1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
363 
Redesdale Road, but south of this no magnesite is known to occur, except 
on Mr. Kelly’s property in Redesdale township, where samples of earthy 
magnesite have been found. 
Northward of the Bendigo syndicate’s deposit a few nodules of 
magnesite of good quality can be seen in the material forming a dam- 
embankment. Farther north — perhaps a mile and a half — a mass of 
magnesite containing several cubic feet is exposed in a lane separating 
Messrs. Donovan’s and McAuliffe’s properties, and connecting the Lyal 
and Castlemaine Roads. This, but for a filmy coat of iron oxide, is pure. 
Trenching on either side has failed to disclose any extension of the vein. 
A few chains farther west along the lane a number of narrow veins are 
exposed. North of the lane numerous grains and nodules of magnesite 
can be found in the basalt that forms the surface. 
Mr. Whitelaw states that other deposits occur at Lyal, two miles 
north of the locality last mentioned and five or six miles from Redesdale. 
Farther north, deposits occur at intervals to beyond Axedale, which is 
twelve miles north of Redesdale. 
So far as is known, the deposits in the Ordovician rocks are confined 
to a north-and-south belt of magnesium-bearing slates and sandstones 
about a quarter of a mile in width. In these magnesite occurs as 
lenticular segregated veins running as often across as with the beds. The 
veins are not likely to extend to any great depth, and perhaps not below 
water - level. Unfortunately, the magnesium - bearing beds are much 
obscured by a mantle of basalt reaching 50 ft. in thickness, and the 
magnesite in the exposed areas will soon become exhausted, but the present 
price of magnesite precludes the possibility of exploring the areas covered 
by basalt at a profit. The basalt itself contains magnesite sporadically dis¬ 
seminated as amygdaloids and nodules. In places where the containing 
rock has decomposed sufficiently the magnesite has become concentrated 
in small pockets. These are indicated by gentle swellings of the surface 
soil. Messrs. Donovan and McAuliffe have opened a number of these 
pockets, and so exposed some magnesite of fair quality. It is probable, 
says Mr. Whitelaw, that some of the magnesite to be seen in the basalt 
was collected from the bed-rock while the flow moved over the old surface, 
but the principal portion is obviously a decomposition product of the 
basalt itself, and is not in sufficient quantity to pay for extraction. 
Mr. Whitelaw ends his report as follows : “As a result of my obser¬ 
vation I conclude that unless the price of the mineral increases considerably 
there will be no increased activity in locating deposits outside those small 
areas in the belt from which the basalt has been eroded. Is it, of course, 
not possible from these to supply the whole demand of the trade, but it 
should be possible to forward regular supplies in such quantities as to 
insure profitable returns to co-operative parties for, at any rate, the 
duration of the war.” 
New South Wales. 
Mr. R. H. Cambage, Under-Secretary of Mines, under date of 9th October, 
1917, forwards the following particulars re magnesite and dolomite in New 
South Wales :—- 
“ Magnesite. 
“ There are three workable deposits of magnesite known in New South 
Wales. They are located at Fifield, Attunga, and near Barraba. 
“ Owing to the nature of the occurrence it would not be advisable to 
attempt to estimate quantities of magnesite available until the properties 
