OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4235, 28 July 1882, Page 2

OUR MINES.

QUEEN OF BEAUTY

The chief point of interest in this mine at present is the, level being put in on the main reef at No. 9, inasmuch as if good gold is found in it there will be no doubt of the block overhead proving rich, and it would also warrant the sinking of the shaft enough to open up another block. During the past week or two the reef has improved considerably, and colors of gold have been frequently seen. Farly this week good dabs of gold were found, and yesterday and to»day the best stone yet obtained was uncovered. The stone brought to the surface this morning was obtained from a vein of quartz in the footwall portion,of the reef. The stone, is very similar to that obtained in the winze, though not so rich. The gold is only visible in the white part of the quartz, but there is also »no doubt a percentage carried in the mineral. The face of the drive was in 80 feet yesterday. Thereof has opened out again, and there was fully 8 feet of quartz in the drive this morning, and even then the footwall was out of sight; The not tiearly so solid now as when it was smaller, and is becoming very like what it is in -■ the- winze, being composed of a number of veins crossing each other in every directioß. The class of mineral is much improved, the heavy black mundic giving place to the bright silvery mineral which is such a good indication iv the winze. Another 25 feet should break into the winze, arid even now the men can be at work. The winze is down 41 fret, and is still wholly in, the reef, the footwall not having yet been met with. The rich stcne got lately was found in variotis veins, some in the hanging and some in the iootwall portion of the winze. .The m^n rdo hot trouble ' to look for gbldi -* aod there is no doubt.a large quantity of good stone goes Sway with the general staff to the battery. Gold is .now showing in* ?£osus' of- the veins ; which the' winze has passed through. It is expected that afoftfer 10 or 11 |ee<|pf sinking will breaVihto the level below. The contractors are very much retarded at present by the influx of" water, and have to pufon an extra man to bale. As soon as the drive gets in a few feet farther, and penetrates the class of country the winzo is now in, the water will probably drain off, when better progress will be made. The drive seaward on the main reef at iSlo. 8 has been advanced about 50ft since a start was made. The exact size of the reef is not known, the drive being on the. foot wall portion.but there is over sft of quartz showing in the face. The course of the drive has been altered, and the reef will be cut through in a day or two.- -iFhe stone coming to hand looks kindlyfor gold, and the trial parcel was payable. There is a block of ground here extending from the Queen of Beauty to the Bright .Smile shaft, and from No. 6 level downwards, in which the main reef has hardly been touched, so ;thati any discovery made in the present drive will be of importance. The tributers drive on the Queen of the May reef has now penetrated a better class of country. The men are now drmng for tbe footwall leader, from which they took their previous rich crushings, aDd expect to get it very shortly. From the present, face they will have to drive^aboub 5Q or. 60 feet to get under their winze from the level above. When this is sunk to No. 8 level, they will have a block of over 50 feet in height to stope out. Since Bagnail's winze from No. 6 broke through, the ventilation has improved considerably, but even now 'be smoke- takes a longtime to clear* , The ladderway in the City of London"shaft, will be completed in a day or two, when it will be possible to get to the surface from No. 8 without Roiog up the main shaft. NEW PEINCE IMPERIAL. The new poppet legs for the Prince Imperial are placed in position, and in a few days the engine and engine-room will be shifted to their future sphere, of usefulness. The legs are severjl feet higher, and altogether are a great improvement on the old ones. GOLD EET.OBNS. City ov Manchester.—Scott and party have crushed a parcel of quartz at Bull's mill for the yield of 23ozs 15dwts melted gold. ,