MINERALS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 22, 26 January 1870, Page 2

MINERALS.

To the Editor of the ' Nelson Evening Mail.' Sik, — In reference to letters which have from sime to time appeared in the public . papers* more especially with regard to an article published in the Colonist of yesterday, which has been copied ..from the Thames Times and includes an ex-i tract from the Ballarat Courier, of Oct. sth, "On the separation of gold from quartz and mundic" many persons may be led to suppose that the method therein

described of extracting the precious metal from foreign substances was a modern discovery. Iv 1859 aud since, quartz and other minerals containing gold, have beeu submitted to me for manipulation. These maieriah mostly containing iron pyrites otherwise muudic associated with gold, were referred to by me ih one of our locol papers in 1863. I had, previously treated the above substances with various preparations of soda aud potash, on the amalgamated copper plates, ripples and other contrivances in use, so that the processes described iv the extracts referred to as implyiug receut introduction had been practised by me long prior to the allusion made by the writer. The prevailing indifference exhibited to auy benefit to be derived from the development of our mineral resources, has restrained me from publishing any iv formation. These advantages might have been secured to the Nelson public had they beeu alive to their own interests, instead of which it is only when a more energetic people from a neighboring settlement are reaping wealth from hitherto neglected ground, that the community begin to arouse themselves from their habitual apathy to find that what lay so close to their own doors is secured by foreign skill and enterprise. I am, &c, J. W. Tatton, Formerly pupil to Professor Graham, Master of H. M. Mint, &c, &c.