The phosphate deposits of Bellona Island

Bellona Island, British Solomon Islands, was visited by a survey team of the Bureau of Mineral Resources, as part of the search for phosphate deposits. The island is a raised coral atoll and has a phosphate deposit mostly of phosphatic clay, overlying and infilling between limestone pinnacles and in chimneys on the old lagoon floor. It is estimated that 4,500,000 tons of the clay with an average grade of 22.2% P205 and 700,000 tons of phosphatic sand averaging 30.3% P205 are recoverable. The bulk of material is rich in iron and alumina and its value as an economic deposit is doubtful.

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Published (Metadata Record) 02/03/2026
Last updated 03/03/2026
Organisation Australian Federal Government
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