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Goro new Caledonia is a group of islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of a large island of New Caledonia and a group of smaller islands. The administrative center is in Nouméa.
General characteristics of the economy of Goro new Caledonia
Economic development was determined by the colonial dependence of New Caledonia on France (since 1853), which led to its transformation into an agrarian and raw material appendage of the French economy.
Minerals
The most important minerals of New Caledonia are nickel and cobalt. There are also known deposits of chrome, iron ores and coal, small manifestations of manganese, gold, copper, lead, zinc, tin, tungsten.
The manifestations of coal in the country are not of industrial importance and are not being developed. There are three locations of coals, located on the west coast in coal-bearing deposits of Cretaceous age.
Ore deposits of iron ore are numerous, but small in reserves. The only geological-industrial type is the ferruginous laterites of weathering crusts on the hyperbasites.
Chromium ore reserves are insignificant. They form clusters or lenses of disseminated ores in hyperbasites. The only field under development is located in the district of Tiebagi.
In reserves of nickel ores, New Caledonia ranks first in the world among the industrialized capitalistic and developing countries. A number of the largest deposits of silicate ore (Tio, Poro, etc.) are known on its territory, which is confined to the Pliocene-Quaternary weathering crusts on ultrabasic rocks. Nickel ore deposits contain 0.05-0.1% of cobalt, the reserves of which rank second in the list of industrialized capitalist and developing countries.
History of mineral resources development
The search for gold on the island began in the 50ies of 19th century in connection with the gold rush in Australia. In 1863, gold grains were found on the Puebo River, and then on the left bank of the Diao River, the Fern Hill gold deposit was discovered, which was exploited in the 1970s. During the operation, it yielded 213 kg of gold. The search for gold here, in the area of Uegoa, led to the discovery of ores of other non-ferrous metals. From 1875 to 1909 New Caledonia was the first and almost the only producer of cobalt, which was mined on the west coast of the island by an artisanal method. Cobalt was exported to Germany.