THE MINERAL RESOURCES

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 42, 3 April 1863, Page 2

THE MINERAL RESOURCES

QUEENSLAND. J| Disappointed were the gold seejK a few years ago, when lite -tstilu aimouncemen'S of the existence of tlj and exten-sive gold-fields in the i'»iJ; diate neighborhood of Port Cun caused a rush of miuers and other i venturers to the n^rth-eastern coast «lns continent. Had they read Siutchbufy's masterly reports- on-th regions, or studied his geological ma they would have found, that he iil out scarcely any hope of gold btl found there, in any payable quantitil Rut they would have learnt, that n existence of copper lodes and coal fiell at no great distance from the coal would abundantly repay the researcheJ enterprising capitalists. Amongst thj who have carefully considered the pi bable mineral resources of north-e» Australia, were the Messrs. MantJ whose long mining experience in Soil: America, enabled them to form a c< rect estimate of the success whi would attend mining operations in ( territory to which we are alludii The extraordinary extent and richm of the Peak Downs C'opp r Mine, fu illustrate the value which science adl to enterprise and capital. This mine! situate about 180 miles from R»cl hampton, and 90 miles from Broi Sound, thn nearest shipping poJ From the reports of Mr. Nisser and M Arthur Ltdijer, fjeologists of hi) authority, which we hope soon to pu li.sli in extens->i we learn that no copp lode of equal richness has yet net discovered in the world : and this, fro the following facts appears to be i groundless opinion. The lode, whii is a regular vein, or course of so) ora, is about 60 feet in width, ou cropping a mile and a half in lengt and in places 12 feet in height. J the cross cut, 3 feet in width, and

feet in depth, which has been made i prove the lode, the ore has been four of considerable richness, avera«;in<f fro 50 to 54 per cent. That on the servji which is ready for smelting, and stated to be abod^2o,ooo tons, wiil ah yield a very profitable per centejji Smelting works are in course of erci tion, and the necessary apparatus ises pecte i to arrive shortly from En«,'law Goal and timber are procurable in abu I dance in the immediate vicinity of the tot The road from the mine to Broad Soun is, with one or two trifling exception nearly level. The difficulties, therf fore, of land carriages, which h^f hitherto impeded, or entirely sospende •- the operatious of the owners of coppe mines in the extttv>sive countries c

Uathhurst and Wellington, will n< have to be contended with by th enterprising company who are noi working the Peak Down Mines < Queensland. The company consist almo-st wholly of Sydney capitalist) Messrs. T. S. Mort snd t. W. Stuar are directors and trustees ; and. Mi John Mariton resident manager ; th c ap i:al is LK)0.000 in 100,000 share ol LI each.