discoveries of Crold in Nova Scotia, 427 



enlly numerous to pay for extraction. Nor should the washing 

 of the sands and gravels in the beds of rivers, and of the alluvial 

 deposits on their banks be neglected, for it may happen in many 

 cases that gold may occur in these, when the veins originally 

 containing it have had their outcrops worn away or concealed. 

 Exploring for gold in new localities cannot be expected to be 

 remunerative, except in rare cases ; but it would be well at least 

 that persons residing in the district above referred to, would em- 

 brace such opportunities as may occur, of examining the quartz 

 veins in their vicinity. It is to be hoped that in a short time a 

 geological survey will place within their reach greater facilities 

 than those which now exist, for making discoveries, and improv- 

 ing those already made. 



Since writing the above I have received an interesting account 

 of the gold discoveries in Nova Scotia contributed to Silliman's 

 Journal by Mr. 0. C. Marsh of the Sheffield Scientific School? 

 Yale College. From this I take the following extracts : — 



" The gold at Tangier occurs mainly in the quartz veins, which 

 are in most cases less than a foot in width, but in one instance I 

 noticed it in the argillite near its junction with the quartz. It 

 is disseminated through the matrix in the usual manner, — fre- 

 quently in isolated particles and masses, and where the quartz is 

 white furnishes specimens of great beauty. One of the largest 

 obtained was prized at three hundred dollars, which was but little 

 above its intrinsic value. Gold has also been found in the soil, 

 and in the bed of a small stream near the mines ; but not in suffi- 

 cient quantity to attract much attention, 



" The minerals noticed in association with the gold at this local- 

 ity were mostly iron pyrites and mispickel. The former appeared 

 to be quite abundant, and, suspecting it to be auriferous, I have 

 examined a specimen and find it contains a considerable quantity 

 of gold. The exact amount was not estimated, but it is sufficient 

 to make its separation profitable if conducted with skill and 

 economy. The mispickel at Tangier is frequently found under- 

 lying the gold in the quartz veins, and in some cases enclosing it. 

 Chalcopyrite, magnetite, hematite, and galena, also occur in small 

 quantities. 



" Among the specimens of gold obtained at Tangier I noticed 

 three isolated crystals, which resembled in general appearance 

 those brought from California. The largest of these was about 

 one third of an inch in diameter. It was a rhombic dodecahe- 



