RECENT GOLD FIND.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1921, Page 4

RECENT GOLD FIND.

THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT. “PUBLIC SHOULD AWAIT RESULTS.” Light is thrown upon the reported find of ;i new goldfield—the Alexander River reefs. Rcefton Goldfield—early this year, in the annual report, of the Geological Survey Branch of the Mines Department presented to Parliament yesterday. “For many years quartz lodges have been known to exist in the Alexander River district.” istates the Director (Mr P. G. Morgan), “but until recently none of a promising character had been found. A few months ago James Hurley and Lcftus M’Yiear, two prospectors subsidised by the Mines Department, discovered the Bull reef, which has caused so much excitement during the past two months. Since then several other lodes have been found, (if these,the most notable are thd Downey and Mulloeky reefs, in Mullocky Creek, a small tributary of the Alexander River. The Bull reef outcrop is situated near the to]) of the high spur between the Alexander and Grey Rivers, at an elevation of about 2, r )of)ft. above the tea level. It lias been exposed in four trenches, the must northerly of which No 1 is less than a chain and a-half from tlie most southerly. No 4 As seen in these trenches, the lode strikes or rends 30 degrees east of magnetic north—that is to say, about north-west of a true hearing—and dips steeply (80 degrees to 85 degrees) to the north-west. The slaty country enclosing the lode, however, as seen in a trench a, few yards south of No 4 trench, seems to strike about! due north and south, and to have a vertical dip. The quartz broken out from t-lie trenches is of a kindly appearance. It varies in colour from white to bluish ; some is slightly iron-stained and a few little crystals of iron-pyrites may he seen. Manv lumps of the broken quartz show numerous, hut rather small colours of gold, and the stone has been estimated to go perhaps 2oz. to tlie ton ; hut, from the assays this estimate, moderate as it is in comparison with some of the accounts published in the newspapers, unfortunately appears to he well o'er the mark. A hundredweight nr more of richly auriferous quartz hr ken from the nuterop was seen by me at tlie prospectors’ camp and elsewhere, out none of the quartz visible in situ was ef this character.” Having discussed the details • f the assays. Mr Morgan says:--“The Bull reef needs to he prospected to n much greater extent than lias yet been done before one can form a true estimate of its prospects. To the first place, more trenches are necessary in order to find the length of outcrop. Tf the outcrop can be traced some distance north end south it will he possible to drive on tho lode iself, instead of having to crosscut. The difference between the reports published in the various newspapers and reality is so great that one finds it hard to form a dispassiunite opinion concerning the occurrence. Disregarding all statements 1 have hoard or read, and relying only on v. hat I have seen. I would say that 'he Bull reef is well wc rlh prospecting. So lar I as exposed it is of workable width, it contains some payable ore, and may possibly yield an appreciable amount of high-grade ore. For the pre.-cni, I c.wever, it w#uld lie best to take 'iltle account of the latter possibility. 'I ho lodo, though at present difficult -f access’ is otherwise favourably situated for economical working. Mining-tim-ber is abundant, and ample water-pow-er for a. battery, etc., can be obtained from the Alexander River and o'heist reams. . . Until much more trenching and some driving lias been done on the, lodes, it is not possible to state what the prospects of tlie Alexander River field really are. . No mine or milling district can he safely judged, by surface prospects alone, much less 1 bv the reports of biased or non-toshni-eal observers. The Hull lode itself, Hie main feature of the field, in spite of all that has been said, remains a. mere prospect, (hough one that deserves a thorough test. It offers p, ssibihties to the speculator, but nothing that Would tempt tlie cautious investor. Members of the public should not allow their judgment to lie influenced by the fact that a small amount of tolerably rich auriferous quartz has been obtained, and before thinking seriously of investing in the supposed El Dorado should await the results that can he obtained liy a moderate expenditure on trenching and driving.”