coal. Occurs with grits and conglomerates of upper Mesozoic age. Buller, Grey, and Collingwood Coal Fields on the West Coast of Nelson. In seams from 2 to 20 ft. in thickness. B. SEMI-BITUMINOUS COAL: Specimen from Pakawau, Nelson. Compact, with laminæ of bright and dull coal alternately; fracture irregular; lustre moderate; cakes moderately, or is non-caking. Occurs in thin, irregular seams in sandstone of upper Mesozoic age. Kawa Kawa and Wangarei, Auckland; Pakawau, Nelson; Mount Hamilton and Waikava, Otago. Rarely cakes strongly. Evaporative power commonly 6 lbs. C. GLANCE COAL: Specimen from Hill's Drive, Selwyn, Canterbury. Glance coal is non-caking, massive, compact, or friable; fracture cuboidal, splintery; lustre glistening or metallic; structure obscurely laminated; colour black; does not form a caking coke, but slightly adheres. A variety of brown coal, altered by faulting or by igneous rocks, and presenting every intermediate stage from brown coal to an anthracite. Preservation Inlet and Malvern Hills. D. PITCH COAL: Specimen from Upper Buller, Nelson. Structure compact; fracture smooth, conchoidal, jointed in large angular pieces; colour brown or black; lustre waxy; does not desiccate much on exposure, nor is it absorbent of water; burns freely, and contains resin disseminated throughout its mass. Waikato and Wangaroa, Auckland; West Wanganui, Nelson; Shag Point, Otago; Morley Creek, Southland. Evaporative power 4.2 lbs. E. BROWN COAL: Specimen from Kaitangata, Otago. Rarely shows vegetable structure; fracture irregular, conchoidal, with incipient laminations; colour dark brown; lustre feeble; cracks readily on exposure to the atmosphere, losing 5 to 10 per cent. of water, which is not re-absorbed; burns slowly; contains resin in large masses. Occurs generally throughout the Islands. Evaporative power 4.2 to 5.6 lbs. Saddle Hill, Otago; evaporative power 5 lbs. 9. J. J. Oakden, Canterbury.-Anthracitic coal from Lake Coleridge, Canterbury. Two seams of 5 feet each. Supposed extent of field 100 acres. Contains 90 per cent. of carbon. Pit is distant 28 miles from a railway and 70 miles from port of shipment. 10. Taranaki Committee.-Lignite from Urenui North Taranaki. 11. Rowley Wilson & Company, Otago.—Block of coal from Shag Point, Palmerston, Otago. Value per ton at pit's mouth, 12s. GOLD, MINERALS, AND ORES. Cl. 100. Gold. YIELD OF GOLD IN NEW ZEALAND UP TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 1875. NORTH ISLAND (This gold is obtained by lode-mining in igneous rocks belonging to the SOUTH ISLAND (chiefly obtained from the metamorphic rocks, by alluvial washing) 986,750 ozs. £3,520,782 - 6,888,926 £27,152,052 Total Yield -7,875,676,, £30,672,834 Cl. 100. GOLD SPECIMENS EXHIBITED BY THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT. Alluvial Gold from the Province of Nelson and County of Westland. 1. Alluvial Gold from Moonlight Creek, Nelson, procured by washing the beds of creeks. 2. Alluvial Gold from Waimea, Westland, obtained by washing beds of creeks. Samples taken from district through which the proposed Great Waimea Water Race would run. 3. Fine Sea Drift, Okarito, Westland, obtained by washing and sluicing the sea beaches. 4. Alluvial from Ross, Westland, obtained by deep sinking, where the use of steam machinery is found to be necessary. 5. Equal parts of coarse and fine Alluvial from the Lyell, Nelson, obtained by washing the beds of water-courses. 6. Alluvial from Grey Valley, Nelson, obtained by sluicing. 7. Alluvial Sluiced, from Duke of Edinburgh Terrace, Greenstone Creek, Westland. The locality whence this sample came is traversed by the extensive Greenstone and Eastern Hohonu Water Race. 8. Alluvial from the Ho-ho, Westland, obtained by sluicing ground that had been previously worked by shafts and tunnels. 9. Fine Alluvial Gold from iron-sand cement, Charleston, Nelson. This sample of gold is usually saved by amalgamation with mercury, and is most difficult to obtain in its present form. 10. Ruby Sand from Charleston, Nelson. This sand is found in granite, and the gold it contains is heavier and of better quality than that in cement. 11. Gold-bearing Black Sand from the Black Lead, Charleston, Nelson. 12. Auriferous Cement from Mokihinui River, Nelson. Obtained 50 feet below surface of river terrace. 13. Auriferous Cement from Black Lead, Charleston, Nelson. 14. Auriferous Sand from Addison Flat, Nelson. 15. Alluvial Gold. Wahamarino River, Marlborough. 16. 5 ozs., washed from the ocean beach below high-water mark. 17. 5 ozs., obtained from a black sand lead about 50 yards inland from high-water mark. 18. Sample of the ordinary obtained from sluicing claims about 12 miles inland. 19. Sample nuggetty gold obtained from Moonlight Creek, rising in high ranges about 20 miles inland. Quartz specimens are from the Inangahua district. The gold being fine is not easily seen in the stone. Enterprise Company, Registered.-These specimens were taken from the middle tunnel, at a distance of 110 feet from the mouth of the drive, at a depth of 85 feet from the surface. Energetic Company, Registered.-The stone was taken—(1) from a shaft sunk 85 feet below a tunnel and 210 feet below the surface. A trial crushing in February 1872 of ten tons of this stone gave a result of 43 oz. 1 dwt. retorted gold. (2) From No. 2 tunnel, 265 feet below the surface, and at a distance of 298 feet from the mouth of the drive, at which place the reef is 4 feet 6 inches thick, and very solid. Rainy Creek Company, Registered.-The width of the reef where discovered is 30 feet, and it carries this extraordinary width for 900 feet. Gold appears to be well distributed throughout the reef, and at the lower level it is heavier than at the surface. Cl. 100. Alluvial Gold from the 1. Skipper's, Queenstown.-From upper terraces, Skipper's Creek, Shotover River, about 1,400 ft. above sea level. The creek empties itself into the Wakatipu Basin. Produce of sluicing claim. 2. Arrowtown.-From Arrow River, about 1,200 feet above the sea level. The river empties into the Wakatipu Lake Basin. Produce of sluicing claim. 3. Queenstown.-From gullies adjoining and emptying into Wakatipu Lake, which is 1,000 feet above sea level. Produce of sluicing claim. 4. Naseby (Mount Ida).-Produce of sluicing claim at foot of Mount Ida, on northern side of Maniototo Plains, about 1,400 feet above sea level. Thompson's Claim, Boatman's Inangahua.-Shows a width of from 2 to 5 feet, and will yield from 1 to 2 oz. to the ton. El Dorado Company, Registered.-Several small specimens. The reef where first opened was 3 feet in width. Further south it was cut 5 feet in width. The gold is fine, and well distributed throughout the stone. Zircons, garnets, cubical pyrites, manganese, and sulphides of antimony are also found. Just-in-Time Company, Registered.-The reef is 3 ft. 6 in. wide. Specimens taken 15 feet below the level of the tunnel. Victoria Company, Registered.-Reef averages 3 feet in thickness. The specimens are taken from a level 360 feet below the highest point proved. All Nations.-This reef is making to the south-west and has an average thickness of 2 feet. United Band of Hope Company, Registered.-Specimen 1 was taken from the surface where the reef first opened. From this about 100 tons of stone crushed gave a return of 2 oz. 6 dwts. per ton. From this level to a depth of 140 feet, about eighty tons crushed gave at the rate of 18 dwts. per ton. No. 2 is from a depth of 160 feet. From this last 31 tons crushed at Westland machine gave a gross yield of 41 oz. melted gold. Golden Hill Company.-The reef varies from 4 feet to 1 foot 6 inches, average 2 feet 6 inches. About 480 tons of stone crushed at the Westland machine gave a yield of oz. to the Province of Otago. 6. Nevis.-Produce of sluicing claim about 1,400 feet above sea level. 7. Teviot. Obtained by dredging the River Molyneux, about 350 feet above sea level. Coarser gold is also got at different parts of the river. 8. Blue Spur, Lawrence.-From sluicing claim. The hill or spur is about 150 feet high, and is an outlier of the Pliocene gravels. 9. Manuherikia.-Sluicing claim about 500 feet above sea level. 10. Teviot.-Near the spot where these two nuggets were got, another weighing 18 oz. was lately obtained. Produce of 5. Palmerston.-Produce of sluicing claim in Shag Valley, sluicing claim at an elevation of 600 to 700 feet above the sea. 50 to 100 feet above the sea level. 11. Specimen of Blue Spur Cement impregnated with gold. The Map referred to is a small Geological Map with localities marked. 42. Auriferous quartz from the Phoenix Claim skipper's. Width of lode 8 feet; sample taken from a depth of 240 feet. The battery used for crushing is one of 30 stampers, driven by a turbine wheel. Proprietors, Messrs. F. and G. T. Bullen. Manager, Mr. F. Evans. A first crushing of 40 tons of this stone yielded 239 ozs. gold. 43. Auriferous quartz from the Nugget and Cornish Quartz Mining Company Width of lode from 12 to 18 feet; sample taken from a depth of 80 feet. The mine is worked by adits running into the hill and back sloped. Machine for crushing consists of 12 head of stampers, the motive power being a turbine wheel (Whitelow and Kerrat's patent). Manager Mr. T. F. Roskrye. Refining Process, and as exported by the Bank of New Zealand, Aucklandoz. dwts. grs. 19 20 Assay-Gold 9 •9942 Fine Gold ⚫0058 Weight, 10 oz. 1 dwt. 4. One Bar of Chloride of Silver. The gold having been separated by the Chlorine Refining Process, the chloride is reduced to metallic silver by the galvanic action of iron plates and acidulated water. Weight, 8 oz. 2 dwts. 6 grs., containing 6 oz. of silver. 5. One Bar of Silver, extracted from Thames gold, Province of Auckland, by Chlorine Refining Process. Very nearly fine silver, only a trace of gold left. Weight, 10 oz. 4 dwts. 18 grs. 6. Model representing a Bar of Gold, weighing 375 oz., as exported by the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. Cl. 100. MINERALS AND ORES. Parapara Iron and Coal Company, Nelson.-Brown Hamatite Ore, found in vast quantities on the surface of the ground at Parapara, in practically unlimited quantities. In close proximity to an extensive coal field. Yields 50 per cent. of iron. 2. Johnstone Brothers, Nelson.-Hæmatite Iron Ore, similar to No. 1; easily convertible into the best steel. Brown and red paints are made from this ore. See Paints and Dyes, p. 328). 3. Nelson Committee.-Chrome Iron Ore from the Dun Mountain, Nelson. Obtainable in unlimited quantities. 4. Nelson Committee.- Iron Ore from Bedstead Gully, Collingwood, Nelson. 5. T. B. Louisson, Nelson.-Iron Ore as found in the Parapara District, Collingwood. 6. T. B. Louisson, Nelson.-Iron Ore, calcined. From this ore an excellent pigment is made, being composed of pure peroxide of iron. (See Paints and Dyes, p. 328). 7. Nelson Committee.-Plumbago from Pakawau, Nelson. 8. Nelson Committee.-Galena from Bedstead, Gully, Collingwood. 9. Nelson Committee.-Galena and Zinc blende from Parapara Valley. 10. Nelson Committee.-Zinc blende and Galena from Bedstead Gully, Collingwood. Cl. 100. Dr. Hector, Colonial Museum, Wellington— MAGNETIC IRON ORES: 11. Nelson Committee.--Copper Ore from the Dun Mountain at Nelson. 12. Nelson Committee.-Sulphuret of Copper from Parapara Valley. 13. Nelson Committee.-Antimony Ore from Inangahus. 14. Nelson Committee. - Antimony from Rainy Creek, Reefton. 15. W. E. Washbourn, Nelson.-Argentiferous Lead Ore from Richmond Hill, Parapara. Value, 50l. per ton. 16. Taranaki Committee.-Titanic Iron Sand. 17. A. Ross, Poverty Bay, Auckland.-Two jars of Petroleum. 18. Taranaki Committee- Older Tertiary Marl, North Tarendir. Trachyte with crystals of hornblende. Trachyte cast from a well in New Plymouth, ancient sea Obsidian. Tarakanite. Carnelian, found on beach, New Plymouth. MINERALS, &c. Magnetic Iron Ore, Dun Mountain, Nelson. From a vein 16 in. thick in serpentinous slates. Magnetic Iron Ore, Wakatipu Lake, Otago. From a vein in mica schists. Magnetic Iron Ore, Maramara, Frith of Thames. From a vein in ferriferous slates; contains also oxides and titanium of manganese. |