reefs contain sufficient silver as to rank almost as a silver ore. All the lode silver in the Northern Territory 
comes from galena. This, as a rule, is very rich in silver. Very large assays arc reported from some mines, 
but without paying too much attention to these rather uncertain kind of statements, it may be asserted that 
there are few ores from which a bead of silver cannot be obtained with an ordinary blowpipe. The silver- 
lead veins have been found generally on the edge of the slate, and near the junction with the granite. 
There are several outcrops of such veins on the west side of the valley of the Mary. Comparatively few 
have been prospected as yet. There are also excellent shows of galena on the surface, especially at the 
Eveleen, Robinson’s, Barrett’s lode near Mount Shoobridgc, south of Pine creek, and other places. The 
amount of silver must be very large to pay the expenses of smelting and carriage, as things are now ; but 
eventually there can be no doubt large productions of silver may be looked for from the Northern Territory. 
Lead. —From what has been already said it will be seen that lead lodes are numerous in the Territory. 
They are always associated with silver; the ores are sulphides and carbonates, and, like the lead ores of 
Britain, vary Very much in the quantity of silver. In England, the lead ores of Devonshire and Cornwall 
are the richest, Derbyshire very poor, and Shropshire ores are entirely free from silver. In most cases 
cavities of carbonate of lead (cerusitc), besides mimetessite (arseniate of lead) arc common, with peculiar 
crystals of cupro-plumbite, or a mineral compound of oxides of lead and copper. 
Tin. I his metal will eventually be one of the great sources of mineral riches in the Territory, especi¬ 
ally as it occurs in the form of reef tin, which is so comparatively rare. It may be well to explain that the 
most of the tin discoveries in Australia have been made in stream tin, which is never of a permanent 
character.. I he exceptions are the rich tin vein district in Ilerberton, Queensland, and probably some places 
in. Tasmania. 
Stream I in is quite a different formation. It is derived, as far as my experience goes, from the weather¬ 
ing of granite rocks at their junction with newer and stratified rocks, it has not been in veins but diffused 
through the substance of the rock generally in grains and crystals of small size. It is entirely an alluvial 
formation, and where it exists no lode tin is found. This was the character of the stream-tin mines at 
Stanthorpe and other places in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. This is universally the character 
of the tin mines in the Indian Archipelago, many of which I have visited. On the other hand, I know of no 
case in Australia or the East where stream tin occurs in connection with tin veins. There is always in the 
watercourses near the lodes a certain amount of rubble tin ore derived from the lodes, but it is of large size 
and small m quantity. Thus it is in the rich tin-vein district in Queensland, and thus it is in the Northern 
Territory, I have seen no stream tin, properly speaking, except a little from Maude creek on the south of the 
Katherine. 1 he rubble tin from Mount Wells, and the splendid specimens of wood tin from Snadden’s 
creek, are clem ed from the lodes. There is no wash, so to speak, and the supply was very soon exhausted. 
But the vein tin of the Northern Territory is abundant and rich. It is spread over a wider area than the 
Ilerberton mines, and the lodes are more numerous. I am convinced, from what I have seen, that no part of 
Australia can show tin lodes to the same number and extent, though in particular instances, such as Mount 
Bischotr m asmama, they may be richer. The instances of this will be seen in the detailed descriptions of 
the nnncs, sue 1 as Mount W ells, the mines on the McKinlay River, Mount Shoobridgc, and the Finniss. 
live ar * 10 oaes h ave been found confined to the north and western and southern edges of the 
metalliferous country At Mount Wells and the McKinlay mines they are more central. These mines 
me dis mguis led oy the number of veins, and their being crossed with copper lodes, as in Cornwall. In 
tact, there is much resemblance between this country (as using the word “country” in the miners’ sense) and 
Lornv a . n t ie direction of Mount Shoobridgc there is a great development of mica (Muscovite), which 
is always regarded as a favorable sign. At Mount Shoobridgc (Cruikslianks’ claim) crystals of mica are of 
very large size, and abundant also at Nash’s claim, Solomon’s, &c. It would be invidious to single out any 
mine 01 speein notice, but I may say that all of those I have examined promise well, and some give indica- 
ions o ex icaic uchness. It may be added that many more lodes will yet be discovered on the edge of the 
granite coun ry. At Talc lead, Port Darwin, I counted five mineral lodes of some width, probably poor in 
tin, and a ic sea level; but a careful search will develop many more. The Northern Territory may be 
emphatically pronounced to be a tin country. 
Copper. Lodes of this metal have been found in many places, either alone or in connection with tin 
and silver- eac odes. The Daly river copper mines I have not visited, but the ores I have seen are of 
singu ai 11C * nc ^‘ s * hey are apparently abundant as well, and, being situated close to a place of shipment, it 
us pau so ai o send them to Newcastle, New South Wales, for treatment. This promises well, and, should 
the price or copper nsc, as it assuredly must do, the Daly i*iver will be a most important mining district. 
Moreover, tneconntryis extremely good. Copper is also found at Cruikshank gully, south of Pine creek, 
} t ; ic 1 .! ( -rJ'ir-y neai * ^ urt Darwin camp. At Mount Wells there are many smail veins intersecting the 
in unc ic* c m a\ mines. I he Eveleen mine is a lode of copper and galena. The copper ores are poor, but 
P ro ' 111 Proportion of silver. Copper would be found in many other places if prospected for, and 
it will yet bea valuable'mineWvnn theNorfe ifeory. 
l lC n f a i 11( I ^''°i cen wine there are several indications of nickel ore. It is also spoken of as having 
been foundat Mount Wells and Snadden’s creek. 
. J° n .' 11,80 ^his metal are found everywhere, but of poor quality. No doubt they would be useful 
m reducing copper ores and may be serviceable to the Territory yet. 
i aiujanese , Crrap/nte, and Bismuth arc all found in small veins, especially near Mount Wells, the 
Kveleen, ana tiie Union. The bismuth seen by me was metallic, and of fine quality ; but the possessor did 
not state where it came from. 
ti 68fon.es.- -My opportunities for observation were not long enough to investigate in this direction. 
I he indications are hardly favorable, but the most likely places arc the basaltic country, ten miles north of 
the Katherine river. J 1 
PROSPECTING RESULTS. 
It only remains now to give the result of the prospecting tour and exploration through the southern and 
eastern portions of the territory. On my arrival at Burruadie, rather more than a month was spent in the 
examination of the mines, whether abandoned or in operation. The details are given in the following pages. 
Ihe object of this portion of the report is to show that the mines are still good and valuable, and have only 
ailed, where they have failed, from the peculiar circumstances and difficulties of labor and capital. 
Mining Districts Mount Wells .—This mine has a special interest attached to it, not only because it 
Xv as the first place in the colony from which extensive deposits of ore were reported, but also because of the 
extraordinary 
"s 
No. 122. 
