4 Gold Region of Georgia, 



of a few deposits, the most valuable tracts were sold to speculating 

 adventurers; many of these have frequently changed owners at en- 

 hanced prices; a few companies, not exceeding four, have eom- 

 menced regular operations with a view to gold. 



In a few instances, in the vicinity of rich deposits, veins had been 

 discovered and opened, but more skill has pointed out other indica- 

 tions of gold veins ; they are founded principally upon the fact that 

 every branch contains gold arising evidently from the disintegration 

 of veins. The veins in this country must be numerous ; and it has 

 been remarked by miners from Spanish America, that until they op- 

 erated in North Carolina and Georgia, they had not been enabled to 

 find veins at the surface ; one cause of the hazard in mining for 

 gold in Mexico, is said to be the absence of the indications so abund- 

 ant here. While the Georgian finds the vein with the gold visible 

 at the surface, the Mexican miner at the base of a mountain searches 

 for a slate, (the talcose,) and when found, he drives in a tunnel with 

 the hope of striking a gold vein traversing its bed. Perhaps other 

 striking differences may have been produced by the volcanic action 

 in Mexico, breaking, distorting, or forever concealing the vein, while 

 in Georgia no such agent has operated. Here the veins have a reg- 

 ularity, a uniformity of position wholly inconsistent with the supposition 

 of fire having been the agent in giving laws to the veins and strata of 

 the country which I have examined. This I speak with due defer- 

 ence to the friends of the god of fire. To prove Vulcan the agent, 

 his advocates must draw distinctions between his manner of working 

 where his fires have been long extinct, and where at present he 

 heaves to the skies his confused masses ; and to escape lashings for 

 my infidelity, 1 will not venture to give all the credit to Neptune,' al- 

 though he has left more visible marks than any which may be placed 

 to the credit of the former. 



A view of hornblende slate, (diabase,) passing throughout the gold 

 region of Georgia, though it produces little or no elevation of the 

 surface is remarked by every gold hunter ; it occupies a middle 

 space between the Yeona and Horse range mountains. It is used as 

 an index to the gold country, and has been traced from Alabama, 

 through the Cherokee country near the Six, passing Cane creek, 

 the corner of Hall county through Habersham and Rayburn, into 

 the Blue ridge, in a direction to reach the gold works in Burke coun- 

 ty, North Carolina. The general course is between north 35° and 

 40° east. For miles on both sides of this vein has been found the 



