THE PICTON GOLDFIELD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5272, 15 February 1878, Page 3

THE PICTON GOLDFIELD.

A supplement to the New Zealand Gazette of the 7th instant, dated Wednesday the 13th instant, which reached us yesterday, contains a report from Dr. Hector on the Golden Point quartz-reef near Picton, After detailing the situation of the reef, its geological formation, and the results of the crushing of samples which took place in his presence, Dr. Hector concludes his report ns follows: —“ In conclusion, I may state that I consider the indications on the whole favorable, but that much work may be necessary before a defined reef is' found. At the same time, the analyses above quoted prove that some at least of the quartz leaders contain a remunerative percentage of gold, provided that their extreme irregularity does nob make the mining operations too costly. Any further prospecting, apart from working the leaders, should, I think, take the form of a drive to the N.E., from a point on the hoach about fifty yards south of where the outcrop of tho mullocky reef occurs, as it is most probable that all the leaders will ‘ make’ into a quartz lode, a reef lying to the west aud north of tho mine, but underlying to the eastward.” Dr. Hector also makes a report on the Phoenix mine, Collingwood, observing that the working of this mine is the recommencement of mining industry iu an important district, which has been greatly neglected for some years past, owing, he believes, to the injudicious manner in which the mines were formerly worked, aud not to any lack of auriferous lodes. The Doctor says :—“ I found several specimens both in the outcrop aud in tho drive that showed specks of gold, but the quantity was not determined. No, 2 reef is seen iu the gully crossing it as a hard rusty ledge with walls of green rock. It has been followed in a tunnel to the north for some 40ft., and shows as a four-foot vein of quartz containing from forty to sixty per cent, of pyrites of light color when fresh. The lode has a well-defined broken foot-wall, the containing rock both above and below being of grey tufaceous schist of flaky structure, being charged with minute crystals of pyrites, which, on being separated, yielded gold at tho rate of 14dwt. 20gr. per ton. The lode-stuff after roasting yielded gold at the rate of 3oz. lOdwt. 21gr. per tou. The pyrites also contained traces of silver and copper. Tho dip of tho reef is 70deg. to S.W., or towards the No. 1 reef. I estimate

(not having made an exact survey) that the present tunnel will intersect the No. 2 reef about 50ft. below the outcrop after it has been continued for 250 ft. beyond where it intersected No. 1 lode, and that the two lodes will intersect at about 100 ft. below the level of the tunnel. At this point I think a valuable find may be fairly anticipated.”