460 Macfarlane on the Acton Copper Mine. 



^zHs ^^"s first quality ore of 22.0 per cent. 

 l^s-VsV " " " " 18.4 " 

 HMi " " " " 24.0 " 

 2///^ " second " " 9.0 " 



269 " crush " 4.2 " 



corresponding to lOl/j"/^ tons of 12 per cent ore, or 1.41 tons 

 per cubic fathom. 



The total expense of mining and bringing to surface was $1288, 

 or $18 per cubic fathom, and $12.71 per ton of 12 per cent ore. 

 Mining was continued here after the above date, but up to the end 

 of September no further measurement had taken place. Probably 

 nowhere else on the mine are such beautiful and distinct specimens 

 of the copper conglomerate, or rather breccia, observable, as in the 

 excavation above No. 2 drift. In many cases the line of division 

 between the cupreous matrix and calcareous fragments is sharp and 

 distinct ; and it not unfrequently happens that there may be found 

 in close proximity to each other, pieces of matrix almost free from 

 lime, and fragments of limestone containing not a trace of copper. 

 To judge from the appearances in No. 2 drift, the cupriferous 

 limestone there does not contain a definite bed of conglomerate 

 running irregularly through, and subordinate to it. It seems 

 rather that the limestone has been cracked in all directions, and is 

 now filled with a network of veins from an inch to two and a half 

 feet thick, and containing purple copper, copper pyrites, silicious 

 matter, and fragments of limestone. The matter of these veins 

 has so often a brecciated character, from the presence of angular 

 fragments of the adjoining limestone, as frequently to entitle it to 

 the old German name of" Gang brockengestein," a term sometimes 

 used for characterising this brecciated structure in veins. The 

 accompanying sketch shews a section of one of these veins cut 

 through in stoping upwards from No. 2 drift. 



The following analysis was made of a piece of veinstone, from 

 the same vein which enclosed a well defined angular fragment of 

 limestone : 



Silica 38.65 



Carbonate of lime, 0.95 



Iron.... 7.31 



Copper 37.20 



Sulphur, 15.89 by diflference. 



100.00 



