PLATINUM MINING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 42, 13 November 1926, Page 7

PLATINUM MINING

EXPERIMENTS IN OTAGO Dominion Special'. Dunedin, November 12. It is common knowledge that platinum exists in the sand of the Southland Rivers, particularly about Orepuki, but it is characteristically elusive and cannot be caught as gold is caught by amalgamation with mercury. Hitherto, therefore, no serious attempt haS> beeen made to work the Southland deposits. A demonstration yesterday afternoon of a new idea as to extracting was consequently looked upon as- important, and the invitations to witness it were accepted by a number of persons who are interested in mining, including members and students of the Otago University. Mr. W. R. Geisen, of Rotorua, was the demonstrator. He saw a patent platinum and gold-saving device whilst on. a recent visit to the United States He was impressed by it, lie secured the New Zealand rights, and it was to show the working by means of a model that be issued the invitations for yesterday. The demonstration took place on the roof of the New Zealand Express Company’s, building. Pouring rain made the operation a test of the earnestness of the beholders, but most of them stuck it out to the end, being quite interested in the machine, in the experiment, and in Mr. Geisen’s lecturette. The secret of the machine, if the term “secret” may be used, is a continuous flow of sodium amalgam over a copper plate, keeping the plate 100 per cent, efficient .during the working process. This sodium amalgam is generated electrically, which is much more economical than the usual method, and those who witnessed the test expressed their surprise at its simplicity and apparent efficiency. Mr. Geisen claims that his' machine will plav as prominent a part to the sands of Wakapatn and Waiau-as the evanide process did to the low-grade areas of Waihi. A further demonstration was.given to-dav, The results are to be sent to the School of Mines for assav.