Gold Region of North Carolina. 3 



original depth, it lies about three feet below the surface. 

 Rocky River and its small tributaries, which cut through this 

 ■stratum, have hitherto proved the most fruitful localities of 

 the precious metal." 



" It will probably appear evident to geologists from the 

 foregoing statements, that the gold of N. Carolina occurs in 

 a diluvial formation^ 



Mr. Rothe says, " We here find the gold in two different 

 situations. 1. As a part of the constituents of the veins. 2. 

 We not only find gold as a constituent of the veins, but also 

 in alluvial deposits in the ranges of the greenstone forma- 

 tion. On a former occasion, 1 expressed an opinion that 

 this country must, in ages past, have experienced an inunda- 

 tion. This overflowing was perhaps occasioned by an accu- 

 mulation of waters on the other side of the Blue Ridge, 

 which, breaking over the ridge at some of the points now 

 lowest, spread itself in rapid torrents over this region ; and 

 at places breaking up the veins containing gold, scattering 

 them over the surface. An accumulation of water must, at 

 one time, have taken place above the range of little moun- 

 tains which are cut by the Yadkin river at the place called 

 the Narrows. For at the Narrows, are evident marks on the 

 rocks of the acclivous banks, shewing that the water was 

 once many feet above its present bed, and the highest hills, 

 as you go up the country, are covered with alluvial deposits. 

 The break may have taken place at the Narrows, that hap- 

 pening to be the softest place, and thus gradually letting the 

 waters off." 



" By this means, or perhaps others, the gold now found in 

 the alluvial deposits has been removed from the veins and 

 scattered as far as the waters had influence over it," 



Of the two accounts, that of Professor Olmsted certainly 

 appears to me the more correct, though not (as I have al- 

 ready mentioned) exempt from error. It has occurred to me 

 that if the gold mines of North Carolina were entitled to the 

 space they have already occupied on the pages of the Jour- 

 nal, a few additional observations, which can hardly increase 

 the obscurity and darkness that overhangs the subject, and 

 whose object it will be to remove it, at least in part, will be 

 neither inappropriate nor unacceptable, especially if accom- 

 panied by a map that shall render all that has hitherto been 

 written respecting them more intelligible. 



