236 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



luverell diamonds are tlie liardest of all diamonds whicli reach the 

 Amsterdam, London, or New York markets from any part of the 

 globe. Diamonds have also been found in the Mudgee, Mittagong, 

 and other districts. 



Sapphires, rubies, topaz, garnets, and zircons, are plentiful in the 

 stanniferous drifts of our tin-fields. 



This mineral is now found in different parts of New South Wales. 

 The principal opal mining is now carried on at the AVhite Cliffs, 

 about 60 miles from Wilcannia, and 160 miles from Broken Hill. 

 The White Cliff opal, which is of very fine quality, is found in the 

 cretaceous formation, in small veins varying from a mere thread to 

 2 inches in thickness at different shallow levels, the deepest so far 

 obtained being about 60 feet ; and the only guide the miner has is 

 small veins of common opal known to the miner as potcli. Although 

 these opal fields have only been opened comparatively for a short time, 

 about £100,000 worth of opals has already been extracted. The stratum 

 is soft, and generally horizontal. As much as £20 has been paid on 

 the field for 1 oz. of opal. The population on this opal field is about 

 500. There is a very extensive area of this cretaceous formation 

 between White Cliffs and Tibooburra, or from Wilcannia, including 

 White Cliffs, Milparinka, and Tibooburra, on to the Queensland and 

 South Australian borders, where, sooner or later, precious opals may 

 be discovered which may be the cause of turning this hot and ai'id 

 country, now mere sheep walks, into flourishing mining localities. 

 Precious opals have also been found in the Carcoar and other districts. 



Emeralds. 



These were frequently found on the Vegetable Creek (Emmaville) 

 Tin-fields. A lode was discovered at Emmaville containing some very 

 valuable emeralds ; but owing to the hard nature of the country in 

 which they occurred requiring blasting the emeralds became flawed 

 and fractured, and therefore valueless; hence very little has been done 

 in emerald mining. 



Turquoise. 



Works are now carried on in connection with this mineral in the 

 Wagonga district, but it has not as yet been sufficiently developed to 

 rank it with payable mining operations. 



It will thus be seen that there are great opportunities for mining 

 enterprise. Almost every known mineral, or precious stone, is found 

 in New South Wales ; the extent of our mineral resources is enormous. 

 Machinery for the reduction, extraction, and saving of the several 

 minerals is daily improving, and mines which were abandoned and 

 considered not payable have lately been retaken, and by improved 

 machinery are yielding payable returns. 



Mining in New South Wales is certainly only at the first stage 

 of its existence. Perhaps poor men's fields such as Lambing Flat, 

 Braidwood, Mudgee, parts of the Tentcx'field district, and similar others 

 may not again be discovered. But gold and tin in large deposits and 

 areas may be discovered and profitably worked in our extensive river 



