47 
The Micawber Mine. 
Returning to where a little gold is being got in the Heathcotian rocks, 
and climbing for 300 yards up the spur in a westerly direction, the Micaw¬ 
ber lease of Mr. Keeley is reached. The country rocks are Ordovician slate 
and sandstones, with quartz fragments strewn over the surface. The strike 
of the country rock is N. 17 deg. E., and the dip 5 ° deg. westerly. A 
quartz vein, 6 inches thick, has been opened here in a cutting. Its. strike 
is about north and south, and dip nearly vertical. 
This little reef is called the Cashbox, as the owner has erected a dolly, 
and when the necessity arises he obtains some gold by crushing the richer 
portions of the stone. This reef is reported to yield 3 oz. of gold per ton, 
worth ^3 17s. 6d. per oz. For about 2 feet into the hanging wall a little 
gold is obtained. About 100 yards further to the west is the Micawber 
Reef. Its strike is about N. 5 deg. W., and dip westerly, but nearly ver¬ 
tical. A shaft, 25 feet deep, is sunk here. The reef is 2 to 3 feet thick, 
and is stoped for a length of 25 feet. In parts there is a casing that is 
said to be payable for 1 foot in thickness. The country rock is Ordovician 
soft grey slate of very favorable appearance, and quartz fragments are 
abundant on the surface. A total of 25 tons crushed and dollied gave a 
return of 60 ozs. of gold. The strike of the country rocks—sandstone 
and slate—at the mouth of the adit near the shaft is N.E., and dip 50 deg. 
S.W. 
The Surprise Mine. 
The Surprise mine is 200 feet further to the south, on a continuation 
of the Micawber reef. The shaft is 12 feet deep. This ground has not 
yet been opened up. There are facilities for working this reef by means 
of an adit, and if a battery were placed where the Heathcotian rocks cross 
Taedato Creek, it would serve these reefs, as well as the Queen Reef. 
The Taedato Creek is said to continue for over a mile into the hills from 
here, so that water should be secured, by constructing a darn, for several 
months in the vear. 
j 
The Tara Range is remarkable in that, within a mile of the Micawber 
lease, there are three distinct series of rocks carrying auriferous veinstones. 
The Monarch itself is in Lower Devonian rocks. The Cashbox, Micawber, 
and Queen reefs are in Ordovician slates and sandstones, and in the Pre- 
Ordovician (Heathcotian), close by, veins carrying gold also occur. From 
this it will be seen how exceptionally interesting, and, it mav be added, 
intricate, is the geology of this tract of country. The Tara Range gives 
promise of developing largely as a gold-field, if the country is but pros¬ 
pected. Other reefs around and at moderate distances have been discovered, 
and small crushings of an encouraging nature have been taken out. A 
systematic geological survey of this tract of country should be made as 
soon as practicable. 
[Report sent in 15th August, iQOg.] 
THE DOMINION COPPER MINE, NEAR BUCHAN, 
EASTERN GIPPSLAND. 
(no. 22 on locality map.) 
By E. J. Dunn , F.G.S., Director , Geological Survey , Victoria. 
At this mine, which is about 7 miles, a little east of south, from Dr. 
Mackieson’s (allotment Ai, section C, Parsh of Buchan) there is a strong 
outcrop of quartz, striking south-east and dipping south-west, but nearly 
