Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
99 
Annlijs'in of clatj hand iron ores, — Clay hand No. 1. 
Water, hygroscopic ... ... ... ... 1'28 
,, conibinecl ... ... ... ... 3*5 1 
Silica and iusoluble matter ... ... ... 4/60 
^Sosqiiioxido of iron ... ... ... ... SO'OO 
Phosphorus ... ... ... ... ... -49 
Suljduir ... ... ... ... ... ... ‘11 
tUndeterminod ... ... ... ... ... 9‘98 
lOO-CK) 
Clay hand No. 2 contains 53*31 per cent, metallic iron. 
Clay hand No. 3 contains 49‘28 per cent, metallic iron. 
It is highly probaldc, from tbc unusual richness of clay band JN'o. 1, 
and from the small quantity of combined water which it contains, that 
it has been subjected to a bush fire, and answers, therefore, more or 
less, to roasted ore. A sample of tliis ore, tak(‘n from an uuexposed 
portion of the seam, would most likely yield about 50 per cent, 
metallic iron, in place of 56 ]}oy cent. 
As is usually the case with such deposits, the thickness varies some- 
what; in some places they are from 8 to 9 inches thick, and then a 
little farther on they widen out to a thickness of even 18 inches. The 
average thickness of the two lower seams may be taken at about 10 
inches cacli, and the upper seam (IS'o. 3) at 11 or 12. These dimen- 
sions are estimated from the outcrops of the scams, and are of course 
only approximate, for as they have not yet been opened out or cut 
across in any way, no clean sections arc exposed, and consequently no 
minute measurements could be taken. 
It is at once apparent from tlio analysis that tbey arc all tbree 
richer than the ordinary English clay band ore, and that the amounts 
of phosphorus and sulphur, for all ordinary purposes, are unimportant. 
Coal. 
The coal measures in this district contain several very valuable and 
thick beds of coal. Tlie three principal ones wliicb I had the 02 >por- 
tunity of closely examining have respective]}" the following thicknesses 
of coal irrespective of any parting.s : — 
Tlie lowest seam, ivliieh I will call No. 1. has a thickness of 17 feet 
6 inches ; the next seam, No. 2, is t> feet G inches ; and the one above 
this, No. 3, is 4 feet G inches. 
Tliere are other scams jn'csent. but as they arc thinner they are of 
minor iin])ortance, and in the face of the above thick seams they are 
not likely to be touched fur some years. 
Seam No. 1— The outcrop of this bed is seen in the banks on a creek 
known by the name of Coal Creek, on the western side of the Dividing 
Hange. 
A trial shaft sunk through it has proved it to be 17 feet G inches in 
thickness, divided by a parting of fire-clay some 8 inches thick. 
TIic parting of fire-clay shows the nuiueroTis remains and impress- 
ions of coal measure plants — principally thin rootlets in this case- 
embedded in tlie original soil in wliich they grew. At this period of 
the history of the coal bod tliere must have been a ebange in the 
conditions throughout the area OA'cr wliicli this parting extends ; the 
^ 5(’ per i‘L‘nt. luetaUic irtm. 
f Consisting principally of manganese, aluminu, lime, and magnesia. 
