370 JOHN C. H. MINGAYE. 
Agriculture, states—‘ That during the year the amount of gold 
won in his district was about 400 oz., also that he was informed 
that a considerable amount of platinum is in the hands of some 
miners at Evan’s Head, there being no purchasers in the locality, 
A sample of the concentrates forwarded to Messrs. Johnston, 
- Matthey & Co., London, was valued at about £1000 per ton.” 
The late Government Geologist, Mr. C. 8. Wilkinson, F.4.s., 
who with Mr. Slee, F.c.s., in 1889 thoroughly examined this dis- 
trict, stated :—‘‘that there is no doubt, that the gold and platinum. 
in the sand and gravel on the beach, which have for years past 
been worked to the north and south of Black Rock, have been 
derived from the denudation of the basalt—the rippling action of 
the ocean surf tending to throw back the gold with the black sand 
and shingle drift above high-water level.” 
As found in other countries where these ocean placers are carried 
on, the sand is very patchy, the richness of the deposits depending 
in the Richmond River district on the heavy southerly and westerly 
gales, which by their action on the waves, wash up the gold, 
platinum, and cassiterite on to the beach. It is stated that one 
exceptionally rich patch about twenty-five yards square, worked 
by Messrs. Rowan and party, yielded for about six inches in depth 
of wash, seventy-five ounces of gold. 
A bulk sample of the stone from the Black Rock at Ballina, 
sent to the Royal Mint Sydney for treatment, yielded :—Fine 
gold 1 oz. 7 dwts. per ton. A mining lease of twenty-five acres 
has been taken up with a view of thoroughly working the stone. 
The sand and magnetite on microscopic examination, is almost 
round in shape, the platinum, gold and iridosmine being in the 
form of very small thin scales, hence it will be a very difficult 
matter to save the gold and platinum, excepting silvered copper 
plates and blankets are used in the concentrating appliances. At 
present the sand is worked in a very crude manner, it being passed 
through an ordinary hand cradle, containing two silvered copper 
plates to save the gold, the heavy sand which collects in the cradle 
is again passed through false bottomed boxes, and the concentrates 
are saved. 
