The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-23
From The Washington Globe.

and admnistl alton, from the pen oil Johh H.
Hays, Esq, OF the katabdm Iron Works,
Maine, doubtless known to many OF our
readers for his distinguished attalnments IN
geology, will be read with interest at the
prese Mt period Of excitement on the subject
Of the gold mines Of California.
THE GOLD DEPosITEs OF SIBERIA.
At a time when the recent wonderful
discoveries in California are attracting uni
versaF attention, notice Of the gold depos-
ties Of Siberia, which, from their recent dis
covery, great richness, and distance from
the seats Of civilization, offer obvious points
Of comparison with our own FL Dorado,
would seem to possess unusual interest.
The materials for the notice Of the au-
riferous alluvions of Siberia, which pro-
pose now to give, have been principally
compiled from the invaluable repertory Of
metallurgical knowledge, the Annaies des
Mines, and particularly from an article eN-
tracted from the Gazette du Commerce OF
ST. Petersburg, inserted in the volume Of
the Annales for 1913.
For some years previous to 1929, the
attention OF the Russian Government and
private adventures was devoted to work
ing the aurilerous alluvlons Of the western
TANKS Of the Oural Mountains. The
works in this district made rapid prog
ress, and establishments for washing the
gold were successfully organized among
the mountains lying further towards the
north But it was generally considered
that there was no hope Of finding gold in
Siberia, or the vast country on the other
side of the Oaral Mountains; and the direc-.
tors Of the principal mines Of that coun-
try gave the sanction Of their authority to
these views Notwithstanding this, two
enterprizing merchants, named Popof and
/ RezanoH, determined to explore the Slopes
Of the conretortS of the Oural chain, which
extend their ramihcations into Tobolsk -
In 1929 they discovered some indications
Of aurierous deposites at the foot Of the
Alta Mountains, in the government Of
| Tomsk but the product Of the washings
was so small as to confirm the idea Of the
unproductiveness Of the sands of Siberia.
In 1890, a distinguished engineer Of mines
having been made Governor Of Tomsk, the
auriferous sands Of this part,of the Empire
were methodically explored BY officers who
had obtained experience in the Ourals, and
deposite quite rich in gold was discovered.
/ This discovery entirely changed the IDEAS
which had been entertained respecting the
wealth Of the soil Of Siberia, and encouraged
many private adventures to commence ex-
plorations for gold, In 1881, Popof found
in the valleys of the affluents of the KY
many beds of aurilerous sands, but Of only
moderate richness. In 1881, Rezanof dis
covered upon the borders of the Koudous-
touyoule very rich deposite, which is yet
celebrated for its productiveness. Upon this
point the labors of the adventures were
4 concentrated for several years, In 1886, re-
searches We're extended towards the east, in
the southern part Of the government Of
Yenisseisk. There, in a country bristling
of exceedingly rich depostss was discovered
upon the shores Of the Birouzka
But the treasures of this rich basin were
not sufficient for the activity Of the explorers,
whose numbers constantly increased In
1899, Rezanof, with many others, pene-
trated the northern country, to the vast re-
gions watered by the rivers Upper, Lower,
and Rocky Toungouska. In lS4l, between
the last two rivers, they found a great num-
Der Of beds Of auriierous sands, remarkable
both for their extent and richness, and which,
in the immensely Of treasures which they
contained, surpassed all others before dis
covered. -.
We have no detailed account of researches
since 1912; but at that period explorers
We're pushing still further north and east, and
the reports which we have of the enormous
increase of the products Of the auriferous
sands of Russia in 1916, show that the ex-
plorations were crowned with success.
1t is matter Of scientific interest, and
it may be matter Of practical Importance,
as indicating the proper districts for research
! in California, to notice the nature Of the
mountains among which the principal aurife-
rous depostes in Siberia have been found.
The middle Of Siberia is furrowed by an
} almost uninterrupted series Of imposing
chains of mountains, dependent upon those
Of Central Asia, and designated successfully,
from west TO east, under the name Of the
Altai, Sayane, Duourie, &c. The impor-
tant beds of auriierous sands have never
been found upon the declivities of the prin-
cipal chains. Even in the high mountains,
which have been explored with the most
care, as in the district Of the mines Of koly-
van, which abound in copper and silver, nc
aurilerousbeds have been found, except some
which were too poor to be washed withpro6t
All the beds Of auriferous sands important
for their extent or richness, as yet discovered
y in Siberia, have been found upon the decli.
vites Of the cOntretOrts Of the principal
ranges, or the lesser hills, which descend il
numerous ramifcations from the principal
ranges. The deposites containing the gold
are found scattered between the SUBMITS o.
the different systems Of lesser mountains,
and in the valleys which are sometimes pa
rallel to the direction OF the chain, or trans
versal to them. They are more often found
upon the borders or in the beds Of streams
Of water, or in marshes. Auriierous depo,
1 q. A Al