Old news from Armidale and New England

Tuesday 28 July 1914, The Sydney Morning Herald

A PROMISING COPPER DEPOSIT.

The prospects of the new copper-lead-silver field known as the Firefly field is exciting great interest at Hillgrove, the option of purchase of a large portion of the field having been secured by a Sydney syndicate. This field is situated near Hall’s Peak, about 25 miles south-east of Hillgrove. It is in rough mountainous country, on the slopes of the Chandler River gorge, about 3000ft above sea level, and about 1700ft above the river.

Messrs. Borham and Hawkins, two well-known prospectors discovered the ore deposits whilst engaged in shooting about 12 months ago. A rich copper lode was, however, discovered by the Messrs. Keys, of Hillgrove, in 1886, just above the level of the river near Hall’s Peak, and that lode was worked by them.

Mr. Fred. Keys has some leases at Firefly, and has opened up a trench 30ft long on one lease. Ore taken from this trench showed rich values in copper, silver, and lead. According to the report of Mr. Jaquet, Chief Inspector of Mines, who visited the field, the ore body resembles Mount Lyell, Cobar, and many other of the largest copper and lead deposits of the world. The Chandler River Syndicate, whose leases adjoin that of Mr. Keys, have driven a tunnel about 250ft long, and put in a crosscut about 100ft. On the side of the gorge there is a mineral belt of about 500ft. The absence of roads is militating against the development of the field. There is a rough timber track leading to the Kempsey-Armidale road, a distance of 16 miles. There is plenty of timber on and near the leases, and there is an abundance of water in the gorge below.