Prof. Olmsted on the Gold Mines of North Carolina. 381 



of that metal in the ore. I requested a minute account of the 

 process. — The matt-rials, namely, the ore, charcoal, borax, 

 &c. were put into a crucible — emetic tartar, in considerable 

 quantity, was added to make the ore " spew out" the metal. 

 Ipecacuanha was afterwarts tried with the same view, but was 

 not found to be strong enough " to make the ore vomit." 

 After the account of the process, it was not difficult to account 

 for the production of antimony, it being obviously derived 

 from the emetic tartar. 



At Concord near the western limit of the gold country the 

 metal is found in small grains in the streets and gullies, after 

 every rain ; and the gullies frequently disclose the stratum of 

 gravel and mud, well known as the repository of the gold. 

 Washings on a more limited scale ai'e conducted here. The 

 clay is not so dense at this place as at Reed's mine, but more 

 ferruginous and full of spangles, of golden-coloured mica. 

 This stratum rests on gneiss: those before described were 

 over the slate formation. 



Parker's mine is situated on a small stream four miles south 

 of the river Yadkin. As in the instances already mentioned, 

 excavations were numerous in the low grounds adjacent to the 

 stream ; but, at the time of my visit, the earth for washing 

 (which was of a snuff colour) was transported from a ploughed 

 field in the neighbourhood, that was elevated above fifty or 

 sixty feet above the stream. The earth at this place which 

 contained the gold was of a deeper red than diat at either of 

 the other mines. The gold found here is chiefly in flakes and 

 grains. Occasionally, however, pieces are met with which weigh 

 100 penny wts.'and upwards; and very recently a mass has been 

 discovered that weighed four pounds and eleven ounces. Tliis 

 is said to have been found at die depth of ten feet, which is a 

 lower level than any I had heard of before. The idea of an 

 acjueous deposit, which is apt to be impressed upon us when- 

 ever we eitlier inspect the formation or reflect u})on its origin, 

 would lead us to expect, on account of the great specific gravity 

 of gold, that the largest masses would be found at the lowest 

 depths. But I am not aware that any uniformity exists in this 

 respect. The largest mass hitherto discovered was, as has 

 been mentioned already, found within a few inches of the sur- 

 face. It is evident that the tliin stratum which contains the 

 metal will be buried at diflerent depths, by variable quantities 

 of alluvial earth, that are accumulated over it by causes still 

 in operation ; and consequently, that the depth at which the 

 stratum happens to be met with in any given place, is no cri- 

 terion of its richness. Nor does the lact that this fortunate 

 discovery was made at a lower level than ordinary, afibrd any 



encouragement 



