COMPLEX ORES AT THAMES

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

COMPLEX ORES AT THAMES

PROSPECTS OF IMPORTANT INDUSTRY GERMAN ENTERPRISE In a chat with My E. Langguth, of the well-known firm of Langguth and Company, Auckland, on the sub-, ject of complex ores in the Thames and Coromandel Telegraph'' representative gathered some Interesting information ip connection with the operations q£ the New Zealand Metals Company, Ltd., of which Mr C. G. McMillan is chairman of directors. N.Z. RICH IN BASE METALS "There can |>e no doubt,’’ said Mr. Langgqtb, ‘‘that New Zcalapd is abundantly rich in base metals and that commercialised they will create a new and important industry for ttip Dominion. The New Zealand Metals Compapy is at the present time com’ fining its activities 'to the " 'Thames district, aqd is carrying on tioris at the Colorado and Afqnpwaf mines. Fpr some time past the ' pre won frpm thpac properties jias, aftep being reduced t 0 tjje form Of epneep- ( trates, been, sent for treatment to j Germany. The concentrates are de-, j spatchcd in kerosene tins, bound

with iron bands, each tin holding about 200 lbs. Up till now the concentrates have been sent experimentally, and the consignments have reached their destination in a satisfactory condition. Recent advices from the works in Germany indicate that the results after treatment have been very satisfactory-, and that the handling of small consignments,; ranging from one ton up to six tons, has shown a substantial profit, but the works, owing to the expensive process in separating, the various metals which are contained in the concentrates, want much larger consignments. They are now looking for shipments of 1000 tons a montb.but the development of our properties has not. reached a point that will permit of the Now Zealand Metals Company sending that quantity”

QUESTION OF TREATMENT „ Referring to the value of the ore, Hr Langguth stated that this can onljvbe determined after extraction and more met ala it contains the more difficult and expensive is the process of extraction. For instance. “ there was one process* for extracting zinc, another for lead, copper and so on, These complex ores could be treated m New Zealand or Australia, but the present output would not warrant the enormous expense v vplved in the-erection of a plant. Nqt only is the initial expense great, Ut skilled labour is required and if skinLi >° a ™ hci’on' one bocomep for * J JI J, working the process. Re-. ; the Germans would consider the ’ juestiou of establishing wprks ip either New Zealand pr Australia they have to he assured o.f a verv .laige apd regular output, , In addition to the two properties ”, being operated ip the Thames district, Mr LanggpUi ig operating' a property op Ills own account at (jadnian’s creek, Cprqmaudcl.