium had already been carried out, and indicated that considerable supplies were available on the West Coast. Prospecting was still being carried on. Atomic energy was of such extraordinary importance that there had been a search for deposits of uranium throughout the world. The latest deposits had been located in Canada and were of such importance to Canada tliat they had been taken out of the hands of the private company which owned the land near the Great Lakes on which the deposits occurred. Until 1944 no deposits of uranium had been reported in New Zealand, but owing to the remarkable efforts of Dr Marsden much preliminary prospecting had been carried out since the importance of uranium as the source of atomic energy was recognised. He was not prepared to say that the prospects were so good as to ensure plentiful supplies of uranium or other radioactive ores, but officers of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department had been scouring the country searching for this mineral. The best results to date had been obtai: ed from alluvial gravel and sands especially on the West Coast. This alluvial gravel and sand had been prospected to a fair extent, and uranium had been traced along most of the West Coast of the South Island, particularly in black sands, some of which indicated a high percentage of uranium. Concentrates in dredge tailings had also been tested and indicated fair prospects for uranium. It had been estimated that 8001 b of uranium a year could be recovered from tailings of one dredge now operating on the West Coast and there was room for 20 such dredges in the valley where that dredge was working. If "it became essential for us to have uranium 20 dredges could be set to work there. Incidentally the dredge now operating in that valley was one of the best paying ones on the West Coast to-day so far as the recovery of gold was concerned.

A Rich Valley Mr O'Brien said he did not like to see valleys being destroyed by dredging operations, but this particular valley was already threatened so far as farming operations were concerned by repeated floods. It should be remembered that land worked over by a dredge was not lost for future production. It might be no good for farming but dredge tailings grew excellent timber, and there was power to oblige dredges to replace topsoil over metal tailings. Mr O'Brien said if the demand for uranium became imperative in the future there were possibilities of recovering eight metric tons a year from the particular valley he had mentioned. There were hundreds of other alluvial deposits on the West Coast containing gold and uranium. About 15 dredges were operating to-day, but many others which had been delayed owing to the war making it difficult for the companies to obtain machinery would be going into production before long. There was, therefore, a good promise on the West Coast for the recovery of uranium ore particularly in the vicinity of Hari Hari and Gillespie’s Beach. Research officers last year went as far as the Sounds prospecting for uranium, «and this year expeditions would probably go as far as Preservation Inlet in further searches.

Mr O’Brien said that prospecting had been aided by a remarkable little instrument which recorded on a dial about the size of a watchface its reactions to radioactive substances. The greater the deposit the stronger the reaction recorded on the dial. The instrument could even be lowered down a bore hole and would register as it went down if radioactive deposits were there. This remarkable mechanism had made prospecting much easier. The Mines Department had full charge of the mining of uranium and could direct any existing mining company regarding the recovery of uranium. The production of atomic energy would be the responsibility of the Department of Scientific and ludustrial Research.

Experimental Work Mr O'Brien said that last Saturday afternoon he visited a back street laboratory and watched four young scientists at work. They were so intent on their job that they seemed to have no idea it was Saturday afternoon. Each was in charge of his o a machine and was intent on seeing what he could do with it. Mr O'Brien said he watched interesting experiments in sei .rating dry ores of uranium by magnetism. These same scientists had been associated during the war with the important enterprise of making radar sets, of which £500,000 worth were supplied to American ships and £200,000 worth to our own Navy. From what he had seen of the enthusiasm of these men and the readiness with which they shouldered their packs and went all over the country in the course of their searches for uranium, New Zealand could expect a lot from them and could well be proud of them. Mr O’Brien added that the Bill was similar to the legislation already enacted in South Africa and Canada, and measures of the same kind ould soon be enacted in other countries.

Discussing the provision for rewarding discoverers of uranium, Mr O’Brien said it was almost impossible to say what would the extent of the reward be. but he took it that the Government would not be backward in rewarding the discoverer of any important deposit. No discoveries of uranium had been reported in New Zealand before those made by Government officers in 1844, consequently the Bill provided that landowners would have no right to claim compensation for uranium discovered on their property. » Mr W. J. Polson (National. Stratford) said the discovery of atomic force might completely change the outlook of every individual. This remarkable energy could not only harness machinery for the benefit of mankind but could emancipate mankind from physical labour. We might be able to achieve things of which we had not previously dreamed. We might become masters not only of the air around our planet but might be able to soar into the blue and make a t ip to the moon and back. Mr W. Sullivan (National. Bay uf Plenty): What about the return journey? Mr Polson said the Bill was a desirable one. If we had the source of this power In New Zealand it had to be properly controlled and developed. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan said no subject in the world was more important to the life of human beings to-day than that of atomic energ”. If atomic energy were misused it could virtually wipe human life off the planet. The greatest thinkers and scientists were concentrating on this subject warning '.IS of its potential evil and urging that it be applied to the advantage not the destruction of our race. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research had advised him two and a half years ago of the probability that the tactical use of atomic energy was likelv to be attained, and that the use of atomic energy was not improbable before the end of the war with Japan. In view of- the knowledge that a great secret task was being worked on the Department made available some of its capable young scientists to assist in research work overseas. They had acquitted themselves well. There was every reason to be proud of the Department and the young men who had served the fightin” mop '.volt. Mr T. H. McCombs (Government, L.\a-dtom ~ald tffiw Zealand had been connected prominently with the atom and traced the history of the splitting

of the atom since Lord Rutherford’s successful attempt in 1919. A sufficient quantity of uranium had been discovered in New Zealand to make control of supplies necessary. Penalties Queried Mr Polson, during the third readily of the Bill, raised the question of penalties which could be inflicted on a person convicted of offences against the provisions of the Bill, and said in his opinion a fine of £lOOO cr imprisonment for five years or both was tremendously fierce and savage. Mr Fraser said there had been prospectors from other countries quietly wandering about the land and they had found quantities of uranium without notifying their discoveries Luckily they had been traced by officers of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. There might said the Prime Minister, but. he hoped there would not. be n race for Homie energy, but everyone had to realise what a terrible responsibility u to find this commodity. It, Was ' jj serious matter and he did not thlni the penalties were excessive. The Bill was passed.