Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-01-09


portance, that the direction given 10
the routes of canals and roads OF eve.
ry description should bemuehinfluenced
by the local position of mineral and
metallic beds, and that they should not
be influenced altogether, as they still
continue to be, by the physical geogra-
ply of particular lines Of direction?
But | am conscious, it is unnecessa.
ry for me further to urge these consi-
derations upon your enlightened mind.
| have been insensibly drawn into an
unwonted length on an important SUBJ
ject, and have very little room TO ad.
/, vert to most interesting locality of
the metallic resources of Virginia, now
known as the Gold Region. Imagine
n great misconception exists in the pub.
lie mind in relation to this subject, and
l am happy that the information it is in
my power briefly to communicate, is
founded upon repeated personal inves-
tIgation. had conceived, some years
ago, the plan Of executing sketch of
general Geological Map of the Uni
ted States; but, after great devotion
to the pursuit, by preparatory studies
/ in Europe and this country, and
| great expenditure of time and money,
| have given il up, satisfied that il is
task far beyond the powers Of an I'M
assisted individual. The last two years
my Investigations have been principal
ly limited to Virginia, and unconnect.
ed with any individuals whatever, as
| always have been, and still am. |
have, during this period, made myself
Familiarity acquainted with every gold
| vein that has been worked in the State.
To this period of my life, shall al
ways look back with pleasure; every
facility has been extended to me by
the most grateful hospitality from eve-
ny quarter. Ii language were not in
| adequate TO express what | must al
ways feel on this subject, delicate
respect for the generous minds to whom
| feel under such deep obligations,
would at any rate impose silence upon
me.
| Interesting as the study of these
veins has proved to me, and full Of in.
| struction, it is not upon this occasion
! can enter into a scientific relation Of
their structure, and meteorological cha.
racters. Ii must suffice me TO say,
that some Of them present occasionally,
the most surprisingly beautiful and
rich specimens Of ore where the quartz
contains from ten to forty per cent. in
weight OF native gold, so pure, as to |
rise az high as twenty-three to twenty
three and halt Gratis. In some in
stances, the gold is found alleged with
silver, and in others have found not
inconsiderable quantities Of variety
of red sulphurct Of silver. Tellurium
also is not uncommon; to these may
be added sulphuret Of lead, pyritous
copper, and, though rarely, beautiful
crystals of fbrous malachte. The
sulphurets of iron are extremely abun.
| dant. In the most celebrated national
collections of Europe, most Of which
| | have visited, have never seen ores
more remarkable for richness and beau.
| ty. The rarest are from Orange,
Spottsylvania and Culpeper, where con-
| siderable Developments have been
made; and am sure that no mineralo-
gist who could have an opportunity of
examining those | have seen, would
hesitate to agree in the admiration
freely bestow upon them. 1t is true,
they are not of very frequent occur
renee, but still they are met with un-
der circumstances which hold out great
encouragement to pursue the veins, faf
beneath the superficial depths that have
been yet attempted.
The nature, too, of the alluvial de-
posites of gold, strengthens, in re-
markable manner, the encouragement
given by these indications. Nothing
| can be more certain than that the pre-
cious metal found in these, is derived
! from broken down quartz veins, and
slate veins containing seams of gold,
lying in the vicinity of the deposites,
can give you recent gratifying in
stance Of this. The proprietors of a
deposites in the county Of Louisa,
which had been for some time produc-
tive, came unexpectedly upon very
rich bed of gravel, which yielded. them
in six days, near ten thousand dollars
in fine gold. And this is no illusion;
for | have had an opportunity of see
ing the gold, and Of examining and
comparing it with specimens of the
vein from whence il was derived, and
which they have also had the good for
tune to discover contiguous to the de-
posite. The rock is pale porous
quartz, thickly studded with knobs and
lamna of gold, which correspond ex-
actly in form with the particles found
in the bed of gravel. The same cor
respondence have often observed in