This section of the M ining Digest is intended to provide a systematic classification of a wide range of articles appearing in the contemporary Technical Press, grouped under heads likely to appeal to the specialist.
* Article in the present issue of the M a g a z i n e . f Article digested in the M a g a z i n e .
Eco n o m ics
C o m m u n ic a tio n s, C a n a d a : Costs, Air. Condi
tions Affecting Northern Air-Transportation Costs.
G. W. G. M c C o n a c h i e , Western M iner, Sept., 1946.
D e v e lo p m e n t, C an ad a : Prospects, Revenue.
Record Exploration Efforts Boom Canadian Mining Areas. R. D. H o f f m a n , A. H o f f m a n n , Eng. M in.
North-Eastern Portion of the Timagami Lakę Area.
W. W. M o o r h o u s e , Ann. Report Ont. Dept. Mines,
Exploration of the Blue Metal Corundum Property, Douglas County. E. O. B i n y o n , U.S. Bur. Mines ploration of the Avon Mica District, Latah County..
G. C. R e e d , U.S. Bur. Mines Rep. Inv. 3898.
trolling Plane Position in Aerial Magnetic Survey
ing. H. J e n s e n , J. R. B a l s e y , Eng. M in. Journ., Aug., 1946.
S u rv e y , G e o p h y sic s : Magnetic, Aerial. Detailed Magnetometric Surveys Quickly Made from Heli
copters. M in. Met., Sept., 1946.
S u rv e y , G e o p h y sic s : Resistivity, Kentucky. A Study of Fault Determinations by Geophysical Methods in the Fluorspar Areas of Western Ken
Colorimetric Determination of Cobalt in Metal
lurgical Products with Nitroso R Salt. R. S. Y o u n g ,
C o n c r ete, C o m p o s itio n : Design, M ix. The Im
Mining and Milling at King Island Scheelite. Chem.
Eng. M in. Rev. (Melbourne), June 10, 1946.
cautions Against Overwinding: Limitations of Existing Safety Appliances. A. E. C r o o k , Iron, Coal Trades Rev., Oct. 4, 1946.
H a n d lin g , L o a d in g : Coal, Scrapers. Scraper Loading in Springhill Collieries, Nova Scotia.
I. L. P r i c e , Can. M in. Met. Bull., Aug., 1946.
H y g ie n e , S ilic o s is : Therapy, A lum inium . Alu
minium in Silicosis Prevention. S .A . M in. Eng.
Journ., June 22, 1946.
H y g ie n e , V e n tila tio n : Effects, Temperature. An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of High Temperatures on the Efficiency of Workers in Deep Open-Pit Zinc Mine in Northeastern Tennessee.
W. B l a c k , E. L. O h l e , Eng. M in. Journ., Aug., of Zircon-Rutile-Bearing Beach Sands from Byron Bay, N.S.W. Aust. Council S .I.R ., Univ. of Mel Magnetic-Separation of a Cassiterite-Tantalite Con
centrate from Greenbushes, W.A. Aust. Counc.
T H E M IN IN G M A G A Z IN E
Business : Operates gold-mining properties on the Kolar goldfield, Mysore, India.
The ordinary general meeting of the Ooregum Gold Mining Co. of India, Ltd., was held at 2, White Lion Court, E.C., on September 17, the Hon.
A. T. J. Fraser presiding.
The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 1945, said: The results of the year 1945 showed some measure of recovery from the misfortunes^ of the preceding year and the refund of gold duty received under the scheme of relief enabled your directors to increase the dividend slightly.
During the year 90,666 tons were crushed, which was 7,154 tons more than in 1944. The grade of the ore was reduced from 7-47 dwt. to 6-1 dwt. in accordance witfi the policy of treating lower-grade ore, which is the basis of the scheme of relief from passed. Apart from initial difficulties, our experience of the working of the relief scheme in its early this company certainly the past year’s experience has emphasized that the limitation of relief to 50% mining. We have repeatedly sought special treat
ment for this company and we shall continue to bring our case before the Government of Mysore.
Accordingly it was decided that Mr. Sydney Taylor should pay another visit to the field at the beginning of this year. Part of his duty was to establish our claim for relief for 1945 and to suggest practical improvements in the detailed working of the scheme and these tasks were successfully accom
plished. In particular arrangements have now been made for periodical payments of relief subject our discretion, irrespective of the above maximum, and that in future the bonus will be in addition to boundary between the Ooregum and Champion Reef Mines. This has led to a proposal for joint working between the two companies as the best way of achieving this object and the whole question is now being examined closely.
Mr. Sydney E. Taylor,- having dealt at length with the development work at the mine, the chairman moved the adoption of the report and accounts, which were unanimously adopted.
A resolution converting the Ordinary shares of the company into stock was approved.
4— 10 41
N U N D Y D R O O G M I N ES , LTD.
Directors : A. d'A. Willis (Chairman), H. D. P. Francis, Ralph Nye, Sydney E. Taylor. Managers and Consulting Engineers : Messrs. John Taylor and Sons. Secretary : C. H. D. Garland. Office : 2, White
Lion Court, Cornhill, London, E.C. 3. Formed 1920. Capital : ¿283,000 in 10s. shares.
Business : Operates gold-mining properties The twenty-fifth ordinary general meeting of Nundydroog Mines, Ltd., was held on August 2 at total gold production was only 39,772 oz., a decrease of 9,915 oz. compared with the preceding year.
The price realized rose 16s. 8d. per oz. to 301s. 4d.
per oz.
Our gross receipts from gold sales decreased by
¿108,414, but under the scheme of relief we received a refund of ¿95,845, as compared with the ex gratia
ber. Thus the year had nearly ended before we knew for certain what relief we should receive when the final settlement was made and this uncertainty made it impossible for us properly to control mining policy and grade.
It was not until December that we received our first refund ; another instalment was received in February of the current year and the final instal
ment was not received until May. At the same time you will remember we were deliberately reducing our output of gold by working to a low-grade policy and, moreover, we had begun the year in financial embarrassment owing to the calamity of the previous year when the mine was shut down for some weeks owing to an accident to the main electric supply station.
Apart from initial difficulties, our experience of the working of the relief scheme in its early stages merely served to confirm the belief which we have always held that the only real remedy for the situation in which the mines in the Kolar Gold Field now find themselves is for the Government to abolish the gold duty altogether. The effect of the gold duty and of the limitation under the relief
in the Kolar goldfield, Mysore State, India.
scheme of refunds of the gold duty to 50% of the amount of duty actually paid by the company must be to reduce the attractiveness of such projects for the company and our profits are so restricted even under the relief scheme that we are unable to finance the capital expenditure involved. to" make the following announcement :—
" Conversations have been in progress for some time with the Government of H.H. The Maharaja of Mysore regarding financial ways and means for the post-war rehabilitation of the industry in harmony with a policy of longevity, which is being examined sympathetically by the Government of Mysore. Negotiations have reached an advanced -stage for the obtaining of a loan at a low rate of interest for financing the capital expenditure for the current year according to an approved pro
gramme. It is hoped to be able to make a fuller and more detailed announcement on the subject in the near future when the negotiations have been finally concluded, but it can now be said that the information contained in this notice is published with the knowledge and approval of the Govern
ment of Mysore.”
As nine months of the current year have passed, you will expect me to give some indication of how things are going now. The year opened with a pro
longed strike which gave us another serious setback.
The strike was a great misfortune. All production of gold at the mines ceased for more than two remarks, said : The development work accomplished during 1945 was again on a very restricted scale.
The total of 5,873 ft. was far below the require
ments of the mine. The reasons for this were con
tinued shortage of labour and the strike which lasted seven weeks in May and June. Only a limited amount of work could be done in the bottom levels owing to the slow rate of progress with the third stage layout and new shafts. The difficulties are being gradually overcome and progress during the current year is showing some improvement.
Considering the many adverse circumstances that have assailed the company recently, there is some satisfaction in finding that the ore reserve position has not deteriorated more rapidly. This does not in any way lessen the urgent need for a greatly increased exploratory development campaign, but it does mean that there is still time for this campaign to be effective in prolonging the life of the mine.
The report was adopted.
T H E M IN IN G M A G A Z IN E