MINERALS OF THE COAST

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1923, Page 4

MINERALS OF THE COAST

BIG FEILD TO EXPLOIT. PROSPECTING NEEDED. (Christchurch Press). ‘‘There are lew known minerals that do not exist on the western slope of the Alps.” Thus spoke a former Commissioner of Crown Lands in Westland, a gentleman who travelled almost every accessible part, and who hod knowledge that enabled him to speak with authority. Many of these resources are old discoveries. so old. indeed, that they are new—.to 'the present generation—for the decline of the old gold fossicker with his wandering adventurous instinct, and the development of the more certain, if less alluring, means of livelihood provided by eonl and tiiUbei have transferred attention From tin.more precious metals to the limbo of tilings which in many cases are forgotten. It is conceded by all who have a knowledge of the Coast that there is a great storehouse of Nature’s gifts, but it is not yet known to what extent these gifts can be economically turned to commercial account, ft is not the purpose of this article to imply that great results are possible, let alone probable. The writer has a vivid and very personal recollection of the Otago dredging boom. Such an expcreince is helpful in mellowing one’s judgment. But the experience also teaches where mistakes associated with wild booms can be avoided, and where projects ruined through extravagance alul incompetence may have been made to pay handsomely under proper guidance. In addition science and mechanical skill, of which finalities the old miners had but small stocks, have made some classes of mining highly remunerative where formerly they were impossible. The cyanide process is a case in point, and the success of the modern dredge another. It can be readily understood that the methods employed to commercialise any of these subsidiary mineral discoveries had of a necessity to he crude. The inaccessibility of many of the fmiN. tin- cost of machinery, the lack of capital, and the scarcity of mew lumen 1 skill were insuperable obstacles. Water power and electricity, which ere now playing such tin important part in the industrial development of the Coast were unknown. The possibilities of the future, therefore, have to he measured in the light of the progress made in science ami facilities since those earlv efforts were unsuccessful. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD

As supporting the comment at the head of this article, it may he recalled bv some that at the Exhibition m Christchurch in IHICi. the Westland mineral court was one of the features of the display, and it was officially stated that it contained a sample ot every known mineral in the world, and ah the samples exhibited had been collected from within the district of Westland. The fact exists that the presence of everv mineral has been established, and it now remains for expert and specialised knowledge, combined with Capital and Labour, to exploit the thousands of square miles of country and if and when prospecting operations warrant, to develop the probable resources of this great field. To enumerate the various minerals would not be of special interest to the general reader. Tn the majority of instances the names would l>o names and nothing more, and brief reference to a few of the more common and generally wellknown minerals may not here be out el plaee. IRON.

The New Zealanders are aware of the very extensive iron deposits at Bara l’ara in the Nelson Province. Here the field has been prospected, and the presence of literally millions of tons of i icb ore have been definitely proved. The mineralised belt of country extends along the whole ol the Most Coast from north to south, and apparently extends to the Sounds country, where, in the early “eighties." Dochert.v. the well-known prospector of Dusky Sound, established the presence id copper, asbestos, and various minerals identical with those occurring in the Nelson mineral belt.

The existence of deposits of iron ore have been more or less authenticated in parts of the West Coast, notably in the Paparoa ranges. At the immediate present, there appears" to be considerable difficulty in finding the necessary capita! to develop Bara Bara, and the occurrence of iron ore in Westland therefore does not appeal to the investor. COPPER. This important metal is known to occur in various parts of the Coast. Deposits of enpiferotis ore bodies have been more or less proved in Nelson Province north, in Dusky Sound, south at Mount Radiant in the Karamea district. and in various other localities between these places. A lode is known to exist between the heads of the Moonlight and Blackball crooks in the Paparoa ranges, about 2,5 miles north of Greyniouth ; hut as the lode occurs in heavily bushed and very difficult country, and no great enthusiasm was aroused by its discovery, the original prospectors did not proceed further in the lnatier.

At the head of the Taipo riverfamiliar to all travellers on the Otira Kumara main road—there occurs ii

the back range a deposit of native mppei in fine grains dessimated through a massive deposit of serpenlinous rock. This occurrence is a specially note-

worthy one, it being claimed Ly experts that the percentage of native copper is sufficiently high to make mining operations profitable. ANTIMONY. This metal, which until the discovery of the cyanide process, was the bug-bear of the quartz miner is indicated in various parts of the Coast, more especially at l.angdons. on the slopes of the Papa roas, some two or three miles above Brunner. Here a lode of stibnito (sulphide of antimony) lias been superficially prospected. In the early nineties a few tons were shipped to .Swansea for metallurgical treatment. It yielded, in addition to GO per cent, of antimony, two ounces of gold to the ton. A further ten tons of the ore was extracted for transport to Greyniouth wharf for shipment, but lack of funds eventually caused it to be abandoned by the owners, and it was used by the tjailw'ay authorities to ballast their points anil crossings. In the opinion of many mining men the time has arrived when the matter of developing the antimony deposits of the Coast and elsewere could be profitably undertaken. j SILVER.

in the middle eighties reefs were discovered on the Owen River, about seven miles from the Buller. containing gold and galena (lead ore), the latter being fairly rich in silver. Assays taken gave extraordinary rich returns. Batteries were erected, but the mine did not pay. the reason possibly being provided by the experience of the Mt. Rangitoto operations, about 17 miles below Ross. Here, in tho early eighties, a mineralised lode containing gold and silver of the same nature ns at the Owen was discovered. Assays indicated highly payable ore, hut failure again awaited the enterprising speculators. However, in 188 G the Government mining experts visited the fields and made an examination, and discovered that the tailings surrounding the three head battery in use were practically full of quicksilver. To such an extent was this the ease that a small quantity of tailings washed in a fryingpan yielded 201 b weight of quicksilver, containing six to eight dwts of gold and silver. The engineers reported that the system of extraction was not n't nil adapted for treating the complex ore of which the lode was composed. The material should have been dry crushed, thoroughly roasted to get rid of tho sulphur and arsenic and other impurities, and the balance treated for precious inothls by metallurgical process. Under the method that had been adopted, it was imposible that the j gold and silver could be saved, and all that was contained in the small portion worked was left contained in the tailings. No further de- j velopmcnt has taken place to \ upset the report on that occasion. In the light of modern science this field, in the opinion of many mining men, presents scope for further investigation. TIN. Stream tin occurs in tho majority of the gold-bearing creeks and rivers of • the Coast, and if not in commercially I

payable quantities; it indicates the presence of lodes or alluvial deposits- of tinstone in the main range. It is found in creeks originating in the Paparoa ranges, but so far the main Rouree has not been found, or even sen relied for.

MOLYBDENUM. Tn various parts of the Coast, but more particularly ill the Ten Mile Creek ami its tributaries, splendid specimens of molvdenitc (sulphide of molybdenum) have been found but so far the main lode has not been located. From the few cwt. of specimens examined this practically rare exists in highly payable quantity Iho metal itself is a soft one of bluish lustre, and the important uses m the worlds of art and industries. It is the foundation of the blue colour ornamentation of high-class porcelain and crockery ware, is the basis of certain ot artists colours and coaehbmlders paints and from it is manufactured many dyes of delicate colours and tints If the main lode were discovered and proved to ho in the mass a tenth part as rich as the specimens it has shed, a big ietnrn would await investors. I»LATTN CM.

This metal is one of the gold group, ■md together with Iridium, Osmaridium. and others of its related associates is distributed over they whole goldfields, though of course in ver> small quantities. Prior to Dl-1 the world’s main supply was obtained Rom Russia. During the past half-centuiv the value of this somi-rarc metal has been steadily advancing, as demand is ever in excess of supply. In 1880 ti e value varied between .Cl 10s and £- pei oz. In time the requirements cl th growing electrical industry made further demands on supplies, and the prices rose, till the quote was £l4 to £lo per oz. The war ami subsequent developments shut off the Russian sourcetill £2O to £3O per oz. was asked and obtained. Throughout the world the supply is small, aiid. relatively speaking, the West Coast, although supplying only a few ounces per annum, is ranked ‘by the world’s metallurgical authorities as one of the main sources of supply. The chief supply oiy the Coast is connected with the Hokitika River and its tributaries and beaches. In the ranges from which the river takes its rise, quartz lodes containing platinum have been discovered, which on assay yielded four penny-weights to ihe toil. Properly worked, at present prices, this should give a very profitable return.

Treatment of noil-metalliferous minerals. building stone, such as greenstone. coloured limestones, shales, oils, etc., which obtain in varying quantities, I,lit generally large, throughout the Coast, cannot he conveniently treated within the confines of this article. NEED FOR PROSPECTING.

The foregoing is a brief description of the minerals found on the Coast. When most of these finds were located there was generally little effort made 11 • ascertain their extent or their value. The discovery just occurred, and the finder pursued the even tenor ol bis way. according to where the lure of gold drew him. That type, however, is gone. ’1 here are not many How lossiekiug about the mountain sides or in the top reaches ol the rivers in search id the yellow metal, and the ehaneos of fresh finds are accordingly reduced. What is wanted is a systematic survey of the whole of the auriferous and minornlogionl belt, and so determine the value and extent of its secreted wealth. That would he costly, hut it is necessary if British capital is to lie attracted hero for investment. British capital, indeed, must he getting wearv of the buffeting it is receiving in the many hostile parts of the world in which it is employed, and would probably welcome, when matters settle down, the opportunity of investment in a community of British people. The cost of a survey should properly he undertaken by the Government, or, failing that, by a strong financial company "'adequately subsidised, and given all possible facilities in the work. If these minerals cannot be produced on an economic basis, it is just as impel ianl to have tlic fact demonstrated and so allow the people to devote themselves to the more prosaic channels ol industry with which the 1 mist is :<> abundantly endowed.