116 
MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1978-79 
 
allows development of the Ranger project. 
 In addition to Ranger Uranium Mines Pty. Ltd., Queensland Mines Ltd. (Nabarlek)
entered the construction stage of development in 1979. Also, WMC's environmental
impact statement, a prerequisite for development of the Yeelirrie uranium
project, was approved by the Western Australia State Government and the Federal
Government in 1979. The company plans to construct a metallurgical research
plant in Kalgoorlie. 
 Measured reserves in four large deposits in the Northern Territory total
297,000 tons U308 comprising Jabiluka, 127,000 tons; Ranger, 100,000 tons;
Koongarra, 15,000 tons; and Nabarlek, 10,000 tons. The plann 
ed initial rate of production was 9,000 tons per year. 
 The Yeelirrie deposit in Western Australia has measured reserves of 46,000
tons 1.1308, the Beverley and Mount Painter deposits in South Australia have
16,000 tons, and remaining reserves at Mary Kathleen totaled about 7,500
tons. The combined total of 366,500 tons U308 in seven deposits was considered
available for immediate development. Numerous other prospects were under
investigation throughout the country. 
 
 1Supervisory physical scientist, Branch of Foreign Data. 
 2Where necessary, values have been converted from Australian dollars ($A)
to U.S. dollars at the rate of $A1.OO=US$1.15.