ALLUVIAL GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1933, Page 8

ALLUVIAL GOLD

THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY.

TJie present activity in tile gold nulling, industry which usually recehca but scant attention, leads up to the question: What are- the future prospects? This subject is dealt with by 'Mr it. W. Green, A.0.5.M., in the "Financial Times' ” mining supplement. The term “industry” is used deliberately, a s .gold mining should be regarded a s an industry, and an impoit- : ant one, and not as an excuse for gambling. if the public is encouraged to regard gold mining as a possible means of receiving extraordinary returns oil the money they invest, and promoters pander to that attitude, then it is safe to say that there will be no future tor just as soon as the present enhanced price of gold disappears, so will the prospects of many of the present companies, and with them the public confidence.

Selective wining of the richer anil more easily worked areas, is gradually bringing about a condition of ailairs when all the known deposits will be of a value below the cost of working, or to which present methods are inapplicable, it is evident that, to maintain the present extent of the industry, the cost of winning must be lowered, or new methods devised, to deal satisfactorily with the present unprofitable or urn workable areas. This is a problem, but not unsurmountable. The introduction of hydro-electricity and diesel engines as prime causes will provide a solution to many problems. Improvements ,m«y be effected ,by increase of yardage; by the recovery of the actual contained values; by the introduction of new methods of mining; by the.adaptation oi mechanical plant at present used for industrial purposes; by the combination of existing; methods to exploit deposits, say for example, an area too small for economic dredging, yet too waterlogged for hydraulic.working; by improvement to water supply and dis posal of tailings; by thorough inevstigation of the source of supply and country to be traversed by races before adopting any particular scheme ; by sound financing by adequate but not over capitalisation; by. a reduction of vendors’ and promoters’ cuts, and other loadings; by the elimination of the low denomination share, i.e. V ■ 2/-, etc; by the provision of effective plant at a resonable cost'by securing designs and specifications from teehni cally trained engineers; and bv pufehaa ing such plant by tender, where possible, instead of from interested parties Under suitable conditions, hydraulic sluicing will always he the cheapest method of winning gold. Unfortunately; adequate water is not always available at a reasonable capital cost. The tut ure success of the., alluvial gold mining industry, so, far as the working of the present known deposits are con. cerned, appears to*, depend on. largo scale operations on scientific lines.

Tho Taipo Roefs.

The track is now open to prospectors under the Unemployment Board’s sup ervisor (Mr, J. A. Cooper). Prospectors report having discovered several leaders ,carrying, gold near the junction of Julia Creek, and Taipo River. On going further down, a. reef 6ft wide on tin* surface has been found. The season is coming on, when good work can he done for further discoveries, as this belt of country is considered the main source of the gold bearing area. The country being traversed is very rough,and big boulders have to be contended with. All alluvial ground met with carries., a coarse sample of shotty and weighty gold, and from appearances ii evidently has not travelled any great distance. Consequently as the country i s further developed, quartz reefs will be discovered, as all the cracks in this area indicate the presence of reefs. The prospectors are very interested in the work on hand.