Reviews- — Mining Operations, South Australia. 523 



minerals present include many of those characteristic of areas of 

 dedolomitization by igneous intrusions. The total amount of magnesite 

 now in sight is estimated at about 1,000,000 tons, and there may 

 be a good deal more under certain drift-covered areas. 



E. H. R. 



VII. — A Review of Mining Operations in the State of South 

 Australia during the half-year ended June 30, 1916. Compiled 

 by Lionel C. E. Gee and issued under the authority of the 

 Honourable the Minister of Mines. Adelaide, 1916. 



r METIS report deals with the mineral production of South Australia 

 J_ during the above-mentioned half-year, the minerals with which 

 it is concerned being mainly copper, gold, salt, and some silver lead. 

 The search for copper has been stimulated by war demands, and gold 

 returns are recorded as improving. Logs and detailed sections of 

 a number of deep bores which were put down in search for copper 

 are given. Unfortunately these were not successful in striking any 

 valuable copper deposits. The rocks passed through were mainly 

 quartzite, mica-schist, and gneiss. 



Interesting accounts are given of the prospecting for tungsten 

 minerals at Callawonga Creek and of a survey of the hundred of 

 Kongorong, which was carried out to determine the advisability 

 of boring for petroleum. At Callawonga Creek valuable deposits of 

 ferberite are found, in conjunction with tourmaline, in veins which 

 are intermediate in character between pegmatite and quartz veins. 

 The distribution of the mineral is irregular and in some places it is 

 associated with finely divided gold. Work has been carried out to 

 a considerable extent on the surface and the field seems suitable for 

 deeper work. 



The survey of the hundred of Kongorong is a striking example of 

 the advantage of calling in reliable expert advice before undertaking 

 any enterprise. Petroleum seepages were reported from this district, 

 which rested on the evidence of a specimen of asphaltic bitumen, 

 which was said to have been discovered there. It was also alleged 

 that the structure of the country as shown by the "ranges" was 

 suitable for the accumulation of petroleum deposits. The Government 

 geologist found, on surveying the district, that the "ranges" were 

 nothing more than parallel lines of dunes formed during the gradual 

 elevation of the coast, and that the only solid rock which could be 

 detected, over most of the area, was a polyzoal limestone, which was 

 proved by boring to rest on sands and clays with lignite. These 

 were apparently fairly horizontal, and no clue as to the real structure 

 of the district could be obtained. Moreover, no traces of petroleum 

 were found, and it is supposed that the facts of the discovery of the 

 bitumen were not strictly accurate. The result of this investigation 

 was that no work was undertaken, and money saved which would 

 otherwise have been thrown away on a useless enterprise. 



The review is illustrated by photographs of the mining operations 

 and of the Kongorong dunes. 



W. H. W. 



