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Discovery of Copper Ore Opens ‘new Horizons”for Israel

April 16, 1952
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Rudolf G. Sonneborn, president of the State of Israel $500,00,000 Independence Bond Drive in the United States, today confirmed a report that the mining of copper ore had been initiated in the southernmost tip of Israel. The copper was located by technicians of Israel minnig Industries. A government-established company, the Israel mining corporation has undertaken a wide program of exploration and utilization of the country’s mineral resources.

“The discovery of copper by the men who are now arming tunnels in mountains that have been untapped since the days of King Solomon’s mines, “Mr. Sonneborn declared,” marks the beginning of a new chapter in Israel’s planned program of exploitation of the natural resources of her desert area. It is a dramatic proof of the vital role which the Independence Bond Issue is playing in Israel’s swift development of her industrial potential, for American Bond purchasers have financed the original explorations and will finance the buying of equipment from the United States for large-scale commercial exploitation of the ore.”

The stage of large-scale mining operations has already been reached in the case of phosphate rock, ceramic clays and glass sand, Mr. Sonneborn said. He added that a geological survey for mica, feldspar and quartz is being completed and another has just been started for sulphur. Israel’s known reserves of phosphate rock are estimate at 500,000,000 tons, he asserted, pointing out that present phosphate Production is already meeting all of Israels’needs for fertilizer and that large quantities of phosphates will soon be available for the export market, as well.

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