﻿GOLD MINES. 245 



grains, the particles have become scarcer as the searchers approached 

 the rocks from which the streams have issued. The general belief 

 tmong geologists now is that the gold is thrown up from the bowels 

 of the earth by volcanoes, and that the rivers are constantly carrying 

 the loose and light soil towards the sea, while the heavy grains of 

 ^old sink to the bottom and remain there. 



Gold has been found in many European countries, and in Asia 

 and Africa, but in moderate quantities. At the present time, Amer- 

 ica takes the lead in furnishing mankind with the precious metal. 

 Mexico is rich in gold mines, the principal of which are situated 

 inland from the sea, in the provinces of Zacatecas, New Biscay, and 

 Mexico proper. But the veins are generally small, and the produce 

 uncertain. It has been observed that gold mines have generally 

 ruined those who have engaged in them; although the purifying of 

 the ore is not so expensive as that of other metals. This happens 

 because the veins are very apt to fail. For some distance, the vein 

 will be full and rich, and then it is suddenly lost. When, indeed, a 

 vein can be traced to its end, the miners frequently find what is 

 called the purse of the mine, or such a considerable quantity of gold 

 as at once makes the fortune of the adventurer. 



The gold in Mexico, as in other parts of the world, is found in 

 two different states ; either within the rock, in veins, or scattered 

 in small particles in the sands of rivers. It is sometimes found in 

 lumps, or masses, which are called native gold ; but more frequently 

 it exists in a mineralized state, mingled with other substances, as 

 earth, stone, sulphur, &c. In this state it would not be recognized 

 to be gold by an inexperienced person ; for it is red, white, or black, 

 as it may happen, and shows none of its brilliancy or metallic char- 

 acter. 



When gold is found in this state of mixture, the ore is broken in 

 pieces, in a mill, consisting of an upright circular stone, which turns 

 on its axis, while it traverses a circular trough, such as is employed 

 in grinding bark in England. When the ore is thus broken, some 

 of the refuse is easily separated from it. To the remaining mass a 

 considerable quantity of quicksilver is added, which, having a strong 

 attraction for gold, fastens upon every particle of it, and draws it 

 away from whatever it had been attached to. 



