COROMANDEL.—AURIFEROUS QUARTZ.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1673, 30 April 1862, Page 3

COROMANDEL.—AURIFEROUS QUARTZ.

At a moment like the present, when continuous parcels of golden quartz of surpassing richness are daily arriving from Coromandel, and when the question of a payable gold-field can scarcely be considered to be longer a matter of doubt, it may be well to'refer to what is being accomplished in other countries. We shall not enter into any lengthened observations, but content ourselves with the simple remark, that if the Quartz obtained.in Wales can realise what is here set down, how incomparably more is not the rich ore of the Province of Auckland destined to yield ? GOLD IN WALES. (Extract of letter from the “ Mining Journal,” February 1, 1862.) Sir, —lu May last I wrote you a line or two about the gold produce of the St. David’s Quartz Lode in the Clogau Mountain, near Dolgello, county Merioneth. I beg now to make a further statement of particulars. During the past year the total distance driven, sunk, and sloped was about 38 fathoms. The quantity of auriferous ore crushed and amalgamated by two of Berdan’s machines was 449 tons 18 cwt., which yielded oz. of fine gold. In addition to this quantity, 6 tons, 2 cwt., 32 lbs. of quartz, containing visible gold, was crushed and amalgamated by Britten’s small machines, any yielded 2,303 oz. 11 dwts. of fine gold—making a total of gold of 2,884 oz. 1 dwt. from 456 tons of ore. This gold realised at the Bank of England £10,816 ; £6,825 of which has been distributed amongst the proprietors, being at the rate of 60 per cent, upon the capital invested. I may add that I have myself extracted 11 grains of fine gold from a piece of quartz weighing 2 lbs. 13 oz., and not a particle of gold was discoverable in it by a powerful microscope. This fact makes me think that by the ordinary process of stamping and washing thi g gold could not all have been obtained, and probably none of it. I shall from time to time, with your permission, record facts of interest on this subject. The publication of this present success is so much to the credit of past failures. T. A. Readwin, F.G.S Stretford, Manchester, Jan. 30, 1862.