Mr Olmsted on the Gold Mines of' North Carolina. 361 



which is dipped horizontally into a pool of water, and subjected to a rota- 

 tory motion. All the remaining earthy matter goes overboard, and no- 

 thing remains but a fine sand, chiefly ferruginous, and the particles of gold 

 for which the whole labour has been performed. These are frequently no 

 larger than a pin's head, but vary in size from mere dust to pieces weigh- 

 ing one or two pennyweights. Large pieces, when they occur, are usual- 

 ly picked, out at a previous stage of the process. 



Large pieces of gold are found in this region, although their occurrence 

 is somewhat rare. Masses weighing four, five, and six hundred penny- 

 weights, are occasionally met with, and one mass was found that weighed, 

 in its crude state, 28 lbs. avoirdupoise. This was dug up by a negro at 

 Reed's mine, within a few inches of the surface of the ground. Marvel- 

 lous stories are told respecting this rich mass ; as that it had been seen by 

 gold hunters at night, reflecting so brilliant a li ht, when they drew near 

 to it, with torches, as to make them believe it was some supernatural appear- 

 ance, and to deter them from farther examination. But all stories of this 

 kind, as I was assured by Mr Reed, the old proprietor, are mere fables. 

 No unusual circumstances were connected with the discovery of this mass, 

 except its being nearer the surface than common. It was melted down 

 and cast into bars soon after its discovery. The spot where it was found 

 has been since subjected to the severest scrutiny, but without any similar 

 harvest. Another mass weighing 600 pwts. was found on the surface of 

 a ploughed field in the vicinity of the Yadkin, twenty miles or more north 

 of Reed's mine. Specimens of great elegance, as I should infer from the 

 descriptions of the miners, are occasionally found, but for want of minera- 

 logists to reserve them for cabinets, they have always been thrown into the 

 common stock and melted into bars. Mr Reed found a mass of quartz, 

 having a projecting point of gold, of the size of a large pin's head. On 

 breaking it open, a brilliant display of green and yellow colours was pre- 

 sented, which he described as exceedingly beautiful. The gold weighed 

 12 pwts. The mineralogist may perhaps recognize in this description, 

 a congeries of fine crystals, but on that point the proprietor could not 

 inform mc. Although fragments of greenstone and of several argil- 

 laceous minerals, occur among the gravel of the gold-stratum, yet, in the 

 opinion of the miners, the precious metal is never found attached to 

 any other mineral than quartz. Indeed it is rarely attached to any sub- 

 stance, but is commonly scattered promiscuously among the gravel. Its 

 colour is generally yellow with a reddish tinge, though the surface is not 

 unfrequer.tly obscured by a partial incrustation of iron or manganese, or 

 by adhering particles of sand. The masses are flattened and vesicular, 

 having angles rounded with evident marks of attrition. The rounded 

 angles and vesicular structure lead to the opinion, which is very general, 

 that the metal has undergone fusion ; but any one who inspects the spe- 

 cimens narrowly, will be convinced that their worn and rounded appear- 

 ance is owing to attrition, and that the cavities are produced by the in- 

 dentation of sand and gravel, the exact impress of which may be observed, 

 and particles of them may still frequently be seen imbedded. The gra- 



