METALS FROM BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1916, Page 2

METALS FROM BALKANS.

RESOURCES OF ASIATIC TURKEY. _ One. important aspect of the operations in the Balkan war zone concerns He mineral wealth that may be made available to the enemy. In a recent issue of the New York Engineering and Mining Journal, the matter is dealt with under the heading, "Minerals of Asiatic Turkey," and it is asserted that "should the Germans succeed in hewing a road through to Turkey, a mineral empire of the first magnitude will be opened up to (he Teutons—one which contains some rich, though little-de-veloped deposits of copper—a metal of prime importance i to the Central Monarchies." Coal is stated to be of widespread occurrence in Asia Minor, the best developed field being at Heraclea, on the Black Sea coast, whence the output; for 1912 exceeded 700,000 metric tons. Little gold is produced, though the metal is known to occur. The environs of Izpir, on the east Pontic area, contained goldiiekls that are known to have been worked from the third century B.C. to the end of the seventeenth century A.D. The best developed silverlead mines are found near Balia, to the north of Smyrna. The ores carry galena, blende, and pyrite, and, as formerly mined, contained an average of 10 to 20 per cent, lead, and S per cent. zinc. The 1913 production was valued at £171,000. Concerning copper, the Journal says: —"The two most important copper belts in Asiatic Turkey occur in the eastern portion of the Black Sea coast, as far inland as the Pontic Ranges, and around Argana (Arghana), in the upper valley of the Tigris. . . . The celebrated Argana mines, from all accounts, contain high-grade ore. These deposits are known to have been exploited since 1000 A.D. In recent years mining has been carried' oil by the' Turkish Government, both on a leasing system and by direct management. The ore is broken to nut size, and undergoes successive roiisting, until a product containing about 30 per cent, copper is obtained. In this form, the product is transported on camels to Black Sea or Mediterranean harbors. The cost of mining and treatment at Argana is estimated at less than 3 cents, per lb. The disturbances of the last three or four years have caused cessation of work throughout Turkey. Although it is possible exploitation has been resumed recently, under German management, the production cannot be of great importance immediately, however, as the organisation of operations will require time in order to be productive in a large sense." Mercury, manganese, antimony, and chrome ores arc stated to occur in important quantities, and among litrn-J metallic minerals which have proved! valuable are borax, emery, and ineer-1 schaum. In regard to the two lastfl mentioned, the territory has been onfl of the world's principal sources of supnj ply. Iron and zinc resources also cvisfl while petroleum is found in the pro\fl inces of Eiv.enini, Mosul, and Bagdad, fl The same authority says, concerniiaß copper mines in Servia, that a gocH deal of nonsense has been printed abofl the great supplies of copper that tSj Teutonic allies are going to gain they have conquered Servia. The c<H per mines of Servia are indeed a litjH more important than the alleged .e t| per mines of Poland, but they h u;l never been largely productive. ' 'hS only copper-producing concern is tha company owning the Bor mines, which previous to the war, produced 600 C t i 7000 tons per annum.