MAHARAHARA COPPER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 105, 2 May 1908, Page 9

MAHARAHARA COPPER.

MEETING OF SHAB__HOI_DEBS. Shareholders in the Maharahara Copper Company -met at _.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, in the Ctiamber of Commerce, for the purpose of having submitted to them a report by Professor ' Black, M.A., -D.S., Professor of Cl_.i___._ry at the Universityof Otago, and the'O'tago University School of Mines. He .states in the. report-that the country rock of the part .oi: the Ruahine' range where the property is situated, is of ' the same geological character and age as that of _he-_.eef.ou district, in the Sbiith Island. In'the streSfa called Copper Creek, running through the" pr_7 perry, are large quantities of copper, beaming boulders evidently shed from large reefs traversing the country rock 'above.' The propfcrfy Is. high up the range, and although Luc workings"are 400"feet above the'valley, there are still hnndreds of feet above which should enable "the company -to work for many years without sinking. The ore-bear-ing reef appears to be Inters-ratified with the country 'rock, and therefore _I" varying width, dip,- and : course, as well as richness of ore deposits. The copper ore occur, through the lodes in form of wedge shaped and lenticular masses, rounded; boulders, ana pockets, not continuous, but-at irregular intervals. __i<_h wedges are sometimes side by siae, or Over lap, and at other times occur end to end. The outcrop at the old shaiTt _2oft above sea ' level, - "is 15ft wide. The ore'oc-urs in large slates from 2 to 3ft in -thickness of varying length, with denticles and boulders of quite massive size in some places. Samples assayed as follows:----3 per cent of copper, 6.5 per cent, 4.1 per cent, 7.4 per .cent, 0.7 per cent; specialpiece of vornite selected by the Professor, 32-per cent," hand' Sorted frombestpart-bf reef, ,Glt wide. 1,-3 per cent.. The estimate of the best 10ft is 6* to"T per cent of -copper. The outcrop No. 1 level, lift wide, assayed 4_i per cent, 5.1 per cent; several pieces from a vertical'slag 3.8 per-cent, sample of bornite 16.2 per cent. By hand sorting and rejecting about half the matrix the value'woudl beaboutT </£:»* per cent of copper. In No. 1 or the upper level,-the lode gavelsssays as follows: Kate, sft wide,, O.S per cent; "irom ISm block in the stopes, a fine sample" of born'ite assayed. -35.7 ' per cent, yellow pyrites 13 per _eht,'average of 15 piece.: 15 per cient, reef 10ft.wide 7: per cent, overhead at-face'(poor) 0.3 per cent The average estimate assay for 5 to ilft Is about 4'to 5 per cent." Low level reef, 33ft wide, gave assays as follow: Best sample of bornite 36.7 per cent, be3t sample pyrites IS per cent, sample representing SOOlbs 14.5 per cent. There "is au excellent site available at the present camp, with plenty of water, where an up-to-date pyritic smelter would command-all the ore in the district. Professor Black considers the success attending operations warrants energetic development, as the -ores are large, and there is great probability of other s large formations being en_. He estimated that a smelter suitable for the mine wou _ co_t £3000 to £4000, but freight and cost ot erection would require to be added. Professor Black considers the property is a valuable one, amply justifying the expenditure advised above. The chairman (Mr. N. .A. Nathan) said that they had come to the end. of their capital, but before deciding to' ask the shareholders whether they would provide more money to carry on, the Erectors thought It advisable to get a professional" report, which they now had before them. After the report had been ' read, Mr. Kathan said the directors thought that, the state of the market considered, it would be better to leave matters for a time. The property was undoubtedly a valuable one, and protection had been applied for. The opinion was expressed thai, the directors' action in seeking protection .was a wise one, and a motion was carried accordingly, approving of the action which had been taken.