114 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



finely foliated schist, (6) spotted slates, (7) normal blue slate. 

 Here the metamorphism has not advanced to the stage of coarse 

 schists and gneiss or granite, and the occurrence is probably due 

 to a subjacent boss of intrutled plutonic rock. Some of these 

 sandstones have an abundance of decomposing felspar, and have a 

 strong resemblance to decaying dyke-stones. On the knoll at 

 the source of Saltpetre Creek there are highly jointed siliceous 

 slates, which break into various geometrical figures. These rocks 

 are full of veins of quartz. In general ciiaracter they resemble 

 some of the beds in the Heathcotian series, and may represent a 

 small inlier of this series. All the Ant nests here were covered 

 with small pieces of this slate, instead of bits of twigs, as is 

 usually the case. They are much cleaner and neater in appear- 

 ance than those with wood, and are safer from destruction by 

 fire and rain. 



23rd March. — The morning broke cold and foggy. We struck 

 camp early and tried to get through the Hop scrub, but progress 

 was so slow that after several miles liad been done we abandoned 

 the attempt, and followed Saltpetre Creek down for some 3 miles, 

 crossing an old mining water race, and came to the place where 

 we had watered the horses when at the Wild Boar camp. This 

 is the site of the old Lady Loch (Federation) mine, which 

 originally had a quartz reef, said to have been from 5 to 15 feet 

 wide and to have yielded 15 dwts. of gold (about ^3) to the 

 ton of ore. It bears north and underlies to east. An old stamp 

 battery was rusting in its shed, and, save for two prospectors 

 working lower down the creek, the place was deserted. The 

 transport of this quartz-crushing battery from Cravenville to this 

 spot forms an example which, for a feat of bush engineering, can 

 hardly be excelled. After great difficulty the machinery was 

 brought by bullocks for about 40 miles over high mountains to the 

 top of Mt. Wild Boar, where it was 2,100 feet above its 

 destination in a distarice of a little over a mile. It was then 

 very slowly and carefully lowered by gravitation with strong 

 chains from tree to tree, while the team of splendid bullocks 

 backed steadily, yard by yard, till the goal was reached. It is 

 said that, just when everything was in readiness to treat the large 

 quantities of ore from the reef, further working proved it to 

 " pinch out," and operations were abandoned. Another reef, the 

 Mountaineer, near at hand, has also been partially worked. 



We continued down the creek to the alluvial workings of 

 Messrs. Curry and Rowe, who were sluicing the gravels of the 

 creek about i '/2 miles below the old Lady Loch mine, where we 

 camped. Mr. Curry, who was living here, kindly invited us to make 

 use of his hut, which we gladly did. He and Mr. Rowe showed 

 us about half a saucerful of good gold, probably about 15 ozs., 

 worth ;£^6o, which they had obtained. Wnile having a quiet 

 chat over the fire we were greatly amused on hearing that 



