Promising New Gold Signs

Found On Solomons Field

FURTHER promising gold

indications have been discovered on the Gold Ridge field of Guadalcanal Island, BSIP, according to an announcement made by the Senior Geologist, Mr. J. C. Grover,

in August.

The new goldbearing ore body was discovered in the south of the field near the 2,000-ft contour on the ridge crest—about 14 miles (as the crow flies) inland from Honiara.

Samples had been taken and assays were awaited. Further ex ploration was being carried out by the Balasuna Syndicate, which owns the claim.

This is the fourth ore body dis covered this year by the Govern ment Geological Survey team work ing on the field.

Further work on earlier discoveries has shown that the field measures about two miles by one mile.

The Tinomeat lode in the north, and the southernmost lode, have proved of lower grade than ex pected, on assay. The latter lode has also proved too limited in size to be of immediate interest.

All resources are now being con centrated on proving the new dis covery and the lode at Kuper’s Creek, in the centre of the field.

THE Kuper’s Creek find, thought at first to be only four feet wide, is now proved to be at least 16 feet wide and may be much wider.

Neither face of the crosscut has yet emerged from the lode.

Assays from this body from a drive of 20 feet in length and 13 feet in width indicate a possible value of i oz to the long ton. This in cludes two very low 60-in assays of only 1 dwt and 1.24 dwt.

Other samples assayed as high as 2 oz and 2 h oz to the ton, and the latter were not exceptional, as there are patches in the veins richly studded with gold.

A portable diamond drill unit is on order in Canada and the Geological Survey will carry out a scout drilling programme in all gold bearing areas on the Ridge.

Due to the considerable depth of weathering, surface prospecting is extremely difficult, drilling being the only efficient method of investigat ing this field.

A S Gold Ridge has been abandoned J\ for many years, it has been necessary to reopen communi cations with the existing road system on the coastal plain several miles to the north.

A foot track has been cleared from the Tinahula roadhead in the foot hills to Gold Ridge. It follows gently rising grassy hills at first, and thereafter jungle-covered ridges.

No attempt has yet been made to find a motor road.

Pacific Uranium and Oil Syndicate Ltd., of Sydney, has sent a rep resentative to the Solomons to in vestigate the field. This syndicate plans to change its name to Pacific Mining Ltd.