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Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 234, 29 June 1922, Page 5

The recent discovery of glass-making sand deposits at Mount Somers was a matter of pure accident, states the Ashburton ‘/Guardian.” Prospecting operations had been carried on for about 12 months with a view to locating coal seams within easy access of the Government railway. It was not until a 7ft. drive had been made to a length of 400 ft. that it was proved beyond doubt that an immense bodv of silica (glass sand) was present. When tlie substance was first encountered it was looked upon as an obstruction to tho coal-seeking operations. The Government analyst has reported that the sand is almost pure silica—in fact, it contains 99 per cent, of that commodity. Such a percentage lias probably never boon recorded in any part of tho world. Experts from glass manufacturing concerns Jhaye also examuied the sand, and declare it to be tie finest they have seen. The deposit is to be exploited, and when this industry is working alongside that of limestone and coalmining, Mount Somers district should be revolutionised.