364 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
have been systematically prospected. There is, however, little doubt that 
a considerable tonnage of high-grade mineral could be obtained from any 
of the deposits mentioned. 
“ Fifield .—The Fifield deposits are situated about eleven miles distant 
from Gobondery railway-siding. Gobondery is 329 miles by rail from 
Sydney. Nine mining leases, comprising 296 acres, are held on the field. 
“ The magnesite occurs in nodular form as pockets or bunches in red 
clayey alluvium, and has probably segregated out, during the process of 
weathering, from the amphibole rock which occurs in the vicinity. The 
outcrops are very limited, the mineral being mostly covered by from 2 ft. 
to 9 ft. of red soil. The deepest level to which the magnesite is proved is 
about 26 ft. 
“ About 16,000 tons of magnesite have been marketed to date. 
“ Attunga .—The deposits are situated about seven miles distant in a 
north-easterly direction from Attunga Railway-station. Attunga is 295 
miles by rail from Sydney. About 250 acres are held under mining tenures 
in this locality. 
“ The magnesite occurs in veins, pockets, and stockworks in decom¬ 
posing serpentine, close along the contact with sedimentary rocks. The 
veins often terminate abruptly or gradually merge into serpentine, and in 
the larger pockets boulders and fragments of serpentine in all stages of 
decomposition and replacement occur. The magnesite outcrops are limited, 
and there is no evidence of continuity of any veins for an appreciable dis¬ 
tance. The mineral is won by quarrying into the side of a spur, and the 
face is about 80 ft. long and from 4 ft. to 25 ft. high. The depth to which 
the magnesite extends has not yet been proved, but it seems fair to assume 
that it will be found down to the limit of easy circulation of percolating 
waters. 
“ About 2,000 tons of magnesite have been marketed from this field 
since it was opened, about twelve months ago. 
“• Near Barraba .—The deposit is situated at Piedmont, which is about 
twenty-two miles by road from Barraba Railway-station, 342 miles by 
rail from Sydney. Three mining leases, comprising 60 acres, have been 
secured. 
“ The magnesite occurs as veins and stockworks in serpentine. The 
veins vary in width from a fraction of an inch up to 10 ft. The main 
vein varies from 2 ft. to 10 ft. in width, and extends in a northerly and 
southerly direction for a distance of 12 chains. It has been worked by 
open-cut to a depth of from 2 ft. to 15 ft. About 500 tons of magnesite 
have been marketed from this deposit. 
“ Magnesite has recently been located at Warialda and Dripstone, but 
no attempt has yet been made to prove the extent of the deposits. 
“ Analyses of magnesite from each of the localities referred to are as 
follow :— 
Locality. 
Mag¬ 
nesium 
Carbonate. 
Calcium 
Carbonate. 
Ferric 
Oxide and 
Alumina. 
Gangue. 
Water and 
Undeter¬ 
mined. 
Total. 
Remarks. 
Fifield .. 
99-01 
0-54 
0-42 
99-97 
Attunga 
94-50 
2-28 
0-34 
0-94 
1-94 
100-00 
• 0 
Near Barraba 
96-83 
1-46 
0-70 
1-34 
. • 
100-33 
• • 
Warialda 
98-67 
0-11 
0-52 
0-66 
e • 
99-96 
MnC0 3 , 0-04 
Dripstone 
91-01 
5-96 
0-34 
1-68 
1*01 
100-00 
MnC0 3 , trace 
