112 Remarks on the Gold Mines of Virginia, 



As regards a satisfactory examination of the true nature of the mine 

 and of the ore which it yields, this is, however, of no importance ; 

 for there is already above ground a very large quantity of ore obtain- 

 ed both from the shafts and adits, giving full information of the pro- 

 ductiveness of the vein and of the quality of the ore. From the 

 regularity, the thickness, and the great extent of the vein, there can 

 be no reasonable doubt that it will continue for a long time to afford 

 an abundant produce, nor can any reason be assigned why the rich- 

 ness of the ore should be diminished. This is indeed a point upon 

 which human sagacity cannot give us absolute assurance, and it must 

 always be remembered that mining operations invariably involve a 

 degree of uncertainty, because we cannot see what is below, until 

 our operations have penetrated to those dark recesses and brought to 

 light their hidden treasures. A favorable presumption is, however, 

 as well sustained in this case as it can be in any, and we therefore 

 proceed to the very important and responsible duty of ascertaining 

 the proportion of gold, which the ore hitherto raised will yield. For 

 this purpose four trials were made. 1. A trial was made upon ore, 

 believed to be as poor in gold as any average which the mine has 

 hitherto yielded. 2. It was made upon ore supposed fairly to rep- 

 resent the average richness of that hitherto raised. 3. It was made 

 upon ore taken at random, without any reference to its being either 

 rich or poor. 4. And finally, upon selected pieces, showing gold 

 to the eye, and supposed to be rich. 



1. The first trial was made upon a portion of ore, which, last 

 year, was prepared on a considerable scale for an average trial. It 

 was deemed proper to re-examine that result, as the conclusion 

 drawn from it was highly important, and had deservedly produced a 

 decisive impression upon the opinion entertained of the value of the 

 mine. On that occasion, ninety-two bushels of the ore, taken pro- 

 miscuously, were roasted, ground, washed and amalgamated. More 

 than five hundred dollars were obtained as the result, and the aver- 

 age yield was ^5 92 for one bushel, or one hundred pounds of ore. 

 These facts are given on the statement of the individuals concerned 

 in the experiment, one of whom is still at the mine. Several bush- 

 els of the prepared ore then used are also still there. From this 

 residuum six pounds were taken — but there was this important dif- 

 ference in the trial — all the visible gold had been carefully picked 

 out during the pounding, sifting, and other preliminary operations, 

 and the material now used contained apparently no gold, and looked 



