82 



we should find some difficulty in demonstrating that they made their appearance 

 among the other rocks during one and the same period. 



In addition to the preceding series we have now to consider another and dis 

 tinct set of veins which have been developed and clearly defined during the past 

 eighteen months. These are the east and west veins, which often cut for 

 mer dikes at nearly right angles, and when first seen were regarded as branches 

 of the north and south lodes ; but subsequent observation has established the 

 fact that they are an entirely independent group. 



At present there are eight localities in the State at which these veins are known 

 to occur, four of which are found to cut the older veins, and the others are located 

 among the slates of the tertiaries. We have no means as yet of determining the 

 fact with any degree of certainty, whether the east and west veins are older or 

 nearer than the tertiary dikes, but what evidences there are existing leads to the 

 inference that they preceeded the latter. This presumption is based upon the fact 

 that where the east and west veins are noticed among these rocks, there is not the 

 same evidences of disruptive agency as at those points where they are found in 

 contact with the older veins. The information in our possession relative to these 

 dikes throughout the State, is such at present that we are enabled to arrange them 

 in somewhat a more systematic order than has heretofore been presented. 



The table below will present at one view the different systems that are at present 

 known, and which are beyond all question ; but it is not to be supposed that those 

 presented comprise all that will ultimately be developed among the metalliferous 

 lodes of the State. Others might be added to the present list were we to adopt the 

 plan of arranging a system from surface features alone, but we prefer waiting until 

 those lodes which present indistinct evidences of being unconnected with the others 

 shall have been definitely settled by subterranean openings, for nothing can be lost 

 by the delay. 



SYSTEMS OF VEINS 



No. 1 North and South Veins. 



No. 2 East and West Veins. 



No. 3 Northeast and Southwest Veins. 



The above are the only lodes yet known, and the former division of the 

 groups will still be retained until such time as the effects of the east and west 

 veins on the recent or tertiary dikes shall have been ascertained. The rocks 

 disturbed by each system will be lound as follows : 



SYSTEMS. GROUPS. ROCKS DISTURBED. 



North and South Veins. Older. Primitive. 



East and West Veins. Median. Primitive. 



Southeast and Northwest Veins. Recent. Tertiary Slates and Sandstone. 



The dissimilarity in the metallic constituents of these systems is worthy of 

 remark, as well also as the peculiar dispositions of the metal itself. In the first 

 and second cases we find but little disposition to the crystalline form in any of 

 the veins yet explored, while in the other, the metal more frequently assumes 

 this character, and the percentage of silver is also much greater. 



The constituents of the veins are equally well marked, the ores of lead are far 

 more common in the east and west lodes than that usually found in either of 

 the others. As a general fact, it may be stated that the metal from the 

 placers in the immediate vicinity of these veins often bears but little analogy to 

 to that found in situ among the rocks of the district in which the latter are 

 situated. It is not uncommon to find gold of a very low carat in a placer, 



