Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1871-11-09

permitted to copy the following letter Civ
ing a further description OF these minerals
and their locality:
II was in hopes that would have been
able to have made complete report with a
quantitative analysis annexed, but having
only visited the neighborhood in order to
examine. and express my ideas in reference
to the mine, 1 being without my apparatus
for making analysis, can, only give YOU
these details, which | know Ito be true, !
intend returning to the mine soon, when;
shall be happy to furnish other desirable
information. .-.... ...-..a ..., ....,
"As some have imagined, the Lawton
old mine does not consist of one shaft or
more, as is the general rule, bnt as only ,ex-
cayations of a foot in depth and small tun-
mel of about a hundred feet long, where
there was, no doubt a vein. Some few
weeks ago party came over from North
Carolina and pitched their. tent with the
permission of Colonel Livingstone on one.
of his streams located on his land, about
seventeen miles from Walhalla, in Oconee
County. This party, after remaining only
week or So. retired to quarters unknown
having paid Colonel L. nine dollars in gold,
portion, no doubt, of. that which they had
extracted (by washing) during their stay.
1.-THE place known as the Lawton mine
has been worked at different periods for
some twenty years. 1t was very advantage
ously managed by Mr.. Young, from North
Carolina, who made, it is said, quite for
tune in the space of three years. 1t is,
therefore, hardly necessary to mention
further report in reference to this rich and
well know locality. 1t is sufficient to add
hat in every branch and even on the surface
of the earth, for miles around these streams,
one can easily find large pieces of auriferous
quartz and sand.
IA Mr.. Phillips, some years ago, in en-
deavoring to change the course of one of
these branches, actually found large lump
of gold which could have been sold for the
sum of one hundred dollars. This piece of
gold, no doubt, came lowing to the course of
the stream from rich deposit or pocket,
somewhere on or in the side of the breach. "
"These water-courses, as I have been
told, have no names, but certainly should be
classified into one group, to be known as the
gold fields of South Carolina, the possession
of whi h we should be proud to boast, and
we might endeavor to assist in the develop
ment of so rich deposit of gold which SO
seldom occurs even in richer countries.
II also found quantities of mica, las is
the case in the Blue Ridge, but not in large
enough pieces for any particular purpose,
though do not doubt but that it is there.
The chemical combination of most, Of the
specimens I found is principally silica, allu-
mini and alkali or potash or potassium.
Some specimens contains oxide Of chrome,
sometimes to four per cent, oxide of man.
ganese, oxide of iron and water. Minute
quantities of natren and magnesia, and a lit
tie feor, observed in some specimens which
will correspond to the general formula for
mica"
The colors are yellow, gray, green and
reddish-white, and mostly transparent. AL
though 1 have been unable to give you
correct analysis of the metallic ore in this
vicinity, | at least have given you some lit
tie information in reference to the chemical
composition of the SOIL