ee Gold Region of Georgia, 
of a few deposits, the most valuable tracts were sold to speculating — 
adventurers ; many of these have frequently changed owners at en- 
hanced prices; a few companies, not exceeding four, have com-_ 
menced regular operations with a view to gold. ce 
In a few instances, in the yicinity of rich deposits, veins had been — 
discovered and opened, but more skill has pointed out other indica= _ 
tions of gold veins ; they are founded principally upon the fact that 
every brancly contains gold arising evidently from the disintegration — 
of veins. The veins in this country must be numerous ; and it has 
been remarked by miners from Spanish America, that until they op- 
erated in North Carolina and Georgia, they had not been enabled to — 
find veins at the surface ; one cause of the hazard in mining for 
gold in Mexico, is said to be the absence of the indications so abund- — 
ant here. While the Georgian finds the vein with the gold visible © 
at the surface, the Mexican miner at the base of a mountain searches _ 
fora slate, (the taleose,) and when found, he drives ina tunnel with — 
the hope of striking a gold vein traversing its bed. Perhaps other 
striking differences may have been produced by the volcanic action — 
in Mexico, breaking, distorting, or forever concealing the vein, while 
in Georgia no such agent has operated. Here the veins have a reg- 
ularity, a uniformity of position wholly i inconsistent with the supposition © 
of fire having been the agent in giving laws to the veins and-strata of - 
the country which I have examined. This I speak with due defer- 
ence to the friends of the god of fire. To prove Vulcan the agent, 
his advocates must draw distinctions between his manner of working — 
where his fires have been long extinct, and where at present he — 
heaves to the skies his confused masses; and to escape lashings for 
my infidelity, I will not venture to give all the credit to Neptune, al- 
though he has left more visible marks than any which may be — 
to the credit of the former. 
A view of hornblende slate, (diabase,) passing throughout the gol 
region of Georgia, though it produces little or no elevation of the — 
surface is remarked by every gold hunter; it occupies a middle 
space between the Yeona and Horse range mountains. It is used as 
‘an index to the gold country, and has been traced from Alabama, — 
through the Cherokee country near the Six, passing Cane creek, — 
the corner of Hall county through Habersham and Rayburn, into” 
the Blue ridge, ina direction to reach the gold works in Burke coun- 
ty, North Carolina. The-general course is between north 35° and 
40° east. For miles on both sides of this vein has been found the © 
4 
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