253 
the nature of the material, if that were coherent enough, as in a wet state it 
probably would be. Should this not answer the purpose, then a shell 
auger could be us,ed. This, though very much slower in work, brings up a much 
better and compact core. Judging by experience in boring through stiff sandy 
clays on the Powlett Plains, Southern Gippsland, I Should say that if the 
boring does, not exceed 15 feet in depth, one man with a twist auger could 
easily bore 50 feet a day through this material, and about 30 feet if the 
shell auger be used. If the boring be deeper than 15 feet, it is advisable 
to have two men (even though there would not be a corresponding increase 
in despatch) to get the rods out of the hole, so as to ease them down, and 
prevent bending of rods and stripping of threads. Samples of the cores 
at 1 foot intervals, (or less, if necessary) should be carefully obtained for 
examination. 
Should the deposit be opened up, the material could) easily be carted to 
Portland wharf for transport by water, or, if preferred, to the railway, a 
few chains to the westward of the occurrence, where a small siding could be 
cheaply erected. 
The following analyses of the diatomite have been made at the Mines 
Department Laboratory. Analysis A, made in 1901, indicates diatomite of 
good quality, but in the absence of knowledge as to what part of the deposit 
the sample was taken from, no conclusion can be formed as to whether or 
not it was a representative one. Analyses B and C, made by Mr. P. G. 
W. Bavly, of samples collected by me round the shaft, indicate diatomite 
of poorer quality: — 
— 
Sample A, 
Sample B, 
Sample C, 
Silica (Si 0 2 ) 
7 
7L23 
°/ 
70-52 
Alumina (A 1 2 0 3 ) 
l 3 *05 i 
7-33 
10-7 
Ferric Oxide (Ee 2 0 3 ) 
2-70 
3-26 
Lime (CaO) 
nil 
trace 
•75 
Magnesia (MgO) 
trace 
nil 
nil 
Soda (Na 2 0 ) 
• . . 
nil 
•4! 
Potash (K 2 0 ) 
• • 0 
nil 
•09 
Chlorine (Cl) 
• • • 
•51 
•54 
Water (H 2 0 ) at 100 Q C. ... 
6-81 
13-98 
8-82 
Water combined ... 
3*35 
4-67 
5-08 
99 T 9 
100-42 
100-24 
The Gorae Deposit. 
The occurrence in the parish of Gorae was said to occur along Boomer’s 
Creek,, about 2J miles N.W. of that of Bolwarra. On proceeding thither 
the same day, in company with Cr. E. Adams and two local residents, who 
said they knew where it was, we made an extended examination of the 
locality, but failed to find it. Neither did success attend the efforts of 
Mr. Hollis, a neighbouring selector, who said that some' years ago he had 
seen there a small outcrop like an anthill. Since my visit, Mr. Adams, who 
finally succeeded in locating it after three different attempts, informs me 
that it does not seem to be an extensive deposit, but that testing the ground 
all round is necessary to prove its extent. 
