8 
Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
Mr. Henry Eoebme, of Ashfield, who has for some time past 
been making experiments with a vicAV to discover some more^ 
economical and etfcctive method of reducing _ quartz, is of 
opinion that he has succeeded. His process consists in burning 
the quartz in a closed furnace, and when a certain heat is 
reached tlie quartz is taken from the furnace and thrown 
into Avater. The folloAving extracts fi’om the Report ot the 
A^ictorian Pyrites Board on the subject of bnrniiig quartz before 
crushing maybe of interest. “It is asserted that it would be 
impossible to thoroughly oxidize the sulpliur by burning, and 
that a loAver sulphide would result whicli would melt and enclose 
the fine ])articlcs of gold, rcudering the subsequent extraction 
more diflicult. Mr. Latta’s evidence, Avhich is of a practical 
nature, is very decisive in regard to the question. He states that 
roasting has the eifeet of converting the gold in the exterior ot 
the quartz into globules, and covering them witli a ferruginous 
glaze, which is jirejudicial to the proper extraction of the precious 
metal. Ho has microscopically examined raw and burnt quartz 
AA"ashings from the lowest blankets and found most particles of 
gold in the latter. Mr. Heywood considers that many sub- 
stances arc removed during the process of roa.sting Avhich Avould 
tend to interfere with amalgamation, and that the loss of mercury 
is less. Mr. Kayscr thinks that fine gold is run into a globular 
form during roasting, and is then more easily amalgamated. On 
the other hand, Mr. John Lewis, the Manager of the New North 
Clunes Company, is vciy cm]>hatic in his condemnation of burning, 
for he says, — ‘1 would burn quartz previous to crushing if the 
pyrites Avere not to be saved, but if tliey Avere iicedod I Avould 
crush raAV.’ After a careful consideration of this portion of the 
question, the Board is of opinion that crushing raAv is the best 
method of treatment except when pyrites are absent, then burning 
might be adopted if fuel is easily obtainable in order to economise 
Avear and tear of machinery in crushing.” AEr. Boehme hoAvever 
claims that his process is not open to any of the objections urged 
against the roasting of quartz. He says, the ])yrites contained 
in the quartz are not prejudicially affected by tlie process, and 
that the Avhole merit of the process consists in having discovered 
the exact heat to Avhich quartz may be subjected Avitliout pro- 
ducing the etfects referred to. Ho has forwarded samples of raAv 
and roasted qiiartz to this department for exhibition. The recent 
arrival of these samples lias rendered aii examination for the 
purpose of testing the merits of his process impossible, but he 
offers the fullest information to those interested, and courts 
investigation, so tliat thei'c is every reason to hope that the merit 
of the process, if it possess any, will speedily be made public. 
Before leaving tlie subject of quartz-ininiug, reference may be 
made to the evil efibets upon this branch of mining of the Avant 
