ES 
California Gold Region. 155 
ever, in connection with the glacio-aqueous theory, that 
when the continent was wholly or partially submerged, the 
materials of the diluvium, including the gold, were trans- 
ported by icebergs from their present locality, and when at 
length set free, left to assume their present position on what 
was then the rocky and uneven bottom of the superincum- 
bent ocean. And we have only to imagine these freighted 
icebergs stranded by oceanic currents against the partially- 
emerged range of the Sierra Nevada, to account for the 
great longitudinal extension of the gold region along the 
western slope of the mountains, while laterally it appears to 
extend neither above nor below certain definite limits. 
The gold of different localities varies very much in size. That 
from the banks and sand-bars of the rivers is generally in the 
form of small flattened scales, and commonly it is found to 
be finer the lower down you descend the stream. That taken 
from the bottoms of the dry ravines, which everywhere 
abound in these mountains, and furnish outlets for the tor- 
rents of the rainy season into the principal streams, is mostly 
of larger size, and occurs both in small particles and also in 
small lumps and irregular water-worn masses, from the size 
of wheat-kernels to pieces of several ounces or even pounds 
in weight. The fine gold of these ravines is commonly less 
worn and flattened than that in the alluvion of the rivers; 
and the flattened scale-like form of the gold in these latter 
deposits, would seem to be owing to the great malleability 
of the metal,—the stones and pebbles, among which the mi- 
nuter particles and fragments of the original vein of native 
metal chanced to lie, and by which they were rudely ham- 
mered, having performed very effectually the goldbeater’s 
office, and gradually reduced the rough angular particles on 
their granite anvils, to the flattened spangles which we now 
observe. Some of these flakes are often an inch or more in 
diameter, and scarcely thicker than paper. Many specimens 
bear the distinct impression of the crystalline structure of 
granite and other rocks; and I have seen several pieces 
deeply stamped, as with a die, by crystals of quartz, the form 
of the crystal being as distinctly apparent as the device on a 
gold eagle fresh from the United States’ mint. 
