WAIHI MINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 7

WAIHI MINE.

DISCLOSURES BY AN AUCKLAND WRITER. FALL IN SHAKES FOLLOWB. (Bj Telegraph.-Snecial CorroanoiideuU Auckland, February 2. Tho further drop in Wnihi sliare.? today was brought about by an article published in tho "Herald," from the lien of a special commissioirei', who visited tho rniue last Monday. Ho imikfes disclosures which, in view of tho silence ot the company 011 the subjcct, are rather senBiUioual. The following extracts con-, tam tho gist of the article. Incidentally, tho writer mentions that ho found that owing to tho critical situation existing, a natural rcticonce ivhs shown by the officials of the/inine at Waihi. His visit underground was made under the guidance of a shift boss, instead of, as on former occasions, that of a member of tho managerial staff. In no sense, however, was any hindranoe offered to him as to inspecting whatever section of the workings he des.ire<l to see. Tho article continues: "A very considerable portion of the Martha Reef at the 1150 ft. (i\'o. . 10) level, is practically worthless, and a large amount of ovo that ought iu the ordinary course of development to bo going to tho mill is being daily thrown over 011 to the mullock tips. Herein is the actual c«uso of the very widespread, depression existing, not only in \V!aihi, but throughout tho Oliinemuri district, and which is reflected 011 the Stock Exchanges of Loudon hud New Zealand.

"Access to tho bottom level (1150 ft.) was gained by way of No. i shaft in the main crosscut, from which first the Empire and next tho, Martha lodes nro being driven upon both east and west, uoing west on the Martha the drive has penetrated ore which has been, generally speaking, low grade, tho value improving here and thorn. For the last 70ft. or so, however, the veof has only been worth a few shillings per ton. Ihe most recent average assay here, according to the published c;ible, was only 2s. per ton. In the faco of tho western drive at the tiine of the visit poor oro was showing with only inconsiderable patches of payable dirt against the hanging wall. J3y contrast there was iu tho level above (i\~o. !l) at this point in tho reef, a payable width of about 20 feet of ore, and at A T o-. 8 level tliero was a width of 80ft., carrying payable values. It will Ire seen, therefore, that in one level (150 feet) the payable, portion of the Martha lode west has "pinched" from some 20 feet to little more than inches. The country rock in this end is also poorer looking stuff than that which encased the reef in the levels above.

, "Tlio eastern drive on tho Jlnrlha at the 1150 ft. level disclosed anything but promising conditions. Tho face is penetrating black manganese oxides mixed with calcite, both being .more accentuated here than in the western face. This ore in the eastern end is like nothing more tlipn a cinder formation of the nature of scoria. The great bulk of it is of practically no value, its impoverished state being due to the manganese. Poor country encases this section of the lode. A short distance back from the eastern face a cross-cut, situated 150 feet from No. 4 shaft, showed the ore body to bo 30 feet wide. Tor 4 feet from the south wall good payable containing sulphides, wns seen. According to the published cables' the first 10 i'eot from this wall assayed .£G 10s. per ton; It is, however, evident that the best values lie in the first 4 feet referred to, the next 0 feet being poorer grade and tho remaining 20 feet through which the 1 main drive • runs being mostly the barren black manganese already described."

The writer goes oil to the effect of iiinngane-e oxides in causing values to migrate upwards or downwards from one position in a reef to another, Ho continues"lt_ is quite possible that in the AVaihi mi no the direction of the chlorine solutions was upwards, giving the enrichments of the lodes, noticeably the Edward, so . far worked. In that case tho pessimistic view that tho manganese 1150 ft ..fevel means the end of tho "pay "ore-fnkes.'-o)i"'a.Sensible air. It must not bo forgotten';' 1 hoWeVe'r, that it js also possible that some of tho chlorine solutions .in the Waihi, reef system carried the valites down. In that event there is a'possibility that below the belt of ,'inanganeso now encountered at the 1150 ft. level payable ore will be met with. Supposing this latter contingency to be possible, that would support the theory expressed by Captain Richards in his public published report of February, 1911. In this ho said; 'Recent developments in the lower -levels may indicate the approaching end of the ore body at that depth, but it may be only an impoverished zone coming in. Also it may point to a zone of poor ore occurring between hydro-genetic and pneumato genetic ore.'" _ The article points out that manganese in the Talisman mine has sent tho values both up and down.' It continues: "I!e----duced to'the main' issue, it would seem, therefore, that the important problem now to be grappled with by the Waihi Company is whether there are or are not values down beloit their present lowest levels.* The Jlartha reef there now is in a bad way. To keep up tho monthly returns, the quantity of milling ore which would ordinarily have been produced from the development of this lode must be obtained from the upper levels. This means utilising quartz which would otherwise have helped to swell the ore rewrves, a situation in itself regrettable. Despite the facts stated, however, a too-pessimistic judgment wou'm be premature. Whilst the Martha reef has always hitherto been tho biggest and most consistent ore-producer in the mine, tho fact ~a ro other fine lo(le s at the lloOft. level must not be lost sight of The only one .»> far in hand is the Empire; The Royal and Edward lodes hav.n still to be intersected at tho 1150 ft. level. It will be two or three months before the former is to hand, and a longer period before the' Edward is reached. No i ls I down I nbout S°ft. below n,o J ■ i\PV.A . nn<! tllo lnt °ntion is to sink to HjOfv. before opening out. The Martha reef will therefore be next tapned 300 ft. below the manganesoi zone in the 1150 ft level, 1

On the, completion of the Horahora water-power schemo in n few months' time, the cost of mining and milling will appreciably reduced. In reviewing the position, regard must also bo had for the fact that at the 1000 ft. level the fleptik crosscut will on completion enable the Amaranth and Union sections of the mine ,lf be^ thorm ' 8l ? ly exploited. In theso wli e , nvc known values in the upper luff ? ? s ?! are com prised in a d iTnront system of lodes from those in the Martha Hill, their development will hold all entirely new interest. Evervthin" points emphatically to the fnct that, tho ttmhl mine has now become a .deen. Bmlcing proposition. The future rets npon exploration at depths not hitherto attained. It may reasonably be ' hoped that a property that has yielded bulHon worth over .C9.0n0.0M will \ ot be looked npon ps thoroughly and f.nnlly teste nntil it has been oxolored down to a denth of at least 2000 ft. ".All things considered, it would b» as nnwise to prognosticate- the end of" the \Visi hi mine because manganese oxides have, impoverished the Martha reef ns it would be lo ignore the existence of conditions which;warrant a great amount of present uneasiness.