1919.] 
Departmental Reports. 
45 
to be disappointing. Chrome-iron-ore mining in New Zealand began in 
1858, when 3 tons, valued at £25, was exported. In 1862 there seems to 
have been a boom, for 3,483 tons, valued at £24,719, was exported. The 
production fell off rapidly, and after 1866 no chrome-iron ore was exported 
for many years. 
During the years 1858 to 1866 chrome-iron ore was mined chiefly on 
the Dun Mountain. Other mines were in the Aniseed Valley and near 
Little Ben Nevis. In later vears a few hundred tons was mined near 
Croixelles Harbour. Tables showing the export of chrome-iron ore year 
by year will be found in the annual report of the Mines Department for 
the year 1915 (published in 1916), and in its predecessors for many years 
back. 
Sir James Hector considered that the chrome deposits of the Nelson 
“ Mineral Belt ” could yield a large amount of the ore (Rep. Geol. Explor. 
No. 14, 1882, pp. 1, 2), and S. H. Cox was almost equally optimistic on this 
point (Rep. Geol. Explor. No. 14, 1882, pp. 3-10), but both he and Hector 
doubted if sufficiently remunerative prices could be obtained by shipping 
the ore away. Cox therefore suggested that works for the manufacture of 
bichromate of potash should be established in as central a position as 
possible. 
Alexander McKay in 1896 reported on chromite deposits on the north¬ 
western slopes of Mount Starveall. He saw three small pockets of good 
ore, one of which had the appearance of a loose mass. The other two were 
nearly connected, had a total length of 14 ft., and a maximum breadth of 
5 ft. or 6 ft. In all there were not more than 300 or 400 tons of ore. In 
another locality more to the west McKay saw similar nests or bunches of 
chrome-iron ore, but although good samples could be obtained the ore as 
a whole was not equal to that of the eastern locality. There was, however, 
a large amount of olivine rock, containing 10 to 20 per cent, of disseminated 
chromite. This, McKay states, could not be concentrated in or near the 
locality of its occurrence. Largely on account of the difficulty and expense 
of transport, McKay condemned the proposal to work the Mount Starveall 
deposits (C-ll, 1896, pp. 30-31). 
In June, 1900, McKay examined chrome-iron-ore deposits on the south 
side of Croixelles Harbour, which were being worked by Messrs. Tatton 
and Jackson, of Nelson. These occurred in soft serpentine on or near a 
saddle about a mile from the harbour and 1,200 ft. above sea-level. The 
ore was in elliptic, lentil-shaped masses, in places almost touching one 
another, but elsewhere widely separated. At the principal excavation, 
on the saddle itself, McKay estimated the ore mined and in sight at 
150 tons. A considerable amount of ore was scattered about on the slope 
west of the saddle, apparently set free by the weathering-away of the 
serpentine. Much of this had been gathered into heaps, and was ready 
for transport to Croixelles Harbour. This and the other ore that had been 
mined was lowered to the edge of the harbour by means of a wire rope 
(aerial tram), which, however, gave out, and the mine was then closed 
down. Forty tons or more of ore is still on the shore-line, close to high- 
water mark, and could easily be shipped away by means of a scow brought 
in at high tide. The drifts at the mine are said still to be in good order, 
and to expose a considerable amount of good ore. The pack-track from the 
mine to the beach is also in good order. The distance is 1 mile 15 chains. 
The information contained in the last few sentences has been obtained 
chiefly from Mr. F. G. Gibbs, of Nelson, who has kindly answered inquiries 
made by the writer. 
