16 ON THE GOLD MINES OP CANADA, 



partial washing, carrying away the lighter materials, and leaving 

 the gold behind with the heavier matters. According to Mr. 

 Blake, it is found in California, that the gold in the diluvial depo- 

 sits, which have not been subsequently disturbed by the streams, 

 is not uniformly distributed, but is accumulated here and there in 

 quantities greater than in other places. It would seem that 

 during the first deposition of the earth and gravel, the precious 

 metal became in some parts accumulated in depressions of the 

 surface rock, constituting what are called pockets by the miners. 

 It would appear from the facts here given that the quantity 

 of gold in the valley of the Chaudiere is such as would be remu- 

 nerative to skilled labour, and should encourage the outlay of 

 capital. There is no reason for supposing that the proportion of 

 the precious metal to be found along the St. Francis, the Etche- 

 min, and their various tributaries, is less considerable than that of 

 the Chaudiere." 



" What is called the hydraulic method of washing deposits of 

 auriferous gravel is adopted on a great scale in California, and to 

 some extent in the states of Georgia and North Carolina. In 

 this method, the force of a jet of water, with great pressure, is 

 made available, both for excavating and washing the auriferous 

 earth. The water, issuing in a continuous stream, with great force, 

 from a large hose-pipe, like that of a fire-engine, is directed against 

 the base of a bank of earth and gravel, and tears it away. The 

 bank is rapidly undermined, the gravel is loosened, violently rolled 

 together, and cleansed from any adhering particles of gold ; 

 while the fine sand and clay are carried off by the water. In this 

 manner hundreds of tons of earth and gravel may be removed, 

 and all the gold which they contain liberated and secured, with 

 greater ease and expedition than ten tons could be excavated and 

 washed in the old way. All the earth and gravel of a deposit is 

 moved, washed, and carried off through long sluices, by the water, 

 leaving the gold behind. Square acres of earth on the hill sides 

 may thus be swept away into the hollows, without the aid of a 

 pick or a shovel in excavation. Water performs all the labor, 

 moving and washing the earth, in one operation ;. while in ex- 

 cavating by hand, the two processes are of necessity entirely dis- 

 tinct. The value of this method, and the yield of gold by it, as 

 compared with the older one, can hardly be estimated. The water 

 acts constantly, with uniform effect, and can be brought to bear 

 upon almost any point, where it would be difficult for men to 



