MINERALOGY. 23 



Littleton, and Enfield are other localities where gold is found. The 

 whole subject of the explorations for gold and its distribution over the 

 state is elsewhere given in detail by Prof. Hitchcock. It is evident, 

 however, from what has been said, that gold is distributed and is liable 

 to be found all over the western area of the state. 



Gold will flatten out when hammered, and will not dissolve or change 

 color in nitric acid. These two simple properties of malleability and 

 insolubility are very well known, even by those who forgetfully allow 

 themselves to be deceived by yellow sulphurets and shining mica. It 

 may be mentioned that the analysis of New Hampshire gold, which was 

 made at the United States mint, shows that it is exceptionally pure, con- 

 taining but one half of one per cent, of silver. Gold so pure is rarely 

 found. 



3. Silver. 



Native silver has been reported as found in New Hampshire, but still 

 the occurrence of this mineral is not without doubt. Filaments of silver 

 were found in an iron ore which occurs on West River mountain, and 

 thus this place was put upon record as a locality of native silver ; but it 

 has been questioned whether the silver was really native.* A piece of 

 native silver, three or four inches in diameter, was found on a stone wall 

 near Portsmouth, and this, too, was publicly reported. It may be stated, 

 however, that the occurrence of native silver in this state has not been 

 demonstrated. 



3. Copper. 



Native copper is often found in connection with eruptive rocks. At 

 Jackson in this state, on Eastman's hill, while blasting for tin ore, some 

 native copper was blown out by Jackson. It occurs at the junction of 

 an eruptive mass of sienite with the slaty country rock. It was found 

 in connection with other copper ores. Native copper, in dendritic forms 

 between layers of the rock, has been observed by Prof. C. H. Hitchcock 

 in Lyman and in Orford. 



4. Iron. 



The existence of native iron on the earth, save in the meteoric masses 



* Am. your. Science, i, vol. 3, p. 74. 



