Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-25

II he principal formation UT SuDstIatum IN
these hills is talcose slate the superstratum,
sometimes penetrating to great depth, is
quartz. This, however, does not cover the
entire face of the country, f,at extends in
large bodies in various directions-is found
in masses and small fragments on the sur
face, and seen along the rarines, and in the
mountains overhanging the sivers, and in
the hill-sides in its original beds 1t crops
out in the valleys and on the tops of the
hills, and forms striking feature of the en-
tire country over which it extends. From in
Vulnerable evidences and indications, it has
come to be the universally admitted opinion
among the miners and intelligent men who
have examined this region, that the gold,
mhether in detached particles and in pieces,
or in reins, ,caS created IN combination NTH
the quartz Gold is not fonnl on the sur
face of the country. presenting the appear
ance of having been thrown up and scatter
ed in all directions by volcanic action. 1t
is only found in particular localities, and
attended by peculiar circumstances and in-
dicatons 1t is found in the bars and
shoals, of the rivers, in ravines, and in what
are called the dry diggings.
The rivers, in forming their channels, or
breaking their way through the hills, have
come III contact with the quartz containing
the gold veins, and by constant attrItion cut
the gold into fine flakes and DUST and it is
found among the sand and gravel of their
beds at those places where the swiftness of
the current reduces it, IN the dry season, to
the narrowest possible limits, and where u
wide margin Is, consequently, left on each
side, over which the water rushes, during
the wet season, with great force.
As the velocity of some streams is great
er than others. SO is the gold found in fine
or coarse PARTICLES, apparently correspond
ing to the degree of attrition to which it
has been exposed. The water from the
hills and upper valleys, in finding its way
TO the rivers, has cut deep ravInes, and,
wherever 1t came IN contact with the quartz,
has dissolved or crumbled it in pieces.
In the dry season these channels are
mostly without water, and gold Is found in
the beds and margins of many of them IN
large quantities, but in much coarser state
than IN the rivers; OWING, undoubtedly, To
the moderate flow and temporary contlnu-
ance OF the current, which has reduced il
to smooth shapes, not unlike pebbles, but
had not sufficient force to reduce ii to flakes
or dust.
The dry diggings are places where quartz
containing gold has cropped out, and been
disintegrated, crumbled 10 fragments, peb-
bles aud dust, BY the action of water and
the atmosphere. The gold has been left
as 1t was made, in all imaginable shapes !;
III pieces OF all sizes, from one grain to sew
eral pounds IN weight. The evidences that
1t was created IN combination with quartz
are too numerous and striking to admit of
doubt or cavil. They are found in con,5i-
nation IN large quantities..
very large proportion of the pieces OF
gold found Ia these situations have more or
less quartz adhering to them; In many
specimens they are So combined they can
not be separated without reducing the whole
mass TO powder, aud subJectlng it to the
action of quicksilver.
Tins gold, not having been exposed to
the attruon of a strong current of water,
retains, IN great degree, lis original con-
formation
These diggings, in some places, spread
have the appearance of an alluvion, formed by
washlngs from the adjoining hills, ofdecom-
posed quartz and slate earth, aud vegetable
matter.
In addition to these facts it is be yond
doubt true, that several vein-mines have
been discovered in the quartz, from which
numerous specimens have been taken, show
Ing the minute connection between the gold
and the rock, and indicating a value hith-
eric unknown in gosd-mIning.
These veins do not present the appear
ance of places where gold may have been
lodged by some violent eruption. 1t is COM
bned with the quartz, in all imaginable
forms and degrees of richness.
:, The rivers present very striking, and it
,ha -, Gem, conclusive evidence respecting
cred in the ousr,gg gold remaining undiscos-
bic that the gold in the q. y Is not prooa,
that in the risers-,he former iYxhs.ass, and
latter in dust-was created by different PUG e.se
cesses. That which is found in the rivers
has undoubtedly been cut or worn from the
veins in the rock, with which their current:
have come in contact All of them appeal
to be equally rich. This is shown by the
fact that laboring man may collect nearly
as much in one river as he can in another.
They intersect and cut through the gold re-
gion, running from east to west, at irregu
lar distances, OF Is to 30, perhaps some o
them, 80 miles apart.
Hence it appears that the gold veins are
equally rich in all parts of that most remark
able section OF country. Were it wanting
there are further proofs of this in the "a
vines and dry diggings, which unilormI,
confirm wha; nature SO plainly shows in tn,
| rivers.
For the purpose offorming some opinion
respecting the probable amount or value o
treasure in the gold region, it will be prop
er to state the estimates which have beer
made of the quantity collected since its DIS
covery.
Gold was first discovered on the soutl
fork of the American Rive. at aplace call
ed Suffers Mill. now Cologsa--late in Ma
or early in June, 1S46. In(efmation whicl
could be relied on announcing this discov
cry was not received in this city until lat
in the following autumn.
No Immigration into the mines could
therefore have taken place from the ole
States that year. The number of miner
| ,v.s c...sao,,a,tIv l,sn.tad ~ the nor,,,l n