THE DIAMOND DRILL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1042, 7 April 1882, Page 3

THE DIAMOND DRILL.

A CURIOUS case that has occurred at Stawell shows a liability to error to which underground exploration hy means of the diamond drill is exposed, and which seems likely to form a serious drawback on its usefulness. It will be remembered that some months ago a brilliant success was effected by means of the drill in the mine of the United Scotchman’s, where a reef was discovered by its means, that offered the most encouraging prospects, and a vast increase iu the value of mining property in the whole district was the result. Work was at once started to sink a shaft in the direction taken by the bore, and has been carried on ever since. But though the place was reached four weeks ago where, according to the surveyor’s calculations, the bore should be met with, all search for it by means of cross cuts, drives, and so forth has been unavailing. The miners say that it is impossible that they could have passed it without seeiiig it, aud yet it cannot bn found. The supposition is that the boro by the diamond drill deviated from fromthe direction supposed to be taken, but it would seem that such deviation must necessarily bo very alight. Vaiious proposals, such as the “letting of a powerful barmagnet down the boro-hole, and searching along the drive with a ‘ dipping needle,’ so as to ascertain the direction of Ihe bore from the drive,’’ and exploding dynamite in the bore, have been suggested, but they are all O' en to objections. In the meantime that highly aeUsitiv£eldment—mining public opinion—has been I ‘injuriously affected by the difficulty, and the general estimate of the diamond drill has very much lowered, and the market value of the mine has fallen hy no less an amount than £4l,ooo.—Melbourne Argus.