GOLD IN RHYOLITE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6730, 27 February 1900, Page 1

GOLD IN RHYOLITE.

I"'" AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. I [Prom OrR Correspondent.] J ' WELLINGTON, Feb. 24. For two or three years past geologists, petrologists and mining experts have been at variance over the question whether the vast area of rhyolite formation in '"the Noith Is'land is auriferous. Mr Alexander M'Kay, OF.G.S., Government geologist, has persistently contended that gold does exist in these formations in the extensive district of Cape Colville, in which the great mining centres of the north are situated, but he has been held up to ridicule by. so-called geological and mining experts, whose knowledge is merely theoretical, whilst Mr M'Kay, albeit modest and unassuming, is nothing if not rigorously practical. Of the numerous geologists and e^fcrts who have visited Cape Colville from twßfto time, no two of them could be found tc^agree in thejr rlassitica,tion and proper nomenclature of. the various strata. l which -exist there... but, saving Mr M'Kay; they' were Unanimous upon one point, namely, that gold does- not iixist in the rhyolite formation.' : Undismayed, however, by the adverse opinions' of a forniidubte . 3-rray of savants he stuck manfully-' to bis contention, and for the past three years has' pursued, his study^ of, the problem. The result is that he has come triumphantly ou^ •of the . controversy as indicated by a fine 'specimen of gold which he extracted fTom rhyolite. This formation is defined by Webster's dictionary as " quartsoae trachyte, an igneous rock often showing a fluidal struc"fare," which affords a very inadequate definition. Illustrations of rhyolite, given in an. able essay on the rock, written by Mr Park, show that it is an eruptive formation containing crystals generally of a grey or white colour. If the scientists are at variance as to the existence of gold in rhyolite, the greatest confusion of ideas on th« subject exists among the miners. The latter have a penchant for classing every grey formation ihafc is easily worked a-s sandstone. 'All over the Cape Colville district this kind of. rock is included Under that general term. Recognising the necessity for correcting tho mistakes of the practical miners; as well as . the erroneous .theories of the scientists, Mr M'Kay has spent six months in a searching examination of the geology of tlie Cape Cnl.ville,' or Hauraki. district, with; the result that he has established beyond all doubt the accuracy of the news which' Sk has consistently expressed from the very outset," What •as most urgently needed in the interests of the mining industry is a systematic nomenclature for the various formations existing in the district, so that the characteristics •which belong to each may be understood. 'As it is, immense sums of money are. wasted by mining companies and individuals engaged in the industry by working in formations whiich. geologists like Mr M'Kay can pronounce beforehand to be non-auriferous, whilst, on tho other hand, auriferous rocks are neglected under mistaken impressions ns to their nature. The importance of the work- accomplished by Mr M'Kay can hardly be overrated, inasmuch as the discovery of gold in rhyolite promises k> enQfmousiy increase the area of auriferous,,

deposits which may be profitably developed.Further information on this important sub'ject will be available in a few days. The Government geologist has collected 3200 specimens of rocks from various parts of the Hauraki district, wlu'ch, un'der the advice of Sir Archibald GWlkie, will be forwarded ,to Professor Sollas, of Oxford, the eminent geologist, for classification and nomenclature. ;