COPPER MINING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 May 1925, Page 6

COPPER MINING.

ON THE RUAHINES

PROMISING NEW INDUSTRY

The Dominion’s gold mining industry has been the medium of distributing several millions of pounds among shareholders of certain mining properties, the Shotover, Caledonian, Imperial, Alburhia, Waiotahi, Moanatoui, Cambria, Queen of Beauty, Bright Smile and other mines being among the great dividend payers at the Thames, while the Wailii, Grand Junction, Crown, talisman, Woodstock of the Ohinemuri gold field have in their turn contributed very largely to the wealth of the Dominion. Thousands of men have been engaged over a number of years winning the precious metal from the bowels of the earth, and the fascination of gold mining has always appealed to a certain section of the community, says the Wanganui Herald. While New Zealand has therefore produced many lucrative gold mining as well as coal mining propositions, copper mining has never received the same amount of attention. The lure of gold has always 'been strong, and, chough many fortunes have been lost in the search for the hidden treasure, as well as fortunes made, it has always been premiere in the list of mining attractions. However, copper mining bids fair to shortly occupy more attention from those whose sporting instincts and the iove of adventure carry them into the realm of uncertainties. Mining is, of course, nothing else but an uncertainty, but there are not a few who pin their faith to the certainty of a copper mine on the Ruahines, near Woodville, proving a wealth giver.

Some of those enthusiasts in mining for copper reside at Marton, and they have been greatly interested in encouraging news that comes along from time to time.

An effort is being made to induce American capital to assist in the exportation of a larger reef system, already discovered and tested to a certain extent, and the treatment of the are, after mining, on such a scale that operations can be prosecuted on. a payable basis.

According to the plan of the workings shown to a Herald representative a great deal of work,. principally af an exploratory nature, lias already been done on the property, and it is noped that before Jong the lode will he intersected in the second adit level, a cross-cut to meet same having been Iriven a distance of approximately a hundred feet.

It is interesting to note that at the top of the range a larger lode ig outcropping, that gives a fair percentage if copper values. After a good deal if prospecting work had been done upon it, a No. 1 adit level was driven, ind the reef system, when penetrated, was fonnd fo be not only over twenty feet in width, but it had improved in /alue on its downward trend.

Assays from general samples were very encouraging, and, as the ore body showed considerable strength, and was encased in country most favourable for deposits of copper, it was decided to cut the reef and develop it at still greater depth. A point about four hundred feet below the No. 1 adit was selected, and, while a couple of men have continued bo open up the reef at the top of the nil, the low level cross-cut was also pushed ahead with expedition, with the result that the face is now within thirty feet of where the ore .body is expected to be met, provided, of course, there is no change in its underlie, which is towards the advancing crosscut.

Recently the mine manager telegraphed that the prospects were improving consistently, and. the face was now in solid country. The reef in the upper level is very strong in character, and if the results obtained in the lower levels are as good is the upper workings indicate, the prospect of a new and important industry in the Dominion is very bright.