118 NEW TEACKS IN NOETH AMEEICA. 



the formation lie uninterruptedly along tlie base of th.e moiuij 

 tains, from the Arkansas to Maxwell's, and fill up the hroa 

 valley which would otherwise remain between the basalts o 

 the Eaton and the much older metamoi-phic rocks of th 

 Rocky Mountains. The yery thick formation of sandston 

 containing the coal-beds described, ceases tp skirt the fo 

 hills of the mountain chain below Maxwell's, and reappea 

 no more in our southern progress. 



'^ The metamorphic ridges of the Eocky Mountains approac 

 more nearly to the plain, and, so far as they hai^e bee: 

 explored^ give evidence that they are as much loaded wi 

 mineral wealth here as in the regions north of the Arkansa 

 Eighteen miles west of jMa^wcll's a valuable copper mid 

 has been discovered, and has been well opened for futrn"- 

 development. Specimens given me contain silicate, green and 

 blue carbonates, and sulphurets of copper, making a vei 

 rich ore. Good specimens of argentiferous galina and iron ow 

 were also presented to me, but without note of the precise 

 locality. 



^^ Valuable placer washings of gold have recently been found 

 in the same mountain ridge, which is the water-shed between 

 the Little Cimarron and the Moro on the east, and the vallet 

 of Taos on the west. The excitement regarding the gold was 

 becoming greater fi'om week to week ; and the last report 

 that reached me, on my return by stage, was, that a party o; 

 five men fi^om Colorado had taken out 1,200 dollars in on 

 day." 



* 



This gold-field is now known as the Taos district, and con 

 tained within one year after its discovery on the estates o: 

 Mr. Maxwell in the spring of 1867, 3,000 miners. The& 

 miners have already formed a town, which in their confidenc 

 they have been pleased to name "Virginia City." It is wort 



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