Mt Davy yield in doubt

Press, 18 February 1977, Page 3

Mt Davy yield in doubt

Staff reporter Grex mouth .J* 1 ® Japanese consortium which has investigated the mining of Mount Davy coai was now studying mining methods which might be capable of extracting 70 per cent of the field, “but it could be 10 years before someone can figure out a way of doing that,” the district manager of State coalmines (Mr J. W. Lundon) told the Grev Countv Council. Mr Lundon said that the | consortium’s original proposal had been to extract 38 per cent (7.5 M tons) of the 22M tons thought to be in the Mount Daw field. His department hail said it would want the extraction figure to be 70 per cent, and the consortium had accepted that figure. The consortium had originally indicated that it would mine half a million tons a year, but be did not think this would be economic, under present conditions, for a mechanised mine. The equipment for one working face would cast up to S2M, and the latest figure for establishing the mine was S3OM, Mr Lundon said. There were also differences between the Mines Department’s estimate of the extent of the field, and the estimate of the Japanese. “The Japanese say 22M tons is proved, the department says it is only indicated.” But the Japanese agreed that more prospecting was necessary, he said. A decision might be made soon by the consortium on the project. He said that SI.3M and five years had been spent on research. The Mount Davy ground was broken, and seam quality was very inconsistent.

“Before anything is fina-i Used, the consortium must! , have the approval of both I ’the Mines Department and| (the Ministry of Energy Re-) sources,” he said. Mr Lundon also said that the Strongman workings! .were likely ta be exhausted ( iin eight to 10 years, and the; department would in-i (vestigate an adjacent area.| The amount of coal of the Strongman type in the Grey district was estimated to be 18. M to 19M tons. Mr Lundon said no more hand-mining would be done in the Grey district. “The department wants any new mines to be partly mechanised, or preferably fully ; mechanised,” said Mr Lun(don. Asked about prospects for ’the Reefton area, Mr Lundon: ’said he did not think there; would be any further state underground mining there. Previous state mines in the Inangahua region had struck very bad ground conditions. He told the council that his department had a responsibility to mine coal by (the most efficient and economical method.