ATOMIC POWER IN SAND

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1946, Page 4

ATOMIC POWER IN SAND

Australia has a new source of atomic. energy — Thorium — which is fcund in the sand on the east coast. says the Sydney Sun. Scientific surveys will be carried out to determine the extent of the deposits. The Government- is then expectecl to pass laws safeguarding them for national use. The existence of thorium has been known to scientists for snme time, but it now assumes a new signiflcance because it was reported to the Dominion Prime Ministers' Conference that world supplies of uranium and plutonium — present main sources of atomic energy — are very lhnited. Problems of extracting and using this new source of power are not disclosed, but its existence makes Australia more of an equal pdrtner with other Empire countries in the developmeiit of "atomic energy. Ultimate advantages in the industrial use of power from a plentiful local source and supply could read .like a fairy tale. In high quarters, however, caution is 'given against optimism that progress will be anything but slow. pairistakihg and over a long period of years. Scientists discovei^ed thorium when searching for new raw materials to replace uranium. Laboratory tests are being undertaken in all major countries seeking alternatives, Professor of Physics at Adelaide University (Professor Kerr Grant) said thorium was much inferior to uranium as source of atoniic energy, but it was the only natural element available in sitilicieiit amount for atomic reseafch. ' Sands. along thb eastern sbaboard, from Queensiand tb Tasmania, contained one of the thorium miriefals. iDeposits Wferfe extensive.