296 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



METEORIC HILL IN NEW MEXICO. 



IN the course of a discussion on meteorites before the American 

 Association, Albany, Dr. Le Conte stated some interesting circum- 

 stances relative to the existence of a meteoric hill in New Mexico. 

 While passing through the village of Tucson, in February last, he 

 observed two large pieces of meteoric iron which were used by the 

 blacksmiths of the town for the purposes of an anvil. He was unable 

 to procure any specimens from these bodies, but was guided to a canon 

 between two mountain ridges, in the immediate vicinity, from which 

 both pieces had been taken, where the masses of the meteorites were so 

 abundant as to have given name to the canon. He had not before 

 heard any account of this remarkable circumstance, and had consid- 

 ered it an interesting subject for observation. 



METALLIFEROUS DISCOVERIES AND WORKINGS IN 1851. 



GOLD, in considerable quantities, has been discovered during the 

 past year in Australia, near to the town of Bathurst. Great numbers of 

 persons have been attracted to the "diggins," which are similar in 

 character to the California deposits. In the month of August the 

 receipts per week from the various mines were thought to exceed 

 20,000. Lumps weighing several pounds had been found in several 

 instances. From Sidney papers we learn that the existence of gold 

 was first predicted by Rev. W. B. Clarke, who had long been engaged 

 in investigating the geology of the country. His opinion was based 

 upon his knowledge of the character and position of the rocks, and he 

 early recommended exploration in the main Australian range along 

 the meridian of 149, where gold has been found. Rev. Mr. Clarke 

 states the singular fact that just 90 west of the auriferous range in 

 Australia, we find an auriferous band in the Urals ; and just 90 west 

 of the Urals occur the auriferous mountains of California. 



Several new mining deposits of gold have been discovered upon the 

 river Chaudiere, Canada. The quantity found thus far has in most 

 cases proved insufficient to remunerate the operatives. 



The editors of the New Orleans Bee state that they have seen a 

 number of specimens of gold obtained in Arkansas, in the bed of the 

 White River, some miles above Batesville. The largest lump was a 

 mass of quartz, of a dirty white color, profusely penetrated with the 

 precious metal, and in some places so completely mingled with it that 

 the gold seemed like an integral part of the rock. The amount of gold 

 in all the specimens exhibited could not have been less than five or six 

 ounces. The existence of gold in Arkansas was predicted some time 

 since by Mr. Snell, of New Orleans, from observations on the geologi- 

 cal character of the formations. 



A scientific expedition sent out from Denmark, in the spring of 

 1851, for the purpose of exploring the mineral resources of Greenland, 

 have already met with some encouragement. Copper in considerable 

 quantity has been found, with some traces of other metals. From the 

 direction and character of the mountain ranges, deposits of the pre- 

 cious metals have been thought to exist in this country. 



