SEARCH FOR GOLD

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 9

SEARCH FOR GOLD

Geophysical Survey EXTENSION OF WORK The extension of geophysical survey work with the object of assisting the gold-mining industry now that such a marked revival has occurred, was discussed in a statement made yesterday by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in his capacity as Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He said the department was co-operating with the Unemployment Board, so that, by means of expert surveys, payable areas could be located and worked. Mr. Forbes said he had directed that the efforts of the geological survey officers should be concentrated on soil survey with a view to increased efficiency of fertilisers; and on assistance to the Mines Department and Unemployment Board in regard to goldmining. Already the geological survey had made reports on many areas of interest to the Unemployment Board, but the work was now being intensified. Arising from the ordinary geological investigations, however, certain. proposals had arisen calling for a trial of the new geophysical methods of prospecting to find whether these could economically be applied. The first proposal had regard to the possibility of a very large area, several hundred square miles, of auriferous conglomerate overlying the schist bottom in Central Otago. A bulletin was in preparation on the subject, but, if proved, it would offer scope for largescale mining operations. The problem to be tackled by geophysical methods was to verify the general underground structure and, if possible, to locate the payable areas. This problem was difficult, but certain instruments had been ordered and, in co-operation with the Mines Department, members of the university staff in Dunedin, and a private specialist, a start would be made after Christmas, to find out whether geophysical methods could be usefully applied, although results were not to be expected in a hurry. Advice had also been obtained from specialists abroad. In addition, the possibility of use of certain very delicate magnetic instruments to trace the alluvial leads associated with black magnetic sand would be tried. In many cases, for example the recent find of Beil and Kilgour, alluvial gold was found in old coveredup stream beds containing a considerable quantity of black sand and the detecting of this type of sand by these new methods might be of help in tracing the gold. “It was essential,” said Mr. Forbes, “that every possible geological and technical assistance should be given m gold-mining if it is to develop as a profitable industry, and the Mines Department is working hand in hand with the department in the developments, while private enterprise is becoming alive to orderly methods of procedure in development, which, though slower, are surer in the long run.’