220 J. MILNE CURRAN. 
3. One foot of wash separated from No. 2 by a stratum of 
sand. This has a good run of diamonds. 
4. Bedded sediment under which another wash is known to 
carry diamonds. 
The wash was becoming more friable at a depth, being hardest 
near the surface. 
Tourmaline was in every instance present when diamonds were 
found. I brought away a hundred weight of the Bingara wash, 
and on examination noted the following minerals and rocks :— 
1. Tourmaline. 2. Sapphire. 3. Spinelle. 4. Topaz. 5. Garnet. 
6. Quartz. 7. Slate. 8. Claystone. 9. Concretionary Ironstone. 
I made a calculation based on several parcels as to the percen- 
tage of good diamonds, judged by colour and brilliancy only. 
Really good stones ... 12 per cent. 
Marketable stones sail ee gg 
May be cut oe in 220 yy 
Useless as gems ... : ay; 
Many of the Bingara and Inverell diamonds would undoubtedly 
be classed first water by the expert. These are white, clear, and 
bright, and free from speck or flaw. One of the small stones 
exhibited is of a decidedly green tinge, and another is a light 
red or pink shade. We have repeated opinions from the best 
cutters, that our Bingara diamonds are “hard,” so hard that up 
to the date of writing, lapidaries are unwilling to cut them for _ 
current prices. That they can be cut is certain, but the hardness 
combined with the small average size makes the merchant rather 
unwilling to purchase. 
In the Australian Mining Standard of July 29, 1893, the 
following letter appeared from Mr. Edwin Streeter, F.R-G.S-, ® 
London, who says :—“ I have read with much interest a letter of 
your correspondent with reference to Bingara (N.S.W.) It 18 4 
corroboration of my oft-repeated assertion that the wealth of 
Australia will prove in time to be equal, if not superior, to that 
of South Africa. I notice, however, that your correspondent - 
