^ Olmsted on the Gold Mines of J\^orth Carolina. 1 1 



that it was the "ore of gold," ahove mentioned j and, al- 

 though the experiments did not lead to the discovery of 

 gold, yet a " German miner and mineralogist" had, it 

 was said, detected platfna in it. On searching into the 

 evidence of so unexpected a result, I was informed that a 

 white metal was produced from this ore, which was not 

 lead, nor tin, nor silver, but answered perfectly to the de- 

 scription of platina, although, as they acknowledged, it was 

 easily fused, and burned with a blue flame. I suspected 

 it to be metallic antimony, but still could perceive no signs 

 of that metal in the ore, I requested a minute account of 

 the process. — "Tlie materials, namely, the ore, charcoal, 

 borax, &c. were put into a crucible — Emetic tartar, in 

 considerable quantity, was added to make the ore "spew 

 out'' the metal. Ipecacuanha was afterwards tried with the 

 same view, but was not found to be strong enough "to make 

 the ore vomit.'' After the account of the process, it was 

 not difficult to account for the production of antimony, it 

 being obviously derived from the Emetic Tartar. 



At Concord near the western limit of the gold coun- 

 try, the metal is found in small grains in the streets and 

 gullies, after every rain ; and the gullies frequently disclose 

 the stratum of gravel and mud, well known as the reposito- 

 ry of the gold. Washings on a more limited scale are 

 conducted here. The clay is not so dense at this place 

 as at Reed's Mine, but more ferruginous and full of span- 

 gles of golden-coloured mica. This stratum rests on gneiss: 

 those before described were over the Slate formation. 



Parker''s mine is situated on a small stream four miles 

 south of the river Yadkin. As in the instances already men- 

 tioned, excavations were numerous in the low grounds ad- 

 jacent to the stream ; but, at the time of my visit, the eartii 

 for vi^ashing, (which was of a snufF colour.) was trans- 

 ported from a ploughed field in the neighbourhood, that 

 was elevated about fifty or sixty feet above the stream. 

 The earth at this place which contained the gold was 

 of a deeper red than that at either of the other mines. 

 The gold found here is chiefly in flakes and grains. Oc- 

 casionally however pieces are met with which weigh 100 

 pwts. and upwards ; and very recently a mass has been dis- 

 covered that weighed four pounds and eleven ounces. 

 This is said to have been found at the depth of ten feet, 



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