Mr Olmsted on the Gold Mines of North Carolina. 359 



novaculite, or whetstone slate, and also beds of petrosiliceous porphyry 

 and of greenstone. These last lie over the argillite, either in detached blocks, 

 or in strata that are inclined at a lower angle than that- This ample 

 field of slate I had supposed to be the peculiar repository of the gold ; 

 but a personal examination discovered that the precious metal, embosom- 

 ed in the same peculiar stratum of mud and gravel, extends beyond the 

 slate on the west, spreading, in the vicinity of Concord, over a region of 

 granite and gneiss. 



A geographical description of the gold country, would present little 

 that is interesting. The soil is generally barren, and the inhabitants are 

 mostly poor and ignorant, The traveller passes the day without meeting 

 with a single striking or beautiful object, either of nature or of art, to 

 vary the tiresome monotony of forests and sandhills, and ridges of gravel- 

 ly quartz- Here and there a log hut, or cabin, surrounded by a few 

 acres of corn and cotton, marks the little improvement which has been 

 made by man, in a region singularly endowed by nature. The road is ge- 

 nerally conducted along the ridges which slope on either hand into vallies 

 of moderate depth, consisting chiefly of fragments of quartz, either strew- 

 ed coarsely over the ground, or so comminuted as to form gravel ; these 

 ridges have an appearance of great natural sterility, which, moreover, is 

 greatly aggravated by the ruinous practice of frequently burning over the 

 forests, so as to consume all the leaves and under-grow th, giving to the 

 forest the aspect of an artificial grove. 



The principal mines are three — the Anson mine, Reed's mine, and 

 Parker's mine. 



The Anson Mine is situated in the county of the same name, on the 

 waters of Richardson's creek, a branch of Rocky river. This locality was 

 discovered only two years since by a " gold hunter," — one of an order of 

 people, that begin already to be accounted a distinct race. A rivulet 

 winds from north to south between two gently sloping hills that emerge 

 towards the south. The bed of the stream, entirely covered with gravel, 

 is left almost naked during the dry season, which period is usually select- 

 ed by the miners for their operations. On digging from three to six feet 

 into this bed, the workman comes to that peculiar stratum of gravel and 

 tenacious blue clay, which is at once recognized as the repository of the gold. 

 The stream itself usually gives the first indication of the richness of the 

 bed through which it passes, by disclosing large pieces of the precious 

 metal shining among its pebbles and sands — such was the first hint af- 

 forded to the discoverer of the Anson mine. Unusually large pieces were 

 found by those who first examined the place, and the highest hopes were 

 inspired. On inquiry it was ascertained that part of the land was not 

 held by a good title, and parcels of it were immediately entered," but it 



" A piece of land is said not to be entered when it remains the property of the 

 public, without taxation. Any one is at liberty to enter on the state books what- 

 ever land he can find in this situation, the land being secured to him on his becom- 

 ing responsible for the taxes. 



