1852.] CLARKE ON THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD. 133 



square miles, — in a great part of which, either in the rock in situ, or 

 in the detritus, gold is found in more or less abundance. 



In 1851 gold was discovered in Summer Hill Creek and along 

 Lewis' Ponds*, a N. and S. affluent of the Macquarie, more than 

 thirty-five miles distant from Bathurst. Gold has also been detected 

 within a few miles of Bathurst, and on the west of the Summer Hill 

 range, in the cupriferous region of Carcoor and Coombing ; and most 

 probably as prolific a field exists south of that district as to the north 

 of it. 



The country in the immediate vicinity of the gold-diggings consists 

 of schist, traversed by quartz-dykes, vertically bedded, and fissured 

 by deep creeks. Where the points of junction with minor creeks 

 occur, bars of schist serve to accumulate the fluviatile and more 

 ancient drift, and it is there especially that the gold is accumulated. 

 Masses of from one to four pounds weight have been found, together 

 with smaller pieces, in the interstices of the schist, which is covered 

 by clay and detritus. 



In the banks of the creeks and on the plains, such as Pretty Plains, 

 King's Plains, &c., gold also occurs. The trend of the creeks, as well 

 as the ranges, is to the north and south, and this kind of country con- 

 tinues for at least 100 miles. The dip where the " diggings" now are 

 is at a high angle to the N.E. At some points, as near the junction 

 of Meroo Creek and the Cudgegong River, and thence by Gouraba to 

 Wonderry, the quartz is studded with beautiful nests of gold, very 

 abundant and easily detached by the blow of a hammer. 



As Oakey Creek, south of the Canobolas, and others falling into 

 the Bolubula and Abercrombie also contain gold, there can be no 

 doubt that abundance will be also found in other affluents of the 

 Lachlan. Nor is the discovery confined to this immediate region, 

 for it has been detected at various points along the whole line of 

 quartz-rock and slate ranging between the meridians of 149° and 

 148° E., as far as the valleys radiating from Mount Kosciusko. The 

 whole basin of the Macquarie River, and various points on the Man- 

 ning, Clarence, and Mac Leay Rivers to the northward are rich in gold. 

 The quality of the gold is good. It is purer in colour than the Ca- 

 lifornian metal, being alloyed with a less proportion of silver ; some 

 small specimens have given on analysis 7|- grains of pure gold out of 

 a lump of quartz-ore weighing 17 grains. 



The mineral structure and geological composition of Tasmania 

 being phsenomena continuous from those of Australia, it is highly 

 probable that gold will be detected, if search be made, at the head of 

 King's River and below the range running from Mount Humboldt to 

 Western Bluff. 



The question of the prolificness of the Australian gold-field in the 

 basin of the Macquarie having been set at rest by the abundance of 

 the metal already discovered, and the extent being, in all probability, 



* The amount of gold taken from Summer Hill and Lewis' Ponds Creeks is said 

 to be worth aI)out £5000 sterling ; and this was obtained in little more than three 

 weeks' time. But there is reason to believe that from the alluvium of these Creeks 

 there will not be a much further supply. 



