THE 



AMERICAN 

 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &c. 



Art. I. — Essay on the Georgia Gold Mines ; 

 by William Phillips, Engineer. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In attempting an essay on this subject, in which it is intended to 

 convey an accurate idea of the gold mines, the author is fully aware 

 of the difficulties he has to encounter, and approaches the subject 

 with great diffidence, under a conviction of his inability to do it the 

 justice it merits. If apology, under such circumstances, be necessary, 

 it will be found in the necessity of inviting the attention of the scien- 

 tific and experienced, to the development of this important branch 

 of our domestic industry. The simple fact that all the mines of the 

 state, have their business conducted without the aid of the expe- 

 rience of older mining countries, would induce a belief that an asso- 

 ciation which would promote an interchange of ideas, and a diffiision 

 of such useful knowledge as could be obtained by sending a compe- 

 tent person to examine the mining business of other countries, would 

 have a most salutary effect. Should the following remarks result in 

 the desired improvement or induce more competent persons to take 

 up the enquiry and aid in improving the mining industry of Georgia, 

 the author will be amply rewarded, for the time devoted to this essay. 



In accordance with recent approved geological arrangements, the 

 deposit or branch mines will be first considered, and then the vein or 

 ridge mines. The process of separating the gold from the ore, will 

 also be attended to. A description of the Shelton mine is added with 

 a drawing of the lot. 



Deposit or Branch Mines. 



That the deposits of which we are to write, owe their origin to the 

 mechanical agency of water, there can be no doubt ; but there are 

 persons who believe that the agent producing them, has acted sudden- 

 ly and that these immense beds of gravel have been collected togeth- 



Vol. XXIV.— No. 1. 1 



