84 
GEOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA. 
So that the appearance of the gold is of much more ancient date than has been thought, and 
it is probable that it has existed at least as far back as the deposit of the first strata. 
There is no doubt that the geological position or gisement of gold is at or near the surface of 
the Earth, and that, as de Humboldt says, «it had some closer relation to or dependence upon the 
«atmosphere than that of the baser metals lead, copper, and iron. Dr. Perry is disposed to 
«believe, that it may have been thrown down by deposition from an aqueous medium. » (See : SUuria, 
p. 447). The observations of Prof. Emmons in North Carolina seem to confirm these views. 
As to the depreciation of gold relatively to silver, as many economists have lately feared would be 
the case , it is purely imaginary , and any mining engineer who has seen both gold placers and mines 
of silver, will be convinced that such an occurence is impossible. Some fluctuation in value may 
take place, and has already several times, but this is only what occurs universally in commerce, 
and the gold will always keep its relative position to silver as the white man will keep his supe- 
riority to the actual animal kingdom. 
