GOLD MIXES IN FRANCE. 0&5 



the repeated stories of discoveries of gold mine*?: but when 



the intendants, by order of the regent duke of Orleans, 



caused u general search to be made into all the metallic and 



mineral matters throughout the kingdom; when collections 



of these substances were formed, and they were carefully 



described; and when accurate analyses had been made by 



enlightened chemists; the wealth concealed in the French 



territories could no longer be Questioned. Dauphiny was Dauphiny one 



then cited as one of our richest provinces; its mines attract- of tJ ) e riehvst 



, , .. . ,. • i -i mi provinces in 



ed the attention ot government; information considered till m - mes< 



that time as vague and uncertain was collected with care; 

 skilful men were employed to examine these indications, 

 and it. was soon found, that Dauphiny really possessed se- 

 veral gold mines, some of which appear to have been known 

 and woi ked in very remote times. 



The mines are of two different kinds: some affording na- ^ wo fei^a! 

 tivegold; others containing this metal mixed or so inti- them. 

 niately combined with different metallic substances, that its 

 presence is to be detected only by the assay. 



The native gold mines of what was formerly the province Native gofci 

 of Dauphiny are, 1, that of la Gardette; 2,' that of Dor- mincs 

 millouse or la Freissiniere ; 3, those of Orel ; and 4, the au- 

 riferous sands of the Rhone. The mine of Dormiilouse is 

 in the present department of the High Alps, and that of 

 Orel in the department of the Drome. 



The mountain of la Gardette rises above the village of Mountain of 

 the same name, in the commune of Villard-Eymont, near la Gardette. 

 four miles south of the town, of Oisans, and about six from 

 AUemont. Its miue was included in the circle of mines Mines granted 

 granted to Stanislaus count of Provence, brother of Lewis to,he C(mnt of 

 XVI, by a decree of the council of state in 1776. 



This mountain, which is 12#0 met. [ 14 10 yards] above Geology of the 

 the sea, and 550 m. [()00 yards] above the town of Oisans, mountain. 

 lias at its foot a perpendicular clitf above 200 rn. [218 yds.] 

 high. Its base is a reddish granite, composed of red feld- 

 spar, green steatitic quartz; and gray mica. Above this is 

 a laminar quartz rock of a blackish gray, the strata of which 

 run SS E and N N YV, and have an inclination of 33°. 



This micaceous rock, in which the vein of gold is found, Qold vein: 

 is covered by a seco**dary limestone, which forms the whole 



of 



