MINING IN FIJI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14897, 28 July 1910, Page 10

MINING IN FIJI.

The Fiji Royal Gazette of July 8, a copy of which has been handed to us, contains tho mining' and .geological reports submitted by Mr.N. D, Cochrane, F.G.S., an a result of his investigations. Mr Cochrane went to Fiji in June, 1909, undor engagement to tho Fijian Government, as mining engineer, hie principal duty being to advise as to the mining prospects and tho geology and mining regulations of the colony. The result of his investigations is comprised' in a series of reports which make vary interesting reading. Mr Cochrane prefaces his reports with tho following remarks:— "On my arrival in Suva there were many indications of a rush of miners to Fiji. Picks, shovels, and minors' prospecting dislvss were in evidence at the stores, while a number of prospectois had come and others were arriving. It was won found that it was not an extensive alluvial country—nor has any payable alluvial gioutid yet been found—although the gravels are auriferous at places. Noibher was it a poor man's goldfickl. On tho contrary much capital and skill will be required for its development. Consequently, while capital 16 being obtained, mining has bulked less largely, and more attention has, been given to the geological aspect in thosoj reports. The means of transport, except near Suva, is chiefly by natives carrying; and it was. with only native bearers accompanying me'that most of the journeys were made. Walking and canoeing are the chief means of locomotion, the roads are frequently merely native paths ever mountain and 'stream, and as the rivers are rarely bridged they have to bo waded. Necessarily the geological examinations of the country paaied through have been very general, as only brief halts were made, when on the march between tho minoral outcrops, to obtain samples of the more prominent rocks, leaving much detail yet to be filled in While some districts have been unfavourably regarded for mining purposes, ethers hold out great promise. Altogether some 67,693 acres havo been applied for, for'prospecting, and the fees paid. The above area is exclusiv of two 1000-acre blocks taken tin, the fees (;aid, and subsequently abandoned. Meantime—the wot seaion—although a few prospectors are yet in the field, and ground, still being taken up .for prospecting a lull in mining has taken place, while 'capital is being sought for elsewhere to properly explore and prove the various ore-bodies ~JV^Vl 9 o9' ,'Mr Cochrane inspected the ( RoH'a-Vatuvula district. At Vatuvu'a he found an area of comparatively vouita, but much altered, volcanic rocks. These were usually, of a green colour, but eo much metamorphosed by heat, pressure, and other actren that their original mineral structure was lost. Subsequently this rock proved to be trachyte. The chief mineral was iron pyrites,'but it was possible'that copper pyritw were also present, as ono sample of reck showed, the green slain of copper carbonate. Some of the reck was exactly like tho altered amksitcs of Waihi and Thames New Zealand, in which tho rich ore bodies occur, but which at places

have no payable lodes. In the "scapstone* areas the rock is almost certain to prqvo, in places, suitable for cement-making, la other respects theso "soapstorte" beda wire chiefly to cov.jr and obscure tho underlying recks. If of Pliocene age, the.ro is a probability of workable lignito scams occurring near the'base of the formation, and if of the Miocene age hiown coal may bo fomrd. On the sandy beaches of the Uewa River, up which Mr Cochrano i travelled by steamer, black ironsajid in small quantities was frequently to be seoru but although he watched carefully ho could not observe' any coloms of gold. Referring briefly (o tho roek structure of. the district from Lautoka to tho northoast, inspected in July, 1909, Mr Cochrano describes the formation of the hills, and suites that he was unfavourably impressed ■•with the rocks pased ovsr as repositories ot precious metals or eras, though there is a possibility of (indmir goms in the necks or vents from , v hi c h the volcauia material, observable on the sides of the hills, >vaa ejected.

The alluvial ground near Dravu wis next inspected and Mr Cochrane washed several pailluls of dirt taken from different places, bu C „, ~o cllS e did he obtain more than m> colour, from one dish, which leads him to believe that none of the ground approaches payability, oven „„d CT favourabta working conditions.

A very favourable opinion is held of U lB line of mineral country between Waiimtu and Waivnkc, where, Mr Cochrane conaiders, with adequate prospecting, payable' mines should be developed. The gold ho thinks will bo contained in the iron pyrites, and will bo invisible to the eye and lensmuch after the manner of the gold and silver ore 'bodies at Waihi, and, probably like them—richer as greater depth ia attained.

While inspecting tho_ Sabeto and NamolJ districts a visit was paid to a copper mine, but Jiot enough work .had been done fo enable an opinion to be formed as,to its value, though Mr Cochrane considers it well worth further prospecting. Tho Fiji Prospecting Syndicate's mine was also visited. _ A 50ft shaft had been sunk, and! from this a drive extended.some 30ft, from which rich copper ore, carrying gold and silver, was obtained; but the reef is said to have subsequently pinched out. In.the Draiha district a careful examination ivna made of a. reported coal find, which proved to be merely a thin lens-shaped seam of coal encased in solid rook, and holding out no promise of further coal deposits in tho locality. At Is'amoli a. visit was paid to a. 6mall drive in the hillside several hundred feet above the Sigatoka River. Tho drive disclosed a two feet lode of complex ore, feebly magnetic, and containing copper, but difficult to treat oft account of its complexity. It' would be a valuablo lodo) were it in large quantities.

PROSPECTS FOR SLUICING AND DREDGING.

In the Yanawai district a little'sluicing has been done on tit© Vuce River, and a water-race has been constructed, but has been allowed to fall into disrepair. Samples of gravel were taken from the river and its banks and panned, and a fow colours of gold wore fouid. Although not very large, it was a good sample of gold. Tho prospects were not considered payable even for sluicing, but in all probability if holes had been sunk better prospects would have been obtained from the lower layers near the bottom. '

Dealing with tho prospects for dredging, the report states that the Waimanu River presents the appearance of a very suitable dredging ground—plenty of water, a good width, and the .possibility of the gold, if payable, being also under the riveT banks. No information, however, is givon as to tho depth of the gravel or its auriferousness, as these points can only be deter* mined' by, prospecting. COAL AND PETROLEUM.

Tho coastal district from Bau to Viti' iovu Bay was inspected, the party travelling in an oil-launch and landings being made at a number of places along the coast. In addition to observing alio formation ;vnd character of tho rocks, a sharp, look-out was kept for any traces of coal deposits or occurrences of petroleum. A considerable area of " soapstones " extends from Suva to Bau. At Suva they are tho Mioocno strata, and at Bau they aire either the same or Pliocene. Both formations; might contain ligniU;, and tho Miocono, possibly, coal. Looking at tho districS a 8 a wholo, and while admitting that there may be small seams of lignite or coal, Mr Cochrane does not favourably entertain the idea of the existence of .a thick seam of coal of good quality. As regards petroleum, the investigator states that it is a very speculative .matter, auo! one upon whioli only tho most experienced can give an opinion. Tlio evidences of tho existence of petroleum are usually petroleum "scum " and gas bubbles. Mr Cochrane saw the soum at one place only— Namena,—but states that extended search would probably disclose- otJhers. 'No gas bubbles wero seen.

GOVERNMENT ADVISEE'S REPORT,