1859.] EOSALES BALL.\AEAT GOLD-FIELD. 501 



EangGS unto the Dividing Range, is the spinal bone of the frame of 

 this gold-field. 



I have pui'posely avoided saying anything about the " Springs 

 Diggings" (1 & 2), situated far to the N.E. of Ballaarat. It is an 

 interesting locality, but one which I have not sufficiently studied. 

 HoAvever there are two distinct successive channels or auriferous 

 " charriagcs ; " those in the gullies, and that which runs under the 

 basalt. In what geological relation they stand to the successive 

 channels of Ballaarat or of Creswick, I. am not prepared to say ; still 

 I should think " eharriage " No. 2 contemporaneous with the shal- 

 low channel of Creswick. The course of both " charriages " diverges 

 from this gold-field, and lies in some glen unravelled at present, 

 bearing towards Lai Lai Creek. 



I have gathered a few things : some gold-specimens and crystal- 

 lized gold in the forms D ; H, ; 0, H ; and one crystal D, 0, H, 

 and small facettes of Naumann's Hexakistetraeder ; also some zeo- 

 lites and a few vegetable organic remains. 



P.S. Since writing the above I have been to Creswick and have 

 obtained correct particulars on the subject from lilr. E. Millner and 

 j)arty, who worked on the ground. On Portuguese Elat, at the depth 

 of about 10 feet, there is an aimferous deposit (1) which spreads 

 mostly over the flat, resting on the schists, but frequently also on a 

 " false bottom." Through this deposit the Creswick Creek has 

 forced its present course, which is very near IN". At the depth of 

 26 feet, another auriferous channel (2) is met vrith., about 9 feet 

 Avide on an average, bearing AY. 10° IS"., resting also partly on schists 

 and partly on a " false bottom." This channel crosses over a deep 

 auriferous channel (3, the Wet Lead) which is foimd at a depth of 48 

 feet (22 feet below the No. 2 channel), resting only on the schists, 

 which form the " true bottom ; " it is 15 feet wide on an average, 

 and its course is N. 15° "W. 



Perhaps I may some time or other be enabled to show a certain 

 analogy between the periods of some of the auriferous di'ifts and the 

 epochs of volcanic eruptions. 



Synopsis of the Auriferous Gullies, Channels, and Mainchannels. 



Springs Diggings; auriferous guUies and channel, bearing under the Basalt 

 towards Lai Lai, i. e. S.E. 



Dead-horse Gullies ; the channel now under the Basalt, bearing W., into which 

 will run the Northumberland Lead (?). 



Little Bendigo, Nuggety Grullv, Kangaroo Grully, several other gullies, Eotten 

 GruUy, Brownliill Gully, and Cockatoo Gully, fall into the Eureka Channel, 

 into which subsequently run the Nil desperandum, Caledonian, Lady 

 Berkeley, and Blackliill Leads, forming the 



Eureka Mainchannel, which joins the Gravel-pits Mainchannel. 



One-eye Gully, Scotchman's Gully, New-chum Gully, Tailors' Gully, Prince 

 Eegent Gully, and Canadian Giilly form the 



Canadian Mainchannel, which, after the confluence of the Warrenheep, Navie 

 Jack's, and the Eedhill Leads, would empty into the Gravel-pits Main- 

 channel. 



