74 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



bought up, new capital was expended, the reef 

 has been opened up and developed and ascertained 

 to be of o-reat extent and fair richness. The 

 average yield of the ore has been estimated by 

 assay to be about 30oz. of silver to the ton. In 

 some places, however, it reaches the high average 

 of from 200 oz. to 300 oz. to the ton. It also con- 

 tains about 30 per cent, of lead. I am informed 

 l)v experts that the geological formation of these 

 ore deposits is peculiar, the presence in abundance 

 of carbonate of iron and the almost total absence 

 of zinc and of any excess of silica rendering- 

 smelting very easy. At present some diificulty 

 in working this ore at a profit may arise from the 

 necessity of having to use for smelting imported 

 coke at the cost of some 15/. a ton. In the immediate 

 neighbourhood coal mines are being worked, but 

 it is doubtful whether this coal can be manufac- 

 tured into coke sufficiently good for smelting 

 pui'poses. It is known, however, that there exist 

 hard by beds of superior coal, and great hopes are 

 entertained that sufficientlv good coke may be pro- 

 duced upon the spot. Silver reefs appear to 

 abound on the properties adjoining that of the 

 Transvaal Silver Mines Company ; one or two 

 small syndicates have been formed to acquire and 

 develop these properties, and it is quite possible 

 that the silver mines of the Transvaal may become 

 a larger, a more imi:)ortant, a more valuable 

 industry than even the gold mines of the Randt. 

 I made, in company with some friends, a very 

 interesting and pleasant expedition to these silver 



