Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia. 99 



not interest the general reader — they will serve to give a more pre- 

 cise idea of the actual condition and value of some of these mines, 

 and of the promise they afford of being pursued with advantage. 



Moss and Busby^s Mines* in Goochland County, belonging to the 

 Richmond Mining Company. 



The gold in the above named mines is contained in quartz. In 

 this respect, with a single exception, they resemble all the other 

 gold mines which I have seen in the gold region of Virginia, where 

 the gold is in place. The rocks in which the quartz is imbedded are 

 decidedly primary, and belong to the slaty family. Those which I 

 have seen are generally varieties of mica slate, passing occasionally 

 into argiliite and the subordinate varieties of chlorite slate, talcose 

 slate, hornblende slate, he. Among these, as far as I have observ- 

 ed, mica slate is most predominant ; and much that is here usually 

 called talcose slate, appears to me to be mica slate. It is indeed 

 often shining and smooth in its scales, but it wants the soapy feel 

 that distinguishes talcose slate. The gold is therefore (as far as I 

 have seen) to be referred, primarily, to the mica slate formation. 

 The usual schistose or slaty structure and stratified arrangement of 

 this rock, are here conspicuous. As is commonly the fact elsewhere, 

 its position is inclined — frequently at a high angle with the horizon ; 

 forty five degrees, and more or less in different places. The rock is, 

 in general, partially decomposed ; almost always it is shivered and 

 crumbly, and often to such a degree as to form earthy banks — soil 

 above — clay farther down, and still lower exhibiting the lines of 

 stratification and structure belonging to the original rock, but so soft 

 as to be easily picked to pieces or cut. 



The quartz in which the gold is contained is, in this region, usu- 

 ally spoken of as being in veins. It is perhaps not expedient to 

 object to language that is in general use. It may, however, be 

 proper to remark, that, in strictness, veins intersect and cross the 

 strata at various angles ; most metals are found in that situation, en- 

 gaged in some material different from the rock ; this material is 

 called the matrix or gangue of the metal, and it is usually more or 

 less crystalline in its structure, frequently affording the beautiful 

 crystals that adorn the cabinets of mineralogy, such as rock crystal, 

 fluor spar, calcareous spar, sulphate of barytes, &c. 



* About fifty miles from Richmond and from Fredericksburgh, 



