SCHEELITE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1929, Page 8

SCHEELITE

A REVIVING INDUSTRY. Prior to and during the currency ol be war an important sclieolilo mining . udustry was carried on in Otago, there are not many localities in the dominion where this mineral is iound .lie two important sources, ol produeiou being at Alacares (in Central Otago) and Glenorchy (at tin* bead ol Lake AYakntiup). From 1900 to 191 b before commencement ol the war) the chcelitc exported increased in value nun £2( ! .T> to £22,999. The British Jovcrnment commandeered the supply mine time after the war bad been in ■rogress, paying as high as up to £2fn nor ton for it. The export in 191 G was .•clued at £<19,000, and in 1918 at 097,982, the total value from 1900 to 1920 being £900,000. With the close- of the war and the slump in shipbuilding, the British Government 'found itscll in possession of a heavy accumulation of stocks, and their disposal caused values to drop t a point that practically killed the industry. These stocks have now been worked oIF. and a remarkable recovery bus taken place in the value of the mineral. In January last it was quoted at £7O a ton; in April it had advanced to £llO, and latest advices are to the effect that- it is now quoted at £2lO, c.i.f.. New York. With the restoration of tin* donv>nd two or three claims winch previous!" were worked successfully in Otago have b r *en re-opened, and the recon big advance >'n value and the appareib s-arcilv of supplies are causing at ton tion to l:o directed to ether mines which wore profitably operated bellin' and during the war.