Rocks and Minerals.

As yet we have a very imperfect knowledge of the geological features of this district. Grey describes tracts of sandstone ranges and basalt country, in which he found obsidian. The sandstone he characterizes as "ancient sandstone" deposited in nearly horizontal strata, probably mesozoic. Forrest mentions sandstone in the Leopold Range and other ranges, and granite on north and north-west of Nicholson Plains. Durack met with ranges of slate with quartz veins west of the gut in Cambridge Gulf, and again between the Denham and the Bow, and on the Upper Ord southeast of black peak ranges of granite and slate with quartz veins. Saunders, a gold prospector from Queensland, is reported to have found traces of gold for many miles along the Upper Ord. O'Donnell observed granite-slate and quartz veins on the Osmond range, west of the Negri junction; and a similar formation on the east bank of the Ord, about 70 miles to the north of that; and again the same formation on the Panton River. South of the Bow or Fraser he observed a singular formation of slabs of lime- page 131 stone, pierced with pipe holes—literally paving the plain. A compact slate-coloured limestone forms the range between the Upper Negri and the Ord. The Howitt range O'Donnell describes as a sandstone bluff, facing the east, and having a gentle slope to the west. The Lineacre range appeared to be of the same formation, but presenting an abrupt face to the west. Even from such fragmentary data, I think it is probable that Kimberley may be found to yield gold, antimony, silver, copper, and perhaps tin. Mica, in large blocks, fit for commercial purposes, is said to occur in the rough-grained granite of the Upper Ord.