The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-23
AFRICA.

The Gold Fields in the south Of Africa.
The following extracts are taken from the letter
OF Dr. EXfon to the Secretary OF the Colonial govern
ment, and afterwards published in the Cape Town
Argus and throw considerable light on the reported
gold field discoveries in the south OF Africa
nave the honor to report the result OF my per-
sonal observation upon the site OF the recent dscov
cry OF gold In the country lying between Gamang-
wato anu the territory Of the Chief MoseAatze.
ne position is the one pointed out by Mr.. Hartley
to the colony by Herr Mauch were taken The latter
i understood to have obtained other specimens far
IN Mashona country, to the northeast of Moseli-
katzes chel town: but the part to which the atten-
ton OF Cape colonists has been more immediately
directed lies on the northern bank OF the That
q tributary OF the Shashi, itself running into the
LiinpopO and les miles from Shoshong on the main
road to the interior.
There appear to have BEEN attempts in former
times to excavate at this spotthe main shaft or the
Fochefstro0m party being u continuation OF an old
working which had been carried TO depth Of thirty
the lapse or time and through the loose deritus OF
which the present miners dug, till they found the
aura undisturbed rock.
ine work s at the summit OF an emnence consist
ing OF green talcose Slate, through the strata of
winch three principal veins OF quartz in south
east direction. that being the strike OF the strata
These veins are from eighteen inches two feet
VIDE. and In two only have gold been found. The
ABOVE mentioned shaft commences al one OF these
quartz veins. and as the dip Of the strata Is angle
OF seventy-fve degrees The shaft In the perpcndic
lar section exposes successfully the quartz and
proacl nearer each other descend.
The most encouraging specimens OF aurfer0us
quartz have been taken about thirteen inches from
The ground surface and there would appear to be
larger proportion of metal in the quartz imnledi-
atelr IN contact with the slate.
where The rocks are in contact there Is fine fra
Die detritus, yielding some gold on washing the rest
beng distributed III extremely fine particles through
the quartz: but according to the experience of the
miners, who afforded me every opportunity to verify
their observations the proportion becomes less In
quantity as they descend.
Greatly to the welfare of this country and to the
interests Of the colony "a II undoubtedly would be.
were remuneratiye gold fields opened out here, after
careful examination OF the geological features OF
the surrounding country am compelled "a take a
less snnguine view Of the vaiue and prospect OF
profitable working OF these fields than in the excite
ment attendant upon their first being made known,
was anticipated.
From Shoshong Gamangwato to the river
Shosna the surface rock is granite here and there
capped with rachite or hasalt and along the bed OF
the Shosfa, which explored for some eight miles,
granite Is exposed the whole distance.
To the river That, six and a half miles northward,
granite Is the prevailing formation, passing rs We
nearci the That into schstosc sandstone.
As we cross the That meet first some low hills
Of magnetic ronstonc lying upon the alcose slate,
tue Latter extending six miles nortl,ward, when we
IND narrow bed OF quartz grit ana schist. with
granite beyond, which extends through the xt flty
miles oil country and prevails gilt away into Mosei
katze's country.
Tho aurferous quartz veins are limited to the mar
row reefs IN the slate north Of the That. We have
no aluyiuni, beneath which nuggets may he found,
I'm the Ural California and Australia the only
sembnnce to the latter continent being the yeln-
stones through the slate already described.
Tue dip OF the strata being scveDty-fyc degrees,
the search for gold necessarily follows the line OF
tact between the quartz and slate, whcn is so little
removed from the perpendicular rs 10 entail all the
labor Of shait.enking; ana the amount OF gold ~
engaged rather 10 further prospecting than
tinning their iaborious work.