Deposition of Gold in South Africa .■—■ C'zy-jszhowshi . 323’ 
Conclusions. 
In closing it seems well to emphasize the- following conclu¬ 
sions : 
I. The gold is not contemporaneous with the strata which 
contain it. The container should not be confounded with the 
thing contained. Each has its geological history and its own. 
mode of formation. 
II. Mineral springs ascending from the depths of the earth 
have circulated in its fractures and through its porous strata 
and have carried thither the silica, gold, pyrite, etc. 
III. All the strata in South Africa which were formerly per¬ 
meable, such as sandstones, sands, conglomerates, and fissured 
limestones, are likely to contain gold (up to the Carbonifer¬ 
ous). 
IV. Portions rich in auriferous pyrites must be looked for 
in these strata at the contact of impermeable rocks with 
eruptives. 
V. Well defined gold-bearing horizons are found in the 
zones of terranes which contain nearly horizontal and pervious 
strata which belong to the Cape formation or to that of the 
dolomitic limestone of the Carboniferous. Such are the de¬ 
posits of Witwatersrand and Lydenburg. 
VI. Sharply folded formations whose strata are nearly ver¬ 
tical will contain inter-stratified deposits, bedded or mass 
veins, like those of Swaziland and the “ de Kaap ” district. 
VII. The auriferous horizons or reefs present the character¬ 
istics of strata so far as concerns the continuity of the de¬ 
posit: and the features of veins as regards the dissemination, 
of the gold. They may be said to be veins imprisoned between 
the strata. 
VIII. Poverty of outcrop is not a sure proof of the poverty 
of a reef in depth or in its extension. 
IX. By studying these ancient thalwegs or auriferous hori¬ 
zons it may be possible to discover new riches in South 
Africa. 
X. The deposition of gold appears to be of Carboniferous 
age. It probably preceded that of Australia and was prior to 
the deposition of the Cape diamonds. 
After gold, diamonds. Such is the geological emblem of the 
rich metalliferous countries of South Africa. 
Paris , Mar. 7, 1896. 
