GOLDEN FLEECE EXTENDED GOLD MINING COMPANY, Reefton.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1032, 6 January 1882, Page 2

GOLDEN FLEECE EXTENDED GOLD MINING COMPANY, Reefton.

To the Manager, — Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that, I have inspected your mine and machinery, and geologically examined the conditions surrounding the auriferous deposits traversing your claim and anplied-for leases, comprising sixty-six acres of auriferous ground, situated oiithe mountain spur dividing the waterii'ef the right and left-hand branches of the Inangahua river. This deposit, occurring at a greater altitude than any other yet discovered in the Reefton goldfield, viz., 1300 feet above the surrounding flat country, is large, and gold-bearing. At, and near the surface, the reef, apparently, conforms in strike and dip to the foldings, and general bedding of the country rocks, participating at this point in the various curves, corrogctions, and lateral shiftings peculiar to strata forming high peaks possessing synclinal structure. At No. 5 level, however, where operations are now being directed in driving on the rich run of stone recently met with, the deposit occurs as a true lode piercing the strata in dip and strike, ie., dipping with the country rocks but, at a higher angle. Hence the formative line of lode was intersected at this level at a much shorter distance from the shaft than could have been anticipated, and No. 4 level, if extended north, will most assuredly come on the same run of stone as is now being worked in No. 5 which, I am of opinion, will not only be found in No. 4 level but, will eventually be connected by progressive works, suggested by information obtained in extending No. 4, with the old Fleece shoot or block of stone whose deflection to a more vertical position, and rapid longitudinal dip to the north, not being thoi'oughly appreciated, led to the assumption that it had died out when nothing more than a "pinch out" or ordinary break in its continuity at its point of deflection had occurred. The existence of such a deflection in the line of underlie is clearly proved by the fact that, the line of lode was intersected in No. 5 cross-cut at a distance of only 12 feet in excess of the distance at which it was cut at No. 4 cross-cut, 200 feet nearer the surface.

Near the surface, therefore, the deposit will exist in patches crushed, and broken, and apparently occupying different lines of strike and declination but which are only shifted portions of the same deposit becoming consolidated in the deeper parts of the mine, as it gets away from the action of surface disturbance into strata subject to more equal i sod pressure. Tlio lode as it now stands revealed in No. 0 or bottom level is contained within,. but divided, from distinct unbroken silicious walls, by a clayey coating on the foot-wall, wld-h, possesses the stn::^d form

peculiar to walls associated with strong \ permanent lodes, which during their process of formation maintain an undeviating course, grinding and grooving the adjacent rocks, producing the appearance just mentioned. On the hanging wall the reef is divided from the ordinary rocks of the country by a two-foot seam of indurated clay, (hardened pug) interspersed with quartz veins, abutting edge on on to the reef — this seam has been the feeding medium of the deposit, The reef is 5 feet thick, and striking almost vertically through the country rocks it manifests great strength, and power to exist in depth and length as it passes underfoot It is composed entirely of quartz banded and interlined by a silky antimonious slate containing a good deal of finely divided gold. The reef shows rough gold throughout its mass, but most abundantly when fractured on a plane coincident with its banded structure — when thus fractured it shows faces of extraordinary richness. It strikes N. 15° E. and S. 15° W. and underlies N. 75 ° W. at an angle of 70 ° from the horizon. Geologically considered it traverses the oldest rocks of the " auriferous series " being close on to the metamorphic rocks, which are the secondary source of all our gold. To sum the matter up in a few words, it is a rich auriferous deposit, assuming the form of a true lode, persistent in character, solid in stricture, containing as associated minerals, sulphide of antimony, sulphide of iron, and here and there sulphide of lead — galena. It occupies a favorable geological position in the older portions of the gold-bearing rocks of the Reefton district, overlying the metamorphic rocks and underlying and quite distinct in structure, though I believe coeval with the clean maitai slates and sandstones existing in the same zone, but which are not equally conducive to the production of permanent metalliferous deposits generally, but more especially so with regard to gold-bearr ing deposits. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, W. K Rowe.