SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 98, 8 July 1846, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The Gold Mine of South Australia. —The extreme richuess of the copper of South Australia — some of the ore containing, by the most authentic assays, 87 per cent, of pure metal — the similarity of the indications of its mineral country to the richest districts of South America have long warranted our mineralogists to regard as certain that gold would at no distant period be discovered in the colony. Ihe lead mines were already producing steadily an average of 26 ounces of silver to the ton of lead ; and in some solitary instances, the quantity of silver has greatly exceeded that amount, which, however, must at present be taken as the general average. The ores from the copper mines were rapidly increasing in richness, as well as in quantity ; and the roost experienced South American miners were daily looking for still further richness and metallic changes. One person, said to possess a larger than ordinary amount of practical acquaintanceship with mineralogy, asserted some time ago, that he had actually found gold : but as no specimens, that we know of were forthcoming, and as the locality was neither pointed out nor described, very reasonable doubts were entertained of the truth of the story. Now, however, all doubt and uncertainty are removed. The precious metal has been absolutely discovered ; and tlat too in the locality where if it exists at all, it can scarcely fail to be abundant — in the very heart of a most rich copper district, within a quarter of a mile of the Montacute mine, and surrounded on all sides by a country full of copper ores of the highest class. On the 7th of February last, Mr. FredeTick Wicksteed paid into the Colonial Treasury seven hundred and ninety-nine pounds sterling, for a section of land in the county of Adelaide, numbered 5597, containing cne hundred and lorty-seven acres, purchased by him from the Government at public auction, and received the usual grant. The section so purchased was officially advertized as containing valuable minerals ; and this very large sum was paid for it because of the belief that Mr. Wicksteed and his partners in the transaction had in the correctness of the description which the Government had given of the land. Nor have they been deceived. On Saturday last, one of the men employed in sinking a shaft on what was supposed to he a copper lodr, when at the depth of six fathoms suddenly broke into a small vein of metal of a totally different character from any before seen in the mine. Surrounded and imbedded in dark chocolate-coloured earth or gosson, were ihickish layers of a bright yellow metal, pliable to the touch, and evidently unconnected with the neighbouring copper. The vein was about tsf o inches wide— giving metal in the proportion perhaps of a quarter of an ounce to an inch, and showing a tendency to enlarge in

size. The person who made this discovery — a miner named Tyrrell — gathered up a few pieces ; and in the course of the evening arrived in Adelaide with them. On Monday last, we had the gratification to examine these specimens, and we have since seen a much larger number from the same spot. They have been also examined by Captain Frome, Captain Sturt, Mr. Burr, (De-putySurveyor-General), Dr. Davy, and others, whose scientific and practical knowledge of mineralogy, leave the fact without a shadow of doubt, that a most valuable mine of gold has been discovered. Dr. Davy has furnished us with the assay made by him on Tuesday, which we subjoin :—: — Analysis of a specimen of Native Gold, separated from the matrix by the fingers, but not washed or otherwise purified : — Gold 94 Silver 2"8 or under 3 Oxide of iron, accidentally adherent particles of earthy matter, &c • 3 April 9th, 1846. E. Davy. We have but an imperfect idea who among our fellow-colonists are the fortunate possessois of this most valuable property ; but we observe, with very great astonishment, that some of our contemporaries, in place of offering those congratulations which the occasion naturally calls forth, have already begun to speculate upon the hazard which it is said the owners may run, by the Crown grasping their treasures ! The supposition that the Crown will interfere is ridiculous. Under any other circumstance than such as might arise from a deficiency of the precious metals, and in connection with the currency of the realm, no attempt to disturb the rights of private property could ever be contemplated ; and were a state necessity to arise, of course, full compensation would accompany the interference. In its recent peddling with royalties no attempt is male to' touch the lands previously sold ; and we are quite satisfied that the time has long gone by when the Crown — or, as it ought to be read — the State — whatever musty lawyers may cay to the contrary, can touch — much less take — even a mine producing gold which private citizens have openly purchased and paid for. — South Australian Gazette.