MINING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 4

MINING.

THE WAIHI FIELD.

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY.

METHODS SUGGESTED,

(From our own Correspondent.)

WAIHI, Thursday

As already reported in these columns, negotiations have been provisionally entered into with the Waihi Gold Mining Company Tor a geophysical survey of certain portions of the Waihi district. An offer has been matte by the Scientific and industrial Research Department to the company to maUe the observations, but the management desires first to discuss the matter at Waihi with the secretary of the Department and the Director of Geological Survey.

The proposal is of much importance I to the Waihi district, as it should deterI mine the possibility of opening up an exI tension of the known reef system. -Ur. i E. Marsden, secretary of the Department, when :n Waihi, pointed out that the geophysical methods were of great value in reducing the cost of locating deepseated bodies and in indicating;, the most favourable sites lor diamond drilling 01 other operations, thus eliminating the heavy expense of putting dovvm bores considered likely to prove unproductive. That applied not only to virgin %elds, but also to the extension of known ore bodies which had faulted or been displaced. It is suggested by a local mining authority that the correct method to adopt would bo in the direction of ascertaining the boundary of the probable area of the old surface of the reef-bearing quartz andesite on the field. As is well known, tins has been buried, except for the two outcrops of the Martha and Union Hi la, by subsequent flows of volcanic rocks, which, it is believed, are not reef-beai-ing. The depth of this over-burden vanes greatly. The Grand Junction main shaft passed through 400 ft of barren country, and the old Consolidated shaft, furthei west, was sunk to a depth of IOOOft, and probably did not reach the reef-bearing quartz andesite. Should a geophysical survey indicate that a peak of reef-bear-ing andesite approaches closely to the surface at any point, this might justify intensive prospecting in the locality by boring or otherwise. The presence of a peak would probably indicate the coexistence of enclosed quartz reefs, as in the case of the Martha and Union peakb, which owe their presence to the resistance of denudation offered by the outcropping quartz. It is considered that one of the electrical methods of geophysical tests might Vie applied here, as in Australia, where, in one of the big mines, a lost ore body was again located and traced for some considerable distance. It is well known that the reefs in the Grand Junction area—the Martha, Empire and Royal series—are connected with those in i the old Favona and Union areas in some way, because the pumping operations in the Waihi mine drain all the reefs in the eastern part of the field. BELL-HOOPER GOLD, Bell-llnopcr Cromwell Gold, Ltd. (Otago), report that only development work was carried 011 for (he week ended August u. The gold won for the period was ioz lfadwt. ALEXANDER MINES. Alexander Mines, Ltd. (Keefton), report that a reef was intersected In the north drive Sft to the eastward of the eastern block. A strong body of ore was discovered and driven Into for 4ft without the eastern wali showing. It was clcan and solid, and gold was showing in the stone, which was strong underfoot. KING SOLOMON WASH-UP. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVEKCAItGILL, Friday. The wash-up at the King Solomon nilne (Gore) for the past week was Sloz 19dwt. GOLCONDA MINES, LTD. Mr P. F. Watson, chairman of directors, presided at the annual meeting of shareholders In Golconda Mines, Ltd. lhe directors' report stated that since the Incorporation of the company on May 12, 1932, much development work lir.d been carried out. Through an unfortunate break in the Thames water race in February, which took some time to repair, there was considerable delay before crushing could be commenced at the Moanataiari battery. A total of 150,50 l shares had been subscribed, and in terms of agreement 03,940 had been allotted as fully-paid 1/ shares to the Caledonia Kuranui Moanataiari Consolidated Gold Mining Company, Ltd., now in voluntary liquidation. The accounts, which cover the period from May 12. 1032, to May 31, 1933, show that application, allotment and call moneys received totalled £3829. Working expenses for the period amounted to £4041. Sundry creditors are owed £443. Leasehold land is valued at £3210, and cash amounts to £219 The report and accounts were adopted. The retiring director, Mr. T. \V. Maben, was rc-elcctcd. MATAKI SHARES. , In response to an inquiry made at the Stock Exchange call this morning the chairman, Mr. G. C, C'reagh, states that dealings in shares of Matakl Gold Dredging CV. are on the basis of the scrip being ex rights in the debenture isSue.