THE SEARCH FOR GOLD

Evening Star, Issue 21642, 10 February 1934, Page 11

THE SEARCH FOR GOLD

UPPER SKOTOVER OPERATIONS Mr A. C. Gormack, managing director of the Upper Shotover Gold Mining and Hydro-Electric Company Ltd., who has recently returned from an extended visit to the claim, reports that the diversion tunnel from, the Polnoou to the Shieklburn has now been completed, and the stream-bed has been dewatered for a length of approximately four miles. The tunnel was a complete success, and its design and construction rellect credit on the engineer and contractor. It will carry all the water from the Polnoou except when in high flood. At the time Mr Gormack left the claim no water from the mam stream was flowing down the old channel, and it is clear that the stream-bed can be dewatered for all practical purposes. Naturally there is a small flow from seepage and drainage, but this can be easily dealt with. Some nice prospects both of coarse and fine gold were obtained from the stream bed, whicli consists of a succession of very deep holes filled with boulders anil schist gravel. Maori stones and black sand were very plentiful. Most of the holes are of large extent, some being over • a chain, in length. It was impossible to ascertain the depth or quantity of the gravel deposit, though it appeared considerable, or its value as a ( gold container,, but arrangements have been made for dewatering the holes, and the necessary pumping plant will 'bo in operation in about a fort-’ night. Tlie company has been fortunate in retaining the services of Mr George Thomson, the contractor for the tunnel, as the manager of the claim. A permanent camp is being constructed at ,a convenient site about the middle of the claim, and preparations are well forward for cleaning up each section of■ the bed piecemeal. .Mr Gormack said that the outflow of the river from the tunnel with practically a sheer drop of 120 ft to the Sbielburn Gorge was a very irnprossive sight, and it was obvious that ample electric power could be generated for working this and any other claims along the Shotover River at a minimum of cost. DAWN OF HOPE s The mine report (says the Christchurch ‘ Press ’■) states that during the last week driving has been continued hillward on the flat loader off the rise, the face being to date 47ft from the rise. At present the leader is 9in in width with a fair amount of pug intermixed with the quartz. Some of the quartz shows colours of gold. AT MATAKI The manager of the Mataki mine at Murchison reports:—On January 29 the dredge was taken into the eastern section of the cut to take this ahead preparatory to turning toward the river. This should be far enough ahead by to-day, when the dredge will be turned toward the river. The ground on this side is very shallow, and in one part it has been necessary to dredge a foot of bottom. ■ BELL-KiLGOUR RETURN The secretary of the Bell-Kilgour Gold Mining Company Ltd. reports that the wash-up for the week ended February 9 amounted to soz from development work. GOLCOKDA MINES’ REPORT The following report on the week’s work has been submitted by the mine manager of Golconda Minos Ltd.; —- ' Tunnel Level.—We have started a rise on the new reef south of the east crosscut. The reef formation is composed of quartz stringers and pug. A few colours of gold wore seen in the stringers. Seventy-foot Level.—We continued driving west on the hanging wall reef. The reef is a strong body of ore carrying nice minerals, hut no gold has yet been seen. The roof is in two portions diverging away from eacli other. We are following the hanging wall portion and the country rock is improving. The country has been very disturbed on account of the break, and the reef should improve in values when we get away from the influence of the break. We are putting up a rise on this reef to connect with the intermediate level, whicli should he completed in about two weeks. Sloping was continued on the branch reef south, and a few nice dabs of gold were seen. KING SOLOMON RETURN The King Solomon wash-up was 1940 z 12dwt for the week.