36 TlMEHRI. 
family, of which dynamite is the most familiar member, 
contributes largely to mining blasts. 
In gold mining several implements are used, such as 
pans, cradles, toms and sluice boxes. In California the 
placer miner's pan is of iron, preferably stamped out of 
a single sheet since solder is objectionable ; its usual 
dimensions 10 inches diameter at bottom, 16 inches at top, 
and 2 2-ioths inches deep, with a rim strengthened by a 
strong iron wire rolled in. In Mexico a horn spoon is used 
for small quantities, but the Brazilian batea, or as it is 
called here battel, appears to be better. It should be a 
disk of seventeen inches diameter, which being turned 
conical 12 degrees, gives a depth of i|- inches 
from centre of surface. The thickness may be f 
of an inch. The other edge perpendicular to axis 
(which is scientific for "bottom") will require wood 
2\ inches thick. The best wood is Honduras Mahogany. 
The " battels" imported for use here are of similar 
shape and dimensions to these, but are of Poplar. Of 
course we have in British Guiana wood as good for the 
purpose as Mahogany or Poplar, but the cost of manu- 
fadture precludes the bateas or battels being made here. 
The iron pan is thus used in California: — the super- 
ficial soil having been removed, a portion of the alluvial 
matter containing gold is placed in the pan, which is 
then sunk horizontally below a stream or pond ; when 
full the pan is placed on the miner's knees or on some 
convenient stone. The miner breaks the lumps with his 
fingers and stirs the contents of his pan until a soft mud 
is formed, then the pan is sunk below the water and is 
so agitated that gold gravel (in California) and coarse 
sand sink to the bottom, while the lighter particles flow 
