174

sands was collected and subjected to a sizing test, with the
following results:

The whole sample passed a 20-mesh sieve.

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The sand was also mineralogically examined, and found
to consist of (besides quartz) magnetite, ilmenite, pink garnet,
epidote, zircon, with a few grains of chlorite, serpentine, and
biotite.

The gold occurring in the sands of the east coast is said to
be in extremely small particles, as the so-called ‘‘flour’”’ or “float”
gold. The absence of any natural head of water along the
shore makes extraction expensive.

The ultimate source of the gold has not been determined.
Gold occurs at Gold harbour on the west coast of Moresby is-
land, as free gold in quartz; and it is possible that the placer
gold was derived from veins of a similar nature now buried by
the Tertiary and later rocks. The high degree of comminution
of the gold in the beach sands indicates that the gold was trans-
ported a considerable distance; and it seems most probable
that the gold now obtained from the beach placers has been
reconcentrated in them from the Pleistocene gravels of the north-
east lowland.

Gold is found on the Southeaster and Beaconsfield mining
claims, situated about a mile northeast of Skidegate Indian
village. Through the courtesy of John MacClellan, Esq., part
owner, the writer had the opportunity of visiting the property,