LOW-GRADE ORES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 11

LOW-GRADE ORES

MINING IN DOMINION "GREAT POSSIBILITIES" GOVERNMENT AID NEEDED The view that the Government had not yet awakened to the great possibilities that existed in New Zealand for the mining of low-grade ores was expressed by Mr. A. Greville Walker in an illustrated lecture given in the Auckland University College Hall last night. The .lecture was held under the auspices of the Auckland Institute. Sir Joseph Smith presided. Mr. Walker referred to the encouragement that had been given by the Governments of South Africa, Canada and Australia to the mining of gold in tliosw countries, where the importance of the industry was fully realised. In New Zealand the development up to the present had boon principally in the working of alluvial deposits and reef formations. In some cases research work was necessary and in others the time appeared opportune for the setting in operation of plants for the treatment of ores of a lower grade than had hitherto been worked.

Existence ol Large Deposits During the past few years, Mr. Walker said, he had devoted much time to the investigation of laiv-grade ore deposits in the Dominion. In the Coromandel district at the Hauraki mine, and in other areas adjacent, on the Tokatea Range, at Thames, at Owharoa, Waikino, in the Golden Dawn mine, and at the Karangahake field there appeared to be considerable deposits. The Waihi mine really worked on what the speaker described as a high-class lowgrade ore. Large deposits also existed at Waiorongomai, Te Aroha, at Waiomio, on the Thames coast, and on the Thames foreshore.

Before any low-grade ore development proposition was proceeded with it was necessary to erect and operate a small testing plant. Thorough preliminary investiagtion was essential before major plants were erected. The grade of ore had a marked influence on the design of treatment plants. Major plants involved a heavy capital outlay and required an assured supply of ore. In the Dominion there was a cage for State assistance in the development of low-grade ores. It seemed, however, that the Mines Department preferred to leave the pioneering work to private enterprise. Unless this was done by private enterprise there appeared to be little possibility of low-grade ore developments being put in hand. Much Capital Withheld Apart from the necessity for the provision of State-owned batteries or mills Mr. Walker considered that the investigation of proposals should not be left to the decision of one expert. At present the inspector of mines in any one district was expected to be not only an inspector, but also a mining engineer and geologist. "The failure to provide greater facilities for the undertaking of mining operations in the Dominion is directly responsible for the holding up of considerable amounts of capital, both local and Qverseas, and keeping it out of circulation," he said. It was advisable for the Government to take adequate measures to prevent the launching of "wildcat" schemes. But with these precautions, all possible facilities for mining on approved lines should be granted. It was not suggested that mining operations should be subsidised.

It seemed that the investing public must be educated to the fact that lowgrade ore mining was hardly of a specualtive mature, but 'was esesntially a commercial enterprise, Mr. Walker considered. When it was realised that on numbers of proved areas could be turned over daily many hundreds of tons of ore from which a definite return could be assured, then people might see the unloosening of purse strings and thp opening up of an industry which must inevitably assist in the future prosperity of the Dominion.