A geological reconnaissance of the New Hebrides

The presence of native sulphur on the slopes of Mt. Suretamatai, Vanua Lava Island, Banks Group has been known since 1887 or earlier, and many claims, most of them extravagant, have been made regarding the potential value of the deposits. More recently manganese has been reported on the island of Maewo, and there have been unsubstantiated rumours of the presences of nickel, chromite, copper, cobalt, gold and coal, as well as sulphur on islands other than Vanua Lava. With the examination of the sulphur and manganese deposits as the principal object, the writer visited the New Hebrides from 7th July to 14th August 1951, and took the opportunity of following up the rumoured occurrences of economic minerals as far as circumstances permitted. This report gives an account of the visit and its findings.