OUR MINES.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 26 January 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

LARRY'S CREEK. (fbom oue mining bepobteh) CALEDONIAN COMPANY, Some few weeka since, we reported! a discovery of Galena, in the Caledonian Extended Company's Mine, Larry's Creek. The find was met with while driving the 200 feet level, to meet the strike of the main reef in the JS T o, 2 South. The veins of galena which were then crossed indicated a larger body o£ the ore in the vicinity, but as the object of the company was to reach the No, 2 reef, the plan of operations was not altered, and the leaders of galena were left behind for further ex* ploration. A prospecting area of 720 acres for minerals other than gold was however, applied for. and specimens of the ore left with Mr Lewis for assay. Ibis has now been completed, and a report of the returns handed to the company's manager, Mr Wise, to whose courtesy we are indebted /or a copy. As will presently be seen tbe percentage of silver is not large in the samples tested, but it proves beyond a doubt, that in addition to many other valuable minerals and metals, the district also posesses silver, which in further search may, and most probably will, prove a valuable adjunct to the many other resources of the field. Interesting as the discovery unquestionably is in this respect alone, it becomes yet more important when we find that it has led to the significant proof of the ore also being auriferous to a highly payable extent. IN or yet is this all, careful treatment and skill has further demonstrated the fact that it contains a great proportion of pyrites, clutters of which are easily separated, as has been done in this instance, and submitted toa3say. rendering magni« ficent results.- The assayer reports the following return* from samples submitted for treatment :—No 1, galina contains silver loz, 13iwts ; gold, 2oz. sdwts sgrs per ton. No. 2 pyrites separated from the quartz, contains lOoz sdwts 19grs of gold per ton. It will thus be seen that the ore is highly payable, and that when the main body, which, according to indicatiobs, canuot be very far distant from the present workings, will be found, the property of the company will be greatly en-

hanced in value. In the meantime, a 9 already stated, it is not intended to follow up the discovery, but after the work now on hand is completed, the company intend to prospoct for the ma^n deponit cf the galena, atid to submit larger po ; t : ons thereof to trial treatment, so that the ex* act vilue of the discovery may be ascer-* tamed. Larry's district, since its fiist oc cupatton has been noted for the richness of the pyrites contained in the quartz crushed. A former assay by Mr Lewis of pyrites from the Caledonian crushines which then yielded very pgyalde returns, save an avernee of 31>z ldwt l^rs of gold, and rough tests of pyrites made on the ground from No. 2, south Larry's crushing cnve very satisfactory results. There is also exposed in all the lower levels of the Caledonian mine, a reef of slate pyrites averflging four feet in width, an assay msde in the same laboratory from this reef gives an average yield of 12dwts lS^rs of gold to the ton; This is of course a small return, but the lode beins; soff, nnd easily taken out with the pick, w : ll molt likely be payable, when tested with nrop£tfoshii(f^ ;irhtctt the rfp'i TefaroV from other portions of the mine may at

*EJiKB inture ffale induce We cflmpanj^tcT erect. The treatment of anrWemw py rites is now being successfu'ly carried on in older fields, and improvements ««*e constantly being made, and now both in Tie* toria and the Pa<afic States of America, it is rapidly being reduced to a science. Of course, this industry like many other?, which may be carried on here, w ; ll entail the erection of large and costly plnnt which ein only be obtained by the introduction of outside capital and cheaper material, this can only be brought about by better means of transit, and sbnuli be a further inducement for us to assist in the efforts now being mude to obtain railway communication. Since writing the abore and in connection with this mine, we have been informed that blocks of quartz carrying rough gold, were met with last w>ek which proves that tue main lerel now being driren is on tho true course for the No. 2 south reef.