Washbouene. — Minerals at Nelson. 845 



valuable metals existing in our district it will serve a useful 

 purpose. 



The subject is such an extensive one, that it is difficult to 

 know where to begin : and perhaps I cannot do better than first 

 show you some ores, giving some particulars about them which 

 will illustrate the usefulness of a School of Mines, and, secondly, 

 the need of a central reduction works, and the natural capabili- 

 ties of the Nelson District for such an establishment. 



The first piece of ore I will show you really belongs to the 

 order of grey copper ores, but having such a high percentage of 

 silver is called a silver ore. It comes from Eichmond Hill, 

 Collingwood, and was named by Dr. Hector " Eichmondite," as it 

 was a new form of grey copper. From the analysis made at the 

 Government Laboratory, Wellington, this ore is composed of the 

 following eight minerals : — 



Sulphides of Lead 36-12 



Antimony 22-20 



Bismuth ... ... ... ... Traces 



Copper ... ... ... ... 19-31 



Iron 13-59 



Zinc ... ... ... 5.87 



Silver 2-39 (390 oz.) 



Manganese -52 



100-00 



This was taking the average across the vein : but some of it 

 assayed as high as 1,792 oz. of silver to the ton. The ore occurs 

 in a gneiss rock, the adjoining rocks being all of a silver-bearing 

 character ; and if we geologically compare Eichmond Hill with 

 the principal silver-bearing districts of the world, we shall be 

 surprised how similar it is, in the most essential particulars. 

 We have here a class of country peculiarly silver bearing, in what- 

 ever part of the world it may be found ; and we have also very 

 rich specimens of silver, nickel, and associated minerals found 

 in this class of country. Nature has done much in thus 

 showing us the strong indications of hidden wealth : but we 

 lack the capital, the energy, and knowledge of its value to 

 follow it up. Gold in its metallic state has more attraction 

 for the public. It is more simple ; for when the stone is crushed 

 the product is readily saleable anywhere. It has, moreover, 

 been first in the field, and has attracted public attention to the 

 exclusion of nearly all other minerals. In California the grand 

 silver deposits were passed over for years, and the dull, un- 

 attractive-looking ore was thrown by as worthless in the search 

 after gold. Thousands passed over it, little thinking of the 

 wealth they were treading under foot. May we not be doing the 

 same thing now ? If we consider that there are about seventeen 



