Production of Mercury.

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 6

Production of Mercury.

Referring to the resumption of the production of mercury, the report states that mercury is of prime importance in the munitions industry, and that the deposit at I’uhipuhi appears the only on< either in New Zealand or Australia capable of sustained production. Ihe Mines Department has also been investigating cinnabar occurrences, and is at present prospecting the Ascot Mine at Knrangahake. Results so -far have been sufficiently encouraging to indicate that a small but worth-while tonnage of highgrade ore may be developed, and prospecting work is being continued. “It is of considerable interest, considering the strategic value of mica, that deposits of this mineral have been located in south Westland,” says the statement. “A preliminary investigation of these deposits by officers of the Geological purvey was sufficiently encouraging to justify much more detailed work. As a first step the area containing the deposits has been photographed from the air and. a well-organized prospecting party, containing officers of both the Geological Survey and the Mines Department, have now made a comprehensive survey of the area. Aeqess to the area is difficult, and the party'worked under considerable difficulties at high altitudes at u most unseasonable time of the year. Unfortunately. detailed work has shown that tne mica is rather small and occurs very spasmodically, and the possibilities oi producing commercial mica seem Jimitea. However? the effort to locate supplies ot this essential mineral was well justified by its importance to the war effort.