30 NOTES OX THE MOUNT LYELL DISTRICT, TASMANIA. 



The Linda Valley Alluvial — Most of the creeks flowing into 

 the Linda Valley are found to be gold-bearing, as is also the 

 alluvial of the valley itself ; in fact, it was by following up the 

 auriferous debris to the foot of the Iron Blow that this now 

 well-known deposit was discovered, and for this reason it is 

 generally considered that the gold found in the low country 

 was shed from the hematite. I have carefully examined some 

 specimens found in the alluvial, which show gold clinging to 

 its matrix. In some instances, it is true, we find the gold 

 attached to hematite, but we also find it sticking out of 

 quartz. However, specimens of either sort are rare, even at 

 the head of the gullies, the gold being, as a rule, clean and in 

 fine grains. Now, I believe that most of the gold and alluvial 

 found in the Linda Valley — and for the matter of that, in the 

 neighbouring creeks also — is derived from the conglomerate 

 which caps the mountains hereabouts. My reasons are 

 these : — 



1. There is no earthly reason why gold should not occur 



in the conglomerate if it were formed from a gold- 

 bearing country, and we know the West Coast to be 

 auriferous in several places. 



2. The alluvial at the head of the Linda Valley is water- 



worn, and composed for the most part of quartz 

 pebbles. In such a position the quartz, if originat- 

 ing from close by, could not have travelled 

 sufficiently far to be so rounded, besides, there is 

 not much quartz in the neighbourhood, the rocks 

 being mostly schists and sandstones. 



3. The saddle at the head of the valley connecting 



Mounts Owen and Lyell has very little conglomerate 

 left on it, though traces here and there can be seen 

 that could not "possibly have fallen down from the 

 higher mountains. If the conglomerate originally 

 on the saddle was ruptured and loosened by 

 dynamical strains it would be the more easily disin- 

 tegrated and washed down into the valley by 

 sub-aerial agencies than the less disturbed and 

 more solid rock on the mountains, which would 

 account for our not finding much conglomerate left 

 on the saddle ; then, again, the pebbles composing 

 the gravel of the alluvial in the valley are similar 

 in size and nature to those found in the 

 conglomerate. 



4. Boulders of conglomerate can be seen in various 



stages of decomposition on the sides of the 

 mountains and in the alluvial of the valley. I have 

 washed the product from a decomposing boulder 

 standing isolated on its way to a gully below, and 

 have obtained a colour of gold. On making 



