LAMMERLAW QUARTZ REEFS

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 210, 8 February 1872, Page 5

LAMMERL AW QUARTZ REEFS

For. years past the miners who have worked in that district have been of opinion that rich quartz reefa existed in the Lammerlaw Ranges, This opinion was based upon the finding, from time to time, in the alluvial workings, of rich specimens of quartz, aud ■ its correctness has been recently proved. In October last, a party, equipped by Mr.. Lomas, of the Lammerlaw Store, started prospecting in Fiddlers Creek. They sunk several shafts in this gully, in all of which auriferous leaders were discovered, and after ; wardS they found a blow on the surface of a spur at tho junction of the Devil's Creek .and the Deep Stream. This spur iB about 209 feet in height; and. from the top of it down to tho bed of the creek the reef crops out. On the opposite side of the creek there is another spur of about similar height, on the face of whicli the roefalso crops out. The direction of the reef

is east and west, and it dips to the sputh. The place where the~reef was discovered is between the Lammerlaw and-L-affimer-moor Ranges, about ten miles from Waipori, and the same distance from Doyle's Hotel, Deep Stream. The trial .crushing yielded six nances for three tous.of stone, as was' previously reported in our columns. The atone operated wpon was taken from the bed of the <ireek and t3ie top of the spur -one and a half tonirom each place. The reef is situated in a very favourable position for working, and water for machinery can be obtained without mnc.h difficulty. A large number ■oi specimens, indiscriminately broken from the surface of the reef, have been exhibited in Waipori, and certainly if the body of stone ia anything like them, it caunotfail to yield handsomely. All the specimens in question are perra'eated with the precious metal — in some instances veins strike right through the stone. One magnificent piece of stone waft obtained from Maedonald's claim, Jio. 1 west. Several nuggets stick o\it from its-sur-face, and a large quantity of" fine gold is distributed through it. The stone weighs about 31bs., and it must contain fully 2ozs. of gold. Four claims have. been taken up along the line of reef. Messrs. Lomas and Co. propose to get up a company, with a capital of £6000, in 6000 shares of £1 each. A meeting i& to be held to-night in Waipori for the purpose of launching the company. It is expected that a large number of the shares will be taken up in the district.