AMERICAN EXPERTS ON THE REDUCTION OF QUARTZ.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7796, 16 November 1886, Page 5

AMERICAN EXPERTS ON THE REDUCTION OF QUARTZ.

Mbi A. Saunders for some time past has been in correspondence with American metallurgists as to the best way of reducing the Thames ores. By the mail which ar rived on Saturday evening he received twoletters on the subject. One was from Mr. C. H. Aaron, Nogales, Arizona, United States of America. in whioh be expresses surprise that a British subject should call upon America for a soientifo man to treat refractory ores, eipecially to call upon one at Arizona for advice on such a subject. Mr. Aaron states that the expenses of an expert to go to New Zealand would depend upon the character the individual had. He knows of some who will not examine a mine for less than £1000, with travelling expenses added. These sums are paid, though the high-priced men are "not by any means infallible." Others can be got at from £30 to £100 a month. The cheap ones are frequently expensive ones to the mine owners, but their advice is "not so expensive and disastrous as those of the doctors and professors with no experience." He adds that in "employing a man from this country [America] you must guard against two classes of humbugs— who boast of being nothing but " practical," and those who pretend to scientific attainments which they do not possess. In fact, between the rogues and the cranks, it is a risky business. Mr. Aaron would be willing to make a careful examination of ores and tailings, and furnish a fall report thereon, and would advise as to the mode of treatment, if informed of the local conditions of fuel, water, freights, roads, prices in general, &c. In case Mr. Aaron should be wanted in New Zealand, his terms would be £80 a month, to count from the time of leaving San Francisco, a year's engagement, travelling expenses paid, and a guarantee given that there was plenty of money to carry on the work to pay all expenses, men's wages included. Without examination, he is not in a position to give advice. Mr. Ottokar Hofmann, metallurgist and mining engineer, San Francisco,"also writes on the same subject. He says "the best way for you is to have your ores first thoroughly tested, to ascertain the most suitable and economical process. This of course can easier and better be done here than at the mines, and therefore it would be necessary to send some to me for that purpose. After the proper process ib ascertained, the plans for the reduction works have to be made. If the machinery is ordered, then is the time for a skilled metallurgist to go over to assist the millwright in the erection of the works, and to start the mill and bring the process into good running order." He offers to examine the ores, and to describe the whole manipulations of the best process, so that anyone in hew Zealand could work it, with an estimate of the cost of the reduction works, for £200. If plans and specifications were prepared he would require £300 additional. Mr. Hofmann gives a number of references as to his standing in the profession he follows. He urges that the samples of ore sent to him should be of fair average quality, and he also asks that they state the quantity of ore they will require treated during 24 hours. He cautions Mr. Saunders to be careful in adopting any new process, no matter what names are attached to it, and to wait until its merits are proved on a large scale. Ores sent to the Californian market, "are sent to the ore sampling works first. The samples are sent to two prominent assayers, and if their certificates agree, the aißayers' certificates, with the certificate of weight from the sampling works, are given out for bids. The highest bidder gets it. The ore samples are entirely independent from the redaction works. Two of my brothers have an ore sampling works, and they could act as agent for yon. Do not Bend less than five tons, except the ore is unusually rich."