OSMIRIDIUM FIELD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 28 September 1925, Page 2

OSMIRIDIUM FIELD.

TASMANIAN DISCOVERY. MINERS’ INTENSE PRIVATIONS. Little Tasmania is quite excited over a find of osmiridium on the west coast of the island. Oismiridium has 1 been found in small quantities on previous occasions, but the present centre of activities, what is known as the Adams River field, is more promising than any ever previously broached. Men, experienced and inexperienced, are being attracted to the field from all over the island and from many parts of the mainland by the news of riches to be obtained, by> a few days’ work, but as generally happens in such rushes, it is the lucky lew who are getting rich, quickly, and the unlucky many who are slaving and suffering great privations. From: July 1 till September 1 nearly 700 miners’ rights for the field were issued, and as they are .increasing at the rate of between 30 and 40 daily, it is more than probable that over 1000 men will be engaged in osmiridium mining on the new field before the rush dies. The field is remote. From, the nearest township, Fitzgerald, it is 25 miles to the field, and that 25 miles is a chaos of mud. There are no roads, and pack horses have to be used to transport all foodstuffs, mining material, and other supplies from the township to the field. Needless to say, many fall by the wayside. Start, ing with the glamour of precious metal buoying up their courage, the awful “via dolorosa” up the Derwent Valley claims its victims. When the field first started there was a. considerable lawless element; hut now the police are established* and things are quieter. Most of the good country is now pegged out, and latecomers have, to prospect new areas. Men are fossicking in the bush, but are not meeting with much success, and the newcomers on the original claims are the people who are making the money. The price of osmiridium varies according to the quantities of iridium, osmium, and other metals in the virgin ore, but as the Tasmanian ore contains high percentages of the more valuable minerals, the lucky ones, are on good money. The future of the field is said to depend on what action the Government takes in providing communications to it. Experienced men who have returned from the field state there are great possibilities providing the communication difficulty is overcome. Experienced men are said, to be making from £3 to £4 a day on the average, others more. The great majority of the inexperienced men are having a “rough spin,” a® one returned prospector described it, many of them finding it difficult to get enough food, let alone osmiridium. . But whatever the future of the field, and whatever the returns, there is no doubt that the find has set the “tight little island” all aflutter with excitement and anticipation.