160 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



vines." And such is the situation of the vein which we 

 have examined, which would cut a rivulet obliquely in 

 its prolongation ; its direction is from north-east to 

 south-west ; its matrix, quartz, with slate, more or less 

 decomposed ; its thickness from two and a half to three 

 feet ; and at sixty feet depth from the surface, the 

 quantity of gold was eight grains to five pounds of ore, 

 although this was not sufficiently stamped. This result 

 was obtained by heating the quartz to a red heat, and 

 throwing it into cold water, which is probably the surest 

 means of obtaining the greatest portion of gold. The 

 average, we are informed, is one grain to the pound. 

 Accordingly we think the vein is well worth working to 

 a greater depth, in both shafts, and stamping as line as 

 possible, since there is no danger of the quartz forming 

 a thick slime, as when clay is present, in which the mi- 

 nute particles of gold might become entangled and not 

 be precipitated. The same opinion is advanced by Mr. 

 Dickson, who says, the great desideratum is to stamp 

 the ore fine enough, and to attenuate it whilst entering 

 the bowls or tyrolese mills with abundance of water. 



I have this morning had an opportunity of seeing a 

 pretty specimen from the same vein, with hepatic py- 

 rites and antimonial galena, in needles, and probably 

 light ochre and yellow oxide of antimony. It is to be 

 observed that the antimony and gold are good geognostic 

 friends, and this specimen is very rich. 



But to the east of the vein, and at ninety yards dis- 

 tance, according to the measurements of Mr. Milling- 

 ton, there is another vein, called the fourth, parallel to 



