Gold Mines of Georgia. 



7 



it would be reasonably expected, that we should discover its remains, 

 unless we admit the very sudden action of the agent, such as the rush 

 of a great deluge, sweeping away the forests to some basin in which 

 they will be converted into coal. 



Figs. 8 and 9, represent, what under ordinary circumstances, would 



be the present and past position of the roots of forest trees. In the 



first instance, the growth is maintained by the sand or clay, but in the 



latter, by the original strata and gravel. From this description of 



deposits, it will be easy to recognise them wherever they occur. In 



testing lots, however, there are indications to be observed externally, 



by which we endeavor to form a correct outline of the original strata, 



independently of what appears at the surface. Experience is the 



only instructor on this point, and of course, the inexperienced must 



resort to the more certain criteria, furnished by the pickaxe and 

 spade. 



Fig. 10, shows how this is to be effected ; a and b would be very 

 discouraging excavations, but if we observe the directions in which 

 the inclination of the bottoms of the pits run, we should be led to 

 make excavations at c and rf, which as they are in hollows of the out- 

 line, are receptacles to sustain whatever gold may occur in the deposit; 

 e and/, are the extremities of the original outline before alluded to. 

 The indications by the outline and bottom of the pits, are the best 

 we are acquainted with, and ought to be closely examined. It may, 

 sometimes occur, that deposits, similar to that described by Fig. 3, 

 have been overlooked or abandoned, while that at a is worked out ; 

 but, before the works are entirely forsaken, they ought to be examin- 



