526 Proceedings. 



aiDpear to be in the same band of ore, but on at least three different ones, 

 and the author thinks it probable that there is yet another. 



The surface prospecting has been attended with exceptionally good 

 results, rich deposits of ore having being traced for a considerable distance ; 

 and on visiting the mine, the author could not but form a favourable opinion of 

 the mineral wealth occurring on D'Urville Island. At the present time the 

 prospects of the mine look most encouraging, and had it not been that a 

 tunnel had been put in to intersect the ore-baud, and had failed to cut it, 

 one might have been led to form a most extravagant idea of the wealth 

 which would accrue to the shareholders in the speculation ; but this tunnel 

 proves, what has freq[uently been demonstrated elsewhere, that ore deposits 

 in serpentine are not as continuous and well-defined as the poorer lodes 

 which occur in sedimentary deposits. This fact points to the necessiiy of 

 keeping exploratory workings well ahead, and even closer attention will 

 have to be paid to this class of work here than in ordinary metalliferous 

 mines. 



Dr. Hector remarked that Mr. Cox had not specified the vahie of the ore. When pure, 

 cuprite contained about 89 per cent, of metalHc copper, and copper glance about 79 per 

 cent. ; but tlie valae of the ore raised a.t D'Urville Island at present was about £11 per 

 ton. He pointed out that the serpentine belt could be traced at intervals from D'Urville 

 Island to Nelson, and thence through the ranges to Jackson's Bay, v/here Mr. Macfarlane 

 had noticed its occurrence, and from this point it split into two belts. He also referred 

 to the occurrence of copper ore in the North Island, and said that the copper of Great 

 Barrier Island was probably not in the same formation, but that the relations at this point 

 are more obscured by newer formations than in the South. 



Mr. Travers said that he unfortunately had considerable experience of the patchy 

 character of ore deposits in serpentine, having been one of those who worked the Dun 

 Mountain ore. His advice was to take all the copper which could easily be found, and 

 not to sink any large amount of capital in trying to open up regular mines in such uncer- 

 tain deposits, as the ore occurred merely in bunches, which were disconnected, and which 

 appeared only to occur on the surface. 



Mr. Waterhouse was glad to have the information conveyed in Mr. Cox's paper. He 

 had some experience on the subject in South Australia, and quite agreed with Mr. Travers' 

 remarks, and he would be surprised if the D'Urville Island copper mine paid in the long run. 

 He did not consider that the fact of rich specimens of copper being obtained from the 

 mine in any way guaranteed the success of the undertaking, for there were innumerable 

 instances in South Australia where quite as rich specimens were obtained, but no induce- 

 ments offered to open up mines with reasonable prospect of success, as where the ore was 

 patchy, and the country hard, these deposits never turned out well. He stated that 

 copper which would pay to work in England would not do so in the colonies, but that to 

 prove a success here the following were necessary : — 1st. The ore must be near the sea. 

 2nd. It must be in very large quantity. 3rd. It must be in soft country, where it could be 

 worked with comparative ease. He pointed out that the only mines in South Australia 

 which have paid have been those which have been started without any capital, instancing 

 the Bulla Bulla and Moonta mines, &c., which j'ielded large quantities of ore from the 

 very first, and were in soft ground, and stated that all the other mines which were in hard 



