58 The American Geologist. January, 1894 
copper ores from Ponce P. R.; coals and slates and asphalt 
from Angela Elmira, Cuba. 
Gold 
\> found in the mines of Holguin, 25 miles from the coast, in 
the Eastern Department. The auriferous zone is situated about 
live kilometers from the city of Holguin and runs, approxi- 
mately, northeast and southwest. The veins of .the precious 
metal dip more or less than 45 degrees, between serpentine 
pocks. They were opened by a Cuban in 1836, abandonedin L860, 
but work on them was resumed later b}^ Don Vicente Guillen. 
Mr. Coltman, by a very imperfect method, found four ounces 
of gold to the ton, equivalent to $70. This brilliant result was 
fully confirmed by experiments in Philadelphia and London. 
Prof. James C. Booth (of Philadelphia) reported that the 
metal obtained by the reduction consisted, at least in two ex- 
periments, of three parts of gold united to a white metal, 
probably iridium-osmium. Some specimens of the ore analyzed 
in Cuba gave :$ to 5 ounces of gold per ton. The principal 
mines are "La Oriental, 1 ' "Aquipada,'.' "La Central," "Nuevo 
Potosi," "San Juan Bantista," "San Isidoro," "Holguinera," 
all contained within two leagues of terra ne. 
The following description of the "San Atanasio'* mine is 
given literally in the words of the prospectus which was fur- 
nished the student of this part of Cuba's mineral wealth : 
island op cuba. 
The Golden Mines Named 
"San Atanasio." 
This Mine belonging to Mr. Martinez ct 1 Co., is situated in the farm 
Descanso in lands of Guaracabulla's village; from which place it is only 
fifteen minutis away; in the province or state of Santa. Clara, and seven 
miles to Placeta's village, being this place the end of the Caiharien 
Railway-line. 
The San Atanasio Gold Mine embraces apiece of landof about more 
than twelf acres; or by Cubans measure 58,080 square yards. In grounds 
of this Mines is a large building which comprehend; Machinery build- 
ing with a compleat Wi.swell Grinder, moved by a fourty horse power 
Boiler and Engine; an elevator engine; four horse power, an top of a 
well and to which engine is adapted a "Dunkey" to lift up the water. 
Besides this building it has a beautiful dwelling-house, lodgings for 
laborers and so fort; all this buildings, were made and brought from the 
United States of America having employed in their construction the 
hardest and best wood, from the above named place. 
