MINING AT NEAVESVILLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1908, Page 2

MINING AT NEAVESVILLE.

As a good deal of attention has been paid latterly to mining properties in the Neavesville and Tairua districts, a representative of the '_______ Star,'" hearing that Mr G. A. Buttle had spent a few days in those districts inspecting mines, decided to get that gentleman's ideas as to the outlook for investors there. ' It will be seen from the interview that was obtained, Mr G. A. Buttle Is rather favourably impressed with what he saw. "1 was only away four days," remarked Mr Buttle when asked about his trip. "At the Thames I did not visit any mine, but 1 found the people there in great spirits over the reported discovery of goid at the level driven in the May Queen Co.'s mine from the Queen of Beauty shaft at a depth of 747 feet As this is the lowest point at which gold 'has been met with at' the Thames, it augurs well for the prospects of the deep level scheme if ever it is undertaken—l mean the driving of a level at 1000 feet from the Queen of Beauty shaft to the i Saxon shaft, and thence in a direct line i to the old Big Pump shaft. "As the main object of my visit was to see the Champion Mines, I went on ■ to Puriri with the least possible delay. : From there I walked over to the Cham- ' pion mines. In the first place, let mc , say that I saw that a good deal of work had been done on the property held by this company, and as a result what ap- . pear to be large, ore bodies have been disclosed. The first of these is commonly called a dyke, but in my opinion , that is a misnomer. It is really a large ■ body of ore which outcrops on a small spur, and it is interesting to note that on the route of this outcrop there are evidences of old workings done many years ago. It is also reported that from a small soft vein running between the harder quartz, which was worked down to a depth of 50 feet, fully £2000 worth of gold was obtained. About 60 feet below the outcrop a drive has been put in by the present company right across this ore body, which discloses it to be some ■ 50 feet in width. At this point fair values can be got throng-boat the whole width, but where the soft veins occur similar to those mentioned above, the ore seems to be rich in gold. About 80 feet lower down the company is driving another level, known as the battery level, but . this is not yet in far enough to intersect the lode. Lower down the hill than this level there is a mass of ore outcropping which is supposed to be a continuation of this lode, and at this point, judging by the prospects got, the body seems to be about 80 feet in width. So far, however, this place is only being prospected with the object of finding the continiratioii of the lode. "In the upper level about 900 feet away from the lode we hare just been referring to, what is called the Champion lode, was struck. This appears to ■be one of these reefs winch make, and then contract frequently. A peculiarity of this, however, is that when it makes big it carries high value; In some parts it opens out xo fully 20 feet, and, as previously stated, this carries value. Some of the ore has a peculiar appearance, and although to the naked eye there is no evidence of the precious metal, assays reveal the fact that it is rich in bullion. Ido not like to mention the values disclosed by assaying, but it is sufficient to say that they go very high. There are evidences here that the ore has been subject to thermal action, and although it is yet too early to speak definitely from the work done on This lode, I think further development j will show the gold was by thermal ac- j tion forced up through the ore while in solution. If this theory proves correct, . then there is reason to believe that as j' greater depth is reached the ore will : be found to carry high values. From |. the Smithy level right through to the { surface, a risei has been put up, and good values met with for the whole i height—about - -130 feet. Below the Smithy level, about thirty feet have also been sunk on the lode, and here also the values have carried right down. '•■Right on the surface are several open cuts, which seem to . indicate that the lode will be found striking up the hill, I and where' quartz has been touched in i' the cuts good values are also obtained. I_rther down the hill quartz has also ( ■ been met with, but the manager is not | ; ! certain whether these are portions of the | j Champion lode or other lodes running parallel with that ore body, and lying a short distance into what is practically the footwall of that lode. The whole of the ore so far disclosed both in the main lode and the Champion lode, is of a free milling character, and in | mv judgment will not be difficult to treat. The bulk of the gold should be easily saved by plates and the ordinary berdans, •' '•-" ■'* "■' . -.' '. -. ' lr the hattery level, some -distance after starting, a quartzose formation wa.=- met with, which carried values, and is apparently the cap of another ore . bodr- : ; .... . ) The Champion Company has erected ■ a v?rv complete ten-stamper battery, j wlv: I ' ,-. ill ba driven by a suction gas plant. Tliis is hearing completion, and ' _~•....-_; operations should be started before liie end of the present month. The mill is connected with the battery level by tram line, and by means of pa.-Ft\« already opened up the ore from the various levels can all be got to the mil! wVI 'i ease. There is already snfficklit .•: pencd up to keep the mill 'going f. ' long period. | iiEAD- BULLION. J al.co visited the property held by the Rea.; iinllion Company, which adjoins the . r'vpion mine. Here a short drive _,•>- i put into the hill, and a body of • win " L_>i' described as .cement founda- : 41. r. As been intersected. I may mention that the drive went through 46 _ Seel oi this formation, which, gave values ____L

averaging about £2 per ton. The mine manager expressed the opinion that this does not require a battery for treatment. He considers it can be dealt with by a rotary mill -or by berdans alone, and a few shillings per ton would cover the cost of mining. It seems tome that this eeic.nt formation must traverse the Champion mine, but as yet it has not been located, the Only indication being the quartose formation I referred to as being met with near the mouth of the battery, level. When walking over towards Neavesville, the mOrning after I inspected the Champion mine, I saw cvi- , deuces on the track of similar cement ' formations, and 1 believe that what is now disclosed in the Beady Bullion mine will yet be found in that direction in the Champion property. If this proves to be the case, it should prove a very valuable addition to the ore reserves of that Company. Of the Champion mine, I may say that judging frcm the bodies of ore already disclosed, if the values continue to a depth, there seems every reason to believe that the property will one day become a large bullion producer. It is certainly well worth developing with a view to ascertaining what lies at greater depths. GOLDEN BELT. On my way to Neavesville ,1 saw the employees of the Golden Belt Company quarrying ore right on the top of the ridge. At this point there is a large I body of ore in sight, and this is being broken down and sent to the mill, and I was told it was shaping for payable return. Apparently from this ridge across the hill, and down to where the operations are in progress on the Champion property, there seems to be a belt of auriferous country which should, with the expenditure of capital, produce highly payable returns in the future.