THE KIMBER BY GOLD FIELDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1264, 21 May 1886, Page 3

THE KIMBER BY GOLD FIELDS.

(Sydney Morning He aid.)

For a considerable tine much excite meat has been experienced in mining circles with respect to the di»oovery of an extensive goldfield' in the Kimberley dis triot, Western Australia. The existence of a vast area of a highly auriferous country thereabouts seems to have been established beyond a doubt; and the public are already in possession of telegraphic information which shows that diggers, in more than one instance, have obtained large qnantis ties of the precious metal. Owing, how; ever, to the comparative remoteness of the locality, bat little is known of the field. During 1884, at the instance of the South Australian Government, Mr Edward T. Hardman, P.R.G.S. 1., Government Geologist, made a minute and critical survey cf the Kimberley dstrict. The area examined lies between latitule 16 degrees, 40 minutes, anc 19 degrees S., and between j 126 degrees, 30 minutes E longitude. It included the portion of couytiy extending in a north-easterly direction from the southern extremity of the Leopold Ranges, up the cmrse of Margaret River and its tributaries, across a portion of the main watershed of Kimberley and the Ord River and its tributaries, to within 245 miles (as far as ca i be ascertained) of where that river falls into the sea at Cambridge Guif. The furthes'. point eastward examined was Mount Panton, which lies 14 miles ease of the boundary of South Australia and the area mapped was about 10,000 square miles. Thus, daring the two years, 1883 4, a complete geological section was obtained from Roebuck Bay across the colony to the Northern Territory. Mr Hardman prepared a voluminous and extremely interesting narrative of his explorations, inter* spersed with sketches That document was presented to the Legislative Council by the Governor of Western Anstra i», but so far it has not been publicly distributed. We have had an opportunity of examining a copy, and for the information of many enquiries, we append Mr Hardman’s summary with respect to the gold-bearing qualities of the country. It may bo mentioned that the best route to the diggings is via the Gulf of Carpentaria to the port of Derby, which is the chief port of King’s Sound, where an extensive pearl fishery"is carried on. Thence the route is to Mount Barrett, which is virtually the centre of the field as it is at present known. The distance from Derby is about 400 miles. Fully 200 miles can he traversed up the Fitzroy River in a vehicle. The nearest stock are at Pantnn Station, about 200 miles from Mount Druitt, whore Messrs Pantnn and Osborne, of Melbourne, have a large hold* ing. From inquiries we learn that the ailments that are most feared on the field are ophthalmia and fever and ague. Intending diggers are therefore strongly urged to lay in good supplies of quinine and other remedies. The 8.8. Menmuir has been laid on the berth in Sydney for Derby, and she will leave here on Saturday, the 24th inst. A number of miners and others have secured their passages, and in all probability a supply of horses will also be shipped. Horses are reported to be dear at Derby, and any animal of a serviceable description is readily bought up. A representative of the British Museum will bo a passenger by the Menmuir. He purposes visiting the field for the object of collecting specimens, etc. .Subjoined is Mr Hardman’s summary with respect to gold indications and prospects of finding the metal in pavable quantity : •‘1 am glad to be able to report that I hare discovered a largo a r ea of country which 1 believe will be auriferous to a paya le degree. This country is traversed by the Margaret, Mary, Elvire, Pantnn, and Ord Rivers, and comprises an area of at least 2(100 square miles so far as observed, bat it doubtless continues over a much grea'er extent of country. The formation is principally lower Silurian slate and schist of various kinds traversed by an enormous quantity of quartz reefs. In some localities many of these occur in the space of a I few hundred vards, and it is quite usual to notice 25 or 30 large reefs, while riding over a mile of ground, without taking into account the smaller reefs or veins. The quartz constituting these reefs is of a very promising character. It is a dull yellowish and gray quartz, very cellular and rugey, containing quantities of black and other oxides of iron, together with casts of and often crystals of pyrites. From most of the surface quartz the enclosed minerals have been washed away, however, although their traces are still apparent. Minute spenks of gold have been noticed in a few cases, and I have no doubt that many of these reefs, when properly examioed and tested, will prove to be auriferous. These quartz reefs have a general hearing of N 10 E. to N.E. Many run due N. and 8. Some of them can be traced for several miles. It is most probable that these qnartzifemns rocks are ajspur of continuation of the gold-bearing metamorphio rocks of the Northern Territory of South Australia, now being worked with some success. Alluvial Gold : The river valleys and flats are in many places covered with deposits, sometimes very extensive, of quartz gravel and drift, the quartz being derived from denudation of the reefs referred to above. I have prospected these gravels over many miles of country, and 1 have rarely filled to obtain good colors of gold in many localities of a very encouraging character. Very often good colors were obtained in every pan washed in diffe-e’nt trials in the same locality. I have thus found gold to be distributed over about 140 miles along the Elvire Panton, and Ord rivers, etc., as well as on the Mary and Margaret rivers, where the indications were very good and the appearance of the country most favorable. In several instances I obtained good colors of cold at considerable distances from the quartz-bearing rocks, from which the gold could only have been derived. This, to ray mind, seems to indicate that there must ho large quantities of gold in the quartz-bearing rocks, and in the drifts immediately overlying them. The gold-yielding country is well watered by numerous rivers, creeks, and gullies, which even in the driest part of the year are never wholly without water. And, although during the dry season water is scarce, there would be no difficulty in conserving water anywhere in sufficient quantity for all mining purposes. On the whole, the inlioatinna I have met with point, as I believe, to the great probability of payable gold being obtained in this part of Kimberley, and are, I consider, sufficient to justify the expenditure, eithe* by the Government or private individuals, of a res son able sum of money in fitting out a party to thoroughly test the country, and I should strongly recommend such an undertaking. I would also suggest'the advisi- ility of parties going up for this purpose providing themselves with some simple apparatus for crushing and wiwhing smiie of the reef qnar’z, as in one very rndelv conducted experiment of Ihis kind 1 obtained a small quantity of gold. The principal reef hearing country exten's on the cast of the watershed between the Ord and Margaret rivers. It has been traced from about latitude 16 degrees 45 minutes S. to nearly 19 degrees S., and as the alluvium and river gravels haye yielded good colours of gold

« henever they could he tested, which was generally at every camp, there can be no doubt that many of the reefs are gold bearing. Excellent colors were obtained in several localities in the first portion of the Elvira, which passes through these rocks. And’in thejlower portions in the gravels resting on the Devonian rooks, colors were obtained almost everywhere tried. At the junction of the Panton and Elvire good colors were obtained in several places. Just southwest of here, I sank several holes and obtained large specks of gold in every pan washed out. On the Ord River, althonsh fas from the slate country, from which alone the gold is likely to have been derived, I obtained from the river gravels good colors in many places, down to where we left off work near Mount Deception Here the slate rocks with qnartz reefs come again, and appear to continue for a long distance to the K W. and N. 8., as indi. cated on the map. The gravels along the Ord and Elvire are full of fragments of quartz, containing a good deal of clack iron sand apd pyrites. Some of the qnartz collected on the Elvire was roughly crushed ini a very primitive manner on a large stone, by means of an axe head; and the result being washed yielded some specks of gold. Gold was also observed in very tiny specks in aqn rtz reef at Mount Cognlan. and in one on the Elvire. About three miles from the last station, on the road, numerous qnartz reefs are seen, and the ground is strewn for soma miles with a thick deposit of qnartz gravel, which, to my great regret, l_was not able to examine. I have previously mentioned the fine appearance of the qnartz reefs in the country near Mt. Dnckrell At Syenite Camp, on the Mary River, which drains a great part of this district, f found in the river gravels excellent indications. I had only time to wash out two panfuls, and in both I found several pieces of shotty gold. In the Magaret River I found faint colors. The washing here, however, was accomplished under very unfavorable circumstances, and with better facilities I 'hould expect good results, ae the rock indications are very promising. The possibly me* alliferons character raetamorphic rocks of this district, which extend for many miles along the south of the Leopold Ranges, has been already commented upon. In all likelihood they are auriferous in places. They occupy, however, but a secondary position when compared wiih the immense extent of reef hearing slate country to the eastward. As a guide to those who are likely to take an interest in following up the indications which I have been able to obtain 1 have marked the principal reef bearing and gold yielding districts with gold lines and gold dots resnectively. The country below the Crater Pass in Albert- Edward Range, ajong the Elvire and the Ord to Mount Deception, is exclusively alluvial, overlying Devonian rocks in which no quar'z reefs of any size occur. Some of these gravels, which have been already described, are not unlike'y to contain payable gold. I have great hope, that this district will prove a success as regards payable gold, and I trust it will not he very long before the part of the country I have indicated will be subjected to a more tharongh and searching examination than, in the short time and with the small means at my disposal, I was able to give it. Intending prospec'ors must, however, be prepared to expend and perhaps lose money ; but the appearances are quiet good enough to justify this risk.”