Olmsted on the Gold Mines of Korlh Carolina, 5 



Akt. II. — On the Gold Mints of Korth Carolina ; By Den- 

 isoN Olmsted, Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy 

 in the University of j^orth Carolina. 



The gold mines of North Carolina, which have recent- 

 ly become an object of much inquiry both at ho-me and 

 abroad, are situated between the 35th and 36th degrees of 

 N. latitude, and between the 80th and 8ist degrees of VV. 

 longitude from London. They are on the southern side of 

 the State, not far from the borders of South Carolina, and 

 somewhat westward of the centre. Through the gold 

 country flows the river Pedee, receiving, within ihe same 

 district, the Uwharre from the north, and Rocky River from 

 the south, both considerable streams. Above the junction 

 with the Uwharre, the Pedee bears the name of Yadkin. 



The gold country is spread over a space of not less than 

 1000 square miles With a map of N. Carolina one may 

 easily trace its boundaries, so far as they have been hither- 

 to observed. From a point taken eight miles west by south 

 of the mouth of the Uwharre, with a radius of eighteen 

 miles, describe a circle, — it will include the greatest part of 

 the county of Montgomery, the northern part of Anson, the 

 north-eastern corner of Mulenberg, Cabarrus, a little be- 

 yond Concord on the west, and a corner of Rowan and of 

 Randolph. In almost any part of this region, gold may be 

 found, in greater or less abundance, at or near the surface 

 of the ground. Its true bed, however, is a thin stratum of 

 gravel enclosed in a dense mud, usually of a pale blue, but 

 sometimes of a yellow colour. On ground that is elevated 

 and exposed to be washed by rains, this stratum frequent- 

 ly appears at the surface ; and in low grounds, where the 

 alluvial earth has been accumulated by the same agent, it 

 is found to the depth of eight feet : where no cause ope- 

 rates to alter its original depth, it lies about three feet be- 

 low the surface. Rocky river and its small tributaries 

 v'hich cut through this stratum, have hitherto proved the 

 most fruitful localities of the precious metal. 



The prevailing rock in the gold country is Argillite. 

 This belongs to an extensive formation of the same, which 

 crosses the State in numerous beds, forming a zone more 

 than tweiity miles in widtlj, and embracing, among many 

 less important varieties of slate, several extensive beds of 



