434 THE GEOLOGY OF THE NEW HEBRIDES, 



2. The arrangement of the volcanoes in definite directions: 

 older andesite extrusions along the septum of a great fold which 

 has detined the land-surface of the Group, followed later by basic 

 eruptions on the inner wing along a line approximately parallel 

 to the former. A tendency for subordinate arrangement of 

 cones along cross-fractures is only imperfectly marked. 



3. The immense size of many of the Pliocene and recent 

 craters. 



4. Differentiation in the magma reservoir resulting in andesite 

 lavas preceding more recent basaltic tlows.* 



Sec. 3. MINERAL KESOURCES. 



Reports of rich prospects of nickel and copper ores in the New 

 Hebrides have been widely circulated, and were readily believed 

 on account of the proximity to New Caledonia. 



Since, however, the vastly more recent age of the New 

 Hebrides has been demonstrated, such announcements must be 

 taken cum grano sali^. Traces of these minerals are no doubt to 

 be found widely distributed through the Group, but we do not 

 think that any payable deposits exist above sea-level. 



These remarks do not apply to deposits of sulphur and of 

 magnetic iron, which are extensive, and will in the near future 

 undoubtedly command considerable attention. 



Sulphur depositsf are developed in the neighbourhood of 

 Yasowa on Tanna and at the fumaroles on Vanua Lava: the 

 latter deposits are much the more important. 



Magnetic iron sand similar to that of Taranaki in New 

 Zealand occurs in large quantities on the beaches of many of the 

 islands. A fairly rich sample collected at Meli Bay, Efate, 

 without undergoing concentration gave the following results : — 

 Fe ... 45-6% 



TiOo ... 3-5% 



thus accounting for over ^66% of the material when calculating^ 



• Judging bv analyses of lavas recently erupted from Yasowa, it would 

 appear that the latest phase is again that of an andesite magma. Note that 

 East Indian volcanoes are now also ejecting andesite. 

 • See reports by M. Pelatan. 



