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SWASTIKA MINES, LTD.

REPORT ON THE PROPERTY, Tlio following report 011 the Swastika Mines, Ltd., .Uokilunui, has been received by the directors of the company from i Mr. \V. J. Jlelian, mine manager:— "111 company with your representative, ; Mr. I''. F. JHu'nro, 1 visited your mine on August 13, 1913. I was much impressed at tile outset with the quantity of oro visible, its high assay values and the many features presented by the lode for economy in working. In this respect I should class it as easily the most economically worked mine in the field. "Ijuantit-y of Ore.—The reefs are exposed 011 the side of a precipitous gorge, and aro visible for a vertical height of 800 feet. Your principal prospecting has been done on Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 levels. These show a considerable quantity of ore, some of it extremely rich. At a rough estimate, in sight, there are at least 12,000 tons of payable oro. • "Economy of working.—Under capablo management working costs should bo extremely low. I would recommend that a level bo driven about 100 feet Mow tlio old Red Queen drive; this should be just conveniently above the proposed battery site. The whole of tho ore above this could be attacked by an inclined rise to the upper levels. The country appears to 1110 to bo of tho right nature for this, as it should stand without timber, and this method would be exceptionally cheap development. The stone under foot in tho old mine, which was phenominally rich, could be taken out simultaneously with tlio oro in Nos. 8, 7, and 6 levels, and a large output maintained at very low costs. There should be an immediate installation of a power plant, abundance of water power is available, and should be utilised to work a compressor and machines. The country is hard, and especially suited for machine working, results from wliich would make startling comparison in that country with hand methods which you have had to adopt. Tho inclined rise su"?nsled, for example, would be. driven in "ill is manner for 20s. to 255. per foot. The quartz, by the same method, should be broken, out" for about 6s. per ton, and tho cost for transport to the battery will not exceed Is. nor ton. Allowing liberally for all other expenses, the stono should be placed in the battery when the mine is properly developed, at under 10s. per ton. "Value of Ore.—There is a considerable nuantity of rich ore available in the old Queen workings: access to this is obtained b.v a crosscut from No. S. and in the top level for a distance <if 210 feet the reef has not been stoned—it varies from 6 inches to 15 inches in thickness. Managers' reports and audited accounts of this company show that in 1885-1886 some 1500 tone of ore were mined for a gold return of 2250 ounces. This was prior to the discovery of cyanide treatment. Tho level No. 7 is undoubtedly an upward continuation of this, and is driven on 25 feet—it showed a thickness of 8 or 0 inches. Gold was visible, and I did not deem it necessary to a«sSjr. Tour manager reports an experimental crushing of this kind, ind stated IMt 1 nuniy 3rhvf. was saved by amalgamation, and the failings which "require cyanide treat p ,n nt nsSnved 2 ounces 6dwt. 9 grains. This lesult is in l:e»pins with the general ren ranee of the stone, and proves that' this block can be dealt with at a good marsin of nrofit. "At No. 8. the reef h."n i» laminated. 11, P sl-one being intersected with hor c "s of nmllock over a lateral width of thirty feet, there bpivg five unices of stone, vnrvinT from a foot to -1 feet in thickness. Thi= i s a common feature ; n large Teefs in tb? Recfton. d!stri"t. The ,'n this level are noor. Mainly. I think, by an error in driving on the cpntre of'tho ,-eef system, as the better values nonpar to bo on the footwall. and this Is borne out by sample numbered '7.' which wis taken fr°m the footwall 65 ahov.i flirt level. Here the section of the reef exposci was 2 6 inches.- and its valno was Xi 16s. 6d. n° r ton. No. R Wed is in a distance of 170 feet, and inv samples were taken at intervals of 20 f"et. A gradual increase in vines ns the level approached the s'Tike and underlay of X-n. 6 is apparent. The sample numbered. 'R' taken from H>» face of the drive * l ' t .a value of .£'2 2s. per ton — hero the reef was i feet in thickness. If a crosscut is now nut to intersect - the stono on tho footwall side T am confident the values obtaining in No. 6 will ho found here als-i.

"Ajt No. fi, which in "rrrticallv 225 ahnve No. 8, a. level has heen driven 117 feet on stone IS feet wide on the outcrop. nnd »t XI foef in a. crosscut shovel a witlth of U feet;_ An nssfv from the crosscut from tl'e side of the drive to tlis hanging wall taken by vonr manager, is reported to mo as givin? 7idwt. over 8 feet of stone. 'My samples (six) were taken at Intervals from the face outwards, along the footwall, and over the full width of the drive. They showed remarkable values, the averate of the six being 9s. Gd. Tier ton. I understand Hint experimental Tmlk samples have borne similar values, and t.ho assays'reported by your mnnaeer have at some points even exceeded this. "In practice the usual custom in this (tho Reefton field) is to deduct 20 per CPnt. from the assav values as the probable gold return. You thus have at this point a liighly nrofitablo body of oro on this line of reef. "I had not the time nor did I deem it necessary to make an examination of K«s. 1, 2, 3, an 5 drive, which are parallel in tho same level, some 200 feet above N<\ G. Your manager Tcports taking small crushing fern tlr's area, with satisfactory results. • No. i has not been driven on; it is a sulphide vein carrying a heavy percentage of ars?nopyrite. T refrain from nuotfnjr the a.-sars reported to me. At the same. time. Tam nrla'd (o Tecord that your'representati<-es. where I did make close cxaminaHon. had under rather than over-estimated the proposition, which is unusual for prospectors on th" "not where visible gold occurs.

"Mv time was short, otherwise T should like to have visited the north side of the river. Your manager report" tha* half (i mile distant, on' the opposite side of the gorce, on the Swastika North property. the line of reef mitcrops approximately 500 feet lower, down than No. f> level. A winzo was lieing sunk on it, and the stone showed the same, characteristic,'!. Further north, beyond the intervening spur.'the Toef crosses Maori Creek, and is risible on hoth bnnks, and has Veen traced for about si mile north from No. 6. This indicates that a reef of conp'dorabls length along the line has been discovered, and T report the fact as showing the probability that tho reef will develop to a considerable depth in your pronertv. "I have to thank vonr officials for their courtesy, and facilities afforded mo. to get all the information necessary for this report. The work done has been intelligently directed, and your mine manager, Mr. Avery, is to bo complimented on tlie .workmanlike way the prospectin.? lias been carried out. ' In conclusion, I can confidently assure yon that properly equipped and under capable management, an average return of odwt. to the ton would make it a profitable venture, so favourably is the iode situated for cheap miuin','." "Assays of samples from Swastika Beef douo nt'the Westp'U't School of Minos by Mr. IT. • Lovell, director. To ha appended to Mr. \Y. .T. Moehan'.= report:— "From No. G level, from face outwards Sample Nn. 1. lCdwt. 2grs.. ,C 3 (Is. lOd. nor ten; sample No. 2, loz. 7dwt. 2grs„ i£.i 12-». fid. per ton; simple No. .1, loz. Sdwt. fijrs.. .£•"> 17s. 8(1. var toil; sample No. 4, 2m. 3dwt. igrs., i£B 1!)s. Ifld. per ton; sample No. 5. 7dwt.. .£.l 10s. Ifld. per tj-111; sample No. G, 2oz.' 15dwt. Ggrs., ill 10s. 3d. ner ton. "From Outcrop 011 Footwall, 1(10 feet helow No. G—Sample No. 7, 1c7.. Sdwt. 4grs„ JC4 IG'. Cd. per ton. "No. 8 Level, from face outwards— Sample No, 8. llMwt. 2'jrs., ,£» "s. per ton; r'ample No. !>. 4dwt. 2cts„ 17 s. per ton; sample No. 10. 2dwt. Ilgr?.. Ifl=. !)d. per ton; sample No. 11, 2<lwt. 12grs., 10s. 4d. per ton:sample No. 12, lOgrs.. Is. Sd. per ton: sample 13, trace: sample R !)grs., Is. Gd. per ton; sample No. 15, 12oz. 2s. per ton. • ' Remarks— Assays all done in duplicate. Pome are extra good, hut I find the.v confirm my assays which were done pro. viouslv. Value of gold talcen, is. 2d. per dwf."

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Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19130919.2.140

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 10

Word count
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1,516

SWASTIKA MINES, LTD. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 10

SWASTIKA MINES, LTD. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 10

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