404 Transactions. — Geology. 



gold won by sluicing. Subsequently Mr. Beetbam kindlv 

 banded me a sample for examination, weighing about 2 lb. 

 The lead in this sample was very soft and malleable, and 

 coated with a thin incrustation of lead-carbonate. It con- 

 sisted principally of small irregular globules, varying from 

 0-1 cm. to 0-4 cm. in diameter, and flat thick plates varying 

 from - 25 cm. to 1-00 cm. long. Some of the latter weighed 

 10 gr., and of the former 5 gr. None of the globules of lead 

 exhibited spangles of gold as reported by Mr. Skey, but 

 several portions, weighing 200 gr. when cupelled, in every case 

 showed the presence of both gold and silver, as under : — ■ 



Gold. Silver. 



Grains. Grains. 

 Eound globules ... ... 0005 001 



Flat pieces ... ... 0-007 002 



Careful chemical tests showed the lead was perfectly pure 

 and unalloyed with metal of any kind. Arsenic and antimony 

 were specially looked for without success. 



The rocks in the neighbourhood of the Glengyle Claim are 

 crystalline limestones, quartzites, mica-schist, and talc-schist of 

 probably Lower Silurian age, associated with masses of gabbro, 

 generally much altered. Glengyle Claim itself occupies a deep 

 narrow gutter, which is believed by Sir James Hector, who 

 made a detailed examination of the locality in 1890, to mark 

 the course of a large fault or slide.* With such a variety of 

 rocks it is impossible to determine which formed the original 

 matrix of the lead. 



Metallic lead is very subject to oxidation, and for this rea- 

 son is rarely found in its native state. The authentic recorded 

 instances of its occurrence are very few, and in no case is it 

 abundant. 



Geol. Eep. and Explo., p. xii. 



