Olmsted on the Gold Mines of Xorth Carolina. 9 



Large pieces of gold are found in this region, although 

 their occurrence is somewhat rare. Masses weighing four 

 five, and six hundred penny-weights, are occasionally met 

 with, and one mass was found that weighed, in its crude stale, 

 28 lbs. avoix'dupoise. This was dug up by a negro at 

 Reed's mine, within a few inches of the surface of the 

 ground. Marvellous stories are told respecting this rich 

 mass; as that it had been seen by gold hunters at night, 

 reflecting so brilliant a light, when they drew near to it, 

 with torches, as to make them believe it was some super- 

 natural appearance, and to deter them from farther exam- 

 ination. But all stories of this kind, as I was assured by 

 Mr. Reed the old proprietor, are mere fables. No unusual 

 circumstances were connected with the discovery of this 

 mass, except its being nearer the surface than common. It 

 was melted down and cast into bars soon after its discove- 

 ry. The spot where it was found has been since subject- 

 ed to the severest scrutiny, but without any similar harvest. 

 Another mass weighing 600 pwts. was found on the surface 

 of a ploughed field in the vicinity of the Yadkin, twenty 

 miles or more north of Reed's mine. Specimens of great 

 elegance, as I should infer from the descriptions of the mi- 

 ners, are occasionally found, but for want of mineralogists 

 to reserve them for cabinets, they have always been thrown 

 into the common stock and melted into bars. Mr. Reed 

 found a mass of quartz, having a projecting point of gold, 

 of the size of a large pin's head. On breaking it open, a 

 brilliant display of green and yellow colours was presented, 

 which he described as exceedingly beautiful. The gold 

 weighed 12 pwts. The mineralogist may perhaps recognize 

 in this description,a congeries offinecrystalsjbut on that point 

 the proprietor could not inform me. Although fragments 

 of greenstone and of several argillaceous minerals, occur 

 among the gravel of the gold-stratum, yet, in the opinion of 

 the miners, the precious metal is never found attached to 

 any other mineral than quartz. Indeed it is rarely attach- 

 ed to any substance, but is commonly scattered promiscu- 

 ously among the gravel. Its colour is generally yellow 

 with a reddish tinge, though the surface is not unfrequently 

 obscured by a partial incrustation of iron or manganese, or 

 by adhering particles of sand. The masses are flattened 

 and vesicular having angles rounded with evident marks 



Vol. I-X.—No. 1^. ± 



