Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. 123 
that had been thrown out of the mine. From fourteen or fifteen 
localities, including a great number of specimens and ore of all va- 
rieties, portions were knocked from each piece, crushed, ground and 
sifted : they were then washed in pans in the usual way: gold, in 
every instance, became visible to the naked eye in consequence of 
the washing, although little or none could be discerned in the frag- 
ments, even with the aid of a good magnifier. The gold, of all the 
washings, was then brought together and amalgamated with mercury 
that had been previously distilled ; the amalgam was freed from re- 
dundant mercury, by straining it in leather; and being then decom- 
posed by heat, so as to expel all the quicksilver, the remaining gold 
was carefully weighed. 
Eleven pounds of the mixed ores, thus treated, gave a little over 
four grains of gold, which is in the proportion of thirty-seven grains 
to one hundred pounds, or one bushel of the ore—equalling in value, 
at the mint price of 4;'5 cents for one grain—one dollar and fifty 
cents. 
Another trial, upon a small number of pieces, gave one grain of 
gold from five pounds of the mixed ores: this is in the proportion of 
82 cents for one hundred pounds of ore. 
In still another experiment, ore was taken from a vein considered 
as decidedly rich, but shewing no visible gold. Two pounds of this 
ore gave two grains of gold, being the proportion of one grain to one 
pound—or one hundred grains to one hundred pounds of ore, and in 
value equal to $4 08. 
The average of the two first and lowest trials, gives $1 16 to the 
one hundred pounds of ore: the average of the three trials is $2 13 
to the one hundred pounds of ore. 
The average of the two most favorable trials is $2 79 to the hun- 
dred pounds. I ought not to omit to state, that from a small quan- 
tity, perhaps two ounces of very unpromising fragments, a very rich 
washing of gold was obtained in my presence, far surpassing the re- 
sults which I have above reported. 
It has been already stated, that from information received from 
many quarters, respecting the expense of working the mines, it would 
appear that, in general, it does not exceed 30 to 35 cents on one 
hundred pounds of ore, and consequently the average trial on the 
large number of pieces presents a favorable result as regards the 
prospects of this mine. This is probably the trial which is most to 
be relied upon, and it was certainly a severe experiment for the 
