230 J. MILNE CURRAN. 
derived from the degradation of granitic, basaltic, and slate 
rocks,! as could be seen from the boulders of these rocks con- 
tained in ‘the wash.” A number of tunnels have been 
driven at various points along the valley to catch the “deep 
ground” under the basalt (at a). Although I noted topaz and 
spinelle from these drifts, sapphire was not present, or at least 
exceedingly rare. The spinelles from the Pleistocene drifts are 
the finest I have seen both for size and colour. Some excellent 
stones were recovered by a floating suction dredge that lifted the 
auriferous gravels from some of the deeper water holes on the creek. - 
A specimen in my own collection is an almost perfect octahedron. 
The topaz were invariably small, while the andalusite was some- 
times found in long pencil-like specimens showing a pearly lustre. 
An analysis of this mineral is given by Mr. Card, Joc. cit., but 
it is stated that no definite crystalline form was observed. In 
my own specimens, however, the rhombic character of the 
andalusite is at once apparent, Cyanite is not uncommon with 
the andalusite. It occurs in transparent blade-shaped crystals 
of a light blue colour, with very perfect cleavage faces. *Mr. Card 
has also noted cyanite from Tumberumba, and also identified some 
specimens in my collection. 
With regard to the character of Tumberumba sapphire there is 
nothing exceptional to note. The bulk of the stones are dark, 
and far too opaque for cutting. A peculiar pitting on the pris- 
matic faces so characteristic of some New England sapphires is 
not seen on these stones. Crystals partly waterworn have been 
found up to three-eights of an inch in diameter. All the cut 
stones I have examined might be called medium in quality. 
Their greatest shortcomings were in the point of colour, 4 
greenish-blue tint predominating, but in lustre and life these 
gems were faultless. 
Berrima and Mittagong.—Mr. Wilshire, p.m., of Berrima, has 
collected a considerable variety of sapphire from the drifts of 
1 Andalusite has been already recorded from Tumberumba by Mr. 
G. W. Card—Records Geological Survey of N. S. Wales, Vol. rv., p. 180: 
