The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-03
TIE CAROLINA GOLD FIELDS.
Mineral Wealth OF the Up-Country-
Gold and Mica mar Walhalla.
From the Columbia Unlon.l

From the columbia Unlcn.I
Some time since we published short &C
count of the minerals found In Oconee County,
furnished by Mr.. A. G. Laughlin, who has re-
that locality. We have been permitted to
copy the following letter giving further de-
scriptIon of these minerals and their locality:
II was in hopes that / would have been
able to have made complete report with
quantitative analysis annexed, but having
only visited the neighborhood IN order to ex.
anime and express my ideas In reference to
the mine, being without my apparatus for
making analyses, can only give you these few
turning to the mine soon, when | shall be
happy to furnish other desirable information.
dAs some have imagined, the Lawton gold
mine does not consist OF one shaft or more, as
Is the general rule, but are only excavations OF
few feet In depth and small tunnel OF about
a hundred feet long, where there was, no
doubt. vein. Some few weeks ago party
their tent with the permission Of Colonel Llv-
ingstone on one of the streams located on his
land, about seventeen miles from Walhalla, In
Oconee County. This party, after remaining
only O week or 80. retired to quarters un-
known, having paid Colonel L nine dollars In
gold, aportion. no doubt. OF that which they
had extracted (by washing) during their stay
"IHe place huOHu do LhC hoWLOu nainS u&S
been worked at different periods TOR some
twenty years. It was very advantageously
managed by Mr.. Young. from North
Carolina, who made, 1t is said, quite for
tune in the space of three years. 1t
ls, therefore, hardly necessary to mention
further report In reference to this rich and
we'll known locality. 1t Is sufficient to add
that In every branch and even on the surface
of tbe earth, for miles around these streams,
tlx-d Ind fota QlrifnrOna
quartz and sand.
"a Mr.. Phillips, some years ago, In sndeaV'
oring 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 (owiBg to the course OF the
stream) from rich deposit or pocket, some
where on or In the side of the branch.
"These water-courses, as ! have 6een tolo,
have no Names but certainly should be classl.
fed into one group. to be known as the gold
fields of South Carolina, the possession OF Whlca
we should be proud to coast, and we might
endeavor TO assist In the development OF 30
rich deposit Of gold which 80 seldom occurs
even In richer countries.
" also found quantities Of mica, las is the
case In the Blue Rldge,) but not IN large
enough pieces for any particular purposes p'
though do not doubt but that IL IS tnere.
The chemical combination of most OF the specl.
mems I found is principally silica, alumni
and alkali or potash or potassium. Some speci-
mems contain oxide of chrome, sometimes TO
four per cent, oxide Of manganese. oxide OF
Iron and water. Minute quantities OF natren
and magnesia, and little feor, observed
In some specimens which will correspond TO
the general formula for mica.
sThe colors are yellow, gray, green and
reddish. white, and mostly transparent. Al
thonoh have been unable to give you cor
rect ANALYSIS OF the metallic orein this vicinity,
I at least have given you some little informa-
tlon In reference to the chemical composition
NJ tho soil ~