MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13499, 28 May 1907, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS AT ; LOW LEVELS. , .:.- ; »v ;.- '; ■■- ■■;■."• ■■-;-;; -■ .;,'-; ■•- ■ - -■; - HIGH VALUES MAINTAINED. ' | ! [BY. . TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.} ; . Waihi, Monday. Development works in r the low levels of the Talisman mine at Karangahake continue to be attended with very, satisfactory results, and highly payable blocks are being opened up. At No. 13 level, where it was in some quarters thought the ore bodies had given out, or that a disturbed area had dislocated the veins, the crosscut going south has pierced, and is now being advanced upon, the downward continuation of the Bonanza section of the Maria lode. Owing to the great underlie of the ; ore body at the higher levels, the management projected the main level from the shaft in a westerly direction for a length of 566 ft without intersecting the object of their search. This level passed through a vein of small dimensions, which it was decided to exploit, with a view to determining whether it would prove to be the Bonanza section, or a dropper therefrom. A distance of 166 ft was driven with varying results, the lode swelling out to 3ffc and 4ft, and carrying good values here and there, but proving inconsistent. From this 166 ft mark, which is south of the main level referred to as having been driven in a westerly direction, the reef commenced to strengthen, and-thickened out to the full width of the drift, from 4ft to sft wide. The ore body continued to gradually gain strength as the work progressed south upon that trend of the lode, and, as indicated in the last three-weekly report of the management, gave an average value from 166 ft to 208 ft of £9 per ton. This figure, judging by the appearance of the reef, is well within the. mark. Since then a further distance of 42ft has been driven, making 250 ft in all; the reef' still carrying good grade ore. Right in the face of the drift tho lode shows excellent ore, and as the west wall is not in sight, this indicates that the vein is increasing in strength. as the work advances south. The chute of ore is carrying down into the deeper areas of tho mine, and everything points to the likelihood of an extended area of pay ore at the , present lowest Workings. From all appearances, the deep areas of the Karangahake district seem to have a bright future before them. It is worthy of note that this level (No. 13) is the deepest in the colony. From the No. 8, or main adit, the total depth •is 900 ft, and from the outcrop it is fully 2000 ft, and the results now being met with show that the values live down into the deep country. The Talisman and Woodstock chutes, at No. 13, ; are also furnishing: good grade ore, quite equal to that met with in the levels : above. : :..:''• ■':'■, "\ . ' * No. 12 level: The leading stope in the Bonanza section at this level has been taken out, -timbers and -passes have been placed in position, and the woi-k of stoping upon this valuable block is now in lull swing. The block is, perhaps, the most valuable in the mine, being fully 300 ft depth, with a stoping stretch of quite 200 ft upon the lode, "which will average from 13ft to 15ft in thickness. The eastern branch is also opening up very satisfactorily, particularly at this level. Li.-the'south -face the vein measures about 18in, and is worth £4 per ton; in: the north face the same Vein is stronger, but of : lower grade. . '-"These faces have 'been suspended temporarily, . pending the completion 'of a connection from No. 11 level. * . .;*; v No. .11 level: The ore body,, here is of large dimensions,' measuring in places fully 30ft in thickness, the whole of which? is pay ore. At this level the eastern branch is also a valuable addition. ■■■■.-->.. . Nos. -10 to 8: The blocks between.', these levels have been considerably stoped upon for some 19 months, and there is yet several months' work ahead here.

WAIOTAHI. The manager of the Waiotahi mine reports for the week as follows :-^-lS v p. 6 level: The drive south. on the cross reef has been stopped, the reef showing no improvement. The stopes on the footwall dropper continue, to show good dabs and colours of gold. Stoping on the main reef is also in hand, the fourth stope being carried 36ffc west of No. 1 winze, and the reef being about 10ft in width; The prospecting crosscut south of the main.shaft is in a distance of 86ft, but as yet no reefs have been cut. The crosscut north of the main shaft has been resumed, and is in a distance of 255 ft, and is still penetrating the reef, the quartz being now of a more compact nature. Cure reef: The fourth stops west of the rise is being continued, and has been carried 47ft.; During the week 51b good stone has been selected. No. 5 level: The drive into the footwall on the cross reef is being continued, and is; in a distance of 35ft. In some small threads of quartz crossing the face colours of gold have been seen. The leading stope east of i No. 4 rise is in hand, colours of gold beingseen in the quartz broken. The stopes east of No. 2 winze are .also producing a fair supply of crushing dirt. The seventh stope has been carried east of No. 1 winze for a distance of- 51ft. The eighth stope on the rich run has been started east of "No. 1 winze, and as wired on Saturday 1701b picked stone have been secured, making a total so far for the month from all sources of scwt'Bllb. Driving west on the main, reef from the north crosscut is being continued, and is in a distance of 224 ft.' There is, however, nothing fresh to report from this face. No. 4 level: Driving east on the main reef from the north-east drive is in hand, and is in a distance of 92ft. The quartz is of a kindly nature, but no gold lias been seen. Stoping above this level on the main reef is being continued, and good dabs and colours of gold have been seen in the quartz broken. Cure reef: The drive west on this reef is now in a distance of 28ft from the rise. The roof of the old north crosscut has been cut down for a distance of 64ft from the shaft, and the country is now much easier, arid better progress will be made. No. 3 level: The sinking of the No. 2 winze in the western end is in hand, and is down a distance of sft. The reef here Is- about 3ft in width, and shows good mineral -indications, and the quartz broken is of a payable character. Cleaning up for the month.will, take place on Saturday next. ■"""' . !

-.- [■: WAITANGI. '• t v-j [Bt TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ; , ■..,/." Thames, Monday. The main crosscut at the low level is still being continued, to intersect the main reef, and the country in the face is.becoming of a harder nature. Several more small quartz stringers showing «a little gold have been passed through; during the week. In the drive west on the new reef a total distance of 26ft has been driven from the crosscut. The reef is about 18in in thickness in the face, carrying good mineral, but no gold has yet been seen in it. In the ■ surface level a total distance of 147 ft has now been driven, and according to the survey the reef should have been to hand during the past week. The distance was, however, based on the known underlie of the reef at No. 2 level, and any alteration between the two levels would cause it to be further in the wall at the istlrface level, which has evidently occurred. The country in the face is still of a favourable description. ' . - -

♦ DREDGING RETURNS. [BY telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Monday. . During the week ended Monday, returns were reported from 31 dredges, the total yield being 8760z l4dwt l2gr, Averaging 28oz per dredge. Additional returns are as fol:—Golden Treasure; 390z; Chicago, 28oz 18dwt; Perseverance No. 1, 270z; Golden Gate, 2loz 3dwt; Olrig, 18oz 2dwt; Otago No. 1, 18oz: Waikaka 'Queen, 16oz 3dwt; Molyneaux Hydraulic, 14oz 7dwt; Perseverance No. 11., 14oz 3dwt.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. ; Bonanza (May 25): During the past week the crosscut/sa* been advanced 10ft, making- ;•*•■ total of 310 ft now i driven ■ from the entrance. The country in the face is Of a most favourable class for the existence of gold-bearing quartz.'; The formation of pug and grit mentioned in last weeks report has given place to a small leader, in <vhich a little blende has been seen. In the eastern drive the face has been advanced ore lor tne week, making a total of 14ft In from the- starting point. Wo have taken down . a portion of the reef and on the hangingwall of the same the quartz looks very well and is carrying splendid mineral indications.;- „. v . ■ ~ • Old Kapanga (May 25): Since last report we have extended the drive from the bottom of the winze 16fb, making 34ft in all. There Is no change.. .We lowered the pump 10ft on .Tuesday, and since then the water has teen taken down to the chamber of the 300 ft level, which enables us to get along the drive 500 ft. . The air here is very bad, but there is a good current of air coming through the Coromandel shaft, which should clear it out in two or three days. In the meantime we will lower the pump further. ; -- = New Dart (May 25): The quartz left in the passes on the Rover reef has been forwarded to the battery, where it is now being treated. The clean-up should take place about Tuesday. I am sorry to any that up to the present it is not shaping'for a payable return. The engine will be put into position next week and the necessary connections made. - ' . ' - Trafalgar (May 25): The crosscut to intersect the Nelson reef has been extended 25ft, making 75ft from the starting point. The country continues to'be of a most favourable nature, both for speedy progress and for carrying gold-bt-a.-ing reefs. As wo are now within 20ft of being directly under the upper level, the. reef bay be met with at any time. - _ . . ~_ Moanataiari Extended (May <&) : During the week work has been confined to rising on the main reef from the back of the surface level, 'this rise is now up 16ft, and the reef is more compact and defined than in the drive. At present we are shooting out 4ft of the hangingwall portion, which is composed of a nice,. kindlylooking quartz giving a fair dish prospect. • Kuranui (May 25): In the intermediate level the drive on the Shotover leader has now been driven 56ft east of the 'Shotover shaft- We appear to be getting into "a more favourable class of country now, and the leader has taken a more northerly course,which will bring it over to the footwall leader. If they junction further ahead they should form a good-sized leader and should make gold at that point. Footwa.ll leader—No .1 slope west has been extended 19ft, making the total length west of the rise 46ft. The leader at this end averages about 12in in width, and, although it does not show as much gold as at the eastern end, it is still producing a fair amount of pavable dirt. No. 2 stope has been extended 26ft east of the rise. The leader is still standing good in the face, although it does not look quite so promising as it did. It will most likely improve in the next stope. We have just completed a crushing of 50 tons of ore from this leader for a return of 40oz 6dwt melted gold. South Kapanga (Mav 27): The main drive has been extended 19ft, which is now in 39ft from the rise. The north drive has been extended 9ft on the leader and is now in 87ft, The country has been somewhat disturbed and the leader has been knocked about, but there i 3 a nice-looking body of ore in the face just now and the country rock is also of a better description than what we have been meeting with for some time. Old Alburnia (May 24): The work of prospecting the big reef in the main tunnel has been continued and the eastern drive on the footwall of the reef has been advanced 16ft. ■ There is no change yet to report in .the condition of the reef, the quartz broken down being still of .very low value. The drive westward from the tunnel on the • hangingwall of the reef has :dso ten driven another 16ft. The quartz broken down from this drive has a very kindly appearance arc- ■ carries a more favourable class of mineral, tut so far no gold lias been seen. . / , Tnii-iia Broken Hills (May 17): Stoping has been « carried on as usual and the ore being won is of a payable nature. The rise on the reef has been advanced about 12ft, making a total of 53ft risen since starting. The reef in the back of the rise is still 3ft in width, with good payable indications. • The main low level crosscut has been driven a further 20ft, making a total of 140 ft. New Monowai (May 24): The foundation for the suction gas engine has been completed and the engine rs now resting on the same. _ Mr. Chambers, the engineer, will have everything finished within a fortnight, at or about which time crushing operations can be carried out. The contractor for carting quartz has now delivered 194 tons at the battery. He has not been able to work for the past two days-owing to bad Toads and wet U Templo Bar (May 25): During" the. week the contractors have advanced the low level 10ft, making 313 ft in all. From the present indications I should say: that the reef belt has been entered. The joints in the country rock, which have previously dipped away from the tunnel face, are now dipping towards it. This is the inclination of the dip 'possessed by the reef. This change was onlv met with last evening. Water is now flowing "freely from the bore holes. The country is a mild white sandstone of the same description as that encasing the reef at the, upper level. -; . Kirikiri (May 24): The winze on the Horseshoe reef has been, extended a further distance of Bft, making ft total depth of '44ft. : Have also put in Uvo sets of timbers making a total number of seven sets put in.: The size of the reef is 18in thick. When breaking-down'2olb of picked stone were selected and gold is >«» showing in both ends and bottom of the winze. Gold was freely seen through the general quartz There, are 18 or 20 tons of quartz in the hopper from the ™, which will yield well.;; Will start to crush about the middle 'of next week. I have stopped the north drive off the rise for a time . and have removed the men to get mining timers. •_.,