281 
The hill should be carefully tested by a small battery, especially with 
a view to proving whether the crushing material could be taken in a face, 
for if this could be done very low-grade ore would be profitable to work, 
and the great bulk to be treated would probably justify a large battery. 
Water power could be availed of for some months in the year, and steam 
could be used for the balance. Fuel is abundant close by. This locality 
is one of the most promising for reefs in the neighbourhood of Beech- 
worth, as they have already produced a great deal of gold and they are 
of persistent character. They offer a favorable field for further ex¬ 
ploration. 
[25.6.08.^ 
REEFS NEAR VACKANDANDAH, BEECHWORTH DISTRICT. 
By E. J . Dunn , F.G.S ., late Director , Geological Survey. 
The Queen Elizabeth Reef. 
This reef is situated 011 the south side of Long Gully, about 5 miles in 
a south-westerly direction from Yackandandah and 1,500 feet above sea- 
level. Trenches show the reef low down the slope of the hill, and it is 
proved for a length of about 300 feet. At the north end the reef is 8 
inches thick, and the country rock consists of grey and yellow slate and 
sandstone beds of Ordovician age : the soil is red. The strike of the beds is 
N. 15 0 W. at the north end, and nearer the top of the hill, at the 
south end of the workings the strike is N. 8° W. The reef appears 
to conform to the strike of the beds. There are three shafts sunk on the 
reef, which is faulted and thrown short distances to the eastward going 
south. The northern shaft is about 15 feet deep, the middle shaft 18 feet 
deep, and the most southern shaft 20 feet deep. In the southern shaft the 
reef is small, from a thread to 3 inches thick, but widening in some places 
to 9 inches. The dip is about vertical. The top of the hill is about 
1,650 feet above sea level, and the reef has been traced for 200 feet south 
of the top shaft. Three shoots of gold are proved in the three shafts. The 
work so far done is encouraging, and although the reef is small it could 
be worked at a low cost. 
The Relay Reef. 
On the eastern side of the ridge on which the Queen Elizabeth reef 
occurs, and about 4 chains east of it, is the Relay reef. This was worked 
a long time ago, and a shaft 80 feet deep was sunk at the south end of 
the outcrop, and the shoot of auriferous stone was worked down to that 
depth. The strike of the reef, which coincides with that of the country, 
is N. io° E., dip vertical. The country rock consists of pink and yellow 
slates and sandstones. The reef is solid quartz from 1 foot to 3 feet thick. 
One chain north of the old shaft a new shaft has been sunk to a depth of 
40 feet. 
At the bottom of the new shaft a drive has been put in 40 feet to the 
south, and a reef from 1 to 2 feet thick is disclosed. The country is easy 
to work. At 10 feet south of the shaft a fault cuts off everything; the 
fault throws the reef west going north, and this part of the reef has not 
been recovered. 
