Remarks on the Gold Mines of North Carolina. 20b 



seldom one like the other. The materials composing these 

 veins are : rhomboidal quartz mixed with, pyramidal cop- 

 per pyrites, prismatic blue malachite, diprismatic green mal- 

 achite, prismatic iron pyrites, prismatic arsenical pyrites, 

 prismatic tellurium glance, prismatoidal antimony glance, 

 and lastly, here and there, fine metallic gold. It is very prob- 

 able, that these veins, should they be pursued, if not produc- 

 tive in gold, may, at a greater depth, become valuable on ac- 

 count of the copper and other metals found in them. 



After this brief description of the characteristical difference 

 of these veins, it follows, that I should add something as to the 

 relative purity or fineness of the gold in each. 



The gold of the first formation may be stated at twenty-two 

 and half carats fine ; the alloy being iron and copper. 



The gold of the second formation seems to vary in its fine- 

 ness, at different places. The finest, as yet found in this 

 formation of a beautiful gold yellow color, may be stated at 

 twenty-two to twenty-three carats fine. (J.) While that 

 found at other places does not exceed nineteen carats fine, 

 containing a portion of iron and copper, (k.) 



The gold of the third formation, as yet has but seldom been 

 found in its original state, but mostly in the alluvial deposits. 



II. We not only find gold as a constituent of the veins, but al- 

 so in the alluvial deposits in the ranges of the greenstone forma- 

 tion. On a former occasion, I expressed an opinion, that this 

 country must in ages past, have experienced an inundation. 

 This overflowing was perhaps occasioned by an accumulation 

 of waters on the other side of the blue ridge, which breaking 

 over the ridge at some of the points now lowest, spread itself 

 in rapid torrents over this region ; and at places breaking up 

 the veins containing gold, scattered them over the surface. An 

 accumulation of water at one time must have taken place, 

 above the range of little mountains which are cut by the Yad- 

 kin river, at the place called, the Narrows. For, at the Nar- 

 rows, are evident marks on the rocks of the acclivous banks, 

 showing that the water was once many feet above its present 

 bed ; and the highest hills near the river, as you go up the 

 country are covered with alluvial deposits. (I.) The break 

 may have taken place at the Narrows, that happening to be 

 the softest place, and thus gradually letting the waters off. 



By this means, or perhaps others, the gold now found in the 

 alluvial deposits, has been removed from the veins, and scat- 

 tered as far as the water had any influence over it. 



