23 
SOME GOLD MINES AT EGERTON. 
(no. 13 on locality map.) 
By E. J. Dunn , F.G.S., Director Geological Survey . 
The Egerton-Mascotte Mine. 
Two shafts have been sunk by the Egerton-Mascotte Company, to work 
that alluvial lead which begins at the eastern side of the Quarry Reef, and 
runs under the basalt in the more eastern shaft. The general course of 
the leads, so far as worked, is easterly, but there is a doubt as to its further 
course. Boring alone can determine its direction. 
The new shaft (most easterly one) is sunk to a depth of 150 feet. 
The section, as furnished by the manager, Mr. Hepburn, is as under: — 
Feet. 
Soil ... ... ... ... 1 
Clay ... ... ... ... 8 
Vesicular basalt ... ... ... 67 
Volcanic ash, &c. ... ... ... 1 
Black clay ... ... ... 3 
Yellow clay ... ... ... 3 
Washdirt ... ... ... ... 2 
Glacial clay ... ... ... 7 
Glacial conglomerate ... ... 58 
Total ... ... ... 150 
The Glacial conglomerate has decomposed on the upper surface, thus 
forming the 7 feet of clay on which the wash-dirt rests. 
In the old shaft close by, the wash-dirt commences about 13 feet north 
of the shaft, and continues for a width of about 25 feet. The wash-dirt 
in the gutter is 5 or 6 feet thick. Prospects washed from this showed gold 
in small flattened grains. From the new shaft, which pierces basalt, this 
rock continues southward and eastward, and as no boring has been done 
the onward course of the lead is not known. A steam plant is now being 
erected to work this mine on an extensive scale. The poppet-heads are up,, 
and the boilers and puddlers, &c., are on the ground and being erected. 
The Egerton and Black Horse Mines. 
At the Black Horse mine the shaft is sunk 2,000 feet. The Egerton 
shaft is sunk to 1,750 feet. The country rock from the surface to the 
1,400-ft. level is principally grey sandstone, with darker grey slates and 
biack slates occasionally. The whole is decomposed to 1,400 feet from 
the surface. To the 1,150-feet level the rocks are almost as soft and 
altered as at the surface. At the 1,400-feet level, 300 feet north of the 
shaft, a cross-cut has been driven for 700 feet. In the cross-cut, at 
640 feet from the shaft, a belt of hard sedimentary rock, highly siliceous 
and impregnated with pyrites was cut through. It was 60 feet 
wide. On the eastern side of this a lode formation, 3 to 4 feet thick, 
dipping to the west at a high angle, was crossed. It Garries copper, iron 
and other sulphides. Nothing appears to have been done towards opening 
up this lode, although its minerals render such work advisable. In the 
north-eastern cross-cut from the same level three dykes occur. 
