171 
■workings are in sandstone and slate beds belonging to the Castlemaine 
zone. At 16 feet from the surface the reef was cut in the shaft; it 
strikes nearly north and south, but dips west; it ranges from an inch to 
3 feet thick, averaging about i ft. <5 in. where taken out. The shoot 
of gold was 40 feet long, and continued for 40 feet in depth, but it has 
become very poor at the bottom. Several openings have been made 
north and south of this shaft and some crushings have been obtained, 
but nothing of any importance has been discovered. I do not consider 
this ground favorable for gold mining. 
About 3 chains further east is the Fiddler’s line of reef, which was 
extensively and profitably worked about 40 years ago. There should be 
a better field for prospecting on this line, as it is along an anticline and 
there is likelihood of succeeding saddle reefs being found below those 
already worked, but machinery would be required as the old workings are 
carried down to water level. 
[Report sent in 26.10.09.~\ 
THE FLAGSTONE QUARRY, SPECIMEN GULLY, 
CASTLEMAINE. 
By E. J. Dunn , F.G.S., Director , Geological Survey. 
This is the original quarry, and it has been extensively worked for 
over 40 years. It is 4 miles by road in a north-easterly direction from 
Castlemaine, and there is a railway siding but a short distance from the 
quarry. Ordovician beds, apparently belonging to the Castlemaine zone, 
form the “country.” The strike of the beds is about north and south 
(magnetic), and the dip 88 deg. E. The belt of valuable flagstones is 
about 23 feet wide, and it has been worked at intervals for a length of 
20 chains. At the south end a fault has broken the rocks up, so as to 
render them of little value. At the deepest part the quarry has been 
sunk to a depth of 220 feet; this is filled with water to within 30 feet 
of the surface. The pitch in the deep quarry is nearly horizontal. 
These are true flagstones separating along the bedding planes, which are 
smooth and even; the material is slaty, but it is not fissile like roofing 
slate. Flagstones from J inch to 4 inches thick are obtainable, and the 
quality improves with depth. 
There is an immense amount of valuable material available, and as the 
quarry has been sunk down to the depth of 220 feet, the heavy initial 
expenses have been defrayed, and a working face prepared. In dealing 
with such a quarry pillars should be left at proper intervals to support 
the sides. Stone of the character obtainable here is useful for building 
material', for paving, and for many other purposes. There is a 25 horse¬ 
power engine and planing and sawing plant at the quarry, but no work 
has been done there for several years. This industry should be revived, 
If possible, as the material, which is of excellent quality, could be utilized 
for so many purposes. 
The new quarry is in Nicholson’s Gully, at a distance of about ij 
miles E. 30 deg. S. from the old quarry. The belt of flagstone is 17 
feet in width, the flags range from 1 inch to 4 or 5 inches thick, and the 
material is slaty, as at the old quarry. The strike of beds is about 
north and south, and the dip is 82 deg. E. This quarry has been opened 
up for a length of 200 feet, and to a depth of 50 feet. The flags do not 
split so readily as at the old quarry. An engine with planing and sawing 
machines is on the ground, but the quarry is not being worked. 
[Report sent in yi.io.oy.~\ 
