MINING

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1931, Page 2

MINING

BLACK SAND BEACHES. Black sand found in the bottom of the sluice boxes in hydraulic mines is almost all strongly magnetic, but the black sand found on the beaches along the coast does not resemble the sand much. The magnetic portion of the beach sand is only about 10 per cent of the whole amount of the black part of the sand, so eliminating the magnetic part of the sand does not reduce the specific gravity of the whole much and does not make any appreciable difference in sluicing afterwards. The great obstacle that cannot he overcome in working the sand by sluicing is that the gold is so thin and light that it is carried more easily by the water than are the grains of sand which have so much more body to them and the sand instead of the gold, settles between the riffles and packs hard. If the head of water is increased or more fall given to the sluice box to keep the sand from packing, the gold goes through all the more readily. If amalgamated plates are used to catch the gold, the mercury and what little gold i s caught, is scoured off the plate by the sand. PROSPECTING. Now is the opportunity to foster a mining revival by enabling prospecting to he done bv unemployed men who are willing to undertake a work that has been neglected for almost a couple of generations. The sooner it is realised that lessened wages uro no impetus and that increased deni And and more diversified production are needed for a recovery, the earlier will the country begin to overcome the precept depression. It is estimated that 8000 men arc now engaged in the search for gold in New South Wales alone. To eporovod prospectors the Goveri.ment allows £‘3 a week for lour weeks and after that they collect the dole. They find living on the goldfields cheaper than in tit 1 If takes an experienced miner it is said, to find gold in areas that have already been prospected. Sti'l there is always the possibility that some day even the beginner will strike it rich. BLACKWATER. MINES, LTD. The return for March is as under: Crushed 2,854 tons, yielding ] ,023 fine 0 7. gold valued at £'4,340. Working expenses £4,224. Tn addition the furnace treated 88 tons concentrates, yielding 101 fine o ■/. gold valued at £428. Working expenses £llO. Capital expenditure £47, development expenditure £7fl. liOss over all is £354. Low tonnage due to mine being idled for one week during retimbering of portion of main shaft.