The times., 1899-07-23
GOLD IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Primitive Methods of Mining tn,
Precious Metal

Precious Metal.
(Raymon Reyes Lala in the Review Of Reviews)
Up to the present time most of the gold
has been found in the easily accessible dis
tricts near the coasts, though the natives
of the interior of Luzon. region but little
explored. traffic in the precious metal,
which they evidently obtain from some
of the inland streams. AS yet placer de-
posits are the chief source of the metal,
which has been worn by the rains from
the mountain ranges and borne down by
rivulets and creeks to their lower chan
nels. In certain regions there Is not
stream, large or small, whose sands do not
show the yellow trace of gold, while row
and then natives of the interior offer heavy
nuggets for sale. The gold thus buried in
the river sands and gravels undoubtedly
had its source in the mountain ranges,
whose quartz veins await the hand and
eye of the cunning miner. They may be
rich; they may be poor; only scientific
study and exploration can tell.
The principal goldyielding region OF
Luzon is the district of Mambulao. The
metal has been found also in Mindanao.
Mindoro, Panay, Csbu. and the smaller isl
auds of Samar, Catanduanes, Sibuyan, Bo-
hoI, and Panaon. One OF the larger islands,
Mindoro. gains its name from its gold
deposits, it signifying NINA de era" gold
mine). The natives speak of places in its
interior which are rich in gold. The same
is the case with the interior OF the large
island OF Mindanao, where gold is so plen-
tiful that the natives carry it about in bags
for use in their ordinary buying and SELL
ing. Here are the Missmis placers, the
richest in the archipelago, their yield TO
the native miners being about 150 ounces
a month. Rich quartz veins are said to be
known in this island, and there is one
such vein in the small island @. Panaon,
lying north of Mindanao; but hitherto gold
has been mined principally in placer beds,
and these not very rich, as compared with
those of California. Personally, | know
very little about these gold gravels, as l
have seen only some Of their results. They
are so widely distributed and are worked
in so desultory a manner that their actual
richness is largely d matter of guesswork.
As regards the mother veins l have made
no search for them. and l am quite sure
that the Spaniards have not troubled them
selves in this direction. They rest in yir-
gin wealth, waiting in their pristine state
the coming of the American mining pros
pector. They will have TO be deeply hid
den indeed if they escape his penetrating
eyes.
In truth. at present only the edges of
the gold districts have as a rule, been
worked The absence OF roads has proved
an obstacle to the exploration of the inter-
ior insuperable 10 the easygoing Spaniard.
The natives make their way through the
dense forests. cutting a path as they go,
but these are tracks suited only 10 the
naked foot of the savage forester. Mining
outfits and machinery require roads of
different kind Bridges Will need to be
built highways constructed, and railroads
laid before these islands can be properly
exploited, and all this means time, capital,
energy. and enterprise. So doubtless, FOR
a number of years 10 come, the gold must
await its master.
Shall / say something now about how
/ the native mining is done? The Filipino
uses two tools only-a wooden bowl and a
washing board. These are of great an
tiquity. and form part of the household
furniture of every dwelling in the mining
districts In gold getting they are rude
and wasteful in the highest degree. All the
| feat gold is lest and only rich deposits
can be worked with any profit. The pro-
| cess of amalgamation, Indispensable IN
American mining. is quite unknown in the
Philippines. Only that the streams are
often rich in gold. such mining as this
would yield no returns. But so abundant
is the precious metal in some localities
that after heavy rains grains of il may be
picked up in village streets.
do not wish TO convey the idea that the
natives are quite ignorant Of the process
of quartz mining They do work scae OF
the richer veins in a crude fashion. break
ing the rocks with hammers or grinding