asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the number of mineral prospecting licences issued in County Clare; the date each such licence was issued; the names of the individual companies licenced; the specific areas covered in each licence; the period for which the licences are in force; and if he will make a statement on the results of mineral prospecting or any indication of mineral resources in the county to date.
Written Answers. - Clare Mineral Prospecting Licences.
305.
There are currently 14 prospecting licences in force over areas in County Clare. Particulars of these licences are set out in the attached schedule. The grant of 12 further licences is in course of processing.
The information provided in the schedule indicates that a substantial level of exploration activity is being maintained in the northern, eastern and south-eastern parts of the county. Interest lies mainly in locating lead— zinc—copper mineralisation. There is also interest, to a lesser extent, in barite, fluorite and calcite.
An investigation by the Geological Survey Office of my Department of areas of phosphate interest, mainly in the north-western part of the county, is continuing.
It is not possible to say at this stage what the prospects are, arising from current exploration activity in the county, of identifying mineral deposits which could be capable of economic exploitation.
Schedule
|
Area No. |
Townlands |
Approximate acreage (square miles) |
Commencement date |
Company and Address |
|
X 30 |
Ennis-Tulla area |
33 |
13 August 1960 |
Irish Base Metals Ltd., 162 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3. |
|
X 43 |
Newmarket and adjoining townlands |
31 |
11 August 1961 |
|
|
353 |
Moyreisk and Craggataska |
½ |
11 December 1964 |
|
|
2770 |
Cratloe and adjoining townlands |
14 |
10 July 1978 |
|
|
2317 |
Glenwanish and adjoining townlands |
6 |
27 July 1978 |
Irish Base Metals Ltd. and Tara Prospecting Ltd., 162 Clontarl Road, Dublin 3. |
|
2391 |
Clenagh and adjoining townlands |
12 |
10 October 1978 |
|
|
1912 |
Ballyvaughan and adjoining townlands |
11 |
1 January 1976 |
Buckley Mining Ltd., Gouldshill House, Mallow Co. Cork. |
|
(Limited to Fluorspar and non-metallic minerals) |
||||
|
1547 |
Sheshia and adjoining townlands |
6 |
12 December 1973 |
Calco Ltd., c/o Irish Whiting Manufacturers Ltd., Mill Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. |
|
2570 |
Coos North and adjoining townlands |
7 |
26 January 1978 |
|
|
(Covers part of Co. Galway) |
||||
|
2571 |
Whitegate and adjoining townlands |
10 |
26 January 1978 |
|
|
Dresser Minerals International Inc., Sarsfield House, |
||||
|
2763 |
Cloonlara and adjoining townlands |
14 |
25 August 1978 |
|
|
Francis Street, Limerick. |
||||
|
2688 |
Cappanapeasta and adjoining townlands |
17 |
6 April 1978 |
|
|
2590 |
Cloncool and adjoining townlands |
12 |
15 December 1977 |
|
|
Preussag Aktiengesellschaft Metall, RammelsbergerStreet 2., D - 3380 Goslar, West Germany. |
||||
|
2591 |
Sixmilebridge (part) and adjoining townlands |
12 |
15 December 1977 |
Prospecting licences may be renewed on a yearly/two-yearly basis, at the Minister's discretion and subject to satisfactory work performance.