THE JUNCTION MINE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 28 June 1890, Page 2

THE JUNCTION MINE.

BROKEN HILL. The following extracts are taken from the published report of the last half yearly meeting of the above dime, Tor period ending March 31st: Luring the halfyear two 60-ton smelters have been completed, together with assay and general offices. One furnace was started on February 5, and has been doing good work. It was not considered advisable to start both until we had thoroughly prepared the mine to make a continuous run of them.

• ‘ In March last the resignation of the late manager, ,Mr Henry Tait, was accepted by the board, and Mr William Adams, late of the Te' Aroha Company, New Zealand, was invited to take the management, and the directors have every reason to believe that they have made a wise and suitable appointment, as he is known to possess a good know ledge of silver mining and metallurgy combined with untiring energies and perseverance. Mr Charles Rhodes, late of the Bank of New Zealand, from which he brought high testimonials, has been appointed analyst and assayer to the mine, and all sampling and classification of ores is under his charge. Mr Poage, the metallurgist and manager of the smelters at Port Adelaide, came with high credentials from the Broken Hill Proprietary and Te Aroha mines, and since he assumed charge has given the directors thorough satisfaction. >

The one furnace now in blast more than pays for all the working expenses connected with smelting and, mining, so that when the second furnace is started, the expenses being much less pro rata, we should soon be in a position to pay dividends. The success of the smelting is shown by the fact that since (he No. 1 furnace was put in blast liabilities to the extent of L12.0U0 have been cleared off, an 1 a substantial balance is now at the credit of the company. Under the energetic superintendence

of Our mine manager, Mr Adams, ground hitherto unprospected is being opened up, floors provided for the better and more systematic sampling of ore, and investigations made as to the feasibility of constructing a tram from the mine to ilte railway station. Every means are being taken to save expense while developing the mine tojits fullest extent. The smelting statement shows that operations were commenced at the company’s furnaces, Port Adelaide, on February 6th, and from that date to March 27, 1783 tons of.ore were treated, producing 207" tons : J scwt of bullion, containing 887500 z silver and 204 tons of lend, the average silver contents being 49-770 z per ton. The company also sent to the Dry Creek Smelting Works 924 tons of ore, which gave 42,3940 z of silver and 174 tons of lead, and yielded a net return of L 6742, though L 5600 of this goes into the previous half-year’s accounts. The working account shows the following principal items of expenditure : —Mine wages, L 7490 ; mine contracts, L 324 ; smebin charges :*Goke, Lissl; ironstone, L 669 ; freight and charges, L 2032 ; timber, L’2447 and stores, L 969. The total expenditure was L19J287. The receipts totalled L 18,332, leaving a debit balance of L 955. The general balance-sheet indicates an overdraft of Lii 1 20 and bills payable to the amount of Llß3l,

The correspondent of the Adelaide Advertiser reporting on the nbove. mine underdid 1 May 19th, writes as follows ; The manager states that the rich deposit of silver and copper glance which was met witli a few days ago in extending the stope from the 300 feet level towards the 200-feet level has to the present time yielded 36 tons of ore, a largp quantity of which carries 2,0000 z of silver per ton. It is pretty safe from what Mr Adams says to reckon upon the whole of the 36 tons of ore carrying silver nt the rate of l.fiOOoz. per ton, so that the silver valu.? of the parcel, taking ■diver at 3s 9 I per oz., is ovpr L 10,000. There can be no doubt as to the quality of the Junction carbonate.ore whatever may be the quantity available for working on. On ascending through the stope between the 300 and 200 feet levels the manager mentioned that there was a b’oek of carbonate ore 100 feet in length and 40 feet in width yet remaining to he broken in that part of the mini. This block contains about. 4.000 tons of ore, which die manager estimates’will average 55'’Z. of silver per ton. If we takesilver at the rate of 3s 9d per oz. this. • dock—that is. its silver value is over L 41,000. The figures as to the dimensions of the ere body are the manager’s own. Mr A lums also estimates that of sulphide ore there is fully 100.000 tonin sight, ready for realising upon as sron as a satisfactory inetho 1 of reducing it toft grade that will allow of its being profitably treated by smelters is devised. Of this huge quantity, he states, there is quite 20,000 tons already mine I—that is broken down and stowed away in the stupes, and can he taken to the surface at a cost of. only 2s per ton. Between the 300-feet level and the present depth, of the winze Mr Adams reckons that the carbonate ore "body contains upwards of 13,000 tons of ore, averaging about 550 z of silver ppr ton.. . AtSs 9d per oz the silver value of this mass is over Ll 34,000. The manager estimates there is this quantity available for raising from that part of the mine, and his calculations are based on the amount of ore taken from the other parts ol the body, hut it is not certain that the lower part of the body will yield as the upper portion has done. It may produce more—that remains for future work to show.