QUARTZ CRUSHING.

Otago Witness, Issue 919, 10 July 1869, Page 1

QUARTZ CRUSHING.

The apparent collapse of another Gold Mmmg 1 Company in the province is a matter for general regret. Depending as wo do on the steady development of our resources to carry xis through the times of difficulty and depression with winch we are threatened, an event of the kind we refer to assumes the dimensions of a public misfortune. The failure of a Joint Stock Company usually signifies nothing more than tho loss of so much capital, distributed among bo many shareholders : but as matters stand, and are likely to stand for some time to come with us, tho failure* of any legitimate enterprise signifies something more. Believing as wo do that tho progress of our mining industry is a matter of the veiy highest importance, we note with satisfaction that the Ida Valley Company have not shrunk from publicity as to tho present stato of affairs, and tho causes which have led to it. Tho publio is conscquontly placed in a position to form an | opinion of its own. Asa rulo, inforraa- j tion of this nature has — in similar cases — been reserved for tho fow who happened to bo directly interested in them. The winding-up of n Company was, under suoh circumstances, a mibjoct for conjecture to tho general public; tho conclusion arrived At in most cases being that tho failure of tho enterprise was owing to a failure of tho gold. The Macraes Quartz Crushing Company was a notable instance in point. Tho announcement that ito world* had beon abandoned was ! th« firtt intimation of it* collapse. In

ihe abVdnce 'of 1 fuller ffibpia&faori on the subject^ the collapse was naturally attain buted to the exhaustion of the ground. Later intelligence disclosed the fact that the ground was not exhausted, and led to the belief that the affairs of itie 1 Company had been prejudiced by mismanagement.' This belief was confirmed to some extent by the result of certain 'trial crushings' "which lately took place, particulars of which appeared in our columns at the time. Other associations of the kind have' been allowed to drop without any satisfactory explanation of the reasons. The effect of such unnecessary reticence on thejpublic mind, must be obvious. Suspicion and distrust are engendered when, perhaps, there is no occasion for them. > Enterprises of the kind, however legitimate, aie regarded as more or less mythical ; and many are deterred from, taking part in them. We can readily understand that very strong repugnance may be felt to publicity in cases where promising speculations have ended in disaster. But it should be borne in mind that attempts to hush up are never successful, and that the result — in such cases as those under discussion — is more or less prej odicial to the public interest.

The report of the Ida Valley Company, published some days ago, leaves no room for doubt as to the nature of the circumstances which have placed the Company in its present position. The management was clearly at fault. In the first place, we are told that a sum of £900 was lost in the construction of a useless water-race ; and then follows a statement about a cross level having been abandoned within a few feet of the reef into which it opened. According to a statement by the Chairman, che abandonment of this level was a fatal error. If the level had been carried through, said that gentleman, the Company would not in all probability have been placed in its present difficulties. Indeed, the business seems to have been singularly unfortunate in the matter of practical supervision. The calculations have frequently turned out to be erroneous, and even tho difficulties to which these errors led were apparently exaggerated. The estimated value of the last fortnightly crushing was thirty ounces, whereas the yield proved to be fifty-four. In allusion to this circumstance, it was stated at the meeting that had the manager not deserted the place until the cake was got, there is little doubt that no stoppage would have taken place. It was further shown that although tho Company began to raise gold as far back as October 1867, a succession of unforeseen contingencies — such as the failure of the original race, breakage to tho machinery, delays occasioned by new erections — reduced the actual torm of mining to a period not exceeding ton months ; and yet, after estimating their profits, as shewn by tho oxpendituro in constructing permanent works, thirtyfive per cent, hud been realised. Again, comparing the gold retorted with the quantity of stono crushed, tho yield all through averaged 14.07 dwts to the ton ; and this notwithstanding the fact that, since July last, all the available material had beon passed through the mill. Facts of this description raoko it tolerably clear that tho present suspension of operations is not attributable to any falling oft' in tho valuo of tho roof. In this, as in other cases, it is noticeablo that a great obstacle to success in our quartz roofing speculations consists in tho expensive character of the requisite machinery. Situated, however, as the works of tho Company are in tho centro of a quartz-boftring district, tho difficulty was iv somo measure obviuted. Small claim-holders and prospecting parties brought their atone to tho Company's mill, and its valuo was decided at onco for them on .moderate tormfl. In less favoured locftfitiod, tho difficulty alluded to becomes serious, A

suggestion has recently been thrown." out in an English journal with' reference to this subject, which appeal's to ' deserve attention. It begins by saying :: — * The great hardness of rock not only; renders it difficult to work in the first instance, but also involves so much expense during its reduction io the condition of fine pow- ' der, in which state alone the ' gold can be got from it by amalgamation, that none but the richest quartz qan be worked.' Our authority then proceeds to suggest the following" plan of operations. The rock should first be roasted at a red heat, this process rendering it easy to break -the rock afterwards with a hammer into small pieces. In this state it should then be placed in a large earthenware tube previously' fixed in a furnace, so that the tube passes horizontally through the furnace, and leaves its two ends open to the air. A current of chlorine gas then passed through the tube will combine with and volatilise the gold in the broken rbek. The gold will then be deposited, for on , cooling, the two substances — the chlorine gas and the gold — will be ftnind. to separate. Some such process as this, equally simple and effectual, is urgently [ needed by the quartz-reefing companies in this province. If such a process I could be secured, the most serious obstacle they have to contend with would disappear.