IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OF TIN ORE IN TASMANIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLII, Issue 4312, 7 December 1874, Page 3

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OF TIN ORE IN TASMANIA.

{From ih&Tama*ian Tribnne.) ■ Mr S. H. Wintle,. geologist, who has recently returned to town from an expedition to the country bordering the Seat Coast, hu added another discovery to those already made in the stanniferoaa wealth of Teamania. It may be in the. memory ef some of pur readers that some months ago a rumour got abroad pf traces of tin ore hamg been found at the Eqst Coast. Mr Winter, upon his return from h U second trip to the North-western country, embraced the first opportunity of making an expedition to the East Coast for the express purpose of conducting a geological examination of that part of the island. Going by water, he was enabled to visit various places along the coast, and was moth struck with the promising appearance of the granite belt of country ocohpying thh preater part of the coast. Afterexamining several places near the sea, for geological and other reasons, he determined to pqah hja researches in a north-westerly direction more inland, towards a part of the country known as the Qoschen. Mot meeting with results as satisfactory as could be desired—although finding the most encouraging geological features throughout the district—he was induced to take up a more southerly course, when he at length came to a spot where ; a rivulet takes its rise. Here the indications were sufficiently promising to induce him i to test the locality. Hie kbonrt were rewarded by finding rich ruby tin ore, or in highly payable quantity, associated with ■mall diamonds, oriental sapphires,.and rubies. He found the tin one and gem-hearing drift to rangC'from 2ft to' 6ft in depth, and thetinoire, which is stream tin, to bo diapersed throngh the drift from the roots of the grass to the bottom rook. Following the stream from its source, hefonndittoquiclcly increase in volume, and rapidity in flow, with all the appearance of being a never-failing supply of water, which is so essential to successful tin-mining operations ; and further, that the stanniferous drift held good for a considerable distance along its course. This rivulet eventually turned out to be the upper part of the Golden Fleece. This discovery is within four miles of a good jetty. The country, it seems, is.open, the timber being chiefly peppermint, and no physical difficulties are presented in the way of transit, hut that a bullock-dray can go up to the mines without an axe being used to remove* piece of timber, Mr wintle cannot

the bed of the rivals!* as he oonld not get 'down, through shelbbie grawlj bnt there can be little-doubt (hat it is ootfsldeiafl£ Hn v ofefs a den> fiberated by the wearing down of in past ages, and the simb%ithl the gem-stones. afimnye to. tidal action and powerful an extensive belt of country, whereby the ' i attatjged; rocks, such "ar the Sfinrian elattt, tod ‘sandstones of Fingal reposing bn the granite, have been completely removed ti.'a faarjareUiWßmded.- watssMsom-pshKlea K»;n» all that is left to tell the story of the past. ” ' With regard to the diamonds brought to light by Wmtle, owing to their email size, they ' can have hut little commercial value unless it be for rook-drilling purpose!,' Many of .them for purity and richness of tint, could not, wo should say be surpassed.. It’ w only right to infer that where these came from' huger’ ohm ' of value would bo found if property searched -- for with requisite appliances. - Pinoe his return r to town, Mr Wintle nas made an assay of the.ore with the most gratifying results, it yielding '/ between 60 and 70 per cent, ot remarkably pure brilliant metal. This discovery is one that, upon being developed, will have a materially beneficial effect upon Hobart Town, inasmuch as that the tin will find its transit by water.