Lyspurn—Prospecting for Gold in Co. Wicklow. 425 
with newer detritus. Now, in modern times, in none of the valleys 
of Co. Wicklow has gold been found, or even looked for, except 
in the first, second, and fourth cases.” Mr. Kinahan then goes on to 
state the localities where gold has been found in the gold mines 
valley, and concludes thus—“ That to me it appears rash to give 
an opinion on the non-existence of gold, while the miles of alluvial 
ground now enumerated still remain unexplored, or while no 
attempt has been made to explore the shelves of the valley.” 
Again, Mr. Gerrard A. Kinahan, in his paper on “The Mode 
of Occurrence and Winning of Gold in Ireland,”! concludes :— 
“‘ We may consider what probabilities there are as to any 
quantity of gold remaining undisturbed in the county. In the 
recognised auriferous valleys the peasants worked in the shallow 
deposits, and all subsequent explorers appear to have been unwilling 
to break new or deeper ground, while Weaver was directed only 
to continue the workings till the covering became deep enough to 
prevent the peasants working it profitably. It appears to me that 
there are yet places in the county where trials might well be 
undertaken with a fair chance of success, such as— 
“(1). The shallow deposits or gravels (shallow placers of the 
Californian diggers) on the tributaries of the Ovoca River: —It 
appears remarkable that Weaver did not seek after some of these 
in connexion with his mine (Cronebane), although portions of the 
lode were known to be auriferous. His trials round the summit 
of Croghan Kinshelagh, and his choice of the streams of Croghan 
Moira,” seem to suggest that he had some peculiar idea as to the 
occurrence of the gold. 
“ (2). The ‘bench diggings,’ i.c., placers on the narrow benches 
on the slopes of the valleys above the present level of the rivers :— 
These have not been looked for in any of the valleys of this district, 
nor are there many places where they could exist. 
(3). The deep gravels in the Ovoca River and its tributaries 
the Daragh Water and Gold Mine River :—These deep gravels 
have never been explored, although Frazer, in his Statistical Survey 
(1801), recommended the estuarine flat above Arklow as a proper 
place for a trial. Higher up the rivers there are, however, places 
more favourably situated for such explorations. 
1 §ci. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc., vol. iii., 1880-82, p. 263. 
2 See Assay Plan. 
