Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When did phosphate mining begin on Naoero?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Phosphate mining on Naoero began in 1907.1
The process started after the Pacific Phosphate Company, a British concern, negotiated an agreement with the German administration in 1906 to extract the island's phosphate deposits. For much of the 20th century, this industry served as the primary economic driver for the island.1