MINING NOTES

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VIII, Issue 2472, 9 February 1909, Page 3

MINING NOTES

I'Voui the- New Zealand Mini's Uncord). J'lu, total pitch lab ami land asphalt ■>iuicl to the United Stales l'rum Irmidad during l'JOi was 1)0,000 tons; here was exported to other countries io,7GU tons.

Unc of the larger anthracite companies in the- United States pumped '2l -137,000,000 gallons of water to the s"r!aee, or more than 1*20,000,001) tuns, during the Year 1006. A single piunpil ...-station isuut up 3,000,000,000 galor 15,000,000 tons.

A petition has been received Irom residents ol Uawera, praying that a State coal-depot might be established ill that town. The Chamber of Commerce, which transmitted the petition, has been inlormed that sullicient coal is not at present available for extending the business of the State Coal. Department.

For gallant services in attempting to rescue entombed miners alter a colliery disaster at Midsomer Norton, in Somerset, John Sininis, William Gould, and Herbert All-wood have been awarded silver medals of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England.

A coal-prospecting license over 500 awes at I'akiiwnii, in Mock VI., Onetaua Survey District, Nelson, has been consented to by tho Hon. the Minister of Alines.

The sum ol Jt LOO ha,* been paid to IVilliam Kennedy for a serious injury to :he eye sustained whilst working at the Point Elizabeth State Colliery, this sum :u include £lO los lOd paid in weekly ustalmonts.

In order to reduce the dust in Gorman mines, holes are drilled in tlm solid coal, and water at a high pressure id forced in for some considerable time before- the eoal is shot down. Boltilrivcn power pumps arc more efficient than steam pumps when a umall amount i)f water is to be raised.

Wales is tho only gold-producing area in tho British Isles. In l'JOi, 12,978 tons of gold-oro, valued at £6,625, was raised, as compared with 17,384 tons, valued at £5,3'13, in 11)0(5. Of the gold-oro, 12,956 tons was raised in Merionethshire, and 22 tons in Cacrmartheiishire. Tho bulk of the gold-oro is obtained fiom rich pockets in veins of quarts traversing tho Cambrian rocks of Merionethshire, in tho neighbourhood of Dolgolly. Tho gold in Caerniarthcushiro occurs in voins of quartz in tho Silurian (Llandovery) rocks. The output of bar gold in 1907 was 1911 ounces, estimated to contain 1680 ounces of lino gold. Tho total value of 1911 ounces obtained was £6228, and tho total cost of treatment is estimated to bo about £603. Tho value is, therefore, £5,625, but this docs not represent the mine-owners' profit, as labour, supplies, superintendence, royalties, etc., havo to bo dodiictcd.—Science and Art of Mining, Wigan.

A sudden outburst of natural gas oeetiiTod on tho 15th October, at Biolitz, from a bore-hole that was in courso of sinking for coal, and bad reached the chalk-marl formation at a depth of •IOU meters. While tlio tools were being lowered for the purpose- of drawing a coro, a rise of water and gas was observed, and the tools were blown out of the hole, some of tho rods being hurled several hundred yards. Tho gas formed a column visible to a height of 100 ft. by its bluish-whito colour (probably due to wator-vapour), whilst tho noise was audible for a considerable distance. Lumps of ico, formed by the oxpansivo action of tho gas,, wore projected from tho borehole.

In order that students at the various Schools of Mines might have an opportunity of consulting sonm of the best technical text-books, tho Mines Department lias purchased a number of these books, i,nd forwarded them to each School of Mines for circulation amongst the students, with the view of enabling them to pursue their studies at their own homes to grealed advantage than has hitherto boon the case. Many of the students live some distance from tho schools, and tho circulating libraries will prove a great convenience to them. The books are to remain the property of the Mines Department.