APPENDIX. 103 



m. Quartz — Usually as small, well-rolled grains, either colourless, milky, 

 or yello'ndsli. Sometimes as hexagonal prisms, capped with the hexagonal 

 pyramid. Jasper of various colours, such as red, yellow, grey, also occurs, 

 together with black grains of flinty slate. 



IV. Rutile — In angidar fragments, still showing traces of crystallization. 

 Distinguished by its brown colour and metallic lustre, and by the presence of 

 numerous fine strise on the faces of the prism. It very much resembles tin 

 stone in appearance. In composition it consists of titanic acid. 



V. Brookite also occurs. This is another form of titanic acid. Eutile 

 crystallizes in striated tetragonal prisms, whilst this crystallizes in tabular 

 forms belonging to the rhombic system. It is present in small quantity, in 

 the form of flat irregular plates, brown or grey in colour. 



VI. Topaz — Present in small rolled and angular fragments, colourless, and 

 in pale tints of yellow and greenish blue. The latter colovired topaz is often 

 erroneously termed the aqviamarine. 



VII. Beryl or Emerald, doubtful, but one or two very small fragments 

 resembling it. 



VIII. G-arnet — Small, rough, common garnets, of no value. 



IX. Tourmaline — A few rounded pieces, but none showing the crystalline 

 form, which is that of a three -sided prism. 



X. Gold — Present in the form of scales. 



Gem Sand No. 2. 



This consists of larger gi'ains than No. 1, in fact they are small pebbles. 



I. Quartz — Present principally in the form of jasper, of various colours, 

 red, brown, green, yellowish, &c., &c. ; also variegated. Colourless and 

 yellow quartz pebbles are also found, together with black pebbles of flinty 

 slate. 



II. Corundum — Present as common corundum, and as the sapphire. 



III. Brookite — Same as gem sand No. 1, only in larger pieces. 



IV. Topaz — Clear and colourless ; also tinted. 



From the foregoing it will be seen that the Ball Hill gem sands very closely 

 resemble those from Bingera and Mudgee. 



None of the gems contained in the parcels submitted to me, with the 

 exception of the diamonds, are of any commercial value, except for grinding 

 and polishing purposes. Still, they are of great value as indications, for 

 where such occur there is every prospect of finding others of larger size and 

 better quahty. 



An examination of the original " washdirt " or " drift " might yield 

 valuable information, and larger samples of the gem sand will probably be 

 found to contain such minerals as iridium, titaniferous iron, tin stone, 

 magnetite, &c., like the Bingera gem sand. 



I may, perhaps, mention that, in 1867, a brilliant of the first water and 

 without flaw, weighing one carat, was worth about £20 ; if weighing one and 

 a half carat, about £45 ; and if two carats, about £80, and so on ; but since 

 that time the prices have probably undergone much change. According to 

 the September number of the British Trade Circular, the prices ruling for 

 Cape diamonds, uncut, are in proportion much lower than the above. 



I return the diamonds and gem sand per bearer. 



I have the honor to be. 

 Sir, 

 Your obedient servant, 



AECHD. LIVERSICaE. 



