Abstract

The observations which are the subject of this memoir were made at the request of the Provincial Government Commission for the International Exhibition. While engaged in their service, procuring a representation of the geology and mineral resources of the Province, I was specially directed, about the end of November last, to give some attention to the illustration of the geology of the gold-fields. The field of observation being very extensive, and the time fit for the work short, I deemed it most expedient to select, from the many, that locality which might appear to be the most interesting and instructive, and to examine it as thoroughly as time ad circumstances would permit. The gold-fields known as “Allen's” and “Laidlaw's” appeared best to meet the above conditions. They are interesting beyond a doubt, and are contiguous to excellent sections of rocks on two lines of railway, and are therefore somewhat favourably situated for the purpose of observation.

In describing these gold-fields, we shall begin with the position that is lowest, gcolo~cally and otherwise ; this is Allen's field. The rock in situ is dark-coloured clay-slate; it is often talcose. This contains abundance of crystals of mispickle. It is pervaded by a number of vertical veins of auriferous quartz. These are exposed on the sides and bottoms of pits and trenches. It is only from report that I can say that they are auriferous; I could not get any information on the spot. The top of the slate-rock was glacierscratched; and in