30 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



familiarity with the geology and mineral resources of that region. 

 It is not within our province to offer personal advice to prospective 

 investors, but it is proper to set forth the results of investigation 

 and other matters of record that bear upon the matter. 



There have been many attempts to promulgate a gold-mining in- 

 dustry in the region. The thoroughness with which the prospector 

 for precious metals has covered the ground is to be seen in the 

 abandoned pits and diggings that are scattered over every section. 

 During the Klondike excitement, lo or 12 years ago, the Adiron- 

 dacks became the scene of a veritable rush for gold and practically 

 every available sand heap was taken up for exploration. In the 

 year 1898 alone there were filed nearly 4000 claims to gold and 

 silver discoveries in the State, mainly within the Adirondacks. 



The basis of all this activity is the alluvial and glacial sands 

 which occur in almost every stream valley. These sands are not 

 derived from remote regions to the north — tliough the opinion 

 seems common that they have been transported by ice from Canada 

 and even from as far away as Alaska — but are the result of 

 erosive agents working upon the local rocks. They consist entirely 

 of the minerals of the country formations which are chiefly gran- 

 ites, syenites, gabbros and gneissoid rocks of very ancient origin. 

 Along with the lighter components, quartz and feldspar, there is 

 a small proportion of the heavy minerals like garnet, pyroxene, 

 hornblende and magnetite which have sometimes been separated 

 by water action into distinct layers and which are found as black 

 sands along the shores of the Adirondack lakes. 



It is in these heavier concentrated portions of the sands tliat 

 gold should be found if present anywhere in the region. Assays 

 by reputable firms have occasionally shown a small quantity of 

 gold, ranging from a mere trace to perhaps $1 a ton. The 

 examination of innumerable samples under the microscope has 

 failed to reveal any of the precious metals, though of course such 

 evidence is not conclusive as to their absolute presence or absence. 

 On the other hand the claim has often been put forth that the 

 common quartz sands in certain places carry from $2 to $20 a 

 ton, which, if true, would under ordinary circumstances bring them 

 into the zone of practical exploitation. 



The statement is commonly made by interested parties that the 

 fire assay is unsuited to the determination of gold in these sands 

 and special analytical methods must be employed. To this it can 

 only be said that the fire assay has stood the test of long practice 



