Concession Creek has many alluvial deposits rich in nuggets, resting in holes and on the terraces, unconformable on the older rocks. In the valleys of the Queen's or South De Kaap river and of the North De Kaap river, auriferous deposits occur with only a thin soil cap above them. I have often met with solitary gold-diggers, who, judging from the amount of deposit turned over, must have had good finds. Alluvial diggers are characterised by their preference for working alone and by their habit of not disclosing their discoveries.

9. Asbestos.-South of the Devil's Kantoor a hornblende schist formation occurs, which in parts is overlaid by the sandstone; but it is exposed near Jamestown and below Tafelkop (the highest point in this field, 6700 feet above sea level).

Fig. 51.-Asbestos.-a, Two outcrops; b, hornblende and serpentine rock; c, pocket of asbestos.

Asbestiform serpentine has been seen in places, and below the Tafelkop it has been opened to a depth of about 100 feet. It is not easily seen, as it has the appearance of rotten wood mixed with earth. It is enclosed between two walls of serpentine rock, dipping to 50 feet at an angle of 75° to the north; but lower down it descends perpendicularly, striking from east to west (Fig. 51).

The adjoining strata consist of beds 6 inches thick, well stratified and of medium hardness; this rock on exposure to the open air very rapidly decomposes and crumbles down. Both sides of the walls, which alternately close and widen into pockets, are lined with long quartz-like crystals (Fig. 52).

The more massive asbestos occurs in the pockets only. Small leaders extend into the adjoining formation; in parts they appear scarce, in others more numerous. The latter is a sign of the proximity of a pocket.

At the outer end of these leaders the fibres are very short, but lengthen towards the pocket, where many of them connect and form bodies of from to 2 tons in bulk (Fig. 53). These pockets are generally from 5 to 10 feet apart, and widen as they descend. The fibre of the asbestos on the surface is of a coarse quality, but improves lower down.

CHAPTER V.

THE KOMATI AND SWAZILAND GOLDFIELDS.

1. KOMATI GOLDFIELD.

THE principal mining centre of the Komati Goldfield is Steynsdorp, about 30 miles, as the crow flies, south of the De Kaap Field, and immediately on the border of Swaziland.

The district round Steynsdorp is Government property, thrown open for public diggings, and surrounded by the concession farms of Swaziland and private Transvaal farms, and some that are proclaimed for the benefit of the gold seeker. The northern part of this field is called the Komati Valley. It adjoins the De Kaap Valley on the east, and, like it, consists of granite (Plate II.). Many gold-bearing lodes, pockets, and deposits have been worked on many farms, similar to those found in the De Kaap Basin.

Above it, on the south, are quartzite, slate, and schist (Swazi formation), which contain many auriferous reefs, extending to Steynsdrop and as far as Swaziland. The granite cuts the strata at several places.

This large area has been even less explored than the De Kaap; but the few places which are known give evidence that the De Kaap Belt continues westwards, and that the auriferous nature of other formations which overlie the dip of the Main Belt are similar. The latter are prospected mostly along the Komati River, where the reefs are exposed.

These properties should be easily mined, as they are within easy reach of the river, so that the large-sized quartz reefs, although they usually contain a low grade ore, will in time be profitably worked after richer reefs (if any exist) have been exhausted.

The formation here, as in the other districts noticed, is much tilted and disturbed by dykes; still many reefs can be traced for

a considerable distance. Alluvial deposits are met with along the banks and valleys of the Komati River. The country is well wooded, so that the timber required for the prospecting and starting of mines is obtained at small cost.

Many farms that were purchased, and many claims that were pegged off for mining purposes in the early days, have been repeatedly abandoned owing to the difficulties of transport, especially during the rainy season, when such roads as exist are almost impassable. Of course, as civilisation advances and population increases these difficulties will be lessened. Nearly the whole of the Komati Goldfields is low-lying country, and malaria fever is prevalent. The properties on which some prospecting has been done include-Gypsy Queen Comstock, Gypsy Queen G. M. Co., Sheba Queen Gold Exploration, Doornhock Prospecting and G. M. Co., Ltd., and others which cannot be identified owing to their names having been changed so frequently.

Gold Output. The following table gives an idea of the outputs of some of the properties in this goldfield, selected from the official report of the Chamber of Mines at Barberton :—

2. SWAZILAND GOLDFIELD.

There is little to say about these fields as they repeat the features of those already mentioned. The Swazi schists repose on, and are uptilted by, the granite; there are small leaders and large reefs as in the quartz reef of the De Kaap; and the auriferous belts are likewise traceable through the rough mountainous country.

The area prospected comprises the large bodies of reefs south of Komati and about 12 miles from Steynsdorp. The properties acquired are mostly concessions extending over areas of many thousand acres.

Gold Output.-The following outputs are taken from the report of the Chamber of Mines at Barberton :