TREATMENT OF AURIFEROUS ORES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8259, 11 August 1888, Page 3

TREATMENT OF AURIFEROUS ORES.

The following from the New Zealand Herald of a recent date will be read with interest by all connected with mining pursuits :—

Mr P. Ferguson, who went Home to raise capital for'tho working of tho mines and battery owned by tha New Era Gold Mining Company, has written a lotter dated Glasgow, May X), from which we mako the following extracts :—

" Glasgow, May 20,1S83.— Thero is every prospect of my securing for New Zealand what I consider tho best discovered process for saving gold and silrvcr in ores, however refractory. This process is being put to tho most severe tests on a large scale, and, with only an. exception, has given mo3t satisfactory results. Tho digiculty experienced in this exceptional case is a mechanical one, and as tho syndicate who own the process is composed of gentlemen of unlimited imeaus (up to dote they have spent over £70000 in prosecuting their researches) and seem to delight in facing and overcoming difficulties, I believe before this letter reaches you the process will bo perfected, and but for the delay in tho Premier ore arriving in London, I should be on my way out with the said process in my pocket. Tho s.b. Bayleyis reported at St. Vincent, and should arrive in London about tho end of this mouth. Fourteen days is the usual time tajren befor.e t);e ore is landed; tho frozen mutton aud other cargo being generally discharged first. Then two months will elapse before negotiations are completed after the ore 13 treated, deciding on tho most suitable machinery, development of the mines, &c. With regard to tbe machinery good progress has been made. I have had a machine made, and have it running at the works here. The mill is giving most satisfactory results, and will cost less than £100. It reduces dry oro to a fineness of 250.0 holes per square inch; 10 tons per 24 hours, using 5-horse power. Wearing surfaces will not exceed ?d per ton, and being simple, castings aro easily replaced. AVhen everything is settled I I think these mills will be adopted. I will very probably briug 10 or 12 out. The past history ot Auckland mining booms have all been shortlived; it is to be hoped that the current boom will be a lasting one, and I see nothing to prevent it if the mining pommunity bat follow the example shown by almost e;s'ery other successful industry, by. employing chemistry aad the best scientific knowledge in the treatment of the yarious forras jn Fhiph our gold and silver exist—the same course so strongly advocated by Professor Black. Hon. Mr Larnach, Mr Gordon, and others, not lorgettmg the late Mr EJenrick. This sensible way of dealing with ores is exemplified by a large going concern J am permitted to visit here as often as I choose. The saijae gentlemen with whom I am treating are the dir^etors and largest shareholders. The ore is brought from Spain. The mine is situated 30 miles from the shipping port, and before it reaches Glasgow it is turned over six times. The average assay value of the ore for years past is £2 10s 6d per ton, consisting of cv., 2 per pent., 16s; s., 4-3 per cent., 16s; pi, 1 per cent. 2s; silver, 103, 4s; gold, 15gr, 2s Od; iron, 10s—total, £210s 3d. Expenditure: Mining, 3s 6d; cart carriage, Is; freight, 10s; cartage, 3s; grinding, Is; salt, 3s; coal; 3s Od; handling, ss; water and washing, gs 6d; iodide iron, &c., ls-total, &l 12s fld ;— leaving a, profit of 18s per ton on an output of 200,000 tons per annum. They have a regular staff of 50 chemists at the chief office hero ; sometimes they have double that number. I could give many more examples in the iron and steel industry. • Twenty years ago the furnaces were managed quite differently. Now a chemist just from the univer* sity can direct the workmen how and when to draw the furnace according to required quality. This is done by a quick system of analysis." Again, brewers trust _to the ohemist to direct the reactions in their business, also the dyers, print works, bleachers, &s. It will not surprise you, therefore, that I should dp all in my power to interest the gentlemen with whom I am daily associated, so that we may command the best technical talent for Te Aroha goldfields, and I think that I can safely- say that I havo succeeded, for as soon as possible after the manipulation of the ore, arrangements will be made to send out the most efficient staff of experts from their works, including the technical master, the latter gentleman being very anxious to reside in New Zealand after reading and hearing so much about the colony."