Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. | 99 
not interest the general reader—they will serve to give a more 
cise idea of the actual condition and value of some of these mines, 
and of the promise they afford of being pursued with advantage. 
Moss and Busby’s Mines,* in Goochland County, belonging to the 
Richmond Mining Company. 
The gold in the above named mines is contained in quartz. In 
this respect, with a single exception, they resemble all the other 
gold mines which I have seen in the gold region of Virginia, where 
the gold is in place. The rocks in which the quartz is imbedded are 
decidedly primary, and belong to the slaty family. Those which I 
have seen are generally varieties of mica slate, passing occasionally 
into argillite and the subordinate varieties of chlorite slate, talcose 
slate, hornblende slate, &c. Among these, as far as I have observ- 
ed, mica slate is most predominant; and much that is here usually 
called talcose slate, appears to me to be mica slate. It is indeed 
often shining and smooth in its scales, but it wants the soapy feel 
that distinguishes talcose slate. The gold is therefore (as far as I 
have seen) to be referred, primarily, to the mica slate formation. 
The usual schistose or slaty structure and stratified arrangement of 
this rock, are here conspicuous. As is commonly the fact elsewhere, 
its position is inclined-—frequently at a high angle with the horizon ; 
forty five degrees, and more or less in different places. The rock is, 
in general, partially decomposed ; almost always it is shivered and 
crumbly, and often to such a degree as to form earthy banks—soil 
above—clay farther down, and still lower exhibiting the lines of 
stratification and structure belonging to the original rock, but so soft 
as to be easily picked to pieces or cut. 
The quartz in which the gold i is contained is, in this region, usu- 
ally spoken of as being in veins. It is perhaps not expedient to 
object to language that is in general use. It may, however, be 
proper to remark, that, in strictness, veins intersect and cross the 
strata at various angles; most metals are found in that situation, en- 
ged in some material different from the rock; this material is 
called the matrix or gangue of the metal, and it is usually more or 
less crystalline in its structure, frequently affording the beautiful 
erystals that adorn the cabinets of mineralogy, such as rock crystal, 
fluor me tis, calcareous spar, sulphate of barytes, &e. 
* About fifty miles from Richmond and from Fredericksburgh. 
