The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-09
GOLD IN THE SOUTH. ,
Where 1t Ii Found, and How II Ii
Mined and Treated.

WASHINGTON. May S.-A report Of
George f. Becker, of the geological survey.
who has been investigating the gold-pro-
ducing districts of the southern Appa-
lachian region, has been completed. Mr..
Becker was sent out on this work last
August, and spent the three following
months in prosecuting it. The greater part
of the time he. was in the C%arolinas and in
Georgia. where the gold region is best de-
fined. These districts have been producing
gold for very nearly a full century. Gold
has also been found in nearly all the other
Southern States, but not in. very considera-
BILE quantities. The entire South has pro-
duced about SIS, 200. Oo0 Of gold since 1893, $43.-
OOo.o 600 of which came from Georgia and the
Carolinas. OF the s43. 900, 900 South Carolina
produced about four millions, Georgia six
teen millions and North Carolina twenty
three millions. Cabarrus county, in the
southwestern part of North Carolina. is
the richest part of all and is famous for
the nuggets that have been found there.
In the early part of the century the largest
nugget on record in the United States was
discovered there. Just a month ago one
weighing over eight pounds was discovered.
The formation in which the gold is found
is so peculiar that Mr.. Becker has found IL
best to disregard the old expression Of vein
or estri l n be sha sHna' of 'n the n strins ens of OF
gold-bearing quartz are extremely thin. AS
a rule they run through a slate formation
which has been split apart by thousands
OF tiny longitudinal cracks, in which the
gold-bearing veins run. He has counted as
n many bs as 1% .goIS i D1 q 'h brssat flng of s opa inrS'
The widest of these stringers is not more
than four inches. AS a rule, too. the string
the ends by almost imperceptible transverse
or partially transverse cracks. A long reef
Of the slate filed with these stringers con-
-L-s NJ IL Ill 49, -x-G--
belt. The methods of mining in this forma-
ton are somewhat like those formerly used
in the hydraulic mining of California The
washed down by the impact Of a stream of
water. This is directed only against the
s s!aices ree wb sna tine 5ne f Geer, so1 Is i IS casab through %ss
very fine gold usually escapes. The heavy
pieces of rock are saved and are milled I'm
chioridation process that has been found
we'll adapted for the ores. One popularity
of the work is that the ore from above the
oxidized seldom yields a greater quantity
than one-fourth of its gold. while that from
the lower levels. where there has been no
half. The explanation is that the rusts or
oxides formed cover the particles of gold
gamating with the mercury. Ore assaying
IS a ton will pay for general mining, while
that worth as little as H.67 a ton will pay
by the chloridation process in vogue. The
usual run of ore in the mines that are
worked is about five dollars per ton. There
is comparatively little pan or ordinary
placer mining. This little is done by ne
groes. who earn at the best about seventy
five cents a day, This is enough to pay
them for the work. under the low scale of
wages in the South, but would, of course,
not be an inducement to any one to go
there. Mr.. Becker saws he considers the
country a good mineral one. and the pros
poets for investment excellent. There are
not likely to be any great fortunes made
nor any bonanzas discovered. but mining
investments will pay from 10 to 10 per cent.
If made Uith care and nrltdanca