MINING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 293, 11 December 1925, Page 8

MINING NEWS.

ZEEHAN CONSOLIDATED. LTD. The report for tlie week ended December 5, 1U25, states that the drive oq tin. , north reef was advanced 12ft. Two shifts were lost on account of boiler inspection. The reef narrowed a little in the last few feet driven, but still carries the same heavy gulequ and copper minerals. About 3cwt was picked out nearly solid metal. Along the hack ot the drive from where it turned off the values are showing for the whole distance. Judging by the look of the quartz, and the finer grain of the piineraj showing in the last round, there is every possibility of free gold coming in very soon. Repair work in the No. 5 level is being carried out as general work permits. NEW OCCIDENTAL,

A company is being formed withi a capital of £25.000, divided into 100 000 shares of 5/ each, to work the old Occidental mine at Thames. Seventy thousand shares are offered to the public for subscription. Thirty or forty years ago rich returnsVn-ere got from mines on the Una Hill at Thames, and the New Occidental Company is beiug formed for further development work in this locality. About a year ago, two well-known Thames mining men Messrs. D. Dunlop and ,1. Robisou, purchased an nrea of 21 acres with a viev to reopening the mine. A lot of work has been done since, timbering and repairing the tunnel and laying lines for trucking. Three tunnels have been driven for a distance of 100 feet. Favourable country was penetrated, and an 18-inch leader was cut which is stated to have shown Kood colours of cold. Further work revealed a reef live feet in width. This Is situated in hitherto uuworked country. A trial crushing of 18 heads of ore yielded 42nz of gold. It is- proposed to extend the old Magnolia level another 400 feet and thus get under old workings at lffo feet below the level above.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Albumin. —The manager reports that the extension of the Norwegian level on Carpenter's reef is twelve feet. The country passed through is of n good clnss, being firm and blocky, and all that is wished for to encase a gold bearing reef. The pug seam on the footwall side is reduced in size to abput one inchc and he hopes that in the near future the country rock and quartz will adhere to each other and value* will make In the reef. Rising Sun. — The manager reports Rise No 1, Block No. 1 Reef; Since starting on this , work an ex tension of 12Ct lias been made, making a total height of 80ft from floor of 80ft level The lode looks very well, showing an average width of 24 inches, worth £6 per ton The final clean-up for thn year will t-ike place on 19th inst., and ull bullion will he placed ill the bank. The mine will be closed on December 23, 1933, and re-open on January 4, 1926. Battery: For week, November 26 to December 2, ten stamps ran 23 8 hours, crushing approximately H tone of ore, worth £3 15/6 per ton. Prom nlatcs and berdan recovered Tooz amalgam, making a total of 178oz. ' This has been retorted and melted to approximately 60oz Lucky Snot.-The manager reports fat the drive on the Moanataiarl crossreef has been advanced a distance of _3ft for the week, making a total distance of 35ft. The reef is right in the centre of the face, which makes it difficult to work. It is about 18 inches wide and practically vertical. As soon as the reef gets back on to its proper underlie It will be possible to set on to the footwall and then make better progress. The reef is encased in a good class of country, and should expect to meet with values at any time. The drive on the course of the Evening Star leader has been advanced 7ft, making n total distance or 21ft. The country In the face« fs mucii firmer, and is still making a fair amount of wuter.

New Waiotahi. —The mine manager reports that the crosscut for the WniotaulCamliria reef has been extended sft, at aJiich point one of the back holes broke tßrough Into water-worn boulders of rock and quartz. Timbers are being placed In position to make the face secure before cutting into this formation.