IUREP N.F.S. No. 146 December 1977 Distr. LIMITED Original: ENGLISH International Atomic Energy Agency

INTERNATIONAL URANIUM RESOURCES EVALUATION PROJECT

IUREP

NATIONAL FAVOURABILITY STUDIES

FIJI ISLANDS

78-469 DISCLAIMER

Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document INTERNATIONAL URANIUM RESOURCES EVALUATION PROJECT

I U R E P

NATIONAL FAVOURABILITY STUDIES

IUREP FoP.S. No, 146

FIJI ISLANDS

CONTENTS

SUMMARY PAGE

A. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL GEOGRAPHY 1.

B. GEOLOGY OP THE FIJI ISLANDS IN RELATION TO POTENTIALLY FAVOURABLE URANIUM BEARING AREAS

C. PAST EXPLORATION 3.

D. URANIUM OCCURRENCES AND RESOURCES 3»

E. PRESENT STATUS OF EXPLORATION 3-

P. POTENTIAL FOR NEW DISCOVERIES 3.

REFERENCES 3»

FIGURES No, 1 MAP OF THE FIJI ISLANDS

S U M H ART

The K_ji Islands, comprising over 300 islands, with a total area of 18,700 square kilometers are basically either volcanic or coralo A small mining industry exists, however, and on the basis of that fact, and without geologic support of any kind a Category 1 (0 to 1,000 tonnes U) uranium potential has been assigned.

- 1 -

A. INTRODUCTION AMD GENERAL GEOGRAPHY

Geography

Fiji, in the southwest Pacific consists of an archipelago surrounding the Koro , the centre of which lies in latitude 18° S and on the meridian of l80°, containing a total area of 24,200 sq km.

There are more than 300 islands, varying greatly in size. The larger islands are of volcanic origin, mountainous and surrounded by coral reefs; the smaller ones are mostly of the low coral reef type. , the capital, is on the southeast coast of , or "great Fiji", 14,100 sq km. This island is mountainous in the interior, rising to the highest point at Mt. Tomaniivi (1320 m). About 65 km WE is , or "great land", the second largest island 8,200 sq km, rising to 950 n in Ndikeva or Mt Thurston; its chief town is Lambasa on the north coast„ lies near the southeast point of Vanua Levu; its highest point is Uluinggalau. Kandavu about 81 km- S. of Viti Levu, is the landfall for ships and aircraft approaching Suva from the south. off the east coast of Viti Levu, is rich in historical associations surrounding Levuka, the early capital of the colony.. Fgau and Koro lie in the . To the east and south of this sea the Lau group forms a curved chain of small islands. The group is. a chain of about 16 islands north of Viti Levu. Makongai (5 sq mi) between Viti Levu and Koro, is known for the Fiji leprosy hospital, which serves a large area of the south Pacific. About 65O km N of Suva is the isolated dependency of .

The total area of Fiji is 18,700 sq km.

Climate .

The climate, for the tropics, is temperate, the thermometer seldom falling below 16° C or rising above 32° C, The prevailing winds are easterly. At Suva, Wiiich has the climatic, conditions of the windward coasts, the average annual rainfall is 300 cm, distributed throughout the year. On the leeward coasts annual averages are 180 - 230 cm., but most of this falls in the hot season (Dec to March) when there are northerly winds. At least some part of the Fiji is affected by a hurricane almost every year.

Ageless

Fiji lies on the main route between and Mew Zealand and Forth America, and is the centre of communications in, the southwestern Pacific. The international airport is at , about 210 km from Suva. Suva Wharf and Wharf were reconstructed in 1962 and 1963* — 2 —

In 1974 Suva handled 466,000 tons of cargo and Lautoka 402,879 tons. There are no main railways but about 730 km of light tracks carry- sugar can to the mills.

There are ports of call at Suva, Lautoka and Luvuka, which are served by passenger and cargo lines en route to and America from Australia and New Zealand. A South Pacific regional shipping venture, in which Fiji is to be a partner, is planned for the near future.

There are 1150 km of main roads, 46O km of secondary roads, 400 km of country roads and 30 km of residential roads, all maintained by the Government.

industries, Currency^jand Population

Agricultural products are very important to the Fijian economy. The principal crop is sugar cane followed by bananas, coconuts, rice, copra, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Fishing is also of considerable importance along with a small cattle raising industry.

The mining industry produces, gold and silver, (and formerly mangenese and copper), and at present employs about four percent of the working force in the Fiji Islands, and gold is the second- most valuable export (after sugar).

The government of Fiji includes a Minister of Lands, Mines and Mineral Resources which is headquartered at Suva, the capital city. A letterasking about the availability of geologic or.mineral maps has been sent.

The unit of Fijian currency is. the Fiji Dollar and $1531.00 = IFO.97. The total population of Fiji is slightly over 573,000 (31 Dec 1975)» Suva, the capital city contains approximately 63,200 people and is the largest city,

B. GEC^OGY OF THE FIJI ISLAfflX. IN RELATION TO POTENTIALLY•FAVOURABLE'URANIUM BEARING AREAS

No geologic maps or reports on the Fiji Islands are available at the Agency, but a letter requesting a map and the names of sources of geologic information has been mailed.

According to the sketchy information available, the largest of the islands are volcanic in origin, which presumably means basaltic, normally a rock barren of much mineralization. However, one of the mineral products of Fiji is gold with a little bit of silver, and in past years both copper and manganese have bean produced, which indicated that some favourable host rock' exists somewhere as well as a source of mineral. The other islands are chiefly coral islands, and are probably not important as uranium hosts, at least uranium has not been reported from coral. - 3 -

C. PAST EXPLORATION

No exploration for -uranium is known to have "been carried out •before on the Fiji Islands.

D. URAIIUM OCCURRENCES AM) RESOURCES

There are no known uranium occurrences in the Fiji Islands, and no uranium resources have been reported for the islands<> Deposits of other minerals have been found however.

There is no known uranium exploration being carried out. It is quite possible, however, that the mining companies active in the islands may have considered a small scale exploration programme„ c F, POTENTIAL FOR MEW DISCOVERIES While it is normal for one to consider both volcanic and coral islands as essentially barren as far as mineral deposits are con- cerned, Fiji has produced some mine products - notably gold, silver, manganese and copper which indicated that some mineralization has taken placeo

On the basis of these facts, and virtually no geologic information a category 1 uranium potential is assigined to the Fiji Islands, If geologic reportes or maps become available, it would be in the interest of the programme to review them to see if this estimate of the potential of Fiji should be modified.

Compiled by M V Hansen IAEA, Vienna December 1977

REFERENCES

1. Encyclopedia Britannica

2, Europa Yearbook 1977

3, Encyclopedia of Nations

4. World Atlas.

— 2 —

In I9?4! Suva handled 466,000 tons of cargo and Lautoka 402,879 tons. There? axre; no main railways but about 730 km of light tracks carry • sugair can to the mills.

There are ports of call at Suva, Lautoka cjad Luvuka, which are served by passenger and cargo lines en route to Europe and America from Australia and New Zealand., A South Pacific regional shipping venture, in which Fiji is to be a partner, is planned for the near future.

There are 1150 km of main roads, 46O km of secondary roads, 400 km of country roads azid 30 km of residential roads, all maintained by the Government.

Industries, Curr eac^r and Population

Agricultural products are very important to the Fijian economy. The principal crop is sragar cane followed by bananas, coconuts, rice, copra, cassava, and sweet potatoes.. Fishing is also of considerable importance along with a ssaall cattle raising industry.

The mining industry produces/ gold and silver/ (and formerly eS<^muJ3gGi'ieBc and copper), sinsi at present employs about four percent of the working force in the Fiji Islands, and gold is the second- most valuable export (after s^gar).

The government of Fiji includes a Minister of Lands, Mines anctlMineral Resources which is headquartered at Suva, the capital ci%. &-l«tiea^ki»^aJwu^4*a~3w^^ boon...sant • -

The unit of Fijiao currency is the Fiji Dollar and $1131.00 = $FGQ«97. The total population of Fiji is slightly over 573,000 (311 Dec 1975) • Suva, the capital city contains approximately 63,?2DO people and is the largest city.

B. GEC^OOY OF THE FIJI ISL&HDS IE RELATION TO POTENTIALLY FAVOURABLE UR4UUM BE&RIHG AREAS

No geologic maps or reports on the Fiji Islands are available at the, Agoaocy, but a letter requesting a map and the names of sources off geologic inforaaticn hss been mailed»

Accorrling to the sketcigr information available, the largest of the island S3-are vc.'canic in origin, which presumably means basaltic, normallljy a rrock barren of such mineralization. However, one of the mineral products of Fiji is gold with a little bit of silver, and in paste years; both nopper rvnd manganese have bean produced, which indicatusd. thsstfc some favourable host rock exists somewhere as well as a souatce of minerJ, The other islands are chiefly coral islands, and are jprofcaMy not important as uranium hostsj at least uranium has not "been reported from coral. - 3 -

C. PAST EXPLOa.\TIOF

No exploration for uranium is known to ha,ve been carried out "before on the Fiji Islands.

D. URAITtM OCGIBRKNCES JUTD

There are no known uranium occurrences in the Fiji Islands, and no uranium resources have been reported for the islands. Deposits of other minerals have been found however.

E. PKBSBBfP ffE&FOS OF EXPLORxlTIOjT

There is so known, uranium exploration being carried out. It is quite possible, however, that the mining companies active in the islaods msj tesreconsidere d a small scale exploration programme.

F. POTKifl'ML FOR BJBR DISCOVERIES

While it is normal for one to consider both volcanic and coral islands as essentially barren as far as mineral deposits are con- cerned, MJi bias produced some mine products - notably gold, silver, manganese ami copper which indicated that some mineralization has taken giIL-*ce»

On tite fcssis of these facts/ and virtually no geologic informationn a category I Tii-wEiim potential is assigned to the Fiji Islands * If geologpl© reports or -naps become available, it would be in the interest of tine programme to review them to see if this estimate of the jjctenifcial of Fiji should be modified.

Compiled Igr ¥ Msnsen IAEA, Vienna December 1977

ft ^5 ^- 1. Encyclopedia Britannic a -^ c, V ° V 2. Europa Yearbook 1977

3. Encyclopedia of Nations •

4. World Atlas, \