ON GOLD AND SILTEE. 



521 



to 375,000 oz. in 1874, attaining to its raaximum of 391,515 oz. in 

 1875. This sudden rise was due to the msh to the Palmer goldfield 

 and to the rich alluvial ground there worked. The yield fell gradually to 

 212,783 oz. in ] 883; it rose to 807,804 oz. in 1884, and to 310,941 oz. 

 in 1885. 



Queensland is now essentially a quartz goldfield. In 1880 the Palmer 

 and other alluvial districts had declined in yield ; that from quartz had 

 increased ; so that about 65 per cent, of the total yield was in that year 

 quartz gold. 



In 1885 the Charters Towers and Cape River goldfield alone produced 

 43'6 per cent, of the total yield, the Gympie goldfield 28^8 per cent.: 

 these are now almost entirely quartz fields. 



The Charters Towers field is especially important. In 1883 its yield 

 was 69,555 oz. ; in 1884, 109,335 oz. ; and ia 1885, 134,650 oz. The 

 amount of gold in the quartz is also increasing as the veins are followed 

 in depth. In the earlier days of mining it was from 1^ oz. to 1| oz. 

 per ton ; it is now close upon 2 oz. 



Queensland is also remarkable for the Mt. Morgan goldfield, where 

 the gold occurs impregnating a mass of ferruginous rock, and an iron- 

 stained siliceous sinter, which, with the gold, is supposed to have been 

 deposited by geyserian action. The mass is worked as an open quarry. 

 It contains on an avei'age 7 oz. of gold per ton ; the hasraatite contains 

 3j oz. ; the sinter 10^ oz. ; but only about one-half of the gold present 

 can be extracted. The tailings are stored for future treatment. The 

 Mt. Morgan gold is the purest known, its value being 4Z. 4s. 8d. per oz. 

 Its fineness is 997, the rest is copper, with a little iron. In all other 

 native gold silver is the chief accompaniment, but in the Mt. Morgan 

 gold there is only a very minute trace. The gold from Mt. Morgan does 

 not figure in the Queensland ofl&cial returns, it being sent direct to the 

 mint at Sydney. 



In Neiv South Wales gold was worked in 1851, 144,120 oz. having been 

 raised in that year. This colony reached its maximum the next year 

 (1852), when 818,751 oz. were produced. The yield fell to 171,367 oz. 

 in 1855 ; in 1858 it rose to 286,798 oz. From that date to the end of 

 1875 it oscillated much, the greatest amount being 640,622 oz. in 1862, 

 the least being 240,858 oz. in 1870, and 230,883 oz. in 1875. Since 

 1875 the yield has much decreased, and was only 103,736 oz. in 18S5. 



The decline from 1884 to 1885 (3,453 oz.) is attributed in the official 

 report ' wholly or mainly to the drought.' It is also stated that some 

 amendments to the Mining Act were made in 1884, which it is hoped 

 will lead to the reworking of some of the abandoned mines, which, it is 

 thought, may prove remunerative if worked on a large scale with system 

 and economy. 



The average yield per ion of quartz raised was 1 oz. 12 gr. in 1885, 

 as compared with 14 dwt. 10 gr. in 1884. This was due to the improved 

 quality of the quartz raised in the southern and New England districts. 

 As the average yield per ton was greater in 1885 than in 1884, whilst 

 the total amount of gold produced svas less, it follows that the amount 

 of quartz raised was very much less ; in fact, it was little more than one- 

 half ; indicating a more rapid fall in quartz-mining than is apparent in 

 the returns generally quoted. 



In 1880 about 29 per cent, of New South "Wales gold was from quartz 



