MINERAL WEALTH

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1935, Page 10

MINERAL WEALTH

QUEENSLAND PRODUCTION. GOLD RETURN A FEATURE’’With the exception of copper and lead the output, from the different branches of the, mining industry in Queensland showed substantial improvement last year compared - with 1933. The expansion in gold production was the outstanding feature and as a result Queensland has risen from a| position of comparative obscurity to second P^ C€ Australia as a producer of this metal. These facts are revealed in the annual report of the Under-Secretary for Mines, Mr. A. A. Staines, covering the Queensland mining industry in 1934. With record prices being obtained for the metal, gold mining prospered beyond expectations, he states, and Queensland’s production during 1934 eclipsed that of the previous year by more than 25 per cent. The search for gold has overshadowed all other mining activities, low Grade deposits. A matter of moment is the very exhaustive investigation of the low-grade deposits at Kidston. The work done to date suggests the possibility of proving payable values over widths up to about 300 ft. containing millions of tons of ore which it is hoped will justify the erection of .plant capable of treating at least a 1000 tons a day. Although the price of 'silver showed a notable improvement, 1934 was a bad year for base metals. It is good for Queensland that tin maintained a fairly high market price, for this section of the industry has shown a satisfactory improvement, states the report. The production of .this metal is essentially the small man’s contribution to the national wealth. Reports from inspectors indicate that the tin miners .of North Queensland view the future with confidence. Ibere was an increase in the number of men employed in connection with metalliferous mining during the year, and more activity was experienced in connection with rare metal mining than at any other period since 1920. The chief producer of wolfram was the Enterprise mine. MORE COAL PRODUCED. Due entirely to a substantial improvement in the northern and central districts of the State, the output of coal increased, from 841,711 tons in 1933 to 956,558 tons last year. The price obtained for this coal was on a par with that secured in the previous year. Coal mining declined in the Ipswich and Darling Downs districts and the Boxflat and Mount Marrow collieries were closed during the year. The search for oil narrowed down to the operations of' three companies. Gems to ae - ue ■' £3055 were produced on the sapphire fields at Anakie compared witt the production valued at £2826 in 1933. A considerable area of new ground was prospected, but no find of any importance was made. The Gem Miners’ Association met with a fair amount of success in its search for markets for gems. The value of yields of the various minerals during 1934 and a comparison with the previous year is as follows:— . 1933 1934 Gold £390,779 £490,490 Tin 123.620 179,404 C0pper'......... W5.031 95,903 Silver 181,108 208,000 Lead 527.696 463,255 Coal 693.383 752,303 ’Gems'"".: 2,826 3,055