MINING AT THE GREAT BARRIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10415, 13 April 1897, Page 6

MINING AT THE GREAT BARRIER.

A VISIT TO THE PROPERTIES. (BY Ol'R SPECIAL HErORTBR.) No. 11. ORIGINAL GREAT BARRIER. This property consists of 200 acres, and is situated on tho opposite side of the White Cliffs to the two properties described before. It is north of Sanderson's Bay and is bounded on, three sides by the White Cliffs claim. It was first known as the Proprietary, the name being changed recently. Silver and gold were first discovered by the (William, sen. and jun,, and Benjamin), and was worked some four years ago. Mr. Jackson Palmer was at that time also interested in the property. The first assays gave 2660z silver to the ton. Fourteen tons of quartz were then crushed, the result being lOOoz of silver per ton, the highest bullion return being 24402. Capital was, however, lacking, ami until 18 months ago only intermittent work was done. Then several Auckland gentlemen interested iu mining gave the property some attention, and acting under instructions from Captain Amodeo Charles Werner, of Blind Bay,'again pegged out the property, it in the meantime having been forfeited by the Sandersons. About twelve months ago the present company was formed, the number of shares being 80,000. In July of last year the Anglo-Continental Company secured a three months' option, but terms could nob be arranged, and the syndicate withdrew upon the termination of the option. Encouraged by favourable indications, the company decided to work the property themselves, Mr. John Martin being appointed mine manager, and since that time splendid progress has been made. Iu the upper level, which is in 200 feet, but is not being worked at present, what is known as the Proprietary lode was cut, the reef being driven upon east and west for a distance of 35 feet on each side. The assays were more than satisfactory, while the result of the crushings evidently convinced the shareholders that the property was a valuable one, for it was decided to drive a main low level tunnel to the reef, a distance of 1150 feet, the estimated cost being £1400. The contract has been let to Mr, P. C. Hansen, and the tunnel is already in 55 feet. The distance between the high level and the present working is about. 250 feet. Three shifts of men are now working night and day. The drive is 6ft Gin in tho clear, sft spread, and 3ft 6in cap; it is stoutly timbered, unci is a good, permanent work, The country so far met is grey sandstone, clean shooting ground—what is considered good country,—and it differs from other country in the vicinity, in that there is an absence of the hard, flinty quartz in which the island evidently abound?. A large quantity of timber is now on the ground; a scow having been chartered and the timber conveyed from Mercury Bay. The preliminary work has been completed, a bullock track having been cut to the mine, substantial houses for the men erected, and other necessary work done. The reof, where cut, is four feet thiok, and well defined. It has been driven on in one place only, but is outcropping to the west, some distance from the drive. It will be some time before the reef is struck on the low level, but it is the opinion of those who know every inch of the ground that when the work mentioned is completed shareholders should have no reason to regret the expenditure. lONA. This claim is bounded on the south by Sanderson's freehold, north by the Estates Company, west by the Great Barrier, and south-west by the Aotea. It also consists of 200 acres. It was first prospected by Ben Sanderson five years ago, good prospects being obtained, an assay of surface stone giving a return of ldOoz silver and lldwta gold. It was pegged out eight months ago, when the present company was formed; number of shares 60,000. These were quoted at something like as per 1000 until, while working in the prospecting drive at a distance of 102 feet, a reef bearing g'old and silver was struck, Picked stuff from tho face of the reef was assayed in Auckland, the return being 60oz gold and' 500oz silver. Such an assay at once jumped the shares up, and they rose to Is 7d, at which price they remained for some time, and are now quoted at Is 2d. The drive is now in 150 feet. The reef has been driven on at an angle which gives the cut 48 feet, but allowing for this it will be about 30 feet wide. The dip is about one in one, The reef has been traced from the south to the north-west boundary of tho property (about half-n-mile), and shows splendid stone in places. From the entrance to the fontwall the ground is of sandstone or blue tuffa, and from thence to the end of the drive is of a hard flinty nature. The Government geologist, after inspecting tho ground, expressed the opinion that the stone was "a good true quartz." To the hangingwall a conglomerate has been met with, which Mr. Mackay was unable to define. The reef shows silver and gold, accompanied by antimony and iron pyrites, but so far no copper pyrites have been met with. The north-west prospecting drive is in 15 feet, and will probably bo carried on to the boundary of the property. Before the claim is properly proved it will be necessary to drive at a lower level. lb was suggested that a winze should be sunk, but on account of the water this has been found impracticable. The mine manager is Mr. B. Sanderson, who, with Mr. Lee, is recognised as being "the father of the field." AOTEA. The Aotea mine lies between the White Cliffs and lona properties, and is bounded on the north by the Great Barrier. It consists of 200 acres, and with the Original, and portion of the lona mine, lies fen the south-west side of the White Cliffs, the remaining properties lying on the northeast side of the mountain. The first man to prospect the place was B. Sanderson and party, who obtained traces of gold and silver. This was five years ago. None of the stuff was assayed, but the party were satisfied that when the country was opened up the Aotea property was deserving of attention, Six months back the present company was floated, and since that time good preliminary work has been done. A prospecting drive is going in on the southern end of the claim. At the time of our reporter's visit it was in 100 feet, working through free sandstone country, It is the intention of this company to pub in a level on the southern end of the Great Barrier ground, driving on to the reef which runs through the property. The site has been laid off and surveyed, and an application for permission to proceed with the work has already been made to the Warden's Court. Tho Barrier Company are driving for the same reef at a higher level above the site selected by the Aotea. Acccording to surveys the reef should be cut at 313 feet. lb runs from the lona to the Great Barrier, cutting through the north-easterly corner of the mine under notice. The reef underlies about one in one to the west and it is supposed that the Aotea will got a good portion of it, as it dips fast into that claim. The reef is showing on the outcrop, and is a very big formation. These interested in the company are confident that the lona lode will be intersected at about 300 feet, and it is intended to push on work as soon as possible after the necessary permission has been received. Mr. John Martin is mine manager, and in addition he looks after the Kaitoko and White Cliffs properties. KAITOKE. This property is of the same area as tho majority on the field, viz., 200 acres. It is bounded by the Great Barrier north and east, the northern portion being called No. 1 and the eastern Kaitoko No. 2, The property was pegged out by Lee, who obtained good prospects, silver and gold showing in the stone. The assay was such as to warrant the flotation of a company to work the claim, the Aotea company having been floated about six months back. Several reefs have been discovered on this property, the direction being north-east, and it is expected that the reefs running from Ryan's through the Great Barrier will run into the Kaitoke. On the No. 1 portion trenching has been . done, and a prospecting drive has just been started, and is in 15 feet. On No. 2 portion they are driving with, the object of cutting No. 3 reef, the lode running east and west along the hill, and, it is supposed, into this property. It is expected that the lode will be cut at 180 feet.;..' The drive at the time of ohr representative's visit was in 130 bet, going through fiat free sandstone I

country carrying good indications. It will thus be seen that matters are yet at an experimental stage, but as work is progressing favourably it should not be long before something definite is known as to the prospects of this mine. The country is good, and a little more expenditure will go a long way in thoroughly proving the property. MOONT ARGENTOM. This mine is situated to the west of Ryan's, and consists of 200 acres. The ground has been thoroughly prospected, and is said to carry very good stone. The company, which was floated a few months back, did some trenching and put in a drive. The property was then secured on option by Messrs. Seaver Bros., of Auckland, on behalf of an English syndicate. A seven months' option was taken at the rate of 100 per month. Six men are employed, the work consisting of putting in a prospecting drive Th« country so far is very hard, somewhat resembling the flinty quartz so pronounced in the lona property, and which is said to be gold bearing, although a good deal of it is rather hungry looking. A tunnel at a higher level was started, but it was deemed advisable to go for the reef at a lower level, and work is therefore confined to that portion of the property. The drive is in 206 feot, and a reef showing silver freely has been cut. Some of the quartz look 3 really well, and an assay of stone taken from this mine gave a return (principally of silver, though there was a'small proportion of gold) equal to about £20 per ton. The mine manager is Mr. Hansen, jun. (To be continued.) '