Karaka Creek.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5147, 16 July 1885, Page 2

Karaka Creek.

The proposed introduction of the La Monte smelting furnace into this district has had the effect of causing a large extent of the surrounding bills to be pegged out. A considerable amount of prospecting is also being carried on by private parties on lodes which hare yielded from some 6 to Bdwts of gold per ton in the early days, but which would not then pay. The proprietors are sanguine, however, that when the furnace is erected, and in full operation, these reefs can be worked remuneratively, as the whole of the gold will be sared by the new process. In the Karaka Creek district, a claim of 25 nien's ground is being worked by Mr Edward Thomas, the representative of some Auckland capitalists. It is situated just above the ground being j worked by Jenkius aud party, and is on the Shortland side of the creek. Two lodei.jeach about 2ft.'.in thickness, traverse

tho ground—one running down the hill, and the other striking across the creek from towards tho Waiotahi, and should junction somewhere ia the mine. Both are heavily impregnated with very heavy minerals of a dark nature, not generally regarded as favorable for gold. Of the two lodes, the' mineral in the crosslode ia perhaps slightly of the better character, there being some nice bright spots amongst it; but a trial parcel of 12 loads crushed at Boll's battery only yielded 2ozs 3 dwts per load, whilst the return from the other lode was even poorer. Samples of the mineral were sent to Auckland recently, and gave the astonish" ing assays of 50ozs to the ton from the orosslode, and 40ozs per ton from the downhill lode. It would be unreasonable to even expect anything like such returns ia bulk, but a tithe of I this yield would pay hand«omely. Judging from present appearances, Mr Thomas is of opinion that 2 tons of j stone; would probably yield 1 ton of mineral. He is now taking out 4 tons of this heavy mineralised quartz, which will be shipped to Auckland by,, the Enterprise on Saturday, and then^ transhipped to Sydney for treatment there by the LaMonte process; while another 50 tons will be got out at once for shipment to Swansea, Wales. It is estimated that £3 per ton will cover the cost of winning, shipping to England, and treatment there. The process of selecting the mineral willbe similar to that of dressing copper ore. The quartz will be tipped into a wooden box, or trough, and into this a stream of water will run, thus washing the quartz. Boys will then be employed taking the quartz from the box and selecting the mineral from it.