OUR MINES

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3553, 17 May 1880, Page 2

OUR MINES

* ALBURNIA,

This mine was visited today. Before s;oine in I was shewn by the manager between 109 and loOlbs of rich specimen stone which was obtained from the eastern and western stopep, intermediate level, and filso sow•■> nice looking atones i'rom the drive on 'he.. hacj.-jing.-waH vein. The stone from the slopes is very rich, and the difference between that obtained from (lie western stopes, and that from the eastern can be at once recognised. The fiijsfc mentioned is very black 'looking-end contains a very largo percentage of copper and antimony, with the gold showing plainly near the, copper dabs. The stone I'rom the eastern end is fiia blue and white quartz, much less mineralised than the 'other, but with large splais and bands .1' gold through it 'n all directions/. One of thc;e s'ories, weighing about lOlbs, is woiih fi'ly 2czs per lb., It is perhaps the p jtiicdt stone yet tatan out of the mine, and pa effort should be mr.de by t:ie lcc?»l committee of the Melbourne X: iiibi» (ion to have it exhibited there where I am sure it would prova a point of attraction in the New Zealand. Court. The first portion of the mine visited was the intermediate level from No. 1 winzs. In the eastern drive there is a fine reef about two feet thick, showing colors of gold. In the stopesjpverheatl, gold shows freely,'and' specimens are obtained every time a shot is fired in the lode. It is a fact worthy of note that rich specimens are being obtained in these workings at a point behind where the run was come on in the ft) feet level drive. Jndeed a few coloi'3 were seen fn the lode, but nothing to lead to the belief in the exis-

fence of the treasures underneath. la the west stapes Hie best stone is obtained exac|]y under where the directors shot was fired. The only other workings on the 70 feet level working of notn are the slope and drive on the hanging-wall leader. The manager always had great faith in this lode, and the operations so fur show that his conjeetares have not been wrong. At the time of my visit the lode was about 18 inches thick and showing colors of gold, while I was informed that specimens «re frequently obtained in breaking down. The mineral indications are also excellent. As will be shorn further on, this leader will probably have an effect on the history of the mine, readers will do. well to closely watch ils development. f I would not be at all surprised if it tarns out to be the old specimen' leader, in the stopes on the main retf east good crushing dirt is being obtained, and occasionally a little picked stone. There is no change to report in connection with the works oh the footwall leader. At the 160 feet level east drive I found that Mr Badford has started the driving contractors to cut through to the footwall of the lode. They have put in about 3or 4 feet, but still there is no sign of the wa'l. The stone is as hard as bell metal, and as heavily mineralised as some of the ' old Fiako stone, but the face being dirty a good inspection could not be made. Mr Kadford informed that it .is his opinion that the hanging-wall leader, referred to above, will junction with the reef at a point about 49 feet ahead of the present face, and it is not improbable a good patch will be dropped on. The country is very hard, and the manager in cutting through , the lode, hopes to meet with softer ground on the footwall which will enable operations to proceed more rapidly. Driving on the hanging-wall the contractors were not able to average more than nine feet per week. In the western end stoping is proceeding on the footwall slide of the lode, and auriforous stone is coming to hand. The retorting was to take place this afternoon, but the result was not banked in time to appear in this issue,. The yield was estimated to be between 400 and 500 ounces.

The following is the mine manager's weekly report:—" Sons of Freedom lower tunnel: The drain and road has now been completed, and the drive extended 10 feet in. a good class, of country, the reef being small, about 1 foot in width, but of a very promising appearance. 160 feet level east: The ground in this drive still continues hard, but the contractors have made better progress, having driven 1.8 feet during the last fortnight. For some time past the reef has been much split up, rendering it difficult to decide which portion to follow up, but at present the reef has, become more compact, shewing a greater body of quartz and I have now directed the contractors to cul through the reef, until we reach the footwall, and prove whether tjje ground is easier on that side. I wish to inform you lhat this drive is now within 40 feet of the junction of the hanging-wall leader, where, in the 70 feet level, when this junction took place there were some very rich specimens obtainnd and I am in hopes when we reach the same point pn this level we will then come upon as good a run of gold. 160 feet level west: We are now taking a i stope over the drive on the footwall 1 portion of the reef between the rise and the boundary. The portion we are taking is about 18 inches wide, heavily charged with minerals, and several times during the week we have seen colours of gold. 70 feet level, east; Hanging-wall leader:, Driving and stoping have been carried on here without change, the leader is still small, but always yields some specimens and showing gold freely when broken down. Stoping has also been carried on in Sons of Freedom reef towards N. N. Devon boundary on a-well defined reef, yielding a good supply of crushing dirt, frequently showing colours of gold and yielding a few specimeus. 70 feet level west: The winze has been carried down to a depth of 41^ feet, when the reef became white and barren, and I have decided to drive an intermediate level to connect with the main pass, and I believe when this is complete we will have a block of 30 feet in height Of payable quartz., Footwall leader: Stoping has been carried on here, same as last reported. Intermediate level, west: This drive has been carried to the boundary, and I have started stoping over it, so., far with very satisfactory results. Intermediate, east: In driving this level some time since the reef became very small, and I suspended working for a time, but in stoping over it I found, the reef greatly improved. I therefore resumed driving. and the reef has now increased to a fine body of quartz.two feet through of good crushing dirt. Stoping has also been carried on over this drire from which we obtained some nice specimens and picked stone. I have two different parties of men working in the old stopes from where I obtain some low grade crushing dirt, but as we are now obtaining quartz from so many different parts of the, mine, when they all put together the return from the battery will be more than payable. The whole force has been kept employed till within the last few days, when I cleaned up ten head for the purpose of putting through a parcel for a party of tributers. The battery and all appliances are working well.—Thos. Badfobd.