14 Olmsted on the Gold Mines of North Carolina. 
dattgtiont all the branches of Rocky River. It is evident, 
then, that the rivers do not bring down the gold from their 
sources, but that they cut through a stratum containing it, 
which covers like a mantle, an extensive tract of the coun- 
try through which they flow, and that they bring the pre- 
cious metal to view by separating it from its stony matrix. 
2. Did the Present lumps and grains ‘oe he se of 
large masses in a continued bed or Pert s o 
It has been already remarked that the neha it as spect of 
these _ is such as would naturally result from collision 
he siliceous fragments that accompany them. Im- 
proaional sand and gravel, or even imbedded sand, might, 
it is true, be the result of fusion in a bed of sand; but the 
appearance is not that which arises from fusion under such 
circumstances, the cavities being superficial, forming im- 
pressions or indentations, while there is no appearance in 
any areciiees ae ewe = | grain Ses — enveloped 
— as we have suppose water, then we 
mnust regard ae as the remains of tehper pieces, reduced 
gravel would not break up <n masses. of Gold into ‘ateiel 
er pieces, since gold is soft and malleable, and not. brittle 
and unyielding like quartz. The effect of running water 
and dashing rocks would be to wear down the pieces of gold 
and compress them, but not to break them. ‘The fine 
flakes and dust of cold may be conceived to have been 
produced in this manner; and the relative quantity of dust 
may affurd some means of judging of the original size of the 
lumps and grains s from which it was deriv roe: In the gold 
of this formation, but little dust, comparatively, is saved, 
although more, I believe, might be saved by a more im-+ 
roved process of working. At present the greater part 
collected jis in the state of grains, or small scattered 
* Vide Kirwan’s Geological Eesays. 402. 
a NED Dra ee RO Te ET 
