A PIECE OF ROCK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 19, 15 October 1937, Page 23 (Supplement)

A PIECE OF ROCK

Phosphates at Nauru Island

JN the Sydney ofdee of Pacifie Islauds Co. Ltd., a roiigh-looking piece of rock was occasionally an objeet of interest, or used as a nieans of propping open the door. It was earried there by the manager, who brought it from Pleasant Island, which later became world-famous as .Nauru. He little knew what treasure he had found, aud no one who looked at it had the slightest inkling of the story that stone could telL * • About three years after, and Just prio'r to 1899, Mr Albert F. Ellis, a young chemist who had been employed with the same company as manager of the phosphate islands, then being worked by them on the Queensland coast, was transferred to the Sydney office. His duties were to. run the phosphate part of the business and to do any phosphate analysis in the laboratory which might be necessary. Shortly after his arrival his attention was attraeted ,by this large piece of rock keeping open the door of the laboratory. In some ways it resembled an unusual kind of phosphate which he had found in Baker Island, in the Phoenix Group some years previously, and on mentioning the matter to the manager, this gentleman was positive that the piece of rock was petrified wood, stating that- several geologists had expressed this opinion. This evidence seemed so conclusive that Mr Ellis accepted it, but somehqw when working in the laboratory the rock kept catching his eye, until some three months after, the thought occurred, "Why not knock a pieee off and test it?" He did so, found a strong reaction for phosphoric acid, and then put it through a detailed analysis, with the result that it proved to be phosphate rock of phenomenally high quality, Moreover, from its formation there were evidences that it came from an old and probably extcnsive depositi

Ag to the latter, the manager, who had found The rock, was very emphatic. The importance of this discovery wai immediately recognised by the coin* pany. Bermission was secureit to prospect the island and the neighbouring Ocean Island. Nauru was under German rule, but Ocean was not under any flag. Mr Ellis was eommissioned to go to. the islands and ascertain the extent and quality of the deposit. In his own words — "With a view to see-4 ing everything, and saying nothing.,# He landed at Ocean Island with ono assistant and made arrangements to proceed wi'th the work. His camp wa# pitched near the headquarters of the natives who from the start ^evinced a profound interest in hi« doings. They, followed him all over the island.; watched him as he chopped off piece# of rock, ','Poured medicine on them.'* and put them in his bag. The feelings of the young prospector may well be imagined, when almost at once he confirmed his discovery. Here was the richest deposit of phosphate known to the world. This was again confirmed when he crossed to NauriP and' there found phosphate deposits greater even than those on Ocean Island. In short. he had discovered sufficient phosphate to supply thi world 's needs for many years to come. This then, is the story of the discov.ery of Nauru phosphate. The story o^ a rock which when read meant work for hundreds upon hundreds of men, more produce from thousands of farm#, more wealth and prosperity for all concerned in the manufacture and us« 'of phosphatic fertilisers.,