OCCURRENCE OF PRECIOUS STONES IN N.S.W. 231 
Wingecarribee River. Some of these sapphires are nearly one 
inch in diameter, and present more variety in colour and lustre 
than any other sapphires I have met. Zircon and spinelle are 
found with the sapphire. With regard to the deposits in which 
these are found, they are in every instance that I have examined 
in Pleistocene drifts resting on Hawkesbury sandstone, or sand- 
stones of the Upper Coal Measures. There is an intimate con- 
nection between the distribution of the sapphire in this district 
and the denudation of basaltic areas. This will be touched upon 
lateron. It is worth noting that pleonaste invariably accompanies 
the sapphire in this district, and that pleonaste occurs as a primary 
constituent of basalt at Kangaloon. 
Kiandra.—Sapphire has not been found plentiful at Kiandra, 
but as it undoubtedly occurs there, a short description is given of 
the conditions under which it is found. An extensive Tertiary 
“deep lead” has been preserved at Kiandra, and over the country 
to the south, by an extensive capping of basalt. Any sapphires 
found hitherto have been discovered in Pleistocene drift formed 
from a redistribution of the material of the deep lead. ‘The section 
herewith shows the composition of this lead measured close to the 
town of Kiandra. 
New England.—There can be no question that more sapphire 
is found in New England than in any other part of the Colony. 
The gem-stone, although distributed over a large area is remark- 
ably similar in its mode of occurrence. The geology of New 
England has been dealt with by the late Mr. Wilkinson,’ Pro- 
fessor David,’ and others. These authors have also in the works 
referred to, dealt with the occurrence of gems. Broadly speak- 
ing, it may be stated that sapphire is found in drifts all over the 
tin districts of New England, an area embracing several thousand 
Square miles. They were found in great abundance in the surface 
' Mines and Mineral Statistics of N. S. Wales, 1875, Government 
Printer, Sydney. 
2 Geology of the Vegetable Creek Tin-mining Field, by Prof. T. W. E. 
David, 1887 ca 
