Pacific Mining Notes

From Fiji

Gold Mines Of Fiji N.L.

ACTING under advice from Dr. Loftus Hills, consulting geologist, the directors of Gold Mines of Fiji N.L., Fiji, have decided to abandon ail blocks with the exception of two blocks known as Flemon’s and Goodsir’s.

Dr. Hills reports that on Flemon’s block the northern continuation of the Emperor lode system extends from the southern to the northern boun dary of the area, a total length of 4200 feet. This lode cannot be regarded as having been adequately tested until it has been tested by diamond drilling at various depths at every 200 feet along its length. The best assay so far has been li dwt. in No. 1 bore, and is no indication of the absence

of payable values elsewhere in the lode. It is a strong lode system, and the bores already put down, although not showing payable values, are giving valuable data that will permit of future bores being laid out to do down with the lode, as well as across it, along the continuation of the lode northwards. There is, in addition, the northern continuation of the Loloma lode system to search for.

Flemon’s area cannot be regarded as having been adequately bored until drilling has been systematic ally carried out.

On Goodsir’s block the working programme laid down by him in October last is well on the way.

The work so far has disclosed eight well-defined lodes, from 5 feet to 15 feet in thickness. How ever, assays of these lodes where cut by adits or crosscuts have been low, the highest being 2 dwt.

A review of the assays showed an incomplete ness and lack of thoroughness in sampling, which satisfied neither Mr. Samuels nor him. He has arranged for Mr. Samuels to have all exposed faces of these lodes resampled in 2 feet sections. The objective is to disclose distribution of gold values rather than working widths of ore. The present objective of the work is to define the actual lodes in strike and dip and relative importance as a preliminary to diamond drilling. The latest advice from the field states that the fifth bore was com menced on February 25.

Emperor Mines Limited.

For the four weeks ended February 22, Emperor Mines Ltd., Tavua, Fiji, crushed 1470 tons of ore for a yield of 916 ozs. of fine gold. The head value was 13H dwt. The last three returns are com pared in the following table:—

Fiji Gold N.L.

Directors of Fiji Gold N.L., Fiji, acting on the advice of Dr. Loftus Hills, have decided to aban don all blocks with the exception of a block known at F. S. Ragg’s. Dr. Hills, in a report on the area, advises that two lode formation show favour able features. That at the shaft shows a pro nounced shear with an associated well-developed lode type. An assay of 8 dwt. of gold a ton was obtained over a width of a foot. This lode occurs in the upper sambeto tuffs, but the lower sam betos lies approximately 500 feet below the sur face. Arrangements have been made with Messrs.

Goodsir and Samuels to unwater the shaft and explore this lode at as deep a point as possible to provide the essential data for laying out a dia mond drill bore. This area should be retained and work proceeded with preliminary to diamond drill ings. The directors announce that they have con cluded satisfactory arrangements with Loloma West Ltd. to put down three or four bores on Rosskelly’s block on the eastern boundary adjoin ing Loloma, with the objective of locating the Loloma lode.

Nasivi (Fiji) Gold Syndicate, N.L.

The Government of Fiji does not propose to conduct an inquiry into the affairs of Nasivi (Fiji) Gold Syndicate N.L., says a circular issued by the company.

The result of happenings in connection witn me company’s operations in Fiji has been a source of much concern to the board of directors, the circular continues, and considerable time has been spent in an endeavour to clarify the position. To assist their efforts in this regard, the board made formal application to the Fijian Government to conduct an open enquiry into the affairs of the company in Fiji. To assist the authorities there in the investigation asked for, all information as requested by the company’s legal representative was furnished, including sworn affidavits by each director of the company concerning his individual share transactions in the company.

In due course the board was advised by its legal representatives that the Government of Fiji did not propose to conduct an inquiry as re quested by the directors. It was also intimated that the Mining Board did not propose to issue prospecting licences on the areas held by the com pany. (After high values ranging up to 15oz. were re ported from the Raki Raki field, in Fiji, on July 18, 1935, the £2 shares of the company rose sharply to over £5O. In August and September values re ported were poor, the last reported on September 6 being 24 samples, from no value to 8 grains.

The directors then appointed Dr. Loftus Hills to make a report, and he advised on September 10: “The rocks and so-called lodes exposed in the ■ Raki Raki district are the wrong type to consti tute a goldfield. . . . check sampling shows only traces.” Meantime the shares collapsed in the market and were 10/- by September 14.)

Granites Developments N.L.

Operations of Granites Development, N.L., dur ing the year ended September 30 last resulted in a loss of £6256, said Mr. H. E. Thronemann (chairman of directors) at the annual meeting in Melbourne on March 3. Several properties in Fiji were tested, and the Waindoi area gave promise of being a success. A vast amount of prospect ing work was accomplished but no payable values were disclosed, although big lode systems of low grade ore were found. It had recently been de cided to withdraw from all Fijian operations. A number of other properties were submitted to and investigated by the directors but none was found suitable. The Company’s only interest in Fiji at present is a small assaying plant which w’ould be disposed of. The majority of assays taken on the Waindoi area had shown only small yields, and it would have been necessary to make a call of 2d monthly to carry on the project. The directors decided against this. The cost of opera tions in Fiji had been £4OOO.

Tavua Gold Developments Ltd.

An interim geological report has been sub mitted by Dr. Loftus Hills to the directors of Tavua Gold Developments Ltd., Fiji. He reports that surface trenching and shallow shaft sinking oti the Homeward Bound area are disclosing an important lode already shown to be 1200 feet in length with an undetermined intrusion eastwards.

The western portion of this lode on which some work was done in the- past, showed values of 4Jj dwt. at 40 feet below the surface. The recent bore at this point showed dwt. at 300 feet below the surface. The central section of the lode shows up to 13 dwt. in surface trenches and these values are now being followed down; having been missed in previous shafts in this locality. The eastern limit of exploration is included in the work re cently undertaken. Here surface trenches pro gressing eastwards show values of 5 dwt., dwt., 15 dwt., 5 dwt., 2 Yi dwt., 15 dwt., 9si dwt., 4 dwt., and 6 dwt. The lode width is from 5 to 20 feet. These encouraging results are being fol lowed by systematic trenching and shallow shaft sinking. The diamond drill is being used to pene trate the lode progressively eastwards at the 300 feet level. The significance of these results, Dr.

Loftus Hills adds, is that surface values are suc ceeded by lower values immediately below, but show appreciable increases at 20 to 40 feet down.

The first diamond drill shows dwt. at 300 feet below, dwt. at 40 feet down. The geological survey shows clearly that the important gold bearing zone cannot be expected until the 750 feet depth is reached. In the meantime there is indicated payable gold values down to the 300 feet level at least. The surface work and drilling to 300 feet will be continued until the Sullivan drill can be used to penetrate to below the 750 feet level.

Mt. Kasi Mines Ltd.

For the four weeks ended February 16, Mount Kasi Mines Limited, Fiji, crushed 891 tons of ore.

Total head value was 320 ozs., and total tail value 78 ozs. The high tailing is due to a delivery of unsuitable filter cloth, which does not permit a proper washing of the cake. Clean up to February 14 was 3030 z. fine gold. The pipeline for pumping

Dec. 21.

Jan. 25.

Feb. 22.

Ore (dry weight), tons 530 1230 1470 Fine gold, oz. 383 764 916 Recovery, dwt. 14.1 12.4 12.4

crude oil to the mine from the landing has cut down transport costs of crude oil in this sector by at least 80 per cent.

East Reefs Consolidated, N.L.

The legal manager of East Reefs Consolidated N.L. advises that directors of the company who have visited the Yanawai field, Fiji, consider that the following cable received in Melbourne on March 9 contains a very important development: “No. 3 tunnel to 39ft. No. 4 tunnel to 143 ft.

Underlay shaft full face of lode entered into; samples taken. Located source of float, samples taken.”

Granites Gold N.L.

Addressing shareholders of Granites Gold N.L., at the annual meeting in Melbourne on March 3, the chairman of directors (Mr. H. E. Thronemann) said the year had not been a successful one. A number of properties had been examined, but only three were worthy of further consideration—Bet Bet, Rathscar and Nandi (Fiji). Unsatisfactory crushings from the first two had caused their abandonment. The lastnamed had been taken from a closely associated company on a profit-sharing basis, but the deposits proved secondary and did not live down to any depth. At balancing date, cash in hand was £460. Since the close of the accounts refunds, call money and the sale of cer tain original plant from the Granites (Central Australia) had brought the total to £773.

Aloha Central Gold Mine N.L.

Mr. A. G. Campbell, mining engineer, who re cently visited Fiji in company with Mr. A. T.

Day, chairman of directors of Aloha Central Gold Mine, N.L., and inspected the company’s property, has submitted a preliminary report, with esti mates of the gold contents of ore reserves, and df the cost of plant for working the mine. The property is being examined by Mr. C. Dunlop, on behalf of an American group, which is desirous of tak’ng an interest in the field, and is in negotia tion with the directors for subscribing capital for development and further prospecting.

Fiji Mining Corporation, N.L.

An extraordinary meeting of Fiji Mining Cor poration N.L., held on March 13, sanctioned a resolution that the nominal capital be increased from £11,250 to £60,000 by raising the amount of the existing 2,250 shares from £5 to £lO each and by creating 3,750 new shares of £lO each. Of the new shares it is proposed to issue 1,200 as fully paid to the vendor in terms of an agreement, and to offer 2,250 shares for subscription by share holders on the basis of one new share for each share held, payable £1 on application, £1 on allotment, and the balance in calls as required.

The remaining 300 shares are to be held in re serve. Directors state that with the limited funds at its disposal the company has been somewhat hampered in the work of developing the pros pecting licence near Tavua, Fiji, held under option, but the exercise of the option over the balance of the shares comprised in the original capital of the company and the issue of portion of the new shares proposed to be created will provide the necessary funds to complete the purchase of the area and equip the mine for intensive development. The general manager (Mr. D. M. Deane) states that the company’s area covers 305 acres and it situ ated about a mile and a half in the north-easterly direction from the Emperor and Loloma mines.

Prospecting on the lease has revealed two main lode channels, striking approximately north-west and south-east, with a slight southerly dip.