THE BINOEEA DIAMOND FIELD. 



By Akchibald Liteesidge, P.C.S., F.Gr.S., Reader in G-eology 

 and Mineralogy of the Sydney University, late University 

 Demonstrator of Chemistry, Cambridge. 



\_Read iefore the Royal Society, \st October, 1873.] 



In the following note I purpose giving a few facts concerning the 

 recently opened diamond workings in the neighbovirhood of the 

 town of Bingera. Biogera is situated some 400 miles north of 

 Sydney, on the Horton, or, as it is more popularly termed, the 

 Big River ; this River runs into the Grwydir River, the Gwydir 

 in turn losing itself in the Barwon or Darling River. 



Being on my way last winter (June, 1873) to visit the tin 

 districts of New England, I turned aside and availed myself 

 of the opportunity to pay a hurried visit to the above diamond 

 workings. The trip was not a satisfactory one, for, owing to the 

 persistent rains and floods, travelling was at times quite imprac- 

 ticable, and at all times done under difficulties ; hence, in the 

 limited time at ray disposal, all hopes of anything like a thorough 

 geological examination of the spot had, to my great regret, to be 

 relinquished. However, I was enabled to acquire a certain 

 amount of information, which I venture to lay before you this 

 evening, in the hope that it may not prove to be altogether devoid 

 of interest and value. 



But, in the first place, I may perhaps be permitted, en passcmf, 

 to preface my remarks upon Bingera by briefly mentioning a few 

 of the facts relating to the other and longer known diamond- 

 bearing localities of Australia, but only so far as they throw 

 light upon the Bingera deposits. For fuller information I must 

 refer you to the Rev. W. B. Clarke's Addresses to the Royal 

 Society of New South Wales in the years 1870 and 1872, and 

 to the very complete account of the Mudgee diamond district, by 

 ]VIr. Norman Taylor and the late Dr. Thomson, read before this 

 Society in 1870. 



Diamonds in Australia. 



As early as 1860 the Rev. W. B. Clarke mentions the dis- 

 covery of diamonds in the Macquarie River, but no information 

 is furnished as to the conditions under which they were found, 

 and it is not stated whether they occurred in the present river 

 bed or in an ancient river drift. 



