67 



portant features in the geology of this region, and it is greatly to be 

 desired that minute observation be directed to the tracing of these 

 veins through the state as far as practicable ; to the determination of 

 the general value of each vein now wrought, as well as the study 

 of the efficacy of the various processes adopted for the purpose of 

 separating the gold from the materials with which it is intermixed. 

 There can be no doubt, that with the means now most commonly 

 in use, a large proportion of the precious metal is lost and thrown 

 out with the gravel from which only the larger masses of the gold 

 have been separated. At one of the mines visited during the rccon- 

 noisance, the sand and gravel, after having been twice subjected to 

 the usual process of washing, was found sufficiently productive to 

 yield five dollars a day to each of the two persons who were washing 

 it a third time. In some of the mines, more scientific and effectual 

 means, both of conducting the mining operations and the subsequent 

 process for separating the gold, have been introduced, and when 

 these improvements shall have become more generally known, we 

 may hope for much more profitable returns than in many instances 

 have been hitherto obtained. The amazing richness of many of 

 these veins, has attracted enterprise to this branch of mining to 

 such an extent, that the exploration of the most promising aurife- 

 rous veins, has of late been very actively and successfully pursued. 



In Spottsylvania and the adjacent ^counties, Orange, Louisa, Flu- 

 vanna and Buckingham, numerous veins have been wrought for 

 some time ; from many of which rich returns have been procured, 

 and under improved modes of operation a still larger profit may be 

 expected. Any detailed account of the various workings now in 

 progress would be inappropriate in the present report, even if the 

 state of our knowledge were such as to warrant statements of a 

 positive nature. Some account of the structure, position and con- 

 tents of the veins may be introduced as generally applicable to the 

 whole. 



The material of the veins is a variegated quartz, sometimes trans- 

 lucent, at others opaque. It is generally of a cellular structure, frac- 

 tures without much difficulty, and in many instances contains a con- 

 siderable proportion of water, dispersed through its substance. Its 

 surface, recently exposed, displays a variety of tints of brown, purple 

 and yellow, of such peculiar aspect as to resemble a thin lacquer 

 spread unequally over the rock. The cavities are often filled with a 

 bright yellow ochre, or hydrated j>er oxide of iron, which generally 



