OUR MINERAL RESOURCES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1901, 25 July 1888, Page 3

OUR MINERAL RESOURCES.

Som3 few months ago when there was | considerable excitement m this district at | the supposed discovery of (m at Alford Forest, Mr J. ft. Colyer of this town forwarded Bomo specimens for assay to a friend at San Francißco. Mr Co'yer's friend sent th?se specimens to Messrs Price and Son, the leading analytical chem'sts and assayers of Ca'.ifo-nia. The hubatance of the report made by them wa6 published by us some time ago Mr Uolyor aince wrote to his friend asking him to induc-3, if possible, a member of Messrs Prico'd firm to vi3lt tbia oolony ; If some practicable method of treating the very rich refractory ores existing hare could be devised the advantage which would be gained would be enormous. As it had been thought that the method m practice m Ouliforiha and which is commonly regarded as a eeoret one would answer here, Messrs Price's reply will doubtless be read with interest by all interested m the development of the mineral wealth of this colony. The letter is ai follows: — "Sah Francisco, June 29.

" Dear Mr Cross, — We have read with great interest tho letter to you from Mr Colyer, as also the report of Mr Stansell. It seems to us that the great want of the oolonies lies m a proper understanding of the character of their ores, and a proper appreciation of the fait that there is no , on? process suitable to all classes of ores. Recognising this fact, we have, of late, always made complete quantitative analyses of all ores received by us from th 3 antipodes, and with this before us have been able to proceed Intelligently with our work. Every steamer brings us ores from Austral a and New ZaalanS, and nre have Invariably been able to suggest some efficient and eoonomio process for extracting the precious metals, although many of the ores had been previously considered too rebellious for practical treatment. The subject of the treatment of ores is probably better understood m California and the neighboring states and territories than m any o.her part of the world, and part at least, of this knowledge will, m time, doubtless be communicated to Australia. Our Mr Prtaa, eenr., has m contemplation among the future possibilities, a trip to Australia, but his time is bo folly oooupied here that ha cannot tell when this trip may be made. A8 we have said before, no one process is nor can be applicable to all classes of ore ; ' ' the eeoret " ia no secret — It does not exist. A patient trlalof known processes with modification and improvements alone will lead to sue cess. If at any time we can give you any information you are free to command us. Regretting that the pressure of business and the nearnesa of the hour for the departure of the steamer will not permit us to write farther on the occasion, we re* main. "Very truly yours, "Thomas Pbicb and Son."