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Hints to Prospectors Alluvial.

If gold is found in or near an existing creek, though it may not be rich, it is worth while to cross-cut to the terrace on either side of the valley in which it runs to discover the former bed, and richer deposits may be found under the terrace. Sometimes there are indications of the old river high up on the sides of the valley; these are worth testing If water and fall are available, much ground may pay for hydraulic sluicing, which would not pay the individual miner. And even poor prospects should be recorded.

To get a fall, it may be well to begin at the embouchure of the creek into the larger river, and work up it. There may also be deposits underneath—i.e., at lower levels—but these would require pumps to prospect.

Rich, flat ground would be best prospected by sinking a cylinder by the air-lock, but this involves considerable expense.

Bores are often choked by the water driving up sand.

If a hole is dug for any purpose, wash a dish of each of the various layers for prospects and record.

The terraces on the western or north-western sides of old lake-beds would probably be the richest in gold.

Pyrites and other material washed out should be saved and tested

Platinum, which has a silvery appearance and is heavier than gold by about 10 per cent., is sometimes found in the dish (Orepuki). It is worth about 30s. to 40s. an ounce.

Cinnabar, a heavy red substance, the ore of mercury, may also be found. Also, tin ore—which, however, is usually found associated granite,—and if crushed between two dinner knives, should give a whitish grey powder.

The magnet should test most iron sands and ores, but I am informed there are some which are not touched by the magnet. Have any unknown material tested. I shall be glad to receive samples.

Quartz Lodes.—A rough test may be got by crushing fine and blowing carefully with a bellows, if water is not handy. An iron pestle and mortar and small bellows would be useful in dry testing, where water is not readily available. There are certain hard ferruginous quartz cements, which are worth crushing fine and testing. I believe also, some schist rocks with numerous small veins of quartz through them are worth testing, if such rocks contain 4dwt. or 5dwt. to the ton they would pay for crushing with steel rolls on a large scale on a face and reefs might be disclosed in the working. I believe where the schist is much contorted—i.e, corrugated in the folds, the reefs will be broken; but I should be glad of practical opinions on this point.