80 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 



covered solely and directly by the Geological and Jlineral Surveys of 

 three colonies. As there are definite results with figures available, these 

 examples are given. There are also important discoveries by other such 

 surveys in other colonies, but they either do not lend themselves definitely 

 to being viewed in ' balance-sheet form,' or their deposits have not yet 

 been developed. 



Nigeria. — The mineral survey of Southern Nigeria discovered the large, 

 black coal field in 1909, surveyed it in detail over the greater portion of 

 a length of some 24 miles and width of 10 miles, and prepared a geological- 

 topographical map of the country, showing altitudes, outcrops of coal and 

 other information. Further work was done later and the coal-bearing 

 area extended considerably. Mining operations by Government were 

 commenced on the largest seam in 1916, and since then development has 

 continued steadily. The total quantity of coal, in round numbers, pro- 

 duced from 1916 to March 31, 1928, is 2,210,000 tons, valued at the miiie 

 at £1,282,000. 



The annual average over the three years ended March 31, 1928, is : 

 coal production, 313,720 tons ; revenue, £148,340 ; expenditure, £82,234 ; 

 profit, £66,106. The total net profit to Government to March 31, 1928, 

 is £452,559. The mine now employs some 30 Europeans and 2,400 natives. 

 The coal is used principally by the Nigerian and Gold Coast Railways,, 

 the Nigerian tin mines and by shipping companies. 



The total cost of the geological survey of Nigeria since its inception 

 in 1919 to March 31, 1928, is approximately £68,700, and of the mineral 

 survey of Southern Nigeria for the period 1903-1913, about £20,000, or 

 a total of approximately £88,700. Thus the total profit to the Government 

 from this one discovery by a Government geologist is more than five times 

 the total cost of the geological and mineral surveys, while the average 

 annual profit for the past three years is nearly nine times the average 

 annual cost of the geological survey during the same period. 



The surveys also discovered large and valuable deposits of good brown ; 

 coal and lignite, some of which will probably be exploited later for the 

 distillation of oil, or for sale of the coal in the form of briquettes. Besides 

 these discoveries others were made of limestone of good quality in several 

 districts, oil-shales, phosphate of lime — of value as a local fertiliser — • 

 excellent pottery, tile and brick clays, some lead-zinc-silver deposits, 

 ornamental-, engineering- and building-stones. Doubtless some or all of J 

 these will be developed later and will prove of great value to the colony. * 



Gold Coast. — The specially important discoveries made by the geological 

 survey of the Gold Coast are huge deposits of manganese ore and bauxite 

 (aluminium ore), and widespread alluvial deposits of diamonds. 



The manganese deposits were found in 1914 before the Great War, ■ 

 but not exploited until 1916, when the vital need for high-grade manganese 

 ore caused the development of these deposits. Production of ore com- 

 menced in 1916, and the total production to March 31, 1928, is 1,785,643 

 tons of high-grade ore, valued at £3,350,706, free on board ship at Sekondi. 

 Of this quantity the annual average during the past three years is 364,975 

 tons, valued at £656,132. 



The Government Railway Department transports this ore to the sea- 

 board at Sekondi, and has received, in round numbers, £550,000 for 



