THE SEARCH FOR GOLD

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXV, Issue 7614, 7 January 1928, Page 2

THE SEARCH FOR GOLD

BEOPHTIICU SORVEV METHODS EXPERIMENTS IN AUSTRALIA WHY NOT IN WAIHI? The value of geophysical methods in the location of sulphide ore bodies has recently been claiming the serious attention of leading scientists and mining experts, and it is interesting to note that no less an authority than Professor Sir T. W. Edgeworth David is a staunch advocate ol such means of discovering concealed mineral deposits. Interviewed recently in Sydney Professor David, who has been professor of geology at the university since 1891, outlined an importani

and comprehensive scheme of geological survey to be undertaken in Australia, following the deliberations of a committee of scientists which has been appointed under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research —commencing at Hobart on January 13th —to advise about the best possible sites for the commencement of the survey. “Without In any way intending to anticipate the deliberations of the committee,” said the professor, “it seems obvious that the most important type of sulphide ore deposit to locate will be one either of gold-bearing character, or one which consists largely of sulphide of lead, possibly also carrying silver.” Professor David concluded by stating that two experts, Mr Broughton Edge, who had been experimenting abroad, and Mr A. N. , Lewis, of Melbourne University, who had been sent to Great Britain to learn the intricacies of torsion balance surveying, would carry out the geophysical survey, and that the former would arrive in Australia in March to begin the survey for ore bodies on the locality decided upon.

PROSPECTS OP OHINEMURI The results of these investigations will be followed with close interest by all concerned in the mining industry in New Zealand, as should success attend this method of discovering sulphide ore bodies there are several areas in the Dominion upon which experiments could be conducted with the instrument, including the Ohinemuri field, and perhaps more particularly Waihi. It is true that the Waihi Gold Mining Company has, in terms of an agreement entered into with the Grand Junction Gold Company, undertaken to investigate portions of the western section of the Junction property with the diamond drill, which presumably means lateral exploration from certain levels in the Waihi mine, and it it of course possible that these operations will lead to fresh discoveries on that part of the field. But the area to be explored will be limited in extent, and if the district is tq be thoroughly investigated a much more comprehensive scheme should be undertaken. It is generally estimated by mining authorities with an intimate knowledge of the district that to test the country lying to the west of the Martha by sinking and crosscutting would mean putting down a shaft to a depth of 1200 to 1500 feet before branching out in search of ore bodies. This would involve the expenditure of a huge sum of money, with no asurance of reward, and consequently the prospects of obtaining sufficient capital are remote, but if a geophysical survey were first made and proved the existence of sulphide ore bodies, no difficulty would be experienced in raising the necessary capital to explore the lodes..

AREAS ABOUT WAIHI

And the possibilities o£ the district would be by no means exhausted by a survey of the 600 arces held by the Grand Junction Company; there are thousands of acres of virgin country on either side of the two main mines awaiting exploration with reasonable prospects of success. Experience of the Ohinemurl field has led some of those most prominently associated with it tq the conclusion that i th* rusg nl pay we we in'termUtent and not of great length, and in support of this view they quote the results of mining at Komata, Karangahake and WaIWC They, however, do not suggest that the payable qra is necessarily confined to the particular areas mentioned; in fact they admit that other profitable runs may exist, but hold that If they do they will probably never be discovered owing to the jack of Interest in mining and the high cost of exploration. Thus it would appear that there is ample scope about these parts for investigation with the electrical instrument used in geophysical survey, an instrument which, according to Professor David, is capable of locating with great precision the position of sulphide ore deposits. Probably the Mines’ Department will take the matter up if the experiments to be made in Australia prove successful. Goldmining la a languishing industry in New Zealand at present and a revival would mean much to the country.