WETHERSTONES CONGLOMERATE.

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 14

WETHERSTONES CONGLOMERATE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l thank Mr G. W. Thomson, mining engineer, of Industries Ltd., for his comment on my letter to you under date May 2. Tho report you previously published indicated a departure from the company's accepted intention to treat tho conglomerates by a milting process and the natural inference is that the process is not proving successful. My opinion, and it is the opinion of mining men of experience, is that tho pulverisation oi the cement to a degree of fineness that will liberate the gold particles requires a milling process, and 1 am convinced the solution of theproblem is within the resources of modern engineering skill. Mr Thomson’s references to black powder are, of course, by way of being sarcastic. 1 am aware ot the difference in explosives, but it is going to take some demonstrating to convince mining men that high explosives can successfully and profitably be employed to pulverise low-grade Tuapeka cements to such a degree that a gravity tall will reduce it to tho uniform fineness necessary for satisfactory gold recovery. Certainly such a method would release some of the gold, but, 1 take it, modem efforts would be directed towards recovering all or as near all as possible of the gold contents. It was tho failure to accomplish this economically that was the downfall of previous companies. Air Thomson’s assertion tbat the milling process would necessitate putting ah the large, barren boulders through the mills seems rather a reckless state ment to make. It is surely apparent that there must be a hundred-1 old more opportunities of observing and discarding unpayable material during excavation and its journey to the mills than there is during the blind blasting of tho ore body. 1 would like to say ah my hopes and wishes are for a successful outcome of tho renewed efforts to work the Tuapeka conglomerates. This immense body of gold-bearing cement is known to extend for at least twenty miles, and a method of working it profitably would give courage to many companies, employ thousands of men, and bring wealth to Otago. Knowing Industries Ltd. to be mainly an Auckland venture 1 hoped to place before them an item from early miners’ experiences that might bo of interest and guidance. No raining man can afford to neglect the history of the field he is working on. The Tuapeka goldfields in its prime gave scope to the very flower of the world’s gold-seekers, and even to-day their enterprise, intelligence, and inventive genius command the admiration and respect ot ail fair-minded investigators. The mechanical era had not advanced far enough to give these men command of the problem we are reviewing, but 1 am assured great help will come from a close study of the lessons learned m the pioneering days. I trust this letter will be read in tho spirit in which it is written. My experience of gold mining has been both happy and fortunate —it really has been mining for gold and my best wishes go to Industries Ltd. and all other concerns that seek their fortune in the field—not from the pockets of the public. I thank Mr Thomson for Ins invitation to view samples. lam afraid they will not interest me inst now, but when Industries Ltd. are m a position to go into practical operation I will watch for their gold returns with great interest.—l am, etc., Millington. May 11.