PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. xxiii 



In tlie field of metallurgy a question has arisen, which, so far, has 

 not been satisfactorily answered. It has been found that of the gold 

 associated with the antimony ores of West Gore, one-half of the assay 

 value goes with the quartz tailings, which can be treated for the gold 

 in one or the other usual ways. The other half of the gold values 

 remains with the antimony concentrates, aud the question is how to 

 separate the two metals and obtain a high return for botli. 



Papers on the composition of many provincial minerals are given 

 in various publications, accurate enough, doubtless, in themselves, 

 but, where of commercial value, often lacking in some of the details 

 which are essential to a full appreciation of the analyses. For 

 instance, one may find specimens of chalcopyrite labelled as containing 

 30 per cent, of copper, a percentage that tells the mineralogist it is 

 merely an assay of the richest portions picked out, and cannot be 

 of an average sample of a deposit, as the uninitiated may be led to 

 believe. 



Again, in coal, in some of these analyses the percentages of ash 

 and sulphur shown do not agree with the practical results obtained by 

 the user and coke maker. They are too low, and this being well 

 known the chief purpose they serve is to bring discredit on any 

 carefully made reports with which they may be associated. Distrust 

 once aroused it is ditficult to get confidence restored, and the only 

 remedy seems to be in accurately stating the associated circumstances, 

 whether the result is obtained from a hand-picked specimen or from a 

 specified quantity of ore properly sampled down ; or if of a coal seam, 

 tlien of a strip taken from top to bottom. 



Men of experience are hence apt to ignore all analyses of the class 

 refei'red to, not endorsed with the name of the aualj'st, and to insist 

 on independent investigation ; while there are others less experienced, 

 who deceive themselves, and being of a sanguine temperament, mislead 

 others. No good purpose is sirved by this, and the country at large 

 is not benefitted. The Mining Society has had this matter under con- 

 sideration, and has advocated the appointment of a provincial assayer, 

 who, by the w-ay, might well be also government instructor in the 

 schools of higher mining, which, it is felt, are much needed in this 

 province, to be associated in the work so well begun by Dalhousie 

 University. 



