THE TUAPEKA ANTIMONY AND COPPER MINES.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1086, 12 May 1882, Page 2

THE TUAPEKA ANTIMONY AND COPPER MINES.

[Concluded.] I It is evident that it is a mistake to sell the ore even at this price, and before lonrj a • furnace will be erected for converting the ore into what is technically termed "star" metal. Having finished our preliminary inspection, we proceeded along the race to the shaft at the east end of the lode— the present scene of operations. Here a waterwheel, 12 feet G inches in diameter, has been erected for the purpose of pumping the mine and working the winding-gear. The wheel and machinery are from the foundry of Messrs R. 8. Sparrow and Co., and the job has certainly been finished in a very satisfactory manner. As Mr Buchan remarked, we had not travelled 18 miles to see nothing, so it was determined that we should proceed down the shaft to inspect the underground workings. The suggestion met with approval; and as there. were no timid persons in^the crowd, hats, coats, and waistcoats were doffed, and each, with candle in hand, proceeded on the journey by means of ladders down a shaft 70 feet deep. We first went along the west drive a distance of some 80 feet. At the end of this drive the lode, which is from four inches to four feet wide, is very clearly defined, and extends to the Burface and perhaps hundreds of feet below. This part of the lode seemed to be a little '*• pinched," for in some places it has been found td be tiwo feet six inches in thick 1 ness. In antimony mining these pinched lodes are frequently encountered, and as frequently they extend to a considerable depth after tunnelling a few feet. The drive on the east side of the shaft, 160 feet long, had also to be inspected, so we trooped along Chinaman-file fashion to the other end. In passiug along we could not bnt notice the smooth sloping wall of bare rock on our left. This is a great advantage in working the mine, as very little timbering is required. It has been found necessary to inject a supply of fresh air into this drive, and for this purpose a very simple contrivance has been fitted up. It consists of a small barrel, into the top of which is fixed a pipe, through which a stream of water passes from the shoot above the wheel. This water passes on through another pipe fixed in the other end of the cask, and forces the air down a galvanised tube that reaches to the end j of the clrive. Having procured a number offitte ' specimens, the party climbed the ladders and emerged into the light of day with dirty hands and faces and speckled shirt-fronts. We were told before going down the shaft that the mine was quite dry ; and we had the satisfaction of reaching the surface, after all our explorations were over, with a dry skin. From a miners point of view, the mine is no doubt a very dry one ; and the pump in connection with the overshot waterwheel is capable of pumping water j from three or four such mines. Several other minerals are also to be found in this lode. Scheelite has frequently been met with, and one seam about 2 inches thick was discovered. Gold is also mingled with the quartz of the lode, and some of the inferior antimony, from which has been picked the purer metal, has been found to contain 2oz lOdwt 7gr to the ton. This, which we may term the dross, will be preserved for crushing, and a considerable quantity of the precious metal will no doubt be obtained from it. The arrangements for breaking the metal, sorting, and bagging it are all very complete, though,, of course, in some cases improvements will erelong be effected. By the time we left the mine it was close on 2 o'clock, so that there was no time left to visit the outcrop in the creek below. There was just time to partake of some refreshment and proceed on the return journey. There is nothing of any consequence to chronicle in connection with this, and we arrived at Lawrence shortly after 7 o'clock, none the worse for our rough journey.