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Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1924, Page 2

Mi.\j>:<; in the Ross district is likely to have n fresh fillip as a result of prosl*ectijig operations ili the Redman's area. On Saturday at the Ross Warden's Court, a prospecting urea was granted, and boring will ho commenced next month. The scheme in mind is to l«d the Flat for future dredging, and «s those connected with the Rimu Flat dredging proposition are principally interested, the venture may be looked upon, with a good deal of confidence. There is said to he a large area of gicuod available for working, if the prospects are encouraging enough. In tin early mining days, ami at the time ot" the dredging boom a low years back gold was won in the locality in considerable quantity. In fact the ground w-is regarded as being very rich. A considerable area of the inside country war worked, as the piles of tailings tottily to-day, but it is known for variu is reasons much of the ground could not 'he worked economically. Modern dredging facilities in regard to depth and size of stones to deal with, promise t 1 overcome the difficulties barring stic-

previously, if the values are there, and those acquainted with the format workings suggest the ground is very rich. It is said if one-third of the estimated value of the ground is proved by prospecting, dredging will eventuate. A development of this character v ill carry with it the necessity for procuring greater electric power, which will ensure a further extension of the plant operated from l.ake Kanieri. »r else some, move about Toaroba. An event of this character, indicates thatthe golden age is not passing away - rather may we he hopeful that such projects as those under consideration will lead to the rejuvenation of mining ensuring another bright era for Westland.

A< eonniNC to Science Service, the i artli is built, somewhat on the same principle as «n old-fashioned metalci red golf hall, around which are wrapped several layers of lighter materialending in a thin surface crust. The metal core is pure iron or an alloy of tie.l metal with nickel, says a report ul Drs. 10. D. Williamson and L. H. Adams, scientists of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, to the Washington Aon do my of Sciences. Discusrie.g this report with a Science Service reporter. Dr. Adams said it was possible that the inmost core of the earth might lie gold, or platinum, or other metals heavier than iron, but tiiaT it was practically certain that the centre, of the earth was an irregular sphere of iron about 4200 miles in diitr meter. From the. outer edge of this core, which is not. sharply defined, to the surface is about 1800 miles, and this distance is divided into three luyc.--;. .Next to the central iron core, Drs. Williamson and Adams relate, is a sort of mixed layer of iron and 101 k. resembling that found at the surface. I ir. containing more magnesia arid loss silicates. Finally, there is the surface must, about 35 miles thick, consistin'; essentially of the granitic rocks. All 1 1 1 is insight into the earth's anatomy, is afforded, the scientists say, through n study «.f the velocity of earthquake waves through the earth, mathematical considerations having to do with the mass of the earth as a whole* and a study of metorit.es, whose average 00111pr sit ion is believed to closely resemble that of the earth as a whole. For example, it is known that the density of the whole earth is about 5.52 times that of water, while the average density of the surface rocks is only 2.7. There must, therefore, he something heavier ij.-.ide. Pressure lias something to do with that, as bv squeezing the material <.t th(> rocks closer together, it would make them denser, but the authors of tlie report- state this would not be enough to cause such a great increase of density as is needed to explain tho average density of the earth. The pressure at the centre of the earth is calculated to be about 25,000 tons t 1 the square inch.