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Next to the eastward lies the most important deep lead system in Victoria—that of the Deep Creek and Loddon Valley, trending along, or close to, the northern prolongation of the Ballarat and Creswick auriferous belt. This may be divided into sections, at intervals on which the position of deep ground and the existence of heavy wash therein have been proved by means of the departmental borings. The first section is that which starts from the Midas and Dowling Forest group of mines, and has been proved by borings at Ascot, Tourello, and Clunes, beyond which it must join the extension of the Berry lead system. Total length from Dowling Forest to junction, 16 miles of unworked ground. The next section is the portion between the pioneer mines of the Berry group and their junction with the last-named section—a length of about 4 miles as yet unworked, and indicated as likely to be most valuable by the good results being obtained from the Berry Consols, and its position on the auriferous belt.
The next section is that from the junction of the two lead systems to the parallel of Carisbrook, where the Mount Greenock, Majorca, and Carisbrook leads come in from the west and the Loddon proper from the east. Here the borings near Moolort have proved a large and well-defined trunk lead, and the Charlotte Plains mine, though at present idle pending acquisition of capital, proved auriferous ground before being flooded out. The length of this section is 16 miles, unworked, and right on the course of the extension of the auriferous belt. The next section northwards is also a most important one, extending from Moolort to near Eddington, whore the Bet Bet lead system joins it. The length of this portion is 8 miles, all unworked, on the auriferous belt, and within more confined limits than to the south. Here is evidently a very huge and at the same time fairly concentrated trunk lead. From Eddington to Bridgewater the valley continues within comparatively narrow limits, and the trunk lead, formed by the combination of all the above mentioned sections and branches of the system, has no other course than along it, still following the course of known auriferous country. This section is 20 miles in length, and the total for the whole system is 64 miles. There is thus in the various lead systems brought under notice an aggregate length of no less than 120 miles of deep lead all traversing auriferous rocks and likely to prove, in a large proportion at least, if not throughput, payably auriferous. The development, of this great property will certainly require large capital, as the difficulties to he contended with in the way of water are undoubtedly heavy, but that they can be overcome is shown by the successful pioneer mines now at work. In addition to the above there are the lead systems of the Chiltern and Indigo district, besides many areas in which the existence of deep alluvial ground is a certainty, though the existence of payable gold is a matter of conjecture.
By Authority: Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne.
