VICTORIA. 
ISSUED BY 
JAMES TRAVIS, ACTING SECRETARY FOR MINES, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF 
THE HON. HENRY FOSTER, M.P., MINISTER OF MINES. 
REPORT ON THE EXTENT OF THE DEEP LEADS OF VICTORIA. 
(By B. A. F. Murray, F.O.S., ex-Government Geologist.) 
In reference to Mr. Foster’s expressed desire that the extent and character of tlie mining resources 
of Victoria be brought more prominently under notice, I beg to submit the following notes with respect to 
the great aggregate lengih of deep alluvial leads as yet uuwor'ked, and requiring largo capital for their 
development, but from all attendant conditions holding out rich promise of success to those who undertake 
their exploration. 
Comparatively fow, even among the mining community, grasp the real magnitude of these resources, 
and I think it would be well to bring the subject prominently under the notice, not only of Victorian, but 
of British capitalists, as, making due allowance for all uncertainties of mining as regards the amount of 
gold likely to be won, the existence of these lends is a fact conclusively demonstrated by the boring opera¬ 
tions carried out by this Department, while the strong likelihood of their proving payable is warranted by 
the geological conditions, and in many cases by the actual returns of the pioneer mines now at work 
on them. 
In those notes I mention only what may be regarded as main trunk-lead systems commencing with 
the westernmost, that of the Ararat gold-tield. Hero we have all (he shallow and worked ont leads of the 
held emptying into a great main lead system covered by basalt from 250 to 300 feet deep trending down the 
valley of the Hopkins, crossing and then following the concealed continuation southerly of the same 
auriferous belt of rocks, whence the leads worked northward obtained their gold supply. Two series of 
borings some milos apart have proved the position of this trunk le d, to explore which several attempts 
have failod, owing to insufficient appliances and bad choice of sites for shafts. The minimum proved 
unworked length of this lead is fully 8 miles, and it may extend much further beyond where it debouches 
from confined limits under the wide plains southward. 
The next great system is that extending down from Mount Mitchell northward along the Bet Bet 
Valley, and thence across to the Avoca Valley. This lias been tested exhaustively as regards the existence 
and position of the lead at three places several miles apart, mamely, Caralulup, Lillicur, and Bung Bong, 
in each of which the existence of a large well-defined lead with heavy wash was conclusively proved. The 
valley is bounded on either side by Silurian ranges, in which are numerous and extensive alluvial workings. 
An attempt is now.being made to explore this lead at Bung Bong, but so far the whole of its length is 
absolutely untested as regards payable gold. The length of this system is as follows From Mount 
Mitchell to Bung Bong 12 miles; from Bung Bong across the Batbscar plain to the Avoca 
Valley 6 miles (borings have been done on this section by private enterprise, and it also receives the 
Homebush lead). From whore the lead joins the Avoca Valley, near Natte Yallock, down the valley 
to the plains 24 miles. This section is fed by the extension of the Avoca leads. Total for this system, 
42 miles untested. 
The next stretch of unworked ground is tbo up-stream portion of the Mount Greenock lead, between 
Mount Greenock and Evansford. This lias also been proved by borings, but owing to the collapse of the 
last shaft sunk remains untested, though it crosses a well-known belt of auriferous Silurian rocks, and the 
depth is oidy lot) feet. 
The down-stream continuation of the lead from Mount Greenock lias been much worked, and at its 
lower extremity, near the junction of the great Loddon Valley system are the worked out Kong Meng and 
Napier mines at Majorca, and the Chalk’s group of mines near Carisbrook, all now yielding well. The 
length of the unworked portion above referred to is about G miles. 
f.559.457 
V 642red 
MUSEUM OF VICTORIA 
