[a2-16v-list] Cracks in head

[Rick Dathan]

I have been studying a 2 liter 16V head that I have just received. 
At 2 or 3 of the spark plug holes there are 1 or 2 fine cracks 
running from the 'plug hole to an adjacent valve seat.
Is this a normal 16V occurrence? Do they end up causing leaks or are 
they benign?
 
The head has only just been ported. If I had seen the head before 
it got ported I would have knocked it back and picked another one. 
Now I don't really want to waste the good work done.
 
Rick Dathan,
Australia