QUEENSLAND MINING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1932, Page 11

QUEENSLAND MINING

WORK AT MOUNT ISA.

SUPPLIES FOR 50 YEARS.

Details of great mining activities in Queensland were given by Dr. R. - von der Borch, medical superintendent at the Mount Isa Mines, who is in Auckland on a holiday visit. The mines are controlled by Anglo-American capital and, according to Dr. von der Borch, are a triumph of modern mining cngineerThe mines produced principally silver ■ zinc Dr. von der Borch said, and at the present time had an output of 3000 tons of silven.lead a week. This output was to be doubled in the near future. The construction work necessary for the minin" project had taken eight years to complete and in all £3,500,000 was spent before actual mining operations started. There was a self-contained town of about 3500 inhabitants, of whom 1500 were mine workers. It was estimated that, at the higher rate of output, supplies at the mine would not be exhausted for at least 50 years.

Apart from general medical and surgical practice, Dr. von der Borch said the most interesting part of his work at Mount Isa was the fight against lead-poisoning. This had been fairly rife in the smelters for some time, but dust exhausts and other appliances were nnw- in use, with the result tiiat only about two cases a month'were encountered. ‘ 3