Nigeria and its tin fieldsCalvert, Albert Frederick
History
Nigeria and its tin fields
Calvert, Albert Frederick
Tin mines and mining -- Nigeria
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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