Bureau of Mines, Western Australia — Mineral Production Reports

Western Australia Department of Mines · 1903 · International

Annual reports of mineral production of Western Australia — Kalgoorlie Golden Mile gold, Coolgardie discoveries, and the development of the WA gold fields.

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Western Australia.

Geological Survey.

BULLETIN No. 16.

The

Mineral Production

Of

WESTEfiN AUSTRALIA

Up To The End Of The Year 1903,

By

A. Gibb Maitland,

Government Geologist,

And

C. F. V. Jackson,

Assistant Geologist.

Issued under tlie authority of the Hon. H. Gregory, M.L.A., Minister for Mines.

Perth:

BY authority . WM. ALFRED WATSON, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

1904. i-

Table Of Contents.

Page

Prefatory Note ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5

Paet I.

Metals and Metalliferous Minerals — Gold Copper Tin ... Lead Silver Iron Ores Antimony Ores Cobalt Ores

Part Ii.

Non-metalliferous Substances —

Coal

Limestone, Building Stone, Clays, etc. Precious Stones and Pearls Mica

Asbestos ... Salt Guano

Artesian Water Appendix Index

Map of Western Australia showing- Goldfields, Mining ) a f -v. a Districts, and Distribution of Useful Minerals j At tne ena.

Prefatory Note.

HE contents of this report are substantially a reprint (brought up to date) of an article on the Mineral Production of Western Australia up to the end of 1901, which was contributed by myself to the official Year Book for 1900-1901, but which, however, was not published until late in the year 1903.

It being readily understood that information of the nature embodied in this report loses a considerable portion of its interest and value if, by delay in publication, it is allowed to become a matter of ancient history, the Minister for Mines ordered the publication of the data annually as one of the Bulletins of the Geological Survey.

This publication records the development of the mineral resources (using the term in its widest sense) of the State up to the close of the year 1903.

The statistics are, as usual, derived from official sources, and may therefore be accepted as authentic records.

A map showing the Groldfields and Mining Districts of the State, as well as the known distribution of the useful minerals, is attached, in order to render the descriptive portions of the text more intelligible.

A. Gibb Maitland,

Government Geologist.

Geological Survey Office,

Beaufort Street, Perth,

1st May, 1904.

The Mineral Production of Western Australia up to the end of 1903.

S U M M A E Y.

The mineral products of Western Australia, though greater by several million pounds in their annual value, exhibit less variety than those of any ot the other Australian States ; hence a comparison of the mineral section of our imports and exports indicates in some measure the direction in which the State's resources have yet to be developed.

The total value of the mineral products of the State up to the nd of 1903 was 47,779,376, and the value of the production during 1903 was .£8,972,024, which, as compared with £8,094,826 during 1902, is a gain of £877,198 for the year.

The total annual value of the products has shown a substantial gain each year over the preceding one for the last three years, the highest gain being attained in 1901, when the increase over 1900 exceeded £1,000,000, the exact figures being £1,260,927.

The metals and metalliferous minerals, since they include gold, make up by far the greater proportion of the value of the output, being over 98 °/o the total ; and in fact, as well as a somewhat limited variety, there has been comparatively only a very moderate contribution from non -metalliferous minerals.

Mineral Production.

Fuels are limited to coal, the total production of which to date amounts in value to £306,424, while the value for 1903 was £69,128, as compared with c£86,188 for 1902. This is a slight decrease, which was due to labour troubles, of short duration, affecting the Collie Proprietary Co., the largest producer.

The value of coal imported into the State during 1903 was c£69,636 ; coke and patent fuel also forming an item of consider- able value amongst the imports. Petroleum and natural gas have as yet not been produced in the State.

Structural materials, such as building stone, clays, etc., have, unfortunately, not so far been included in the statistical tables of production ; but both are augmented to some extent by imports of slates, tiles, etc. The whole of the cement for structural purposes is imported.

Grindstones, oilstones, emery, etc., also only appear on the import list, though abrasive mputerials are not altogether without place in the mineral resources of the State ; and considerable deposits of infusorial earth have recently been surveyed.

Chemical materials are limited, so far as production is concerned, to salt, but workable deposits of gypsum have been located from which possibly an output may soon be recorded.

Miscellaneous products comprise asbestos, graphite, limestone, precious stones, etc., as well as guano and artesian water, which, though not, strictly speaking, mineral products, are herein included on account of their importance to the State, and these, excepting of course the latter, amounted in total value of production, at the end of 1903, to =£349,225. The contribution from guano was by far the largest, while of the others, except for limestone for fluxing purposes, amounting to .£12,298, the value has been very insignificant.

Statistics of mineral production, and, as far as the available records will admit, statistics of imports and exports for the last five years, are given in detail in the following chapters, dealing specially with the respective products ; and also in the appendix.

The following table is a summary of the total quantity and estimated value of the mineral products of the State (including guano) up to the end of 1903.

Summary.

Summary of the total Quantity and Value of the Mineral Products of Western Australia (including guano) up to the end of 1903.

Product.

Quantity.

Estimated Value.

Metals And Metalliferous Minerals.

e

Gold (export and mint) Copper (ore raised) ... Tin (ore raised)

Lead (ore exported)

Lead (pig exported)

Silver (exported) Silver-lead (ore raised) Iron (ore raised) Antimony (ore exported)

Cobalt (ores exported)

10,933,141t 48,914+ 4,995: 33,644+ 684: 341,024t

57:

50,792:

22: 2:

46,441,031 § 269,412 288,172 364,756 13,306 39,546 33,871

Non-Metalliperous Substances.

Coal (raised)

Plumbago (ore exported) ... ... ... ...

Limestone (flux and building stone raised) Precious Stones (exported)...

Mica (exported)

Asbestos (exported)

Salt (raised) ... Guano (exported)

568,40i: 1 +

58,090:

3,318: 86,165:

306,424

Q

12,298 1,024 8,525 335,592

Total Value

48,114,968

Since May, 1899. f Ounces fine. J Statute tons. § Includes value of gold coined at Mint. Not stated.

Part I,

Metals And Metalliferous Minerals.

Gold.

General. — The auriferous deposits of Western Australia have been responsible up to the end of December, 1903, for the produc- tion of 10,933,141ozs. of fine gold, valued at .£46,441,031, which figures include the whole of the raw gold entered for export, from the time of the first gold discovery in 1886, and also of that treated at the Perth Mint from its opening in 1899, which has either been exported or used for local purposes.

The metal has been found to occur under several different conditions, viz. : —

(i.) Native metal.

(2.) Compounds with tellurium and other elements.

(3.) Associated with other minerals.

(i.) Native gold has been recognised in several different varieties, the names by which they are known being generally descriptive of their outward appearance — thus, crystalline gold, dendritic gold, rough gold, flake gold, mustard gold, sponge gold.

(2.) Compounds with tellurium and other elements occur at Kalgoorlie and several other mining centres, but the latter have not, so far, been of much importance ; being chiefly antimonial,

Gold.

arsenical, and bismuthic compounds. Tellurides of gold, however, are of more importance, and occur at Kalgoorlie and Mulgabbie, and at the former place, Boulder, more freely and in larger masses than in other known occurrences.

The most frequently occurring mineral is calaverite, whilst petzite, goldschmidtite, and two new minerals, Kalgoorlite and Coolgardite, have also been found in several of the mines.

(3.) Of the metallic minerals which are found to accompany gold in Western Australia, by far the most important is iron pyrites, which, with its concomitant oxides of iron, is found in every ore body from Kimberley to Dundas. Not only is this mineral found in close conjunction with free gold, but in many instances, such as at Red Hill (Coolgardie Goldfield), is itself found to carry a considerable amount of gold imperceptible to the naked eye. As a rule, the pyrites does not constitute more than four or five per cent, of the gangue, but at some mines in Menzies and Mt. Ida, amongst other places, it forms one-half or more of the latter.

Next in order of importance after pyrites is galena. It occurs in the gold reefs of Hall's Creek, Brockman's, and all the other Kimberley centres ; but it is found that the richer the stone in galena, the poorer the gold. Galena also occurs in conjunction with gold at Tambourah and Horseshoe.

Vanadinite has been detected with gold at Coolgardie and Pinyalling.

Arsenopyrite accompanies gold at Ruby Creek, Niagara, and Coolgardie. Some beautiful specimens of this mineral have been obtained fron> Bay ley's United Gold Mine, at Coolgardie. They consist of veined arsenopyrite, traversed in every direction by a network of veins of gold, varying in width from l-20th of an inch down to a microscopic thickness.

Zinc Blende is an indication of rich ore at Yandicoogina, Coolgardie, and Lawlers ; in each instance, however, forming a very small proportion only of the total gangue.

Native bismuth and bismutite are found in auriferous quartz at Burbanks, Dundas, Yalgoo, and Lawlers. At Burbanks the native bismuth is alloyed with gold to the extent of a,bout one per cent. The bismuth at Lawlers is also, in all probability, alloyed with gold, since the surrounding scales of bismutite are thick with fine scales of metallic gold.

Pyrrhotite occurs in the quartz reefs of Southern Cross and Burbanks, in neither of which instances is it nickeliferous.

Chalcopyrite and copjier carbonates occur in association with gold at Coolgardie, Sir Samuel, Tambourah, Hall's Creek, Gorge Creek, and many of the Murchison centres.

Bournonite is of frequent occurrence in the beds at Kalgoorlie, and is also said to accompany gold at Wiluna.

Mineral Production.

Native copper is reported from Coolgardie, Sir Samuel, and Roebourne.

Scheelite occurs in bunches in auriferous reefs at Coolgardie and Southern Cross, but in both instances is characteristic of poor ore.

Of the earthy secondary minerals which accompany gold in Western Australia, quartz is the most important here, as elsewhere. Gold occurs in veins of calcite, more or less magnesiau, at Mary River, Panton River, Kalgoorlie, Kanowna, and Red Hill (Coolgardie Goldfield). Chalcedony occurs in many quartz veins and is characteristic of much of the better ore at Donny brook. Gold has been found in gypsum at the Island, Lake Austin, and is of frequent occurrence in the oxidised zone at Kalgoorlie. Actiuolite, chlorite, and other minerals derived from the enclosing rock mass are found in many quartz reefs, but probably owe their origin to agencies other than those which caused the deposition of the gold, and are for that reason of little interest.

Purity of Western Australian Gold. — Mr. Wallace, the Statist to the Department of Mines, estimates the average fineness of the gold produced during 1903 at '8379, of a value of lis. 2:|d. per oz. So many impurities may, however, be added to, or removed from the gold during the process of extraction from its ores, that these figures give only a very crude idea of the average composition of the native metal. That its fineness varies very largely in different parts of the State, and follows no rule as to latitude or longitude, is shown by the analyses in the table below, all of which were made on carefully-cleaned specimens of the native metal.

Composition of Native Gold.

Nature of Gold,

Locality.

Specific Gravity.

Gold.

Silver.

Small alluvial nuggets

Hall's Creek, Kimberley

93-°30

6-60*

Three-ounce alluvial nugget

do.

"Bobby Dazzler" nugget ...

Shark's Gully, Pilbara

23-04t

Gold from quartz boulders

Taiga, Pilbara

Gold from conglomerate ...

Nullagine, Pilbara ...

Gold from quartz reef

Bamboo Creek, Pilbara

Do. do

Toweranna, Pilbara ...

Do. do

Peak Hill, Peak Hill

Do. do

Nannine, Murchison . . .

Sponge gold from lode

Boulder, Kalg-oorlie,

09

East Coolgardie

Coarse gold from ironstone

Block 50, (Coolgardie . . .

64

pebbles

Crystalline gold from calcite

Red Hill, Coolgardie . . .

vein

Gold from alluvial ...

Preston River, South- West

Electrum from quartz reef . . .

Donnybrook, Donny-

brook

Also contained -10 7o Copper and Iron. t Also contained '15 % Copper and Iron.

Gold.

Gold Matrices, — Over the auriferous area of the State, the ore deposits naturally fall into two classes : —

(a.) Primary deposits embracing lodes, veins, stock works, dykes, lode formations, shallow impregnations of surface material, and all deposits in which concentration has been subsequent to the formation of the enclosing rock.

(fe.) Secondary deposits embracing all alluvial deposits, residuary soils, gravels, and other deposits in which the gold has been concentrated by mechanical action contemporaneously with the formation of the rock itself.

The deposits included in class (a.) are of chief importance, the annual production therefrom in 1908 comprising 99 per cent, of the State's total.

They are found chiefly in amphibolites or hornblende schists, but chloritic schists of somewhat doubtful origin frequently consti- tute the enclosing rock mass, and sometimes, in the Northern parts of the State, mica schists, slates, and quartzites or sandstones.

From the figures available the following table is the nearest approach to a statement of the annual production of gold from this class of deposits : —

Annual Gold Yield from treatment of Ore raised.

Year.

Quantity.

Year.

Quantity.

Previous to 1897

ozs.

1569,09302 630,311-96 967,044-73

1,550,424-44

ozs. 1,486,227-62 1,821,582-83 2,101,408-42 2,320.673-26

Total to end of 1903 11,M6,766*28

Excludes alluvial gold ; includes gold contained in quartz specimens. t Alluvial not separately reported previous to 1897.

The deposits included under class (6.) are of less importance, and from their derivation, in most cases the result of decomposition of gold-bearing rocks in situ, of less permanence. The production therefrom, largely the result of the operations of Dry-blowers, is also a somewhat ephemeral quantity.

The table shown on p. 14 gives the annual production of alluvial gold, as reported to the Mines Department.

14 Mineral Prodtjction,

Annual Production of Alluvial Gold, as reported to the Mines Department.

Year.

Quantity,

Year.

Quantity.

ozs.

ozs.

1897*

12,353-92

[ 1901

19,915-49

74,667-08

! 1902

15,832 59

50,338-48

; 1903

14.751 89

27,689-46

Total to end of 1903 215,548'91

Not separately recorded previous to 1897.

The crystalline rocks — the matrices of the auriferous deposits — are divided into three broad parallel belts, formed of granite, gneiss, and schist, which trend generally north-west and south- east. Observations have shown that there are two fairly well- defined and more or less continuous ore-bearing belts, which have a distinct relation to the geotectonic features of the crystalline rocks. The schists, which constitute the principal auriferous belts, form long and comparatively narrow bands or attenuated elliptical patches. The schists consist of mica, chlorite, sericite, hornblende, and quartz, and serpentinous schists, together with hematite- bearing quartzites.

All the important auriferous areas occur within the limits or in the immediate vicinity of country occupied by the schistose rocks. These auriferous belts occupy a very large area of country, extending from the South Coast to the country lying between Spit Point and Cape Lambert, on the Torth- VVest Coast — extending over about 14 degrees of latitude. The auriferous belts exceed 20 miles in width in places.

There is a larger area of auriferous country exposed at the surface than in any other portion of Australasia, and since the relations which the auriferous deposits, one of the factors of the State's prosperity, bear to the broader geological features naturally take a prominent place in any account dealing with its mineral resources, the method adopted in the following pages has been to embody a brief ajperqu of the salient features, in a separate descrip- tion of each of the nineteen goldfields into which the auriferous area of the State has, for convenience of administration, been divided.

The information available, however, for the above purpose is, in one or two cases, more fragmentary than could be wished. It has been found most convenient to adhere to a strictly geographical order in description, beginning with the field at the northern extremity of the State. The description of each field is followed by a table, giving the yield of gold as shown by (a.) the figures furnished to the Department of Mines, and by {h.) the data in the archives of H.M. Customs House. It will be noticed that in all cases there is a difference between the two sets of figures. Up to

Gold.

the end of 1903 there have been officially reported to the Mines Department ll,662,315ozs. of gold from the various fields of the State ; the Customs and Mint authorities, however, give 12,410,774ozs. as that entered for export, being 748,459ozs. in excess of the figures furnished to the Mines Department. The discrepancy is to be partly accounted for by the difficulty experienced in obtaining a record of the alluvial gold, and also by the fact that a good deal of the gold won in the early days was probably never officially reported. Writing in 1899, the Warden of Yilgarn notes, with reference to the output of gold from that district, that " a good deal of gold leaves the field and is not recorded."

Total Production of Gold from the respective Goldfields, as reported to the Mines Department, and as entered for Export and received at Perth Mint.

Goldfield

Eeported to

Mines Department.

Entered for Export and received at Perth Mint.

Gross weight.

Gross weight.

Fine contents.

Kimberley . . .

ozs. 16,275-23

ozs. 27,631-50

ozs.

24,687-13

Pilbara

119,383-34.

208,810-39

185,886-47

West Pilbara

12,803-81

14,952-27

12,960-75

Ashburton...

7,096-68

5,535-30

4,946-24

Gascoyne ...

Peak Hill

188,846-59

168,781-19

148,444-81

East Murchison ...

440,829-53

421,440-57

369,839 19

Murcbison . . .

1,067,473-06

1,219,226-27

1,073,335-38

Yalgoo

55,152-91

42,660-22

'37,989-28

Mt. Margaret

916,745-95

915,929-90

803,473 82

Nortb Coolgardie

913,694-66

903,115-47

793,629-46

Broad Arrow

236,267-69

196,325-97

174,023-26

North-East Coolgardie

597,122 13

448,390-43

397,549-67

East Coolgardie

5,846,949-10

6,134,610-34

5,394,80309

Coolgardie

724,256-52

1,068,987-89

949,634-66

Yilgarn

241,896-36

339,869-90

302,214-86

Dundas

257,367-12

258,724-84

228-675-50

Phillips Eiver

16,935-57

17,51707

14,946-86

Donnybrook

1,141-88

Goldfields generally

1,552-24

16,625-64

14,647-69

Total

11,662,31519

12,410,773-61

10,933,140-93

Mineral Production.

Kimberley Goldpield.

The most northerly goldfield in the State is that of Kimberley, and associated with its discovery in 1882 are the names of Mr. E. T. Hardman (then Grovernment Geologist), Messrs. Hall and Slattery, and Phil. Saunders.

The goldfield, which embraces an area of 33,000 square miles, was proclaimed on the 20th May, 1886. The boundaries, as defined by amendment gazetted on the 31st of October, 1902, to take effect from the 1st of November of that year, are as follows : —

Commencing at the intersection of the 129th meridian of east longitude with the 16th parallel of south latitude ; thence south along 129th meridian to 19 degrees 30 minutes south latitude ; thence west along said 19 degrees 30 minutes south latitude to the 126th meridian ; thence north along 126th meridian to the 18th parallel of south latitude ; thence north-easterly to the point of commencement.

The strata exposed on the goldfield consist of Crystalline Schists of Archaean Age, together with reyjresentatives of Cambrian, Devo- nian, and Carboniferous systems, as well as a large development of volcanic rocks.

The Crystalline Schists and allied rocks, the matrices of the metalliferous deposits, are highly developed in Kimberley. They consist of micaceous and talcose schists, gneiss, and granite. They have been proved to extend from near Denham River to Mount Dockrell, and appear again in the Mueller Range, a little further west; and, striking north-westwards, pass through the King Leopold Range to King Sound. This belt of rocks varies in width from 10 to 30 miles, and has been proved to have a horizontal extent of at least 120 miles, and probably continues much further.

Mining operations on the Kimberley field have been chiefly confined to six principal centres, viz. : — The Panton, Hall's Creek (the official centre of the field), Brockman's, Ruby Creek, the Mary River, and Mount Dockrell.

During the last few years the number of miners and diggers on the field has varied from 10 to 12, and there has been very little change in the condition recorded since 1900, except the fluctuations of a small output. After dropping to a very low limit in 1902, the gold yield showed a slight increase during 1903, and the production of alluvial gold was 197ozs.

Up to the end of 1903 the Kimberley field yielded, according to the Mines Department figures, 16,275ozs. of gold ; the Customs authorities, however, report that up to the same date 27,631ozs. were entered for export. There is thus a discrepancy of ll,356ozs. between the two different sets of figures. This difference may in all probability represent the yield of alluvial gold, which, unless under exceptional circumstances, was in the early days never reported to the Government.

The following table shows the annual yield of the Kimberley G-oldfield from 1886 to 1903, as deduced from official data.

Gold. 17

Yield of Kimberley Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

ozs.

ozs.

r 30200

4,873-00

4,359-37

3,493-00

3 124-82

2,464 00

2,204-28

4,47400

4 002-42

a 13,199*50

12,734-00

2,699-62

2 4 15' 07

1,088-85

1,621-70

1 450 77

1896 J

h 440-17

1,122-81

1,004-46

d 571-15

e 297 06

/ 346-40

379'50

1903 ...

g 740-00

Total

16,553*50

16,27523

27,63150

24,68713

o Details not available. h Includes SlOozs. of alluvial. c Includes 417ozs.

of alluvial. d Includes 331ozs. of alluvial. e Includes 16-lozs. of alluvial.

/Includes 151ozs. of alluvial. g Includes 197ozs. of alluvial.

Pilbara Goldfield.

The Pilbara G-oldfield was proclaimed on the 1st October, 1888, It embraces an area of 34,880 square miles.

Its boundaries, as defined by amendment gazetted on the 20th September, 1895, which took effect on the 1st November of that year, are as follows : —

Bounded by a line starting from a point on the sea-coast eastward from Condon Creek, and extending through the summit of Poohngerena (or Mount Blaze) to a spot due north from the summit of Mount Macpherson ; then south through the said summit to a spot due east from the summit of Mount Marsh, on the Upper Fortescue River ; thence due west through the summit of ]\Iount Marsh to the right bank of the Fortescue River, aloDg it downwards to Survey Station V 23 ; thence in a northerly direction through Survey Station V32 to the right bank of the Cocreaca branch of the Yule River, and along the right banks of the Cocreaca Creek and the Yule River, downwards to the sea-coast, and along the sea-coast eastward to the starting point Excluding all townsites within the said boundaries.

What are believed to be the oldest rocks occurring in Pilbara are the granites and gneisses which form the platform upon which the newer formations were laid down. To these succeed the Green- stone schists and allied rocks, which occupy an extensive area of country, and which appear to be almost everywhere genetically

Mineral Production.

connected with the occurrence of gold. Next in antiquity to the Greenstone schists comes the Nullagine Beds, which form a series of sandstones, grits, conglomerates, limestones, and associated igneous rocks. This formation is of importance in that near the base of the series some of the conglomerates have been worked for their gold contents.

There are eight principal mining centres on the goldfield, viz.: — Lalla liookh. Taiga Taiga, Bambcjo, Marble Bar, Warrawoona, Yandicoogina, Mosquito Creek, and Nullagine. The geographical position of the various mining centres suggests a zonal develop- ment of the auriferous deposits, full particulars in connection with which will be found in Bulletin No. 15.

The general direction of the belts almost everywhere coincides with the strike of the greenstone schists, which, when viewed broadly, is east and west. The width of the belts naturally varies. Quartz reefs occur in great abundance all through the schistose rocks, as well as to a more limited extent in the areas occupied by the granitic rocks. The quartz reefs are of two distinct types, viz., white quartz reefs and laminated quartz and jasper veins. The reefs invariably occur along the planes of foliation (P bedding) of the schists, or, at any rate, cut them at a very low angle. The reefs all carry rich shoots of gold, but when these became poor, operations ceased, for owing to the economic conditions prevailing only the richest ores can be worked at a profit. The auriferous ores are, with one exception, all of such a character, as render them readily amenable to battery amalgamation and cyanidation.

At Nullagine is a conglomerate, near the base of the series which has been worked latterly by the British Exploration Com- pany. Crushings from the outcrop have yielded as much as 2ozs. to 4ozs. of gold to the ton; a trial crushing, however, of 777 tons yielded, in September, 94'lOozs. of gold, being at the rate of less than two pennyweights per ton. The gold, which seems to occur in well- defined bands, seems to be of a secondary nature. In some respects this conglomerate bears a close resemblance to those auriferous conglomerates of the Rand in South Africa, better known perhaps as banket deposits.

The gold yield from the Pilbara field, as reported to the Department of Mines, up to the end of 1903 has been li9,383-34ozs. obtained from the milling of 54,883*95 tons of ore, thus giving an average yield of 217ozs. per ton. It is unlikely that the high average of the last few years will maintained under existing conditions ; there is, however, a fair extent of low-grade ore deposits not yet developed, which, under more suitable conditions, might be turned to profitable account, for the deposits give every indication of being permanent.

During the year 1903 the output was ll,330ozs., or 7 per cent, less than the previous year ; the decrease being due to the rainfall having fallen somewhat below the average, resulting in a scarcity of water for crushing purposes.

Gold.

The following table shows the annual yield of the Pilbara GToldfield from 1889 to 1903 :—

Yield of the Pilbara GoldHeld.

Gold Exported and received

at Perth. Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

Cruslied.

tlierefrom.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

tons.

Oz8.

ozs.

ozs.

1889"!

f a 11.170-00

9,992-63

al6,055-31

all,875-00

10, 623- 3

1893 f

11 121'10

h 28 470-56

al2,892-80 all,698-50

11,53384 10,465-43

al6,254-50

14,541-20

al9.522-40

l7,4t-;4-65

1896 J

all, 810-11

10 565-27

5.138-70-

6,825-26

all, 955-87

10695-67

6,71975

c 14,41379

11,662-56

10,433-27

7,567-55

d 19,291-98

20,526-20

18,362-65

6,173-71

e 16,616-85

17,140-51

15,33382

5,414-11

10,264-32

11,320-40

10,260-43

7,163-38

g 12,170-46

10,706-03

9,199-50

5,585-65

h 11,330-12

14,220-20

12,051-78

Total

54.883-95

119,383-34

208,810-39

185,886*47

a Includes export from West Pilbara. h Includes 2,082ozs. from unknown tons, c Includes 2,000ozs. of alluvial and 102ozs. dollied and specimens. d Includes 2,608'29ozs. alluvial and 833-72ozs. dollied and specimens. c Includes l,527-54ozs. of alluvial and 88-92ozs. dollied and specimens. / Includes l,050-55ozs. of alluvial and 275-520ZS. dollied and specimens. g Includes 679-05ozs. of alluvial and 41 37ozs. dollied and specimens. ]i Includes l,I80'48ozs. of alluvial and 741-97ozs. dollied and specimens.

West Pilbara Goldfield.

The West Pilbara Goldfield, 9,480 square miles in extent, orieinallv included m the Pilbara G-oldfield, was created a separate field by proclamation gazetted on the 20th of Septemher, 1895, to take effect from the 1st November of that year.

The authorities define the boundaries as follows:— The portion <.f Crown lands bounded by a line starting from the sea- coast, at the month of the Fortescue Kiver, and extending along the right bank of the said river upwards to Survey Station V23 ; thence in a northerly direction through Survey Station V32. to the right })ank of the Cocreaca branch of the Yule E,iver, and along the right banks of the Cocreaca Creek and the Yule River, downwards to the sea-coast, and along the sea-coast westwards to the starting point.

The mining centres of this field are Croydon, Hong Kong, Lower Nicol, Mallina, Pilbara, Toweranna and Weerianna.

The total production, as reported to the Mine? Department, was, up to the end of 1903, 12,803 81ozs. The output dropped to a very insignificant amount in 1901, but during 1902 and 1903 there has been a rather remarkable increase.

20 Mineral Production.

The following table shows the annual vield of the West Pilbara Goldfield from 1889 to 1903 :—

Yield of the West Pilhara Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Year.

Ore

Yield oi Gold

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

ozs.

ozs.

18S9tol<-9(3

"leo-oo

°337-91

a

a

1897 ...

a

a

2,028-27

1,814-48

6 1,934-80

1,955-51

1,749-39

c 953-65

d 23 1-29

]902

1,27900

e 2,223 09

3,284-37

2,822-20

4,673-00

/ 5,936 31

6,481-58

5,493-23

Total

8,53215

12,803-81

14 952*27

12,96075

a Previously shown in the Pilbara {vide ante). b includes 735-07ozs. of alluvial, c Includes 357-46ozs. of alluvial. d Includes 136*34ozs. of alluvial and 45ozs. dollied and specimens. e Includes 907"61ozs. of alluvial and 3'18ozs. dollied and specimens. /Inchxdes 372 16ozs. of alluvial.

ASHBURTON GOLDFIELD. The Ashburton Goldfield was proclaimed on the 11th December,

As at present constituted, it embraces an area of 14,252 square miles. Its boundaries, defined by amendment gazetted on the 18th October, 1901, to take effect from the 14th of that month, are as follows : —

Bounded by lines starting from the summit of Mt. De Courcey ; thence east by south to the summit of Mt. Wall; thence about south-east by

east to Trig. Station ; thence about south-east by south to the summit

of Mt. Bresnahan ; thence south-west by south 37 miles along- the north- west boundary of Peak Hill Goldfield; thence by a line running about north-west by west to the summit of Mt. Palgrave ; thence southerly along the west boundary of the Gascoyne Goldfield about 17 miles ; thence due west, passing through Trig. Y2, about 56 miles; thence due north about 113| miles to a point due west of a point 7i miles north of Trig. Station on Eed Hill ; thence due east, passing through aforesaid point, about 77i miles to a point due north of Mt. De Courcey ; thence south about 49i miles to the starting point.

This field is situated on the Ashburton River, and extends from a point 150 miles from its mouth for 150 miles inland. The Ashburton River, for the most part, flows over large alluvial plains, with low ridges of clav, slate, and quartz out-cropping here and there, and flat-topped ranges away to the south ; but in one place, called, the G-orge, the hills close in upon the river, which then flows in a deep rocky channel for the space of a few miles.

Gold.

Most of the o"old w-orkings lie on the southern side of the river, the only exception being the "Dead Finish." Until quite recently all the work on this field was alluvial digging, but a few leases on reefs are now held, the alluvial diggings being almost deserted.

The field consists of seven mining centres, viz. : — Main Camp, Dead Finish, Star of the West, Top Camp, The Gorge, Mount Mortimer, and 'New Find.

The auriferous belt of country extends from the junction of the Hardey River with the Ashburton, a little to the north-east of Mount Clement, following the latter river in a south-east direction for about 150 miles. It is bounded on the south by the Barlee Range and a flat-topped tableland, which follows, at a di&tance of 14 miles to the south, the main course of the river. To the north it extends across the Ashburton and Hardey Rivers to Mount Wall and Mount De Courcey, a distance, in a northerly direction from the river, of from 20 to 30 miles, giving an auriferous area of about 10,000 square miles.

The total gold reported to the Mines Department up to the end of 1903, was 7,096"68ozs., which was almost entirely the product of alluvial mining. The value of the annual output for the last three years has remained almost stationary, and the mining centre of Mount Mortimer has been responsible for bj far the greater proportion.

The following table shows the annual yield of the field up to the close of 1903 :—

Yield of the Ashburton Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

a

a

a

a

70

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a .

h 302-95

1,038-18

c 500-63

d 1,659-10

e 1,70400

e 992 00

e 978-00

e 960-00

Total

7,096*68

5,535-30

4,94624

a No detailed records given. h 105-95ozs. alluvial and 197ozs. dollied and speci-

mens, c 434-630ZS. alluvial and 66ozs. dollied and specimens. d 1,582-lUozs.

alluvial and 77ozs. dollied and specimens. e Alluvial.

Mineral Production.

Gasooyne Goldfield.

This oldfield, which eiri braces an area of 5,061 square miles, was officially proclaimed on the 25th of June, 1897, the proclama- tion to take eft'ect from the 15th April of that year. The boundaries are thus defined by the authorities: —

Starting- from the summit of Mount Palgrave, and extending about south-east by south to a point situate 37 miles from the summit of Mount Bresnahan in direction of Trig-. Station K20 ; then about south-west by south to the said Trig. Station K20 ; thence about south-west to the summit of Mount Gascoyne ; thence about north-west by north to the summit of Mount Agamenmon ; thence northward to the summit of Mount Palgrave, the starting point.

The field, though geographically distinct, has been placed under the charge of the same Warden as the Ashburton.

Prospecting operations are chiefiv confined to the neighbour- hood of Ban gem all, the official centre of the field, but no details as to the nature and mode of occurrence of the ore deposits are available.

The yield of this goldfield, as can be seen by the official figures appended, was, up to the close of 1903, small.

Yield of the Gascoyne Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Minr.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

Cruslied.

therefrom ,

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

a 13'55

e

e

h 13-50

e

e

c 333-77

d 74-00

d 90-00

Total

524*82

691'80

a Includes 6'80ozs. dollied and specimens. b Dollied and specimens. c Includes 119*43ozs. of alluvial. ct Alluvial. e Details not available.

Peak Hill Goldfield.

The Peak Hill G-oldtield, which comprises an area of 12,194 square miles, was established by proclamation gazetted on the 19th of March, 1897, to take effect from the 1st April of that year. The authorities define its boundaries as follows : —

The portion of Crown lands bounded by lines starting from an angle in the northern boundary of the Murchison Goldfield, at the summit of Mount

Gold.

Hale, and extending- along the said boundary in an east-south-easterly direction to another anle at the summit of Mount Russel ; thence due north to the north-easterly corner of the East Murchison Goldfield, latitude being on the 26th parallel of south latitude ; thence in a northerly direction to Trig. Station L15 on Wonyuegunna Hill ; thence in a north-westerly direction to the summit of Mount Bresnahan, between the Angelo River and the Upper Ashburton ; thence in a south-westerly direction to Trig. Station K20 on a peak near the source of the Lyons River ; thence still south- westerly to the summit of Mount Gascoyne ; thence south-south- easterly to the starting point on the summit of Mount Hale.

The goldfield includes within its boundaries the high ground lying fit the heads of the Gascoyne and the Murchison Rivers.

By far the larger portion of the goldfield upon which mining operations of any scale are carried oat consists of undulating country, situated on the lofty plateau drained by the heads of the Murchison and the Gascoyne Rivers.

The mines at Peak Hill are situated on a flat at the foot of a small quartzite hill, from which the place takes its name.

The country rock consists of banded, and in places granular quartzites (with secondary silica), mica schists, or quartzites. A remarkable feature are the masses, veins, or dykes of pure silica, which traverse certain portions of the field. In a lew places these veins present the appearance of massive quartzite, but their mode of occurrence at angles transverse to the strike of the adjacent strata confute this view. In one of these mines a vein of this character is seen Cutting across an auriferous quartz reef. The majority of the quartz dykes trend north-east and south-west, and preserve a wide parallelism. They are generally inclined at high angles, but not far from the vertical. They have not, however, proved to be remuneratively auriferous. The ore bodies consist of a mass of country rock, traversed by a network of interlacing veins of aurifer- ous quartz, where the gold is not confined to the reef or veins, but appears to be disseminated through the decomposed country rock.

Resting upon the underlying rocks of the field is a Variable thickness of recent superficial deposits. These consist of loose gravel or loam, from which gold is obtained by -the usual method of dry-blowing. There is, unfortunately, no record as to what amount of gold has been obtained from this loose material, unless it is represented by the 3,349ozs. recorded in 1895.

This gravel reposes directly upon an irregular surface of an iron-stained cement, which rests upon an old eroded watercourse, and fills up all the inequalities m the latter, which, however, are of no great depth. In some cases erosion has succeeded in cutting down the cement to bedrock, and exposing the luiderlying schists. Lithologically the cement is an ordinary conglomerate, formed by the mechanical action of water, and deposited in an old creek bed. The pebbles are embedded in a matrix of sand, formed of the com- minuted remains of the underlying rocks. The component parts of the cement are in every way identical with those of the rocks at

Mineral Production.

present outcropping, whilst the number of quartz pebbles are similar in character to the quartz forming those reefs by which the country rock is traversed. The gold in the cement is not exclusively in grains, scales, or nuggets, but is also found attached to its original quartz matrix. The official returns demonstrate that the amount of gold won from the cement has been considerable. As to whether the 4,551-60ozs. of gold returned, previous to 1897, from an unknown tonnage of quartz, were obtained from the cement or from the superincumbent loose gravel, the official data afford no clue.

At the present time mining operations are chiefly confined to the vicinity of Peak Hill, the official mining centre, and the Horse- shoe Diggings, some miles to the north.

No discoveries of any importance appear to have been made during 1903, nor have any sensational finds been reported from any of the existing mines.

The State Battery has not been kept fully employed during the year, and during the six months it was kept running 1,011 tons of ore were crushed, yielding 972ozs. of gold, giving an average yield, per ton, of 96ozs. The difficulty of obtaining firewood and mining timber appears to be felt, and must present a serious problem in the future if serious mining operations are to be carried out.

The progress of the field during the year 1903 has been some- what disappointing, the gold yield, as reported to the Mines Depart- ment, having fallen to 35,656-08ozs., being 1,830*1 7ozs. less than the previous year.

The following table shows the yield of the goldfield up to the close of 1903

Yield of the Peak Hill Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Cruslaed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

1894 to 1896

h 11,070-16

a

a

2,851-25

c 10,883-23

5,110-00

4,571-38

4,01809

d 14,969-32

13,736-85

12,288-93

10,92200

6 31,953-65

31,995-34

28,622-88

10, 254-60

/'26,571-63

28,669-86

25,647-93

24,025-50

' 20,255-47

21,607-47

19,584-29

57,494-25

37,48705

32,737-17

28,130-48

66,072-50

35,656-08

34.924-50

29,598-92

Total

132,682-04

188,846-59

168,781-19

148.444-81

a. Included in the Murchison export returns. b. Includes 4,551-60ozs. from unknown' tonnage. c. Includes 399ozs, dollied and specimens. d. Includes

368-80OZS. dollied and specimens. e. Includes 478-90ozs. dollied and specimens.

/. Includes 24-85ozs. dollied and specimens.

Gold.

Murghison Goldfield.

The Murchison Goldtieid, as origiDallv constituted, was first proclaimed on the 24th September, 1891 ; its boundaries were modified by proclamation gazetted on the 8th of February, 1895, to take effect from the 23rd January of that year. It embraces an area of 20,518 square miles. As defined by the authorities, the goldfield is —

Bounded by lines starting from the summit of Mount Murchison, and extending north-eastward to the summit of Mount Hale ; thence east- south-eastward to the summit of Mount Eussell; thence south-westward to the north-west corner of the Yilgarn Goldfield ; thence west-north-west- ward to the summit of Wyemandoo Hill, and onwards to Trig. Station K6 on Goonahmoudey Peak ; thence north-westward to the summit of Mount Farmer ; and onwards to the summit of Mount Luke, and onwards to the summit of Mount Murchison.

Along the principal belt of auriferous country on the Murchi- son Goldfield, the rocks for the most part strike a little to the westward of north, and underlie to the westward. The geological structure of the greater portion of the goldfield is remarkable for its uniformity, and may be described as a series of persistent zones of basic and ultrabasic rocks associated with schists and altered forms.

So far as observations have at present been carried, the latter appear to be merely sheared or metamorphosed varieties of the former "greenstones," which comprise diorites,pyroxenites,amphibo- lites, etc., and in one form or another constitute what may be called the auriferous series.

These zones of schists and greenstones are surrounded by granitic rocks, which vary considerably in character in different localities.

The greenstone schists are remarkable for their persistent strike and horizontal extent, one belt alone having an average width of 10 or 15 miles, having been proved to extend for at least 60 miles.

Detailed observations have so far, of necessity, been devoted rather to economic than to stratigraphical geology, hence the solu- tion of the exact relation of the various rocks comprising the main group has not in all cases been completely determined.

It is quite conceivable that more detailed research than has hitherto been found possible would result m the recognition of highly metamorphosed sedimentary beds among the foliated green- stones. One of the most characteristic features of the whole Murchison Goldfield is the frequent occurrence of belts of banded hematite- bearing quartzites which extend as roughly parallel bands, often continuous for many miles in length ; they are generally from two to four chains in width and outcrop in the form of rough serrated ridges. These bands are merely quartz reefs or lodes of a peculiar type, and are everywhere confined to the greenstones ; they vary in composition from almost pure quartz, through varieties

Mineral Production.

of banded jaspers often of great beauty, to practically pure banded hematite, some of which (probably those of the Weld Ranges) might, under more favourable conditions, be turned to profitable account as sources of iron ore. Since they are generally themselves auriferous, though, as a rule, of too low grade to be of any commercial importance under present conditions, they belong to the auriferous deposits of the field which, with the pure quartz reefs, are therefore of two distinct types.

The quartz reefs, in general larger in the northern portion of the field than in the southern, occur in the granite in addition to the greenstones and altered rocks, but it is only those in the latter that have proved to be auriferous to any extent. Sometimes they cross the banded lodes, and at the junction rich chutes are almost invariably found ; these reefs, however, occurring in connection with the quartzites, though frequently of considerable size, are almost invariably very irregular and their gold contents very patchy, small rich chutes being obtained at their point of contact or inter- section with tlie quartzites ; the reefs of this class, therefore, are not of much use to a large company owing to the annual return being too uncertain.

The reefs which occur wholly in the greenstones and some distance from the quartzites, are, as a rule, much more regular both in size and in their gold contents, and, although the gold is very often found to occur in them in chutes, these are usually of considerable extent. The reefs, generally speaking, give every promise of living to a depth, and if a good many of them which are now abandoned were sunk on and systematically worked to a reasonable depth they would probably give very satisfactory returns. At present prac- tically no work has been done in the North Murchison district below a vertical depth of about 300 feet.

The quartzites themselves are only in one or two localities rich enough to be worked as a body ; they are, however, frequently traversed by transverse lines of faults, and along these rich pockets of stone are often found. The faults in some localities cross them almost at right angles, the chutes being generally of small, horizontal extent, and limited to the immediate vicinity of the quartzites.

For administrative purposes the Murchison G-oldfield has been divided into four districts, viz., Nannine, Cue, Day Dawn, and Mount Magnet.

The total production of the field, as reported to the Mines Department up to the end of 1903, was l,067,473ozs. Marked progress has been made by the Murchison G-oldfield during the last three years, each year showing a large increase over the preceding one, and the output for 1903 amounted to 241,791ozs., which is an increase of 15 per cent, over that of 1902.

The most important mine is the Great Fingall, the output of which for 1903, being 157,272ozs., is 65 per cent, of that of the whole field. It is expected that great benefit will be derived from the completion recently of the railway to Nannine.

Gold.

The following table gives the yield of the goldfield since the date of opening up to the close of 1903 : —

Yield of the Murchison Goldfield.

Year.

Ore Crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Gold Exported and received at Perth Mint.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

1893 !

1894 f

1896 J

Total

tons.

110,805-00

72 003-80 92255-80 66,696-87 96,791-03 113,213-43 153,142-51 189,945- 13

ozs.

a 140,432-28

h 62 316'19 c 79i256-39 d 80,548-71 e 105,722-31 / 146,591-93 g 210,813-86 241,791-39

ozs. f 2,064-43 1 24,356-47 J 21,210-45 j 52,946-32 1 65,477-26 L 71,282-69 82,891-85 93,667 16 93,51803 108,696-58 144,693-86 212,570-34 245,850-83

ozs.

1,846-83 21,789-19 18,974-77 47,365-54 58,575-66 63,769-17 74,154-67 83,794-22 83,660-80 97,239-47 131,145-66 182,657-99 208,361-41

894,853-57

1,067,473-06

1,219,226-27

1,073,335-38

a Includes 2,340ozs. dollied and specimens and l,072ozs. from unknown tons, b Includes l,041-67oz8. dollied and specimens. c Includes 1,11 9-12ozs. dollied and

specimens. d Includes 199-13ozs. of alluvial and 2,844-50ozs. dollied and specimens. e Includes 512-85oz8. of alluvial and 3,273-29ozs. dollied and specimens. / Includes

l,412 07ozs. of alluvial and 856'86ozs. dollied and specimens. g Includes l,021ozs. of alluvial and 154-65ozs. dollied and specimens. h Includes l,460-85ozs. of alluvial

and 863-750ZS. dollied and specimens.

EAST MURCHISON GOLDFIELD. The East Murchison G-oldfield was originally proclaimed on the 28th June, 1895, but, for administrative purposes, its boundaries were altered by proclamation gazetted on the 28th March, 1902, to take effect from the 2nd April, 1902, so as to embrace an area of 28,144 square miles, which is thus defined by the authorities -. —

Bounded by lines starting from the southernmost corner of the Itfurchison Goldfield, situate about four and a-half miles east and about four miles south from Trig. Station K75 on Wyemandoo Hill, and extending east to a spot about 15 miles east and about 44 miles north from the summit of Mt. Ida ; thence north about four and a-half miles ; thence east about 67i miles ; thence north about 14 miles ; thence east about seven miles ; thence north to the 26th parallel south latitude ; thence west to a spot due north of the summit of Mt. Russell ; thence south to the said summit of the said Mt. Russell ; thence south-south-westward along the eastern boundary of the Murchison Goldfield to its southernmost corner, the starting point.

Observations made in the East Murchison Goldfield have shown that granite is the staple formation, which has been invaded bv dykes and masses of some basic rock, together with a much later series of intrusions of acidic rocks, which usually form narrow tortuous dykes. Near the junction of the basic rocks and the

Mineral Production.

granite a strong development of hornblende, mica, and iron- bearing quartz schists are of frequent occurrence. These schists are seen to pass gradually into granite in such a way as to suggest that they may be merely highly metamorphosed forms of the latter. These crystalline rocks are covered by sandstones, quasi-vitreous sandstones, and conglomerates, which have been classed, inferentially, as of Mesozoic Age. Of a much newer date than these are the deposits of ironstone gravel which cover such an extensive area of country. The origin of these, however, is not quite understood. Their largest development occurs to the west of the Montague Range, which is made up of iron-bearing quartz schists of the type so prevalent in the Mt. Hale district.

There are now 11 minmg centres on the East Murchison G-old- field, viz., Lawlers, Lake Darlot, Mt. Sir Samuel, Lake Wav, Black Range, Cork Tree, Kathleen Valley, Mt. Clifford, New England, Wilson's Creek, Wilson's Patch.

At Lawlers the reefs are said to occur along the zone of contact between the gneissic granite and diorite schists. The reefs have a general east and west trend, and can be followed along the surface for considerable distances.

The Mt. Sir Samuel mining centre is situated at the southern end of the Violet Range, immediately to the north of Lake Miranda. G-eologically, this range is a diorite boss, occurring in massive granite, of a similar nature to the granite of Lake Way. Breaking through the diorite boss, usually in an east and west direction, are numerous granite dykes of apparently a later age. They are particularly conspicuous on the sides of Mt. Goode, where they can be traced for considerable distances. In close association with these dykes are some very large quartz reefs, which latter, as far as surface indications show, follow the strike of the dykes with great persistency. At McDonough's Lookout, another apparently dis- connected diorite boss is found, with numerous granite dykes intruding it, and the associated quartz reefs. The granite dykes in this locality are coarse-grained, and can clearly be seen to consist of quartz, orthoclase felspar, and mica. The mica, however, occurs in two forms, the Muscovite (common white mica) and Lepidolite (lithia mica). The quartz reefs at McDonough's Lookout are of the white opaque barren variety, and will scarcely recommend themselves to prospectors. Included in the quartz are large irregular mangano-ferruginous nodules in considerable quantity. In addition to the reefs associated with the granite dykes otlier quartz reefs are found in the massive diorite. These latter, for the most part, though sometimes rich in gold, are lenticular, and too expensive to work or prospect for in the hard diorite rock. Besides the quartz reefs, there is one example of a fissure lode being worked, viz., at the Belle Vue mine.

The mining history of the field has been one of steady progress, and during the last few years several new centres have sprung into existence ; the most recent is that known as the Black Range, which appears to show some promise.

Gold.

The production of the field during 1903 was 102,896ozs., and showed an increase of 13 per cent, over that of the previous year. The total output from the field up to the end of 1903 amounts to 440,829ozs.

The following table shows the yield of gold from the district since the opening of the field : —

Yield of the East Murchison Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine.

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

1,467-00

a 2,576-00

11,76300

h 20,995-07

9,453-81

8,457-34

31,947-99

c 37,080-32

39,563-35

35,393-19

42,166-75

d 45,038-90

41,569-66

37,188-03

56.923-00

e 64,698-03

58,369-50

52,217-09

84,618-45

76,236-10

77,604-04

70,337-70

138,137-75

g 91,308-85

91,976-45

79,033-73

154,954-22

h 102,896-26

102,903-76

87,212-11

Total

521,97816

440,82953

421,44057

369,83919

a. Previous to 1896 the returns were included in the Murchison Field, vide ante, h. Includes 621'18ozs. of alluvial and t43*17ozs. dollied and specimens. c. Includes

641-14ozs. of alluvial and l,115'26oz3. dollied and specimens, d. Includes l,62S 22ozs. of alluvial and IjigS'SSozs. dollied and specimens. e. Includes 738'54ozs. of alluvial and 280'13ozs. dollied and specimens. /. Includes 203-79ozs. of alluvial and 447*25ozs.

dollied and specimens. g. Includes 385'21ozs. of alhivial and l,978*95ozs. dollied and specimens. h. Includes 640*93ozs. of alluvial and 641-50ozs. dollied and specimens.

Mount Margaret Goldfield.

This goldfield, which was previously included in the North Coolgardie Field, was declared by .proclamation gazetted on the 12th March, 1897, to take efPect from the 1st x\pril of that year; its boundaries were amended by proclamation gazetted on the 28th of March, 1902, taking effect on the 2nd April, 1902, so as to embrace an area of 42,252 square miles.

The boundaries, as defined by the authorities, are as follows : —

Bounded by lines startintjf from a spot about 15 miles east and about 13 miles north from the summit of Mount Ida, and extending north about 35 miles ; thence east about 67i miles, passing through a tree marked " AN 33" at Doyle's Well; thence north about 14 miles; thence east about seven miles ; thence north to the 26th parallel of south latitude ; thence east to the 125th meridian east longitude ; thence south to a spot due east of a tree marked " B 82" at Brickey's Soak ; thence west through the said tree to a starting point. Excluding all townsites and fee simple lands within the boundaries.

This field is one of the most recently established goldfields, and IS already one of the most important in the State.

Mineral Production.

Detailed geological observations have been carried out at several of the more important mining centres, but our knowledge of many portions of the field is somewhat meagre.

A very large portion of the surface of the ground is covered with a variable thickness of recent accumuJations, derived from the disintegration of the underlying rocks ; this forms the matrix of the alluvial gold.

The stable formation is yranite, granitic gneiss, schists, and a series of basic rocks. The latter, comprising diorite, diabase, pyroxenite, etc., and the schists constitute the auriferous series, which here in some respects shows a resemblance to that of the Murchison Goldfield. The general strike of the schists is in a north-west direction, and they are often vertical or inclined at high angles.

There is here also a characteristic development of the banded quartz lodes or quartzites, which themselves are in some cases auriferous ; but the hematite-bearing varieties are much more exceptional than in the case of the Murchison Goldfield. The other main types of auriferous deposits are the lodes or lode formations and pure quartz reefs, the latter often being of very large size ; in such cases, however, there is a strong tendency to a lenticular form with no great horizontal extent.

Such lenses, quartz blows, often attain a great thickness in the widest portion, in one instance over 70 feet of solid white quartz. The most important quartz reefs are generally in the greenstones, hut they occur also in the granite, and particularly at the junction.

The banded quartzites and lodes are confined to the greenstone, and many of the former stand up in bold relief and can be traced by the eye for many miles across country.

It is associated with one of these bands that the ore body of the Westralia Mount Morgans occurs.

The auriferous deposit of the Sons of Grwalia, another of the most important producers of the field, is of the type distinguished as lodes or lode formations.

The other more important mines are the Ida H. and Lancefield.

The field, for administrative purposes, is divided into three main districts, Morgans (the official centre), Laverton, and Malcolm (including Leonora). Besides the production of gold, the Mount Margaret field has also contributed a good deal towards the copper production of the State. The total gold production to the end of 1903 has been 91 6,746ozs., and during 1903, 212,490ozs., and the statistics show a record of steady progress.

A good deal of prospecting has been done within the last year, and promising reports have been received from the locality known as the Erlistoun, to the west of the more established centres.

Gold.

The following table shows the yield of the Mount Margaret Field, since its inception, up to the end of 1903 : —

Yield of the Mount Margaret Goldjield.

Ore crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Gold Exported and received at Perth Mint.

Year.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

1895 to 1896

tons. 13,198-74 37,506-67 75,586-35 132,821-25 246,57800 274,343-45 270,797-33

ozs. b 4,992-10 c 22,592-09 d 49,717-77 e 79,923-72 / 145,688-75 g 190,032-15 ;i 211,308-77 i 212,490-60

ozs.

a

8,685-73 43,266 69 81,817-07 141,523-00 198,807-70 216,637-14 225,192-57

ozs. a

7,770-22 38,706-19 73,193-17 126,605-83 180,192-63 186,152-50 190,853-28

Total

1,051,06279

916,74595

915,929-90

803,473-82

a Previous to 1897 included in North Coolgardie returns. b Includes SOOozs. dollied and specimens. c Includes 588-84ozs. of alluvial and 2,018-25ozs. dollied and specimens. ct Includes 675-25ozs. of alluvial and 378-68ozs. dollied and specimens. e Includes S'i-OSozs. of alluvial and 60ri8ozs. dollied and specimens. /Includes 5-20ozs. of alluvial and l,271-79ozs. dollied and specimens. g Includes 60'4-06ozs. of alluvial and l,215"22ozs. dollied and specimens. h Includes 291-57ozs. of alluvial and 351-77ozs. dollied and specimens. i Includes 199-96ozs. of alluvial and 135-05ozs. dollied and specimens.

Yalgoo Goldpield.

The Yalgoo Groldfield was declared by proclamation gazetted on the 8th February, 1895, taking effect from the 23rd January of that year. Its boundaries, which enclose an area of 18,921 square miles, are thus defined by the authorities : —

Starting from the summit of Mount Marchison and extending west- south-westerly to the summit of Tallering Peak ; thence south-easterly to the summit of Mugg-a Mugga Hill, and onwards to the summit of Mount Gibson, which lies about 12 miles south-west from Ningham Creek ; thence eastward to Trig. Station K 83 on the west shore of Lake Moore ; thence due east to the western boundary of the North Coolgardie Goldfield, and along it north to its north-west corner ; thence north-westward to the summit of Wyemandoo Hill, and onwards to Trig. Station K 6 on Goonah- moudey Peak ; thence north-westward to the summit of Mount Farmer, and onwards to the summit of Mount Luke, and onwards to the summit of Mount Murchison,

The mining centres of the Yalgoo field are Bilberaltha, Carla- minda, Field's Find, GuUewa, Kirkalucka, Noongal, Nynghan, Rothesay, Wadgingarra, Yalgoo, and Yuin.

The progress of this field has not been satisfactory, each year's output showing somewhat of a decrease ; half the whole production, during 1903, of 3,842ozs. is accounted for by the output of one property, the Field's Find mine. The total production up to the end of 1903 has been 55,153ozs.

32 Mineral Production.

The following table shows the progressive yield of the goldfield up to the close of 1903 : —

Yield of the Yalgoo Goldfield

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Year

Ore

Yield of Gold

ear.

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

1895 to 1896

a 2,488-00

a 7,227-00

h

b

3. 66(5 -97

3,455-79

2,034*23

1,819-81

4,424-50

3,29895

3,756'38

3,360-44

17,933-51

c 12,135-94

10,879-58

9,732-83

15,596-20

d 10,101-86

9,368-57

8,381-08

13,117-30

e 9,238-25

9,198-51

8,337-22

3,992-50

5,853-37

5,679-41

4,880-23

2,412-00

3,841-75

1,743-54

1,477-67

Total

63.630-98

55,152-91

42.660'22

37,989-28

a Details not available. h Previous to April, 1897, included with Murchison. c Includes 16'50ozs. dollied and specimens. d Includes 289ozs. dollied and specimens. e Includes 12-08ozs. of alluvial and 4-90ozs. dollied and specimens. / Includes 13ozs. of alluvial.

North Coolgardie Goldfield.

This goldfield was proclaimed on the 28th June, 1895, its boundaries being subsequently amended hy proclamation gazetted on the 12tli March, 1897, to take effect from the 1st April of that year ; it embraces an area of 30,609 square miles, and, according to the authorities, is circumscribed —

By lines starting from the southernmost corner of the Murchison Goldfield, being the south-west corner of the East Murchison Goldfield, and situate about 12 miles east and 5 miles south from Trig. Station K75 on Wyemando Hill, and extending south to the south-east corner of the Yalgoo Goldfield, which is a point due east from Mt. Gibson, near Lake Moore, and due north of a spot 10 miles west of a cairn on Yorkrakine Granite Rock ; thence east-south-eagt to a point about 50 miles due west from a cairn marked NBl, near Wangine Soak; thence east to Survey Station NBl ; thence about 87° 20 miles 22 chains to Survey Station R'S ; thence east to the 125th meridian east longitude ; thence north along that meridian to a point east of a tree marked B82 at Brickey's Soak ; thence west through the said tree to a spot about 76 miles west from it, and 13 miles north and 15 miles east from the summit of Mount Ida; thence north about 31 miles to the south boundary of the East Murchison Goldfield, and west to the starting point.

This field, which originally formed part of the Coolgardie Goldfield, has, for purposes of administration, been subdivided into the Menzies, Ularring, Niagara, and Yerilla districts.

In its geological structure, the field presents features which connect it geologically with those of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Tlie country rocks consist of granite, gniess, hornblende, mica, sericite, and serpentinous schists, associated with amphibolites, ferruginous quartzite, and diorite dykes. Felsite dykes have been noticed in some parts of the district. Ferruginous conglomerate.

Gold.

passing in places into pure limonite, occupies the caps of certain of the hills. All the rocks have suffered a considerable amount of decom- position, which extends to a depth of about TOO feet from the surface.

The lodes of Menzies, which are of a more or less schistose habit, have an approximate parallelism : they trend generally north-west, and have a fairly high underlie to the west. The gold occurs associated with iron, copper, and arsenical pyrites, galena (which is very abundant), and zincblende. Free gold occurs in the rocks within the zone of oxidation.

Mining is generally prosperous, but the outlying centres were somewhat hampered by want of water during the early part of the year.

The gold yield of 195,426ozs., during 1903, from this extensive field is the largest yet recorded and is an increase of 5 per cent, over that for the previous year ; the total gold yield up to the end of 1903 amounts to 913,694ozs.

The following table shows the yield of the field up to the close of 1903 :—

Yield of the North Coolgardie Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to 1897

14,265-30

a 26,962-85

i 17.160-51

15,351-71

32,840-95

b 61,362-82

74,556-12

66,697-57

42,032-79

c 72,878-88

70,625-32

63, 181 09

93,222-25

d 116,968-14

105,688-76

94,548-69

90,727-99

e 106,773-97

106,193-38

95,000-12

108,271-65

/148,305-00

142,798-10

129,427-40

156,32507

g 185,016-58

187,272-79

160,920-24

210,776-28

h 195,426-42

198,820-49

168,502-64

Total

748,462*28

913,694*66

903,115*47

793,629*46

a Includes 2,900'77ozs. dollied and specimens and 275ozs. from unknown tons, b Includes 120ozs. of alluvial and 391-12ozs. dollied and specimens c Includes

924-32ozs. dollied apd specimens. d Includes 796-78ozs. of alluvial and l,118'34ozs.

dollied and specimens. e Includes 690-05ozs. of alluvial and 649-32ozs. dollied and

specimens. / Includes 281-79ozs. alluvial and 969-62ozs. dollied and specimens, g Includes 281-57ozs. of alluvial and 901-60ozs. dollied and specimens. h Includes

232-980ZS. of alluvial and 2,204-34ozs. dollied and specimens. i Included with

Coolgardie returns prior to Ist May, 1896.

Yilgarn Goldfield.

The Yilgarn field was proclaimed on the 1st October, 1888; its boundaries were amended by proclamation gazetted on the 20th March, 1896, taking effect from the 15th April of that year. It embraces an area of lf5,593 square miles : —

Bounded by lines starting from a point 90 miles south of a cairn, H 26, on Koorarawalye Granite Rock, and extending west to a point due south

Mineral Production.

of a point 10 miles west of a cairn on Yorkrakine Granite Rock ; thence north to the south-east corner of the Yalgoo Goldfield ; thence east- south-east to a point about 50 miles due west from a cairn marked NB (conjoined) 1, near Wang-ine Soak; thence south through the before- mentioned cairn H 26 to the starting point.

The occurrence of gold in what is now the Yilgarn Goldfield would seem to have been made known by Mr. Glass, of Mugakine, in the year 1887.

The principal mining centres of the field are Hope's Hill, Parker's Range, Southern Cross, and Mount Jackson.

The whole Yilgarn field seems to follow one anticlinal fold in the country, the centre of which is exposed at Golden Valley, where the reefs dip both east and west, where the country is hard and the stone carries much copper.

Hope's Hill and Southern Cross are on the western side of this fold, while Blackborne's is on the other side of a synclinal still further west, where the reefs dip to the east. All along this line of country the stone is highly mineralised, containing carbonate of iron and chlorite.

The output of the field for 1908 shows a slight increase over that of 1902, and there seems to have been a revival in activity ; the population during the year increased by 28 per cent. The total yield of the field up to the end of 1908 amounts to 241,896ozs.

The following: table shows the yield of the Yilgarn Goldfield up to the close of 1908 :—

Yield of the Yilgarn Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

f 1,858-50

1,662-61

1 2,277-00

2,036-99

1 12,833-30

11,480-61

J 21,209-49

18,973-91

al74,925-00

b 94,194-60

1 75,744-55

67,760-73

31,498-38

28,178-31

1 19,747-75

17,666-25

16,565-25

14,819-20

35,988-00

17,072-82

17,994-48

16.097-78

27,807-35

11,769-40

11,696-18

10,463-35

33,403-18

16.371-78

16,805-04

15.033-71

54,403-10

29,155-42

29,418-10

26,317-30

26,529-00

c 26,587-41

29,488 07

26,727-00

41,218-50

cZ 23,129-69

25,877-53

22,236 11

50,623-50

6 23,615-24

26,856-28

22,76100

Total

444897 63

241.896-36

339,869 90

302.214 86

a Details not available. h Details not available, but includes 738-18ozs. dollied and specimens. c Includes 23-18ozs. dollied and specimens. d Includes S'SOozs. of alluvial and 6ozs. dollied and specimens. e Includes 'SOozs. of alluvial and 211ozs. dollied and specimens.

Gold.

Coolgardie Goldpield.

The Coolgardie Goldfield was proclaimed on the 6th April, 1894: its boundaries were amended by proclamation gazetted on the 20th March, 1896. taking effect from the 15th April of that year. It embraces an area of 11,974 square miles, and is defined by the authorities as being : —

Bounded by lines starting from the north-east corner of the Yilgarn Goldfield (which is a point about 50 miles west from a cairn marked NBl, near Wangine Soak) and extending south about 118 miles through a cairn H26 on Koorarawalye Granite Rock ; thence east about 133 miles through the summit of a granite rock near the 50-Mile Soak, on the Dundas and Lake Lefroy Eoad ; thence north about 48 miles to a point 35 miles east of the south-east corner of Hampton Plains Location 48 ; thence west 35 miles to the south-east corner of the above-mentioned Location ; thence along the boundaries (surveyed) of Location 48, westerly 443 chains 91 links, northerly 564 chains 87 links to the south-east corner of Location 51 ; thence along the boundaries (surveyed) of that Location westerly 160 chains, southerly 60 chains, westerly ] 19 chains 87 links to the south-west corner of Location 51 ; thence northerly 400 chains along the westerly boundary of Location 51, and the eastern boundary of Location 53 to the north-east corner of Location 53 ; thence along a surveyed line 324° 16' 36 miles 1,481 links ; thence north 80 miles 47 chains 46 links along a surveyed line to a tree, R3, near Cane Grass Swamp on the 90-Mile Road ; thence westerly about 50 miles to the starting point.

Previous to 20th March, 1896, the Coolgardie Goldfield embraced the present Coolgardie, East Coolgardie, North-East Coolgardie, and Broad Arrow Goldfields, all of which, together with the present Yilgarn field, were originally known as the Yilgarn Goldfield.

Coolgardie Goldfield, as at present constituted, was officially declared on the 20th March, 1896, and, for purposes of administra- tion, was eventually divided into the Coolgardie and Kunanalling Districts.

The geological features of this area are marked by a mass of intrusive granite on the west, succeeded by a belt of hornblende and talcose schists, the whole being intersected by dykes of both basic and acidic rocks- The acid eruptive rocks, which, as a rule, follow the strike of the schists, in all probability emanate from the main granite mass, as cases occur in which a gradual passage from the latter can be identified. Quartz reefs are often intimately associated with the acidic dykes, and in some cases the latter gradually pass into pure quartz at their extremities. As a rule, these quartz veins are non -auriferous.

The schistose rocks, which are hornblendic, or occasionally talcose, seem to result from the surface weathering of amphibolites. The general strike varies from north 20° west and south 20° east to north 20° east and south 20° west, the dip being from 30° to 60° to the east ; more rarely the beds dip west, but such is of local occurrence.

The diorites and andesites form both bosses and dykes, and are found invading both the granite and the schist.

Mineral Production.

In certain portions of the field both the granite and schistose rocks are covered with a variable thickness of their own weathered debris and other superficial deposits. These superficial deposits extend over a very large portion of Coolgardie; they vary in thickness from a few inches up to several hundred feet, as in Rollo's Bore.

Ancient water channels exist in the vicinity of Coolgardie, about eight miles from the township; one of these had been pierced by a bore to a depth of 162 feet.

The gold obtained from Coolgardie has been derived from three principal sources, viz., alluvial deposits, lode formations, and quartz reefs. The gold from the recent superficial deposits presents all the usual characters. Unfortunately there are no data available by which the amount of alluvial gold obtained in the early days from the Coolgardie Goldfield can be deduced. The " lode formations," as a rule, consist of schistose rocks traversed by a network of quartz leaders ; the formations appear to possess no sharply defined boundaries, unless in exceptional cases, the limits of the deposits being defined by purely technical considerations. A great deal of gold seems to have been derived from these formations ; but, owing to the way the returns are supplied, it has not been possible to separate the yield of the formations from that of the quartz reefs proper. The quartz reefs trend generally north and south, and have a dip of from 60° to 80"' to the east.

Many of the quartz reefs in the neighbourhood of Coolgardie stand up from the surface like walls of masonry, 15 or 20 feet high, having resisted the denuding action of the atmosphere better than the enclosing country rocks.

There are two distinct varieties of reefs, one closely resembling the lode formations and occurring in large lenticular patches, often forming pronounced outcrops on the surface, and the other of the true fissure type. Of the first class, the reefs on Bayley's Keward Claim, and the Big Blow Mining Lease, No. 35, are the best examples, whilst Sherlaw's Perseverance, and Burbank's Birthday Gift Mining Lease, No. 3252, are examples of the second class.

The principal mining centres of the field are Bcmuievale, Burbanks, Coolgardie, Gnarlbine, Londonderry, Red Hill, Widgie- mooltha, Balgarrie, Carbine, Carnage, Cashman's, Dunnsville, Kin tore, Siberia, and 25-Mile.

A decreasing tendency has been shown in the production of the field for several years, and the output, for 1903, of 84,303ozs. shows a decrease of four per cent, compared with that for 1902. The total gold reported to the Mines Department up to the end of 1903 amounts to 724,256ozs.

A State Battery is to be erected, which it is expected will improve results.

Gold. 37

The following table shows the yield of the field up to the close of 1903 :—

Yield of the Coolgardie Goldfield.

Year.

Ore Crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Gold Exported and received at Perth Mint.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

1895 ... y

1896 J

To.tal

tons, a 33,352-45

54,251-16 107,622-39 154,893-14 133,087-75 121,646-91

96,316-15 105.825-58

ozs.

a 74,181-76

64,791-48 c 99,672-84 d 126,29004 e 102,41301 /84,744-43 g 87,859-69 7i 84.303-27

ozs,

f 6 105,329-82 125,105-94 t 69,135-19 104,306-37 127.227-06 141,170-08 119,781-46 88,600-54 97,477-20 90,854-23

ozs. 94,227-58 111,919-21 61,848-03 93,312-00 113,816-75 126,290-11 107,155-95 80,304-56 83,760-46 77,000-01

806,99563

724,256-52 1.068,98789

949,63466

a Details not available. h Included with Yilg-aru prior to 5th April, 1894. c Includes 5271ozs. of alluvial and l,158-96ozs, dollied and specimens. d Includes l,562-95ozs. of alluvial and l,713-54ozs, dollied and specimens. e Includes l,624'76ozs. of alluvial and 320'06ozs. dollied and specimens. / Includes l,259-65ozs. of alluvial and l,739-76ozs. dollied and specimens. g Includes 665'55ozs. of alluvial and o50-61ozs. dolUed and specimens. h Includes 759-33ozs. of alluvial and l,743"61ozs. dollied and specimens.

Broad Arrow Goldfield.

The Broad Arrow field, declared by proclamation sazetted on the 17th November, 1896, to take effect from the 20th of that month, embraces an area of 590 square miles, and is defined by the authorities as being : —

Bounded by lines starting from Survey Station E,3 ; thence east about 17 miles 30 chains to a point north of the most northerly corner of the East Coolgardie Goldfield ; thence south about 29 miles 70 chains to that corner ; thence about 234° 51' 14-- miles to the 40-Mile post on part of the eastern boundary of the Coolgardie Goldfield ; thence about 324° 46' 9 miles 32 chains 44 links ; thence north 30 miles 47 chains 56 links to the starting point.

The geological features and mode of occurrence of the ore deposits of this field bear a strong similarity to those of Coolgardie.

The gold produced from this field has been derived from three sources, viz., alluvial deposits, lode formations, and quartz reefs. The gold from the alluvial deposits presents all the usual characters. The lodes, so far as observations have been carried, are usually banded, and practically distinguishable from the country rock only

Mineral Production.

by their auriferous character. The quartz reefs, which invariably occur in intimate association with the acid eruptive dykes, are of two distinct varieties. The first occur as lenticular patches, from which small quartz veins emanate in all directions. These branch- ing veins appear to be richer. The second type are those banded rocks which consist of alternating layers of crypto-crystalline quartz and hematite. The proportion of oxides of iron varies from a practically pure hematite to a quartz rock, through which such small quantities of hematite are disseminated as to give it a brown or bluish appearance. These banded rocks seem to have been permeated with secondary silica, which has also penetrated the surrounding rocks. Although these banded quartzites have proved auriferous, none of them have so far shown themselves to be pay- able ; iu the circumstances that these banded quartz rocks are a possible source of gold, they are identical with the quartzites of Peak Hill (to which reference has been made on an earlier page) and of Mount Margaret.

The principal mining centres of the field are Bardoc, Black Flag, Broad Arrow, and Paddington.

After several years of declining output, a considerable advance is shown by the record of the field for 1908 ; the yield of 29,969ozs. being an increase of 32 per cent, over that for the preceding year. The total output up to the end of 1903 amounted to 236,267ozs.

The following table shows the yield of the field up to the close of 1903: —

Yield of the Broid Arrow Goldfield.

Year.

Ore Crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Gold Exported and received at Perth Mint.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

Total

tons. a 1,536-20 19,636-30 32,004-06 59,976-40 73,493-17 44,740-13 23,684-85 35,826-15

ozs. h 9,129-25 c 14,464-54 d 27,726-43 6 48,194-38 / 52,433-32 g 34,675-44 h 19,675-20 i 29,969- 13

ozs.

j 4,159-27 24,631-44 44,524-29 47,860-59 29,104-78 18,380-47 27,665-13

ozs.

3,720-87 39,831-22 42,815-87 26,379-59 15,794-01 23,446-53

290.897-26

236,267*69

196,325-97 .174,023-26

a Complete details not available. b Complete details not available ; includes

250ozs. from unknown tons. c Includes 27-20ozs. dollied and specimens. d In-

cludes l,483-59ozR. of alluvial and 270-42o7.s. dollied and specimens. e 114-21ozs. of alluvial and 197-93ozs. dollied and specimens. /Inchides l,4-70-26ozs. of alluvial and 268-440ZS. dollied and specimens. g Includes 1 ,229"52ozs. of alluvial and 161 -SOozs. dollied and specimens. h Includes 984-43ozs. of alluvial and 162-25ozs. dollied and

specimens. i Includes 2,940-43ozs. of alluvial and 68-50ozs. dollied and specimens,

j No detail available prior to 1st September, 1897.

Gold.

EAST COOLGARDIE GOLDFIELD. This comparatively small field, tlie most productive in Australia, embraces an area of 632 square miles. It was declared by procla- mation gazetted on the 21st September, 1894, to take effect from the 1st October of that year ; its boundaries were amended by proclamation gazetted on the 20th March, 1896, to take effect from the 15th April following. It is defined by the authorities as being : —

Bounded by lines starting from a mile-post on the eastern boundary of the Coolgardie Goldfield, 40 miles southerly from Survey Station R3 and extending 144 degrees 46 minutes 26 miles 62 chains 37 links along a sur- veyed line to the north-east corner of Location 53 ; thence southerly along the eastern boundary of Location 53 and the western boundary of Location 51 to the south-west corner of Location 51 ; thence along the boundaries of that location easterly 119 chains 87 links, northerly 60 chains, easterly 160 chains to a point on the western boundaries of Location 48, southerly 564 chains 87 links, easterly 443 chains 91 links to the south-east corner of that location ; thence easterly about 7 miles 65 chains to a point south of the south-east corner of Location 45 ; thence north to the said corner ; thence north along the eastern boundary of Location 45, 4 miles, to its north-east corner ; thence about 342 degrees 10 minutes about 1 mile 64 chains to the south-east corner of Location 44 ; thence along the eastern boundary of Location 44 to its north-east corner ; thence 321 degrees 35 minutes about 30 miles 53 chains to a point bearing about 54 degrees 50 minutes fA)m the 40-mile post On the eastern boundary of the Coolgardie Goldfield ; thence about 234 degrees 50 minutes about 14 miles to the starting point.

Kalgoorlie, the official centre of the East Coolgardie Groldfield, was in the first instance called Hannan's, after Patrick Hannan, the original discoverer of the field ; the other principal mining centres are Boulder, Boorara, and Feysville.

The principal topographical feature of the field consists of alow broken Range, of which Mount Charlotte, 1,378 feet above sea-level, forms the highest summit, and which trends generally north-north- west from the head of Hannan's Lake. This line of comparatively low hills diminishes in altitude from Mount Charlotte to a mere ridge, which gradually merges into the flat ground surrounding the lake and forms the main water-parting of the district. To the eastward, the country extends in a wide, gently -sloping valley, with a southerly fall, flanked by a line of low hills some six or seven miles distant ; to the westward again is another valley of about two miles in width.

By far the larger portion of the field is covered with a mantle of reddish loamy soil and other superficial accumulations of variable thickness. These superficial deposits consist of ironstone gravels and cement, passing in certain isolated localities into practically pure brown hematite. Some of the surface deposits have proved to be highly auriferous in places.

The rocks of the field consist of : —

(i.) Amphibolites and other derivatives, including most of the lode stuff.

(2.) New eruptives, both acid, intermediate, and ultra-basic. (3.) Sedimentary rocks.

Mineral Production.

The amphibolites which form not only the country rocks of the productive ore-bodies of Kalgoorlie, but also, in a much altered form, the greater number of the "lode formations" themselves, possess the highest interest. Owing to the varying and sometimes extreme alteration that they have undergone, the rocks present an almost endless variety of form and (within certain limits) composition. They appear to resemble very closely the greenstone schists of the south shore of Lake Superior, North America, which are associated with important deposits of iron ore. The Kalgoorlie amphibolite rocks are of four main types, viz., massive and foliated amphibolites, massive and foliated greenstones (chlorite-rock), chlorite schist, and massive and foliated siderite-rock.

The minerals which have been recognised in these rocks are hornblende, plagioclase, orthoclase, quarta, limonite, and magnetite, all of which may be original constituents, or wholly or partially secondary, together with the undoubtedly secondary minerals chlorite, epidote, zoisite, sericite, leucoxene, rutile, calcite, dolomite, siderite, and pyrites, with occasionally lollingite, gold, etc.

All the amphibolites and other derivatives are portions of the one mass, and have originally been one and the same. No remnants of that original rock being left unaltered, its exact nature cannot be determined. That it was an igneous rock appears certain from the presence of limonite, hornblende, and areas of micropegmatite, and from the absence of fossils or water- worn inclusions. It may have been a diabase or plagioclase-augite rock. The original rock has been metamorphosed in three ways : By molecular rearrangement, with the production of secondary hornblende; mechanically, many of the minerals being fractured or crushed, and more or less foliation set up; chemically, by the absorption of water, carbonic acid, sulphur, etc., resulting in a complete destruction of original minerals and the formation of secondary chlorite, calcite, quartz, etc. The so-called lode formations " are in most cases merely bands of this igneous rock which have been permeated by solutions of the precious metals.

Traversing the main mass of amphibolite and older sediments are several intrusive masses of felspar-porphyry, porphyrite, and peridotite.

Surrounded on all sides by the igneous rocks, and dipping at a high angle, are a series of sedimentary rocks, ranging on the one hand from a soft shale to a jasperoid slate, and on the other from a sandstone to a flinty quartzite. The effect of metamorphism on these rocks has been as varying in its intensity as on the amphibolites. Soft grey shales and ironstones pass into fine grey or graphitic slates, in which secondary silification has sometimes gone on up to the point of converting the rock into an opaque banded jasper. Graphite to the extent of 5 per cent, or more is a frequent constituent in the slates. It may owe its origin to the alteration of organic matter originally existent in the rocks, or to the subsequent intrusion of

Gold.

vapours of hydrocarbons into the beds. A peculiar feature of the graphitic slates are spherical nodules of pyrites from inch up to an inch or more in diameter, which are frequently enclosed in them.

Of siliceous sediments, soft sandstones are of rare occurrence, but narrow bands of sandy material do occur with the shales. Flinty quartzite is of frequent occurrence, ranging in composition from almost pure silica to various mixtures of quartz, clay, and iron oxides, the latter, however, being seld(mi found in notable quan- tities.

Breccias occur in several parts of the field.

The newer sediments are of two kinds, chemical and mechanical. The former includes salt, travertine, siliceous sinter, and laterite ; the latter, sand, clay, and ironstone gravel.

The lodes of Kalgoorlie consist of a series of almost vertical banded schistose formations (merely country rock more or less altered by dynamic changes) which have a general trend of from north 30° west to north 50° west. These deposits are lenticular in habit, the lenses being often of great length. Instances occur which go to prove that some of these may reach over half a mile in length. At times, however, the lateral continuity of the lenses is interrupted by faults of very variable downthrow. Asa general rule the ore deposits have no well-defined walls, but seem to pass insensibly into the sur- rounding rock. The lodes are often traversed by a network of quartz veins, which ramify in all directions. There is abundant evidence attesting the fact that the rocks have been subjected to profound dynamic phenomena, which has resulted in the production of lines of weakness along which mineral-bearing solutions have found a com- paratively easy passage. The width of the ore bodies reaches as mucli as 80 feet in places. The gold occurs free, as tellurides, and as auriferous pyrrhotite. The free gold presents such characters as point to its having been derived from the oxidation of the tellurium -bearing minerals ; the decomposition of the auriferous pyrites may also be the source of some portion of it. The free gold often occurs in spongy or cellular masses of varying sizes and shapes, and is at times coated with a dull clayey ferruginous material of a yellow colour, known as "mustard gold," which may represent an oxidised form of tellurium. The tellurides of gold occur chiefly as Calaverite.

The yield of the field for 1903 amounted to l,275,628ozs., an increase of 14 pr cent, on that of the previous year, and more than half of the total yield of the State ; the average yield per ton of ore milled was l-32ozs. The total gold reported to the Mines Depart- ment up to the end of 1903 amounts to 5,846,949ozs.

Outside prospecting is still being carried on, particularly at the north end of the field in the neighbourhood of Boorara.

42 Mineral Production.

The following table shows the yield of the East Coolgardie Goldfield up to the close of 1903 :—

Yield of the East Coolgardie Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Year.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

17,026-34

a 143,828-70

i 85,287-06

76,297-42

117,565-72

b 296,764-11

300,037-24

268,411-95

264,324-76

c 422,391-86

450,312-27

402,847-31

466,86-09

cZ 860,371-72

923,617-70

826,264-21

491,720-00

e 737,970-98

810,906-78

725,433-53

693,828-73

/ 991,378-20

1,033,669-64

936,883-49

842,185-61

g 1,118,615-71

1,172,404-84

1,007,426-94

966,793-51

h 1,275,627-82

1,358,374-81

1,151,238-24

Total

3,890.31376

5,8i6,94910

6,134,61034

5,394,80309

a Includes 500ozs. from unknown tons. b Includes 46-15ozs. of dollied and speci- mens, c Includes 148ozs. of dollied and specimens. d Includes 5,503-70ozs. of alluvial and 29-56ozs. dollied and specimens. e Includes 2,295-56ozs. of alluvial and 2,019'24ozs. dollied and specimens. /Includes l,331ozs. of alluvial and l,247-85ozs. dollied and specimens. g Includes 3,'063-89ozs. of alluvial and 6,807-18ozs. dollied and specimens. h, Includes 752-94ozs. of alluvial and l,013-45ozs. dollied and specimens. i Included with Coolg-ardie prior to 1st May, 1896.

North-East Coolgardie Goldfield.

This Goldfield was declared by proclamation gazetted on the 20th March, 1896, to take effect from the 15tli April of that year ; its boundaries were amended during the same year by proclamation gazetted on the 13th November, to take effect from the 20th of the same month. It embraces an area of 21,642 square miles, and, according to the authorities, it is comprised by —

Lines starting from a point situate about 17 miles 30 chains east of Survey Station li3 ; thence south about 29 miles 70 chains to the most northerly corner of the East Coolgardie Goldfield ; thence about 141 degrees 35 minutes about 30 miles 53 chains to the north-east corner of location 44? ; thence along the eastern boundary of that location to its south-east corner; thence about 162 degrees 10 minutes about 1 mile 64 chains to the north- east corner of Location 45 ; thence along the eastern boundary of that location to its south-east corner ; thence south to a point 7 miles 65 chains east from the south-east corner of Location 48 ; thence east about 27 miles 15 chains ; thence south about 48 miles to the south-east corner of the Coolgardie Goldfield ; thence east to the 125th meridian of east longitude ; thence north along that meridian to a point east of Survey Station R3 aforesaid ; thence west to the starting point.

Gold.

For administrative purposes the field is divided into three districts: — Kanowna (White Feather), Bulon (I.O.U.), and Kurnalpi.

Kanoivna.— The fundamental rocks of the Kanovna district are chlorite, talcose, and serpentinous schists, invaded by dykes of acid eruptive rocks, which have a prevailing north-easterly strike and an easterly dip. The schists, so far as has been disclosed by mining operations, are all in an advanced stage of decomposition. They have proved to be highly auriferous in places. The granitic rocks which contain gold in appreciable quantity are reticulated by interlacing quartz veins, which are also auriferous ; these appear to have been prospected with considerable success.

Considerable interest, however, at Kanowna attaches to the alluvial leads, which have been extensively worked. The most prominent of these is the North Lead, which lies in a natural depres- sion which has been traced from the Cemetry to Gr.M.L. 918. The North Lead lies in an old watercourse carved out of the older rocks, and has been proved to be not merely a simple isolated run of auriferous gravel, but part of a series of old stream deposits, which took their rise in the comparatively elevated ground to the east and flowed in a general westerly direction.

The lead trends generally northwards a,s far as the Gr.M.L. 923, when its course is suddenly deflected to the east. It is joined near the Birthday Grift Claim by what is known as Wilson's Grully Lead, which enters from the south. Some distance below the junction the North Lead loses itself in an extensive flat, which may prove to be merely a lake-like expansion of its channel. The connection of the Q.F.D. Lead on the north, although it trends in such a direction as to fall into the North Lead, has not yet been definitely proved. All things point to such a connection, though it may be that the lead has been lost by denudation.

The width of the old stream varies from two to 80 feet, having an average, according to departmental observations, of about 15 feet. The thickness of the deposit in the old channel varies from a few inches up to as much as 90 feet. The fall of the lead is about at the rate of 40 feet to the mile.

The deposits filling the old watercourse naturally vary somewhat in different portions. They consist first of a variable thickness of surface loams, etc., succeeded by ironstone gravels partially cemented in places by kaolin and oxide of iron into solid rock. Beneath this lies a bed or beds of practically pure kaolin ("pug"), and a varying thickness of a pebbly quartz wash. The wash contains rounded and subangular pebbles of quartz, which, in the upper portion of the deposit, is often associated with kaolin and sand. This quartz wash is cemented by secondary silica into a hard, compact rock, which, in hand specimens, might easily be mistaken for quartzite.

Mineral Production.

So far as mining operations have, up to the present, been carried out, it would seem that the whole of the detrital deposits have not proved auriferous. Most of the alluvial gold has been won from the pebbly quartz wash, although the overlying kaolin ("pug") and ironstone gravel have also yielded a certain quantity.

The ultimate derivation of the gold in the North Lead is from the quartz veins and lodes (upon which the wash directly reposes in places) by which the crystalline rocks are traversed; for the gold is not exclusively in the form of grains, scales, etc., but is found occurring in the quartz pebbles themselves.

In addition to what may be called detrital gold, there is another massive, arborescent, or coarsely crystalline form which occurs, filling certain irregular cracks, and covering cleavage planes or shrinkage cracks so as to present the appearance of pamted surfaces.

The mode of occurrence, associations, and character of this gold all point to a secondary origin ; and it is of importance to note that this, what be called secondary gold, has been deposited from solution, not only in the alluvium and other superficial deposits, but also in the zone of decomposition of the bed-rock. These secondary forms, which result in the superficial enrichment of many auriferous deposits, are a common feature in the mineral fields of the State.

Of the age of the North Lead there is no evidence available at the present time. The fact that at a date subsequent to its formation a sufficient length of time has elapsed to allow of the lead being sealed up by great accumulations of superficial deposits (some of which have been consolidated into solid rock) may point to considerable geological antiquity.

There are no data available by which the average fineness of the gold from the North Lead can be obtained.

That many other similar leads probably exist is obvious from the geological structure of the district, though, owing to the com- pleteness by which they have been sealed up by the more recent accumulations, they can only be tapped by a judicious system of prospecting.

It is impossible to arrive at the gold yield of the portion of Kanowna traversed by the old watercourse, ownng to there being no separate returns furnished by the claim holders on the North Lead. The returns, which are appended, show that up to the end of 1903 the lodes from Kanowna yielded 218,814-30ozs. of gold by crushing 25], 640*20 tons of ore. The alluvial deposits, the gravels, yielded 113,574-92ozs. of gold, and 112,786-42 tons of cement crushed were responsible for 116,535'81ozs. From these data it will be sen that the alluvial deposits turned out 51 per cent, of the total pro- duction.

Gold.

Gold Production of Kanowna.

Year.

Ore Crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Bale per ton.

I. — Lodes.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to

1898 ...

1899 ... 1901 ... ]902... 1903 ...

27,365-55 24 838-10 43 573-05 38',073-75 40,192-10 56,862-15

28,243-77 20 892 00 19,680-02 29,674-01 33915-42 42,181-67 44,227-41

83 94 68 89

77

Total .

251,640-20

218,814-30

Alluvial Deposits. (a.) — Gravel.

Previous to

1901 ...

1903 ...

10,611-92 63 548-02 194-62-29 8 931-83 5778-41 3,41002 1,832-43

:::

Total .

113,574-92

(6.) — Cement.

Previous to

1901 ...

1902 ...

1903 ...

45 983*22 41429-95 15,870-00 2,485-75 3,464-50 3,553-00

68 I83-54 35494-31 8,776-82 1,17644 1,373-58 1,531-12

55 47 39 43

Total .

112,786-42

116,535-81

No data.

Bulong. — The Bulong, or I.O.U., Mining "District never has been the subject of geological examination, so that the information is far from complete. The country rock is described by Mr. S. Groczel, a former member of the staff, as being partly diorite and partly diabase, both having been much subject to decomposition. A large North and South reef is said to form an important feature ; two miles to the West of this is a stretch of country, about two miles long, in which several gold-bearing lodes occur.

Mineral Production.

On the ground held by the Mystery Gold-Minmg Company, large quantities of gold have been obtained from the superficial covering of a ferruginous deposit (laterite) which covers such extensive areas in the State. The deposit is described as a gritty limonite, interbedded with clayey ironstone.

The alluvial deposits of Bulong, some of which have been worked at a depth of over 100 feet, yielded, up to the close of 1903, 26,51 7-53ozs. of gold. Several leads have been worked, but as they have never been geologically mapped, details in connection with them are wanting.

Kutmalpi. — Of the Kurnalpi District very little information is available, but prospecting work is continuing. At Mulgabbie, an outlaying centre about 35 miles to the north, some telluride minerals, chiefly petzite, were recently discovered in one of the deposits ; sufficient development, however, has not yet been accomplished to thoroughly determine the value of the find.

The output of the North- East Coolgardie, which has produced so much ore in the past, was, during 1903, 62,920ozs. and, as compared with 1902, showed a decrease of four per cent. This is largely accounter] for by a decrease in the output from the leads of Kanowna. The total gold reported to the Mines Department up to the end of 1903 amounted to 597,122ozs.

The following table shows the yield of gold up to the close of 1903:-

Yield of the North-East Coolgardie Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Year.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

5,682-30

a8,975-95

-14,113-18

3,679-63

28,546-25

640,453-10

32,905-82

29,437-40

80,095-83

cl70,441-73

125,240-49

112,039-58

82,716-30

cill2,825-45

81,171-18

72.615-37

70,713-05

e70,745-86

52,129-12

46,034-47

51,97825

/63, 65 1-70

50,556 53

45,822-74

57,181-10

"sf67, 108-60

54,540-57

46,865-74

70,949 05

/i62,919-74

47,733-54

40,454-74

Total

447,86213

448,390-43

397,549*67

a. [ncludes ISOozs. dollied and specimens. b. Includes 10,917-95ozs. of

alluvial and 886-23ozs. dollied and specimens. c. Includes 69,069-76ozs. of

alluvial and l,115*57ozs. dollied and specimens. d. Includes 34,527'80ozs. of alluvial and l,648-87ozs. dollied and specimens. c. Includes 16,099-57ozs. of alluvial and 4,623-54ozs. dollied and specimens. /. Includes 10,498-93ozs. of alluvial and 3,.')95-7lozs dollied and specimens. g. Includes 5,923-09ozs. of alluvial and 2,291-23ozs. dollied and specimens. h. Includes 4,323-54ozs. of alluvial and 2,100-90ozs. dollied and specimens. i. Prior to 1st May, 1896, included with Coolgardie.

Gold.

Dundas Goldfield.

This field, the most southerly of the Eastern fields, was pro- claimed on the 31st August, 1893, its boundaries being subsequently amended by proclamation gazetted on the 22nd August, 1902, to take effect from the 1st September of that year. It embraces an area of 11,500 square miles, which, according to the authorites, is defined as —

Commencing- at the south-east corner of the Coolgardie Goldfield ; thence east about 42| miles ; thence south about 66 miles ; thence west about 173 miles, passing through the 75-mile post on the Dundas- Esperance Road ; thence north about 66 miles to the south-west corner of the said Coolgardin Goldfield ; thence east about 132 miles along its southern boundary to the starting point.

Although the area proclaimed as a goldfield is of considerable extent, the actual portion over which gold has been discovered is small, and seems to be confined to the Dundas Range and its northern extension ; or, in other words, the belt of land that lies between Lake Cowan and Lake Dundas.

Grold was first discovered in the year 1892, at the southern end of the Dundas Range ; but as the reefs did not prove to be very rich, little mining is being carried on at tliat locality at the present time.

It seems that Mr. Moir, of Fanny's Cove, was the first to detect gold in the country now embraced by this field. The discovery was made in the alluvium of one of the creeks when this gentleman was engaged in searching for pastoral lands. No eifort would appear to have been made to give further attention to the district until some years later, when Mr. Moir organised a prospecting party, which, however, was not successful. About the same time further pros- pecting was carried out by other parties, which resulted in the discovery of a rich reef called the " May Bell " and another called the " Scotia."

The rocks of the gold-bearing belt are similar to those of the Coolgardie Distri(;t, and, like that locality, the richest lodes are situated in the contact zone, upon the eastern side of the granite. The belt is dislocated and considerably disturbed in places by the intrusion of large diorite dykes, which rise as rough, reddish black hills here and there, running in an almost east and west direction.

The principal mining centres of the field are Dundas, Norse- man, and Peninsula.

There are about three distinct main lines of auriferous lodes, most of which dip at an angle of about 45 degrees, and vary consider- ably in size and richness.

Mineral Production.

The output of the field for 1903 was 40,173-60ozs., which, as compared with that for 1902, 34,750-60ozs., shows an increase of 16 per cent., and the average yield per ton of ore treated was l-55ozs. ; the increase is, therefore, due rather to a higher grade of ore than to a larger output.

The following table shows the gold vield of Dundas up to the close of 1903 :—

Yield of th Dundas Goldjield.

Ore Crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Gold Exported and received at Perth Mint.

Year.

Gross Weight.

Fine Contents.

189',

189G

tons.

a2,923-00 J

16,979-98 30,928-35 59,379-30 49,014-50 38,373-00 26,123-75 25,953-00

ozs.

a3,979-90

619,283-52 C36.798-48 d44,213-30 641,083-63 /37,084-09 fif34,750-60 /i40. 173-60

ozs.

f il47-97 J 228-38

] 241-90 4,350-31 19,310-81 32,031-82 45,164-95 40,687-56 38,796-25 36,210-99 41,553-90

ozs. 3,891-77 17,275-36 28.655-52 40,404-36 36.398-91 35,163-62 31,115-47 35,217-41

Total

249,674'88

257,36712

258,724-84

228.675-50

a. Details not available, b. Includes 77-50ozs. dollied and specimens. c. Includes 5-60ozs. dollied and specimens. d. Includes 142-75ozs. of alluvial and 14618ozs.

dollied and specimens. e. Includes 166-13ozs. of alluvial and 35-48ozs. dollied and

specimens. /. Includes 623'82ozs. of alluvial and 180-05ozs. dollied and specimens. g. Includes 435-32ozs. of alluvial and l,110--43ozs. dollied and specimens. h. Includes 503-74OZS. of alluvial and 793-94ozs. dollied and specimens. i. Prior to 1893 included with Yilgarn.

Donnybrook Goldfield.

This little goldfield is situated between Geographe Bay and the Greenbushes Tintield. It was declared by proclamation gazetted on the 17th November, 1899, to take effect from the 27tb of that month, and comprises an area of 102 square miles. The authorities define its boundaries as follows : —

Starting from the south-western corner of Reserve 6321 (Covenley Townsite) ; thence north about 60 chains to the Boy anup- Bridgetown Railway Reserve ; thence by the western boundary of said Railway Reserve in a general north-westerly direction about 14 miles to its inter- section with the eastern boundary of Wellington Location 239 ; thence north about 10 chains to the left bank of the Preston River ; thence by said river in a general north-easterly direction about two and a-quarter miles

Gold.

to the north-eastern corner of Reserve 645a ; thence north about three miles ; thence west about seven miles to the eastern boundary of Boyanup-Bridore- town Railway Reserve ; thence by said Railway Reserve in a general south- easterly direction about three and three-quarter miles to a point north of north-west corner of Welling-ton Location 836 ; thence south about 13i miles; thence east about nine and a quarter miles to the point of com- mencement.

Donnybrook is situated on the Bunbury and Bridgetown Railway, and is 26 miles south-east of Bunbury and 131 miles by rail from Perth. The scene of mining operations is some two miles to the south of the Donnybrook Townsite, on a small branch of the Preston River, in the Blackwood Range. Gold would seem to have been first discovered in 1897, by a party of prospectors searchmg for alluvial gold. Further investigations carried on eventually led to the discovery of auriferous quartz veins, from which most of the gold had originally been shed.

The country rocks of the field consist of massive hornblende and gneissic granites, intersected by a belt of hornblende rock trending north and south, and traceable for some considerable distance in a southerly direction. The width of the belt of dioritic rock varies from a quarter of a mile, though it has never been found to exceed a mile. In hand specimens the rock is found to consist of coarse hornblende crystals, associated with more or less decom- posed felspars. The western edge of the dyke has a banded structure, and resembles hornblende schist ; in isolated cases it is found occurring as an exceedingly fine-grained and exceptionally hard rock. The granite naturally varies considerably in texture and composition, though, as a whole, it is a hornblende granite. In several localities the hornblende is almost entirely replaced by rauscovite mica. Epidote is found occurring as a rock-forming mineral in the granite. Recent developments have shown the existence of extensive deposits of sandstone lying beneath the ubiquitous ironstone gravels. These sandstones, which are usually of a light grey colour, are fine-grained and of an even texture. The maximum thickness attained by the sandstone is not less than 150 feet.

The quartz reefs all occur in the granite to the west of the diorite, always in close proximity to the junction of the two rocks. The general strike of the reefs is a little to the west of north and east of south, with a high dip to the east. Mining operations have shown that payable quartz reefs occur in the sandstone as well as in the unaltered granite.

Some of the gold from Donnybrook occurs in the filmy arbores- cent form, which points to a secondary origin.

The output of the field for 1903 amounted only to 58ozs., and mining is practically at a standstill ; a little prospecting with diamond drills is being done on one property.

Mineral Production.

The following table shows the yield of the field since 1898 : — Yield of the Donnyhrook Goldfield.

Gold Exported and

received at Perth Mint.

Ore

Yield of Gold

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

Gross

Fine

Weight.

Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

h

h

a 511-49

5S05

Total

1,653'30

1,141'88

a Includes 32*10ozs. of alluvial. b No details available prior to 1st March, 1898.

Phillips River Goldfield.

The discovery of gold-bearing reefs in the Phillips River Mining District led to its being declared a goldfield in September, 1900, the proclamation being gazetted on the 21st, to take effect from the 14th of that month. The boundaries were amended by proclamation gazetted on the 22nd of August, 1902, to take effect from the 1st of September of that year, according to which it embraces an area of 3,850 square miles, circumscribed as follows : —

Starting from a point on the Southern coast, distant about two miles northerly from Red Island ; thence north about 80 miles, passing through the summit of Mt. Madden ; thence east about 73 miles, along part of the Southern boundary of the Dundas Goldfield to a spot 10 miles easterly from Peak Charles ; thence south 33 miles ; thence west 40 miles ; thence south about 43 miles to the coast ; thence westerly along the said coast to the point of commencement.

The field is accessible from the port of Hopetoun, on Mary Ann Harbour, on the south coast.

A few miles to the westward of Hopetoun a bold rock mass rises abruptly, called " East Mount Barren ; " this is the eastern end of a range which runs along the coast for a distance of about 40 miles, the rocks of which, consisting of hard, highly crystalline rocks and quartzites, are destitute of metalliferons mineral veins.

From the eastern end of this range is a low semicircular range of schistose rocks, with large pink quartz reefs, traversed by numerous porphyritic dykes, having a well-defined north- west and south-east course, whilst diorite dykes are of less frequent occurrence. These rocks, to judge from their weathered surface, are horiieblende and mica-schists, with veins of dolomitic limestone, the latter having probably furnished the magnesian limestone with which the fragments of the rocks are encrusted. This series, so far, has not proved to be

Gold.

metalliferous. In the Phillips River basin a marked change in the nature of the country is at once apparent, and the geological features are in many ways similar to thuse of the Southern Cross, Coolgardie, and Norseman fields. The rocks prove to be hornblendic and mica-schists, similar to those of the Northern Groldfields, with granite and feldspathic dykes, the latter of which are often garnet- iferous, whilst diorite dykes are abundant, and are of considerable extent and size, having apparently exercised a direct influence upon the formation of the mineral veins which occur in this series.

Of the dykes, the granite (locally called " mica bars ") are the most recent, for they often cut through the lodes, whilst probably the diorite are next.

The Ravensthorpe Range consists more of the granitic series, being capped by ferruginous sandstones, and is untraversed by diorite dykes or mineral veins ; the only dislocation being at the gap where it takes its turn south-east at the apex of the diorite intrusion.

Here, as elsewhere on the southern coast, the metalliferous series has been thrown into a more or less easterly and westerly direction by a great granite intrusion.

The mines are on the western fall from the Ravensthorpe Range, at the head of the drainage areas of the Steere and Phillips Rivers, and the township of Ravensthorpe, the centre of the field, is about 30 miles, by road, inland from Hopetoun.

The lodes may be divided into two classes — those in which copper is of the greater intrinsic value and those in which gold is. The first of these have been opened upon at three dilferent parts of the field, viz., Ravensthorpe, Mt. Desmond, and Harbour View.

The R,avensthorpe belt of copper lodes strikes in an east-north- east and west-south- westerly direction from the north-west corner of the township, and extends for a distance of five miles ; it consists of two groups. The first, or central, lies to the north of the township, and extends continuously for a distance of two miles, after which there is a gap of one and a-half miles, and then the eastern group of leases for a distance of one and a-half miles.

Three miles in a west-south-westerly direction from the westernmost lease of the central group are three large mineral leases, which may be (-ailed the western group, upon which the earliest discoveries of mineral upon this field were made ; these are possibly upon the same belt, but no definite statement can be made since lines of rock outcrop cannot be traced, owing to the thickness of the superficial deposits ; prospecting is therefore rendered diffi- cult, and the presence of reefs and lodes only determined by small fragments upon the surface. This, it may be remarked, is the general characteristic in the Ravensthorpe District of both gold and copper lodes ; whilst further it is not at all exceptional to discover, after finding fragments of lode matter upon the surface, that some four to six feet of clay, destitute of stone, has to be passed through before the cap of the lode is encountered.

Mineral Production.

Although this belt has a general direction east-north-east and west-south-west, the individual lodes, as a rule, strike almost east and west, or a few degrees north of east and south of west, with a general northerly dip ; the exception being in some few lodes which dip to the southward.

The following table shows the yield of the Phillips River Goldfield :—

Yield of the Phillips River Goldfield.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Yield of Gold therefrom.

Yield of Gold from smelting

Copper Ores.

Total Gold Yield.

Gold Exported and received at Perth Mint.

Gross 1 Fine Weight. 1 Contents.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

1900 ...

1901 ...

1902 ...

9,390-25

a8,494-36

8,494-36

8,575-86

7,369-09

1903 ...

8,179-75

h 7,688-83

7,689-37

8,941-21

7,577-77

Total

17,762-00

16,408-92

16,935-57

17,517*07

14,946-86

a Includes 44ozs. of alluvial and 5ozs. dollied and specimeiis, h Includes 227ozs. of alluvial and 37-67ozs. dollied and specimens. c Details not available.

Coppee.

Copper mining in Western Australia cannot be said to have made continuous progress, and only a proportion of the output of the mines is reduced to metal in the State. The annual production has shown much variation.

The ores, however, are plentifully distributed throughout the State, particularly in the North- West, but so far, on account chiefly of their not generally carrying any gold, have only been worked in a few localities, notably : — Tambourah, Pilbara District ; Whim Creek, Egina, Hong Kong, Croydon, Koebourne, all in the West Pilbara District ; Red Hill and Uaroo, in the North- West District ; Day Dawn, Murchison District ; Geraldine, Northampton, Tandanooka, and Arrino, all in the South-West District ; Murrin Murrin, Mount Margaret District; Mulline, North Coolgardie District ; Arrow Lake, Broad Arrow District ; Boorara, East Coolgardie District ; Ravensthorpe, Harbour View, Phillips River District.

Very little has been done in the examination of the copper deposits of the State, but so far they seem to be of two kinds, viz. : —

(i.) True lodes.

(2.) Impregnations and stock works.

The majority of the workable deposits apparently beloBg to the former class.

The principal sources of copper ore have been the districts of West Pilbara, Mount Malcolm, Phillips River, Day Dawn, and Northampton ; the largest output being that of the West Pilbara District, derived in great part from the locality of Whim Creek.

The yield of the deposits at Murrin Murrin, in the Mount Malcolm district, is next in importance, and a considerable proportion

Mineral Production.

has also been derived from Ravensthorpe in the PhiUips River G-oldfield, which it appears likely will rise to greater prominence as a copper producing district.

The Phillips River Goldfield has already been referred to in connection with the gold output, and there is a very good record of production both of gold and copper from mines which are only in the first stage of development. The field is a promising one, and efforts are being made by the State to improve the condition of mining where there are a large number of mines not yet sufiiciently developed to warrant the large expenditure necessary to put them on the most economical producing basis.

Arrangements have been made by the Grovernment to purchase ores on assay value with a view to erecting a State Smelter, which it is believed, if the field be vigorously developed, will soon be required.

During the latter half of 1903, 3,386 tons of ore had been purchased, of an average value of 15 per cent, copper. The field suffers from want of a reduction works, the ores having hitherto had to be shipped to smelters iu the Eastern States ; this, combined with want of railway communication as well as the situation of the field, has rendered the cost of ore realization very high, and it is estimated that no ore that will realize an assay value of less than £S or £8 10s. per ton will pay for taking out of the mines under present conditions.

The ores found on the field may be divided into — (i.) Those fit for smelting at once. (2.) Those requiring milling; and for complete metallurgical treatment of the product of the different mines would be required smelting, crushing, amalgamating, concentrating, and cyanide processes.

The Yandanooka Mineral District is the most important example of the impregnations and stockworks, where there are several beds of mica schist and porous sandstone carrying malachite, with occasionally a little azurite or cuprite.

The sandstones carry ores of copper in close proximity to the junction of a mass of granite apparently intrusive, but the geological age and relation of the sedimentary and crystalline rocks has not been definitely fixed.

The deposits are in great part impregnations of green and blue carbonates in the form practically of stockworks along certain fissure joints by which the rock is traversed.

The ores average 10 to 12 per cent., are highly silicious, ana are not apparently readily concentrated.

The State's total production of copper and copper ore amounts in value to d£269,412, and the I'oduction for the year 1908 to 56,541, an increase of £48,451 over that of the previous year, chiefly from the Mt. Malcolm and Philhps River districts. The

Copper.

output from Mt. Malcolm is probably a somewhat inflated yield, but that from Phillips River is due to the State purchase of the ores.

The following tables give a summary of the production of copper ore in the State, and of the exports of ore, matte, and ingots, also the value of the more important imports for the last five years : —

Summary of Copper Ore raised, as reported to the Mines Department.

Total.

Year,

Day

Mt.

North-

Phillips

Dawn.

Malcolm.

ampton.

River.

Pilbara.

Quantity.

Value.

tons.

tons.

tons.

tons.

tons.

tons.

£

Previous to 1899 )

7,018-00

55,270

2,555-00

2,964-00

35,938

4,539-00

1,605-00

6,183-15

43,673

7,660-00

1,089-14

1,162-00

9,96014

69,900

2,262-25

8,090

18,965-00

1,561-33

20,526-33

56,541

Total ...

33,39100

174*50

2,99272

12,34000

48.913-87

269,412

Quantity and Value of Copper Exporti

Ore.

Matte.

Ingot.

Total.

Year.

Quantity.

Value.

Quantity.

Value.

Quantity.

Value.

Quantity.

Value,

Previous ") to 1899 j

tons. 10,641-25

£

166,855-60

tons.

£

tons.

£

tons. 10,641-25

£

166,855-60

1,991-05

2,660-25

41,451-75 16,462-00 54,903-00 4,986-00 4,527-00

1,023-80

24,804-00 29,917-00

17,475-00 31,062-00 7,918 00 3,371-00

1,991-05 1,095-01 3,540-7£ 1,421-05

41,451-75 33,937-00 110,769-00 12,904-00 37,815-00

Total

16.767-96

289,185-35

1,464-90

54,721-00

59,826-00

19,147-61

403,732-35

Value of Copper Imports (1899 to 1903).

Year.

Ingot.

Rod, sheet, wire, and tube.

Manufac- tures, etc.*

Total.

£

1,134 t t

£

3,103 4,691 4,939

t

t

£

1,430 2,066

t

t

£

4,220 6,481 8,139 : 9,640 7,052

Total Value

£35,532

Includes coin. f Not separately classified by the Customs. % Coin included with silver coin.

Tin.

The development of the tin deposits of the State has been considei'ably retarded by conditions tending against operations on a large scale ; such disadvantages, however, are in some localities being gradually overcome, and the year's production of 817'05 tons shows an increase of nearly 32 per cent, over that of 1902.

Tin was first discovered in the latter part of 1888, and has since then been found occurring in several widely separated localities in the State, viz., at the heads of the Bow and the Lennard Kivers, in the Kimberley District ; on the Thomas River, Gascoyne Gold- field ; at Brockman's Soak and the Western Shaw, in the Pilbara District ; and at Greenbushes, in the south-western portion of the State.

Pure tin oxide contains 78 per cent, of the metal, but the native compound invariably contains more or less of the oxides of "other metals, with the result that it seldom assays over 74 per cent, of the metal. The Pilbara cassiterite, which is dark brown in colour, would appear to average 70 per cent. ; that from Green- bushes, which is quite black, slightly less.

The tin deposits of the State, wherever examined, fall naturally into two distinct categories : —

Superficial deposits :

(a.) Alluvial deposits.

(6.) Eesiduary sands, gravels, etc. Deposits in Country Rock :

(c.) Tin-bearing granite and allied rocks.

(cZ.) Tin-bearing dykes.

Alluvial Deposits. — These are the most important and vary very largely in nature, ranging from an extremely hard ferruginous con- glomerate, to a stiff clay or loose sand or gravel. The tin stone in

the first-named is often extremely coarse, but more generally one- tenth of an inch or less in diameter, whilst that in the softer material is almost uniformly fine. Assays of ten samples of this class of ore varied from -9 per cent, up to 33-3 per cent, of the metal, the average being 10" 1 per cent. The associated minerals are quartz, kaolin, limonite, ilmenite, tourmaline, tantalite, stibiotantalite, garnet, zircon, gold, magnetite, rutile, and topaz. No wolfram or scheelite has been detected in the ore : the mineral, once thought to be the latter, having proved in every case to be stibiotantalite. This mineral (a tantalite of antimony) and tantalite are of the greatest interest to the miners and smelters, since it is impossible to separate them from the tin stone by dressing, their specific gravities being practically identical. They have therefore to be smelted with the tin ore, and by contaminating the smelted tin with antimony, etc., seriously affect the purity and value of it. Owing principally to the presence of these two minerals the dressed ore from the alluvial claims has been found to be very variable in richness, ranging from a trace only of tin up to 72 per cent.

Residuary Deposits. — These are either lateritic ironstones or sands, clays, etc., derived from the decomposition i7i situ of igneous rocks. They are frequently stanniferous. The chief minerals accompanying the tin are limonite, quartz, tourmaline, clay, and mica.

Tin-bearing Granite and allied Rocks. — The tin-bearing granite consists of a granite passing in places into a foliated and highly- micacecous granite, with little or no felspar. This granite (greisen) contains tin, tourmaline, zircon, garnet, etc., as accessory constituents. In some parts of the field the tourmaline occurs in such quantity in the gneiss as to give a distinctive character to the rock, and would be better described as a tourmaline gneiss.

Tin-hearing Dykes. — These occur in several parts of the G-reen- bushes Tinfield.

The two districts from which an output of tin has been reported are Greenbushes and Marble Bar (Pilbara).

Greenbushes.

One of the most typical of the tin-bearing dykes occurs on the eastern side of the main road going south to Bridgetown, upon what was originally M.L. 82/76. A shaft has been put down to a shallow depth upon a tourmaline-bearing dyke, which was met with beneath the conglomerate at a depth of about five feet below the surface. The conglomerate contains detrital tourma- line, which led to the discovery of the dyke. As exposed in the workings, the width of the dyke is about two feet six inches, having a general north-westerly strike, with an underlie to the south-west at an angle of 70 degrees. The tourmaline is enclosed in a ferru- ginous clayey matrix, which contains occasional patches of quartzose

Mineral Production.

material ; the dyke may be a tourmaline-bearing pegmatite. The rock contains a small quantity of very angular tin, associated with large quantities of titanium. The tourmaline itself carries in parts appreciable quantities of tin. An assay of a carefully selected sample, believed to be characteristic of the whole dyke, yielded in the official laboratory 1-97 parts per hundred of metallic tin. There are several other parallel dykes throughout the field, but, so far they have not been very much exploited, and do not appear to be very rich.

The following table shows the annual production of tin from the Greenbushes district as reported to the Mines Department prior to and since 1899 : —

Production of Tin Ore from the Greenhushes District.

Quantity.

tons. 1,590-33

Previous to 1899

Total

MARBLE BAR. (Pilbara.)

More than half the tin production of the Pilbara district, of which Marble Bar is the official centre, is obtained from Moolyella, the output of this locality at the end of 1903 being 855 tons, of an estimated value of 256, 163.

The principal productive area of the Moolyella Tin field, which embraces about nine square miles, is situated on the relatively high tableland drained by the head waters of Brockman's Creek and Taiga River. The whole area is formed of an intrusive granite, the age of which has not yet been satisfactorily fixed.

The upheaval of the mass, and the stresses and strains resulting therefrom, induced along an axis having a north and south direction, have resulted in the production of a series of joints, etc., which have formed the channels up which mineral-bearing solutions have percolated and deposited in one place free quartz forming the persistent reefs, and in the other have attacked some of the con- stituents of the granite. The result of this chemical action has- been the production of a rock made up principally of quartz albite,. a little mica, together with a few garnets and cassiterite.

Tin.

Practically all the tin hitherto obtained from Mooljella and elsewhere in the district is derived from the alluvial deposits found in the existing valleys, and to a certain extent from the deposits of residual tin, i.e., ore derived from the decomposition in situ of tin- bearing pegmatites, which occurs all over that portion of the granite area which is reticulated by pegmatite veins ; these afford a good standby for prospectors at such times as prospecting in other portions of the district becomes impossible.

Lode tin is known to occur at Moolyella, but owing to low percentage has not been worked. There is every encouragement to search for richer deposits over the 900 square miles which the tin- bearing granitic rocks have been proved to occupy.

The production of Marble Bar district is

given below : —

Production of Tin Ore from the Marble Bar [Pilhara) District.

Yea

Quantity,

Value.

tons.

£

Previous to 1899

4,419

3,612

27,174

21,148

15,103

21,528

Total

1,442-26

92,984

The following tables show the total production of tin ore in the State and the export of ore and ingots up to the end of 1903, also the value of the more important imports for the last jS.ve years : —

Total Production of Tin Ore.

tons.

£

Previous to 1899

1,665-78

70,527

25,270

56,702

40,000

39,783

55,890

Total

4,995*02

288,172

Quantity. Value.

60 Mineral Production.

Tin Ore and Ingots Exported.

Year

Ore.

Ingots.

Quantity.

Value.

Quantity.

Value.

tons.

£

tons.

£

Previous to 1899

1,738-28

76,227

23,163

38,' 178

39,495

12,607

279-00'

22,568

16,380

22,856

29,277

Total

3,59372

222,487

615*20

Value of Tin Imports (1899 to 1903).

Wares and

Year.

Ing-ot.

Foil.

Plate.

Manufac-

tures.

£

£

£

£

2,647

3,270

2,633

2,507

4,390

*635

2,445

4,175

*223

3,942

3,107

t503

2,494

§

Total

6,219

1,165

12,289

Includes block tin. f Includes both leaf and foil. § See footnote to appendix marked§.

Lead.

The production of lead or lead ore in the State, though at one time giving indication of rising to the dignity of an important industry, has of late years very greatly decreased, the industry being handicapped by the ore not containing sufficient silver to pay for its extraction.

Lead ores have only been worked so far as Uaroo, Geraldine, Northampton, Oakagee, Narra Tarra, and Jarrahdale.

The lodes are mainly composed of cerussite at the surface and galena below the water-level, accompanied by more or less quartz and other gangue minerals. Anglesite occurs freely at Gorge Creek, Ashburton ; and jamesonite at Mt. De Courcey, North- West ; whilst fine specimens of crystallised pyromorphite have been obtained from the G-eraldine Mine, on the Murchison River.

Small quantities of galena are frequently found to characterise the richer portions of gold reefs, notably at Menzies, Coolgardie, and Norseman ; whilst small lemon-yellow crystals of the rare mineral vanadinite (chlorovanadate of lead, PbClgSPbgVgOg) are found closely associated with gold in the oxidised ores of Pinyalling,, Mulline, and Coolgardie.

The chief sources of supply have been the mines of North- ampton, in the Yandanooka mining district, and those of the Ashburton Goldfield. The ore is to a large extent associated with copper ores and by far the greater proportion of that raised has been exported without further treatment.

Mineeal Production,

Northampton.

Practically the whole of the lead ore exported from the State has been obtained from the Northampton district, which occupies an elevated tract of country formed by the tributaries of the Bowes E,i ver.

A series of sandstones and conglomerates once covered the whole surface of the ground but from beneath these sedimentary beds now emerge those granites, gneisses, mica schists, quartz schists, etc., intersected by veins and masses of pegmatite, which are of chief interest from an economic point of view.

The most important feature in the structural geology of the district is the system of basic dykes with which the whole area is seamed. These dykes are continuous for a great distance and parallel to them are the lodes of lead and copper which have been opened up, but there are no mines deeper than 300 feet.

The following table shows the export of lead ores from the Northampton Mining District, which, it will be seen, accounts for the total export from the State : —

Export of Lead Ore from the Northampton Mining District.

Year.

Quantity.

Year.

Quantity.

tons.

tons.

2,191-50

Nil

3,955-50

3,617-50

Nil

2,775-00

1,921-00

Nil

1,400-50

1,793-50

1,038-00

1,100-50

18H9

1,209-50

Nil

2,143-75

2,289-00

Nil

Total quantity exported 33,643*85

Declared at £4, tonnage not stated.

Lead.

The total production of lead ore and pig lead in the State is shown in the table below : —

Production of Lead Ore and Pig Lead.

Year.

Lead Ore.

Pig Lead,

Total

Quantity.

Value,

Qviantity.

Value.

1850 to 1860

1861 to 1870

1871 to 1880

1881 to 1890

1901 to 1903

tons. 5,28600 20,642-75 7,470-50

£

1,429 62,636 240,029 59,887

tons.

£

11,640

£

13,069 62,686 240,377 60,067

Total

33,64385

364,756

13,306

378,062

The following tables show the values of the exports of lead and lead ores, and the more important imports, for the last five years : —

Value of Lead Exports {1899 to 1903).

Total

Value of Lead Imports {1899 to 1903).

Sheet, pig-, scrap, and piping.

1,685 16,210 48,828 25,429

4,333

Total

96,485

Silvbe.

The production of silver in Western Australia amounted at the end of 1903 to 341,024ozs., the metal being obtained mainly as a bye product.

There are no silver mines being worked in the State, though in the lead deposits of the North-West there is a source of silver which, up to the present, has hardly been touched. Numbers of the gold ores contain silver, the average Kalgoorlie ore being said to contain about loz. of silver for every 2ozs. of gold ; but very little of the former seems to be recovered in the treatment to which the ore is subjected.

The crude gold produced in the State has now an average fineness of about -8379, and contains a good deal of silver. Apart from this very little silver has been produced in the State, except the small amount obtained in smelting copper ores and telluride ores.

The quantity and value of the silver produced in the State and entered for export from 1900 to 1903, which is the nearest approach to the annual output, is as shown in the table below : —

Production of Silver.

Year.

Quantity.

Vahie.

ozs.

£

3,594 7,609 9,199 19,153

Total

39,555

Silver.

The amount of silver-lead ore which was obtained from the Ashburton Goldfield is shown below : —

Production of Silver-Lead Ore.

tons.

£

Total

Quantity.

The following tables show the value of the silver bullion and coin entered for export and imported during the last five years : —

Value of Silver Exports and Imports* (1899 to 1903).

Year.

Silver not classified.

Bullion.

Coin.

Exports.

£

£

£

1899 ...

1900 ...

1901 ...

1902 ...

1903 ...

15,709 28,214 44,638 19,240

23,701

Total

107,801

23,701

Imports.*

1899 ...

1900 ...

1901 ...

1902 ...

1903 ...

3,478

24,650 tl7,340

Total

45,468

For other silver imports see Appendix.

t Includes copper coin.

lEON ORES.

Iron ores are very widely distributed throughout Western Australia, but, with one or two exceptions, the area in which the exploitation of such deposits is actively prosecuted is very limited, such areas being at present confined to localities where ore used as a flux can be obtained in considerable quantities.

The greater iron deposits of the State have not so far been worked, some of the richest and most extensive being, from their geographical josition, under present conditions practically valueless. Those of the Murchison stand out prominently before any others, and though neglected at present are destined to form a very important State asset. The position of the Murchison deposits with reference to the nearest seaport is shown in the table below, and also with respect to the nearest coalfield, but no coal suitable for smelting purposes has yet been found in Western Australia.

Deposit.

Distance from nearest seaport by rail and road.

Distance from railway line.

Distance to nearest coal- field by road and rail.

Mt. Hale ...

362 miles, Geraldton

100 miles, Cue

441 miles, Irwin Eiver

Mt. Narryer

302 „

100 „

441 „

Wilg-ie Mia ...

312 „

50 „

391 „

Of the iron deposits generally those so far examined can be broadly separated into two main divisions — (a) the ores associated with the crystalline schists and other allied rocks ; and (h) the superficial deposits of limonite (laterite ore), which occupy extensive areas in many and widely separated portions of the State ; and the soft porous deposits of hydrated oxide of iron (bog ore) of com- paratively recent origin.

Iron Ores.

Ores Associated With Crystalline Schists.

The most important deposits associated with the crystalline schists are those of the Murchison already referred to, developed most extensively between 25 degrees and 28 degrees of south latitude, and 116 and 119 degrees east longitude. The principal localities are Horseshoe, Peak Hill, Mount Gould, and Mount No Name (Peak Hill District) ; and Mount Hale, Weld Range (Wilgie Mia) ; Munara HilJs and Mount Narryer (Murchison District). Less important deposits of this nature occur at Kilalo Well (Murchison District) ; Marble Bar (Pilbarra District) ; Wiluna, Mount Townsend, and Mount Marion (East Murchison District) ; Bardoc (Broad Arrow District) ; Mount Jackson (Yilgarn District); and Jennapullen, Blackboy Hill, and Greenhills (Avon District).

These deposits consist of highly inclined beds, bands, and lenses of almost pure hematite (occasionally magnetite) or admixtures in all proportions of hematite and quartz, interbedded with and some- times replacing quartzites and quartz schists.

Mounts Hale, Taylor, etc. — The sigma-shaped range of hills on the west side of the Murchison, of which Mounts Taylor, Hale, Matthew, Yarrameedie, and Erawandoo form the most prominent summits, is remarkably prolific in iron-bearing schists. The sum- mit of Mount Hale is formed of contorted quartz schists, with bands of hematite, which occur in lenticular masses ; some bands are often as thin as a sheet of paper, whilst others widen out to considerable dimensions. One band measured 70 feet across and outcropped for over a quarter of a mile, but varied in thickness in different parts. There were similar bands parallel to it and equally persistent along the strike. Just under the western summit of Mount Hale the quartzite is replaced by a great bed of hematite, several huge monoliths of which stand out prominently on the range. This hematite can be followed along the range to a point just south of the summit of Mount Matthew.

The outcrop of a bed of ironstone forms a conspicuous feature on the surface at the foot of the Mount Narryer Range. The bed, which is vertical, attains a thickness of eight or nine feet, and rises about two feet above the ground.

In the Weld Range, at the head of the Roderick River, is the Wilgie Mia, said to be one of the richest iron lodes in the world. This deposit was worked by the natives before the white invasion of Western Australia, and the ore (used as war paint) was traded for great distances. It has been opened up by them to a depth of. over 100 feet, and at the bottom of the excavation to a width of 50 yards.

The deposit, which is of almost pure hematite, is roughly some 150 feet to 200 feet in width, and forms a ridge about three miles in length, rising in places to a height of 400 feet above the plain. The deposit is undoubtedly of similar origin to the hematite- bearing quartzites which form the main axis of the Weld Range,

Mineral Production.

and which are so prevalent throughout the whole of the Murchison jDoldfield, the only difference being that in this case silica is almost entirely absent and the lode is composed of almost pure hematite, with magnetite and limonite, resulting from the gradual replace- ment of greenstone schists by iron-bearing solutions.

The di]) of the lode is very nearly vertical. As sulphides are not likely to be met with above water level — which is about 60 fet below the surface of the plain — it will be thus seen that there is an immense body of very high-grade iron ore here.

A second somewhat similar deposit is said to exist about two miles to the north-eastward of Mount Lulworth.

The following are three partial analyses of samples of iron ore from the Wilgie Mia, and one also of a sample (iv.) of hematite- bearing quartzite from the Weld Eange : —

Analyses.

lY.

per cent.

per cent.

l)er cent.

per cent.

Metallic Iron

Silica

Phosphorus ...

'090

small trace

Sulphur

Water (hyg.)

89

57

19

15

Water (combined) ...

60

35

Traces only of titanium were present in these samples.

Samples i., ii., and iii. represent very rich hematite ores, extremely low in sulphur and silica and free from titanium. The phosphorus percentage in i. is somewhat above the Bessemer limit ; pig iron smelted from it would, however, make good stock for the production of " basic " steel. The phosphorus percentage in sample II. is just about the permissible limit for the cheaper Bessemer process ; but sample iii. is extremely pure and low in phosphorus, and as there is a considerable quantity of this quality of ore present, the whole deposit, if it is ever worked, will probably prove of such grade as to permit of the use of this process of steel manufacture. Regarding the probable quantity of ore jjresent, an estimate lias been made of the amount in sight, i.e., actually above the level of the surrounding plains, as roughly, 26f million tons.

In addition to this deposit, there are the hematite-bearing quartzites which traverse the Weld Range from end to end, and of which (iv.) is a typical sample. These deposits, of which there is practically an inexhaustible su2:)ply, and amongst wiich there are said to be other rich patches similar to the Wilgie Mia deposit, though of rather too low grade for smelting purposes as they now exist, could, with the employment of suitable concentrating machinery, be converted into first-class ores, and during this process of concentration would doubtless lose a considerable portion

Iron Ores.

of their phosphorus contents. These remarks also apply to the hematite-bearing quartzites found in such large quantities all over the Murchison Groldfield, which frequently contain from 30 to 40 per cent, of metallic iron. With regard to the probability of these ores living to a depth, similar deposits (of hematite-bearing quartzites) have been proved to exist to a vertical depth of 250 feet at Boogardie and Lake Austin, apparently without any change in their mineral constitution beyond a slightly increased sulphur percentage.

Superficial Deposits And Bog Ores.

The superficial deposits comprise the laterite ores and the bog iron ores. The laterite ores, together with the gravel resulting from their denudation, are the most widely distributed ores in the State ; they vary very much in their composition. The ores are most largely developed on the tops of hills or ranges ; in depth they pass gradually, without any distinct line of demarcation, into the rock upon which they lie. These deposits owe their origin to the concentration of the ferric oxide by the action of atmospheric changes. Nowhere do any of these ores attain any great thickness. The ores of this class have been principally used for fluxing purposes, to which end 50,792 tons have been raised up to the end of 1903.

The bog iron ores consist of soft porous deposits of hydrated oxide of iron ; these occur at dilferent points along the southern and western coast line. Up to the present, however, deposits of this class have not been exploited.

The following table shows the production of iron ore in Western Australia used principally for fluxing purposes, and some particulars are also given in tabulated form of the imports and exports of pig iron and certain manufactures for the last five years : —

Production of Iron Ore.

tons.

£

Previous to 1899

30O

12,852

8,939

12,251

9,258

20,569

13,246

4,800

2,040

Total

50,792

33,871

70 Mineral Production.

Value of Exports and Imports of Iron and Steel* {1899 to 1903).

Year.

Pig and Scrap.

Bar, Plate,

Sheet, and Rod.

structural, Girders, etc.

Exports*

£

£

£

]899

1,056

1,999 1,786

Total ..

2,191

5,343

Imports*

5,069 9,590 7,971 14,483 21,467

16,407 28,020 39,209 33,060 54,361

1,994 4,903 7,690 10,306 7,952

Total ...

68,580

171,057

32,845

For all other and manufactures, see Statistical Register of Western Australia, Part IV. (Interchange).

Antimony Obes.

Ores of antimony occur in the Mallina, Pee wall, and Roebourne Districts, West Pilbara Goldfield.

There are some good lodes of stibnite, and the value in most cases is greatly increased by the gold they contain ; the production, however, has been limited to the export of a single parcel in 1903.

Exports and Imports of Antimony Ores.

Year.

Quantity.

Value.

Exports.

tons.

£

Total

Imports.

nil

nil

Total

Cobalt Oees.

Asbolite, the only ore of cobalt which has, so far, been recog- nised in the State, occurs at Norseman and somewhat abundantly in parts of the deep leads at Kanowna, principally in the "pug" or bedded kaolin, and in the underlying much-weathered chlorite schists, from which it has doubtless been originally derived. It is either so thoroughly intermingled with the clay as to be in- separable from it, or else is found in lumps or lining vughs in a soft niammilated form, with a bright grey metallic lustre. It occurs also in the nodules of magnesite found at the junction of the "pug" and the adjacent schists. A sample of "pug" carrying asbolite was found to assay : —

Cobalt 7'56 per cent.

Copper '02 per cent.

A similar mineral occurs at Kalgoorlie in veins and impreg- nations in the oxidised portions of the lodes.

No production of cobalt ore has been reported to the Mines Department, but it appears from the Customs records that a small amount, shown in the table below, has been exported in 1902 : —

Export of Cobalt Ores.

Year.

Quantity.

Value.

Total

tons,

Nil.

£ Nil.

Part Ii.

isrOlSr-METALLIFEROUS SUBSTANCES.

Coal.

The coal produced in Western Australia, owing to the quality being unsuitable for export, is almost entirely consumed within the State. The total output up to the end of 1903 amounted to 568,400 tons ; in value, d£806,424. During the year there was a decrease in the output of five per cent, owing to labour disputes, resulting in a cessation of operations for several weeks at the Collie Proprietary, one of the chief producers.

Coal of three different ages is known in the State, viz., in the Carboniferous Beds of the Irwin River, the Mesozoic Beds of the South- West, and the Post-Tertiary Beds of Coolgardie and the south coast. All the coal hitherto discovered has proved to con- tain a considerable proportion of water, belonging either to the class of splint (hydrous bitiuminous) coals or to that of lignites.

Of the Irwin River Coalfield, where the carboniferous rocks occupy an area of about 200 square miles, it may be said that though a workable seam has not yet been discovered, the base of the formation has never been unequivocally reached by any of the

Mineral Production.

boring operations which have been carried out up to the present. Two seams occur in the upper part of the formation, from samples of which the following results were obtained from the results of six analyses : —

Chemical Analyses of Coals from the Irwin River Basin.

Description.

Moisture,

Volatile Hydro-carbons.

Fixed Carbon and Ash.

Sulphur.

Mean of Six Samples

Areas of similar rocks occur at the Greenough and Gascoyne Rivers, but have not yet been thoroughly tested.

The only coals which have been worked in the State are the Mesozoic coals of the Collie River Coalfield. This field embraces an area of about 50 square miles, and is connected with the main railway system of the State.

The coal measures have been deposited in a comparatively unsym metrical shallow basin of erosion. The strata do not appear to have been subjected to any serious disturbance, and to have suffered little or no lateral pressure. So far as mining operations have at present been carried, the beds all dip at a comparatively low angle into the basin. This low dip may, in part, be due to the changes jiroduced by the consolidation a,nd the settling of the strata in the basin in which the vegetable and other matter was deposited. The effects of this settling are shown by the small faults, in reality cracks, which have been discovered in the course of the workings along the edge of the coal basin.

A considerable number of workable seams have been proved, by mining and boring, to exist in this basin, the deepest so far met with being pierced at 800ft., on the Collie Boulder Company's property.

The coal seams vary in thickness from that of a sheet of paper up to about 13 feet, and all the seams are practically identical in nature, being hydrous, non-caking, bituminous coals, varying noticeably only in the proportion of ash present.

The coal from the better portions of the seams is bright and evenly bedded, but fragile, partly owing to the numerous partings of mother-of-coal in it, partly owing to spontaneous decrepitation accompanying a loss of moisture on exposure to the air. A coal of this kind contains less than haJf the average percentage of ash. The poorer qualities of coal contain considerably larger percentages of ash and correspondingly smaller proportions of the other con- stituents, becoming physically harder, denser, and more massive, with a couchoidal fracture.

Coal.

The following table g-ives the mean results obtained from analyses of 23 samples of Collie coal : —

Proximate Analyses of Collie Coal.

Calorific Value.

Percentage Composition.

Description.

Specific Grai

Pounds of

Water evaporated.

British Thermal Units.

Moisture.

Volatile Hydro- carbons.

Fixed Carbon.

Ash.

Sulphur.

Mean of 23 samples . . .

10,340

Tertiary and Post-Tertiary lignites and brown coals, mostly of poor quality, are known to occur in several of the valleys along the south coast, and a seam of brown coal occurs to the south-east of the town of Coolgardie, at a depth of 65 feet, in a series of horizon- tally bedded pleistocene rocks, some 400 feet in thickness.

The coal from the seams of this class which have so far been located contains an extremely large percentage of ash.

Details of the production of coal in Western Australia, which is entirely that of the Collie Coalfield, are shown in the tables below, and also the exports and imports of coal, coke, and patent fuel for the last five years : —

Production of Coal.

Year.

Coal raised.

Value.

Previous to 1899

tons. 3,508-00 54,336-00 118,410-iO 117,835-00 140,883-90 133,426-62

£

1,761 25,951 54,835 68,561 86,188 69,128

Total

568,400-42

306,421

Value of Coal Exports {1899 to

1903).

Year.

Value.

£

45,283 83,421 165,888 93,135 58,194

Total

445,921

76 Mineral Production.

Value of Imports of Coal, Coke, and Patent Fuel {1899 to 1903).

95,144 110,699 158,471 133,769

Total

567,719

Character not specified.

Limestone, Building Stones, Clays, Etc.

Limestone is used in the State as a flux for metallurgical pur- poses, as a building stone, for cyaniding purposes, and for the preparation of quicklime.

The production of limestone in the State up to the end of 1903, so far as it can at present be estimated, amounts in value to d81 2,298, but owing to the number of privately-owned quarries, complete annual returns have not been recorded.

Limestone occurs throughout the recei;it and tertiary formation which occupies so large an area along the coast. The rock of , the coastal limestone series, from the mode of formation, varies greatly in the quantity of lime present, being frequently more a calcareous sandstone, which is used to a considerable extent for the stonework of small buildings. In the municipality of Perth the stone used for this purpose is obtained chiefly from Cottesloe and Rottnest Island.

The sources of supply for building stones of higher grade are Meckering, on the Eastern Goldfields Railway, from which a fine- grained granite is obtained ; and Donnybroook, from which is obtained a compact light-coloured sandstone, which is coming into much favour for building purposes. Marble, etc., for ornamental purposes, is imported.

Extensive beds of porcelain clay and terra cotta have been proved, by boring, to overlie the extension of the deep lead at Kanowna, but have not so far received much attention.

Brick clays are worked in nearly all parts of the State and fire-clays have been worked at several of the collieries of the Collie Coalfield. No statistics, however, are yet available which will enable the production of structural materials, clays, etc., to be arrived at.

Mineral Production.

Tables are given below showing the actual figures available with regard to the production of limestone, which, for the reasr-ns already stated, is an incomplete record, and also the imports of clay, clay products, and stones of all kinds, for the last five years : —

Production of Limestone.

Quantity.

tons. 17,59300 15,926-85 18,21000 5,080-35 1,279-50

58,08970

Total

Value of Imports of Fireclay, Clay Products, and Stones of all kinds {1899 to 1903).

Year.

Fireclay.

Bricks.*

Earthen and China- wares.

Earthen- ware Drain Pipes.

Tiles.

£

1,863 1,557 1,753 1,544

£

10,705 15,126 18,882 7,301 7,118

£

1,784 1,987 12,118 10,505

£

1,823

1 1,367 t 3,021

Marble Stone and

Slate (rough).

Marble Stone and

Slate (wrought) .

Stone sawn and in the rough.

Other stones not otherwise specified.

1,458 1,344 2,104 1,890 1,460

1,458 X 1,921

2,083

Grindstones, Oilstones, and Whetstones

Litho. and Emery Stones.

Pumice.

§ § §

§

§ § §

Chiefly fire, includes also air and bath. t Includes Asphalt and Roofing Tiles. t Includes Slate Koof and Slab. See footnote to Appendix marked**. § See footnote to Appendix marked§.

Peecious Stones And Peaels.

The production of Precious Stones in Western Australia has, so far, been limited to 25 small diamonds, which were supposed to have come from the Pilbara District ; but the output of pearls, some particulars of which it is not inappropriate to add in this connection, is of considerable annual value.

A number of minerals of the character of precious stones occur in the State, some in the particular varieties which are classed as gems, and specimens are from time to time examined in the Laboratory, and the localities recorded.

Tiger's eye (Crocidolite) .—A deposit of this mineral occurs at Yarra Yarra Creek, intheMurchison District. The deposit was opened up to a slight extent underthenameof the Bulgroo Opal Mine, but none of the material was ever placed in the market. During the last year some pieces of it were cut and polished in the Laboratory, and a representative series of considerable beauty placed in the Museum. Some of this was sent to Dr. Geo. P. Kunz, the well-known American gem expert, who expressed the opinion that it was more beautiful than the original South African gem.

Garjtets. — Some fine garnets are said to occur near Uaroo, Lynden District.

Moonstone. — Good moonstones have been discovered on the beach at the mouth of the Bowes River, Victoria District, which appear to have been washed out of a mesozoic conglomerate out- cropping at the water's edge.

Tourmaline. — Pink and green tourmaline have been found at Coconarup, embedded in a hard coarse pegmatite.

Opal. — Precious opal occurs at Coolgardie, but the small deposit, being the result of secondary silicification in hard metamorphosed rocks, would not be likely to pay to work com- mercially.

Mineral Production.

With regard to the output of pearls, the principal centres of the industry are Broome, Roebourne, Onslow, and Sharks Bay, on the North- West and West coasts. The total value of the pearls obtained during 1903, exclusive of the value of the shell, is estimated to be £50,000.

Tables are given below showing the production of diamonds and the value of the exports and imports of precious stones and pearls for the five years from 1899 to 1903 : —

Production of Diamonds.

Year.

Value.

£

*24

1900 to 1903 ...

nil

Total

Tweuty-five small diamonds found in battery box after crushing auriferous conglomerate from Nullagine.

Exports and Imports of Precious Stones and Pearls* {1899 to 1903).

Year.

Precious Stones.t

Pearls.J

Exports.

£

£

1899 ...

1900 ...

1901 ...

1902 ...

1903 ...

1,008

20,000§ 20,000§ 25,000§ 4O,000§ 50,000§

Total

2,011

155,000

Imports.

1899 ...

1900 ...

1901 ...

1902 ...

1903 ...

4,173 1,173

Total

6,741

Exclusive of value of shell. f Source and kind not recorded. % Product of State. § Estimated value.

Mica.

What may be called possible commercial mica is known to occur at the following different places in the State : — Nokenena Brook, Northampton ; Tambourah, Pilbara Goldfield ; MuUalyup, Darling Ranges ; Bindoon ; The Mica Mine, Londonderry, Cool- gardie G-oldfield.

Mica is probably one of the minerals most widely diffused throughout the State ; but it is only of any real commercial value when it occurs in large sheets, or can be obtained in considerable quantities. The mica-producing strata are the crystalline schists and allied rocks, which occupy fully two-thirds of the f geologically) known areas of Western Australia. G-enerally it is found that the mica-producing rocks are pegmatitic granites, which traverse the crystalline schists, etc., either in the form of dykes, sheets, or lenticular masses, which are often parallel to the foliation of the surrounding strata.

Under the generic term " Mica " several distinct mineral species are included ; they are all characterised by the readiness with which they split into very thin, elastic plates. Four of the species are of commercial importance, viz., Muscovite (common or white mica) ; Phlogopite (amber mica) ; Biotite (black mica) ; and Lepidoiite (lithia mica) . They all occur under somewhat similar geological conditions.

Up to the present it does not appear that much mica of marketable value has yet been raised in the State. The following tables give the export of mica and the imports from 1899 to 1903, as shown by the records in the Customs House.

82 Mineral Production.

Total Value of Mica Exported, and the Value of Imports from 1899-iyOH.

Exports.

19U0 1901 to 1903

Total

Imports {1899 to 1903).

See footnote to Appendix marked§.

Asbestos.

Asbestos has been found in widely-separated localities in the State ; but, so far, with the possible exception of that from Tam- bourah, on the West Pilbara Goldfield, most of the mineral discovered up to the present time has proved to be actinolite, of so coarsely fibrous a nature as to be practically valueless.

The asbestos from Tambourah turns out to be fibrous chryso- tile, identical with the Canadian mineral, which is so much valued. The Tambourah asbestos, unlike most of the Australian mineral, has not the great defect of a low tensile strength, and in all the points — infusibility, softness, flexibility, fineness, and the ease with which the fibres can be separated— is well above the average. No scientific examination of the district having been undertaken, infor- mation as to the mode of occurrence of the mineral is unfortunately not available.

The following tables show the production of asbestos in the State, in so far as may be gauged by the export records of H.M. Customs House and also the imports for the years 1899 to 1903 : —

Total Value of Asbestos Exported and the Value of Imports from 1899 to 1903.

Year.

Value.

Exports.

£

Nil

Nil

Nil

Total

Imports (1899 to 1903).

1,286

§

§ See footnote to Appendix, marked §.

Salt.

Salt is obtained from certain depressions in the calcareous sandstones of the coast, which are filled to a shallow depth in winter with salt water, the salt in which is probably derived from sea- spray. In the summer the lakes dry up completely, leaving a layer of salt two or three inches thick, which is collected and either con- sumed locally or exported, both as a fine and crude product.

The two localities where salt-collecting has been carried on are Fremantle and Esperance, in the former at Rottnest Island, and the latter at Middle Island ; from both a very pure product is obtained, containing, when dry, from 98 to 99 per cent, of pure chloride.

The following tables show the production of salt at Rottnest Island and Esperance, so far as records are available. Tables showing the value of the exports of salt and the imports into the State from 1899 to 1903 are also given : —

Production of Salt at Rottnest and Esperance.

Year.

Kottnest.

Esperance.

Total Value.

Fhie.

Crude.

Quantity.

Value.

Quantity.

Value. ; Quantity.

Value.

1868 to 1898

Total ...

tons. 2,185-50

£

6,824-59

tons.

£

tons.

£

7,20509

2,49800

7,65271

468*50

8,525-21

Salt.

Values of Exports and Imports of Salt (1899 to 1903).

Year.

Eock.

Other kinds.

Exports.

Total

Imports.

Total

2,858

3,193

3,183

3,462

3,209

15,905

G-Uano.

The economic importance of the accumulations of guano occurring in the Abrolhos Islands and elsewhere in the North is sufficient justification for referring to them in a description of the mineral resources of the State. No mineral phosphates or fei-tilisers, other than guano, are produced. That the importance of the island deposits is considerable may be judged from the appended table of statistics, showing the jDroduction of guano in the State, as prepared from official data. No record would appear to have been kept of the quantity of guano exported previous to the year 1847 ; also, during the years 1847 to 1855, 1855 to 1865, 1865 to 1872, 1872 to 1876, and also the years from 1879 to 1882. From the official figures it appears that since 1876 92,342*35 tons of guano were raised, and that the total royalty paid to the Government from that date amounted to c£41, 995*75. From the year 1847, as shown by the Customs figures, 86,165*25 tons of guano, valued at £335,591*75, were exported from the State. Up to the present time the chief source of the guano raised is in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, West of the town of Geraldton.

In August, 1897, Mr. Licensed Surveyor Wells was despatched from Geraldton to the Abrolhos Islands for the purpose of officially estimating the quantity of guano still available on the group. This officer visited 10 islands of the Eastern group, and on four of them, viz., Rat, Third, Beacon, and Wooded Islands, found guano deposits varying from four inches to 27 inches in thickness. The islands of the Eastern group are estimated to contain 13,944 tons of guano. Of the 14 islands of the Pelsart group examined, nine were found to contain guano deposits, viz., Pelsart, Gun Island, and seven small islands adjacent. The deposits varied from seven inches to 13 inches in thickness. The group is supposed to contain 48,468 tons of guano. Mr. Wells examined 18 islands of the Wallaby group, but only made surveys of four, viz.. West Wallaby, Pelican Island, and North and South Pigeon Islands. These were estimated

Guano.

to contain 38,088 tons of guano, varying in thickness from four inches to 17 inches. Small quantities of guano also occur in several of the lesser islands.

The following tables show the production and exports of guano, also the imports of fertilisers, from 1899 to 1903, the character of which however cannot, from the available records, be accurately specified : —

Production of Guano.

Year.

Quantity

Royalty paid.

tons.

£ s.

d.

1876-1880

36.754-15

18,377 1

1881-1890 ...

21,396-00

11,480 6

1891-1900

28,023-20

10,936 12

1,692-00

*590 16

]902

1,930-00

2,547-00

+323 19

Total

92,342-35

41,995 15

857 tons for use in State were free from Eoyalty. t 1,130 tons for use in State were free from Eoyalty. J 1,878 tons for use in State were free from Eoyalty.

Exports of Guano.

Year.

Quantity.

Value.

1847-1880

1881-1890

1891-1900

tons. 28,652-00 25,880-50 27,181-75 1,099-00 2,400-00

£

133,781-50 131,217-25 61,017-00 2,742-00 4,800-00 2,034-00

Total

86,165-25

335,59175

Values of Imports of Fertilisers* (1S99-1903).

Year.

Value.

£

18,491 17,036 18,632 23,040 32,048

Total

109,247

Character not specified.

Aetesian Watek.

The Artesian water of the State, though often containing an appreciable amount of mineral salts in solution, cannot in a strict sense be termed a mineral water ; but the direct connection of its occurrence with the geology of the country, and its importance as a factor in the water supply of a large portion of the State render no apology necessary for including some particulars with regard to its occurrence and tlie quantity at present available.

In its broader topographical features, Western Australia falls naturally into three divisions of different physical character : —

(a.) The Coastal Plain. This consists in reality of a fringe of strata around the coast, with a more or less gentle slope to the seawai'd. It is formed for the most part of shallow water deposits, sandstones, conglomerates, and thin shales, with occasionally incoherent sand and clays. It has a width of 60 or 70 miles in places on the Western Coast, though in the country at the head of the Great Australian Bight, being absolutely devoid of rivers, it extends some 200 miles into the interior. Its inner margin reaches an altitude of GOO feet above sea level in certain localities. The Coastal Plain is separated from the interior bv a belt of —

(h.) Hill Ranges, which form what may be called the escarpment of the Plateau and Plains of the interior. The Hill Ranges have an average elevation of about 1,200 feet, though isolated ranges reach altitudes of 4,000 feet above sea-level. This escarpment has a short or steep slope down to the edge of the Coastal Plain, into which it gradually merges. This belt of country, drained by the rivers of the State, is formed of granitic and metamorphic rocks, the decay of which produces excellent soil ; it comprises, owing to its rainfall, the principal agricultural districts of the State.

(c.) The Plateaux and Plains of the interior consist of a broken tableland, from which rise isolated hills and ridges of metamorphic rocks, often separated by sandplains of some considerable extent, and contain- ing depressions occupied by saline marshes, clay flats, brine lakes, or deposits of salt. There are no rivers, and the rainfall is slight. This plateau forms the chief mineral region of the State.

Artesian Water.

The Coastal Plain is of considerable economic importance, in that the certainty of obtaining artesian water from the underlying strata has been very thoroughly established, and the system of boring for artesian water is capable of great expansion in the State, being limited only by locality.

A glance at any Geological Map of Western Australia shows an enormous extent of Eecent and Tertiary strata entering the State at its eastern border, in the Nullabor Plains, and extending without any interruption as far as Israelite Bay. These strata consist of porous limestones associated with beds, into which the rainfall is rapidly absorbed and discharged seawards in the form of fiesh water springs. Where these strata have been pierced on the South Australian side of the border, the section invariably shows from 300ft. to 500ft. of sandy water-bearmg beds, of undetermined age, covered by a variable thickness of calcareous strata of both Older and Newer Tertiary age. The beds have a prevailing dip towards the Great Australian Bight, and water rises in the bore holes to a height equal to that of the sea level. So far, however, the water obtained has proved to be either salt or brackish, but at any rate suitable for stock purposes.

The whole of the area of these beds in the Southern portion of this State may be described as an artesian water area, though there may be, and undoubtedly are, conditions aifecting the water supply, such as local variations in the thickness, the relative porosity of the beds, and the unevenness of the floor upon which they were laid down, which, with our present meagre knowledge, can only be set at rest by the operations of the drill.

The strata of the coastal plain in the vicinity of the Swan River have proved that in certain areas they possess all the con- ditions necessary for yielding an overflowing supply of water. The structure of the coastal plain differs in some respects from the typical areas in which artesian water has been obtained in the eastern portions of Australia. The strata are horizontal or nearly so, though occasionally there is a slight local dip of about five degrees in places. The effect of this horizontally is shown in the fact that the water-carrying beds do not crop out on the surface, at the foot of the Darling Range, but impinge directly against that portion which is now concealed from view. These beds, clays (marls?), and sandstones, with occasional limestones, do not main- tain a uniform thickness throughout, but are disposed in the form of lenticular beds, some of which appear to be of exceptionally absorbtive properties.

The bores which have already been put down between the Darling Range and the coast have shown how irregular are the strata from which the water has been obtained, and what is of further moment, they also demonstrate tliat only in one instance has the base of the water-carrying beds been reached.

The first supply of artesian water in the vicinity of Perth was obtained some time during the year 1873. Since then all the avail-

Mineral Production.

able information about artesian wells has been collected and tabulat(.'d for convenience of reference. So far as official data show, there are now 44 artesian and sub-artesian wells in the State, of which some particulars of flow, depth, etc., are given in the table below : —

Table of Beep Bores — Artesian and Sub-Artesian.

Bore

Depth to principal water-bearing bed below surface, in feet.

Artesian.

Sub- artesian.

Locality.

Total depth of ] in feet.

Temperature of water Fah. deg

[static pressure,

[ in lbs. per square inch, at surface.

Continuous daily flow in gallons when uncontrolled.

Volume pumped or available daily, in gallons. j

Wyndham, Town of

Onslow, Town of

Caraarvon

Geraldton

Gei'aldton

Dong-arra

1,729 3,011 1,531

i,bl5

1,'531

104°

515,000

Yardarino

Midland Junction

Woodbridge

Guildford

Guildford

Woodbridge

Guildford

Guildford

1,607

1,202

1,607

1,140

86° 75°

"8-66

589,000 266,000 124,000 192'000 1,167',000 71,000

Guildford

Bayswater

East Perth

1,100

1,070

65,000 536,000 217,400

Leederville

1,113

1,023

217,000

Perth

Bagot Road, Subiaco

South Perth

1,856

1,837

454',000

456000

Causeway, East Perth

East Pertla

1,200 1,034

825,000 171,710

Melville Park

1,487

1,487

91°

54,000

Cannington

Fremantle

Railway Station, Bunbury

Government Grant on Estuary, Bunbury

Reserve 2030, Stirlmg Street, Bun- bury

Dardanup

bardanup

"434

80°

70,000

100,000

1,032

Fremantle

Reserve 4228, ClaremoHt

Guildford

Eyre No. 2 Site, 30 Miles North

of Madura Eyre No. 1 Site, at Madura

1,322 1,506

2,101

1,189

"410

2,080

566,000 22,000 31,000

1,090,000

Leederville

Perth

1,680

1,375

217000

Woodbridge

Olaremont

Near Carnarvon

Leederville

Midland Junction

1,500

1,320

"280

160,000 310,000

:::

Midland Junction

1,100,000

Note. — The Dongarra Bore, though included here for convenience, was put down to test for Coal Measures. No water. f Bore abandoned.

Appendix.

Summary of Values of Minerals and Mineral Products Imported and Exported during each of the Five Years, 1S99 to 1903.

Mineral or Product

Imports,

§ Ammonium Carbonate

§ Antimony (seepage 71)

§Asbestos (see page 83) ...

§ Asphalt

o,597

5,219

§Brass, scrap, sheet, and tube

7of

Do. wares

„

o,6A7

§Carbon (diamonds)

Cement

Chalk (Whiting, etc.)

ooi

"12

2o

2o4

Clay (see page 78)

Coal, Coke, and Patent Fuel (see page 76) ...

Copper (see page 55)

"433

Do. sulphate of

"no

"560

'822

"'492

Fertilisers (see page 87)

Fireclay (see page 78)

Glass, sheet, plate, etc

4,262

6'80l

10,789

Do. wares

16,916

18,892

22,892

28,448

24,250

Gold, bullion

Do. coin

5,000

Do. foil and leaf

"489

"518

"468

"623

Do. plate t

1,594

2,335

t

Iron and Steel (see page 70)

§Iron, sulphate of

Jewellery

16,868

45,239

Lead (see page 6.3)

Lime, sulphate of (see Piaster cf Paris)

Mica (see page 82)

Mineral Oil

65J23

69,560

Mineral Paints

1,782

3,495

4,991

§ Muriatic Acid

1,932

Naphtha

"ii6

"l57

"i61

1,217

§Nitric Acid

Paraffin Wax

1,819

2,869

1,238

5,'l83

§ Plumbago

Plaster of Paris

"l94

"il4

1,111

1,023

Precious Stones (see page 80, also Jewellery

nhove)

Quicksilver

7,580

5,789

6,335

10,424

6,622

Salt (see prrgeSS) '.

Silver (see page 65, also Gold alove)

Smelting Material

42,691

Spelter, Concentrates, etc

8,347

Includes silver foil and leaf. + Includes silver plate. J Included in

jewellery. § During years where blanks occur, the article, if imported, was

probably classified by H.M. Customs under some general heading, and not par- ticularly specified. Classified by H.M, Customs under another heading.

APPENDIX— confinwed.

Summary of Values of Minerals and Mineral Products, etc. — continued.

JVIineral or irrociiict.

Soda and Potash Salts —

£

£

£

£

£

Bi-earbonate of Soda

1,829

1,211

Caustic Soda

1,399

3,008

2,351

2,2.33

Silicate of Soda

Soda Ash and Nitrate of Potash

],334

Soda Crystals

Alum

Potassium Cyanide

55,849

129,964

144,819

161,191

170,646

§ Saltpetre

Stone, etc. (see page 78)

Sulphur

'788

§ Sulphuric Acid

2,347

1,468

2,113

1,013

Tar and Pitch

1,947

2,251

5,543

2,308

Tin {see page 60)

Whiting (see Chalk above)

Zinc

3,306

1,772

2,514

7,596

10,368

Exports.

Antimony (see page 71) ...

Asbestos (see page 83)

Brass Wares

Cement

Clay, Earthen and China-ware

Coal (see page 75)

Cobalt (see page 72)

Copper (see page 55)

Fertilisers (see page 87)

Glass, sheet

Do. wares

1,619

1,107

1,084

i,407

Gold, bullion

5,451,368

3,799,124

3,941,876

3,318,958

4,061,767

Do. coin

79,692

1,750,763

2,807,841

4,149,869

4,5-56,192

Do. plate t

1,500

+

+

Guano (see page 87)

Iron and Steel (see page 70)

Jewellery

1,321

"427

2,742

3,965

Lead (see page 63)

Mica (see page 82)

Mineral Oil

2,326

Mineral Paints

Pearls (see page 80)

Precious Stones (see page 80, also Jewellery

above)

Salt (see page 85)

Silver (see j)ige 65)

Soda and Potash Salts —

Potassium Cyanide

1,000

Tar and Pitch

"l8

Tin (see page 60)

Zinc

1,005

'635

"341

"801

i "'"879

t Includes silver plate. X Included in jewellery. § During years where blanks occur, the article, if imported, was probably classified by H.M. Customs under some ifeneral heading, and not particularly specified. Classified by H.M. Customs under another heading.

Index.

Abrasive Materials Abrolhos Islands Acidic Rocks ... Actinolite

Albite

Alluvial Gold ... Alluvial Tin ...

Alum

Ammonium Carbonate Amphibolites . . . Analyses of Coal Andesites Anglesite Antimony- Antimony Exports Antimony Imports Archaean Rocks Airino ... Arrow Lake Arsenical Pyrites Arsenopyrite . . . Artesian Water Asbestos

Asbestos Exports Asbestos Imports Asbolite

Ashburton Goldfield Ashburton River Asphalt Azurite ...

12, 13, ]

, 15, 16, 30,

,37,4

5, 44, 4

,32,

8, 9, 83

15, 20, 21, 61 ... 20,21

Bamboo Creek 12, 18

Banded Hematite 26, 38

Banded Jaspers ... 26, 40

Banded Quartzites 23, 30, 38

Banket Deposits 18

Bardoc 38, 67

Barlee Range 21

Basic Rocks 25, 27, 30, 35

Battery, State, Coolgardie 36

Battery, State, Peak Hill 24

Bayley's Reward Claim ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 36

Bayley's United G.M. 11

Bayswater Bore ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 90

Beacon Island ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 86

Belle Vue Mine 28

Big- Blow Mine 36

Page

Bilberaltha

Bindoon...

Biotite . ... ... ...

Bismuth .. .;.

Bismutite

BlMckborne's ...

Blockboy Hill

Bl.ick Fla

Black Range ...

Block 50. Coolg-ardie ...

" Bobby Dazzler" Nugget ...

Bog Ore

66,69

Bonnie vale

Boogardie

Boorara

39, 41, 53

Bore, Bayswater

Bore, Cannington

Bore, Causeway

Bore, Dongarra

Bore, Melville Park

Bore, Onslow ...

Bores, Bunbury

Bores, Carnarvon

Bores, Claremont

Bores, Dardanup

Bores. East Perth

Bores, Eyre

Bores, Fremantle

Bores, Geraldton

Bores, Guildfood

Bores, Leederville

Bores, Midland Junction

Bore, South Perth

Bores, Perth

Bore, Subiaco ...

Pores, Woodbridge

Bore, Wyndham

Bore, Yardarino

Boulder...

11,12,39

Bournonite

Bowes' Eiver

62,79

Bow River

Brass

Brassware

91,92

Breccias

U

Broad Arrow ...

Broad Arrow Goldfield

15, 37, 38

Brick Clay

77,78

British Exploration Company Brockman's

11,16

Brockman's Creek

Brockman's Soak

Broome ..

B' own Coal

Building Stone

8, 77

Bulgroo Opal Mine ...

Bulong ...

43, 45, 46

Bunbury Bores ... ...

Burbanks

11,36

Burbanks Birthday Gift Mine

Calaverite Calcite

Calorific Value of Coal Cambrian Kocks Cannington Bore Cape Lambert ... Carbine Carbon ...

Carboniferous Beds ... Carboniferous Rocks ... Carlaminda Carnage

Carnarvon Bores Cashman's Cassiterite Causeway Bore Caustic Soda ... Cement ...

Cement, Iron-stained ...

Cerussite

Chalcedony Chalcopyrite ...

Chalk

Chemical Materials

Chinaware Chlorite

Chloritic Schists Chrysotile Claremont Bores Clay, Brick Clay, Porcelain Clays

Coal

Coal Analyses ... Coal, Brown Coal, Calorific Value of Coal Exports ... Coal Imports ... Coastal Plain ...

Cobalt :

Cobalt Export

Coconarup

Coke

Coke Imports ...

Collie Boulder Mine ...

Collie Coalfield

Collie Proprietary Mine

Composition of Native Gold...

Conglomerates ...

Coolgardie ...

Coolgardie, East, (xoldfield ...

Coolgardie Goldfield

Coolgardie, North-East, Goldfield Coolgardie, North, Goldfield Coolgardie State Battery Coolgardite Copper ... Copper Carbonates

Copper Exports

Copper Imports

11,41 12, 40 3(5 Ig 56, 58

, 91, 92 23, 24

78, 92

12,34,40,43

13, 14, 72

77,78

77,78

8,77,78,89,92 8, 9, 73, 74, 75, 76, 92

8, 89

9, 72

79, 88 75, 79 41, 42 36, 37 45,46 32, 33

9, 12, 30, 33, 51, 53, 54, 55, 61

74,

12, 18, 23, 28, 32, 56, 57, o2, ... 11, 12, 35,36,61,73, 15, 39, 40, 11, 12, 15, 35, 15, 42, 43, 44, 15,

Copper Ingot 55

Copper Manufactures ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 55

Copper Matte 55

Copper, Native... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12

Copper Ore 55

Copper Sulphate 9L

Cork Tree 28

Crocidolite ... 79

Croydon 19,53

Crystalline Gold 10, 12

Crystalline Rocks 14, 28, 44, 54

Crystalline Schists 16, 66, 67, 81

Cue 26

Dardanup Bores 90

Darling Range 89

Day Dawn 26, 53, 55

Dead Finish 21

Dendritic Gold ... 10

Denham River 16

Deposits, Banket 18

Deposits, Primary, of Gold 13

Deposits, Secondary, of Gold 13, 18

Detrital Gold 44

Devonian Rocks 16

Diabase 30. 40, 45

Diamonds 79, 80, 91

Diorites 25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 45, 47, 49, 50, 51

Dolomite 40,50

Dongarra Bore 90

Donnybrook ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... 77

Donnybrook Goldfield 12, 15, 48, 49, 50

Dundas 47

Dundas Goldfield 11, 15, 47, 48

Dundas Range 47

Dykes 13,32

Earthenware 78, 92

East Coolgardie (Joldfield 15, 39, 40, 41, 42

East Mnrcbison Goldfield 15, 27, 28, 29

East Perth Bores 90

Electrum 12

Epidote ; ... 40,49

Erlistoun 30

Eruptive Rocks 39, 43

E'perance 84

Eyre Bores 90

Felsite 32

Felspar 28

Felspar-Porphyry 40

Ferruginous Quartzites ... 32

Fertilisers ... 87

Feysville 39

Field's Find 31

Field's Find Mine 31

Fineness of Gold 12

Fireclay 77

Flake Gold 10

Free Gold 11,41

Fremantle Bores ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 90

Fuels 8

Galena

11, 33, 61

Garnets

57, 58, 79

Gascoyne Goldfield

... 15, 22

Gascoyne River

... 23, 74

Geraldine

... 53, 61

Geraldine Copper Mine

Geraldton Bores

Glass

... 91, 92

Glassware

... 91, 92

Gnarlbine

Gneiss

... 14,16,17,28,30,32,49,57,62

C 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,

Gold ] 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, J

13, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,

( 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,

18, 49, 50, 51,

52, 57, 91

Gold, Alluvial

12, 13,

14, 15, 16

Gold, Bullion

... 91, 92

Gold, Coin

... 91, 92

Gold, Crystalline

... 10, 12

Gold, Dendritic

Gold, Detrital

Golden Valley ...

Gold, Fineness of

Gold, Flake

Gold Foil

Gold, Free

... 11, 41

Gold Matrices

... 13, 14

Gold, Mustard

... 10,41

Gold, Native ...

10, 11, 12

Gold Plate

... 91, 92

Gold, Primary Deposits of ...

Gold Production

... 9,15

Gold, Purity of

Gold, Rough ...

... 10, 12

Goldschmi dtite

Gold, Secondary Deposits of

... 13, 18

Gold, Specific Gravity of

Gold, Sponge ..

10, 12, 41

Gold, Tellurides of

11, 41, 46

Gorge Creek ...

... 11,61

Gorge (The)

... 20,21

Granite ...

( 14, 16, 17. 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 35,

36, 49, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 62, 77, 88

Granular Quartzites

Graphite

... 8,40

Gravels

13, 23, 28, 56

Gravity, Specific, of Gold ...

Great Fin gall Mine

Greenbushes

... 56,57

Greenhills

Greenough River Greenstone Schists Grindstones

Grits

Guano ... Guano Exports Guildford Bores GuUewa Gun Island Gypsum

. 17, 18, 25, 26, 30, 68

8, 78

... 8,9,86,87

8, 12

Hall's Creek

Hannan's Hannan's Lake

Harbour View

Hardey River

Hematite

Hematite, Banded Hematite-bearing Quartzites Hill Ranges

Hong Kong

Hope's Hill

Horneblende Schists ...

Horseshoe

Horseshoe Diggings ...

11, 12, 16

51,53

67,68

14, 25, 30, 67, 68,' 69

19,53

13, 14, 28, 32, 35, 40, 49, 50, 51

11,24

Ida H. Mine

Igneous Rocks ...

18,40

Ilmenite...

Impregnations ...

13,53,54,72

Infusorial Earth

Iron

9, 12, 26, 33, 34, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

Iron Exports ...

Iron Imports ...

Iron Oxides

Iron Pyrites

Ironstone Gravel

28, 43, 49

Iron Sulphate ...

Irwin River

Island, Lake Austin ...

Israelite Bay ...

Jamesonite ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 61

Jarrahdale ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 61

Jaspers, Banded ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26

Jennapullen ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 67

Jewellery 91,92

Kalgoorlie 10,11,12,39,72

Kalgoorlite 11

Kanowna 12,43,44,45,72,77

Kaolin 43,57,72

Kathleen Valley 28

Kilalo Well 67

Kimberley 11,12,15,16,17

King Leopold Range ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16

King Sound 16

Page

Kintore

Kirkalucka

Kunanalling ...

:35

Kurnalpi

43,46

Tiake Austin

12,69

Lake CowaiT

'47

Lake Darl6t

J-iaKe iviirancia ... ... ...

Lalla Eoch

Laterite Mine

41,46,57,66,69

Laverton

' ' 30

Lawlers

11,28

9 61, 62 63

Lead Imports

Leederville I3ores

T 'doTte

28, 81

Lencoxene

y .

8 9 18 77,78 89

Limonite

33 40 46 57 66 68

Litho-Stones

13, 30, 36, 37, 45, 53

Lode tin

Lolling-ite

Londonderry ...

36,81

Lower Nicol

McDonouo-h's Lookout

IVTadura Bores

Mao-netit

. 40 57 67 68

Mam Camt)

Malachite

Mallina

... 19, 71

Marble

. . 77 78

Marble Bar

18, 57, 58, 59, 67

12 i(j

Matrices of Gold

'77

Melville Park Bore

Menzies

11, 32, 33, 61

Mesozoic Beds

28, 73

9 28 32 57 58 81 82

Mica Exports

Mica Imports

Mica Mine (Tiie)

Mica Schists

io, 14!, ID, Zo, Zo, OU, 01, O'*, D<ii

Middle fsland

Midland .Junction Bores

Mineral Oil

91,92

Mineral Paints

91,92

Mineral Production Montague Range Moolyella* Moonstones Mosquito Creek Mother-of-coal . . Mt. Charlotte .. Mt. Clement . . Mt. Clifford .. Mt. De Courcey Mt. Desmond .. Mt. Dockrell .. Mt. Erawandoo Mt. Goode Mt. Gould Mt. Hale

Mt. Ida

Mt, Jackson Mt. Lulworth .. Mt. Malcolm .. Mt. Magnet Mt. Margaret Goldfield Mt. Marion Mt. Matthew . Mt. Morgans .. Mt. Mortimer . Mt. Narryer Mt. No Name . Mt. Sir Samuel Mt. Taylor Mt. Townsend . Mt. Wall Mt. Yarrameedie Mueller Range Mulgabbie Mullalyup

Mulline

Munara Hills ... Murchison, East, Goldfield Murchison Goldfield Mu chison River Muriatic Acid ... Murrin Murrin Muscovite Mustard Gold . . . Mystery G.M Co.

Nannine Naphtha Narra Tarra Native Copper ... Native Gold New England .. New Find Niagai-a ... Nitric Acid Nokenena Brook Noongril Northampton

15,

I, 30, 31 66, 67

, 12, 28 11,46 53, 61

15, 27, 28, 29 11, 12,15, 25, 26, 27, 66 28,81 10, 41

10, 12 11, 32

53, 55. 61, 62

North Coolgardie Goldfield ... North-East Coolgardie Goldfield North Lead, Kanowna North Pigeon Island ... Norseman

Nugget, " Bobby Dazzlrr" Nuggets Nullabor Plains Nullag-ine ... ...

Nullagine Beds Nynghan

Page

15, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 43, 44

47,

61, 72

12, 18

Oakagee Oilstones Onslow ... Onslow Bore ...

Opal

Opal Mine, Bulgroo Orthoclase

8, 78

80, 90

28,40

Paddington

Panton

Panton River

Paraffin Wax ... Parker's Range

Patent Fuel

Peak Hill

Peak Hill Goldfield ... Peak Hill State Battery Pearls ... Peewah ... Pegmatite

Pelican Island

Pelsart Island ... Peninsula Peridotite

Perth Bores

Petroleum Petzite ...

Phillips River Goldfield Phillips River State Smelter Phlogopite Phosphorus Pilbara ... Pilbara Goldfield Pilbara, West, Goldfield Pinyalling

I 'itch

Plagioclase Plaster of Paris Pleistocene Rocks ... Plumbago Porcelain Clay ... Porphyrite Post-Tertiary Beds

Potash iSalts

Potassium Cyanide Precious Stones Preston River

12, 15, 22,

8, 76

, 23, 24 79, 80

58, 59, 62, 79, 81

11,46

15, 50,51,52, 53, 54, 55 , 69

12, 15, 17. 18, 19 15, 19, 20, 53, 55 11,61 9, 91 77,78 40, 50

8, 9, 79, 80, 91,92

Primary Deposits of Gold

Production of Gold

Production of Minerals Pumice Stone ...

Purity of Gold

Pyrites ...

Pyrites, Arsenical

Pyromorphite ...

Pyroxenites

Pyrrhotite

Quartz ...

Quartzites

Quartzites, Banded ... Quartzites, Ferruginous Quartzites, Granular ... Quartzites, Hematite-bearing Quasi-vitreous Sandstones .. Q.E.D. Lead, Kanowna Quicksilver

Rat Island Ravensthorpe ... Ravensthorpe Range ...

Red Hill

Residuary Soils Rocks, Acidic ... Rocks, Archaean Rocks, Basic ... Rocks, Cambrian Rocks, Carboniferous... Rocks, Crystalline Rocks, Devonian Rocks, Eruptive Rocks, Granitic Rocks, Igneous

Rocks, Pleistocene

Rocks, Schistose

Rocks, Sedimentary

Rocks, Ultrabasic

Roderick River Roebourne

Rollo's Bore

Rothesay

Rottnest Island

Rough Gold

Ruby Creek

Rutile

Salt

Salt Exports

Salt Imports ...

Saltpetre ...

Sandstones

Sandstones, Quasi- vitreous ...

Scheelite

Schistose Rocks Schists

... 9,15 ... 7, 9

... 33,40

... 25,30 ... 11,41

12, 14, 18, 23, 28, 30, 36, 37, 40, 57

13, 23, 30

23, 30, 38

14, 25, 30, 67, 68, 69

51,53,54

... 11,12,36,53

13,56

... 27,35,38,39

25,27,35

.. 14,28,44,54

18,25

18,40

14, 18, 33, 35, 36 39,40,54

25,39

... 12,53,71,80

77,84

10, 12

11,16

40,57

8,9,41,84,85,91

13, 18, 28, 40, 49, 54, 62, 77, 88, 89

12,57

14, 18, 33, 35, 36, 50

14, 18, 25, 30, 62

Schists, Chloritic Schists, Crystalline ... Schists, Greenstone ... Schists, Hornblende ...

Schists, Mica

Schists, Sericite Schists, Serpentinous . . . Schists, Talcose Secondary Deposits of Gold Sedimentary Rocks ... Sericite Schists Serpentinous Schists ...

Shale

Sharks Bay

Sharks Gully

Sherlaw's Perseverance Mine Siberia ... Siderite ... Silica

Silicate of Soda Silver

Silver Bullion ... Silver Coin Silver Exports ...

Silver Imports

Silver-Lead

Sinter

Sir Samuel Slates ... Smelting Material

Soda Ash

Soda Crystals

Soda Salts

Sodium Bi-Carbonate... Soils, Residuary Sons of Gwalia Mine ... Southern Cross South Perth Bore South Pigeon Island ... Specific Gravity of Gold

Spelter

Spit Point

Sponge Gold

Star of the West State Battery, Coolgardie State Battery, Peak Hill State Smelter, Phillips River Stibiotantalite Stibnite Stockworks

Structural Materials ... Subiaco Bore ...

Sulphur

Sulphuric Acid Swan River

13, 14, 72

16,66,67,81

17,18,25,26,68 13, 14, 28, 32, 35, 50, 51 13, 14, 16, 23, 28,50, 51,62 14, 32, 40 14, 32, 43 ... 16,35 ... 13,18 I, 40, 54, 62 14, 32, 40 14, 32, 43

... 23,68

I, 12, 64, 65

... 9,65

11, 12, 28 8, 13, 78

11, 12, 34

10, 12, 41

13, 53, 54

68, 92

Talcose Schists Taiga River Taiga Taiga ..

16, 35, 43

... 12,18

Tambourah Tantalite

Tar

Tellurides of Gold Tellurium Compounds Terra Cotta Third Island ... Thomas River ... Tiger's-eye

Tiles

Tin

Tin Exports

Tinfoil

Tin Imports Tin Ingots Tin, Lode Tin Manufactures Tin, Plate Titanium

Topaz

Top Camp Tourmaline Toweranna Travertine Twenty -five Mile

11,53,81,83

11,41,46

... 8,78 , 57, 58, 59, 60

58, 68 57, 79 12, 19

Uaroo 53, 61, 79

Ularring 32

Ultra-basic Eocts 25, 39

Vanadinite ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,61

Violet Range 28

Volcanic Rocks 16

Wadgingarra ... Warrawoona ... Weerianna Weld Range ... Western Shaw- West Pilbara Goldfield Westralia Mt. Morgans Mine West Wallaby Island Whetstones Whim Creek Whiting Widgiemooltha Wilgie Mia Wilson's Creek Wilson's Gully Lead Wilson's Patch

Wiluna

Wolfram

Woodbridge Bores Wooded Island Wyndham Bore

26, 67, 68

, 19, 20, 53, 55

... 91, 92

66, G7, 68

... 11, 67

Yalgoo ... Yalgoo Gi-oldfield Yandanooka Yandicoogina ... Yardarino Bore Yarra Yarra Creek

Yerilla

Yilgarn Goldfield Ynin

11, 15,

53

31, 32 54, 61 11, 18

15, 33, 31.

Zinc 92

Zinc Blende ... 11, 33

Zircon 57

Zoisite 40

By Authority : Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer, Perth.

Stringopotom Keef

Hon. H Gregory. M L. A. Ministfc! for Mines

Jul Ail O i alrAijJ

Showing Hie Goldfields and other Mining Districts also l-he distribution of useful Minerals To accompanii Report on

theMineralProductionofWesternAustralia

Up To The End Of 1903

By

A.Gibb Maitland

G OVERNMENtGeOLQCI ST. Scale of English statute miles

Sandy

Locepedey s

:.BoiieauVA- § v -u KIMBELEY n

aRooEW"'- : — ' X-r / G 0 LD Fl E L D' H i

Towns . sh

Railways

Land District Boundaries Land Division . „ Coldfields . Telegraph Lines 4 Stal.ons Agricultural Areas Stock Routes . . Heights in feet L.teamer Routes - - - . 'i) .

9 Eucla

. 1

Q. LatouclieTreville,

r.rnFrnA... J V ' "

Broom E'Arr:" VicMNVj;'"- Xv.': / vj w u u i i u u u -

C Jauberttjf. — . — . !

I 'torg,nojollii W /

AMPHINOME SHOALS . , i 1

i/l.

Barrow 1.!/'°"'''

FORRKi

STEWART ' iSi"''

Seporotior' Well

CafiTM

\jkfsiRrgwEUHE.ou.>

Ig-VAUAN BIGHT

. /EFERENCE TO MINERAL ISiGNS

/gold (otherth'anGoldFields) @ '

iibude 121° Eastof GreenwiclT I23j_

©

(5 (S

©

(Ai

Manganese .

3 Other Gemstones@|

LEAD (P TIN J (g ANTIMONY : @ ASBESTOS @

Guano I

GRAPHITik COBALT BISMUTH

Diatom-Earth @

@

Western Australia.

Geological Survey,

BULLETIN No. ifT

Geology And Auriferous Deposits

Of

Southern Cross,

Yilgarn Goldfield,

By

Chas. G. Gibson, B.E.,

Assistant Government Geologist.

Issued under the authority of the Hon. R. Hastie, M.L.A., Minister for Mines.

With A Map.

Perth

By Authority : Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer.

Table Of Contents.

Page

Prefatory Note ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7

Boundaries of the Field 9

History of the Field 9

Previous Observations on the Geology of the Field 10

Extent of the Map 15

Oeology of the District 15

General Topography 15

General Geology ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16

The Recent Deposits ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16

The Granites 16

The Greenstones ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18

The " Hsematite-bearing Quartzites " ... ... ... ... 21

Character of the Ore Deposits 21

Alluvial Gold 22

Water 22

Timber 23

The Mines 23

The Country between Southern Cross and Parker's Eange 34

Parker's Range, the Mines at ... ... ... ... ... ... 35

The Iron Deposits at Mt. Cordan 39

Appendix I. — Tables of Gold Returns 41

Appendix II. — List of Rock Specimens 44

Index 45

Map at end

List Of Plates.

I. Reduction Works, Eraser's G.M., Southern Cross.l i , - „

II. Eraser's South and Eraser's South Extended G.Ms. ) Pge 24.

III. Hatt's Battery, Southern Cross ) f

IV. Hope's Hill G.M. and Reduction Works ) V. 5-Head Battery, Australia G.M., Parker's Range

VJ. 5-Head Battery, Blue Hill G.M., Parker's Range )

List Of Figures.

I. Cross Section of Eraser's Reef, half way between shafts 1 and 2'-p. 25. II. Cross Section at No. 3 shaft. Eraser's South G.M., p. 26.

III. Section at No. 2 shaft. Eraser's G.M., p. 26.

IV. and V. Plan and Section of Lode, Eraser's South Extended G.M., p. 29.

Map.

Geological Sketch Maj) of Southern Cross. (Scale, 20 chains to 1 inch.)

Prefatory Note.

HIS report on the G-eology and Auriferous Deposits of Southern Cross makes a further instalment of the series designed to treat of the different mining centres of the State.

In its salient geological features that portion of Southern Cross embraced by Mr. Gribson's work (an area of 41 square miles) presents no essential points of difference to any of the other goldfields of the Eastern portion of the State.

The statistical tables, without which the report would have been incomplete, demonstrate that the auriferous deposits of Southern Cross are of low grade. Up to the end of 1903 Southern Cross has yielded 228.847 ounces of gold, the result of the milling of 480,822 13 tons of quartz, being at the average rate of '5S ounce per ton.

The report and accompanying map which shows, mter alia, the position of all existing leases, shafts, and surface workings, together with the strike and dip of all reefs and ore bodies, having been submitted to the Hon. the Minister for Mines, were ordered to be printed for public information.

The index to names, places, mines, reefs, etc., occurring in the report has been prepared by the writer thereof.

A. GIBB MAITLAND, Geological Survey Office, Government Geologist.

Perth, 12th Novemler, 1904.

THE GEOLOdY AXD AURIFEROUS DEPOSITS

Of

Southern Cross.

Yilgarn Goldfield.

Boundaries of the Field. — The Yiloarn G-oldfield, as officially proclaimed, embraces an area of 15,593 square miles, and " Is bounded by lines starting from a point ninety miles south of a cairn, H 26, on Koorarawalyee iranite rock, and extending west to a point due south of a point 10 miles west of a cairn on Yorkrakine granite rock ; thence north to the south-east corner of the Yalgoo Gold- field ; thence east-south-east to a point about fifty miles due west from a cairn marked N B 1, near Wan- gine Soak, thence south through the before-mentioned cairn, H 26, to the starting point." Early History of the Field. — Regarding the early history of the Yilgarn Goldfield, the following extracts are taken from Mr. H. P. Woodward's " Mining Handbook " : —

"In 1887, Mr. Glass, of Mugakine, while making a tank near his house, found a large speck of gold, which caused him to start prospecting, but although he sank several holes he never had the good fortune to find any more. However, the discovery drew attention to this district, and led to a party being organised and fitted out by the Settlers' Association, with assistance from the Government, to thoroughly prospect the district to the eastward of Newcastle and Northaaii. This party was placed under the leadership of Mr. Colreavy, who worked over all the country between Newcastle and the Yilgarn Hills, a distance of some 200 miles, and although his first journey was not crowned with success, yet he thought so highly of the country farther east that he immediately afterwards set out to prospect it on his own account.

Mining Handbook of W.A.," by H. P.Woodward, Government Geologist, Perth: By Authority, 1895.

" While this latter party was still in the field a sensation was caused bv the sudden return from Yilgarn of Mr. Anstey with some surprisiniijlv rich specimens of old in quartz. This gentleman had gone in the same direction as Mr. Colreavy, with the intention of making an extensive prospecting and exploring tour. The excitement in consequence of his find was for some time very great, but it was found, unfortunately, that the discovery was not as valuable as had lieen at first supposed, as further prospecting showed that although the surface indications were good, the reef at a very slight depth pinched out. Fortunately just at this time Mr. Colreavy, who was prospecting G-olden Valley, ten miles farther south, struck a small reef, which carried gold throughout the stone. This caused another rush, and several small gold-bearing reefs were found. Prospecting was continued still further hy the Phoenix party, who discovered a rich series of reefs about 30 miles farther south, which they named Southern Cross, from the fact of having made use of that constellation as a guide while travelling by night to the spot. Mr. Parker, following the same direction for 40 miles farther south, discovered in some low hills other reefs, which locality he named Parker's Range.

" In the year 1892, prospecting was carried on farther to the eastward, towards the Hampton Plains, and at a place called Coolgardie, about 100 miles east of Southern Cross, Mr. Bayley found a very rich reef, which has eclipsed all previous discoveries. Many other rich reefs and patches of alluvial have been dis- covered in a northerly and north-easterly direction from Coolgardie for a distance of 90 miles, but the great drawback to prospecting in this district is the scarcity of water."

Previous Observations on the Geology of the

Field. — In his Mining Handbook, Mr. H. P. Woodward, late Government Geologist, refers the rocks forming the greater portion of Western Australia to the Archean age. According to his account these Archean rocks are usually crystalline, and are found outcropping throughout the State, being overlain only in isolated places by much newer formation, these latter rarely being of any great thickness. The Archean rocks he divides into —

" Three classes, the granites, the gneisses, and the schists, which as a rule run in parallel belts north and south, witii a slight tiend to the north-west

" The fourth, or first auriferous belt is situated imme- diately to the eastward of the granite belt, and is about 20 miles in width. It starts from the south coast at the Phillips River, extending northward in a narrow

belt by the Ravensthorpe Range, Parker's Range Southern Cross, Groldeu Valley, and Mt. Jackson

The rocks of this belt consist mostly of hornblende, mica, or talc schists, of wliich the hornblende schist so closely resembles diorite that it is impossible to dis- tinguish it in a broken specimen. The rocks of this belt are a good deal broken and faulted by granite and diorite dykes, and quartz lodes containing gold, iron, and copper

" The hornblende rocks of this colony are very reinarkable in character, being met with most abundantly from north to south. They vary immensely in colour, struc- ture, and external character, some at first glance hav- ing the appearance of clay-slate, but on being frac- tured they exhibit a structure similar to diorite, whilst others again only contain green crystals of hornblende disseminated in a quartz matrix, or have a jade-like appearance which latter variety are continually being mistaUen for copper, nickel, or silver. With these rocks are associated the principal mineral deposits of the colony."

The same writer in the year 1891 published a report on the Yilgarn Goldfield,* the bulk of which report appears in the description of the Yilgarn Goldfield in the Mining Handbook, from which the following extracts are taken : —

"The first belt of auriferous country is situated about 160 miles to the eastward of the township of York, in about 119° east longitude. The country on this side of the Darling Range consists mostly of undulating sand plains, clays, and loam flats, with bold, bare, granite hills rising abruptly from them. It is comparatively elevated, being between 800 and 1,000 feet above the sea level, but presents no marked features ; there are no watercourses worth mentioning, the country being comparatively level, and all the higher country consists of sand plains into which the water sinks. The only places where there are any small watercourses are round the granite rocks, but these spread out on the flats and clay-pans, where the water evaporates, as there is not sufficient fall to cause it to run towards the coast.

" Most of the water met with in sinking is salt, with the exceptions of the soakages near the granite rocks, and, to a certain depth, on the high metamorphic ridges.

"Immediately to the eastward of this belt of country are the Yilgarn Ranges of metamorphic rock, containing numerous quartz reefs and ferruginous lodes, some of which have proved to be very rich in gold.

♦"Report on the Yilgarn Goldfield," by the Government Geologist, Perth : By Authority, 1891.

" The country is cum].aratively low and broken, being situated along the sides of the so-called lakes which drain a large portion of the interior, the denuding action in forming these lakes having removed the sandstone formation and exposed the older rocks beneath.

" The rocks on this line of gold-bearing countrv are mostly slates and schists, with here and there dykes of granite and other intrusive rocks. The reefs are as a rule large and extend to a great length on the surface, but they are not well defined and seldom have walls on both sideSj one side generally splitting up into a large number of leaders, most of which are rich in gold. The stone itself is solid and of the nature of a quartzite ; it con- tains a little carbonate of iron, both iron and copper pyrites, galena, manganese, talc, and chlorite, but not in sufficient quantity to interfere with the extraction of the gold. As a rule the stone is very rich, and the crushings that have been made prove that there is, at any rate in one or two claims, a large body of stone carry uig more than an ounce to the ton.

" Gold is also found in this field in a great dyke-like mass of a greenish colour, probably consisting of decomposed serpentine. Gold-bearing reefs have been found for a distance of over 150 miles from north to south. In some ways the very largeness of the field has been a drawba(*k to the immeliate development of the mines, the interests being divided and scattered over so large an area instead of being concentrated on the thorough working out of a portion, which would have led more quickly to a recognition of its importance by the world at large.

This belt of auriferous country probably extends from Lake Annean to the south coast, being from five to 10 miles in width ; and when the development of the field is assisted, as it will be very shortly, by a railway which is now under construction, and when steps have been taken to remove all fears of a failing water supply, then the field will be capable of supporting a very large mining population. Some small but rich patches of alluvial have been worked on this field, but owing to the want of water the dirt had to be dryblown. As so little denudation has taken place since the metamor- phic rocks were exposed at the surface along this belt, there is not much prospect of this proving a regular alluvial field, but rich surface patches of heavy specimen gold are certain to be found. " In the northern portion of the field is Golden Valley, the mines being situated in a small valley which runs north and south.

The rocks h(ere are very hard hornblende schists with small quartz reefs and lare ferruginous and jaspery quartz dykes, the former of which carry gold. Ihe quartz is of a granular character, often almost approaching a sandstcme, and contains in places large quantities of iron pyrites, while some of the small rich offshoots contain a great deal of copper pyrites. The lodes which have proved auriferous form three lines, the eastern and western being both small and poor in gold and, to judge from the formation, are probably legs or branches of the same lode, as the country here forms a sharp anti- clinal fold, the junction cap having been denuded. These reefs contain little mineral ; the gold is dis- seminated in a very finely divided state through the stone, but the reefs are rather too small in size to pay. The other line was discovered between these l wo at the centre of the valley and did not outcrop at the surface at all. It was immensely rich at the cap, which consisted mostly of gossan, often copper stained. This reef splits in two, one branch dipping west and one east. The eastern one seems the best formed and has been opened up to a considerable depth, where it consists of white quartz with pyrites, whilst in the country between the two branches there are numerous leaders containing a good deal of copper pyrites rich in gold. The eastern (western P) branch has been followed for a considerable depth and proved very rich, showing gold freely all the way down ; but it takes a most irregular course, turning and twisting about and apparently cutting out in places only to reappear again into a larger mass of stone. These reefs are undoubtedly rich and carry gold in depth, but owing to the hardness of the ground and the quantity of pyrites they contain will need to be richer than the reefs on the other part of the field in order to pay equally well. " Southern Cross is situated about thirty-five miles south of Golden Valley. There is here a series of reefs running more or less north and south, which appear to have been formed at different periods ; but without carefully mapping this district when it has been sufficiently opened out, it is impossible to express a positive opinion on this point ; for the present it is enough to say that there are three lines of true lodes, one white, one ferruginous, and one mullocky with quartz leaders, and one series of cross courses.

These true lodes apj)arently owe their origin to the great upheaval which has taken place on the eastern and western sides of this area, parallel to which they run, while the cross courses are due to a later intrusion of granite, masses of which stand out as bold, bare, isolated hills.

country is of comparatively slight elevation, con- sisting of low, thickly-timbered hills, flats, and clay- pans or lakes, the reefs for the most part appearing oa the low ridges, but in some cases they are visible on the edges of the lakes.

The rocks are chiefly hornblende schists, but micaceous, chloritic, and talcose schists also occur, wliile both ta the east and the west metamorphic and intrusive granites appear, and occasionally trap dykes are found. On the eastern side is the main line on which the principal riiines are situated. This lode is of large size, and the quartz is thoroughly mineralised, but does not contain any minerals which would interfere with the extraction of the gold. The general description of the lode mass is a large interbedded lode, well formed in the deeper ground, between two good walls, striking a little to the west of north, and dipping at an angle of about 80 degrees to the westward. The mass varies in width from 5 feet to 30 feet, but it rarely consists entirely of stone, especially in the larger portions, where a series of lenticular masses of quartz are met with, the rest of the lode being composed of broken country intermixed with veins and leaders of quartz. These quartz masses often extend aloug the line of the reef for 100 feet, and are generally the richest portion of the lode, and are some- times met with on the one wall and sometimes on the other. The stone is of a highly mineralised character, containing a small quantity of galena, pyrites, and chlorite, the latter often giving the stone a greenish appearance.

These reefs are often a good deal ironstained on the surface- with red clay partings and walls, the footwall being well formed, while there is at the upper part of the lode no hanging wall, but the reef splits uj) into numerous veins and leaders, which strike away into the country. The rich portions run in well-defined chutes, but it is also rich enough in gold throughout to pay if worked on a larger scale. At the northern end of this line the reef seems to split into two branches ; in the eastern one there is a good deal of serpentine, which is often very rich in gold. The stone from this line when crushed has always averaged one ounce to the ton of stone, so they have proved so far payable. The ferruginous line con- tains a large quantity of jasper, and some very rich specimens were found at the surface, but nothing much has yet been done to test this line in depth. The western line is evidently a decomposed dyke, and in one place contained some very rich stone in patches for a con- siderable depth, but little has been done on it yet. Larg& quantities of rich specimens were found along these

two last- mentioned lines at the start of the field, but the claims were abandoned either for want of funds or through bad management ; they should, however, be well worth jrospecting again. . " There is another rich patch of reef about forty miles south of Southern Cross on a small range of schistose rocks to the western side of a large clay-pan or salt swamp. There are several lines of reef, but most of the claims have been taken up on one which runs in a north and south direction, with a dip to the westward. This place is known as Parker's Range. The reefs contain more pyrites than those at Southern Cross, but this is only seen below the water level, for near the surface it is decomposed, thus liberating the gold, which shows freely in the stone. About five miles south there is another series of reefs which are, as a rule, small but well defined, carrying rich chutes or patches of gold. " Taken as a whole, the field has lately made great strides towards development. Up to the present all the reefs tested have proved good and promise a bright future for the Yilgarn Goldfield."

Extent of the Map. — The map of Southern Cross, vvhicli accompanies this report, embraces an area of about 41 square miles, extending about three and three-quarters miles north, five miles south, one and three-quarters miles east, and tliree miles west from the Southern Cross jost office. On this map are shown all geological boundaries, the positions of all existing leases, shafts, and surface workings, and the strike and dip of all reefs and ore bodies.

Geology of the District. — The following is a brief descrip- tion, based on personal observations, of the principal geological features of that portion of the Southern Cross district embraced within the boundaries of the accompanying map : —

General Topography. — Approaching Southern Cross by rail from the west, the country is uniformly flat and uninteresting to a point about a mile west of the Southern Cross railway station, where a ridge of low greenstone hills makes its appearance, trend- ing away in a general southerly direction ; beyond this point the country is again uniformly flat, except for a few small low bare ridges immediately behind the township. To the south and east the country continues flat and level indefinitely, but to the south- west it consists of the above-mentioned greenstone ridges, which extend almost uninterruptedly to Greenmount and on towards Blackbourne's. North of the railway line the whole country con- sists of level sandy plains, stretching northwards for miles and broken only in the vicinity of Hope's Hill by a low ridge of green- stone hills. Intermediate between Hope's Hill and the railway line is the large salt marsh known as Lake Koorkoordine, wliich at this point has an average width of from a quarter to half-a-mile, and

trends away on a eneral bearing about north-east and south-west. A long narrow arm of this marsii runs down across the railway and round behind the hills at the baciv of the Southern Cross township, and is here known as Lake Polaris.

General Geology.— Broadly speaking, the formations of Southern Cross can be divided into two divisions, the granites and the greenstones ; these latter being again subdivisible into two classes, the schists and the massive and foliated variety, of which the schists are for the most part found in close proximity to the granite, and apparently owe their existencte to the piessure pro- duced by the latter at the time of its intrusion. There is no hard- and-fast boundary between these schists and the massive green- stones and it is often very difficult to separate the latter from them owing to the fact that they (the massive greenstones) often present on the surface a schistose appearance which is due merely to weathering and only reaches a few inches below the surface. Intersecting the greenstones (generally the schists) and running parallel to the foliation are bands of haematite- quart zites, usually occurring as low, bare, rough ridges trending generally in a north- westerly and south-easterly direction. The greater ]>art of the area, under examination is covered by a considerable thickness of recent- superficial deposits.

The Recent Deposits. --These cover by far the rreater part of the area examined to depths varying from a few inches to probably as much as 100ft., and consist of the accumulated detritus from the older greenstones and granite ; where overlying and derived from the former they are of a fine, red clayey nature, but when derived from the granite they are much looser, more sandy, and lighter in colour, this difference in appearance being often the only guide as to the nature of the underlying rocks. The boun- daries between these superficial deposits and the outcropping rocks, as shown on the map, are for the most part only aproximate, as the point at which the former cease is very indefinite and is generally purely arbitrary.

The deposits of ironstone gravel (laterite) which form so noticeable a feature on ntost of the eastern goldfields are in this district conspicuous by their absence ; the only deposit in the whole of the area examined being a small one about half-a-mile to the east of the Greenmount gold mine ; this deposit occurs as the capping of a low hill and is very limited in extent and of poor quality.

The Granites. — Under the recent deposits to the north and east of the Southern Cross townsite is a large mass of apparently intrusive granite. The junction of this body with the greenstone schists can be followed in a roughly north-westerly direction through the town for about a mile, when it disappears beneath the recent deposits, re-appearing again in the neighbourhood of Hope's Hill when it continues to run on indefinitely on approximately the same bearing. To the south-east of the town the whole country is-

covered with a considerable thickness of recent deposits, but judgiiit bv the appearance of these the irranite continues indefinitely in this direction also. Small areas of greenstone schists can be seen caught up in this granite near the railway line, close to the western edge of Lake Polaris.

A section (-11), cut from a specimen [5633] of the main body taken from a spot about a quarter of a mile east of the railway station, when seen under the microscope, shows it to be a fairly fine-grained biotite variety consisting of —

(a.) Quartz, plentiful in clear, fair sized grains and lumps,

for the most part without signs of crystalline

boundaries.

(h.) Felspar, consider.ibly decomposed and clouded and occurring in large masses and imperfectly formed crystals ; it consists for the most part of orthoclase, but a fair amount of microcline is present as well.

(c.) Biotite, present in small irregular flakes, but not very abundant and considerably decomposed and altered.

(d.) Muscovite, a few small scattered colourless flakes of this mineral are present ; some of them appear to be due to alteration of the felspars.

(e.) Magnetite, occurring as scattered grains throughout the section.

The whole rock is somewhat weathered.

The granite, where found outcropping, is entirely of a massive nature, no schistose structure being anywhere visible. Acidic dykes run out in all directions from this main body into the greenstones ; these are rarely sten on the surface, but have been cut in the workings of several of the mines, notably in Fraser's and in Fraser's South Extended, in the former of which several dykes, ranging from a few inches to six or eight feet, were cut. These dykes differ some- what from the main body in that they are practically free from both biotite and muscovite, thus approaching aplite in composition. The felspars in them, too, consist for the most part of albite, which has assumed a radiating structure and forms the greater part of the rock ; thpy (the dykes) are, moreover, generally much coarser grained than the main body. A section (506) of a specimen [5626] of one of these dykes, taken from the lower wx>rkings of 'raser's G.M., seen under the microscope, shows it to consist of —

(a.) Felspar, forming the greater part of the section, and ' consisting almost entirely of albite in radiating groups of crystals. It is often considerably clouded, and a little saussurite is present, resulting from its decomposition.

(6.) Quartz, fairly plentiful in large irregular lumps and grains.

In addition to the above, a few small flakes of an indefinite brownish substance, which is probably altered biotite, are also present.

Several larsje dykes and masses of granite also occur along the road to Parker's Range, about ten miles from Southern Cross, but owing to the recent deposits which cover the greater part of the district, the relation of these to the main body could not be determined.

The Greenstones. — The group of rocks, comprising both massive and schistose varieties, to which the general term green- stone has been applied, is of by far the greatest economic importance of any in the district, as it is solely within them that the auriferous ore bodies occur. These rocks comprise the western portion of the area mapped, usually occurring in the form of low ridges, the low- lying and level country being generally covered by a considerable thickness of recent deposits. The full extent of the belt, either laterally or longitudinally, is not definitely known ; after extending laterally, i.e., westerly, for a few miles it entirely disappears beneath the surface deposits of the plains ; longitudinally it is known to extend southerly to Parker's Range and northerly to Hope's Hill, and indefinitely beyond these limits in a roughly south-easterly and north-westerly direction.

The rocks have been divided on the map into two classes, (a) the schists and (b) the massive and foliated variety ; between these there is no hard-and-fast boundary, the former gradually passing into and being merely a highly altered form of the latter ; more- over, it is often difficult to distinguish between them owing to the fact that at the surface the foliated variety often weathers into the form of schists, this weathering as a rule only reaching a few feet below the surface.

The schists are for the most part found in juxtaposition to the granite, and evidently owe their existence to the presence of the latter ; the main body of them has an average width of about a mile, and runs in a north-westerly direction alongside the granite, the schistosity being parallel to its junction with the latter.

It is within this belt of schists that most of the auriferous quartz reefs occur, as well as the parallel bands of hsematite-bearing quartzites which form so conspicuous a feature immediately behind the town. A section (509) of a specimen [5630] t)f these schists, taken from a spot about a quarter of a mile south of the railway station, when seen under the microscope, shows it to consist of small crystals and grains of hornblende and felspar, the former being a pale green variety, very little altered, while the felspars are principally plagioclase; the section is cut parallel to the schistosity, which is therefore not visible. A second section (504) of a specimen [562i] taken from the vicinity of Hope's Hill shows the greater part of the hornblende altered into chlorite, while in addition a considerable quantity of magnetite is present.

The massive and foliated variety form the more western portion of the belt and occupy a far greater area than do the schists, being especially prominent in the south-western portion of the district examined, where they form a series

of low ridges having a general trend slightly west of north. These massive rocks vary considerably both in their microscopic and macroscopic properties, passing in all stages from an exceedingly coarse-grained hornblende rock into the fine-grained chlorite schists mentioned above. The commonest type is a coarse-grained greenish rock, sometimes showing con- siderable foliation, sections of which show it to vary from an almost pure hornblende rock (amphibolite) to one very closely resembling a diorite in its microscopic properties ; in hand specimens these two classes of rock appear to be absolutely indentical. A section (508) of a sample [5329] of the former variety taken from near the south corner peg of G.M.L. 306 shows it to consist almost entirely of pale green hornblende, with a little colourless augite and a few small grains of felspar and numerous minute crystals of ilmenite scattered throughout it : sections of other samples [6820], [562?], [5627] show it to consist principally of pale green hornblende in large masses and small crystals and flakes, frequently considerably altered, together with a few fair-sized imperfectly-formed crystals and grains of plagioclase, and a great deal of ilmenite which for the most part lias been altered into leucoxene ; in addition to these a few small crystals of colourless to pale brown augite are also present. A finer-grained specimen [5625] showing considerable schistosity, and taken from the lower levels of Eraser's G-.M. from the area marked on the majD as occupied by the schists, and being apparently an intermediate variety between the two classes, is seen under the microscope to consist practically entirely of augite in large crystals and masses considerably altered in parts into a greenish -brown chloritoid substance, together with a large amount of magnetite which occurs for the most part in grains arranged along the cleavage planes of the augite. This appears to be the oriiinal rock from which the schists and a good part of the ampliibolites have been derived.

Farther to the south-west, in the vicinity of G.M.L. 274, is a coarse-grained dark massive rock [5821] approaching very closely to a typical diorite, and which appears to pass gradually into the typical amphibolite mentioned above; a section (502) of this rock shows it to consist of —

(a.) Hornblende, of two varieties, the first being the pale green common variety, occurring in large iiregular masses and small scattered flakes ; and the second a blueish-green very strongly pleochroic vaiiety (arfvedsonite), occuring in radiating fibrous aggre- gates ; the pale green variety is considerably chloritised in parts.

(&.) Plagioclase, in large imperfectly formed crystals and grains, much clouded from the presence of alteration products.

(c.) IVTagnetite, present in large lumps and scattered grains, and apparently resulting from the alteration of the hornblende.

((/.) Apatite, occurring as numerous small hexagonal crystals.

The hornblende and felspars are present in about equal proportions, and the rock shows no signs of foliation.

Anotlier and apparently dilt'erent variety occurs in the neigh- bourhood of the Greenmount G.M. ; a section (510) of the specimen [563lj of this rock taken from the dump of an abandoned shaft on G-.M.L. 375, shows it to be a quartz-diorite consisting of —

(a.) Horneblende, very abundant in large irregular masses and scattered Hakes and consisting for the most part of arfvedsouite, a blueish-green variety showing intense pleochroism.

{b.) Plagioelase, fairly plnitiful in fair-sized lumps and and irregular crystals ; it is a good deal clouded and altered.

(c.) Quartz, in small scattered grains and lumps. (d.) Magnetite, plentiful in good sized masses and scattered grains throughout the section. An analysis of this rock made in the Departmental Laboratory shows its chemical composition to be as follows: —

Silica, SiO ,

52-70 per cent.

Alumina, Al.,03

Ferric oxide, Fe.Og

Ferrous oxide, FeO

Manganese protoxide, MnO ...

Lime, CaO

Magnesia, MgO

(3-39

Potash, K.,0

Soda, Na.O

Titanic oxide, TiO. 3

Sulphur y S2

Pyrites

Iron ) Fe

Water (hygroscopic), H„0

Water (combined), H.,0

Carboni(; anhydride, CO

Total

99*53 „

Specific gravity

No outcrop of this rock is visible on the surface and it appears to be of later age than the surrounding amphibolites, and is probably an intrusive dyke or mass that has been cut in the now abandoned underground workings.

Taking everything into consideration, it has been deemed advisable to map all these rocks together, and to distinguish them on the map bv one colour under the Jieading " massive and foliated greenstones," as, with the exception mentioned above, there appears to be little doubt but that they are merely local variations of one and the same rock.

The Haematite-bearing Quartzites.* — These are similar to the haematite- heciriuf quartzites of the Murchison, and other parts of Western Australia which have already been described in detail in earlier Bulletinsf as " old fault or joint lines, along wliich

the greenstones hive been highly foliated and by a

gradual lode-form in;jC process been converged into their present state."

The greatest development of them is found immediately behind the town, where they occur as a series of low bare ridges, rising to a height of 50 or 60 feet and consisting of a series of parallel bars ranging from a few feet to over a chain in width.

They are almost invariably found within tlie area of the green- stone schists, following the general sti'ike and dip of these ; only in one or two isolated cases have small irregular bands been found occurring within the massive rocks, and these extend for only short distances, whereas in the schists they can be followed in a broken line foi- a length of over a mile. They vary considerably in their appearance and composition, one outcrop in a small area of schists a little to the north of the town consisting of almost pure banded quartz, whilst in the more typical variety occurring south of the town a large amount of haematite and magnetite is present, in addition to the quartz, in parallel alternating bands ; two partial analyses made in the Departmental Laboratory of typical specimens of this latter variety gave results as follows : —

[5635] [5636]

Silica 50'12 percent. ... 41-55 percent.

Metallic Iron 33-67 „ ... 37-04

Sulphur -087 „ ... '064 „

Phosphorus -072 „ ... -187

Water (hygroscopic) ... 03 „ ... -26 „

Water (combined) ... -50 „ ... 3 37 „

[5635] is from G.M.L. 505.

[5636J is from G.M.L. 506. Both are from surface outcrops. In some cases large masses of quartz are associated with these quartzite bars and when this happens they are usually auriferous, as in the Haddon G.M. (late Grolden Pig G.IVI.), where several parallel bars have been successfully worked for some time past ; in others small brecciated quartz veins are found running alongside the bars, and these frequently carry payable quantities of gold, while the bars themselves are perfectly blank or at most carry only traces of gold.

Character of the Ore Deposits.— As has been before stated, the auriferous reefs of the district are, without exception, found to occur only within the greenstone belt, and though there are several fair-sized reefs in the granite country these carry only the very slightest trace of gold.

The name " quartzite," though obviously a misnomer, has been loosely applied to this class of formation for want of a more suitable name. Vide Bulletin IJ- of the Geological Survey. (C.G.G.)

t Bulletins Nos. 8 and 14. G ological Survey. Perth : By Authority, 1903.

Of those occurring within the greenstones the ones found in the schists are invariably the largest and best defined, and in almost every case tend to foUow tlie planes of foliation of the enclosing rock. They can in several cases be followed on the surface for very considerable distances, as, for example, Eraser's Reef and Hope's Hill Reef, the former of which can be traced for about a mile and a-half, and the latter for about three-quarters of a mile ; both of these reefs are of immense size, that at Hope's Hill being- over 100 feet in width at one spot, while Fraser's is about 40 feet, and they appear to consist of several separate reefs, with thin clay partings, rather than one large solid reef.

The reefs in the massive greenstones are, oenerally speaking, smaller and moie irregular than those in the schists, though one or two very large ones are known to occur, viz., the Transvaal lode, which outcrops for a distance of nearly three-quarters of a mile, and at one spot attains a width of over 20 feet, and the Grreenmount (United Australia) lode, which outcrops for nearly a cpiarter of a mile and has a maximum thickness of about 30 feet ; they have, however, for the most part the same general trend as those in the schists, viz., about north-north-west and south-south-east.

Both classes of reef consist for the most part of hard white quartz, generally considerably ironstained in the upper levels, and carry considerable quantities of pyrites in depth, this being specially the case in the Greenmount reef, which is very heavily mineralised below 140 feet ; in Fraser's South Extended mineralisation starts at a depth of about 280 feet and is very heavy below this point ; in Fraser's it also starts at about this depth. Most of the reefs in the district have a somewhat lenticular form, this being es|)ecially so in the case of that at Hope's Hill which pinches out and makes again both horizontally and vertically; Fraser's South Extended lode has this characteristic too in a very marked degree, so also has the Greenmount reef.

So far as permanence in depth is concerned, from the evidence obtainable there is no reason to anticipate anything else than that the reefs will continue to live to a considerable depth. So far no work has been done in this district below a vertical depth of about 400 feet.

Alluvial Gold. — Very little alluvial gold has been obtained in this district ; a small but fairly rich patch has been worked, however, on the flat below the old Central mine ; this has been apparently worked out. The gold in this patch was probably derived from small rich leaders associated with the main reef.

Water. — The water met with in the mines throughout the district is salt and is generally very abundant, especially in those mines situated near the edge of the lake, where the water level is only a few feet below the surface; in Fraser's South Extended it is being pumped out at the rate of 287,000 gallons per 24 hours. The water from the mines is in most cases being used for crushing purposes, but is unsuitable for cyaniding or for use in the boilers.

The following are two analyses made in the Departmental Laboratory of samples of water from the State Battery supply, taken from close to the edge of the salt lake : —

G.S.L. 36B. Water from Eace.

G.S.L. 35B. Water from Dam.

Sodium chloride ... Magnesium chloride Magnesium sulphate Calcium sulphate... Calcium bicarbonate Magnesium bicarbonate ... Silica

Alumina and iron oxide ...

per ceat.

grains per

gallon. 17,129-812 3,319-505 1,914-234

per cent.

grains per gallon.

14,803-88 5,192-16 2,967-81

Total

28-933 1 22,439-354

22,985-28

Specific gravity ...

The town depends for its water upon the Goldfields ater Supply, with which it is counected.

Timber. — Timber is plentiful throughout the district, and is of good size and quality.

The Mines.

Mining operations on the larger properties were fairly quiet at the time of my visit, but there were a considerable number of small sh(ws taking out stone which was being sent to the State Battery and other public crushers. The following is a brief description of such of these mines as I was able to examine : —

Hope's Hill G.M. Co., G.M.Ls. 19, 52, etc.— This property is situated some three and a-half miles north-Avest of the Southern Cross townsite. The present workings consist of a main shaft, sunk to a depth of 210 feet, from which drives have been put in along the reef at the 80 and 165-foot levels, that at the 165-foot being 1,800 feet in length (1,300 feet south and 500 feet north), nearly the wliole of this block being stoped out up to the surface for an average width of about 17 feet.

The reef, which varies in width from eight to nearly 30 feet, con- sists of laminated white quartz with narrow clay partings between the laminations, and underlies steeply to the west ; only the stone on the footwall side has been taken out, a large body of stone of very low grade being left on the hanging wall along the whole length of the reef. A little to the north of the main shaft a crosscut has been put in westerly at the 80-foot level for a distance of 150 feet ; this crosscut, for its entire length, is in lode matter consisting of alternating thin layers of quartz and greenstone schist, and carrying a small amount of gold throuirhout, but not in sufficient quantity to pay for working. The reef pinches out and gets very broken at

the south end of the workino:s, and here is pinching out vertically as well as laterally, for in the 160-foot level there are only a few inches of stone while in the 80-foot level vertically above this point there is about 20 feet of stone ; in all probability a further make of stone will be found at a slightly greater depth. The stone below the 160-foot level along the whole length of the reef is very low grade and too poor to pay working expenses ; at the north end of the workings it is also getting very poor in the upper levels. The country consists of very soft decomposed greenstone schist, and as the main shaft is sunk on the top of a hill some 80 feet in height,, no water has so far been met with.

Hope's Hill GM. Co., G.M.Ls. 19, 52, 2S8, 360.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average ton.

Previous to 1897

29,02800

10,157-00

35

72

2,14000

44

14,965 00

3,101-90

21

2,308-75

14,000-00

4,506-36

32

28,212-00

t 7,214-60

Total

88,77600

28,561-62

32

By cyanide. t Includes 2,290-67ozs. by cyanide.

Eraser's G.M. (British and Foreign Development Svndicate) G.M.Ls. 18; 29; 279; 505/6; 509.~A very large well-defined quartz . reef runs through this property, and can be followed through it and the adjoining leases in a north-north-westerly direction for over a mile. This was one of the first reefs \yorked in the district and a lot of work has been done on it in the past over a considerable length down to a depth of about 300 feet ; at the time of my visits however, very little work was being done and the lower levels were full of water. Several other parallel reefs also run through the- property, one a large white barren quartz reef lying a few chains to the east of the main body, and the others smaller ones which have been cut in the lower workings and which do not come to the surface ; all these reefs dip to the westward at an angle of about 60 degrees. .

li-to., 0. G. Gibson ] PLATE II. [Governme,d Photo. LIflio.

L Fraser's Soutli and Fraser's South Extended G-.Ms.

The main line, or Eraser's Reef, has an average thickness of about 20 feet, ranging from 10 to as much as 40 feet, and consists of white laminated quartz, presenting somewhat the appearance of several reefs rather than one main one, and having in places a good deal of schistose matter associated with it ; in the upper levels it is considerably ironstained as a result of the decomposition of pyrites which is fairly plentiful below the 200-fo()t level. The values of this reef vary considerably, a great part of it being too low grade to pay for working, the best values being at present found at the south end where the reef appears to be im].roving in depth. An offshoot on the footwall side of this reef afforded a considerable quantity of fairly rich stone in the early <lays, but it is now almost worked out ; this off'shoot was between 400 and 500 feet in length, and was about 30 feet to the east of the main reef, uniting with it at about the 250-foot level and extending upwards for from 50 to 100 feet ; it was very irregular in size, ranging from a few feet to as much as 20 in places, and on the whole was considerably richer than the main body.

Fig. I.

CROSS SECTION OFFRASERSREEF.FRASERS G.M.HALf WAYBWEIN

Shafts I Ah

Scale, 100 feet to 1 inch.

What is known as Sholl's Reef lies about 100 feet to the east of Eraser's and runs parallel to it, dipping at the same angle to the westward ; this reef was first met with in the crosscut at the 200 feet level, as it pinches out a little above this, and on the whole its values have been better than those of the main nef. It consists of white quartz, accompanied by a good deal of schistose formation, and has an average width of from 10 to 12 feet, but is very irregular, being at one place as much as 40 feet across. The quartz, which invariably carries the best values, occurs in hi.rge irregular lenticular masses, sometimes fill.'ng the whole s)>ace between the walls, and at others pinching out to almost nothing.

Fig. II.

CROSS SECTION AT N?3 SHAFT FRASERS S.hG.M

Scale, 200 feet to 1 inch .

The reef, which outcrops a few chains to the east of Eraser's appears to be the largest of them all, but it coutained practically not a trace of gold on the surface and so has not been opened up at all in the deeper workings. All these reefs are crossed by a large east-and-west fault a few hundred feet north of the main shaft ; this fault dips to the south at an angle of about 45 degrees and throws the reefs to the westward for a distance of some 60 feet.

Fig. III.

SECTION AT N''2SHAFT SHEWING POSinON OF FAUlTiGRANITt DYKES

Frasers S.M

Scale, 200 feet to 1 inch

The zone of oxidation throughout the workings extends to a vertical depth of about 180 feet, and considerable quantities of sulphide are present below this level. Water (salt) is very abundant, especially in the upper levels where it comes in everywhere through the rotten country ; the lower workings are somewhat drier, the water coming in for the most part along the walls of the lode.

The country consists of greenstone schists, very soft and decom- posed in the upper workings but becoming very hard and settled i)elow the 200-foot level. Several granitic dykes are met with in the workings, running across the country in a roughly east-and-west direction, and cutting through the reefs without however displacing them in any way.

British and Foreign Development Syndicate G.M.Ls. 13, 29, 279, 503 (6, 509.

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

Total

22,136-00 14,712-00 1,759-50

17,870-33 12.997-83 5,048-70

80

81

38,607*50

35,916*86

93

Includes 3,786*55ozs. by cyanide. Fraser's G.M. Co., Ltd., G.M.L. 13.

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

Previous to 1897

Total

58,123-00 20,552-00 22,900-00 23,870-00 24,703-00 1,62300

35,959-85 9,934-32 9,072-33 8,757-30

13,054-89 1,880-50

62 48 39 36 53

151,77100

78,65919

51

Fraser's South G.M. Co., Ltd., G.M.L. 29.

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

Previous to 1897

Total

39,478-00 8,75500

21,35500 4,802-67

54 54

48,233 00

28,157-67

54

Central G.M. Co., Ltd., G.M.L. 279.

Year. .

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per

Previous to 1897

37,43200

20,043-11

53

1,122-45

'28

67

1,208-00

43

1,086-00

3,333-81

1,494-50

Total

44,95800

27,148*81

60

Eraser's South Extended G.M.Ls. 256, 496. — This pro- jerty is working on a lode running parallel to and slightly to the west of the main line of reef being worked in Fraser's and Eraser's. South, The workings consist of two main shafts sunk to a vertical depth of 300 feet, and drives put in along the lode at the 100, 200, 250, and 300-foot levels, and stoping from these levels, the two shafts being connected at the 250ft. level. At the 300-foot level the drive is in 220 feet north and 120 feet south, and stoping has been carried up for about 30 feet. The lode, which dips westerly at an angle of about 70 degrees, is here about 40 feet wide, but has only been worked for a width of about 17 feet on the foot wall side ; it consists of a belt of very much foliated greenstone highly impreg- nated with quartz, which sometimes occurs in very large bodies. Below the 280-foot level sulphides begin to make their appearance, and are present in considerable quantity below this depth ; the actual junction between the oxidised and sulphide ore is very sharply defined, and dips southerly at a very flat angle. The footwall of the lode is very regular and well defined, but the hanging wall is not so good ; the country on both sides consists of a hard, fine-grained, considerably foliated greenstone. A very large quantity of water comes in at, and above, the 280-foot level, principally along the footwall of the reef, and it is, as usual, extremely salt.

250 Foot Level. — This drive is in 220 feet south and the same distance north, at which point the lode pinches out ; it (the lode) is exactly the same in appearance as in the lower level, and is from 20 to 30 feet in width in the stopes ; wa.ter is, if anything, more abundant ; the lode has been stoped out for the whole length of the drive up to the 200-foot level ; the country is still very hard.

200 Foot Level. — The drive at this level is in 185 feet north and 250 feet south ; the lode peters out a little above this level and does not reach the surface ; it has been stoped out up to the point at which it cuts out, viz., about 30 feet above the drive ; the country begins to get soft at this level, and is very rotten and broken above it. A good deal of work has been done above this level apparently on a small parallel lode, but the workings have been abandoned for some time past, and I was unable to examine them.

The ore body at present being worked consists merely of a large lense of ore pinched out to nothing at the northern end, but as far as opened up, still continuing southerly. The following figures show the mode of occurrence of this ore body.

Fia. IV.

CROSS SECTION Of LODE AT SSHAFT. FRASERS S'?*EX G.M

Fig. V.

l|.AN OF LODE AT 250'LEVEl.

One or two small parallel lodes occur a little to the west of the main body ; these where cut have proved of very low grade, and no work has been done on any of them. What is apparently a con- tinuation of the main lode has been picked up in a shaft on the adjoining property to the south, but no work was done on it, as the water came in very strongly when the lode was struck, and the workings had to be abandoned owing to the want of suitable pump- ing machinery. The values of the main ore body are somewhat patchy and irregular, this being especially the case in the upper levels, where some })retty rich stone was obtained at the north end of the workings. The water in the main workings is very heavy, and at present is being pumped out at the rate of about 287,000 gallons

per day ; it is extremely salt, but is suitable for battery purposes. Several granite dykes run through this property in a general east- and-west direction; they are similar to those met with in Fraser's G.M., and are not seen on the surface, but are cut in the workings below.

Fraser's South Extended G.M. Co., 256, 496.

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per

1,590-18 8,550-00

7,280-00 15,626-00

1,824-55 *532 15 2,303-95 t 6,212-30

72

31

Total

33,16618

17,298*90

52

By cyanide. f Includes 1,239-83 ozs. by cyanide.

Haddon Gr.M.L. 552 (late Golden Pig). — Three parallel bands of haematite-bearing quartzites run through this property in a north-westerly and south-easterly direction, with a steep underlie to the westward, A good deal of work has been done on the most eastern of these, and several shafts were sunk on it, the deepest to a depth of 200 feet. These workings are, however, at present abandoned, and a little work is now being done on the middle bar on which a shaft has been sunk to a depth of 50 feet and drives put in at this level along the bar for a distance of 60 feet south and about 30 feet north, and a little stoping done. The bar is about 40 feet in width, and carries a little gold right across. A lot of quartz is associated with it in veins and masses, and this as a rule carries the best gold. The other bars, which on the surface appear to be about the same size, are from one to two chains to the east and west respectively. All the bars are crossed by a north- east and south-west fault, about 30 feet to the north of the present main shaft. This fault dips to the south-east, and throws the bars slightly to the north-east. The water-level is about 100 feet.

Haddon G.M.L. 552 (late Golden Pig G.M.Ls. 2S0, 253).

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

Total

1,044-00 2,015-35

31 27

32 28

3,944'35

1,15473

29

PLATE xY. IGovernment Photo. Litlw.

Hope's Hill G.M. and Reduction Works.

Lord Cardigan G.M.L. 613, — The lode at present being- worked on this property consists of a mixture of quartz and iron- stone, about two feet in width, running along the western side of a quartzite bar, and dipping it, in the upper levels steeply to the east, and in the lower steeply to the west. The bar itself, which is the most westerly of a series, and runs on a bearing about north- west and south-east, is exceedingly hard and compact, and as far as tested carries only a slight trace of gold. Two shafts have been sunk on the lode, the more northern to a depth of 100 feet and the other about 50 feet ; work is at present being carried out from the former of these two shafts at about the 30-foot level, where about, 100 feet of driving and a little stoping have been done ; a block about 50 feet in length has also been taken out between the 50-foot and 30-foot levels ; little or no work has been done below 50 feet. The country as far as opened up is very soft, and consists of a very decomposed greenstone schist. Up to the end of 1903 this mine had crushed 70 00 tons for 20*41 ounces, being at the rate of 29 ounce per ton.

Eeward G.M.L. 529. — Three underlay shafts have been put down on this lease, the middle one to a depth of 120 feet and the others to 100 feet ; from this middle shaft 350 feet of driving has been done along the lode at the 100-foot level and about the same at the 50 feet ; practically no stoping has been done to date. The lode, which consists of a mixture of quartz and chlorite schist, with the quartz largely predominating, is from 15 to 24 inches in width, and dips at an angle of about 75 degrees to the westward ; it runs on a bearing about 30 degrees west of north and is very regular in size, the footwall being very good, but the hanging wall is not so good. The gold contents of the reef vary, some patches being extremely rich while others again are just the reverse ; these rich patches are small and irregular. The country is very soft down to water level (120 feet) and consists of greenstone schists, the lines of foliation running parallel to the strike of the reef.

Reward G.M.L. 529.

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

840-90

Total

1*24

Includes 211ozs. dollied and specimens.

Transvaal Gr.M.L. 536. — A large quartz reef runs through this property on an approximately north and south bearing ; it is somewhat irregular in size, varying from six to as much as 20 feet in width, and consists, near the surface, of a very much iron-stained

quartz ; its dip is very nearly vertical, being, if anything, a little to the east. Three shafts have been sunk on it to the water level (60 feet), and from the most northerly of these about 80 feet of driving have been done along the reef, but little or no stoping ; practically no work has been done from either of the others. The principal workings on the property consist of a large open cut about 200 feet in length and 20 feet deep. Throughout this cut the reef averaged about eight feet in width, bulging near tlie south end to about 20 feet ; about eight feet of this on each wall carried fair gold, but the centre four feet were absolutely blank. On the whole the gold con- tents of the reef are fairly uniform. The country is very soft and rotten down to water level, and the water is, as usual, salt.

Transvaal G.M.L, 536 (616).

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Averaare oz. ) er ton.

33

31

33

Total

1,46100

463*85

32

Sunbeam G.M.L. 550. — The workings on this lease are on a quartz reef running almost due north and south. The main working shaft is down 60 feet, and drives have been put in along the reef at this level for 90 feet north and 60 feet south, and a little stoping done ; a winze has also been sunk to a further depth of 20 feet ; a second shaft has also been sunk on the reef to a depth of 50 feet, but no work has been done from it. The reef, as far as opened up, is fairly regular, ranging in width from two to four feet, but it pinches out to almost nothing at the north end of the lease ; it also pinches as it goes south, but makes again at the south end of the lease, where it is ;igain about four feet ; its gold contents, too, are somewhat variable ; it is practically vertical, and consists of very much iron-stained quartz.

The country is very soft and rotten, but so far no water has been met with.

A second large parallel reef runs through the lease near the south-east corner ; a shaft has been sunk on this to a depth of about 20 feet but no further work has been done on it.

Up to the end of 1903 this property had crushed 24:0-00 tons of stone for a yield of 84-74 ounces, being at the rate of '35 ounce per ton.

EoYAL George G-.M.L. 565. — This mine is working on the same line of reef as the Sunbeam. Two shafts have been sunk to a depth of 57 feet, and 200 feet of drivino-, mostly south, has been done alon the reef at this level and about half this block stoped out. A winze has also been sunk a further distance of 50 feet. So far no water has been met with. The reef, as in the adjoining property, is somewhat irregular, varying from two to four feet and is rapidly pinching out at the south end of the drive, its gold con- tents too are very patchy. A little schistose formation is found on each side of the quartz in the lower levels, but this, however, does not carry sufficient gold to pay for crushing.

Up to the end of 1903 this property had crushed 367-00 tons for a yield of 189-00 ounces, being at the rate of '51 ounce per ton.

St. George G.M.L. 564. — Two shafts have been sunk on this lease, about two chains apart, on a quartz reef running north and south, the most northerly to a depth of 75 feet and the other to a depth of about 50 feet ; these two shafts are connected by a drive at the 50-foot level and a little stoping has been done between this and the surface; a crosscut has also been put in westerly from near the northern shaft for a distance of 150 feet ; at 180 feet from the shaft a second reef was cut, which is here about 18 inches in width, and appears to be a continuation of the Transvaal reef ; a few chains farther north on the surface it is about 12 feet in width and of very low grade. The reef being worked is very regular as far as opened up, being from three to four feet in width ; it is, however, pinching out rapidly at the south end. The gold contents, as is the case in most of the reefs in this locality, vary considerably, the gold being for the most part found in short irregular chutes.

The stone crushed from this property up to the end of 1903 was 97'00 tons for 38-95 ounces, being an average of -41 ounce per ton.

Greenmount Gold Mines G.M.L. 503. — Several shafts have been sunk on this property to a depth of 100 feet, and several winzes put down from the bottom level for a further distance of 50 feet to water level ; at the 100-foot level about 700 feet of driving has been done along the reef and about 100 feet at the 50-foot level, but no stoping has been done. At present the owners are engaged in sinking a new main underlay shaft, which at the time of my visit was down about 50 feet. The reef, which dips steeply towards the west, as opened up in the 1 00-foot level, consists of very iron- stained rubl'Jy quartz and is very irregular, being anythinsf from six to 30 feet in width ; just at the main shaft it is about 30 feet, but pinches in the north end of the drive to about two feet, while in the south end it is about eight feet. Water was struck at 150 feet, and so far is fairly good. Sulphides come in at from 140 to 145 feet, the stone being very heavily mineralised below this level. Tlie country gets very hard and settled at water level, and consists of a very coarse-grained massive greenstone.

Greenmount G.Ms., Ltd. (late United Australia G.M.L. 508).

Year.

Tons of ore

Ozs. of gold

Average-

treated.

therefrom.

ton.

13

28

75

Total

160'35

32

Lord Roberts G.M.L. — Two small reefs have been worked on this property. The old workings consist of two shafts, one 50 feet to water and the other about 20 feet, connected by an incline drive 130 feet in length, from which a little stoping has been done. The reef at this shallow depth is very broken and mullocky and varies from one to five feet in width and is very low grade.

The present worknigs are on a similar parallel reef about two chains to the east, and consist of a shaft sunk to a depth of about 80 feet, at which level about 40 feet of driving and a little stoping have been done ; this reef is also somewhat irregular and bunchy ; in the south face it is from three to four feet in width and in the north four to five feet. Both reefs run nearly north and south and dip steeply to the eastward. Water was struck at about 50 feet in the old shaft, and as usual is extremely salt.

Up to the end of 1903 the crushings from this property were 30 00 tons for 6' 70 ounces, being at the rate of '22 ounce per ton.

Imperial South G.M.L. — The main shaft on this property is down about 100 feet, at which depth a little work has been done on a small north and south quartz reef ; this reef varies from a few inches up to two feet, but extends for no distance ; it occurs in a narrow band of greenstone schists. At the time of my visit the workings were abandoned.

The Country between Southern Cross and Parker's Range

(35 miles S.S.E.).

After leaving Southern Cross the road passes over level country, covered with a considerable thickness of recent superficial deposits through which rise occasional outcrops of greenstone ; near the 10-mile peg is one of these outcrops, traversed by several large granitic dykes; from here the flats continue nninterruptedly to Cockatoo Kocks, at which i>oint there is a large outcrop of granite. The junction of this granite with the greenstones, judging from the a})])earance of the overlying deposits, would appear to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of the 20-mile peg, and after crossing the

road at this point runs southerly a mile or so to the eastward of it. From Cockatoo Rocks sandy plains continue to Mount Cordan, where the country beiins to get more hilly and broken, and consists of foliated and schistose greenstones traversed by numerous belts of haematite-bearing quartzites which run in a general north and south direction. This class of country continues to some distance beyond Parker's Range. About half a-mile to the east of the Parker's Range Hotel is a fair sized salt lake or marsh (dry) extending in an approximately north-east and south-west direction for several miles, and being from half to one mile in width. Over the greater part of the bed of this lake is from one to two feet of fine powdery gypsum, for the most part mixed with the red clay washed down from the surrounding hills. On the eastern side of the lake is a large deposit of this material in a very much purer state, about half a mile in length and a hundred yards or so in width, in the form of a low ridge some 15 to 20 feet in height. This substance was locally believed to be kieselguhr (diatomaceous earth), which it very much resembles in appearance.

Parker's Range.

Mining operations at Parker's Range were very quiet at the time of my visit, the Blue Hill Mine being almost the only one which was being systematically worked ; one or two others were being worked in a spasmodic manner by small parties, but generally speaking, mining operations were at a standstill. Most of the reefs I was able to examine were very irregular and broken in the soft country above water level, but these would probably improve at a depth in the harder and more settled country ; several, however, of the reefs which have been worked are very regular, well defined, and of considerable size.

On the whole I am of opinion that there are several mines at Parker's Range now abandoned which if worked in a systematic manner would yield handsome returns.

The following is a brief description of such of the mines in the district as I was able to examine : —

Oloa G-.M.L. 266. — Three small quartz reefs run through this property on a bearing slightly west of north and east of south and parallel to two small quartzite bars which lie a couple of chains to the west ; these reefs, as far as could be seen, vary in size from a mere thread to about two feet, and consist merely of a series of short lenses of quartz ; they dip at an angle of about 45 degrees to the westward. Four shafts have been put down on the lease, two vertical ones on the western reef to a depth of 100 feet and one underlay on each of the eastern reefs to a depth of from 60 to 80 feet. Very little work however appears to have been done from any of these shafts and at the time of my visit the property was abandoned.

Triumph G.M.L. 532. — Four shafts have been sunk on this property, all to a depth of 100 feet; the most northern of these was used as the main working shaft, and a good deal of work has been done from it above the 60-foot level, while at the 100-foot level about 100 feet of driving has been done along the reef, and a winze has also been sunk a further distance of 40 feet. The reef, which dips steeply to the west, at the main shaft has an average width of about four feet, but in the upper levels is very bunchy, varying from a few inches to as much as 12 feet; a little south of the main shaft it appears to split into three branches and to pinch out, but no elfort has been made to follow it beyond the point where it splits ; in a couple of shafts sunk a chain or two farther south nothing was met with beyond a few small quartz leaders. In the workings north of the main shaft the reef is much more regular and defined. Water (salt) is met with in apparently fairly large quantities at about 100 feet. The country consists of a considerably foliated greenstone and gets very hard at about 80 feet. Up to the end of 1903 the crushings from this property were 248*00 tons for 94'55 ounces, giving an average of '38 ounce per ton.

GrORDON Highlander G-.M.L. 528 (491). — There are five reefs on this property running on a general bearing slightly east of north and west of south ; of these the four easterly ones are small, and consist of a series of parallel quartz lenticles dipping at a fairly flat angle to the south ; these lenticles are generally about four feet in their widest part, and pinch out to a mere thread both horizontally and vertically, varying considerably in their length ; they underlie at an angle of about 45 degrees to the westward. The other reef is two or three chains farther west and runs parallel to the others and alongside a good sized quartzite bar dipping with it to the westward. A good deal of work of a rather irregular nature has been done on this property down to water level (100 feet), but like most of the others in the district it was abandoned at the time of my visit.

Gordon Highlander G.M.L. 528 {491).

Year.

Tons of ore treated -

Ozs. of g:old therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

83

Total

Iio'Oo

95

Gordon Highlander North (Carlyle G-.M.L. 216). — A good deal of work has been done on this property on a fair sized quartz reef running along the western side of a large quartzite bar which runs through the lease on a bearing slightly east of north and west of south, this being the continuation of the western reef mentioned in the description of the preceding property. The main shaft has been sunk to a depth of 140 feet, but all the work has been done

between the 100-foot level and the surface ; the reef, which is on the hangino wall side of the bar and dips with it at an anjle of about 50 deijrees to the westward, is from three to four feet in width and fairly regular ; it can be followed on the surface for a considerable distance. The quartzite bar, which is of the usual haematite-bearing variety, carries a small amount of gold, but not sufficient to pay for working. The country, as far as opened up, is very soft and broken, consisting of a very decomposed foliated greenstone. Water (salt) was met with a little below 100 feet.

According to the official returns, the crushings from this property (Oarlyle G.M.L., '216) amount to 36-00 tons for 58'75ozs., being at the rate of r63ozs. per ton.

Macintosh G. M.L. 518. — Several shafts have been sunk on this property to a depth of 120 feet, and a lot of work has been done from them. The general trend of the reef is about north-east and south-west, with an underlay of about 60 degrees to the west; at its northern end it is very much contorted and bent, and takes a series of sharp zig-zag turns varying from 20 to 100 feet in length ; it varies in size somewhat, but has an average width of from two to three feet, and consists of clean white quartz. A number of granitic dykes run through the lease in varying directions and cut through the reef in several places, the contorted nature of the latter being apparently due to their presence. These dykes are for the most part very coarse grained, and consist principally of felspar and quartz, with here and there bunches of scaly mica (muscovite) ; the felspar is the predominating mineral and occurs in large imperfectly -formed crystals often several inches in length ; an analysis of a sample [5368], niade in the Departmental Laboratory, shows it to be orthoclase, having the following composition : —

Silica, SiO

6t--79 per cent.

Lime, CaO

Magnesia, MgO

Iron peroxide, Fe.Og

... Trace.

Alumina, Al.Og

Combined water

Hygroscopic water

'13

Titanic oxide, TiO 2

Soda, Na.,0

Potash, K.,0

Total

99 03 „

Specific gravity

The country rock consists of greenstone schists, becoming very hard in the lower levels.

Up to the end of 1903 the official returns show the crushings from this property to have been 29 00 tons for 17'17ozs., being at the rate of 59oz. per ton.

Blue Hill G-.M.L. 520.— A small but well-defined quartz reef runs through this property on a bearing slightly west of north and east of south, dipping at an angle of about 75 degrees to

the eastward ; two main underlay shafts have been sunk on it, one to a deptli of 150 feet and the other 100 feet ; very little work has been done from the former of these, but from the latter about 150 feet of driving has been done alou- the reef and a <jood deal of stoping. The reif, as opened up in the drive, varies in width from one to three feet, consisting of clean white quartz with sharp well-defined walls, and is very regular in its trend ; so far the gold appears to be very evenly distributed throughout the stone. The country consists of foliated greenstone, and begins to get very hard at 150 feet, which is the water level. There is a five-head battery in full swing on this property and it is almost the only mine in the district in which any systematic work is being carried out.

Blue Hill G.M.L. 520.

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

*444-38

Total

1,051-43

Includes 23"18ozs. dollied and specimens.

GrOLDEN CuBE Gr.M.L. 594. — This property is situated about twelve miles from Parker's Range, on the Southern Cross side. Two shafts have been put down on the reef to a depth of 60 feet ; no work has been done from the more westerly of these, but from the other about 60 feet of driving and a little stoping have been done at the 60-foot level. The reef, as far as opened up, is very irregular and broken and appears to consist of a series of irregular quartz Isnses striking about east and west nnd underlving to the south at an angle of about 60 degrees. In the eastern workings it is some five feet in thickness at its widest part but pinches out in places to almost nothing. Both the reef and the country are much broken and contorted by numerous granite dykes and masses which cut through the country in all directions. The reef itself is in greenstone schists, which are very soft and decomposed as far as opened up. During 1903 this mine crushed 80*00 tons of stone for a yield of 152-OOozs., being at the rate of ]-90oz. per ton.

Jaccoletti G.M.Ls. 490, 517. — This property is about half-way between Parker's Range and Southern Cross, a few miles to the east of the main road ; two shafts have been put down on it, the main one, which is sunk on top of a low hill, to a depth of 275 feet, and the other, which is on lower ground some 450 feet to the south and on the same reef, to a depth of 100 feet ; very little work has been done from this shaft, but from the other drives have been put in along the reef at the 120, 200, and 275-foot levels ; at the 120- foot level the drive is in 135 feet south from the shaft, and prac-

PllOt(

PLATE VI. [Government Photo. Litlio.

5-liead Battery, Blue Hill G.M., Parker's Range.

tically the whole of tliis block has been stoped out to the surface ; at the 200-foot level drives extend 104 feet south and 66 feet nort h, and at the 275-foot 63 feet south and feet north ; very little stoping has, however, been done from these levels. The reef, which runs very straight, has a bearing about north-north-west and south- south-east and dips at an angle of about 80 degrees to the eastward ; it varies in width from two to five feet, averaging on the whole from two and a-half to three feet, and consists of clean white quartz with good well-defined walls, and has every appearance of being per- manent in depth ; it has been proved on the surface for a distance of over 500 feet. The country consists of a somewhat foliated greenstone, getting very hard in the lower levels. Several other parallel reefs run through the property a few chains to the eastward of the main line ; no work has been done on these, however, though they liave all been proved to carry a little gold. One reef, which runs just outside the eastern boundary of the lease, and on which a shaft has been put down to a depth of about 15 feet, dips at a fairly flat angle to the westward; this, however, may only be a surface roll.

Jaccoletti G.M. (Turnhull's Leases 490, 517).

Year.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

1,211-00

1,022-96

92 86 84

Total

2,14300

1,88676

88

The Iron Deposits of Mt. Cordan,

Mt. Cordan is situated on the Southern Cross-Parker's Range Road, about two and a-half miles from the latter place and 33 miles from the former ; the hill itself is about 100 to 150 feet in height and about half-a-mile in length. It is formed by a belt of very rich iron ore, of apparently similar origin to the haematite- bearing quartzites of the district, which at this point appears to be anything from 50 to 100 feet in thickness and runs on a l)earing slightly east of north and west of south, dipping steeply to the westward. The deposit con- tinues a considerable distance in both directions from Mt. Cordan, but then appears to be of the more siliceous ordinary haematite quartzites which occur plentifully throughout the district. An

analysis made in the Departmental Laboratory of a sample [5640] taken from the top of the hill gave results as follows : —

Metallic iron 60*38 per cent.

Silica 2-93

Sulphur -068

Phosphorus -038

Hygroscopic moisture ... ... ... ... '44 „

Combined water 9-12 „

This is a high-grade sample low in sulphur and phosphorus, and would make suitable ore for the production of steel by the cheaper Bessemer process ; it is, however, merely a single sample taken haphazard from the deposit, and though fairly typical cannot be taken as thoroughly representative of the value of the whole deposit. In addition to this deposit the lower grade haematite quartzites could, by a suitable process of concentration, be converted into very fair grade ores.

Appendix I.

Table showing the Gold Returns from the leases at Southern Cross, other than those already mentioned, up to the end of 1903. (Compiled from the Official Statistics) : —

Name of Lease.

No. of Lease.

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold theiefrom.

Average oz. per ton.

Ardath

38

Auraria

Ave Maria

23

Central Extended G-.M. Co., N.L.

Central No. 1 Extended G.M.

[ 280

10,37400

5,172-15

49

Co., Ltd.

Comet

251 (467)

3,161-00

21

Cyaniding Syndicate

T.A. 11

*18-00

Day Dawn

13

Eureka Boulder ...

29

Excelsior...

'33

Golden Kock

14

Golden Pig- North

576 (448)

42

375" 44

*99

Great Leviathan

Homeward Bound

3a

Irene

25

Little Wonder

34

Mt. Rankin

37

Northern Star ...

Pendrea ...

25

Perseverance

*l,310-40

Port Eoyal

22

Rand

24

Royal Victoria South ...

62

Southern Cross ...

65

Southern Cross Boulder

21

Tarcoola ...

Tarcoola North ...

45

Sundry Claims ...

From Hatt's Cyanide Works ...

*l,258-00

By Cyanide. f Includes 738 l8ozs. dollied and specimens.

Table showing the Gold Returns from the leases at Parker's Range, other than

those already mentioned, up Official Statistics) : —

to the end

of 1903.

{Compiled

from the

Name of Lecise.

No of Lease

Tons of ore treated.

Ozs. of gold therefrom.

Average ton.

Australia ...

384 "65

78

rJiue ±lill JNo. 1 iNortn ...

20'00

9*30

Cyaniding Syndicate

T.A. 13

Enterprise

750'00

179*00

24

Golden Key Extd.

20'00

12*55

63

Good Brothers ...

35*00

24*00

69

Havelock ...

30'00

15*00

*50

Just in Time

15"00

23*65

1*57

Lucky Hit

lOl'OO

115*85

1*14

Lydia

lO'OO

1*00

*10

Queen of Sheba. ...

2'00

1*50

75

Queensland Consols

160'00

50*00

'31

Queensland United

485, T.A. 9

158*00

408*68

Small Horse Battery

Sundry Lots at —

Clarke's Battery

t 541*00

Small Horse Battery

'6-00

7*00

1*17

Brimage's Battery ...

1 130*00

Andres Cyanide Works

T.A. 13

t 58-05

Australian Mines Agency, Ltd.

T.A. 9

t 256*65

Includes 328'42ozs. by cyanide from unknown tons. t By cyanide.

The following table shows the total gold yield from that portion of the Yilgarn Goldfield embraced within the boundaries of the accompanying map up to the end of 1903 :—

Year.

Tons of ore

Ozs. of gold

Average

treated.

therefrom.

oz. per tun.

Previous to 1897

173,311*00

92,251*26

35,519-00

16,703*77

26,517*35

11,601-55

29,087-18

12,302*11

42

51,134-10

27,110*46

26,08100

t 25,280*28

39,533*00

t 21,899 01

49,639*50

§ 21,698*66

Total

430,82213

228,84710

53

Includes 818*40 ozs. by cyanide from unknown tons. t Includes 3,350-90 ozs. by cyanide from unknown tons. J Includes 1,258*00 ozs. by cyanide from unknown tons. § Includes 7.317*05 ozs. by cyanide from unknown tons.

The following figures taken from the official statistics show the total gold return from the whole of the Yilgarn Goldfield, including the mining centres of Southern Cross, Mt. Jackson, Parker's Range, etc. : —

Year.

Gold production.

OZi.

Previous to 1897 ...

94,194-60

17,072-82

11,769-40

16371-78

29,155-42

26.587-41

23,129-69

23,615-24

Total to end of 1903 .

241,896-36

O (Do)

bJD &c be be

be be ft a,

Cq cqQq Qqoq

o o

Co

Co O 5-1

P Co Co .

Co

1-5 s

6 §

c3 to OI o

CO o

d d

b M br.

3 M W § 'i-

3 O a

w CO

0) O)

C i=!

o o

2: S c

±; o CO ( -d

§ Co

be

3 : 4

Co

beg - 03 2 00 ce -

bebe:S : §

2

a a 2 g s :

S 8 ® J '

! 5 ft

§8

Co Qo 05

U5 lO iO O

Co Cidcocpcpcp Cpcocococo Cp Co

Index.

Pagk

Albite 17

Alluvial Gold 22

Amphibolite ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19

Analyses 20, 21, 23, 37, 40

Anstey, Mr 10

Aplite 17

Archean Rocks ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10

Australia Battery ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 38

Blackbourne's ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15

Blue Hill Battery 37

Blue Hill G.M 35, 37

British and Foreign Development Syndicate 24, 27

Carlyle G.M 36

Central G.M 28

Chlorite Schist 18, 19

Colreavy, Mr 9

Cockatoo Rocks ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 34

Cordan, Mt 39

Diorite 19

Dykes 17, 27, 37

Eraser's G.M 24

Eraser's Reef 22, 25

Eraser's South G.M 27

Eraser's South Extended G.M 28

Glass, Mr 9

Gold Statistics 41, 42, 43

Oolden Cube G.M 38

Golden Pig 30

Golden Valley 12

Gordon Highlander ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 36

Gordon Highlander, North 36

Greenmount ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15

Greenmount G.M 20, 22, 33

Greenstones ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16, 18

Page

Haddon G.M 21, 30'

Hsematite-quartzites ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16, 21

Hatt's Battery 30

History 9

Hope's Hill G.M 23

Hope's Hill Eeef 22

Imperial South 34

Iron Deposits 39'

Jaccoletti G.M. 38-

Kieselguhr 35

Lake Kookoordine 15

Laterite 16

Lord Cardigan G.M 31

Lord Koberts G.M 34

Macintosh G.M 37

Map 15

Massive Greenstones ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18-

Mt. Cordan ' 39

Murchison G.F 21

Olga G.M 35

Ore Deposits 21

Orthoclase ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37

Parker, Mr 10

Parker's Range 10,15,35

Quartz, Diorite 20

Recent Deposits ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16

Eeefs 21, 22

Eeward G.M 31

Royal George G.M 33

Schists ' 16, 18

Sholl's Reef ' 25

Southern Cross ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13

St. George G.M 33

Sunbeam G.M 32

Tables of Analyses 23

Tables of Gold Returns 41, 42, 43

Timber 2.3

Topography 15

Page-

Transvaal G.M. 31

Transvaal Eeef 22'

Triumph G.M 36

TnrnbuU's Leases ... ... ... ... ... ... 39'

Water 22

Woodward, H. P 9, 10

Yilgarn G.F 9'

Yilgarn Ranges

By Authority : Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer, Perth.

Western Australia.

Geological Survey,

BULLETIN No. IsT

I— Geological Features and Auriferous Deposits

Of

MO'CJNa' MORGANS

(Mount Margaret Goldfield) ;

Also

II.— Notes on the Geology and Ore Deposits

Of

(North Coolgardie Goldfield),

By

C. F. V. Jackson,

Assistant Government Geologist.

Issued under the authorily of the Hon. R. Hastie, M.L.A., Minister for Mines.

With Two Maps And Sheet Of Sections.

P E E T H :

By Authority: Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer.

Table Of Contents.

Page

Prefatory Note 5

Author's Preface ... 8

I. — Geological Features and Auriferous Deposits of Mt. Morgans ... 9

Introduction (Mt. Margaret Goldfield) 9

The Mt. Morgans District—

History 10

Physiography ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11

Geology 12

Superficial A ecu nmlat ions ... . . ... ... ... 12

Greenstones ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 13

Porphyry 14-

Distribution and character of Ore Deposits ... ... ... 14

Mines —

Westralia Mt. Morgans ... ... . . ... ... ... 15

Guest's G.M. Co 17

Lily 17

Millionaire ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 17

Fire King 18

Sundry Leases north of Westralia ... ... ... ... 18

Gold-bearing veins of quartz in Greenstone —

The Transvaal 19

Sons of Gowrie 21

Turn of the Tide 22

Miscellaneous leases and holdings ... ... ... ... 23

II. — Notes on the Geology and Ore Deposits of Mulgabbie 25

The Mulgabbie District- History and Geology ... ... ... ... ... ... 25

Mining 27

Index

LIST OF PLATES. To face

Page

Frontispiece — Morgans lodes showing line of outcrops and minus at

the southern end ... 1

Plate 1. — Weathering of Basic Eock, and formation of Ironstone ... 13

Plate 2. — Outcrop on the Morgans line of lodes ... ... ... ... 14

Plate 3.— Westralia Mt. Morgans Mine and Reduction Plant 15

Plate 4.— Main Open Cut, Westralia Mt. Morgans 16

Plate 5. — Open Cut, Guest's G.M. Co., showing Porphyry Dyke dividing

lodes ... 17

Plate 6.— The Millionaire Mine and Plant 18

Plate 7. — Horizontal and vertical sections, Westralia Mt. Morgans

Lodes 20

Plate 8.— Public Crushing Battery, Mt, Morgans 22

Plate 9. — Sketch plan of principal mine workings at Mulgabbie ... 28

List Of Figures In The Text.

Part I.

1. — Locality Map 9

2. — Vertical Section at Main Shaft, Transvaal (North Work-

ings), Mt. Morgans 20

3. — Horizontal Section at 75-feet level, Sons of Gowrie G-.M.,

Mt. Morgans 22

4. — Vertical Section showing quartz vein (Webb and party's

claim) Mt. Morgans 23

Part II.

5. — Section showing the mode of occurrence of the auriferous

leaders and the zone of foliated ro(;k (indicator), Mul-

List Of Maps.

Geological Sketch Map of Mt. Morgans 24

Geological Sketch Map of Mulgabbie 32

Appendix.

Descriptive Register of Specimens from Mt. Morgans and Mulgabbie 33

Prefatory Note.

HIS Bulletin contains two reports from the pen ot Mr. C. F. V. Jackson, the first on the Geological Features aad Auriferous Deposits of Mount Morgans, in the Mount Margaret Godfield, and the second upon the Geology and Ore Deposits of Mulgabbie, in the North Coolgardie Goldfield.

That portion of the Mount Morgans Field described by Mr. Jackson comprises an area of about 30 square miles. There are very strong grounds for believing that the district embraces the north-western extension of that belt of auriferous rocks which includes Edjudina and Yundamindera, a description of which is given in a former Bulletin, No. 11.

The staple formation of Mount Morgans comprises a complex of basic and acidic rocks of the geological age of which the district affords no direct evidence, though in all probability it forms part of the same series as that so largely developed in other portions of the Eastern Goldfields, and invariably assumed to be Archaean. The ubiquitous cover of superficial deposits rendered geological mapping somewhat difficult, but, as far as possible, the different rock masses and associated ore deposits have been followed and delineated upon the plan with which the report is accompanied.

The basic rocks, the " ofreenstones," are essentially hornblendic, and although they present many varieties, have all been distin- guished by one single colour and symbol on the Geological Map. Some of the basic rocks have been converted into schists, which are chiefly developed along the junction between the former and the acidic rocks.

The acidic rocks, which occupy the greater portion of the area to the east of what may be called the Mount Morgans ridge, appear principally to be quartz and felspar- porphyries, which from the evidence accumulated seem to be intrusive into the greenstones.

Portions of the porphyries have been subject to mechanical defor- mation, and converted into rocks which may for convenience be best described by the term granitic schists.

The exigencies of the Department prevented any detailed petrographical work in connection with the Mount Morgans rocks being carried out up to the time the report was written.

The ore deposits of Mount Morgans, according to Mr. Jackson's observations, are of two distinct types, viz. : —

(a.) The banded quartz reefs and lodes, of a type identical with those which form such conspicuous features in the other goldfields of the State ; and

(b.) The normal quartz veins.

The banded quartz veins form a series of bold outcrops on the summit of the main Mount Morgans ridge, and have been traced across country for a distance of about four miles, along a powerful line or lines of weakness, which have formed channels for the more or less free circulation of mineral-bearing solutions. These banded quartz veins vary very much in size ; and, owing to their irregularity, are naturally difficult to woi'k. The plan, upon the scale of 160 feet to the inch, of the veins at the 100- foot level, in the Westralia Mount Morgans, Guests, Lily of the Valley South, and the Millionaire Mines, accompanying the report, graphically depicts the irregularity of the deposits, and should serve a very useful purpose.

So far as any observations have been made, it appears that the ore-chutes have a marked dip to the south.

The report is accompanied by a schedule of gold returns, prepared from official statistics, which demonstrate that, from the area emlraced by Mr. Jackson's work, there have been raised 215,564-32ozs. of gold from the crushing of 217,551-00 tons of quartz, giving an average of 99oz. to the ton. Of this amount the banded quartz reefs have been responsible for 21 l,315-80ozs., obtained from the milling of 215,584 tons of ore, and the normal quartz reefs for 4,24S-52ozs., resulting from the treatment of 2,017-00 tons of quartz. These figures show that the banded quartz reefs of what may be called the main ore channel have returned an average of -98oz. per ton, whilst the normal reefs have reached 2"10ozs. per ton.

The horizontal extent of the deposits, so far as at present mapped, would seem to assure the future of the district as an ore- producer ; and, as the lodes owe their origin to deep-seated agencies, they may be expected to persist to any depths to which mining operations are likely to follow them ; the fact, however, cannot be ignored, that deposits of the nature of those described are extremely irregular.

The second report of Mr. Jackson describes the occurrence of the telluride of gold and silver " petzite " at Mulgabbie. From Mr. Jacixson's observations it appears that the discovery of telluride ores in the locgility has not materially affected the conditions of mining, although the find warrants rather more thorough investigation than has hitherto been given to it. Mr. Jackson points out the difficulty the unaided pros23ector experiences, under the prevailing conditions, in making much headway, when the only treatment plant available is a small three- head mill, at which the crushing charges amount to c£2 per ton.

" . A. Gibb Maitland,

Government Geologist.

Geological Survey Office,

Perth, 13th December, 1904.

Author'S Preface.

HE centre of interest in the following report is the Geology of the Mount Morgans lodes, particularly those which constitute the ore bodies of the Westralia Mount Morgans mine.

Owing to their irregularity, the deposits are not only difficult to mine, but their exact disposition would be difficult to grasp without the aid of well-kept plans.

Indebtedness must here be recorded to Mr. Harold Gladstone, mine surveyor, for co-operation and assistance in that part of the work depending on the mine plans ; and, at the same time, thanks are tendered to Mr. Percy Morgans, Mr. Marmion, and the officials connected with the mine.

C. F. y. JACKSON,

Assistant Geologist.

2nd November, 1904.

Geological Featdres And Auriferous Deposits

Of

Mount Morgans

(Mt. Margaret Goldfield).

Introduction.

PtAK

Hill G F

m

G f

/ Ml

EAST RCHISOh

G r.

M

FfGARET G F.

coo

G f

/Coolgardi

p

I

Of.

—Jf

'7

f

Ounoas G F

P'iG. 1. — Locality Map.

The Moimt Maroaret Goldfield was declared by proclamation gazetted on the 12th of Mareli, 1897, t>) take effect from the 1st of April of that year : its boundaries were amended by proclamation gazetted on the 28th of March, 1902, taking effect on the 2nd of April, 1902, so as to embrace an area of 42,252 square miles.

Its boundaries as defined by the authorities are as follow : — " Bounded by lines starting from a spot about 15 miles east and about 13 miles north from the summit of Mount Ida, and extending north about 35 miles ; thence east about 67i miles, passing through a tree marked A.N. 33 ' at Doyle's Well ; thence north about 14 miles ; thence east about 7 miles ; thence north to the 26th parallel of south latitude ; thence east to the 125th meridian east longitude ; thence south to a spot due east of a

tree marked ' B 82 ' at Brickey's Soak ; thence west through the said tree to the starting point. Excluding all townsites and fee simple lands within the boundaries."

The field, for administrative purposes, is divided into three main districts, Morgans (the official centre), Malcolm (including Leonora), and Laverton. The production of each of these districts during 1903 is officially stated as follows : —

ozs.

Morgans

71,798-78

Malcolm (including Leonora)

93,962-99

Laverton

46,728-83

The total production of the Mount Margaret G-oldfield up to the end of 1903 is shown by the following tabulated statement : —

Production of the Mount Margaret Goldjield.

ozs.

Previous to 1897

4,992-iO

18,471

22,592-09

83,591

49,717-77

183,056

79,923-72

295,718

145.688-75

539,048

190,032-15

703,119

211,308-77

212,490-60

780,215

Total

916,745*95

3,391,960

Value of gold assumed, £3*70 per o.

Besides the production of gold, the Mount Margaret G-oldfield has contributed a good deal towards the copper production of the State.

Mount Morgans District.

History.

The creation of the Mount Morgans District as a separate official centre of the Mount Margaret Goldfield dates only from the year 1902. The gold production however is recorded in the official statistics from 1897 to 1903 as under: —

Year.

Ore treated.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

1897 ...

1898 ...

1,79600

2,175-28

1899 ...

5,562-00

13,710-60

1900 ...

25,00300

32,044-41

1901 ...

36,012-00

42,697-64

1902 ...

56,367-50

56,432-50

1903 ...

93,526-75

69.081-52

73

Total

218,271'25

216147*95

99

Mount Morgans is situated 367 miles to the east, and 220 miles to the north of Perth, being accessible by a branch railway which joins the main line at Mount Malcolm.

In Bulletin No. 13 of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, dealing with the Geology and Auriferous Deposits of Leonora, there appears (pp. 7 to 10), as well as a short account of the progress of the Mount Margaret Field, a brief outline of its geographical history, which dates from the Exploratory Expedition of Sir John Forrest in 1869. Sir John Forrest's track to Lake Carey on that expedition passed some miles to the south of the actual locality now known as Mount Morgans.

In 1894, Mr. Goczel visited Lake Carey, and as he mentions the ridge on which Mount Morgans is situated it seems probable that he traversed the locality.

Authentic records of the district, however, practically begin with its mineral production and date from the pegging of the lease now known as the Westralia Mount Morgans (No. 4297) in June,

The Warden of the Mount Maroaret Goldlield, in his report for 1898, states that business and residence areas were about to be laid out at Morgans, and there were in that year 16 leases held in the vicinity of and adjoining the Westralia Mt. Morgans mine. In the repoit for 1897 mention is made of a Tremaine Mill having been erected for the purpose of testing the Westralia Lode, and considerable prominence is given in the report for 1899 to the Mount Morgans district generally. These reports further state during 1900 that a 20-sta.mp mill ran at the Westralia Mt. Morgans and thirty additional stamps were being erected, also that other properties in the vicinity gave promise of developing.

Since then the development of the one large mine and a few adjoining and neighbouring leases has been almost entirely responsible for the growth of the district, i.e., the area comprised by the accompanying Geological Map (30 square miles).

The map is bounded by an east-and-west line four miles north of the township of Morgans, and a similar parallel two miles to the south ; on the east and west by meridian lines three miles and two miles from the township respectively.

Physiography.

The township of Morgans is situated on the western side of a ridge of somewhat broken outline, which extends to the north-west and south-east for a distance of five miles.

At the north-west extremity is situated Mount McKenzie, the highest point, some 220 feet above the mean surface level. To the south-east of the township, the ridge terminates, and the rocks are covered by recent superficial accumulations forming wide flats which extend to the margin of the Lake Carey saltmarsh. In an east-south-east direction, some eight miles from Mount

Morgans, another ridge, of which Mount Margaret is the highest point, appears on the northern marsriu of the saltmarsh . Between the ridges the flatness of the country is only broken here and there by small isolated hills of greenstone.

The altitude of Morgans above sea level is but little different from the average level of the Eastern Goldfields, and is approxi- mately 1,450 feet. The average annual rainfall from the records of five years is 9*24 inches.

The district is relatively well provided with water obtained from wells ; the supply pumped from two wells for the Westralia Mount Morgans and G-uest's mines being sufficiently large to also supply the town.

Geology.

The western side of the area embraced by the accompanying Geological Map is occupied by a series of Basic Rocks, greenstones and schistose derivatives; while the eastern side is occupied chiefly by an intrusive granitic rock— a porphyry ; the main ridge with a north-westerly and south-easterly axis along which the ]jrincipal lodes have been developed approximately marking the junction of the two formations.

A very large portion of the area is covered by recent superficial and alluvial deposits, not only on the flats but, to a great extent, on the slopes of the hills which except near the apex are not very steep and the talus has accumulated to a considerable thickness, in many places being cemented into a compact mass. A good deal of the detail along the junction of the two formations is thus obscured.

In point of geological age, the Basic Rocks no doubt belong to the same geological series as those outcropping elsewhere on the Eastern Goldfields and form a portion of the area of palaeozoic greenstones often referred to as "the Second Auriferous Belt."*

With regard to the granite or porphyry, there is no evidence with regard to age other than that it is intrusive into the greenstones.

Superficial Accumulations.

The recent deposit covering the greater part of the surface in the district is chiefly the usual sandy soil resulting from the degradation of the underlying rocks, and except towards the south- east in the vicinity of Lake Carey does not in general attain a greater thickness than a few feet.

On the gentle slopes of the main ridge a thick covering of talus has accumulated, which in many places has become cemented into a compact mass by the solution and redeposition of the lime contained in the finer material.

Mining Handbook to tlie Colony of Western Australia, by H. P. Woodward, pp. 36 and 37. Perth : By Authority, 1895.

There is also the thin stratum of earthy limestone or " cement " intervening between the superficial accumulations and the rock masses beneath, which is similar to that described in a report on the Leonora district.*

Similar deposits also of Ironstone (Laterite) occur, the high level and low level foi ms being both recognisable, but it has not been found possible to distinguish them separately on the map. The chief point of difference between them seems to be in the formation of the former contemporaneously with the decomposition of the rock beneath (Plate 1.) from which the iron is derived, and trails of the original rock structure can be observed in the less ferruginous portions of the base.

In the case of the low level variety a complete disintegration of the rocks appears to have first taken place, and the formation of the Laterite subsequently gone on in the accumulated loose ferruginous material thus produced.

As a source of gold these superficial deposits have taken very little part in the production of the district, the small areas where they have proved auriferous being shown on the map.

Greenstones.

It is in association with these rocks, essentially hornblendic rocks, that the auriferous deposits mainly occur. The greenstones chiefly occupy the western portion of the area shown on the map, but are found in more or less isolated patches in the granitic area to the east.

The more important deposits are at or near the junction of the two formations or in the vicinity of the numerous dykes of which the areas of greenstone on the eastern side are everywhere inter- sected.

Owing to the cover of superficial deposits it has not been found possible in more than a few instances to indicate the course of these dykes.

The greenstones have heen distinguished on the Geological Map of the district by a single colour, and though possibly the area thus delineated contains more than one variety of Basic or ultra-Basic rock, no more than structural distinctions can be observed, a coarse- grained, a fine-grained, and schistose variety being most prominent.

The areas occupied by each are not sufficiently well-defined for separate mapping, but generally speaking the former are chiefly

Geology and Auriferous Deposits of Leonora. Geological Survey of Western Australia, Bulletin No. 13, p. 16. Perth : By Authority, 1904.

confined to the western portion of the area, while th fine-graiaed variety is found on both sides. The schists, as might be expected, are most prominent along the main junction of the two formations : they occupy roughly a strip along the western side of the zone of contact.

In the hand specimen the ferro-magnesian mineral of the coarse-grained rock has a somewhat acicular appearance. A section of a specimen [5674] seen under the microscope shows it to have been essentially a hornblende-felspar rock, the hornblende having become much decomposed, and there is a considerable quantity of ilmenite with leiicoxene present. The section shows a little quartz, and the original rock was probably sonicwhat of the nature of a basic diorite. The fine-grained variety in the hand specimen is compact and heavy, a section of a specimen [5676] showing under the microscope, with the exception of the more njinute structure, similar features to the coarse-grained rock.

The macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the schists are similar to those of the greenstone schists elsewhere.

Porphyry.

This rock occupies the greater portion of the area to the east of the mam ridge, and appears on the west in the form of narrow dykes.

A massive and crushed variety are roughly distinguishable, but under the microscope sections of specimens [5680] [5666] [5685] are, with the exception of differences in degree of foliation, practi- cally identical. The ferro-magnesian mineral is a white mica, and phenocrysts of quartz and triclinic felspar occur in the ground mass. The rock is a quartz-felspar porphyry, and the main mass assumes a light- brown colour on weathering.

Distribution and Character of the Ore Deposits. The ore deposits may be separated into two main divisions : — (a.) Lodes which are genetically similar to the banded and hematite-bearing quartz lodes which are a typical feature of the Mt. Margaret and Murchison G-oldfields ; and (6.) Grold- bearing veins of quartz of ordinary type in greenstone.

The former occur along the axis of the main ridge in a series of bold outcrops. (Plate 2.) The apex of the ridge thus formed is a prominent feature of the landscape, locally named " The Mor- gans Line." (See Frontispiece.)

The latter — the gold-bearing quartz veins — occur almost entirely in the smaller areas of greenstone to the east of the main dividing ridge.

The Mines:

The Westralia Mount Morgans.

Ore

Gold

Rate

Year

treated.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

1,726'00

2 040-18

oi532-00

13;669-15

17,28300

25,868-35

24,168-00

37,363-80

56,02200

55,982-75

86,780-00

64,945-85

74

Total

191,51500

199,87608

The leases are situated on the main ridge near the eastern boundary of the township, lease No. 4,297 being that which includes the outcrop of the Westralia Mount Morgans lodes.

The original prospector who pegged the lease on the 1st of June, 1896, was H. Lilley, the registration being made at Menzies. An option was taken almost immediately by Mr. A. E. Morgans, and development of the property has since steadily proceeded.

The deposit is by far the most important of any in the district. Apart from its size and irregular nature, it has many points of interest, not the least being its similarity of origin to the banded and hematite- bearing quartz lodes which have already been referred to, and which though elsewhere frecjuently associated with auriferous deposits are not themselves generally highly gold-bearing. Their occurrence is described in Bulletin 16, page 25, on the Mur- chison Goldfield, where " they extend as roughly parallel bars, often continuous for many miles in length : they are generally from two to four chains in width, and outcrop in the form of rough serrated ridges. These bands are merely quartz reefs or lodes of a peculiar type, and vary in composition from almost pure quartz through varieties of banded jaspers, often of great beauty, to practically pure banded hematite." At Boogardie,* on the Murchison Goldfield, the formation of this banded quartz is stated to occur " in old fault lines or joints, along which zones of weakness thermal solutions, containing silica, iron, etc., have forced their way to the surface, and gradually converted the original highly foliated rock into its present form."

At Mt. Morgans conditions have been highly favourable along the contact of the intrusive mass of porphyry for the formation of such areas of highly crushed and foliated rock, and the production of zones of weakness in which the lode-forming processes have taken place. (Plate 7, fig. 3.)

Lennonville, Mt. Magnet, and Boogardie. Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, No. 8, pp. 16, 17, C. G. Gibson. Perth : By Authority, 1903.

The quartz lodes of Morsjans are in most cases more or less banded in appearance in the oxidised portions, but the typical banded hematite variety is not represented, and though they have been formed most frequently associated with the basic rocks, they are also found entirely in the porphyry. Their chief morphological characteristic, independent of the habit of the shoots of ore within them, is that of a solid body or pipe of lens section, the main axis of which trends or dips to the south at an average angle of about 45 degrees. Thus the ore bodies shown in the section at the main shaft (Plate 7, Fig. 2) are no doubt those which were worked in the large open cut some three or four chains to the north of the shaft (Plate 4).

The ore shoots have also a southerly trend, and the deposit, owing to its irregularity, has been difficult to work.

Two lodes have been chiefly worked, known as the main lode and eastern lode (vide Plate 7, Fig. 2), and these have been fairly continuous within the workings, but their extension south is more difficult to follow, and numerous breaks occur.

The lodes in the adjoining lease to the south (the Guest) appear to be directly related to the Westralia main and east lodes, i.e., formed in the same line of fault or weakness, but they are not — the main lode at least — directly connected.

The shoots of ore in both lodes have had a marked trend to the south, and the Company were fortunately able to purchase the Guest lease and extend their workings southwards.

The deposit is worked by a vertical shaft and, so far, six main levels. In the two upper levels the lodes were almost vertical or with a tendency to a westerly dip, but in the lower levels there has been an average dip to the east of 55 degrees.

The ore from the unoxidised portion of the lodes, when examined by the Acting Mineralogist and Assayer, was found to consist of "hard flinty quartz, dark greyish to black in colour, heavily charged with iron pyrites, and carrying in addition small quantities of chlorite and calcite, the latter occurring principally in the form of small veins throughout the stone."

The average output of the mine is about 7,000 tons per month, which is dealt with by a 60-stamp crushing mill with a duty of 4-4 long tons per stamp. The product contains 4,600* tons of sands with an average of 17* per cent, to 20 per cent, of sulphides and 2,400* tons* of slimes with an average of per cent, of sul- phides. The pulp from the battery passes to an air lift, thence through pipes and Butter's Distributers to collecting tanks of 190* tons capacity ; the slimes overflowing through slab gates to spitz- kasten which return sands to main air lift. The slimes from

♦ Figures supplied by Metallurgist, April, 1904.

Bull. 18.

Plate 5.

Photo. ; C, F. V. Jackson.

Open Cut, Guest's G.M. Co., showing Porphyry Dyke dividing Lodes.

spitzkasten pass to slimes-settling- tanks, thence by means of an air lift to agitating tanks of 100* tons capacity, thence through a monte to the presses. The cost to the Company of the above treatment, which is said to result in an average total extraction of about 89* per cent., is £1 Os. 6d.* per ton.

The G-uests Mine.

Year.

Ore treated.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

1898

tons.

7,374-00 10,827 00

ozs. 5,184-69 3,915-36

ozs.

36

Total

18,261*00

9,22765

50

The lease is situated immediately to the south of the Westralia Mount Morgans adjoining it, and, since its purchase by the owners of the latter, ]>ractically forms part of the same property. The relation of the deposits at the 100-feet level is shown on Plate 7, Fig. 3, and little further description is necessary.

The deposit was worked to the 184-feet level by the Guests Company, and the shaft is sunk on the main ore body, which is adjacent to the intrusive porphyry, the main lode being formed on both sides of a narrow intrusive tongue or dyke of this rock. The ore bodies are now worked at a lower level by the continuation south of the workings of the Westralia Mount Morgans.

The Lily.

This is the next lease south on the line of outcrop.

There are a great number of lodes which have been explored at the 50 feet and 100 feet levels, and except for the occurrence of a number of them in the porphyry, the workings present no special features other than those already mentioned. The position of the lodes is shown (Plate 7, Fig. 3.)

The Millionaire.

Year.

Ore treated.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

1901 ... 1903 ...

tons. 5,516-00

ozs. 2,024-32

ozs. 36

Total

5,74500

2,208-07

38

Figures supplied by Metallurgist, April, 1904.

This lease adjoins the Lily on the south, and is the farthest south on the line of outcrops of any of the leases which have been worked to any extent.

The property has been rather more extensively worked than the Lily, but beyond this the mine is in nearly all respects similar, as also the ore deposits, the essential characteristics of which are much the same as those of the Westralia Mt. Morgans.

The three mines have practically the same ownership, and the latter, the Millionaire, is provided with a small treatment plant (Plate 6).

The Fire King.

This lease is situated some 85 chains to the south of the Millionaire.

The lodes may be described as a continuation of the same series of ore bodies and what appears to be their limit in a south-easterly direction, but a break of about 30 chains occurs in the line of outcrops.

The lease was first taken up by Messrs. Clarke Bros., and has since been prospected by a number of different holders, but the work has never advanced past the prospecting stage. The main line of lode has an easterly dip, and several shafts have been sunk along it.

Sundry Leases.

(North of the Westralia Mount Morgans,)

A line of leases, now more or less abandoned, extends north- wards along the line of outcrops beyond Mount McKenzie, and it is a somewhat remarkable fact that no really payable ore has been found on this side of the big mine. It may be noted, however, that, though a certain amount of prospecting has been carried on, it has been rather inadequate to test the question.

On lease 4327, immediately to the north of the Westralia Mount Morgans, several shallow shafts were put down by the eom- pmy, and the ore bodies met with are indicated on the horizontal section, Plate 7, Fig. 3. The same remarks apply to lease 4328, where, generally, similar conditions were met with.

The next lease to the north, known as Trig. Hill, has been rather more extensively prospected by several holders, and one of the lodes has been explored by a short tunnel, but results, I believe, have not been very encouraging.

Northwards from this along the old leases only shallow pros- pecting holes are met with as far as Mount McKenzie, where some prospecting work is in progress at lease 70f and old lease 1106t. The latter, however, is of a rather initiatory character.

Lease 70f, Mt. McKenzie North.

Year.

Ore treated.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

30

This lease is situated on the summit of Mt. M(;Kenzie, which is in a p:reat measure composed of an irreg-ular mass of banded quartz. The lease has been worked for rather more than two years by a prospector named David Bynon, who has driven a tunnel some 160 feet sinsrle-handed. Several small trial enishins have yielded from 3 to 6 ., and altogether results have not been highly encouraging.

Lease No. 1106f.

This lease is situated about half-a-mile north of Mt. McKenzie, and the workings are at the north end of the line of outcrops, a considerable break in the continuity occurring at Mt. McKenzie. Two prospectors are working here on behalf of a small syndicate, and several shafts have been sunk at different times ; but so far no ore in payable quantities has been found.

Gold-bearing Veins of Quartz in Greenstone.

The deposits of this type are situated for the most part to the east of Mount Morgans, and those of importance are three in number, viz., the Transvaal, Sous of Gowrie, and Turn of the Tide.

There are a number of other miscellaneous workings, both on old leases and elsewhere, but they are in a great number of cases abandoned.

The Transvaal.

Ore

Gold

Rate

Year.

treated.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

26b-00

1,494-40

Total

1,41100

2,932*97

The leases are situated about a mile and a-half to the north-east of the township of Morgans. The two principal leases are Nos. 980t and 979t. The prospector of the Transvaal leases, in 1898, was W. J. Hamlin who has owned and worked the property since that date.

There are two main deposits, and these are situated near the northern boundary and near the centre of lease 980. Both are in an area of greenstone which is surrounded bv the porphyry on all sides, and comprise several different quartz reefs.

The greenstone is intersected by dykes or bars of porphyry, which, owing to the cover of superficial deposits, can only definitely be traced where exposed in the workings.

The reefs near the northern boundary of the lease are on the eastern edge of the area of greenstone, the strike being almost north and south, the average dip is about 65 degrees to the east.

The principal shaft is that shown just to the north of the boundary on lease No. 927, and in the workings, which are not very extensive, there appear to be several reefs lying approximately parallel to each other, but inclined at a slight angle to one of above- mentioned porphyry bars.

The reefs vary from about eight inches to two feet in thickness. The sketch (fig. 2) is a section of the reef as seen at the shaft.

Fig. 2.

VERTICAL SECTION AT MAIN SHAFT, TRANSVAAL . /f£;;;/-///.5 MMORGANS.

H.J.Pether, Government Photolithographer, Perth. W.A.

The main workings are situated near the centre of the lease, and there are there two reefs, the strike of which is 350 degrees. Operations have been chiefly confined to the more easterly of the two. The dip of this reef, which is 2ft. 6in. in thickness, is about 50 degrees to the east, and the deposit was worked by an inclined shaft. As seen in the workings it is stoped about 4ft. in width for a depth of 30 feet and for a distance of about 50 yards to the north. The inclined shaft was continued, and a vertical shaft also sunk on the back of the reef, intercepting the former at 85 feet, which is rather below water level and at which point it became necessary to cease operations owing to lack of suitable pumps. Serious mining was in abeyance at the time of my visit, pending the arrival of pumps and machinery from England, it being the intention of the owners after the arrival of the plant to continue the vertical shaft to 200 feet.

The Sons of Gowrte.

Year

treated.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

Total

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

1,300-55

This lease is situated half-a-mile south-east of the Transvaal and about one and a-half miles north-east of the township. The lease was pegged about the same time as the Transvaal by W. Harrison, and at some time during its history was under an option to Mr. G-. W. Hall. The property is now being worked by Messrs. McKinna, Vincent, and Smith.

There is a system of parallel reefs, and the deposit, which is in many respects similar to the Transvaal, is on the western edge of an isolated area of greenstone, narrow porphyry bars being of frequent occurrence in the workings. The reefs, however, would seem to be of later date than the intrusive rock, since they appear to taper out on nearing the bars rather than be intercepted by them.

No crosscuts are available for examination, so that a good section is not immediately available, but the following sketch (Fig. 3) shows the relation of the reefs and the rocks continuing them. The strike of the reefs is about 208 degrees and the dip 60 degrees to the east. There are a number of shafts on the lease shown on the G-eological Map, one of which was carried about 30 feet below water level. There are about 200 feet of drives in the

main workings and a good deal of stoping has been done from the surface to about the 75 feet level.

Fig. 3.

HORIZONTAL SECTION AT 75:l£VEL SONS O'GOWRIE G.M. MMORGANS

Turn of the

Tide.

Year.

Ore treated.

Gold therefrom.

per ton. Eate

tons.

ozs.

15'00

ozs.

50

The lease No. IOOf is situated about three and a-half miles north-east of the township on the boundary of the map.

The property is owned by a syndicate consisting of Messrs. Marmion and others, and is at present under an option to the owners of the Millionaire Mine.

The reef, which is of white quartz, is in greenstone of more or less schistose character, the strike is 285 degrees, and the average dip to the north 65 degrees. It is said to be about eight feet thick in places and to assay well. There are about 80 feet of drives at the 38 foot level, and the shaft has been continued on the foot wall to a depth of 75 feet, at which depth a good deal of water is being met with.

Miscellaneous Leases and Holdings.

A number of prospecting shafts and workings are shown on the map, for the most part on small quartz reefs, and for the devel- opment of such holdings the old treatment plant of the Guests G.M. Co. is kept running as a public crushing battery (Plate 8).

The Ramornie, lease 97f, is situated about three-quarters of a mile east of the township, and is being prospected by Messrs. Archibald and others, with encouraging results. The deposit is in a highly crushed and foliated zone of greenstone, the strike being about 10 degrees east of north ; the dip is 80 degrees to the east. The chief characteristic is in the nature of the lode stuff, which is very little different from the surrounding country. The processes bringing about the deposition of the gold in the rock appear to have but very slightly altered the rock itself.

A similar deposit to the Ramornie is being prospected by Messrs. Birrell and Bridges, on the western side of the main ridge, about 30 chains north of the railway station. The dip is here to the west, and developments have been very satisfactory.

There is a group of shafts to the south of the Sons of Gowrie, on the eastern side of lease 1017. These are on some small and very irregular veins in the greenstone schists.

An irregular deposit of a sirailarjjcharacter was also worked on old lease 1170t, two and a-half miles north of the township. Fig. 4.

VERTICAL SECTION SHEWING Sm. mBSPJim ClA/M.

W Morgans.

About a quarter-mile to the east of this, and just to the south of old lease 1123, a vein is being prospected by Messrs. Webb and party, a section of which (Fig. 4) will illustrate the character of most of those on which potholes and shallow shafts have been sunk, between this point and the Turn of the Tide lease IOOf, on the eastern boundary of the map.

The strike of the reef is 210 degrees, and the average dip about 80 degrees to the east. The vein is on hard greenstone in juxtaposition to a narrow porphyritic dyke. The quartz is of a bluish colour, and shows pyrites in places.

/

H.J Pether. Government Photolithorapher. Perth. W A

Notes on the Geology and Ore Deposits

Op

Mulgabbie

(North Coougardib Goldfield).

The Miilinhhie District , with special reference to the occurrence of Telliiricle Ores,

The output of gold from MuJgabbie has been derived from two sources —

(a.) Alluvial flats. (6.) Small rich veins or " leaders." From the latter the total production to the end of 1902, as defined by the authorities, is made up as follows : —

Year.

From Specimens.

From Ore.

Total.

ozs.

ozs.

ozs.

1,045-22

Total

1,569-27

461'60

2,030'87

From 7 tons ore. From 8 tons ore. From 53*2.5 tons ore.

With regard to the quantity of alluvial gold obtained, there is no information which will enable the amount to be stated, since the production from this source is included in the official statistics with that of the Kurnalpi district generally.

Mulgabbie is situated in the North Coolgardie Groldfield, 40 miles north and 58 miles east of Kalgoorlie. It is most easily accessible from Kanovna, the distance by a somewhat circuitous road, which passes through the old Kurnalpi field, being some 78 miles.

2G

The discovery of paya.ble gold vvas made in 1897 hy tliree pros- pectors— Messrs. Reid, Mackaj, and Johnson — though previous rumours of gold in the locality had originated from some men who were cutting timber for the Edjudina mines.

In the report of the Under Secretary for Mines for 1897, the warden of the North-East Coolgardie Goldfield mentioned Mulgabbie, and stated that 150 men had been engaged prospecting there during that year ; but though a few hundred ounces of gold had been obtained, the true value of the discovery was not then known. During the next two years it appears, from the warden's reports, that alluvial gold continued to be obtained, the field supporting a population varying from 60 to 100 ; but at the end of the following year (1900) that gentleman reported that the known alluvial workings, both at Mulgabbie and Kurnalpi, appeared to be worked out. A fact indicated by the tabulated statistics above, which further shows a rapid decrease in the amount of gold obtained from rich surface specimens. A gi'adual increase, however, is shown in the amount of gold obtained by more regular mining work.

Most of the prospecting in the locality has been confined to a small area about 30 chains to the north-east of the Mulgabbie trigonometrical station, where a number of shallow shafts have been sunk; and on the recent discovery of telluride ores in one of these shafts, some 80 or more 24-acre leases, extending on either side in a north-westerly and south-easterly direction, were quickly pegged out and surveyed. The accompanying Geological Sketch Map of Mulgabbie, based on this new lease plan, comprises a rectangle of five square miles, of which the Mulgabbie Hill approximately forms the centre.

This hill, of somewhat conical form, which rises to a height of 150ft. above the alluvial flat below, and rather more than 200ft. above the general level of the surrounding country, forms a promi- nent landmark from the south and west. The alluvial flats, which form a central feature of the map, are flanked on either side by prominent ridges with an approximately north-wTst axis, and thus form a small catchment which drains more or less directly to the salt pans or lake to the south and east.

The rainfall, however, is not very large, and may be approxi- mately known from the records kept at Kurnalpi, which show for the last five years a mean of 7' 5 inches.

A geological examination of the district has shown that the formation of chief importance consists of a system of basic rocks, appearing in the form of schists and weathered greenstone out- crops ; and there are also several areas occupied by an intrusive porphyry. The latter are of small extent, but the former rocks cover a very large area, which, however, is concealed in many places by a considerable development of laterite.

Approaching from the south, large outcrops of granite are to be seen 1 6 miles distant, and about three quarters of a mile east of

the road and thence for eight miles the rocks are obscured either by a recent superficial deposit of sands or by the above-mentioned laterite ; for the next five miles the road passes chiefly over tlie salt marsh or lake country, in the bed of which the decomposed and weathered basic rocks are sometimes visible ; but it is not until a point is reached some three miles south of Mulgabbie that these rocks begin to outcrop in their characteristic form.

North of Mulgabbie, a second larger outcrop of granite makes its appearance at Calvali, four miles distant, the chief characteristic of the rock being the frequent occurrence of large crystals of a twinned felspar.

The greenstones, or diabasic rocks, occur in more or less crushed and highly-altered forme, but within the scope of a field examina- tion present no important features other than those observed elsewhere. It is possible, however, that a more extended inves- tigation might lead to a separate mapping of the schists. The direction of foliation varies from about 120 to 160 degrees, and, with few exceptions, there is a tendency to a westerly dip throughout the district.

The most important exception is that of the porphyril ic rock forming the Mulgabbie Hill, which shows considerable crushing, and the joints developed, though very nearly vertical, have, if anything, a tendency to an easterly dip. The outcrops of this rock appear to be somewhat isolated, and those showing on the map, as far as can be judged, wholly detached; but on this point it is somewhat difficult to be certain where the surface is largely covered with more recent superficial deposits, and the rocks considerably decomposed. The intrusion seems to have taken a north-westerly course, and I was informed by prospectors that further similar out- crops appear some eight or nine miles to the south, on the southern side of the lake. The porphyritic mineral, ordinary felspar, appears in a fine-grained matrix in the form of numerous small crystals of the characteristic shape.

Mining.

The chief development of rich highly-inclined eins or leaders, ±0 which mining operations are confined at present, has been on the western side of the alluvial flats, in a small area included within the boundaries of leases 261k, a4k, 263k, 39k, and 260k (see Sketch Plan, Plate 9), and from these, by the degradation of the rock con- taining them, the gold obtained from the adjoining flats has been derived. Most of this gold was found at a depth of from 10ft. to 14ft., on the surface of the decomposed basic rock beneath ; and as will be seen on reference to the plan, the workings cover in all an area of about 25 acres.

Of the veins or " leaders," those on which attention has been .chiefly centered are distinguished on the plan as No. 1 and No. 2, and a considerable amount of gold was obtained by dollying rich specimens taken from the outcrop of each. Deeper exploration,

however, has been principally confined to the No. 1 or Eastern vein, and on this a number of shafts have been sunk at different points ; but most interest at present attaches to that marked No. 5 originally on Q.C. 6k, now on lease 260k.

Lease No. 260k. — There are in all some eight or nine shafts on this lease, and the working shaft No. 5 is now (since the recent survey) known as the prospector's shaft. This shaft was originally sunk in the year 1900 to a depth of 69ft., and Messrs. Robb and party, who obtained possession in 1902, have since connected the workings with the No. 4 shaft and operated to a depth of 100ft.

The shaft follows the main " leader," the average dip of which has been about 75 degrees to the west and south ; the mean strike about north 56 degrees west. The thickness has varied from two inches, or two and a-half inches, to a mere joint in the massive rock (greenstone) containing it ; and the latter is traversed by a number of similar parallel leaders, all more or less auriferous.

In addition to quartz, the " vein filling " consists of crushed rock material with a little pyrites appearing in the lower levels ; and the leaders appear to have been formed in a system of joints along which the main mass of the rock has " yielded " to forces which have produced the schistose form occurring in larger areas in the immediate vicinity.

The rock has also "yielded " to a somewhat greater extent and become highly foliated, along several zones of weakness extending in the same direction ; one of which passing through the main workings is there called " the indicator," elsewhere they are known as "slate bars" from the appearance of the decomposed outcrops, in places, being somewhat similar to that of a slate. The informa- tion, however, with regard to the genesis of lodes in the greenstones elsewhere, and the complete alteration from a basic rock to a siliceous lode formation, leads to the conclusion that the slate-like appearance here and there noticeable is due to a transition stage in that process.

The " indicator," composed of a hard compact chlorite schist showing a little sulphide in places, has varied in thickness from two or three inches, to two or three feet, and appears to have had some influence on the distribution of gold in the auriferous veins.

In the No. 5 shaft, which followed the main leader, the " indicator " was met with at 40 feet, and from this point, the leader remained on the footwall side of the formation for some dis- tance. It was observed that most of the good ore occurred in smaU rich patches along the junction plane.

At a greater depth the. leader crossed the zone of foliated rock passing to the west, and in the acute angle thus formed a small

NOTE -For exp/anotion of co/ours and s/gns see Geo/oico/ Sketch Mop of Mu/a66/e. Government Photoiithographer

H.J. Pettier. Government Photolithographer. Perth. W A

"bunch" of telluride ore was met with on the western side at a mean depth of about 90 feet. (Fi. 5.)

Fig. 5.

a /far/fewas e/bs orJea/fe/s". h ZoffO cf fi/aeUacfr "/ndfcaTor"

Mulgabbie

This find was made in October of 1903, and some specimen pieces have been left on the wall, showing a good deal of free gold in association with the telluride "Petzite"; but very little work has since been done, and the prospectors appear to have removed the greater portion of the telluride ore, actually in sight, in a parcel of one and a-half tons from which they obtained 60 ounces of gold locally as well as a further quantity by treatment of tailings and slimes sent to Kalgoorlie.

Some samples collected by the Inspector of Mines in November of 1903 were examined in the Geological Survey Laboratory, and the following is an extract from a report thereon by the Mineralogist and Assayer : —

Sample No. 1 contained a considerable amount of pyrites in bands and leases, mostly along the planes of foliation of the rock, A narrow irregular vein of carbonates of lime and iron, with gome quartz, cut across the folia- tion planes.

Free gold was visible in most cases throughout this vein, associated with a black metallic mineral and a lig-ht coloured mineral. The former was present in sufficient quantity to enable its identity to be established as Petzite, a telluride of gold containing about 24 per cent, of gold and 41 per cent, of silver. The light coloured mineral was present in such small scattered fragments that it was impossible to definitely ascertain its species, though it is probable that it is calaverite, a telluride containing 40 per cent, of 'oid. After removing pieces showing told freely the general sample assayed gold 18ozs. 12. per ton, silver 7ozs. I7. per ton.

A portion of the vein, which showed no free gold to the eye, assayed gold 6. ISgrs. per ton, silver TJdwts. per ton.

Sample No. 2 assayed, gold 18. per ton ; silver trace. Sample No. 3, strongly impregnated with pyrites, assayed as follows : — (a.) Pyritous portion, gold trace, silver 6|. per ton. (&.) Non-pyritous portion, gold trace, silver 6-2. per ton. A number of rich specimens have been preserved at the mine, but beyond that, in most cases the mineral " Petzite " was present in considerably greater proportion than would apjjear to have been the case in the samples taken by the inspector. I am unable, after an examination of all available examples, to add to the information quoted above.

At the present depth of 100 feet and in " hard country," it is difficult for the unaided prospector to make much progress ; a.nd where the only means of treatment is a small three-stamp prospect- ing battery, at which the charge for crushing is =£2 per ton, it is only by the acquisition of an occasionally rich parcel that his enter- prise is assisted. It is to be regretted, however, that more work has not been done, for beyond a somewhat visionary improvement, the conditions of mining in the district have been very little altered by a discovery, the importance of which certainly warrants more thorough investigation being made.

Quartz Claim, No. 39k. — This claim adjoins lease No. 260k, on the south, and the working shaft thereon is that marked No. 6. The shaft was originally sunk by a prospector named Johnson to a depth of 20 feet, and in 1901 passed into the possession of the present owners, Messrs. Thompson and party, who have continued sinking to 90 feet. The workings are a continuation of the deposit already described, the intercept of leader and " indica.tor " being met at a depth of 70 feet. The former presents the same features, but the latter is somewhat larger, and at the bottom of the workings, mineralised to a considerable extent with ordinary sulphides for a width of about 12 inches on one side, and to a lesser extent over a somewhat greater width. The " leader," which follows the hanging wall for some distance, carries gold, as also the miner- alised portion of the rock, but so far only in association with pyrites. There is in all a formation exposed about 2 feet 6 inches in thickness.

Lease No. 263. — The next m order southwards is held by Messrs. Cable and party, but it was not (in February, 1904) being worked. Included within its boundaries is a considerable amount of surface working, and a number of old shafts, from one of which No. 7, sunk on the main leader by Messrs. Audrey and Johnson, some 500 ounces of gold are said to have been obtained at a depth of 28 feet, also a further larger quantity at 45 feet.

Quartz Claim, No. 34k is held by Messrs. Clancy and Ander- son, and the deposit is here being worked from shaft No. 9 on the south boundary, at a point 10 chains south of the prospectors. This shaft is 76 feet deep, and not yet below the decomposed

rock. The same " leaders " and zone of schistose rock are recog- nisable, the junction being met with at about 40 feet, but below this there is no very strong line of demarkation, the " leader " or " leaders " having entered the crushed zone. The whole thus forming a body which may be described as of mullocky formation, showing in places a considerable amount of undecomposed sulphides, and varying in thickness from two to five feet. This formation, independent of the leaders contained therein, carries in places a payable quantity of gold.

South of this claim, gold has been obtained from surface workings, and a number of shallow shafts extend along the outcrop of the leader for a distance of 10 chains ; which appears to be the limit of its proved extension in that direction.

Quartz Claim, No. 40h. — The workings on this claim, which occupies a small area almost in the centre of the prospector's lease, No. 260k, are at a point of the deposit beyond which it has not yet been traced in a northerly direction. The claim is being worked by Messrs. Grlover and Johnson, and the working shaft, No. 2, is 75 feet deep there are in all three shafts, connected by a drive at 38 feet. The vein here appears to have been faulted, or otherwise slightly displaced, a.nd the total amount of gold obtained from the workings is said to have been about 200ozs.

Lease No. 266k- — situated 30 chains to the north-west, is, in conjunction with that adjoining (No. 265k), being worked by Messrs. Simmons and party. On the latter, shaft sinking has only just been commenced but, on the former, there are a number of abandoned shafts.

Those marked on the map in the north-east corner of the lease, were sunk on a small leader dipping at a high angle to the west, the strike being 140 degrees ; and a good deal of material was removed from the outcrop by means of a deep trench.

Near the south-east boundary is another group of shafts, the dejoosit worked being a similar small vein or veins which were explored to a depth of 90 feet. From one of these veins some 500ozs. of gold is said to have been obtained.

The prospecting work on this lease at present is being directed towards exploring a formation, which appears on the surface as a large ferruginous outcrop of schists, crossing the lease in the form of a low ridge, and has yielded a little gold to the dryblower on either side.

Lease No. 272k is situated 35 chains south of the prospectors' lease and is held by Messrs. Welsh and party. There are a number of shallow shafts in ]:roximity to one of the " slate-bars" previously mentioned, and gold was found similarly disposed in " leaders " from which a number of small parcels were obtained by different prospectors.

Lease No. 262k is the next lease adjoining southward, and from three shallow shafts situated thereon several small lots of rich

ore were obtained. The deposit worked, of small dimensions, was similar to the other veins in the locality.

Lease No. 27 Ih. —Of the shafts and workings shown on this lease, those with the more northerly situation are practically only trenches, while those in the more southerly portion are sunk to a depth of 50 feet on two small veins. These veins have a strike of 165 degrees, and are ahnost vertical.

Lease No. 275'k. — The shaft shown on this lease is an old water shaft, which is 60 feet deep, but was unsuccessful in its object.

Lease No. 270k is nut being worked at present, but there is an old shaft tliereon which was sunk by Messrs. Cole and Bartley to a depth of 40 feet on a small vein dipping at a high angle to the west.

Lease No. 290k includes a portion of an old abandoned lease known as Hey don's Hope (No. 230k), from which, as shown by the official statistics, 44ozs. of gold were obtained by dollying rich specimens in 1898.

Lease No. 247 (voidei). — This lease was originally known as the Dolly Vane, and a new 24-acre lease has recently been taken up surrounding it. There are three old shafts sunk in the schists, to a depth of from 50 to 70 feet, and the auriferous deposit consisted of a quartz reef with a strike of 72 degrees east cf north. The dip is towards the south. I was informed by the prospectors that the quartz had an average width of three feet, and further that a crush- ing of five tons yielded 3'. per ton.

Lease No. 286k, a new lease adjoining, has been taken up by Messrs. Bayley and party, and there are some surface workings and a shaft in course of sinking about 15 chains to the north- w'st.

In conclusion, it may be said with regai d to the area examined, that its resources, so far as alluvial gold is concerned, appear to have been exhausted ; and that mining operations, limited at present to a depth of lOO feet, have been entirely confined to veins, very rich in places, but too small for profitable mining enter- prise. The workings, however, have exposed a formation, portions of which have yielded an assay value ranging from 10 grains per ton to loz. 15. per ton, and to the speculative value of which a great deal has been recently added by the appearance in the deepest workings of the mineral " Petzite."

C. F. V. JACKSON, Assistant Government G-eologist.

Appendix.

Descriptive Register of Specimens from Mount Morgans and Mulgabbie.

Mount Morgans.

Register

Field Class.

oc .

Variety.

Obtained from.

Locality.

(jrreenstone

Massive

ohait. . .

Just to south or Lease 1123

Do

do.

Surface

Near Lease IIOf

(coarse-grained)

Do

Massive (fine-

do.

grained)

Do.

Schistose

ohatt. . .

T

Lease IOOf

tJUOO

Do

do

do.

TVestralia No. b level

Do.

ao.

Qo. . . .

Lease 980

(mineralised)

Do.

Altered

Mine . . .

E. crosscut, Westralia

Porphyry

Quartz Felspar

Surface

West side, Lease 1102

Do. (dyke)

do.

Shaft...

South of Lease 1123

Do.

do.

do. ...

N.E. corner of Lease 980

Do.

Felspar

Surface

Near Iase 112 It

Do

Quartz Felspar

Shaft...

Lease lUolT

Do.

do.

Mine . . .

ADA ff lorol T\7'oafT'QliQ

'x\j\j-L[j, itjvei, >vt)e)tiaiia

(crushed)

Do

do.

do. ...

do. do.

(crushed)

Quartz . . .

Banded

Surface

Mt. McKenzie

Do.

Vein

Shaft...

South of Lease 1123

Ore

Typical variety

Mine . . .

Westralia

Do.

do.

do. ...

do. 300 level

Do.

do.

do. ...

do. 500 „

Mulgabbie.

Greenstone

Massive

Shaft...

Shaft No. 5

Do.

Foliated

do. ...

do.

(indicator)

Greenstone

Altered

Surface

Mulgabbie

Porphyry

Felspar

do. ...

Mulgabbie Trig.

Granite ...

Coarse

do. ...

4 miles north of Mulgabbie

(Calvalli)

Do.

do.

do, ...

16 miles south of Mulgabbie

Ore

Telluride

Shaft...

Shaft No. 5

Index.

The Figures in Italics refer to Plates and Diagrams.

Page

Anderson and Clancy, Messrs 31

Audrey and Johnson, Messrs. 30

Bartley and Cole, Messrs. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32

Bay ley and Party, Messrs. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32

Birrel and Bridge, Messrs. ... ... ... .. .. ... ... 23

Brickey's Soak 10

Bridge and Birrel, Messrs 23

Butter's Distributers 16

Bynon, David 19

Cable and Party, Messrs. ... 30

Calaverite 29

Calcite , 16

Calvali 27

Chlorite... 16

Clarke Bros 18

Cole and Bartley, Messrs 32

Diabase 27

Dolly Vane 32

Doyle's Well 9

Udjudina 5,26

England 21

Felspar 27

Fire King Mine 18

Forrest, Sir John ... 11

Gladstone, H 8

Glover and Johnson, Messrs. ... 31

Goczel, S 11

Grajiite 12,26,27

Granitic Schists 6

Greenstone ... 5,12,13,19,20,21,22,24,26,27,28

Guest's Mine 6, 12, 16, 17, 23

Hall, G. W 21

Hamlin 19

Hematite-bearing Quartz 15

Heydon's Hope ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32

Hornblende 14

Page

Indicator 28, 30

Iron 15, 16

Iron Carbonate ... ... 29

Ironstone 13

Jackson, C. F. V 5, 6, 7, 8, 32

Johnson, Mr 26, 30

Johnson and Audrey, Messrs. ... ... ... ... ... ... 30

Johnson and Glover, Messrs. ... 31

Kalgoorlie

Kanowna

Kurnalpi

25, 29 25, 26

Lake Carey Laterite...

Laverton ... ,..

Leonora...

Leucoxene

Lilley, H

Lily Mine

Lily of the Valley South Lime, Carbonate Limestone

Locality Map

13, 26, 27 17, 18

Mackay, Mr

Maitland, A. Gibb

Malcolm

Marmion, Mr. ...

McKinna, Mr

Menzies...

Mica

Millionaire Mine Morgans Morgans, A. E. Morgans, P. Mount Mackenzie Mount Mackenzie North Mine Mount Malcolm Mount Margaret Goldfield Mount Morgans

Mulgabbie

Mulgabbie Hill Murchison Goldfield ...

,6, 7,

8, 22

6, 17, 18, 22 10, 12, 16, 19

11, 18, 19

..5, 9, 10,11, 14 , 10, 11, 12, 15, 19 5, 7, 25, 26, 27

26,27

14,15

North Coolgardie Goldfield 5, 25

North-East Coolgardie Goldfield 26

Ore Chutes 6, 16

Ore Deposits 14

Perth . . . Petzite ... Porphyry

7, 29, 30, 32

12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 26

Page

Porphyry Felspar 5

Porphyry Quartz 5

Pyrites, Iron 16, 24, 28, 29, 3a

Quartz 14, 16, 22, 24

Ramornie 23

Reid, Mr .'. ... 26

Robb and Party, Messrs 28-

Schist ... 14,26,27,31

Schist, Granitic ... 6

Schist, Greenstone ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12,14

Simmons and Party, Messrs. 31

Smith, Mr 21

Soak, Brickey's 10-

Sons of Gowrie Mine 19, 21, 22, 23

Superficial Accumulations 11, 12, 20, 27

Table of Gold Output 15, 17, 19, 21, 25

Table of Specimens 33

Telluride Ores 25, 29'

Thompson and Party, Messrs 30

Transvaal Mine 19, 20, 21

Tremaine Mill 11

Trig Hill 18

Turn of the Tide Mine 19, 22, 24

Vincent..

Webb and Party's Claim 25, 24

"Welsh and Party, Messrs. ... 31

Westralia Lode ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11, 16

Westralia Mount Morgan Mine 6, 7, 1 1, 12, 15, 17, 18

Yundamindera 5

By Authority : Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer, Perth.

Western Australia.

Geological Survey.

BULLETIN No. 19.

Minerals Of Economic Value,

Edward S. Simpson, B.E., F.C.S.,

Mineralogist and Assayer.

Issued under the authority of the Hon. R. Hastie, M.L.A.. Minister for Mines.

Perth:

By Authority : Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer.

Table Of Contents.

Prefatory Note ... Introduction

Page

Aluminium ... ... ... 8

Antimony 12

Arsenic ... ... ... ... 13

Barium ... 14

Bismuth 15

Boron ... ... ... ... 16

Cadmium ... ... ... 17

Calcium ... ... ... ... 18

Carbon ... ... ... ... 21

Cerium ... ... ... ... 25

Chromium ... ... ... 26

Cobalt ... 27 I

Copper 28

Gold 30 I

Iron 32

Lead ... ... ... ... 36

Lithium 37

Magnesium ... ... ... 38

Manganese ... ... ... 40

Mercury 42 '

Index

Page

Molybdenum ... ... ... 43

Nickel ... ... ... ... 44

Platinum, Iridium, and Osmium 45

Potassium ... ... ... 46

Silver 47

Sodium 49

Strontium ... ... ... 51

Sulphur ... ... ... ... 51

Thallium 52

Thorium 52

Tin 53

Titanium ... ... ... 55

Tungsten ... ... ... 55

Uranium and Radium ... ... 57

Vanadium ... ... ... 59

Zinc 60

Zirconium ... ... ... 62

Silica and Silicates 62

Gems and Ornamental Stones 67

Mineral Waters 71

Prefatory Note.

HE notes which form the subject matter of this Bulletin were compiled by Mr. E. S. Simpson, primarily for the purpose of meeting a mucii needed want on the part of the different members of the staff in dealing with the numerous inquiries on the part of the general public, in connection with what may be called Com- mercial Mineralogy.

A good deal of the information is scattered through various scientific and other serial publications, which are not readily accessible, and it has been felt that the publication of the data would possibly serve a much felt want in the State.

Especial reference has been made in the report to those minerals which have so far been found to occur in Western Australia, and the figures in heavy type refer to the registration number of the specimens in the collection of the Geological Survey, thus facilitating reference at any time.

The manuscript, on being submitted to the Hon. the Minister for Mines, was ordered to be printed for public information.

The index has been prepared by myself.

A. Gibb Maitland,

Government Geologist.

Geological Survey Office, Perth, 9th November, 1904.

Minerals Of Economic Value.

Introduction.

The notes upon which this Bulletin has been based were first prepared at odd intervals during the last five years in order that information might be given to officers of the Geological Staff and unofficial inquirers in regard to the less well-known minerals which have a market value either locally or in the great centres of the world's manufacturinsj industries.

For many years gold was almost the only mineral which attracted the attention of the lay and expert public in Western Australia, but recently more frequent inquiries have been made with regard to other sources of mineral wealth. In order to meet these, and if possible interest a larger number of prospectors and others in our latent possibilities in other directions, the original notes have been considerably enlarged and cast into a suitable form for publication.

A review of mineral statistics for the past few years shows that the five most valuable mineral products of the world are coal, clay, gold, iron ore, and petroleum. The total production of these in the whole world during 1903 may be roughly estimated by the following figures : —

Coal ... 250,000,000

Clay 80,000,000

Gold 00,000,000

Iron ore 40,000,000

Petroleum 30,000,000

If the space devoted to each mineral in the following pages had been therefore dependent upon its value to mankind, an overwhelming proportion of the Bulletin would have been devoted to these five mineral groups. All of them are, however, of wide distribution and readily recognised, so that they have not been dealt with at any great length. Eather has it been deemed advisable to describe more fully the lesser known species, which from their rarity often command exceptional prices.

This Bulletin does not pretend to be a text-book of Mineralogy ; it has, however, been found necessary, in order to facilitate the recognition of the various minerals, to give a short description of the appearance and character of each. In the case of precious stones this description has necessarily been in somewhat more detail than in the case of other minerals. In these descriptions the symbol " Gr" has been used instead of the words " Specific Gravity

and" the symbol "H" for "Hardness" according to Mohr's scale. The following approximate terms have been used in connection with the hardness : —

Talc Very soft

Calcite Soft

Fluorite „

Apatite Hard

Feldspar „

Quartz ... ... ... ... „

Topaz Very hard

Sapphire ... ... ... ... „ „

Diamond ... ... ... ... „ „

Wherever possible reference has been made to specimens in the Museum of the Geological Survey,

The commercial value of most minerals depends upon their freedom from mechanically admixed impurities and upon their chemical composition, which even in absolutely clean, pure specimens is liable to some slight variation due to isomorphous replacement. Even traces of certain substances present from either of these causes at times have a marked effect upon the value of the bulk sample. For this reason, as far as possible, these objectionable constituents have been pointed out in the following pages. The percentages of the various constituents given are those found in the clean mineral freed from all mechanical impurity.

The many works referred to in preparing these notes cannot all be indicated, but I. am especially indebted to the various volumes of the " Mineral Industry," to Dana's " System of Mineralogy," Browning's " Introduction to the Rarer Elements," Wagner and Crooke's " Manual of Chemical Technology," and Streeter's " Precious Stones and Gems."

Aluminium.

Aluminium compounds are amongst the commonest constituents of the earth's crust, but it was not till 1827 that the pure metal was first prepared, whilst it is only within the last fifteen years that the cost of its production lias been so cheapened as to bring it into rivalry with other more familiar metals.

The chief properties of aluminium which give it its present high importance in the arts are its lightness (its specific gravity is only 2" 7 or about one-third that of iron), strength, high electric conductivity, non-poisonous character of its compounds, pleasing silver- white colour not readily tarnished or corroded, sonorousness, great affinity for oxygen, and finally the great modifications it pro- duces in the properties of other metals when alloyed with them. It is also very malleable and ductile and a good conductor of heat.

Though compounds of aluminium are very abundant in nature, but few of them can be utilised as a source of the metal or its com- pounds. The most important of these are the hydrates, bauxite, gibbsite, and diaspore, and the double fluoride of sodium and

Hardness 1.

aluminium known as cryolite. Glay, felspar, and other silicates of aluminium with other metals, are seldom if ever used as a source of the metal or its definite compounds, and with the exception of clay will be dealt with under another heading (see pae 11).

The best commercial aluminium contains 99 to 99J per cent, of the pure metal, the balance being mainl} silicon and iron. Inferior grades of metal contain 92 to 99 per cent, of the pure metal. Aluminium is largely used for cooking and other domestic utensils, for army equipments, held glasses, and other uses where lightness and durability are essentials. Its sonorousness and lightness have led to its use in sounding boards for musical instruments and large public halls. Weight for weight, aluminium is about as strong as the best steel and is much more durable, so that it is capable of replacing that metal to a large extent where expense is a secondary considera- tion. It has largely replaced silver for toilet, ornamental, and surgical articles, and as foil. Lithographic plates have been made of aluminium, as well as horseshoes, parts of vehicles, scientific instru- ments, etc. Powdered aluminium has a strong affinity for oxygen, and is therefore used for the production of flash-lights, the reduction of many metals from their ores, and the prevention of flaws in steel and iron castings.

The most important alloys of aluminium are those with copper known as aluminium-bronzes. These alloys are light and very strong and resist corrosion, with the result that they have been largely used for racing yachts, flying- machines, propellers, etc. Ferro-aluminium, an alloy of iron and aluminium, is prepared to add to steel to produce sound castings or render it more easily welded. Various alloys of aluminium with nickel, copper, zinc, etc., are used for ornamental and other purposes.

Many artificial compounds of aluminium are used in the arts, chief among them being alum, sulphate of aluminium and potas- sium. This is largely used in sizing paper, dyeing, manufacture of the pigments known as " lakes," hardening plaster of Paris, tanning and curing, clarifying water and other liquids, purifying sewage, etc. Aluminium sulphate is used for the same purposes as alum. Sodium aluminate is used in dyeing and printing, in hardening natural stone and making artificial stone, and in stearine candle manufacture. Aluminium acetate is used in dyeing. Ultramarine, a brilliant blue compound of aluminium, sodium, sulphur, and silica, is extensively used as a pigment and dye, and for blueing linen, paper, sugar, candles, etc.

Aluminium oxide (alumina), hydrate, chloride, and fluoride are manufactured on a large scale as intermediate products in the conversion of ores into metallic aluminium.

Corundum. — Oxide of aluminium, AlOg. Aluminium, 53 per cent. The impure variety known as emery contains iron oxide, and is therefore poorer in aluminium. Crystallised, massive, or granular. Grey or tinted, translucent. (The rare transparent highly-coloured varieties are valuable gems, see Ruby and

Sapphire.) Very hard, biittle. G., 4-0. Found in veins or pockets in crystalline rocks, or in river gravels.

Uses. — Chiefly used as an abrasive, though to a slight extent it has been smelted into metal. For either purpose the purer the mineral the more valuable it is. Mechanically admixed impurities can be removed by mechanical concentration, but not so the iron oxide in the darker varieties known as emery. Exceptionally pure hard crystals fetch a high price for cutting and polishing diamonds and other gems.

Bauxite. — Hydrate of aluminium, with, various proportions of hydrate of iron. Aluminium, 18 to 39 per cent. ; alumina, 35 to 74 per cent. Massive, earthy, or concretionary. Grrey, yellow, brown ; opaque. Soft or hard. Gr., 2*5. Occurs very rarely in veins ; commonly in superficial deposits produced by the weathering of crystalline rocks in situ, or the collection in lake beds or hollows of the products of denudation.

Uses. — This is the most important source of the metal and its compounds. Its value depends directly upon the percentage of alumina present, and upon the smallness of the iron content. Bauxite with more than 3 per cent, of iron oxide is of little value for the production of alum, etc. Most bauxites contain some silica and alumina in combination as kaolin ; an ore containing any given amount of alumina and silica is of less value when these constituents are chemically combined than when they are merely mechanically intermixed. Bauxite is also used in the manufacture of very high grade and refractory crucibles and firebricks.

T. 197.— High grade Bauxite, Georgia, U.S.A. T. 198. — Clay-Uke Bauxite, Co. Antrim, Ireland. 3148. — Ferruginous Bauxite, Smith's Mill. Contains alumina,

47 per cent. ; iron oxide, 10 per cent. 997. — Ferruginous Bauxite, Wongan Hills. Contains alumina, 45 per cent. ; iron oxide, 19 per cent.

Gibbsite. — Hydrate of aluminium, with sometimes oxide of iron. Aluminium, 32 to 34 per cent. ; alumina, 60 to 65 per cent. Much so called bauxite is in reality gibbsite, or a mixture of the two. Crystallised, massive, concretionary, or stalactitic. White, grey, yellow, red; translucent or opaque. Soft, tough. Gr., 2*4.

Uses, etc. — Same as bauxite.

Cryolite.— Fluoride of aluminium and sodium, NajAlFg. Aluminium, 13 per cent. Crystallised or massive, cleavable. Colourless, white or tinted, transparent or translucent, glassy lustre. Soft, brittle. Gr., 3 0. Occurs chiefly in Greenland in a vein in granite.

Uses. — A valuable ore of aluminium owing to its easy fusibility, and capacity for dissolving alumina. It is also used as a constituent of a variety of glass.

T. 196.— Cryolite, Ivigtut, Greenland.

Kaolin. — Hydrated silicate of aluminium. Aluminium, 20 per cent. ; alumina, 39 per cent. Massive, compact, friable, or scaly. *White, grey, or tinted. Opaque; scales, translucent. Soft, a., 2-6.

Clay is mainly kaolin admixed with more or less finely divided quartz, felspar, iron oxide, or organic matter, and occurs either in sedimentary beds or in situ as the result of weathering of igneous rocks.

Uses. — Clays vary largely in composition, colour, plasticity, and behaviour under heat, and according to the variations in these properties are found suitable for various purposes. An actual manufacturing test is the most satisfactory, and in some cases the only way of determining their utility. According to their purity, clays may be divided for commercial purposes into three classes, as follow : —

China Clay. — This is the purest form of kaolin used in the manufacture of porcelain and china, and to a less extent as a " filling " for paper. Finely divided quartz up to 25 per cent, does not decrease its value, but it must be sufticiently free from oxide of iron to remain white after baking, and also be sufficiently infusible to resist melting during that process. For the latter reason it must be free from any notable amount of lime or alkalies. The more plastic the clay, and the less shrinkage experienced in baking, the more valuable is it. Workable deposits of this variety of the mineral are usually in the form of irregular surface masses, result- ing from the decomposition in situ of granite, though they are occasionally found in alluvial deposits.

Fire Clay. — The clays used for making refractory bricks, etc., are usually not as pure as china clay, but should not contain more than four per cent, of impurities other than quartz and organic matter. The best clays for this purpose are usually found in the coal measures immediately beneath the seams of coal, though they may also be found in similar situations to china clay. The best fire clays will stand intense heat without fusion or great shrinkage, will resist to a large extent the corroding action of fused mineral substances, and are not affected by sudden and great changes of temperature.

The finest grades of fire clay are employed in the manufacture of pots for melting glass, but by far the largest proportion of the total production is converted into fire brick for fire-places and furnaces, and as mortar to bind fire bricks. Large quantities are used for making crucibles for assaying and other purposes. Poorer qualities are used to make stone-ware, drain pipes, etc. The refractoriness of a fireclay depends almost entirely upon its chemical composition, more than 5 per cent, of fluxes (oxides of lime, iron, alkalies, etc.) reducing its melting point considerably. The more plastic a fire clay, the denser and stronger will be the resultant fire brick, but the greater will be the shrinkage on burning.

Brick Clay is the commoiiest and least pure of all useful clajs. Ad J ordinary clay can be made into bricks, but the best are made from clays containing not less than 60 per cent, of kaolin, only a very small proportion of coarse sand, and free from pyrites and from concretions of iron oxide or carbonate of lime.

' Alum Shale is a clay rock containing a considerable proportion of pyrites or marcasite, which on weathering, or roasting and leaching, yields aluminium sulphate and alum.

2563. — China Clay, North Lead, Kanowna.

2538. — Fire Clay, North Lead", Kanowna.

3152.— Fire Clay, Smith's Mill.

2736. — Brick Clay, North Lead, Kanowna.

Al unite. — Hydrous sulphate of aluminium and potassium. Alumina, 37 per cent. ; potash, 11 percent. Massive or crystallised. Soft, brittle. White, grey, or pink. Transparent to almost opaque. O., 2-6.

Occurs as irregular pipes or veins in trachytic or granitic rocks. Uses. — A common source of alum and aluminium sulphate.

Antimony.

Antimony has been known from time immemorial, an ancient Chaldean vase having been discovered made of this metal. It is a brilliant silver-white metal, coarsely crystalline in structure when melted and cooled slowly, but granular when quickly cooled. It is hard and very brittle, not affected by the air at ordinary tempera- tures, but, on heating, burns with the production of the oxide. It is attacked by most mineral acids.

The metal occurs native in several parts of the world, usually in veins in crystalline rocks. It is not, however, an important ore. The most common ore is the sulphide, stibnite, which, at the surface, is found altered to one or other of the oxides, cervantite, etc. An oxysulphide, kermesite, has been mined in Italy. Antimony ores occur in veins of quartz or calcite m slates, granites, and other crystalline rocks.

Though known for so long, the use of antimony in the arts has never been very extended ; even now, practically, its only use is in the form of alloys with other metals, which are thereby rendered harder and more lustrous. The most important of all antimony alloys are those with lead. Type metal is an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony. The hard lead used for coffins, and for pumps and pipes, and acid chamber linings in chemical factories, contains several per cent, of antimony. Britannia metal, pewter, and many anti- friction metals contain a considerable percentage of this metal. Much of the antimony used for the preparation of these alloys comes into the market in the form of antimoniai or hard lead, a by-product of lead smelters. It contains 18 27 per cent, of antimony.

Of artificial compounds, the most important is the tri- sulphide, which is one of the chief constituents of the heads of safety matches, and is also used in pyrotechny and medicine. The penta-sulphide is used to vulcanise caoutchouc. Potassium antimonate, or tartar emetic, is used in medicine and as a constituent of certain varieties of glass. Neapolitan yellow, lead antimonate, is used as a pigment, and as a constituent of stained glass. Antimony-cinnabar (an oxy- sulphide) is used as a pigment.

Stibnite. — Trisulphide of antimony, SbgSg. Antimony, 71 per cent. Coarsely or finely crystallised, massive or granular. Lead coloured and brilliant or iridescent ; opaque. Very soft and easily fusible. Gr., 4 6.

Uses. — This is the chief ore of antimony and most important source of the metal and its compounds. For export, it should be dressed by hand or otherwise up to at least 50 per cent. By heat- ing it may be melted and run off from the gangue and cast into ingots for export. The value of the concentrates will depend not only on their contents in the metal but also on their freedom from compounds of arsenic and lead, and in many cases upon the propor- tion of gold and silver present.

5028. — Massive Stibnite, Mallina. 3706.— Crystallised Stibnite, Mt. Magnet. 1371— Crystallised Stibnite, Metz, N.S W.

Kermesite. — Oxysulphide of antimony, SbgSgO. Antimony, 75 per cent. Usually crystallised. Eed, opaque, brilliant lustre. Very soft, sectile. G., 4*5.

Uses. — Sometimes occurs in sufficient quantity to form a source of the metal.

Valentinite. — Trioxide of antimony, SbgO.. Antimony, 83 per cent. Crystallised or massive, granular. Brilliant lustre; white, pink, or grey ; translucent. Soft. G., 5-6.

Uses. — Used as a source of the metal and its compounds. 1364.— Crystallised Valentinite, Hillgrove, N.S.W. T. 10. — Massive Valentinite, Borneo.

Cervantite.— Tetroxide of antimony, Sb304. Antimony, 79 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Yellow, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 4-0.

Uses. — Used as a source of the metal and its compounds. 1921. — Massive Cervantite, Wiluna. 5195. — Cervantite crust on Stibnite, Mallina.

Arsenic.

Arsenic in its properties lies on the borderland between the metals and the non-metals. It was known to the Ancient Greeks. It is a steel-grey crystalline solid of metallic appearance, brittle, and a good conductor of electricity. It tarnishes rapidly in moist

air, and when heated volatilises without melting. It is somewhat lighter than antimony.

Arsenic occurs occasionally uncombined in nature, but its commonest ore is mispickel, a sulpharsenide of iron. Sulphides of arsenic occur native, as also arsenides of iron nickel and cobalt. Arsenic and its compounds usually occur in veins in crystalline rocks.

The element has no use in the arts except to add to lead for making shot.

Of its artificial compounds the most important is the trioxide, known as white arsenic. Owing to its extremely poisonous character large quantities of white arsenic are used to destroy vermin and insect pests, and also as a preservative of timber, skins, leather, etc. It is also used to prevent and cure foot-rot in sheep. Large quantities are used to produce several green pigments (notably Paris green), which are compounds of this oxide with oxide of copper, etc. It also enters into the composition of some varieties of glass. Several compounds of arsenic are used in medicine.

Mispickel (Arsenical Pyrites, Arsenopyrite). —

Sulpharsenide of iron, FeAsS. Arsenic, 46 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Light grey, metallic, brilliant, opaque. Brittle, hard, a., 6 0.

Uses. — Used as a source of white arsenic, etc. Some samples contain a notable proportion of gold or cobalt, which will pay for extraction, when white arsenic may be collected as a by-product during the necessary roasting.

1112. — Mispickel, Coolgardie. T. 142.— Mispickel, Nova Scotia.

Barium.

This metal, which resembles calcium but is much more uncommon, was first separated early in the 19th century, though some of its compounds were known as far back as the 17th century. It is silver white, soft, and readily oxidises in the air. At ordinary temperatures it decomposes water with the evolution of hydrogen. At a dull red heat it melts.

Barium does not occur native. Its most important ore is the sulphate, barytes, which occurs either in veins in crystalline or other rocks or as boulders in residual clays resulting from the weathering of limestone. A less common though valuable ore is the carbonate, witherite, workable deposits of which occur as veins in limestone, etc.

Neither metallic barium nor alloys of it with other metals have any application in the arts. Pure artificial barium sulphate or blanc fixe is used for the same purposes as the mineral sulphate, q.v. It forms the chief constituent of " lithophone," a white paint which has largely replaced white lead for many purposes. The hydrate is extensively used to extract sugar from molasses, as

well as to make white paints and to soften boiler waters. Barium peroxide is used to prepare hydrog-en peroxide and oxygenated water for bleaching, etc. The chloride is used in making paint as also the sulphide. This latter compound is also used to remove hair from hides, etc. The carbonate is used in manufacturing cyanides and fire bricks.

Barytes. — Sulphate of barium, BaSO. Baryta (barium oxide), 65 per cent. Crystallised, laminated, or granular massive. White or tinted, transparent to opaque. Brittle, soft. G., 4*5.

Uses. — After cleaning and grinding is added to white lead and zinc white. It is used in weighting and filling paper, making enamels and porcelain, in pyrotechny, and as a source of various barium compounds. The value of barytes depends upon its freedom from mechanically and chemically contained impurities, especially from iron compounds and other colouring materials. 204. — Massive Barytes, Northampton. 4451. — CrystalHsed Barytes, Oakover River.

Witherite. — Carbonate of barium, BaCOg. Baryta, 77 per cent. Crystallised, massive, or globular. White, grey, or yellow, translucent. Soft, brittle. G-., 4-3.

Uses. — An important source of all barium compounds, especially the peroxide.

Bismuth.

This metal has been known to chemists for some centuries, though it is comparatively rare. It is a hard brittle metal of a dark reddish grey colour, and coarsely crystalline in structure when slowly cooled after fusion. It oxidises slowly in air at ordinary temperatures, more rapidly on heating. It dissolves readily in most mineral acids. Its specific gravity is between those of copper and silver.

Bismuth occurs in nature as the almost pure metal as well as the sulphide, bismuthinite, and the carbonate, bismutite. These are the only important ores, though bismuth also occurs as the oxide and telluride, and in several complex sulphides of lead and copper. Bismuth ores are found in veins of quartz or calcite, in slates, or crystalline rocks.

The market for bismuth ores is strictly limited, and is con- trolled by Messrs. Johnson, Matthey & Co., of London, and the Government of Saxony.

The metal bismuth is only employed in the form of alloys, many of which are of considerable value. Fusible metal is an alloy of bismuth, lead, and tin, and sometimes cadmium, which melts at a very low temperature, which can be varied by varying the relative proportions of the constituents. Owing to its expansion on solidification it gives a very perfect cast, and for this reason is used for stereotyping, making casts of woodcuts, etc. On account of its low and adjustable melting point it is used for safety plugs

for boilers, for automatic fire extinguishers, for baths, for temper- ing steel, and for solders. The pencils for writing on so called metallic paper are made of a bismuth allov.

Bismuth oxide is used as a constituent of optical glass and of various glazes for porcelain and stained glass. Basic bismuth nitrate is largely used in medicine and also as a cosmetic. Several other bismuth compounds are used in medicine.

Bismuth (Native). — Pure bismuth, 94 to 99 per cent. Opaque metallic, reddish white to reddish grey. Foliated, massive or granular. Brittle, sectile. Very soft. G., 9-8.

Uses. — This is the chief source of bismuth and its compounds. Ore as low in grade as 5 per cent, is saleable, but it is more economical to handpick or otherwise dress the ore up to at least 25 per cent, before exporting. Gold and sometimes silver are con- stituents of native bismuth, and contribute largely to the value of the ore. The presence of tellurium in bismuth ore is a decided drawback, as it injures the qualities of the smelted metal.

2292. — Auriferous Bismuth in Quartz, Yalgoo. Ore assays bismuth, 2-6 per cent.; gold, 700 ozs. per ton ; silver, 3'0 ozs. per ton. ,

Bismutiiinite. — Sulphide of bismuth, BiS. Bismuth, 81 per cent. Sometimes crystallised, usually foliated or fibrous massive. Metallic, opaque, lead grey. Very soft. G., 6*4.

Uses. — A less common ore of bismuth. (See remarks under Native Bismuth.)

T. 14. — Bismuthinite, Cornwall, England.

Bism utile. — Hydrated carbonate of bismuth. Bismuth, 80 per cent. Opaque, earthy, or in crusts. White, yellow, or greenish. Soft. G., 7-0.

Uses. — See remarks under Bismuthinite.

Boron.

This non- metallic element was first separated in the elemental state in 1808, but its most important compound, borax, has been known for several centuries. Boron is a light brown powder, very infusible, and a strong reducing agent.

Boron does not occur native. The most widely-distributed compound of it is tourmaline, a complex silicate of boron, aluminium, etc., frequently occurring as a constituent of granite. This mineral is, however, not a source of the commercial compounds of boron. These are derived from deposits of sassolite (boracic acid), borax (sodium borate), colemanite (calcium borate), and boracite (magnesium chloro-borate). Sassolite is obtained from hot s[)rings; the other boron minerals are found in recent beds, usually in marshes or dry lakes m desert regions and in the neighbourhood of tourmaline-granites.

By far the most important compound of boron is borax, the uses of which are described under the native mineral. Boracic acid is also of considerable use as described under sassolite. The uncombined element has no application in the arts.

Sassolite. — Boracic acid, H3BO3. Boron trioxide 5(5 per cent. Scaly or stalactitic. White, transparent, or translucent. Very soft. Gr., 1'5. Occurs solid in volcanic regions, or dissolved in the waters of hot springs.

Uses. — The crude mineral is purified by crystallisation, and is then used as an antiseptic and food preservative as well as for sundry medicinal purposes.

Borax (Native). — Hydrous borate of sodium ; boron trioxide, 37 per cent. Crystalline, white, brittle. Translucent to opaque. Soft. G., 17. Occurs as a crystalline efflorescence on the surface of dry lakes and iu cry>tals embedded in the mud beneath them. Also in solution in waters of arid regions.

Uses. — The crude mineral is purified by recrystallisation and is then used as a food preservative and antiseptic, as a flux in many metallurgical operations, as a constituent of glass, artificial gem.s, enamels, and pottery-glazes, as a flux in welding and soldering, for softening water, and for various medicinal purposes.

Coleman ite. — Hydrous borate of calcium. Boron trioxide, 51 per cent. Crystallised or massive. White, brilliant lustre, transparent to translucent. Hard. G., 2 4. Occurs in recent or ancient lake beds similarly to borax.

Uses. — An important source of boracic acid and borax. Value depends upon percentage of boron trioxide.

Boracite.— Chloro-borate of magnesium. Boron trioxide, 62 per cent. Crystallised or granular massive. White, translucent. Hard. G., 2 9. Occurs interbedded with salt and gypsum in ancient lake beds.

Uses. — A source of boracic acid and borax. Value depends upon percentage of boron trioxide.

Cadmium.

This rare metal, discovered early in the 19th century, closely resembles zinc in appearance and properties, and is usually associated in nature with that metal. It is bluish white in colour, malleable and ductile. It tarnishes readily in the air, and at a high tempera- ture burns. Its weight is the same as that of copper.

Cadmium does not occur native, but is known as a sulphide, greenockite. The chief sources of the metal are, however, cadmiferous varieties of the zinc ores blende and smithsonite, cadmium being obtained as a by-product in the smelting of such ores for zinc.

Metallic cadmium is used to a slight extent in analytical chemistry and as a constituent of certain fusible metals. An alloy

of silver and cadmium is used for plating purposes, for which it is found very advantageous. It has also been proposed to use the metal as a coating for battery terminals and connections. Cadmium sulphide is used as a pigment and in pyrotechny, and the iodide in photography.

Greenockite.— Sulphide of cadmium, CdS. Cadmium, 77 per cent. Crystallised, vellow, brilliant lustre, translucent. Brittle, soft. G., 5-0.

Uses. — A minor source of cadmium and its compounds.

Cadmiferous Blende. — Sulphide of zinc and cadmium (ZnCd)S. Cadmium up to 5 per cent. Resembles ordinary blende. See page 61.

Uses. — Chief source of cadmium, obtained as a bye-product in smelting for zinc.

4032. — Cadmiferous Blende, Northampton.

Cadmiferous Smithsonite. — Carbonate of zinc and cadmium, (ZnCd)C03. Cadmium, up to 3 per cent. Resembles ordinary smithsonite, q.v. page 61.

Uses. — A source of cadmium and its compounds.

Calcium.

Though compounds of calcium are amongst the commonest minerals on the earth's surface, and their properties have in many cases been known for centuries, the metal itself was only obtained in a state which permitted of handling and examination in 1856. It is a soft yellowish metal, somewhat stable in perfectly di-y air, but readily converted into the oxide (lime) in moist air, and acted on by water with violence. It is one of the lightest metals known, being much lighter than aluminium.

Calcium does not occur in nature in the metallic state. Its commonest compound is the carbonate, calcite, which forms the chief constituent of all limestones, as well as of the shells of mollusca. In combination with silica, calcium forms a large pro- portion of many igneous rocks ; the hydrated sulphate, gypsum, is of common occurrence. Phosphate of calcium forms the chief constituent of the bones of men and animals, as well as occurring as rock phosphate and in guano.

The metal itself has not as yet been put to any useful pur- poses. Its most useful artificial compound is the oxide, known as lime, formed by burning calcite in the form of limestone. Portland cement is a mixed silicate and aluminate of calcium formed by burning a natural or artificial mixture of calcite and clay. A very pure limestone on burning yields a fat or pure lime, one with a little clay yields a hydraulic lime, capable of setting under water, one with still more clay yields a hydraulic (or Portland) cement. Though the chief use of lime is for building, large quantities of it are also employed for other purposes, such as the preparation of bleaching powder (chloride of lime), ammonia, caustic soda, and

caustic potash, for purifying water, in cyanide works for neutralis- ing acid, and for various other metallurgical purposes, as well as a fertiliser.

Sulphate of lime, produced by burning gypsum, is known as Plaster of Paris, and is employed either solely or with various added chemicals for finishing off the interior walls of buildings, as well as for making various mouldings and castings. " Superphosphate," a material largely used as a fertiliser, is a mixture of calcium sulphate and acid calcium phosphate, formed by acting on natural lime })hosphates with sulphuric acid.

Chloride of lime or bleaching powder, used extensively for disinfecting and for bleaching, is a compound formed by allowing fat lime to absorb chlorine gas. Calcium carbide, now used to generate acetylene gas for lighting purposes, is a compound obtained by smelting together charcoal, or coke, and lime in an electric furnace.

Calcite.- - Carbonate of calcium, CaCO. Lime, 56 pei- cent.; carbon dioxide, 44 per cent. Crystallised or massive, white, or tinted various colours, transparent or opaque.. G., 27. Calcite forms rock masses under the names of limestone and marhle.

Uses.— Chiefly used for burning into lime. To make the best lime for mortar or for use in preparing other calcium compounds or for other chemical purposes, the limestone should be practically free from silica, alumina, iron, and magnesia. For making Portland cement limestone should be free from iron, magnesia, and sulphur, but may with advantage contain silica and alumina equivalent to anything up to 25 percent, of clay. A limestone containing in itself sufficient clay to form a Portland cement is known as a " natural cement-rock.''

Immense quantities of limestone are used for building purposes, for which the chief requisites are strength, freedom from pores, and capacity for resisting the weather.

Large quantities of limestone are used as a flux in smelting ore of iron, lead, copper, etc. For this purpose it is necessary that the stone should be rich in lime and low in silica (not more than 5 per cent.) and sulphur. Small proportions of iron and magnesia do not affect its value for this purpose.

The second constituent of calcite, viz., carbon dioxide or carbonic acid gas, is obtained from it by the action of suphuric acid, and is largely used in aerated water factories, etc. Any pure lime- stone is suitable for this purpose.

Perfectly transparent flawless crystals of calcite (Iceland Spar) are of considerable value for optical purposes. 2066. — Calcite Crystals, Coolgardie. 1015- — Crystalline Massive Calcite, Broad Arrow. 4471-73— Stalactitic and stalagmitic Calcite, Blackboy Hollow Cave, Sussex District. 5371-— Calcite (Travertine), Leonora. 4431. — Limestone, Eottnest Island.

Dolomite. — Carbonate of calcium and magnesium (CaMg) CO 3. Lime, 30 per cent ; carbon dioxide, 47 per cent. Similar to calcite, but slightly heavier. Forms rock- masses under the name of magnesian limestone or dolomite.

Uses. — With a natural or artificial admixture of clav, is burnt to form Rosendale hydraulic cement, for which purpose it should be low in iron and sulphur. Used in case of ordinary limestone as a flux, when the silica present shouhJ not exceed 5 per cent. Also used as a source of carbonic acid, for which purpose it is, if anything, more valuable than ordinary limestone. Large quantities are used as building stone. Sometimes used as a source of magnesia.

1988. — Crystallised Dolomite, Goongarrie.

5342. — Crystalline massive Dolomite, Porlelle.

Gypsum. — Hydrated sulphate of calcium, CaS042H20. Lime 32 per cent. Colourless, white or tinted ; transparent to opaque ; very soft. In large crystals, or crystalline masses, or as a fine crystalline powder. G., 2*8. Workable deposits occur ia the beds of dry lakes or in sedimentary beds.

Uses. — Chiefly used in the manufacture of Plaster of Paris and various patent plasters. For this purpose it must be very pure and especially free from iron oxide, which would give the plaster an objectionable tint. It is used occasionally as a fertiliser, especially for grape vines. The massive variety, alabaster, is extensively carved into ornamental vases, etc.

5055. — Powdery Gypsum, near Cliffy Head, Victoria District.

1504. — Clear Crystallised Gypsum, Mingenew,

2360. — Fibrous Gypsum, Boulder.

Apatite. — Phosphate and chloride or fluoride of calcium, SCagPgOgCa (FC1)2- Lime, 54 per cent.; phosphorus pentoxide, 41 per cent. Massive or crystallised ; white or tinted ; transparent to opaque ; brittle, hard. Gr., 3 2. Payable deposits occur in veins and bunches in pyroxenite and other crystalline rocks.

Phosphorite or Bock-phosphate is an impure apatite occurring in irregular beds or nodules in limestone.

Guano, the earthy or hardened excreta of sea-birds, consists largely of macerated bones of fish, and therefore of impure calcium phosphate.

Uses. — The main use of apatite and similar compounds is as a fertiliser, either in the crude state or after conversion into " super- phosphate." They are also used as a source of phosphorus, largely employed in the match industry, etc., and in the manufacture of white opaque glass. For these purposes the value of the ore depends upon the percentage of phosphorus pentoxide present. In addition to calcium phosphate, guano also contains ammonia and other nitrogen compounds, which add to its value as a fertiliser. Its value, therefore, depends primarily on the percentage of phosphorus pentoxide, next upon the percentage of nitrogen present. For use in the manufacture of superphosphate over 3 per cent, of oxides of

iion and ahimina is looked upon as m serious drawback in any sample of rock phosphate or apatite ; while the presence of a few per cent, of carbonate of lime is an advantage. For export, rock phosphate should contain not less than 65 per cent, of calcium phosphate ; for local consumption, not less than 55 per cent. 5189. — Rock Phosphate, Chnton, S.A.

Fluorite (Fluorspar). — Fluoride of calcium, CaFj. Calcium 51 per cent.; fluorine, 49 per cent. Crystallised, massive or granular. Transparent to translucent. Colourless or tinted various colours. Soft, brittle. G., 3*2. Occurs usually in veins in limestones and various crystalline rocks.

Uses. — Fluorspar is mainly used as a flux, in the open-hearth method of producing steel, and in remelting pig iron in foundries. It is frequently used to add to smelting mixtures not otherwise readilv fusible, whilst it is said to assist materially in purifying crude copper. Smaller quantities are used in the production of opalescent glass and enamelled ware and of hydrofluoric acid. Fluorspar is occasionally cut into gems and ornaments. For use in steel production it should be free from sulphur and phosphorus, whilst for all purposes more than 1 per cent, of silica is a decided disadvantage.

Caebon.

Carbon is one of the commonest of the non-metallic elements, and numbers amongst its natural and artificial compounds many of the most useful substances known to civilisation.

It is known in three diflierent modifications, diamond, graphite, and charcoal. Diamond is crystalline, colourless, transparent, and of high refractive index. It is harder than any other known sub- stance, but somewhat brittle. Its specific gravity is 3*5. Graphite is crystalline, grey-black, opaque, with metallic lustre. It is very soft and smooth to the touch. Its specific gravity is 2-3. Charcoal in its purest form is a black amorphous powder, dull and opaque. It is variable in hardness and specific gravity, according to the method by which it has been formed.

Both of the crystalline forms of carbon, diamond, and graphite occur as minerals, but not so the amorphous form, unless possibly as a constituent of coals. The most important mineral compounds containing carbon are coal, petroleum, natural gas, and diamond, the first three of which owe their chief value to the ease with which they burn with the evolution of light, or heat, or both.

Diamond. — -The purest forms of this mineral are dealt with under the heading " Gems," p. 67.

Bort and Carbonado. — Almost pure carbon of the diamond type. Grey or black, translucent to opaque. No distinct crystal- line outline, usually in irregular water-worn grains. Extremely hard. G., 3"3. Occurs in river gravels.

Uses. — The chief use of these minerals is for setting in the crowns of rock-drills and the edges of lapidaries cutting wheels, and for polishing diamonds or other gems.

Graphite. — Almost pure carbon of the graphitic type. Some- times in tabular crystals, more often in scales, or in scaly, columnar, or earthy masses. Black or dark grey, lustre usually metallic, sometimes dull ; opaque. Very soft. G-., 2*2. Occurs in beds or bands in raetamorphic rocks, either gneiss, mica schist, quartzite, or crystalline limestone.

Uses. — The greater part of the world's production of graphite is used for mixing with fireclay to make crucibles for melting metals and alloys in. Smaller quantities are used for stove polish, foundry facings, paint, lubricating, lead pencils, and various electrical purposes. The purest forms of graphite are used for crucibles and lubricating. For these purposes the graphite should contain 95 per cent, of pure carbon, whilst for crucibles the ash should be infusible, and for lubricating, the mineral very flaky and greasy. Less pure varieties of the mineral can be used for the other purposes named, and command a correspondingly lesser price. Natural graphite has recently to a large extent been replaced by artificial graphite made from coke in the electric furnace. 3438— Graphite. Oldfield River. T. 17. — High-grade Graphite, Ceylon.

Coal. — This is a mixture of various compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur, derived from the gradual alteration of buried vegetable matter. Five main types exist, viz., brown coal, non-caking bituminous, caking bituminous, anthracite, and algal coal.

Brown Coal. — Contains moisture 15 to 50 per cent. ; ash, 1 to 35 per cent. Balance of coal contains carbon 55 to 71, hydrogen, 4 to 6, oxygen and nitrogen, 21 to 67. Ratio of fixed carbon to volatile hydrocarbons, 1 : 2 to 2 : 1. Brown and dull to black and bright. Sometimes with woody structure and then known as Lignite ; when very bright and black, known as Jet.

Uses. — This is the poorest class of coal, and owing to the high percentage of moisture in it, it has to be sun-dried or artificially dried before use. The drying is frequently followed by compress- ing into briqueltes. This coal is mainly used for household purposes, though it can also be used for steam-raising.' The less ash and moisture in it the higher its calorific value, and therefore the more valuable it is.

623. — Brown Coal, Coolgardie. 2996. — Brown Coal, Fitzgerald River.

Non-caking Bituminous Coal. — Contains moisture, 5 to 15 per cent ; ash, 1 to 30 per cent. Balance of coal contains carbon, 70 to 85 ; hydrogen, 4 to 6 ; oxygen and nitrogen, 12 to 20. Ratio of fixed carbon to volatile hydrocarbons, 1 : 1 to 2 : 1. Bright or dull, black.

Uses. — A more useful type of coal than li-nite, and can be used for all ordinary purposes such as steam-raising, gas-making, house- hold use, tar-making, smelting, etc. It cannot be used for making coke, and is of small value for marine or locomotive engines.

5054. — Non-caking Bituminous Coal, CoUie.

1994. — Non-caking Bituminous Coal, Collie.

Caking Bituminous Coal. — Contains moisture, 1 to 5 per cent. ; ash, 1 to 30 per cent. Balance of coal contains carbon, 75 to 90 per cent. ; hydrogen, 4 to 6 ; oxygen and nitrogen, 5 to 11. Ratio of fixed carbon to volatile hydrocarbons, 2 : I to 6 : 1. Bright or dull, black.

Uses. — The most useful of all kinds of coal. Suitable for household use, steam-raising under all conditions, coke-making, and gas, with accompanying production of ammonia, tar, cyanides, and numberless organic compounds. For steam raising its value depends upon the amount of heat generated in burning, freedom from ash, and infusibility of ash. For coking, its value depends upon quan- tity and hardness of coke and freedom from ash. For gas making, upon quantity and quality of gas given off on coking.

725. — Caking Bituminous Coal, Newcastle, N.S.W.

Anthracite. — Contains moisture 5 to 2 per cent.; ash, 1 to 30 per cent. Balance of coal contains carbon, 90 to 96 per cent.; hydrogen, 2'5 to 5 per cent.; oxygen and nitrogen, 2 to 6 per cent. Ratio of fixed carbon to volatile hydrocarbons 6 : 1 to 10 : 1. Black, bright, hard. Not easily combustible, and does not form coke.

Uses.— This is the best coal for marine and locomotive pur- poses. Navies use it almost exclusively owing to its smokeless character and its high calorific value. It is also largely used for smelting and other purposes, but is useless for gas making. Its value depends upon the amount of heat generated in burning, freedom from ash, and infusibility of ash.

Algal (7oa.— This includes Kerosene Shale, Boghead Goal, and Torhanite, all of which are largely composed of the debris of water plants. They contain moisture, 0*1 to 2 per cent. ; ash, 1 to 40 per cent., graduating into an oil- shale as the ash increases. Balance of coal contains carbon, 78 to 80 per cent. ; hydrogen, 12 to 14 per cent. ; oxygen and nitrogen, 6 to 8 per cent. Ratio of fixed carbon to volatile hydrocarbons, 1 to 2 to 1 to 15. Dark brown; dull; tough ; elastic. Catches fire readily and burns without melting.

Uses.— This coal is chiefly used to mix with bituminous coals for the production of illuminating gas. It is also distilled fo yield oils (both illuminating and lubricating), paraffin wax, and ammonia. Its value depends upon the quantity and quality of its volatile products.

3123.— Kerosene Shale, Joadja, N.S.W.

Petroleum. — A natural liquid oil varying considerably in composition, but consisting mainly of a mixture of hydrocarbons of

the paraffin and naphthene series, the carbon varying from 79 to 87 per cent. Transparent to translucent ; colourless, yellow, brown, or black. G., 0 7 to 10. Occurs in sedimentary deposits, in porous beds or cavities sealed by impervious beds of clay, etc., especially beneath anticlinal folds.

Uses. — Used extensively for steamers, locomotives, etc., in the crude state as fuel. Also distilled in large amounts, producing illuminating gas, light oils (gasolene, etc.), used for motors, etc.; illuminating oils (kerosene, etc.) ; heavy lubricating oils ; vaseline or petroleum jelly, used as fuel, lubricant, etc. ; paraffin wax, and sometimes asphalt or pitch. The most valuable petroleum is that which yields most illuminating oil, has the highest calo4*ific value, and contains least sulphur. In America crude petroleum is used for watering the streets to keep down the dust, and is found far superior to water.

Natural Gas. — This contains from 93 to 97 per cent, of marsh gas or methane, the balance being nitrogen. It is the most perfect and convenient fuel known, 11 cubic feet giving approxi- mately the same amount of heat on burning as a pound of good steam coal. It occurs in pores and cavities in sedimentary rocks of all ages, usually in association with petroleum.

Uses.— Largely used as a fuel for domestic and manufacturing purposes, its freedom from soot and ashes being a great advantage. It is used for melting steel, reheating iron, burning brick, steam- raising, etc.

Asphaltum. — A mixture of various hydrocarbons partly oxygenated and invariably carrying sulphur. Analyses usually show the presence of ash, non-bituminous organic matter, petrolene, and asphaltene, all in varying quantities. Amphorous, solid, or semi fluid. Black or dark brown, opaque. Melts and burns readily. Gr., 1 to 18. Occurs in surface beds or disseminated through sandstones or limestones. Usually closely associated with petroleum.

Uses. — The chief use of asphalt is as a binding material for crushed rock, etc., for roadways, footpaths, and foundations, damp courses in houses : as a protective covering for wood or iron ; as an ingredient of roofing felt ; as an ingredient of various varnishes and japans. For street paving the asphalt may be already naturally mixed with the necessary quantity of rock. Otherwise the less ash the better, whilst the proportion of non-bituminous organic matter should not exceed 15 per cent, of the total organic matter, and the proportion of petrolene should exceed that of asphaltene. The purest varieties only of asphalt can be used for making varnishes. These should be hard, have a very bright lustre and pure black colour, and be practically free from ash and non-bituminous organic matter.

3429. — Drift Asphaltum, Warren Eiver, Nelson District 4448.— Drift Asphaltum, Doubtful Island Bay, Kent District.

Ozokerite. — Mixture of solid hydrocarbons of the paraffin series. Amorphous, wax-like. White, yellow, or brown; trans- lucent. G., 0 9. Occurs in veins or irregular deposits in sedi- mentary beds in association with asphaltum and petroleum.

Uses. — Chiefly used as a source of mineral wax or cerasin, the applications of which are numerous, such as making candles, waxed paper, adulterating beeswax, etc. For this purpose its value depends upon the percentage yield of purified white wax. Also used as a source of illuminating gas, oils, etc.

Cerium.

This rare metal was discovered in 1803. It is a soft, grey, ductile metal, which burns readily in airlike magnesium. It is a little lighter in weight than iron, and like that metal is not readily affected by dry air, but is susceptible to moist air. The metal itself has no application in the arts.

Cerium does not occur free in nature, but, together with several other similar rare metals, occurs as a constituent of certain silicates and phosphates occurring sporadically in crystalline rocks, especially granite and gneiss, and in the heavier sands derived from their degradation. It is the latter which form the chief sources of the metal.

The most important compound of cerium is the dioxide which forms a small proportion of the Welsbach incandescent mantle and the glower of the Nernst lamp, this oxide having the property, possessed in a still higher degree by the oxide of thorium, of glowing with an intense light when heated. Cerium nitrate is prepared largely for use in the manufacture of the Welsbach mantles. Both this salt and cerium oxalate are used to a slight extent in medicine.

Monazite, — Phosphate of cerium, lanthanum, and didymium (CeLaDi)PO. Cerium oxide, 16 37 per cent. This is the commonest cerium mineral, but as its value depends almost entirely upon the small and variable proportion of thorium oxide contained in it, it will be treated fully under Thorium, page 52.

5437. — Monazite Sand, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Cerite. — Hydrous silicate of cerium, lanthanum, didymium, iron and lime. Cerium oxide, 25 65 per cent. Brown or grey ; opaque ; as hard as felspar ; brittle ; no definite cleavage. G-., 4*9.

Uses. — Used as a source of salts of cerium.

Allanite (Orthite). — Complex silicate of cerium, lanthanum didymium, aluminium, iron, and calcium. Cerium oxide 2-18 per ' cent. In tabular or acicular crystals or massive. Black, brown, I green, grey, or yellow opaque ; hard ; brittle. G., 4 0.

Uses.— Used as a source of salts of cerium.

Chromium.

This metal was discovered at the end of the 18th century, but is still, in its pure form, only of scientific interest. It is a very hard and infusible metal, of a white colour, and of the same weight as cast iron. It is not easily affected by the atmosphere.

Chromium does not occur in nature in the metallic state, but, in combination with silica, occurs in small quantities in all igneous rocks. It is found at times in lead lodes in the form of crocoite, a yellow chromate of lead. The only workable ore of chromium is chromite, which is invariably found as scattered grains, pockets, or veins in the basic igneous rocks known as peridotite and serpentine. Turkey and New Caledonia are the most important source of chrome ore.

Pure metallic chromium is not produced commercially, but impure chromium and an alloy of chromium and iron, ferro- chromium, obtained by smelting chromite, are largely used as constituents of hard steel for rails, machine tools, safes, projectiles, and the wearing parts of crushing machinery.

The most important manufactured compounds of chromium are the chromates and bichromates of potash and soda, which are extensively used for tanning and dyeins?, and to a minor extent in the manufacture of matches, in generating electricity, and in purifying oils and spirits. Chromium sesquioxide is used as a pigment. Chrome alum, sulphate of chromium and potash, is used in dyeing, calico printing, and tanning, and also in rendering gum and glue insoluble for water-proofing.

Chromite or Chrome Iron Ore. — Chromite of iron FeOCraOa- Chromium, 47 per cent. ; chromium sesquioxide, 68 per cent. Sometimes crystallised ; usually massive, granular, or compact. Black, opaque, massive. Lustre, metallic to glassy;! hard ; brittle. G.,4-4.

Uses. — Extensively used for the manufacture of chromates and other salts, and for smelting into ferrochromium. Within the last few years a new use has been found for the mineral in its raw state, namely, as a lining for reverberatory copper and steel smelting furnaces, the life of which is thereby increased two or three-fold. Already the demand for this purpose has reached important proportions. A still later use is in the production of " Silichromite," a material used as a substitute for emery. The commercial value of chrome ore depends almost entirelv upon the percentage of chromium sesquioxide present in it, ore under 50 per cent, being marketed with difficulty. The usual market grade is from 50 to 55 per cent., up to which standard the ore is concentrated by hand picking or jigging. For furnace lining the ore should be in fair sized lumps with little or no dust.

1758. — Chromite, Gobarralong, N.S.W. High grade ore.

1759. — Chromite, Gobarralong, N.S.W. Low grade ore.

1760. — Chromite in Serpentine matrix, Gobarralong, N.S.W,

Cobalt.

Cobalt is a somewhat rare metal which has been known for about a century and a-half, but for which very few uses have been found. It is a bluish- white hard metal, which takes a g-ood polish, unaffected by the air. It is magnetic, malleable, and, when hot, very ductile. Its weight is about that of copper.

Cobalt does not occur in nature in the metallic state. Its chief ore IS asbolite, an oxide of manganese and cobalt. It is also frequently found as the arsenide, smaltite, and sulpharsenide, cobaltite. More or less cobalt occurs in most nickel ores, and in most cases is recovered as a bye-product. Cobalt occurs in many other minerals which, however, owing to their rarity, do not constitute ores of the metal. Descriptions will be found in any text book of Mineralogy.

Metallic cobalt is only used for electroplating, and for that but rarely, though it is said to be superior to nickel for that purpose. Black oxide of cobalt is used in the preparation of sundry pigments, principally smalt, but also cobalt blue, green, yellow, and violet- bronze. Smalt is commercially the most important artificial com- pound of cobalt. It is a silicate of this metal and potassium having a very fine and permanent blue colour. It is used for blueing paper, linen, and starch, and for colouring and painting on glass and porcelain and for enamels. Cobalt nitrate is used as a chemical re-agent and for making invisible inks.

Asbolite.— Hydrous oxide of manganese and cobalt. Cobalt oxide, 1 to 32 percent.; nickel, trace to 10 per cent.; manganese dioxide, 50 to 70 per cent. Black or dark- grey, opaque, massive, or stalactitic. Very soft to hard. G-., 40. Usually occurs in irregular masses amongst the decomposition products of basic igneous rocks.

Uses. — The chief source of cobalt and its compounds. Its value is enhanced by the presence of a high percentage of man- ganese dioxide, since the ore can then be used for the production of chlorine and the cobalt and nickel subsequently recovered from the liquors. For export, ore should be dressed to at least 4 per cent, by washing, to remove some of the associated clay. Nickel in small proportions depreciates the value of the ore, in larger proportions enhances it.

1577. — AsboUte in Clay, Kanowna.

1801.— AsboHte, Boulder.

2956. — Asbolite, Kalgoorlie.

Smaltite. — Arsenide of cobalt, CoAsg. Cobalt, 8 to 24 per cent. nickel, trace to 8 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Metallic, white to grey, often tarnished. Hard ; brittle. Gr., 6"5. Occurs in veins of quartz, etc.

Uses. — A minor source of cobalt (and nickel), T. Ill— Smaltite, Cornwall, England.

Cobaltite. — Sulpharsenide of cobalt, CoAsS. Cobalt, 9 to 34 per cent. ; nickel, trace to 3 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Metallic, white, reddish, grey. Hard, brittle. G., 61.

Uses. — A minor source of cobalt and its compounds. T. 116.— Massive Cobaltite, St. Just, England. T. 117. — Crystallised Cobaltite, Tunaberg, Sweden.

Copper.

Copper is one of the few metals that has been known to man and utilised by him since prehistoric times. This is partly because it is somewhat frequently found native, and partly because its sur- face ores are readily reduced to the metal by smelting.

Copper is a very tough red metal, highly ductile and malleable. It is, after silver, the best known conductor of electricity and heat. It is not readily attacked by air or water. Its specific gravity is 8-9.

As already stated, metallic copper occurs native in many parts of the world, especially on the shores of Lake Superior. It also occurs as an important constituent of a vast number of mineral compounds, only a few, however, of which occur in large deposits. These are the two oxides, cuprite and tenorite ; the two hydrated carbonates, malachite and azurite ; the simple sulphides, chalcocite and covellite ; the sulphides of copper and iron, chalcopyrite and bornite ; and, finally, fahl-ore or tetrahedrite, a sulphide of copper, antimony, and arsenic.

Ores of copper are chiefly found in veins or lodes in crystalline rocks, slates, and sandstones ; but also as impregnations in sedi- mentary beds, volcanic ash, etc.

Electrolytic refining is now carried out with such success that commercial copper contains less than one-tenth of one per cent, of impurities. Its chief uses are in making wire for electric con- ductors, and in making alloys. Smaller quantities of the metal are used for a multitude of purposes, including the manufacture of various utensils and apparatus, boiler tubes, nails, sheet-copper for rooting, battery plates, pile-sheathing, and ship-sheathing, etc.

The most important alloy of copper is brass, a variable mixture of copper and zinc, one variety of which, known as muntz-metal, is extensively used for sheathing ships and piles. Copper is also the main constituent of bronze, gun-metal, aluminium bronze, and German silver. Copper is invariably added to gold and silver in coinage, jewellery, and plate to harden them.

Of artificial compounds of copper, the most important is blue- stone (copper sulphate) used in extracting silver from its ores, in generating electricity, in dyeing and printing, as an insecticide, etc. Several compounds of copper are used as pigments, yielding various shades of green, blue, and purple.

Copper (Native). — Practically pure copper with traces only of silver, bismuth, etc. In crystalline or irregular masses often coated with cuprite or malachite. Red, opaque, metallic. Soft, tough, malleable. G., 8*9.

Uses. — An important source of commercial copper.

1167. — Native Copper, Geraldine.

Cuprite. — Red oxide of copper, CugO. Copper, 88 per cent. Crystalline, massive or granular. Bright or dark red, translucent or opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 6*0.

Tile Ore. — A massive red variety of cuprite, containing oxide of iron intimately mixed with it. Copper, 50 to 80 per cent.

Uses. — An important ore of copper. The value of this ore, as of all others, depends primarily upon the percentage of copper present ; secondly, upon the quantity of associated silver and gold ; thirdly, upon the nature of the accompanying impurities and gangue. Of impurities bismuth is the most objectionable, and arsenic and antimony next. Other things being equal, that ore is the most valuable the gangue of which contains such a proportion of silica, lime, and iron oxide as to be self -fluxing or nearly so.

T. 58.— Cuprite, Cornwall, England.

5303.— Cuprite, Ravensthorpe.

1617.— Tile Ore, Croydon, W. Pilbarra G.F.

Tenorite. — Black oxide of copper, CuO, frequently mixed

intimately with more or less chalcocite (CuS). Copper, 80 per

cent. Scalv, massive, or earthy. Black, metallic or dull. Soft. G., 6 0.

Uses. — See Cuprite.

1816- — Tenorite, Rothesay.

Malachite. — Hydrated carbonate of copper. Copper, 57 per cent. Crystallised or, more commonly, massive, stalactitic, radially fibrous, or earthy. Bright green, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 4-0.

Uses. — See Cuprite. Some varieties are sufficiently beautiful when cut and polished to be used for inlaying and other ornamental work.

3707.— Fibrous Malachite, Whim Creek. 1508 — Massive Malachite, Whim Creek. 2507- — Malachite Stockwork in sandstone, Arrino.

Azurite. — Hydrated carbonate of copper." "Copper, 55 per cent. Crystalline, massive, compact, or earthy. Azure-blue, trans- parent to opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 3*8.

Uses. — See Cuprite.

4025* — Crystallised Azurite, Northampton. 4011* — Azurite, Narra Tarra.

Chalcocite. — Black sulphide of copper, CugS. Copper, 80 per cent. Crvstallised, massive, compact, or granular. Black, metallic, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 5' 7. Uses. — See Cuprite.

2352. — Massive Chalcocite, Murrin Murrin. 3792- — Massive Chalcocite, Arrino.

Coveliite. — Indigo sulphide of copper, CuS. Copper, 66 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Indigo-blue, submetallic, or dull, opaque. Very soft and brittle. G., 4 6.

Uses. — See Cuprite.

Chalcopyrite (Copper pyrites). — Sulphide of copper and iron, CuFeSo. Copper, 34 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Brass-yellow, metallic, opaque. Sometimes tarnished or iridescent. Soft, brittle. G., 4-2. Uses. — See Cuprite.

1814- — Chalcopyrite, Rothesay. 4033- — Chalcopyrite, Northampton.

Bornite. — Sulphide of copper and iron, CugFeSg. Copper, 55 per cent. Often intimately mixed with chalcopyrite or chalcocite, the copper contents then varying from 50 to 70 per cent. Crystallised, or massive, granular or compact. Usually iridescent. On fresh fracture copper-red to brown, but rapidly tarnishing. Metallic, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 5 2.

Uses. — See Cuprite.

T. 62. — Bornite, South Australia.

Tetrahedrite (Fahl-ore), — Sulphide of copper and antimony, with variable amounts of arsenic, bismuth, iron, zinc, lead, silver, or mercury. Copper, 15 to 44 per cent. ; silver, strong trace to 31 per cent. Crystallised or massive, compact or granular. Grey to black, metallic, brilliant, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 47.

Uses. — See Cuprite. A very valuable ore owing to the constant presence of a notable amount of silver, which usually more than compensates for the presence of such objectionable constituents as bismuth, arsenic, and antimony.

5548.— Tetrahedrite, Ravensthorpe Range.

Gold.

From the very earliest times gold has been known and valued for its great beauty. W'hen pure it is a very soft yellow metal susceptible of a brilliant polish and untarnished by exposure to air, water, or most chemicals. It is the most malleable and ductile of all metals, as well as one of the heaviest, its specific gravity being 19'3.

Gold is but rarely found in nature in a state of great purity, the so called native gold being an alloy of this metal with more or less silver, seldom containing more than 95 per cent, of the pure metal.

This allo}' is by far the most common source of the metal. Gold also occurs in nature alloyed with mercury as native amalgam, and in combination with tellurium and silver in various telluride ores, chiefly calaverite, sylvanite, and petzite. Grold also occurs in minute invisible specks scattered through many samples of pyrites, copper ores, etc., and can frequently be extracted from these ores at a profit owing to the great value of the metal and the high pitch of perfection to which its metallurgy has attained.

Native gold occurs in veins or lodes, or disseminations in crystalline and other rocks, as well as in alluvial deposits, river gravels, etc. The telluride ores occur only in veins or lodes below the zone of complete oxidation.

Pure gold is chiefly used as a surface covering or plating to ornaments and utensils of other metals. It is also used extensively for stopping teeth. When beaten out into leaf it is used for ornamental painting and lettering. For other purposes gold is hardened by being alloyed with copper or silver or both, such alloys being used for coinage, jewellery, plate, etc. The most useful artificial compound of gold is the chloride, which is used in photography and in the manufacture of ruby glass. Purple of Cassius is a compound containing gold and tin, and is used in making ruby glass.

Gold (Native). — Gold alloyed with more or less silver. Gold 50 per cent, to 99 per cent. ; silver, trace to 50 per cent. Varieties containing over 30 per cent, of silver are known as Electrum. Crystallised, dendritic, massive, granular, spongy, in flakes, and in rolled grains and nuggets. Opaque, metallic, yellow of various shades. Soft, malleable. G., 14 to 19.

Uses — The chief source of gold and its compounds. 3696. — Crystallised Gold in Asbolite, Kanowna. 1238.— Dendritic Gold, Donnybrook.

419.— Massive Gold, Peak Hill. 3712. — Granular Gold, Boogardie. 1503.— Sponge Gold, Boulder. 2499-- Flake Gold, Kalgoorlie. 1915. — Alluvial Gold, Greenbushes.

Calaverite.— Telluride of gold, AuTe2.j Gold, 84 to 42 per cent. ; silver 0'5 to 5, per cent. Massive, metallic, brilliant. White to yellow, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 9*2.

Uses— A source of gold and its compounds. 144. — Calaverite, Boulder.

Krennerite. — Telluride of gold and silver. (AuAg)Teo. Gold, 34 to 87 percent. ; silver, 8 to 6 percent. Crystallised, with perfect cleavage. White to yellow, metallic, brilliant, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 8-2.

Uses. — A source of gold and silver and their compounds. 87- — Krennerite, Boulder.

Sylvan ite.—Telluride of gold and silver. (AuAg)Te.3. Gold, 26 to 30 per cent. ; silver, 8 to 13 per cent. Crystallised, arborescent, beaded or massive, with a perfect cleavage. White, grey, or yellow. Metallic, brilliant, opaque. Very soft, brittle. G., 8-1.

Uses. — A source of gold and silver and their compounds.

Petzlte.— Telluride of gold and silver (AgAu)2Te. Gold, 18 to 26 per cent. ; silver, 40 to 47 per cent. Massive, granular, or compact. Black, metallic, brilliant, opaque. Soft. G., 8-9.

Uses. — A source of gold and silver and their compounds. 1806.— Petzite, Boulder.

Nagyagite. — Sulphotelluride of gold, lead, and antimony. Gold, 6 to 13 per cent. ; silver trace to 2 per cent. In tabular crystals with perfect cleavage, and massive, granular, or foliated. Lead-grey, metallic, brilliant, opaque. Very soft. G., 7*0.

Uses. — A rare source of gold and silver and their compounds.

Iron.

Of all the metals that have been pressed into the service of man, iron is by far the most common and most useful, and was first utilised in prehistoric times. The chemically pure metal is not an article of commerce. It is a white metal capable of taking a high polish. It is somewhat harder than copper, and considerably stronger ; it is malleable, and at a red heat can be welded. Iron can only be melted at a dazzling white heat; when heated some- what and cooled suddenly it does not harden. Iron does not tarnish in perfectly dry air, but in moist air or water rapidly rusts. Salt water and weak acids attack it rapidly.

Iron appears in commerce in three states of varying purity, known respectively as wrought iron, steel, and cast iron. All these forms of iron contain as impurities carbon, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur, and manganese, and it is upon the relative proportions present of these elements, especially carbon, that the quality of the metal depends. Wrought iron is the purest form of commercial iron, and contains essentially from 03 to '40 per cent, of carbon. It closely resembles pure iron in its properties, but is slightly more fusible and less malleable than the latter. Steel contains, in addition to the usual impurities of all forms of iron, an amount of carbon varying from '4 per cent, to 15 per cent. It diifers from wrought iron in being less malleable and less easily welded, more fusible, and stronger. Its most striking feature is its capacity for becoming extremely hard when heated and suddenly chilled. Cast iron contains from 1 5 to 5 per cent, of carbon and comparatively large quantities of sulphur, phosphorus, and silicon. It melts more easily than steel, is brittle when cold, and does not harden on heating and quenching.

Iron occurs in abundance in nature in many forms (very rarely as the metal), being an important constituent of almost all rocks.

The only native coniponnds, however, that can be profitably employed as a source of the metal are the oxides, magnetite, etc., and the carbonate, siderite.

Pu]"e iron, as already stated, is not used in the arts ; the purest wire used for piano strings, etc., still containing 0"8 percent, of impurities. Wrought iron is used for a multitude of purposes, chiefly for forged parts of machinery, boiler plates, pipes for water, gas, etc., girders and other structural members, roofs, etc. Steel has largely replaced wrought iron for many purposes. Its chief uses are for rails, ships, bridges, parts of machinery, and structures of various kinds, etc. Cast iron is made mainly as an intermediate product in tlie manufacture of steel and wrought iron. It is also largely used for casting various machine details and industrial and domestic utensils.

The chief alloys of iron are those varieties of steel containing various proportions of manganese, nickel, and rarer metals. These are for the most part harder and stronger than ordinary steel. Various cast alloys of iron with manganese and other metals are produced solely for the production of the special steels above mentioned. Chief of these are spiegel and ferro-manganese, alloys of manganese and iron with considerable carbon, used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel, Hadfield's manganese steel, etc.

Compared with the metal itself, the artificial compounds of iron are of minor importance. Artificial ferric oxide is employed as a pigment and polishing powder (rough). The hydrate, carbonate, and other salts are used in medicine. An artificial mixture of the oxides (iron-scale) is used in the conversion of cast iron into wrought iron and steel. Ferrous sulphate (copperas) is used to pr-ecipitate gold, and in the manufacture of Nordhausen sulphuric a('id. iron mordants, inks, etc. Prussian blue, a cyanide, is a valuable pigment. Potassium ferrocyanide is used as a source of potassium cya.nide and as a chemical re-agent.

Magnetite.— Magnetic oxide of iron, Fe304. Iron, 65 to 72 per cent. Crystallised or massive, granular or compact. Black, metallic, opaque. Magnetic, hard, brittle. G., 61. Occurs as irregular masses in volcanic rocks, and as lodes in schists.

Uses. — The richest and purest ore of iron, used largely for the production of the commercial metal, and to a slight extent as a flux in lead and copper smelting. Bulk samples of ore contain various impurities, wdiich mostly exert a marked effect upon the final smelted metal, and, hence, influence to a very large extent the value of a deposit. The chief of these are phosphorus, sulphur, silica, and titanic oxide.

Phosphorus. — This element, in more than traces, is the most objectionable constituent of an iron ore. Ores containing more than 045 per (;ent. of phosphorus are practically useless for the production of Bessemer steel. Basic steel (Thomas steel) can be made most profitably from ores containing from 0*4 to 2-0 per cent, phosphorous. Intermediate ores are best suited for the production

of wrought iron, and grey and white iron for castings. With ores rich in iron a slightly higher percentage of jhosphorus is permis- sible than with poor ores.

Sulphur. — This element is not so objectionable as phosphorus. The best ores contain less than 0 05 per cent, of this element. Inferior ores contain up to 2'0 per cent., and are frequently roasted to remove this sulphur before smelting.

Silica. — Small amounts of this under 5 per cent, are no draw- back to the ore, beyond that amount the less the better since the more silica contained in the ore the more lime is needed to flux it. If the ore contains lime or alumina this will serve to neutralise the bad effect of an increased content of silica. For iron smelting the best ores contain not more than 10 per cent., poorer ores 10 to 30 per cent. For fluxing lead or copper ores the silica must not exceed 7 percent.

Titanic Oxide. — This constituent is usually stated to cause considerable difficulty in the smelting of pig-iron, and most iron smelters" look askance at ores containing more than 0*5 per cent. Lump ores, however, containing up to 40 per cent. TiOg have been smelted in both England and the United States without causing any difficulty, so that apart from the concurrent decrease in the iron content the presence of a notable percentage of titanium can only be considered a drawback by prejudiced persons, so long as the ore is massive and not in the state of fine sand. In fluxing lead and copper ores titanic oxide acts like silica, and the total of these two constituents should not therefore exceed 7 per cent., whilst the titanic oxide alone should be under 5.

Other Constituents. — Manganese oxide in small quantities increases the value of an iron ore for all purposes. Lime and alumina to the extent required for fluxing the silica of the ore are also an advantage.

5545. — Magnetite Crystals, Eastern Ooldfields. 784. —Magnetite (Granular Massive), Collie.

Haematite. — Oxide of iron, FeO.,. Iron, 67 to 70 per cent. Crystallised, massive granular, columnar or stalactitic, earthy, micaceous. Earthy variety red, soft to hard, dull, opaque. Other varieties black, metallic, hard, opaque, brittle. Gr. 5-1.

Uses. — An important source of iron. (/See remarks under Magnetite.)

T. 145.— Crystallised Haematite, Elba. 5356. — Granular massive Haematite, Wilgi Mia, Weld Ranges. 4359. — Massive Haematite, near Mullewa. 48.— Micaceous Haematite, Boulder.

Limonite. — Hydrated oxide of iron. 2Feo03 3HoO. Iron, 57 to 60 per cent. Stalactitic, fibrous, concretionary, massive or earthy. Brown or yellow, sometimes iridescent, opaque. Soft or hard.' Brittle.

The Laterite Ore (surface clay ironstone) of Australia and India is a mixture of linionite with more or less bauxite (aluminium ore) and sometimes some haematite, gothite, or other hydrated oxides of iron. It is concretionary or cellular, massive, and con- tains up to 62 per cent, of iron.

Uses. — An important source of iron. {See remarks under Magnetite.)

The soft earthy yellow varieties known as Ochre contain more or less clay and are used largely for the production of pigments and giving a body to linoleum or oilcloth. For this purpose the value of the ore depends upon the fineness of its grain, its freedom from grit and its colour both fresh and when calcined.

Concretionary limonites and laterites are largely used for ballasting roads and railways.

1408. — Massive Limonite, Greenhills. 101. — Fibrous Limonite, Mt. Jackson. 498. — Limonite stalactite, Mt. Morgan, Queensland. 996.— Limonite (Laterite), Wongan Hills. T. 166. — Limonite (Yellow Ochre), South Australia.

Siderite (Spathic iron ore). — Carbonate of iron, FeCO... Iron, -iO to 48 per cent. Crystallised, massive granular, fibrous, compact, earthy. Grey, yellow, or brown, translucent to opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 3-8. '

The Clay-hand Ironstone of England is an impure siderite containing much clay. The Black-hand Ironstone of Great Britain and America is a siderite mixed with much coaly matter.

Uses. — An important ore of iron. {See remarks under Mag- netite.)

T. 183.— Siderite, West Prussia.

T. 186. — Clay-band Ironstone, Staffordshire, England.

Franklinite. — Oxide of iron, zinc, and manganese. Iron, 40 to 60 per cent. ; manganese, 8 to 18 per cent. ; zinc, 5 to 18 per cent. Crystallised, massive, granular, or compact. Black, opaque, metallic or dull. Hard, brittle, slightly magnetic. G., 5'1.

Uses. — After recovering the zinc the residue is smelted with the production of ferro-manganese. For impurities and their eifects see under Magnetite.

T. 156-— Franklinite, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Ilmenite (Titaniferous Iron Ore). — Oxide of iron and titanium, FeO.TiOg. Iron, 36 to 60 per cent. ; titanium, 6 to 31 per cent. Crystallised, massive, in scales or rolled grains. Black metallic, opaque. Hard, brittle. G., 4 7. Occurs largely as beds of black sand on beaches, etc., also mixed with magnetite in irregular masses and lodes in basic igneous rocks.'

Uses. — Used as a source of iron, ferro-titanium, and titanium compounds. The tine sandy ore has not yet been successfully

smelted for iron on a large scale. After grinding it is sometimes used as a knife polish and as a pigment for covering metal work. T. 205.— Massive Ilmenite, Mt. Barker. 5366. — Tlmenite Sand, Bunbury.

Chromite (see page 26) is used as a source of ferro- chromium ; and Wolfram (see page 56) as a source of ferro- tungsten.

Lead.

This was one of the few metals known to man in very ancient times. It is a very soft bluish white metal, which can be readily rolled or pressed into sheet or wire. It rapidly tarnishes on exposure to the air and is then but little affected by air or many acids. It melts below a red heat and has a specific gravity of 11 -3.

Occasional grains of 'metallic lead have been found in nature, but it chiefly occurs as the sulphide, galena. A second common ore is the carbonate, cerussite, whilst much less common are the sulphate, anglesite, and the chlorophosphate, pyromorphite. Ores of lead usually occur in veins and lodes in crystalline rocks, slates and limestones.

Commercial lead is extremely pure and is largely used in sheets for roofing and making pipes. It is also used for bullets and for making white lead, red lead, litharge, etc. Lead hardened with a few per cent, of antimony is used for cofiins and for lining acid chambers, etc. Of lead alloys the most important is that with tin, known as solder, and that with tin and antimony, known as type metal. Fusible alloys and antifriction alloys contain a large pro- portion of lead.

Of the artificial compounds of lead, by far the most important is white lead, a basic carbonate, which is the most useful pigment known. Red lead, an oxide, is also a valuable pigment, and is used in the manufacture of flint glass. Litharge, another oxide, is used as pigment, as a constituent of many varieties of glass and of glazes for clay-ware, and in manufacturing white lead. Lead chromate is used as a pigment, as also lead suhate.

Lead ores are used almost solely as a source of the metal from which, after refining, the various artificial compounds are prepared. Two other minor, though still important, uses they are put to. One is in the metallurgy of the pre-ious metals, the ores of these being smelted with ores of lead, to form the so-called base bullion, or pig lead containing all the gold and silver in solution in a convenient concentrated form for final recovery. The second use is in the pro- duction of lead fume, a fine mixture of lead sulphate and oxide used as a pigment.

Galena. — Sulphide of lead, PbS. Lead, 83 to 86 jer cent.; silver, trace to S per cent. Crystallised with cubic cleavage or granular massive. Lead grev, metallic, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 7-5.

Uses. — The main source of metallic lead. Also used as a source of lead fume and in recovering gold and silver from their ores. The value of the ore depends upon the amount of lead and silver present. The best bulk ores contain less than 5 per cent, of zinc, as this metal causes trouble in smelting, and not more than a trace of antimony and arsenic.

4002. — Crystallised Galena, Narra Tarra.

1524. — Galena, Andover.

Cerussite.— Carbonate of lead, PbCOs. Lead, 77 per cent.; silver, traces. Crystallised or granular or compact massive. White or grey, transparent to opaque. Soft, very brittle. G., 6'5.

Uses. — An important ore of lead. On value, see remarks under Galena.

T. 83. — Crystallised Cerussite, Cumberland, England. 4007. — Massive Cerussite, Narra Tarra.

Anglesite. — Sulphate of lead, PbS04. Lead, 66 to 68 per cent. ; silver, traces. Crystallised or massive, granular compact or stalactitic. White or tinted, transparent to opaque. Soft, very brittle. G., 6-2.

Uses. — A common ore of lead. On value, see remarks under Galena.

411,— Anglesite with Galena, Gorge Creek.

Pyromorphite. — Chlorophosphate of lead. Lead, 62 to 75 per cent. ; silver, traces. Crystallised or massive, resinous. Green, yellow or brown, translucent or opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 6 to 7.

Uses. — A mmor ore of lead.

1168.— Crystallised Pyromorphite, Geraldine. 33. — Massive Pj'romorphite, Narra Tarra.

Lithium.

Lithium is one of the alkali metals closely resembling sodium, but of much greater rarity, and was discovered in 1817. It is silver white, softer than lead and extremely light, being only a little over half as heavy as water. It melts at a low temperature and if heated much beyond that point burns steadily with a bright white light. It rapidly tarnishes when exposed to the air.

Lithium does not occur in nature in the metallic state but usually in combination with other metals and silica in granite or in pegmatite veins or dykes.

The metal is not put to any use in the arts. Its most impor- tant artificial compounds are the chloride, carbonate, and citrate, all of which are used for medicinal purposes and also as contituents of aerated waters (lithia water, etc.).

Lepidolite (Lithia mica.) — Fluosilicate of lithium, alu- minium, and potassium. Lithia (lithium oxide), 4 to 6 per cent.

In scaly granular masses or in large cleavable plates. Pink, amethystine, white, or grev. Transparent or translucent. Soft, tough, a., 2-8.

Uses. -This is the chief source from which lithium salts are prepared, and its value will depend upon the proportion of lithia present in it.

1858. — Lepidolite in radiating scales, Coconarup. 558. — Lepidolite, in large sheets, Londonderry.

Spodumene. — Silicate of lithium and aluminium, LijO. AI2O3.4 Si02. Lithia, to 7f per cent. Crystallised or massive, vertical cleavage well marked. G-reen, sometimes yellow or purple. Transparent to opaque. Hard and brittle. Gr., 3*2.

Uses. — Same as for lepidolite, which see.

1864. — Spodumene, Ravensthorpe. Large pale green crystals in granite.

Magnesium.

This metal was first separated and described at the becrinning of the 19th century, though its compounds had been in use for some time previous to this. It is a soft white metal, which does not tarnish in dry air but is coated with a film of oxide on exposure to moist air. It is easily dissolved by dilute acids. It melts at a red heat and burns readily in the air with a brilliant flame.

Magnesium does not occur native in the earth, but is a universal constituent of all rocks, forming a considerable proportion of serpentine and other basic igneous rocks. Comparatively few minerals are, however, capable of successful treatment for the pro- duction of the metal and its artificial compounds. Of these the most important is the carbonate, magnesite ; the sulphates, epsomite and kieserite, and the chloride of potassium and magnesium, carnallite, are also valuable minerals. Asbestos, talc and other magnesian silicates are dealt with under the title " Silica and silicates." Magnesium chloride and sulphate are constituents of almost all well aud bore waters.

Metallic magnesium in the form of ribbon or powder is burnt to produce a brilliant illumination of interiors, underground hollows, etc., for photographic or show purposes ; it is also used for signalling ]>urposes and in pyrotechny. Small quantities are used for various analytical purposes.

Of artificial compounds the most important is the oxide, magnesia, large quantities of which are made into fire brick or pressed direct into the linings of furnaces for the production of basic " steel, and of kilns for burning hydraulic cement. It is also used as a non-conducting covering for boilers, etc., and as a starting point for the manufacture of various other magnesium compounds. The hydrous sulphate, known as Epsom salts, is

largely used in the manufacture of dyes, soaps, and paints, in tanning leather, and in medicine. The chloride is used in the textile industry and as a source of metallic magnesium, the sulphite in cleaning wood-pulp for paper manufacture.

Magnesite. — Carbonate of magnesium, MgCO.. Magnesium, 25 to 28 per cent. ; magnesia, 42 to 47 per cent. ; carbon dioxide, 47 to 52 per cent. Occasionally crystallised, usually massive compact granular or earthy. White, yellowish, brownish ; transparent to opaque. Soft or hard, brittle. Gr., 3*1. Occurs in veins in serpentine and other rocks, and in boulders in the weathered rocks.

Uses. —Chiefly burnt to convert it into magnesia, for the manufacture of refractory bricks and furnace linings. For this purpose it should contain a small proportion only of silica. Also used in the manufacture of magnesium chloride, sulphite, and sulphate (Epsom Salts). Large quantities used for the production of carbon dioxide for aerating waters, etc., magnesia or magnesium sulphate being obtained as bye-products. Magnesite used as a source of magnesium salts should be as free as possible from iron and lime.

334. — Magnesite, Coolgardie. 2945. — Magnesite, Kalgoorlie.

Epsom ite. — Native Epsom Salts. Hydrous sulphate of magnesium, MgSOTHgO. Magnesia, 16 per cent. Crystallised or in fibrous masses. White or yellowish, transparent to translucent. Very soft, brittle. Soluble in water. G., 1-7. Occurs in sedi- mentary deposits in ancient or recent lake-beds ; common in mineral waters.

Uses. — After purification marketed as Epsom, salts, the uses of which are given above.

Kieserite.— Hydrous sulphate of magnesium, MgSO.HgO. Magnesia, 29 per cent. Rarely crystallised, usually massive granular or compact. White, or grey ; translucent or opaque. Soft, friable or firm. G., 2*5. Occurs in sedimentary beds.

Uses. — An important source of Epsom Salts.

Carnal lite. — Hydrous chloride of magnesium and potassium. Magnesium, 8 per cent.; potassium, 14 per cent. Granular massive, rarely crystallised. White or pink, transparent to translucent. Very soft, brittle, G., 1*6. Occurs in beds in sedimentary deposits.

Uses. — Used as a source of metallic magnesium. Also a valuable fertiliser owing to the large percentage of soluble potassium in it. For the latter purpose its value depends entirely upon the percentage of potassium present ; for the former purpose the purest mineral is the most valuable.

Dolomite. — See page 20.

MANGANESE. The metal manganese was discovered at the latter end of the 18th century. In its pure form it only appears in commerce as a chemical curiosity. It is a very hard brittle metal, resembling cast iron in appearance and weight, but it is so susceptible to the action of the air that it can only be preserved in sealed bottles or under mineral oil.

Manganese does not occur in nature in the metallic state, but is usually found combined with oxygen as one of the several oxides, which constitute the chief source of the metal. It is also a universal constituent, in small proportion, of all rocks, especiallv the more basic, darker coloured, igneous rocks occurring in them in combination with silica, but not in such a form as would constitute a commercial source of the metal. Workable deposits of the ores are, however, largely found in close association with such rocks or the debris resulting from their decomjjosition. Ores are also frequently found in association with limestone, being originally absorbed from the seawater by a living organism and subsequently secreted in the substance of the shells or corals which have gone to build up the beds of rock.

In its pure state manganese has no application m the arts. Of its alloys those with iron are the most important, viz., ferro- nianganese, containing from 25 to 75 per cent, of manganese, and spiegel-eisen, containing from 2 to 25 per cent. These alloys are largely use*! in the manufacture of Bessemer steel. An alloy of manganese, copper and zinc has been used as a substitute for German silver, which it resembles very closely.

Compounds of manganese are used in large quantities for various technical pur])oses. This is especially true of the dioxide (MnOo) which occurs in nature in Pyrolusite (q.v.). Potassium and sodium permanganates (KMnO and NaMnO) are extensively used as disinfectants and deodorants, owing to the ease with which they give up part of the oxygen (.-ontained in them.

The natural oxides of manganese are all used for both colouring and decolourising glass ; for colouring pottery and brick ; for calico- printing and dyeing ; and in manufacturing certain paint. A con- siderable quantity of manganese is also used as a flux in lead smelting. (xide of manganese in conjunction with oxides of iron nnd lime forming a readily fusible slag with the siliceous gangue of the lead ore. For fluxing purposes the value of the ore depends upon its richness in manganese and its freedom from silica ; iron oxide is not looked upon as an objectionable constituent. The oxides and carbonate are the only <u'es used as a source of the metal in the form of Spiegel or ferro-manganese. For this purpose the ore should be rich in manganese, poor in silica, and contain only very minute amounts of sulphur or phosphorus, both of which tend to reduce the value of the final product, Bessemer steel. A third main use of tlie natural oxides of manganese is in the production of chlorine, bromine, and iodine. The most important of these is chlorine, which is employed in extracting gold from its ores and

refining it, and in the production of bleaching powder or chloride of lime for bleaching and disinfecting. This is the chief use to which it is put in Australia, the chlorine being produced by heating a mixture of salt and sulphuric acid with any ore of manganese con- taining the dioxide. For this purpose the value of the ore depends entirely upon the proportion of dioxide present, and is bought at so much "per unit," that is so much for every one per cent, of dioxide (MnOg) in the ore.

The following are the chief compounds of manganese occurring in nature : —

Pyrolusite. — Dioxide of manganese, MnOg. Manganese, 60-63 per cent.; manganese dioxide, 95-100 per cent. Soft, black, crystalline or massive, opaque. G., 4"8.

Uses. — This mineral is the most useful ore for the production of chlorine, and the manufacture of permanganates owing to the fact that it is richer in the dioxide than any other manganese ore. It should be noted in this connection that the " pyrolusite" of the Australian miner and ore-dealer includes practically all native manganese oxides such as Psilomelane, etc. Pyrolusite is also used as a flux, as a source of manganese alloys, and for all other pur- poses mentioned above.

4340.— Pyrolusite, Gladstone, Qld.

Braunite.— Oxide and silicate of manganese iMnO.'SMnOg. SiOo. Manganese, 68 per cent.; silica, 10 per cent.; manganese dioxide, 43 per cent. Crystalline or massive. Black, opaque, hard, brittle. G., 4'8. A somewhat rare ore.

Uses. — Of little use for the manufacture of chlorine owing to the low percentage of the dioxide present. It can be used for all other purposes, but the invariable presence of a considerable per- centage of silica makes it an inferior ore under all circumstances.

Mang-anite. — Hydrated oxide of manganese, MnO.Mnog.HgO. Manganese, 63 per cent.; manganese dioxide, 50 per cent. Crystal- lised or massive. Soft, brittle, black, opaque, sub-metallic. C.,4-3.

Uses. — Same as Braunite.

T. 189.— Manganite, Michigan, U.S.A.

Psilomelane. — Hydrated oxide of manganese, xMnO.MnOg. yHgO. Variable in composition, but averages: manganese 55 per cent., manganese dioxide, 70 per cent.

A common variety of this mineral known as Asbolite frequently contains sufficient cobalt and nickel to constitute an ore of those metals, q.v., (massive or concretionary). Variable hardness, black, opaque. G-., 3" 7 - 4*7. A commonly occurring ore.

Uses. — This ore is used for all the purposes to which Pyro- lusite is put, and after that mineral is the most valuable of the manganese ores.

4444. — Psilomelane, Ravensthorpe Kange, near Mt. Desmond. 1801, etc.— Asbolite. (See Cobalt.)

Rhodocrosite. — Carbonate of manganese, MnO.COg. Man- ganese, 48 per cent, (crystalline or massive). Somewhat hard; pink, grey, or brown; semi-opaque. An uncommon ore. G-., 4-4.

Uses. — Can be used as a flux or as a source of the metal.

T. 195.— Rhodocrosite, Colorado, U.S.A.

Mercury.

Mercury is the only metal which at ordinary temperatures is liquid. It was known some centuries before the Christian era. It is a bright, metallic, white, mobile liquid, which does not tarnish m the air, and readily dissolves gold, silver, and many other metals. Its specific gravity is 13-5.

Mercury is found native in small globules, but its commonest native compound and chief ore is the sulphide, cinnabar. It also occurs as the telluride, coloradoite, and in some varieties of fahl-ore, but neither of these minerals are sufficiently plentiful to constitute sources of the metal. Mercury ores usually occur in veins or stock- works in slate, limestone, or igneous rocks.

By far the greater part of the world's production of mercury is employed in extracting gold and silver from their ores. Smaller quantities are used in the electrolytic production of caustic soda, for thermometers, barometers, battery zincs, etc., and the production of amalgams, or alloys of mercury with other metals. Sodium amalgam is added to ordinary mercury to make it dissolve gold more actively, and is also used as a reducing agent in preparing various organic products. Tin amalgam is used as a backing for glass to produce an ordinary mirror. Various amalgams are used in dentistry as stopping for teeth. Mercurous chloride, or calomel, is used in medicine ; mercuric chloride, or corrosive sublimate, as an antiseptic and vermicide, especially for preserving timber, also in making aniline-red, in dying and calico-printing, and in etching steel plates. Mercuric sulphide or vermilion is an important pigment. Several mercury salts are employed as analytical re-agents and in medicine. Mercury fulminate is an extremely explosive salt used for detonators and percussion caps. Mercuric oxide is some- times used in anti-fouling paint for ships' bottoms.

Mercury (Native). — Practically pure mercury. In small liquid globules, white, metallic, brilliant. G., 13-6.

Uses. — A minor source of the metal and its compounds.

Cinnabar. — Sulphide of mercury, HgS. Mercury, 86 per cent. Crystalline, granular, massive, or earthy. Red, sometimes brownish or leaden ; transparent to opaque. Lustre, brilliant to dull. Soft, slightly sectile. G., 8-1.

Uses. — The main source of the metal and its compounds. Ores as low as 0*3 per cent, have been worked at a profit, though 1 to 3 per cent, is the usual smelting grade. T. 31— Cinnabar, California, U.S.A.

Molybdenum.

This rare metal, first discovered in 1780, is very similar to silver in appearance, but is somewhat harder, lighter, and more infusible. It is not affected by the air at ordinary temperatures, and resists the action of many acids. In spite of its many useful properties, it has not yet found any application in the arts except in combination with other metals, etc.

The commonest ore of molybdenum is the sulphide, molyb- denite, the metal itself not occurring uncorabined in nature. The oxide, molybdite, sometimes occurs near the surface in sufficient quantities to constitute an ore. The usual matrices of both these minerals are veins of quartz or calcite traversing igneous rocks. Ores of copper, bismuth, etc., usually accompany them.

Crude molybdenum, containing carbon and iron, is obtained by the electric smelting of the roasted ores, and ferro-molybdenum, an alloy of iron and molybdenum, by adding iron ores to the smelting mixture. A considerable demand for these products has arisen since the discovery that the addition of a little of either of them to chrom(3 steel renders it self-hardening. In this respect it is said to be better than tungsten.

Ammonium molybdate is used largely in analytical work for the estimation of phosphorus. Molybdenum tannate is a useful dye for leather, producing, in conjunction with logwood, various shades of yellow and brown. In pottery molybdenum blue or blue carmine is used to impart a blue colour of great brilliancy and durability. Compounds of this metal are also used for dyeing silk blue. Sodium molybdate has been used in the treatment of dropsy.

Molybdenite. — Sulphide of molybdenum, MoSg. Molyb- denum, 60 per cent. Foliated, scaly, or sometimes granular. Metallic, opaque, lead coloured, closely resembling graphite. Very soft. G., 4-7.

Uses. — This is the chief source of the crude metal and its alloys and salts. The ore to be saleable must be concentrated by hand or machinery up to at least 45 per cent, of metal, and must be entirely freed from copper compounds. The Elmore process of oil concentration has been found successful in some cases. 1316. — Molybdenite in vein quartz, Clackline.

387- — Molybdenite in amphibolite, Coolgardie. 4353. — Molybdenite in quartz, Chowey Creek, Mt. Shamrock, Queensland.

Molybdite.— Oxide of molybdenum, M0O2. Molybdenum, 66 per cent, in fine crystals, fibrous, massive, or earthy, bellow. Very soft. G-., 4-5.

Uses. — This is much rarer than molybdenite, but, as it contains more of the metal and requires no roasting to remove sulphur, it would be somewhat more valuable but for the difficulty of con- centrating it. (See remarks under molybdenite.)

Nickel.

This useful metal has been known for about a century a.nd a half, but has only within the last few years been extensively used in the arts. It is a bright, greyish-white metal ; hard, ductile, and malleable. It is capable of taking a very high polish, which is not easily dulled by air or water. It is magnetic.

Nickel does not occur native, though an alloy with iron forms the chief constituent of many meteorites. Its chief ores are garnierite, a silicate of nickel and magnesium found chiefly in New Caledonia, and nickeliferous pyrrhotite, a sulphide of iron and nickel. Of minor importance are the sulphide, arsenide, and arsenate described below. A great number of other minerals are known which contain nickel, any of which, if found in sufficient quantity, would form a valuable source of the metal. They appear, however, to be very rare, and are not therefore described here. Descriptions will be found in any text book of Mineralogy. Nickel occurs to a slight extent in all cobalt ores, and cobalt in all nickel ores. The ores occur usually in association with basic igneous rocks.

The most important use of nickel is in making various alloys, but the pure metal is largely used for various metal instruments, ornaments, and other articles, as well as for plating such articles when made of cheaper metals. By far the most important alloys of nickel are those with steel, which is thereby rendered much stronger, harder, more elastic and less liable to corrosion. Such steels are extensively used for armour plate, projectiles, heavy guns, })ro- peller-shafts, railway axles, etc. The nickel is added to the steel either in the form of the pure metal, or one of the alloys ferro-nickel, chrome-nickel, tungsten-nickel, or molybdenum-nickel, whose names indicate their composition. Alloys of nickel and copper in various proportions are used in many countries for coinage. An alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc, known as " German Silver" is extensively used for various implements and ornaments.

Nickel oxide is used to add to steel for making nickel- steel. Nickel ammonium sulphate in solution for nickel-plating.

Garnierite. — Hydrous silicate of nickel and magnesium. Nickel, 43 to 48 per cent ; cobalt, trace to -5 per cent. Massive, clay-like. Dark or pale green, or chocolate; opaque, dull. Very soft. G., 2-5. Occurs in veins and stockworks in serpentine and peridotite.

Uses. — One of the chief sources of the metal and its compounds. Ores practically free from cobalt are the most valuable. For market the ore should be hand picked up to a minimum of 7 per cent. 4350. — Green Garnierite, New Caledonia.

Nickeliferous Pyrrhotite, — Sulphide of iron and nickel. (FeNi)7.S8. Nickel, 0 5 to 10 per cent ; cobalt, trace to 0 5 per cent. Metallic, massive, or crystallised. Bronze-brown, opaque, magnetic. Soft, brittle. G., 4 6. Occurs in veins with quartz, etc. in basic igneous rocks.

Uses. — An important source of nickel and its compounds. The freer the ore from cobalt the more valuable it is. For smelting, the ore should be dressed to a minimum of 2 per cent, nickel. 1415. — Nickeliferous Pyrrhotite, Southern Cross, T. 122.— Nickeliferous Pyrrhotite, Sudbury, Canada.

Millerite. — Sulphide of nickel, NiS. Nickel, 64 per cent. In fine crystals or radiated massive. Metallic, yellow or brown, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 5-5. Found in veins of quartz or calcite.

Uses. — A minor source of nickel owing to its rarity. T. 124.— Millerite, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Niccolite (Kupfernickel). — Arsenide of nickel, Ni As. Ni(;kel, 33 to 44 per cent. Massive, metallic. Light copper colour, opaque, tarnishes readily. Hard, brittle. G., 7*5. Found in veins of quartz or calcite.

Uses. — See Millerite.

T. 119- —Niccolite, Bebra, Saxony.

Platinum, Iridium, And Osmium.

These are all rare metals resembling one another closely and found closely associated in nature, they will therefore be dealt with together.

Platinum is a bright, greyish, white, malleable, and ductile metal. It is very infusible and not readily acted on by the strongest acids. At a red heat platinum can be welded with ease. Its specific gravity is 21 5. Its chief use is in the manufacture of chemical ware such as vessels for the concentration of acids, weights, etc. Other important uses are in the manufacture of platinotype photographic paper, and in various electrical appliances. Besides this it is used in jewellery, in physiological and surgical instruments and in dentistry, and m the " Contact Process " of manufacturing sulphuric acid. Alloyed with iridium it is not only used for chemical ware, but also for standard weights and measures, etc. Platinum tetra- chloride is used as a chemical re-agent.

Iridium is a hard, white, brittle metal, extremely heavy, its specific gravity being 22 4. It is not used uncombined in the arts, but from 5 to 10 per cent, is frequently alloyed with platinum, which is rendered much harder and more durable thereby. Iridium oxide is used in porcelain painting. An alloy with osmium is used for compass bearings and for tipping pens.

Osmium is an extremely hard, bluish metal, insoluble in all acids, even aqua regia. It is one of the heaviest substances known, having a specific gravity of 22 5. Its chief use is in incandescent electric lights, for which it is the most efiicient material yet experimented with. It is also used in alloys with iridium, as described above. Osmium oxide is used as a black stain in optical apparatus.

These three metals are almost always found in nature together, rarely in lodes, more frequently in river or beach sands in the form of native platinum, native iridium, and osmiridium. The only native compound of these metals of any importance is the arsenide of platinum, sperrylite.

Platinum (Native). — Platinum alloyed with iron, iridium, etc. Platinum, 50 to 86 per cent. ; iridium, trace to 20 per cent. ; osmium, trace to 10 per cent. In small grains or scales, occasionally in large nuggets. Grreyish white, bright, metallic, malleable, soft, sometimes magnetic. G., 14 to 19.

Uses. — Tlie chief source of platinum and its compounds, and to a minor degree, of iridium and osmium.

5192. — Platinum Sands, Clarence River, N.S.W.

Iridium (Native). — Iridium alloyed with platinum, etc. Iridium, 30 to 76 per cent. ; platinum, 20 to 55 per cent. ; osmium, trace. In anovular white metallic grains. Slightly malleable, hard. a., 227.

Uses. — A rare mineral, used as a source of iridium and platinum and their compounds.

Osmiridium (Iridosmine). — Native alloy of iridium and osmium. Iridium, 43 to 77 per cent. ; osmium, 17 to 49 per cent. ; platinum, trace to 3 per cent. In small flattened grains, sometimes hexagonal in outline, with basal cleavage. White or grey, metallic. Barely malleable, hard. G., 20. Pound in sands associated with platinum, gold, etc.

Uses. — The chief source of iridium and osmium and their compounds.

5193. — Osmiridium, Clarence River, N.S.W.

Sperrylite. — Arsenide of platinum, PtAso- Platinum, 56 per cent. In small cubical crystals. White, metallic, brilliant, opaque. Brittle, hard. G., 10 6.

Occurs in veins, usually with copper ores, but occasionally with nickel and gold.

Uses. — A minor source of platinum and its compounds.

Potassium.

This metal was first separated early in the 19th century, though some of its compounds, notably nitre, had been in use by man from time immemorial. It is a very soft, white, plastic, and sectile metal, which is rapidly oxidised by air or water, so that it has to be preserved under mineral oils. It is one of the lightest metals known, its specific gravity being less than one.

Potassium occurs as a constituent of very many rocks, especi- ally granites, but cannot be profitably extracted from them or from any of the natural silicates, such as potash mica or felspar. The commercially most important minerals containing potassium are the

nitrate, nitre, or saltpetre ; the chloride, sylvite ; the double chloride with magnesium, carnallite ; and the double sulphate and chloride, kainite.

Metallic potassium is not of commercial importance. Of the highest importance, however, are the nitrate and chlorate, used as constituents of various explosives, and the various soluble potash salts used as fertilisers. Potassium cyanide is largely used as a solvent for gold. Potassium chroinate and bichromate are put to many uses (seep 26). Potash alum is a most useful salt, and is described under aluminium, page 12. Potassium hydrate, carbon- ate, ferrocyanide, iodide, bromide, etc., are put to various medicinal and other uses.

Nitre. — Nitrate of potassium, KNO. Potash, 46 per cent. ; nitrogen pentoxide, 53 per cent. Crystallised, in thin crusts or powder. White, translucent. Very soft, brittle. G-., 21. Occurs as an efflorescence on the soil in dry countries.

Uses. — After refining, is largely used in manufacturing gun- powder and other explosives. Also used as a fertiliser and in curing meat, etc.

Sylvite. — Chloride of potassium, KCl. Potassium, 52 per cent, (equal to potash 62 per cent.), but frequently intimately mixed with common salt. Crystallised, massive, granular, or com- pact. Colourless, white, or tinted. Transparent to translucent. Very soft, brittle. O., 2 0. Occurs in beds in sedimentary deposits.

Uses. — Used as a fertiliser and as a source of various salts of potassium, its value depending upon its purity and richness in potassium.

Carnallite. — ee page 39.

Kainite (Kainit). — Hydrous chloride and sulphate of potas- sium and magnesium. Potassium 13 to 16 per cent, (equal to potash 16 to 20 per cent). Crystallised or granular, massive. Colourless, white, or tinted ; translucent. Soft, brittle. G., 2"1. Occurs in sedimentary deposits.

Uses. — A very valuable fertiliser and source of potassium salts. Value depends on purity and richness in potassium.

Silvee.

Silver has been known to man for many centuries, being one of the few metals known to the ancients. It is white, and capable of a most brilliant polish, which undergoes no change in air or water unless sulphur be present, when it is blackened. In malleability and ductility it is second only to gold, than which it is slightly harder. It is the best known conductor of heat and electricity. Its specific gravity is 10 5, or between that of copper and lead.

Silver occurs native in a state of considerable purity and also occurs alloyed with gold. It also occurs in a vast number of com- pounds, comparatively few of which, however, constitute important

ores of the nietal. Chief of these are the sulphide, argentite ; the sulphides of silver, antimony, and arsenic, stephanite, pyrargyrite, proustite, and polybasite ; the chloride, cerargyrite, and the chJoro- bromide, erabolite. Most lead ores, especially galena, contain more or less silver, also most copper ores, especially tetrahedrite (fahl- ore) and chalcocite. Blende, pyrites, and mispickel, also, at times, carry notable quantities of silver.

Metallic silver is largely used in the arts for preparing alloys and silver salts, and for plating various articles of utility and ornament. It is also used in assaying. The chief alloy is that with copper, which possesses all the beauty of the original silver, but is much harder. It is extensively used for coinage, tableware, jewellery, and innumerable articles of ornament, etc. The chief use for silver salts is in photography; the nitrate, bromide, chloride, and other compounds being used for this purpose. The nitrate is also used in analytical work, in medicine, and in the manufacture of marking inks.

Native ores of silver are used solely for the production of the metal, from which alloys or salts are subsequently obtained as desired. Their value depends upon the amount of the metal present and the ease with which it can be extracted. They occur in lodes and veins in crystalline and other rocks.

Silver (Native). — Silver, 70 to 99 per cent.; gold, trace to 30 per cent. Crystallised, dendritic, massive, or in scales. White, or tarnished grey or black, metallic, opaque. Malleable, soft. G-., 10"5.

Uses. — See above. The gold present is occasionally of con- siderable value.

T. 24.— Native Silver, Spain.

Argentite. — Sulphide of silver, Ag2S. Silver, 87 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Black, metallic, opaque. Verv soft, sec- tile. G., 7-3.

Uses. — See above.

Stephanite. — Sulphide of silver and antimony. Silver, 68 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Black, metallic, opaque. Very soft, brittle. ' G., 6-2.

Uses. — See above.

Pyrargyrite (Dark Kuby Silver Orej. — Sulphide of silver and antimony. Silver, 58 tf) 61 per cent. Crystallised or compact, massive. Black or deep red, metallic, opaque except in thin splin- ters. Soft, brittle. G., 5*8.

Uses. — See above.

Proustite (Light Ruby Silver Ore). — Sulphide of silver and arsenic. Silver, 63 to 65 per cent. Crystallised or compact, mas- sive. Red, brilliant, transparent to translucent. Very soft, brittle, G., 5-6.

Uses. — See above.

Polybasite. — Sulphide of silver, antimony, and copper. Sil- ver, 62 to 72 per cent. Crystallised, metallic. Black and opaque, except in thin splinters, which are red to translucent. Soft, brittle. G., 61.

Uses. — See above.

Cerargyrite (Horn Silver). — Chloride of silver, AgCl. Sil- ver, 75 per cent. Sometimes crystallised, usually massive, waxiike. White, greyish, or greenish, turns br )wn on exposure to the light. Transparent or translucent. Very soft and sectile. G., 5"5.

Uses. — See above.

T. 27.— Cerargyrite, Broken Hill, N.S.W.

Embolite. — Chloro-bromide of silver, Ag(ClBr). Silver, 61 to 72 per cent. Crystallised or massive. Green or yellow, darken- ing on exposure to light. Transparent to translucent. Very soft, sectile. G., 5*4.

Uses. — See above.

Argentiferous Galena, Tetrahedrite, and Blende, are

important ores of silver, but when argentiferous have their usual appearance and characteristics. They are described elsewhere. (Galena, page 36, tetrahedrite, page 30, blende, page 61.) Many other minerals contain considerable percentage of silver, and if found in any quantity wovdd constitute valuable sources of the metal. These minerals are of rare occurrence, and are described in text books of Mineralogy, q.v.

Sodium.

Sodium, the metallic constituent of com mem salt, was first isolated and examined early in the 19th century. It is a soft, white, plastic metal, which is slightly lighter than water. It melts at a temperature below that of boiling water, and is one of the best known conductors of heat and electricity. It oxidises rapidly in moist air or in contact with water.

Sodium does not occur native, but is widely distributed in the form of various rock-forming silicates and as the chloride, common salt. This latter is the chief source of the metal and its salts. The nitrate, chili-nitre; sulphate, thenardite; and sesquicarbonate, trona, also occur native.

Metallic sodium is a most useful reducing agent, and is there- fore used in the reduction of aluminium and other metals from their ores, as well as in the preparation of many organic compounds. Sodium amalgam, formed by dissolving sodium in mercury, is a good solvent for gold, and is largely used in gold amalgamation. A liquid alloy of sodium and potassium is used for high temperature thermometers.

The artificial compounds of sodium are manufactured on an enormous scale for many purposes. The peroxide is a most useful bleaching and general oxidisini: agent. Sodium chloride, both

crude and refined, is perhaps the most useful of all sodium compounds (see under Salt, infra). The carbtmate, "soda," is mainly used in the manufacture of soap and glass, besides being put to a great number of other industrial and domestic purposes, such as the extraction of aluminium from its ores, the production of Caustic soda, the refining of gold, and other metals, etc., in photography, analytical chemistry, etc. The bicarbonate is used as a source of carbonic acid for aerated waters, in cookery, in metallurgical processes, in scouring wool, etc. The hydrate, caustic soda, is used for the same purposes as the carbonate, as well as for the production of soluble glass, various organic dyes, and bleaching liquors, and for purifying crude oils, etc. The sulphate is used in the manufacture of many forms of glass ; the thiosulphate in extracting silver from its ores, and in photography. Many other sodium salts are used for various industrial, medicinal, and other purposes.

Salt.— Chloride of sodium, !N"aCl. Sodium, 61 per cent. ; chlorine, 39 per cent. Usually crystallised, also massive, compact, or granular. Colourless or tinted ; transparent to translucent. Soft, brittle, G., 2"2. Occurs in stratified deposits or in beds of salt lakes. Also in solution, in large quantity, in sea water, and the water of many lakes and springs.

Uses. — Chiefly used, both crude and refined, as a food for men and animals, and as a source of soda and other sodium compounds. Also largely used as a source of chlorine and hydrochloric acid, as a preservative of meat, skins, etc. ; as a glazing material for pottery- ware ; in the metallurgy of gold and silver, etc. The value of the mineral depends upon its purity and freedom from admixed sand and compounds of lime, magnesium, and iron.

5365. — Crystallised Salt, Rottnest Island.

Chili Nitre, — Nitrate of sodium, NaNOg. Soda, 36 per cent. ; nitrogen pentoxide, 64 per cent. Sometimes crystallised, usually massive. White or tinted, transparent. Very soft, some- what sectile. Gr., 2-3. Occurs in beds of dry lakes in desert regions.

Uses. — Chiefly used as a fertiliser and as a source of nitric acid, the percentage of nitrogen pentoxide governing its value for both purposes. Also used in the manufacture of nitre and sodium nitrate (for dyeing).

Trona. — Hydrous sesquicarbonate of sodium. Soda, 41 per cent. ; carbon dioxide, 39 per cent. Crystallised or massive, fibrous or columnar. Grey or yellowish white, translucent. Soft, brittle. G., 2'1. Occurs in beds or crusts in the beds of dry lakes in desert countries.

Uses. — A source of sodium carbonate. Borax.— Borate of sodium ; see page 17.

Strontium.

Strontium is a somewhat rare metal, which has been known for about a century. It is a soft, yellowish -white metal, of the same weight as aluminium. It is malleable, melts readily, oxidises rapidly in the air, and decomposes water with violence.

Strontium occurs in small quantities in most limestones and other mineral substances containing calcium. Its only ores are the carbonate (strontianite), and the sulphate (celestite).

The metal finds no application in the arts. The hydrate is used in the extraction of sugar from molasses, and the nitrate in pyrotechny as a constituent of all red fires.

Strontianite. — Carbonate of strontium, SrCO. Strontia (strontium oxide), 63 to 70 per cent. Crystallised, fibrous, or granular. Pale green, white, yellow; transjjarent to translucent. Soft, brittle. G., 37. Occurs in veins in granite or limestone.

Uses. — A source of strontium salts.

Celestite. — Sulphate of strontium, SrSO. Strontia, 50 to 56 per cent. Crystallised, fibrous, globular, or granular. White, pale blue, pale red ; transparent to opaque. Soft, brittle. Gr., 4'0. Occurs in veins, etc., in limestone and sandstone.

Use. — A source of strontium salts.

Sulphuk.

Sulphur is one of the commonest of the non-metallic elements, and has been known from time immemorial. In its ordinary form it is a bright yellow crystalline substance, which melts readily and burns with the producticm of pungent fumes.

Sulphur occurs to a considerable extent in the free state in all volcanic districts. Its commonest compound is pyrites, sulphide of iron ; whilst sulphides of lead, copper, and other metals are of frequent occurrence. Sulphates of lime and other metals are also common, but do not constitute a source of sulphur. Sulphur is also a constituent of coal and of animal and vegetable substances.

The most important use of sulphur is in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, but it is also largely used for making gun and blasting powder, sulphurous acid for vulcanising rubber, as an insecticide, for fumigating, and for the preparation of various sulphur compounds. By far the most important compound of sulphur is sulphuric acid, used in the manufacture of sodium carbonate (soda), hydrochloric, nitric, stearic, and other acids, alum, ether, nitro-glycerine, superphosphate, various metallic sulphates, etc. Sulphurous acid, metallic sulphites, and sulphates are used for a variety of purposes.

Sulphur (Native), — Pure sulphur mixed with various quantities of clay and other accidental impurities. Crystallised, massive, or earthy. Yellow, transparent to translucent. Very

soft, brittle. G., 2 0. Occurs in beds, veins, and irregular deposits in the vicinity of active or extinct volcanoes and hot springs.

Uses. — An important source of refined sulphur and sulphuric acid. Value depeuds upon its purity.

Pyrites.— Sulphide of iron, FeSo. Sulphur, 53 per cent. Metallic, massive, or crystalline. Pale brass-vellow, opaque. Hard, brittle. G., 5 0.

Uses. — Largely used as a source of sulphur in sulphuric acid manufacture. For this purpose the ore should be free from arsenic, and should be dressed up to at least 45 per cent. Also used to a slight extent as a source of copperas (iron sulphate).

4294- — Pyrites, Crystals, Broad Arrow.

4039- — Pyrites, IVorthampton.

1103- — Pyrites, Coolgardie.

Thallium.

This very rare metal was discovered in 186L It is bluish white in colour, soft and malleable, and melts below a red heat. It is slowly affected by air and water at ordinary temperatures. Its specific gravity is slightly higher than that of lead.

Thallium does not occur native, but is found m traces in certain samples of pyrites, and can be recovered from the flue dust when such samples are burnt for sulphuric acid manufacture. Thallium also occurs as the sulpharsenide, lorandite ; and the selenide of copper, silver and thallium, crookesite.

Metallic thallium is not of any use in the arts, but the oxide is a constituent of certain varieties of optical glass, and the nitrate is used in examining gems, natural and artificial, and for certain other laboratory purposes.

Lorandite. — Sulpharsenide of thallium, TlAsSg. Thallium, 59 per cent. OrystalHsed with a perfect cleavage. Red, often tarnished dark grey, metallic, brilliant, translucent. Soft, flexible. G-., 5-5.

Uses. —A source of thallium salts.

Crookesite. — Selenide of copper, silver and thallium. Thallium, 16 to 19 per cent. ; silver, two to five per cent. Massive, compact. Lead grey, metallic, opaque. Soft, brittle. G., 6 9.

Uses. — A source of thallium salts and silver.

Thorium.

This rare metal was discovered in 1828. It is grey in colour, as heavy as lead, and not altered by the atmosphere, unless strongly heated, when it takes fire and burns.

Thorium occurs in nature in several rare silicates, titanates, and phosphates, of which the most important is monazite, which is

at present almost the sole source of thorium compounds. These minerals occur in crystalline rocks, especially granite and gneiss, and the heavy sands in rivers and on ocean beaches, resulting from their weathering. It is from these sands that almost all the commercial ore is obtained.

Metallic thorium has not, so far, been put to any use. Its most important compounds are the oxide and nitrate. The former, when mixed with a little oxide of cerium or zirconium, possesses in a marked degree the power of giving out an intense light when heated. For this reason it forms the chief constituent of Welsbach gas mantles and of the glower of the Nernst electric light. The nitrate is the salt which is used as a source of the oxide for these lamps.

Monazite. — Phosphate of cerium, lanthanum, and didymium (CeLaDi)PO, with variable amounts of thorium oxide from a trace up to 18 per cent., the average being to per cent. Crystalline or in water-worn grains, yellow or brown, semi- transparent, brittle, hard. Gr., 5 1.

Uses. — This mineral is the chief source of thorium salts, and its value is entirely dependent upon the percentage of that metal present. The sands containing the mineral are concentrated by hand or in hydrauHc sluices, and if the resulting material does not contain 60 or 70 per cent, of monazite, it is still further concen- trated by drying and removing all magnetite and titaniferous iron by an electro-magnet. For the market the dressed ore should contain 70 to 95 per cent, of the pure mineral.

5437.— Monazite Sand, North CaroHna, U.S.A.

Thorite. — Silicate of thorium, ThOg.SiOg. Thorium oxide, 50 to 81 per cent. Crystallised or massive ; yellow, brown, or black ; semi-transparent, brittle, hard. G., 5.

Uses. — A source of thorium compounds, the value of the mineral depending on its thorium contents.

Tin.

Tin has been known for a great number of centuries, the Romans drawmg supplies from Cornwall. It is a bright white metal which does not tarnish in the air. It is ductile, and very malleable. Its specific gravity is 7*2, or the same as zinc. It melts below a red heat.

Occasional grains of metallic tin have been found in various parts of the world, but they are very rare, and their origin is a matter of doubt. The chief ore of tin is the dioxide, cassiterite, or tinstone. Small amounts of the metal have also been obtained from stannite, a sulphide of tin, copper, and iron.

The chief use for metallic tin is as a coating to sheet iron, the so-called tin-plate, by which the surface of the iron is prevented from rusting or from contaminating articles of food, etc., stored or cooked in them. Pure tin, or block tin, as it is called, is used also

for various domestic and other appliances, such as still-worms, etc. Thin sheet tin, or tin-foil, is used in backing mirrors, wrapping up tobacco, soaps, sweetmeats, etc. Large quantities of tin are used in making various alloys, the most important of which are the following: — Solder and pewter (tin and lead) ; britannia metal (tin, lead, copper, and bismuth) ; gun metal (bell metal and some bronze, tin, and copper) ; other bronzes (tin, copper, and zinc or lead) ; phosphor-bronze (tin, copper, and phosphorus) ; fusible metal (lead, tin, bismuth, etc.).

Several compounds of tin are largely used in dyeing and calico- printing; viz., stannous chloride, stannic chloride, stannic-ammonium chloride, and sodium stannate. The artificial dioxide (patty powder) is largely used for polishing metals, glass, stones, and gems, and as a constituent of enamels. Stannic sulphide, or mosaic gold, was at one time used as a substitute for gold-leaf.

Cassiterite (Tinstone). — Oxide of tin, SnO 2. Tin, 68 to 78 per cent. Crystallised, massive, or in rolled grains. Brown, black, red, or grey ; translucent to opaque. Hard, brittle. G-., 7"0.

Occurs in veins or altered bands in granite, or in veins in sedimentary rocks close to their contact with granite ; also largely in alluvial deposits derived from their denudation.

Uses. — The main source of tin and its compounds. The value of tin ores depend upon their richness in tin, and upon the nature and amount of associated minerals. For smelting, tin ores should be dressed up to at least 55 per cent, metal, as, otherwise, a large loss is experienced in smelting. Where the tinstone is accompanied by wolfram, tantalite, stibiotantalite, or other minerals of the same or higher specific giavity, the ordinary methods of water concentra- tion are unable to remove these impurities, and the concentrated ore is consequently low in grade and loses greatly in value. Such constituents are, therefore, a considerable drawback to the ore. Stibiotantalite is also very objectionable, because it introduces antimony into the smelted tin. The most valuable tin ores are those entirely free from all other metallic minerals.

2026> — Cassiterite (stream tin), Coglegong Creek, Pilbarra Goldfield 1387. — Cassiterite (stream tin). Green bushes. Low-grade ore with

much tantaHte and stibiotantaUte. 1999. — Cassiterite in greisen, Greenbushes. 5397.— Cassiterite in albite vein, Moolyella, Pilbarra Goldfield.

Stannite (Tin Pyrites).— Sulphide of tin, copper, iron, and zinc. Tin, 23 to 27 per cent. ; copper, 29 per cent. Massive or granular. Metallic, black or dark grey, opaque. Soft, brittle. Gr., 4'4. Occurs in veins in granite or slate.

Uses. — A very rare source of tin and its compounds. The copper present adds to the value of the mineral.

T. 19. — Stannite, Cornwall, England,

Titanium.

This metal in small quantities is very widely distributed, being found in all igneous rocks and many sedimentary ones. It was first discovered at the end of the eighteenth century, and in its purest form is a dark grey powder, lighter than iron, which burns brightly on being heated in the air. It dissolves readily in dilute acids.

Titanium never occurs native. Its most common compound is ilmenite, the titanate of iron, which occurs as a constituent of manj- rocks, and is often found as " black sand " along rivers and sea coasts. The only other mineral which constitutes a source of titanium is the oxide, rutile.

Metallic titanium is not used in the arts, but alloys with iron, known as ferro titanium, are at times added to cast iron and steel, with the elfect of increasing their strength and hardness. Titanium oxide is used in porcelain painting, and enters into the composition of artificial teeth.

Ilmenite. — See page 35.

Rutile. — Oxide of titanium, TiOo. Titanium oxide, 90 to 100 per cent. ; titanium, 54 to 60 per cent. Crystallised or compact, massive. Brown, red, yellow, occasionally other tints ; transparent to opaque. Hard, brittle. Gr., 4 2.

Uses. — A source of titanium alloys and compounds. When very pure, used for same purposes as artificial titanium oxide. T. 111.— Rutile, Norway. 1919. — Rutile, Greenbushes.

Tungsten.

This metal was discovered in 1782. It is as heavy as gold, but of grey colour, and is practically unaffected by the atmosphere. In its pure form the metal has no application in the arts.

Metallic tungsten does not occur in nature, its chief ores being the tungstate of iron, manganese, and lime, compounds of oxide of tungsten with oxides of those metals. These ores usually occur in quartz veins in granite, greenstone, or slate, and are principally mined in the United States, Austria-Hungary, Spain, and Queens- land. They are known to occur in this State at Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, Southern Cross, the ranges near Geraldton, and in the Pilbara district.

The chief use of tungsten is in hardening steel, for which purpose it is put on the market either as the impure metal or as ferrotungsten, an alloy of iron and tungsten obtained by smelting wolfram. Tungsten-steel, containing from 2 to 12 per cent, of the metal, is largely employed for guns and machine-tools, and to a less extent for rails. Nearly all the Shefiield crucible-steel makers are said to make use of it to a slight extent. The German Government has also tried it in bullet-making, as a small percentage of tungsten, added to lead, renders it harder and increases its penetrating power, without raising its melting point.

The only compound of tungsten which is used in the arts is sodium tungstate, a white crystalline salt used as a mordant and for saturating inflammable materials to render them non-inflam- mable, also for hardening plaster of Paris.

Wolfram or Wolframite, —Tungstate or iron andmaganese, (FeMn)W04. Tungsten, 60 per cent.; tungstic oxide, 76 per cent. ; massive or crystallised. SoQiewhat hard, black or dark brown, opaque, brilliant lustre, well marked cleavage. G-., 7'4.

Uses. — Used solely as a source of tungsten, ferro-tungsten, and sodium tungstate. Its commercial value depends almost entirely upon the percentage of tungstic oxide present, but, other things being equal, an ore containing traces only of phosphorus and sulphur is worth more than one containing appreciable quantities of those substances. Ores containing wolfram are readily concentrated by hand or by machinery, and for export such concentrates should assay not less than 50 per cent, of tungstic oxide. Ore over 55 per cent, is worth (jonsiderably more per unit than ore under that grade. Any admixture of tin ore lowers the value of the product. 614. — Wolfram, Roebourne. 4356— Wolfram, Herberton, Qld.

Huebne rite.— Tungstate of manganese, MnWO. Tungsten, 60 per cent.; tungstic oxide, 76 per cent. Similar in appearance and properties to wolfram.

Uses. — See Wolfram.

Scheelite. — Tungstate of lime, CaWO. Tungsten, 64 per cent. ; tungstic oxide, 80 per cent. ; massive or crystallised. White or slightly tinted yellow, etc., brilliant lustre. Hard, brittle. G., 6*0.

Uses, etc — See remarks under Wolfram.

1299'— Scheelite, Coolgardie. Massive yellow, with a considerable

amount of impurity. 1414. — Scheelite, Southern Cross. Clean, yellow, massive, in quartz

vein.

1358.— Scheelite, Hillgrove, N.S.W. Clean, white, massive.

[The following extract from a report by Mr. C. F. V. Jackson, Assistant Geologist, gives some further particulars in connection with the uses and values of wolfram ores : —

Tvmgsten ores are frequently f ounl associated with tin and in stan- iferous leads, and considerable supplies have been derived from tin workings and by working over the waste from old tin-dressing floors. In addition to such deposits as are included above, wolfram occurs in veins and small bunches in crystalline and metamorphic rocks generally associated with a gangue of quai-tz. In North Queensland, the principal source of the mineral in Australia, the majority of the wolfram-producing claims lie along a fairly continuous reef of quartz, the granite for some distance on either side being intersected by an irregular system of smaller quartz veins and offshoots, from which the wolfram is chiefly obtained. The output of the Queensland flelds from 1894 to the end of 1903 was estimated at 947 tons. New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand have pro-

duced small quantities, but the output has generally been only indirectly recorded or stated under the head of sundry minerals, and for this reason also the world's statistics are not immediately available. The tungsten combined in wolfram is generally estimated as tungstic acid, the pure mineral (tungstate of iron and manganese) containing from 7;i to 7G per cent, of tungstic acid. The commercial ore, owing to the admixture , of quartz and other impurities, rarely contains over 70 per cent., bvit should be dressed to contain not less than 60 per cent., the price for the ore being based on the ruling rate for 60 per cent., plus an additional sum for every unit of tvmgstic acid above 60.

Until recent years, about the only uses of tungsten were in the prepara- tion of the salts of the metal for variovis technical purposes ; its chief use now is either in the form of the alloy, ferro- tungsten, or as the powdered metal, in the manufacture of tungsten steel. Alloys are also made of tung- sten with aluminium and copper, the latter being used in the manufacture of propeller blades. Ferro-tungsten, the alloy of tungsten, is easily prepared from wolfram and scheelite by direct reduction with iron or ferric oxide. Tungsten, when added to steel in small proportions, renders it particularly hard, and also self-tempering. Tungsten steel is therefore used in the manufacture of tool steel and wearing parts of machinery, but particularly for heavy guns and battleships' armour, Germany, in consequence, being one of the best markets for tungsten. Some three years ago it was estimated that about 75 tons of tungsten were used annually at the Krupp works in the manufacture of eruus, etc., the market value of tungsten being com- paratively low During- the last three years there has been a great rise in the price, and wolfram has gone from 30 per ton to ,£130 or £140 per ton for ore containing 60 per cent, of tungstic acid. A note in L' Echo des Mines et de la Metallurgie states that " the price of ferro-tungsten in France last October was, for alloy containing 80 per cent, of tungsten, 4fr. (3s. 2d.) per unit. In December it had advanced to 5fr. (4s. 9d.), and is now 6fr. (5s. 6d.) per unit, with no chance of getting prompt delivery." This advance in price is attributed to deposits of tungsten minerals being scarce, of limited extent, and little developed ; while the demand has developed so suddenly during the present year that there is no prospect of meeting it immediately. At the middle of last year wolfram was selling on the fields in North Queensland at £29 per ton, and at the end of 1903 it was 850, since when it had risen to over =£120. It is there chiefly purchased by agents, who visit the field for the purpose. In this connection, however, while the general statement that wolfram in August last was worth ,£130 to ,£14-0 per ton might be accepted as indicating the market conditions exist- ing, the fact is not to be lost sight of that the demand for wolfram is, comparatively speaking, small and somewhat irregular, tungsten only being used in small proportion for steel suited to a few purposes. Moreover, there is hardly reasonable ground or reliable data for assuming that the market is sufficiently stable to render mining for wolfram, except where it may be obtained as a bye-product, more than a highly speculative business, since the prices are liable to rise and fall considerably, and whilst the mineral might go up to =£200, there is no sufficient guarantee that more abundant supplies and an increase of production will not suddenly piit it back to 30.]

Uranium And Radium.

These two rare metals occur together in nature in the same wiinerals, and will therefore conveniently be dealt with together.

Uranium compounds were known and recognised as early as 1789, but it was not till 1842 that the metal was isolated. It resembles nickel in appearance, is malleable, and hard and as heavy as gold. It tarnishes readily in the air, and in the form of powder

takes fire at a temperatare below the melting point of tin. Both the metal and its compounds are radio-active, that is, give out energy spontaneously and continuously.

Radium, the newest and most wonderful of all the metallic elements, is only known in combination with other elements, the metal itself not having yet been separated. The most interesting and valuable property of radium salts, and probably also of the metal, is their extreme radio-activity, which is something like a million times as great as that of uranium.

The chief ores of uranium are uraninite (pitch-blende), a complicated compound containing uranium, lead, thorium, etc. ; torbernite, phosphate of uranium and copper ; autunite, phosphate of uranium and lime; and carnotite, vanadate of uranium and potassium. All these appear to carry minute amounts of radium, varying from one-tenmillioneth to one-millioneth part of the whole. These ores occur principally in quartz veins and as impregnations in sandstone, sometimes also in pegmatite veins.

Metallic uranium is only of scientific interest ; a little of it added to steel in the form of uranium carbide is said, however, to improve it for many purposes. The acetate and nitrate are used for analytical work and in photography. Uranium compounds are also used in enamel painting and for staining glass, uranous oxide giving a fine velvety black colour and uranic oxide a delicate greenish- yellow highly fluorescent glass, which, besides being ornamental, possesses also the property of arresting chemically active rays.

The most important radium salts are the chloride and bromide, which are being largely experimented with for various purposes.

Uraninite (Pitch-blende). — Uranate of uranium, lead thorium, etc. Uranium, 50 to 75 per cent. ; radium, trace. Usually massive botryoidal, sometimes crystallised or granular. Grrey, green, brown, or black, with lustre varying from submetallic to greasy or dull. Opaque, brittle, hard. G-., ? to 9 5.

Uses. — Used solely as a source of uranium and radium, its value depending on the proportion of these metals present. The relative proportion of radium present may be roughly gauged by the radio-activity of the mineral. That from Johanngeorgenstadt, in Saxony, and Joachimsthal, in Bohemia, gives the highest results. T. 126. — Uraninite, Cornwall, England.

Torbernite (Copper Uranite). — Hydrous phosphate of uranium and copper. Uranium, 45 to 50 per cent. ; radium, trace. Scaly massive or in micaceous crystals. Green, transparent or translucent. Brittle, very soft. G., 3 5.

Uses. — Constitutes a source of uranium and its salts. Radium has been detected in some specimens, though in much smaller amount than in uraninite.

T. 127. — Crystallised Torbernite, Cornwall, England.

Autunite (Lime Uranite). — Hydrous phosphate of uranium and calcium. Uranium, 44 to 50 per cent. ; radium, trace. Scaly massive or in micaceous crystals. Yellow, transparent or trans- lucent. Brittle, very soft. Gr., 3-1.

Uses. — See Torbernite.

T. 129. — CrystalHsed Autunite, Cornwall, England.

Carnotite. — See under Vanadium, infra.

Vanadium.

Until quite recently vanadium, which was discovered in 1801, was thought to be a very rare metal, and, like all such, commanded a price altogether out of proportion to its usefulness in the arts. It is now known to be widely distributed over the globe in minute quantities.

Vanadium is a very infusible metal which is but little affected by the air at ordinary temperatures, or by contact with many mineral acids. It is grey in colour, and has a specific gravity about one -half that of silver.

Vanadium occurs commonly in small proportions in most iron ores (especially titaniferous magnetites) and volcanic rocks, as well as in many coals, clays, sandstones, and limestones. The clay beds in the vicinity of Sydney are vanadium-bearing, the metal showing its presence by a yellowish-green colouration on the weathered surfaces of bricks made from it. In spite of this wide distribution of the metal in traces, ores of it {i.e., deposits of minerals carrying a notable percentage of the metal) are very rare. The most important of these are carnotite, a vanadate of uranium and potash occurring in Colorado ; roscoelite, a silicate of potash aluminium and vanadium, which has been detected at Kalgoorlie ; and vana- dinite, a vanadate and chloride of lead, small crystals of which have been found in several gold reefs in Western Australia. One of the chief sources of vanadium at present is the iron slags from the Creusot Works in France, where vanadium-bearing iron ores are smelted.

The pure metal is not used for any but experimental purposes. An alloy of vanadium and iron, ferro-vanadium, is added to steel to improve its qualities for many purposes. Steel thus prepared is eminently suited for armour plate, projectiles and machine tools, since not only is it extremely tough and hard but it does not lose this hardness by being heated to a bright red heat and slowly cooled. Vanadic acid is largely used for the production of indelible black dyes and inks. Various pigments used in colouring porcelain and glass also contain vanadic acid.

Carnotite. — Hydrous vanadate of potassium and uranium. Vanadium, 11 per cent. ; vanadium pentoxide, 20 per cent. Occurs

in jellow disseminated grains and bunches in sandstone in Colorado, the rocks being leached with nitric acid to obtain the vanadium.

Uses. — One of the chief sources of vanadium and uranium and their salts.

Roscoelite.— Silicate of potassium, vanadium, and aluminium. Vanadium, 15 per cent.; vanadium pentoxide, 28 per cent. In mica- like scales, brown or brownish green. Translucent, soft. G., 2 9.

Uses. — Used as a source of vanadium compounds.

Vanadinite.— -Vanadate and chloride of lead. Vanadium, 4 to 11 per cent.; vanadium pentoxide, 8 to 20 per cent. In red or yellow crystals or incrustations. Brittle, soft, opaque. G., 6 8.

Uses, — Used as a source of vanadium compounds, and of metallic lead.

T. 82.— Vanadinite, New Mexico, U.S.A.

Zinc.

Zinc, or spelter, is a common metal which has been known to civilised man for several centuries. It is a blueish white crystalline metal, brittle at ordinary temperature, but malleable and ductile at a little above the temperature of boiling water. It takes a good polish and is unaffected by perfectly dry air, but is rapidly coated in moist air with a greyish white tarnish, which protects the metal from further corrosion. It is readily soluble in dilute acids, and has a specific gravity of 71.

Native zinc has been reported to occur in very small quantities, but its occurrence needs confirmation. The sulphide, blende, is a common constituent of veins, whilst the oxide zinkite ; the carbonate, smithsonite and hydrozinkite, and the silicates, willemite and hemimorphite are less common ores. Franklinite, an oxide of iron and zinc, occurs plentifully in New Jersey, U.S.A.

Metallic zinc is chiefly used for roofing purposes, either in sheets or as a surface coating upon iron, which is then said to be galvanised. Sheet zinc is also used for various internal ornamental work, lining packing cases, making water tanks and pipes, etc. In plates it is used to prevent corrosion of boilers, also in galvanic batteries, in photo-engraving, etc. Fine shavings of zinc are used to precipitate gold from cyanide solutions ; whilst zinc powder is used as a reducing agent in manufacturing organic compounds, as a paint, and in the preparation of zinc salts. Spelter is used for making castings, for desilverising lead, for coating iron and steel, and for making alloys.

Of metallic alloys the most important are brass and bronze, in the preparation of which large quantities of zinc are consumed. Zinc also forms useful alloys with alluminium and with nickel and copper.

Oxide of zinc (zinc white), obtained from the metal or direct from the ore, is a very valuable pigment which has largely replaced

white lead. It is also used as a constituent of many rubber goods. Zinc chloride is used as a disinfectant, and preservative of wood, in refining oils, and in making stearic acid, ether, and parchment paper. Zinc sulphate is used in dyeing, in the manufacture of glue, and the pigment known as lithophone, and as a dryer in oil paints and varnishes. Zinc ohromate is used as a pigment. Several zinc salts are used in medicine.

Blende (Sphalerite). — Sulphide of zinc, ZnS. Zinc, 57 to 67 per cent. Crystallised or massive cleavable, granular to com- pact. Yellow, brown, black ; transparent to opaque. Soft, brittle. G. 4 0. Occurs in veins in crystalline and other rocks, also in irregular masses and veins in limestone.

Uses. — The commonest source of zinc and its compounds. Value of this and other zinc ores depends upon percentage of zinc present, and on freedom from lead ores. Ores or concentrates con- taining over 4 per cent, of lead are practically unsaleable to smelters.

T. 86. — CrystaUised Blende, Cumberland, England. 4032. — Massive Blende, Northampton.

Franklinite. — See page 35.

Zinkite. — Oxide of zinc, ZnO. Zinc, 74 to 80 per cent. Rarely crystallised, usually massive granular or foliated. Deep red to orange, translucent. Soft, brittle. G., 5'6.

Uses. — A source of zinc. See remarks under Blende. T. 90.— Zinkite, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Smith son ite. — Carbonate of zinc, ZnCOg. Zinc, 42 to 52 per cent. Crystallised or massive granular or earthy, also stalac- titic. White or tinted, translucent. Hard, brittle. Gr., 4*4. Occurs usually in veins and irregular masses in limestones.

Uses. — See Blende.

4351— Smithsonite, Chillagoe, Qld.

Hydrozinkite. — Hydrous carbonate of zinc. Zinc, 55 to 60 per cent. Massive, compact, fibrous, earthy, or stalactitic. White, grey, or yellow ; opaque, dull. Soft, brittle, Gr., 3"7.

Uses. — See Blende.

Willem ite. —Silicate of zinc, ZnoSi04. Zinc, 48 to 58 per cent. Crystallised, massive, compact, or fibrous. White or tinted, transparent to opaque. Hard, brittle. Gr., 4*0.

Uses. -See Blende

T. 94.— Willemite, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Hemimorphite. — Hydrous silicate of zinc. Zinc, 50 to 54 per cent. Crystallised, stalactitic, fibrous, massive, granular. White or tinted, transparent to translucent. Hard, brittle. Gr., 8'5.

Uses. — See Blende.

T. 93. — Hemimorphite, Laurium, Greece.

Zirconium.

This rare element was discovered at the close of the 1 8th century. It is a crystalline metal resembling antimony in appear- ance and oxidising but slowly in the air. It is soluble in warm acids and has a specific gravity of 4*1.

Zirconium does not occur free in nature ; its commonest com- pound is the silicate, zircon, which occurs in small quantities in granite and other crystalline rocks, and in the sands resulting from their denudation. Zirconium also occurs in several rare silicates, tantalates, etc.

The metal is not applied to any useful purpose, but the oxide (zirconia) is employed in the glowers of Nernst and other lamps, having the property of yielding an intense light at comparatively low temperatures.

Zircon. — Silicate of zirconium, ZrSiO. Zirconia, 61 to 67 per cent. Usually crystallised, also in rolled grains. Colourless or tinted, transparent to opaque. Very hard, brittle. Gr., 4" 7.

Uses. — Used as a source of zirconia. Some varieties used as a gem, see page 68.

5549. — Zircon Sand, Donnelly River.

Silica And Silicates.

Silica, the oxide of the nonmetallic element silicon, is widely and a.bundantly distributed in the form of quartz (free silica) and various silicates of the metals. It is a colourless, transparent, crystallised substance, which is very hard and infusible and resists the action of most acids.

By far the most important artificial substance containing silica is glass, which is a silicate of sodium and calcium or other metallic base. Hydraulic cement is a silicate and aluminate of calcium. Carborundum, a valuable abrasive, is a carbide of silicon.

Quartz. — Silica, SiOo, with more or less admixed oxide of iron, etc. Crystallised or massive, compact or granular. Coluorless, white or tinted ; transparent to opaque. Hard, brittle to tough. G., 2-6.

Uses. — Largely used as a refractory material aud in the manu- facture of glass and porcelain. For these purposes and for making carborundum it should be very pure and especially free from iron compounds. Less pure varieties are used as an abrasive, for making mortar, for filters and for a multitude of other purposes. Perfectly transparent, flawless crystals, or masses are used for making lenses aud ornaments and are of considerable value.

4669. — Quartz Crystal, Hardy River. 4360.— Pure Quartz Sand, Lake Gnangara.

Diatomaceous Earth (Infusorial Earth). — Hydrous silica with more or less admixed organic matter, clay, etc. Consists of the accumulated remains of minute water plants. Massive, tough, or earthy and friable. White, rey, or black ; opaque. Very soft and porous. G., 1"2 in bulk aud dry, 0 2 up to 0 8. Occurs in surface or buried beds. Often occurs in beds of lakes and swamps.

Uses. — When calcined artifically or by nature so as to remove all organic matter and moisture, is used for a great variety of purposes. It is largely employed as an abrasive, especially as a constituent of polishing powders and soaps, for this purpose it should be as free as possible from admixed sand or grit. Owing to its great porosity it is largely used as an absorbent, especially for nitro-glycerine forming dynamite ; for disinfectants, etc. Its utility for these purposes depends upon its absorbent capacity, and in the case of dynamite, upon the presence of many closed spaces in the individual diatom skeletons, and its practical freedom from alumina or lime. Its porosity, lightness, infusibility, and low conductivity for heat make it a valuable heat insulator for refrigerating chambers and wagons, for safes, boiler and steam-pipe coverings, " refrigera- ting" paints; and as a constituent of fire-resisting cements and bricks. The purest varieties are used also for making soluble glass and other glasses ; and as an adulterant of rubber. For most purposes diatomaceous earth should be as free as possible from alumina, lime, iron oxide, and alkalies ; and should be highly porous and absorbent.

4361. — Crude wet Diatomaceous Earth, Lake Gnangara.

4365. — Calcined Diatomaceous Earth, Lake Gnangara.

4468. — Crvide Diatomaceous Earth, Little Badgerup Lake.

5052. — Crude Diatomaceous Earth, Cooma, N.S.W.

Asbestos. — This is a name applied both in commerce and science to several silicates chai-acterised by a finely fibrous structure. The chief varieties are Amianthus, Chrysotile, Picrolite, and Acti- nolite.

Amianthus. — Hydrous silicate of magnesia. In long, fine, silky fibres, very flexible and tough. White or pale green, opaque. Occurs in veins and pockets in serpentine.

Uses.-- This is the most valuable variety of asbestos owing to the length, evenness, flexibility and toughness of the fibres, the ease with which they can be separated from one another, and their great resistance to heat and poor conductivity. It is woven into packing for pistons, valves, and other parts of engines; into rope for suspending crucibles, etc., in contact with fire, and for use in theatres and acid works ; into cloth for theatre screens, colliery doors, etc. The scrap is used for the same purpose as chrysotile and picrolite.

Chrysotile. — Hydrous silicate of magnesia. In short inch to 4 inch) soft fibres, very flexible and tough. Pale green, opaque. Occurs in veins in serpentine.

Uses. — This forms the great bulk of the world's asbestos. It is woven into yarn and cloth for packings, etc. Also made into felt for fireproof screens, etc. Used also for covering steampipes, etc., for lining for safes and many other purposes. Less valuable than Amianthus.

1010.- Asbestos, var. Chrysotile, near Tambourah.

1821. — Asbestos, var. Chrysotile, Metford, Canada.

Picrolite. — Hydrous silicate of magnesia. In short or long irregular fibres, very soft and brittle and of low tensile strength. Pale green, opaque. Occurs in veins in serpentine.

Uses. — This is one of the commonest but least valuable varieties of asbestos. It cannot be woven but is used as a base for heat- proof paints and cements, boiler coverings, etc.

5517. — Asbestos, var. Picrolite, Pickering Brook.

Actinolite. — Silicate of calcium, magnesium, and iron. In

short or long irregular fibres, hard, brittle, and very difficult to

separate. White or pale green, opaque. Occurs in veins and nests in basic igneous rocks.

Uses. — Of little value but can be used for same purposes as Picrolite.

1098. — Asbestos, var. Actinolite, Ballagundi.

The market value of asbestos depends upon the length, strength, evenness, infusibility, and flexibility of the fibres, and the ease with which they can be separated from one another, and also upon its freedom from admixed rock, iron oxide, etc. Fresh uses are continuously being found for asbestos, but so far the supply has been so well kept up that the price of the mineral has decreased considerably within recent years. Before marketing, asbestos is graded according to length into long, over finch; medium, to Jinch ; short, under |inch.

Mica. — Like asbestos, this name is applied both commercially and scientifically to several distinct silicate minerals, all of which are characterised by a very perfect cleavage which enables them to be split into thin elastic plates. The most important species are Muscovite, Phlogopite, Biotite, and Lepidolite.

Muscovite. — CommoTL or white mica. Silicate of aluminium, potassium, and hydrogen. Crystallised or foliated massive. Colourless or tinted ; transparent. Soft. Gr., 2 8. Laminae flexible, elastic, tough, and very infusible. Occurs in pockets or veins in granite or gneiss, especially in pegmatite veins.

Uses. — This is the most useful variety of mica. In sheets at least 2 inches x inch, is used for windows of stoves and furnaces, for funnels for lamps and gaslights, for skylihts and compass- covers. Large quantities of sheet mica are used for electrical insulations. The scrap mica left after trimming the mineral into sheets is used for a variety of purposes. It is cemented into sheets and used for electrical insulation, under the name of " micauite."

When ground, it is used as a lubricant, as a constituent of some brands of dynamite, of various piston packings, fire-resisting paints, and insulating compounds, in the manufacture of lustrous hair powder, and mixed with plaster of Paris for moulds for castings. It is also used to a certain extent in decorative work, both in sheets and powder. An excellent non-conducting covering, which is both flexible and fireproof, is formed bv a quilting finely powdered scrap between galvanised wire netting.

5188. — Mica, var. Muscovite, Macdonnell Range, S.A.

Phlogojnte. — Amber mica. Fluo-silicate of aluminium, mag- nesium, and potassium. Crystallised or foliated massive. Usually amber, sometimes colourless or tinted variously ; transparent to translucent. Soft. G., 2-8. Laminae flexible, elastic, tough, and infusible. Occurs in veins or pockets in serpentine, crystalline limestone, or dolomite.

Uses. — See Muscovite.

Biotite. — Black mica. Silicate of aluminium, magnesium, iron and potassium. Crystallised or laminated massive. Black, green, yellow, or brown; transparent to opaque. Soft. GT., 2"8. Laminae flexible, elastic, tough, and infusible. Occurs in veins and pockets in granite and other crystalline rocks.

Uses. — Owing to low (ilectric resistance, is not of much value for insulating purposes. Used for most other purposes described under Muscovite.

Lepidolite. — Lithia mica. Fluo-silicate of aluminium, potas- sium and lithium. See page 87.

Uses. — Owing to easy fusibility, cannot be used for any of the purposes to which other micas are put, except the ornamental purposes. Chiefly used as a source of lithium salts. 556. — Mica, var. Lepidolite, Londonderry.

777- — Mica, var. Lepidolite, trimmed for market, Londonderry.

Mica is marketed in two forms, viz., " sheet," consisting of thin rectangular blocks of certain standard sizes, varying from 2 inches by inches up to 8 inches by 10 inches or more; and " scrap," the small pieces left after punching out the sheets from the crude mineral. The latter is of very little value, something like Id. to 2d. a pound. The value of sheet mica depends upon the size of the sheet (varying from 3s. jer lb. to £,2 10s. per lb.), the ease with which it can be split up, its softness, flexibility, and freedom from wrinkles and blemishes. When used as a substitute for glass its transparency and colour are important points. For electrical purposes its resistance to heat and electricity are of importance.

Talc (Steatite, Soapstone). — Hydrous silicate of magne- sium. Rarely in tabular crystals, usually massive, foliated, granular, compact, or fibrous. White or green ; translucent. Very soft, sec- tile. G., 27. Occurs as rock masses and in veins and beds.

Uses. — When powdered, is largely used as a tilling for paper; for this purpose the fibrous form is the best. Also for fire-proof paints, electric insulators, steam-pipe and boiler coverings, foundry facings, toilet powders, lubricants, and as a base for dynamite and cheap soap. (Jompact tah; is cut into pencils, fire-bricks, hearth- stones, footwarmers, etc.

4294' — Fibroiis and massive talc. Broad Arrow.

Feldspar. — This name is applied to a group of minerals closely related to one another in occurrence, properties, and com- position ; being silicates of aluminium with potassium, sodium, or calcium. The chief varieties from a commercial point of view are orthoclase and albite.

Orthoclase. — Silicate of aluminium and potassium. Crystallised with a perfect cleavage or massive. Colourless, white, or tinted ; transparent to opaque. Hard; brittle. Occturs in workable deposits chiefly in pegmatite veins.

Uses.— Chiefly used as a constituent of china, porcelain, tiles, and certain varieties of glass. Also used as an abrasive especially in polishing-soaps. Small quantities used in dentistry. Has been proposed to utilise it as a source of potash salts.

378. — Feldspar, var.. Orthoclase, Londonderry. 24. — Feldspar, var." Orthoclase, Northampton.

Albite. — Silicate of aluminium and sodium. Crystallised with perfect cleavage, massive granular or lamellar. White or tinted ; transparent to opaque. Hard ; brittle. Occurs in workable deposits chiefly in pegmatite veins.

Uses. — See Orthoclase.

5288. — Feldspar, var. Albite, Ravensthorpe.

5397. — Feldspar, var. Albite, with tin ore, Moolyella.

Other vaiieties of feldspar could be utilised for a similar purpose were workable deposits of them available. For market the ore must be carefully hand-picked to remove all associated minerals especially those containing iron. Feldspar containing more than a trace of iron is not suited for making porcelain or glass. A small unavoidable admixture of clean, colourless quartz is no great drawback to the mineral.

Garnet. — -This group of minerals is characterised by a similarity of crystalline form, chemical composition, and occurrence. The commonest species are alniandite and andradite.

Almandite. — Silicate of ferrous iron and aluminium. Crystal- lised, massive, granular, or compact. Red or black ; transparent to opaque. Hard, brittle, or tough. G., 4-0. Occurs in granite or other rocks, or in beach or river sands.

Uses. — Used largely as an abrasive. Fine clear specimens make gems. See page 69.

4797. — Garnet in granite. Upper Bowes River.

5315- — Garnet, near Marble Bar.

4794. — Garnet sand, mouth of Bowes River.

And rail if Silicate of calcium and fcn-ic iron. Crystallised, massive, ij-rnnnlar, or compact. Black, sTeen, yellow, brown; transparent to opaque. Hard, brittle, or tough. G., ;i-9. Occurrence and uses same as for almandite.

The value of garnet as an abrasive depends upon its hardness and toughness, and its freedom from mechanically admixed im- purities. Otlier varieties of garnet, if found in workable quantities, could be used for the same purpose as almandite and andradite.

GEMS AND ORNAMENTAL STONES. Gems, wliich include the most valuable of all minerals, may be defined as those varieties of mineral species which possess such striking and permanent beauty as to make them desirable articles of personal adornment. The value of gems depends upon their freedom from flaws blemishes, the shade of colour they possess, and the permanency of that colour when exposed for long periods to light and air; their degree of transparency (except in the case of perfectly opaque gems such as turquoise) ; their hardness, and finally their rarity. The following is the approxin)ate order of value of precious stones: — Pearl, Ruby, Diamond, Fhnerald, Sapphire, Oriental Cat's Eye, Opal, Turquoise, Alexandrite.* Other ornamental stones, >uch as Tourmaline and Jade, are classified as " semi- precious," owing to their inferior rarity and value. In the following pages the order followed under the headings of " Precious Stones " and "Semi-precious Stones" has been determined by the chemical and mineral nature of the gems. In each case the general descrip- tion given is that of the most valued type, and is in more detail than those of less valuable minerals given in this brochure.

Precious Stones. Diamond. — Pure carbon, C. Crystallised in octahedra and other forms of the isometric system ; also in water worn pebbles. Transparent. Most valuable are colourless, red. or blue; of less value those that are yellow, green, or brown. Hardness, 10 ; G., 3*5. Occurs in basic igneous rocks and in alluvial deposits. At the present day South Africa supplies the greatest part of the total demand for this gem. Small diamonds have been found in con- glomerate at Nullagine, in this State.

Ruby. - Variety of Corundum. Oxide of aluminium, AI2O3. Crystallised in hexagonal pyramids, more or less modified ; also in water- worn pebbles. Transparent. Pigeon-blood ) ed ; less valued gems are of other shades of red. H., 9. ; G., 4"0. Occurs in Crystal- line limestone and in alluvial deposits. Chiefly derived from Burmah.

Sapphire. — Variety of Corundum. Oxide of aluminium, AlOg. Form and other characters, except colour, as for Ruby. Colour, corn-flower blue or rarely rich green ; other shades of blue are less admired. Occurs in crystalline limestone, basic igneous rocks, and mica-schist, also in alluvial deposits. The chief sources of sapphires are Siam, Burmah, Cashmere, and Ceylon.

Sapphires and other g-em stones, Inverell, N.S.W.

♦ E. W. Streeter, Precious Stones and Gems.

Emerald.— Variety of Beryl. Silicato of beryllium and aluminium, SBeO.AljO.GSiOo. Crystallised in hexagonal prisms. Transparent ; rich green in colour. H., 7-5. G., 27. The chief source of the emerald is Colombia, where it occurs in pockets in a limestone. Elsewhere they are found in mica-schist, talc-schist, and topaz rock.

Oriental Cat' s-eye.— Variety of Chrysoberyl. Oxide of beryllium and aluminium, BeOAlgO. Crystallised in complex forms of the ortliorhombic system ; more usually in water worn pebbles. Translucent ; colour, from pale yellow to dark brown, and pale green to deep olive. Chatoyant ; characterised by a movable internal opalescent band of white or rarely yellow light. H., 8*5. G., 3-8. Chief source is Ceylon, where it is found in river gravels.

Alexandrite.— Variety of Chrysoberyl. Oxide of beryllium and aluminium, BeO.AloO.. Crystallised usually in twins of the orthorhombic system ; also in rolled pebbles. Transparent. Colour, emerald green, changing in artificial light to raspberry red. Very rarely chatoyant. H., 8*5. G., 37. Occurs in mica-schist in the Ural mountains ; and in river gravels in Ceylon.

Opal.— Precious opal is a variety of common Opal. Hydrated silica, 5S1O2.2H3O. No crystalline form; occurs massive, filling small veins and hollows in the parent rock. Translucent. Colour, milky white, exhibiting a magnificent play of prismatic colours on turning through a small angle. Kich red tints are most highly prized. Some opals lose their colour after exposure for some little time, and are therefore of very little value. H., 5*5 to 6. G., 21. The best opals come from Queensland and New South Wales where they occur filling small veins in sandstone and trachyte and steam holes in the latter. Found also under similar conditions in Hungary and America.

4885.— Opal, Eromanga, Qld.

Turquoise. — Hydrated phosphate of aluminium, copper, and iron ; formula uncertain. No crystalline form ; occurs massive in veins or nodules. Opaque. Colour, sky-blue, greenish blue, or green, the first-named being the most valued. Many turquoises fade so easily as to be practically valueless. H , 6. G., 27. Chiefly obtained from Persia, where it occurs in veins and nodules in trachyte and slate. Occurs largely in the United States and elsewhere in porphyry, trachyte, slate, and sandstone.

Semi-precious Stones.

Zircon or Hyacinth. — Silicate of zirconium, ZrO..SiO.,. Crystallised in comlnnations of pyramid and prism of the tetragon system ; also in water- worn pebbles. Transparent ; crimson, yellowish-red, amber yellow. H., 7 5. G., 4 4 to 4 8. Ceylon and New South Wales yield the best hyacinths. They occur in river gravels or in situ in syenite, granite, and other crystalline rocks.

Peridot (Precious Olivine). — A variety of Chrysolite. Silicate of iron and magnesium, 2(MgFe)0.Sid.,. Occasionally crystallised in combinations of ortliorhombic prism and pyramid ; usually in water-worn pebbles. Transparent; yellowish- green in colour, the deeper the tint the more valuable the stone. H., 6-5.

G. , 3-4. Occurs chiefly in river gravels in the Levant, Brazil, and elsewhere.

Tourmaline. — Transparent variety of ordinary tourmaline. Composition very complex; a silicate of aluminium, boron, iron, etc. Crystallised in combinations of prism and pyramid of hexagonal system ; also in water- worn pebbles. Transparent ; colour red, pink (BuheUite), green of various shades, blue (Indicolite) , yellow.

H. , 7'5. G-., 3-1. Occurs chiefly in granitic rocks carrying lithia mica ; also in river gravels. Obtained from Siberia, Brazil, United States, Ceylon, Kangaroo Island, etc. Imperfect specimens have been received from Ravensthorpe in this State.

5293. — Kubellite, Eavensthorpe.

Topaz. — Precious variety of ordinary Topaz. Fluosilicate of aluminium, Al203(O.F2).SiO.. Crystallised in combinations of orthorhombic prism and pyramid, with perfect basal cleavage ; also in water-worn pebbles. Transparent, usually wine-yellow, but also light and dark red, pale blue, pale violet, or colourless, H., 8. G., 3-5. Occurs usually in gneiss, granite, or pegmatite, and in river gravels. Gem topaz comes from Brazil, Siberia, United States, etc. Pale blue topaz has been collected at Londonderry in this State. 4450. — Blue Topaz, Londonderry.

Aquamarine and Beryl are transparent varieties of com- mon Beryl, the former of a pale green or pale blue colour, the latter yellow. Except in colour they are identical with Emerald, q.v.

Garnet. — Gem varieties of several mineral species belonging to the Garnet Group. Three species are used as gems: — Alma7i- dine (Carbuncle), Silicate of aluminium, and ferrous iron, Al203.3Fe0.3Si02. Claret coloured and most valuable of garnets. Pyrope, silicate of aluminium, magnesium, and iron ; ALO3.3 (MgFe)0.3Si02. Blood red. Essonite (sometimefCAlled Hyacinth). Silicate of aluminium and calcium. AloOs.SCaO.SSiOo. Yellow, orange, or brown.

Garnets are found crystallised in forms of the isometric system, the commonest form being the dodecahedron; also in water- worn pebbles. Tra,nsparent or semi-transparent ; colours as above. H., 7 to 8. G., 3 5 to 41. Occurs usually in granite, gneiss, mica schist, or chlorite schist, or in river gravels. Very widely distributed. Fine coloured garnets have been received from near Uaroo in this State.

Spodumene, — Transparent variety of ordinary spodumene. Silicate of aluminium and lithium A].,Oa.Li20.4Si02. Crystallised in combinations of prism and pyramid of monoclinic svstem, with strong prismatic cleavage. Transparent. Colour greenish yellow.

rich green (Hiddenife), amethyst (Kunzite). H., 7. G., 31. Occurs usually in granite, pegmatite, or gneiss. Chief sources are Brazil and North Carolina.

Jade (Greenstone).— Partly a variety of Jadeite, which is a silicate of aluminium, sodium, and calcium, Al203.(NaoCa)0.4Si02. Partly a variety of Actinolite, a silicate of calcium, magnesium, and iron, Ca0.8(MgFe)0. 48102- Occurs massive with internal crystalline structure. Translucent ; dark or light green, yellowish green. H., 6 to 7. Gr., 3 0. to 3 3. Occurs usually in rounded masses in river beds, or in weathered serpentine rock masses. Chief sources, China, Burmah, New Zealand, Central America.

Crocidoiite. — A mixture of anhydrous and hydrous silica with more or less silicate of iron, resulting from the partial or complete alteration of true Crocidoiite, which is a silicate of iron and sodium. Compact massive with greater or less fibrous struc- ture. Translucent to opaque, chatoyant. Colours, indigo with light blue ray {Hawk's Eye) ; brown with yellow ray (Tiger a Eye) ; yellow with pale yellow ray ; pale green with white ray. H., 6 to 7. G., 2*7 to 3'1. Occurs in veins in igneous rocks in Griqualand and elsewhere in South Africa. Excellent specimens have been received from Yarra Yarra Creek, Murchison District, in this State.

5063/4. — Crocidoiite (Tiger's Eye, etc.), Yarra Yarra (reek.

Chalcedony. — Massive cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, SiO.2. Appearance subject to wide variation from the presence of small proportions of impurities. The chief ornamental varieties are: Carnelian, translucent of various shades of red, often striated. Agate, translucent and variegated, various shades of yellow, red, brown, purple, etc. Onyx, translucent, in plain parallel bands of white and black, or brown. Heliotrope or Bloodstone, translucent, green with blood red spots. Jasper, opaque, in bands of bright red, yellow, brown, white, and black. The hardness of the various varieties of chalcedony is 7, specific gravity 2*6. Chalcedony occurs in nodules in ancient lavas, in veins in various rocks, and in pebbles in streams, etc.

3695. — Jasper, Marble Bar, Coongan River.

Moonstone.— Variety of Orthoclase. Silicate of aluminium and potassium, Al.O.KoO.HSiO.j. Crystallised in monoclinic prisms ; usually in water worn pebbles. Semi-transparent, opales- cent. Colourless or faintly blue. H., 6. G., 2 6. Usually found in pebbles in streams in granite country, especially in Ceylon. Some good moonstones have been found at the mouth ot the Bowes River, in this State.

4792.— Moonstone, mouth of Bowes River.

Sunstone or Aventurine. — Variety of Oligoclase. Silicate of aluminium, sodium, and calcium, 2Al.,Oa.Na.,O.Ca0.8SiO._,. Crystallised in forms of the tryclinic system. Translucent, brown with golden spangles. H., (5. G., 27. Occurs in igneous rocks, especially in Norway.

Aventurine, Tvedestrand, Norway.

MTlSrERAL WATERS.

Mineral waters may be described as those natural spring waters which contain in solution either constituents rarely found in surface waters, or else exceptionally laro-e proportions of mineral matter of any kind. They are of value either for medicinal purposes or else, owing to their pleasing taste, for table use.

Medicinal waters are chiefly characterised by the presence of magnesium salts, iron salts (Chalybeate waters), lithium salts, sulphides, or sulphates of soda and potash. Of these probably those containing lithium or iron would be found the most valuable commercially. Magnesian waters are common everywhere especially in the iuterior of Western Australia. They are unmarketable except when they bear the name of some well known European spring such as Fried rich shall, Kissingen, etc.

Table waters of good quality are in considerable demand. They should be sparkling and of good flavour and should therefore contain free carbonic acid and alkaline carbonates, with comparatively little salt, magnesium compounds, or alkaline sulphates. It is essential that they be quite free from sulphuretted hydrogen or sulphides, whilst the presence of some lithium is a decided advantage. The following table gives the composition of the only Australian mineral waters at present utilised, and will serve to show what composition is desirable in a water for the Australian market : —

Source.

Helidon Spa, Helidon, Q.

Zetz Spa, Ballimore, N.S.W.

Koomab Spa, Cooma, N.S.W.

Mittagong Spa, Mittagong, N.S.W.

Use.

Table.

Table.

Table.

Chalybeate medicinal.

Parts per lOOO.

Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Majnesium chloride ... Sodium bicarbonate ... Potassium bicarbonate Lithium bicarbonate ... Majnesium bicarbonate Calcium bicarbonate . . . Strontium bicarbonate Iron bicarbonate Silica

Alumina ...

Free carbonic acid gas

abundant

trace trace abundant

nil

strong tr. nil trace

abundant

'0291

'0291

present

Index.

Acetylene

Page

Blackboy Hollow

Actinolite

Blanc fixe

Alabaster ...

Bleaching Powder

Albite

Blende

49, 61

Alexandrite

Bluestone

Algal Coal

Boghead Coal

Allanite

Boogardie

Almandine

Boracic Acid

Almandite

Boracite ...

16, 17

Alum ; .

9, 12

Borax

16, 17, 50

Aluminium

8, 9, 10

Borneo

Aluminium Bronze

Bornite

Alum Shale

Boron

Alunite

Bort

Amianthus

Boulder 20, 27, 31, 34

Andover

Bowes River

66, 70

Andradite

Braunite

Anglesite

t5ricK iiay

Anthracite

Britannia Metal ...

12, 54

Antimony

Broad Arrow

19, 52, 66

Antrim, Ireland ...

Brown Coal

Antunite

Bunbury ...

Apatite

8, 20

Aquamarine

Argentite ...

Cadmiferous Blende

Arrino

29, 30

Cadmiferous Smithsonite

Arsenic

13, 14

Cadmium ...

Arsenical Pyrites

Caking Bituminous Coal

Arsenopyrite

Calaverite

Asbestos ...

Calcite

...8, 19

Asbolite ...

27, 41

Calcium ...

Asphaltum

Calcium Carbide

Aventurine

California, U.S.A.

Azurite

CarboE

Carbonado

Carna.llite

39, 47

Ballagundi

Carnotite ...

Ballimore ...

Cassiterite

Barium

Caustic Potash ...

Barytes

14, 15

Caustic Soda

Bauxite ...

8, ] 0

Celestite ...

Bebra

C'erargyrite

Beeswax ...

Cerasin

Beryl

Cerite

Biotite

Cerium

Bismuth ...

15, 16

Cerussite ..

Bismuthinite

15, 16

Cervantite

12, 13

Bismutite

15, 16

Ceylon

Black band Ironstone ...

Chalcedony

INDEX — continued.

Chalcocite

Chalcopyrite

Charcoal ...

Chili Nitre

Chillagoe

China Clay

Chowey Creek, Queensland Chromite ...

Chromium

Chrysolite Cinnabar ... Clackline ... Clarence River ...

Clay

Clavband Ironstone

Cliffy Head

Clinton

Coal 7,

Cobalite ...

Cobalt

Coconarup Coglegong Creek Colemanite

Collie

Colorado, U.S.A. Coolgardie 14, 19, 22, 39,

Cooma

Coongan River ...

7, 9,

Copper Cornwall ... Corundum Covellite ... Crocidolite Crookesite Croydon . . . Cryolite . . . Cumberland Cuprite Cyanides ...

Diamond ... Diaspore ... Diatomaceous Earth Didymium Dolomite ... Donnelly River ... Donnybrook Doubtful Island Bay

Elba

Embolite ... Emerald ... Emery Epsomite ... Epsom Salts Eromanga Essonite . . .

16, 27, 29,

Pasfe 11, 12 26, 36 11,27

21, 22 16, 17

22, 34 43, 52 13,71 28, 29 58, 59

...9, 10 37, 61

8, 21,67

20,

,39

Fahl Ore

Felspar Firebricks Fireclay ... Fitzgerald River b'luorite ... Fluorspar ... Franklinite

Fusible Metal

Galena

Garnet Garnierite Georgia, U.S.A. ... Geraldine... German Silver Gibbsite ...

Gladstone, Queensland . . . Gobarralong

Gold

Goongarrie

Gorge Creek

Graphite ...

Greenbushes

Greenhills

Greenockite

Guano

Gun Metal

Gypsum

Haematite Hard lead Hardy River Helidon ... Hemimorphite ... Herberton

Hiddenite

Hillgrove ... Huebnerite Hyacinth ... Hydrozinkite

Ilmenite

Infusorial Earth

Iridium

Iridosmine

Iron

Iron Ore ...

Iron Oxide

Ivigtut, Greenland

Jade

Jet

Joada

Johnson, Matthey, & Co.

Kainite ...

Kalgoorlie

Kanowna

Page , 9, 11,66 11, 12 8, 21

35, 61 15, 54

36, 49 66, 69

29, 37 , 30, 31 21,22 31,54 17, 18 8, 20

13, 56

35, 55

45, 46

9, 11

27, 31, 39 27,31

INDEX — continued.

Kaolin

Page

10,11

Mount Morgan, Queensland

Kermesite

12,13

Mullewa ...

Kerosene Shale ...

Murrin Murrin ...

Kieserite ...

Muscovite

Krennerite

Knnzite ...

Nasrvasfite Narra Tarra

29, 37

L;i,ke Gnangara ...

62, 63

Natural Gas

21,24

Lake Superior

Neapolitan Yellow

Lanthanum

New Caledonia

Laterite

Newcastle

Laurium

New Jersey ... ... 35,

60, 61

Lead

New Mexico

Leonora

Niccolite

Lepidolite ...

. . . 37, 38, 65

Nickel

..9,44

Lig-nite

Nitre ...

Limonite ...

Non-caking Bituminous Coal

Lithia Mica

North Carolina ...

25, 53

Lithium ...

Northampton ... 15, 18, 29, 30,

Lithographic Plates

52, 61, 66

Lithophone

North Lead, Kanowna ...

Little Badgerup Lake

Norway

London

Nova Scotia

Londonderry

37, 65, 66, 69

Lorandite...

Oak over River ... Ochre

!Racdonnell Range

Oldfield River

Magnesite

Opal

Magnesium

Oriental Cat's Eye

Magnetite

Orthite

Maitland, A. Gribb

Orthoclase

Malachite ...

Osrniridium

Mallina

Osmium ...

IManganese

Ozokerite ...

Manganite

Marble Bar

66, 70

Paris Green

Marcasite ...

Peak Hill

Mercury ...

Pennsylvania

Metford

Peridot

Metz, N.S.W.

Petroleum ... ... 7,

21, 23

Mica

Petsite

Micanite ...

Pewter

12, 54

Michigan, U.S.A.

Phlogopite

Millerite

Phosphorite

Mineral Waters ...

Phosphorus

Mingenew

Pickerin g Brook ...

Mispick el . . .

Picrolite

Mittagong

Pitchblende

Molasses . .

Plaster of Paris 9

, 18, 20

Molybdenite

Platinum ...

45, 46

Molybdenum

Polybasite

Molybdite Monazite ...

Porcelain ...

25,53

! Porlelle

Moolyella

54, 66

Portland Cement

Moonstone

Potassium

Mount Barker ...

Potassium Antimoniate

Mount Desmond ..

Potassium Sulphate

9, 12

Mount Jackson . . .

Mount Magnet ...

1 Psilomelane

INDEX— continued.

I'yraroj'y rit©

Sunstone

12, 52

Superphosphate

19,20

Pyi'olusi'tG

Sydney

Pyroniorphite

Sy Ivanite ...

Pyrope

Sylvite

Pyrrhotit©

44, 45

Talc

Q,nartz

8, 62

Tambourah

Tartar Emetic

Radium . . .

Tenorite ...

Ravensthorpe ...

29, 30, 38, 41, 66, 69

Tetrahedrite

30, 49

Ehodocrosite

Thallium

Roebourne

Thorite

Rosc elite

Thorium

E-osendale Hydraulic Cement ... 19

'J ile Ore ...

Rothesay ...

29, 30

Tin

Rottnest Island

Tin Pyrites

Rubellite ...

Tinstone ...

Ruby

67>

Titanic Oxide

R utile

Titanium ...

Topaz

8,69

Torbanite

Safety Matches

Torbernite

Salt

Tourmaline

16,69

Sapphire ...

... 8,10,67

Trona

Sassolite ...

16, 17

Tunaberg ...

Saxony

Tungsten

Scheelite ...

Turkey

Shot

Turquoise

Siderite ...

Tvedestrand

Silica

9,10,34,62

Type Metal

Silichromite

Silver

TJaroo

Simpson, E. S.

Ultramarine

Smaltite . . .

XJraninite

Smith's Mill

10, 12

Uranium

Sraithsonite

17,18,61

Soap stone

Valentinite

Sodium

9, 49

Vanadinite

Solder

South Australia

Southern Cross

45, 46

Spelter

Vest Prussia

Sperrylite...

Vhim Creek

Sphalerite...

V/hite Arsenic

Spodumene

38, 69

Willie Mia

Staffordshire

Willenite ...

Stannite . . .

Steatite . . .

TVitherite

14,15

Steel

olf'ram

36,56

Stephanite

Wonnan Hills

10,35

Stibnite . . .

12, 13

St. Just ...

Yalgoo

Streeter, E. W.

Stronhanite

Zinc

9,60

Strontium

Zinkite

Studbury ...

Zircon

Sulphur . . .

9,34,51

Zirconium

By Authority : Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer, Perth.

Western Australia.

Geological Survey.

BULLETIN No. 20.

On The

Geological Features And Mineral Resources

Of The

PILBARa G0LDFIELD,

By

A. Gibb Maitland,

Government Geologist.

Issued under the authority of the Hon. R. Hastie, M.L.A., Minister for Mines.

With Three Geological Maps, Four Mining Plans, and 13 Figures.

Perth:

By Authority : A. Curtis, Acting Government Printer.

Prefatory Note.

HIS report makes a, further instalment to the descriptions of those mining centres of the Pilbara Goldfield referred to in Bulletin No. 15.

This report includes full details with reference to the Nullagine, Warrawoona, and Marble Bar fields, and is accompanied by geological and mining maps, without which the descriptive portions would be well-nigh unintelligible.

As in the previous season's field work, I was associated throughout with Mr. H. W. B. Talbot, Field Assistant, who rendered important assistance in the preparation of the various maps and plans.

The Index to names, places, reefs, etc., occurring in the report has been prepared by Mr. P. J. Atkins, Clerk of the Geological Survey.

A. Gibb Maitland,

Government Geologist.

Geological Survey Office,

Perth, 1st June, 1905.

Table Of Contents.

Page

Prefatory Note 3

Part I. — Descriptive Geology 7

Part II. — Descriptions of Individual Mining Centres 12

A. — NuUagine 12

Introduction 12

History 14

General Geology 15

Alluvial Deposits 15

Laterite 17

Nullagine Series 1&

Sedimentary Eocks ... ... ... ... ... 18

Igneous Eocks associated with the Series ... ... 26

Age 27

Mosquito Creek Beds 28

Greenstone Dykes ... ... ... ... ... ... 30

Economic Geology 32

Alluvium and Superficial Deposits 33

Quartz Eeefs 34

The Mines 34

Auriferous Conglomerates 41

The Mines 44

Diamonds ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 51

B. — Warrawoona ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 57

General Geology ... 57

Introduction 57

Warrawoona Beds 58

Granite and allied Granitic Eocks 63

Basic Dykes 65

Fissures, Faults, etc. ..." 67

Economic Geology 69

Auriferous Deposits ... ... ... ... ... ... 69

The Mines 73

C— Marble Bar 105

Introduction ... 105

General Geology 106

Alluvial Deposits ... ... ... ... ... ... 107

Schists 307

Granite 108

Porphyry 108

Gabbro 109

Diabase Dykes ... .. 109

Economic Geology ... ... ... ... ... ... 109

The Mines 109

General 119

Index to Names of Places, Mines, Eeefs, etc. ... ... ... 121

LIST OF FIGURES IN THE TEXT. Page

1. Section across the Nullagine River, near Townsite... ... ... 15

2. Section at Beaton's Pool ... ... ... ... ... ... 22

3. Section in the Nullagine River, near W.R. 5l 23

4. Section m the vicinity of Kadjobut Spring 24

5. Plan showing the faulted nature of the Granite Junction, south

of the Imperalist Gold Mine, Warrawoona ... ... ... 63

6. Section across a compression-fracture traversed by a quartz reef,

Warrawoona ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 69

7. Section of the reefs in the opencut near the south-eastern

boundary of G.M.L. 508, Warrawoona 71

8. Section across the Seven Dials Reef, G.M.L. 605, Warrawoona ... 76

9. Section across the Gift Reef, G.M.L. 595, Warrawoona 83

10. Section of the Gauntlet Main Reef, Warrawoona 86

11. Section of a reverse fault in the Gauntlet East Reef at No. 1 level,

Warrawoona ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 88

12. Faulted jasper, Marble Bar 108

13. Section across the Ironclad Reef , Marble Bar ... ... ... Ill

14. Section across the General Reef, Marble Bar ... ... ... 114

List Of Photographs.

To face

A. — Beaton's Pool, showing the Conglomerates and interbedded page

Ashes, Nullagine ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21

B. — Portion of the Auriferous Conglomerate, Nullagine ... ... 24

C. — Rounded pyrites pebble in Conglomerate, Nullagine Series ... 42

D. — Rounded hematite pebbles in Conglomerate, Nullagine Series ... 42

E. — Workings on the Grant's Hill Conglomerate, Nullagine ... ... 45

F. — Sheeted Zone in country rock, Warrawoona ... ... ... 68

G. — Enlarged view of Sheeted Zone in country rock, Warrawoona ... 68

H. — (a.) Broken crystals of felspar in sheared felspar -porphyry

[6788] Warrawoona. Enlargement, 11 diameters ... 72 (&.) Section of quartz schist [5789] showing contorted quartz laminae in relation to stratification and cleavage foliation, G.M.L. 560, Warrawoona. Enlargement, 11 diameters 72

I. — The Marble Bar, Coongan River 107

J. — Laminated jaspideous quartzite, Coongan River 107

K. — Banded jasper, near the Marble Bar, Coongan River 107

List Of Maps.

Locality Map, Pilbara Goldfield. Scale 20 miles per inch Frontispiece. Plate I.— Geological Sketch Map of Nullagine. Scale

20 chains per inch to face page 56

Plate II. — Plan of Nullagine Conglomerates Gold Mines.

Scale 8 chains per inch ... ... ... „ 56

Plate III. — Geological Sketch Map of Warrawoona.

Scale 20 chains per inch ... ... ... ,, „ 104

Plate IV.— Plan and Sections of the Bow Bells Gold

Mine, Warrawoona. Scale 100 feet per inch „ „ 104 Plate V. — Plan and Section of the Gauntlet Gold Mine,

Warrawoona. Scale 100 feet per inch ... „ „ 104 Plate VI.— Plan of the Klondyke Boulder Gold Mine,

Warrawoona. Scale 100 feet per inch ... „ „ 104 Plate VII.— Geological Sketch Map of Marble Bar.

Scale 20 chains per inch ... ... ... „ 118

Further Report

On

The Geological Features and Mineral Resources

Of The

Pilbaea Goldfield.

Part I.

Descriptive Geology.

Arriving at Port Hedland on the 30tli of June in order to con- tinue the examination of the different mining centres left untouched during the previous season, I travelled by coach as far as Marble Bar, and joined the camp, which was in charge of Mr. Talbot, on the 5th of July.

Leaving the camp at Duffer's Creek, we travelled northwards as far as the junction of Taiga Creek and the Taiga Eiver. From the camp a conspicuous hill was observed 420 feet by aneroid in height and bearing -56 degrees from it. This hill forms the summit of a very long range extending northwards from the Taiga Taiga workings ; it is composed of transmuted basic igneous rocks, intersected by lami- nated quartz veins. These foliated rocks dip westward at angles of from 40 to 60 degrees ; associated with them are some green rocks, which weather very much like limestones ; they are, however, identical with those basic igneous rocks, the original minerals of which are replaced by carbonates, so common in many parts of the district.

From this camp we travelled to a gorge known as Kitty's Gap, excavated in that laminated jaspideous quartzite, which extends from Doolena Gap to Bamboo. From camp to the gap, the whole country traversed is greenstone and its derivatives, except for about a mile of granite, which in all probability is an off- shoot from the Moolyella mass.

After getting clear of the Gap, the northern face of the range was skirted as far as Coppin's Gap. The country at the foot of the northern face of the range exposes a gneissic granite, the strike of the foliation of which is parallel to that of the laminated quartzite which makes up the range.*

Bulletin No. 15, pp. 25, 26.

From Coppin's Gap we travelled northwards towards the point of a conspicuous range of hills which lay between us and Bamboo Creek. The hig'hest summit of the hill rises to a consider- able height above the plains, which are everywhere underlaid by granitic gneiss and allied rocks. The rocks forming the hills consist of volcanic agglomerate dipping at angles of about 20 to 80 degrees to the east, and passing beneath the sedimentary beds of what there are good reasons for believing to be the equivalents of the Nullagine Series. Associated with these agglomerates are greenish grey beds of either lava or ash. Travelling across to Bamboo Creek, strata on a somewhat higher horizon are traversed ; they consist of coarse conglomerates, and fine-grained sandstones, some beds of the latter of which have been quarried to a limited extent. Some of these conglomerates and grits are traversed by vertical quartz veins, some of which are of considerable horizontal extent. The general strike of these ''buck-looking" quartz veins is 16 degrees. From our camp at a fine pool of water near a boundary fence (? Coppin's) to the now all but deserted township of Bamboo, the road follows the edge of the top of volcanic beds of the Nullagine Series.

The country in the more immediate vicinity of this centre having been previously fully described* need not be repeated.

From Bamboo to the foot of Mount Edgar, via Jones' Well, the country is made up of granite of the Moolyella type, intersected by dykes of felsite and diabase in addition to quartz veins.

Mount Edgar, one of the most prominent landmarks in the vicinity, rises to a height of about 300 feet above the base, and consists of a bluish grey basic rock [5753] in the form of a dyke. In the vicinity of Mount Edgar, the staple formation of the district (granite) is traversed by two sets of felsite dykes, one set with a general strike of north 30 degrees east, and the other north 30 degrees west. Both of these sets of dykes are traversed almost at right angles by quartz reefs, in this respect they are somewhat analogous to the system of quartz reefs and dykes of the Charters Towers Goldfield in Queensland, with which I am familiar.

From Mount Edgar, we steered across country for Warra- woona, crossing e7i route a very conspicuous greenstone dyke, at the foot of the northern side of which the Taiga River flows.

This dyke, which has a general bearing of 334 degrees and 163 degrees, rises to a considerable altitude above the plain, and. forms a very conspicuous feature in the landscape. So far as can be seen, the dyke is vertical and attains a thickness of about 20 feet ; it traverses granite country. Several other parallel dykes of a some- what similar nature can be seen in the vicinity.

Between this point and Warrawoona, two other parallel dykes are crossed. The granite country ends about a mile or so north of Warrawoona, and gives place to those beds, a detailed description of which is given on a later page.

♦ BuUetiu No. 15, pp. 26, 51-61.

y

The mapping and examination of Warrawoona, having- been completed, we struck camp and travelled in the direction of Yandi- coogina as far as Gum Well. The country between the camp and the well is underlaid by granite, which has a rude foliation, the general strike of which is parallel to that of the schists, which forms the high ground of the range, near the foot of which the main road traverses. At a point about two miles west of the well, a very prominent diabase dyke is crossed, in addition to two others of much smaller dimensions ; the larger dyke in all probability represents the extension of the one crossed between Mount Edgar and Warrawoona. The large dyke near Grum Well makes a very prominent feature in the landscape, and can be followed by the eje across country for a considerable distance. A traverse on foot was made from Gum Well to the range, and at one spot the large coarse-grained diabase dyke was shifted for a horizontal distance of 120 feet west by a fault bearing 112 degrees. This fault is now occupied by a quartz reef. A parallel diabase dyke of smaller dimensions has also been subject to the same amount of western displacement.

From Gum Well, a conspicuous Gap in the main range can be observed. The position of the Gap is fixed by the following bearings : — Gum Well, 31 degrees 30 ; Mount Edgar 41 degrees ; Trig. Station G. 28, 276 degrees; and Horrigan's Peak, 302 degrees.

The Gap has been carved out of a bold quartz reef, which measures from 30 to 40 feet in width, and is of very considerable horizontal extent ; for it has a length of about four or five miles in a dii-ection of 118 degrees, and about a mile in the direction of 298 degrees. The quartz reef is evidently along a line of fault (?) which separates the granitic rocks from the Warrawoona Beds, which latter at this point occupy a width of about two miles. The large greenstone dyke previously alluded to abuts abruptly against the quartz reef of the Gap, but does not cross it. The Trig. Station G. 23 is formed of another large quartz reef, identical with that forming the Gap, and equally wide and persistent longitudinally. Both form remarkably pronounced features in the landscape.

The country between Gum Well and Yandicoogina is of granite intersected with numerous greenstone dykes.

From Yandicoogina, exigencies of travel rendered it necessary to travel as far as the De Grey (Kullagine) River via the main Elsie Road.* We camped on a creek, at an altitude of about 200 feet above Yandicoogina, which flowed in a general direction of north 70 degrees east. Advantage was taken of the short spell of day- light after arriving to examine the country in the vicinity. About three miles north 70 degrees east from camp was a conspicuous escarpment, the summit of which seemed to aft'ord a good oppor- tunity of examining the surrounding country, and a traverse was made in that direction.

Bulletin No. 15, p. 27.

On the eastern bank of the creek, upon which the camp was pitched, is a good exposure of sandstones and shales (Nullagine Series) dipping at 20 degrees in a direction north 30 degrees east and traversed by several small faults. Sandy beds cover the surface of the country as far as the foot of the escarpment.

The bed forming the summit of the hill is a thin bed of quartzose conglomerate, containing pebbles and fragments of those laminated quartz veins so conspicuous in other portions of the district. The general dip of these sedimentary rocks which must, as seen from the hilltop, occupy a large area of country, is in the direction 228 degrees at angles varying from 8 to 10 degrees.

Having reached the De Grey (Nullagine) River, it was followed to the junction of Cook's Creek. At a point about six or seven miles in the river above the crossing of the Elsie Road, granite emerges from beneath the sedimentary rocks and occupies the country for some considerable distance. The granite is traversed by numerous quartz veins which have a general bearing of about 174 degrees.

Cook's Creek was followed up to the point at which it is joined by Mosquito Creek, passing the Black Range of the maps en route. The Black Range is a long razor-backed ridge of laminated quartz of the usual type. Having camped on Mosquito Creek some miles below the township, a visit was paid to the Parnell Mine.* The country between the camp and the township of Mosquito showed the staple formation to consist of highly-inclined grits, sandstones, and shales (or slates), with numerous quartz veins along the bedding planes (Mosquito Creek Beds).

In the vicinity of the lower (Mosquito Creek) well, two con- spicuous rugged hills of granite (?) rise from amongst the sedi- mentary beds. From a distance these hills bear a remarkable resemblance to the granite hills of Mosquito township, f although the area these rocks occupy is not nearly so great as at the township.

From the camp at Mosquito Creek we travelled along the old 40-Mile Road to the crossing of Sandy Creek, which was followed down to its junction with the Nullagine River. The whole section down to the Nullagine River showed the staple formation to be of grits, shales, and conglomerates (Mosquito Creek Series) inclined at high angles. Where Middle Creek joins Sandy Creek is a vertical bed of fine-grained conglomerate.

The Nullagine (De G-rey) River was followed up to the town- ship of Nullagine, and the staple formation consisted of highly- inclined sedimentary rocks of the Mosquito Creek Series. On the western bank of the Nullagine River, at the junction of Taylor's Creek, is a large dyke of gabbro, striking about 230 degrees. The dyke, which in all probability has some intimate connection with that which makes such a prominent feature in the geology of the township of Nullagine, is about half-a-mile in width at this point.

Bulletin No. 15, p. 80.

t Loc. cit., p. 78.

Having completed the mapping of Nullagine, a full description of which is given on a later page, we followed the main road to Marble Bar, passing the almost deserted raining centre of Wyman's Well en route. The country round Wyman's Well, originally known as Salgash, is identical in its geological features with Warrawoona, of which it merely forms the westward extension.

A twelve-acre lease, the Phoenix G.M.L. 624, owned by Messrs. Anderson and party, and a three-men's quartz claim owned by Messrs. Swanson and Morris Bros., represent the mining activity prevailing.

Marble Bar was reached on the 29th of September.

Part Ii.

Descriptions of Individual Mining Centres, A.-NULLAOINE.

(With a Geological Sketch Map and Section, and a Plan of the Nullagine Conglomerates Gold Mines.)

The mining centre of Nullagine is situated 55 miles to the north-north-west of Marble Bar, upon the Nullagine River, about 90 miles above its junction with the Oakover ; its relative position is shown on the Locality Map of the Pilbara Goldfield, which forms the frontispiece to this report.

Interest attaches to this district on account of the occurrence of gold in certain sedimentary rocks, which bear a close resemblance to the auriferous conglomerates of the E-and (South Africa), better known as the Banket deposits. These (Nullagine) auriferous con- glomerates, which seem to form lenticular masses, occur in the basal members of the Nullagine Series* as developed in the ranges to the north-west of the township.

It being an important problem in economic geology to ascertain the extent, etc., of these auriferous conglomerates, as well as the quartz reefs in the underlying series of beds, a belt of country embracing what is, as at ji'sent understood, the productive area was mapped iipon the scale of 20 chains per inch. The ground covered by this work comprises a belt of country about four miles in length and breadth, which is depicted upon the G-eological Sketch Map (Plate I.).

x\s by far the larger portion of this area was practically a blank upon any of the existing maps, operations had to be com- menced by preparing a plan of the vicinity of the mines. This work was accomplished by the aid of a plane table and tape measure ; it would, however, have been a decided advantage had time permitted of a contour map of the district being prepared. The local representatives of the British Exploration Company, the principal lease owners in the vicinity, courteously placed at my disposal their topographical plan of the Conglomerate Mines ; a reduced copy of this, embodying some geological additions by myself, forms Plate II.

A comparison between this map and the 40 chain lithograph, L 76, issued by the Department of Mines, discloses the fact that considerable violence had to be done to the position of the

Preliminary Eeport ou the Geological Features and Mineral Eesoiirces of the Pilbara Goldfield, by A. Gibb Maitland. Geol. Surv. Bull. 15. Perth; By Authority : 1904, p. 10.

Nullagiae Eiver. On lithograph, L 76, it will be noticed that there are two ISTuUagine Eivers, the most northerly approximately parallel to the Marble Bar Telegraph Line, and the other skirting the northern boundary of the extinct leases 57l and 58l. The true course of the river is that shown on the Geological map.

It is essential, in the public interest, that at any rate the principal water-courses in mining districts especially, should be traversed and their position laid down on the published maps with such a degree of accuracy as the scale employed will admit. Tacheometric methods afford a reliable, cheap, and accurate method of this class of work being carried out expeditiously. A great deal of time and labour is involved in preparing topographical maps, upon which the areas of the different formations, the geological boundaries, the trend of the outcrops of the different ore deposits, etc., could be delineated, which could be much more profitably expended by a geologist in other directions.

In both its physical and geological aspects, the district falls naturally into two distinct portions, which lie respectively to the north-west and south-east of the Nullagine River.

The north-western portion is that occupied by the sand- stones, grits, conglomerates, and interbedded volcanic rocks of the Nullagine Series. This series, which presents a plateau-like appearance, exhibits a bold escarpment when viewed from the south-east, and certain of the harder beds stand out in bold relief, presenting mural faces at different levels. The tableland has been carved out into deep canon-like gorges and ravines, of which Beaton's Creek, and the One Mile Creek, are typical examples. The course of many of these creeks, and their tributaries appears to have been in the main determined by the trend of the system of master joints, by which the Nullagine Series has been intersected. An excellent example of this rectangular system of jointing occurs in Beaton's Creek about a mile and a-half above its junction with the Nullagine River, just within the western border of the geological map.

The greater part of the country lying to the south-east is formed of an open rolling plain, the monotony of which is broken by a very conspicuous serrated ridge of gabbro (P). This dyke lies about two miles to the west of the township of Nullagine. The Nullagine River cuts through the ridge at a point about three miles below the township. This gabbro dyke rises to a considerable height above the level of the surrounding country and forms a very conspicuous feature in the landscape. This plain is underlaid by the rocks of the Mosquito Creek Series, which formation carries all the auriferous reefs yet worked in the district.

The whole of the country lies within the watershed of the Nullagine River and its tributaries ; the two most important of which are Beaton's and Kadjebut Creeks.

History.

Very little appears to have been officially recorded of the early history of the Nullagine district. It seems, however, that the first discovery of gold at Nullagine was made by Mr. N. W. Cook, in the year 1886, as a reward for which he received, two years later, a sum of <£250 from the Government.

The spot at which the original find was made lies at the western extremity of a long, narrow, laterite tableland, in close proximity to several quartz reefs ; the position of this spot is indicated on the Geological Sketch Map of Nullagine. (Plate I.)

The erection of a ten- head battery in 1895 at Nullagine, where the first crushing of 184 tons yielded 210ozs. 16. of gold, appeared to have given a great impetus to mining, for the Warden of the field, writing in July of that year, reported : — " Quite a boom in leasing has commenced."*

The following year, the Inspector of Mines for the Northern Goldfields stated : — " At the Nullagine, quartz reefing (which has only been inaugurated during the past 18 months) is making rapid advances, crushings having yielded from 2ozs. to 8ozs. per ton, while the acquisition of a large area of conglomerate holdings by an English company marks a new era in the history of the district.f"

The progress of Nullagine during the year 1897 is thus alluded to by the Warden in his Annual Report to the Minister for Mines: — "Besides alluvial digging and quartz reefing, gold is obtained from conglomerate lodes with payable results. There is one ten -head battery, and two more are in course of erection. Water is obtained at an average depth of 50 feet. The yield of gold for the year is 982ozs. There are regular consignments of alluvial gold from Nullagine, of which I have no record ; but, from information obtained from the business people, I should say that, at the lowest estimate, these would amount to 600ozs. per annum.

Writing on the advances made on the Pilbara Goldfield during 1898, the Warden thus alludes to the progress of Nullagine: — "The North- West Australian Goldfield, Ltd., at Nullagine, are showing their confidence in their conglomerate lodes by supplementing their crushing machinery and laying down tramways, and thus, by work- ing on a large scale, endeavour to decrease expense and make their properties pay."§

No mention is made of the progress of Nullagine during 1899, 1900, and 1901 in the reports of the Warden, as published in the annual reports of the Mines Department; for 1902, however, it is

*.Suppleinentary Report on the Department of Mines, 1st October, 1895. Perth : By Authority, 1895, p. 4.

t Pilbara and West Pilbara Goldfields, 1896, S. J. Becher. Eeport of the Depart- ment of Mines for the Year 1896. Perth : By Authority, 1897, p, 36.

t Report of the Department of Mines for the Year 1897. Perth : By Authority,

1898, p. 23.

§ Report of the Department of Mines for the Year 1898. Perth ; By Authority,

1899, p. 19.

stated : — A large amount of good and useful development work is being done in the Nullagine District, where a further ten-head of stamps is being erected on the British Exploration and Develop- ment Company's property, which, when completed, will enable them to run 15 head, and for which purpose they are carrying out a water scheme which, when completed, will bring water a distance Ij miles from the river to the mine. Later on another 20 head is proposed to be erected."*

The year 1903 was a very quiet one in Nullagine n so far as any mining was concerned, and no mention is made of its pro- gress in the Annual Departmental Report for that period.

General Geology.

The following represents in tabular form the geological forma- tions in the district embraced by the area of the map. The strati- fied rocks are arranged in geological sequence : —

Alluvial deposits.

Laterite.

Nullagine series. Quartzites, grits, conglomerates and interbedded igneous rocks. Unconformity.

Mosquito Creek beds. — Sandstones, fine conglomerates and shales. Greenstone dykes. '

Alluvial Deposits.

The banks of the Nullagine Eiver and its tributaries are skirted by a variable width of alluvium, the full extent of which has been shown on the geological map. The greatest width attained by the alluvium is about 50 chains, but in no case does it reach any great thickness.

The south-eastern banks of the Nullagine River show a con- siderable extent of alluvium at a much greater elevation than that of the present water-courses. This is depicted in Fig. 1. This

Fig. 1.

Section Across The Nullagine River Near Townsite. Pilbara6.F.

section shows the remains of an older alluvium laid down at a time when the Nullagine River flowed at a slightly higher level than now.

Eeport of the Department of Mines for the Year, 1902. Perth : By Authority, 1903, p. 44.

Writing in the year 1890, Mr. H. P. Woodward says, with reference to the alluvial deposits of NuUagine, that : —

" Three classes occur ; 1st, the alluvium of existing creeks ; 2nd, the alluvium of older creek beds, but in conjunction with the present streams ; 3rd, older alluvial deposits or deep leads bearing do relation to existing streams or configuration of the country. . . The older alluvial deposits are found in the river flats, where the auriferous gutters are crossed and recrossed by the present streams. The sinking here is about 10 feet, and very hard work, owing to the fact that the deposits that overlay the dirt are cemented masses of quartz and boulders of other hard rocks. . . . The deep leads are cut across by the present valleys, and can be traced from hill to hill. Here the sinking is very variable in depth, the whole gutter in some places appearing on the side of a cliff where the work merely consists in driving, while in other places shafts up to 60 feet or 70 feet have to be sunk to work the same lead. Up to the present only one of these leads has heen discovered, but there cannot be the least doubt that more will be found when the small hills between the conglomerate range and the creek are thoroughly prospected. All three of these deposits are very rich, but no one can estimate the quantity of gold with any degree of accuracy, as so much leaves the colony without ever being reported ; but tliere is no doubt that more has been taken from this field than from any other in the colony."

It is not quite clear from what can at present be seen in any of the sections exposed in the neighbourhood of Nullagine, that what are described above as deep leads " are such ; the impression left upon my mind is that they merely represent weathered outliers of the basal members of the Nullagine Series.

Tahle showing the Yield of the Alluvial and Superficial Deposits of the Nullagine District generally.

Year.

Gold.

ozs.

No data.

1,000 00

Total

3,67002

Annual General Eeport of the Government Geologist for the Year 1890. Perth : By Authority, 1891, p. 25.

Laterite.

A very noticeable geological feature of the area, is the occurrence of several isolated tablelands of lalrite ; the area which these occupy has been accurately delineated upon the map of the district. One very important feature which the map, owing to the lack of contour lines, fails to bring out, is the uniform level at which this laterite invariably occurs.

The most conspicuous tableland is that which lies to the south-west of the township, and about a quarter of a mile west of the river bank. The tableland has a length of about a mile and a quarter, and an average width of about 10 chains ; it presents a steep bluff, several feet in height, which extends with scarcely any interruption all round the plateau.

This tableland is breached by that tributary of the river which flows into it near Suburban Water Right No. 5. The laterite continues from this point as a narrow strip far beyond the limits of the map. Three other outliers occur to the north of Beaton's Creek, the most conspicuous being that which lies adjacent to the township of NuUagine.

An inspection of the geological map demonstrates that the laterite traverses successively all the geological formations, with the single exception of the modern alluvium.

In its lithological characters, the deposit presents all gradations from ferruginous claystone to pure limonite ; the rock itself is very porous, and weathers readily into caverns and cavities of all sizes ; in some places the surface of the rock is covered with a glaze of hydrated oxide of iron. When seen in section, it is noticed that the laterite passes by insensible gradations into the underlying strata without any sharp line of demarcation.

Mr. Woodward refers to what is evidently the laterite series as follows : " Another line of flat-topped hills, but lower, extends along the side of the creek, but these are of much more modern formation,* and it is in these that the deep leads are met with. The beds which form these hills rest directly upon the indurated slates, t and pipeclay, soft white sandstone, gypsum, and boulder beds. The wash is often very ferruginous and hard, necessitating crushing. The whole of these beds are capped by a ferruginous sandstone containing large quantities of fossil wood." I

It may be noted in this connection that I saw nothing which could be described as fossil wood anywhere in the series, as exposed in the vicinity of Nullagine, this, however, may possibly be due to the fact that at the time the district was visited, work was in full swing, and Mr. Woodward may have had better opportunities for observation than were open to me.

The beds of the Nullagine series.— A. G. M. t The Mosquito Creek Beds. X Ihid., p. 35.

The NuUagine Series.

Sedimentary Rocks.

The NuUagine Series is largely developed in the Pilbara Gold- field, and consists of a great thickness of sandstones, grits, con- glomerates, and limestones, some of which are magnesian, together with a series of lavas and ashes and agglomerates of as yet unascertained thickness.

The formation, the base of which is rarelv seen, makes a prominent feature in the landscape of the district, and plays a very important part in the geology of the north-west, in addition to being of some economic value by reason of the basal members of the series having been proved to be auriferous in at least two localities many miles apart.

Previous reference to the Series. — In Bulletin 15 full descriptions have been given of the different sections which illustrate the relation- ship of the JSTullagine Series to these beneath,* and therefore need not be repeated.

Mr. H. P. Woodward, in the year 1890, makes the first brief official mention of the auriferous conglomerate of Nullagine in the following terms " To the west of this field are hills of nearly horizontally-bedded conglomerate rocks, probably of Devonian Age, in which reef gold occurs in small veins of quartz and ironstone, which follow and indeed fill in all interstices between the larger boulders. They are very rich in places, in fact so rich that it pays to ' dolly,' and the gold in the flat close by is evidently derived from these veins. This deposit is of very great interest, as nothing like it has before been found, for the gold, although occurring in an alluvial deposit, is reef gold and not alluvial, for it has been deposited subsequently to the formation of these boulder beds."t

On a later page of the same report, in the description of the country traversed from Geraldton to Nullagine, Mr. Woodward gives a few particulars with reference to the auriferous conglomerate and its relation to the older strata in the following terms " In this conglomerate the gold is alluvial in character, but it is true reef gold, bemg deposited there subsequently to the deposition of the boulders between which it has been infilled with silica and iron, probably by thermal action. These beds dip at an angle of 12 degrees to the north-west. They vary greatly in character from quartzite to boulder conglomerate, but it is only in the ferruginous beds that the gold is found. This formation is probably of Devonian Age, resting unconformably upon the edges of the clay slates and quartzite conglomerate beds with quartz reefs of the metamorphic series." X

The latter portion of this description shows that the violent un conform ability separating the beds of the Nullagine Series from those of the Mosquito Creek beds was at least recognised, though not emphasised, by Mr. Woodward fifteen years ago.

pp. m, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, and 31. t Annual Eeport of the Government Geologist for the Year 1890. Perth : By Authority, 1891, pp. 25-26. J Ibid., pp. 34-35,

Writing in the year 1895, the Acting Inspector of Mines, Mr. S. J. Becher, informed the Minister for Mines that : — " Nullagine, one of the oldest and best districts of the whole field (Pilbara Groldfield), lies about 80 miles south-east of Marble Bar. Geologically, it is perhaps unique. The general character of the country is that of table-topped hills about 200 feet high, intersected by deep ravines, gullies, and valleys, widening out into flats and plains in all directions. In the immediate neighbourhood of the township the main characteristic features are: — First and centrally, flat-topped hills having ironstone formations, as 'crust,' overlying decomposed conglomerate matter ; secondly, hills more rounded on top consisting of red and white cement and conglomerate deposits of varying thickness, some of the waterworn quartz being quite boulders in size. The conglomerate contains a great quantity of ferruginous matter, and this apparently carries most of the gold, which occurs in a fine state."

" The central hills seem to have been the result of denudation and decomposition of the material of the surrounding conglomerate and other formations. For the past six or seven years, there has been a steady output of alluvial gold from this field. Every gully has been systematically worked, the wash being screened and then carted down to the pool in the river for puddling and washing. The screenings, etc., hare even been reworked at a profit by dry-blowers. It was noticed that the ' runs ' of gold extended up the hill sides from out of the creeks and gullies. These runs were followed up the surface rubble for a few inches in depth, being all put through the dry-blowing machines, until the run ceased, when it was found that the original source of the gold Avas a seam or perhaps a big lode of conglomerate, whose outcrop was on the contour line where the run of gold ceased extending up the hillside. Though alluvial work is still carried on, more attention is now paid to the con- glomerate lodes, which are being extensively worked and put through the battery with payable results."

" Of late, too, some very rich reefs have been found a few miles out, in what is locally known as the 'claypan' country. Crushings from the outcrops and superficial works on these reefs are returning from 2 to 4 ozs. per ton, and their prospects of permanency in depth are, it is said, good,"

"The conglomerate lodes have attracted the attention of English Capitalists, and there will soon be extensive works thereon in operation. . . . "

In 1898, Mr. S. J. Becher describes the conglomerates of Nullagine in the following terms: — "In the immediate vicinity of Nullagine township or mining camp, range upon range of conglomerate hills lie to the north-west. . . . The course of the river . . . follows the outskirts of the conglomerate country, keeping on the farther side of the slate country and its

Report of the Department of Mines for the Year 1895, Appendix 5. Perth : By- Authority, 1896, p. 29.

quartz reefs, and forms a marked line of division, as it were, between the characteristic topographical features of the district.

. Coming then to the conglomerate ranges, which average in height about 100 to 150 feet above the level of the river flat we find that the hills in the forefront, upon which the chief mine workings are at present situated, appear to be mostly round-backed and strewn with rounded boulders and pebbles. On closer examination, one finds that they consist of bed upon bed of conglomerate, merging into intermediate layers of kaolin. The beds dip universally to the north-west, and strike north-east and south-west. The dip is flat, averaging perhaps 15 degrees. There- fore as one approaches from the south-east the hill-sides exhibit longitudinal sections of the country, and in some cross gorges very complete studies may be made of cross-sections ; whilst, where the rounded weathered hill sides slope to the flat, one may notice somewhat regular lines of round boulders and pebbles roughly marking the outcrops of the conglomerate beds. By these indications, and also by following up the runs of alluvial gold until they stopped all along certain horizontal lines, the auriferous conglomerates were originally located and worked by prospectors by means of drifts and tunnels."

" Some of the conglomerate beds contain boulders up to three or four feet in diameter, while others carry nothing bigger than a man's head. These boulders consist of rounded masses of frag- ments of quartz, trap rocks, and other conglomerates. A peculiar feature about the shape of these is that they are very often some- what flattened like curling stones. This flattened shape might suggest glacial action, but the writer saw no striae. These have, the writer understands, proved to be less auriferous than the other beds whose component particles are small. . The best gold seems to be obtained from ferruginous veins. The ore now being crushed by the mining companies varies in value, the writer believes, from lOdwts. to 2ozs. per ton, the treatment being by battery and amal- gamation alone. The gold is worth £S 17s. 6d. to =£4 per ounce. At the time of the writer's visit, in the year 1896, only the decom- posed portion of the beds had been worked, but he is given to understand that a vertical shaft has since cut a bed in depth below the zone of decomposition, and that the character of the rock is a very hard greenstone conglomerate, carrying much iron pyrites, samples of which have yielded returns by assay up to ISdwts. per ton."

"Behind these round-backed series of hills, to the westward, the topographical features vary again, and the conglomerate ranges assume an appearance of being terraced, the reason of which becomes evident upon examination. Following up into these ranges an affluent of what is known as the main creek, one enters a gorge with precipitous sides rising to 50 feet in height, and here a very fine cross section of the country may be examined. Here it may be seen that, interbedded conformably with the beds of conglom-

erate, there are indurated slates and grits. The former, where long exposed to the action of the atmosphere and water, split off into flags."

" Compared with the above-mentioned series, little or no decomposition has taken place beyond surface-Aveathering, which accounts probably for the fact that no free gold (to speak of) has been obtained in the gullies, and that the terraced series is not at present recognised as auriferous. Time may prove this. The terracing is due to the unequal effect of weathering on the exposed longitudinal edges of these otherwise undecomposed beds of varying durability."

" As to the age and origin of these interesting JSTullagine beds, nothing definite is yet known "

Professor David, writing in 1902 on the Permo- Carboniferous glaciation of Western Australia: — " Theve is ... in my pos- session a photograph (Fig. 5) taken by the late Mr. Eecher of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, of a remarkable con- glomerate at Nullagine, Pilbara, Western Australia, which so closely resembles in general appearance the Cambrian glacial beds of South Australia as at once to suggest a possible glacial origin for the West Austi'alian beds. They are also associated with a very finely-laminated shaly altered rock, not unlike the Tapley's Hiil shales, which overlie the Cambrian (P) glacial beds of South Aus- tralia. These NuUagine beds are probably of older palaeozoic age (? pre-Cambrian), and should well repay further investigation." f

The finely-banded rock, to which Professor David thus alludes, is probably either one of those lavas or ashes, which lie near the base of the series and are well exposed in Beaton's Creek, and the NuUagine River itself.

In the more immediate vicinity of Nullagine there are several cliff sections which show the mutual relationship of the various members of the series. (Photograph " A.")

In Beaton's Creek, a tributary of the Nullagine River, which it joins at the foot of McFie Street, is a very good section, showing the relation of the interbedded character of the volcanic rocks, forming the basal members of the series.

A portion of this section is shown in Fig. 2.

The cliffs near Beaton's Pool expose two beds of ash dipping to the westward at an angle of 17 degrees from the horizon. The uppermost bed attains a thickness of five feet six inches, and is separated by six feet of conglomerate from another ash bed 12 feet thick. In the geological map, owing to the smallness of the scale, this deposit has been treated as one bed. The mapping shows that the bed is merely an attenuated lenticular patch of no very great horizontal extent.

Tlie Nullagine District, Pilbara Goldfield, Western Australia. Trans. Inst. Miii.

Engineers (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), 1898. Vol, 16, Pt. 1, pp. 44-52. + Report of the Glacial Committee. Austral. Assoc. for tlie Adv. Sci., Vol. 9, 1902, p. 201.

A little distance below the pool is another much thinner bed of somewhat greater horizontal extent ; it can be followed north- wards as far as the southern angle of Gr.M.L. 2l. (216) "The Trinity," where it is cutoff by the fault which traverses this portion of the district. A good section of the ash is to be seen in the gully to the south of ''The Trinity," at a considerable altitude above the level of Beaton's Pool, for the strata rise very rapidly in this direction.

Fig. 2.

SECTION AT BEATONS POOL f>f L6ARA G . F

/ SANfiSTOAf£. 2 CO*fSLOM£fiAr£. 3 ASH.

The uppermost bed of ash [5796], which forms a fall over which the waters of the creek drop into Beaton's Pool, extends about 50 chains to the northward, where it also is truncated by the fault previously alluded to. In the vicinity of the fault, the bed has a slightly increased dip of 20 degrees to the west. A small attenuated portion of it is to be seen on the downthrow side of the fault near the head of one of the branches of Beaton's Creek. It is possibly this bed which occupies the topmost stratum of the synclinal trough occurring on M.L. 1l. There is however no great thickness of ash in this section, the bed evidently thinning out rapidly in this direction,

A traverse up Beaton's Creek for about a mile or so above the pool shows the beds overlying the ashes to consist of conglomerates [5797] and grits disposed in a series of gentle folds, with dips vary- ing from 5 to 8 degrees from the horizontal. The cliffs rise to con- siderable elevations above either bank of the creek, and show good sections of the strata. The beds are traversed by a series of rectangular joints which have proved to be the dominant factor in determining the general direction of the watercourse.

An important section is to be seen on the southei'n bank of the Nullagine Eiver at a point about 40 chains south-west of Suburban W.R. 5l, which discloses the violent unconformability separating the Nullagine from the underlying series (Fig. 3) : —

The basal member of the Nullagine Beds in this section consists of a few feet of grit and conglomerate, overlaid by about 3 feet of ash, the whole dipping at an angle of about 18 degrees to the south- west. These rest upon the upturned edges of the quartzites and

dense shales forming the Mosquito Creek Beds, which latter dip at angles averaging about 70 degrees in a south-west direction.

Fig. 3.

SECTION OF THE NULLAGINE RIVER NEAR WtR.SV PIUBARA G£

ALLU/CM O QUAPTZ/rES & DENSE SHALES f'MosOUiro C/t££M BfOs)

Sf LAl/tS 8 ASHES UuLLAGlNE BeDS)

M CO/VGLOMERATES & G/f/rS.\

Some distance higher up the river the conglomerates and grits of the Nullagine Beds are overlaid by acidic lava [5795]. These volcanic beds occupy the country as far as Wild Dog Camp, Res. 3328,* about 16 miles above the township, and entirely conceal the sedimentary rocks beneath. In the neighbourhood of Wild Dog, the lavas are somewhat amygdaloidal [5808]. In certain portions of the district, the irregularities of the old surface upon which the beds were laid down is such that the volcanic beds often overlap the older rocks.

About four and a-half miles eastward, the volcanic rocks rest directly upon granite, at an altitude of about 200 feet above the well at Wild Dog Camp, the sedimentary rocks beneath being absent. This granite country is traversed by several quartz reefs. A very prominent reef, having a general trend of 248 and 63 degrees with a horizontal extent of a few miles, does not appear to be a fissure vein, as generally understood, but merely a gradual replacement of the surrounding granite by silica along a main line of weakness.

The bedded lavas, which are sometimes vesicular, were followed westwards some miles beyond Trig. Station G 13, on the head waters of the Coongan River ; and from their mode of occurrence in the field, it is evident that they rest in this locality upon a very uneven surface.

No opportunity presented itself of tracing the boundary of the Nullagine Series to the south of Wild Dog Camp, but so far as may be judged from Mr. Woodward's descriptions, the formation would appear to extend to a point a few miles to the westward of Bamboo Spring (Res. 1927) on the head waters of the Shaw River, for it is stated "the rocks (near Bamboo Spring) are quartzite and basalt, with veins of chalcedony and inferior opals ; the chalcedonies are

Lands Department Lithograpli 16 G.

often finely banded, and should be of considerable commercial value, as they can be obtained in large blocks."*

From a personal knowledge of the country, 1 have very little doubt as to the identity of the strata to which Mr. Woodward refers with those already described.

The road from Nullagine to Wild Dog Spring passes, after getting clear of the town, near Kadjebut Spring, a watering jlce on the creek of that name. In the vicinity of the spring, there are several sections which give a fair idea of the relation existing between the various rock formations.

The Fig. 4 gives a generalised section of the country in the vicinity of what is known as the rock hole, near Kadjebut Spring.

Fig. 4.

Section In The Viciwity Of Kadjebut Spring. Pilbara 6.F

V. & ASMS O.SAUDSrONES. COIVSlOMCJiA71ES& S///tL£S . MOSQUITO CC SERIES

On the western side of the large dyke, which at this point attains a considerable thickness, the Nullagine Series is represented practically by lavas and ashes, with a thin bed of conglomerate underlying. The beds i-est with a violent unconformity upon the upturned edges of the Mosquito Creek Series. The Nullagine con- glomerates and grits abut directly against the dyke along its eastern wall. So far as can be seen, there is no evidence of altera- tion of the sandstone and conglomerate anywhere along the line of contact between them and the dyke, nor so far as I could detect were there any pebbles of the gabbro contained in the conglomerate. The evidence so far as it goes seems to point to the junction between the two formations being in this locality a line of fault. In no place, however, did this dyke pierce the Nullagine conglom- erates, though some miles northward in the vicinity of the One- mile Creek, a narrow dyke of a similar character does rise to the level of the Nullagine Series, and can l)e followed across country north-west and south-east traversing in turn each individual bed.

The basal conglomerate is made up of rounded, ellipsoidal, or subangular fragments of the strata forming the older underlying series (the Mosquito Creek Beds). These often include pieces which may reach a length of three or four feet, but the bands con- taining the larger fragments are merely local. Photograph " B "

Xoc. cit,, p. 34.

shows a portion of this conglomerate at the entrance to one of the mine workings. The conglomerate consists chiefly of fragments of the existing conglomerates, cherts, grits, and shales ; reef quartz, identical in character with that forming the auriferous deposits in the underlying strata, being a very common constituent. The pebbles are embedded in a matrix, which is principally sandy, though sometimes aluminous.

Some portions of the conglomerate contain flattened and striated pebbles [5805] of fine-grained sandstone and sandy shales, identical in character with the beds of the Mosquito Creek Series ; to these striated pebbles a glacial origin has been assigned by the late Mr. S. J. Becher, and subsequently by Professor David. These pebbles, however, would, in the light of the evidence now available, seem to have had their striation induced previous to their taking part in the formation of the Nullagine Series. The beds upon which the series rest with a violent unconformability and to the denudation of which the pebbles owe their origin, having been subject to intense mechanical deformation, it would only be natural to find slickensided fragments and pebbles in the newer rocks. Earth movements have caused the Nullagine Beds to be thrown into a series of undulatory folds, well shown in the geological map and section, but the deformation thus engendered has not been of sufiicient intensity to cause any striation of the component pebbles.

The conglomerates or consolidated shingles are of distinctly sedimentary origin, and owe their occurrence to the disintegration of pre-existing strata, which will be fully described on a later page. From the angularity of many of the pebbles, which make up the mass of the basal members of the series, it may be reasonably inferred, that the coast-line which furnished them was not far distant. No outliers of the series occur anywhere in the vicinity of the country embraced by the Geological Map of Nullagine. From this fact and the angularity of many of the conglomerate pebbles it may be inferred that the present boundary of the series approximately marks the original shore-lme. The evidence available from a careful study of the district over which the series extends, shows that the surface upon which the beds were laid down was extremely irregular. This irregularity was particularly apparent in the neighbourhood in which the basal shingles have been mined. The auriferous strata occur through a thickness of about 300 feet of grits, sandstones, and conglomerate, forming the lowest portion of the series : those portions of the strata which have been proved to be gold-bearing are those which are largely impregnated Avith the oxides or sulphides of iron, and which lie between the fault north of Beaton's Creek and the greenstone dyke (possibly along a fault-line also) crossing the One-mile Creek in the vicinity of Mineral Lease 5l. As may be seen by the table below, the gold contents of the conglomerates are small, not amounting to more than at the rate of "62 ozs. for the total tonnage crushed since raining first commenced.

Table showing the Yield of the Auriferous Conglomerates of the: NuLlagine Series.

Year.

Ore

Gold

Rate

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to 1897

1,001-20

70

31

1901 ...

1,458-00

44

42

12

Nil

Nil

Total

5,16700

3,217'29

62

Igneous Rocks associated with the Series.

From the geological maps and the descriptions given in this and Bulletin 15, it will be seen that a great series of bedded lavas, ashes, and agglomerates form an integral, and no small, portion of the series as developed in different portions of Pilbara Goldfield.

Wherever these beds have been examined it has been invariably found that thev consist of acidic lavas, the composition of some of these [6392, 5404, 5384] which may be regarded as typical of the series have already been published in Bulletin 15 and need not be repeated.

The greater mass of the rocks consist of separate lava-flows, each of no very great thickness. Some of the lavas are distinctly amygdaloidal, the cavities being filled with chalcedony.

Some of the finer-grained ashy beds [5796] differ very little in general appearance from many of the banded lavas, with which they are associated, but their distinctly fragmental character can readily be made out by the microscope, and in some cases with the aid of a pocket lens.

So far no evidence has been obtained which would throw any light upon the sources from which the lavas emanated.

In the neighbourhood of Coppin's Gap, the volcanic rocks of the NuUagine Beds are represented by coarse agglomerate, dipping at angles of about 20 to 30 degrees to the east, and passing beneath the sedimentary rocks of the series. Associated with these are beds of greenish grey lava. The sediuientary rocks of the series which occur at a somewhat higher horizon consist of coarse con- glomerate and fine-grained sandstone. The hills of conglomerate rise to considerable heights above the surrounding plains, which in this particular locality are underlaid by granitic gneiss and allied rocks.

On the Coongan River, some distance below the township of Marble Bar, a mass of volcanic agglomerate forms a very con- spicuous irregular- shaped hill, which presented every appearance of being the focus from which the surrounding lavas emanated.

There are several acidic dykes visible in different portions of the district, which may possibly represent another phase of that volcanic activity which was rife.

In the neighbourhood of the town site of Nullagine, a mass of quartz felsite [5798] was met with in the well on W.R. 2l. This well has been carried down to a vertical depth of 108 feet, through quartz felsite the whole way. This rock, the position of which is shown on the map of the Nullagine Conglomerates Grold Mines forming Plate II., makes its appearance on the western bank of the creek, and rises to about the level of the floor of the battery site, where it seems to have diffused itself through a portion of the coarse auriferous conglomerate forming the base of the formation in this locality. The quartz felsite is very much decomposed, the alteration extending as far down as the bottom of the well, which is the deepest point at which it has been pierced. Examined under the microscope, the rock is found to consist of quartz and plagioclase, set in a partially devitrified matrix.

Age.

The recognition of the position of the Nullagine Beds in the stratigraphical succession is a point of considerable importance ; the absence of fossils throughout the series, wherever it has yet been studied, however, renders correlation extremely difficult.

The earliest investigator of the district, Mr. H. P. Woodward,* assigned a Devonian Age to the series, though the evidence does not seem to be conclusive. The next observer, Mr. S. J. Becher, writes that of " the age and origin of these interesting Nullagine Beds nothing definite is known." f

Professor David infers that the beds are " probably of older Palaeozoic Age (? pre-Cambrian) and should well repay further investigation." X

The limestones of the series having yielded no fossils, petro- graphical resemblance seems to be the only method by which any clue can, in the present state of our knowledge of the series, be arrived at with respect to its age.

In a previous report § the difficulty of correlating the Nullagine Beds with any of the formations described in the official publica- tions on the geology of Western Australia was fully set out, and

Annual Eeport of the Government Geologist for the Year 1890. Perth : By

Authority, 1891, pp. 25 and 26. + The Nullagine District, Pilbara Goldfield, Western Australia. Trans. Inst.

Mining Engineers (Newcastle-on-Tyne), 1898. Vol. 16, Pt. I, pp. 44-52. X Report of the Glacial Committee. Austral. Assoc. for the Adv. Sci. Vol. 9, 1902,

p. 201.

§ A. Gibb Maitland. Preliminary Report on the Geological Features and Mineral Resources of the Pilbara Goldfields. Bull. No. 15. Perth : By Authority, 1904, p. 10.

the lithological resemblance to the quartzites, etc., of the King- Leopold Range, in Kimberley, was emphasised. If this petro- graphical resemblance should prove to possess greater significance than at present appears, the Cambrian Age of the Nullagine Series would seem to have strong claims for consideration.

The Tiullagine Beds have a very wide distribution in the North - West Division, and the Volcanic Series would seem to occupy a large area of country in the southern portion of the district. It may be noted that, in a bore put down by the Government at Onslow, near the mouth of the Ashburton River, to a depth of 1,729 feet, there was passed through a thin bed of a volcanic rock (" basalt" of the bore journal) identical in its characters with some of those igneous rocks forming part of the Nullagine Beds as developed elsewhere. It may thus be that these strata were pierced in the lower portion of the Onslow bore-hole.

Undoubted Permo-Carboniferous fossiliferous rocks are known to occupy a large area of country in the watersheds of the Oascoyne the Minilya, and the Lyndon Rivers ; hence an examination of the (geologically unknown) country lying between Onslow and the Lyndon River should afford some valuable information as to the mutual relations of the Permo-Carboniferous and the Nullagine Beds ; hence it is from this district that the most important clue to the age of the Nullagine Series may be ultimately hoped for.

Mosquito Creek Beds.

The Mosquito Creek Beds, which underlie the strata of the Nullagine Series, comprise one of the oldest of the sedimentary formations as developed in Pilbara. The formation is abundantly represented, and occupies the surface of a very large area of country. The series, which consists of grits, shales, and fine conglomerates, takes its name from the district of Mosquito Creek, 24 miles due east of Nullagine, where these beds were first noticed.*

In that report attention was directed to the difficulty of separating the schistose rocks, which make up a large portion of the district, from these sedimentary rocks, and further observations have only served to emphasise that difficulty. As will be noted in the description of the geology of the Warrawoona field, which is made up of a mass of sedimentary strata, and associated igneous rocks, converted into crystalline schists, by metamorphic agencies operating on a regional scale, there seems good reason to believe that in the Mosquito Creek district the same conditions prevail.

The old 40-mile road from Mosquito Creek to Sandy and Middle Creeks follows an open longitudinal valley occupying the summit of a very broad anticlinal fold, which forms a very important structural feature in the district. It is upon the northern

Preliminary Eeport on the Geological Features and Mineral Eesources of the Pilbara Goldtield. A. Gibb Maitland. Bull. 15, Perth : By Authority, 1904. p. 78,

and southern flanks of this arch that all the auriferous quartz reefs of the Nullagine-Mosquito and Middle Creek zones occur.

A traverse from Nullaoine township, south-eastward for about six miles to the cairn G. 16, on the summit of South Dromedary,* discloses a succession of highly inclined grits, sandstones, and shales with quartz veins. The whole series which forms the low ground underlies to the westward.

The two hills, the North and South Dromedary, which form the most conspicuous features in the landscape, rising as they do to a considerable elevation above the general level of the surrounding country, expose what appears to be the base of the Mosquito Creek Series.

The South Dromedary forms a ridge which has a general trend of north 50 degrees east, and a length of about half-a-mile. It is made up of vertical beds of conglomerate of considerable thickness. The conglomerate is very much cleaved, and the cleavage planes are seen to cut clean through the centre of many of the quartz and other pebbles. It may be noticed that the conglomerate contains numerous pebbles of laminated quartzite (chert), belts of which form such a conspicuous feature in other portions of the district, and are described in the previous report (Bulletin 15).

About two miles and a-half to the south-east of Quartz Claim 32* is a cairn, forming the summit of a tortuous ridge of laminated quartzite (chert). This quartzite underlies at an angle of about 40 degrees to the west, and with an average strike of north 70 degrees east. A few feet to the west of this is a remarkably conspicuous vein of quartz of considerable horizontal extent. From the position of this laminated quartzite, it would appear as though the beds in which it is enclosed belong to an older formation than that which comprises the strata of the North and South Dromedaries.

Between this hill and the South Dromedary (G. 16), sandy and micaceous beds (? sandstones or grits) of the Mosquito Creek type prevail. These strata are traversed by numerous quartz veins, lying parallel to the planes of bedding (? cleavage).

Farther to the eastward, a normal granite makes its appear- ance. This granite, which is clearly intrusive into the strata just described, is traversed by pegmatite veins which have, when viewed on the whole, a general strike of north 80 degrees east. In addition to the pegmatite veins, the granite is also seamed with an approximately parallel series of quartz reefs, which may merely represent another phase of the pegmatitic intrusions.

No estimate in the present condition of our knowledge of even the approximate thickness of the Mosquito Creek Series can be made, though the apparent enormous thickness of the formation may, in all probability, be due to the repetition of the beds by folding.

Vide Mines Department Lithograph, L 76.

No trace of fossils having been met with anywhere in the series, so far as it has been examined, any definite data as to the age of Mosquito Creek beds is unavailable.

Observations, fully set out on an earlier page, demonstrate that they lie unconformably beneath the Nullagine Beds, and as in certain portions of the district the Mosquito Creek Series have been subjected to more or less intense dynamic metamorphism, a con- siderable period must have elapsed between the deposition of the two series.

The Mosquito Creek Beds are of economic importance, by reason of the fact that they form the matrices of the numerous auriferous quartz reefs which outcrop along a belt of about 24 miles in length, and have been more or less perfunctorily worked. A full descrip- tion of the reefs occurring in the Mosquito, Sandy, and Middle Creek districts has already been given in Bulletin No. 15, pp. 78-101, and need not be repeated. In this report, particulars will only be given (under the heading of Economic Geology) of those reefs, etc., embraced within the area covered by the Geological Map of Nullagine (Plate I.), and to which no previous reference has been made.

As may be seen by a reference to the table below, the gold contents of the reefs are high, having an average of nearly 3ozs. for every ton of stone mined and milled, though the actual quantity of ore raised has, up to the present time, been very small.

Table showing the Yield of the Auriferous Quartz Reefs of the Mosquito Creeh Series.

Ore

Gold

Rate

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to 1897

1,126-20

1,174-55

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Total

1,237'95

3,497-30

2'82

Greenstone Dykes.

Apart from the igneous rocks which form an integral portion of the Nullagine Series, the greenstone dykes make a conspicuous feature of the country in the more immediate vicinity of Nullagine.

Lying to the west of the township of Nullagine, and distant about two miles, is a very prominent greenstone [5799] dyke, which

attains its greatest development along tbe eastern bank of Kadjebut Creek. The summit of this dyke is formed of a very rocky ridge, made up of large rounded and subangular blocks of greenstone, producing in places a surface of indescribable roughness. This dyke has a general north-east and south-west strike, and extends some miles in a northerly direction far beyond the limits embraced by the Geological map. It has a width of about 1,500 feet, and wherever seen in section the dyke has a decided tendency towards verticality. So far as could be seen, there appeared to be very little, if any, appreciable alteration of the enclosing rocks on either wall of the dyke. In two places along its course the dyke sends out tongues into the surrounding rocks. It is quite possible that there may be some underground connection between the main dyke and those two smaller ones which occupy a portion of the surface to the east of the Grreat Eastern line of reef. These two dykes, the position of which is shown on the Geological map, have a horizontal extent of about 15 and 50 chains respectively.

This large, or what may be called main, dyke is nowhere seen to pierce any other strata than those of the Mosquito Creek Series.

At a point about 20 to 30 chains to the west of this larger dyke is another approximately parallel one, first making its appearance between the Victory and the Day Dawn groups of leases, and traversing the country to the northward in the vicinity of M.A. 4 L until it disappears beneath the alluvium of the Nullagine Kiver. Although it rises to a considerable height above the general level of the surrounding plain and forms a prominent surface feature, it nowhere exceeds a width of two chains. This dyke also does not pierce any other strata than those belonging to the Mosquito Creek Series.

On the north side of the NuUagine Eiver, and in the vicinity of the One-mile Creek, is another greenstone [5794] dyke, trending generally north-west and south-east. It has been followed across country for a mile and a-half, and extends far beyond the limits of the map. This dyke, which traverses both the Mosquito Creek and the Nullagine series, does not make any very pronounced feature in the landscape, though it can be readily followed. Its width nowhere exceeds two chains in width, and when seen in section is vertical, or nearly so.

There seems very good reason for believing that this dyke mav be the prolongation of that disappearing beneath the alluvium of the Nullagine Eiver, in the vicinity of M.A. 4l. The course of the dyke north of the One-mile Creek is approximately parallel to that fault which lies to the north of Beaton's Creek, and it is quite con- ceivable that the One-mile Creek dyke may occur along a line of fracture also, although no obvious dislocation of the strata is apparent. Whatever may be the exact age of these dykes it is quite clear that the one last described is newer than the series of strata it penetrates.

The rock [5799] of which this dyke is formed is of medium grained, crystalline structure. The only minerals which are readily recognisable with the aid of a lens are felspar, pyroxene, and occasionally an iron ore.

Under the microscope, relatively larsre proportions of crystals of augite, some of which are changed into a pale green dichroic mineral, stand out very prominently. All the felspars, which seem to be plagioclase, and make up the greater part by volume of the rock, present in all cases that turbid, mealy aspect due to alteration. The iron ore seems to be either magnetite or ilmenite, though pyrites is present in some portions.

The rock [5794] forming the largest and most conspicuous dyke in the field is a very fresh, fairly cross-grained rock, consisting of pyroxene, with a metalloid lustre, together with a white, and in some cases, almost colourless felspar, plagioclase. The felspar forms by far the larger proportion of the rock, and, when examined under the microscope, is found to be very much altered. A little quartz can be detected in some portions of the slide. The specific gravity of the rock is 2*82.

An analysis of a fresh, un weathered specimen [5794] made in the Survey Laboratory, showed its chemical composition to be —

Silica, SiO,

Alumina, ALOg

... 14-27

Ferric Oxide,

Ferrous Oxide, FeO

Magnesia, MgO

... 10-32

Lime, CaO

Soda, Na,0

Potash, K„0

64

Combined Water, H2O

Hygroscopic Water, HjO ...

12

Carbonic Anhydride, CO ...

38

Titanic Oxide, TiO„ '

90

Sulphur, S 2

( -10

Maganese Protoxide, MnO...

trace.

This apparently differs bat little from that last described [5799], except in the coarseness of grain.

So far as any observations have at present been carried in the district, these dykes appear to have no apparent connection with any visible deep-seated rock of similar composition.

Economic Geology.

The Jullagine District comprises three distinct types of auriferous deposits, viz. :— Alluvial and other Superficial Deposits; Quartz "Reefs; and Auriferous Conglomerates. The respective yields of each is shown in the table below.

Synoptical Table shoiving the Total Gold Production of Nullagine up to the end of 1904.

Nature of Deposit.

crushed.

therefrom.

per'ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Alluvium and Superficial

3,670-02

Quartz Reefs

1,237-95

3,497-30

Auriferous Conglomerates

5,167-00

3,217-29

62

Total

6,40495

*6,714-59

This total does not include that of the alluvial £rold.

From this table it will be noted that, in so far as the number of ounces is concerned, the alluvial and superficial deposits have proved to be the most important, whilst the yield from the quartz reefs has exceeded that from the auriferous conglomerates by 108"84 ounces, although the average grade of the quartz proves to be more than four times greater.

Considering the number of years this miuing centre has been in existence, it must be candidly admitted that the gold yield is disappointing.

In addition to the above totals, l,638-50oz. of gold have been obtain from the cyaniding of nearly 3,000 tons of tailings. It is, however, not possible to separate the yield of the tailings from each centre, but as they were all cyanided at Lambert's Treatment Works, M.A. 4l, it is probable that most of the ore was obtained from the more immediate vicinity of Nullagine itself.

Table showing the Yield of the Tailings Cyanided a.t Lambert's Treatment Works, M.A. 4l.

Year.

Tons treated.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons 1,960-00

ozs. 1,259-05

ozs. 64 45

Total

2,80000

1,63850

58

This return thus brings the total gold yield of Nullagine up to 12,023"llozs., as recorded at the close of 1904.

Alluvium and Superficial Deposits.

The alluvium and the other superficial deposits call for no special notice, beyond the fact that there seems good reason to believe that no small portion of the " alluvial" gold was obtained from the numerous creeks draining that portion of the escarpment of the Nullagine Series lying between Beaton's and the One-mile

Creeks. Over this area, which is that occupied by the ferruginous basal conglomerates, skilful dryblowers are still able to obtain a certain quantity of gold, derived, in all probability from the residual concentration of the gold set free from the conglomerate. Owing to the circumstance that a considerable proportion of the gold so obtained is probably never officially reported, the actual yield from this source cannot be set out in figures.

duartz Reefs.

Quartz reefs occur in great abundance in the country lying to the westward of the Nullagine River. These reefs outcrop over a belt about four miles in length, which emerges from beneath the beds of the Nullagine Series near Suburban Water Right 5l, and extends in a general north-easterly direction across the whole area of the geological map. So far as any observations have been made it seems that the productive area of the Mosquito Creek Beds, as developed in the more immediate vicinity of Nullagine, consists of a broad belt about a mile in width, with a general strike of north-east and south-west, which latter coincides with the general trend of the series.

The position of most of the quartz reefs has been accurately laid down upon the Geological Sketch Map of Nullagine (Plate I.). They exhibit, when viewed on the whole, a general parallelism, which IS coincident with the plane of bedding of the enclosing rocks. The reefs invariably occur along the bedding planes, or, at any rate, cut them at a very low angle. Few of them attain any very great horizontal extent, nor, so far as could be judged by a careful inspection of the surface, did they reach, as a whole, any great thickness.

The quartz of which the reefs of Nullagine are composed is generally of a whitish colour, contains little, if any, pyrites, and of such a character as render it readily amenable to battery amalga- mation and cyanidation.

Several of the reefs have been opened up and worked to relatively shallow depths.

The Mines.

No work of any description was being carried on at the date of my visit to the district, and none of the mines were accessible.

I have extracted a good deal of information from the manuscript reports of the different Inspectors of Mines, and the following notes may serve the purpose of giving some idea of 1 he state of development of the mines and other cognate points at the time these officers visited the distri(.'t. These notes, however, make no pretensions to being more than a mere general account It is much to be regretted that no better official record has been kept of the statement of development of the district, a condition of affairs which virtually obtains over the whole of such portions of the Pilbara Field as have yet been visited.

For convenience of description the various properties are dealt with in geographical order, commencing at the north-easternmost end of the field. The location of each of the properties described will be found on the Geological Sketch Map of Nullagine. (Plate T.)

Fisher's Reward, G.M.L. 65l. — This, the most northerly of the leases in the country to the east of the Nullagine E-iver, is traversed by two small parallel quartz reefs of no very great horizontal extent. A very little desultory work has been done upon the property, which was held for a period of about four months during a portion of the years 1896 and 1897. A few tons of quartz were raised and crushed in 1897 ; the official figures show that 20 tons of ore crushed yielded 56'6 ounces of gold, or at the average rate of 2'83ozs. per ton.

Try Again, 66l. — This lease adjoins that last described, on the south, and was at one period of its history known as the Turkey Mary. There are two distinct vertical reefs on the property, the easternmost having the greatest horizontal extent. The lease appears to have been held for a period of about five months only, during a portion of the years 1896 and 1897. Two small shafts have been sunk, but although the reef proved to be small, it is stated to have been rich. There are no crushmgs recorded from the property.

Promise, Gr.M.L. 331 (25l). — This six-acre lease lies some little distance to the west of the Try Again and about 35 chains to the east of the Nullagine Eiver.

The property appears to have been held for about 18 months, having been surrendered in July, 1897.

There are two short reefs outcropping near the north-western boundary of the property, and three others, the position of which is shown on the plan, adjoining. A vertical shaft, 20 feet in depth, was put down, but the Inspector of Mines' report states that there was no reef exposed in it. A second shaft, 25 feet vertical, was continued on the underlay for 25 feet farther, in a south-easterly direction, on a small quartz vein ; this, in the eastern shaft, the Inspector of Mines' report states, attained a thickness of two feet. There appears to be no record of any crushings from this property in the official statistics, unless such are included with those from sundry claims. The field note book, however, of the late Mr. S. J. Becher, at one time Inspector of Mines, contains the statement that " about 30 tons crushed over 90ozs., and that the first five tons went lOozs. per ton." From this it would seem that some very rich ore must have been met with.

Sunrise, G.M.L. 58l (480). — This lease is situated in the triangular piece of ground, bounded by the Nullagine River, Kadjebut Creek, and the gabbro dyke, shown on the geological map. A fairly well-marked quartz vein outcrops for some distance along the eastern boundary of the lease ; and has been opened out by means

of a shallow shaft. Little or nothing, however, can be seen at the present time. The lease was abandoned in 1897 ; there are no crushings from the lease in the official statistics, unless anv such are included under the heading of the yield from sundry claims,

SuNRisK No. 1, a.M.L. 57l (429).— This property, which adjoins the Sunrise on the north-east, appears to have been taken up in September, 1896, and abandoned in the month of January of the following year. A small quartz reef, probably a continuation of the Sunrise, occupies a portion of the surface, near the south- eastern boundary of the property. The only work done on the property appears to have been raising the few tons of quartz which are shown in the official returns. These demonstrate that, previous to 1897, 28 tons of ore crushed yielded 14ozs. of gold, or at the rate of -SOozs. per ton.

The Great Eastern Group of leases lie about a mile to the south of the Sunrise, and are situated on the eastern bank of Kadjebut Oeek, almost due west of the Nullagine township.

Great Eastern, G. M.L. 59l. — The Great Eastern Reef makes a very pronounced outcrop, forming as it does the highest point of a low, though conspicuous ridge, which rises some 15 or 20 feet above the level of the surrounding country. The general strike of the reef is north-easterly, and, as measured at the surface, has an underlie of 70 degrees to the south-west ; from this it would seem that the reef is much steeper at the surface than underground. The country rock of both walls of the reef is slate; the reef measures about four feet in thickness, and the quartz is white, with ferruginous portions, due to the oxidation of pyrites. A fair quantity of stone from the outcrop had been raised to a depth of from 15 to 20 feet from the ground level. Mr. Inspector Gladstone's report mentions a vertical shaft 40 feet in depth, which had been continued on the underlay for a distance of 80 feet. At 30 feet in the shaft, a level is referred to 35 and 40 feet in length, driven respectively north-east and south-west, whilst at 90 feet a north- easterly level had been driven for a horizontal distance of 40 feet. There is no information in Mr. Gladstone's report as to the dimensions or character of the reef in the mine, and the workings were inaccessible to me.

The following figures give the yield of the reef in so far as it may be gained from official data : —

Table showing the Yield of the Great Eastern Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

Previous to 1897

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Enterprise, G.M.L. 76l. — This is an isolated lease about three-quarters of a mile to the north-west of the Great Eastern Group. It embraces a part of the old Union Jack Lease 40l. A fairlv well-defined reef, which can be followed more or less interruptedly across the surface to the south-west for a distance of '2,500 feet, traverses the lease. Several shafts have been sunk to depths of which there is no information. Water is said to have been met with in two ot them at 35 feet. These shafts have been utilised as a source of water for the Battery and Cyanide Plant at one time erected on M.A. 4l, which embraces part of the lease. There have been no crushings recorded from the property, unless they are included in the yield from sundry claims.

In the vicinity of this lease there are several other parallel reefs of smaller size, upon which a little work has been done at one time or another, but there are no particulars available in respect to the yield of any of them.

About 800 feet to the south-west of the Enterprise Reef is another parallel vein, which can be followed more or less interruptedly across the surface for about 3,000 feet, and it is quite possible that the reef, disappearing beneath the alluvial flat of the Nullagine River to the north-west of the Day Dawn Group, may represent an extension of it.

Scottish Chief, G.M.L. 64l. — This is an old abandoned twelve-acre lease, adjacent to the Day Dawn Group on the north. There are three well-defined though small reefs traversing the property, and upon two of them, the north and south reefs, shafts have been sunk ; these, however, are inaccessible, hence no par- ticulars are available. There do not appear to have been any crushings recorded from the property.

Day Dawn, G.M.L. 278 (17l). — Upon this property there are several well-defined parallel reefs outcropping. The reefs have an average strike of north-east, with an underlie of about 40 degrees to the south-east. The main reef, viz., that upon which the bulk of the work has been carried out, averaged on the surface about two feet in thickness. It consisted of a white, and, in places, very ferruginous quartz, and is stated by Mr. Inspector Becher to have contained very coarse gold. Mi-. Becher notes that the reef had been opened by means of an underlay shaft 45 feet in depth, which was also connected with the surface by a vertical shaft of 20 feet. A little driving had been done along the reef to the south-east. At a later date, 1898, Mr. Inspector Gladstone notes that the shaft had been carried down to a depth of 69 feet, and that driving to 252 feet had been carried out. No particulars as to the natuie of the reef underground is to be found in the reports of the inspec-

I tors, which is much to be regretted, as the workings are at the present time inaccessible. Only 266 tons of stone have been crushed during the three and a-half years the lease was in exist- ence, particulars of which are shown in the table below. In addition to these figures, Mr. Becher notes that 18 tons of debris, with

I which the surface of the lease was covered, yielded I8oz. of gold.

r

Table showing the Yield of the Day Dawn Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

Previous to 1897

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Day Dawn No. 1 South, G.M.L. 388 (43l).— A twelve-acre lease, adjoininof that previously described, which was held for a little over twelve mouths and abandoned in December, 1897. Two short reefs, one of which may represent the extension of the Day Dawn, occupy a portion of the south-western corner of the ground. Very little work appears to have been done upon the property, and there is no record of any crushings from it.

Day Dawn North, G.M.L. 418 (52l). — No work of any moment appears to have been done upon this lease.

The Victory Group of leases, only one of which, however, is now extant, occupies an extent of country about a mile in length, over which several small quartz veins outcrop.

Victory, G.M.L. 134l. — This lease embraces the greater portion of what was originally the Victory East Extended, G-.M.L. 56l (424 or 99l), Walter's Folly ; the original Victory, G.M.L. 383 (42l), to which it is desirable the name should be still applied, is situated some little distance southwards along the line. Five shafts have been sunk upon the lease, and, judging by the condition of the dumj)s, a good deal of work must have been done. None of the shafts, however, were accessible to me, and there appear to have been no plans of the workings. Mr. Inspector Gladstone mentions two underlay shafts, each 135 feet deep, and connected with drives from which 172 tons of ore had been crushed for a return of 625ozs. of gold, and a main shaft, which at the date of his visit had been carried down 70 feet. According to the official records of the mine, given in the table below, the gold yield seems to have been high.

Table showing the Yield of the Victory (East Extended) Beef.

Ore

Gold

Rate

Year.

crushed.

tlierefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to 1897

Nil

Nil

Total

1,229-80

Victory No. 1 East, G.M.L. 53l (419).— Known later as the New Victory Extended, GT.M.L. 70. The reef, traversing the adjoining property previously described, extends more or less interruptedly along the south-eastern boundary of the lease. It has been opened up by aa inaccessible vertical shaft, of a depth of which there appears to be no record. There are no returns of any crushings from this lease.

Victory, Gr.M.L. 383 (42l). — What is known as the main Victory reef traverses the south-eastern boundary of the property, though it makes very little show on the surface. An inaccessible underlay shaft had been carried down, according to Mr. Becher's notes, to a depth of 81 feet, on a quartz reef underlying at an angle of 60 degrees, and attaining a thickness of from three to four feet. The walls of the reef, as described by Mr. Becher, are " perfect," and are made up of a soft, fine-grained, solid, white sandy shale, which is stated to harden on exposure. The quartz is very highly coloured by oxide of iron, and, according to Mr. Becher, showed gold freely at the bottom. A vertical shaft was being put down at a spot 50 I'eet distant from the mouth of the underlie shaft, designed to intersect the main reef at about 80 or 90 feet, but there IS no official record as to whether this was accomplished. At the time Mr. Becher was at work in the Nullagine district, a small crushing of 25 tons of stone from the reef in the inclined shaft is reported to have yielded 130ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 5-20ozs. per ton of ore crushed. A small trial crushing of a few tons by former holders of the property yielded gold at the rate of 3ozs. per ton. The official yield of this lease is given in the table below.

Table showing the Yield of the Victory Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

Previous to 1897

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Victory Extended, G.M.L. 51l (417). — A small six-acre lease adjoining Gr.M.L. 383 on the south-east, and traversed by a reef which was thought to be the southern extension of the Victory. So far as can be judged, however, it seems probable that it is a parallel reef. An underlie shaft had been carried down on the reef to a depth of 30 feet, when it cut out. The shaft, however, was carried down another 20 feet, at which point a crosscut had been put in 20 feet to the north, with the object of testing the country, and another crosscut to the south had been commenced at the date of Mr. Becher's visit. His notes, however, give no par-

ticulars as to whether the reef had been picked up below the depth at which it cut out. In 1897 22 tons of ore are officially recorded as yielding 63ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 2'86ozs. per ton.

Marquis, G.M.L. 62l. — A disused and inaccessible shaft is situated at a point 13 feet from the north-east angle of the lease, and is traversed by a small reef parallel to that in the adjoining property on the north. About 100 feet south from the north-east angle is a well-defined reef, shown on the geological map, under- lying at a high angle to the north-west, bat no work has been done upon it.

There are one or two other abandoned leases and quartz claims in the vicinity of Kadjebut Creek to the west of the South Drome- dary G. 16. The position of these properties is shown on the 40 chain lithograph L 76, issued by the Department of Mines.

Golden Eagle, Gr.M.L. 77l (formerly Alexandra, Gr.M.L. 71l). — A great deal of desultory work has been carried out upon what were evidently distinct veins, but all the workings are inacces- sible at the present time. According to the official records, small crushings from this lease took place annually from 1897 to 1901, but although the total quantity of gold, under 500ozs., so obtained was small, the average per ton was over four and a-half ounces. There would thus seem to have been some very rich shoots met with in the course of the work.

Table shotving the Yield of the Golden Eagle Beef.

Year.

Ore

Gold

Rate

crushed.

tlierefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Reward Claim, 33l. — A small abandoned lease on the eastern bank of Kadjebut Creek, and lying about three-quarters of a mile to the south-east of the Golden Eagle. An east and west vertical reef has been opened up by a shaft which is inaccessible at the present time, hence no information as to the character and behaviour of the reef underground can be obtained. There appear to be no records of any crushings from this property, unless they are included under the heading of the yield from sundry claims.

The following synoptical table gives the total gold yield of the reefs of NuUagine, in so far as such may be obtained from official statistics: —

Synoptical Table showinr/ the Yield of the NuUagine Beefs up to the end of 1904.

Name of Reef.

Ore crusliecl.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Day Dawn ... ... ...

702 '70

Fisher's Keward ...

Golden Eagle

Great Eastern

Great Eastern Extended

Promise

Sunrise No. 1

50

Victory-

Victory East Extended . . .

1,229-80

Victory Extended

Total

1,237'95

3,49730

2*82

Auriferous Conglomerates.

Mining operations have, up to the present, been confined exchisively to the outcrop of the conglomerates and to very limited and shallow depths ; but work, however, has been carried sufficiently far to enable some idea of the conditions governing the gold deposition being ascertained. The conclusions to be drawn from these data may have some influence upon the practical develop- ment of the field. The gold contents of the conglomerate are small, not amounting to more than 3,217'29ozs. derived from the milling of 5,167 tons of ore, or at the rate of 62oz. per ton.

Of the different areas in which the conglomerate has been worked, the largest quantity of gold, so far as may be judged by the official figures, appears to have been obtained from the workings now embraced by the Grant's Hill Lease 122l. {vids the plan of the NuUagine Conglomerate Gold Mines, Plate II.) The returns fi-om this demonstrate that 3,433 tons of ore yielded l,780*24ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 52oz. per ton.

The auriferous conglomerate, which has already been shown to be of sedimentary origin, is made up of rounded and subangular fragments of the strata identical in character with that forming the underlying Mosquito Creek Series. Certain portions of the conglomerate are marked by the presence of abundant iron pyrites, and its oxidation products [5802, 5806]. It is, however, in the oxidised zone of the conglomerate that any mining has, up to the present, been carried on.

In 1897, samples of the auriferous conglomerate were examined in the Survey Laboratory and have been thus described :- -

" A s[)ecimen [190] typical of the finer-grained portions of the rock in its upper decomposed portions. It consists of subangular fragments of quartz, ironstone and shale, cemented together by ironstained kaolin, containing numerous cuboidal cavities at one time filled by pyrites crystals, as shown by the numerous pseudo-

morphs of limonite contained by them It assays loz.

6. of gold A similar but less ferruginous variety,

[191], showed no cavities vacated by pyrites, and is much coarser in grain, some of the fragments of quartz being o inches in length ; it assays 2ozs. Idwt. of gold per ton."*

Another variety [192] made up of large pieces of felstone, with smaller fragments of quartz embedded in a kaolinic matrix, assayed lOdwts. of fine gold and 5ozs. 4. of coarse gold per ton.

A noteworthy feature in the conglomerate is the occurrence of pyrites and its oxidised representatives. In the unoxidised portions [3718, 5801, 5802] the pyrites occurs both as crystals, grains, and rounded or pebble-like forms. A photograph of a small but characteristic form [5802] is shown in Photograph "0." Some of the pyrites nodules measure an eighth of an inch in diameter, though from the size of some of the hematite pebbles there must be some which reach as much as three-quarters of an inch in diameter. A photograph of one of these hematite pebbles [5801] forms Photo- graph " D."

Considerable interest attaches to the occurrence of these rounded pebbles and pellets of pyrites and hematite in that they have been held to indicate a detrital character as well as ascribing a similar origin to the gold, which seems invariably to be associated with the occurrence of the ores of iron in the conglomerate.

A radiate fibrous structure can be detected in some of the oxidised conglomerates [5801] when the hematite pebbles exhibit fractured surfaces.

In some portions of the conglomerate [190] these hematite fragments make up fully one-half of the rock. The gold [1509, 3167] in the conglomerate almost invariably occurs in or lining the sides of these cavities which have been left by the removal of the iron ore. All its characters point to the gold having been left where it is now found by the oxidation of the pyrites.

The evidence, so far as it goes, respecting the origin of the gold in the Nullagine conglomerate seems to indicate that it is a secondary, and not an original constituent, and further that the primary source of the gold is the quartz reefs which occur in the underlying formation.

Prom the known occurrence of auriferous quartz reefs, which furnished no small portion of the pebbles of certain portions of the

Annual Progress Eeport of the Geological Survey for the Year 1897. Perth : By Authority : 1898, p. 48.

Bulletin 20.

Photo. : E. S. Simpson.

Rounded Pyrites Pebble in Conglomerate, NuIIagine Series.

BulUlin 20.

Photo. : E, S. Simpson.

Rounded Hematite Pebbles in

Conglomerate, Nu33agine Series,

deposit, it is of course quite conceivable that a certain amount of detrital gold forms part of the conglomerate, but there are obviously no means of ascertaining what is the proportion of primary to secondary gold.

There seems, however, good reasons for believing that by far the bulk of the gold, together with the pyrites, was introduced by solutions percolating down the most porous portions of the con- glomerate, this condition being facilitated by the downward inclina- tion of the bed-rock, and, possibly, accentuated in part by the folding which the strata have undergone.

The intrusion of felsite into the lower portion of the con- glomerate (Plate II.), and the volcanic phenomena of which it formed a part, may possibly have resulted in the formation and circulation of the mineralising solutions, and also the deposition of the gold.

There is no evidence that the diabase dyke and the fault (Plate I.) have had any beneficial effect upon the gold contents of the conglomerate, but the fact remains that it is only in that portion of the formation lying between these two lines of fracture that any gold has hitherto been found. It is also noteworthy that the base of the Nullagine Series has only proved auriferous in those places where it lies upon that portion of tbe underlying formation which carries auriferous deposits. It may be noted, also, that over that portion of the formation from which the conglomerate crushings have been obtained numerous dryblowers have been at work for a number of years, and have obtained a considerable quantity of gold, of which the published figures afford no clue, for much of it in the early days was probably never ofiicially reported.

Probably one-half of the alluvial gold from NuUagine, shown in the figures on page 16, may be legitimately claimed as having been derived from the escarpment of the conglomerate.

The high assays [190, 191, 192] alluded to are the exception, and merely indicate the occurrence of unusually rich shoots in portions of the conglomerate.

No attempt was made to sample any portion of the con- glomerate workings, with the view of arriving at the value of the deposits, but six samples (which seemed to be characteristic of the type of deposit), collected during the course of the fieldwork, were assayed in the Departmental Laboratory, with the following results : —

[5800]. — Grant's Hill Lease 122l. Oxidised Conglomerate in which the iron had been entirely leached out. Gold, 6. 23grs. per ton.

[5801]. — Grant's Hill Lease 122l. Oxidised Conglomerate, with abundant hematite kernels. Gold, 2. . per ton.

[5806].— Dean's Hill, Mineral Reward Claim 6l. Oxidised Con- glomerate with hematite kernels (some portions of this conglomerate show free gold). Gold, 4. 2grs. per ton.

[5802J.— Freak of Nature, G.M.L. 121l. Pyritous sulphide con- glomerate. Grold nil.

[5803J.— North-west of the Success, G.M.L. 119. Very slightly pyritous conglomerate. Gold nil.

[5804]. — North-west of the Success, G.M.L. 119. Non-pyritous con- glomerate. Gold nil.

To arrive at the value of the deposits, as can be readily under- stood, is an exceptionally difficult matter, but the fiures of the output afford some idea of the yield of those isolated portions of the conglomerate which were deemed worth working.

The records of production of the conglomerates, given in the table on an earlier page (p. 26), seem to indicate a general decrease in the yield, the latest crushing of 777 tons returning gold at the rate of J2oz. per ton.

Fluctuations in the gold yield per ton are, of course, only to be expected, but it cannot be said that the average of all the crushings recorded is any index to the value of the whole of the conglomerate series, if worked upon a large scale. It would probably prove to be a very low grade, and possibly so IoaV as to render remunerative working, unless under the most favourable economic conditions, impossible.

The known occurrence of such an extensive formation as the Nullagine Series has proved, by mapping, to be and the fact that it has been shown to contain considerable quantities of gold in localities where the requisite and qualifying conditions for deposi- tion obtain, would seem to encourage efforts in the direction of carefully prospecting other parts of the basal members of the series in the district.

Such prospecting should be a relatively easy task, seeing that it has already been shown that the auriferous portions of the con- glomerate have invariably proved to be those which are the most ferruginous, hence the search for ironstained conglomerates near the base would seem to be the lines upon which such efforts should tend.

The Mines.

GtrA-Nt's Hill, Gr.M.L. 122l. — A considerable amount of bond fide work has been done upon the western angle of the lease, as may be seen bv an inspection of the plan of the Nullagine Conglomerates Gold Mines (Plate II.)

Fairly extensive workings on the south side of the tramline which connects with the battery have been carried on in a bed of coarse conglomerate, the exact thickness of which does not appear to have been determined. The conglomerate (or boulder bed) con- tains large boulders of flat-sided quartz, sihceous conglomerate, and other rocks occurring in the vicinity. This portion of the workings lies in the oxidised zone of the conglomerate which con- tains cellular portions from which iron pyrites has weathered out [6800]. This sample assayed in the departmental laboratory 6. 23grs. of gold per ton.

The larger portions of the workings, however, occur on the southern slopes of Grant's Hill, which lies on the north side of the creek which drains the gullv in a westerly direction. (Photograph

A good deal of ore must have been taken out at one time or the other, for the workings extend for some considerable distance round the slope of the hills. The larger portion of the work has been carried out on a bed of conglomerate, underlying generally west-north- west, rising gradually up and along the hillside at an angle of about 40 degrees, and as the plan (Plate II.) and statistics show, a good deal of ore must have been taken out.

A fault with a very small displacement occurs in one. portion of the workings, and it appears to be parallel to the main fault shown on the geological and mining maps (Plates I. and II.)

A thickness of only from three to four feet of the conglomerate has been worked. So far as can be gathered from the official statistics, the returns from what is now G-rant's Hill are set forth in the table : —

Table showing the Yield of the Grant's Hill Conglomerate.

Ore Gold Eate

I ear.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to 1897 ...

Nil.

Nil.

74

1,35800

45

42

Nil.

Nil.

Total

3,433 00

1,780-24

52

To what may be called the Grant's Hill conglomerate should be added the small crushing of 85-40 tons, which yielded in 1899 40-70ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 47oz. per ton, from what was originally known as the Trinity No. 1 South, G.M.L. 42*2, and sub- sequently Grant's Hill South, G.M.L. 68l.

This old twelve-acre lease adjoined the present Grant's Hill lease on its southern boundary, and apparently included the ground now occupied by the ''Residence" shovm on the plan of the Nulla gine Conglomerates Gold Mines ( Plate II.) . The conglomerate from which the crushing was taken occupied the crown and the north-western slope of the hill lying to the east of the main fault. This hill formed a very rich field for dryblowers in the early days of Nuliagine.

This additional crushing brings the total return from the G-rant's Hill conglomerates up to l,820-94ozs., obtained from the milling of 3,518-40 tons of ore, or at the rate of -Sloz. per ton.

Freak OF Nature, G.M.Tj. 121l. — What is now the Freak of Nature Lease includes the ground originally embraced by the Freak of Nature, G.M.L. 208, the Freak of Nature Extended, G.M.L. 21, and the Exchange, G.M.L. 18.

The most easterly working near the eastern angle of Grant's Hill was originally known as Neale's No. 3 Underlay. Work in this shaft had been confined to a bed of conglomerate, 3 feet in thickness, underlying to the north-west at angles varying from 18 to 20 degrees. The late -Mr. Inspector Becher sampled this conglomerate, and reported the prospects to be " fair."

It would seem that this conglomerate is on the same horizon as that exploited in the adjoining Grant's Hill Lease.

The next working, on a slightly lower horizon, was known as Hewett's Shaft, and a little work was done upon a conglomerate from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches in thickness ; from this locality Mr. Becher also obtained " fair " prospects. This conglomerate appeared to be much more kaolinic than that in Neale's shaft.

Another shaft, shown upon the plan, had been put down upon a conglomerate, on a lower horizon, but no particulars respecting it are available.

There appears to be no record in the statistics of any crushings having been made on the old Exchange Lease ; should any have been recorded they may be included in the yield from sundry claims, etc. It does not, however, appear from the conditions of the work- ings that any very large body of ore can have been taken out. From that portion of the present Freak of Nature Lease, which embraces the old Freak of Nature, G-.M.L. 208 (1l), practically no work seems to have been done.

At a point on the northern bank of the main creek, near the north-eastern boundary of the lease, is a cliff of unoxidised pyritous conglomerate, which is distinctly banded.

A typical sample [5802] of this pyritous conglomerate, when assayed in the departmental laboratory, yielded, however, no trace of gold.

On the south-eastern portion of the lease, lying to the south of the pyritous conglomerate reviously described, and in the ground originally embraced by the old 5-acre lease, Freak ot' Nature Ex- tended, a big tunnel (Plate II.) has been put in, upon a boulder conglomerate. Judging by the present condition of the workings there seems to have been a good deal of work done, and a fairly large quantity of stone taken out. Mr. Becher's note-book indicates that the result of his sampling was that the prospects were " poor."

There are no official records of the yield of this portion of the property.

Success Extended, G.M.L. 120l. — This 24-acre lease embraces part of the old Rejected, G-.M.L. 414, Success, G.M.L. 352, and the Freak of Nature, G.M.L. 208. It is, however, only in the old Success and the Rejected that any mining work has been done.

The small patch lying between the 80 and 90 feet contours, in the northern portion of the ground, form the Rejected workings ; in reality merely an open work on the outcrop of a bed of con- glomerate.

Operations, however, have been principally confined to the old Success ground, and the extent of the open-work is indicated on the mining plan which forms Plate 11. So far as may be gathered at the present time the auriferous conglomerate, which did not differ from any of the other auriferous beds, varied in thickness from 18 inches to two feet. The table below gives the total gold yield, so far as can be gathered from the official figures ; the 547 tons of ore crushed were in all probability obtained from this portion of the lease.

Tahle showing the Yield of the Success Extended Conglomerate.

Ore

Gold

Eate

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Previous to 1897

Nil

Nil

30n-00

11000*

Nil

Nil

33

Total

539'25 1 '98

The 96 tons yielding 34-40ozs. from the Cook's Hill workings, credited in the official return to the Success Lease, are not included in this total, but are included in the yield of M.R.O. 6l.

Success, G.M.L. 119l. — This 24-acre lease, as it now stands, includes within its boundaries the old Barney's Hill United, G.M.L. 276 (upon which most of the work has been done), and a portion of the Success. G.M.L. 852.

The conglomerate worked on Barney's Hill lies at about the highest altitude of any of the beds at present opened up, being about 100 feet vertically above that in Grant's Hill. The workings lie pretty nearly upon the summit of the hill and along its southern slopes ; the bed has been sti-ipped along its outcrop for some distance round the southern and western slopes, and a vertical shaft 25 feet in depth has l)een sunk, intersecting a drive put in along the conglomerate for some distance from the outcrop.

Over three hundred tons of ore have been raised from the Barney's Hill workings. The figures given in the table as being

the yield of the present Success Lease were derived from ore obtained exclusively from the Barney's Hill workings.

Table showing the Yield of the Success Conglomerate.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

Previous to 1897

tons.

ozs.

ozs. 92

Total

Barney's Hill No. 1 North. G.M.L. 24l (330).— This six- acre lease, which was abandoned in 1897, embraces the workings (Plate II.) lying near the western angle of Gr.M.L. 119l. Opera- tions have been confined to a bed of very coarse ferruginous conglomerate, containing very large ellipsoidal boulders. At a slightly lower level (m the north side of a gully flowing southwards from the south-west angle of Gr.M.L. 119l is a vertical shaft, 50 feet in depth, in which five or six feet of water were standing. This shaft, which was inaccessible, had been carried down through conglomerate of the usual type, and, judging by the material at grass, it contained a little pyrites. A characteristic portion of the pyritous conglomerate [5803] yielded no gold on assay in the official laboratory.

The only returns from the Barney's Hill United Lease appear to have been previous to 1897, when a small crushing of 20 tons yielded 25ozs. of gold, or at the rate of l-25ozs. per ton. These figures indicate that portions of the conglomerate, in this part of the field, are auriferous.

Mineral Reward C'laim, 6l. — This Reward Claim, which comprises an area of 320 acres, includes withm its boundaries the old leases Golden Crown, G.M.L. 365 (3]l) ; Beaton's Hill, G.M.L.- 373 (37l) ; Cook's Hill, (l.M.L. 412 (47l) ; Rejected No. 2, G.M.L. 416 (50l) ; together with parts of G-olden Promise No. 1, a.M.L. 67l, and Central No. 1, G.M.L. 69l.

Near the easternmost angle of G.M.L. 119l, and to the north of Dean's Hill, are a series of extensive workings upon what was origin-ally the Golden Crown G.M.L. 365, at an altitude of over 200 feet above the low ground at the base of the formation. All the ground on the flanks of the hill below these workings has been dry blown, and, during Mr. Inspector Becher's term of office, the average winnings from this source are stated to have amounted to about 18. per man per day. The conglomerate, which lies in the locality practically horizontally, is of the usual ferruginous type, containing large pellets of hematite. A typical sample of this highly ferruginous variety from the open-work [5808] assayed in the

departmental laboratory old at the rate of 4. 2grs. per ton. The total returns from the G-olden Crown workings, as shown in the table below, gives the yield as 189-90ozs. obtained from the milling of 223*60 tons of ore, or at the rate of 84oz. per ton.

What is known as the Cook's Hill workings are situated due east of W.R. 2l. Cook's Hill is said to have derived its name from Mr. Nat. Cook, who is credited with being the first discoverer of gold at Nullagine in 1886. A good deal of work must have been done at one time or another, but as operations have been abandoned for some considerable time there is little to be seen.

By far the larger portion of the hill appears to have originally been covered with a gritty and ferruginous sand (the residual decomposition product of a sandstone) underlaid by a kaolinic deposit which carried waterworn boulders. It is noteworthy that while the material from the hill was being crushed several small diamonds were met with in the battery boxes ; reference however will be made to this subject on a later page. The Cook's Hill deposit lies not very far from the base of the Nullagine Series. The total returns from the Cook's Hill workings, as shown in the table below, give the yield as being l iO'lOozs. obtained from the milling of 348 tons of ore, or at the rate of 40ozs. per ton. In this return an effort has been made to credit Cook's Hill with the yield actually obtained from the ore raised.* The return from the Diamond Reward Claim, M.R.C. 6l, as shown in the general table at the end, is really the result of the ore obtained from the Cook's Hill workings, and there seems to be good reason for believing the 1899 return from the Success Lease 27l includes 96 tons of ore from this same source. This latter yielded a return of 34"40ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 36ozs. per ton. The workings on Beaton's Hill, which lie to the west of those last described, the hill upon which work has already been carried out, comprises about four acres, and is covered by a deposit of laterite stated to be about ten feet in thickness. Beneath the laterite occurs a more or less variable thickness of almost horizontal beds of sandstone and conglomerate. The bed which was worked lies near the base of the hill, and is said to rest directly upon a bedrock of slate, and the gold is said to have been traced thereto by the alluvial workers in the adjacent gully on the north.

Two shafts, now inaccessible, have been sunk to depths stated to be 35 and 40 feet respectively, and levels driven therefrom.

Mr. Beaton, one of the original holders of the ground, and after whom the hill is named, is stated to have worked a considerable distance in under the hill, and to have taken out a large quantity of gold by crushing the material roughly by hand, screening it, and sluicing it at the river. There appears, however, to be no official

The late Mr. Becber's note-bo I's, 1896, state that " since first worked Cook's Hill ha yielded about 4,000ozs. of g-old." There is no reason for doubting- the accuracy of this statement, but it is quite clear that this amount has not been oflBcially recorded in the statistics, and may possibly never have been reported to the Government.

record of the yield from the old Beaton's Hill Lease, and in all probability any returns therefrom have been included in that from sundry claims.*

Table showing the Yield of the Conglomerates of the Mineral Reward Claim 61..

Year.

Name of Lease.

Ore crushed.

Gold there- from.

Rate per ton.

Total Ore crushed.

Total Gold there- from.

Average

rate per ton.

Previous to

Golden Crown, G.M.L. 31l

Do. do. ...

Cook's Hill, G.M.L. 47l ... Do. do. ... Do. do. ...

tons.

ozs.

2*5-30.

ozs.

34

tons.

ozs.

ozs. 40

Total ...

49

GrOLDEN Promise, G.M.L. 380 (39l, and subsequently Golden Promise No. 1, 67l.) — The abandoned workings upon what was originally embraced by this lease are coterminous with the north- western boundary of the .Minral Keward Chiini, 6l (Plate I.), and at an altitude of about 180 feet above the general level of the plains. A vertical shaft, 20 feet in depth, had been put down through conglomerate and intersected the open-works at a lower level. The auriferous portion of the conglomerate was a ferruginous band varying from 15 inches to 2 feet in thickness.

The following table gives the yield of the crushings : —

Title showing the Yield of the Golden Promise Con glomerate.

Year.

Oi-e crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

oz.=?.

ozs. 81 92

Total

172*00

87

Sundry Claims from the District generally. — In addition to the returns given above iu connection with sundry claims, which it is impossible to specify individually, there have been recorded over 6,000oz. of g )ld. These figures are given in such

The late Mr. Becher's note book, 1896, states :— " Eeturn, September, 1896, 1 ton, jieldinsr 2ozs. 2. 122-rs. Since Beaton's Hill was first worked it has yielded about 3,000ozs. of .srold." This amount does not appear to have been oflaeially recorded in the statistics, and may possibly never have been reported to the Government.

detail as is possible in the table below. There are, however, no means of ascertaining what proportion of these figures are to be credited to that portion of Nullagine embraced by the geological map (Plate I.) ; it is. however, possible that they include returns from the Elsie, Mosquito Greek, Nullagine, and 20-raile Sandy, which centres are included in the " Nullagine District," as defined by the Mines Department.

Table showing the Yield from Sundry Claims, Nullagine.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Kate per ton.

tons.

1,066-70

1,008-60

ozs. ( 2,695-95 [ *38-45 2,433-30 ( l,308-65t I *23-75t

ozs.

l-57t

Total

3,78515

8,15816

Specimens. f Fine ozs.

Diamonds.

The occurrence of small diamonds at Nullagine having been brought under the notice of the Government, a report was obtained on the subject by the then Premier from Mr. Fred. F. Groom in the year 1896.* From Mr. Groom's report it appears that the greater number of the most valuable diamonds were washed out of the conglomerate forming Brook's Hill, which was being treated for gold, and others were found in the stamper boxes after crushing a few tons of the conglomerate. Mr. Groom states : There is no doubt, in my opinion, that the diamonds are enclosed in the conglomerate, . . . and such as have been found by diggers in washing for gold have been released by the gradual decay of the rock . . . On the last day of my stay in Nullagine, I was present at the cleaning up of the battery after crushing about two tons of stone taken from the hill . . . On carefully panning off the gravel left in the stamper boxes nine small stones were found, varying from the size of a pin's head to a pepper-corn, or from to carat in weight. I put the lot into the scales, they weighed If carats, and it took the four largest to weigh one carat. I was informed that

Eeport of a visit to Nullagine, Pilbara District, to examine the country reported to be diamond-yielding. Appendix 4, Report of the Department of Mines for the Year 1895. Perth : By Authority, 189G, p. 27.

Mr. Brooks found one diamond for which he obtained =£76, another he sold for £28. These, with one other, valued by the finder at 12, were all the diamonds I could hear of as having been of any value ; the last-mentioned stone was described as beintj bright yellow."

During the course of my examination of the district no diamonds came under my notice, there are, however, in the collection of the Western Australian Museum (a.) four small diamonds presented by Messrs. Brook Bros, in 1896, and (b.) four small diamonds taken from the battery boxes when cleaning up a crushing of conglomerate, one from Cook's Hill, presented by Mr. Inspector S. J. Becher in 1896. The returns of a crushing of 230 tons of conglomerate from the Mineral Reward Claim 6l in 1900 show, in addition to 79'40ozs. of gold, twenty-five small diamonds, the value of which, however, is not stated. From the particulars given above it seems perfectly clear that the presence of diamonds in the conglomerates near the base of the Nullagine Series is authentic. The occurrence of such renders it possible that they are not isolated instances, though the interest is at the present time more scientific than commercial.

I Ore t crushed.

Gold there- from.

Gold there- from.

Gold there- from.

Gold there- from.

tons. ozs. i tons. ozs.

121.00 421.10 22 . 00 ; 63 . 00 105.95 492.95

170.50, 634.45 114.50 595. 3&

1,237.95 3,497.3

Table showing the Yield of the Auriferous Quartz Reefs at NulLigine.

Number of Lease.

Previous to 1897. !

Gold there-

Farley & White Fisher & Martin i Walters NichoUs i Geo. Holcombe

W. Extd. Volunteer Pros. Association Alfred Royer

Aikman & Giles Maher, Wiberg, etc. Turner & Travis Aikman & HigRS Garland & McKenna .. Doherty & Jenkin Isdell, McKenna, etc. Isdell, Connolly, I "

combe Batch, Townsend, etc. Jenkin, Garland, etc.

Abd., 14/8/99 Abd., 24/12/97 Ftd., 24/12/97 Surr., 19/7/97 Abd., 31/3/97 Abd., 21/4/97 Surr., 3/5/96 Surr., 3/5/98 Late 7lL, Alexandra Ftd., 9/4/97. Later

70L, New Victory

Extended Ftd., 14/7/99

Voided, 6/9/01. Late

Late 99l Ftd., 25/6/97 Abd., 18/1/97 Abd., 29/1/97 Abd., 18/9/96 Abd.. 19/1/99

Abd., 1/12/97.'

in 75L Abd., 20/1/97 Ftd., 13/10/99.

of 40L

Gold there- from.

Gold there- from.

Gold

Gold

Gold there- from.

Gold there-

57.50 290.20

50 1,174. 55 12.70 79.60( 101.00 478

From Inspector of Mines MS. notes.

Gold there- from.

Fre; Sue The Gra Exc Fre

Fre Sue

Gold there- from.

tons. 0Z8.

Ore crushed.

Ore Cold

tons. OZ8.

J9H.00 943.10

2,435.00 837.14

Bar

Rej Rej Gol:

Go!

6oli

Trii Graj

Nul

1,458.00 647.53

Table of the Yield of the Auriferous Conglomerates at Nullagine.

Number of Lease.

N.W. Australian Q.F'g., I Ltd.

I British Exploration of Australasia, Ltd. N.W. Australian G.F's.. Ltd.

British Exploration of

Australasia, Ltd. N.W. Australian G.F's.,

N.W. Australian G.F's., Ltd.

N.W. Australian G.F's.,

Batch, Lynch, Reyes,

Conglomerate G.F's. of

W.A.. Ltd. Owen Connolly Conglomerate G.F's. of

W.A., Ltd. Butler, Ramsay, and

Skinner Conglomerate G.F's. of

W.A. Ltd.

Now 120, 121 ..

In force. Late 1, 21, 27, M.L. 1, and M.L. 9

Now 122, 121 (small portion)

In force. Nearly all 2l, and part of M.L. 1

Greater part in 121 ..

Portion of 1, 2, 18, 21 M.L. 1, and whole of Q.C. 6L. In force

In 120 and 121

Late 219-5L. In 119

and 120 In force. Portions of

27l and M.L. 9 Abd. 5/8/97. N.N.W.

Abd. 5/8/97. S.W. of

Abd. 5/8/97. N.W. of

Cancelled, 14/10/98.

S.E. of 27l. In

M.R.C 6L Cancelled, 14/10/98,

5 . S.E. of 69L.

In M.R.C. 6L S. of 3lL. Later 07L

Late 39L. Cancelled

14/10/98. Part

in M.R.C. 61 Includes 381. S.E. of

2lL. In M.R.C. 6L Later 68L. S.E. of 2.1 Late 54L. Cancelled,

17/2/99 Later 69l. S.E. of 31L

Late 45L. Cancelled,

14/10/98. Part

M.R.C. 6l Abd., 5/8/97. Adjoins

47 L on East. Latei

part in 73l. Ir

M.R.C. 6L Takes in 31l, 37l, 47i-

50L. Part of 67 L

and 69L

Gold there- from.

Gold there

00 893.00 1.091.

I Gold I there-

1,468.00 647.53

Gold there- from.

Bulletin N920. Plate T.

GEOLOGICAL SKETCH MAP ' ~7PILBAA 6.f-A

Government 0Eolx>Oist

Mulla(1N£

GENERALISED SECTION ACROSS THE VALLEY OF THE NULLAGINE RIVER SHEWING (J THE NULLAGINE SERIES WITH INTERBEODED IGNEOUS ROCKS, AND THE MOSQUITO CREEK BEDS WJTH INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKS.

Length Of Section About Four Miles . Not Drawn To Scale.

fi.H./n/n c/e/. I

H. J. Pether. Government Photolithoc/rapher. Perth. W. A.

Bulletin N?20 Plate I.

B.-Warrawoona.

(With a Geological Sketch Map and three Mine Plans.)

General Geology.

The mining centre of Warrawoona lies about 15 miles from Marble Bar, and embraces the south-eastern extension of that belt of auriferous rocks which form the Marble Bar, Yandicoogina, and Mount Elsie Zone, to which reference has been made in a previous report.*

The district of which Warrawoona is the centre is formed of a lofty serrated razor-backed ridge (with several minor parallel ones) trending generally north-west and south-east. It is upon the southern slopes of the main ridge, and what perhaps may be con- veniently called the foothills, that all the auriferous quartz reefs occur. The general trend of these ridges has been determined by the outcrop of the siliceous rocks of which they are everywhere made up.

Several important watercourses occupy the longitudinal valleys (carved out of the softer strata) between the different ridges, whilst those creeks which breach them almost at right angles to the general strike of the schists afford many excellent sections. They thus shed light upon many obscure points in connection with the geological features of the district. The plateau which extends for miles on either side of what may be called the main axis owes its relatively smooth and rounded contour to the general homogeneity and practically equal weathering of the rocks by which it is under- laid, e.g., granite, etc.

The geological formations of the area embraced by the G-eo- logical Sketch Map of Warrawoona (Plate III.) are represented by a series of sedimentary rocks, quartzites, and conglomerates, many of which have been converted into quartz schist, mica schist, etc., by dynamic agencies. Associated with these undoubted sedimen- tary strata are a series of igneous rocks which have likewise been rendered partly schistose by the same causes. The exact relation these igneous rocks bear to the sedimentary series has not been worked out, a problem which would perhaps be difficult in this par- ticular portion of the district. The southern portion of the district is occupied by granite, which appears to have been brought into position by a fault, trending generally north-west and south-east.

Somewhat akin to the southern granitic mass are those dykes and masses of felspar-porphyry which occupy the northern limits of the map ; in all probability these latter have some intimate con- nection with the larofe area of granite which occupies the country to the north of that embraced by the Warrawoona Map. There seems however to be strong reasons for believing the granite to be intrusive into what may conveniently be termed the schists, and that portions of it have been affected by earth movements of varying degrees of intensity after the intrusion took place.

Bulletin No. 15, p. 33 et seq.

In addition to these rocks, the field is traversed by a remarkably persistent series of north-west and south-east greenstone dykes. These dykes, which have been mapped with some degree of accuracy, traverse the centre of the auriferous portions of Warrawoona, approximately at right angles to the general trend of what may be called the auriferous zone. Besides these relatively newer greenstone dykes, there are others which are intimately associated with the older rocks of the district. These older dyke rocks are often rudely cleaved and foliated, and seem to occur in intimate connection with, or parallel to, the principal structural lines of the district, viz., north-west and south-east. These older cleaved or foliated dykes can be seen in many places to be pierced almost at right angles to their general trend by the newer or uncleaved series.

Within the area embraced by the map, there is a large develop- ment of those laminated or banded quartz veins which form such conspicuous features in this district. These, owing to their economic importance, have been laid down upon the map with a considerable degree of accuracy. One conspicuous band traverses the whole length of the district, viz., six miles, and forms the centre of the main auriferous zone, which latter is of considerable longitudinal extent, though averaging only about 20 or 30 chains in width.

Of the different rocks occurring in the Warrawoona area, not much can be said, in the present state of our knowledge, of their relative ages, nor their true position in the geological time scale.

The following is a list of the various rock groups arranged in tabular form : —

Warrawoona Beds. Age (a.) Altered Sedimentary Series (quartzites, undetermined (? Arch- conglomerates, quartz, and mica-

sean) schist, etc.)

{b.) Metamorphic Igneous Rocks (green- stone, magnetite, and serpentinous schist, and more or less allied sheared basic igneous rocks)

Granite and Felspar Porphyry. Basic Dykes ... ... (a.) Newer

(b.) Older

Warrawoona Beds.

The strata of the Warrawoona Series form part of that auriferous zone which includes Marble Bar, Yandicoogina, and Mount Elsie, and to which reference has already been made in a former report.* In the Warrawoona neighbourhood, however, much better opportunities for investigating the strata present themselves than in any other portions of the district yet examined.

An examination of the district, which is of great importance by reason of its gold yield, shows that the Warrawoona Beds can be separated into two distinct portions sharply differentiated from each other, viz., an acidic and a basic series. The acid series is made up of highly siliceous beds, dipping at varying angles to the

Bulletin No. 15, p. 33 et seq.

north-east and trending generally north-west and south-east. The beds, which there are very good reasons for believing to be of sedimentary origin, consist of fine-grained flaggy quartzites, sheared conglomerates which still retain traces of their original character, mica and quartz schists, together with certain other fine-grained siliceous rocks which seem to have lost all trace of their original character. There are, in intimate association with these, certain other acidic rocks, which may eventually prove, on closer examination, to be highly- sheared felsites ; it has however not been found possible, owing to the small scale of the map, to delineate the area over which these doubtfully acidic igneous rocks extend ; it is, however, but small.

In hand specimens, this doubtful rock [5788] is in reality a quartz- sericite schist, with eyes or lenticules of a fairly soft mineral around which the finer foliation of the matrix sweeps in very graceful curves. The mineral forming these eyes has been examined both chemically and microscopically by Mr. E. S. Simpson, who reports that " they appear at one time to have been single crystals of probably potash -felspar, but are now completely altered into a mixture of at least three minerals, viz., free quartz ; a non-hydrous crystalline silicate of alumina, probably andalusite ; and a hydrous silicate of alumina and alkalies, probably a mica. The specific gravity of these 'eyes' is variable but averages 2*85. Their average composition is : —

yilica, SiOa

Alumina, AljOg

Ferrous Oxide, FeO ...

Lime, CaO

Nil

Magnesia, MO

Trace

Potash, KO

Soda, Na„0

Combined Water, H.O

100-0 "

Examined under the microscope these porphyritic crystals are found to be shattered and broken, and their edges present that peculiar peripheral granulation so characteristic of crystals and fragments which have been subject to intense crushing. A micro-photograph of one of these shattered and broken crystals forms Fig. a. Photograph "H " (facing page 72.) The matrix in which the larger crystals are embedded presents a fine mosaic of quartz, felspar, and a little sericitic mica through which are streams of numerous yellowish brown crystals. These crystals which occur in the form of short, and sometimes geniculated, pear or kite-shaped prisms, with straight extinction under crossed nicols, are in all probability rutile. It is difficult, with the evidence at present available, to be sure of the exact nature of the original rock, but it may possibly have been produced by the crushing of a felspar porphyry. Unaltered felspar porphyries do occur in the country just to the north of this, hence it is possible that this rock may be merely a transmitted variety of them.

The specimen, a quartz sericite schist [5760], is another variety of a rock identical in many respects with that last described, except that there are no large por)>hyritic crystals. Streams of rutile are common, in addition to numerous colourless acicular crystals of what seem to be apatite.

A quartz schist [5761 1 from near the Ironclad Battery, M.A. 1, consists microscopically of amass of irregular interlocking grains of quartz, with irregular patches arranged in the form of bands, of what under crossed nicols is neither more nor less than a fine quartz mosaic. The quartz exhibits undulose extinction. A little sericitic mica occurs in places.

Another quartz schist [5762] from a different portion of the mass, when examined under the microscope consists of a very fine- grained mass of quartz, showing undulose extinction, together with a little sericitic mica, the foliae of which are often very much distorted.

A fairly fine-grained quartzite [5764] which under the micro- scope is found to contain numerous fairly large angular and sub- angular quartz grains set in a much finer-grained quartz mosaic. This rock contains numerous brown patches and strings of mica (?) together with a little pyrites.

Associated with these quartzites and quartz schists is a very calcareous rock [5765] which outcrops near the Ironclad Battery. In hand specimens the rock is of a pale salmon colour, is distinctly banded, weathers very much like a limestone, and effervesces briskly upon the application of dilute acid. An analysis of this rock is given in the table on page 66. Very little can be made out by microscopic examination, even with a j-inch objective, and it is not quite clear whether the rock is a limestone or merely an extreme phase of the alteration of one of the igneous rocks of the district. The field relations however seem to point to its being distinctly interbedded with the quartzites and quartz sericite schists.

A short distance north of the Seven Dials, just outside the limits of the geological map, is a conspicuous hill forming the western extremity of a bed of metamorphic grit (or quartzite) and conglomerate, dipping at angles averaging about 50 degrees to the north-east ; the quartzite rests upon greenstone schist, and has been affected by the same foliation which affects the latter. The quartzite is traversed by bands of laminated quartz of the type pre- vailing in the district. Most of the pebbles in the conglomerate are flattened out almost beyond recognition, though in some places they are well shown on the weathered surface of the rock.

Among the quartz schists which form the sumaiit of what may be called the main range of Warrawoona is a bed which here and there contains what at first glance appears to be fossil wood [5768]. A characteristic specimen of this silicified wood (?) has a length of about inches ; cross sections of it are ellipsoidal in shape, the major axis being about three-quarters, and the minor axis about five-eighths of an inch in length. Microscopical sections both transverse and longitudinal were prepared, and were submitted

along with the specimen to Mr. Etheridge of the Australian Museum, Sydney, who was unable to detect any trace of organic structure in them. It is, however, quite possible that the dynamic metamorphism which these rocks liave undergone may have entirely obliterated all traces of organic structure, and that some form of plant life existed at the time these beds were deposited.

Adjoining Lease 479, the Juneau, is a schist forming part of the main series which presents many points of interest.

In hand specimens the rock [5787] is of a very light brownish colour, and is distinctly foliated. In addition to quartz, which forms no inconsiderable portion of the rock, there are numerous elongated crystals of a clear glassy mineral, the cleavage faces of which are very distinctly marked, and which give a distinctive character to the rock. Under the microscope the rock is found to be made up of clear and unaltered fragments of felspar, very few of which however are twinned, quartz polarising in brilliant colours, a little colourless mica and a reddish brown substance, which may result from the alteration of some mineral rich in iron. The rock is clearly a felspathic schist, the field relations of which point to its being of clastic origin.

The greenstone schists and other allied rocks of Warrawoona occupy a large area of country, and vary very much in the width of their outcrop. It is of course possible that this may in part be due to differences in the folding (?). A feature in the physical structure of the greenstone schists which may have some signifi- cance is what may be called an anticline of foliation, the centre of which trends generally in the same direction as the main structural lines of the district. This is well exposed at a point a little distance to the south of the Gauntlet No. 3 North-West Lease.

A very important feature of these greenstone schists is the presence among them of unfoliated basic rocks," which sometimes occur in the form of lenticular belts of (in certain places) con- siderable horizontal extent. Several excellent sections in the district show these l)asic rocks passing by scarcely perceptible gradations into the greenstone schists.

It is possible that as the strike of these belts of massive basic rocks more or less coincide with that of the general foliation of the district, they may occasionally be mistaken for some of the older basic dykes, which have a parallel strike.

In one or two localities are belts of magnetic- schist, in the centre of some of which are uncrushed " eyes " (of large dimen- sions) of greenstone occurring in such a way as to indicate that the margins only of the mass have been crushed down into schist. Many of these schists contain very large quantities of magnetite, such as give a very distinctive character to the rock.

The foliated or sheared greenstones on the Gauntlet Lease contain large brown crystals [5767], a combination of cube and octahedron of iron ore, viz., limonite pseudomorphs after pyrites.

Many of these crystals are about an inch in length. In other portions of the field, the surface of the unfoliated greenstone is strewn with similar liraonite crystals. Some of the greenstones are very much decomposed, and some of the constituent minerals are largely replaced by carbonates, giving the rock a very charac- teristic weathered surface at first sight, very suggestive of the weathered surface of some limestone.

The chemical composition of several of these greenstones and their allies is given in the table of analyses, page 66.

In mineralogical constitution the roots present very many points of similarity.

The country rock [5755] of the Golden Gate Eeef is a soft green talcose-chloritic schist, the chemical composition of which is shown in the table on page 66. The crystals of talc which are often of considerable length, have been as may be seen under the micro- scope, broken and torn apart by the stresses and strains to which the rock has been subject. The exact relation of this schist to the surrounding greenstone cannot be precisely determined, as access to the underground workings of the mine was not obtainable.

The rock [5777] which forms the matrix of the Imperialist Eeef is a fine-grained talc-chlorite schist, identical with that of the Golden Gate. The analyses of the two rocks present also many points of similarity.

The Tom Thumb Eeef is enclosed in a fine-grained chlorite schist [5756] which, when examined under the microscope, is found to be made up of quartz, felspar, chlorite, and epidote(?). The chemical composition of this rock is given in the table on page 66.

The country rock [5768] forming the matrix of the IM ay-be reef is of a somewhat similar character, and, as its field relations indicate, owes its origin to the compression of a massive greenstone. Its mineralogical constitution does not appear to differ in any very essential feature from the other schistose greenstones ; its chemical composition is given in the table quoted above.

The Gauntlet Lease is traversed by a band of chlorite schist [5779] in many respects identical with that forming the Tom Thumb Eeef. The chemical composition of this rock agrees very closely with some of the massive diabases of other portions of the field.

At a point about 10 or 12 chains to the north-east of G.M. Leases 531 and 598 is a lenticular mass of a serpentinous rock [5757], the chemical composition of which is set forth in the table of analyses on page 66. The mass has a length of about 20 and a maximum width of about five chains, whilst its longer axis is in a direction of north-west and south-east, parallel to the main structural features of the district.

A very large quartz reef outcrops in the centre of the mass, but does not extend into the surrounding rocks. The serpentine is enclosed in the mass of acidic rocks, but in such a condition that its original condition is not quite clear ; there seem, however.

grounds for believing it to have been brought into its present position by a fault.

The massive greenstones vary very much in grain ; they all contain more or less hornblende (sometimes fibrous) and its altera- tion product chlorite, quartz, felspar, and calcite, together with an iron ore. Some, however, are very calcareous, and effervesce briskly on the application of acid.

Detailed petrographical examination of all these rocks has not yet been made, but it is hoped to approach this subject at a later date, as opportunity offers.

Granite and allied Granitic Rocks.

The granite, which is of the normal type, occupies a rudely triangular patch on the southern boundary of the map, about 200 chains in length and about 40 chains in maximum width. It, however, extends for many miles far beyond the limits of the map. There seems good reason for believing that the granite is intrusive into the greenstone schists, though its northern boundary, to the south of the Imperialist Reef, is marked by a fault.

The exposure on the hillside, a plan of which forms Fig. 5, reveals the relationship of the granite and greenstone schists to €ach other.

Fig. 5.

PLAN CHEWJNS THE FAULTED NATURE OF THE GRANITE JUNCTION OF THE IMPERIALIST GOLD MINE WARRAWOONA PILBARAaF C. SMM/n A APure Oi G/teENsroNe F FAvtrs

In this section the greenstone schists abut sharply against a smooth wall of granite, which is inclined at an angle of from 45 to 55 degrees to the north, this angle being practically coincident with the dip of the foliation planes of the schists. A few inches of schist separate an aplite dyke of four feet in thickness from the main granite mass. The dyke traverses the schists in a direction almost at right angles to their general strike. A quartz reef

I occurs along the faulted junction some distance east of this point, in close proximity to the newer greenstone dykes, which traverse

the centre of the field. There is no very clear evidence of a marked banding or foliation in the granite anywhere in the southern portion of the district. In that large granite mass on the north, just outside the limits of the map, it possesses a rude foliation or

banding, which is parallel to the general strike of the foliation of the schists forming the higher ground to the south.

Whether this banding has any connection with the general foliation of the district, or is an original feature of the granitic magma, has not been satisfactorily determined. If this banding in the granite is not an original feature, then it would seem to indi- cate that both it and the Warrawoona beds were subject to the same set of stresses and strains which were set up in the interval separating the beds of the Nullagine from the older series.

The north-east angle of the map is made up of felspar-porphyry [5792] sometimes occurring in the form of dykes. The rock, when a freshly broken and unweathered surface is exammed, is found to be of a grey colour, with numerous crystals and fragments of a cloudy white felspar (some of which show twinning) set in a fine- grained matrix.

Examined under the microscope, the rock is found to be made up of a micro-crystalline ground mass of quartz, together with a small projortion of orthoclase, in which are embedded large crystals and fragments of felspar but no quartz. A relatively large quan- tity of biotite of a brownish colour occurs in many cases, arranged in bands which sweep round the porphyritic felspar in a manner paralleled by the flow structure developed in some volcanic rocks. The brown colour of the mica often passes gradually into a bright green, the result, probably, of alteration. The porphyritically developed felspar has not been optically determined, but the characteristic cross-hatched twinning in some parts would point to its being an orthoclase. The relatively large proportions of lime and soda as disclosed by the analysis [5792] shown in the table on page 66, would seem, on the other hand, to indicate that the felspar belongs to the lime-soda series. This felspai'-porphyry is practically identical in its character with the DufCer's Creek porphyry referred to in the analysis [5392] of the rocks from Pilbara, oil page 12 of Bulletin No. 15. There are few if any large porphy- ritically developed felspars in this latter rock, which perhaps may be held accountable for tlie smaller percentage of potash and lime, as shown in the analysis 5 in all other respects the two rocks are identical.

There does not seem, so far, to be any intimate relationship subsisting between this porphyry and the main granite mass, as developed 011 either side of the main axis of Warrawoona. The fact that it no signs of even a quasi-foliation, which chai-ic- terises some }>ortioiis of the granite, would seem to indicate that the porphyry is of later date than the granite. It may, perhaps, have some connection with the volcanic activity which prevailed during the period of the deposition of the Nullagine Series.

The geological age of the gr;inite cannot, as yet, be exactly determined ; it is, certainly, newer than the Warrawoona Beds, into which it is intrusive. The granite passes beneath the Nullagine

Series, which the evidence* so far available seems to point to being of Cambrian Age ; in this case the granite would be Pre-Cambrian.

Basic Dykes.

The basic dykes of Warrawoona belong to two different periods ; the district, however, furnishes no satisfactory evidence as to the exact age of each set.

The newer basic dikes traverse the whole width of the field in a general north-east and south-west direction, and extend for very many miles to the north and south of the country examined. The system of newer dykes intersects the auriferous belt between the Bow Bells and the Gauntlet groups of reefs almost at right angles to the general trend of the series. In no case do these dykes attain any great thickness, and their breadth varies greatly in different parts ; the thickness, as shown on the Geological Map of Warrawoona (Plate III.) has been somewhat exaggerated, in conse- quence of the small scale employed. Such few cross sections as may be seen of them indicate that they approach very closely to the vertical.

The rocks of which they are composed are basic compounds, an analysis of the most typical [5773] is shown in the table on page 66.

In hand specimens these dyke rocks vary from coarse to medium grain, and are seen to consist of a greenish grey felspar, together with a ferro-magnesian constituent and an iron ore. Under the micros(;ope the rock is found to consist of allotriomorphic crystals of a plagioclastic felspar, many of which present that turbid mealy aspect so characteristic of alteration, together with brown or almost colourless augite, and a little enstatite (?) passing into bastite (?). The place of some of the augite is taken by a pale green fibrous decomposition product which may be chlorite. The iron ore, which is often represented by skeleton crystals, is probably ilmenite. The rock is therefore a diabase.

The regular continuity of the system of dykes has been inter- rupted in the vicinity of their intersection with the auriferous series. From the position in which this interruption occurs, it would seem that these newer dyke rocks had undergone considerable movement since their injection. The somewhat curved and distorted fragments or isolated patches ail point ta a series of later movements along lines parallel to that of the main trend of the auriferous belt of Warrawoona.

The older series of dykes have a general trend approximately at right angles to that of those previously described, and are in some

cases intersected by them. Like the newer dykes they are all basic j compounds. In some cases they have been crushed and sheared I into a schistose greenstone, which occasionally takes form of a Uchisfc which has a characteristic weathered outcrop, very suggestive 1 3f a calcareous schist. These sheared dykes are all indicated upon

:he map.

Supra, p. 27.

g

78 08 04 40 30 Trace

21

m

18 Trace 27 98 Trace Trace

Trace

g

;

g

Co

Tp

Nil

10

16 18 32

Nil 92 43 70 05 20 Nil Nil Trace

K

z

Trace 41 11 52

52 11 11

g

s

f

49 Trace 20 17 03 04 54

Geological Museum No

Specific Gravity

; ; o

b erric Uxide, r Ferrous Oxide, FeO

Magnesia, MgO

Lime, CaO

Soda, Na,0

Potash, K,0

Combined Water, H,0 .. Hygroscopic Water, HO Carl'onic Anhydride, CO. Titanic Oxide, TiO .'

Pyrites, FeS, g ®

Manganese Protoxide, M

5755. — Talc-chlorite schist. Golden Gate Lease, Warrawoona, Pil-

bara Goldfield. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5756. — Chlorite schist. Tom Thumb Lease, Warrawoona, Pilbara

Goldfield. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5757. — Serpentine schist. Near Moolyella Gap, Warrawoona, Pilbara

Goldfield. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5755 — Carbonated schist. Near Ironclad Battery, Warrawoona, Pil- bara Goldfield. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5753 — Chlorite schist. May-be Lease, Warrawoona, Pilbara Gold- field. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5773.' — Newer Diabase Dyke. Warrawoona, Pilbara Goldfield. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5777. — Talc-chlorite schist. Imperialist Lease, Pilbara Goldfield.

Analyst, E. S. Simpson. 5'7'73 — Older Greenstone Dyke. Warrawoona, Pilbara Goldfield.

Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5779. — Foliated Greenstone. Gauntlet Lease, Warrawoona, Pilbara

Goldfield. Analyst, E. S, Simpson.

5780. — Greenstone. Bow Bells Lease, Warrawoona, Pilbara Goldfield.

Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5781. — Schist. Bow Bells Lease, Warrawoona, Pilbara Goldfield.

Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5792. — Felspar- Porphyry. North side of Main Range, Warrawoona,

Pilbara Goldfield. Analyst, E. S. Simpson.

5793. — Greenstone. Warrawoona, Pilbara Goldfield. Analyst, E. S.

Simpson.

Fissures, Faults, etc.

A very marked feature in the structure of Warrawoona is the occurrence of those bands of laminated quartz which traverse the whole length of the field, these being locally spoken of as dykes."

These bands often rise in the form of rough serrated ridges, which, by virtue of their power of resisting denuding agencies, stand out in bold relief, and can be followed across country for, in some cases, miles. They are, wherever seen in section, either vertical or inclined at high angles to the north east. In the case of the crosscut from the south drive in the tunnel workings of the Bow Bells Mine (Plate IV.), a dip of 65 degrees was observed. Althougli this vein, as seen underground, proved to be ten feet in thickness, there did not appear to beany distinct line of deraarkation between it and the country rock, the whole section in the crosscut suggesting a gradual replacement of the original rock along lines of maximum compression or foliation.

I Similar cases of a gradual transition between the quartz and the country rock can be noticed in several cases along the summits , of the ridges in the district.

I Of these bands there are twelve in all, the most conspicuous and the most important being that which traverses the whole line of

leases across the field in a north-westerly direction. This particular vein is locally spoken of as "The Dyke," and it may be that it represents an old line of weakness along which disturbance has taken place at several distinct periods.

The other veins, it will be noticed, all taper off gradually along a line which is, approximately, parallel to the dyke, and are disposed somewhat in the shape of a fan, the ril)s of which open out gradually to the west.

The mode of occurrence and ending off of these quartz veins is very suggestive of this line being a fault ; to which the interruption in the continuity of the newer diabase dykes in the vicinity would seem to lend additional colour. There is, however, no sign of any such fault on the surface, and, in fact, owing to the nature of the surrounding rocks, any such might readily escape detection.

These laminated quartz veins have been subject to a certain amount of faulting, and all those which have any effective throw have been laid down upon the map. As all the veins have a very high underlie, a considerable vertical displacement might easily take place without having any very marked effect upon the outcrop.

When examined under the microscope, typical specimens of these laminated quartz veins [5758, 5759] present no features of any particular moment.

In addition to the laminated quartz veins previously mentioned, there is another type of fracture developed on the field, which makes itself manifest in two well defined bands, trending approximately parallel to them. These bands, which form a very pronounced feature in the landscape, are represented by a " sheeting " oc " zoning " of the country rock, the width of which varies within very wide limits. The photographs F " and " G-," taken by the late Mr. S. J. Becher, give a graphic idea of the nature of these zones, which in reality result from the powerful compression to which the rocks have been subjected. There are, occurring in these bands, more or less extensive lenticules or " eyes " of quartz, parallel to the foliation ; and many of these quartzes have a characteristic and distinct greenish hue [5759]. Fig. 6 shows a section across one of these compression fractures, with the characteristic quartz lenses, traversed by a reef of much newer formation. This newer reef is from 12 to 14 inches in thickness. The country rock traversed by this fracture has been silicified along the lines of compression, whilst the vertical slickensided faces indicate subsequent movement, which, however, may not have been very great. One of these bands cf compression or shearing traverses the whole length of the Klondyke Boulder Lease ( Plate VI.), parallel to the reef of the "Leader" type; it forms a very marked feature on the surface and stands out in bold relief. The foliae, however, are not, in this section, vertical, but inclined at a very high angle to the north-east.

Of THi

The faults which many of the reefs have undergone are referred to below under the heading of the Auriferous Deposits, and the position of those which can be actually observed and those the

Fig. 6.

s.w m.z

existence of which is inferred are shown upon the mining plans which form Plates lY., V., and VI.

Economic Geology. Auriferous Deposits.

The auriferous deposits of Warrawoona are quartz reefs, which outcrop over a belt about six miles in length and about 20 chains in width.

There are no alluvial deposits of any extent anywhere within the limits of the area examined.

In addition to what may be called the main belt of Warra- woona, there are several minor outlying virtually isolated reefs, which have been worked in a more or less desultory fashion.

The position of all the quartz reefs has been laid down upon the Geological Map of Warrawoona (Plate III.) with such a degree of accuracy as the scale employed and a plane table survey would permit. No considerable body of ore, which is obvious to anyone making a fair and reasonable inspection of the surface, has been overlooked. The reefs exhibit, when viewed on the whole, a general

parallelism to the trend of the main structural features of the district. A careful examination of all the reefs, both on the surface and below ground, wherever such was possible, showed that they could be divided into two totally different types, which are sharply differentiated from each other.

The first type may, for convenience, be called the Normal or Fissure Vein Type, whilst the " Kidney " shaped lenticular quartz reefs of the second are locally spoken of as the " Leader."

Both types have been more or less opened up, and their relative importance as gold producers well established, as may be seen by a rfc ?,rence to the tables below.

Tables showing the yield of — (a.) The Normal Quartz Reefs, and (6.) The Leader Type op Deposits op Warrawoona.

The Normal Quartz Beefs.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

3,143-72

1,194-75

3,679-56

1,854-31

4,973-74

1,080-64

Total

4,963-61

14,76315

The Leader Type of Deposit.

Ore

Gold

Bate

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

649'50

1,62731

The data embodied in these two tables have been drawn up from the official statistics, but, of course, could not have been tabulated without a personal examination of the different reefs in the district. The figures demonsti*ate conclusively that whilst the

average value of the two types of deposit is about equal, it is, however, the normal quartz reefs that have, up to the present, been most extensively worked, and the reason is not far to seek.

The reefs of the Leader type are in every respect identical with those described as forming the important deposits in the mining centre of Edjudina.

At Warrawoona, the " Leader," which forms a continuous band, so far as prospecting operations have shown, of about two and a half miles in length, occurs along a line of rupture, which is forcibly shown by the powerful slickensided surfaces exhibited almost everywhere underground. These faces are often coated ith tine films of gold. The "reef" is represented by "kidney" or damper-shaped lenses of quartz which vary from a few inches in width 10 a foot or two in length along the vein. The interval between each lens of quartz naturally fluctuates within very wide limits. Sections are visible in some of the workings fully described on a later page, which show the " casing " of the lens to be quartz of a somewhat different type ; cases of this kind, which are of frequent occurrence along the " Leader " line, seem to point to the quartz lenses being portions of a pre-existing quartz reef which has been shifted in segments, as it were, along a vertical line of dislocation. Until these quartzes have been submitted to microscopical examina- tion it is impossible to determine whether they exhibit optically any signs of mechanical strain, as would be naturally expected.

There seem very strong grounds for believing that the reefs of the " Leader " type are of later formation than those of the true fissure veins. Fig. 7 shows a section of a fissure vein abruptly cut off by the " Leader."

Fig. 7.

From the very nature of the Leader it is naturally somewhat difficult to work, as the stopes must be kept within the narrowest possible limits, and merely the auriferous quartz lenses extracted.

Notes on the country between Edjudina and Yundamindera, by A. Gibb Maitland, Bulletin 11. Perth : By Authority, 1903, pp. 14, et seq.

A feature of many of the normal reefs, notably those on the Bow Bells lease, is the folding which they have undergone ; this characteristic is particularly well exemplified in the case of the Horseshoe vein, and is shown on the plan which forms Plate lY. It will be noticed that in those cases in which the folding has taken place, there is almost invariably a relatively large pocket of ore at the apex of the arch. The fold in the Horseshoe vein of the Bow Bells lease merely differs from the saddle reefs as depicted in many geological manuals in the fact that in this particular case the legs are horizontal. Mining operations, however, have hardly been carried sufficiently far to determine whether or not the apices of the folds contain any higher grade ore than what may be called the legs of the reef. The fact that rich chutes are known to prevail in intimate connection with the apices of the folds in other mining districts where the quartz reefs have been violently contorted is a circumstance which should commend itself to the attention of those engaged in the exploitation of the reefs in question. All the evidence available points to the fact that the folding of the reefs is the result of great lateral pressure acting upon the country rock after the formation of the reefs themselves. The folding and puckering of some of the quartz veins is well illustrated, even in many hand specimens, notably in the quartz schist [5789] on the Gauntlet East, Gr.M.L. 560, a micro-photograph of which forms Fig. b. Photograph " H." This lateral pressure has not only folded but has faulted many of the reefs. Wherever possible the faults which have any effective throw have been mapped and shown in both the geological and mining plans as well as in some cases in the sections by which they are accompanied. The high inclination of the majority of the veins is such as of course might permit of a con- siderable displacement without any marked effect upon the outcrop, hence many faults, unless disclosed during the course of mining operations, might easily escape detection. In the case of the main reef on the Gauntlet lease, the rich shoot for which the mine is famed is coterminous with the fault which traverses the whole breadth of the lease. It is, however, not yet clear whether this fault fissure formed the channel along which the mineralising solu- tions percolated.

In addition to these normal vertical faults, there are also reverse faults at thrust planes, which are either horizontal or are inclined at a very low angle to the horizon. Typical instances of these are to be found in the workings on the Gauntlet and the Klondyke- Boulder leases ; in the first of these cases the actual horizontal displacement measures only a few inches.

The reefs of both types are composed of a hard, translucent and crystalline quartz, which, in addition to the gold, contains in subordinate quantities pyrites, chalcopyrite, limonite, malachite, ferruginous wad, and a muscovite mica which is partly chromiferous.

In some cases the gold can be seen contained in cavities, evi- dently left by the oxidation of pyrites.

S p.

H M o o

Cases have been observed of the occurrence of calcite [5776] carrying a trace of gold ; possibly the parent source of the calcite is to be looked for in the lime-soda felspars which enter into the composition of the greenstone and its allies, the country rock of many of the quartz reefs.

Although the total gold yield of Warrawoona has been 17,294 18ozs., recovered from the milling of 5,700*01 tons of ore, thus giving an average value of 3 03ozs. per ton, and many of the reefs have been opened up, these, however, have only been worked to very shallow depths.

All the mines which were open to inspection were visited, and full descriptions of them are given in the following pages. In the case of three properties — the Gauntlet, the Bow Bells, and the Klondyke Boulder, the reefs on which are instructive examples of the normal type as developed on the field — detailed surveys on a large scale of the various ore bodies, faults, etc., were made in the hope that they might in some measure furnish a guide as to the general behaviour of the reefs of this class in the locality. The result of these surveys has been embodied upon plans on the scale of 100 feet per inch accompanying the report. Plates lY., V., and VI.

For convenience of description, the mines and other workings are described in geographical sequence, commencing at the north- westernmost end of the field.

The Mines.

Princept, G.M.L. 517. — This is the most north-westerly lease on the Warrawoona Belt. The ground is now abandoned, and so far as may be seen very little work has been done upon the property. The surface of the lease is occupied by greenstone-schist of the prevailing type.

Near the north-western boundary of the lease is a shaft of unknown depth, sunk upon a vertical reef of about 12 inches in thickness. The reef has a general north-eastern and south-western strike. So far as may be judged by the stone lying at grass the quartz [5754] contains oxide of iron, green carbonate of copper, carbonate of iron, together with a little red copper oxide. An assay of a characteristic sample [5754] of the ore yielded in the Survey Laboratory gold at the rate of Idwt. 15grs. per ton.

In addition to this there are two other reefs on the property, situated near the south-eastern boundary, and lying about 300 feet apart. The westernmost and most conspicuous of these forms the summit of a very prominent rise on the ground, and, as measured at the top, is from 20 to 25 feet in thickness. So far as may be seen the reef is vertical, and strikes a little to the west of north. About three feet to the west of this is a parallel reef of ice-like quartz, but of no horizontal extent. The eastern reef, about 300 feet distant, extends some considerable distance southwards, beyond the confines of the property.

The following table gives the yield of this property. The gold was entirely derived from the reef in shaft above mentioned : —

Table showing the Yield of the Princept Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate. per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Cutty Sark, G-.M.L. 521. — Messrs. Skogsberg and Svensen. This property is an old lease, the Cutty Sark, which has been resurveyed, and part of it is now held as Q.C. 142. The reef worked on this lease has an average strike of 305 degrees, and appears to be the same as that which enters the property near the north-east angle of the lease.

A vertical shaft 74 feet in depth has been sunk by the present holders of the property, and the stone stoped out from a depth of 60 feet ; the reef is said to have been four feet in thickness. From the bottom of the shaft crosscuts six feet in length have been put in east and west respectively. Owing to the state of the country Tock it is stated that work had to be abandoned at this level. At the date this property was visited, access could not be obtained below 33 feet from the surface ; at this depth is a large body of quartz five to six feet thick, it is however merely a somewhat larger bulge on the reef than usual.

There are about 18 to 20 tons of quartz raised and awaiting crushing. The quartz at grass shows gold freely, it contains the red oxide, and the blue and green carbonates of copper in relatively small quantities, in addition to a little galena.

The only crushings from this reef were recorded in 1898 and 1904.

Table showing the Yield of the Cutty SarJc Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Tom Thumb, Q.C. 128 (141). — Trangmar. This property was originally embraced within the boundaries of G-.M.L. 519, the Carnoustie.

A good deal of work must have been done upon this property by the previous owners of the ground, but most of these workings are inaccessible at the present time.

A vertical shaft 94 feet in depth has been sunk through almost vertical beds of chlorite schist [5756].

At 65 feet is a level, vshich has been put in along the strike of the country for a distance of 40 feet to the west. The face of the drive connects with the old workings, the end of the rich chute being at this point, and the stone, merely thin lenticular veins along the folise, being stoped out to the surface from the westernmost old shaft.

The quartz lenticules, of a totally different type to those occurring in Kopcke's leader, are said to attain a thickness of 12 inches in places. At the foot of the main shaft a quartz reef was met with and a fairly large body of water was encountered, at the point at which the stone was first intersected. The water is stand- ing in the shaft at 85 feet from the surface. From stone shown to me, it appears that the quartz lenticules must be very rich in places.

Table showing the Yield of the Tom Thumb Beef.

Year.

Ore

crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

1903*

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Previous to 1903 the yield was included under the heading of Sundry Claims. In 1898, however, the official statistics show that 45'40 tons of ore crushed from the Carnoustie reef yielded 178-llozs., or at the rate of 3-92ozs. per ton. This, how- ever, in all probability was obtained from the reef outcropping just outside the north-east angle of the claim, as shown in the Geological Sketch Map of Warrawoona.

Golden G-ate, G.M.L. 607 (now Q.C. 137).— The unsurveyed quartz claim, 137, originally embraced by the Golden Gate Lease, G.M.L. 607, lies some little distance to the south of the Tom Thumb. The workings, however, are inaccessible ; the main shaft is reputed to have reached a depth of 76 feet, and the reef stated to have consisted of lenticular quartz veins occurring along the planes of foliation of the talc-chlorite schist [5755].

Table showing the Yield of the Golden Gate Reef.

Tear.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

(16-40 I *6-00

Total

118*50

Dollied and Specimens.

Seven Dials, Gr.M.L. 605. — The Seven Dials property, now abandoned, lies at the north-western extremity of what may be <;alled the Bow Bells-G-auntlet Zone, as may be seen by an inspection of the Greological Sketch Map of Warrawoona. {Plate III.)

The reef prospected enters the property near the north-western iDoundary, and, after a somewhat sinuous course, leaves it by the south-eastern boundary, not far from the north-east angle of the lease. So far as may be seen in an opencut on the surface, the reef underlays to the north-east at 65 degrees, and varies from two to three feet in thickness. The reef appears to be somewhat faulted along the outcrop, though the horizontal displacement is not more than three or four feet in each case. A vertical shaft (Fig. 8), 28 feet in depth, has been sunk at a point 34 feet north-east from the outcrop. The shaft has been carried down through a narrow belt of a fine micaceous schist.

Fig. 8.

SECTION ACROSS THE SEVEN DJA15 REEF 6Ali.€05WARRAWOOMA PILBARA 6.F

Chance, G.M.L. 534. — This lease, now abandoned, occurs a few feet to the north-west of G.M.L. 531.

Work has been concentrated upon a somewhat similar deposit to that occurring in G.M.L. 531. At the outcrop the section across the vein from west to east is as follows : — Quartz, six inches ; for- mation, eight inches; quartz, 12 inches; formation, 12 inches; quartz, three feet six inches. An underlay shaft has been put down to an unknown depth, but being inaccessible, no particulars as to the nature and behaviour of the reef underground are available.

The quartz [5769] is almost pure white, and contains oxide of iron small quantities of green carbonate of copper, and chalcedony.

Lying in the vacant triangular piece of ground between this lease and Gr.M.L. 531 is an underlay shaft, which has been put down to an unknown depth, upon a thin vein of quartz underlying north- wards. Workings along the outcrop further down the hill show the vein to attain a maximum thickness of 12 inches.

The returns of a small crushing in the year 1898 are shown in the table below.

Table showing the Yield of the Chance Beef.

Ore

Gold

Eate

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

May-be, G.M.L. 531. — This lease is abandoned, and no work had evidently been done upon it for some considerable time past. As may be seen by an inspection of the geological sketch map, it will be noticed that the northern portion of the property is traversed by thp main laminated quartz vein, which forms what may be called the backbone of Warrawooua ; this quartz vein has been traversed by three faults which have had the effect of shifting the outcrop a few feet in each case. All the work on the lease centred on the quartz reefs occurring on the south side of the laminated quartz vein. On the summit of a hill near the south-west angle of the lease is an open cut, 20 feet in length, exposing about an inch of quartz encased in a banded (partly silicified) greenstone [5768], the foliation planes of which underlie at an angle of 60 degrees northerly. The quartz leader lies along a compression fracture, which from its geological position may represent the north-western extension of Kopcke's leader.

Bow Bells Block No. 1, G-.M.L. 524.— This is an old abandoned lease adjoining G.M.L. 523 on the north-west; it embraces a narrow strip of the northern portion of Bow Bells lo. 1 West {q.v.). A few tons of stone have been crushed from this lease in 1898, as shown in the table ; it is probable that this stone was raised from the reef in the inaccessible vertical shaft, of which mention is made in the description of the reefs on G.M.L. 593.

Table showing the Yield of the Bow Bells Block No. 1 Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

10*50

ozs.

87

Bow Bells No. 1 West, Gr.M.L. 593. — An abandoned 24- acre lease adjoining the Bow Bells on the north-west. As may be seen by an inspection of the geological map, there are seven quartz reefs traversing the lease in addition to the main laminated quartz vein. The principal work has been done upon a reef outcropping near the northern boundary of the lease. A vertical shaft, now filled up, had been put down to an unknown depth on the slope of the northern wall of the valley, traversing the ground, and con- nects with the surface lower down by a tunnel about 100 feet in length, driven on a bearing of 35 degrees. The face of the tunnel is filled with debris falling down the shaft, so that nothing what- ever can be seen of the reef. The mouth of the vertical shaft shows 9; good solid body of quartz, varying from two to four feet in thick- ness. This stone in all probability represents the continuation of the large reef outcropping to the north of main shaft on the Bow Bells lease, distant about 400 feet. At the mouth of the tunnel is a heap of quartz [5770] showing free gold, in addition to muscovite, which is partly chromiferous and partly stained by limonite, iron pyrites, and chalcopyrite.

Another reef outcropping 18 feet north of the laminated quartz vein, forming the southern wall of the valley. The shaft is inac- cessible, but as measured to the surface of the water at present standing in it, is at least 32 feet deep.

A little stone has been raised, and now lies at the mouth of the shaft. It contains [5771] muscovite, which is partly chromiferous, ferruginous wad, and limonite. The reef varies from one to three feet in thickness, and has such a strike as would carry it into the laminated quartz vein some distance to the west.

Bow Bells, G.M.L. 505. — The Bow Bells lease comprises an area of 12 acres, and was originally taken up by Messrs. Royer, Barnes, and Burroughs in the year 1898; it eventually passed into the hands of the present holders. The British Exploration Company of Australia, in 1901.

The lease, as may be seen by the Geological Sketch Map of Warrawoona, lies in the same zone as that which embraces the Gauntlet Mine, G.M.L. 483, from which it is distant about 100 chains to the north-west. The surface of the lease is occupied by greenstone schists and allied rocks, and the southern boundary of the property is traversed by the band of laminated quartz, which extends across the lease from end to end.

As shown by the large scale plan of the mine (Plate IV.), there are seven reefs upon the property.

The Northern Beef (No. 3 shaft), extends along the surface for a distance of about 80 feet, and underlies at a high angle to the north-east ; the thickness of the reef as showing at the surface is

12 inches. The shaft bj which the reef is worked is 39 '63 feet above the level of the main (or Horseshoe) shaft, and has been carried down to a depth of 45 feet 9 inches. The shaft was inaccessible, but I was informed bj the Manager (Mr. Hanemann) that at the bottom the reef proved to be small and poor. At a point about 50 feet north of the shaft, and along the outcrop of the same reef, is a shallow shaft, showing about 12 inches of quartz. No. 2 tunnel, 1-08 feet above the main shaft and 70 feet from it, was started with the object of intersecting the reef in No. 3 shaft, but after being carried in 8 or 10 feet, through country rock, it was apparently abandoned, and is now used as a store.

What may be called the Horseshoe Beef is worked from the main shaft, which has been sunk at the most convenient spot in the fork of the reef. The northernmost leg of the reef, as may be seen by the plan of the reefs (Plate IV.) can be followed for a distance of about 260 feet northwards, at which point it gradually tapers out to a thin vein of quartz, considerably less than an inch in thickness. At the bend of the horseshoe, the reef is about five feet in thickness. The southern leg of the reef can be followed, with a varying thick- ness, traversing No. 2 shaft, for a distance of about 150 feet, to a point at which it turns southerly, continuing on that course for a further distance of 50 feet, whence it gradually disappears. The main shaft, which has been carried down 106 feet 2 inches verti- cally, intersects the southern leg of the reef at No. 1 level, put in at a depth of 91 feet 6 inches ; this reef is about three feet in thickness. The northern leg of the reef is represented by the 12 inches of quartz, intersected in the northern drive at a point about 40 feet from the shaft. An eastern drive about 50 feet in length has been put in practically along the country rock forming the foot- wall side of the reef. A narrow quartz vein, however, occupied the centre of the drive, and may possibly represent the small vein showing on the surface, for about 30 feet west from the mouth of No. 2 shaft. The eastern drive has been carried south on a bearing of 171 degrees for a distance of 18 feet, through massive greenstone. It is contemplated continuing this with the object of intersecting the rich chute worked in the reef in No. 1 shaft, and hauling all the stone to be milled from the main shaft.

The Tunnel Workings. — The workings at No. 1 tunnel and No. 1 shaft, are the most extensive, and appear to be the most im- portant on the property. The mouth of the tunnel is 18-94 feet above the level of the main shaft, and has been carried in for a distance of 85 feet from the mouth to a point at which it intersects the reef, followed down from the surface in the workings from No. 1 shaft. Forty-five feet back from the face of the tunnel is a quartz reef two feet six inches in thickness, which in all probability repre- sents the northern leg of the main reef. On the surface at the mouth of No. 1 shaft the two legs of the reef are 20 feet apart, whilst in the tunnel, 59 feet vertically below, they are 40 feet apart.

Twenty-three feet from the mouth of the tunnel is a small reef of six inches underlying to the north-east, and which in all probability represents the feather edge of the middle or lens-shaped mass of quartz (the Middle Reef) shown on the plan (Plate IV.) as lying midway between the Main and the Horseshoe Eeefs. From the face of the tunnel, drives have been carried north and south for distances of GO and 60 feet respectively ; and for a length of 40 feet north- wards from the face of the tunnel the reef has been stoped out to the surface, and has produced, up to the end of 1903, 48370 tons of quartz, officially recorded as yielding 855-69ozs. of gold, or at the rate of l"76ozs. per ton. The reef can be followed with more or less interruption northwards, but to the southwards it appears to be represented by a mere thread of quartz. At a point about 60 feet south from the tunnel a crosscut has been put in 40 feet south from the drive, through more or less foliated greenstone, with thin films and threads of quartz along the foliation planes. At the face of the crosscut the laminated quartz vein has been pierced and proved to be 10 feet in thickness, with an underlie of 65 degrees to the north-east. There does not seem to beany distinct line of demarca- tion between the country rock and the vein ; the whole appearance suggesting a gradual replacement of the original rock along lines of maximum compression or foliation. On the footwall side of the vein is a body of quartz of as yet unknown thickness; in its general appearance, this quartz closely resembles some of the auriferous quartz of other portions of the field, and on that account seems worthy of being, at least, opened out and prospected. From the foot of the main shaft, and at the face of the tunnel, a winze, No. 1, has been carried down on the reef 77 feet 6 inches ; this winze, which was inaccessible below 24 feet from the drive, has been put down on the footwall side of the chute followed above. 'No. 2 winze, however, about 20 feet to the north has been put down in the centre of the chute, and carried down 83 feet. The chute, which underlies north, leaves the winze at about 40 feet. The reef in this winze is very strong, and in places large, attaining as much as eight to 10 feet in thickness ; at the foot of the winze, owing to a large bulge in the reef, its exact width had not been ascertained at the time of my visit. An intermediate level connects the two winzes at 24 feet six inches below the drive ; about 200 tons of ore have been taken out above, and now await crushing. The quartz [5782] has a very ice-like appearance, and contains small scales of sericitic (?) mica, and irregular patches of serpentine. A sample of it assayed gold at the rate Idwt. per ton. It is contemplated intersecting this chute from No. 1 level in the main (Horseshoe) shaft by a crosscut put in from the face of the eastern drive, as may be seen in the section (Plate IV.). The width of the chute appears to be about 35 or 40 feet.

There are many points of similarity between the geology and economic features of this property and the Gauntlet. The ore deposits in each case belong to one and the same type, and both occur in the same mineral zone.

So far as may be seen by a careful inspection of the surface it appears as though a considerable amount of faulting has gone on. The inferred position of these faults has been indicated upon the plan which forms Plate IV.

The following table gives the yield of the reefs on this property : —

Table showing the Yield of the Bow Bells Beefs

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Kate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

55*00

152-4<0

2*77

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Total

855*69

Adjoining the Bow Bells Lease on the north, and on the ground taken up for a battery site, is another very conspicuous quartz reef. This bold reef, which outcrops at about 40 feet from the boundary of the Bow Bells lease, measures about 20 feet in its widest part, and can be followed along the surface for about 484 feet. The eastern end of the reef bifurcates, and both horns of the fork gradually dwindle out to threads of quartz. The western end of the reef is about 50 feet from the north-west angle of Gr.M.L.

Great Western, G.M.L. 502. — An abandoned 12-acre lease lying in the main belt some distance to the south-east of the Bow Bells. Some desultory work has been done upon a well defined reef, varying from 1 to 5 feet in thickness. The reef occurs in a very much crushed greenstone. The quartz in places contains veins and eyes of banded bright green serpentine [5772] which present every appearance of having been produced by shearing. The reef is in all probability along (or parallel to) the same line of fracture which carries the Main Bow Bells Reef. The quartz is of a white colour, and practically destitute of any other mineral, except a very little pyrites, closely associated with the green serpentine previously referred to. A parallel reef occurs near

the south-eastern angle of the lease, but no work has been done upon it.

In 1898, when the property was visited by the then Inspector of Mines, Mr. G-ladstone, about 100 tons of quartz had been raised from the first lease, and awaited treatment. No separate crushings from this lease appear in the returns; any returns are in all probability included under the heading of the yield from sundry claims.

A tunnel had been put in 55 feet on a bearing of 223 degrees, on the vacant ground lying between this lease and that adjoining G-.M.L. 595 ; the tunnel had been carried through decomposed schist underlying to the north-east. At about 35 feet from the mouth of the tunnel there is about from six to eight inches of quartz exposed, which represents the continuation of the reef opened up in G-.M.L. 502 ; the face of the tunnel exposes a thin vein of quartz of from two to three inches in thickness.

Gauntlet No. 3 Nor'-West, G.M.L. 595 {late Gift).— This abandoned 24-acre lease is traversed by two principal reefs which have been worked at one time or another by three shafts. The most northerly shaft, which is inaccessible, has been sunk to a depth of 15 feet on a reef having a general strike of 107 degrees, with a high underlay to the north. A little stone has been taken out from the reef, which, judging from the ore at grass, had a maximum thickness of 12 inches. So far as may be seen in the sides of the shaft the reef is represented by three or four quartz veins about a couple of inches in thickness. The same reef has been opened up at intervals along the outcrop for a distance of about 100 feet eastwards from the shaft; in one place the reef measures from two to three feet across. A very little stone has been raised and is now stacked ; the quartz is of a pure white colour and contains small quantities of iron ore ; a sample [5774] of it assayed gold at the rate of Idwt. 15grs. per ton.

The principal workings on the lease, however, are on the vein lying to the south-west of the laminated quartz vein and about 148 feet from it. Two shafts, 94 feet apart, have been put down upon the vein. The south-eastern shaft (No. 2) is inaccessible, and no information is available ; the vein has been opened up along the surface for a distance of 38 feet along the outcrop south-east from this shaft, but owing to the condition of the workings little is to be seen of it. No. 1, or the westernmost shaft, is distant 94 feet from No. 2, and the stone has been worked right to the surface between the two but from what depth cannot be ascertained. This shaft, the depth of which is unknown, has water standing in it to about 35 feet from the surface, and is now used as a well. Owing to the influx of water, it is asserted, the property had to be abandoned.

Fig. 9 gives a section across the reef, which lies along a line of fault, the hanging wall of which is marked by a somewhat puckered and greatly slickensided vein of quartz.

Fig. 9.

Section Across The Gift Reef G M.L.595. Warrawoona Pil8Ara G F

/GifiPeefs/offg/mofdu/t zmite Qudrl SB/d((/uii

This vein is the continuation of Kopcke's Leader.

The following table gives the yield of this reef so far as can be ascertained from official data.

Table showing the Yield of the Gift Reef.

Ore

Gold

Eate

Year.

Crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Totals

Golden G-atjntlet, G.M.L., 506. — This lease adjoins the Gift, on the east ; a fair amount of work has been done at the north-west end of the property, on a reef which occurs, as may be seen by an inspection of the geolocical map, in close proximity to where the main laminated quartz vein is traversed by the green- stone dyke [5773].

A tunnel has been put into the face of the hill on a bearing of 240 degrees, for a distance of about 75 feet. At 34 feet from the mouth of the tunnel, the laminated quartz vein has been met with,

and passed through at 47 feet, giving a thickness of 13 feet ; the vein underlays to the north-east at 85 degrees. At the face of the tunnel the decomposed rock is much less foliated than that exposed in the rest of the tunnel, thus indicating a gradual decrease in foliation as one approaches, and receded from the quartz vein. There does not appear to have been much obtained from this tunnel, which would seem to have been driven for the purpose of exploring the laminated quartz vein at some depth below its outcrop. Two shafts, now inaccessible, have been put down on a large reef situated a little distance to the north of the tunnel which has an average strike of 146 degrees. The most northerly shaft, 35 feet deep, is distant 95 feet from the southernmost ; from the foot of the northern shaft a drive has been put in along the reef in both directions, but no particulars are obtainable. The thickness of the reef as measured on the outcrop, close to the northern shaft, is 20 feet, and probably merely represents the widest portion of a bulge in the reef. The quartz is of a bluish white colour, and appears to contain no accessory minerals. A fair quantity of outcrop stone has been stacked and awaits crushing.

Table showing the Yield of the G-olden Gauntlet Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Gauntlet, G.M.L. 483. — The Gauntlet Lease was originally taken up in the year, 1898, by Mr. R. H. Mackenzie ; it comprises an area of 12 acres, and has been responsible for a yield of 3,693ozs. of gold, or 2-86ozs. for everv ton of ore milled up to the close of

The surface of the lease is occupied by greenstone schists and allied rocks, whilst skirting the southern boundary is a continuous and conspicuous band of laminated quartz about 10 feet in thickness. The foliated greenstone contams large crystals of iron ore, identical with those weathering out of the massive variety.

There are practically four principal reefs, i.e., reefs upon which any work has been done, on the ground, the longest having a length along the outcrop of at least 400 feet, and the shortest about 100 feet (Plate V.). When the position of the reefs is accurately laid down upon a plan, it is noticed that they exhibit, with minor variations, a rude parallelism, the general strike being north-west and south-east, which coincides with that of the foliation and dominant structural features of the district. About 45 feet north of the band of laminated quartz is a fairly continuous quartz reef outcropping for about 500 feet from the north-western boundary of the property. This reef attains a thickness of about two feet in

places, though as a rule very thiu, it is perhaps the one which exiiibits the greatest linear persistence on the lease.

The South Reef. — The South Reef, which has been opened up bj means of a tunnel and several small open-works, can be traced across the surface for about 140 feet. The tunnel has been driven about 31 feet in a southerly direction; at its mouth the reef, merely an exceptionally large lenticular mass of quartz, the maximum thick- ness of which measures 2 feet 3 inches, has been exposed. The country rock in the tunnel is decomposed schist, with small lenticular " eyes " of quartz developed along shear planes. The open-works on this line merely expose a similar succession of quartz lenticules. In view of the fact that their mode of occurrence is identical with those on that important line, Kopcke's Leader (q.v.), and that they are said to be appreciably auriferous, this line would seem to merit a certain amount of judicious prospecting.

The Main Beef.— As developed to the south of the main shaft, from which it is distant 40 feet, the main reef has a continuous outcrop of 132 feet; the eastern end of the outcrop originates as a mere thread of quartz, which orradually increases in size until it reaches a maximum thickness of 10 feet. At the western extremity, where it is truncated by a fa,ult, to which reference will be made later, the reef is about six feet in thickness. As shown in the large open cut at the surface, the main reef is intersected by two faults, making an angle of about 55 degrees. What may be called the main or cross fault has a general strike of 163 degrees, and the strike fault, 110 degrees. Fig. 10 shows what may be called the " compound " nature of the reef as exposed in the open cut, the tunnel, and the lowest portion of the workings at the present time. There is a total thickness of about 16 feet of quartz exposed in the open cut, 14 feet in the tunnel, and about 12 feet at the bottom workings. The main reef has been opened up by means of a vertical shaft (the main shaft) 126 feet 6 inches in depth and a tunnel 168 feet in length. The shaft, which is eight feet by four feet, intersected the reef at 101 feet from the surface, and had been carried down through a foliated green rock. East and west drives, 95 and 201 feet respectively, have 'been put in at 101 feet; at 116 feet in the shaft is water level, of which there is 10 feet standing.

The tunnel has been put in at a point 85 feet west of the main shaft, about 20 feet vertically below it, and intersects the bottom of the open cut previously alluded to. At about 32 feet from the mouth of the tunnel a winze has been carried down along the plane of the fault to the western end of the drive from the main shaft 87 feet vertically below the level of the floor of the tunnel. Fig. 10 is a section of the reefs, etc., seen in the tunnel at the foot of the open-cut. From this point the tunnel has been carried through foliated country rock, with quartz leaders ; on nearing the face of the tunnel the schist becomes much more siliceous, suggesting the proximity of the laminated quartz vein which occupies the surface of the southern boundary of the lease.

The whole of the stone has been taken out from the floor of the tunnel to the surface, 38 feet vertically above it, and from this spot practically the whole of the 3,693ozs. of gold, as shown in the return

Fig. 10.

appended, was obtained. From what can be seen in this portion of the mine, it appears that the ore chute lies in, or in close proximity to, the acute angle formed by the two principal faults alluded to previously ; the positions of these are delineated on the plan of the reefs and underground workings (Plate V.).

The main reef has been met with in the west level, opened out from the end of the crosscut, 38 feet in length, south from the main shaft. The reef first makes its appearance as a mere thread of quartz at a point in the drive 23 feet east from the centre of the crosscut; at this spot it measures from six to eight inches in thickness, and gradually increases towards the face. At one point in the drive the reef measures fully eight feet of solid quartz ; powerfully slickensided faces on the foot-wall demonstrate that the reef occurs along a line of fault. The slickensides hade in the same direction as the underlay of the reef, to the northwards. The end of this level intersects the winze from the tunnel overhead, and has been carried down 16 feet 6

inches from the floor of the drive. At the mouth of the winze the main reef measures three feet nine inches ; whilst at its foot it is four feet eight inches, with a thin band of schist. Thirteen feet from the north face is a second reef of 24 inches, separated from a third of three feet by ten inches of schist. This section agrees in the main with that occurring in the tunnel at the foot of the open cut, in that there are three bodies of quartz separated by varying thii-knesses of schist. The main fault leaves the south drive at a point 26 feet from the foot of the winze on the eastern wall, and does not appear to have been followed. The drive is continued about 22 feet from this point on the western wall of the fault through schist containing thin ribbons of quartz and small cubical crystals of pyrites. An important feature in this winze is an almost horizontal fault, or thrust plane, hading to the north at about five degrees, with a horizontal displacement of from 12 to 18 inches to the rise. The fault fissure measures less than six inches filled with quartz, which may merely represent a flat leader of secondary origin. The floor of the drive, as ascertained by a trench put in across the mullock with which it had been filled, showed that the reef occurred below the horizontal fault. Free gold is showing freely in the solid stone [5785]- The bottom of the winze is at water level.

The main fault traverses the whole breadth of the lease, and abruptly truncates a bold reef lying some distance north of the north-eastern boundary of the property. There seems to be good reason to regard the reef lymg to the west of the fault, and about 120 feet from the mouth of the tunnel, as being the western extension of the main reef. This reef lies near the centre of the lease, and makes a bold outcrop of nearly 300 feet in length ; it is, in places, of considerable thickness, and the general mineralogical character of the quartz agrees very closely with that which forms the main reef itself. This possible extension of the main reef, more especially where it is truncated by the fault, has not been prospected. I understand appreciable quantities of gold have been obtained there. There are two other smaller reefs, shown on the plan (Plate V.), in close proximity to this one ; these also have not been prospected.

The East Beef. — The East Reef, as showing on the surface, has an outcrop of 276 feet in length, and a width of about eight feet in its widest part ; both ends of the outcrop are represented by thin threads of quartz. The reef has been opened up both from the main shaft and the east shaft, which is 95 feet in vertical depth, and has been sunk on the reef the whole way. The reef makes its appearance in the eastern drive from the main shaft at a point about 50 or 60 feet from the eastern shaft, where it is represented by a thread of quartz, which gradually increases in thickness until it occupies the full width of the roof of the drive, and attains a maximum thickness of eight feet. There is at this level a blank space of about 50 feet between the end of the main and the east reef, though at the surface the

extent of dead ground is not so great. At the surface the two extremities of the reef are about 14 feet apart in a direction at right angles to the underlay, and, underground, at 100 feet vertically below, the distance is barely 10 feet. Beyond the stone taken out of this reef in sinking the shaft, driving the level, and a little from the small open cut on the surface, no further work has been done. The foot of the eastern shaft also exposes a reverse fault. Fig. 11, which has a throw of about two feet, and a hade of 35 degrees to north 75 degrees east.* The quartz exposed in the shaft averages about three feet in thickness.

The North Beef. — The North Reef lies on the opposite side of the valley which traverses the central portion of the G-auntlet lease longitudinally, at a considerable elevation above the lowest portion of the ground. The reef outcrops at an average distance of about 90 feet from the north-eastern boundary of the lease, and occupies the surface for a distance of about 440 feet. The north-western end of the outcrop of the reef bifurcates, with an extension of the reef to the north-east of about 40 feet. At this point the stone, which is about four feet thick, is abruptly truncated by a fault, which also cuts off a larger reef, 160 feet in length, at a point about 200 feet to the south-east. This latter reef makes a very pronounced outcrop, and is of considerable thickness. A vertical shaft, 29 feet deep, has been sunk at a point near the thickest portion of the north reef, but beyond this no other work has been done upon it.

By an error Fig. 11 gives the section as being in the main reef, whereas it should be the east reef.

The following table gives the yield of this lease, the gold Tiaving been entirely derived from the stone occurring at the faulted extremity of the main reef : —

Table showing the Yield of the Gauntlet Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.'

2,269-00

mi

Nil

Nil

Total

1,289*30

3,693 55

Rangatira, Gr.M.L. 491. — An abandoned lease, adjoining the Gauntlet, on the south. The property is traversed by two reefs, upon which a little desultory work has been done. A small crushing, particulars of which are given below, has been obtained from this lease.

Table showing the Yield of the Rangatira Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

60

Gauntlet East, G.M.L. 560. — The north-western boundary of this lease is traversed by what may be the faulted extension of the East Reef of the Gauntlet. An inaccessible vertical shaft has been sunk upon it, but nothing can be seen of the reef and its behaviour underground. To the eastward and not far to the west of the Treble Event boundary, a tunnel 55 feet in length has been driven on a bearing of 296 degrees, through a fine-grained quartz schist [5789] traversed by a deposit of the leader type. Nothing, however, beyond this has been done on the property.

There do not appear to have been any crushings recorded from this lease, unless such are included in the yield of those from sundry claims.

Imperialist, G.M.L. 564. — The Imperialist reef lies about 400 feet to the south of what may be called the main reef series of Warrawoona. The reef can be followed more or less interruptedly along the surface for a distance of at least 2,200 feet south-east, and as may be seen by an inspection of the Geological Sketch Map (Plate III.), there seems to be good reason to believe that it may extend much further than this.

The Imperialist has been exploited hj three principal shafts, all of which are situated near the western extremity of the outcrop. No work was being carried out at the date the proyjerty was visited and the main shaft had been dismantled.

The westernmost shaft (now filled in) is situated near the western extremity of the outcrop of the reef, which at this point strikes 101 degrees. Judging by the condition of the dump and the workings a fair amount of work must have been done from this shaft. Between this point and the Central shaft, 114 feet distant, the reef has been opened out at one or two plaijes, and about 12 inches of quartz exposed. A considerable amount of work has obviously been done from the Central shaft ; this shaft, which exposes from 6 to 12 inches of quartz, is inaccessible. The main shaft bears 97 degrees from the Central, and is 83 feet distant from it. Water stands in the shaft at 80 feet from the surface. The quartz lying at the mouth of the shaft contains fragments of ser- pentine [5775] — a sample of this quartz yielded, on assay in the Survey laboratory, gold at the rate of Idwt. 15grs. per ton — -and large veins of calcite [5776], some of which are 12 inches in thick- ness. The calcite yielded a minute trace of gold per ton. The country rock of the reef is [6777] a talc-chlorite schist. The quartz of the Impei'ialist, so far as may be judged by the stone in the dump, seems to be a replacement of the country rock.

Near the north-east angle of the lease is another parallel reef of from six to eight inches in thickness, upon which a fair amount of work has been done. The reef has been stoped out to the surface from a depth of 20 or 30 feet ; the workings, however, are inaccessible. The country rock is schist of the prevailing type. The quartz is traversed by a small vein of calcite. There are three other more or less parallel reefs in the vicinity of the Imperialist, but no work appears to have been done upon any of them.

The following table gives the yield of the Imperialist reef : —

Table showing the Yield of the Imperialist Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Kate per ton.

tons.

Nil

ozs.

Nil

ozs.

Totals

Treble Event, G.M.L. 573.— This six-acre lease adjoins the Dodger on the west. Two apparently deep shafts have been put down upon what appears to be the north-western extension of the

Dodger Reef. Nothing, however, can be seen of the reef at the present time. A small trial crushing, of a little over three tons, has been recorded from this reef in 1902, with the results as shown in the table below : —

Table showing the Yield of the Treble Event Reef.

Ore

Gold

Rate

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Dodger, G-.M.L. 587. — Two shafts have been sunk on a reef, which lies a short distance to the north of the laminated quartz vein, and parallel to it, but at the present time nothing can be seen of the nature of the reef and its behaviour underground.

Klondyke Boulder Block, G-.M.L. 577. — No work has apparently been done upon this property, which was evidently taken up with the object of intersecting the Klondyke Boulder Group of reefs at depth on the underlie.

Princess of Alaska, G.M.L. 489. — This is an old abandoned lease which included within its boundaries the three leases 573, 587, and 577. Two small crushings have been recorded from this in 1898 and 1899, but there is, however, nothing to indicate at the present time whether the stone was obtained from the Treble Event, G.M.L. 573 (q.v.), or the Dodger, G.M.L. 587 (q.v.).

Table showing the Yield of the Princess of Alaska Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

Klondyke Boulder, G.M.L. 604 (late 476).— This 12-acre lease, which has turned out 2,356oz8. of gold, or at the rate of 2-40ozs. per ton of ore milled, was originally granted to Messrs. Hall and Cook in the year 1898, and was numbered 476. The lease was subsequently re-numbered 604 on its being conditionally surrendered in 1901.

A considerable amount of work has been done upon the property since it was first exploited, but at the date the locality was visited, the lease being under exemption and the main working

full of water, access underground could not be obtained; there- appear to be no plans of the workings, hence no information as to the nature and behaviour of the reef below surface is available.

As maj be seen by an inspection of the Geological Map (Plate III.), it will be noticed that the surface of the lease is occupied by greenstone schist; the north-eastern portion of the ground is traversed bv a narrow but persistent band of very much sheared greenstone, which forms a very pronounced feature on the surface. This band lies about an average distance of 100 feet south of the conspicuous laminated quartz vein which traverses the field.

All the reefs lie to the south of the laminated quartz vein ; they, however, do not occur in that zone which embraces the Bow Bells and the Gauntlet reefs. The Klondyke Boulder reefs present many features in common with those of the two properties men- tioned above. The position of the reefs, etc., is shown on the plan which forms Plate VI.

There are two distinct types of ore deposits on the property, the most persistent being that which may be conveniently termed the leader, which trends generally north-west and south-east, and has an outcrop of not less than 650 feet ; the second type beings that of the main reef, which has a much more westerly trend than that of the leader.

The Leader has been opened up at six or seven places on the lease, but in only one spot (E) does any very serious attempt appear to have been made to exploit it. At this spot a vertical shaft had been put down on a shear plane underlying at a very high angle to the south-west. The shaft proved to be inaccessible ; but from what could be seen on the south-eastern wall the reef consisted of eye-shaped masses of quartz encased in slickensided faces of older quartz, about three to four inches in thickness. There is every geological reason for believing that this reef is merely the north-western extension of Kopcke's leader (q.v.).

The Main Reef consists of a vein of quartz, having an outcrop measuring about 130 feet in length ; it has been worked by means- of two shafts, B and C. Shaft B measures 25 feet in depth, and from it is an open cut 83 feet in length, in which a somewhat tortuous quartz reef is exposed ; little, however, is to be seen of it at the present time, though in one place there is about 12 inches of quartz exposed. At the south-west end of the open cut, and about three feet from the main reef and on the north side of it, is a large lenticular mass of bluish-white quartz several feet in thickness. Its position is shown on the plan of the reefs forming Plate VI. There seem good reasons for believing the main reef and this lenticular mass of quartz to be separated by a fault hading to the north. Between this lens and shaft E is another boomerang (kylie) shaped mass of quartz about 80 feet in length. Shaft C, 21 feet north- wards from B, is also inaccessible. Water is standing in the shaft ;

to the top of the water is 84 feet. About 55 feet north-west from the shaft B is another vertical shaft 44 (?) feet deep, sunk with the intention of working the small reef, shown on the plan, outcropping for about 50 feet, and lying a little distance to the south.

To the north-west is a tortuous reef, which occupies the surface for about 140 feet. The reef, which is well seen in the open cut, along its outcrop is traversed by two faults, as shown on the plan (Plate VI.). The southernmost fault is continuous in a south- easterly direction and probably extends as far as that which truncates the reef outcropping at A, referred to later on.

At A is a quartz reef of three feet ten inches in thickness and 70 feet in length, cut off by an almost north and south fault. This fault, which is exposed in a shallow shaft nine feet deep, underlies in a direction north 65 degrees east at an angle of 24 degrees. A section is given on Plate YI. showing this fault; it is, however, taken across the reef and not in the direction of the true dip. There seem good grounds for believing this to be a reverse fault.

The main shaft workings are inaccessible, hence there are no data as to the nature, thickness, and other cognate points of the reef.

The following table shows the yield of this property : —

Table showing the Yield of the Klondyke Boulder Reef.

Ore

Gold

Eate

Year.

cnislied-

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

1,01616

2,450-93

Wheel of Fortune, G.M.L. 611 (formerly G-.M.L. 571, and Dawson City, G.M.L. 477).' — There are two well-defined reefs on the property, both of which lie some distance to the north of the conspicuous laminated quartz vein which occupies the southern boundary of the lease. Several shafts have been put down, to depths not known to me, upon that well-defined quartz reef, which lies about 100 feet north of the laminated quartz vein. In August, 1898, Mr. Inspector Gladstone mentions the depths of three of these shafts as being, respectively, 50, 85, and 50 feet, the latter one

being on a reef three feet in thickness. The reef, as exposed at the surface, is of that bluish-white colour, which characterises the reefs of Bow Bells and G-auntlet types.

Some of the quartz [5791] contains quantities of the red oxide and the green carbonate of copper, together with films of sericitic mica and a little serpentine. A sample of the characteristic cupriferous variety [6791] assayed in the Survey laboratory : gold, 4. 2grs. per ton, and copper 1'23 per cent. There have been four crushings recorded from this property, details of which are given in the table below : —

Tahle showing the Yield of the Wheel of Fortune Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom .

Kate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Nil

Nil

Totals

Nelson, G-.M.L. 514. — A shallow shaft has been sunk upon a prominent east and west reef, situated near the north-west angle of the property, but very little work appears to have been done upon it. A small trial crushing was obtained from this reef in the year 1898, with the result as shown in the table.

Tahle showing the Yield of the Nelson Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Bate per ton;

tons.

ozs.

6*29

ozs.

Klondyke ISTo. 1 West, G.M.L. 578 (formerly Klondyke No. 1,. G.M.L. 474). — The leader, lying to the south of the laminated quartz vein, traverses the whole length of the property, and all the work done on the lease appears to have been concentrated on it. Two inaccessible shafts have been put down on the leader, but at the present time there is nothing to be seen of anything underground.

Writing in 1898 Mr. Inspector Gladstone mentioned that the one shaft then sunk had attained a depth of 60 feet,, and exposed " a rich leader with three-feet lode formation."

The official returns shown in the table below demonstrate that the leader was rich, crushing nearly at the rate of 4iozs. per ton.

Table showing the Yield of the Klondyke No. 1 West Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Kate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

43*00

189*67

Klondyke Block, G.M.L. 507. — This 18-acre lease lies north of, and adjoins the Klondyke property. Six well-defined reefs traverse a portion of the property, but no serious work seems to have been done upon any of them. Two of the reefs are of the bluish colour which characterises the quartz of the Bow Bells and Gauntlet reefs.

A crushing of 37 tons has been recorded in the year 1898, the yield of which being shown in the table below : —

Table showing the Yield of the Klondyke Block Beef.

Ore

Gold

Rate

Tear.

criished.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Klondyke, Gr.M.L. 473 (now called the Klondyke Queen, Gr.M.L. 627.) — The Klondyke Lease comprises an area of six acres, and was originally taken up by Messrs. Poutt and Corboy in the year 1898 ; it eventually passed into the hands of the present owners Messrs. Royer and Elliott some time during the year 1903. This lease, as may be seen by the geological map, occupies the same zone as that which embraces the Klondyke Boulder mine, G.M.L. 604, from which it is distant 28 chains to the south-east. The surface of the property is occupied by the quartzitic rocks, and is traversed by the conspicuous vein of laminated quartz which forms the backbone of the district.

Judging by the condition of the surface a fair amount of work must have been done upon the lease; according to the official records 706*75 tons of ore have been raised, which yielded 4,700-76ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 6'65ozs. per ton of stone crushed.

When the property was visited the lease was not worked, and owing to there apparently being no plans of the workings, very little information as to the nature and behaviour of the deposits is available. The Klondyke reef, as may be seen by the geological map, lies a little distance to the north of the leader.

The Main Reef enters the lease on its eastern boundary, where it has been open cut for about 27 feet ; there is about a foot of quartz now showing. To a point about 117 feet east of this the reef has hardly been touched, it measures, however, four feet across ; at this point is the mouth of a tunnel, put in along the reef for a distance of at least 300 feet. Seventy-two feet from the mouth of the tunnel is a winze, inaccessible at the present time, and said to be 90 feet ; at this point there is 12 to 14 inches of quartz exposed over- head in the tunnel. The chute of gold followed from the mouth of the tunnel and by the winze is said to be 40 feet wide, with an underlay to the west. The reef has been practically stoped out to the surface to a point from the floor of the tunnel, about 129 feet from its mouth.

A vertical or main shaft connects with a point a few feet ta the south of the drive, at a distance of 258 feet from the entrance to the tunnel. Judging from the condition of the workings, the tunnel did not follow the main reef, but merely a thin spur going off to the west.

Free gold is showing in the stone on the outcrop at a point about 50 feet west from the main shaft.

The following table shows the yield of the Klondyke Keef : —

Table showing the Yield of the Klondyke Reef.

Total

tons.

Nil

Eate per ton.

ozs. 1,758-86 1,566-20 Nil

83-64*

4,784*40

ozs.

Includes 7'33ozs. obtained by cyaniding 9 tons of sands, the balance being returned from what is now known as the Klondyke Queen, G.M.L. 627. .

Klondyke No. 1 East, G-.M.L. 480. — This six-acre lease adjoins the Klondyke on the east, and is traversed by the leader, which crosses the whole length of the property.

A tunnel has been put in eastwards from the level of the creek, for an unknown distance, on a reef which bears 287 degrees

30 minutes. Further east along the outcrop is a vertical shaft 32 feet in depth, designed to connect with the tunnel below. The reef, as exposed on the surface, is about two feet in thickness. From its relative position there are good grounds for believing this reef to be the eastern extension of the Klondyke. There do not seem to have been any crushings from this property, unless such are included in returns from Sundry Claims.

Brought to Light, Gr.M.L. 516. — This three-acre lease lies within that zone which includes the Bow Bells and G-auntlet Reefs. There are four well-defined reefs outcropping on the property, but upon one only has any work been done, viz., that near the noith- west angle of the adjoining lease number 515. This reef has been opened out along the outcrop for a distance of 50 feet, and in the open cut a vertical shaft 21 feet in depth has been sunk on the reef, which is about 12 inches in thickness. So far as can be seen the reef appears to have petered out at the foot of the shaft.

A small crushing of a little over eight tons has been recorded from this reef, and its yield is shown in the table below.

Table showing the Yield of the Brought to Light Reef.

Tear.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

90

The Early Morn, Gr.M.L. 515. — There are two or three well- defined reefs outcropping on this property, but upon none of them has any work been done.

Klondyke No. 2 East, G.M.L. 481. — This lease adjoins the G.M.L. 478 on the north-west, and, like it, is traversed along its whole length by the leader. This, which occupies the southern portion of the property, has been opened out in one or two places.

A tunnel, the mouth of which is 35 feet north of the leader, and at a slightly higher level, has been put in, through vertical decom- posed schists, for a distance of 84 feet, on a bearing of north 35 degrees east. With the exception of a few irregular quartz leaders, nothing of any importance seems to have been met with. A vertical shaft, designed to intersect this tunnel, was commenced, but after being carried down 10 feet work was abandoned. A second tunnel, 20 feet in length, has been put in at some distance from the longer one, but so far nothing is to be seen. There are two other reefs lying to the north of the leader, but nothing has been done upon them.

There seems to have been no crushings recorded from this lease, unless any such are included in the returns from Sundry Claims.

Admiral Dewey, G.M.L. 500. — This twelve-acre lease is situated due south of and adjoins G.M.L.s 478 and 481. There are several reefs traversing the property, the most conspicuous and persistent being that vthich outcrops along the southern boundary of the lease. The outcrop of the. reef is interrupted in two places, as may be seen by an inspection of the plan. The country rock of these reefs is greenstone schist of the prevailing type. The only- work carried out on this property is near the centre of the northern boundary, where a trench 16 feet long has been put in across the summit of a narrow ridge to a depth of four or five feet, in which an irregular network of quartz veins and leaders is exposed. The strike of the leaders is parallel to the enclosing schists.

There appears to have been only one crushing recorded from this lease, as shown in the return.

Table showing the Yield of the Admiral Dewey Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

53

Klondyke King Blocks No. 1, G.M.L. 511. — This lease lies due north of and adjoins Gr.M.L. 578; it is traversed by two well- defined reefs, which lie within that zone, embracing the Gauntlet and the Bow Bells reefs.

No work of any kind, however, has been done upon these reefs.

Klondyke King, G.M.L. 478. — This six-acre lease adjoins the Klondyke Queen on the west, and, like it, is traversed by the leader, as well as two other reefs of minor importance on the north. The property, however, has long since been abandoned, though a fair quantity of work has apparently been done upon it.

A tunnel 44 feet in length has been put in on a bearing of 27 degrees through the schists to the leader, which has been connected with the surface by a shaft 31 feet deep. The workings from the tunnel are connected with another shaft 24 feet deep, and situated 48 feet to the west.

The leader, so far as it can be seen, does not present anv essential points of difference to that in other portions of the field.

Klondyke Queen, G.M.L. 488. — The leader traverses the whole length of the lease on the southern flanks of the laminated quartz vein, but the former does not appear to have been opened out at all. The only work done upon the property is the sinking of a vertical shaft 32 feet deep on a very short east and west reef situated at a point 54 feet north of the laminated quartz vein. An open cut extends south from the vertical shaft and exposes decom- posed country rock of the prevailing type.

The only crushing: recorded from this lease must have been taken from the east and west reef, previously alluded to. The returns are shown in the table below : —

Table showing the Yield of the Klondyke Queen Reef.

Ore

Gold

Bate

Year.

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Klondyke Queen Extended, G-.M.L. 503. — A small three- acre lease, adjoining the Dead Camel, on the north-west. The property is traversed by the north-western extension of the leader, a fair amount of work having been done along its outcrop, but only to a very shallow depth. There appear to have been no crushings recorded from this property, unless such are included in the returns from Sundry Claims.

To the south of G.M.L. 503 is a faulted inlier of quartzite, in the form of a large attenuated lens, of considerable length but no great breadth. This, however, is too small to be shown on the geological map accompanying the report.

Dead Camel, G.M.L. 475. — The "leader" is continuous through this property, and has been worked for about 100 feet along the outcrop.

A vertical shaft 91 feet in depth has been sunk at one point on the outcrop. Below a depth of 84 feet nothing can be seen of the leader, owing to the shaft being filled in. At the foot of the shaft, so far as can be at present seen, the reef is of the usual lens- shaped type : the lenses being up to eight inches in thickness, and up to 18 inches in depth.

Free gold is showing in the stone, in addition to pyrites and galena [5786] a-nd serpentine.

In addition to the leader there are two other quartz reefs on the property situated on the north side of the laminated quartz vein, but no work has been done upon them.

The returns from this reef are shown in the table below.

Table showing the Yield of the Dead Camel Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Bate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs,

Total

63*50

3'38

Saint George No. 1 West, G.M.L. 498. — The reef outcropping in the Saint George traverses the eastern portion of this lease, but little is to be seen. Mr. Inspector Gladstone reports that " an open cut has been worked on the reef. Two shafts have been started and are down* about 10 feet. The reef here is two feet six inches thick."

Saint George, G.M.L. 493.— The 12-acre lease, the Saint George, lies some distance to the north of the leader, and has evidently been abandoned for some considerable time. There has evidently been a good deal of work done on the reef at one time or another. Little or nothing, however, can be seen at the present time. Mr. Inspector Gladstone's report, previously alluded to, makes reference to this property in the following terms : — "This is one of the best of the eastern leases on the line. One shaft is down 45 feet, with an open cut about 20 feet. The reef varies from 10 to 15 inches and is very rich in gold. The first crushing gave llOozs. of gold from 11 tons of quartz." The quartz as showing in the face of the open cut near the shaft is pure white and about one foot in thickness.

The following table gives the yield of this reef: —

Table showing the Yield of the Saint George Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Saint Geoege No. 1 East, G.M.L. 499. — Very little work has been done on the reefs traversing this property. There are about three shallow pot-holes, from which about 3 tons of reputedly rich stone have been unearthed.

Last Chance, G.M.L. 540. — An abandoned lease. A fairly well-marked reef, from 12 to 18 inches in thickness, traverses the lease in a north-westerly and south-easterly direction, but beyond opening out the outcrop very little work appears to have been done upon it. The quartz is bluish-white, and contains a little pyrites.

Band of Hope, G.M.L. 533. — An abandoned six-acre lease adjoining G.M.L. 540 on the east. The main reef traversing the adjoining property crosses the northern portion of the Band of Hope ; there are also two other veins to the south of it on the ground, trending approximately in the same direction, but no serious work of any kind has been done upon them.

August, 1898.

Cuban, G-.M.L. 492. — A similar condition of affairs prevails on this property as on the Britannia,

The leader, which traverses the whole length of the lease, has been worked to a shallow depth along practically the whole length of the outcrop. At the present time no work is going on, and there is little or nothing to be seen. Mr. Inspector Gladstone's report of 1898 mentions a vertical shaft 20 feet deep, and allades to a trench 120 feet in length along the outcrop of the leader.

The following table shows the yield of the leader traversing the lease, as obtained from official sources.

Table showing the Yield of the Cuban Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Kate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Totals

215'41

Britannia, Gr.M.L. 484. — An abandoned six-acre lease, ad- joining the Eeward and G.M.L. 522 on the west.

A good deal of work has been done along Kopcke's leader, but little can be seen at the present time. Mr. Inspector Glad- stone, writing in 1898, metions a vertical shaft 27 feet in depth, and a trench 160 feet in length : none of these are accessible at the present time, hence no description can be given.

The following table gives the returns from this lease : —

Table showing the Yield of the Britannia Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

1'51

Kopcke's Reward Block, G.M.L. 522. — There are four short though well-defined reefs outcropping on this lease, but no work of any kind has been done upon them.

Reward Claim 94. — A good deal of work seems to have been done upon this lease. The leader has been worked for a length of 320 feet along the outcrop. There are two vertical shafts 80 feet apart. The western shaft attains a vertical depth of 50 feet, and has been put down on the western end of a slope, along the footwall of the vein. At the foot of the shaft is a quartz lenticule about three inches in thickness ; on the hanging wall side of the vein is about eight to twelve inches of laminated quartz, passing gradually into the softer decomposed (aluminous) country rock. The eastern shaft has been carried down to a vertical depth of 130 feet, but has been filled up to a depth of 100 feet. The largest of the quartz lenses exposed attains a maximum rhickness of 12 inches, and a minimum of a quarter of an inch. The quartz contains a little pyrites, green carbonate of copper, and a little galena, which latter occurs pretty well all along the leader. Free gold is showing in the stone at grass, of which there was about 40 tons awaiting crushing. The charges for crushing (30s.) and cartage (10s.) amount to about £2 per ton.

The following table gives the yield of this lease : —

Table showing the Yield of Kopche's Bevard Beef.

Gold 1 Ea'e therefrom. ! per ton.

tons.

ozs.

Total

351'55

1,03789

Whenna-pai, G.M.L. 532. — A small three-acre lease traversed by the leader, upon which a little work has been done, but the workings are inaccessible.

Daylight, G-.M.L., 496. — An abandoned six-acre lease adjoin- ing the Juneau on the west.

A good deal of work has been done at different points along the outcrop of the leader, which traverses the whole length of the property. A tunnel 45 feet in length has been put in eastward, close to the eastern boundary of the lease, and exposes quartz lenticules of the usual type. Mr. Inspector Grladstone, writing in

1898, noted the sinking of a vertical shaft 25 feet deep, but such was not accessible to me.

Juneau, Gr.M.L. 479.— An abandoned six-acre* lease adjoining the Criterion on the west. The only work done is an open cut about 120 feet in length put down to a maximum depth of 15 feet upon the line of lenticular quartz veins, the leader. As exposed in the open cut the width of one of these quartz lenses in two inches, and its depth 1 2 inches. About 100 feet south of the leader is a large ice-like quartz reef parallel to it, and outcropping for about 100 feet along the surface.

Two small crushings have been recorded from this lease, par- ticulars of which are given in the table below.

Table showing the Yield of the J uneau Reef

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

1898 ...

96

1899 ...

Total

Criterion, Gr.M.L. 508. — This property, now abandoned, lies at the south-eastern extremity of the long line of leases which extend across Warrawoona. A tunnel has been driven for a distance of 74 feet on a bearing of 208 degrees through decomposed schist inclined at a high angle to the north. At the face of the tunnel the main band of laminated quartz has been pierced. About a foot north from this is a quartz vein made up of small lenticules. Near the mouth of the tunnel is a vertical shaft measuring 29 feet in depth, but inaccessible at the present time. In addition to this and the tunnel, there are other workings, but as these are likewise inaccessible, no description can be given.

Near the south-eastern boundary of G.M.L. 508 (? on Lease 527, the Lucknow) is an open cut 60 feet in length, varying from 5 to 10 feet in depth, from which a vertical lenticular shaped quartz reef (or succession of quartz lenticules) has- been- extracted. This vein is the eastern extension of Kopcke's Leader. This open cut exposes a quartz reef underlying at '30 degrees in a direction of south 30 degrees east; there is a length of about 15 feet 4 inches exposed. At the surface the reef is 12 inches in thickness, and at

the bottom of the opeu cut, where it abuts against the leader, it has dwindled to four inches.

Table showing the Yield of the Criterion Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs. 41

Total

63

Lone Hand, G.M.L. 512. — The most easterly of all the leases embraced within the limits of the geological map. This property has been abandoned for some considerable time. Operations appear to have been confined to opening up a large and well-defined reef, which traverses the northern boundary of the property. The reef has been opened up in three places, along the outcrop, and where exposed, it varies in thickness from one to two feet. The quartz [5783] is white, and contains the following minerals, the numbers in parentheses indicating their relative frequency: — muscovite (3), limonite (3), malachite (2), pyrites (2), chalcopyrite (1), chalcedony (1), gold (1). In addition carbonate of iron is present in some parts. The reef which underlies to the south has a fairly long out- crop.

Sundry Claims from the District generally. — In addi- tion to the yield of the reefs described above, there are several others which it is impossible to specify, and the returns from which are given in the table below :—

Table showing the Yield from Sundry Claims, Warrawoona.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

Total

tons

ozs.

( 200-82

C 332-57 t433-30

ozs.

l-'96

§773-29

Alluvial. t Specimens. % Fine gold. § Alluvial an

specimens not included in total gold.

rnment Photolithorapher, Perth, W. A.

Explanation Of Colours And Signs

QUARTZITE, CONGLOMERATE, QUARTZ SCHIST, MICA SCH1ST& ALLIED SEDIMENTARY ROCKS., GREENSTONE, MAGNETITE, SERPENTINOUS SCHIST & ALLIED IGNEOUS ROCKS.

Granite

Felsite & Felspar Porphyry . -

Generalised Section Across Warrawoona

Length Of Section About Three And A Half Miles. Not Drawn Tc Scale.

BASIC DYKES Zof:

(uarT /ieefs - XaminatecKluarJdeefs — . Fauits

,,. . - ( MAKf£ OF GAUNTLET I

Minm Leases OF 433 Uxtinct: Leases

Machine Area M./i. nu,Stn ess- Area

Dip of Strata . Geo/offical BtyuncieLried

eOONDAfH£S J

B.A Rcsidencf Area fi.A

H.J.Pether. Government Photolithographer. Perth. W. A.

Of hiE

H. J Pether. Government Photolithographer. Perth. W. A.

iiBHAf(t

H.J Pettier. Government Photolithorapher Perth. W. A.

4ibHAftr Of THE

Synoptical Table showing the Yield of the Warrawoona Beefs up to the end of 1904.

Name of Reef.

Ore

Gold

Eate

crushed.

therefrom.

per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Admiral Dewey

53

Bow Bells

Bow Bells Block No. 1 ...

Britannia ...

Brought to Light

90

Carnoustie ...

Chance

Criterion

. *63

Cuban

Cutty Sark

Dead Camel

3*38

Gauntlet

1,289-30

3,693-55

Gift

Golden Gate

Golden Gauntlet

Imperialist

Juneau

Klondyke

4,784-40

Klondyke Block

Klondyke Boulder

1,016-16

2,450-93

Klondyke No. 1 West

Klondyke Queen

Nelson

Princept

Princess of Alaska

Rangatira ...

Eeward Claim 94

1,037-89

St. George ...

Tom Thumb

Treble Event

Wheel of Fortune

206*35

249*95

r 773-29

Sundry Claims

y

L t433-30

J

Cyaniding ...

:6-56

Total

5,70001

17,29418

Alluvial. t Specimens. % Nine tons of sands.

C.-MA!iBLE BAR.

(With a Geological Sketch Map and Section.)

Marble Bar is the official centre of the Pilbara (xoldfield, and the headquarters of the Warden, the Acting Inspector of Mines, and other officials. The relative position of the centre may be seen by a reference to the locality map which forms the frontispiece to this report. The locality derives its name from the picturesque "bar" of jasper which crosses the Coongan Eiver, about two and a" half miles to the south-west of the township. The district has had

a somewhat chequered career, and the feverish activity which at one time prevailed has given place to more prosaic conditions.

The mining centre of Marble Bar forms the westernmost extension of that auriferous zone referred to as the Marble Bar, Warrawoona, Yandicoogina, and Mount Elsie G-roup.*

A geological sketch map, to which is attached a generalised section across the field, designed to illustrate its salient structural features, accompanies this report (Plate VIZ.). As was the case in most of the other mining fields of the State, by far the larger portion of the area was practically a blank upon any of the existing maps, operations had to be commenced by preparing a plan of the more immediate vicinity of the mines.

Marble Bar lies close to what may be called the Main Range, which presents a fairly bold front to the eastward, and the country is drained by the Coongan Eiver and its tributaries — Duffers and Sandy Creeks.

The Marble Bar centre presents features which link it geologically with Warrawoona and Yandicoogina.

Since the first discovery of the field, about 16 years ago, Marble Barf has yielded 16,306'?4ozs. of gold, resulting from the milling of 8,407*20 tons of ore ; these figures give an average of l-93ozs. of gold per ton. In addition to these figures there have been officially recorded 2,082ozs. from unknown tons, and 82ozs. of specimens, thus bringing the total yield up to 18,470* 74ozs.

The various formations represented consist of a series of schists and allied rocks, granites, greenstones, and certain volcanic rocks, which may possibly represent the Nullagine Series as referred to in the earlier pages of the report.

The auriferous reefs of the more immediate vicinity of Marble Bar are embraced within a comparatively narrow belt of greenstone schist, running north and south, and which, as may be seen by an inspection of the Geological Sketch Map (Plate yii.),has a length of a little over three miles.

The district has been subjected to a considerable amount of faulting, and wherever possible the position and extent of these faults have been laid down upon the map.

General Geology.

The different rock masses have as far as possible been mapped, but it has not been found possible to do this in the same detailed way with regard to all the other rocks between Marble Bar and the Coongan River.

Bulletin No. 15, p. 33 et seq. f i.e., the Marble Bar District as defined by the

Mines Depai'tnieut.

j5

Alluvial Deposits.

Most of the watercourses m the district are occupied with a more or less width of alhivium, but in no case did these deposits attain any great thickness, nor are they of any economical importance.

Schists.

By far the largest portion of the district embraced by the geological map is made up of schists, both acidic and basic, which bear a very strong resemblance to those occurring at Warrawoona.

Some of the schists in the vicinity of Hospital Hill, and adjoining the road to Nullagine near the crossing of Sandy Creek, are associated with beds which have every appearance of being transmuted quart zites and conglomerate. Much more detailed investigation, however, than was possible at the time I visited the district is necessary before it can be definitely asserted that these acidic schists are of sedimentary origin. So far, however, as can at present be seen, it appears that these schists are arranged in synclinal trough, as shown in the generalised section at the foot of the Geological Map.

These schists are of economic importance by reason of the fact that they almost invariably form the matrices of the auriferous quartz reefs.

The schists are traversed by two bands of laminated quartz or jasper, the position of which is indicated on the geological map. The most conspicuous, however, is that known as the Marble Bar, which crosses the Coongan River about two and a-half miles south- west of the township. A view of this forms Photograph " I."

The "Bar" is a long razor-backed ridge (Phototiraph " J.") of laminated quartz or jasper, which rises to a considerable height above the general level of the surrounding country. The width of this band is naturally variable, but in one place near the Coongan River it measures as much as 220 feet from wall to wall. As seen in section, the banded jasper is inclined at an angle of 50 degrees to the north-west. The rocks forming this band can be followed across country for a considerable distance, and form a belt parallel to those similar beds described in Bullecin No. 15. The jaspers [609, 3593, 3695] presert a brilliant appearance, due to the inter- lamination of red, white, and dark-coloured bands (Photograph " K.") with intermediate varieties, the differences in colour being due to the occurrence of iron in the form of either limonite, hematite, or magnetite. Some portions of the rock contain small but perfect crystals of magnetite.

When carefully examined the banded jasper is found to be much fractured and faulted, Fig. 12 [609], some of the cracks thus formed being filled with secondary silica. The occurrence of these cracks filled with secondary silica is such as to cause the stone to break up into slabs and blocks of an extremely irregular size.

The jasper takes an excellent polish and those portions of the rock which may be found free from flaws, etc., could doubtless be

Fig. 12.

Faulted Jasper, Marble Bar.

used for ornamental purposes were its geographical position some- what more accessible. A typical sample [3695] of this banded jasper which was cut and polished in Europe for use at the Paris and Grlasgow Exhibitions is now in the Museum of the Geological Survey.

Granite.

A very large area of country to the east of the township of Marble Bar is occupied by granite. The mass presents in places a very rugged surface, which rises in two conspicuous hills of con- siderable elevation about due east of the town. The granite presents the same general features throughout its whole extent. In its lithological characters it consists of quartz, felspar, and a little mica. The mass forms one extremity of that granite which embraces the Moolyella Tinfield described in Bulletin No. 15.

Porphyry.

The granite has been invaded by dykes of porphyry [5392, 5812], whilst a very extensive area occurs in the vicinity of Dutfer's Creek. In their lithological character these porphyry dykes resemble those of Warrawoona very closely. An analysis of a typical porphyry [5392] is given on page 12 of Bulletin No. 15. I'hese dykes agree very closely with those porphyries of Warrawoona, described in the earlier pages of this report.

Gabbro.

Adjoining that tributary of Duffer's Creek, close to the eastern boundary of the geological map, is a fairly extensive area of a dark green basic rock [5809] which consists of felspar (saussurite ?), a ferro-magnesian constituent, which appears to be hypersthene and its alteration products, a little quartz, and an iron ore. Another similar area occurs a little to the south of the Ironclad Mine, G.M.L. 2.

Diabase Dykes.

A very important feature in the geology of Marble Bar is the number of basic dykes, which an examination of the geological map shows have a general easterly trend. The dykes are all readily distinguished by their dark greenish colour, a rusty and in places exfoliating weathering, and in the majority of cases a tending to verticality. The dykes have proved in the vicinity of Marble Bar of considerable value in working out the geological structure of the district. An inspection of the map demonstrates that only in one case do they intersect those sheared greenstones which form the auriferous series.

Owing to the marked features which many of these dykes exhibit on the surface, the mapping of them proved a relatively easy task. These basic rocks form part of that system of dykes which make such a marked feature in certain portions of the Pilbara Goldfield, and to which allusion has been made in the earlier pages of this report, and in Bulletin 15.

An examination of the geological map will show that many of these dykes have been faulted, but in no case does the horizontal shifting appear to have been very great. There are no data, how- ever, by which any estimate of the amount of vertical displacement can be arrived at. The hade of the majority of the faults, however, is to the west, as may be seen in one or two sections. The dykes are all of a fine grain.

Economic Geology.

The Mines.

Although practically none of the mines at Marble Bar were <ipen to my inspection, the following information extracted from the field notebooks of the late Mr. S. J. Becher give some idea of the 'condition of affairs prevailing, and other cognate points at the time this officer visited these properties.

In order to facilitate description -the mines are described in geographical order, commencing at the northern end of the leases. The position of the various properties is shown upon the geological sketch map attached (Plate YIL).

Western Shaw No. 1 North, Gr.M.L. 291. — The most northerly of all the leases embraced within the area of the map, and traversed by four small quartz reefs, which underlie west. No work, however, appears to have been done upon them. The reefs

are enclosed in the belt of sheared greenstone, which forms the main auriferous series of the district.

Ironclad North, G.M.L. 299. — The lease is traversed by a well-defined quartz reef, which extends along the whole length of the eastern boundary of the property, and underlies to the west.

The developments on the property consisted of two vertical and one underlay shaft. One shaft had been carried down to a vertical depth of 25 feet, and continued for a short distance on the reef. A drive had been put in to the north from the foot of the vertical shaft to a point 35 feet distant, where the reef pinched out. Another drive had been continued to the south for 74 feet, and the reef is said to have averaged three feet in thickness, but only crushed, however, 8. to the ton.

The second vertical shaft was 55 feet in depth, but no particulars appear to be obtainable regarding it. The underlay shaft had been carried down 85 feet.

The yield of this reef may have been included under the heading of " Sundry Claims."

Ironclad, G.M.L. 2. — The ore deposits on the Ironclad Lease consist of five well-defined reefs, which lie within the belt of green- stone, as shown on the map. The surface of the western half of the lease is occupied by granite, beneath which the sheared greenstone passes. At one time a fifteen-head battery was erected on the property. Near the north-west angle of the lease is the well, near the old battery site, which had been carried down to a vertical depth of 92 feet. In this well the granite extends to a depth of 40 feet, at which point it gives place to schist. The water level is said to have been at 75 feet, and the amount of water which the well made was estimated at 600 gallons per hour.

The northernmost shaft on the field is an underlay put down on the reef at a point about five chains from the noithern boundary, but this is at the present time totally inaccessible.

The principal work on the lease has been carried out upon what may be called the main Ironclad reef, which outcrops boldly along a low ridge near the eastern boundary of the lease.

The stone which forms the main reef consists of white quartz, with very ferruginous patches.

A tunnel has been driven in from the side of the hill, along the strike of the reef on a bearing of 141 degrees for a distance of 145 feet, thence 14 feet on a bearing of 182 degrees to a point at which the main reef is first intersected. From this point a drive has been carried along the reef for a distance of at least 138 feet. The reef, as exposed at the first bend in the tunnel, measures three feet in thickness. These workings connect with the surface by two vertical shafts, one being 24 feet deep, and the reef stoped right up to the surface. In this portion of the workings the average thickness of the reef is four feet. The second vertical shaft, 128 feet west, had been carried down to a depth of 87 feet, and intersected the main

reef at 74 feet. A drive is said to have been put in 16 feet south on the reef, which has an average thickness of about 20 inches.

Fig. 13 shows a section across the Ironclad Reef, etc.

Near the south-east angle of the lease are three inaccessible shafts, not indicated on the map ; the northernmost of the group being an underlay put down on the reef to a depth of 120 feet. The reef is said to have attained an average thickness of five feet. A second underlay, some little distance to the south on the same reef, is said to have been carried down to a depth of 40 feet. West of this is a vertical shaft 34 feet deep.

The following table gives, so far as can be ascertained from official sources, the yield of the Ironclad Reef :—

Table showing the Yield of the Ironclad Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

774-30*

1,097-00

23

45

34

Total

2,04050

1,441*57

Of this amount, ilSozs. has been obtained from a crushing of unknown tons.

Ironclad South, G.M.L. 108.— This is a 24-acre lease, adjoining the Ironclad. There are three small but distinct reefs upon the property, but very little work of any description appears to have been done upon them. An opencut has been put in along the reef, averaging about 12 inches in thickness, which may represent the southern extension of the Ironclad. Three underlay shafts, 34, 54, and 20 feet respectively, have been put down, but these are inaccessible. The principal workings are an underlay shaft, 65 feet in depth, from which drives have been put in east and west for distances stated to be 60 and 20 feet respectively! The only separate record of any crushing from this mine is one in 1895 of 61 tons, which yielded 24ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 'SQozs. per ton.

Ironclad Block, G.M.L. I13.--The surface of the Ironclad Block Lease is occupied by granite, and a vertical shaft has been put down at a point seven chains from the south-east angle of the lease, and designed to intersect the main Ironclad Reef at about 200 feet. This shaft had been carried down to a vertical depth of 117 feet through granite. The relative position of this shaft is shown in Fig. 13, supra.

Iron Duke, G.M.L. 387. — This lease embraces part of an area which included the old leases, G.M.Ls. 63 and 8.

A shaft, not shown on the plan, has been put down to a depth of 40 feet, upon an approximately north and south reef, which is

stated to have been of very variable thickness, bat to have reached as much as three feet. The reef which underlays west is of white quartz.

In 1896, 40 tons of quartz raised are stated to have yielded 25-70ozs., or at the rate of 64ozs. per ton.

Keep-it-Dark, Gr.M.L. 296. — This old lease embraces a portion of the abandoned M.L. 8, The General.

A considerable amount of desolutory surface work has been done.

Two vertical shafts, 20 feet in depth, had been sunk upon the eastern extremity of the east and west reef, adjoining the main fault which traverses the property, but these were long ago abandoned. Two other underlay shafts, one of them 12 feet deep, had also been put down, but these were also inaccessible. A crushing of 32-5 tons in 1896 yielded 73'65ozs. of gold, or at the rate of 2*26 ozs. per ton.

The general reef outcrops upon what was originally M.L. 8 fG.M.L. 485) now embraced by G.M.L. 296.

The general reef which outcrops just outside the northern boundary of G.M.L. 296 is a well-delined body of quartz, striking north and south and underlying at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees to the east. This reef has been extensively worked by the previous holders of the lease. The reef has been followed down from the surface for a distance of over 180 feet. A vertical shaft (Fig. 14) about 50 feet in depth intersected the reef, which was followed down for a further distance of 150 feet. The reef was abruptly cut off by a fault underlying west, but the shaft was continued for a further distance of 30 feet through country rock. A good deal of work appears to have been done underground, but there was very little to be seen at the present time. The fault seen at the bottom of the shaft is also visible in the workings at the eastern end of No. 1 level ; the fault also underlies to the west. There are several faults in the vicinity of the reef, some of which are shown on the geological map (Plate VII.) so far as the small scale will admit.

Homeward Bound, G.M.L. 613. — This lease embraces a portion of the ground embraced bv the old Homeward Bound Lease, G.M.L. 579.

There is one fairly large-sized reef cropping out near the northern portion of the property, and trending generally north and south with an east and west arm. This reef is almost flat.

Upon the old Exhibition, G.M.L. 286, which includes the northern portion of the Homeward Bound, little else than surfacing seems to have been done.

Upon the greater portion of the western half of the Homeward Bound, lie all the old " Rejected " workings. Several shafts have been sunk, and much surface work done by previous owners upon an inter- rupted line of reef, which has a southerly underlay and a general east and west strike.

Fig. 14.

Section Across The General Reef Marble Bar.

The reef is said to lie fairly flat and with an average thickness of about 12 inches, with, however, big bunches here and there.

An underlay shaft had been sunk on the reef to a depth, on 17th September, 1896, of 50 feet on a good body of stone.

The Rejected No. 1 Reef (on old G-.M.L. 84) does, however, appear to be upon exactly the same line as that just described. The reef outcropping has been worked by a main vertical shaft 40 feet in depth, which, up to the end of September, 1896, had been con- tinued on the underlay for a further distance of 81 feet. Two reefs are said to have been exposed in the workings, separated by a horse of country. The lower reef is said to have possessed good, well- defined walls, which had an underlie of about 35 degrees to the south. The upper reef, reputed to have been the most regular of the two, had an average thickness of about two feet. Near the foot of the underlay shaft, the reef varied from 18 inches to five feet in width.

So far as can be ascertained from the official figures, the yield of the reefs on the present Homeward Bound Lease appears to have been as shown in the following table : —

Table showing the Yield of the Homeivard Bound Reef.

Year.

Name of Lease.

Ore crushed.

Gold there- from.

liate per ton.

Total Ore crushed.

Total Gold there- from.

Average

rate per toil.

Previous to

Eejected, G.M.L. 105 ... Do. do.

tons. 1,208-00

ozs.

ozs.

tons. 1,273-00

ozs. 1,894-00

Ozs.

Homeward Bound, G.M.L. 615 Do. do. ... Do. do. ...

Total

1,728-50

52,420-30

Shamrock, G.M.L. 160. — An old six-acre lease upon which a f;iir amount of work must have been done at one time or another. Near the north-eastern angle of the lease is an underlay shaft put down to a depth of 100 feet, on the reef outcropping on the crown of the hill. This reef was intersected by a vertical shaft, No. 1, and farther south-west by shaft No. 2, at depths of which there is no precise information. A third shaft had been sunk at a point 35 feet west of No. 1 to a depth of about 30 feet, but no particulars are available beyond the fact that a quartz reef five inches in thickness had been met with.

The following is a list of the crushings from this property, so far as are disclosed by the official statistics : —

Table showing the Yield of the Shamrock Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tons.

ozs. 120-10*

ozs.

Total

Includes 33ozs. from unknown tons.

True Blue, G-.M.L. 157. — An old six-acre lease adjoining the Shamrock on the east. A considerable amount of open cast work has been carried out. The northernmost shaft on the lease is an underlay shaft 90 feet in depth, connecting with a vertical shaft 24 feet in depth, which had been continued for a further distance of 24 feet on the underlay of the reef. The reef averages two feet in thickness, and underlays about 30 degrees to the south-west. There

is another parallel reef below this one, which attains a thickness of about two feet.

The figures in the table below give the result of the crushings, so far as may be gathered from the official records : —

Table showing the Yield of the True Blue Reef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate ]ier ton.

Total

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

68

183'25

1*69

Unknown.

Marble Bar, G-.M.L. 288. — An old twelve-acre lease adjoin- ing the Coongan Star Extended on the north, from which in the year 1898, 11 tons of ore yielded 15"70ozs. of gold, thus giving an average of l-42ozs. of gold per ton.

Coongan Star, Gr.M.L. 92. — Upon this six-acre lease a good deal of hond fide work has apparently been done in times past upon a north and south reef, inclined at a very low angle to the west, but which makes no very pronounced outcrop on the surface. An old disused main shaft has been put down upon the summit of a low hill, and the reef worked out about 50 or 60 feet on the underlay.

A vertical shaft had been put down to a depth of 20 feet at a point 150 feet from the summit of the hill, but no particulars are obtainable respecting it.

Adjoining this is another 25 feet in depth, from the bottom of which a drive had been put in 40 feet to the south-east, whilst a third shaft near by had been sunk to an unknown depth. In addition to these old workings is a vertical shaft 33 feet in depth, at which point the reef is met with ; this has been followed on the underlay for a further distance of 37 feet. About 100 tons of quartz have been raised and awaited crushing.

Table showing the Yield of the Coongan Star Beef.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

tors.

ozs.

ozs.

Total

CooiJGAN Star Extended, G.M.L. 287. — Near the south end of the lease, adjoining the south-east angle of the Coongan Star ; property, a shaft 25 feet deep had been put down upon a small but I good quartz vein, from which a small trial crushing is asserted to I have yielded an average of about 2ozs. per ton.

A quartz reef in granite country outcrops near the north-west angle of the lease, but no work appears to have been done upon it. A water shaft of unknown depth is to the west of the reef.

Augusta, G.M.L. 615. — This lease, as at present constituted, embraces by far the larger portion of what was originally included I in the Stray Shot, G.M.L. 3, the Excelsior, G.M.L. 21, and the Augusta, G.M.L. 7.

The Augusta reef makes a fairly distinct and well marked out- crop on the surface ; the reef, however, has been interrupted near the southern angle of G.M.L. 280, by a north and south fault, which has but a slight throw.

The outcrop of the reef is traceable all round the north-east, east, and south-east sides of the hill, and averages about three feet in width, it extends westwards as far as the Stray Shot, where it is worked by several shafts. There seems, however, good reason to believe that the reef in the Surprise Lease, G.M.L. 167, adjoining the Stray Shot on the west, is the continuation of the Augusta, interrupted, however, by a small fault, lying parallel to that alluded to above. Along the eastern outcrop of the main Augusta reef stone has been broken out in several places.

The Augusta Reef has been worked by a main shaft which has been carried down on the underlie of the reef which is very flat for a considerable distance.

At the 75 feet, 150 feet, and the 266 feet levels drives have been put in for varying distances, but in the absence of an adequate plan of the mine any intelligible description of the reef underground is well nigh impossible, more especially as the majority of the workings are inaccessible.

Overlying the reef is a dyke [5819J of a fine-grained rock, which, under the microscope, seems to consist principally of felspar and an altered dichroic ferro-magnesian constituent.

In the underlay shaft at the 75 feet level the main Augusta Reef is said to have attained a maximum thickness of seven feet, but in the lower levels of the mine it averages only about 12 inches. It is stated that where the reef is wide the good stone is confined to certain bands, chiefly, however, of highly- mineralised bands ; in the lower levels of the mine, where the reef is smaller, most of the stone is said to have been worth crushing.

The main Augusta Reef extends right through the Excelsior and the Stray Shot, below the level of the Stray Shot Reef. A great number of shafts have been sunk at relatively short distances apart on the slope of the hill and a considerable amount of surface

work done. The quartz is of a darkish hue, and contains relatively small quantities of the sulphides of iron, copper, and lead.

Table showing the Yield of the Augusta, Stray Shot, and Excelsior Beefs.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Eate per ton.

Previous to 1897

tons. 3,34900

1,661-70

ozs. C 9,219-00 1,818-28 ( 30-96 ( tl95-00

ozs.

Total

5,61940

m,78073

2*09

From unknown tons. f From tailings. J Does not include ounces from unknown tons and from tailings.

Sundry Claims from the District generally. — In addi- tion to the yield of the reefs described above, there are several others which it is impossible to specify and the returns from which are given in the table below : —

Table showing the Yield from Sundry Claims, Marble Bar.

Year.

Ore crushed.

Gold therefrom.

Rate per ton.

Total

tons.

ozs. 444-15

( 244-62 I *l,770-00

ozs.

j 2-15

1:845-94

1*90

Alluvial. t Alluvial and dollied. J Does not include alluvial and dollied.

It is, however, not quite clear from the manner in which the returns are presented whether or not these sundry claims include the yield from reefs in other centres not embraced within the limits of the Geological Map of Marble Bar.

Plate Vii.

Generalised Sketch Section Across Marble Bar.

Length Of Section About Five Miles. Not Drawn To Scale.

H.J.Pether. Government Photolithographer. Perth. WA

Synoptical Table showing the Yield of the Marble Bar Reefs up to the end of 1904.

Name of Reef.

Ore

Gold

cruslied..

therefrom.

tons.

ozs.

ozs.

Augusta

5,619-40

14,057-73

Augusta No. 1 South

Coongan Star

Excelsior

Included und

er Augusta,

General

Included und

er Homeward

Bound.

Homeward Bound

1,728-50

2,420-30

Ironclad

2,04050

1,441-57

Ironclad South

Iron Duke ...

Keep-it-Dark

Marble Bar

I'Oo

Eejected

Included und

er Homeward

Bound.

"Robert Bruce

Shamrock

Stray Shot

Included und

er Augusta.

Sundry Claims

4,532-29

Trafalgar ...

True Blue

Total

10,760-45

24,341-23

General.

In the latter end of last year, while in the North- West, a com- munication was received from Mr. J. Isdell, M.L.A., the Parliamen- tary representative of the district, containing a request that the tailings in the Marble Bar District be experimented upon by the Department, with the view of suggesting a method by which the large quantity of gold reported to have been lost in previous years could be recovered.

In accordance with instructions, attention was devoted to the question while at Marble Bar, and the heap of accumulated tailings at (a.) the Ironclad Mine, and (b.) on M.A. 1, were sampled by myself and Mr. Talbot, the Field Assistant.

These, on being received in Perth, were dealt with in the official laboratory, and reported on by Mr. E. S. Simpson, as follows : —

" The following are the results of extraction tests made on two samples of tailings collected by you at Marble Bar : —

" G.S.L. 687, Ironclad Mine. — These tailings consisted mainly of quartz sand, with a small percentage of clay and iron oxides, a very small amount of pyrites and a minute trace of copper. No antimony was present. The samples carried 28 per cent, of slimes. Percolation was easy and rapid. Cyanide consumed 0 63 lbs. per ton. Assay value of tailings, 4. 15grs. per ton ; of residues, Idwt. 9grs. per ton. Extraction, 70-3 per cent, after three days leaching.

" There are no metallurgical difficulties whatever in the way of treating these tailings by the cyanide process. The question of their successful treatment resolves itself into one of economics solely, viz., whether or not 13s. 9d. (the value of the gold which it is possible to extract) Avill, under local conditions, do more than pay for the cost of extraction.

" G.S.L. 088, M.A. 1. — These tailings also consist mainly of quartz sand, with a small percentage of clay and iron oxides, a trace of pyrites, a slight trace of antimony, and copper carbonates equal to 0-15 per cent, of copper. The sample contained 28 per cent, of slimes. Percolation was very good. Cyanide consumed was very high, viz., 4-191bs. per ton, probably owing to the copper present. Assay value of tailings, 3. 6grs. per ton ; of residues, Idwt. 22grs. per ton. Extraction 41"0 per cent., after three days leaching.

" It would appear to be impossible to treat these tailings successfully. In the first place they are not rich in gold ; in the second, the copper pre- sent causes the extraction to be very low, and the consumption of cyanide so high as to be prohibitive."

INDEX TO NAMES OF PLACES, MINES, REEFS, Etc.

Acidic Lavas ... Admiral Dewey Reef ... Agglomerates ... Alexandra Lease Alluvial Deposits

Alluvial Gold

Alumina

Amygdaloidal Lavas ...

Analyses

Andalusite

Anderson and party

Apatite ...

Aplite

Ashburton River Augite ...

Augusta Lease

Augusta No. 1 South Lease ... Australian Museum, Sydney

23,26

98, 105

8, 12, 18, 26, 27

15, 16, 18, 31, 32, 33, 69, 107

14,18,19,33

:.. 32,59,66

23,26

32,66

32,65

117,118,119

Bamboo Creek 7, 8

Bamboo Spring ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 23