RECORD
OF
Mining in the Northern Territory
OF
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Issued by the Office of the Minister controlling the Northern Territory (Hon. F. W. Holder, Minister of the Department).
C. E. BRISTOW, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, NORTH TERRACE.
1900.559, *rlMINING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.
The large area of country denominated the Northern Territory was attached to South Australia by Letters Patent under the Great Seal in 1863; it contains 523,620 square miles, or 335,116,800 acres, and has been proved to be rich in minerals.
The Rev. J. E. Tennison Woods, in October, 1886, furnished a very exhaustive report (Parliamentary Paper No. 122) describing its physical features, geology, and minerals. He said that the country is rich in gold, and the reefs would pay well to work were not wages and cartage so enormously high. Not 25 per cent, of the auriferous reefs had been fairly tested, and not one of the mines hitherto worked or abandoned had been exhausted of gold. Some of the crushings of top stone had yielded exceedingly rich returns, thus at the Extended Union in 1877 40 tons of quartz produced 740ozs. of gold. In alluvial workings the sinking is shallow, and the gravel is scarcely waterworn. The fine gold appears to be inexhaustible. All the silver lodes in the Northern Territory are of silver-lead; and silver is associated with gold in one or two mines, and with copper. There are few ores from which a bead of silver cannot be obtained by meahs of an ordinary blowpipe ; the silver-lead veins are found on the edge of the slate, and near the junction with the granite. Tin will eventually be one of the great sources of mineral wealth, as it occurs in the comparatively rare form of reef tin. No stream tin (properly speaking) has been observed, but vein tin is abundant and rich, and the Northern Territory may be emphatically pronounced to be a tin country. The copper ores of the Daly River copper mines are of singular richness and also apparently abundant; and this mineral is found also in other places. Nickel, iron, manganese, graphite, bismuth, and gem-stones, are said to have been also found in various localities.
The Northern Territory Times Almanac and Directory for 1890 afford the following information :—“ During 1886-9 considerable progress has been made in mining matters, and many new discoveries of silver, tin, and copper bearing lodes have been reported. The Eureka Gold Mine, the Eveleen, Flora Bell, and Coronet Hill Silver Mines, and the Mount Tolmer Tin Mine, are amongst the most important recent discoveries, and all of them give promise of a good output of ore and metal at no distant date. At present prospecting to a depth is causing generally the suspension of smelting operations. In gold mining very little advance has been made ; but the quartz-mining industry seems to languish for want of capital and enterprise and adequate machinery, though there are millions of tons of stone that would yield 8dwts. to lOdwts. per ton. In spite of the somewhat depressed state of the Territory the mineral exports for 1889 exceeded those of 1888 by £13,156 in value, although smelting operations had stopped.
As to the earlier discoveries of auriferous localities in this part of Australia, it may be mentioned that the late Surveyor-General, Mr. Goyder, in reporting upon the survey of the Territory, stated that gold had been discovered at Tumbling Waters, on the Blackmore; section 618, west of the Blackmore; at and above the bar on the Charlotte, leading into Bynoe Harbor; on the Finniss, near section 2130; at Rocky Waterholes, section 2193; and in the River Darwin. Mr. Litchfield made the discovery in the Finniss, and subsequently over foz. was washed out by the party.
In his report of an extensive visit of inspection in 1894-5 the Government Geologist embodies these statements:—“ It is advisable that the whole of the northern coast be examined .... for additional areas of carboniferous rocks.
.	.	.	. In the neighborhood of the present goldfields the granite areas, and the
country bounding these areas on the west and N.W. towards the tableland, and down to the McKinley and Mary rivers, are likely fields for prospecting for gold and4
tin ... Deep leads are likely to exist. Also the country near Rum Jungle.
. An exploration of the unknown area lying to the west of the telegraph line .... would add considerably to what is known of the geography and geology of the Northern Territory, and lead'to the discovery of country likely to
prove auriferous.........The rocks at the mouth of the Fitzmaurice river are
auriferous, and may prove to be payably so when prospected. On the Alligator river and Blue Mud Hay, and in the vicinity of Cape Arnheim, it is supposed that there are areas occupied by rocks likely to be auriferous. On the Nicholson river I am credibly informed that metalliferous rocks also occur.”
All Ching Philips.—The Inspector of Mines, reporting in 1891, stated that there was a party of Chinese working this mine on tribute. A return of 3ozs. per ton had been obtained from 45 tons of stone taken from a vein 3in. to 6in. thick. From some stone it was stated 40ozs. per ton was returned. The block has been fossicked, but not mined.
Albion Reef.—Near the John Bull; country rocks, indurated clay, and micaceous slates and sandstone. Chinamen fossicking.—(Government Geologist, 1894.)
Alice Hill Gold Mining* Company.—Area, 60 acres. The Inspector of Mines, reporting in 1891, stated that a great deal of shallow sinking and driving had been done, including a tunnel 105ft. long, in which three lodes had been cut, averaging 4ft. in thickness. From one of the shafts a crushing of 180 tons returned 3^-ozs. per ton, and from water-level the stone yielded 4£ozs. of gold per ton. The company was unable to work the property effectively for lack of capital. It was in the hands of Chinese tributors, and would require good pumping gear to cope with the water. The company had crushed 2,240 tons of stone for an average yield of 8dwts. per ton. This property was purchased by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited, in 1896. A fifteen-head stamp battery is erected on this mining property.
Alice Springs Gold Mining Syndicate.—In March, 1895, it was reported that this association was working a very promising-looking 3ft. reef at a place 63 miles from the township. It could be worked by open cutting to a depth of 200ft. from the cap, and Mr. Parkinson’s assays gave 2ozs. 12dwts. and 3ozs. 15dwts. to the ton from the samples sent to him. Cost of treatment 30s. per ton.—f Register. 25/3/95.)
Alice Union Gold Claims.—The proprietors had four leases, viz., The Lady Alice Prospectors’ Claim (now No. 1 North and No. 1 South), and Nos. 3 and 4 South. The Lady Alice’s reef traverses the four leases, and on the Prospectors’ Claim is from 12ft. to 6ft. wide. Numerous shafts were sunk, and crushings taken out. The reef was also opened out on Nos. 3 and 4, trial crushings giving l^ozs. to the ton. This reef was subsequently worked by Millar Bros, in No. 10 South; it is there, at 200ft. deep, lift, wide, composed of a dark-blue quartz1 interbanded by black slate, the whole carrying gold. The reef is nearly vertical, with good walls, and is a true fissure lode, between slate and quartzite country, and on the Alice Union No. 1 South a tunnel driven to cut the lode at the depth of 150ft. would give a large quantity of backs for crushing.—(Harvey.)
Alligator.—Situated west of Clausen’s ; area, 10 acres, leased to Ah Loy and party. The inspector was informed (1891) that eight years previously a Chinaman took from a shaft here 50ft. deep, sunk on a small leader, 10 tons of stone which yielded 3,000ozs. of gold. No work was being done in the shafts at the time of inspection. This property was purchased by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited, in 1896.
Near to this, a claim held by Ah Loy, from a shaft 70ft. deep a bucketful of stone yielded 125ozs. of gold. One piece of gold taken from the casing of a leader weighed 150ozs., and was called, on account of its shape, the Bullock’s Tongue.5
Alluvial.—Near Mount Gates, a few miles down the Catherine river. A few Europeans and about 50 Chinese diggers were reported to he making fair wages in working alluvial in 1890. A good deal of alluvial prospecting has been done on the Wandi goldfield, and in numerous unnamed localities the “ dry-blower ” has been in use.
Anglo-French Goldfields Company.—In 1896 it was reported that nearly 4,000 square miles of country had been taken up on the Alligator river, with a gold concession of 640 square miles. The intention of the promoters was, with the assistance of a capital of £500,000, to develop the country pastorally and mineralogi-cally. It has been recently stated that a great deal of mining work has been done in respect to old mines which have been either abandoned altogether or simply held for fossicking purposes, and that results were regarded as satisfactory, with a promise of large success in mining development.
Arltunga Goldfield.—The Government plant—battery and cyanide—has treated 1,786 tons of ore for a net result of l,510ozs. of gold, valued at £5,102. The last 1,039 tons of ore yielded l,074ozs. of gold, showing an average of over loz. to the ton.
Arltunga District.—The Government Geologist inspected the gold reefs in 1896, and reported that they were numerous, but generally small and carrying very fine gold. No shaft deeper than 50ft. Copper pyrites and galena occur. Macdonnell Range reef had 163ozs. from 210 tons; Great Wonder, 30ozs. lOdwts. from 60 tons ; Star of the North, 5ozs. from 5 tons; Albion, 7ozs. from 10 tons; Redemption, 56ozs. from 47 tons; Orient, 17ozs. from 17 tons; Beehive, 77ozs. from 110 tons; Russell’s, 5ozs. 5dwts. from 15 tons; Wheal Mundi, 6ozs. from 6 tons; Standard, 8ozs. from 12 tons; Round Hill, 33ozs. 13dwts. from 58 tons; Duffer, 40ozs. from 40 tons ; and Wipe Out, 80ozs. from 100 tons. Gold valued at from £3 10s. to £3 15s. per ounce. Claraville reef yielded 200ozs. of bullion—one-third gold, two-thirds silver—from 100 tons of stone. The cyanide process desirable ; would result in a much higher total.
Arltunga Mine.—A well-defined reef, 1ft. to 2ft. wide; a shaft, nearly vertical, sunk 30ft. deep on the reef.—(Correspondent.) Worked by the Robert Oldfield Prospecting Syndicate.
Barrett’s Tin Mine —Pronounced by the Inspector of Mines (1891) one of the most magnificent shows of tin ore he had ever seen. The Government Geologist in 1894 visited this property. He stated that-it is about two miles from Mount Shoobridge. The tin ore is disseminated through a large dyke of quartz and mica (greisen), associated with quartz blows, and striking N. 10° to 20° W., through micaceous sandstone and schist. The width varies from 1 Oft to 50ft. or more, and is irregular and branching, some portions being rich in tin. Apparently it had not been worked to a greater depth than 20ft., but there was an open cutting 250ft. long.
Baslli Bazouk.—Adjacent to the Enterprise ; area, 19 acres. Worked by Chinese on tribute, principally in open cuttings. The Inspector states (1891) that a recent crushing of 32 tons yielded l|ozs of gold per ton.
Beetson’s Tin Claim.—Situated three miles north from Mount Shoobridge ; area, 80 acres. In a small pit (says the Inspector) tin oxide can be seen in a lode formation. A shaft should be sunk.
Bergin’s Creek.—Locality, about six miles south of the Howley. Alluvial and reefs claims in the hands of the Chinese. The country has a very promising appearance, and the indications are all of the best auriferous character.—(Woods, 1886.) Now the property of the Brock’s Creek Gold Mining Company. A fifteen-head stamp mill has been erected and some thousands of tons of ore treated, averaging 15dwts. of gold.6
Britannia Reef.—Locality, two miles N.E. from Brock’s Creek. Strike N. 20° W.; rocks consist of indurated clay slate and fine-grained sandstone with quartzose bands. The Inspector of Mines (1891) states that from one of the shafts the stone was said to have yielded 12ozs. of gold to the ton. There is a strong lode, but the Chinese owners prefer to work the small veins, which, as a rule, are rich.
Near the Britannia (N.W.) there is an outcrop of a copper lode, which is 3ft. wide, with micaceous schist walls. Carbonates of copper are disseminated through the formation. This property was purchased in 1896 by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited.
Another copper show exists six miles N.E. from Knutsford Railway Siding. The lode is 3ft. wide, and is composed of kaolin with carbonates and sulphides of copper in the form of azurite and covellite.
Bridge Creek.—Alluvial diggings on open flats. One small quartz leader is worked (1886), the stone being crushed by hand. The gold is so fine and scaly that it floats away in the panning. Twenty white miners and many Chinese are there.— (Woods, 1886.)
Brock’s Creek.—The description above applies also to this property.—(Ibid./ The Government Geologist reported in 1894 that there was at this place a belt of auriferous rock formed of three or four closely adjacent quartz and mullocky veins striking from the north 70° to 80° west, and underlying southerly at high angles. Water-level, 20ft. Workings not deeper than 50ft., although shafts had been sunk deeper. The rock formation is micaceous sandstone and slate and clay slate dipping southerly. The reefs are certain to continue downwards, and should be worked systematically. One battery of ten stampers was at work. The property was purchased in 1896 by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited.
Bynoe Harbor.—The Inspector of Mines expressed (in 1891) a high opinion of this tinfield, and said there was room for thousands of tin miners there.
Caledonian Claim.—A quartz and mullocky formation traversing clay slate and sandstone, situated in a flat country. At the Prospecting Claim work has been done down to 70ft. on a vertical reef, 3ft. to 4ft. wide, bearing N. 20° W. The locality, in the opinion of the Government Geologist, is a very promising one and well worthy of energetic prospecting for reef and alluvial gold.
Cement Gully.—A shallow flat close to Grove Hill; sinking, 10ft. to 12ft. Much gold obtained, no doubt derived from the ranges on each side, in which, however, there are nothing more than a few unproductive leaders.—(Woods.)
Cemetery Claim.—Locality, east from the Golden Tree. There is a pyritous lode of unknown width, and another lode 2ft. wide. A crushing gave 8dwts. per ton from a parcel of 10 tons. The Inspector said this claim was lying unworked. (1891.)
Chinese Block.—Area, 10 acres, adjoining Sagabiel’s. A parcel of 38 tons of stone (says the Inspector) recently yielded 281ozs. of gold. The block is “ riddled with small pits.”
Christmas Gold Mine.—The Inspector of Mines states that the large Kohinoor lode goes through this block. From a lode 2ft. wide crushings had yielded 2ozs. to 4ozs. of gold per ton of stone* The owner of the mine has obtained 480ozs. of gold from 35 tons of stone, 369ozs. of gold from 30 tons, and 289ozs. from 28 tons. The mine is rich, but has been badly worked.
Claudius’ Claim.—Area, 20 acres; from a trench 15 tons of stone returned 7ozs. of gold.7
Clifton Gold Mine .—Near to Springlrill Mine. Worked by Chinese since 1895 at a profit.
Copperfield Copper Mine.—Five miles from the terminus of the Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway. Discovered in 1872; abandoned in 1880; again acquired, and in 1887 bought by Mr. C. G. Millar. A strong lode of high-grade grey ore exists, to open which two shafts have been sunk ; one down 50ft. carries a 4ft. lode; the other at 20ft. in the lode does not touch either wall. During the past season 500 tons of 30 to 40 per cent, ore have been raised and shipped.—(“ N.T. A. and Directory.”) Inspected in 1891 as an abandoned property; it would pay to work. A good copper show a quarter of a mile west from the above.
Copper Show.—Six miles north from Glencoe Station there is a lode outcrop that should be prospected to a depth of at least 100ft. Some outcrops of lodes in the Station Paddock are recommended to the notice of the prospector. The granite country to the north of Glencoe is also well worth prospecting.—(Inspector of Mines, 1891.)
Coronet Hill Silver Claims.—These are situated about 15 miles southeast of the Eveleen, on a branch of the Mary river. There are three parallel lodes striking N.W. and S.E., and a shaft has been sunk on the main lode (which averages 12ft. wide) to the depth of 85ft. Assays of samples from the shaft taken from surface to depth named average 40ozs. silver to the ton.—(Chief Warden Nash.) In 1891 the Inspector reported in his opinion the lode did not carry payable silver.
Cosmopolitan Claim.—The Government Geologist reported that at the time of his inspection (1894) there were upwards of a hundred Chinamen engaged in reefing. There were a number of shafts and old alluvial holes and workings which had fallen in ; but two lines of reef, one striking north-westerly and the other east and west, and more or less vertical. There is a wide mullocky formation, with quartz veins in places showing plumbaginous slate, the quartz bluish. Ferruginous veinstone occurs frequently. It was stated that the stone averaged from lOdwts. to 15dwts. of gold per ton.
The following were the Cosmopolitan Company’s battery returns for a period from July 18th to November 14th, 1884:—
	Tons.	Smelted Gold.	
		ozs.	dwts.
Kohinoor				 1,040	.. 264	3
Eleanor 			 150	.. 469	9
Elinore			 148	.. 709	0
North Star 			 69	48	9
Republic			 10	9	0
Bashi-Bazouk			 n	16	0
Caledonian 					5	6	0
Walden and Party 			 60	.. 74	0
	1,493	1,596	1
Cruickshank & Barrett’s Tin Claim.—Near Mount Shoobridge. A quartz outcrop on a low ridge, standing out like a wall, thickly veined with black tin ore. A beautiful mineralogical display.—(Woods, 1886.)
Daly Kiver Copper Mine.—This property has been purchased by a Port Darwinfsyndicate, and is yielding satisfactory returns. It has yielded over 2,000 tons of 28 pier cent, ore, all mined from one shaft less than 100ft. deep and having three levels.— (Ibid.) The Inspector of Mines states that there has been considerable waste of money and unnecessary work; would pay if properly mined. The Government Geologist in 1894 found that the shaft was full of water below a depth of 80ft., and mining was confined to working out the ore from the supports to stopes and shaft. It is a wide and permanent lode. To work it properly the shaft must be sunk to deeper levels,8
Dalhousie Company.—Holding 10 acres on the Grafton line of reef. The Inspector of Mines (1891) reported that a trial parcel of 14 tons from a shaft 4oft. deep on the course of the lode gave 17dwts. of gold per ton. Parcels from other shafts gave, respectively, ^oz. and 8dwts. of gold per ton. Lode not well defined.
Democrat.—Area, nine acres; held in conjunction with the Kohinoor. A large quantity of work done.
Dog and Duck.—Locality, Arltunga. Battery treatment has yielded 16dwts. lOgrs. per ton; tailings carried 4dwts. 12grs. per ton.
Douglas Claims.—Northward from Toby’s Luck. A considerable amount of shallow working done. A number of veins and two well-defined lodes. All the veins carry gold. Fifteen tons of stone from one of them yielded 45ozs. of gold, and 55 tons returned 1 ¿ozs. per ton; the latter parcel was not considered payable. Claim now abandoned. —(Inspector of Mines, 1891.)
Dutton’s Gold Claim.—Locality, near Bridge Creek. Five shafts were sunk on a leader 4in. to 6in. wide, and 43 tons of stone produced 83ozs. of gold, and 2J tons returned 140ozs. of gold. A large lode prospected 7dwts. of gold per ton. Pyrites struck in the south shaft.
East Clifton.—Adjoins Springhill Mine. The Mine Inspector reported (1891) that this claim had been worked by numerous shafts and tunnels, most of which had fallen in; but several large lodes running through the property had not been touched. The rocks are of a kindly nature and easily worked. A great deal of gold was got here in the early workings. Worked since 1895 by Chinese.
Eleanor Gold Claim.—The Rev. Mr. Woods mentions that Jansen, in five years, got 9,000ozs. of gold from this claim.
Eleanor Silver-Dead Lease.—Area, 80 acres. There is a formation of limestone and galena, but nothing of value observable, but the place should be thoroughly tested.
Elizabeth Mine.—Adjoins the Flora Bell. The Inspector of Mines in 1891 reported that the lode is almost vertical, of an average width of 3ft., and with leaders running into it from both walls. From 800 tons an average of 2£ozs. of gold per ton was obtained, and a parcel of 70 tons averaged 6ozs. per ton. It was worked from the surface downwards for 150 yards in length; but the workings collapsed.
Elsinore.—Area, 13 acres. A large lode, states the Inspector, runs through this block, and innumerable leaders, and rich returns have been got from small veins.
Enterprise.—Locality, Pine Creek. A well - defined lode (reported the Inspector in 1891) had been stripped to a shallow depth for 150ft. Sixty tons crushed for 1^-oz. per ton. A large lode outcropping.
Eureka Gold Mine.—Situated three miles south-east from the Eveleen Silver Mine, and at the northern end of Houschildt’s Rush. The returns have, from the commencement, paid working expenses. The property is large, and there are thousands of tons of payable stuff available for an improved crushing plant. One shaft is down 115ft., and the drives show a well-defined reef 3ft. wide, which gives machine returns of a little under an ounce of gold to the ton, whilst assay of tailings shows a considerable percentage in the concentrated pyrites.—(Woods, 1886.)
The Government Geologist reported a visit in 1894, and states that the reef is chiefly composed of quartz down to the water-level, 80ft., when it gives place to pyrites, of which there is a considerable width in the main shaft. The lode strikes N. 10° W., dipping 70° to 80° W., with variable width, and has an appearance of permanency. Galena, carbonate of lead, and a little copper ore occur in this lode. There is also a parallel reef. The mine was being worked by Chinese.9
The Maybell and other claims were being worked by Chinese. The gold from these mines is alloyed to an unusual extent with silver, and the galena and carbonate of lead proved to be very rich in silver, and the pyrites rich in gold, as shown by the following assays :—
	Gold per Ton.		Silver per Ton.		Lead per Cent.
	ozs.	dwts.	ozs.	dwts.	
Eureka Mine—					
Tailings 	.....'	*		1	6	1	3	—
	1	3	1	3	—
Pyrites (vanned) 		 ‘ ‘ (from mine) 		2	4	1	11	—
	5	0	3	7	—■
a a	2	14	7	17	—
1 a u	2	17	3	9	—
Galena and quartz			Trace		54	14	43
u	0	10	81	0	73
a	0	13	128	14	72
Sam Nellie Mine—					
Carbonate of lead and galena 		Trace		366	11	70
Maybell -					
Carbonate of lead 		5	1	51	6	46
a	2	15	82	6	51
Gossan 		0	4	0	17	—
Mr. Chapman, the secretary and legal manager, gave the following particulars :— “ The lease comprises sixteen acres, in which there are two lodes, striking N.W. and S.E., with a width of from 2in. or 3in. to 15ft.—average 3ft. There are six shafts, 80, 126, 80,67, 25, and 25ft., respectively; length of drives, 500ft. The reefs above water-level show ferruginous quartz, and below, almost solid pyrites,with slate walls. Four thousand six hundred and seventeen tons of stone crushed have yielded 2,890ozs. of gold, value £7,212. This property adjoins the Eureka South, Maybell, and Eureka West Mines.” The Inspector of Mines (1891) regarded this as a good line of reef, and that it could be made to pay. These mines are now the property of the Eureka Gold Mining Company, who have erected machinery to the value of £19,000 to treat the pyritiferous ores in the mine. Eight thousand two hundred tons of tailings from this mine treated by the cyanide process yielded a profit of over £20,000.
Eveleen Silver Mine.—Situated near the south-eastern extremity of the metalliferous ranges, four miles west from the upper reaches of the River Mary, on the junction of the metalliferous slates with the blue granites. The outcrop, called Pinnacle Hill, shows a number of lodes, one many feet wide, containing brilliant shoots of galena. There are an immense number and variety of minerals in the veins and pockets, forming a sight of rare beauty. It is said, that the percentage of silver in the lead is very high; the copper ores are poor and light.—(Woods, 1886J
Mr. A. A. Gallagher, the secretary and legal manager, stated that the company held 160 acres under mineral lease, and had seven lodes, which strike N.W. and S.E., with a width ranging up to 13ft. Six vertical shafts were put down, of the respective depths of 35ft., 65ft., 110ft., 38ft., 18ft., and 20ft., and there are 800ft. of drives. Above water-level the lode consists of gossan, and below of solid galena, with dolomite walls. Two thousand two hundred and twenty-four tons of ore yielded 601 tons of lead, and 89,39lozs. of silver. The Inspector of Mines described this in 1891 as the best silver show in the Northern Territory, but the ores were refractory. In 1894 the Government Geologist found this had been abandoned. From the appearance of the workings the ore deposit of galena, carbonate of lead, zinc, &c., had filled pockets and fissures in the limestone, and had therefore been of uncertain occurrence.
Extended Union Gold Mines —Locality, about three miles S.E. from Springhill. A great mass of stone has been taken out, and the cap of the lode looks like an empty quarry. It was formerly a tangled mass of leaders going in10
every direction, giving as much as 80ozs. of gold to the ton. Subsequently, the reef growing poorer, the mine was mismanaged, and is now (1886) let on tribute to Chinamen. With good management the mine would yield large returns.—(Woods, 1886.) The Government Geologist reports C1894) at Roberts’s claim there were a number of Chinese following the rich quartz leaders by shafts and cuttings, and some rich specimens were shown in which the gold occurred in grey magnesian limestone in the form of thin plates filling cracks in the limestone.
Faded. Iiily.—Locality, west of Claudius’ Claim ; area, 10 acres. Lode 18in. wide, strong and well defined. A parcel of 100 tons of stone yielded loz. per ton; another just ready for the battery was expected to give 2ozs. per ton. Other parcels have returned 3ozs. per ton. The Inspector stated that 50 Chinese were at work when he examined the property. (1891.) This property was purchased in 1896 by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited. Main shaft sunk to 212ft.
Fergusson River Goldfield.—Locality, 25 J miles E. i S. from Pine Creek Railway Station, proclaimed in April, 1896.
Flora. Bell Proprietary Silver Mining Company.—The property held consisted of 60 80-acre leases of mineral land, within two miles of the Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway. The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that the company holding this property started in 1887, and up to the time of stopping work expended £20,000. A nice-looking lode outcrops for a considerable length in the property. From Bechervaise’s lode some very rich silver ore was mined, 99 tons sent to Port Adelaide realising a net profit of £727 5s. 6d., and another 34 tons £192 14s. 2d. A number of shafts were sunk which gave no large result, but proved the lode to be continuous. A main shaft was put down to a depth of 210ft., and a little driving was done on the course of the lode, but very little ore was obtained. Altogether there were seven shafts sunk, and very little ore was obtained. If the work done had been concentrated on the Bechervaise lode when the rich ore was obtained this mine might have proved payable instead of being abandoned.
Fountain Head Diggings.—The Government Geologist reported upon these after an inspection in 1894. There is a belt of four reefs trending northwesterly through and across micaceous clay slate and sandstone rocks. He was informed the deepest workings were at 70ft. from the surface, and the veins were reported to be rich.
Fountain Head Gold Claim.—There was a large quantity of gold found in the alluvial, all worked by Chinese, of whom there were as many as 300 at one time. It was long deserted, but, according to Mr. V. L. Solomon, had (1890) resumed working, and a 10-head battery, with the latest saving appliances, was treating the stone. The Inspector of Mines, in 1891, examined this property and considered it a rich holding. Only a few Chinese fossickers are now working.
Gash’s Claim.—Area, 10 acres; worked (reported the Inspector) by Chinese tributors by small shallow shafts and open cuttings. A yield of 3ozs. per ton was obtained from 60 tons of stone ; the last parcel only 1 ldwts. per ton. A well-defined lode running through the block, but very little work done on it.
Golden Chance.—Locality, one and a half miles from the Government Tvorks, Arltunga; reef, 4ft. wide, striking north-westerly and dipping south-easterly. The ferruginous quartz carries a little copper,1 and is freely studded with coarse gold; a return of 2ozs. per ton is anticipated.—(Register, 25/3/98.)
Golden Chance Reef.—A parcel of stone, 42 tons 12cwts. lqr., jielded at Arltunga Cyanide Works, in September, 1898, 25ozs. 2dwts. 3grs.
Golden Creek.—Situated west of the Dalhousie; area, 14 acres. The Inspector did not recommend further expenditure upon this mine. At about 80 yards distance a stron'g lode shows itself in a shallow pit.11
Golden Tree Mine.—Adjoining Maude Hill. From a vein 8in. thick 4 tons of stone yielded 4Jozs. of gold per ton. Running through the claim there is a well-defined lode with numerous parallel veins. The claim has not been properly worked.
Goodhall’s Claim.—Locality, south of Claussen’s. Formerly held by Chinese, who worked the small leaders along the surface.
Great Albion.—Near Arltunga. It is reported that several auriferous reefs traverse this property, and prospects obtained by dollying are stated to be very encouraging.
Grierson’s Gully Gold Claim.—A broad flat, worked in shallow sinkings for alluvial gold. The gravel is small, in angular fragments, and consists of blackish quartz and schist.—(Woods, 1886.)
Griffith’s & Brown’s Silver Lease.—Locality, south of Grove Hill; area, 59 acres. A large ironstone outcrop is said to have yielded 68Jozs. of silver per ton.
Sale River Reefs.—The principal gold reefs hitherto discovered are south of the Hale, between and in the vicinity of Running Water, Paddy’s Hole, and the Government Well. At the time the Government Geologist first visited the place (Nov., 1888) there were very few men on the field, as owing to want of water they were unable to work at the reefs. At Paddy’s Hole a shaft was being sunk on quartz veins, with gossan and iron ore patches ; fine gold was visible in the stone, and from crushings good prospects of this gold were obtained. The rocks here are argillaceous, gneissic, micaceous sandstone, and granite, with quartz reefs. The groups of claims on the Hale were some 18 or 20 in number. In all, or nearly all, fine gold could be seen on breaking the stone, and on crushing and washing the quartz similar gold was always visible. The reefs are composed of quartz containing gossan, iron oxide and pyrites, and a little copper. The quartz is generally cavernous, and it is in these cavities that the fine gold is most frequently seen; in some cases quite freely. As a rule the veins are small, and the exposure of reef along the surface short. In some claims there are several parallel reefs. Some of the richest are only a few inches wide on the surface. So little work has been done that it is very difficult to say with any degree of confidence what the average return of gold per ton is likely to be. The best of the reefs may be expected to yield in bulk from 1 oz. to 8ozs. to the ton. There is no reason to expect phenomenal yields, as the gold is very finely disseminated. No doubt, when machinery has been erected, and these reefs come to be worked, richer stone will be met with, and some of the larger reefs, which at present have not been prospected, will be found to be gold-bearing. The bearing of these reefs is north-northeast, north and south, &c., and they vary in width from a few inches to 2ft. The country rock is gneiss, micaceous slate, and sandstone, diorite, epidosyte, syenite, &c. The ranges where the reefs occur are traversed by numerous gullies and sandy creeks, which are likely to contain alluvial gold. Mr. Benstead, of Alice Springs, informs us that there are now (1890) three machines on the field: a Huntington mill, and two three-head stampers; but only one crushing has yet been had, when a parcel of 20 tons yielded 17ozs. and some pennyweights. There is a shaft on the Junction reef which has been sunk to a depth of 50ft., and coarse gold is carried all the depth. The Wheal Fortune has struck a reef at a depth of 90ft., which is 2ft. wide, and shows gold. There is a Government well 40ft. deep, which gives all the water supply available. Since the above was written the Arltunga field has been more or less continuously worked, and has yielded a very considerable quantity of gold. Cyanide works have been set up by the Government, and other facilities afforded to promote the development of this important goldfield.
Hale River Silver-Lead.—Whilst examining the Hale River Reefs the Government Geologist was shown several specimens of silver-lead, which were said to have been found in the neighborhood of the reefs. An assay of two samples, by .Mr. Goyder, jun., returned—silver 44ozs. 12dwts., and 12ozs. 15dwts.? and lead 4812
per cent, and 13« per cent, respectively. The country rocks are similar to those of the Barrier Ranges and the N.E., and are likely to contain both silver and copper bearing lodes.
Hann’s and Hillson’s Tin Claim.—Locality, half a mile from the Cosmopolitan. Tin is (says the Inspector) disseminated through the whole of a large dyke of greisen. It is worth from 1 per cent, to 2 per cent, of tin oxide per ton.
Hann’s Tin Claims.—Locality, two and a half miles S.W. from Springhill; area, 240 acres. Stream tin had been worked (Inspector of Mines, 1891) and a number of good lodes and a considerable area of alluvial awaiting the prospector. Payable tin had been obtained to a depth of 7ft.
Hibernia Mine.—Adjoins Maude Hill; area, 10 acres. The Inspector reported in 1891 that three shafts had been put down, and three parcels of stone sent to the battery. The first 2 tons yielded l^ozs of gold per ton, the second 2 tons 5ozs. 6dwts. per ton, and the third 42 tons yielded loz. per ton.
H, M, Solomon’s Gold Mine.--Locality, north from Maude Creek; area, 20 acres. The Inspector reported in 1891 that a shaft had been sunk on a well-defined and strong lode, averaging 3ft. wide. Another lode outcropping near is likely to junction with it. Gold is visible in the stone, but it is too fine to be saved by ordinary treatment; probably dense pyrites will be met at depth.
Homeward Bound. —Situated at Brock’s Creek, on the John Bull line of reef; area, 12 acres. The Inspector reported in 1891, that five shafts (four vertical and one inclined) had been sunk within a distance of 300ft. on the line of the lode. From 174 tons of stone 410ozs. of gold was returned ; 66 tons taken from old workings returned 40ozs. The lode in the stopes is small but solid; and pyrites ore shows in the lower levels.
Hong Kong Mine.—Locality, S.W. from Springhill. The Inspector of Mines stated (1891) this claim gave as much as 30ozs. per ton from small leaders. The mine bears the appearance of having been fossicked rather than mined.
Houschildt’s Bush.—This is an alluvial and reef goldfield, about four miles south of the Eveleen, and said to extend seven miles. The sinking is very shallow, in a soft ferruginous slate. Chinese were working in a band of decomposed limonite or ironstone. It must be very rich, for gold was visible in all the matrix, which is a very red gravel. There must be many other reefs.—(Woods, 1886.)
Howley.—The Inspector of Mines, during his official examination of Northern Territory mines in 1891, said that this showed rich gold, copper, and tin deposits. Rich gold returns had been obtained on the Bridge Creek line of reefs. The Government Geologist in 1894 saw a number of Chinamen reefing here down to l’20ft. They possessed a battery. The auriferous veins are small, and the quartz usually of a bluish color
Some gold claims at the Howley battery were being worked by about 30 Chinamen, under the supervision of a head man. The deepest shaft was said to be 150ft.; others ranged from 40ft. to 90ft. There are four parallel vertical reefs.
Howley Prospecting Claim.—Formerly worked by a German party of prospectors, who from 50 tons of stone obtained 104ozs. of gold; another parcel of 50 tons returned 3ozs. 3dwts. per ton. The present holders (reports the Inspector) were getting ljozs. and 2ozs. of gold per ton. (1891.) Twenty Chinese were working on tribute in different parts of the property. The lode in the stopes is 6in. wide. A good property, worth thorough development. It is now in the possession of the Howley Gold Mining Company, who have erected a forty-head stamp mill and treated some thousands of tons of ore averaging lOdwts.
Alluvial flats in the vicinity, one of which gave good returns to the diggers some years ago.13
Isabel Gold Mine.—Situated south of the Extended Union,»and possessing a fine reef of stone nowhere less than 6ft. wide, and in some places much more. The owners got from 209 tons of quartz 268ozs. of'gold. Influx of water stopped working.—(W oods.)
Jensen’s Silver-Lead Lode.—On this a pit has been sunk showing a lode of quartz and galena 2ft. wide, carrying little silver, but a large percentage of lead. Another outcrop is near, and an alluvial flat, which the Inspector of Mines thinks would yield payable prospects.
Jensen’s Rackarock Claim.—Locality, south of the Eleanor, near Pine Creek Railway. The Inspector of Mines in 1891 stated that he was of opinion that it was ifc one of the best gold mining properties in Australia/’ but that it had been unskilfully worked. The Government Geologist (1894) reports a network of quartz veins, traversing sandstone rock, followed and worked in the usual way.
The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that the mine, if properly worked, could keep 60 head of stampers going all the year round. It was, in his opinion, one of the best gold mining properties in Australia.
John Bull Gold Mine.—An alluvial and reef claim that was rendered unworkable by flooding. Situated about six miles south of the Howley. Indications very excellent.—(Woods.)
The Inspector of Mines considered this a property that might be made to give payable results. The report of the Government Geologist in 1894 was that it was not being worked, but a few Chinamen were about. It is now the property of Daniels Bros., who have erected a ten-head stamp mill.
Jones’ Claim.—Owned by Europeans and worked (reports the Government Geologist) by Chinese on tribute. A flat vein stiiking east and west, and dipping 20° to 30° S. Reef averages 15dwts. to 17dwts. per ton.
Jubilee Hill.—Locality, three miles S.E. from Howley battery. Taken up by the Cosmopolitan Company, but reported by the Inspector in 1891 to have been abandoned.
Knott & Burdett’s Copper Mine.—Situated about five miles E.N.E. from Mount Shoobridge Mine. There is a formation 3ft. wide, with veins of copper on the footwall; and 22 tons of ore dressed by hand jigger gave 48 per cent, of copper. From No. 2 shaft 8 tons of ore returned 37J per cent, of copper. The lode in this shaft had (says the Inspector) been driven on 15ft. each way, and was 2ft. wide.
The same owners hold mineral licence No. 1089 a little distance away, where a shaft has been sunk on a strong lode, which outcrops for a considerable distance. A little ore had been raised.
Kohinoor.—The Government Geologist reports :—On this lease there is a large reef 10ft. to 15ft. wide; strike, N.W.; underlie, S.W. 60° to 70°. Another vein dips south-easterly. The reef shows good walls of red, green, and brown clay slate, and sandstone, and kaolinised clay slate. Worked to a depth of 60ft.
Lady Maude Mine.—Area, 17 acres; lode exposed in one of the shafts (says the Inspector) is 14ft. wide ; 120 tons of stone had yielded only 3fozs. of gold, which was very fine.
Leviathan Tin Mine.—Situated on the creek of that name; area, 80 acres. From two shafts (the Inspector reported) 400 tons of ore, which the owners estimated at 5 per cent, of tin oxide, had been raised from a large dyke of greisen. A number of shafts had been sunk on this dyke.14
Liberal Licence, No. 1085.—Locality, half a mile N.E. from Howley battery. The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that some Chinese had unlawfully taken possession of this property, and they would not allow an inspection of the mine. There was a good copper lode from which some very good ore had been raised.
Little Wonder.—The Warden of the Alice Springs Goldfield at the end of 1897 visited this mine, the shaft of which was then down 25ft.
Lynott’s Lease.—Situated at Barney’s Creek. Some nodules of galena were taken out of ferruginous clay vughs, a mere superficial deposit, which the Inspector regarded as of no value.
Maearthur District.—In 1891 the Inspector of Mines directed attention to the fact that gold, silver, and probably other valuable minerals awaited the prospector here.
Macdonnell Ranges Reef.—At the Arltunga Cyanide Works recently a parcel of stone 14 tons 17cwt. 2qrs. returned 8ozs. 14dwts, 14grs.
Margaret Creek Gold Mine.—This goldfield has been entirely mined by Chinese, and most wretchedly mined. It has all the indications of being a rich gold country. A network of dioritic dykes with quartz lodes suggests important mineral deposits.—(Woods, 1886.) The Government Geologist visited this field in 1894, and stated that rich gold was said to have been found at the base of a table hill of micaceous and argillaceous sandstone and slate ore capped with sandstone. The quartz is glassy, and though the gold is found in large flat pieces no auriferous reef has yet been discovered.
Mascotte.—This mine sent in January, 1899, a parcel of 10 tons 3cwts. of stone for treatment at Arltunga. The yield was 18ozs. 6dwts. Tailings assayed 3dwts. 5grs. per ton.
Maude Creek Comstock Silver Mining Company.—Area, 200 acres. Samples taken by the Inspector of Mines showed the lode was rich in silver, besides containing copper.
Maude Creek Reefs.—Situated abont 15 miles from the Katherine. It is believed that the quartz contains large quantities of fine gold in conjunction with iron and pyrites, which cannot be extracted by any but the latest improved machinery.—(“ N.T. A. and Directory.”)
Maude Hill Gold Prospecting Company.—Holding 14 acres, with which, states the Inspector of Mines (1891), the Lady Davis Claim has been amalgamated. A number of shafts and pits had been sunk, and a good strong lode proved, as also a parallel lode 150ft. distant. A crushing of 17 tons yielded over 2ozs. of gold per ton; a previous crushing of 168 tons of stone yielded 232ozs. of gold. The enclosing rock is syenite.
Maybell Gold Mine, —Situated adjacent to the Eureka; area, 60 acres. Two parties of Chinese (reported the Inspector, 1891) were working the ground. Three shafts sunk from 40ft. to 60ft. deep. It is now the property of the Eureka Gold Mining Company.
McCarthy’s Claim.—'Adjacent to the Dalhousie, and worth developing.
McCallum’s Claim.—Near Victoria and Morning Star leases. Shallow workings'have yielded several parcels of stone; 40 tons gave loz. 5dwts. per ton; and a small lot of 4J tons returned 14ozs. per ton. A good claim. It is now the property of the Brock’s Creek Gold Mining Company.15
McKinlay and Mount Wells Silver Mining Company. —Locality, two and a half miles from Springhill and one and a half miles south from the McKinlay River; area, five miles by two and a half miles. The Inspector of Mines reported (1891) that two shafts were down within 20ft. of each other on a north and south lode, which appeared to be about 3ft. wide, enclosed by walls of argillaceous slate. It was stated that levels had been driven on the course of the lode 250ft., that they were regular and well defined, and that samples of galena and carbonate of lead ore on an east and west outcrop gave very high returns of silver. The lower workings could not be examined because of the presence of water.
McKinlay Tin Mine.—Locality, a mile and a half south by west from Burrundie. The bedrock crops out in irregular angular fragments, slaty in structure, and the rock is crystalline, showing mica in minute crystals, and quartz in a very hard felspathic formation.
McKinlay and Mount Wells Tin Mining Association held five blocks, containing about 3,200 acres. A few shafts have been sunk and clearings made on the cap of the lodes. The main lode shows exceedingly well. The tin is in fine crystals in quartz, or disseminated in chlorite of massive character, and little or no iron. It is stated that picked ore sent to England produced over 50 per cent, of tin of the finest quality. On the ridges of the hill there are many quartz reefs cropping out, indicating lodes. In the gullies leading from the hills prospecting for stream tin has led to good results.—(Woods, 1886.) The Government Geologist visited this goldfield in 1894, and in his report stated that it had been deserted. The rock formation is a coarse-grained diorite, and the quartz veins which had been worked appeared to have been small, and the sinking very hard. The gold is very fine and filmy. It is a promising locality for gold prospecting. Little work done upon it.
McKinlay Blocks Mining Syndicate.—Seven mineral claims, 560 acres, near Mount Wells.
Monarch. — A prospecting venture by an Oodnadatta syndicate. It was reported that assays had reached 4ozs. per ton.—(Correspondent.)
Morning Star.—Well worth developing; no work done on the lease.— (Inspector of Mines, 1891.)
Morris’s Silver Lease.—Locality, three miles west from Mount Todd. There is a defined lode of quartz and galena traceable by its outcrop for a long distance. Worth thoroughly testing.
Mount Gates.—Described by the Inspector of Mines as being in an auriferous belt of country, with good prospects. No work done in 1891. The Government Geologist reporting his examination in 1894, said that the rock formation is meta-morphic claystone and sandstone with serpentinous dioritic and granitoid dykes, and he was informed that very rich gold specimens had been obtained by surfacing, but none had been found in the quartz veins. The district has undergone intrusions of igneous rocks at various times, and to an extraordinary degree. Some shafts had been sunk, but the locality requires more prospecting.
Mount Lynes.—The Inspector of Mines expressed a good opinion of this tin-field.
Mount Lynes Tin Mine.—Situated eight miles S.E. from the Leviathan; area, 160 acres. Three dykes of greisen traverse the property in which tin has been found. From some of the surface workings large nodules of tin oxide obtained; one weighing 761bs. was sent to the School of Mines. The Inspector of Mines considered the property worthy of further development.
On the west of and adjoining Mount Lynes an 80-acre block has a dyke of greisen which contains tin oxide and is worth prospecting.16
Mount Shoobridge Tin Mine.—There are several parallel lodes containing a fine show of black tin ore, two or three of which have been uncovered to the extent of removing about a ton of the ore.—(Woods.) The lode, varying from 2ft. to 8ft. wide, was followed to a depth ofr 150ft., and was found to carry very rich deposits of tin, somewhat patchy, but the lode formation was proved to be continuous to a depth of 180ft., with true walls. During 1889 the company completed the erection of crushing and concentrating machinery, and dispatched over 50 tons of black oxide of tin to London, assaying on the average 65 to 68 per cent, of metallic tin.—(“ N.T. A. and Directory.”) In 1891 the Inspector of Mines visited this mine, and gave the opinion that there was in that place a splendid run of tin country. In 1894 the Government Geologist reported that the workings had fallen in. The ore seen is distributed through a dyke stone of quartz and mica, and the enclosing rocks are micaceous slate, sandstone, and mica schist, striking N. 10° W. in vertical and inclined strata. A few dishes of dirt from the creek showed small prospects of tin oxide and colors of gold.
Mount Tolmer Tin Mine.—The Inspector of Mines stated in 1891 that there is a splendid show of tin lodes in this property, A well-defined dyke of greisen averages 8ft. m width, and tin oxide is present to the value of 3 per cent.; and another large dyke has been prospected that does not yield so well. During the twelve months the mine was at work 800 tons of ore treated yielded 46J tons of tin oxide. It was lying idle for want of capital.
Mount Tymn.—The Inspector of Mines visited this place in 1891, and said there were several lodes containing very good gold well worth prospecting. There is an unlimited supply of stone easily obtainable, and if it averaged 12dwts. per ton the mine would be payable. It was stated that the lowest level reached in 1896 was 90ft.
Mount Wells Tin Mine. — Situated between Yam Creek and the McKinlay river, this mine resembles the tin mines of Cornwall, but the tin in quality surpasses anything ever found outside of Australia. There are two main lodes, and a shaft has been sunk and an adit,driven 100ft. There is a large quantity of ore easily accessible.—(Woods, 1886.) The “N.T. A. and Directory” gave particulars to the end of 1889. At the 230ft. level the contractors were still driving on the course of the lode, which is over 4ft. wide, and steady development was proceeding, and new stamper mills were to be erected shortly. The Inspector of Mines, in 1891, said there was a large lode here, but it was poor. The Government Geologist saw the mine in 1894, when it was being worked by a Port Darwin company. The lode from which the tin was being mined is composed of brecciated quartz, quartz, and iron ore, with a small percentage of tin, about 50ft. wide. In the lower tunnels it is much smaller, 3ft. to 4ft. thick. Likely to continue in depth.
Mullin’S and Meek’s Claim.—Locality, near the Howley battery. The owners were (reported the Inspector) trenching on an 8in. vein, expected to yield well. It was stated that 6ozs. per ton was realised from a leader 8in. thick, which was followed down to 40ft. when heavy water was struck which stopped working; and nothing has been done there since. (1891.)
Mystery Mine.— Adjoins the Cemetery Claim; area six acres. A well-defined lode, the gold very fine, requiring special treatment.
An adjoining claim has a small vein, and a well-defined lode worth prospecting.
JNTeate’s Gully Gold Mine.—A very good shoot of gold worked by Chinamen on tribute. On top of the ridges on each side the flat there are quartz reefs. The lode looks excellent.—(Woods, 1886.)
New Era.—Adjoins the United Gold Mine. Never worked. The Inspector of Mines states that auriferous veins pass through the block.17
New Port Darwin Tin Mine Company. — Property situated at Mount Wells; area, 240 acres. The Inspector of Mines formed a favorable opinion of the work and prospects in 1891, and gave a very detailed report of the method of working.
New Thunderer.—Locality, Pine Creek. In November, 1894, just subsequently to the visit of the Government Geologist, it was reported that this mine crushed 150 tons for 872ozs. of gold from a depth of 70ft. — (Register, 27/11/94.) The Government Geologist reported-—The auriferous vein here consists of bluish colored quartz, ironstone, and gossan, varying from 6in. to 1ft. in thickness, and bearing N.N.W. 10° to 15° W.; dip, 70° to 80° E. The walls of vein are well defined, the rocks being clay slate and argillaceous sandstone. The veins indicate continuance downwards. The mine was being worked on tribute by Chinese.
North Australian Tin Mining Company.—Locality of property, Burrundie, where a lease of 8,544 acres of land is held from the Crown for the purpose of mining for tin, silver, and gold. (1890.) The Inspector of Mines reported (1891) that this formerly belonged to an Adelaide syndicate, and afterwards was owned in Melbourne. Small quartz veins, containing a little tin cross, a porphyry dyke. The leases are more auriferous than stainferous, and should be prospected for gold.
No. 1- Claim.—On the Hibernia line. A great deal of work done. Stone taken from the different workings gave 20Jozs. of gold from 28 tons ; 8 tons treated at Pine Creek gave 42£ozs.; 22 tons treated at Maude Creek yielded 15dwts. per ton.
No. 6 Lady Alice Mine.—A shaft had (reported the Inspector of Mines, 1891) been sunk 100ft. on a very large outcrop holing to a tunnel that had been driven 220ft. There are two distinct lines of reef, one called the Lady Alice and the other the Union, not more than 100ft. apart. Miller Bros, had done most of their work on the former line ; 10,000 tons of stone had been crushed, yielding on the average 8Jdwts. of gold per ton Six Europeans and 50 to 60 Chinese employed. A first-class mine.
No. 1 North. Lady Alice.—Area, seven acres. Two small parties of Chinese tributing in 1891, fossicking rather than mining. The Inspector of Mines reported that the mine had been productive in former years, but should have received more skilled treatment than it had received recently.
No. 1 South Lady Alice.—Area, seven acres. The Inspector of Mines (1891) says that the lode outcrops very boldly, and is at least 27ft. wide, and 25 tons taken out averaged 15dwts. per ton. Tunnels were driven, and a shaft sunk, but the yield of gold was not so good. Chinese were working on tribute on other parts of the claim, and 12 tons crushed gave a return of 28ozs. of gold.
No. 2 South Lady Alice.—Area, nine acres. The report of the Inspector of Mines states that there are several old shafts on the property varying in depth from 50ft. to 89ft., which yielded from 50 tons of stone from 9dwts. to 25dwts. per ton. From an open cutting 500 tons returned 18dwts. of gold per ton.
No. 3 South Lady Alice.—On the Union line of reef; area 9J acres. Very little work done (1891); from 12 tons crushed a return of 18dwts. per ton was obtained. The Inspector of Mines states that 20 tons from an open cutting yielded 25dwts. per ton, and 25 tons from a pit yielded 17dwts. per ton. This is a property well worth working.
No. 4 South Lady Alice.—Area, nine acres. The report of the Inspector of Mines (1891) was that a considerable quantity of gold had been won, but latterly the claim had been worked on tribute by Chinese from a shaft 65ft. deep and open cuttings. The last crushing of 120 tons had yielded 12dwts. per ton.18
No. 5 South. Lady Alice Reef.—Area, 9J acres, first worked in 1873; a number of shafts on line of lode, one 105ft., at which depth water was struck. The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that the lode had not been prospected to any considerable depth though a large quantity of gold has been obtained. Owners were recommended to thoroughly test the lode down to 300ft.
No. 1 North Union.—Area, 10 acres. The report of the Inspector (1891) stated that four shafts had been sunk and connected by drives, and a good deal of other work done. A run of stone was cut that was rich in gold :—First crushing, 20 tons, 3ozs. per ton; second, 17 tons, 9ozs. per ton; third, 17 tons, 7ozs. per ton; fourth, 12 tons, 2Jozs. per ton. A great deal of more or less payable work was done elsewhere, and Chinese tributors, it was stated, got out 52 tons from old workings, which returned 3ozs. of gold per ton.
No. 2 North Union.—Area, 12 acres. In the early days (reported the Inspector of Mines) Messrs. Shakes and Cornelius took out 60 tons of stone from a large lode outcrop, which gave a return of 5ozs. of gold per ton. . There are several open cuts, shaft, and tunnel; and Chinese were working a vein on tribute, and breaking good auriferous stone.
No. 3 North Union .—Area, 11 acres. The Inspector states that lOcwts. of stone taken from this block returned 40ozs. of gold to the prospector. From another small vein 10 tons were taken, and gave a return of 57ozs. of gold. One crushing of 306 tons returned 944ozs. 16dwts. of gold. No well-defined effort has been made to develop this mine.
NOS. 4 and. 5 North Union.—Held (1891) by the Alta Company; area 20 acres. The Inspector reports shallow workings over the whole area, and good returns obtained. One of the earliest crushings of 160 tons gave a return of 309ozs. of gold. From a shallow shafts two crushings gave respectively—12 tons, 14ozs. 6dwts., and 10 tons returned 50ozs. of gold. Some Chinese on tribute from 28 tons of stone obtained a yield of 74ozs. of gold. From an open cutting 60 tons gave 450ozs. of gold. Chinese were still fossicking the claim.
Nos. 6 and 7 North Union.—The Inspector reported Chinese tributors at work. He was informed that the prospector took out a small crushing for a return of 40ozs. of gold per ton. Recently 2 tons of stone yielded 16ozs., and another parcel of 7 tons returned 6Jozs. of gold.
Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 North Union.—Area, 32 acres. The report of the Inspector (1891) was that this claim had been worked off and on for 15 years, and the Chinese (24 of whom were at work) said it was very poor. A recent crushing of surface stone returned only 6Jdwts. of gold per ton. These several blocks have hardly been touched so far as real mining is concerned.
No. 12 North Union.—Area, 10 acres. Held (1891) by Chinese under lease. The Inspector relates that 15 shafts had been sunk within 100 yards on the course of the lode, the depths varying from 70ft. to 125ft. During the previous four years 601 tons of stone taken out had returned l,658ozs. of gold. From an open cutting 770 tons of stone yielded l,600ozs. of gold. Hedge and party, the first prospectors, got a return of llozs. of gold per ton from 30 tons of stone.
No. 1 South Union Gold Claim.—The main shaft has been sunk over 200ft., and the 2,000 tons of stone passed through the battery has yielded satisfactory returns.—(“ N.T. A. and Directory.”)
No. 1 South Union.—Area, 20 acres. The Inspector (1891) reported there were three old shafts down to an average depth of 96ft., and that the stone gave for respective parcels as follows :—16 tons, llozs. per ton; 12 tons, 7ozs. per ton; and 7 tons, 14ozs. per ton. These were from workings covering 150ft. on the line of reef. Other workings had been carried on with lower results.No. 2 South Union. —Area, 14 acres; work done included shaft-sinking, crosscutting, and open cuttings. The Inspector of Mines reported that the first crushing taken out from a cutting yielded 150ozs, of gold from il tons of stone; the second gave 96ozs. for 11 tons. The large bodies of stone here are comparatively untouched.
No. 3 South. Union.—Formerly known as McEnhill’s reef. In 1874 and 1875, 1,300 tons of stone crushed yielded 2ozs. of gold per ton. A large quantity of work done is detailed in the Mine Inspector’s report, but the yields of gold were not large. Deeper sinking suggested.
No. 7a South Union.—Area, 14 acres, and situated west of No. 4. A good shaft (states the Inspector of Mines, 1891) had been put down 150ft. vertical; water struck at 100ft. A considerable quantity of stoping was done, and the average yield of gold from all stone taken out was 4ozs. per ton. The property has not been thoroughly tested.
No. 10 South Union.—Locality, west of Union or Trig. Hill; area 169 acres. The report of the Inspector of Mines was to the effect that the Chinese had sunk a shaft 207ft., and had done a great deal of driving and stoping, and a large quantity of gold was got out. The mine had been. purchased by Millar Bros., who were working it in a proper way.
Northern Territories Goldfields Company.—In December, 1896, a newspaper correspondent stated that operations had been energetically commenced opening up their property at Brock’s Creek and the Howley.
Nugget.—In the latter part of 1898, 8 tons of stone from this mine, treated at Arltunga, returned at Arltunga Cyanide Works 13dwts. 21grs. per ton.
Oliffe Reef.—The second crushing (November, 1898) gave 14dwts. 17grs. per ton for a parcel of 25 tons treated at Arltunga.
Olsen Syndicate.—Working the Wheal Mundi Mine in 1896.
O’Neil5 S Claim.—North of the Prospecting Claim. It was stated that 25 tons of stone taken from the workings have yielded 3^ozs. of gold per ton, and 1 ton returned 30ozs. of gold. The claim was abandoned in 1891.
Paddy’s Hole.—Mr. Benstead furnished the following information for the last edition (1890) :—The discovery of gold at this place occurred in April, 1887, and the largest nugget found weighed 2ozs. 4dwts. Prospectors have worked in half a dozen gullies, but principally in those called the Kangaroo and Nuggety gullies. At the present time there are about 40 men on the field, some of whom have done fairly well. About half the number are prospecting for alluvial gold, which is rough and coarse. It is probable that at the least 200ozs. have been sent away, and were there not so much difficulty in respect to water supply for washing it is believed there would be a very satisfactory, if not large, yield.
Pay-me-Well Claim.—Situated east from the Hong Kong Claim. The Inspector of Mines stated (1891) that a large amount of shallow work had been done on different veins, and a considerable quantity of gold obtained.
Piekford’s Lease.—Situated on the Anne river; area, 80 acres. From shallow workings on a large dyke of greisen 22 tons of ore was shipped to Swansea undressed, and the owners received for it £150 after payment of the large expenses incurred, the ore having to be dressed in England. The freight charge (reported the Inspector) was 10s. per ton from the mine to Port Darwin.20
Pinder’s Hill Gold Claim adjoins the Isabel. A shaft was sunk 70ft. and 124 tons of stone got, which yielded 169ozs. of gold. Not now working.— (Woods, 1886.)
Pine Creek,—Locality, ten miles south from the Union. Amidst the quartz lodes, which are almost meridional in direction, there is a variety and extent of minerals which has few parallels in other countries—gold, silver, lead, tin, and copper. Only four claims now working. (1886.) Three hundred and sixty ounces was got from 30 tons of stone. This will give an idea what the country is. (Ibid.) During the Government Geologist’s examination of the Pine Creek country (1894), he reported that the reefing claims extend in a north-westerly direction about three miles along the railway on its south-western side. All the claims were worked by Chinese either as leaseholders or tributors. The field was much cut up by shafts and excavations. The belt of auriferous veins and reefs traverses the country rocks along the strike N. 35° to 40° W., some of them being large and wide, accompanied by small vertical, inclined, and flat quartz veins, usually richer than the large reefs, but thinning out occasionally. Some of the wide surface outcrops of quartz seen on the Christmas, New Year, and Democrat leases, have the appearance of being saddle reefs— an important matter as affecting deep mining ; but good ground has been so much broken up by the fossickers it is impossible to determine the point.
Port Darwin Gold Mining Company.—Property situated on the Bridge Creek line of reefs, Howley district; area, 10 acres. Rich stone was found in shallow workings by the former owners, Beetson Bros.; but the Inspector could not obtain any information respecting the result of this company’s operations.
Princes Louise (Grove Hill) Gold Mining Company.—Locality, the head of Neate’s Gully, on the Priscilla line of reef. A dyke of sandstone, 12ft. wide (reported the Inspector 1891), enclosed by slate walls, has floors of veins of ferruginous quartz from wall to wall. At the bottom of a 17Oft. shaft, dense iron pyrites in quartz occurs, which yield from 2ozs. to 3ozs. of gold per ton; 2,379 tons of stone treated had yielded loz. 13dwts. lOgrs. of gold per ton. A good mine. Purchased in 1896 by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited.
Pugh’s Claim.—Locality, north from Mullin’s. A main lode outcropping, from which good prospects can be obtained. Claim worth developing.
Q,uehi—Official return from 16 tons 3cwts. of stone lOozs. lOdwts. of gold, and in the tailings ldwt. 3grs. per ton. (January, 1899.)
Radford’s Blow (White Hili).—Locality, S.W. from Grove Hill a mile and a half. The lode (says the Inspector) is without doubt the main one from Yam Creek. Abandoned by the Kapunda Gold Mining Company. It was stated that 150 tons of stone from the eastern veins had crushed loz. ldwt. of gold per ton.
A deep alluvial flat running for two miles parallel to Margaret river the Inspector considered well worth working.
Red Castle Reward.—Locality, adjacent to the Arltunga Mine; said to possess a good main reef.
Red Hill Gold Mine.—Locality, near Radford’s Blow; area, 20 acres. Worked by Chinese. The report of the Inspector (1891) was that there was a large lode running through the property, but little had been done to prove it. Extensive work had been done on segregated veins, which were found all over the claim. The mine would give good profits properly worked.
Republic.—Area, 13 acres. The Inspector of Mines (1891) reported that a crushing from the western part of the claim had given 255ozs. of gold from 9 tons of stone. Other parcels had given returns which, if not so rich, were very satisfactory.21
Richardson’s Reef.—The Inspector describes a jumbled vein from which gold could be obtained wherever tested. A well-defined lode is also in this claim, but it had scarcely been prospected. (1891.)
River Cullen.—The Government Geologist examined this district in November, 1894, and reported that the formation is granitic, with alluvium containing gold and tin, which would pay to sluice, as water is plentiful.
Round Hill.—The Advertiser (24/3/98) reported that stone was being raised from rich leaders in this claim ; and in November, 1898, the official returns by the manager of the Arltunga Cyanide Works stated that 15 tons 13cwts. 2qrs. of stone treated returned l7ozs. 3dwts. 5grs.
Ruby Mine.—Official returns (December 23rd, 1898) from the Government Cyanide Works, Arltunga, states that 16 tons 2cwts. of stone yielded by battery loz. 3dwts. 5grs. of gold per ton, valued at £3 13s. per ounce, and that the tailings assayed 6dwts. lgr. per ton.
Rum Jungle Silver and Copper Show.—Locality, one and a half miles S.E. from Rum Jungle railway siding. There is an outcrop of silicious ironstone intermixed with cerussite and copper carbonates; and some outcrops stained with Copper show on other parts of the property.
Sagabiel’s Claim.—Area, 10 acres; being wrorked (1891) by Chinese tributors. The Inspector of Mines stated that a crushing of 15 tons returned 52ozs, of gold. The claim has only been scratched on the surface. It changed hands a little later, and is worth working.
Sandy Creek, a wide open valley, with gullies in the ranges, which have all been proved to be more or less auriferous, and some extremely rich.—(Woods.)
Snadden’s Creek Tin Mine.—Situation, east of south of Mount Wells, 10 miles. The ore is a coarse tin sand, with fragments of beautiful wood tin about an inch or so in diameter. The size of the fragments indicate veins at no great distance.—(Ibid.)
Springhill Gold Claim.—Locality, seven miles south from Mount Wells. It is said that about 8,000ozs. of gold have been taken from this claim, very fine, and worth £3 17s. 3d. per ounce. The range is full of quartz reefs and leaders, none of which have been at all properly tested.—(Ibid.) The Inspector of Mines reporting on this claim in 1894 stated that the prospecting shaft was 230ft. deep, following the dip of the lode 55c E. A considerable amount of stoping had been done for 400ft. in length at a depth of 230ft, the lode in some places being 12ft. wide. A main shaft is down 357ft. vertical, and the lode was encountered in a crosscut at 20ft. From a nice looking vein in another shaft, at a depth of 60ft., 50 tons of stone gave 75ozs. of gold. This property is well worth working.
Springhill Reefs.—There is a good property on this line of reefs, formerly known as the United Gold Mining Company, containing rich leaders. It was worked by a 40ft. shaft and tunnel, and let on tribute.—(Inspector of Mines, 1891.)
Stapleton Gold. Reefs.—The stone is said to be good, and when costs of carting and crushing have been cheapened it is believed these mines will be worked again. (1890.)
Star Of the East.—Situated near Arltunga. In a report in the Advertisei (25/3/98) it was stated that the stone shows fine gold, and dollies well; but the September official return from the Government cyanide works states that from over 10 tons of stone the return was only 13dwts. 20grs.22
Star of the North.—A trial crushing by the Macdonnell Ranges and Arltunga Gold Mining Syndicate, by means of the Huntington mill, resulted in a return of 5ozs. of gold from 4|- tons of stone* In the offiicial returns, December, 1896, the stone from surface gave loz. 12dwts. of gold and 7dwts. of silver per ton; and from a depth of 12ft., 6ozs. 6dwts. of gold and loz. 18dwts. of silver per ton. In 1898 the prospectors were raising auriferous stone from open cuts.
Star of the North Telegraph Syndicate.—No information.
Star of Bethlehem.—Some patches of galena deposited on limestone. No lode or indication of permanent deposits.
Sultana Blocks.—Locality, Pine Creek; area, 20 acres, held by the Pine Creek and Palmerston Prospecting Company. Three parcels of stone were reported to yield—first, 30 tons, 3^ozs. of gold per ton; second, 35 tons, 2^ozs. per ton; and third, 25 tons, Joz. of gold per ton. The whole width of the lode (3ft.) gave a return of lOdwts. Not considered payable. Other blocks, states the Inspector, namely, Monarch, Newcastle, and Enterprise, were owned by the same company.
Temperance Gold Mine.—Situated a mile distant N.W. from Princess Louise; area, 80 acres; worked by Chinese tributors. A number of strong lodes traverse the property worth prospecting, and alluvial ground besides.
Toby’s Luck.—Adjoining O’Neil’s claim. There are small veins inclining at a low angle. Eighty tons of stone yielded lOOozs. of gold. In 1891 it had been abandoned.
Union Gold District.—The following information appeared in the former edition:—
This district, situated about 120 miles from the seaboard (with which it is connected by railway), has reefs which have been proved to extend nearly twenty miles, the Extended Union Mine being the most northern property worked, and the Pine Creek district is its southern termination. The mines occur on true fissure lodes in sandstone and slate country, hounded on the east by an immense range of granite. The railway running to the west of the line of reef is within easy distance of all the mines. About forty gold-mining leases were taken up, the Prospectors’ Claim being situated about the centre of the district. Acting upon the advice of mining experts, Messrs. Millar Brothers purchased and secured more than half of this district, and engaged in developing their southern properties. A shaft was sunk on No. 10 South Union to a depth of 300ft., and the reef at that level was 12ft. wide, inter-handed with black slate carrying gold The early crushings made at the public battery from this claim gave a return of l,357ozs. from 266 tons. A 10-head battery was erected, and the mine connected by tramway with the railway. The labor employed on this mine, and indeed on all the mines, was Chinese, ready to take contracts for all mining work, and many of them were expert miners. The rate of wages was 6s. per day for dry work and 7s. per day for wet ground; and the managers spoke in the highest terms of their plodding perseverance. The Messrs. Millar Brothers had a large number of hands employed on their leases, and were sinking a shaft with the intention of going down 500ft. on No. 5 south claim, where also a powerful battery was to he erected. At the Prospectors’ and adjoining claims the cap of the reef was very rich ; the first crushing gave over 800ozs. from 10 tons, and crushings of 10ozs., 20ozs., and 30ozs., for small parcels were numerous. The South Union Company, adjoining the Prospectors’ Claim, erected a Huntington mill, but this was to he replaced by a battery. There are five reefs proved to extend through their claims, and past crushings have given large returns. At the Alice Union Company’s claims an immense outcrop of the lode appears on the surface, and proved to he 20ft. wide at a depth of 100ft., showing gold in the stone. The claims adjoining to the Alice Union were worked by a local company. Some of the other claims were worked by the Chinese on tribute, and lOoz. and 12oz. crushings had been recorded from a small reef on their No. 12 north claim. The great drawback to successful mining in this district in the past was the high price paid for cartage, ranging from £20 to £100 per ton ; and also the high rate of wages paid to Europeans for labor, viz., 10s. per day and “ found,” equal to £5 per week. Now that the railway is constructed, the freight is about £2 per ton. Other districts now being worked for gold are the Howley, Grove Hill, Pine Creek, and Maude Creek; whilst some thousands of Chinese are at work on various alluvial fields. (1890.)
Union Gold Mines.—The mines under this name may be said to be amongst the greatest and richest deposits of gold in the Northern Territory, and the whole line of country includes good reefs of payable stone. The caps gave wonderful crush-23
ings—60, 70, 80 ounces per ton ; but the claims are idle, or nearly so, and have been abandoned one by one, but in no case for the want of good auriferous stone. The Union mines may be called the Sandhurst of the Northern Territory.—(Woods, 1886.)
Union Mining* and Crushing* Company.—Area held, 38 acres. The Inspector of Mines, reporting in 1891, said it was part of an old prospecting claim from which the party took out gold to the value of £38,000, the first crushing of 10 tons of stone yielding 77ozs. 13dwts. of gold per ton. A shaft was being sunk by Chinese tributors, and others were working by open cutting; terms, payment to the company of 10 per cent, on all gold obtained, and 18s. per ton for crushing. Last yield, 2ozs. per ton. A great many workings, but no record yields ; but the property has not been worked to any depth. Should be worked properly and vigorously.
Union Prospectors’ Claim, adjoining the Alice Union claims, gave 78ozs. to the ton for its first crushing, and innumerable crushings from the cap of the reef along the line have given 10ozs., 15ozs , and 20ozs. to the ton ; but these crushings are phenomenal, and are what might be expected from the weathering down of a rich reef leaving the gold on its present cap. During three years from the Lady Alice and Union reefs 3,464 tons were crushed at a very primitive battery, which it was estimated lost 50 per cent, of the gold, that the yield was 6,616ozs., or loz. 12dwts. to the ton. This from a reef proved at 200ft. to be lift, wide, and a true fissure lode, might be expected to go down to a very great depth, and would compare with the average of any mining district in the world.
Victoria Lease.—Good position, with lodes running through ; no work being done. (1891.)
Victory Mine.—Locality, Arltunga district. This is described as having a big reef, from which, some time ago, very rich specimens were obtained.
Virginia Gold Mine.—Locality, a mile and a half S.E. from Stapleton Crossing. The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that it had become the property of an English company, but their battery failed to save the gold, though large parcels previously treated had returned 2ozs. per ton. At 120ft. in depth pyrites was struck, and a good attempt was evidently made to develop the mine. The ore yielded 15dwts., and the tailings assayed lldwts.
"Wallaby Copper Mine.—Locality, a mile east from Wheal Danks; area, 320 acres. About 30 tons of copper taken out (states the Inspector), averaging 35f per cent., but nothing of value in sight (189J). From a shallow pit ore yielding 12ozs. of silver per ton was obtained.
Wandi Goldfield. —In January, 1896, the Register corespondent stated that 30 men were digging, some of whom were making a living by surfacing. In the following December a number of promising shows were spoken of, compulsorily idle for want of machinery to treat the stone. New discoveries were mentioned, and a “ new shoot with rich gold ” was being opened up in the Wandi Belle claim.
Wandi Xing Reef.—It is stated by a Register correspondent (25/9/96) that 18 tons of quartz from this reef yielded 43Jozs. of gold.
Warland’s Claim. — Locality, S.E. from the Howley battery. The Inspector saw stone raised that was estimated to go 3ozs. per ton.
Watt’s Tin Claim.—Situated six miles S.E. from Howley battery. Besides shafts being sunk the Inspector reported that there had been a great deal of fossicking over the surface and along the outcrop. The property had been (1891) lying unworked for a considerable time, but if properly mined it would give immediate returns.24
Wheal Danks Copper Mine.—This adjoins the Daly River Mine, and a considerable quantity of work has been done. The main shaft is (January, 1889) 180ft. deep, and levels are driven. Ores range up to 30 per cent., and some parcels have been sent away which have realised good prices. The property was in 1890 held by an English company.—(Chief Warden Nash.) The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that 500 tons of ore sent to Newcastle averaged 28 per cent, of copper. Several piles of ore at grass would pay for treatment, and the mine is worthy of further development. It was stated that 400 tons of ore had averaged 35 per cent, for fine copper.
Wheal Fortune (Silver).—Situated on the Hale river. A sample from the Claraville Reefs, tested by the Government Assayer, yielded 93ozs. 7dwts. of silver per ton and 68^ per cent, of lead.
Wheal Fortune Gold Mine.—A parcel of 20 tons put through the Huntingdon mill returned I7dwts. to the ton; the gold being very fine, it was supposed that an equal quantity lost in the tailings. Two tons of similar stone treated at Port Adelaide yielded 2^ozs. per ton. Three reefs on the property, all carrying good gold —(Register, August, 1896.) In an official return in October, 1888, the gold yield was 8ozs. 15dwts. 16grs. from 11 tons 15cwts. of stone. In following December 11 tons llcwts. 2qrs yielded llozs. lOdwts. 15grs. of gold, valued at £3 15s. per ounce.
Wheal Mundi.—The official return (November, 1898) for 4 tons 3cwts. of stone, treated at Arltunga Cyanide Works, was 2ozs. 1 ldwts. 4grs. of gold.
White Range Reef.—Large bodies of quartz exist which are said to give good prospects wherever tried.
White Range Extended.—The product of a parcel of 41 tons, treated at the Arltunga Cyanide Works, in November, 1898, was lOdwts. 8grs. of gold per ton. In the return for January, 1899, from 14 tons there was extracted 16ozs> 17dwts.; tailings assayed 2dwts. 22grs. per ton.
White Range Excelsior.—The official return from the Government Works at Arltunga, for 59 tons 9cwts. 2qrs., in December, 1898, was 33ozs. 9dwts. 18gr»., valued at £3 12s. 9d. per ounce; the tailings assayed 4dwts. 19grs. per ton.
Wooloonga Reefs.—These (states the Government Geologist, 1894) com prise a belt of four or more auriferous veins, striking N. 30° W. to N.W. through clay slate, micaceous slate, and sandstone, with plumbaginous slate in places. Numerous shafts and excavations; worked by Chinese. The Inspector of Mines reported in 1891 that several parcels of stone taken from the shafts yielded well— the first (70 tons) gave loz. of gold per ton; the second (15 tons) 32ozs. of gold; and the third (32 tons) 52ozs. The main lode had not been touched. The parallel vein, which was being worked in a most unminerlike fashion, is 2ft. wide The claim had only been fossicked. The property was purchased in 1896 by the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia, Limited.
Yam Creek.—This is an extensive mineral or gold-bearing area, including the Margaret, Stuart’s, Cement, Neale’s, and many other creeks and gullies, from some of which remarkably rich results have been secured. (See the several mines named —Woods, 1886.)
Zapopan Mine.—Situated at Brock’s Creek. The Register (May, 1896) states that the result of a clean-up of about 500 tons of quartz was 125ozs. of free gold. The blanketings averaged 2^ozs. per ton, and assay showed that the tailings carried 13dwts. per ton. In the following September it was stated that the free gold was averaging from 15dwts. to 30dwts per ton. The company was then working 15 head of stamps, and were obtaining a cyanide plant to treat tailings, which it was thought would largely increase the total yield of gold. The property was purchased in 1898 by the Brock’s Creek Gold Mining Company.25
GEMS.
Garnets are very common in the sands of some of the creeks and rivers, and are also often seen embedded in the granite and metamorphic rocks of the Hale river region. Some time ago these gems, which were said to be Oriental rubies and considered very valuable, were collected in large quantities on the Maude, Florence, and Hale rivers, and sold in some cases for large prices, the sand being burrowed into and the garnets picked out by blacks. When, in course of time, people became convinced that the gems were not rubies, but really garnets, the industry ceased, and at the time of the visit of the Government Geologist none of the hundreds of claims which had been taken up were being worked. It is doubtful whether any true rubies have been found here associated with the garnets, although the rocks are favorable to the occurrence of these and other gems of a similar composition. When subjected to fire or prismatic analysis the best of the gems are harder and the color differs from the ordinary garnet. On this account the gem has been termed the Australian ruby. Beryl, or aquamarine, as previously mentioned, occurs in quartz at Lindsay’s Mica Mine. Some green stones, which may be beryls or emeralds, are said to have been found at Ruby Gap.
The following is a list of claims taken out and companies formed during the time of the ruby excitement:—Australian Ruby Company, Capricorn Ruby Mining Company, Central Australian Exploring and Prospecting Association, Elder Ruby Mining Company, Esmeralda Ruby Syndicate, Excelsior Ruby Company, Great Matrix Ruby Company, Hale River Ruby Company, Hart Ranges Ruby Mining Company, Junction Ruby Mining Company, Lizzie River Mining Syndicate, Mac-donnell Ranges Ruby Mining Company, Maude River Ruby Mining Company, Mid-Australian Ruby Company, Oliver’s Ruby Company, Oriental Ruby Company, Orient Company, Pearson’s Extended Ruby and Precious Stones Company, Pennell and Florence Junction Ruby Mining Company, Rosella Ruby Mining Company, Ross Ruby Company, South Florence Ruby Company, Telegraph Ruby Mining Company, and Wallis Ruby and Precious Stones Company.
M I CA.
Benstead’s Mica Mining Company.—Locality, six miles W.N.W. from Mount Brassey. The Government Geologist reported in 1891 that the mica is associated with a boulder-like outcrop of quartz, with bedrocks of gneissic granite and coarse eruptive granite. Garnets are common in the rocks, and beryl occurs occasionally. In trenches plates of mica are exposed, some of which are 12in. by 18in. in size. The prospects of a permanent yield he regarded as uncertain.
Lindsay’s Prospecting Company, Limited, hold three 40-acre blocks, situated in the Macdonnell Ranges, from which they were extracting mica, which was associated with quartz. As far as can be seen on the surface, the deposit was 30ft. wide, and outcropped on its course for a distance of about 30ft. The main outcrop carries blocks from 6in. to 15in. square. The deposit appeared to be very large. Another outcrop included in this property showed sheets from 3in. to 4in. square.—(A. Champion.)
Mica Claims.—Locality, Mount Brassey, Hart Ranges. Here, as in other places, the Government Geologist found (1894) that the mica-bearing rock was a coarse eruptive granite in dykes traversing gneissic granite rocks, with associated blows or reefs of quartz. The mica is distributed through the dykes in patches, and often most largely developed in the vicinity of the quartz. The area over which26
mica-bearing rocks are found is very large, and comprises a considerable portion of the Macdonnell Ranges, and the discoveries of deposits have been numerous. In 1897 the Government Geologist again inspected some of the mica fields, and said there was abundant scope for the employment of capital in mining for this mineral.
The Inspector of Mines, ere closing his report, felt himself constrained to say— and that without hesitation—that the Northern Territory is phenomenally rich in minerals, but more especially gold and tin. Copper is to be found over a large area of country, the ore being rich as a rule; and an abundance of ironstone is to be found all over the Territory, but especially to the east of Burrundie. Timber is also abundant, and is suitable both for mining purposes and for fuel.
GOLDFIELDS AND MINING.
[Report for 1898.]
Chief Warden’s Office, Burrundie, January 30th, 1899.
Sir— I have the honor respectfully to furnish you with my report on the progress of gold mining in district “ A,” Northern Territory, for the year ending December 31st, 1898.
As prognosticated by me in my last annual report, the treatment of tailings by the cyanide process has proved a success and augmented the yield of gold considerably; about the same quantity will be won by such process this year.
I regret to have again to report a considerable decrease in the yield from the batteries This falling off can be principally attributed to the fact that though large sums were spent by English companies here last year in developing their mines only a small quantity of stone was put through their mills. There should be a large increase in the yield from this source this year, as three of these mines will be large gold producers, besides increased yields from the Woolngie, Driffield Extended Union, and John Bull mines.
Of the mines held by the English companies here the Howley has quite 60,000 tons of low-grade ore ready for stoping; the Eureka, 5,000 tons of rich solid pyrites, besides about 40,000 tons of surfacing and lode formation which will pay to treat; the Brock’s Creek Company has about 5,000 tons of refractory ore in sight fairly rich. Of the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia mines the main lodes at the Faded Lily and Woolwonga mines are, as far as opened up, rather poor and refractory, but there is every indication that the Yam Creek will open up well. With the exception of the Howley Mine the greatest difficulty that has to be contended with is the heavy water. I understand from the managers of these companies that during this year a large quantity of mining machinery will arrive and be placed on their mines.
Nine gold mining lease applications, comprising 130 acres, were received and granted last year. Of this number four leases, comprising sixty acres, were forfeited on application and re-leased to the successful applicant. On a large number of gold mining leases the labor conditions were not complied with.
Though fifty quartz claims were registered in this office only about a dozen were worked during part of the year, and nearly all those by Chinese tributers for European holders.
The only discovery of any importance was a new reef at the Driffield, close to the old Chinese township; 14 tons of stone from it was carted to and crushed at Pine Creek and yielded llOozs. of gold.27
During last year the proclamation prohibiting Asiatic aliens from mining on the Pine Creek and Woolngie new goldfields expired; the only restricted ground now is the area within a radius of three miles from Aston’S Hill, Wandi.
The mining population on the goldfields has decreased from 1,753 to 1,533. For years past we have been losing some of our best Chinese miners, numbers having travelled overland to Queensland, and some returned to China, having made a little money. Europeans working on wages at the mines receive from 10s. to 15s. per diem and Chinese 5s. to 7s. per diem.
Two fatal mining accidents occurred during last year. In both cases the sufferers were sorely to blame; they were Chinese miners working in main shafts on the John Bull line of reefs.
The goldfield revenue is £727 11s. 6d., an increase on the previous year of £117 Os. 3d. You will observe that, though our mining population has since 1894 decreased nearly one-fourth, more than double the revenue was collected than in that
year.	'
It is very difficult to get returns from Chinese holders of leases, claims, and mills even when personally collecting the material; the gold mining laws do not give a warden any power to compel them to furnish him with correct returns, and I have received but few authenticated accounts from them.
I herewith beg to enclose returns of machinery, gold, and others, and will now give a short detailed account of the progress made in gold mining in the different localities.
Pine Greek,—The two batteries on this line of reefs crushed 1,981 tons for 2,360ozs, of gold; 14 tons of this (yielding llOozs.) was carted from the Driffield. All the stone treated was obtained by Chinese tributers from shallow workings on the different reefs and claims. The only systematic development was the extension of the crosscut from 72ft. to 142ft. at the 200ft. level in the Dash wood shaft. The manager of the Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Company expects to cut the lode by continuing this crosscut another 20ft. The cyanide plant owned by Mr. Finlayson treated all the tailings at Yet Loongs Chan’s battery and has been shifted to Mount Ringwood.
Wandi.—This field has clearly retrograded, the population having decreased to twenty four, and of this number fourteen make a poor living by cradling the surface. Nearly all the leases and claims are deserted, and I hear that the battery is hung up for an indefinite period. Of the stone crushed 40 tons, yielding 80ozs , was obtained from the Klondyke claim, twelve miles south of Wandi, the remainder being surfacing and stone from claims and leases near the battery. The little capital that has been expended on this field has given unsatisfactory results, and if the proclamation restricting Chinese be extended from next March this year’s return of gold will be very small.
Driffield.—A few claims in this locality were taken up by European prospectors, who obtained llOozs. of gold from 14 tons of stone. These claims are now let on tribute to Chinese, for Asiatic aliens are again allowed to mine on this field. I understand that the Flora Belle battery is to be erected here as soon as the roads are fit for traffic.
Woolngie.—The three-head prospecting battery erected on this mine crushed 82 tons of stone, obtained from lease 609, for 220ozs. of gold. Two tunnels have been driven along the lode, which average 3ft. thick, and a shaft sunk 90ft., cutting the lode on the underlay. This mine is opening up well, and, with efficient management and the expenditure of little capital, it should give very satisfactory results.
Union.—No progress has been made in mining on this line of reefs during the year; 2,668 tons of stone were treated by the four mills for a return of 2,022ozs. The stone was rooted out by parties of Chinese tributers, being obtained principally from the Man Yet Co.’s leases.
Eureka.—The Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia Eureka mining properties were last June sold to a subsidiary company with £50,000 working capital, Mr. D. D. Rosewarne continuing in charge. During last year good and systematic mining28
has been done under his management. The main pump shaft has been deepened to 143ft. and at the 132ft. level a crosscut driven to the pyritiferous lode, thence a drive along the course of the lode for 200ft. to the underlay winding shaft, which was enlarged and deepened to that level. Six winzes were sunk connecting the 66ft. and 132ft. levels. At the 66ft. level a crosscut has been driven about 180ft. west, cutting a rich 6in. leader with 3ft. of reef formation. On the Eureka West lease a shaft has been sunk 70ft., and at that depth a crosscut has been driven 50ft. to the western reef. On lease 500 the Maybell shaft has been sunk 120ft. and a crosscut driven 40ft. Four Huntingdon mills, capable of treating 1,000 tons of stone a month, have been erected, boilers and engines have been carted from the Union (thirty miles) and placed in position, and by the end of last year everything was in readiness to start crushing. Of the 12,000 tons of tailings put through the cyanide vats 6,400 tons were of the original heap of 8,200 tons, 5,240 tons were tailings previously treated with cyanide, and 300 tons were tailings from the trial parcels of hopperings and surfacing put through the mills last year. As the mills recovered 4dwts. of gold and cyanide 15dwts. per ton from this 300 tons the manager intends to put through some thousands of tons of surface this year, there being quite 30,000 tons close to the mills
Extended Union.—The leases and battery in this locality are let on tribute to Chinese, who crushed 637 tons of stone for 349ozs. of gold. All the stone treated was obtained within 50ft. of the surface. At the 60ft level in main shaft on the prospecting claim these tributers have just driven into a rich dyke formation, so the probabilities are that the output of gold will this year show an increase.
Flora Belle. — The Elizabeth lease and claims here are deseited, the stone crushed by the battery being obtained from the Spring Hill leases.
Spring HUL — A large number of Chinese are mining on this line of reef, but no good honest work has been done during last year. The stone crushed by the Rosalie and Flora Belle batteries was obtained from the numerous reefs and leaders in the different leases within 60ft. of the surface.
Yarn Creek.—During all last year these mining properties were let to Chinese, who worked them at a profit. The bulk of the stone crushed by the Grove Hill battery was obtained from leases 337-8 at a depth of from 50ft. to 70ft. The general manager for the holder of these leases sank a large shaft 98^-ft. deep on lease 338, and is aw’aiting the arrival of steel shaft lining, hauling and powerful pumping machinery.
Brock's Creek, John Bull Line.—The manager of the Brock’s Creek Goldfields Company has vigorously proceeded with the development of his company’s mines, though for two months the main shaft and workings were flooded through the creek adjacent to them overflowing its banks. The 150ft. level in main shaft has been extended to 55Oft. along the course of the lode, 250ft. of which is stoped to the upper level. At the 150ft level a crosscut has been driven north for 100ft. through a large mullocky lode 30ft. thick, and from this crosscut about 200ft. of driving has been done. Prospecting shafts have been sunk on leases 475, 470, and 607 to the depth of 60ft, 40ft., and 45ft. respectively. All the stone crushed by the battery was obtained from the lower levels, and was so refractory that more than half the gold was left in the tailings. On the Northern Territories Goldfields Brock’s Creek leases the Faded Lily main shaft has been deepened to 212ft., the manager having to use, besides the 9in. lift, a 6in. Cornish pump and a 3in. steam Knowles to cope with the heavy water. At the 212ft. level a large chamber has been excavated, and from this a crosscut driven north 58ft., and another crosscut driven south-south-east 30ft. to the main lode, which was then driven on south-east for 170ft. At the intersection of the last-mentioned crosscut and level another crosscut has been driven south for 95ft. At the 150ft. level the north crosscut has been extended 150ft. to the main lode, which was then opened up in a north-west direction for 148ft. Near the eastern boundary of the Faded Lily lease the old Chinese shaft has been deepened to 106ft., and at that depth levels have been opened up to the east and west on a rich 6in. leader and a crosscut driven north to cut the main reef. Onthe Alligator lease 40ft. of sinking and 123ft. of driving have been done. On the Crocodile lease the crosscut in shaft near southern boundary was extended to 200ft. and an air shaft sunk 40ft. The main shaft Johir Bull lease has been sunk 125ft., cutting the main lode at the end of the 200ft. drive from the shaft.
How ley.—Early in last year the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia sold their Howley mining properties to a subsidiary company, and Mr. Cain, who then took the management, continued the development of the mines and the erection of machinery. During the year the Howley No. 1 shaft has been deepened to 171ft, and at the 160ft. level a plat has been excavated and a level driven south-east 125ft. At the 110ft. level the main level has been extended north-west to 637ft., and then a drive back south on east leg of saddle reef 100ft. The eastern crosscut has been extended to 130ft. and the western 298ft. Two levels were driven from eastern crosscut 50ft. and 30ft. along two separate reefs. On main body of saddle formation at the 110ft. level the floor has been extended 100ft. x 100ft., and quite 60,000 tons of low-grade ore is now ready for breaking down. On lease No. 544 the No. 2 Howley main shaft has been sunk 80ft. (this shaft is 650ft. north-west of No. 1 main shaft). On battery lease the adit has been continued to 300ft. A complete ten-head stamp Californian mill has been erected, which crushed 860 tons of stone from the massive saddle formation for 452ozs. of gold. As this is practically a dry mine a concrete tank capable of holding 5,000galls. and a dam with the capacity of 3,000,000galls. have been made. On old battery lease 96 a new shaft has been sunk 40ft. and in shaft No. 2 at 50ft. a crosscut driven west 110ft.
The stone crushed by the Cosmopolitan (Howley) batteries was obtained from open shallow workings, no good mining having been done on this portion of the Howley line of reef.
Woolwonga.—On the Northern Territories Goldfields of Australia Woolwonga leases the main shaft has been sunk to 150ft., and at that depth a chamber excavated and a crosscut driven north-east 95ft. From this crosscut 240ft. of driving has been done, principally in a southerly direction. A winze has been sunk from the 74ft. to the 150ft. level. In this mine great difficulty had to be contended with on account of heavy water. The battery and leases were let on tribute to Chinese, who also crushed stone obtained from the leases held by them; some very good crushing being obtained from lease No. 358.
Mount Ringwood.—Early in last year the owner of the battery and leases in this locality sank two 50ft. shafts on lease No. 535 and imported machinery to open up the saddle reef on lease 584; but, through some contention between him and the Chinese, work was discontinued and the field deserted. A cyanide plant has been erected to treat the battery tailings.
Other Localities.—At the Great Northern, six Europeans have been raising stone from the leases during the dry season and cradling during the wet. About 160 Chinese, mostly old men, worked the alluvial at Fountain Head, Sandy and Bridge Creeks, and Bond’s Rush, but they only eked out an existence A party of Chinese tributers raised a crushing from a rich mullocky leader on Frampton’s Margaret lease of 71 tons, which yielded, when crushed at the Grove Hill battery, llOJozs. of gold. Nothing has been done during the year on the Mount Tymn and Stapleton leases.
There has been no mining for tin and silver during the year, and only about 40 tons of copper ore were obtained from some mineral licences three miles north-east of Wandi.
I have, &c.,
E. COPLEY PLAYFORD, Chief Warden, &c.
His Honor Mr. Justice Dashwood, Government Resident, Palmerston.NT ORTHERN TERRITORY.
Year.	Gold.		Silver Ore.		Copper Ore.		Tin Ore.		Mica.				Silver Lead.		Gold Orb And Concentrates.		Total Yalue.
	Ozs.	Yalue,	Tons.	Yalue.	Tons.	Yalue.	Tons.	Yalue.	Tons.			Yalue.	Tons.	Yalue.	Tons.	Value.	
		£		£		£		£				£		£		£	£
1880 ..	—	680	—	—	—	—	—	-		__		—	—	—	—	—	680
1881 ..	31.5095	111,945	—	—	-	—	—	-		—		—	—	—	—	-	111,945
1882 ..	23,016	80,720	—	—	7	206	'32»	1,650		—		—	—	—	—	—	82,576
1883 ..	21,806	77,195	—	—	—	__	20	871		—		—	—	—	—	—	78,066
00 00 4*	21,675	77,935	—	—	—	—	18»	814		—		—	—	—	—	—	78,749
1885 ..	19,606!	70,414	—	—	1,036!#	13,775	3	135		—		—	~	—	—	—	84,324
1886 ..	17,490	63,139	*6»	, 303	8o8-2%	9,492	11	78		—		—	—	—	—	—	73,012
1887 ..	18,846!	68,774	—	—	566-2%	5,888	28	1,322		—		—	2952%	13,675	—	—	89,659
1888 ..	9,713	34,802	54»	1,491	81	j 1,360	84	3,159		—		—	228	15,463	—	—	56,275
1889 ..	13,957	47,339	164*1	3^49	876-2%	Ì h,565	89^0	4,360		—		—	33	2,310	—	—	69,423
1890 ..	23,235	80,524	i93’/o	3,720	402!#	4,600	114M	6,140		—		-	9~h	647	—	—	95,631
1891 ..	28,629	98,149	2	20	256M	3,6i9	29-2-0	1,870		—		—	982%	4,120	—	—	107,778
1892 ..	31,708	109,228	114*5	1,640	168-2%	2,155	39*	2,433		—		—	—	—	—	—	115,456
1893 ..	31,2761	108,110	IO	150	135	! 1,190	28«	i,595		*		134	—	—	—	—	111,179
									tons. cwt. qrs.		lbs.						
00 VO 4*	31,5431	I09,392	5	”5	156	1,204	32-2%	1,251	l3	19 2	25	4,808	—	—	9 *	229	116,999
189s ..	29,581	102,732	1 “	—		410	69*	1,815		7*		2,638	—	—	5	50	107,645
1896 ..	22,979	81,178	22*	1,230	—	—	i4'2%	530		I»		732	—	—	2-2%	22	83,692
1897 ..	23,577*	81,024	—	—	—	—	—	—		—		-	—	—	—	—	81,024
1898 ..	29,163*	84,467	j “	—	—	—	45	100		—		—	—	-	*7 AS / 20	277	84,844
Totals	429,3! 2*	’1,487,747	583*	12,518	4,54621!	55,464	6602%	28,123	23	5 2	25	8,312	663»	36,215	24	578	1,628,957