NO DEPOSITS OF URANIUM IN ANTARCTIC

Chronicle (Levin), 8 January 1947, Page 8

NO DEPOSITS OF URANIUM IN ANTARCTIC

LONDON, Jan. 6. "Nonsense!" is the comment of Professor Erank Debenham, O.B.E., founder and late director of the >Scott Polar Research lnstitute at Caihbrfdge University, on tlie theory that beneath the Antarctic ice-cap there are rieh deposits of uranium — the metal from which atomic energy is derived. lnterviewed by the Sunday Express, whieh pointed out that eight expeditions to the South Polar ice-cap had been planned by nine nations, Proi'essor Deberiham said there was no proof that uranium lies underneath the lee. i'hat even if it is there and can be lo-i-ated it certai'nly could not be worked. ■'The average depth of the ice-cap, which is always on the mo.ve, is prob-j ably about 4000 feet. And all the atomic .energy in the world could notj melt it or niove it-r-and keep it melted; or at bay — to euable mining operationsl for uranium." Regarding minerals, Professor Debenham said that even if good quantities of copper, gold, coaJ and oil were found, the cost of mining them would be out of all praportion to thoir value. "The only immediate eeonomie prizes to be wun from tlie Antarctic are in the whaling industfy, and these are being scientilically exploited by international agreenient. So it becomes inc reasingl^ clear that the international rivalry umlerlying the purely seieniilie nature of tlie Antarctic expeditions is political." Eenefits from HQlding Areas Professor Debenham added that the inirnediate benelit of holding areas in the South Polar regions' are:- — (1) it is of value iu establishing whaling stations. (2) It is of great liolp in met.eo.rologv. Knowledge oi' the behaviour of great Antarctic gales would enable the weather of the South Atlautie a nd the South Pacilie to be foreeast aceuratelv over a widc area. (3) Mankind might benefit by tlie ilevelopment of an Antarctic sanaloria. Jt is one of the healthiost regions in the world and there had been almost flramatic- cures of consumption of men who had joined. South Polar expeditions. ' " It is unlikely . tli u t there wilL.be |i f H e/ vo verijd • of ;'iipUa.tiiig .energj' v by air, " ■ said' the prbfessor: Dff'w'e can do that we can ha rness gales that blow all the year round throughont the area. ' '