SILVER-LEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1924, Page 1

SILVER-LEAD.

A NEW FIELD. SYDNEY, .May 15. When in Alav of last year J. C. Miles, a prospector, discovered, more by accident than anything else, the new silver- lead field in the big C’loneurry mineral belt in Northern Queensland—he was actually looking for copper—his thoughts Hew to a little niece in Victoria named Isabel, or Isa for short, after he had pegged out his lease occupying an eminence amidst rugged hills and plains. Thus the lease of tho actual field itself is to-day known as .Mount Isa. The original lease is now merged in the operations of tho parent company, the Mount Isa Alines, Ltd. Aliles holds interest ill tho company running into live figures, and if all the bright hopes held out for the field are realised ho will he wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Another of the best leases on tho field was disposed of originally for a bullock’s hide. That lease to-day is one of a big group over which an option lias been secured for £25,090. The option over the lease itself runs out at about £O,OOO. Tho remoteness of the field can be understood from tho lact that it is served by air mail. In order to spend a brief day and a-half there recently, a party from Sydney were travelling for l(i days. By those competent to express .an opinion, the field, on Hie surface shoving, and on the gouge- ore, that i.s. the ore that was most easily worked lor the quickest return by tho original pro-pectors, is the best discovery made in Australia since Broken Hill startled tho world. Tho permanency of the field, however, can only he definitely determined by tbe present developmental work. On the surface the field certainly suggests immense possibilities The question i.s whether the ore bodies will live to a depth. If they do tho field will unquestionably be a big thing. Tho field, which lias the backing in the man of influential Sydney capital, covers, an immense area, and even mi the surface there is profitable work foi a fairly long period. Already there are about 330 people on tlie.field. It the field holds out underground, tho results on tho '.i-i* face, it will he a wonderful tiling for Queensland, which has been under the shadow of a ruining depression lot some years.

Silver, lead mid ziiic deposits are generally found in intimate assoc.atoiv with one 'another;..but, strangely enough, there, is, as far as tan be learned, a complete absence of .zinc in the Alouiit Isa deposits. This in at advantage for it will reduce the cost, of metallurgical treatment. If the field proves on development lo he the next host thing since Brik'Mi llill, then its importance will be unquestioned. Tlie products of Broken Hi if and district, by the way, have returned dividends of the value of £20,590,000 approximately. Tlie discovery of Mount Usa by an obscure prospector recalls the. facL that thoiioh Broken Hill lode was discovered by a boundary rider, litis might easily have happened also at Alount Isa, for the field is part of an immense cattle run. The trouble is that cattle icula not live there for a day, for it is one immense tract, of porcupine grass, a very prickly grass that leavse ;*n linmislakeahlc impress. Thus entile never went there, nor did the 'ion clary riders or stockmen. Uerhnps it was Nature’s way of protecting her riches. Nature, however, forgot to take into account a prospector named Aliles. Everyone now walks at Mount T*o with his eyes on tho ground—v'lh his head down and his ‘ heart- up. £'• ev are looking for possible fresh discoveries.