The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-10-06
Tho Gold Regions,

OF all modern sciences, Geology is Ger.
tainly the most imperfectly developed.
| With immense accumulation of observa-
tion, it is still utterly devoid of any of
those grand generalizatipns that alone give
meaning and measure TO facts The
mi shty results to be derived from research
es into the chemistry of Geology have
been Utmost wholly neglected. A due de-
gree of heat, We know reduces the solid
structure of the planet earths and rocks
and metals--into nebulcus vapcr and
from nebulous vapor, then all must have
come.--But what do we know of how the
element of the earth originated ; in what
manner they separated into minerals, be-
coming finally organicP .,.
An interesting practical problem that
would find solution by large theory of
the earth would be tho laws Of distribution
Of metals. What are the laws of chem.
ieal and geological associations on which
the presence OF metals depend 7 In the
case of coal for instance, it 10 perfectly
understood that only in the (" coal meas.
ures" is this deposit and no adventures
would be so mad a. to follow the example
Of certain company in this State, some
years ago, which squandered a large
amount of capital in seeking for the pre-
cious gift amid the Silurian rocks on the
banks of the Hudson. In the case Of gold
too, experience has shown that 1t Is only
in the primary grounds, including certain
associated indigenous rocks, that gold ore
has ever been found in large quantity.
But in the distribution of this metal othor
conditions seem to come into play.
Thus. it is curious and interesting fact,
that gold has always been mainly found
in mountain ranges running North and
South rarely in those running East and
West. Of tho truth of this, ths slightest
examination of the history Of the great
aurifsrous regions Of the world will satisfy
any mind. On the continent of Europe
and Asia the great dorsal spine is the
Ural range. Now this, we know has been
tire fruitful source Of large portion of
the gold of the world for thousands OF
years. Some of the earliest European
mythologies have reference to the workings
Of these mines, as the mythesus of the
golden fleece, and the Pypilikas Of gold.
finding nnts--a sypolsm for the Mongo.
lian miners. Nor have these mountains
ceased their yield on the contrary, the
product has greatly increased since the
exploration of the mines under Russian
scienc:, and the present annual yield is
over 10000 lbs., Sl2,500,O00. In the
more limited instances of the Transylvan.
ian region the same phenomenon presents
itself, the hills ranging North and South,
and though the Altai run East and West
the auriferous courses are on spurs ex.
tending Moth and South Of the main
range. When. however, We come to com.
pare the great ranges running East and
West, as the Himalayau and Alpine, VIC
find them altogether destitute of that
prominent auriferous character. On the
American continent, too, the fact stands
saliently forth. The two great aurifsrous
regions in America have always been the
great Appalachin range, and tht back.
bone. the Rocky Mountains and the Ande.
with their spurs, which spines the co1tin.
ent throughout its whole length.-It is in
the latter, especially, that the placers Of
Mexico Peru, California, and more re.
Gently New. Caledonia, are found. On the
east coast are the Hrazillian deposits III
the mountain chain running parallel with
the ,oast from the 5th to the 18th degree
Of South latitude, 1t might have beer
predicted geologicslly after the discoverie.
in California. that gold would be found il
the Fraser River region, and nerth still
for hundreds Of miles, rich yields will
doubtless yet be discovered. Indeed, au
riferous quartz runs along all the range,
of that grea, cardinatins chain Of noun
tains. a5 s.F. ta.-a
Not that very much Is to DO ascribcl t,
the mere position: the significance is il
tho fact shat position itself is one of tn
harmonious results Of manifold conspirin,
causes, operative in the production Of ge
o'ogical and geognostic phenomena. Fruit
ful suggestions are afforded in the I'm
modern researches into the causes of tn
formation of continents, Of which such in
tsresting developments were given at tn
meeting of tho Scientific Association
year ago. From such researches we ma,
hope that the apparently accidental coin
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