640 Original Articles. [Oct., 



" When I inspected the geology of this country in the spring of 1853, 

 the most remarkable and promising lode was the new gold lode of Dol-y- 

 frwynog. The lode runs W.N.W. and E.S.E. in the low ground south of 

 Moel-Hafod-Owen on the east watershed. It is principally composed of 

 a white saccharoid quartz, irregularly traversed by numerous small loose 

 joints. Chlorite, decomposing talcose matter, and pink carbonate of lime, 

 are intermingled with it. In parts the quartz assumes a semi-granulated 

 aspect, profusely intermingled with soft unctuous decomposing talc. It is 

 largely charged with iron pyrites. As a rule, the substance of the lode is 

 easily shivered into fragments, a great advantage both in the original 

 working of the lode and in subsequent operations. It was first opened in 

 search of copper ; and a shaft was sunk to a depth of about twenty fathoms. 

 During the process, however, it soon proved to contain more attractive 

 metal. On examining a heap of quartz which lay at the mouth of the 

 shaft, and turning over a few pieces, I readily saw, with the naked eye, 

 gold in small flakes and grains, irregularly disseminated through the quartz. 

 In a more select heap of quartz, on all the pieces it was distinctly visible 

 to the unassisted eye ; and one mass in particular, heavier than a strong 

 man could lift, was literally spangled all across its surfaces with rich glit- 

 tering gold. Gold has also been detected by Mr. Byers in the matrix of 

 the copper-bearing lodes about a mile further south, and in the west of 

 Dol-y-frwynog lode, by the spot marked ' Turf Copper Mine ' on the map 

 of the Geological Survey. All these occur in the same talcose rock. 



" On the banks of the Afon-wen, about a mile above the bridge, are 

 some ruins of buildings, and below them, close to the river, the remains 

 of charcoal ashes and bits of bones, mostly covered with herbage. This 

 place has a very singular, and in conjunction with its late discoveries, a 

 very significant name, which it has maintained from time immemorial, 

 expressive of gold having been melted or worked there. 



"This name, ' Merddyn Coch'r awr,' signifies 'the ruins of red gold.' 

 The tradition is, that the Romans formerly worked gold there. It may 

 be well to observe, to those unacquainted with Welsh names, that no 

 ancient place has a name but what is characteristic of its locality, or of 

 some event that has taken place on or near the spot." 



Mr. Arthur Dean was evidently the first person who called atten- 

 tion to the system of quartz lodes, more or less auriferous, which 

 have rendered this district remarkable. It is said, however, that a 

 little gold was detected in one of the copper ore lodes in the year 

 1836. Of late Mr. Dean has been appointed engineer to the Vigra 

 and Clogau mines, and this position has enabled him to study with 

 much care the peculiar conditions under which the gold occurs in 

 these quartz veins. These are especially deserving of the closest 

 study — they are the only gold bearing rocks of this country — and the 

 workings which are now in progress present opportunities which 

 should not be neglected. Within an ellipse about fifteen miles long 

 by twelve miles wide, are enclosed all the mines opened in the Dolgelly 

 district. Outside this, other fields are found, the most promising being 

 the Bala district, in which is situated the Castele Cam Dochan gold 

 mine, which is now yielding, monthly, small quantities of gold. 

 Nearly all the gold mines are opened in the lower Silurian beds, but 

 in the Cambrian sandstones some of the quartz veins produce gold. 

 The presence of greenstone or trap rocks has been already noticed ; 



