392 LUMPKIN COUNTY. 



diluvial deposits were found, and subsequently many rich 

 veins. The gold in the veins is generally embedded in sul- 

 phuret of iron and quartz, sometimes in quartz alone, and in a 

 few instances in micaceous and talcose slate, the auriferous 

 pyrites being interspersed in minute crystals through the slate. 

 The first mentioned class are common, and abound every 

 where, running parallel with the formation of the country, the 

 general direction of which is N. E. and S. W., corresponding 

 with the Alleghany chain of mountains. These veins are 

 usually enclosed in micaceous or talcose schist, some in chlo- 

 rite and hornblend, rarely in gneiss or granite. In some in- 

 stances the root of the vein is slate, and the floor granite or 

 gneiss. The decomposition of the different strata varies from 

 50 to 100 feet, and decreases as you near the mountains, 

 where the overlaying rocks terminate and the veins cease to 

 be auriferous. A few veins have been found which traverse 

 the formation in which they are enclosed, and in every instance 

 the gold is found to contain from 15 to 66 per cent, of silver, 

 whereas all parallel veins are alloyed with copper, from -^ to -^\-, 

 and without a trace of silver. Of the former class is the Potosi 

 mine, in Hall county, which runs N. W. by W., is one foot 

 wide (average), and was immensely rich in pockets. The first 

 cropped out and extended about 12 feet deep by 15 laterally, 

 yielding over 10,000 dwts. Some 10 feet from that, another 

 pocket occurred, much richer, the gold being enclosed in felspar 

 with octahedral crystals of quartz radiating from it, without a 

 particle of gold. These veins are evidently of comparatively 

 recent formation. Ore which yields 25 cents per bushel is 

 considered profitable, provided the veins are large enough to 

 furnish abundantly, and there is no extra expense. Where 

 there is much water it requires expensive machinery, and the 

 ore must be rich, and the vein of considerable size, to justify it. 

 Many mines have, and do yet yield much more — from 50 cents 

 to 100 cents per bushel, and a few even more, even reaching 

 to several hundred dollars per bushel. Of such are the Calhoun 

 and Battle Branch veins, and also the celebrated 1052 mine 

 near Dahlonega. These are technically called pocket veins, 

 as the gold is found in limited portions of them, the rest with- 

 out any. The greatest depths yet reached do not exceed 80 



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