88 
At Steiglitz, in an area of barren country as regards gold, an outlier 
of productive rocks is exposed, and it is on this area that the various mines 
are situated. The contrast between the harsh, hard, brownish, sand¬ 
stones, &c., which constitute the general mass of barren beds, and the 
softer, more readily decomposable sandstones and slates, tinted red, yellow, 
and grey, of the productive beds is very marked. As these productive 
beds appear to correspond to the Castlemaine zone, there are good reasons 
for hoping that the present deplorable conditions of mining at Steiglitz may 
be only a passing stage in its mining career. In the past excellent returns 
were won from some of these mines, and if an effort were made, and the 
existence of saddle-reefs of a profitable nature were proved, then the per- 
manencv and the prosperity of this field would be insured. 
[.Report sent in 4 -th January , 7906 .] 
MORRISONS GOLD-FIELD COMMON, NEAR ELAINE. 
(NO. 7 ON LOCALITY MAP.) 
By E. J. Dunn , F.G.S., Director , Geological Survey. 
I have personally examined the Elaine and Morrisons gold-fields. The 
western portion of the area under review consists of Ordovician rocks, 
folded into a series of anticlines, in a similar manner to the structure at 
Bendigo. Several lines of reef to the east of Elaine have been opened 
up for very considerable lengths, and have been worked extensively. In 
a southerly direction these reefs have been traced into private property, and 
worked there in the case of the Clara reef. Actual evidence of centre- 
country occurs in the waste heaps of this mine; also in the heaps at the 
British Queen mine close by, but on a parallel anticline. Centre-country 
also shows at Argent’s claim, just to the north of the main road from 
Elaine to Morrisons, and about J mile from Well’s store. The anticlinal 
lines run parallel for long distances through the country around Elaine. 
Southward they run under the basalt, and are thus masked. Hitherto- 
the mining carried on at Elaine has not been such as would be most suit¬ 
able for country with the structure that prevails. In fact, the folded 
nature of the beds, and the probabilities that saddle-reefs exist have not 
been recognised. So far as can be judged by the appearances the zone 
of Ordovician exposed at Elaine is the same as the Castlemaine zone, or 
a zone overlying the Bendigo zone. Properly to test this country the 
shafts should be sunk near centre-country, and the exploration should be 
along centre-country and by means of cross-cuts. Although at the present 
time mining is at a very low ebb, and the reefs are not being worked, the field 
is one that possesses many advantages, and that deserves to be tested on 
the above lines. Elaine ps on the railway to Ballarat, and only 40 miles 
from Geelong, so that it is most accessible, and transport charges are 
reasonable. Sufficient work has been done at the surface and shallow 
depths to show that auriferous reefs exist, but nothing has been done 
towards proving whether saddle-reefs occur along the distinct anticlines; 
this work requires to be taken in hand. The field is a promising one, 
and the work done so far has been in the higher auriferous zone ap¬ 
parently. If such is the case, then there are thousands of feet in depth 
of likely country awaiting exploration at Elaine. It is apparently a 
field that has only been started on its career. For permanence and for 
persistently remunerative characters, saddle-reefs cannot be excelled, and 
the nature of this field is such as to encourage the hope that saddle-reefs 
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