Part 7

The width of the property (three-quarters of a mile) does not include the whole of the large alluvial flats that occur on either side of the river, but having secured the river and so much of the adjacent ground, these flats are protected, and, if necessary, may be taken up when the land for mining purposes is selected.

Of the area staked, certainly more than two-thirds carries alluvial ground of the thickness given above. Except in the bed of the stream, rich patches are not expected, but a fairly uniform value throughout.

_Water._—There is a continuous flow of water for sluicing purposes all the year round.

_Grades._—Cannot be determined without survey, but at the lower (Forum) end of the property there is sufficient fall to allow the tailings to be inexpensively dealt with.

_Costs._—Will compare favourably with other mines in the district, _i.e._ with ground of moderate value the costs would amount to between £10 and £15 per ton of black tin, and present transport charges £27 10s. per ton inclusive.

Final tests of the flats are capable of being cheaply and quickly carried out by means of trial pits; boring is unnecessary. The probability is that the workable ground will prove to be of too large an area to be included in one mining lease, and that it will be necessary to split the present area into two or more properties.

_Shen Property._—This property is situated on the left bank of the Shen stream, on which it has been pegged out for some distance with an average width of about two chains. The Shen property adjoins the concession acquired by the Bisichi Tin Company (Nigeria), Ltd.

_South Bukeru._—This property, comprising an area of three square miles, is situated about four miles south of Bukeru. It is situated on the top of the Bukeru watershed, a basin heavily watered with small streams running through the whole area, which is stated to be alluvial, and all the ground is tin-bearing from the top to the bottom of the pits, which have been sunk to a depth of about fifteen feet. Pump or boring plant will be necessary to thoroughly test the property. This property has been sold to the South Bukeru (Nigeria) Tin Co., Ltd.

NIGERIA TIN CORPORATION, LTD.

_Capital._—£100,000 in 100,000 shares of £1 each; 34,782 issued; a further 25,000 are under option at 25s. per share until December 31, 1910.

_Directors._—Oliver Wethered (Chairman), H. C. Godfray, R. J. Hoffmann, H. J. Moir, C. V. Thomas.

_Secretary._—George Kerr, A.C.I.S.

_Offices._—Capel House, 54 New Broad Street, E.C.

This company owns four areas aggregating 14 square miles in Nigeria, and in addition to these has large holdings of shares in the leading companies operating in this field, including:

Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa, Ltd. Naraguta (Nigeria) Tin Mines, Ltd. Juga Tin and Power Company, Ltd. Anglo-Continental Mines, Ltd. Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Ltd.

Another of the company’s assets to which considerable importance is attached is the interest in the Juga (Nigeria) Tin and Power Company, whose property comprises what is known as the Juga area, situated on a plateau 3,280 feet above sea-level, amounting to 1,600 acres, and the Sub-Juga area which, as its name implies, is situated upon the lower plateau immediately below Juga, amounting to 6,720 acres. A further property, known as the South Juga, has also been acquired. From August 15 to September 10 the quantity of crude tin produced by the Juga Company was 12,339 lbs., but Mr. C. G. Lush, the consulting engineer, states that, as in the case of the Naraguta property, the bed of the river, in which the richest deposits of tin are contained, is exposed for calabashing in the dry season, which is now beginning, so that a much larger output of tin may be confidently expected in the near future. New plant is now being supplied capable of dressing twelve tons of tin oxide per day.

The Anglo-Continental Mines Company is largely interested in what are undoubtedly the best gold mines in the Tarkwa and Prestea, districts of West Africa, but it has also a substantial slice of the Nigerian “cake.” It has already had one profitable “deal” in the successful flotation of the Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Ltd.—a company holding prospecting licences over a compact block of 50 square miles in the Bauchi Province, and mining licences over three blocks of about 12½ acres each. Portions of the property have been worked sufficiently by the Niger Company to prove their exceptional value as tin-bearing areas. Mr. C. G. Lush, reporting in February last, stated: “From surface pannings I should estimate the over-burden, or rather stanniferous gravelly deposit overlying the wash, to go 2 lbs. per cubic yard.... Provided sufficient power is obtained, there is room here for at least four big plants capable of treating 10,000 cubic yards of gravel each per week. 40,000 yards at 2 lbs. equals 80,000 lbs. of tin oxide, equal to 35 tons per week, which, at £80, means £2,800; less cost of treatment at 6d. per yard £1,000, carriage on 35 tons of tin (at £15) £525, Government royalty at 10 per cent. £127, leaving a net weekly profit of £1,148.” The Anglo-Continental Mines Company has a large interest in this company, and is looking for big dividends therefrom in the not very distant future. But this is not by any means the full extent of its interest in Northern Nigeria, for it has acquired an adjoining area of 50 square miles, which are stated to afford equally satisfactory prospects.

Apart from the indirect interest the Nigerian Tin Corporation has in the Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, through the Anglo-Continental Mines Company already referred to, it has a large holding on its own account.

The original intention, when the Nigerian Tin Corporation was formed, was that it should confine itself entirely to taking participation in deals and promotions, but feeling persuaded that this is the most important virgin tin field the world has yet seen, the directors decided to extend the scope of the corporation’s operations, and, as already stated, four areas have been acquired of eight, three, two, and one square miles respectively.

Mr. H. O. Crighton, late manager of the Pusing Lama Mine, in the Straits Settlements, has been appointed the company’s manager in Northern Nigeria in January last, and has already taken up three areas on behalf of this company.

NORTHERN NIGERIA (BAUCHI) TIN MINES, LTD.

_Capital._—£200,000 in £1 shares, of which 169,000 are issued and fully paid, including 100,000 given in part payment of the property.

_Directors._—Sir Robert A. Hampson, J.P. (Chairman), Mr. Hugh C. Godfray, Mr. George T. Harris, Mr. Oliver Wethered, and Mr. Hetherington White.

_Secretary._—Mr. E. Price.

_Offices._—19 St. Swithin’s Lane, E.C.

This company has exclusive prospecting rights over an area of 50 square miles in the Naraguta district of Northern Nigeria, together with mining licences over a further area of 12½ acres situated at the head-waters of a small river.

The manager of this company in Nigeria is Mr. Means, who has done a considerable amount of prospecting on the property. This large property of 50 square miles was originally secured by the Anglo-Continental Company. It is believed there are several large areas of alluvial tin on the property, which has not yet been properly prospected.

With regard to the smaller concession of 12½ acres, Mr. Lush confirmed the statement that the alluvial tin at this point was exceptionally rich, averaging as much as 12 lbs. per cubic yard.

In his report on this property dated February 21, 1910, Mr. Lush said:

“From surface pannings I should estimate the overburden, or rather stanniferous gravelly deposit overlying the wash, to go 2 lbs. per cubic yard. It would be interesting to see the values and thickness of the bottom wash. Provided sufficient power is obtained, there is room here for at least four big plants capable of treating 10,000 cubic yards of gravel each per week: 40,000 yards at 2 lbs. equals 80,000 lbs. of tin oxide, equal to 35 tons per week.

“I look for a fair depth of payable ground, everything points to its being so, but only boring can decide this.

“Life of property would largely depend on the depth of the deposit and the number of plants erected, but presuming the deposit is 15 feet deep, and you instal four plants capable of putting through 10,000 yards weekly each, it would take fully eight years to work out this 500 acres of the property.

“I understand that the total area of land taken over by you from the Niger Bauchi Syndicate is 50 square miles, or 32,000 acres. In this report I am only dealing with the southern and south-western part of your holding, some 20 square miles, as I did not visit the northern portion. I was, however, credibly informed by one of the Government mining officials that on the northern block of 30 square miles there are also stanniferous deposits, and in addition a very promising tin lode, a continuation of the one that has been opened up by the Niger Company on your eastern boundary. The actual value and life of only the area I have reported upon would, in my opinion, quite justify your proceeding with vigorous development work at once. The probable values of the remaining 30 square miles may possibly turn out equal to the southern; there is no reason why they should not, as the whole of the property is within a rich alluvial and lode tin district that has hardly as yet been scratched.”

On June 15 the company’s representative in Nigeria cabled: “Active sluicing operations will be commenced as soon as sufficient water is available. Meantime 6 tons of tin have been produced by means of calabashes.”

A complete sluicing plant has been shipped, and pending its arrival washing by means of calabashes is being continued.

At the first statutory meeting, Mr. Lush said, since delivering his report:

“I see by a cablegram from Mr. Means that he has found good tin on other areas. There are about 4 square miles of about 2,600 acres that have been proved to carry tin since I left there.”

REPORT ON THE N’GELL RIVER TIN DEPOSITS, NORTHERN NIGERIA

BY MR. H. W. LAWS

The N’Gell River, which is one of the sources of the Kaduna, rises in the pagan town of N’Gell on the highest watershed of the country.

Black oxide of tin is found in large quantities in the bed of this river where it is not deeply covered with gravel, and in the various streams flowing into it, especially those coming in from the south. The ore undoubtedly has a very local origin, it is derived largely from the denudation of the small tin-bearing quartz veins in pegmatite granite on the sources of the tributaries known as Nos. 1 and 2 streams, and lode matter containing massive crystals of tin is also breaking down in the neighbourhood of Nos. 4 and 5 streams. All these it will be noted are on the south side of the river.

For the purpose of discussing these tin deposits as a mining proposition, the river may be conveniently divided into three portions:

A. The headwaters of the N’Gell River (sections 49 and 50 on plan) with Nos. 1, 2, and 3 streams.

B. The portion of the N’Gell River flowing through the Niger Company’s area for a distance of 2½ miles with the tributaries known as Nos. 4, 5, and 6 streams, and

C. The portion of the N’Gell River flowing for a distance of six miles through section 46 and 36 to 40 on the plan.

A

This portion is actually on the apex of the watershed. The streams which fall rapidly to the valley below on the west are crossed by numerous bars of granite and quartz reefs, which act as natural riffles, and have served to concentrate the ore in high values, but relatively small quantities of alluvial in the beds and banks of the streams. Good alluvial also occurs in patches amongst the granite hills away from the waterways.

The streams get a fairly regular supply of water from springs and the drainage of the many veins, but they are also subject to scouring floods caused by heavy but entirely local rains. The floods are breaking down the alluvial with great rapidity, and large quantities of ore must be washed down to the valley below every year.

During three months of somewhat irregular work last year we recovered 30 tons of black tin from Nos. 1 and 2 streams. Part of this was won by sluicing the alluvial banks, of which 2,736 cubic yards, worth 10 to 11 lbs. of black tin per yard, were worked. Operations were commenced from the boundary, the ground was worked fairly, and although superficially it only represents some 300 square yards, it gives a fair idea of the value of the bank deposits. The values, of course, would not apply to the alluvial apart from the streams, nor to that on No. 3 stream, where there is far less grade and more alluvial, but, taken as a whole, the proposition is decidedly the richest yet found in Nigeria. Until further prospecting has been done and a detailed survey carried out, it is impossible to give any accurate estimate of the payable alluvial available on this portion; as a hand-work proposition it is not of great extent (as will be gathered from my report to the Niger Company last December, a copy of which I attach), but as an area systematically worked with the aid of machinery, it is undoubtedly a property which should produce a large tonnage of tin over a period of many years.

The above-mentioned report also clearly sets forth the difficulties in the way of systematic mining, if it is to be regarded as a separate concern. I have carefully considered the methods suggested by Mr. Lush in his report. The first we have already tried. The second is impracticable, because we have no higher level at which we could conserve water for hydraulicing the whole of the alluvial deposits, and the third and fourth can only be considered in conjunction with one or both of the other portions of the N’Gell River.

A modification of the second suggestion might prove satisfactory as a temporary measure. It would be possible to conserve in a reservoir constructed near the head of one of the streams sufficient water to sluice by gravity—I do not think there would be pressure for hydraulicing—the alluvial in and near the main river and part of that about the three streams. The ground higher up the streams could not be worked by this means.

B

This portion of the river flows through the Niger Company’s area, as shown on the plan attached. The river, after leaving the town of N’Gell, falls into a fine open valley within which is an apparently deep basin filled in with loose gravels heavily charged with water.

Four important streams numbered 3, 4, 5, and 6, enter the river from the south, three of them having falls in the position marked on the plan.

In addition to the alluvial being washed down the main stream, this basin must also be enriched by the tin-bearing wash in the tributaries, which also show good prospects.

The basin covers an area of roughly 300 acres, not including the bank 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:—