GOLD. 155 



which flows into Lena from the right side. Although during tlie last ten years the number 

 of deposits under exploitation has more than doubled, yet the number of men employed has 

 scarcely varied, and the amount of gold produced has, if anything, decreased. 



Of all the above cited regions appertaining to the system of the Lena, the most 

 important in respect to the yield of gold and number of men employed, is the Olekminsk 

 region, situated in the south-western portion of the Yakutsk province. All the gold deposits 

 of this region are included between 53 and 60" north latitude and between l30 and 138° east 

 longitute from Paris, and are bounded: to east by the river Olekma, to the north and north- 

 west by the river Lena, to the west and south-west by the river Vitima, and finally to the 

 south by the Yablonovoy mountain chain, which is here the watershed of the tributaries of the 

 Lena and Amour. This region is intersected in all directions by the spurs of the Mouisk and 

 Yablonovoy mountains, and has quite an Alpine character. One of the chief spurs of the Mouisk 

 mountains extends parallel to the river Vitima and this divides the Olekminsk region into 

 two systems, the Yitimsk and the Olekminsk. The Yitimsk system lies to the north-east of 

 L'kutsk at a distance of 1,700 versts from it. The Olekminsk s^'stem extends in the same 

 direction still further across the watershed of the Lena and Yitima, so that in reality this 

 watershed forms the true boundary between the two systems. Both systems are at an equal 

 altitude above the level of the sea, nor is there any geological difference between them, as 

 the same rocks predominate in both. The gold deposits, known up to the present time, almost 

 blend into one another and the distance across the intermediate mountain chain does not 

 exceed fifteen versts. 



Among the rivers along which the gold deposits of the Yitimsk system are situated, 

 the river Bodaibo deserves particular attention, as all its system is exceedingly rich in gold, 

 and the richest deposits are situated over a comparatively small area In this system. There 

 are also rich deposits near the upper courses of the gold bearing tributaries of the Yitima, 

 beyond the watershed along the tributaries of the rivers flowing into the Lena. Among the 

 tributaries of the Lena which water the Olekminsk system, the most noteworthy are the 

 systems of the Great and Little Patomo: and of the tributaries of the Olekma, the most 

 notable are the rivulets of Zhuya. Bogolonak, Khomolkho and Yacha. 



The gold obtained from the Olekminsk- Yitimsk deposits is distinguished for the size 

 of its grains, so that nuggets of \/i pound and more in weight are frequently found. Besides 

 this, the gold from these deposits is distinguished for its somewh.at regular crystalline form. 

 With respect to the mode of occurrence of the gold bearing strata, it should be mentioned 

 that the gold of the Olekminsk-Yitimsk deposits has the peculiarity of being distributed in 

 alluvial deposits in two, and not unfrequently even in three layers. The average ricliness of 

 the gold bearing sands during recent years has been: in the Olekminsk system from l"i to 

 VI i zolotniks, and in the Yitimsk system from 3 to 4^//. zolotniks per 100 pouds of sand. 

 However, in some workings the amount of gold is as much as b'l-2 zolotniks and more per 

 100 pouds of sand. The thickness of the gold veins is from 2 to 15 feet and the thicks 

 iiess of the superincumbent dirt or peat varies between half a sagene to 20 sagenes. 

 The largest workings are chiefly concentrated in the deposits situated at a greater depth 

 below the surface; as in the Olekminsk and ^"itinlsk systems these deposits are the richest. 



