FIJI MINING

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9063, 24 April 1937, Page 3

FIJI MINING

VISITOR TO WAIHI FROM EMPEROR MINE

A week-end visitor to Waihi, Mr D. C. Carland, a member of'the assaying staff of tire Emperor Gold Mining Company, Ltd., operating on the northern side of the Fijian group and about 135 miles by road from Suva, who is completing his two months’ furlough at the end of this month, gave a “Waihi Telegraph” representative some interesting data with regard to the Fijian goldfields. The Emperor mine is one of a group of three, six miles inland from Tavua, the Loloma and Koroere, all sponsored by Mr Theodore, of Australia, and is the only one that is producing gold. It is operating an oxidised ore-body of a varying width to a depth of about 150 feet from the surface, and the method of winning the ore is on the open cut system, and the monthly crushing is about 2000 tons. The building of another mill With a crushing capacity of 10,000 tons, is in progress, and it is anticipated that it will be in commissionearly in the New Year. Referring to the future workings, Mr Carland said that below the oxidised ore formation in the bottom level the sulphide ore zone is met with. The gold is in the form of gold telluride, and this valuable deposit will not be attacked until the oxidised ore is practically depleted. Touching on the two other properties of the group, the Loloma and the Koroere, Mr Carland said that the mill of the first-named was nearing

completion and was expected to be in running order about July next. With regard to Koroere, it was still in a development stage. Electric power for the mining companies will be supplied by the Tavua Power Company. The power plant, which is centrally situated, is operated by Diesel engines. Mr Carland, whose visit to Waihi was for the purpose of seeing the Martha mine and the Martha Company’s crushing and treatment plant at Waikino, was, through the courtesy of the management, shown over some of the surface and underground workings of the mine and the Victoria mill yestefday. The visitor returns to Suva by the Monterey on May 1.