Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-05
vermont q Gold Bearing State

icle is said to be from gentleman well qualfi-
ed to write upon the topic chosen, and will
doubtless interest all our readers. Vermont is
certainly gold-bearing state in one sense: her
rich soil and abundant resources for manufacture
ing, under the direction of an energetic and IN
dustrious population, produce gold in sufficient
abundance to crafty reasonable men. II Yer
mont possesses the article in different form, let
us know it. The following article will lead many
a man to search for the precious metal: but let
no man neglect a safe and sure business for the
searching. The farmers among the gold mines
of North Carolina have found that mining rs a
business is Improbable; they now mako farming
their business, and follow gold washing on rainy
days and at leisure time.
Messrs Bishop aud Tray while so many
thousands of the ehterprislng men OF New-Eng-
land are rushing to the Pacific in search OF gold,
it seems desirable that those who remain at home
in the discharge of trusts and of regular indus
Irv should be aware OF what an inheritance re-
mains with them. 1t may serve 10 relieve the
charrin of some at not being able TO go, Ia learn
that possibly substantial reward may follow u
search for gold made in accordance with the
following suggestions.
1t is not for the purpose OF saying what Is new,
but 10 bring together what Is known, that make
this communication, exhibit TO the people of
Vermont what is at their own dOors,-to present
those facts that 30 to show that Vermont is a
gold bearing state,-and has a gold formation
extending from her Southern 10 her Northern
border.
Many wears ago, Prof. Eaton, of Troy, made
an extended comparison OF gold ore specimens
of North Carolina with those OF Mexico aud
found them so entirely resembling each olher
tina, he concluded they must have come FROM
formation of the same character which lie pro-
bounced the Taicose slate formation; and from
his acquaintance with the geology OF the East
side of The Green Mountains, he gave the opin-
lou that eve may anticipate the discovery oil
gold" in this range.
Although gold is found in different countries
in several other rocks, as granite, enelss, INCA
slate, and several othes rocks OF igneous origin,
yet its association with the IdlcoSe slate, is So
extensive that a geoogst IN exploring new
country does not hesitate tn say, II lie mus nus
formation, that the country has gold Jorma-
ton.
Prof Dana, of the Exploring Expedition, with
n considerable party, passed across The region
from the Columbia river to San Francisco In
rapid Journey that allowed of no extensive exam
iuation of the country out OF the direct line ol
march. On ascending the Klamath river (per
haps earer) TO cross the height Ji land near NJ l.
Fsashtl, he discovered the 3dlcoSe slate lorna
ton; and though on descending into the plains
Of the valley of The Sacramento he left the rock
in place, yet the constant occurrence oi pe6b!eS
oCMs and other aiiied rocks in the valleys OF the
streams that flowed down iron the Sierra Neva-
da range assured him that the formation conlln-
ued down TO Suffers settlement, where The par
ty encat0ped and he describes the rocks OF the
country as resembling The gold bearing rocks 81
Other regions.
Let US see " hat facts there are TO warrant a
reasonable expectation Of finding gold III range
East of the Green Mountains.
As early 1896 n lump Of native Gnd was
picked up in Newiaue, weighing l-2 ounces.
1t is stated 10 have been pure gold, with the ex.
ception OF some quartz crystals attached to II,
weighing perhaps halt ounce. It's sp. gray.
was lG.5. This fact shows it TO have been al
loyed and probably with silver The Talcose
slate formation extends from the middle OF Mas
sachusetts, up through liawley, ClarcHont and
Rowe, into Vermont; aud it has been predicted
BY Professor Eulon, that gold might be properly
SOUGHT for in the sources of Deerlield RIVER
Some years ago, in the explorations Of lien mines
IN Somerset, VT. native gold WIS found on wash
ing The sands of this river.
Prof Hitchcock himself, with another person,
washed 'six quarts of the dirt taken about foot
below the suffice, aud obtained 20 or 80 small
pieces, weighing grams ""u 0"S"~i Vi Ni''
washed gave peuny-welghls.
In the ouartz which contained the iron ore,
several spherical pieces OF gold as large as a
pigeon shot were found.
The specimens of The ore Qhe quartz andironj
when compared with those ct the gold ore"
from Virginia and North Carolina, cannot be
distinguished by the eye
1t may be remarked that i'll every case in
which gold has been found at this place IN Il e
4.
staut companion Of the gold in the California
washings and of nearly all others IN the world.
Three or four miles south of the Somerset
minc piece OF native gold was found, that sold
for 500.
There are some similar facts to be noticed on
the North, in Canada.
In 1888, piece of native gold was found
about thirty miles 10 the southwark of Quebec,
in region of 1'aicose state, on the Chaudlere
river, weighing 1852 grs. Troy.
During the last summer number of pieces
Of native gold were carried To New Haven, winch
were obtained on the Chaudiere river.
The weights of solne of the largest of them
were % grs., 724 grs., 1856 grs.,-wilh an aver
age sp. gr of only 1885, which was owing to
considerable alloy with silver. They were WON
smooth like alluvlal god, though they are said
to have been found imbedded.
The associated minerals md the ,alcose slate
rocks resemble those OF The mines OF Russia,
which are all auvlal or gravel mines.
"A few tons OF gravel have been washed in
Canada with the Berks rocker, and yielded about
$500 to the ton OF gravel"
With such facts as these on The North and
South Of the State we recur 10 the extent and
outline of The iGicose slate or gold formation, as
described in the slate Geological Report.
In Vermont the different formations have rea.
ton to the central ridge of elevation, the Green
Mountains; and we find them occurring in series
on The East side, with general direction nearly
north and south, parallel 10 the axis of this
range, and of different and varying widths.
The Geological report says, p. w, "The
prominent kinds of rocks which occur East OF the
principal range of the Green Mountains in this
State, are 1acose slate, mica slate or Green
Mountain gneiss IA very coarse mca,) calcareo-
mica slate, gneiss proper, granite, clays and
horn-blende slate" Beginning on the South
sin Readsborough, Whitnsham, Searsburgh,
Wilmington, Somerset, Dover, Slratton, Wards
borough, Jamaica, Winhall, Londonderry, Land
grove, Weston, Mount Holly, and Shrewsbury,
towns lying principally IN the west part Of
Windsor and Wndham counties, The Iock is
chiefly mica slate"
This description points out that a bend or
stripe Of mica slate passes from the Southern
line of the State across these towns, occupying a
greater or less part Of their area, while IN many