190 Voyage of the Novara. 



crystalline rocks, granite, gneissj micaceous and liornblend 

 slate, quartz, and clay slate, whereas sedimentary sand-stone, 

 clialk, and almost vertical stratifications, constitute the chief 

 formations observable in tlie eastern chain. Between these 

 older formations, however, among the valleys and depressions, 

 occur later stratifications, including brown-coal or peat. 



" A succession of splendid weather was gladly hailed as an 

 evidence of the renowned climate of Nelson, and my very first 

 excursions opened to me such interesting subjects of inquiry, 

 that I was fain to decide on prolonging till September the 

 month's visit I had originally determined on restricting my- 

 self to. I was thus enabled to examine more minutely the 

 various gold and coal fields near Nelson, as also the copper 

 mines on the Dun Mountains, and at all events to repre- 

 sent on a chart the geological features of the northern part of 

 the province. 



'•'■ The results of the investigations into the mineral wealth 

 of this province were on the whole eminently favourable. I 

 could not indeed confirm the sanguine anticipations of some 

 mining speculators, of the inexhaustible, though as yet un- 

 revealed, treasures of copper in the Dun Mountains, although, 

 adjoining the rather meagre copper-bearing strata, there were 

 instances of abundance of chromate of iron, which promised 

 a considerable return. Above all, however, there still re- 

 mained to be visited the gold-fields of the Aorere and Tetakaka 

 valleys at Golden Bay, the quantity already extracted from 

 which, as well as its purity, satisfied me that capital might se- 



