MOUNT LYELL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 173, 23 July 1936, Page 4

MOUNT LYELL.

RECORD TONNAGE. LARGEST?' IN AUSTRALIA. Record tonnages of ore are at present being treated by Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, Ltd., at its mine at Queenstown (Tasmania). The weekly output is noy between 14,000 and 15,000 tons, which, the general .manager of the coinpany states, is the highest mill treatment in Australia. The principal factor in the increase is the large quantity of ore being taken from the West Lyell open cut, which is softer and more easily ground than the ore from the other mines on tile field. The crushing rollers of the new mill, recently obtained from America, have been installed, and will be placed in commission this week. This will enable the present larger tonnages to bo maintained, even when harder ores than those from the West Lyell are treated. Until recently the limit capacity of the plant had been about 12.000 tons a week. At the Xo. 8 level, the lowest in the Comstock mine, a crosscut was put out to intercept the downward extension of the ore body which was met about 50ft from the shaft. The body proved to have a width of between 50ft and 60ft, and to be of similar grade to that of the upper levels. This body is being explored further, and although it will lie some time before the extent is proved, results to date are reported to have been very satisfactory. Following are the results of ore treatment for the last three quarters: — Doc. 31. Mar. 31. June 30 Tons. Tons. Tons. Ore treated by mill 143,219 163,517 167,334 Concentrates produced 11,658 11,956 12,411 North Mt. Lyell ore smelted ... 1,447 1,509 1,084 Con e (Mi tl'a tes smelted 10.17S 10,843 12,249 Total ore, etc., smelted 11,625 12,352 13,033 Blister copper produced 2,523 2,752 3,063 Contents— Copper, tons . . 2,305 2,731 3,043 Silver, o/j 21,540 22,051 22,842 Gold, oz 1,465 1,562 1,647 Cathode copper produced, tons . 3,330 3,179 3,171 Furnace ran, days 04 • 70 75