WAIHI MINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22006, 12 January 1935, Page 13

WAIHI MINING

LAST YEAR'S PRODUCTION

HIGHER TONNAGE TREATED

BULLION YIELD FALLS

The NVaihi Gold Mining Company, Limited, completed its 46th year of production last year, when there was an increase in the tonnage of ore treated, but a lower return of bullion. The final return for the period ended December 31, comprising 22 crushing days, was as follows:—18,128 tons of ore crushed for 4999 fine ounces of gold, and 29,456 fine ounces of silver, the figures including 1614 tons mined from the Grand Junction area, which yielded 423 fine ounces of gold and 1117 fine ounces of silver.

During the year the company's mill treated 229,351 dry short tons of ore, compared with 224,689 tons in the previous year. Included in the total tonnage was 21,916 tons of Waihi Grand Junction ore, against 27,780 tons in the previous year, the Waihi Company's area supplying 207,435 tons, against 196,909 tons. The output of bullion for the year was C3,3350z. of gold and 359,6290z. of silver, compared with 69,1850z. of gold and 413,9830z. of silver in 1933. Of the total, Grand Junction ore yielded 58870z. of gold and 16,6180z. of silver,' against 99440z. of gold and 52,2410z. of silver. The value of tho year's total production at 84s per oz. and 2s per oz. respectively was £301,970, against £331,976 on the same basis in 1933.

A comparison of the crushing and yield for the past four jears is as follows:

Tons of Gold Silver 20001b. oz. oz. 1931 . . 2-23.376 75,347 431,176 1932 .. 2.11,840 73,592 521,389 1933 . . 224,689 69.185 413,983 1934 . . 229,351 63,335 359,629 Up to the end of 1933, the company had won bullion which realised £18,165,721. Realisations for the past year are available for the first three crushings only. These up to March 17 totalled 48,-'542 tons, which yielded 13,8390z. gold and 82,3230z. silver, realising £114,130. For the same period in 1933 the realisation was £106,000. The following table summarises the company's bullion returns since the mine commenced operations in 1887:

Tons of Yield Peiiod 200011). £ 1887-91 . , Xot known 50,086 1892-95 . . 108.230 313,922 1896-1900 .. 411,597 1,156,118 1901-05 .. 1,228,256 3,053,575 1906-10 .. 1,937.887 4,532.618 1911-15 .. 1,059,033 2,030.300* 1916-20 .. 926.892 1.850.986* 1921-25 .. 975,4C9 1,772,025* 1926-30 .. 1,107,986 1,922,738* 1931 .. 223,376 413,900 1932 .. .. 231.840 530.872* 1933 .. .. 224,689 538.581 1931 .. .. 229,351 + * Includes special amount obtained by reduction of bullion in process of treatment. t Full realisation not available.