Islands Mining
pp. 76-77 · Read in the full issue
News
From Fiji
Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines N.L.
THE general manager of Loloma (Fiji) Gold ' Mines N.L. (Mr. F. W. Godden),'in the Co.’s report for the year ended July 31, stated that as most of the development work for the term was done on the extensions beyond the main high grade shoots, he felt confident that, as the 224 ft level was extended under these in the 120 ft. level and the number one adit, a material increase in the positive ore could be expected.
In addition, the further opening up of the blocks of probable and possible ore might show that these were under-valued. The results of mine development for the year demonstrated that pay able values existed for considerable distances farther south than was originally thought. De velopment during the year added 33,830 tons of ore to reserves, of an average grade of 17.66dwt.
The total positive, probable, and possible ore at July 31 was estimated at 138,960 tons, containing 186,4080 z. of gold. Mine account shows an increase of £50,290 on the 1936 figures: At the balance date current assets were £19,411, including ad vances to associate companies £11,200. Outside liabilities are represented by sundry creditors £6.447.
Loloma’s second clean-up of 1,580 tons of ore from the mine at Tavua, gave a yield of 1,6690 z. fine gold and ,7570 z. fine silver. The clean-up was for the four weeks ended November 24, and represents a return of approximately 21.13dwt. a ton of ore treated. Residues assayed S.ldwt.
a ton. For 75 per cent of the period, the manage ment reports, the plant was operating on raw treatment. At the time of the issue of the report it was on designed treatment. The assay value of the residues was down to about 4dwt. a ton, and it was still falling.
Results of the second clean-up are compared with those of the first clean-up (for the four weeks ended October 28) in the following table:
fOn raw treatment 75 per cent of period.
Pacific Gold N.L.
Diamond drilling operations by Pacific Gold N.L., at Wainivesi, Fiji, proved that the prom ising ore body tested in the surface operations did not live down to lower levels. Free options have now been taken over two N.S.W. alluvial properties. Expenditure in the 12 months ended September 30 exceeded the income by £835. At the close of the year bank and cash accounts amounted to £941, and sundry creditors were owed £22.
Mt. Kasi Mines Ltd.
Mount Kasi Mines Ltd. Vanua Le ,r u, Fiji, reported that the November-December production (as compared with three previous periods) was:
Koroere Gold N.L.
Since work was discontinued by Koroere Cold N.L., on the Walu lode at the southern end of the lease on the property at Tavua, Fiji, all labour has been transferred to the north end near the Emperor-Koroere boundary, stated a report issued by the Co. in November. Work has begun on a line of formation running south from the boundary on the western slope of Koroere Hill.
Preliminary trenching on this line has dis closed a fairly regular formation and a shaft is now being sunk at a spot approximately 400 r t. south of the boundary. To date this sinking has disclosed a lode formation of soft altered andesite, carrying odd thin leaders of hard stone. The values obtained from this shaft by assay are from bulk sampling and channel samples at the same depth are: —3ft. (deptM. 2.4 dwt. (bulk sample) ; 6ft., s.2dwt. ; 10ft., ?l.sdwt. bulk; 15.6dwt. (channel sample); 15ft.. 7.Bdwt. and lldwt. ; 18ft., 6.4dwt. and trace; 21ft., 5.6 dwt and I.4dwt. ; 23ft., trace and I.4dwt.
It is proposed to continue sinking here while any values are obtained, and to crosscut at a lower depth to ascertain the width of the for mation.
Work has been continued at the Cardigan West No. 7 shaft in a northerly direction. A west crosscut driven off the north drive at 143 ft. north provided a lode formation of a total width of 32ft., carrying low values. At 32ft west on the western wall of the lode channel, assay values over thel last four feet returned 3.2dwt. a ton, and A. north drive along this was begun. The E. crosscut at No. 7 shaft was extended from 21ft. to 30ft., but as no values were obtained this was stopped. It is proposed to continue working on the northerly extension and later to test the depth of the north end and east by sinking winzes, where good values were obtained formerly.
Emperor Mines Ltd
Since September, production of Emperor Mines Ltd., Tavua. Fiji, has been:— Four weeks ended Sept 4 Oct 2 Oct 30 Nov 27 Ore treated, tons 2,176 2.259 2,700 2,600 Head value, dwt. 9.8 9.25 8 8 3 Gold, oz. fine 963.1 948.7 949.9 First clean-up from the new Emperor treat ment plant is expected on Januai*y 29.
No. 1 grinding section of the new plant started operating on December 10, and except for minor adjustments is reported to be working satisfac torily. Total capacity of the new plant, includ ing the existing unit, is 3000' tons of ore a week.
Experiments made by the Co. indicate the pos sibility of recovering telluride minerals as a concentrate from the residues of the cyanide plant by flotation. An eight-cell flotation plant will be installed at the existing pilot plant in a few monhs to test this process under practical conditions. If successful it will enable the higher
*Oct 28 |Nov 24 Ore treated, tons 1,280 1 580 Gold, fine oz. 1,228.8 1.669 Silver, fine oz 552 757 Tailings assay, dwt 11.3 8.1 *On raw treatment; plant absorption est. 224oz. gold.
Four weeks ended Sept 9 Oct 7 Nov 4 Dec 2 Ore, tons 2,712 2,900 2,524 3,304 Oold, fine oz 553 616 593 611 Value fA 4,839 5,390 5,189 5,346
grade semi-oxidised ore to be treated on a large scale by the installation: of flotation machines in the new plant.
At September 4 proved and prospective ore was estimated at 906,300 tons, containing approxi mately 385,8500 z. of gold. With gold at £B/10/per oz., the gold content of the reserves is about £3,280,000.