245 
REPORTS ON THE PHOSPHATE OF ALUMINA BEDS, NEAR 
MANSFIELD, COUNTY OF DELATITE, WITH PLAN 
(PLATE XXVII.).* 
By A. M. Howitt. 
Preliminary Report. 
These deposits of wavel lit e-bearing rocks, rich in phosphate of alumina, 
were discovered by me whilst engaged on the survey of quarter-sheet No. 
45, N.E. (new series), in the Mansfield district. They occur on a hill 
sloping to Ford’s Creek, at the junction of the Preston and Race-course 
roads, near allotment 4, parish of Loyola, county of Delatite, three miles 
by good road from the Mansfield railway station. 
Geology. 
The phosphatic deposits occur in altered sandstones and dark grey to 
black cherts, which are much contorted and crushed! 
Occurrence and Extent. 
The phosphate of alumina is richest in a white to grey fossiliferous 
rock, which occurs in mass, and sometimes lenticular shape, apparently 
interbedd'ed with dark grey to black cherts. This white rock is intersected 
by veins of wavellite, showing its typical radiating structure. One speci¬ 
men was procured showing a thin vein of turquoise. The formation of 
cherts and phosphatic rock can be traced for about fifteen chains in a 
westerly direction, with a width of about two chains. There should be a 
large quantity available, but further information as to this point could 
probably be furnished after another inspection. The wavellite may be 
found to be more plentiful at a depth, away from surface decomposition. 
The high inclination of the enclosing beds may point to the downward con¬ 
tinuation of the phosphatic rock. 
Finding both wavellite and turquoise in the formation, and seeing that 
these minerals usually contain about 34 per cent, and 32 per cent, of phos¬ 
phoric acid respectively, I procured samples and forwarded them for 
analysis to the Departmental laboratory, f 
General. 
The land on which the phosphatic rocks occur is freehold, having been 
sold in 1881 and 1886. Should the material in a pulverized form prove to 
be of agricultural value it could be worked by open cuts and transported 
to the Mansfield railway station, which is only three miles distant by good 
road. I may also state that timber is fairly plentiful, and water only 
fifteen chains away in Ford’s Creek, which would be advantageous for 
mining purposes. , 
In conclusion, it may be stated that the well known Loyola limestone 
quarries are only four miles distant to the south-south-west, as shown on 
plan. A rapid examination of the countrv between the phosphate of alumina 
and the limestone area might be warranted to find whether or not there are 
any deposits containing phosphoric acid and lime in combination, which 
might be of value for the manufacture of superphosphates. 
[Report sent in 9th Marrh, 1904.] 
* Reprinted from the Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines for year 1904, pp. 117-118. 
t Results of these analyses appear in the Further Report, on the following page. 
