Mines and Minei'al Statistics. 
7 
where chemical combinations retard the saving of gold, for it 
appears that during the operation of Hushing otf part of the 
floured mercury (equal, to 2^. lbs. of quicksilver per ton of 
roasted ore treated), is carried way with the water and lost. 
This, in addition to a considerable loss of gold as amalgam, 
renders it e^■ident that if some eflectual means of saving both be 
brought into general use many thousands of tons of tailings now 
lying unworked, which it would not otherwise pay to operate 
upon, could be made to yield a considerable profit and open up a 
largo field of labour.” 
Under tlie head of waste ])roducts the Board says : — “ A’^cry 
little attention has been given in A'ictoria to tlm extracting other 
constituents of pyrites, such as silver, copper, nickel, cobalt, and 
other metals, as also sulphur and arsenic, which from a purely 
commercial point of view, are of vast i!ii])ortance, and capable of 
adding materially to the wcaltli of the Colony. Most of the 
waste products, as they are termed, are sucli no longer, as their 
presence has increaed the value of and demand in Europe for 
pyrites of all kinds.” Messrs. Johnson, Jlatthey, & Co., assayers, 
of London, writing on this subject, say, referring to some sainplcs 
of auriferous pyrites submitted to them by the Port Philli]) and 
Colonial Gold Mining Coni])any : — ‘ AVo heg to remark that 
mineral of this character would find a ready and advantageous 
market in England, provided that a regular quantity woidd bo 
shipped.’ Our experience certainly leads ns to the conclusion 
that as the working of these ores become better understood in 
England (a result immediately consequent upon a steady sii])ply), 
a keen competition will arise and an extreme value be realized.” 
The Board says : — “ AVe are fully of opinion that the estab- 
lishment of large central works for the treatment of pyrites 
on the most thorough and approved system would be a very 
great advantage to the Colony (Victoria) in every respect. Hucli 
works would give rise to the foundation of many new industries, 
besides tending to the production of large quantities of gold. It 
would be necessary to e8tal)lish works in situations easily acces- 
sil)le to railway commnnicatioTi from the Gold I’ields, where tlic 
supply of raw pyrites would be regularly and easily obtained. 
There could be no objection to the occupation by sucli establish- 
ments of advantageous sites on the ground of injury to public 
health, as the fumes given oif in the process of roasting pyrites 
Avould be condensed for tlie purpose of saving the sulphur and 
arsenic.” It is said that more than 72,000 tons of pyrites raid 
pyritoxis vein stufls are treated in Adetoria every year. And the 
Board says “ tens of thousands of pounds are annually lost to 
that Colony by the non-existence of sucli establishments as are 
advocated.” 
