GOLD PROSPECTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 290, 8 December 1931, Page 9

GOLD PROSPECTING.

OWHABOA-WAITEKATTRI. POSSIBILITY OF NEW FIELD./ (From Our Own Correspondent.) WAim, Monday. , Apart from the excellent prospects of the Golden Dawn mine-, the possibilities of the Owharoa-Waitekauri district as a future mining fieldfare attracting much attention. Important operations are being carried out by Mr. H. D. Bcd- ; [ f a- large- - lode - formation- -of the • type, -which traverses the mineralised zone of the Annie Creek in the southern section of iiis claim, which adjoins the Golden Dawn. The formation, which appears to bo extensive, has been traced for some 1300 feet, and dish prospects taken at' several points along the course of the lode- show ■wellformed tails of coarse gold. - In addition to the Annie Creek occurrence, there is the Nut , gold-bearing formation, also heading towards the higher altitudes with a width of 100 feet. ,The late Mr. P. G. Morgan, Director of Geological Survey, was of the opinion that the veins and lodes may increase in size if they enter the andesites which are believed to underlie the Owharoa dacite. This theory is undoubtedly correct, for recent prospecting shows that the andesite country, does exist under that of the dacitc. The opinion is held that there is every possibility of opening up the lode system, consisting of the Smile of Fortune, Radical and other reefs in the western area going north, hand-boring operations having disclosed quartz at depths of 65 and 35 feet. The sinking of a shaft in a central position on the estimated line of reef system should not provide an insurmountable problem. Modern mining practice, such as the introduction of Ball mills, has revolutionised the system of dealing with general ores and low-grade material. The history of the Owharoa district demands attention. A new field in close proximity to Waihi would mean great things for its mining community.

Mr. W. S. C. Nicholl, of. Waitekauri, makes a suggestion to help the effort to determine and exploit the mineral resources of the Dominion. His experience has taught him that the nature of the , country must first of all be determined, and. that a reliable geological survey with this end in view ' can only be carried out ~by means of systematic boring in the areas between the known gold localities. "Wo may be sitting on millions" was the graphic phrase which Mr. Nicholl used to emphasise the position. A scheme ,of thie nature l if adopted by the Mines Department should go far towards the development of future mining areas. Mr. Nioholl, despite his 80 years, is still engaged in boring operations. He is at present working on a dacite formation carrying quartz at a depth of 40 feet, and is confident there is a large lode yet to be disclosed in the Waitekauri district. . Mr. Nicholl thinks highly of the prospects of the Owharoa field, and of the Tokatea district ata Coromandel, where much interest is centred at the present time.