MINING.

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1729, 10 April 1895, Page 2

MINING.

STONEY CREEK. All Nations.—For tho .past two or three months vigorous prospecting has been actively going on in the country between Te Aroha and Waiorongomai known as Stoney Creek. It will .be remembered by those conversant with tho locality, that several years ago this part of the' field was tried and considerable work dono with variable results. For upwards of 2 years a party of two men woiked on ground known as ‘ Zackey claim,’, these men did a lot of work in opening up the reef. They were contented to work steadily and after the following fashion. The reef contains a lot of loose dirt which carries coarse gold; this rubble was treated to the same process as alluvial sluicing, while the quartz was thrown away. No one can tell exactly what they made, but ■there are rumours that they were successful. The same ground has now been pegged out by Mr S. 0. Graham and party, who have two men, Messrs O. Hall and W. Eeid, at work. Several assays have been taken from the reef as opened out in different place, with rosults varying from loz 4dwts to 6oz per ton. The main drive is in a distance of 11 Oft through solid country, at the end of which is a small leader varying, in thickness from 6 to 12in and carrying good gold. A small cross-cnt has been put in, and the leader shows every indieationjof yielding something good. The main lode should be cut by continuing the drive another 40ft, which work will be commenced as soon as the men construct their whare. The lode* is about 4ft in thickness at the outcrop, and looks fairly good., The party are very sanguine of success. The Loyalty mine looks well just now. They have commenced two stopes over the level,,and are now in a . splendid run of gold. The next crushing promises to he a good one.

The various claims at Waiorongomai are all busy making preparations for real prospecting work being done.

Stoney Creek Syndicate. —Some three months ago a Te Aroha Syndicate was formed to prospect a portion of ground in Stoney Creek, which has since been pegged out as a special claim by the prospectors, Messrs Micheal and Eoycroft. The outcrop of tho reof is on tho top of a spur and is about 2ft in thickness, s

A drive has been put in some 70ft. below the outcrop, expecting to reach the reef with about 40f fc. of tunnelling, but although the drive is now in about 100 ft they have not yet picked up the reef, although two small leaders were cut and one of which prospected fair gold. The country through which tho men have driven is all loose, and has every appearance of having been a slip at some remote period. The drive has been heavily timbered all the way, which has meant a large amount or labour, but the solid,coimtry has now been reached, aud is of rotten sand stone formation and carrying a little loose gold. Tho opinion expressed by Mr Gavin (director) and othors is that the drive is right over the reef, and that another tunnel will have to be commenced lower d«wn in the solid country. The men are now at work on the outcrop, talcing out a few tons of quartz for a crushing,' in order to more thoroughly test the reef before commencing another drive.' Splendid prospects ai’e obtainable by crushing and • panning, of quartz taken from the blow. No doubt when the bulk is treated it will yield at least from 2oz to 7oz per ton.

Edmonds and party, Coromandel,had 7 tons general dirt treated at the Thames, which yielded 82ozs 6dwts of gold; lOOlbs of specimens, selected from the ore referred to, were treated here some time back, and yielded IGoozs of gold; the value of the gold won from the 7 tons is thus nearly £7CO.

Warner and son had about 4 tons of general crushing material treated in Coromandel for a yield of 68ozs of gold. It is stated on good authority that Greenwood’s syndicate, of Auckland, have received from their representative at Coolgardie, Western Australia, intimation that their mine has been sold for £IO,OOO, and requesting that power of attorney be sent to Messrs Goodall and Firth, joint managers, in order conclude the sale. This document will ho posted forwith, and a cable sent to that effect.