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.