SCHEELITE MINING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 9

SCHEELITE MINING

Steps To Increase Output By Dominion

IMPORTANCE OF MINERAL

Steps that had been taken to increase the output of scheelite in the Dominion were outlined yesterday by the Minister of Mines, -Mr. Webb. He said that satisfactory arrangements for the marketing of the whole of tlie ore produced had been completed with the Imperial Government, and it was of paramount importance that the output should be accelerated because of the value of the mineral in production of equipment directly associated with the war.

During 1940, said the Minister, approximately 75 tons of scheelite had been produced and exported, compared with 41 tons in .1939 and 46 tons in 1938.

“The chief sources of supply in New Zealand are at Glenorchy and at Macraes in Central Otago, and also in Marlborough,” he continued. “The Government is assisting in this work in every possible way. Individual miners operating on a small scale have been subsidized and assisted with the purchase of stores, and from this source approximately 10 tons of ore have been produced. Financial Assistance.

“In addition, financial assistance has been granted to other concerns working on a larger scale, this assistance being mainly for the purchase and erection of battery plant, compressors, jackhammers, and other gear which is essential for treatment and for the speeding up of production. Advances have also been made for development work in the mines, for lhe improvement of roads, and for better access to some of the mines. More than £3OOO has been made available by the Government in this way. The Mines Department has also sent experts to the fields to confer with the owners of the mines as to the best way of accelerating production. “In the Marlborough area the department is operating a mine on its own account and production will commence at this place about the end of the present month. The development of this mine had been rendered difii cult by reason of the fact that it is situated on a mountain side, 1800 feet above sea level. Sites for the compressor and the crusher had to be blasted from solid rock, while the track .to the mine had to be widened and improved over a great deal of its length. Up to the end of January last £2705 had been expended on this mine. When the initial prospecting work had been completed it was decided to install a treatment plant. In the meantime the ore won is being stored.” Big Increase Likely. From the reports to hand it appeared that there was a good prospect of a substantial increase in production this year, said the Minister. Those associated with the industry knew tho great value of the ore for war purposes, mid no doubt, they would respond to the utmost to the appeal for increased production. Whatever assistance it was possible for the Mines Department to give to the industry would be made available, because the need for the ore was now, not in live years time.