326 Transactions. — Geology. 



by one, such as myself, who has been but a mere occasional observer. Indeed, 

 to pursue the enquiry with credit to oneself and advantage to the public, close 

 application and very extended observatioir would be i-equired for some yeai's. 

 All that I may therefore venture on is rather by way of suggestion than 

 confirmed opinion. 



If we admit that our auriferous mountains have been eroded to the depth 

 of 600 feet, more or less, according to position — and this is a very moderate 

 estimate — then will the gold particles have been submitted to the same action 

 as we have seen other paxticles to be ; and this principle will pervade, that the 

 heavier will be found nearest the sources in the mountains ; lighter, till they 

 become impalpable dust, nearest the sea coast. 



Practical gold miners will tell you that this is the fact. With a knowledge 

 of this princii^le then, and indications of what was the trend of the glacial 

 masses that caused the erosions and transport, these may give us a clue to 

 follow up gold-bearing drifts to their sources, and so to the reefs. Furthei', 

 glaciers are observed to grind down the softer constituents of the schist rocks 

 to impalpable dust; this becomes deposited in beds by the action of water, and 

 so forms, in time, a strong cementations matter, which, with the larger 

 particles of quartz, hornblende, chert, etc., became auriferous conglomerates. 

 Where such a deposit is found with the shingle and gravel but little water- 

 worn, then may we conclude that the original sources of the precious metal 

 are not far off; for, if the sources were distant, the heavy shingle would not 

 only have been well rounded, but the impalpable dust (imponderable in water) 

 forming the concrete would have been dissipated and separated therefrom. 



But there is another action that must have had considerable influence in 

 the transport and deposit of gold, viz., icebergs or masses breaking off from the 

 termini of the glaciers. These are known to bear large collections of rock and 

 shingle, so, while they stranded along the terraces of the valleys or bars of the 

 inlets, would they part with their burdens as they melted. The rocks and 

 shingle would then disintegrate by the force of the waves or currents, and so 

 part with the gold enclosed in them. It is by this action alone that I can see 

 to account for the gold-bearing shingles of the shores of Southland and 

 Molyneux, a distance so far from the mountains. 



In regard to mountain glaciers, as contradistinguished from terrene 

 glaciers, I need offer but few remarks, as they have been already fully and 

 ably discussed in a paper (already mentioned) before this Society. AVhat 

 I have to offer are views taken from different aspects, such as they occurred to 

 myself personally when visiting the localities at different times. The mountain 

 glaciers, when viewed by themselves, are most stuj^endous in their dimensions 

 and apparent effects ; when viewed relatively with teiTene glaciers their 

 magnitude and influence are very circumscribed and diminutive. As the 



