GOLD 



As to the profitable working of auriferous minerals in Wales, Mr. Eoadwin 

 writes : 



* After several years of experimental effort to work the gold-minerals to a profit, I 

 am more fixed in my opinion than ever, notwithstanding the equivocal position the 

 subject holds as a commercial pursuit, that gold-mining can and will bo made remu- 

 nerative, if certain essential and natural conditions prevail at the respective mines : 

 first, there must be a large and continuous quantity of the auriferous mineral 

 cheaply obtainable by means of adits and tramways ; secondly, there must bo efficient 

 water-power available on the spot ; thirdly, there must be no more cats about the 

 premises than will catch mice. Under such circumstances, provided forty or fifty 

 tons can be raised per diem, a quarter of an ounce of gold to the ton ought to pay all 

 costs of reduction, and I think it would. Many of the difficulties of amalgamation 

 can now be overcome, by the use of sodium or potassium, in some sucli way as 

 patented by Mr. Crookes.' * 



It remains to be proved whether, after Mr. Spence's process, the minerals can bo 

 further utilised. It seems reasonable to suppose this possible. If the ores containing 

 sulphur are found in quantity, and concentrated so as to lesson the cost of transit, 

 then calcined, the lead-sulphide converted into carbonate, the sulphur collected, the 

 zinc-oxide (if any) made into spelter ; the residual products thus obtained at an in- 

 considerable cost may contain the precious metals in quantity sufficiently valuable to 

 amalgamate either with or without the use of sodium, as proposed by Mr. Crookes. 

 At all events, another step appears to have boon gained towards the solution of the 

 problem, ' Can British gold be worked to a profit ? ' 



The following returns of gold raised in Merionethshire were approximately correct 

 up to the end of 1864 : 



11,652 14 6 



14,947 6 19 



The actual returns from these mines from 1861 to the end of 1870 have been as 

 follow : 



In 1874 explorations at Vigra and Clogau were again commenced. 



The Gold-mines of Scotland. The following remarks on the gold and gold-fields 

 of Scotland are by Dr. W. Lauder Lindsay : 



' Before making general observations on the Scottish gold-fields, or comparing them, 

 as regards their richness or extent, with thoso of other auriferous countries, which ar<> 



1 ' On the Recent Discovery of Gold at G wyfynydd.' By T. A. licndwin, F.G.S, British Asso- 

 ciation Reports,' 18G5. 



