418 Scientific Intelligence. 



that in the alluvion of the rivers. And the flattened scale-like form of 

 the gold in these latter deposits would seem to be owing to the great 

 malleability of the metal — the stones and pebbles among which the 

 minuter particles and fragments of the original vein of native metal 

 chanced to lie, and by which they were rudely hammered, having per- 

 formed very effectually the gold beater's office, and gradually reduced 

 the rough angular particles, on their granite anvils, to the flattened 

 spangles which we now observe. Some of these flakes are often an 

 inch or more in diameter and scarcely thicker than paper. Many speci- 

 mens bear the distinct impression of the crystalline structure of granite 

 and other rocks ; and I have seen several pieces deeply stamped, as with 

 a die, by crystals of quartz, the form of the crystal being as distinctly 

 apparent as the device on a gold eagle fresh from the United States mint. 



The black, ferruginous sand, which every where accompanies the 

 gold, and which, from its great specific gravity, remains with it in the 

 bowl or machine after the other earthy materials have been removed, 

 varies in fineness with the size of the accompanying gold. That ob- 

 tained in connection with the fine river gold being of the fineness of 

 writing sand, while that associated with the coarse gold of the ravines 

 is often as large as wheat kernels, or peas, and sometimes of the size 

 of hazelnuts or walnuts. These coarser pieces are fragments of crys- 

 tals very hard and heavy. I found no specimens with the faces com- 

 plete, and have not the means of knowing to what species they belong, 

 but suppose them to be magnetic iron. That the fine sand is composed 

 of fragments of the same crystals greatly comminuted, I infer from the 

 regular gradation of the one into the other. 



I am not aware that the gold has yet been discovered in place, or 

 imbedded in its native matrix. The slates, however, of the gold re- 

 gion, as I have before observed, are often traversed by dykes or beds 

 of quartz rock, and I have examined these in many places for indica- 

 tions of the presence of the metal, but could detect no traces of it. 

 Individuals have asserted that they have found veins of it in the rocks, 

 but they have refused to divulge the place where, inasmuch as they in- 

 tended to work the veins themselves as soon as the season would per- 

 mit. Though these statements are of course not impossible nor indeed 

 improbable, I do not consider the fact as established by testimony, since 

 the witnesses are men in whom I place but little confidence. 



The amount of gold taken from these mines it is impossible to esti- 

 mate, but it has been immense, and the coming season it will doubtless 

 be greater. New and rich deposits are developing every day. Ac- 

 counts from various points in the mining district, represent the gold as 

 very abundant, more so if possible than last year — individuals even 



that early in the season obtaining often from three to ten or even twenty 

 ounces a day. The diggings on the several forks of the Rio de los 

 Americanos, the Stanislaus, the Tuwalumnes, the Merced, the Mariposa, 

 King's river (Lake Fork on Fremont's new map), and in many other 

 places, are represented as peculiarly rich. 



There was one specimen of ^old mingled with quartz, found near 

 Stanislaus last autumn, which I had resolved to procure if possible, for 

 the cabinet of Yale. It was irregular in form, about four inches in 

 diameter, and weighed 5} pounds avoirdupois. The metal was inter- 



