The Mining Magazine
M anaging Director and E d ito r : W . F . W h i t e . A ssis ta n ts : S t. J. R . C . S h e p h e r d , F . Hi g h a m, A .R .S .M ., M .Sc., F.G .S.
Pu b l i s h e d o n t h e 1 5 t h o f e a c h m o n t h b y Mi n i n g Pu b l i cA ' a t Sa l i s b u r y Ho u s e, Lo n d o n, E.C. 2.
Telephone : London W all 8938. Telegraphic A d d ress: Oligoclase. Codes : Mi
Br a n c hR A N C H O F F I C E S | C h i c a g 0 : O F F i r r s / N e w Y o r k : g g ^ N A m e r ' I n s t ' M - & M , E 'M i c h i g a n B i v d ,
( Ihe!
Su b s c r i p t i o n |
Vol. XLII. No. 1 L O N D O N , J A N U A R Y , 1930.
.C., F .G .S . ;
postage.
PRICE NE SH ILLIN G
C O N T E N T S
Ed i t o r i a l
N o tes ... 2
Mr. W alker’s R etirem ent ; The S ta n trg Mine ; New Y ear Honours ; Im perial College D inner ; A New Book on Alluvial Mining ; Lena Goldfields ; R hodesian R ail
ways.
Silver ... 3
In view of th e rep o rt of the work a t the R oyal M int and the low price of silver a re tu rn to a finer silver coinage is suggested.
A P lea for D o lco a th ... 3
The relations betw een this old Cornish Mining Com pany and th e G overnm ent are exam ined.
T in ... 4
The progress of Tin S tabilization is reviewed.
T he S u ctio n C u tte r D r e d g e ... 5
A resume of th e discussion on one of th e papers a t the Decem ber m eeting of th e In s titu tio n is given.
Re v i e w o f Mi n i n g ...
Ar t i c l e s
T he S ta n tr g L ead -Z in c Mine, Y u g o slavia ...D r. A . B ra m m a ll
The author describes an ore-body which, in respect of mode of em placem ent, is of exceptional interest.
T he R e la tiv e E fficiency of O re-dressing P r o c e s s e s ...R . T . H ancock
The author describes a new form ula for calculating efficiencies of ore-dressing processes.
T in Lodes in N o v a S cotia.
E . H . D avison
The author gives an account of the geology of th e Gold R iver Area, Lunenberg County, N ova Scotia, where b o th tin and gold deposits are found.
Bo o k Re v i e w s
T h o rn e an d H o o k e’s “ M ining of A lluvial D eposits by D redging a n d H y d ra u lic k in g ”
H . W . L aw s and W . R . Rum bold N icolesco’s “ G isem ents P étro lifères de la
p erse ■’ ...H . B . M iln er N a sh a n d B ow en’s “ T h e P rin c ip le s a n d
P ra c tic e of L u b ric atio n
W ilfred E . Gooday S te in m a n n ’s “ Geologie von P e ru ”
5. J . Truscott W h ite la w ’s “ S urveying as P ra c tise d b y
C ivil E n g in e e rs a n d S u rv ey o rs ” F . W . A rm strong C ro o k all’s “ Coal M easure P l a n t s ’’
A . J . M aslen 16
20
PA G E
Ne w s Le t t e r s
Jo h a n n e s b u rg ... 29
A N ational I n d u s tr y ; A New Copper B e l t ; S ta te D iam onds ; A prom ising P latin u m P ro d u cer ; T ra n s
v aal E m eralds ; D ry Mining In v estig atio n s ; D eath of D r. P. A. W agner.
B r i s b a n e ... 31
The New M ount Morgan ; Foreign C apital for Oil Prospecting ; M ount Isa Progess ; A nother Mining T ru s t V enture ; T he Coal Trouble ; N o rth B roken H ill; E lectro ly tic Zinc Company.
V a n c o u v e r ... 33
In stitu te M eeting ; T he K ootenays ; P o rtlan d Canal ; B oundary.
T o ro n to ... 35
S u dbury D is tr ic t; Porcupine ; K irkland Lake ; R ouyn ; Chibougamou, Que. ; M anitoba ; H uronian B elt.
C a m b o r n e ... 37
Cornish M ining in 1929 ; S outh C rofty ; W heal K itty ; Lam briggan.
P e r s o n a l ... 38 Tr a d e Pa r a g r a p h s. ...
M irrlees, B ick e rto n a n d D a y Oil E n g in e C lim ax H a y D u s t T rap
38 39 40 9 M e t a l M a r k e t s... 41 S t a t i s t i c s o f P r o d u c t i o n... 43 P r i c e s o f C h e m i c a l s ... 45
24 24
26 27
27 28
S h a r e Q u o t a t i o n s ... 46 Mi n i n g Di g e s t
T h e Geology of N o rth e rn R h o d esia (con
tin u e d fro m th e D ecem b er issue, p. 369) J . A . B ancroft and R . A . Pelletier 47 T h e S u c tio n -C u tter D redge . . . . G. W . M ore 50 D eep M ining M ethod a t th e C ity D eep
A . V . Lange 53 T h e A llen b y C o n c e n tra to r, B r itis h C o lu m b ia
H . R . T a ylo r 56 Sh o r t No t i c e s... 59
Re c e n t Pa t e n t s Pu b l i s h e d 59
N e w B o o k s , P a m p h l e t s , e t c... 60 C o m p a n y R e p o r t s... 61
A nglo-Burma Tin ; Apex (Trinidad) Oilfields ; Associated Gold Mines of W estern A u stralia ; A yer H ita m T in D redging ; B a tu ra Monguna Tin ; Camp B ird ; Consolidated T in Mines of B u rm a ; Ex-L ands N igeria ; F rontino an d Bolivia (S.A.) Gold M ining ; Hongkong Tin ; K am unting ; Lake View an d S ta r ; Lena Gold- fields ; M alayan Tin D re d g in g ; Meru Tin ; M exican C orpora
tion ; N arag u ta K orot A reas ; N ara g u ta (Nigeria) Tin M ines ; N igerian Consolidated M in es; R a m b u ta n ; S an ta G ertrudis ; Sulphide C orporation.
D i v i d e n d s D e c l a r e d... 63 R u tle y ’s “ E le m en ts of M ineralogy ” ... 28 N E W COMPANIES REGISTERED 64
E D IT O R IA L
R
E G U L A R re a d e rs of th e M a g a z i n e will b e so rry to le a rn t h a t p ro lo n g ed ill- h e a lth h a s n e c e s sita te d th e r e tire m e n t of E d w a rd W a lk e r fro m th e e d ito rsh ip , a p o sitio n he h a s occu p ied since 1916.Mr. W a lk e r w ill for th e p re se n t re m a in on th e b o a rd of M ining P u b lic a tio n s , L td ., so t h a t he w ill n o t a lto g e th e r lose to u c h w ith th o se w ith w hom he h a s w o rk e d so h a p p ily for m a n y y ea rs, a n d i t is h o p e d th e relief from re s p o n s ib ility w ill re su lt in a n im p ro v e m e n t in h is h e a lth .
I
N th is issue is p u b lis h e d a n a rtic le on th e S ta n tr g M ine in Y u g o sla v ia, w h ich h a s b e e n w r itte n b y D r. A lfred B ram m all. T h e a u th o r describ es a m o d e of em p la c e m e n t w h ich is of e x c e p tio n a l in te re st. T h e co rrec t in te r p r e ta tio n of geological d a t a h a s been of in e stim a b le v a lu e d u rin g th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th is m in e , w h ic h before long p ro m ises to be a co n sid erab le p ro d u c e r of le ad a n d zinc.A
M ONG th e N ew Y e a r H o n o u rs a p p e a r th e n a m e s of S ir T h o m a s G regory F o s te r, P ro v o s t of U n iv e rs ity College, L o n d o n , a n d u n til la te ly V ice-C hancellor of th e U n iv e rs ity , w ho becom es a B a ro n e t, a n d P ro fe sso r J o h n S am u el B ram e, of th e D e p a rtm e n t of C h e m istry a n d M e tallu rg y , R o y a l N a v a l College, G reenw ich, w ho is a w a rd e d th e C .B .E .T
H E a n n u a l d in n e r of th e Im p e ria l College h e ld on D ec em b e r 9 w as as u su a l th e occasion of som e p ro n o u n c e m e n t as to th e f u tu re of th e College. A t th is fu n c tio n it fell to P ro fe sso r W . W . W a tts to r e m a rk t h a t th e new S ta tu te s of L o n d o n U n iv e r s ity p re s e n te d p ro b lem s w h ich th e G o v ern o rs of th e College w ere tr y in g lo y a lly to solve. L e t us r e ite r a te th e h o p e t h a t th e R o y a l S chool of M ines w ill lose n o th in g b y a n y ch a n g es w h ich m a y occur. T h e occasion se rv e d also to in tro d u c e to m a n y th e n ew R e c to r, Colonel H . T. T iz a rd , w ho to o k th e c h a ir in th e ab sen ce of L o rd B u c k m a ste r.T
H E e x te n t to w h ic h a llu v ia ls a re n o w a d a y s b e in g m in e d for th e re c o v e ry of gold, p la tin u m , a n d t i n — esp ec ially t i n — m a k es th e a p p e a ra n c e of a n ew b o o k on th is s u b je c t of special im p o rta n c e , p a r tic u la rly as n o lik e te x t- b o o k h a s b e e n p u b lis h e d for som e y ea rs. I t is w ith p le asu re, th e re fo re , t h a t w e an n o u n c e th e p ro d u c tio n b y M ining P u b lic a tio n s , L td ., of “ M ining of A llu v ial D ep o sits b y D re d g in g a n d H y d ra u lic k in g ,”th e a u th o rs cf w hich, M essrs. W . E . T h o rn e a n d A. W . H o o k e, a re to o w ell k n o w n in th e ir special h eld to n e e d a n y in tro d u c tio n h ere. A rev ie w of th e b o o k w ill b e fo u n d elsew here in th is issue.
T
H E s ta te m e n t m a d e b y th e c h a ir m a n of th e L e n a G o ld h eld s a t th e m e e tin g la s t m o n th — t h a t a lth o u g h th e c o m p a n y is n ow m a k in g a p ro fit of £30,000 a m o n th th e y find th e m se lv e s u n a b le to ,g e t a n y r e m itta n c e to th is sid e— is c e rta in ly n o t c a lc u la te d to a t t r a c t f u rth e r c a p ita l for R u s sia n m in in g . W h e n th e L e n a c o m p a n y re su m e d o p e ra tio n s u n d e r th e concession a g re e m e n t d o u b ts w ere e x p re sse d in well- in fo rm e d q u a r te rs as to th e w isd o m of th e ir a c tio n , th e v ie w b ein g h e ld t h a t i t w as one th in g to g e t th e g o ld o u t of th e m in es a n d a n e n tire ly d iffe re n t th in g , u n d e r p re s e n t co n d itio n s, to g e t it o u t of th e c o u n try — a n d th e L e n a c o m p a n y m u s t b y now h a v e re a c h e d th e sa m e conclusion.I
N o u r issues of J u n e a n d S e p te m b e r la s t th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th o se ra ilw a y s w h ich m a y in fu tu re se rv e th e N o rth e r n R h o d e sia n a n d K a ta n g a c o p p e r fields w as re fe rre d to a t som e le n g th . F u r th e r pro g re ss seem s fo re c a st b y th e decision of th e G o v e rn m e n t of S o u th e rn R h o d e sia to a p p o in t a com m ission, h e a d e d b y tw o fo rm e r U n io n ra ilw a y engineers, to in v e s tig a te th e p o te n tia litie s of th e p ro p o se d S in o ia -K a fu e p ro je c t a n d also to in q u ire in to th e a d v a n ta g e s of th e e x te n sio n of th e lin e fro m B e it B ridge, s p a n n in g th e L im p o p o R iv e r, to c o n n e c t w ith th e m a in lin e a t W est N icholson o r som e p o in t on th e S o m a b u la line. S im u lta n e o u s ly it isan n o u n c e d t h a t ra ilw a y r a te s are to be re d u c e d a n d t h a t of th is re d u c tio n N o rth e rn R h o d e sia is rec eiv in g th e g re a te r p o rtio n of th e b en efit, as r a te s th e re are a t p re se n t h ig h e r th a n in S o u th e rn R h o d e sia . T h u s th e R h o d e sia n ra ilw a y a u th o ritie s a p p e a r to be m a k in g a b id fo r som e of th e traffic w h ich m u s t e v e n tu a lly tr a v e l o v er th e B e n g u ela ra ilw a y w hen th e B elg ian sectio n is com p leted .
S ilv er
F o r th e p erso n w ho possesses it, u n d o u b te d ly th e first re q u ire m e n t of a shilling is t h a t i t sh all p u rc h a se one sh illin g sw o rth of goods. I t is also u n d o u b te d ly tru e , such is th e in te g r ity of o u r co m m ercial sy stem , th a t th e shillin g of to -d a y ra n k s e q u a lly w ith th e now occasional V icto rian coin in th is resp e ct. T h is fac t is so m u c h ta k e n for g r a n te d th a t it re q u ire s som e m e n ta l effort to rea lize t h a t o u r m o d ern silv e r coinage h a s n o t th e sam e in trin sic v alu e as t h a t of o u r fo re fa th e rs. T h is tr a in of th o u g h t is en g en d ered b y tw o ev e n ts of th e p a s t m o n th — (1) th e re p o rt for 1928 of th e D e p u ty M aster of th e R o y a l M in t a n d (2) th e rec o rd low p rice of th e m etal.
T h e re p o r t on th e w o rk of th e R o y a l M int tr e a ts a m a tte r-o f-fa c t su b je c t in a m a n n e r w hich m a k es m u c h of it excellent re a d in g . D ea lin g w ith th e issue, in 1928, of th e new coinage in tro d u c e d b y O rd er of C ouncil in 1927, th e re p o rt a d m its th a t th e e x p e rim e n ts w ith silver-copper-nickel alloys c a rrie d o u t d u rin g 1920-1922 w ere d iscouraging, b u t th e w o rst fe a tu re s in th e se e a rlie r efforts h a v e now p ra c tic a lly d isa p p e a re d . T h e c o m p o sitio n of th e p re se n t coinage is a q u a te r n a ry alloy, con sistin g of 50% silv er, 40% copper, a n d 5% each of n ic k e l a n d zinc, th e in tro d u c tio n of th e la st-n a m e d m e ta l b ein g th e n o v e lty , alth o u g h th e q u a n t ity u se d for th is p u rp o se is n o t lik e ly to b e of m u c h assista n c e to zinc p ro d u ce rs. H ere, how ever, we are m a in ly c o n c ern ed w ith tw o issues— th e fa c t t h a t th e re is o n ly 50% of silver in th e new coins a n d th e ad m issio n of th e a u th o ritie s t h a t it is n o t y e t felt th a t a co m p lete so lution of th e silv er-co in ag e-allo y p ro b lem h a s y e t b een found.
A s re g a rd s th e low p rice of silver, th e w orld is faced w ith th e p o sitio n t h a t th e d e m a n d for th is m e ta l does n o t e q u a l th e p ro d u c tio n , b u t w h e th e r th is w ill m ean th e fo rm a tio n of a silv er rese arch asso cia tio n
re m a in s to be seen. F o r m a n y y e a rs th e re h as been a d ecline in th e use of silv er for c u rre n c y pu rp o ses, d u e to th e in c re ase d a d o p tio n of th e gold s ta n d a r d a n d , a t a n y r a te in th e case of o u r ow n c o u n try , to th e h ig h p rice ru lin g for th e m e ta l on th e te rm in a tio n of th e W ar. Of th e c o u n trie s w hich still r e ta in a silver c u rren c y th e m o st im p o rta n t is C hina, w hich h a s alw a y s a b so rb e d a large p a r t of th e to ta l p ro d u c tio n of th e m e ta l. Of la te , how ever, in sp ite of th e im p ro v e d p o litica l s itu a tio n , t h a t c o u n try h a s been a seller, th e p ro b a b ility bein g th a t cu rre n c y h o a rd e d b y th e w ar-lo rd s a n d th e ir b a n k e rs to p a y for m u n itio n s is n ow b e in g unlo ad ed . M exico also still re ta in s a silv er sta n d a rd , b u t as she is a p ro d u c e r it is as such t h a t th e low p rice of silver affects h er, as it becom es n ecessary to c u rta il p ro d u c tio n . C e rta in C e n tral A m eric an s ta te s a n d P e rsia also keep to th e silv er sta n d a rd , b u t th e a m o u n t ab so rb e d b y th e se co u n trie s ca n o n ly b e a sm all one. L a stly , th e re is a v a s t a m o u n t of silver c u rren c y in c irc u la tio n in In d ia , b u t here th e coinage is fixed on a g o ld-exchange b asis a n d th e situ a tio n is n o t th e re fo re felt so keenly. T he rec e n t slum p in th e silver m a rk e t seem s to be m a in ly d u e to o v e r
p ro d u c tio n , w hich is a c c e n tu a te d b y th e h e a v y selling from C hina. I n view of th e ad m issio n in th e re p o rt t h a t th e b e s t silv er-a llo y for o u r own coinage is n o t y e t found, it m ig h t be su g g ested t h a t f u rth e r se arch sho u ld b e h a rd ly w o rth w hile, now t h a t silver- m e ta l is a t such a low figure.
A P le a fo r D o lc o a th
I t is d o u b tfu l w h e th e r th e n a m e of a n y m ine is b e tte r know n th a n t h a t of D o lco a th , a n d th e re h av e b ee n p erio d s w hen it w as a n am e to co n ju re w ith . T h e p re se n t, how ever, does n o t seem to b e one of th o se h a p p y tim es a n d unless som e m o d ific atio n of th e co n d itio n s w ith re g a rd to th e T ra d e F a c ilitie s lo a n is fo rth c o m in g it is n o t easy to see h ow th e m ine c a n b e reo p en ed . A t th e m e etin g la s t m o n th som e p la in sp e ak in g w as in d u lg e d in, b u t we feel it w as fully ju stified . W h ilst it is d esira b le as f a r as possible n o t to dw ell on th e la c k of im p a r tia lity e x istin g in m a n y d irec tio n s d u rin g th e p ro g ress of th e W a r, one c a n n o t refra in , in d ealin g w ith th e p re se n t p o sitio n of D o lco a th , from p o in tin g o u t how th e C ornish m ines w ere p en alized , th e p rice of th e ir p ro d u ce b ein g fixed on a c c o u n t of
n a tio n a l— o r p e rh a p s m o re c o rre c tly in te r n a tio n a l— c o n sid eratio n s. T h e loss, h o w ever, w as n o t b o rn e b y th e n a tio n , b u t b y th e m in e rs a n d th e ir em p lo y ers. W h ile in o th e r p a r ts of th e c o u n try s trik e s w ere th r e a te n e d a n d h ig h e r w ages se cu red , th e C o rn ish m in e r c o n tin u e d ste a d ily a t w o rk w ith o u t a n y in c re a se d r e m u n e ra tio n . I t m u s t b e rem e m b ere d , to o , th a t , a lth o u g h th e p rice th e m in e s rec eiv e d fo r th e ir p ro d u c e w as fixed, th e re w as no r e s tr ic tio n of th e c h a rg es for supplies, m o st of w hich, esp ecially coal, w ere m u c h h ea v ie r.
T h a t th e in ju s tic e of th e tr e a tm e n t m e te d o u t to th e se m in e s w as reco g n ized b y th o se in p o w er a t th e tim e is e v id e n t fro m th e a p p o in tm e n t of a B o a rd of T ra d e C o m m ittee to co n sid er th e q u e stio n . T h is c o m m itte e s u b m itte d its re p o r t in M arch, 1920, a n d s ta te d :
I t h a s b e en s tro n g ly im p re ssed u p o n us, a n d w e t h in k w ith co n sid erab le ju stific atio n , t h a t th e tin -m in in g in d u s tr y is e n title d to special co n sid era tio n o n a cc o u n t of t h e follow ing r e a s o n s :— (1) T h e p ric e of t i n w as depressed b y d ire c t G o v e rn m e n t a c tio n , a n d if th e G o v e rn m e n t h a d n o t in te rv e n e d th e p ric e w ould h a v e re ac h ed a n d b een m a in ta in e d a t a m u ch h ig h e r figure d u rin g th e la te r p e rio d of th e W a r ; (2) th e p rice of tin , in co n seq u en ce of G o v e rn m e n t a c tio n , w as d ep ressed to th e e x te n t of a p p ro x im a te ly £100 p e r to n , w ith su b seq u e n t loss to th e C ornish tin -m in in g in d u s try ; (3) th e tin -m in in g in d u s tr y in C ornw all d id n o t re ceiv e G o v e rn m en t a ssistan ce sim ilar to t h a t g iv en t o c e r ta in o th e r in d u strie s, n o r w as its la b o u r p ro te c te d to th e sam e e x te n t d u rin g th e W ar.
I n v ie w of th e c h a ra c te r of th e B o a rd of T ra d e C o m m itte e ’s r e p o r t i t w as fe lt t h a t som e c o n s id e ra tio n sh o u ld b e g iv e n to th e claim s of th e m in es affected, w h ich h a d n o t o n ly e x h a u s te d th e ir resources, b u t in m a n y cases h a d h a d to b o rro w m o n e y to k ee p going. T h e re w as, how ever, a change of G o v e rn m e n t a n d th e m a tte r w as shelved.
T h e p o sitio n n o w is t h a t ¿77,000 is ow ing to th e G o v ern m e n t. T h o se asso c ia te d w ith t h e c o m p a n y a re satisfied t h a t th e y c a n ra ise th e n ec e ssa ry c a p ita l to r e s ta r t th e m in e if th e G o v e rn m e n t w ill agree to le t th e ir lo a n s ta n d on th e sa m e b a sis a s th e n ew c a p ita l. T h is p ro p o sa l h a s so fa r b ee n refu sed . T he G o v e rn m e n t sp o k e sm an h a s s ta te d t h a t th e y h a v e n o fu n d s a t th e ir d isp o sal fo r h e lp in g C ornish m ining, b u t no f u r th e r g r a n t is a sk e d for, so fa r as D o lc o a th is con cern ed . W h en so m u c h m o n e y is b e in g a llo c a te d in o th e r d ire c tio n s w ith th e o b je c t of lessen in g o r p re v e n tin g u n e m p lo y m e n t, it is n o t e a sy to u n d e r s ta n d
th e re fu sa l b y th e G o v e rn m e n t of th e p ro p o sa l w h ic h h a s b ee n p la c e d b efo re th e m . T h e re o p e n in g of D o lc o a th w ill p u t s e v e ra l h u n d re d m e n a g a in in to w o rk — a n d in C a m b o rn e alo n e th e r e a re s a id to b e 700 u n e m p lo y e d — a n d ta k e th e m off th e dole, th e re c e ip t of w h ich m u s t, fro m w h a t we kn o w of th e C o rn ish m in e r, b e re p u g n a n t to h im . A t th e m e e tin g la s t m o n th , on th e p ro p o sa l of a sh a re h o ld e r, a re so lu tio n w as p a s se d a s k in g th e T ra d e F a c ilitie s C o m m itte e to re c o n sid e r th e ir d ecision a n d to c o -o p e ra te w ith th e d ire c to rs in a s sistin g t o ra ise th e f u rth e r fu n d s r e q u ir e d to r e s ta r t th e m in e a n d it is to be h o p e d , for th e c re d it of th e G o v e rn m e n t a n d th e w elfa re of th e C ornish m in e r, t h a t it will m e e t w ith a fa v o u ra b le re su lt.
T in
G re a te r p ro g re ss h a s b e e n m a d e d u r in g th e p a s t m o n th in th e d ire c tio n of p u tti n g th e tin m in in g in d u s try on a so u n d e r b asis th a n d u rin g a n y p re v io u s sim ila r p erio d , a lth o u g h m u c h s till re m a in s to b e done.
N o one w as su rp rise d to le a rn t h a t th e p ro p o sa l t h a t th e s m e lte rs sh o u ld h o ld a p e rc e n ta g e of th e ore w as je ttis o n e d an d , as w e s ta te d a m o n th ago, th e d e sire d re su lt now looks lik e b ein g a c h ie v e d b y a re s tric tio n of w o rk in g h o u rs. T h e D u tc h , h o w ev e r, h a v e y e t to b e h e a rd fro m on th is p o in t a n d , in v ie w of th e fa c t t h a t th e B a n k a a n d B illito n m in e s are m a in ly G o v e rn m e n t- ow ned, t h a t th e ir w o rk in g c o sts a re low—
as th e y em p lo y m a in ly im p o r te d C hinese la b o u r— a n d t h a t th e y m e e t th e p o sitio n of low p rices b y closing d o w n th e ir low - g ra d e m in es, th e re m a y be som e d ifficu lty in se c u rin g th e ir ad h e sio n to a n y sch em e for r e s tr ic tin g o u tp u t.
T h e la te s t p ro p o sa l p u t fo rw a rd b y th e C ouncil of th e T in P ro d u c e r s ’ A sso c iatio n is t h a t d u rin g th e c u r re n t y e a r all m in in g o p e ra tio n s sh a ll cease fro m 10 p .m . on e v e ry S a tu r d a y till 6 a.m . on th e follow ing M onday, a n d also fo r a w eek d u rin g th e c u r r e n t m o n th a n d a w eek d u rin g n e x t m o n th , a n d , if d ee m e d n ec essary , a w eek in M a rc h . T h ese re c o m m e n d a tio n s h a v e b e e n co m m u n ic a te d to th e m e m b e rs of th e C ouncil a t p re s e n t in M a lay a a n d A u s tr a lia a n d h a v e b e e n a p p ro v e d b y m e m b e rs in th e E a s t.
A s to N ig e ria — in w h ic h c o u n try th e re is a d ifference in th e w o rk in g h o u rs — th e C ouncil a re a s su re d t h a t p ro d u c e rs w ill a d o p t a n e q u iv a le n t c u r ta ilm e n t to t h a t
re c o m m e n d e d for th e E a s t. W ith re g a rd to B o liv ia, th e C ouncil a re also assu re d of th e s u p p o rt in p rin cip le of th e m a jo rity of th e p ro d u c tio n in t h a t c o u n try , a lth o u g h som e m o d ific atio n of th e schem e m a y be n ec essary in th e case of lode-m ining o p era tio n s.
A f u rth e r m o v e w h ich sh o u ld also p ro v e a d v a n ta g e o u s to th e tin -m in in g in d u s try is th e fu sio n of fo u r o u t of th e five sm e ltin g co m p an ies. W h e th e r th e fifth — th e S tra its T ra d in g C o m p an y — will com e in la te r re m a in s to b e seen. T h e fo u r in th e com bine—
d e ta ils of w h ich a re g iv e n in o u r C om pany R e g is tra tio n s — are th e E a s te rn S m elting, W illia m s H a rv e y , C ornish T in , a n d P enpoll.
A s w as p o in te d o u t b y S ir G eorge P e n n y , a t th e m e e tin g la s t m o n th of th e E a s te r n S m eltin g C o m p an y , th e p o o lin g of rese a rc h a n d g en e ral in te re s ts c a n n o t do o th e r th a n re s u lt in h ig h e r efficiency in sm e ltin g p rac tice , co m b in ed w ith a c o rresp o n d in g re d u c tio n in costs, w hich w ill n a tu ra lly be of m a te ria l a d v a n ta g e to th e tin m in in g in d u stry .
T h e S u c tio n C utter D r e d g e Tw o p a p e rs w ere p u b lish e d fo r discussion a t th e D ec em b e r m e e tin g of th e I n s titu tio n , one b y G. A. More e n title d “ S u c tio n -C u tte r D re d g in g for T in in M a lay a ” a n d th e o th e r b y E . J . V allen tin e e n title d “ Som e N o te s on B u c k e t D r e d g in g ” ; th e form er w ill be fo u n d su m m arize d elsew here in th is issue a n d i t is h o p ed to d eal w ith th e la tte r n e x t m o n th . T h e in te re s t of th e first p ro v ed , how ever, to b e so m u c h g re a te r th a n t h a t of th e second t h a t it o ccupied th e a tte n tio n of t h e m e m b ers fo r th e w hole of th e tim e a v a ila b le , th e proceed in g s bein g r a th e r in th e n a t u r e of a post mortem. B o th th e a u th o rs w ere a b s e n t a n d th e u su a l p ro ce d u re of in tro d u c in g p a p e rs b y d e p u ty w as d e p a rte d from . D iscussion w as, th e re fo re, em b a rk e d u p o n im m e d ia te ly a n d as th is in its early s ta g e s w as m a in ly of a n ad v e rse c h a ra c te r th e re w as a feeling t h a t a n in tro d u c tio n w o u ld h a v e b een d esirab le. T h a t th e o pening re m a rk s sh o u ld be d ire c te d a g a in st th e su c tio n c u tte r d red g e w as h a rd ly su rp risin g , con sid erin g its rec o rd in th e E a s t, a lth o u g h h a d th e firm resp o n sib le fo r th e ir in s ta lla tio n on m a n y of th e p ro p e rtie s som e five y e a rs ago b ee n in a p o sitio n to effect c e rta in im p ro v e m e n ts th e v e rd ic t m ig h t h a v e been d ifferent. T h e o n ly su c tio n c u tte r d red g e in sta lle d in N ig eria d id n o t
a d d to th e r e p u ta tio n of th e en g in ee r resp o n sib le a n d in v o lv e d th e c o m p a n y c o n c ern ed in h e a v y e x p e n d itu re . T h e a tta c k w as le d b y D r. W . R . Jo n e s, w ho w as s u p p o rte d b y M essrs. W . J . P a y n e , L. G.
A tte n b o ro u g h , E . T. M cC arthy, a n d J . H.
R o n ald so n . A t th is stag e, how ever, D r.
C ullen in te rp o se d a n d , as all th e re m a rk s h a d com e fro m w h a t m ig h t b e re g a rd e d as th e o p p o sitio n , called u p o n P ro fesso r T ru s c o tt to give som e view s on th e o th e r side. T h is w as c e rta in ly a n u n u su a l ex p e rien c e— to h a v e a p a p e r in tro d u c e d a fte r its a u t h o r ’s a rg u m e n ts h a d been sev erely criticized.
A lth o u g h a t a d isa d v a n ta g e , P ro fesso r T ru s c o tt a b ly d e a lt w ith th e p a p e r, th ro w in g in to p ro m in e n ce th e h o p efu l asp e c ts of th e su b je c t. H e disposed, for ex am p le, of th e bo g ey ra ise d b y one of th e o p p o n e n ts b y h is r e m a rk t h a t tin s to n e in c lay could be as easily lo st in b u c k e t d red g in g as w ith th e su c tio n c u tte r dredge. P ro fesso r T ru s c o tt also em p h asized th e in c a p a c ity of th e b u c k e t d red g e to d eal successfully w ith p in n a c le d g ro u n d o r g ro u n d w ith a h a rd b o tto m a n d u n d e r such c o n d itio n s in d ic a te d a possible sp h ere of usefulness for, a t a n y r a te , som e su c tio n prin cip le. I n th is s ta n d h e h a d th e su p p o rt of S ir A lb e rt K itso n , w ho felt th a t th e a rg u m e n t h a d been to o one-sided. S ir A lb ert m a d e a g o o d p o in t w hen h e su g g ested t h a t it d id n o t follow t h a t a su c tio n c u tte r d redge w as failin g in its ta s k b ec au se second an d th ir d r e - tr e a t
m e n ts of th e g ro u n d p ro d u ce d fu rth e r recoveries of tin s to n e , for th e re m ig h t co n c eiv ab ly b e so m e th in g w ro n g w ith th e tin -d ressin g sy stem , re su ltin g in som e of th e tin s to n e going over w ith th e ta ilin g s.
H e also rein fo rced th e p rev io u s s p e a k e r’s a rg u m e n ts as to th e possible u tility of th is ty p e of d redge in u n e v e n g ro u n d , in sta n c in g p o th o le s in s tre a m beds, w h ere gold is a p t to c o n c e n tra te .
S p eak in g g en e rally it w ould seem th a t, w hile th e o p p o n en ts of th e su c tio n c u tte r d redge a t p re se n t h o ld th e field— a n d for v e ry good rea so n s— th e re m a y b e m ore to b e sa id in fa v o u r of th is ty p e th a n w as h e a rd a t th e m eetin g . Som e m o d ific atio n of th e c u tte r m a y y e t b e looked for, th o u g h Mr. P a y n e th in k s t h a t ev e ry conceivable k in d h a s b een tr ie d , a n d D r. C ullen’s p le a for f u rth e r d isp a ssio n a te c o n sid e ra tio n of th e claim s a n d possib ilities of th e su c tio n c u tte r d red g e— n o tw ith s ta n d in g its p a s t m is
deeds— m e rits a tte n tio n .
R E V IE W O F M IN IN G
I n tr o d u c tio n .— T h e N ew Y e a r h a s n o t o p en e d b a d ly . T h e im p ro v e m e n t in th e gold p o sitio n en c o u rag ed th e view in som e q u a rte rs th a t th e B a n k r a te w o u ld b e red u c ed , b u t no ch a n g e h a s b ee n m a d e, th e r a te re m a in in g a t 5% . T h e re h a s b ee n a s h a rp se t-b a c k in th e p rice of silver, a new low re c o rd h a v in g b een to u c h e d . T h e a n tic ip a te d s u b s ta n tia l im p ro v e m e n t in tin is y e t to com e a n d o th e r b ase m e ta ls a t th e m o m e n t are n o t to o good.
T r a n sv a a l.— T h e o u tp u t of gold on th e R a n d d u rin g D ec em b e r w as 813,574 oz.
a n d in o u tsid e d is tric ts 37,560 oz., m a k in g a to ta l of 851,134 oz., as c o m p a re d w ith 861,593 oz. in N o v em b e r. A t th e e n d of D ec em b e r th e n u m b e r of n a tiv e s w o rk in g a t th e gold m in e s w as 184,280, as c o m p a re d w ith 186,941 a t th e e n d of N o v em b e r.
T h e a c c o m p a n y in g ta b le gives d e ta ils of th e d iv id e n d s p a id b y th e R a n d gold m in in g co m p an ie s d u rin g 1928 a n d 1929. T h e re are no n o ta b le v a ria tio n s in th e se figures d u rin g th e p e rio d u n d e r re v ie w :—
1st half, 1928.
2nd half, 1928.
1st half, 1929.
2nd half, 1929.
B rak p an ... s. d.
4 9 s. d.
5 0 s. d.
4 9 s. d.
5 0
C ity D eep ... — — — —
C onsolidated Main R eef .. 1 3 1 0 1 0 1 0
Crown Mines ( 1 0 s .) ... 2 6 3 0 3 3 3 3 G ed u ld ... 3 3 3 6 3 0 t 3 3 |
G eldenhuis D e e p ... — 6 6 6
G overnm ent A reas (5s.) . . . 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 L a n g la a g te ... 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6 M eyer & C harlton ... — — — M odder B (os.) ... 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 M odder D eep (os.) ... 3 3 3 6 3 3 3 6 M odder E a s t... 1 9 2 0 2 0 2 0 N ew M odder ( 1 0 s .) ... 7 0 7 0 7 0 7 0 New S tate A r e a s ... 1 U 1 6 1 6 1 0
N ourse ... 6 0 6
R obinson D eep (A, Is.) . . 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6
R obinson D eep (B) ... — — —
Rose D eep ... 0 — — __
S im m er & J a c k (2s. 6 d .). . . — — — — S p r in g s ... 3 3 3 6 3 6 3 9 Sub Nigel (10s.) ... 3 0 3 o 2 0 2 0 Van R y n ... 0* 0* 6* 6*
Van R y n D eep ... 4 0 4 0 3 6 3 0
Village D eep ... — 0 6 0
W est S p r in g s ... 9 1 0 1 0 1 0
W itw atersran d Gold . . . . 6 0
* T ax paid. | On in creased capital.
T h e to ta l d iv id e n d s of th e R a n d m ines for 1929 a t £8,085,018 show a n in c re ase of
£105,000 as c o m p a re d w ith 1928.
A lth o u g h a t th e q u a r te r ly m e e tin g la s t m o n th of th e T ra n s v a a l C h a m b e r of M ines Mr. J o h n M a rtin , w ho p resid e d , s ta te d th a t th e n a tiv e la b o u r su p p ly w as below a n y th in g e x p e rie n c e d on th e g o ld m in es for ov er tw o y e a rs, h e ex p re sse d a h o p e fu l v iew as to th e fu tu re . H e p o in te d o u t t h a t th e m a in te n a n c e of th e w h ite staffs a t th e ir
6
p re s e n t level w as d u e to th e co n fid e n t e x p e c ta tio n t h a t m e asu res w o u ld b e a d o p te d , in c o -o p e ra tio n w ith th e G o v e rn m e n t, fo r m a te ria lly im p ro v in g th e n a tiv e la b o u r p o sitio n a n d e n s u rin g a n a d e q u a te a n d s ta b le su p p ly .
A n a g re e m e n t h a s b e e n e n te re d in to b y w h ich th e R o b in so n D eep w ill a c q u ire th e m in in g rig h ts a n d c e rta in p la n t a n d m a c h in e ry of th e V illage D eep, th e p u rc h a se p rice b ein g £337,500, of w h ich £300,000 is p a y a b le on c o m p letio n of tr a n s f e r a n d th e b a la n c e tw e lv e m o n th s, la te r. T h e re is su b s e q u e n tly to b e a re o rg a n iz a tio n of th e R o b in so n D ee p c a p ita l, b u t th e rig h ts a tta c h in g to th e “ A ” sh a re s a re to re m a in u n a lte re d .
W h ilst som e d is a p p o in tm e n t m a y h av e b ee n fe lt b y sh a re h o ld e rs of th e S im m e r a n d J a c k M ines a t th e n o n -p a y m e n t of a d iv id e n d for th e p a s t y e a r, th e r e w o u ld seem to b e good rea so n fo r th e co u rse a d o p te d . A l
th o u g h a n in a d e q u a te n a tiv e la b o u r su p p ly re s tric te d o p e ra tio n s, d e v e lo p m e n t v alu es d u rin g th e y e a r w ere of su c h a n en c o u ra g in g n a tu re t h a t th e c a p ita l e x p e n d itu re p ro g ra m m e d ecid ed on som e tim e ago w as ac ce le ra te d , w h ich w ill n a tu r a lly b e n e fit th e w o rk in g of th e m in e a n d b e re fle c te d in p ro fits a t a n e a rlie r d a te th a n w o u ld o th e r
w ise h a v e b e e n th e case.
T h e re is a g e n e ra l feeling on th e R a n d t h a t it w o u ld b e a m is ta k e to close do w n th e N ew K le in fo n te in m in e , c o n c ern in g w hich a G o v e rn m e n t C om m ission is h o ld in g an in q u iry . I n som e q u a r te r s d ire c t G o v e rn m e n t a ssista n c e is u rg e d , w h ilst in o th e rs it is felt t h a t th e c o n tin u a tio n of o p e ra tio n s m ig h t b e e n s u re d b y a re m issio n of ta x a tio n .
D ia m o n d s .— T h e p ro fit of th e P re m ie r C o m p an y for th e y e a r e n d e d O c to b e r la s t w as £273,319, as c o m p a re d w ith £356,821 for th e p rec ed in g y e a r, th e G o v e rn m e n t sh a re bein g £163,991 a n d th e c o m p a n y ’s p ro p o r- tio n £109,328. T h e re w as a s u b s ta n tia l d e crease in th e n u m b e r of lo a d s w ash e d , ow ing to n a tiv e la b o u r sh o rta g e , a n d also a d ecline in th e a v e ra g e y ield.
S o u th e r n R h o d e sia .— T h e o u tp u t of gold d u rin g N o v e m b e r w as 46,219 oz., as co m p a re d w ith 46,923 oz. in O c to b e r a n d 47,705 oz. in N o v e m b e r of 1928. O th e r o u t
p u ts in N o v e m b e r w ere : S ilver, 7,135 oz. ; co p p e r, 125 t o n s ; coal, 108,783 t o n s ; c h ro m e ore, 31,899 t o n s ; asbestos,' 4,096 t o n s ; m ica, 14 t o n s ; d ia m o n d s ’, 62 c a ra ts.
F o llow ing on th e a n n o u n c e m e n t in th e M a g a z i n e for D ecem b er of th e a g re em e n t b etw e en T u rn e r a n d N ew all a n d th e R h o d e sia n a n d G en e ra l A sb esto s C or
p o ra tio n , in w hich th e fo rm e r firm offered sh a re h o ld ers of th e la tte r five T u rn e r sh ares for ev e ry fo u r R h o d e sia n sh ares, a f u rth e r ste p in th e a m a lg a m a tio n of R h o d e sia n a sb esto s in te re s ts is to be reco rd ed , M essrs.
T u rn e r a n d N ew all h a v in g exercised th e ir o p tio n to p u rc h a se th e H av e lo ck p ro p e rty on th e S o u th S w azilan d b o rd e r a t a price a p p ro x im a tin g a q u a r te r of a m illion sterling.
N o r th e r n R h o d e sia . — D u r i n g t h e q u a r te r en d e d S ep te m b er 30 la s t six m ore b ore-holes w ere co m p leted b y th e R o a n A n telo p e C opper C om pany, fo u r of th e m on th e R o a n A n telo p e p ro p e rty , one on th e R o a n E x te n sio n , a n d one on th e M uliashi area. T h e first five show th e o re-horizon to be v e ry u n ifo rm in th ic k n e ss w ith th e copper c o n te n t a v e rag in g a b o u t 3-5% . T h e M uliashi hole show ed 1-9 feet of p ay a b le g ro u n d a ssay in g 2-11% copper. S urface p la n t for sin k in g th e B e a tty S h a ft w as finished, b u t ow ing to sh o rta g e of n a tiv e la b o u r w ork w as confined to im p ro v e m e n ts in th e w o rkings a lre a d y co m p leted . T h e erec
tio n of p o w e r-p la n t, com pressors, a n d o th e r su rfa ce b u ild in g s is p ro ceed in g sm o o th ly .
W o rk done b y R h o d e sia n Congo B o rd er Concession, L td ., d u rin g th e p a s t y e a r h as show n th e e x te n t of th e o re-b ea rin g s tr a t a to b e a p p ro x im a te ly 100 m iles in le n g th . In acco rd an ce w ith th e a rra n g e m e n ts b etw e en th e c o m p an y a n d th e B ritis h S o u th A frica C om pany 14 are as cov erin g a p p ro x im a te ly 74,000 acres h a v e been ta k e n u p for f u rth e r d ev elo p m en t.
W e s t A fr ic a .—T h e re tu rn s for th e p a s t y e a r m u st h av e p re p a re d sh a re h o ld ers of th e A sh a n ti G oldfields C o rp o ratio n for th e in creased final d iv id e n d of 40% , w hich w ith th e in te rim d is trib u tio n p a id in J u ly la st b rin g s th e to ta l for 1928-29 u p to 65% , or
10% m ore th a n for 1927-28.
T h e F a n ti C o n so lid ated re p o r t for th e y e a r en d ed D ecem ber 31 la s t— p u b lish ed on J a n u a r y 8— show s a p ro fit of £135,237, or
£31,930 m ore th a n for 1928. As in th e p rev io u s y ea r, £30,000 is p laced to reserve, w h ich now s ta n d s a t £60,000, a n d th e final d iv id e n d a n d b o n u s rec o m m en d e d w ill b rin g th e to ta l d is trib u tio n for th e y e a r to 1 8 f%
as c o m p ared w ith 1 2 j% for 1928.
A u s tr a lia .— T h e e x h a u stiv e s ta te m e n t of Mr. A gnew a t th e L ak e V iew a n d S ta r m e e tin g to w a rd s th e en d of la s t m o n th
— w h ich w ill b e fo u n d elsew here in th is issue— in d ic a te d t h a t th e view s h e ld b y D r. M aclaren a n d o th e rs as to th e v a rio u s lodes lik e ly to be m e t w ith in th e c o m p a n y ’s ex te n siv e a re a — a sm all sk e tc h p la n of w h ich w as giv en in th e M a g a z i n e for J u ly , 1928— are b ein g fulfilled. As Mr. A gnew w as a t p a in s to p o in t o u t, how ever, th e re is n e e d for th e sh a re h o ld ers to h a v e p atien c e.
A t th e B riseis m e etin g la s t m o n th th e C h a irm an re ferre d to th e p ro sp ec t of resu m in g o p era tio n s. T h e T a sm a n ia n G o v e rn m e n t— w ho are an x io u s to see w ork r e s ta r te d — h a v e ex p ressed th e ir w illingness to assist a n d suggestions h a v e b een m ade to th e m b y th e d irec to rs. T h ese h a v e been ac ce p te d b y th e T a sm a n ia n P a rlia m e n t, w ith c e rta in m odifications. A s soon as th e d ire c to rs kn o w th e c h a ra c te r of th ese, th e y in te n d to fo rm u la te th e ir schem e a n d su b m it it to th e shareh o ld ers. I t will be rem e m b ere d th a t illu stra tio n s show ing th e c h a ra c te r of th e d isa ste r a t th e B riseis m ine w ere giv en in th e M a g a z i n e for A u g u st la st.
M a la y a . — A circ u lar to sh a re h o ld ers of T ro n o h M ines gives u p -to -d a te in fo rm a tio n as to th e p o sitio n of th e com p an y . T h is shows t h a t th e re are now fo u r dredges in o p era tio n , tw o on th e old p ro p e rty a n d tw o on th e T a n jo n g area. T h e o u tp u t of th e se for 1929 is e s tim a te d a t 1,939 to n s, as c o m p ared w ith 1,197 to n s for 1928. T h e p o n to o n for th e fifth dredge, w hich is also to o p e ra te in th e T a n jo n g area, w as la u n c h e d in N o v em b e r last.
P a rtic u la rs are also given of th e v a rio u s com panies in w h ich T ro n o h M ines is in te re ste d . P e rh a p s th e chief of th e se is th e S ungei B esi M ines, in co n n e ctio n w ith w hich th e h y d ro -e le c tric pow er schem e is all b u t com pleted. As to th e S ungei B e si’s V illage are a, on w hich strip p in g o p e ra tio n s w ere co m m enced a b o u t th e m id d le of la s t y ea r, th e n ecessary p la n t a n d m a c h in e ry h av e b een o rd ered a n d som e of it is a lre a d y in tr a n s it to th e m ine. T h e new o p en c ast in th e V illage a re a is bein g la id o u t a n d e q u ip p ed w ith elec tric a lly -o p e ra te d shovels, w hich are ex p e c te d to re su lt in co n sid erab le w orking econom ies bein g effected as co m p a re d w ith th e o p era tio n s a t th e old m ine. W h en th e designed scale of o p era tio n s is a tta in e d it is a n tic ip a te d th e S ungei B esi o u tp u t w ill b e doubled. As to th e S ungei W a y D redging, a th ir d d red g e is s ta te d to b e now on o rd er a n d its m a n u fa c tu re w ell in h a n d .
F o r th e y e a r to J u n e 30 la s t th e p ro d u c tio n
of th e K e p o n g D re d g in g C o m p an y — w hose d re d g e co m m en c ed w o rk in g a t th e b eg in n in g of J u n e , 1928— w as 3 1 9 | to n s, o b ta in e d fro m 899,700 c u b ic y a rd s , a n a v e ra g e of 0-8 lb., w h ic h re a liz e d £39,422, a n a v e ra g e of
£123 7s. 8d. p e r to n . A fte r allow ing for d e p re c ia tio n on p la n t, e tc ., th e p ro fit w as
£7,502.
T h e ^ ie w e n t e r ta in e d in som e q u a r te r s as to th e in a d e q u a c y of th e a m o u n t p ro v id e d t o c o m p le te th e p ro g ra m m e of th e P e r a k R iv e r H y d ro - E le c tr ic P o w e r C o m p an y , L td ., h a s p ro v e d to b e ju stifie d . I n J u l y la s t i t w as a n n o u n c e d t h a t a n a d d itio n a l e x p e n d itu re of
£350,000 w o u ld e n s u re th e c o m p le tio n of th e e n g in e e rin g w o rk s. T h re e m o n th s la te r , h o w e v e r, it w as s ta te d t h a t a f u r th e r £250,000 w o u ld b e re q u ire d , b rin g in g th e t o ta l a d d itio n a l a m o u n t to £600,000, to w h ic h h a s to b e a d d e d £250,000 a d v a n c e d b y b a n k s in c o n n e c tio n w ith th e e x te n s io n of th e s tre a m s ta tio n s . T h e F .M .S . G o v e rn m e n t, on h a v in g th e p o s itio n p la c e d b e fo re th e m , h a v e in ti m a t e d th e ir w illin g n ess to a d v a n c e on lo a n th e £850,000 r e q u ir e d a t 5 % in te r e s t.
B u r m a .— I n o rd e r to clea r off its in d e b te d n e s s , th e A n g lo -B u rm a T in C o m p a n y p ro p o se to c r e a te £80,000 7 % firs t m o rtg a g e d e b e n tu r e s , th e c re d ito rs h a v in g ex p re ssed t h e ir re a d in e s s to a c c e p t sa m e in s e ttle m e n t of th e ir d e b ts . A t th e m e e tin g la s t m o n th i t w a s a lso s ta te d t h a t th e v e n d o rs h a d i n ti m a t e d th e ir w illin g n ess to r e tu r n 30,000 s h a re s of th e p u rc h a s e c o n s id e ra tio n rec eiv e d in r e s p e c t of th e T h a b a w le ik p r o p e r ty .
C a n a d a .— T h e m in e ra l o u tp u t of th e D o m in io n fo r la s t y e a r a g a in e s ta b lis h e d a re c o rd a t $303,876,000. T h e g o ld p ro d u c tio n w a s 1,915,000 oz., to w a rd s w h ich O n ta r io c o n tr ib u te d 1,606,000 oz., w h ilst th e o u tp u t of c o p p e r w as 242,402,000 lb., of w h ic h B r itis h C o lu m b ia p ro d u c e d 103,000,000 lb . T h e silv e r o u tp u t a t 22,368,000 oz. sh o w ed a n in c re a se in q u a n t ity b u t a d ec rease in v a lu e as c o m p a re d w ith 1928.
C o r n w a ll.— A t th e m e e tin g s on J a n u a r y 3 th e sch em e for a m a lg a m a tin g th e E a s t P ool a n d T o lg u s c o m p a n ie s w as a p p ro v e d . T h e c a p ita l of E a s t P o o l is to b e in c re a se d to
£300,000 b y th e c re a tio n of 200,000 new sh a re s of 5s. each , a n d T o lg u s sh a re h o ld e rs a re to rec eiv e one E a s t P o o l fo r e v e ry th re e T olgus sh a re s. T h e d e v e lo p m e n t w o rk p ro p o se d p ro v id e s fo r th e o p en in g of th e T olgus p r o p e r ty th r o u g h th e E a s t P o o l w orkings.
D e r b y sh ir e .— T h e re p o rt of th e Mill Close M ines, L td ., for th e y e a r to M arch 31
la s t rec o rd s a g ra d u a l im p ro v e m e n t m th e g r a d e of th e ore m in e d a n d s ta te s t h a t th e in d ic a tio n s of th e e x iste n c e of a b e t te r g ra e ore b ein g fo u n d a t d e p th a n d o v er a n in cre asin g a re a c o n tin u e to b e p ro m isin g .
Y u g o s la v ia .— T h e N o v o B rd o C o m p an y , w h ich h a s b e e n a c tiv e ly p ro sp e c tin g m Y u g o sla v ia , h a s now c o n c e n tra te d o n th e e x p lo ra tio n of th e K ijn its a V alley in th e J a n je v o are a . P re lim in a ry in v e s tig a tio n s h a v e show n th e e x iste n c e of tw o s e p a ra te m in e ra liz e d zones c a rry in g le a d a n d zinc m in e ra ls a n d , s u b je c t to th e re s u lts of w ork n ow in h a n d , a d ia m o n d d rillin g p ro g ra m m e is to b e s ta r te d .
T h e C o n s o lid a te d G o ld F ie ld s and T in .— T h e s ta te m e n t n o t lo n g ago th a t th e C o n so lid a te d G old F ie ld s of S o u th A frica h a d se cu red a n in te re s t in th e L ondon T in S y n d ic a te h a s b ee n follow ed b y th e a n n o u n c e m e n t t h a t i t is n o w to be re p re s e n te d on th e b o a rd b y tw o of its d ire c to rs. T h e G old F ie ld s is also ta k in g o v er th e m a n a g e m e n t of E x -L a n d s N igeria, on th e b o a r d of w h ic h i t w ill also h av e tw o re p re s e n ta tiv e s .
A n o th e r T in C o m b in e. — T h e la te s t p ro p o sa l is t h a t th e L o n d o n T in S y n d icate, w h ich re c e n tly a b s o rb e d th e R o p p a n d B au ch i co m p an ie s, sh o u ld ta k e o v er tw o fu rth e r N ig e ria n u n d e rta k in g s , A n g lo -B au c h i an d M ongu, a n d tw o t r u s t co m p an ies, th e L o n d o n M a la y a n a n d T in S election. I n th e p r e p a ra tio n of th is schem e som e careful c a lc u la tio n s m u s t h a v e b een necessary , for it p ro v id e s fo r sh a re h o ld e rs of th e T in Selec
tio n T ru s t re c e iv in g seven L o n d o n T in s for e v e ry 16 sh a re s h e ld a n d L o n d o n M alayan th r e e L o n d o n T in s fo r e v e ry eig h t, w h ilst as to A n g lo -B a u c h i a n d M ongu, w hose shares a re of th e n o m in a l v a lu e of 5s. a n d 10s.
re sp e c tiv e ly , th e fo rm e r a re to receive one L o n d o n T in fo r e v e ry 16 a n d th e la tte r a d iv id e n d of 9d. p e r sh a re in re s p e c t of th e p a s t y e a r a n d one L o n d o n T in for e v e ry six sh a re s h eld . S h o u ld th e a m a lg a m a tio n be a p p ro v e d it is p ro p o se d s u b s e q u e n tly to s p lit e a c h £1 L o n d o n T in s h a re in to one 8 p e r C ent. N o n -C u m u la tiv e P re fe re n c e sh a re a n d one O rd in a ry sh a re of 10s. e a c h a n d c e rta in p ro p o rtio n a l d is trib u tio n s of th e P re fe re n c e sh a re s a re to b e m a d e to th e L o n d o n T in , T in S electio n T r u s t, a n d L o n d o n a n d M a lay a n s h a re h o ld e rs in lie u of ca sh d iv id e n d s. T h e a m a lg a m a tio n will in c re ase th e issu ed c a p ita l of th e L o n d o n T in S y n d ic a te to a p p r o x im a te ly 2 J m illio n s ste rlin g .
By A . B R A M M A L L , Ph.D ., M .Sc., F .G .S ., A .I.M .M .
T h e a u th o r, in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w ith G . F . Ha t c h an d T . Ma r r a c k, B .S c ., A .R .S .M ., F .G .S ., describes an o re-b o d y w hich, in resp ect of m o d e of em placem ent, is of exceptional interest.
A n c i e n t M i n i n g A c t i v i t y .— R e c e n t d e v e lo p m e n t-w o rk in S o u th e rn Y u g o sla v ia b id s fa ir to re v iv e an in d u s try w h ich flo u rish ed in th e m o u n ta in o u s p a r ts of th e p e n in su la as a w hole d u rin g th e M iddle A ges a n d w h ich , ac c o rd in g to a n c ie n t rec o rd s, m a y d a te b a c k to R o m a n o r even e a rlie r tim e s. Som e in d ic a tio n of th e im p o rta n c e a n d e x te n t of th is a n c ie n t m in in g a c tiv ity is affo rd ed b y c o u n tless a re a s of m in e ra liz e d g ro u n d p u n c tu r e d w ith p its w h ich re c a ll old shell-holes a n d are o ften c lu ste re d in zones e lo n g a te d in th e local te c to n ic d ire c tio n . W ith in th e se p itt e d a re a s occu r old sh a fts , a d its , sla g -h e ap s a n d
fo r its c o n te n t of silver, fo r p illa rs a n d w alls of b le n d e -ric h ore as w ell as p y rite s w ere so m e tim es le ft s ta n d in g , a n d som e occu r
ren c es show to o l-m a rk s of such a c h a ra c te r as to sug g est t h a t th e y w ere selectively p ic k ed o v er for g a le n a before b ein g ab a n d o n e d . O ccasional discoveries of p ig -le ad (an d lead alone) p o in t to th e sam e conclusion.
T h e T r e p c a M i n i n g P r o p e r t i e s . — N u m e ro u s p itt e d are as occur w ith in a M ining C oncession a c q u ire d b y th e T re p c a M ines, L td ., a n d e x te n d in g from K o so v sk a M itro v ic a to th e n o rth -e a s t a n d so u th -w e st for a b o u t tw e n ty m iles. T h e reg io n is th in ly p o p u la te d a n d m o u n ta in o u s, w ith a ltitu d e s
Fi g. 1.— Pl a n o ft h e Tr e p c a Mi n i n g Co n c e s s io n s h o w i n g t h e a r e a s c o v e r e d b y o l d w o r k i n g s.
spo il-d u m p s, w ith o cc asio n al o p en - c a st w orkings a n d local d e p re ssio n s w h ich su g g est c a v e d g ro u n d .
I n som e of th e se a n c ie n t m in in g d is tric ts occur th e ru in s of once-flourishing to w n sh ip s, th e size a n d im p o rta n c e of w h ich m a y be g au g e d fro m local tr a d itio n a n d th e ev id en ce a ffo rd e d b y p iles of ru b b le m a rk in g th e sites of fo rm e r b u ild in g s, b y tra c e s of p a v e d ro a d s a n d th e s ta r k relics of c h u rc h or m o sq u e.
T h e b e s t in d e x , how ever, to th e scale on w h ic h th e se a n c ie n t m in in g c o m m u n ities w o rk e d is to b e fo u n d u n d e rg ro u n d . M any old s h a fts clea n ed o u t a n d p ro sp e c te d are fo u n d to c o n n e ct w ith ex te n siv e galleries a n d m a n y -c h a m b e re d sto p es, th e la tte r o ften of im p re ssiv e size. G alen a seem s to h a v e b ee n th e m in e ra l sp ecially so u g h t, p ro b a b ly
u p to 2,000 m e tre s. T h e t o ta l a r e a of th e C oncession is b e tw e e n fo u r a n d five h u n d re d sq u a re m iles (F ig. 1).
P re s e n t o p e ra tio n s are c o n c e n tra te d on d e v e lo p m e n t w o rk a t th e S ta n tr g M ine a n d se v eral p o in ts in th e im m e d ia te v ic in ity . T h e M ine is s itu a te d a b o u t 5 m iles e a st of K os. M itro v ic a, a t a n a ltitu d e of 760-1,000 m e tre s a b o v e sea-level.
A t S ta n tr g a la rg e le ad -zin c o re-b o d y w as lo c a te d a b o u t 2 \ y e a rs ago as th e re s u lt of in v e s tig a tin g a n old o p e n -c a st a sso c ia te d w ith m a n y la rg e p its . D e v e lo p m e n t w o rk , p u rs u e d e n tire ly fro m a d its a n d a t h o riz o n s ab o v e th e b e d of th e T re p c a s tre a m , h a s n ow re a c h e d a n a d v a n c e d stag e.
O p e ra tio n s h a v e re c e n tly b ee n e x te n d e d to a d jo in in g a re a s w h ere p re lim in a r y p ro s
p e c tin g h a s e s ta b lish e d geological c o n d itio n s
g e n e ra lly s im ila r to th o s e a t th e S ta n tr g M ine. A t M eljen ica fo r ex a m p le (1 m ile n o r th - e a s t of th e M ine) a m a ze of old g allerie s a n d sto p e s h a s b ee n e n te re d from old s h a fts ; a t T re p c a H ill, a b o u t l j m iles e a st of th e M ine, s till la rg e r sto p e s h a v e b een e n te r e d — fro m a s h a ft b o tto m e d a t a d e p th of 109 m e tre s fro m su rface.
Lo c a l Ge o l o g y.—T h e a r e a of p re s e n t o p e ra tio n s lies w ith in th e V a r d a r Z one rec o g n ize d b y K o s s m a t.1 T h is is a w ide zone of co m p ressio n , th r u s t, a n d o v er-rid e, w ith th e D in a rid e a n (N .N .W .-S .S .E .) tr e n d , e x te n d in g fro m th e G ulf of S alo n ic a n o r th w a rd s in to th e P a n n o n ia n B a sin a n d th e n c e v ia K os. M itro v ic a in to a n d b e y o n d th e K a p a o n ik .
T h e a r e a is se a m e d w ith ir r u p tiv e a n d esite s, a n d e s itic b rec cia s, a g g lo m e ra te s, a n d fissu re-tu ffs. A t m a n y lo c a litie s b e d d e d tu ffs etc. m a n tle th e h ig h e r g ro u n d . T h e se irru p tiv e s are co n sid e re d b y K o s s m a t to be of M iocene age.
T h e h o riz o n m o s t p ro n e to m in e ra liz a tio n is th e lim e sto n e , fro m w h ic h th e S ta n tr g o re -b o d y for e x a m p le o rig in a te d b y re p la c e - m e n t-p ro c e sse s to b e d e s c rib e d in a la te r se ctio n . L im e sto n e is also th e lo c u s of th e e x te n s iv e s to p e -w o rk r e c e n tly d isc o v e re d a t M eljenica a n d T re p c a H ill. T h e lim e sto n e is b ro u g h t to su rfa c e b y b ro k e n a n tic lin a l folds a t S ta n tr g , M eljenica, a n d T re p c a H ill. I t is h ig h ly p ro b a b le t h a t th e lim e sto n e a t ea ch of th e se lo c a litie s re p re s e n ts one a n d
Fi g. 2 .— Th e St a n t r g Mi n e : Bl o c k-d i a g r a m o f t h e Pl a n s (i n p a r t) o f t h e Fo u r Mi n e-l e v e l s, S H O W I N G T H E M A IN O R E - B O D Y (S O L ID B L A C K ) R E P L A C IN G C R Y S T A L L I N E L I M E S T O N E A B O U T I T S C O N T A C T
W IT H A N A N D E S IT IC C O N E -C O M P L E X A N D S C H IS T .
T h e d o m in a n t fo rm a tio n is th e S ta n tr g S eries, c o n sistin g of a co m p re sse d a n d c ru m p le d fo ld -c o m p le x of sc h ists a n d p h y llite s , q u a r tz ite s a n d c la y -sla te s, s tr a ti- g r a p h ic a lly a b o v e c ry s ta llin e lim esto n e.
T h is S eries r e c a p itu la te s th e fe a tu re s of re g io n a l sc h ists etc. co n sid e re d b y K o ssm a t to b e of O lder P a la eo z o ic age, th e fold in g b eing, in th e m a in , e a rly T e r tia r y a n d of A lp in e ty p e . N u m e ro u s sm a ll m a sses of m o re or less a lte r e d d o le rite (“ g re e n sto n e s ” ) a re in tru s iv e in to th e sch ist-serie s. To sim ila r m in o r in tru s io n s in th e re g io n a l sc h ists of o th e r a re a s K o s s m a t a t tr ib u te s an age ra n g in g fro m J u r a s s ic to L o w e r C retaceo u s. A F ly sc h -fa c ie s (g rits, s a n d sto n e s, shales, a n d m arls) is lo c ally in fo ld e d w ith th e sc h ists.
1 F . K o s sm at: “ Geologie d e r z e n tra le n B a lk a n h a lb in s e l” (D ie K rie g ssc h au p lä tz e , 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 8 , H e ft 1 3 ), p p . 8 0 - 1 2 2 .
t h e sa m e s tr a tig r a p h ic a l u n it, b u t e v id en c e w h ich m ig h t d ec id e th is p o in t is co n c ea le d b y tu ff a n d p it-s p o il s u p p o r tin g a th ic k g ro w th of scru b .
Ge n e r a l Mi n e r a l i z a t i o n.—I n S o u th e rn Y u g o sla v ia, m in e ra liz a tio n c h a ra c te riz e d b y th e b le n d e -g a le n a -p v rite a s so c ia tio n o c c u rre d on a re g io n a l scale— p e n e -c o n te m p o ra n e o u s w ith v u lc a n ic ity a t tr ib u ta b l e to g ra n o d io rite m a g m a a c c u m u la te d a t n u m e ro u s foci b e n e a th th e fo ld -c o m p le x of th e re g io n as a w hole. R e p la c e m e n t, im p re g n a tio n , v e in in g , a n d fissu re-in fillin g are w id e s p re a d effects, a n d g o ssa n o u s o u tc ro p s a b o u n d . T h ese fe a tu re s a re so closely re la te d , in tim e a n d space, to e m p la c e m e n ts of a n d e s itic a n d allie d ir ru p tiv e s t h a t a d ire c t g e n e tic c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n o re-b o d ies a n d m a g m a in th is re g io n m u s t be p re su m e d .
In th e T re p c a C oncession, se v e ra l m in o r lodes a n d n u m e ro u s g o ssa n o u s o u tc ro p s
tr a v e rs e b o th tu ffs a n d lim e sto n e w ith in an d a ro u n d th e p itt e d are as. D o u b tle ss sim ila r occurrences, n ow o b lite ra te d , becam e th e focal p o in ts of a n c ie n t m in in g a c tiv ity .
T h e la rg e o re-b o d y a t S ta n tr g w as e x p lo ite d b y o p en -c ast m e th o d s in th e first in sta n c e , a n d la te r b y sh a fts . S everal la rg e sto p e s a n d m u c h filling m a te r ia l h a v e b ee n e n c o u n te re d a t h ig h h o rizo n s in th e g ro u n d b e n e a th th e old o p e n -c a st m ine.
O ld w o rk in g s occu r even on th e low est level of p re s e n t d ev e lo p m e n t. A n old a d it d is
co v e red a t th is le v el w as clea n ed o u t a n d e n larg ed ; it re m a in s in use as a d ra in a g e
T h e co re-m ass is a cream - to d u n -co lo u red ro ck allie d to d a c ite o r q u a r tz -tra c h y - a n d e site . L ik e th e m a tr ix of th e b rec cia , it is so m e w h a t a lte re d .
T h e cone-com plex is a n a s y m m e tric a l s tr u c tu re p lu g g ed in to th e lim e sto n e of th e S ta n tr g a n tic lin a l. I ts a x ia l p la n e is ro u g h ly p a ra llel to t h a t of th e a n tic lin a l. I n h o riz o n ta l se ctio n its o u tlin e , as tr a c e d b y th e o u te r m a rg in of th e b rec cia , is ro u g h ly a sem i-ellipse. I t rises ste e p ly fro m d e p th a n d e x p a n d s w ith a sc e n t, its fo re fro n t, or fo rw a rd lip, d ip p in g in w a rd s less ste e p ly th a n th e sides (Fig. 3).
Fi g. 3 .— Pl a n o f t h e Ou t e r Ma r g i n o f t h e Co n e-c o m p l e x a s e n c o u n t e r e d i n t h e Mi n e-l e v e l s. Th e c o n t a c t p l o t t e d i s t h a t b e t w e e n l i m e s t o n e a n d b r e c c i a e x c e p t w h e r e a n d e s i t e i s s h o w n.
a d it. T h o u g h th e a n c ie n ts m u s t h a v e rem o v e d a c o n sid erab le o re-to n n a g e , of u n k n o w n g ra d e , th e m a in o re-b o d y w as le ft e s se n tia lly in ta c t.
T h e S t a n t r g O r e - b o d y .—(1) M ode o f Occurrence, a nd O rig in .— T h e m a in o re-b o d y o ccu rs b e tw e e n c ry sta llin e lim esto n e a n d a n irre g u la r cone of ir r u p t ive explosion- b re c c ia ja c k e tin g a p lu g of m a ssiv e igneous ro c k (Fig. 2).
T h e b re c c ia is com p o sed of blocks a n d fra g m e n ts of th e local sc h ists etc., w ith o ccasio n al b lo ck s of a n d e site a n d p y rito u s v e in -q u a rtz , se t in a n igneous m a tr ix w hich, th o u g h m od ified b y h y d ro th e rm a l a lte ra tio n a n d im p re g n a te d w ith p y rite , silica, a n d c a rb o n a te s (in clu d in g rh o d o c h ro site ), is sim ila r in ty p e to th e m assiv e ro c k fo rm in g th e core of th e cone.
T h e o re-b o d y o rig in a te d b y th e re p la c e m e n t of th e lim esto n e b y su lp h id es, silica etc., th e pro cess b ein g p ro m o te d b y th e a rre s tin g a n d b la n k e tin g effect of tw o m a in d ip p in g c o n ta c ts : (a) b e tw e e n b re c c ia a n d lim esto n e, (b) b etw e en sc h ists a n d lim e sto n e. T h e effect of th e se c o n ta c ts w as to d a m b a c k so lu tio n s risin g th ro u g h th e lim e sto n e u n d e r pressure from below, a n d th u s to p ro m o te re p la ce m en t of th e lim esto n e p re fe re n tia lly a t a n d a b o u t th e se c o n ta c ts from w h ich m in e ra liz a tio n p ro ce ed ed o u t
w ard s. I t is p ro b a b ly n o t a m e re coincidence t h a t ore of a g ra d e c o n s id e ra b ly a b o v e th e a v e ra g e occurs w here th e tw o c o n ta c ts in te r se ct to fo rm a b a y th e w alls of w h ich d iv e rg e dow n w ard s.
T h e effectiveness of th e b re c c ia -c o n ta c t alone is s trik in g ly d isp la y e d in th e p la n s of
