How Gold Came into the Quartz Reefs.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4992, 12 January 1885, Page 2

How Gold Came into the Quartz Reefs.

The following occurs in the Wakatip Mail's report of a lecture at Queenstowo by Professor Black, of the Otago University :—The learned lecturer then went on to explain the latest theory accepted as to how gold came into the quartz and quartz reefs. Goid is only soluble in water containing cholorine in solution, and it then becomes chlorine of gold. If therefore chlorine be assumed to ha?e existed in the free state in the water percolating through the mica schist it would disolre any gold found there, aud the water would carry it along with the dissolved silica into the reef's. There were only two processes by which gold came into the reefs. First it required table salt or chloride of sodium and saltpetre. The enormous quantity of salt ill the tea —which was becoming salter every day— was proof that chloride of sodium existed in abundance in the rocks at some previous period in the earth's history, and had been carried down to the sea by streams. Sulphur was also found in considerable quantities in the rocks that contained gold, and sulphur, when oxidised, formed sulphurine acid, which again acted on the chloride of sodium (tablesalt) to form muriatic acid. This acid. noting on the higher oxides of manganese, it was well known formed chlorine, and chlorine, as above stated, dissolved gold. The learned lecturer said he believed that he was the first who had. propounded the latter portion of this theory, and, if asked in a mica schist country, about the probabilities of the existence of gold he would decidedly say if manganese was present there would be gold. The existence therefore of oxides of manganese and of sulphides in quartz reefs in a mica schist country was a strong indication of gold in, such reefs. This view was strongly confirmed by his recent experience of the; mines at the Blue Spur, Tuapeka, and at Naseby, for every claim there contained oxides of manganese. The question was^— Is this manganese to be found over the rest of the country » It was of a Tiolot or beautiful pink tint. Nevertheless thecountry was full of manganese, which mad©, chlorine. He saw it on the top of Bea -Lomond that day, and had little doubt it was to be found in the rocks all orer the Wakalipu Practical miners generally asserted that where there was sulphur there would be found gold; but sulphur was simply a link whiah dragged or precipitated the gold into the reefs—although the mica schist rock only contained the.. hundredth part of a grain of gold.