The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1899-09-08
Gold in the Philippines.

That there is col1-baaring gravel and
rock in the Philippines is beyond
question How rich and extensive the
placers may be, and hoy the quartz
will pay, will not be determined until
the hand and eye of tie practical miner
shall have made their unmolested
presence felt on the banks Of streams
and inland mountains now closed to
white men. Lieut.. Il. S PaXson of
this city, who has been on the sick list
for several weeks and recuperating
under the sliillful nursing OF his family,
Informed representative of this jour
nal that he saw Philippine gold at
Manila. but could not learn from what
part of Luzon it came. He said that
some of the mountains, which are over
5000 feet above sea level, bore a strik-
ing resemblance to the Wasatch noun
tains around Salt Lake. He surmised
the gold dust he saw WAS washed down
from them.
A writer in late number OF the Re-
view of Reviews-Ramon Reyes Lata-
says that it was known that gold eX-
listed in the Philippines long before
the Spaniards conquered and took pos
session of the islands. When they did
however, they thought they had found
another Peru, and told extravagant
stories Of the weight and beauty Of the
bracelets, necklets and anklets of pure
gold worn by the natives. The Span
iards, however, helped themselves to all
in sight as they did in Mexico and
Peru, and made fair exhibit Of the
gold output Of the Philippines to
Spain and her people. The mining was
done after the crudest style and about |
as much slipped through tho unskillful |
fingers of the Spaniards as they saved.
They took the dust from the more ac- |
cessible districts near the coasts, but |
the natives mined theirs in the in
terror of Lrzon, where they obtained it
in larger quantities. Mr. Lata says:
Sin certain regions there is not
stream, large or small, whose sands Go
rot show the yellow trace OF gold, while
now and then natives of the interior
offer heavy nuggets for sale" The in
ferance is that the heavy pieces we're
specimens detached from pieces Of out
cropping quartz lodges by the action Of
the elements, heat and water. There
is no question that very rich gold bear
ing quartz will be found in the noun
tains of the interior of the islands.
Mr.. Lata says that The principal
gold-yielding region Of Luzon is the
district of Mambulao. The metal has
also been found in Mindanao, Mindoro,
Panag. Cebu and the smaller islands OF (
Samar, Calanduanes, Sibuyan, Bohol
and Panaor One of the larger islands, I
MindorO, gains its name from its gold
deposits, it signifying Nina de ore
gold mine)." The natives say there
are places in the interior which are rich
in gold. 1t is so plentiful in some
places that the natives carry it in bags
Or purses for use in their ordinary buy
ing and selling. The yield of some of
the placers to the native miners is
about $50 ounces a month to the man. i
What could an American placer miner l
do there with little giant and plenty I
Of water and fall? '
Rich quartz lo1es are said to be a
known in the island Of Nisamis, ana /
also in the small island OF Panaon, bu.
about all the mining which has been
lone there has been done in placer
ground. Doubtless the natives are
veil aware of the wealth OF precious
metal deposits in the islands, fact c
which may have led them to make such /
In obstinate stand against the advance n
If the Americans in the interior They L
want the gold for their own use.--Wos- J
.ern Mining World.