RED HILLS (BIG BAY) MINERAL COMPANY.

Kumara Times, Issue 3068, 2 September 1886, Page 3

RED HILLS (BIG BAY) MINERAL COMPANY.

PROFESSOR BLACK'S REPORT. The Red Hills Mineral Company have received from Professor Black, of Dunedin, a report on specimens of stone forwarded by them to him, found by their prospecting party in the Big Bay district. It will be seen that the Professor has found neither gold, nor tin in these specimens, and only a liotle silver. The following is a precis of the report : " No 1 G, from greenstone lodes, with greystone lodes 4ft. to 12ft. thick, is a hard jadelike serpentine, containing particles of nickel alloy scattered through it. There is no doubt that this is the matrix of the nickel alloy found among river roads and other alluvial drifts on the West Coast. The Profesor then goes on to say that he had not had time to make a complete assay of the stone to ascertain how much per cent, of nickel the stone contains, but he says it must be small—--1 per cent, or less. As to the separation of the nickel, that could be effected either by the pigging process, or preferably by the electro-magnetic process. The Professor states that he considers the discovery of the nickel alloy matrix as important, the occurrence of the stone being a guide to prospectors for nickel. The next sample was a hard serpentine, containing magnetic iron (black) and nickel alloy. Nos. 4 and 27 samples, which were from a lode running along the whole length of Levy's ridge, and about Bft. thick, is stated by the Professor to contain chrome and iron ore, which is marketable in Glasgow at from £5 to £lO, according to quality. Both these samples were as good quality as could be sent into the market. Sample No. 26 was from two veins of quartz about 12in. thick. This, the Professor states, is bastard quartz, and does not contain gold, but galena or sulphate of lead, also iron pyrites and magnetic oxide of iron. Sample No. 3, which is from a leader 12in. thick, was reported by the Professor to be a quartzose schist, with a small quantity of silicate and carbonate of copper. Of sample No. 10, which is from several veins of asbestos, 6in. thick, the Professor says that it is a good sample of asbestos. Of sample 25, which was from a lode 3ft. thick, the report stated that it was a quartzose slate, and contained yellow and greenish garnets. Four other samples do not call for any special mention. Sample 24, from a vein 12in. thick, contained black crystals of magnetic oxide of iron. A number of other samples are referred to in detail, but they contain nothing worthy of note except No. 16, which came from a lode 24in. thick, and contains a little of the nickel alloy." The report thenflgoes on to say—"l have not found gold nor silver nor tin in any of these stones. The only minerals of value are:—(l) The nickel; (2) the galena. All galenas contain silver. A sample received from Warden Macfarlane, and said to be from Big Bay or Cascade district, was found by my assistant, Mr Fenton, to contain 60 per cent, of lead, and 20oz of silver to the ton. (3) The chrome ores. The nickel, chrome and galena ores are, therefore, the only valuable finds in the lot. If the chrome is in quantity, and near a harbour, it would be valuable, as it could be shipped off directly. The nickel alloy could also be shipped off to be melted in England. The galena could &e smelted on the spot, and would require coal or timber fuel. The pi ice of lead has fallen so low, however, that the galena would probably not be worked unless found in large quantities, and containing 20oz. or more to the ton. I am disappointed at uot getting a gold-bearing quartz, or a tin atone or silver ore in the collection forwarded. " Should you be prospecting fuller in the Big Bay district, or any other district, you should tend one or more

of your prospectors for a couple of weeks to Professor Bickei ton's laboratory or to my own, when either of us would be very glad to show the tests for all minerals your prospectors are likely to find. It is possible they are passing over scheelite silver ore from not recognising them.—l have, &c, " J. G. Black."