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QUEENSLAND TIN MINES.
A VISITOR'S OPINION.
evening, vjuLouer --.
Mr. S. E. Beach, of Adelaide, who is returning
from a visit of inspection to the
principal cities of North Queensland, passed
through Sydney to-day. "Speaking gener-
ally," said Mr. Beach, "there is a very great
future before the mines of North Queensland.
By next February several of the big
properties; will have reached the productive
stage, and I think that then an enormous
extent of tin-producing ore bodies will be
proved. I am confident that the batteries
(such as the crucial test will surprise
the majority of southerners as to the value
of the properties."
A large amount of time was devoted by
Mr. Beach to examining the Stannary Hills
mine, "These mines, he said "are developing
in a most satisfactory manner,
and their permanency is being daily proved
by the excellent developments at depth.
The shaft on the Ivanhoe mine is down 300
ft., and the ore body is 23ft and 18 ft.
wide. They are at present raising ore,
which bulks 20 per cent, of tin oxide. About
1200 tons are in the ore bins, which will
bulk nearly 20 per cent. This is the largest
stock of rich ore ever seen in one heap in
North Queensland, and it naturally causes
a good deal of excitement in the district.
The Eclipse shaft is down 106 ft., exposing
an ore body 14 ft. by 4 ft. It is still in
lode matter. The whole will bulk 8 per
cent. The Kitchener shaft has been sunk
to a depth of 250 ft., and the ore body opened
up without encountering the wall is 13 ft.
by 30 ft., bulking about 8 per cent. The
extended shaft is down 160 ft., and the lode
has been proved to be 45 ft. wide, and has
been driven on for 60 ft., the face being
still in ore. About 800 tons of ore is at
grass, which has been raised in sinking.
No ore has been developed, as a tunnel is
being driven into the counter lode at a
depth of 300 ft. The ore body has bulked
for the whole distance 10 per cent. The
Black Rock shaft has been suspended for
the present on account of the water being
too heavy. The lode, however, is 45 ft.
wide, with no Walls showing. About 300
tons of ore raised in sinking is at grass,
which bulks 5 per cent. The Extended tunnel,
which is being driven to cut the Extended
and Kitchener shafts, will be 700
ft. long. It has already been driven 500
ft., and it is expected that the connection
will be made in January. A splendid body
of ore has been encountered in following
the course of the tunnel. For fully 80 ft.
it goes over 8 per cent.
"The site chosen on the Walsh River for
the Stannary battery and concentrating mill
has been cleared, and portions of the battery
are arriving daily. Its erection will
be immediately commenced, and it is anticipated
that the battery will be running to
ward the end of January. A dam to give
a permanent supply of water has been commenced
on the Walsh River, and it will be
completed in about two months. At present
(the driest season on record the river
is running at the rate of 1,000 gallons a
minute. There is an abundant supply of
water for domestic, stock, and other purposes.
A 20-head battery is being erected
which will treat 400 tons weekly. This,
with 10 per cent. ore should show a very
handsome profit. The tramway, which has
cost £60.000, is at present showing a profit
on working expenses.
"A favorable development has occurred in
the shaft of the Coolgarra mine, and in the
course of a few months, when this lode
has been opened up, increased returns may
be looked for. The
Vulcan mine at Irvine Bank is still
on good ore, and last month their crushing
of 800 tons gave Over 10 per cent of oxide.
The Tornado mine is also showing well, and
the returns are being maintained.
"About 5 miles from Coolgarra very rich
lodes are being developed in the Spring
hills, Mount View, and Mount Spec mines."
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