The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-05-23
The Emerald Mines Of Muzo.

by the name Of LAW.
--A-.
The Emerald Mines of Muzo.
Within four days journey from Bogota.
a French company has been enjoying
monopoly for the last ten years Of an the
emeralds found in the neighboring mines.
and indeed Of all tho emeralds found n
Columbia, The lease expires shortly, and
tho government think they can get better
terms in the open market for fresh con-
tract, than BY granting renewal to the
present leaseholders. The annual payment
now is 1900 dollars, for which the gov
eminent bosnd themselves to prohibit the
working Of any other mines, existing in
the territory Of the Union.
The mines were known and worked long
before the discovery Of America and the
conquest Of New Granada BY the Span
iards, When an expedition arrived In that
part Of the country, about 1853, to reduce
the tribe Los Muzos 70 the Spanish rule,
these Indians were found to possess large
quantity Of cmerAlds. It is, however, not
easy to see how they worked the mines, as
they had no tools Of iron IL supposed
that they found the s.onsa 10 the beds Of
the mountain torrents for ii something's
occurs that the Winter rains produce great
land slides which lay bare large veins Of
emeralds, il which they are washed out by
the waters. But report speaks unfavor-
ably Of the quality Of these gems; they
resemble those which are still found in the
Indian burial places, or in tho lakes into
which the Indians used 10 throw their re-
lies during their struggle with the Span
iards. Lot, however, this be as il may, the
mines Of Muzo were worked soon after the
arrival of the Spaniards on a largo scale,
both in the open air and by means Of sub
terranean galleries; but about the middle
of the eighteenth century, the mines were
abandoned no one knows why. And il was
not until the war Of independence and the
expulsion of the Spaniards that working
operations were again resumed. The mines
were naturally taken possession Of BY tho
Republic, and let out to individuals and
companies.
/ The principal mine now in work Is pierre
ed in every direction by galleries made by
the Spaniards. Since 1926 It has been
worked in the open air An immense
number Of gems have been found, many Of
them Of great value, Afcr this mine shall
have been exhausted, which will not be for
many years, not a thousandth part Of the
ground containing emeralds win have been
touched.
About two days journey from Muzo
there is mother mine called Lasquez which
was just touched by the Spaniards, and is
evidently very rich All this ground, in
Guiding Lasqaea, bears traces Of the pres.
ence of the Spaniirds and as the geologi-
4 cal formation is the same in the whole
neighborhood, il is clear that the day is far
distant before these mountains will be ox-
hausted.
| The mountains Of Muzo belong tc the
lower formation Of chalk The cmeralds
arc found in two distant layers; the first 0,
upper one composed Of calcareous btu
men, but hard and compact. These two
layers are generally separated forom each
other by distinct Of from seventeen to
twenty-five yards. In the open layers are
found the veins which yield the s'nests"
Of emerlds--that is to say, number Of
these gems massed together. But after
one of these nests the vein disappears, be-
ing crosscd by others Of different kind,
which run ia different direction to those
containing the emcralds. These latter
veins are called Acenicerosr from their
ashy color they are generally horizontal,
while the emerald veins are perpendicular.
They all run from N. l.. to s. W. The
veins Of the lower layer are more regular,
and are followed for fifty or sixty yards,
aud even more. "Ncsts" Of emeralds are
seldom found in them, but they are more
easy Of extraction. When veins Of fuor
spar, well crystallised, are met with, the
emerald is not far off; the presence Of rock
crystal is also good sign, as likewise that
Of pretty pyramidally Snapped stone Of
the color Of honey.--Iroa