OSMIRIDIUM.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1925, Page 3

OSMIRIDIUM.

TASM a XIAN DLSCuV EH Y. SYDNEY. Sept. 11. Little Tasmania is quite excited over a liu< 1 of osmiridium on the west coast of the island. Osmiridium has been I found in small quantities on previous pensions hut the present centre of acti--1 | cities what is known as the Adams River field is mure promising than any ever broached. Mon. experienced and unexperienced, are being attracted to the field from all over tinisland. and from many parts of the mainland by the news of riches tu be obtained by a lew days’ work, but as generally happens in such rushes, it is the lucky few who are getting rich quickly, and the unlucky many who are slaving and suffering great privations. From July Ist. to September Ist. nearly 700 miners’ rights for the field were issued, and as they are increasing til the rate of between .‘SO and TO daily, it is more than probable that over 1000 men will be engaged in osmiridium mining on the new field before the rush dies. The held is remote, f-'rum the nearest township. Fitzgerald, it is 25 miles to the field, and that 25 miles is a chaos of mild. There are no roads, and pack horses have to he used to transport all foodstuffs, mining- material and other supplies from the township to the field. Needless to say, many fall by the wayside. Starting with the glamour of precious metal buoying up their courage, ihe awful “via dolorosa” up the Derwent Talley claims its victims. AYhen the field first started. there was a considerable lawless element, hut now the police are established and things arc quieter. FOSSICKING IN THE RUSH. Most of the good country is now pegged out- and late-eoniers have to prospect new areas. Alen are fossicking in the hush, hut are not meeting with much success, and the newcomers on the original claims are the people who are making the money. The price of osmiridium varies according to the quantities of iridium, osmium, and other metals in the virgin ore. but as the Tasmanian ore contains high percentages of the more valuable minerals, the lucky ones are on good money. The future of ihe field is said to depend -oil what action the Government takes m providing communications to it. Experienced men who have returned from the field state that there are great possibilities providing the communiealiiin didietdly is overcome. Experienced men are said to lie making from £3 in £1 a day on the average, others more. The great majority of the inexperienced men are having a “rough spin,’’ as one returned prospector described it. many of them finding it difficult to get enough food, let alone osmiridium. Rut whatever the returns, there i- no doubting that the find has set the “tight little island” all aflutter with excitement and anticipation.