Page 5 - Federation Mining News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The end of a fragrant era is looming for Reefton's famous lavender flag as its owner calls time on what he calls an extravagant "folly".

The West Coast of the South Island has seen a surge of interest from players large and small in gold prospecting.

A new goldmine has completed its first year of tunnelling as it explores whether it can viably produce 700,000 ounces of gold from the site.

Organisers have negotiated a 10-year concession from the Department of Conservation to stage the event in Reefton every year, with up to 700 runners.

'Reefton revival' - small town sniffs gold fever 13 minutes to read The rock face is a dripping mask of greywacke and argillite, illuminated by the lights of "the jumbo", as the rock drilling machine is known in mining jargon. The diamond drills extend toward the tunnel's end, manipulated by twin booms. Once the drilling is complete, explosives finish the job and the tunnel advances at a rate of about 8 metres a day. The drills are silent for the moment but despite the damp, the air is dusty. And the tunnel is filled with the thrum of the ventilation system and the low rumbl...