Untitled

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3903, 2 July 1881, Page 2

In order more fully to describe the situation of the mine, and its advantageous position for economic milling, it may be stated that the Pukewha Hill rises abruptly from the plain beneath to nn elovatiou of some 250 feet, and in its estire length, from east to west, it is traversed by the maiu reef, which averages at Ihe surface from 30 to 40 feet in width; while the ground, which throughout the whole extent of the hill is composed of decomposed tufa and a compact ferruginous clay, without the intrusion of any hard rock whatever, may be driven through by ordinary work at the rate of 12 feet per day, and at a cost of from 3s to 5j per foot.

The work at present done on the Martha Claim hao been sufficient to fully test its value. The first discovery of gold was made on the northern boundary of the mine, and at this poiut a tunnel has been driven into the reef for a distance of 16 feet, the quartz show* ing gold freely and yielding stone, which it is estimated will average, when crushed from 10 to 15ozs per ton at lowest estimate.

At a point 30 feet below this a second tunnel has been constructed, for a distance of 60 feet, and here the lode, which is about 4 feet in thickness has been cut and itone ef an exceedingly rich character is now being obtained.

Altogether the reef has been opened out afc no less than seven separate places within the boundaries of the Martha Claim, and ab each point stone averaging.2 to 3ozj per ton has been obtained from tho surface. In order to prove the permanent value of these discoveries, a third tunnel has been. driven from a low level -on the southern boundary of the Claim, for a distance of 200 feet. In this level the reef has been traversed through a width of 37 feet, and quartz of an equally rich character as that in the upper levels is being obtained, thus proving payable stone to exist to a depth of over one hundred feet downward from the surface. It is further propoaed to open out s low level tunnel (below the third), which will give about 250 feet of '' backs " on the reef. The character of the reef as showing in the lower workings of the Martha claim maj thus be described :—lt forms a well-defined, compact body of white friable quartz of over 37 in width, and for a distance of 25 feet gold is. freely disseminated throughout the stone, while in the richest portion, which extends for about nine feet towards the footwall, the atone, which shows gold freely, is estimated to yield throughout—taking a low estimate —from 20z3. to 3az3. per ton, the gold being of a coarse, nugsjety character, and of firat-rate quality. Unlike most formations of its kind, the Waihi reef is entirely free from all deleterious minerals, so that the process of saving the gold may be carried on with the minimum o£ loss.

surface,

Setting aside the present rich character of the stone now being obtained, it is calculated. that, from the vast amount; of quartz easily, accessible and workablo at a cheap rate, a percentage of gold equal to an average yield of Sdwfes to lOdwbs per ton would secure a handsome and permanent dividend.

Owing to tho triable character of tho reef, which requires no blasting, il; is estimated that as much as 30 tons of payable quartz could be taken out per day froia the present workings of the mine, and that before the ■erection of the battery at least 1000 tons of slono could bo stacked.

The cost of mining tho stone would not exceed Is 6d per too, aud 2a 6d for crushing, would bring the coet per ton of stone put through the machine up to about 4?. | It may be further stated that the erection of the Battery and Machinery will not exceed £1500; and, as the Mine is already b^Sciently opened out for ths> supplying,*™^! adequato quantity of stone to keep tiie^Snfe going, ifc is anticipated that no more than one*, half of the amount it is proposed to raise;, will be required. ' An eligible wator-site has been secured, for the erection of the Battery, which is Capable of driving 40 head of stampers, ij,ad as the reef has already proved to be auriferous for over 2000 feet along its surface, and as many as eight tunnels are now being driven to intersect ifc within the hovmdariea of different, mines, it is proposed to lay down tho crushing plant with a view,to its gradualextetisian, for the purpose of carrying on quartz-crush-ing operations on an extensive scale, in connection with the various mines in the neighborhood.

Both the geological and] topographical features of the country are admirably adapted for mining in all its branches, and both wooxfc and water are plentiful iv the immediate.' vicinity of the Mioe.

The Directors reserve to themselves fcbo right of commencing operations for the erection of the Battery, as soon as a sufficient amount of capital shall bate been subscribed.