Mineral Statistics of Victoria

Abstract

FOR some years past the yield of gold in the colony has been steadily decreasing. In 1868 the quantity of the precious metal obtained from alluvial deposits amounted to 1,087,502 ounces, and from quartz-veins 597,416 ounces, making in all 1,684,918 ounces of gold. Last year the quantities were respectively—alluvial, 293,310; quartz, 465,637: making a total of 758,947 ounces. The comparatively rapid diminution in the supply from alluvial sources is quite intelligible, as these would necessarily be soonest exhausted, though it is important to observe that in 1879 for the first time for eleven years the return from this source shows a decided advance on that of the preceding year, which is attributed to a better supply of water for sluicing operations, and to the opening up of deep mining ground. It is to quartz -mining, however, that the colony must look for the further development of her gold-fields. There has been a gradual decline in the yield from quartz-mines since 1872, when the amount obtained was 691,826 ounces. But the Secretary for Mines in his recent report speaks hopefully of the probable future of this important industry. Up to the end of 1879 the total quantity of gold raised in Victoria is estimated to have been 48,719,930 oz. 11 dwts., valued at 194,879,722l. The proportion of gold in the quartz varies considerably in different districts. Thus, last year at Castlemaine the average yield of each ton of quartz was 5 dwts. 18.45 grs., while in Gippsland it amounted to 1 oz. 2 dwts. 18.66 grs. The quartz of the latter locality is by much the most auriferous in the colony. The decrease in the supply of gold has been accompanied by a falling off in the number of miners. The men who found employment in gold mining in 1874 was 45,151; last year they numbered 37,553, which was an increase, however, of 917 over the number for 1878. The mining population includes an industrious and unpopular contingent of Chinamen, who last year amounted to 9,110, or 528 fewer than in the previous year. Taking the total annual yield of gold and dividing its value among the miners employed, the earnings of an alluvial miner are rated last year at 48l. 10s. 11/2d. per annum., while those of the quartz miners are given as 118l. 6s. 9d. Deep mining in quartz reefs continues to make pro-press, and the mines are becoming every year deeper. Some shafts are now more than 2,000 feet deep. The revenue derived by the colony from the gold districts amounted last year to 15,641l. 16s. 9d., being a slight advance on that of 1878.