COPPER AND CHROMIUM

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1912, Page 3

COPPER AND CHROMIUM

POOR PROSPECTS IN DUN MOUNTAIN.

[3T TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE STAR ]

WELLINGTON, This Day-

Dun Mountain district near Nelson, known since the early days of New Zealand settlement as the home of copper and chromium ores, is the subject of a survey bulletin by the Government Geological Department. Tim work was carried out by Dr. Macintosh, Bell and Messrs E. de Courcy Cyarke and Dr. P. Marshall, and its main object was to discover the nature and extent of the copper deposits in the valley of the Roding river and elsewhere and also to carefully examine the mineral belt of the area for minerals of economic value and more especially chrome ore. Of the latter. the geologists report that it has been mined or prospected in no fewer than sixteen places in the district but the quantity was by no means great and little apparently now remains. Copper occurs on at least fourteen places on the slopes of a wooded peak near Dun Mountain. There have been many attempts to make a success of copper mining in tho district the first company having been formed in London in 1855. One mine, the United, has been worked intermittently for thirty years, but its prospects are not regarded as promising. An adjoining mine, the Champion, has better chances, but the quantity of copper at present visible and developing amounts at best to only a few hundred tons. The report suggests that coal beds will be found in more or less isolated patches along the base of Richmond hills and for a little distance out beneath the Waimea plain.