ON GOLD AND SILVER. 



529 



about 235,000?. The yield was estimated at about 155,000Z. in 1881 and 

 1882, and at about 132,000Z. in 1883 and 1884. 



The estimates for the total production of gold in Brazil, from the 

 first working of the placers (about 1680) to 1880, give from 145,000,000?. 

 (Soetbeer) to 180,000,000?. (Del Mar) ; one-tenth, or less, being from 

 vein-minino'. The remaining South American States, including Pent, 

 Bolivia, and Chili, probably produce about 100,000?. yearly. 



Mexico is chiefly known as the great source of silver, but its gold 

 produce is of some importance. 



In 1878 the yield was estimated at 207,000?. ; it fell to 178,000?. in 

 1881, and rose to 245,000?. in 1884. The greater part of this is from veins 

 chiefly of auriferous quartz, but partly of gold with ores of other metals. 



Europe (other than Russia). — It would be of great interest to trace 

 the sources of the gold raised in Europe, and especially to discuss the 

 production in times when Europe was largely dependent upon its own 

 resources for its stock of gold. But this would carry us beyond the 

 limits of our subject. Nor need we stay to describe in detail the pro- 

 duction of each country. All the gold-bearing districts of Europe are 

 well known, and there is no likelihood of any increased yield, save to 

 some extent by the improved treatment of ores containing gold in small 

 quantities. The recent increase in the gold of Germany is mainly due 

 to this cause, many low-class sulphuretted ores from Australia being sent 

 there for treatment. 



The following are statistics of European gold : — 



Silver. — In the centuries immediately preceding the Christian era 

 Spain and Greece yielded much silver. The Carthaginians, and after them 

 the Romans, systematically worked the mines in Spain. The richest 

 mine was that of Bebulo, the modern Guadalcanal, which for a time is 

 supposed to have supplied Hannibal with 300 lbs. of silver per day.^ 



In Greece the richest mines were those of Laurium (argentiferous 

 galena), which M. Cordelia, judging from the slags and waste-heaps, 

 believed to have produced about 2,100,000 tons of lead, and over 

 18,000,000 lbs. of silver.3 



On the revival of mining in the seventh and eighth centuries the 



' The French official mineral statistics make aretiirn of gold for France : — 4,300Z. 

 in 1880 ; 5,356Z. in 1881. The ores from which it was obtained were probably, in part 

 at least, derived from foreign sources. — J. A. Phillips, Ore Bejwsits, p. 232. 



- Del Mar, Higt. of the Pi-eciovs Metals, p. 23. 



2 The most interesting instance of re-working old slags and mine-waste is that 

 at Laurium. The slags here contain from 6^ to 14 per cent, of lead, whilst many 

 ancient slags in Spain and Italy contain 25 per cent. From these old Laurium 

 1887. M M 



