PERSEVERANCE COMPANY'S MIXE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 118, 20 May 1871, Page 2

PERSEVERANCE COMPANY'S MIXE.

We are indebted to Mr. Mabin, the Legal Manager of the Perseverance Company, for the following report received from Dr. Hector ou the minerals recently discovered iu the Company's mine : — To the Manager of the Perseverance Company, Nelson. Sir, — The samples (ten in number) from the Perseverance mine, Collingwood, have been examined in the laboratory, with the following results : — No. 1. Simple iron pyrites, without copper. 2. Iron pyrites, containing from two to three per cent, of copper, the ore being intermixed with quartz. 3. Galena (sulphide of lead, with a small percentage of silver), intermixed with blende '.(sulphide of zinc). The specimen contains these minerals in about equal proportions. 4. Zinc blende, in which are cavities partly filled with crystals of galena. 5. Zinc blende, nearly pure. 6. Zinc blende, traversed by lamina? of iren pyrites and galena. 7. Zinc blende : ore of this quality will yield about 66 per ceot. of metallic zinc, worth about £20 per tou. 8. Zinc blende with galena. 9. Massive argentiferous galena with quartz. 10. Samples of lead prepared from No. 9, of excellent quality, aud worth about £22 per ton in London. In these specimens we therefore have two metallic ores that are new to the district, although both have been previously found in New Zealand. Galena occurs in tolerable abundance at Wansrapeka, Barrier Island, on the Otago gold-fields, and in several of the reefs on the Thames gold-fields, especially at Tararu Creek. In this last locality also, zinc blende was discovered by Captain HuttOD, but only in a siDgle instance. An indication of the presence of zinc, from somewhere in the neighborhood of Collingwood, was previously obtained among a series of specimens sent to the laboratory in January, 1870, by Mr. C. Elliott. It was in the form of sulphate of zinc, or white vitriol of commerce, and had all the appearance of being an artificial salt. The discovery of zinc ore in the locality, however, now makes it a matter of some interest that the history of Mr. Elliot's specimens should be accurately ascertained. Zinc blende is a usual associate of galena, and though not so much mined as the carbonate of zinc (calamine) is still an ore of considerable commercial value, hf inferiority being due to requiring an extra operation in the process of reduction. Zincworks for this ore exist at Bristol and Birmingham, and I would suggest that if the ore can be obtained in quantity, a fair sample should be sent home to one of them in order that its quality may be tested; so thati\ can be determined whether it will be better" to export the ore, or to manufacture the metal in the colony. It appears from statistics, that the annual quantity of zinc blende raised in Britain is about 13,000 tons, havingj a value ranging from 30s to 90s. per ton. The yield oft metal from the ore is about 28 per cent., and its market value a little over £20 per ton ; but in the case of a mixed ore, the value of the galena has also to be taken into account, aud to assist in fixing an estimatp of the value of your ore, I may stat*' JhM about 90,000 tons of galena are Jreised every year, the market value is £14 per ton. This ore yield's aboit 60 per cent, of lead, valued at £22 per tin, and 6 ozs. of silver to the ton of lead, valued at ss. 6d. per ounce. The above data will be sufficient to enable an opinion to be formed of the market value of the samples of ore now submitted. The association of such ores is frequent, both with gold and silver, but is no. sure indication of either being present in quantity. I am, &c, James Hector. Geological Survey Office, Wellington, May 9, 1871.

The following is extracted from an advertisement tn the M. A. Moil, Castlemaine, of Easter sports at Sandhurst : — "A grand Chinaman's race, in full Mongolian costume, for a little pig. Each Chinaman carrying weight on a bamboo in two baskets. Irish jigs, Scotch reels, nigger breaks. A prize for the handsomest man. A prize for the ugliest man, and a present for the fattest baby. The Danmow flitch of bacon will be presented to the happy couple, neither exceeding 25 years,. who are adjudged the best matched pair, have been married 12, and not more than 18 months, and can solemnly declare and prove that they never had a rumpus."

Truly our Australian neighbors, are becoming American in their notions. CtaNG, the giant (says tho Ballarat Eveni'ig Mail), administered a polite but well-timed rel»uke to a gentleman who " interviewed " him one day this week at the Victoria Hotel. The visitor in question commenced his remarks, iu the worst possible taste, in broken English, introducing occasionally the word " savee." Chang, with conscious dignity and true politeness, interrupted his visitor with the following remarks : — " Pardon me, sir, if you have no objection we will canyon the conversation iu English, or, if you prefer it, in either Grermau or French. I speak either language moderately well." The visitor put on his hat and walked off, taken down several pegs by the polite giant. For remainder oj news see fourth page.