PLATINUM FOUND ON ORETI BEACH

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21866, 20 August 1936, Page 10

PLATINUM FOUND ON ORETI BEACH

EXPERTS SURPRISED AT SIZE OF NUGGET '{PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, August 20. A stone of a dull hue, discovered at Oreti beach by Mr E. Riseley, of Invercargill, has been pronounced pure platinum. About 12 months ago he found a similar stone, but after a casual examination he threw ‘it away. Recently when at the beach he found another similar stone and decided to send a small piece to the Government analyst, who reported that it was the purest platinum he had seen. ' About the size of a walnut, it weighed one and three-quarter ounces and was valued at nearly £ 50. Platinum is usually secured in tiny flakes and the authorities express astonishment at the discovery of a nugget weighing one and threequarter ounces. It was suggested that the nugget of platinum originally came from Stewart Island by way of the sea bed, but Mr Riseley discounts this theory. There are several places in Southland where platinum deposits have been found, but never in such quantities to warrant development, Mr Riseley has the theory that his find was brought down to sea by the Aparima river.