38'i Prot". Olmsted on thf. Gold Mines of North Carolina. 



encouragement to work lower than the usual depth. It might 

 interest geological curiosity, however, to learn the nature of 

 the strata below the gold deposit, although I do not know 

 that the existence of this furnishes any reasonable grounds for 

 supposing that there are other similar deposits below it. I 

 could not find that any search had been made with such an 

 expectation, except in a single instance. Near the spot where 

 the largest mass was found, the earth was penetrated a few feet 

 below the gold bed. Immediately beneath this was a thin layer 

 of green sand, and next a similar layer of a bright yellow sand. 

 These had a very handsome appearance, but neither of them 

 seemed to contain any thing more precious than mica. 



The terms on which the proprietors of the mines permit 

 them to be worked, vary with the productiveness of the earth 

 which is worked. Some of the miners rent for a fourth of the 

 gold found ; some for a third, and others claim half, which is 

 the highest premium hitherto paid. The avarage product at 

 Reed's mine was not more than sixty cents a day to each 

 labourer; but the undertakers are buoyed up with the hope of 

 some splendid discovery, like those which have occasionally 

 been made. 



The mines have given some peculiarities to the state of so- 

 ciety in the neighbouring country. The precious metal is a 

 most favourite acquisition, and constitutes the common cur- 

 renc)'. Almost every man carries about with him a goose 

 quill or two of it, and a small pair of scales in a box like a 

 spectacle-case. The value, as in patriarchal times, is ascertained 

 by weight, which, from the dexterity acquired by practice, is 

 a less troublesome mode of counting money than one would 

 imagine. I saw a pint of whisky paid for by weighing off' 

 three grains and a half of gold. 



The greatest part of the gold collected at these mines is 

 bought up by the country merchants at 90 or 91 cents a pen- 

 nyweight. They carry it to the market-towns, as Fayetteville, 

 Cheraw, Charleston, and New- York. Much of this is bought 

 up by jewellers ; some remains in the banks ; and a conside- 

 rable quantity has been received at the mint of the United 

 States. Hence it is not easy to ascertain the precise amount 

 which the mines have afforded. The value of that portion re- 

 ceived at the mint before the year 1820, was 43,689 dollars. 

 It is alloyed with a small portion of silver and copper, but is 

 still purer than standard gold, being 23 carats fine. (Bruce, 

 Mineral. Jour. i. 125. 



It will probably appear evident to geologists, from the fore- 

 going statements, that the gold of N. Carolina occui-s in a di- 

 luvial formation. Such indeed seems to be its usual bed ; and, 



