deposits on the streams or the higher level flats. As would be expected
from the nature of the ground, the top gravels do not carry payable
values, but it seems to me almost impossible for the bottom to be other
than rich when it is remembered that tin will not travel far without easy
outlet and good grades, and that for a long period tin-bearing dirt has
been emptying itself into this basin from so many channels. We have been
unable to reach bottom in ordinary trial pits owing to heavy water and
the running nature of the alluvial, and it will now have to be tested by
boring.
Even if it proves only a low-grade show, it is obviously a big mine, and
one that must be worked by dredging or pumping methods. Possibly the
three falls above mentioned would give sufficient power, in which case
the problem of working the “A” deposits would be solved at the same time.
Otherwise it would be necessary to acquire the Kwall Falls, and generate
electric power there.
C
I am not so familiar with this portion of the river, but, generally
speaking, it is of a similar character to “B,” and the same remarks
apply, but with this important exception, that it is down stream and
therefore farther away from the source of the tin. I am not in a position
to say whether it is fed by other tin-bearing streams or rocks further to
the west.
As your Chairman very reasonably suggested, there may be an obstruction
in the shape of rising bedrock or bars about Section 46, in which case
this portion may prove of little value. This can only be disclosed by
continuing the boring operations, and I would here emphasise Mr. Lush’s
opinion that the greatest care should be exercised in taking samples from
holes in these loose gravels where boring has a tendency to concentrate
the heavier mineral at the bottom.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As some difficulty is anticipated in holding the areas as they now stand
after this year, I suggest that they be dealt with as follows:—
(A) The streams and alluvial deposits on this portion are
spread over some six square miles of country, so that my
previous suggestion that the whole should be taken up in one
rectangular mining area is not feasible. A mining area should
be acquired over Sections 49 and 50 as under:—
Commencing at the N’Gell Beacon, thence 2 miles due west,
thence 1 mile due north, thence 2 miles due east, and thence 1
mile due south to the starting point, enclosing an area of 2
square miles.
Mining licences over Nos. 1, 2, and 3 streams should be renewed.
The above four mining areas will not include all the alluvial mentioned
in this report as existing on this portion (A), but if the three streams
are held, the alluvial lying between them will be safe from others, who
would have no water for working it. This is only intended to meet the
case temporarily, and until further surveys have been made and the Mining
Laws revised.
(B) Negotiations should be entered into with the Niger Company
to take over this part of the river, or with a view to an
amalgamation of interests.
A mining licence should then be obtained to commence at a
beacon 10,343 feet due west of the N’Gell beacon, thence 2½
miles due west, thence 1 mile due south, thence 2½ miles due
east, thence 1 mile due north to the starting point, enclosing
an area of 2½ square miles.
(C) I recommend that an exclusive prospecting licence be
applied for, identical with Sections 36 to 40, enclosing an
area of five square miles. If a prospecting licence is not
allowed in any form, the expense of holding this piece of
land under mining licences must be borne until prospecting is
completed.
There remains only the river flowing through Sections 46 and
35. A rectangular prospecting area (or, if refused, a mining
area) ½ mile wide, east and west, by about 1¼ miles long,
north and south, will be sufficient to hold this while its
examination is going on.
With regard to staff and the work for the immediate future, a good
surveyor and assistant must be sent out whose chief duty, apart from the
demarcation of boundaries, would be the determination of grades in the
rivers, measurement of water, survey of falls, and the preparation of
sections showing the alluvial beds as disclosed by the pits and bores.
An experienced man to carry out the boring operations should also be
provided, and the whole work placed in charge of a capable hydraulic
mining engineer.
CONCLUSION
It is above all things desirable to aim at working the whole of the
deposits about this river as one large power proposition, deriving the
power either from falls on the property or from Kwall. Should it be
found impossible to do this (from failure to secure the land and falls
required), then it will have to be proved whether the deposits on the
six square miles of “A” portion justify the expense of harnessing falls
and conveying power to the heads of the streams. If not, as much of the
alluvial as possible must be worked out by the same system of sluicing
as was employed last year, but on an increased scale, and with a more
elaborate method of dealing with the water supply.
I am of opinion that it will take a year with a competent staff to prove
the six miles of land referred to in “A” portion.
(_Signed_) H. W. LAWS, M.I.M.M.
_3rd September, 1910._
N’GELL STREAM AREAS
_28th December, 1909._
_The Secretary_, NIGER COMPANY, LIMITED, LONDON, W.C.
DEAR SIR,—I beg to hand you herewith Summary of tin returns for the
months of November and December.
_Tin Recovery._—Work ceased on the 14th instant owing to Mr. Carpenter’s
time being completed, and his desire to return to England; otherwise
sluicing on No. 1 stream could have continued to the end of the year.
Sluicing on No. 2 stream was stopped early in November owing to want of
water.
The black tin recovered for November amounted to 12 tons and 2 lbs.,
and from December 1st to 14th, 4 tons 14 cwts. 3 qrs. 12 lbs., making a
total of 30 tons 0 cwts. 1 qr. 3 lbs. for the three months that mining
operations have been carried on, as shown on the summary.
The ground sluiced at No. 1 stream measures approximately 2,736 cubic
yards, worth 10 to 11 lbs. of black tin per cubic yard.
In arriving at these figures, the tin taken from the actual river bed,
where it was impossible to measure the ground sluiced, is excluded, and
this value will be found to be a fair average for the alluvial bank
deposits on the N’Gell areas.
I estimate there is sufficient of this to last for six years on the two
areas we have taken up, but this does not include some fairly extensive
deposits between the three N’Gell streams and outside our small mining
leases, which we have recently found to exist. We have not attempted
to develop these higher deposits, but wherever tried they carry good
values, and if by careful selection we added them to the existing areas,
the proposition would become an important one as far as quantity is
concerned. The difficulty lies in economical working. The present method,
although profitable, is unsatisfactory, at any rate from an engineering
point of view; my experience of the last three months has proved that
sluicing in a small way can only proceed between seasons—in the dry
season only hand-work can be done, and at the height of the rains the
sluices cannot be fixed low enough to receive the sluicing water. It
is essentially an elevating proposition, but without power, fuel, or
water, we are helpless. I therefore recommend you, should an opportunity
occur, to give careful consideration to any amalgamation scheme which our
neighbours on the N’Gell River might think desirable after they become
familiar with their property, especially if they decide to work on a
large scale.
Should no opportunity of the kind occur, I advise you to take the best
out of the three streams and their alluvial banks by our present cheap
sluicing methods and handwork during the next six years or so. A good
engineer and an assistant would be required to supervise, but the former
would only be required at certain seasons and not permanently on the
property. I am preparing a list of plant required to work economically on
these lines on the three streams.
_Export._—The tin won was all first grade, assaying 72 per cent. to 73
per cent. 644 bags, weighing net 19 tons 9 cwts. 3 qrs. 7 lbs., were
despatched in November, and 350 bags, weighing net 10 tons 10 cwts. 1 qr.
24 lbs., were despatched this month, making a total of 30 tons 0 cwts. 1
qr. 3 lbs.
_General._—The plant has been properly laid up and protected from the
weather for the dry season, and a watchman has been placed in charge.
I am, &c.,
(_Signed_) H. W. LAWS.
Since the preparation of the foregoing particulars a report has been
received from the company’s manager giving the first detailed particulars
of the prospecting as follows:—
“_Prospecting._—With regard to this important subject I expect to have a
little more to say when I have a general map ready to forward to you. The
shaft in Section 26 which you asked about in your letter of 26th July was
not got down to bedrock on account of water, and there were no results
to report. In prospecting the streams of the central and northern part
of the 40-mile area, we found tin in many places in various quantities,
and irregularly distributed. Apparently the best stream is that one
which runs through Section 28; while prospecting there we calabashed
out five tons very easily from the bed of the stream, which tin we have
in stock and shall report it to the Government as soon as the mining
lease is applied for. The prospecting by numerous pits shows that the
ground is too irregular in values outside the bed of the stream to make
satisfactory estimates until some sluicing is done, which will be a
relatively easy matter when we have the mining lease. There is another
stream about three miles further north which I think will warrant taking
up, but perhaps not quite so good as that in Section 28.
“In prospecting other streams of the northern part of the 40-mile area we
generally found from a trace of tin to say a pound or so per yard with
limited yardage, and none of them offer much encouragement to the company
for mining purposes.
“A part of the N’Gell River, in Sections 49 to 50, I think is suitable
for taking up as a mining lease. The tin, however, appears to be mostly
confined to the river bed, and therefore it is more suitable for
calabashing than for sluicing purposes. Also the parts of streams Nos. 1
and 2, which are in the prospecting area, should be included in the areas
applied for.”
The manager further states, in regard to the drilling operations which
are being carried out on the more remote and westerly portion of
the property, that the results hitherto obtained have not been very
encouraging, but that it is too early to arrive at a definite conclusion
in regard to final results.
Cable advice has been received of the recovery of ten tons of tin during
the month of October. The manager adds that the water is falling rapidly;
this should permit of calabashing on an extended scale. The value of the
tin already won by intermittent working should realise nearly £4,000, a
sum in excess of the outlay in respect of the surveying and prospecting
on which the small staff has been principally occupied.
TIN AREAS OF NIGERIA, LTD.
_Capital._—£60,000 in 240,000 shares of 5s. each.
_Directors._—Assheton Leaver (Chairman), Cyril D’Arcy Leaver,
James Ramsay Parsons, Franklin Stokes Saunders, Lewis Norman
Way.
_Secretary._—Henry Thomas Miller.
_Offices._—St. Bartholomew House, 58 West Smithfield, E.C.
This company owns two alluvial tin properties of about one square mile
each, and when the company was formed they had a further option for an
area of about 1,920 acres, which option has since been exercised, and the
property referred to in it floated as a subsidiary company called the Jos
Tin Area (Nigeria) Limited.
For the purpose of identification the two properties owned by the company
were described as Jos No. 2 and the Fusa property.
Mr. Malcolm has been appointed manager of the properties, and on behalf
of the company has applied for and secured permission to take up a
further area on the Fefan River.
Mr. S. W. Carpenter, who was in the employ of the Niger Company for
five years, has been appointed engineer. Mr. A. Higgins, who has also
joined this company, was formerly in the Public Works Department of
Nigeria, and has been in the country for the past ten years. He will make
his headquarters at Lokoja, in which place the company has contracted
to acquire a site and buildings to be used for trading, with a steam
launch and two barges on the river. In connection with this trading and
transport work, the company have acquired properties in Nigeria belonging
to the firm of Messrs. Siegler & Co., and their place in Lokoja occupies
the best river site there.
This company promoted its first subsidiary company in May 1910, and was
called the Jos Tin Area (Nigeria) Limited. The property was a producing
one.
ANGLO-CONTINENTAL MINES CO., LTD.
_Capital._—£200,000 in 400,000 10s. shares, of which 300,000
are issued and fully paid.
_Directors._—Messrs. W. F. Turner (Chairman), Edmund Davis, J.
Schaar, and H. White.
_Secretary._—Mr. A. W. Berry.
_Offices._—22 Austin Friars, E.C.
This company, in addition to having interests in various West African and
South African concerns, is interested in the Nigerian Tin Fields, and
in addition to holding share interest in various companies, they have a
prospecting right over an area of 50 square miles in the Bauchi district
to the west of the Naraguta area, and to the north and adjoining the area
of the Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Limited.
JOS TIN AREA (NIGERIA), LTD.
_Capital._—£110,000 in 440,000 shares of 5s. each.
_Directors._—Assheton Leaver (Chairman), C. D’Arcy Leaver, H.
T. Miller, J. R. Parsons, F. S. Saunders, A. T. Schmidt, L. N.
Way.
_Offices._—58 West Smithfield, E.C.
The company acquired from the Tin Areas of Nigeria Limited, an area of
1,920 acres which were originally held by the Niger Company. Mr. Charles
Scott has been engaged as mine manager, and is now on the property, from
which about 20 tons of black tin were won during May, June, and July.
At the statutory meeting held on 22nd August, the chairman said:
“I may say that I have had the pleasure on two or three occasions of
meeting Mr. H. W. Laws, who was the chief mining engineer of the Niger
Company in Northern Nigeria, and is now their consulting engineer here.
He had for some time the direction of the work on this particular mine.
In the course of friendly conversations with him, he told me that he
was of opinion that our company should get back its capital, together
with interest commensurate with the risk run in all mining enterprises.
He also told me that he considered the mine could go on producing
indefinitely anything up to 200 tons of tin per annum, without any
capital expenditure, but he added that he thought that would be a very
wrong policy to pursue, and that the right thing to do was to have, as
we intend having, a thorough survey made of the property, and then come
to a conclusion as to the best method of working it. I think that it
is very satisfactory to hear this from Mr. Laws, because it points to
the fact that we have really got a sound property, and one which, if
properly managed, will prove to be a sound speculative investment. It is
a property which must be regarded as a low-grade proposition. Although,
of course, it is more fascinating to have a property which may be called
a very rich one, yet a large low-grade property is really far more
satisfactory from the shareholders’ point of view than a property which
is simply rich in patches, because with a large low-grade proposition it
is a case of “cut and come again” and as often as you like. There is
always something to go away with. Mr. Lush, in a report which he gave us
at the time of the flotation of this mine, estimated that we could reckon
upon having 500 acres containing 2 lbs. of tin per cubic yard, and if
that estimate is realised—and I have no reason to anticipate that it will
not be realised—and the profits are made that he foreshadowed might be
made, you have a very handsome property, and one containing apparently
something over half a million sterling worth of tin.”
BISICHI TIN COMPANY (NIGERIA), LTD.
_Capital._—£200,000 in £1 shares.
_Directors._—The Earl of Wharncliffe, Sir William Wallace,
K.C.M.G., William Scott Coutts, Samuel Watkin Carlton, James
Gardiner.
_Secretary._—Stanley Aldous.
_Offices._—51 and 52 Fenchurch Street, E.C.
This company was formed to acquire and work mining rights over a property
known as the Bisichi Valley Tin Area, comprising an area of three square
miles in extent, situated in the Bauchi Tin Fields. It is located about
12 miles south-east of Jos, at the head-waters of the river Gongola, on
the main transport route from Keffi to Naraguta.
Mr. Laws, the general mining manager of the Niger Company, in his report,
says:
“One of the most pleasing features of this property is its constant
supply of water for sluicing and power purposes, and the ample head of
water given by the three falls for hydraulicing.”
In the Bisichi Valley there is a large alluvial deposit of light sandy
material which is quite free from clay, and is extremely friable, and
consequently capable of cheap and rapid concentration.
Black oxide of tin occurs abundantly in the river beds and adjacent
alluvial flats, and is of very good quality, there being practically no
iron or other impurity associated with it. The tin-bearing alluvial is
all on the surface, and varies in depth from a few inches to some 20 feet
in the vicinity of the river.
Systematic tests of the alluvial by trial pits were commenced this year,
and up to the present the great proportion of the alluvial of the river
Bisichi has been tested.
The tested ground averages 4 yards in depth, and contains approximately
2,120,000 cubic yards of payable alluvial wash. The latter varies in
value from traces to 129 lbs. of black tin per cubic yard, the average
value being 7.27 lbs. of black tin per cubic yard. The total contents
of the tested portion therefore amounts to 6,800 tons, exclusive of the
river bed deposits, which the Niger Company’s engineers estimate to
contain about 1,000 tons.
The nature of the river-bed wash does not lend itself to accurate
sampling, but Mr. Laws, judging by actual returns from similar deposits
on this field, considers this estimate of 1,000 tons a moderate one, and
states that it may be taken that some 7,800 tons of black tin (containing
over 70 per cent. of pure metal) have been developed to date. Taking
the costs as estimated by Mr. Laws at £45 per ton, the above tonnage
contained in the area already proved, shows an available profit of over
£350,000.
Payable tin-bearing alluvial exists on other portions of the Bisichi
Valley area, but as it has not yet been measured or tested, no exact
estimate can be made of quantities and values. The ground already tested
represents about one-tenth of the total area; but the very high values
and quantities so far disclosed cannot be taken to apply to the whole
area, as it is natural that the course of the main stream should carry
better values and deeper ground than the remainder of the land where the
alluvial would be more patchy and shallower. It will be seen, however,
that the estimated working costs per ton have been placed by Mr. Laws at
a figure which will permit of lower grade ground being worked than that
already referred to.
Mr. Laws advises the immediate erection of an hydraulicing plant capable
of dealing efficiently with wash dirt sufficient to produce 800 tons
of black tin annually, an ample head of water being available for this
purpose throughout the year.
He also states that it would be quite possible to commence work on the
property immediately by ground sluicing; but he is strongly of opinion
that this policy would be unwise, as the disturbance of the ground might
tend to interfere with the economical working on a large scale such as is
proposed.
Provided no unforeseen difficulties arise, Mr. Laws is of opinion that
the whole of the plant would be in operation within nine months.
If Mr. Laws’ advice is taken, he estimates that working cost would amount
to about £10 per ton on ore of the value already found, but, as stated
above, to allow for working a larger quantity of lower grade ground,
working costs should be placed at £15 per ton of ore. The price of the
ore in the market at Liverpool may be taken at £90 per ton, which, after
deducting £15 for working costs, and £30 per ton for transport and
contingencies, would leave a margin of profit of £45 per ton of ore.
Although it is proposed in the earlier stages of development to equip the
mine with plant capable of producing 800 tons annually, any increase on
this rate of working will depend on surveys determining the head of water
available.
WEST AFRICAN MINES, LTD.
_Capital._—£100,200 in £1 shares, of which 100,000 are ordinary
shares and 200 founders’ shares; all are issued and fully paid.
_Directors._—Rt. Hon. Lord Harris (Chairman), Edmund Davis,
Friedrich Eckstein, H. Strakosah, R. G. Fricker (Managing
Director).
_Secretaries._—The Consolidated Goldfields of South Africa,
Limited.
_Offices._—8 Old Jewry, E.C.
This company, which is managed by the Consolidated Goldfields of South
Africa, Limited, has secured an interest in a tin business in Nigeria.
The company have sent out Mr. Balfour, who has had experience in tin
dredging in the Straits Settlements. The tin property which is here
referred to was floated in conjunction with the Anglo-Continental Mines,
Limited, and was called the Northern Nigerian (Bauchi) Tin Mines,
Limited.
BENUE (NORTHERN NIGERIA) TIN MINES, LTD.
_Capital._—£10,000 in £1 shares; 8,500 are issued and fully
paid, the balance are under option at par till 31st March, 1911.
_Directors._—Charles E. Pearson (Chairman), C. L. W. Wallace,
H. Kemble, G. F. Jones.
_Secretary._—J. H. Dormer.
_Offices._—21 Great Winchester Street, E.C.
The company originally held a prospecting mining licence over an area of
ten square miles, situated in the Benue River district, Northern Nigeria.
Mr. Harry Kemble, accompanied by an experienced engineer, left for
Nigeria early this year. The following circular was issued to the
shareholders on 29th August 1910:
“I beg to inform you that Mr. Kemble, writing from Naraguta, on 21st
July, reports as follows:—
“‘Please inform my brother-directors I have acquired four square miles of
very rich tin area, as stated in my cable of the 19th inst. It is mainly
in the streams, and will be almost entirely recovered by calabash washing
(_i.e._ natives washing the alluvial in calabashes).’”
In a cable from Mr. Kemble, dated 8th August, he states that he has
acquired a further six square miles, also rich, and on 21st August he
cabled that he has acquired “another square mile extremely rich.”
With regard to the exact locality of these areas, Mr. Kemble says: “Mr.
Knight will have plans, report, &c., ready for sending home as soon as
possible.”
The following was issued to shareholders on 15th September 1910:
“Referring to my circular of 29th August, in which I informed you that
Mr. H. Kemble reported having secured in all eleven square miles of very
rich tin area, in a letter just received from Mr. Kemble, dated 3rd
August, he states that as a test they have washed 3,000 lbs. of tin in
five days’ work. With reference to seven square miles which Mr. Kemble
has secured for the company, he says:
“‘(1) Property on which camp is built lies nearly half-way between Bauchi
Town and Naraguta. It is two miles long by half-mile wide, taking in
the Ademi River in its length. There are other smaller streams on the
property running into the Ademi, and also containing tin. One square
mile. (2) Property on the river known locally as the Kogin Zungur, one
day’s march due south of Bauchi Town, and commencing quarter-mile
south-west of the town of Zungur, is six miles long and one wide. Mr.
Knight reports it rich in tin. Six square miles. It is impossible for Mr.
Knight to make detailed plans yet, as all his time must be devoted to
getting hold of further concessions.’”
GEL TIN LODE AND ALLUVIAL COMPANY, LTD.
_Capital._—£100,000 in 400,000 shares of 5s. each; present
issue 240,000 shares.