GOLD DEPOSITS O F 1,"/:"0 RI: I .·I FRONT/ .\' /'/ Fl ·1-: 1'1..

·1 TF I

I'I.A C EI< . ~ll :\' 1:\ C , AT TH E WHIT E l'ATH 1;0 1.1) Ml :\ ~: . C II. \IER COL' :\ TY , <:I·:OR<: I A.
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA

W. S. YEATES, State Geologist

BULLETIN No. 4- A

A PRELIMINARY REPORT
ON A PART OF THE

Gold Deposits of Georgia

BY

W.S.YEATES

State Geologist

AND

S. W. MCCALLIE and FRANCIS P. KING

Assistant Geologists
 I

GEO. W. HARRISON, STATE PRINTER

FRANKLIN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Atlanta, Ga.
 ERRATA

1. On page 28, 4th line from the bottom, for "1872 ", read
I77 2; and in the last line, for "Eleven years", read Seventeen years.
2. On page 43, roth line from the bottom, for "outs de" read
outside.
3· On page 5 I, 7th line from the bottom, for "lot go", read
lot 70; and in the 6th line from the bottom, for "just above the
20-stamp mill", read just belozv the 20-stamp mill.
4· On page I 62, 2nd line, for "operate", read work.
5· On page I73, 3rd line, for "operate", read ·work.
6. On page I 77, 2nd line from the bottom, for "stoping ", read
and stoping.
7· On page r8o, ISth line, for "right bank", read left bank.
8 .. On page I go, 6th line, omit the words, "and the sandstone
was penetrated".
g. On page 206, THE BELL PROPERTY, Ist line, for "32g", read
829.
10. On page 220, 2nd and 3rd lines from the bottom, for "The
story, though somewhat exaggerated", read The story, though probably
somewhat exaggerated.
I I. On page 225, 6th line, for "eighty years", read sixty years.
I 2. On page 2 3 I, gth line, for "cannot be verified", read could
not be ·verified.
13. On page 247, at the end of the 4th line, for "by", read at.
14· On page 2 54, 5th line from the bottom, for "seven hundred
pennyweights", read se11eral hundred pennyweights.
 THE ADVISORY BOARD

of the Geological Survey of Georgia

(Ex-Officio)

His ExcELLENCY, W. Y. ATKINSON, Governor of Georgia,

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

HoN. R. T. NESBITT . Commissioner of Agriculture

HoN. G. R. GLENN . Commissioner of Public Schools

HoN. R. U. HARDEMAN . . State Treasurer

I

HoN. W. A. WRIGHT . 0 • :t 0 0 •
Comptroller-General

HoN. A. D. CANDLER , Secretary of State

HoN. J. M. TERRELL , • , • • • • . Attorney-General

 SEPTEMBER 24th, I8g6.
To His Excellency, W. Y. ATKINSON, Governor, and President of the
Advisory Board of the Geological Survey of Georgia,
SrR: - I have the honor, to submit, herewith, the report of myself
and my assistants, Messrs. King and McCallie, on the Gold De-
posits of certain counties in the State, to be published, as one of
a series of economic bulletins, on this important source of our
material wealth.
Many inquiries from investors, during the past two years, em-
phasize the necessity for a clear and concise statement, as to the
location, extent and probable value of these deposits.
Very respectful! y yours,
w. s. YEATES,
State Geologist.
•

THE GOLD DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA

CHAPTER 1

THE OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY OF GOLD

BY S. W. MCCALLIE, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

GOLD, one of the most valuable of all metals, is nearly every-

where present; but only in comparatively few places does it occur,
in sufficient abundance, to be of economic importance. It is found
in the recent, as well as in the older geological formations. The
sea-water holds it in solution, and its presence has been detected
even in common brick-clay.
If the nebular hypothesis be true, gold, like all other elements,
was, at one time, during the early history of the earth, in a gaseous
condition. A loss of heat, together with certain chemical changes,
in process of time, caused many of these elements to assume a
solid form ; and, at the same time, to arrange themselves into vari-
ous groups and compounds, which now form the minerals of the
earth's crust. Gold thus probably passed from a gaseous to a liquid
state, before solidifying, in this way becoming pretty evenly dis-
(7)
8 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

tributed throughout the rock-mass. Cooling, drying, hardening, ac-

companied by extensive earth-movements, afterwards produced fis-
sures and joints in the earth's crust. Through these crevices, the
water circulated, carrying in solution various minerals, leached from
the rocks, through which they circulated. A reduction of temper-
ature and a decrease in pressure, as the water ascended, reduced
the solubility of the gold and other minerals, held in solution, and
caused them to be deposited along the walls of the fissures, thus
forming auriferous veins. Such, in brief, is a condensed outline of
the most probable theories, as to the origin of gold veins.
Gold occurs in a native state, and in chemical combination with
tellurium. As a native mineral, it rarely exists in nature chemi-
cally pure; but it is nearly always alloyed with more or less silver
and other minerals. Native gold varies greatly in purity, ranging
from 70 to 99 per cent. in fineness, and sometimes occurring even be-
low 70 per cent. fine. The Australian gold averages 94 per cent.
pure, while the California gold is only 88 per cent. The Georgia gold
runs from 7 5 to 98 per cent. pure, a general average being some-
what higher than the California gold.
Gold most frequently occurs in minute particles disseminated
through pyrite, quartz and other minerals ; but it is also sometimes
found in masses of considerable size, called nuggets. One of the
largest masses of native gold, so far reported, is the "Welcome"
nugget, found many years ago in Victoria, Australia. It weighed
184 pounds, and was valued at $40.470. Many other large masses
of gold have been found in Australia, weighing from 50 to 190
pounds.
The largest lump of gold, found in the United States, was dis-
covered on the Reed plantation in Cabarrus county, N. C., in 1799·
It was about 8 Yz inches long, 5 inches broad and an inch thick,
and weighed 28 pounds avoirdupois. A number of nuggets have
 OCCURRENG'E AND HiSTORY
9
also been found m California, the largest of which weighed 20

pounds.
There are numerous current reports of nuggets having been
found, at different mines, in Georgia ; but none of them compare, in
size, with the above. A nugget found at the White Path mine, Gil-
mer county, which was said to have weighed about 4 Yz pounds, and
was valued at $I,IOO, is probably the largest mass of native gold
ever found in the State.
The peculiar yellow color of gold, with its malleability and high
specific gravity, must have attracted the attention of man, at an
early date. These physical properties, together with its rarity,
made it an object of great value among the ancients, who first used
it, in making images of worship, and in decorating the persons of
their royal chiefs ; and, later, as a medium of exchange.
Probably the oldest written account of gold, now extant, appears
in the second chapter of Genesis, where it is spoken of, as occurring
along the river Pison, a stream, which flowed from the Garden of
Eden. Many allusions to gold occur in the Old Testament, from
which it is learned, that it was extensively used, by the Jews, in
adorning the robes of their priests, and in decorating their places
of worship. The immense amount of gold, collected by this chosen
people, for decorating Solomon's Temple, seems almost incredible.
The precious metal, thus used, has been valued at $2 so,ooo,ooo,
a sum, greater, by nearly one half, than the present annual out-
put of the world. Such an accumulation of gold indicates an ac-
quaintance with rich gold deposits, and an extensive knowledge of
mining. The source of this gold seems to be a mere question of
conjecture. However, it has been recently asserted, with a con-
siderable degree of confidence, by some of the best informed scien-
tists, that it was obtained from the rich auriferous deposits, now be-
ing worked in South Africa.
IO OCCURRENCE AND HiSTORY

The unearthing of golden vessels from the buried cities of EgyP,t,

and the remains of ancient works in the gold-fields of Western
Asia, show that the inhabitants of these countries were familiar
with the precious metal, and mined it, more or less extensively,
hundreds of years before the Christian era.
The following statistics and notes, collected from various sources,
give a short, condensed review and history of the principal gold-
producing countries of the world:-

GOLD PRODUCTION OF THE WORLD FOR 1895

EUROPE

A us tria-Hungary -- _-- .. - - :.. ______ - -- -- --- - --- - _____ $ I ,989, ooo

Germany -------- _____________________________ _ 2,223,100
Great Britain_------- _______ : ____________ _ I07,000
Italy __ ------------------------------------------ I I7,000
Russia ___ ----- -- _________________ -- _- ____ . __________ _ 28,894.400
Sweden ___________________________________________ _ 52,500
Turkey_------------------------- _---------------- 8,000

ASIA

British India __ ------- __ 4.755.900

China _____________________________________________ _ 3,521,000
Japan ___________________________________________ _ 5 I 7, IOO
Korea 699,200

AFRICA

SouthAfrica __________ -- ---------------------- 42,993,869

The West Coast_ __________ ------------------------ I,550,250

AUSTRALASIA
Australasia ____________________________________ _
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY I I

SOUTH AMERICA
Argentine Republic - __ - . - __ - . -- . _-- _. - .. ---- . 95,000
Bolivia----------·-------------------- --------·- ---- 67,000
Brazil . __ --- ----------- - - ------- - - ------ ----- ---- 2,2I9,500
Chile __ ~ __ - -- _ . --- _--- - - - .. - . ------ --- - --- ---- -- I,407,60o
Colombia--------------------------···-----·------- __ 2,892,800
Ecuador ____ - ______________ . _______ ·______ . . . __ _ 68,4'oo
Peru------------------------------------------ 63,800
Uruguay 27,200
Venezuela ___ .--------------- ______ ------------ __ 909,500
Guiana (British) 2,2I3,IOO
Guiana (French) 2,6o5,2oo
NORTH AMERICA
Nicaragua ________________________________ . _______ _ 470,558
Mexico __________________________________ . ____ . ___ _ 6,000,000
Canada
Nova Scotia _________ .. __________ . ___ . _ 406,764
Quebec - _ - __ _ ___________ .. __ .. __ _ ___ _ I ,28 I
Ontario __ _ __ _ __ _ _ . __ ___ _ _____________ _ 62,,')20
The Northwest Territories and the Yukon District __ I 50,002
British Columbia ________ ______ . _____ _ I,290,53 I
United States
Alabama ___________ - _ - ____ -- ___ .. - . _ .. _--
Alaska ___ - • ___ . - - ___ -- __ ---- _ . _. _- ____ -- _
Arizona _____ ------------------------------ I,87I,6I8
Calzfornia -- ---- -- ---- -- -- -- --- - - ----- - - -- I 5, 3 3 4, 3 I 7
Colorado _____ ----------------------------- I5,0I3,434
Georgia _- - - - _---- . _ - - -- _.. --- - -------- -- .. .. I 2 7, 94 2

Idaho ------------- -------------------- 2,594,666

Maryland
Michigan
12 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

Montana-- - __ --- _- ·-- . _ - . __ -____ -- _______ - __ 4.327,040

Nevada . -·-- --- --·- ---- -- __ -- __ ------ __ '--·-- 1,780,204
New Mexico __ - __ . -. __ - _________ . _ _______ _ 943,050
North Carolz"tta 68,476
South Carolina 127,819
Oregon---------------·------·- __________ _ 1,837.682
South Dakota .. _________ . __________ . _______ . 4,266,898
Tennessee 334
Utah __ __ __ . ____ . ___ . __ 1,546,679
Virginia _________ . . _ . ____ ·- _________ .... ___ _ 6,303
Washington _______ __________ . __ _ _ . _______ .. 373· 148

Total for the United States--.----------- $52,596,429

Russia.- The principal gold-producing country of Europe, at

present, is Russia. The gold deposits of this country first attracted
attention in 1726. The maximum output of the mines was reached,
in 1825. Since then, with the exception of I87I-76, the annual
production has been on the decrease. The gold is obtained mainly
from placers, along the streams flowing from the Ural and Altai
mountains. Besides the placer deposits, there has also been dis-
covered, in these mountains, numerous valuable auriferous quartz
veins, cutting the mica- and diorite-schists, at various angles. The
veins are now attracting considerable attention; and they will proba-
bly soon become a source of revenue to the country. The lack of
skilled labor, the severity of the climate, and the crudeness of the
machinery, used in mining, have always greatly added to the expense
of mining operations; and, at the same time, retarded, to a great
extent, the development of prospects, which otherwise would be
considered to be handsome investments.
Austn·a-Hungary. -The gold production of Austria-Hungary
 OCCURRENCE AND HJSTOR Y 13
comes mainly from Transylvania. There are also mines, operated at
Pribram in Bohemia, and at Gastein in Salzburg. The mines in Tran-
sylvania have long been worked with profit ; but they have now
become partially exhausted, so that the future output will probably
add no great amount to the world's production.
France.- In France, a limited amount of gold is produced, chiefly
as a by-product, from auriferous galena ores. The country, in time
past, has yielded a considerable amount of gold, from placer de-
posits ; but these ate now practically exhausted. The few auriferous
veins, so far discovered, are usually small ; and the ore is of too low
grade, to be mined with profit.
Great Britain. -The gold deposits of Great Britain were known to
the Romans ; and they have been worked, irregularly, for several
hundred years. The most profitable mining locality is in the moun-
tainous part of Merionethshire, near Dolgelly. There has also been
found, from time to time, a small amount of gold, associated with
the tin ores of Cornwall.
Germany. -The gold-producing localities of Germany occur in
Saxony, near Freiburg, and, also, in the Harz mountains. The
mines belong to the government, and are said to be operated, fre-
quently, at a loss. The gold usually occurs associated with silver
ores, the chief output at present being derived from that source.
Italy.- The auriferous deposits of Italy were known and worked,
quite extensively, by the Romans, prior to the Christian era. So
productive were the mines of ancient Apulia, at one time, that the
value of the precious metal is said to have been greatly decreased
at Rome. The mines, now operated, are located in the Province of
Piedmont, in the vicinity of Lake Maggiore, and in the Val d' Aosta.
The ores are auriferous pyrites in schists, associated with copper
and silver.
Sweden. -The principal gold-mining region of Sweden is found in
I4 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

the Province of Svealand, in the vicinity of Fahlun. The gold oc-

curs in auriferous quartz veins, associated with pyrite and copper
ores. It is obtained, mainly, , as a by-product, from the copper
mines, which have been so profitable, in time, that the town of Fah-
lun has been termed "The Treasury of Sweden."
British India. -Gold mining in British India appears to be as old
as its civilization. The remains of prehistoric works are found, in
many of the provinces. It has been suggested by 'rumpelly, that
the gold-fields of India were the source of the fabulous wealth, ac-
cumulated by Crcesus. The early workings seem to have been
confined almost entirely to placer-mining; and it is only within the
last few years, that attention has been directed to vein-mining. Gold
is found in many parts of British India; but the chief output, at
present, is derived from the gold-fields of M ysore, near Colar. These
deposits first attracted attention, in I 880. A number of companies
have since been organized, and are now carrying on mining oper-
rations, on a large scale, with encouraging results. The most
productive deposits of the Colar gold-fields are located in a grassy
plain, about forty miles east of Bangalore. The gold appears in
quartz veins, penetrating intrusive masses of diorite. The veins
are usually small, but carry high-grade ore, which is free-milling.
China. -According to Pumpelly, who investigated the mineral
resources of China, in I 862-5, gold is found, more or less abun-
dant, in nearly all the various provinces. The principal output, for
the last few years, has been derived, chiefly, from the extensive gold-
fields, recently discovered in Manchuria. There are also mines of
less importance in Karea, Yunnan and Kweichau. The gold-min-
ing industry of China has been greatly retarded by governmental re-
strictions. It is thought, if the laws were more lenient toward the
miners, the output of the empire would materially affect the gold
production of the world.
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY IS
Japan.- Japan has many gold mines, some of which have been
worked, for centuries. The most noted mines are those situated on
Sado Island, so miles north of the city of N iigatia. The early work-
ings, on the island, were confined to rich placers, along the various
streams. The alluvial deposits are now practically exhausted ; and
attention is being directed to vein-mining. At present, four differ-
ent lodes are being worked, on the island. The lodes are frequently
30 feet or more, in width; and, in places, they have been worked, to
the depth of 900 feet. Associated with the gold, is silver, copper
and lead ore, forming the gangue of the auriferous deposits.
South Africa. -The recent exploration of the gold-fields of South
Africa, by John Hays Hammond and others, show, that the aurif-
erous deposits were known and worked, by the ancient inhabitants
of the country, many centuries ago. These explorers give an ac-
count of numerous old working5, in Mashonaland and Matabeleland,
extending along the outcropping of the different reefs, for more
than 300 miles. The work consists of open cuts, from 2 S to 50
feet deep, and frequently several hundred yards in length. The
excavations, made by Theodore Bent, a few years ago, in exploring
the ruins of the ancient cities of Zimbabe, in Mashonaland, disclosed
the remains of numerous furnaces, crucibles and casting-moulds, the
handiwork of some prehistoric race, familiar with gold and the various
modes of extracting it from the ores. The recent gold excitement of
South Africa may be said to have commenced in 1868. During this
year, the first London company was organized ; and it began mining
operations in the Tata river, a gold district in the southeastern part of
Matabeleland, near the Transvaal boundary. Previous to this date,
even as early~as 1854, gold was discovered at various place~, in the
Transvaal, by the Boers and foreign travellers ; but, as gold mining
was prohibited by law, the discovery attracted but little attention.
The London company, although it proved a financial failure, seems
I6 OCCURRENCE AND l:{ISTORY

to have greatly stimulated prospecting, which soon led to important

discoveries, and finally to the development of the most noted gold
deposits in the world. The principal mining centres of the South
African Republic, at present, are the rich gold-fields of Witwaters-
rand, DeKaap, Lydenburg, Klerksdrop, Potschefstroom, Zout-
pansberg and Malmani. These deposits are all of great extent ; and,
if current reports are to be relied upon, they will, in a few years,
greatly increase the annual gold production of the world. Dr.
George F. Becker, of the U. S. Geological Survey, who has recently
returned from the gold-fields of South Africa, says, that the Trans-
vaal Republic contains the greatest gold deposits in the world. He
states that, within fifteen miles of Johannesburg, which is the cen-
ter of the Witwatersrand gold-fields, there is now an amount o'f
gold, practically in sight, on what is called the main reef, estimated
to be worth $3,SOO,ooo,ooo, or, nearly as much as the entire volume
of gold coin, now in existence. The present rate of output from
these various gold-fields is nearly $I oo,ooo,ooo per annum; yet, at
this rate of mining, it would require more than half a century, to
exhaust the auriferous deposits, now in sight. The gold-bearing
reefs in the vicinity of Johannesburg, and also in many other gold-
mining districts, in the southern part of the Transvaal, occur in beds
of conglomerate, interstratified with sandstone. These auriferous
beds vary, from I to 20 feet in thickness, and carry ore, milling
from $I o to $50 per ton. The deposits in the northern part of the.
Transvaal, and also in Mashonaland and Matabeleland, are said to
be found in fissure veins, in zones of schists enclosed in granite.
The Western Coast. - Gold has long been known, to occur, in more
or less abundance, in Western Africa, especially along the Gold
Coast ; but, owing to the unhealthy condition of the climate, the
auriferous deposits have never been thoroughly investigated. Mr.
Hesketh J. Bell, Asst. Treasurer of the Gold Coast, in a paper,
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY I7
read May Ist, I 893, before the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce,
says:-
" If the Gold Coast possessed a climate, no worse than that of Aus-
tralia or South Africa, the question would, long ere this, have solved
itself; and a rush to the West Africa gold-fields would have happened
very many years ago." So common is gold among the natives, that it
is said, that no family, in the country, is without its ornaments of the
purest gold. The most noted auriferous deposits, now being worked
on the Gold Coast, are located in Warsaw. This gold-field, which is
situated many miles inland, is at present being developed by a num-
ber of English companies, who have experienced great difficulty, in
opening up the mines, on account of the unhealthfulness of the
climate, and the bad condition of the road, over which machinery
has to be transported. The gold occurs in alluvial deposits, and in
quartz veins, in gneiss and mica-schist.
Australia. -The first discovery of gold in Australia, was made, in
I 823, by James O'Brian, a surveyor; but it was not until I 8 5 I, that the
importance of the gold--fields was made generally known to the civi-
lized world. It was during this year, that E. Hammond Hargraves,
an English miner, on his return from California, found gold at Lewis
Ponds, and Summer Hill creek, in the Bathurst and Wellington Dis-
tricts, about IOO miles west of Sydney. Immediately following the
announcement of this discovery, there was a great rush to the Aus-
tralian gold-fields, from both America and Europe; and, in a com-
paratively short time, there were thousands of miners, busily engaged,
in washing gold from the alluvial deposits, along the various streams.
From these deposits alone, there was produced, during the first year,
nearly one and a half million dollars worth of gold. Other discov-
eries soon followed, in rapid succession, not only inN ew South Wales,
but also in Victoria, Queensland, West Australia, Tasmania and
South Australia, and in New Zealand. The gold-fields of Australia
18 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

cover thousands of square miles; and are gradually being extended

from year to year, by new discoveries. The chief output of gold,
at present, is mainly derived from the rich gold-fields of Queens-
land and Victoria. These fields formerly yielded large quantities
of gold, from the alluvial deposits; but they are now partly exhausted;
and the principal supply is being derived, at present, from the quartz
mines. The placer deposits occur along streams, and in ancient
river-beds, which are often overlain by thick beds of basalt. These
alluvial deposits are frequently quite rich, and often yield numerous
nuggets, some of which have been found, weighing more than 2,000
ounces, and valued at $40,000. The auriferous quartz veins, occur-
ring in gneiss and granite, vary in width, from a foot to many rods
in thickness, and sometimes carry ore, running several hundred
dollars per ton. The general average, however, is from $IO to $20

per ton. The veins are said to run, generally, parallel with the bed-
ding of the country-rock, and, occasionally, to become greatly en-
larged into pockets, carrying many tons of high-grade ore.
South America. -The gold deposits of South America have been
known to the Europeans, ever since the country was first discover-
ed ; and, up to the opening of the California mines, they produced a
great part of the world's production of the yellow metal. The first
mines were opened, by the Spaniards in Colombia, in I 537· Since
then, rich gold-fields have been found, in all the different politi-
cal divisions. The mines of Brazil, Colombia and British Guiana
are, at present, the most productive. The Brazilian deposits were
discovered, as early as I 577; but they were not worked, to any ex-
tent, for more than a century, afterwards. The early workings were
confined chiefly to the alluvial deposits along the various streams,
in the Province of Minas Geraes. These placer deposits are now
partially exhausted, and the principal output is, at present, derived
from quartz mining. The gold, which is frequently alloyed with
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

silver and copper, and also, sometimes, with platinum and palla-
dium, occurs generally in quartz veins, penetrating mica-schists,
slates and itacolumite. It is also sometimes found disseminated
throughout the rock-mass, which forms large bodies of low-grade
ore.
The auriferous deposits of Colombia have been worked, continu-
ously, since I 537; and, prior to the discovery of gold in California
and Australia, they were the most productive fields in the world.
Three-fourths of the present output of the mines is now derived
from the alluvial deposits, the most noted of which are located in
the Department of Antioquia, a mountainous region, near the centre
of the republic. All the political divisions, lying along the Pacific
{;Oast, are said to have rich placers; but, owing to the scarcity of
water, many of them are practically unproductive. Numerous gold-
bearing lodes have been discovered, in the Departments of Antio-
quia and Cauca, some of which are now being worked with profit.
British Guiana. -The gold-mining industry of British Guiana,
which first attracted attention in I 884, has gradually increased in
importance, from year to year, until it has become one of the lead-
ing industries of the colony. The most productive mines are those
located on the Potoro river, about 150 miles from Georgetown.
There are also other valuable alluvial deposits along Cuyuni, Ma-
zaruni and Demerara rivers, all of which are now being worked.
The deposits occur, in heavily wooded lowlands along the rivers,
and are frequently difficult to work, on account of insufficient drain-
age, and the heavy growth of vegetation, which has to be removed.
The mining regions are hot and unhealthy. The work is chiefly
·done by negro laborers, brought from the coast. A number of
gold-bearing veins have been discovered, in several of the mining
districts; but they have not yet been worked, to any extent, as the
placer deposits offer more profitable returns.
20 OCCURRENCE AND H/!JTORY

Nicaragua.- The auriferous deposits of Nicaragua extend along

the Coco river, near the Honduras boundary, and also along the
eastern shore of Lake Nicaragua. The mines have been worked,
since the early explorations of the Spaniards. Many of them are
said to be rich in gold; but the crude and unscientific mode of min-
ing greatly reduces their profits. Some of the gold-belts have been
only partially explored, and are thought to offer inviting fields for
prospectors.
Mexico. - Mexico has but few paying gold mines, although it
yields quite an output of the yellow metal. The source of the gold
is mainly the auriferous silver ore, from which it is obtained as a
by-product.
Canada.- The principal gold-producing fields of Canada are lo-
cated in Nova Scotia and British Columbia. The deposits of Nova
Scotia were discovered in I 86 I; and they have since yielded a small,
, but constant, output. The gold-belt, which has a maximum width of
30 miles, extends parallel with the eastern coast of the peninsular,
from Canso to Yarmouth, a distance of nearly 200 miles. The gold
occurs in quartz veins, which mostly run parallel with the sandstone
and quartzite, which constitute the country-rock. These veins
are said to vary, from a few inches to several feet, in width, and can
frequently be followed, for long distances, along their ou~crops.
Associated with the gold ores are zinc blende, pyrite, galena, chal-
copyrite and iron-oxide.
British Columbia. -The chief gold-mining region of British Co-
lumbia is located along the Frazier and Columbia rivers and their
tributaries, between the Rocky mountains and the Coast Range.
The first discovery of the precious metal, in this province; was made
in I859, on the Frazier river, near Necoamen. The mining opera-
tions have been confined chiefly to the alluvial deposits along the
streams. The most valuable deposits, so far discovered, are located
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY 2I

in the Cariboo district, a mining region on the headwaters of the

Frazier river. The rich deposits found here occur in ancient river-
channels, frequently I oo feet or more beneath the beds of the pres-
ent streams.
The placer mines on the Leech river, on Vancouver's Island, for
a time, yielded quite an output of gold, and gave promise of a
bright future ; but the works are now abandoned.
UNITED STATES.- The various gold-fields of the United States
may be divided, for convenience of description, into three separate
divisions, viz:- The Pacific division, _the Rocky Mountain division
and the Appalachian division. The Pacific division embraces all
the auriferous deposits, found in California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
California. -The first discovery of the precious metal, on the
Pacific Coast, was made, on the South fork of the American river,
near Coloma, about forty miles southwest of Sacramento City, in
the spring of 1848. The discovery was accidentally made, by a
party of workmen, while making an excavation for a mill-race. An
investigation of the alluvial deposits along the stream quickly fol-
lowed, and revealed an extensive placer, remarkably rich in gold.
The news of this important find was soon made known, through
the daily press, and fortune-seekers, in great numbers, flocked to
the new gold-fields. New discoveries followed each other, in rapid
succession ; and, in a comparatively short time, California became
the most noted gold-producing country in the world. So profitable
were these early workings, that a common miner, with shovel and
pan, made from 10 to 20 dollars per day; and, in some instances,
as much as $1 ,ooo per day has been credited to one miner.
The gold-fields of California are found along the western slope
of the Sierra Nevada mountains, running parallel with the Pacific
22 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

coast. The total length of the belt is nearly 700 miles, and its
width varies from 20 to 6o miles.
Oregon and Washington. -The auriferous deposits of Oregon and
Washington are similar· to those of California. The output of the
yellow metal, from these States, has never attained very large pro-
portions. However, they have many mines, both of quartz and of
alluvial deposits, paying profitable dividends.
Nevada, which is noted mainly for its rich silver mines, has also
produced large quantities of gold, chiefly as a by-product from the
argentiferous ores. The most celebrated mines in the State are lo-
cated, on what has been termed the Comstock Lode in Storey county,
a few miles northeast of Carson City. TJtis lode was discovered
in 1859; and it has since been extensively worked, yielding im-
mense quantities of both gold and silver. The mines are noted for
the large size and richness of the ore-bodies ; the great depth of the
works; and the high temperature of the rocks in the lower levels.
The lode is a fissure vein, four miles long, with a width varying,
from 20 to 6o feet. The vein material consists of crushed quartz
and decomposed co~ntry-rock, with more or less pyrite, calcite
and gypsum. The high-grade ore occurs in ore-bodies called "bo-
nanzas," at irregular intervals along the vein. The total output of
the different mines on the lode has been estimated, at $400,ooo,ooo,
two-fifths of it being gold, and the remainder, silver. The
greatest depth, attained in the mine, is more than 3,000 feet, while
the aggregate length of the shafts and galleries exceeds 1 50 miles.
The heat in the lower levels of the mines is so intense, as to greatly
interfere with mining, the temperature increasing at the rate of 1°

for every 34 feet of descent.

Alaska. -As a gold-producing country, Alaska is rapidly pushing
itself to the front, regardless of the many difficulties, encountered
by the miners. Attention wa~ first directed to the auriferous de-
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY 23
posits, as early as I 876. During this year, the first important mine
was located, near the mouth of Stikeen river, in the southern part of
the territory, 7 5 miles southeast of Sitka. Further discoveries were
soon made, on the various islands along the coast, as far north as
Glacier Strait. Some of these prospects have, since, developed into
profitable mines, notably those situated on Douglas Island, near
Juneau City. The mines of this island produce, annually, chiefly
from quartz veins, more than one half of the entire output of the
territory. The ore-bodies occur, in huge dikes or granite bosses,
penetrating the Triassic slates. They have been worked in places,
to the depth of 500 feet, with but little change in their metallifer-
ous contents. The rich alluvial deposits, recently discovered in the
Yukon Valley, are at present attracting considerable attention, and
are thought to be of great extent and of unusual richness. The
first important placer diggings, in the gold-field was carried on,
along Forty Mile Creek, only a short distan'ce from the Canadian
border. These deposits are now partly exhausted; but other rich
placers are reported, further to the northeast, on the numerous trib-
utaries of the Yukon and Tanana rivers. Mr. J. E. Spurr, of the
U. S. Geological Survey, who has just returned from an exploring
expedition of the Yukon Valley gold-fields, is reported, through
the daily press, as giving an encouraging account of the auriferous
deposits. The severity of the climate and the scarcity of food, in
the gold district, make mining extremely expensive, so that only
•
the richer parts of the placers can be worked with profit.
The Rocky Mountain Division comprises Colorado, Montana and
New Mexico. Colorado is the most important gold-producing State
of this division, ranking second to California, in the production of the
yellow metal. South Dakota and Montana each have many valu-
able and productive mines; but neither has yet attained much im-
portance as a gold-producing State.
24 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

The Pike's peak gold excitement, which took place in 1859, may be
regarded, as the beginning of the gold mining, in Colorado. During
the same year, the rich placer deposits of Gilpin county were made
known. These discoveries were followed by the usual rush of pros-
pectors, who explored the eastern slopes and foot-hills of the Rocky
Mountains, and located, at various places, valuable mines, which
have since produced large quantities of gold. One of the most im-
portant of these discoveries, and the last to attract wide-spread
public attention, was the location of the rich lode in the Cripple
Creek district. The first important find in this district was made,
in 1891. Previous to this date; there was carried on, from time to
time, considerable prospecting, in the locality; but no discoveries, of
any note, appear to have been reported. The Cripple Creek mining
camp is located some fifty miles southwest of Colorado Springs,
near the western base of Pike's Peak, on a small tributary of the
Arkansas river. Topographically, the district is made up, of many
rounded hills, with numerous small valleys and gulches. The product-
ive area, which is being gradually enlarged, from time to time, by the
location of new prospects, is about six miles long and three miles
wide. The entire area is overlaid, by a brecciated rock, of igneous
origin, frequently penetrated by dikes, which are the chief ore-
carriers. The dikes appear to have been shattered and fissured, by
s orne dynamical force, and, afterward, to have been impregnated with
gold and various other associated minerals. The ore-bodies often
occur in the form of chimneys or ore-chutes, separated by wide in-
tervals of barren rock. They vary, in thickness, from a few inches to
several feet, and, in places, seem to extend to great depth. The
larger portion of the gold, now mined at the camp, occurs, in the form
of a telluride, associated with pyrite, fluorite and manganese- and
iron-oxides. Free gold is also abundant in places, near the surface,
where the ore-bodies have become oxidized. The ore is usually of a
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY
25
high grade, running from twenty to several hundred dollars per ton.
The average yield per ton, from the various mines, during the
month of 'September, is reported to have been over $5o. Since the
completion of the railroad to the camp, much of the ore is being
shipped to Denver and Pueblo, where large smelters have been
erected.
The Appalachian Dt'vision. -The Appalachian gold-fields comprise
numerous auriferous deposits, forming a more or less continuous
belt, extending from Maine to Alabama. It is only the southern
part of the belt, traversing Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and
Alabama, that has attained any very great economic importance.
The belt, which consists of highly metamorphic rocks of unknown
age, varies from 1o to 7 5 miles, in width. In places, it is made up
of several minor belts, running parallel with each other, which have
been named, from some well known mine or mountain, along their
course. The numerous streams, intersecting these belts, flow over
beds of auriferous gravel. In many places, these alluvial deposits
were formerly quite rich in gold; but they have now become prac-
ticallyexhausted, and attention is, at present, being directed to vein-
mining. The ore-bodies, which have fed the streams, consist gen-
erally of zones of schists and other metamorphic rocks, interlami-
nated with numerous quartz stringers, forming belts, frequently
many rods wide, and miles in length. The gold is chiefly found in
the quartz, though it also occurs, in places, disseminated through-
out the schists. Quartz veins, of considerable size, carrying aurif-
erous pyrite, and cutting the schists at various angles, are also oc-
casionally met with. Such veins often become greatly enlarged
into huge chimneys or chutes, carrying large quantities of high-
grade ore.
The exact date of the discovery of gold in the Appalachian gold-
fields, by the whites, appears to be a mere question of conjecture.
 --~ -~-------------------------------- ---------------------------------

26 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

That the yellow metal was known to the Indians, and used by them,
to a certain extent, for personal adornment, is a well-known fact.
However, there appears to be but little evidence, that they carried
on mining operations, to any extent. Probably the oldest written
account, of the occurrence of gold in the Southern States, appears
in the Chronicles of America, by Herrera. This historian states,
that Ponce De Leon, in his search for the fountain of perpetual
youth, along the coast of Florida, in I 5 I 3, was informed by the
natives, that an Indian chief, in the neighborhood, possessed large
quantities of gold. As the aborigines knew but little of metals, it
has been suggested, that this statement most likely referred to cop-
per, mica, or some other mineral in more general use.
Three years after the explorations of Ponce De Leon, Diego Mi-
ruelo, a fearless Spanish sea-captain, touched on the coast of Flori-
da, and, in trading with the Indians, obtained a small amount of
gold. This seems to be the first conclusive evidence, of the occur-
rence of gold in the Southern States.
In I 528, Pam philo de Narvaez, who had been appointed Governor
of Florida, by the Spanish Crown, arrived at Tampa Bay, with a
large armed force, for the purpose of subduing the country of the
supposed Montezumas. No sooner had the expedition landed and
taken up their march into the interior, than the Indians, who were
anxious to rid themselves of the cruel invaders. exhibited numerous
trinkets, made of gold, and, at the same time, pointed northward,
where they reported the yellow metal to be found, in great abun-
dance, in the Apalachen country. The Spanish general, stimulated
by the sight of gold, pushed forward; and, after many weeks of
toil and hardship, traversing the swamps of Western Florida, he at
last arrived at a miserable Indian village, of forty small cabins.
This, he was told, by his guides, was Apalacha ; but a diligent
search, in the surrounding country, revealed no gold.
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

Bryant, the historian, is of the opinion, that the Indians, in

speaking of Apalachen, had reference to the country, at the source
of a river, rising in the Appalachian mountains of Georgia, and not
to the village at its mouth, as understood by the Spaniards. If
Bryant's interpretation be correct, this is the first mention of gold,
within the limits of the State of Georgia. The expedition of De
Narvaez proved a signal failure. He found, in his various wander-
ings, neither gold in abundance nor wealthy princes ; yet, regard-
less of the unfavorable reports of the survivors of the unfortunate
expedition, but little effect seemed to have been produced, in dis-
pelling the current belief, that there existed somewhere, in the
newly discovered country, rich empires, with numerous palaces and
temples, gorgeously decorated with gold and precious stones.
Shortly after the-return of the four remaining survivors of N ar-
vaez's expedition, DeSoto, a noted Cavalier and companion of Pi-
zarro, fitted out a second expedition, for the purpose of exploring
and conquering Florida. This armed force, which consisted of
more than 6oo trained soldiers, landed at Tampa Bay, in June, 15 39,
and, at once, struck boldly into the interior, in quest of riches and
fame. For more than three years, the Spaniards traversed the
Southern States ; but nowhere were they able to find riches, in suffi-
cient abundance, to satisfy their avaricious desires. It was during
this expedition, that the Spaniards are supposed, by some writers,
to have traversed the gold-fields of North Georgia, and carried on
mining, to a limited extent, in that region.
Dr. Chas. C. Jones, in his history of Georgia, in speaking of
the expedition, says: -"Five days were occupied, in passing
from this province to Xualla. The chief town of this last-named
province bore the same name; and it was located on the flanks
of a mountain, with a small, but rapid, river flowing near. We
venture the suggestion, that this village was situated in Nacoo-
28 OCCURRENCE·AND HISTORY

chee Valley, 1 Habersham county, and that the mountain, re-

ferred to, was Yonah. In the valley, physical proofs of prim-
itive occupancy are still extant, and metallic fragments of Euro-
pean manufacture have been found, confirmatory of the fact, that,
many years prior to the settlement of this region by the whites, it had
been visited by kindred peoples." The same author, in another part
of the work, makes the following statements:- "In recalling the ex-
istence of temporary occupancy, by Europeans, of limited portions
of the territory, at a later period, conveyed to the trustees, for es-
tablishing the colony of Georgia, it is proper, that we should allude to
mining operations, conducted by the Spaniards, at an early epoch,
among the auriferous mountains of upper Georgia. Influenced by
the representations, made by the returned soldiers of De Soto's ex-
pedition, of the quantity of gold, silver and pearls, existing in the
province of Cosa, Luis de Velasco dispatched his general, Tristan
de Luna, to open communication with Cosa, by the way of Pensacola
Bay. Three hundred Spanish soldiers of this expedition, equipped
with mining tools penetrated to the valley of Coosa, and passed the
summer of I 560 in northern Georgia and the adjacent region."
Other instances are sighted by the author, as a proof of early min-
ing in North Georgia, by the Spaniards. Many of these accounts
and traditions seem to be quite plausible. Nevertheless, it is hardly
probable, that the Spaniards would have abandoned mines, which
were afterwards found to be so profitable, as those in North Georgia.
Leaving out the various reports of the Spaniards, the first authen-
ticated account, of the occurrence of gold in the Southern States,
appears in Jefferson's notes on Virginia, published in I8J2. He,
therein, speaks of a piece of ore, found a short distance below the
falls of the Rappahannock river, weighing four pounds, and contain-
ing I 7 pwts. of gold. Eleven years after the publication of J effer-
1
Now. a part of White countY.
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY

son's notes (I 799), a nugget, weighing I 7 pounds, was discovered on

the Reed plantation in Cabarrus county, N. C. The true nature of
this nugget was not made known, until some years afterwards, when
further search revealed a number of other nuggets, one of which is
reported to have weighed 28 'pounds. After the discovery of gold
on the Reed plantation, North Carolina became a regular producer,
and yielded all the native gold, coined in the United States, until
I827, the total amount being about $I IO,ooo. In I829, South Caro-
lina made the first deposit at the mint. During the same year, gold
was discovered in Georgia.
The first discovery of gold, in Alabama, was probably in I 8 30;
and, in the following year, the placer deposits on Coco creek, Ten-
nessee, were made known. Gold is reported to have been found in
Maryland, as early as I849; but the U. S. Mint shows no return,
from this State, until I 868.
Geowgia. - In White's Statistics of Georgia, published in I 849,
occurs the following statement, with reference to gold in Georgia: -
"The first discovery of gold in the State was made on Duke's
creek, Habersham county,' in I 829. The mass weighed three
ounces." It is currently repo~::_ted, and generally believed, in
Lumpkin county, that the first discovery of gold in the State was
made, some months previous to the above date, on the Calhoun
property, three miles south of Dahlonega. This early discovery is
substantiated, by living witnesses; but, whether or not it antedates
the Duke's creek find, is an open question. It appears quite prob-
able, that the first discoveries succeeded each other, in such rapid
succession, that it is now practically impossible, to decide, definite-
ly, the question of priority. However, at present, the most reliable
information seems to be in favor of Duke's creek.
Only a few months after the announcement of the occurrence of
1
This part of Habersham county is now White county.
 OCCURRENc.-'E AND HISTORY

gold in North Georgia, hundreds of miners were busily engaged on

various streams, throughout the section, in search of the yellow
metal. Governor Gilmer, in a letter, dated May 6th, I830, ad-
dressed to John McPherson Berrian, then Attorney General of the
United States, says:- "l am in doubt, as to what ought to be
done with the gold-diggers. They, with their various attendants,
foragers and suppliers, make up between six and ten thousand per-
sons. They occupy the country between the Chestatee and Eto-
wah rivers, near the mountains, gold being found in the great-
est quantity, deposited in the small streams, which flow into
those rivers." In June of the following year, Governor Gilmer is-
sued a proclamation, prO'hibiting gold mining in North Georgia,
which was then known as the Cherokee Country. An armed force,
sent into the territory, to enforce this proclamation, retarded, for a
time, to a great extent, the mining industry of the region; but the
desire for gold, was by no means lessened, by such a prohibition ;
and many of the miners were able to evade the law, and obtain gold,
regardless of the watchful eye of the soldiery. It was during this
year, that the first deposit of gold from Georgia, amounting to
$2 I 2,000 was made at the U. S. Mint. The most active mining re-
gion, at the time, was in Lumpkin county, in the vicinity of Dahlon-
ega. So important had these gold-fields become, that the U. S.
Government established a branch mint here, in I838. The mint
<:ontinued in operation, until I86I, and coined I,38I,784 pieces,
valued at $6, I I s.s69. The report of the u. s. Treasury Depart-
ment shows the following annual coinage, from the Dahlonega
Mint:-
I838 $102,9 I 5.00
I839 I 28,880.00
I840 I23,3IO.OO
I84I I62,885.oo
 OCCURRENCE AND HISTORY 31
1842 309,647·50
1843 582,782.50
1844 488,240.00
1845 501,295·00
1846 449,272.50
1847 361,485.00
1848 27J,752.50
1849 244, I 30.50
r85o 258,502.00
1851 35 1,592.oo
1852 473.815.00
1853 462,918.oo
1854 292,760.00
1855 rr6,778.5o
1856 102,575·00
1857 32,906.oo
1858 roo, 167.00
1859 65,582.oo
r86o 69,477·00
r86r' 60,946.oo

TotaL---- ---- -- ----------$6, I I 5· 569.00

It is reported, by a number of reliable citizens, who were familiar

with the early mining industry of North Georgia, during the estab-
lishment of the Dahlonega Mint, that a considerable part of the
gold, mined in Georgia, was sent to the Philadelphia and other
mints, so that the annual output, for that State, was really greater,
than that reported in the foregoing table.
The total production of gold and silver from Georgia, since the
early discoveries, until the present, has been estimated to be as fol-
lows:-
32 OCCURRENCE AND H./STORY

I799-I879 $14, r8o,5oo

r88o I20,000
I88I I25,000
I882 2 50,000
r883 200,000
I884 I37,000
I885 I 36,ooo
I886 I 53,500
I887 I Io,5oo
I888 I04,500
I889 I08,069
I890 IOI,3 I8
I89I 80,622
I892 95,25 I
I893 I00,375
I894 99,095
I895 I27,942

TotaL- - __ ----------- ------ ----$I6,228,730

The approximate amount of silver, produced during this time, was
$7,000, which, deducted from the above total, gives$I6,22I,730, the
amount of gold produced.
The greatest annual output, from the State, occurred in I 843,
when the total yield of the various mines, then in operation, was
$5 82,782. 50. Since the above date, the output has greatly fluctu-
ated, from year to year. However, the total yield has gradually
decreased, until the last two years. This gradual reduction has been
due, mainly, to the exhaustion of the placer mines, the source, from
which the greater part of the Georgia gold has been derived. As
deep mining_ and the economic working of refractory ores are now
being introduced, with satisfactory results, the future outlook for
the Georgia gold-fields is, at present, quite promising, and will, no
doubt, in a few years, again ·reach their former productiveness.
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA
W. S. YEATES , STATE GEOLOGIST .

MAP
SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF
A PART OF

THE GOLD DEPOSITS

OF

NORTH GEORGIA
BY
S. W. McCALLiE
ASSISTANT GEOLOG[ST

Gold Deposits . _ _________ _-

Gold Mines .. _. _ __ . __ . __ ... x

" .f "

Photo-Lith. by A. HOEN &CO .. :Ba.lto., Md.

 CHAPTER II

WHITE COUNTY

Bv FRANCIS P. KING, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

"The Dahlonega Gold Belt" extends through the entire county

of White ; and, as far as known, its richest depositions are to be
found in the two counties, Lumpkin and White. The early renown
of the Dahlonega district, the establishment there of extensive and
expensive plants, and the wide distribution of its mining stock has,
up to the past few years, diverted attention from this ·equally im-
portant se<;tion of the belt. Lately, however, more interest has
been concentrated on this county. Suitable plants are taking the
place of old and crude equipments, and there has asserted itself
here a tendency, gradual but decided, toward advanced methods in
mining both vein and gravel deposits. The results of this continued
advancement will soon speak for themselves; yet it may be safely
prophesied, that they will, in a brief time, place White county at
least close to the head of the gold-producing counties in Georgia.
The earliest discovery of gold in this county, and probably in
Georgia, was in 1828, by a negro servant of Major Logan, of
Loudsville, Ga. While on his way from Rutherford, N. C., where
gold mines had just been opened, he was attracted by the similar
appearance of the soil along Nacoochee river, tested it in a "boiler,"
and found gold. This discovery was made in a branch on the
Lovelady place. At this time, the Cherokee Indians had left the
Nacoochee and Loudsville valleys, and were beyond the Chestatee,
(33)
 34 WHITE COUNTY

· to the west. The lands they left in this region had been surveyed
into two hundred and fifty acre lots, and sold to settlers. It is pre-
sumed, that the Cherokees did not know of the existence of gold, in
this region, up to the time of this discovery, although housewife fab-
ulous tales of their discoveries are current.
There seems to have been little system to the mining, in these
early days of gold discovery, and even on, up to the war. The settlers
worked singly and in small gangs, at odd times during the ye.ar,
and jumped from place to place, as new discoveries were reported.
Yet, in I 86o, C. L. Williams, a merchant at Nacoochee, Ga., who pur-
chased much of the gold produced in that region, writes: - "I have
been in business here, for thirty years, and, for most of that time,
agent for some one of the banks (in Charleston), and, during that
time, have bought between two and three million dwts. of gold."
Most of this was taken from the stream deposits in the vicinity.
Following the war, we find water aqueducts constructed, and gen-
erally improved conditions of mining, especially in the Nacoochee
district. Progressive development in the past, nevertheless, has
been retarded in a great measure, by iniquitous lawsuits and dam-
age claims. I am glad to say, that that class of citizens, who would
profit by,or retard the prosperity of,their neighbors, is rapidly being
pushed into the background, by the better element and new blood.
The belt of auriferous deposit extends northeast, through the
county, from corner to corner, its average width being from two
and a half to three miles. Throughout its entire extent, it is rich
in gold-bearing veins and saprolite; 1 and the stream straversing it
have yielded magnificent returns. Practically, little attention has
been given to the first, and their development remains to the future.
Besides the vein and gravel deposits, the northeastern portion of
1 The term "Saprolite," is used by Becker, "to signify thoroughly decomposed rock, in place."
Reconnaissance of the Gold Fields of the Southern Appalachians, by George F. Becker, pp. 38 and
43· Extract from the Sixteenth Annual Report of the Director of theU. S.lGeological Survey.
Part II.
 WHITE COUNTY
35
the belt, especially, has extensive saprolite areas, untouched and
most inviting.
The rocks of the belt are gneisses, mica-schists and hornblendic
schists. The transition from one to the other of these rocks is
generaily so gradual, as to be unnoticeable, except in the case of
the hornblendic schists, which most frequently show decidedly
sharp transition phases, presenting the appearance of dikes. The
average strike of these schists is N. 30° E., with a universal
dip to the southeast, although exceptional instances are to be found
locally.
The present mining interest of the belt, despite its universal rich-
ness, is centered in the Nacoochee district. This is one of the
most picturesque regions of North Georgia. It is not only promi-
nent for its scenic beauty and fertility of soil, but for its Indian
traditions. Nacoochee, meaning "Evening Star," is said to have
been the name of a Cherokee maiden, daughter of the local chief,
famous for her beauty. Fleeing with her lover from a hostile
father, says tradition, they escaped to Yonah mountain ; and here,
hard pressed, in preference to separation and torture, they leaped
together into oblivion from its frightful precipice. They were
buried together in a mound at the junction of the Chattahoochee
and Nacoochee rivers. A solitary pine marks the grave.
Broad meadows border the Chattahoochee, and, on either side,
rise the broken spurs of the Blue Ridge. The Nacoochee river,
now known as Duke's creek, enters the Chattahoochee at the lower
end of the valley, after flowing in a parallel course with it, through
an adjoining valley, Hamby mountain intervening. On the south,
towers Yonah mountain, a gneissic mass, with an elevation of 3,02 5
feet above sea-level ; on the north, the long line of the Blue Ridge,
usually haze-covered, but ever changeful in its foliage effects and
magnificent contouring.
 WHITE COUNTY

THE LUMSDEN PROPERTY 1

"LOT 10"

This property is located about two miles north of Nacoochee

valley, and lies in the Jrd district of White county. The lots, 250
acres each, which it embraces, are Io, I I, 2I, 22, 23 and 44· It is
best known among the miners and residents of northeast Georgia as
" Lot 10 "; and, as a gold-bearing property, it stands in good re-
pute among these people. More or less widely known, since the
discovery of gold in its streams, it has recently attracted consid-
erable attention, since the opening up on it of a zone of gold-bear-
ing material.
The first authentic discovery of gold on this property was in
I 830. It was then worked by Horshaw, Reynolds and others, by
means of "long toms," "rockers" etc. Diamonds are said to have
been found here, during the first workings.
Lately, the work has been carried on by Mr. R. Lumsden and J.
others. Placer-work, however, has ceased almost entirely ; and
now attention is confined strictly to the gold-bearing slate, which is
worked by tributers, using a combination of hydraulic and dry
mining. The hard ore is hauled a quarter of a mile to a wooden
ten-stamp mill, driven by a twenty-foot overshot water-wheel.
The country in this region is quite broken, some of the hills
having an elevation of four hundred feet. It is drained by Bean
creek and tributary branches. Along these water-courses, consid-
erable gold has been washed out, since its discovery. Although
much of the placer areas has been worked over once, at least, and,
1
From field-notes of S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 WHITE COUNTY 37
m richer and more accessible portions, several times, there still re-
mains considerable virgin territory. The bottoms, or placer areas,
of Bean creek and its branches have been worked, on either side,
to a width, varying from fifty feet to four hundred yards. Bean
creek, from the stamp-mill to Sautee creek, has only a moderate
fall - in a distance of over one mile and a half, probably not over
twenty-five feet. This slight fall, therefore, has seriously interfered
with the working of the bottoms below the mill, to such an extent,
that there are possibly fifty acres of auriferous gravel, which have
never been touched by miners. Besides this area, much of the
old placer areas could be re-worked profitably, by devising a suit-
able system of drainage. The sketch-map of this property, which
accompanies this report, will serve to show the worked and work-
able areas.
Geologically considered, this property is made up of gneisses
and mica-schists. These grade into each other, and strike about
N. 20° E. The dip varies; but it is usually sharp and invariably to
the northwest. A gold-bearing zone, in this formation, has been
discovered, near the south line of lot 10, close to Bean creek; and
it is here, that the principal work is now being conducted. This
auriferous zone or belt is over two hundred feet in width, and con-
sists of garnetiferous hornblende-gneiss, frequently traversed with
extremely thin dikes of hornblende, and innumerable quartz
stringers and lenticular pockets, conformable with the gneiss.
Weathering has so completely broken and shattered the rock to
some depth, that blasting is unnecessary, and the entire mining of
the gold can be carried on by hydraulicking and dry mining. The
apparent auriferous material of this zone are the quartz stringers
and quartz nodules. Garnets, however, which are quite abundant,
are frequently shown to contain some gold, when crushed and
panned.
 WHI7E COUNTY

The present proprietors' lack of funds has prevented them from

supplying a proper equipment for the carrying on of their work to
the best advantage; yet, with the crude means at hand, they state,
that five men are able to extract from 70 to So dwts. per week.

Fig. r.
...

... ..

.. {""Q""...l 1.-.·. ·.·.·... I

j
p.. \ln""o"""C\.j•:.·:.·.•.•j
•••••••

Sketch-Map of the Lumsden Gold Lots.

Five samples of ore were taken for assay at the same number of
openings, along this zone. These assayed, in the laboratory of the
Survey, as follows:-
 WHITE COUNTY 39
Sample No. I 0.175 oz.- $3.50 per ton.
" " 2 0.050 " !.00 " "
" " 3 0. I 25 " 2.50 " "
" " 4 0.130 " z.6o " "
" " 5 0.125 " 2.50 " "

THE JARRET PROPERTY

This property is more generally known as the "Childs mine."

It lies to the southwest of lot IO, on lot 24, 3rd district, White
county. Mr. Childs of Athens, Ga., operated here, for some time;
but, for the past seven or eight years, no work of any duration has
been done.
What has been already stated, in regard to the natural features
of the Lumsden property, holds true here. The geological forma-
tion is the same. The gold-bearing material, worked upon, is but
a continuation of the quartz "stringer" auriferous zone, now being
operated by the Lumsden people, a quarter of a mile to the
northeast. Mr. Childs did his work, by hydraulicking and dry
mmmg. The excavated material was sluiced some distance,
through a long line of riffle-boxes, to a twenty-stamp mill, where
the coarse and hard material was finally worked up. This work
covered a considerable period of time, and an immense amount of
auriferous matter was thus treated. About eight years ago, Mr.
Childs ceased work. We are not able to give an estimate of his
profits, as we have only rumor to guide us, and this is variable.
40 WHITE COUNTY

THE PLATTSBURGH PROPERTY I

The Plattsburgh property consists of the northeastern quarter of

lot 40, 3rd district, and has been locally known for some years
as "The England Mine." In I 895, it was purchased at a large
price, and is now about to be operated, by an organization, under
a State charter, granted to the The Plattsburgh Gold Mining and
Milling Company. The main office of this company is Plattsburgh,
N. Y. Mr. Albert W. Emery of Plattsburgh is president, and Mr.
W. H. Stephenson of Troy, N. Y., one of the directors, is local
manager of the mine.
The special feature of this property, and that, for the develop-
ment of which this company was organized, is an ore-body from
six to eight feet in thickness, made ·up of many quartz stringers
intercalated in mica-schist. These stringers, as is usual with such
ore-bodies iH Georgia, vary in thickness, from a thin wafer to six
inches. It is identical in character with the vein on the Thompson
property! except, that, judged from present exposures, it carries
less quartz than the Thompson vein. It is known to extend in a
northeastern course, dipping sharply to the southeast through a
ridge running parallel with the Chattahoochee river. The ridge
itself is the present terminal of a long southern spur of Tray
mountain, and has an altitude of about 300 feet above the river.
T.oward the river, and also to the north, although much shorter,
its slope is almost precipitous. In the past, on both sharp slopes
of the ridge, the ore-body has been stripped for some distance, and
tunnels have been extended in, a hundred feet or more. At the

I The present owners began work, and cleaned up the working tunnel. some time after I had
collected the ores from this tern tory; hence no Survey assay of their ore appears.
2
See page 67 and Plate IV.
 WHiTE COUNTY 41
time of purchase by <the Plattsburgh people, they removed from
the accessible tunnel on the river side a large amount of ore, and
shipped it to Messrs. Ricketts & Banks of New York City for
assay, and for mill and concentration test. The report from these
well-known mining experts was as follows : -

Assay of the original ore 5 Gold . . o. I 4 oz. Tr. per ton

1Silver . Trace only

MILL AND CoNCENTRATION TEST.- An average sample of the

ore was passed through a stamp-mill over amalgamated plates, and
then over a Frue-vanner with the following results : -
Ore taken, 7 5o lbs. Assay, Gold, O.I4 oz. per ton
Concentrates saved, Io lbs. " " 0.20 "
" "
Pulp from plate tailings, 28 lbs. " " "
0.03 " "
Left in battery, 36 lbs. " " o.os " " "
Actual tailings, 676 lbs. " " 0.02 " " "
These results show an extract of gold, on the plate, of 82.7 per
cent. of the assay value of the ore, and that only 1.9 per cent. of
the assay value of the ore can be saved on the Frue-vanner, a pro-
portion too small to be of any practical value. This is probably
due to the fact, that the portion of sulphurets in the sample is
small, and that the iron is in an oxidized condition. This is
shown by the character of the concentrates, which consist mostly
of black sand. The amount of gold recovered on the plate could

l
probably be increased 4 per cent. by using a large plate surface, so
that it will be safe to count upon fully 86 per cent. of the assay
value of the ore, as saved by amalgamation.
"The results stated prove: -
1. That this ore is low grade, not exceeding probably $3 per ton.
2. That the gold is free, and that the greater portion of it can be
saved or caught on amalgamated plates.
42 WHITE COUNTY

3· That the amount of sulphurets, or concentrated minerals, pres-

ent i'h th~i! ore, is not sufficient to warrant concentrating the tailings
from the stamp-mill; but that, as it is possible, that the oxidized
mineral may eventually chang~ to sulphurets in depth, any mill
erected should be arranged so that a Frue-vanner can subsequently
be added thereto."
Basing their calculations for the value of the ore on this conserv-
ative report and on an estimation of the amount of ore thoroughly
desulphurized, as shown by present developments, they have begun
the construction of a steam ten-stamp mill on the north bank of the
Chattahoochee, close to the vein; also a trestle, on the hill-side lead-
ing down to the mill, a chute upon which will send the ore into the
battery-room. These works will be completed, and regular mining
operations commenced, about April I st, I 896.
If the ore meets the mill-test of Ricketts & Banks - which seems
most probable, because the ore shipped was a very fair sample- this
company will have made a profitable investment. They are close
to a base of supply, being about fourteen miles from Clarkesville
R. R. station, with an admirable intervening wagon-road. Fuel and
good labor are cheap; the mill is first-class and well situated; and, fur-
thermore, the ore-body offers most advantageous natural facilities
for easy and inexpensive removal. Finally, it is most probable, on
account of the increasing interest attached to the discovery of cheap
methods for the extraction of gold from sulphide ores, that, even
after the oxidized ore has been milled, this extensive ore-body may
be worked successfully.
 WHITE COUNTY
43

THE NACOOCHEE HILLS GOLD MINING COMPANY'S

PROPERTY

The property of this company consists of the following lots. or

parts of lots lying in the gold belt : -

District Lot Acres

2~}
3
3 6oo
3
3 28
3 38 }
3 39 225
3 40 Part of 250
3 9 250
3 25 250
3 26 250
In addition to the above acreage, the company owns some hun-
dred acres outs de of the gold belt, sufficient to make a total of
2,300 acres.
Since the lots of this property, lying south of the Chattahoochee
river, are owned conjointly with the Martin and St. George, in order
to avoid repetition, they will not be described here, but under the
head of the other properties.
Special attention, therefore, will be directed to those lots, not
hereafter described under other heads, upon which mining and
prospecting has been done. In order to facilitate the understand-
ing of the description, a plat of these lots with notes is presented.
 Fig. 2.
(·

r "7 (-
If uo
I ~
~

-t,, +.o ) -b +,. /\.'$ 1 ·+., ~. ''\·'··) '\)? . (

I~,(, .
.
•"'•'t'
~f
;·~.,
~
·!,,
/'

'D'

) +,, J ~ ~-..;
'·*·
6+ I 163"\: ""'--./16'1 };:;- . / -ttl \I/ J~nl - .....-rrq +,7
t;J
8
,,
"' / lb71\. \ . / )"""'!Ait \ J--trq },; Hro -t;. -b \\b./ -fT. ~ ~"l
"<::

96

'17 --J;.,
~

Map of N acoochee:v alley Mining Properties.

 WHiTE COUNTY
45
The main branches, shown on the map,' also smaller water-courses
not platted, have been washed for gold in the past, with results
common to branches in this region. The work, nevertheless, has
not been carried on so extensively, as on the streams south of the
river; and hence considerable gravel area has been left untouched.
This is especially true of Smith's creek, which flows through the old
Trammel place; the cultivation of the fine bottom land of its
course has been little disturbed by mining.
The Bell Branclz has been much worked over, in lot 40 and the
southern part of lot 2 5; but the north half of the lot presents a
considerable tract of virgin gravel deposits, along both the water-
course and the dry hollows leading into it.
Pan-testing on lot 27 has been conducted along the northern
slope of the ridge, by which·Smith's creek flows; and an auriferous
saprolite body has been found to extend through the center of the
lot. Neither its width nor auriferous extent has, as yet, been de-
termined. Across the southeast corner of the same lot, surface
cuts have revealed another gold-bearing saprolite lead, a full one
hundred and fifty feet in width. These cuts show the presence, in
the saprolite, of a large number of small quartz stringers. A tun-
nel is now being driven in, on the southeast slope of the ridge, in
order to better determine, if possible, the value of this belt. This
saprolite lead has been traced on to Curly mountain; and its location
would suggest, that it is a continuation of the belt exposed at the
Dean cut on the St. George property.
Still further to the east, on lot 26, is the auriferous belt, cut at
the Conley place. No development has been made upon this.
On lot 25, a cut has located a solid quartz vein. As yet, no efforts
have been made, to determine its extent. It strikes N. 60° E., dips
6 5° S. E., and is apparently conformable to the enclosing schist.
1
See page 44·
 WHITE COUNTY

The vein, as exposed by a ten-foot shaft, is about sixteen inches

thick, and strongly impregnated with oxidized iron sulphide. Pan·
nings of the wall material offered such good results, that a sample
of the ore was taken for assay. The report on the assay of this
ore, made by the Chemist of the Survey, was as follows:-

Cut No. I • • • • 0.40 oz. gold ($8.oo) per ton

With this assay result in view, it is perhaps unnecessary to suggest,
that the extent of the ore-body be better determined, and other
tests of its value made.
Mr. Charles Roberts of London, England, resident at Roberts-
town, Nacoochee Valley, President of the company, has been now
steadily engaged in improving the property, for the past year. His
work, in the main, has been toward the improvement of the farms,
a large tract of their land being a part of Nacoochee valley, or
rather bottom lands of the Chattahoochee river. On the old
Trammel place, a small colony, with substantial frame buildings, has
been founded; likewise buildings have been constructed on other
farms, and the houses of his tenants have been suitably repaired.
In the midst of these general improvements of the farming inter-
ests, time has been taken for prospecting. It is the intention of
the company, to gradually develop the mineral interests of their
property, for the present, and, later, to engage regularly in mining
the gold deposits.

THE MARTIN MINING PROPERTY

Mr. John Martin, of London, England, whose present residence is

Cleveland, White county, Ga., controls, in this county, the largest
collective gold tract in North Georgia.
 WHITE COUNTY
47
Following is a list of the Martin mining properties, situated m
the 3rd and 4th districts of White county : -

District I Lot Acres Remarks

4 9 250"'
4 IO 250
4 II 250
3 !2 250
3 2 250
Not in the Gold Belt.
3 29 } 200 >-
3 30
3 32 250
3 33 250 I
3 34 250
3 35 250 j
3 36 250
3 37 !25
3 39 !25 Conley Mine and Farm.
3 57 I28 Nichols Mine.
3 ss 250 Frazier Mine.
3 59 IS
3 6o 47 Hamby Mine.
3 62
3 63 rgo Curtis Mill Tract. Not in the Gold Belt.
3 64 125 Not in the Gold Belt.
3 70 250 White-McGhee Mine; 20-stamp Mill.
3 7I 250 Richardson Mine.
3 go 63 Russell Mine.
3 gr 94 Powell Mine.
3 93 250 Park's Mine.
3 99 !25
3 roo 250
3 IOI 250
3 I26 250 Oliver Mine.

A large part of the acreage enumerated above does not lie in the
gold belt; its position, with reference to water-rights, timber etc.,
 WHITE COUNTY

is such, however, that it ma.kes an essential complement to the

gold-bearing area.
The nucleus of this property was brought under one management,
in I 8 57, by "The Nacoochee Hydraulic Company" of Boston,
with J. R. Dean, Jr., of Nacoochee, as mining superintendent.
They possessed, in fee simple, only 875 acres; but they controlled,
by leases, most of the auriferous lots, embraced between Duke's creek
and the Chattahoochee river, which they worked, at a royalty of one-
tenth of the gold produced. Active measures to develop the
property commenced in I 86o; and, at the breaking out of the war,
the present canal was completed, water running through, and
ready to be used for the hydraulic operation of the gold fields,
which it commanded. The cost of building this canal was about
$50,000. The war suddenly arrested all work; but, upon the
restoration of peace, work was re-commenced; and this company,
followed later by others, prosecuted successfully hydraulic mining,
for some years. During this period, some of the largest nuggets
ever found in Georgia were taken from these hills, besides many
thousands dwts. of gold in grains.
Mr. Martin came into possession of the property, about five
years ago, and has been zealously at work, adding new and impor-
tant territory by direct purchase, until he has now brought it to its
present magnitude. In the past year, 1 the ditch has been completely
repaired, and, in many respects, improved; and a large 20-stamp
mill has been kept running, day and night, working ore, taken from
the Reynolds vein, and selected surface ore, very abundant in many
localities, which he has had collected and hauled to the mill. In
addition to his own large working force, numerous small parties
are given brief leases, to work at the various deposits ; such parties
pay to him one-tenth toll, and are provided with giants and water
 WHITE COUNTY
49
privileges, at the rate of 50 cents a pipe-head. In conjunction
with his mining operations, he carries on a commissary store,
through which much of the mining labor is paid, and to which the
lessee-miners carry their gold. By such business-like manage-
ment, he has been enabled to improve his property, and increase its
size. Indeed, the commissary department, toll on leases, and rent
of water could be made in themselves to pay a fair interest on
money invested. Nevertheless, in addition to these, his own work-
ing force has been profitably engaged.
The auriferous formation of this property consists of saprolite,
stream deposits, on both hill and bottom land, and veins. In the
description of this immense property, these deposits will be dis-
cussed collectively, and in the above order.
Topographically considered, this region forms the water-shed
between Duke's creek and the Chattahoochee river, and is a long
spur of the Blue Ridge with a southeasterly trend. It has one
prominent elevation, known as Hamby mountain, which, on lot 36,
attains an elevation of over 2,300 feet above sea-level. This
stands in the midst of the Nacoochee mining field, and gives rise
to many mountain branches, which flow down its sides, and stretch
out south and north to Duke's creek and the Chattahoochee river,
respectively. The valleys of the branches are deep, and the
ground rises rapidly on either side, so that there is a ridge or spur
1
between each. The map shows the course of these streams, and
the relative location of the branches flowing into them.
2
Present evidence points to the saprolite, as the chief supply of
the stream gold to this property, and large areas of it are to be
found here. Indeed, one can hardly wash a pan of dirt, along any
of the prospecting cuts, without obtaining some gold. Moreover,
1 2
See page 44· See page 34·
so WHITE COUNTY

by selecting the dirt for panning-in which case, one familiar with
the formation would choose the black seams, occupied by iron
oxides - a rich showing of gold will invariably be found in the con-
centrates. Whether, or not, all the saprolite areas are auriferous,
prospecting has, as yet, not revealed ; but, where testing has been
carried on, such areas have been found to be gold-bearing; as, for
instance, lot 6o, where large excavations have been made in the
saprolite, which is not extensive, but, in places, at least 7 5 feet
deep, as shown at excavations near the reservoir. In this locality,
certain strips were worked, with most excellent results. On the
north side of Hamby mountain may be sighted the large excava-
tion made by the St. George Company, where they are now work-
ing, an extension of which area will be found on this property.
Excavations, also, are to be seen in the saprolite at other points,
where auriferous leads have been followed to some purpose.
The total amount of gold, already taken from the branch depos-
its, is something enormous. The branches, especially during the
wet months, are perfect torrents, with an immense erosive power;
during such periods, also, they are supplemented by innumerable
mountain rills, at other times dry. Centuries of such powerful and
continued action, on the feeding saprolite and decomposing veins
of this auriferous body of land, have made the deposits of these
branches the most richly productive in Georgia.
Long Hungry Branch, the only branch of Mr. Martin's property
flowing into the Chattahoochee, has the most extended deposit, of
any branch on the north side of the Hamby water-shed, being, as
its name implies, of unusual length, and having many feeders. The
quantity of gold, removed from its deposit, show extensive areas
of saprolite along its course; and inspection reveals much placer
ground yet untouched. The banks, moreover, show valuable hill
deposits. Four or five feeders, or forks, enter the branch on the
 WHITE COUNTY 51
north side, and nearly all these have hill deposits on the left banks,
near their mouths. The main deposits offer hardly any drainage
for washing; hence artificial drainage will be required, when they
are worked. The dry hollows and hill deposits should claim atten-
tion. The main deposits of this branch are estimated to have
yielded over $I oo,ooo worth of gold.
Richardson Branch rises in lot 7I, and enters Duke's creek on the
eastern side of lot 9I. It flows along the eastern edge of the gold
belt, and has disclosed good deposits. As it approaches Duke's
creek, the land becomes flat, and the drainage of the deposition
ground, too slight for natural sluicing; hence little work has been
done here, in the past, and considerable virgin ground is offered for
the modern methods of hydraulicking.
Black Branch heads in lot 70, at which point the surface spreads
out, fan-like, with diverging dry hollows, where pits sunk to bed-
rock have revealed gold in the saprolite. Between this branch and
the White-McGhee branch, is a hill-deposit, from which Mr. Dean
took about $I,500 worth of gold, mainly nuggets, in 1860. The
largest of these nuggets weighed 69 dwts., I I 5 dwts. and 387 dwts.,
respectively, the last believed to be the largest nugget found, up to
that time, in Georgia. All showed marks of much attrition. This
branch is noted for its coarse gold.
White-McGehee Branch rises in Hamby mountain, between the
sources of the Hamby and Long Hungry branches, lots 59 and 6o,
and flows south through the center of lot 90, entering Duke's creek,
just above the twenty-stamp mill. It has been the scene of spas-
modic, but extensive, mining for years. Midway, in its course, it
passes over a hard ledge of siliceous gneiss, which forms a water-
fall, about fifty feet high. This has been the means of forming a
large flat tract below the fall, underlaid with auriferous gravel.
From this basin, much gold has been removed, although the workers
 -·--

WHiTE COUNTY

have been hampered by poor drainage. Below this fall, the branch
has been richly productive, to Duke's creek. The Reynolds vein
crosses the branch, just below the fall, and is presumed, on account
of its present richness, to have assisted these lower deposits quite
considerably.
For such a fertile gold area, few veins have yet been cut, which
it would be profitable to work. Naturally, their presence is as-
sumed; but, thus far, they have escaped attention, although, up to
the present time, search for them has been of secondary impor-
tance, so vast have been the workable areas of other deposits. I~
is very probable, however, that, while the saprolite leads are being
operated, evidence will be forthcoming to give clews to the source
of the nuggets and coarse gold, which the placer deposits are con-
tinually giving up.
·t
One vein, nevertheless, of considerable promise was discovered
by Mr. Reynolds, early in the gold history of this region, and was
worked down, to the depth of fifty feet, along a cut of about seven
hundred feet. The ore was carted to a little stamp-mill, erected
on the White-McGhee branch; and the milling, according to Mr.
Charles Williams of Nacoochee, who received the toll, amounted to,
from $1,500 to $2,000 a week. According to the same gentleman,
the entire yield of the vein, when worked by Mr. Reynolds, was
$66,ooo. When first inspected by me, the walls of the excavation
had fallen in, thus covering a considerable portion of the vein; but,
near the center of the cut, the vein was well exposed and open to
examination. It was found to consist of compact milk-white
quartz, from twelve to eighteen inches in thickness, carrying pyrite
partially oxidized. This ore-body is apparently conformable to·
the hard hornblendic schist, in which it lies; it strikes N. 40° E.,
with a.dip of 70° to the southeast. To the east of this ore-body,
are to be seen other veins, similar as to nature, but more lenticular-
 WHITE COUNTY 53
and less continuous. The band of hornblendic schist, in which it
lies, is not over thirty feet in thickness ; but it is so hard and tough,
as to be moved only by blasting. On either side of the hordblende,
are most thoroughly decomposed mica-schists. An average sample
of this vein, taken along a ten-foot exposure, gave in the laboratory
of the Survey, the following results : -
First assay 0.562 oz. of gold per ton
Second assay (duplicate) 0.520 " " " " "
At $20 per ounce, the value of this ore would be $1 1.24 and
$10.40 per ton, according to the respective assays.
These results are certainly indicative of an ore-body, which can
be operated profitably, and are encouraging to the future working
of the Reynolds vein. At the present depth of the worked por-
tion, free-milling will, hereafter, be impossible ; therefore a plant for
desulphurizing the ore will be required. The past history of the
vein and its present indications argue favorably toward the estab-
lishment of such a plant.
The Conley Vein, so called, is located north of center of lot 39 ,·
it was worked, some years ago, by local miners. All the gold,
taken from it, was obtained by sluicing, no part of the ore-body
being milled. The excavation on the vein shows the presence of
very little quartz; and, therefore, it might preferably be called a
rich lead in saprolite. Mrs. Conley, who owned the lot, up to a
short time ago, refused a working lease on the vein, soon after its
wealth was discovered. The sample taken by me showed, on assay-
ing, only a trace of gold. This sample, however, was taken at ran-
dom, with rio accurate knowledge of the lead, in which the miners
had made their discovery.
The few other veins, discovered on these properties, were either
not in a conditi~n to be examined, or were too undeveloped, to re-
quire special mention.
54 WHITE COUNTY

As already stated, the properties, controlled by Mr. Martin, are

splendidly equipped for development; and their topography, as a
whole, is most superior for mining operation. On the north side
of Hamby mountain, is the St.George ten-stamp mill, on lot ]6,
and on the south side, on lot 70, Mr. Martin's twenty-stamp milL
This twenty-stamp mill is finely housed and perfectly equipped,
and is run by a turbine-wheel, water being supplied from the
Hamby ditch.
The principal feature of the property, in the way of equipment
for mining operations, is the Hamby ditch. This aqueduct takes its
water from Duke's creek, on lot JJ, and winds around the slopes
of Hamby mountain, with a gentle and uniform grade, five feet to
the mile. Its course must necessarily be uneven; but it is ren-
dered more so, by the engineer's endeavor to avoid the building
of trestles. On account of its elevation, which, in lot ]6, is 3 50
feet above Duke's creek, this was rendered possible. Although
/
the lower end of the ditch is only three miles, in a direct line, from
the dam, its complete length is about seven and one-half miles.
Its elevation above, and its location in respect to, the known de-
posits is such, that it is universally acknowledged to be the key to
the entire auriferous area between Duke's creek and the Chatta-
hoochee river. The original expense of constructing this ditch
has been given.' In the summer of 1894, it was thoroughly over-
hauled; the dam was repaired, the flumes were reconstructed, and
new gates were built at the most advantageous distributing points.

I See page 48.

 WHITE COUNTY
55

1
THE ST. GEORGE PROPERTY

The St. George Property consists of about I ,84 I acres, lying in the
Nacoochee district of White county. Only a portion, locally known
as "The Dean Gold Mines," is in the gold belt. The Dean, or au-
riferous area, consists of a part of the following 2 5o acre lots: -
District Lot Acres
3 37 3I
3 38 200
3 59 235
The remaining acreage was secured for water-rights, timber and
other purposes. In the Jrd district, the company owns parts of lots
27 and 28/ in the sth district, lots I9 and 20, and one-half of lot 2I. The
lots of the latter district are laid down as 450 acre lots. These
latter lots were taken in, with the intention of drawing water from
the Chattahoochee to the Dean Gold Mine. During the company's
early possession of the Dean mine, therefore, they purchased these
lots and the right of way covering the remaining distance, and
started a ditch from lot 20. Before completing this ditch, however,
only three and one-quarter miles being constructed, the Hamby
mountain ditch had been completed; and since then, when operating
the Dean mine, they have used water from the Hamby ditch.
The geological formation, the nature and character of the aurifer-
ous deposit, is but a repetition of those of Y onah mountain and the
Martin property. The entire tract of gold-bearing land, however,
lies on the north side of the water-shed, and its water-courses enter
the Chattahoochee river. The deposits of these streams, like those
on the south side, have been worked pretty thoroughly, especially
near the river.
1
See map, for the relative position of the lots and their prominent features. page 44.'
 WHITE COUNTY

The Horton Branch has its source outside of the gold belt, and
its gravel deposits are perfectly barren, until it approaches the river.
Here it flows over flat ground, affording little facility for easy
mining. Still, much gold has been taken from points of the deposit,
offering the necessary advantages. Basing opinion on what is re-
ported to have been done here in the past, the ground yet unbroken
by miners suggests good possibilities for future workers.
The England, the Old House and the Gaten Branches have all been
Fig. 3·
s

25

')0 4-1

Map of the St.George Gold Property.

worked, again and again, and have proved rich sources of revenue.
Each flows in sharp ravines, up to the river valley; and the charac-
teristics of the deposits and ground-course are exactly alike. They
are especially of noteworthy importance, on account of their coarse
gold deposits and the presence of hill deposits of coarse gravel,
which give substantial evidence of old river benches. An inspec-
tion of the old work, along these streams, shows, that the miners
found frequent inducements to extend their washing up into these
GOLD DEPO S ITS OF GEORG!.4 PL A TE II

TJ-n : DEAN CUT , LOOK ING NO RTH , S'J' GEORGE GOLD Ml N J<;, WHIT E COUNTY GEORGIA.
 WHITE COUNTY
57
hill deposits. It is quite possible, that these old works would pay,
if carefully cleaned; and that, which remains untouched, taken to-
gether with the hill deposits, is suggestive of bright prospects.
The most important feature of this property, however, has been
exposed by the Dean cut on lot 38. Here, Mr. Dean, who was
later made mining superintendent of the old Nacoochee Hydraulic
Company, operated, for several hundred feet, a quartz vein, or
rather stringers of quartz, widening from a mere band to eighteen
inches, and continuing in a well defined course; and, from the mill-
ing of the ore and ground-sluicing of its walls, he is reported to
have reaped a rich harvest. This work was prosecuted, some time
after the close of the war. Mr. R. W. Rickard, M.E., who, in
I 886, reported on the property, for the St. George people, was

especially taken with the rich saprolite, exposed by Dean's cut.

Since, in his report, he expresses, in a general way, the consensus
of opinion of those, who have made a study of the southern gold
fields, and this property in particular, I will quote his words : -
"The precious metal occurs in the following manner : -
Several large bands, or adopting the local term, courses, of gold-
bearing schist, run parallel through the gold belt, southwest and north-
east. They all contain small quartz veins throughout; and the schist,
which generally is comparatively hard, in these courses is quite
soft, and can be worked almost with a shovel. It is difficult to de-
termine the cause of this softness; one thing is remarkable, that
quartz veins, from the thickness of letter paper up to eighteen
inches, exist throughout this soft and productive ground, having the
same run and dip, as the courses themselves; and to these veins,
probably, is attributable the deposition of the precious metal, as
well as the softening of the mica-schist. The gold is free from
sulphurets, and consequently may be treated effectually by amal-
gamation. In connection with these veins of quartz, there is a con-
 WHITE COUNTY

centration of gold-bearing material; in fact, the quartz itself is au-

riferous, showing, upon assay, from %' ounces upwards, per ton."
At the time of my visit to this excavation, no work had been
done, for some years; and the vein was not sufficiently exposed, to
take a fair sample for assay. In the spring of 1895, a ten-stamp
mill, run by a turbine-wheel, supplied with Hamby ditch water, was
erected; and, since then, the St.George management has been con-
stantly milling the quartz and harder portions of the saprolite.
First of all, however, they cleaned up the old box ground-sluice,
which had been acting as a drain, during these lapse of years, and
found about 300 dwts. of gold. The size of the return was unex-
pected, and hence extremely gratifying. The cut is now being ex-
tended along the lead of the vein, by the simple erosion of water
flowing down from the Hamby ditch. The drain to the river con-
sists of a line of two-foot sluice-boxes. Just before the drain
reaches the mill, there is another system of boxes, connected with
the main drain in a Y, so that large quartz masses and hard pieces
of schist may be sent down in the sluice-boxes toward the mill.
About fifty feet from the mill, all the large material is caught in a
big bin, broken up, and forwarded, by the emptying sluices, to the
mill. The illustration' shows the St. George cut, from a· point
about midway, looking toward the mill and river. A close inspec-
tion will show the system of transferring auriferous material to the
mill.
At present, about six men are at work in the cut, with pick and
shovel, guiding and assisting the action of the water; another man
is stationed at the mill feeding the batteries.
Mr. John Martin has an interest in this property, and manages it
in conjunction with his own.
1
See Plate II.
 WHITE COUNTY
59

THE YONAH LAND AND MINING COMPANY'S PROPERTY

The Yonah Land and Mining Company controls one of the

largest contiguous acreages in North Georgia. This body of land
lies in the Jrd district along the watershed of Duke's creek, and
comprises lots 6o, 6I, 62, 67, 68, 69, 89, 90, 9I, 92, IOJ, I04, and
one half of IOj, forming a tract of about 3,268 acres. It may be
well to add, that a few small areas in some of these lots are owned
jointly with other companies. Besides the above tract, they own
the mineral interest in lot I 4, 6th district.
"The property is a consolidation of what was formerly known
as "The Tonton Mines," "The Mercer Mines" and "The Butt
Mines." These mines were all adjacent; and, because of the
water supply, gold belts, and many other advantages, arising from
the ownership of such a large territory, they were consolidated
into one property, purchased for a large sum, and given the name
of "The Calhoun Land and Mining Company." The property has
been known in this way, for a series of years; but, recently, the pres-
ent company has applied for a new charter; and the property will
henceforth be known, as the Yonah Land and Mining Company's
1
property, or, in brief, the Yonah Gold Mines." The lots of
land included in this property, with the exception of lot I 4, 6th
district, and their relative positions to each other, are shown on
the map!
There are thirty cottages on the property, twelve of which are
frame buildings; and all are suitable for the occupancy of miners.
Besides these cottages, there is a commissary building, now un-
1
See pp. 3 and 4• Report of E. T. Whatley, on" The Yonah Land and Mining Co. of White Co.,
Ga., r893."
2
See page 44·
6o WHITE COUNTY

tenanted, and an equipped blacksmith shop. All these are ac-

cessible, by wagon roads.
"The cleared, cultivated lands consist of approximately 218
acres. Of this, about fifty acres is fine bottom land, and would, if
properly cultivated, produce 1,500 bushels of corn. The remain-
ing 168 acres ought to produce I,ooo bushels, making a total yield
of 2,500 bushels. These lands would produce other crops in the
same proportion. The farms, however, have been poorly cultivated,
and the yields have never been what they should. Besides these
cleared farms, there are approximately 300 acres of excellent
farming lands, that have never been cleared of their original for-
ests. Similar land, in the same vicinity (Nacoochee valley) has
sold for $40 per acre, for farming purposes. The farms are well
watered, eas'ily drained, and seldom, if ever, damaged by overflow.
They contain many convenient springs of pure freestone water, for
drinking purposes. The soils are light-gray and mulatto color, and
easily tilled." I
These lots, likewise, are generally well timbered; and Mr. What-
ley has estimated, that they contain many thousand feet of market-
able timber, consisting of pine, oak, hickory, poplar, chestnut and
maple.
The property is especially well watered. In addition to Duke's
creek, a large stream, with a fall of 220 feet, which traverses the
property, there are also Mill creek, Mercer branch, Pardue branch,
Kelly branch and Stoner branch, all of which can be utilized, in
operating the mineral areas of this property.
When operated by the Calhoun Company, a ditch seven miles
long, extending entirely through the property, was constructed, at
an expense exceeding $J,OOO. "This canal has a fall of 63 feet,

I Seep. s. Report of E. T. Whatley on "The Yonah Land and Mining Co. of White Co., Ga .•
1893·"
 WHITE COUNTY 6r

from its source to the mouth, and an elevation of 93 feet above

Duke's creek, at its mouth, lots 72 and 89. It -carries a volume of
water sufficiently large to run a IO-stamp mill, with a 40-foot fall,
at any point along the canal. The size of the canal can easily be
increased, at any time, at small expense. Since its construction, at
various times expenditures have b~en made on its improvement and
repair; and the canal is now in good condition, and the water, ready
for use, either to work the placer mine, or to operate a mill located
1
at some point along the canal." Besides this ditch, the property
lies in such a position, with reference to the Hamby mountain
property, that the Hamby ditch alone could be made to play an
important part, in operating the Yonah Mountain mines.
This property is not only essentially rich in placer areas; but it
contains, already opened up, several veins, assays of which are
indicative of considerable economic importance.
Mr. Whatley states, that, as near as can be estimated by informa-
tion gathered from all sources, between $ soo,ooo and $I ,ooo,ooo
have been taken from the Yonah Gold Mines. Work on the streams
and bottoms has been going on, almost continually since 1830; and
there still remain virgin areas. During the summer of I 893, Mr.
Whatley reports, that he himself removed from one of the placers
$2,000, at an expense, not exceeding $I ,ooo. The work, however,
during the earlier periods, was conducted in such a crude way, that
so much of the fine gold was left, that, at each re-working- a most
common occurrence even to the third time- the labor has been
profitable.
The gold deposits of all the branches, platted on the map: have
been more or less worked in the past; but, in some instances, and

1
Seep. 8, Report of E. T. Whatley on" The Yonah Land and Mining Co. of WhitejCo., Ga •.
r&)J.''
2
See page 44·
6z WHITE COUNTY

especially at certain points, they will pay another overhauling.

Returns, however, from the deposits of the branches, flowing into
Duke's creek from Hamby mountain, have far surpassed those en-
tering the same from the south.
For instance, Hamby branch, with numerous heads in lot 6o, has
been one of the most important gold-fields of this county. It has
been found to be rich in gold, to the very head. Moreover, the
upper and steeper portions of the valleys of its main stem and
forks have not been worked much; these present good ground for
washing. There are, also, many dry hollows, extending off in
different directions; and it is presumed, that nearly all of them con-
tain valuable deposits of gold; for, wherever water could be had to
wash with, there have yielded splendid returns. On the main
branch, the washing in of the gold has been on the left side, at
many points. Indeed, not only on this, but on other streams hav-
ing the same direction, it appears to be generally true, that the gold
deposit is richest along the western bank. The early workers found
it too laborious to operate these deposits cleanly, on account of the
deep overburden; hence considerable has been left, which hydraulic
mining will render easy and profitable.
As Hamby branch approaches Duke's creek, the ground of the
deposit becomes low and flat, spreading out over considerable sur-
face. This was found to be very rich; it afforded large amounts of
gold; but it could not be worked out, with success, on account of
poor drainage. With the present equipment for such mining,
therefore, there is still to be found fertile areas for successful work.
Furthermore, there are many points along the course of the
branch, where there are indications of good hill-deposits. These
lie on the banks, or slopes of the hills, along the main forks of
the branch, and also on the points of the hills between the forks.
The main hill-deposit, however, is on the ridge, or hill, above the
 WHITE COUNTY

branch, where there is a fine show of stream-gravel, much rounded

and probably rich in gold. Some of these deposits have been
washed; but much remains for the future.
Another branch, which has been much prospected, is Mercer
branch. This is at the upper edge of the gold belt, and extends
from Hamby mountain, southeast, to Duke's creek. Like all the
other gold-bearing branches, this was washed, soon after the dis-
covery of gold in the Nacoochee district, and was found to be au-
riferous throughout, as is shown by the gravel-banks and pits along
its course. It has several subdivisions of forks, which also con-
tained good deposits, and have been worked out, almost to their
source. One of the forks extends, in a northwesterly direction,
beyond the upper edge of the gold belt, and is consequent! y bar-
ren of gold. Near its entrance to Duke's creek, on the western
bank, there is an accumulation of water-worn boulders, or river
drift, in the soil, which shows a river deposit, doubtless auriferous.
There are hill deposits, also, on several of the points between the
main branch and its forks.
Pardue Branch, Bramlett Branch, Alabama Branch and Kelly
Branch have also been worked successfully; and numerous points
along their course may still be subjected to hydraulic mining, with
satisfactory results. In fact, the inspection of these stream deposits,
although the returns have not been so rich as the north branches,
reveal similar characteristics and equally as encouraging prospects,
as those branches already described.
The main placer area of this property, and the one, which will
be especially referred to, in this report, lies along Duke's creek, in
lots 89 and 90, and comprises, in all, a complete body of, perhaps,
fifty acres. Since my attention was directed to the gold-fields of
the State, Mr. Whatley, local manager of the Yonah Gold Mines,
has been concentrating all his mining operations on the placer of
64 WHITE COUNTY

these lots. In passing, it may be said, that, previous to his manage-

ment, $1,500 in nuggets was removed from one pit, in two days.
Mr. Whatley's first work consisted in clearing out a pit, just un-
covered by his predecessor; the returns were most profitable. He
next turned his attention to the head of this large body, near the
entrance of Duke's creek. Here he spent some months of 1894,
working one giant and two hydraulic elevators. The numerous
freshets of this season frequently burst his dam, and filled in the
working-pit. This occurrence, not once, but many times, caused
the expenditure on necessary, but unprofitable, labor to exceed the
returns. Yet, gold was taken out, in sufficient amounts, to more
than warrant the expense, barring untoward accidents. Later, he
removed his plant to a point, about midway between the old loca-
tion and the Cleveland road, on lot 89. Here, he worked out two
pits, whose total surface area would consist of about 2 50 square
feet; and he reports, as his return, 3,000 pennyweights of gold.
During the past winter he has made a radical change in his plant.
He has introduced a steam-pump, with fire-hose and nozzle attach-
ments, and has devoted the entire power of his ditch to draining
the working-pit. This complement to his new plant consists of a
thirty-six horse-power engine and a Worthington duplex-pump,
with four rubber fire hose-pipes attached to a main force-pipe. AU
are new.
For celerity and ease in work, this is very plainly a decided im-
provement over the old system. The pump furnishes, under a
seventy-foot pressure, I,ooo gallons of water per minute. This is
sufficient to supply the four hose attached. With these easily shifted
hose, the objective point of the hydraulicking can be changed,
at a moment's notice; whereas, with the old plant, much time was
lost, in replacing and jointing the heavy iron pipes, and adjusting
the giant. Besides, he can distribute the water force of these hose
GOLD DEPOS ITS U F GEORGIA PL~TE Iff

THE T U RNER SLI \IP - illlLL, OK THE THOilfPSON LOT i\A COOCHEE VALU:Y
WH ITE COU:\ITY GEORG IA.
 WHITE COUNTY

at various points in the pit, unite their attack collectively, or by

stops, turn such force, as may be desired, on different hose.
The cost of running this plant, not including pipe-men and pit-
workers, is estimated at about $3 per day, which estimate, according _
to the manager, is practically the expense of running the old plant.
In addition to the advantages already enumerated, with fewer men,
they can accomplish with this plant an equal amount of, if not more,
work, in a day. Mr. Whatley finds, after a month's tr_ial, that each
hose will clear about two ten-foot pits per day.
The different pits, worked in this bottom, and the present working-
pit, show, on an average, a nine-foot "topping" and three feet of
gravel. The main body of this overburden, being light alluvium,
is easily removed; but, on the gravel, there rests from six to twelve
inches of peat and blue clay, which offers considerable resistance
to hydraulic action. To a large extent, the gold is coarse, and
many small nuggets, well-rounded and water-worn, abound. Not
.infrequently, moreover, the gold is found aggregated in pockets.
Furthermore, the gold is especially fine in quality, carrying only a
slight percentage of alloy. A photograph showing the plant and
working-pit was taken March gth, 1896. 1
In addition to the placers, prospecting has disclosed a large num-
ber of auriferous veins, which preserve, in some instances, consid-
.erable continuity along the strike. These are generally exposed
.by cross-cuts; some, however, have been stripped, for a short dis-
tance, but only by shallow cuts. All are intercalated with the
mica-schist, and apparently conform, in strike and dip, to the same.
The major portion of the veins, now exposed, are on lots 68 and
·92. The veins on the latter lot are exposed only by three-foot
cross-cuts, so that only a small part of the ore-body is exposed.
These vary in width, from two to seven feet, and are much decom-
1
See Plate V.
66 WHITE COUNTY

posed and weathered. Assays, made by the company, show them

to run from $4 to $I 2 per ton. Assays made in the Survey labora-
tory resulted, in value per ton, as follows:-

Vein 5 1 , Cut I2 $0.00

Vein 6, Cut I 3 0.00
Vein 7, Cut I4 .so- trace
Vein 8, Cut I 5 o.oo
Vein 9, Cut I6 5 0.00
1 2.$0
These assays of samples, taken as they were from such small
portions of the veins, and, usually, badly broken down, should not
be accepted as condemnatory, but rather as suggestive, until
further explored. In the case of vein No. g, while one assay
shows no gold, its duplicate yields as much as $2.50 a ton.
On lot 68, the veins are better exposed than elsewhere on the
property; and ore, taken from vein 2, has been worked in smaL
mortars, by local miners, with profit. This vein is now covered,
except for about twenty feet. It strikes N. 20° E., and dips 65° S. E.
Where exposed, it is not over twelve inches thick, and is rich
in completely oxidized sulphides. Average sample material, taken
along the twenty-foot exposure, was assayed in duplicate in the
laboratory of the Survey, with the following results:-

Assays of sample from vein 2, cut 2 { $ 9-4° per ton

I 3.00 '' "

Vein I, which has been more prospected than any of the others.
having cross-cuts, at irregular intervals, for over three hundred
yards, varies in thickness, from one to three feet, and corresponds
closely to vein 2, in strike and dip. The various exposures do not
show it to be as rich in sulphides; but assay material taken from
1
These veins are designated here, as marked in the field by sign-boards.
 WHITE COUNTY

the large exposure, next to the most northern cut, gives favorable
returns, as shown by assay in duplicate in the laboratory of the
Survey:-
$1.00 per ton
Assays of sample from vein r { 7.00 " "

'It may be seen, therefore, that there are veins at the Y onah
Mountain mines, which, probably, can be made to pay at least
fairly well, and now offer inducements to development. There is,
at present, a large amount of free-milling ore in situ; but the Thies
chlorination process, or some other method of chemical reduction,
must be introduced, to insure continuous success.
Included in this report is a map, showing the location of the
ditch on the property, its water-courses, present placer-plant and
vein-cut. I
Mr. Henry E. Young of Charleston, S. C., is President of the
company, and Mr. E. T. Whatley, Superintendent and Mining
Engineer.

THE THOMPSON PROPERTY

The Thompson Property has lately been purchased by Captain

T. W. Hix of Rockland, Me., now resident at Nacoochee, and local
manager of the Sail Mountain Asbestos Company. It consists of
lot I02, Jrd district, and lies about one and _one-half miles southeast
of Nacoochee.
This property contains one of the most interesting veins of its
class, in this region, cutting the lot diagonally from corner to cor-

I See page 44.

68 WHITE COUNTY

ner, southwest and northeast. The vein, referred to, occupies the
center of a low ridge, and has been prospected, by open cuts and
shafts, the entire length of the lot; and, northeast, into the adjoin-
ing lot. It consists of a zone, from six to ten feet in thickness, of
quartz stringers intercalated in mica-schist, the country-rock. I
have seen no instance, in the counties examined by me, of a similar
vein of equal thickness, carrying so many quartz lenses and string-
ers. In an open cut, about the center of the lot, I was able to
make a photograph of the ore-body.' This shows the vein in the
northeast end of the cut; the larger quartz stringers stand out
prominently; and their width may be readily estimated, by compar-
ison with the animate object. The course of the vein is N. 35° E.,
and dips very sharply to the southeast. The average ore is low
grade, probably varying from 50 cents (the assay made by the
Survey of its sample) to $5 per ton; and, as far as prospected, it is
free-milling. The picked ore runs high. The situation, however,
of the ore-body is such, that there is a large amount of ore above
water-level, which is consequently oxidized ·and free-milling.
Prospecting has already developed it sufficiently, to base close esti-
mates on the cost and profit of working the free-milling portion.
During the past few years, one of the native geniuses, by the
name of Turner, with his aged mother, has spent a few months in
each year, mining and milling this ore-body. The son packed
selected ore, in a bag on his back, to a rude mill, a quarter of a
mile from the shafts, and emptied it into a nail keg; the mother
fed the mill with a shingle. Working thus, from sunrise to sunset,
they eked out a good living, for persons of their class, never mak-
ing less than $I a day apiece.
2
The Turner Stamp-mill has been accepted by all, who have
1 See Plate IV. 2 See Plate III.
 WHITE COUNTY

seen it, as the first of its kind. A ten-foot overshot water-wheel,

with axis elongated at one side, set in propped posts, constitutes the
motor. Three spindles, roughly hewn, are shod with radially
arranged and overlapping bands of iron (pieces of a wheel-tire),
bound by a ring. The5e are the stamps. The mortar consists of
the remnant of the shoe material. Flat iron plugs, bent at the end,
are so arranged in the axis, that, when it revolves, these plugs
catch, lift and drop each notched spindle at different intervals.
The screen of the mortar chamber is a piece of iron stove-pipe,
rolled out, and punctured with nail-holes. A combination sluice-
box does the rest.
Neighbors from different parts of the gold belt have infringed
upon this model, with perfect impunity; and, as a result, the inex-
pensive, convenient and profitable wooden stamp-mill has been
evolved. The usual cost of construction for a first class one is less
than $roo. Several of these may be seen in daily use, in this and
neighboring counties.

THE MERRITT PROPERTY

On lot I 24, Jrd district, Mr. Merritt and others, dwelling in the
vicinity, worked, during a large part of the year I 894. Surface
panning had revealed an auriferous lead through this lot, and test-
pits resulted in the finding of a zone of small quartz stringers, about
ten feet wide. The mica-schist, in which they are intercalated,
is so thoroughly decomposed, to the depth mined, as to have lost
its identity. The stringers themselves, with their "binding," were
found to differ widely' in value, some being completely barren of
70 WHITE COUNTY

gold; hence they guided their work by panning-tests, and followed

only the richest stringers.
They mined in open cuts, and only to water-level, which, here.
was never below twelve feet. The ore was carted to a wooden ten-
stamp mill, run by an overshot wheel, supplied with water from
Castleberry's mill-race. The ore milled consisted of auriferous
dirt and sand; the larger masses of quartz, although milled only
infrequently, showed free gold. The presence of gold in the dirt
and sand, therefore, was due probably to the utter decomposition
of the smaller quartz lenses.
During the entire period of operation, these men averaged from
7 5 cents to a dollar a day, apiece, by. keeping the mill running all
night. The ore, therefore, is low grade; and its proximity to
water-level will make it unprofitable to work, by the present method,
because of the presence of sulphides below that point. However,
this property, with the adjoining lots, in which the same head has
been traced and similarly worked, should be kept in mind for the
future.

BAKER & SON'S PLACER PROPERTY

John Baker and Fred W. Baker of Detroit, Mich., control, at the

time of this writing,' about 2,700 acres of mineral land, lying a few
miles north of Cleveland. For the past twenty months, their work
has been confined to the placer area of lot I62, -,rd district. This
lot contains about twenty-five acres of bottom land, portions of
which have been worked at infrequent periods, for many years.
Up to the time, that Baker came into possession, it was know as
1
February, 1896.
 WHITE COUNTY

the " Longstreet" lot; and, at this time, a portion of five acres
had been more or less gouged. Since the Bakers began opera-
tions, these five acres have been carefully washed, using one- and
two-inch hydraulic giants, supplied with water from a small ditch,
giving a thirty-five foot pressure; also, other small areas. Find-
ing that the re-working of the old works about paid the attendant
expense, and the other testing being unusually satisfactory, they
have now proceeded to a thorough equipment for placer-mining.
Their late expenditures have been toward gaining further acre-
age; building a large dam and a seven-mile ditch, at a total expense
of three thousand dollars; and for piping, giants and hydraulic ele-
vators. vVhen this equipment is complete, they will undoubtedly
have one of the best plants for placer-mining, in North Georgia.
vVith the new ditch, they will have a water-pressure of one hun-
dred and twenty-five feet, and sufficient water to run at least five
pipe lines.
Besides the Longstreet lot, they have lots r58 and I59· The
former is considered the best lot in their property; but water is
absent. The latter contains the Teasley branch, which is locally
famous for its gold-bearing gravel.
The work, as conducted here by the Bakers, is in striking con-
trast with the usual placer-mining in this country. Bringing into
their work both business thrift, and considerable mining experience,
they are not neglectful of the future. Instead of destroying the
rich and fertile bottom lands in their search for gold, they operate
the land in such a manner, that only a brief time must elapse,
before the bottom will be rejuvenated, and in an arable condition.
ll
72 WHITE COUNTY

THE BLAKE PROPERTY

The developed portion of the Blake Property includes lots 26

and 47, 4th district. A large amount of prospecting and mining
must have been done here in the past, judging from the present
appearance of the surface. The Sprague vein was especially
worked. From local reports concerning this vein, it is concluded,
that the ore was quite prolific in free gold. In two shafts on lot
26, this vein shows a thickness of four feet, and contains a large
amount of pyrite. It was impossible to obtain a fair test-sample of
the vein; but surface specimens were suggestive of a medium-grade
ore. Special attention should be directed to this vein. It is evi-
dent, from the appearance of the property, that the hopes of the
operators, based on the wealth of the stream gravels and surface
ore, were frustrated by the occurrence of the unoxidized sulphides.

THE ATKINSON PROPERTY

The Atkinson Property lies about five miles west of Cleveland,

the county seat, and consists of lot 48, 4th district of White county.
Lying, as it does, in the midst of a fertile gold-field, it has been
more or less prospected superficially by local miners. Indeed, one
of the three branches, running through the property, yielded such
attractive returns to the native gougers, that it has been dubbed
"The Gold Branch"; and it is thus locally well known.
The schists and gneisses of the property are of the usual charac-
ter, striking about N. 2 5° E., and dipping sharply to the southeast.
The saprolitic condition of the formations is especially noticeable,
GOI..IJ VEI N O N T IJ E THOMP SON LOT, NACOOC H EE VA LLE Y WH IT E COUNT Y GEORGIA .
 WHITE COUNTY 7J,
except in the northwest corner of the lot, where a high hill, with
frequent exposures of barren ledge, trends through.
Eight or nine years ago, a vein was opened up, on the south side
of Gold branch, close to, and about the center of, the line of the
lot. Gold branch was dammed a short distance above; and a
ditch, three feet wide and one quarter of a mile in length, brought
sufficient water to the objective point, to sluice down the hill-side,
and thus work the saprolite and vein. A few men, with pick and
shovel, used simply the running water to such advantage, that, in
the few weeks spent here, an excavation, one hundred and fifty
yards long by seventy-five, wide, was made. A system of sluice-
boxes, draining into Gold branch, caught the loose gold, while the
vein-matter and hard material was carted some distance to a stamp-
mill. Mr. James E. McAfee, who has personal knowledge of the
results, reports, that several handsome pockets of coarse gold were
found, during this brief investigation, and that the work of the
··rospector paid well. The present owner, Governor W. Y. Atkin-
n, has prohibited further work on the property, since his heirship
to it.
During the investigation of this property by the Survey, this
vein was exposed by Mr. McAfee, for about ten feet, with consid-
erable difficulty, owing to the filling in, consequent upon the lapse
of time, since the last operations. The exposed portion of the vein
was two feet in width, and consisted of compact white quartz,
somewhat stained, and containing a , very small percentage of de-
composed pyrite. Mr. McAfee informed me that this was the
largest known swell in the vein, and that, on either side, as far as
it had ever been exposed, the vein would average only a few inches
in width. This ore-body conforms, in strike and dip, to the enclos-
ing schists. The swell, as appears especially true, in largely
swollen portions of veins of like character, seemed barren. This
74 WHITE COUNTY

exposure, however, being the best that could be obtained, with our
means, and the Reaves stamp-mill being close at hand, a ton of the
ore was carted over and milled. It did not pay the expense of
milling.
This vein had been discovered by panning along Gold branch.
On the branch, above a point opposite the excavation, the miners
were hardly able to get a "color," hence the excavation at this
point.
The placer areas alone on this property are hard! y worthy of
consideration, the water-courses being too small. Nevertheless,
I am lead to believe, that there is sufficient gold in the saprolite, to
make this a profitable gold property, if worked in conjunction with
surrounding lots. Indeed, the result of the early work at the
excavation, coming, as it does, from an undoubtedly trustworthy
source, points in this direction. Likewise, the shafts on adjoining
properties, which show the formation to be rich in quartz stringers,
assist in confirming the opinion. The difficulty and expense in
working this property will be in obtaining water for hydraulicking.

THE HENDERSON PROPERTY

In the past year, the old "Rider Place," lot 35, Ist district, has
been purchased by Mr. Albert H. Henderson of Cleveland, Ga.
Local reports of the returns of its gravel-deposits, and its prox-
imity to the Loud mine, cause it to be considered a valuable piece
of mineral land. Jennings creek, which flows through it, has
already yielded up exceedingly rich material.
Since purchasing, Mr. Henderson has been engaged, at odd in-
tervals, in prospecting the lot for veins. No important discovery
 WHITE COUNTY
75
has been made, up to the present, although rich drift quartz is fre-
quently found.
In the northwest corner of this lot, there is a small ten-stamp
mill, the property of Mr. Rufus K. Reaves of Athens, Ga. This
has been used, for testing the ores extracted from the different
veins, in this region.

THE LOUD MINE

The Loud Mine includes lots 39, 40 and 4I, Ist district, White
·county. They lie in a north and south range, lot 39 being at the
north; and each is said to contain 250 acres. It may be located,
generally, as fourteen miles northeast of Dahlonega, or five miles
west of Cleveland, the county-seat of White.
The geological formation is mica-schist and gneiss, with transi-
tions into, or dikes of, hornblende-gneiss. These strike usually
0
about N. 45° E., dipping from 30° to 6o to the southwest, rarely
vertical or inclined to the northwest. The country is of an undula-
tory character, hills seldom rising high above the intervening
valleys.
The auriferous material of this property may be classified as
placers, saprolite and quartz veins. The placer areas are quite ex-
tensive. They are characterized, by a maximum twenty-toot
"topping," and from one to four feet of gravel. Coarse gold and
1
nuggets prevail in the gravel. The gravel rests on the slate or
bed-rock. The material above the gravel, or the "topping," com-
I A nugget from this deposit, weighing 83 dwts., was exhibited by the Geological Survey of
Georgia at the Cotton States and International Exposition, Atlanta, Sept. r8th to Dec. 31st, 1895
inclusive. 0.1e weighin;< 370 dwts, was found in August, 189~. at the same place, with a number of
smaller sizes.
 WHITE COUNTY

posed, as it is, of the material washing from the hills, contains, in

some places, quite a little gold, while, at others, it is barren.
The hills are saprolite to some depth. This rotten rock, or sapro-
lite, is the thoroughly decomposed and untransported mica-schists
and gneisses. Such decompositio·n may extend to some depth, and
probably does, on this property. Permeating this saprolite, are
bands or stringers of quartz, conforming to the trend of the mica-
schists and gneisses, which are most frequently auriferous. The
hydraulicking of hills rich in such quartz, on account of the easy
concentration of the gold by amalgamation in sluices, is found ex-
ceedingly profitable, at several of the mines in this county, notably
the Hamby Mountain and St. George, in the Nacoochee district.
Several quartz veins have been located, but not tested. These
all conform, in strike and dip, to the country-rock. The only vein,
which has been worked in the Loud mine, runs diagonally through
lot 39· This is the vein, from which the magnificent specimens of
crystallized and wire gold, exhibited in this country and abroad,
were taken. It was accidentally discovered by Mr. Courtney of
Cleveland, Ga., while scraping the underlying slate of a placer. At
the point of discovery (the northeast corner of lot 39), a shaft was
sunk immediately; and, for the first ten feet, the richness of the
quartz in free gold is said to have been astounding. The vein, a
ribbon at the start, and but a little over an inch in width, during its
rich descent of ten feet, increased to a maximum width of two feet,.
and varied, back and forth, in thickness, to the depth of the shaft.
At a depth of sixty feet, work was stopped, on account of their
inability to cope with the water. From the depth of ten feet to the
base of the shaft, gold was almost totally absent. A definite lat-
eral tracing of this vein has never been undertaken. An outcrop-
ping of a quartz vein, however, two feet in width, occurs several
thousand feet southwest of the shaft, and may be traced back
 WHITE COUNTY 77
roughly to the shaft. Whether there are two distinct vems along
this lead, or they are one and the same, cannot be conclusively
asserted.
A small branch runs through the bottom, in which this vein is
located. Good drainage will be necessary,. before thorough work,
even in the placer, can be carried on. Although, at the shaft, the
level is sixty feet above that of the Tessantee river, which flows
along the eastern side of these lots, the topography is such that artifi-
cial drainage will be required. This may be accomplished, by run-
ning a drain to the Tessantee river, I or, what would be more advan-
tageous in several respects, by the use of hydraulic elevators. The
placer itself is worthy of this outlay, and the vein certainly should
not be ignored on account of its sudden barrenness. Gold veins
are rarely uniformly rich; but, on the other hand, they hold the
gold in pockets, shoots or chimneys. Tapping a vein at only one
point, by a small shaft without levels, cannot be considered a fair
test. It may be possible, but it should not be considered probable,
that a gold vein, which undoubtedly has been so material, in mak-
ing the surrounding placer (worked only for about an acre) rich in
nuggets and coarse gold, has yielded, already, all its wealth.
Only a few years ago, seven pounds of gold was removed from
one spot, close by the shaft. It is in the neighborhood of the shaft,
also, that many of the large nuggets, which have marked this prop-
erty, have been found. While some of the gold obtained here, is
smooth and water-worn, many of the specimens are very rough.
Very little prospecting for the location of veins has been under-
taken. In fact, work on this property has been confined almost
1 entirely to the placers, and these have been worked in the most
primitive. way. A ditch, twenty-one miles long, supplies the mines
with water for hydraulicking and washing.
I Such a ditch has already been surveyed.
 WHITE COUNTY

As well as can be determined, the placers alone offer legitimate

fields for fair profits; and equal, if not richer returns, may be ex-
pected from the saprolite areas and the veins.
This property, so long and favorably known as the Loud mine,
is owned by Mr. Rufus K. Reaves of Athens, Ga.

THE REAVES PROPERTY

In addition to the Loud mine, Mr. Reaves owns lot 37, IS! district.
On a ridge, about the center of the lot, a zone of quartz stringers,
about ten feet in width, has been quite extensively prospected, and
ore from the same has been milled, in a small mill on lot 35· During
the prospecting, occasional rich pockets have been discovered; but,
considered as a whole, the ore-body has not been found to be a
successful free-milling ore. Possibly, the only successful method of
mining this vein would be, by hydraulicking the quartz, and chemi-
cally treating the rusty gold and concentrates.

THE ASHBURY PROPERTY

A zone of quartz stringers, about ten feet wide, beginning in the

southeast corner of lot 57, Is! district, has been prospected, south-
west, through lots 56, 65 and 66, of White county, to the Chestatee
river in Lumpkin. Along this entire length, shafts, varying in
depth to 7 5 feet, have been sunk on the ore-body; and the ore has
been milled with varying success. Work on the lead in White
 WHITE COUNTY
79
county had been abandoned, prior to my visit. Most of this pros-
pecting and mining has been carried on, under the personal man-
agement of Capt. Ashbury, a citizen of White county, who has done
much mining work through North Georgia.
 CHAPTER III

RABUN COUNTY

BY S. \V. McCALLIE, AssiSTAI\T GEoLoGisT

The gold deposits of RABUN CouNTY may be described, as belonging

to two different auriferous belts, one lying in the extreme western,
and the other, in the extreme eastern, part of the county. The
former belongs to what is known, as the Dahlonega gold belt, while
the latter appears to be the northeastern extension of the Hall
County belt. Beyond the limits of these belts, which vary, from
one to four miles, in width, are other isolated areas, of limited ex-
tent, where gold is reported, to have been found, in the gravel,
along a number of small streams. The two belts, above named, are
not to be considered as continuous, and equally gold-bearing, at all
points along their course ; but, on the contrary, they must be con-
sidered, as a number of auriferous veins and ore-bodies, occurring,
at irregular intervals, at many localities, along the strike of the
schists and gneisses. The western, or Dahlonega, belt appears to
have but few breaks, in its course throughout the county. Its lim-
its are fairly well defined; and its course can be traced, with a con-
siderable degree of accuracy, from the southwestern corner of the
county to the N. C. State line. The eastern belt seems to be far
less continuous ; and it is well defined, only in the extreme north-
. "eastern part of the county, where successful placer-mining has been
(8o)
COLD DEPOSITS OF CEOJ!C I A PLATE V

THE YONAH COM PANY'S.LPLACE R-MJ N I NG PLANT, WHIT E COUNTY GEORGIA.

 RABUN COUNTY Sr

-carried on at several places, along the small streams. The area,

over which these placer-works extend, forms a narrow belt, with a
northeast and southwest trend, not over two miles wide, and less
than ten miles in length. Between the southern terminus of these
placer-works and the Hall County belt, which extends through
Habersham County, is a portion of the belt, many miles in length,
in which but little or no gold has, so far, been discovered. For
this reason, it has been suggested, that the deposits, in the eastern
'Part of th~ county, form a southern extremity of a North Carolina
gold belt, that has been extensively worked, in Horse Cove, just
across the State line. As but little is known of the geological
structure of the eastern part of the county, it is, at present, prac-
tically impossible, to settle, definitely, which of these views is correct.
However, on account of the similarity of the country, and the gen-
eral trend of the different formations, it is thought best, for the
present, at least, to consider the deposits, in the eastern part of the
county, as belonging to the Hall County belt, and the Horse Cove
deposits, as the northern extension of the same.
The topography of that portion of the county, traversed by the
gold belts, is usually rugged and mountainous. The eastern belt
lies along the base of a series of high ridges, or mountains, which
are often barren of vegetation on their slopes; and which frequently
end abruptly, in precipitous cliffs, more than a hundred feet in
height, and "extending, for long distances. This great chain of
cliffs, extending like a broken wall, for miles, together with the
barren mountain-tops, called "balls," add, to an already unique
) scenery, a peculiar wildness, probably to be seen, at no other point,
within the limits of the State. Many instances are related, by the
older inhabitants, telling how their ancestors, in the early settle-
ment of the country, perched on the tops of these high cliffs, killed
82 RABUN COUNTY

the deer and other wild game, as they quietly fed, along the
streams below. Rapid streams and extensive forests of oak, chest-
nut etc. everywhere abound. Owing to the rapidity and the
abundance of the streams, hydraulic-mining can be carried on, in
many places, with a comparatively small outlay, in the construc-
tion of ditches and flumes.
The western, or Dahlonega, belt, traverses a section of the coun-
ty, equally as mountainous, and, at the same time, as well, or even
better, supplied with water-power, that could easily be used, for
mining purposes. The rocks, occurring along the auriferous belts,
are chiefly gneisses and schists. Besides these, there also occur,
in places, granites and a number of basic eruptive rocks. The
former appear, as intrusive masses, in the schists, usually in the
form of pegmatitic veins, varying from a few inches to many feet
in width, while the latter occurs, as bosses, with their fringe of lat-
eral apophyses, or dikes, traversing the county, for long distances.
A good example of the basic eruptive rocks is to be seen, at the
Laurel Creek Corundum mines, on the east belt ; and a similar for-
mation also occurs, within the western belt, near the Smith gold
mine, on lot 7·
The pegmatitic veins are quite common, throughout th,e county ;
and, in places, they are so abundant, as to form a large part of
the country-rock. Many of them are unquestionably of eruptive
origin, while others seem to have been formed, as segregations.
The different formations, throughout the county, generally, have a
northeasterly and southwesterly strike, and a southeasterly dip.
There is one notable exception to this, however, along the west
slope of Tallulah mountains, where the dip is, usually, to the north-
west.
The most extensive mining operations, along the western, or
 RABUN COUNTY

Dahlonega, belt, have ..been carried on, in the southwest part of the
county, on lots I03, I04 and ros,in tlze st!t district. Gold was first
discovered, in this locality, along Dick's creek, on what is known
as the Smith property, about fifty years ago, by John Morris, the
former owner. Shortly after the discovery was made known, min-
ing operations began and continued, almost uninterruptedly, until
the breaking out of the late war. In the meantime, the adjoining
properties were prospected ; and, in many instances, the gravel
along the various streams, tributary to Tallulah river, were found to
carry rich deposits of gold. Flattering reports, concerning the
richness of the mines, soon attracted many miners, who are reported
to have taken out several thousand pennyweights annually, for a
number of years. After the war, mining operations again began;;
but they never regained their former activity. Much of the rich
placer being exhausted, attention was now directed to vein-pros-
pecting. A number of auriferous quartz veins are reported to have·
been worked, to a limited extent; but they were all finally aban-
doned. Placer mining, on the other hand, seemed to have been
more successful ; and it has continued, uninterruptedly, until the
present. An average miner is said to be able to make, even now,.
from seventy-five cents to a dollar per day, by "pitting and sluic-
ing." It appears to be practically impossible, with the data at
hand, to arrive atlany:definite figures, as to the total output of the
different mines, in this locality, from the time of their earliest
workings, until[the present. A number of the oldest citizens in the
county, who have been acquainted with these mines, since early
childhood, estimate the total output from $roo,ooo to $250,000;

but it is impossible to state, which of these estimates approximates

more nearly the truth. Nevertheless, there can be no question,.
about certain portions of the placers being immensely rich, and pay-
ing the early miners handsome profits.
 RABUN COUNTY

THE HEDDEN PLACER MINE

By w. s. YEATES, STATE GEOLOGIST

In the extreme northeastern part of Rabun county, up near the

North Carolina line, is a group of placers, which attracted consid-
erable attention, during those times of great activity in gold mining
in Georgia, between I 840 and I 8 so. One of the most prominent
·Of these was the Hedden mine, on which work was begun in I 843.
It occupies parts of lots 99 and Jrd district, by far the greater
IOO,

part of it lying on lot IOO, along the Hedden branch and a tributary,
which, for convenience, the writer has designated, as Rhododen-
dron branch, from the dense undergrowth of that beautiful moun-
tain shrub, along its course.
These two branches rise in adjoining lots, on the top of a moun-
tain ridge known, locally, as the "Buzzard Rocks," from the huge,
bare, precipitous cliffs of gneiss and mica-slate, which crown the
top of this ridge, viewed from its western side. After a tiresame
ride up the mountain, on what is known as the Horse Cove road
from Walhalla, S. C., to Highlands, N. C., three and a half miles,
north, from Pine Mountain post-office, where the famous Laurel
Creek Corundum mines are located, the attention of the traveler is
arrested, by a sudden view of the rock-crowned ridge, referred to
above, with all its wild grandeur. From the point, where the road
crosses, the ridge continues east, for nearly half a mile; and then,
turning, it continues north about 200 yards, and then northwest,
enclosing a ridge-locked valley, below, which constitutes the main
part of the Hedden Placer Mine. At the point, where the ridge
 RABUN COUNTY

turns towards the north, the Hedden branch breaks over its western
side, having, long ago, cut a precipitous chasm, through the hard
gneissic and schistose rocks, which compose the ridge. The highest
point of this ridge is just west, of where the falls of the Rhododen-
dron branch begin. Measured by the writer, with an aneroid ba-
rometer, this point is 700 feet above the valley below. The accom-
panying plat of the main part of the placer,' made by the writer,
indicates tlte valley-outlz"ne, tlze Hedden brandt and z"ts tributaries, and
tlze area, lzere zvorked as placer. The old dead chestnut, indicated on
the diagram, is as far, it is said, as the deposit was ever worked,
only the bed of the stream having been worked, this far. The main
part of the work, as will be seen from the plat, was below this.
Between I 843 and I 847, this placer was vigorously worked, by
Capt. S. M. Beck, Mr. James Kell and others, some of them leas-
ing Ioo-foot squares, and washing the gravel mined. After this
time, others worked the mine occasionally, until about I 889, when
the last work was done by Mr. Than. Talley. Mr. Talley, who is
now about So years of age, and who had been one of the early
workers of the mine, subsequently did a great deal of prospecting
work, with the view to discovering the vein, or veins, from which
the deposits came; but no deposits, in place, have yet been discov-
ered in this mine. In the unworked area, indicated in the north-
east part of the diagram, which consists largely of the lower slope
of the ridge, which here gently spreads out towards the west, nu-
merous test-pits were observed, which are doubtless the landmarks
of Mr. Talley's search for the mother veins. His work, in 1889,
was not very extensive, consisting of two small open cuts. The
remains of the long-tom, used by him, are still to be seen, where he
left off work. Capt. Beck informed the writer, that he took, from
an area ten feet square, along the branch, 50 dwts. of gold.
1
See fig. 5·
:86 RABUN COUNTY

At the points indicated on the plat, the writer had two test-
pits sunk outside the worked area, both pits yielding fair returns.
After removing the over-burden, which was nearly four feet thick,
in pit No. I, and three feet, in pit No. 2, IO cubic feet of gravel
from the former, about half its superficial area, and all, from the
latter, were panned at the branch, and concentrated to two small
bulks, which were carefully labelled and brought to Atlanta, where
they were panned by the writer, in the laboratory of the Survey.
The gold, in both cases, consisted of coarse particles, number-
ing scarcely less than 2 5 from each pit. The saprolite of the
slates, underlying the gravel, was skimmed and included in the ma-
terial, panned.
An important discovery was made, in panning the gravel of
Pit No. I. A bright, yellow, heavy sand was found, in large
quantity, as a residue in the pan, with the gold. This was after-
wards identified by the writer, as monazite sand, which, for the last
four years, has been so extensively mined, in North Carolina, for
making the mantles for the Welsbach gas-burner, and for others,
of the same pattern, now coming into the market. It is prob-
able, that the mining of this material would prove, alone, a source of
considerable profit, at this mine.
The following sections of the pits were noted:-

PIT No. I

Soil (brown loam)------------------------ 711

Reddish, sandy clay ___ ----- --· ----------- I6
Gray, micaceous sand--------- __ ---------- I8
Gravel (bowlders, pebbles and sand)- ------ I8'

11
TotaL ________ -------------- 59

I 12 to 15 inches On the side farthest from the branch.

 • RABUN COUNTY

PIT No. 2

11
Soil (rich, dark-brown loam).-------------- 22

Reddish, coarse sand---------------------- 13

Gravel (sand, small pebbles and bowlders)___ I8'

Total ----------------------- ----- 53 11

The pebbles and bowlders, from both these pits, were remarkably
angular, indicating, that they had not traveled far, and that they
had not been subject to abrasive action, for any considerable time.
The gold was very little worn, and could not have been trans-
ported far.
At present, the site of former mining operations is thickly cov-
ered, with an undergrowth of rhododendron, alder, laurel, huckle-
berry, bamboo and blackberry briars, sweet shrubs, ferns, grass etc.;
while the ridge has a dense growth of poplar, birch, white pine,
holly, chestnut, locust, magnolia (magnolia acuminata L.), small oaks
etc. All along the branches, are large piles of pebbles and bowl-
ders, evidence of great activity, years ago.
Between the immense cliffs at the top of the ridge, is a fringe of
evergreens and chestnuts. Three gaps in these mark the positions
of the three falls, represented in the lower right-hand corner of the
map. 2 Over one of these, a mere ribbon of water falls; while the
Hedden and Rhododendron branches form beautiful falls. These
streams vary from five to eight feet in width, and average_ about ten
inches in depth. From the foot of the falls, the water has a gradual
fall, till it reaches the road, beyond which little work has been done.
The aneroid barometer indicated a fall of 40 feet from the foot of
the falls to the road, }B of a mile, an average of two close measure-
ments, under about the same conditions.
1 5 to 9 inches on the side farthest from the branch.
2 See fig. 5·
88 RABUN COUNTY

It is said, that some of the gravel has been worked over twice,
and some of it, three times; but the method of working has always
been by the crude gum rocker and the long-tom. With such a
water-power, and an excellent drainage to the Big Creek, half a mile,
below, it is highly probable, that this property would pay well, if
worked with hydraulic giants, both for the gold, and for the monaz-
ite sand, which is undoubtedly in large quantity. Mr: John D.
Verner, of Walhalla, S. C., is said to be the owner of this property.
About a third of a mile down the road, on the south side of the
ridge, a stream crosses the road, flowing west, but bending north
immediately afterward. This comes from a southern extension of
the ridge; and the stream, altogether, is not more than 500 yards,
from its source to where it empties into Hedden branch, west of
the road. This stream is known as "Gold Mine Run." East of
the road, toward the ridge, it was worked, in conjunction with the
Hedden mine; and it is said, that it yielded considerable gold.
North of the Hedden mine valley, along a small stream, work
was done for some distance along the road, on what was then a
part of the Hedden property. Piles of bowlders are still to be seen.

THE LAMAR MINE

BY S. \V. McCALLIE, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

The Lamar Mine, located on lot JO, 2nd district, and now owned
by Bidwell & Co., of Franklin, N. C., has been more extensively
worked, and has yielded a greater amount of gold, than any placer
in the eastern part of the county, with the exception, probably, of
 RABUN COUNTY 89,

the Hedden mine, described above by Prof. Yeates. The principaL

part of the work, on the Lamar lot, was done, between I 844 and
I 8 58. Since then, there has been more or less irregular work car-
ried on, from time to time, on the property ; but no systematic min-
ing has been attempted. The old works, now overgrown by shrubs
and trees of considerable size, occur along a small branch, a tribu-
tary of War-woman creek, which heads, at the base of Raven rock,
in the high ridges, lying a short distance to the northeast. The
placer is confined to the bed of the stream and its narrow bottoms,
which, at no point, attain a width of more than I oo yards. The
works extend along the branch, for more than half a mile,
covering a total area of about I 5 acres. Some of the area has
been worked over, twice, with "long-toms" and "rockers," each
time paying fair profits. The chief difficulty, encountered in
working the mine,_ has been the lack of a sufficient amount of water,
for sluicing purposes. If water could be conducted on the mine,
with enough fall for hydraulic purposes, it is likely, that much of
the old placer might be worked again, with profit. However, the
expense of conducting the water on the mine would probably over-
balance the profit, derived from working the deposit. A good deal
of prospecting has been done, on the property, from time to time,
with a view to locating the veins, that have supplied the placer ;
but, so far, the efforts have been unsuccessful. That the gold
is derived from auriferous veins, in the immediate vicinity, is quite
evident, from the roughened appearance of the coarse gold, found,
in the deposit.
 RABUN COUNTY

"THE HAMBY PLACER

This p!acer, on lot 43, Jrd district, lies immediately north of the
Lamar mine, and has probably been fed, by the same system of
auriferous veins. The works, which were mostly done, many years
ago, are confined chiefly to the bed of a small stream, known as
, the Hamby branch. The deposit is said to have been quite rich, in
; places, and to have yielded the miners good profits.

THE PAGE PROPERTY

The Page Property, lots 44 and 45, Jrd district, situated on the
' Chatuga river, near the mouth of Laurel creek, has had a consid-
erable amount of placer-mining, along two different streams, viz:-
Page's creek and the Law-ground branch. The works, on the lat-
ter, cover a total area, of about five acres, which has been reported,
-to have produced a large quantity of gold, much of it being in the
form of nuggets weighing from five to twenty pennyweights. The
auriferous gravel, which often forms beds, many inches in thick-
- ness, is frequently found on the hillsides, several feet above the
present bed of the creek. The paying part of the placer, along the
· above mentioned stream, is now practically exhausted, unless un-
known deposits are discovered, which does not appear probable ;
as the stream and its adjacent bottoms have been pretty thoroughly
:prospected. The amount of work, on the Law-ground branch, has
'·not been so extensive, as that on Page's creek. However, judging
 RABUN COUNTY
91
from the huge piles of gravel, it has also yielded considerable gold.
A mile or so further up the branch, on lot 77, are to be seen the
remains of other old placer-works, long since abandoned. Near
by, on an adjacent hillside, are some vein-prospects ; but the out-
look for locating a valuable gold-bearing vein, at that point, did not
seem to be very encouraging.
Gold is reported to have been found on several other lots, in the
3rd district, but not in sufficient quantities, to be of any economic
value.

THE BRIGHT EVANS PROPERTY.

The Bright Evans Property, lot 82, 3rd district, is situated in the
extreme southern part of the county, within a short distan~e of
Tallulah river. Gold was discovered, here, some ten years ago ;
and a limited amount of vein-prospecting was done ; but the work
was finally abandoned, until a few months ago, when it was again
renewed. The prospect is located on a steep hillside, near a small
branch, at the base of Long mountain. At the time of the
writer's visit, the principal excavation consisted of an open cut,
about thirty feet long and twelve feet deep. In the cut, was to be
seen a quartz vein, from ten to eighteen inches in thickness, dipping
with the schist, the country-rock, to the northwest. The quartz
contains more or less pyrite; and, occasionally, it shows free gold.
Samples of the ore collected for assay, give only a trace of gold.
This is probably explained, by the gold's being in very coarse
grains, and unevenly distributed through the quartz. Under these
conditions, it is possible for the sample of ore, as a whole, to con-
92 RABUN COUNTY

tain a considerable amount of gold ; but, being unevenly distribu--

ted through the mass, it may be entirely absent, from so small a
fraction of the sample, as an assay ton, even though it passed_
through an So-mesh sieve.

SCREAMER MOUNTAIN

Some interest was manifested a few years ago, in the discovery

of gold, in a small stream on a lot in the 2nd district, at the base
of Screamer Mountain, now owned by Judge L. E. Bleckley; and
also, on E. H. Allman's property and J. G. Welborn's property,
lots I9 and 2I, Ist district, a few miles northwest of Clayton. But
none of these deposits proved to be of sufficient extent, to be profit-
able.

THE SMITH MINE

The Smith Mine, now owned by B. S. Graves, is located on lots

IOJ and I04, 5tlz district, about one mile west of Burton post-
office. The works consist chiefly of placer-mining, which extends
along Dick's creek and its tributaries, for about I Yz miles, with a
width, varying from a few rods to 200 yards. The auriferous gravel
is confined, principally, to the creek bottoms. There are, however,
two or three points, where the deposits occur, well up on the hillside,
fully 30 feet above the present bed of the stream. Some of the rich-
est deposits have thus been found, along the points of the ridges,
or near the head of deep gulches. The gold, found in these eleva-
 RABUN COUNTY 93
ted positions, is usually water-worn, showing, that it has been de-
posited, in its present position, when the stream flowed, at a much
higher elevation. The manner of mining, on this property, has
.always been, of a primitive nature. It consists, in the use of the
sluice-box, "rocker" and "long-tom," in washing the gravel, after
the overburden has been removed, by pick and shovel. Placer-
mining, by the use of the hydraulic giant, seems never to have been
attempted in placer-workings, although Dick's creek furnishes suffi-
cient water and ample fall, to be utilized for this purpose. At a
comparatively small outlay, in constructing ditches, flumes and
the necessary hydraulic plant, the entire old works, together with
several acres of unworked placer, might be made to pay handsome
returns, if judiciously managed. The overburden varies from three
to eight feet in thickness.
The bed-rock consists of decomposed schists and gneisses, thus
,enabling the gold to be collected, without difficulty. The streams,
flowing through the places, have sufficient fall, at all points, for
drainage ; and no trouble 1s experienced, in removing the water
from the pits.
Vein-prospecting has been carried on, at various places on the
Smith property, for many years ; but no real vein-mining was
attempted, until 1882. During this year, Capt. J. P. Willson, of
'Clarkesville, leased the property; and, erecting a ten-stamp steam-
mill, he began mining operations. The vein, which was worked
by Capt. Willson, is located, at the base of a hill, near the upper
edge of the old placer. Mining was done, chiefly by means of a
hydraulic giant; and the ore was sluiced to the mill, situated a
short distance below, on the branch. The works were said to have
continued, in successful operation, for only a few months; and they
were finally shut down, on account of litigation. The mill has
 RABUN COUNTY
94
since been removed, and no further attempt has been made, to
renew the work. The only indication of these former workings,
now to be seen, is a large open cut, about roo yards long, from ro
to 40 feet deep, and 50 feet wide, together with one or two shafts
and a tunnel. All these excavations were found to be so filled,
with water, or fallen earth and decomposed rock, that it was
impossible to examine the ore-bodies in situ. There is reported
to have been discovered here, running parallel with the schists, a
rich auriferous quartz vein, several inches in thickness. For rea-
sons above stated, the writer was unable to verify these statements.
However, he was shown, in the bed of the stream, a few yards
away, on the strike of the vein, some quartz stringers in the schist.
rich in gold, which are evidently off-shoots of the main ore-body.
Still further to the northeast, on the same line of outcropping,
on an adjacent hillside, a short distance from the placer-workings,
is another excavation, of more recent date. There is exposed here,
in a small open cut, a quartz vein, about three feet in thickness.
The vein runs parallel with the schists, and dips, at a high angle, to
the southwest. The quartz is massive, frequently more o.r less por-
ous, and iron-stained ; and, in places, it contains considerable
pyrite. Other veins, on the property, have been similarly pros-
pected; but none of the excavations are now accessible. The
different veins, prospected, wherever examined, appear to show
very encouraging results, and would seem to justify further devel-
opment. The extensive placer, the numerous vein-prospects, and
the admirable facilities for hydraulic mining, make the Smith prop-
erty quite desirable, for mining purposes.
On the adjoining properties, owned by ]. H. Derrick, A. ].
Powell and W. T. Dickenson, are other placer and vein-pros-
pects, of similar character. The placers occur along a number of
 RABUN COUNTY

small streams ; but they have been only partly worked, on account
of insufficiency of water. Some of the veins are reported, to have·
been worked, to a limited extent, many years ago ; but no reliable
information was obtained, concerning· either the character of the·
veins, or the nature of the ore.

THE STONESYPHER PROPERTY

The Stonesypher Property, lot I05, lies immediately south of the·

Smith property. It is traversed by Moccasin creek, along which,
more or less placer-work has been carried on, from time to time.
The total area of the placer-works covers some four or five acres;
and it is reported to have paid from $ r to $5 per day, per hand ..
Besides the placer-works, there has been considerable vein-mining,
on the southern part of the lot, now owned by Mr. R. K. Reaves,
of Athens, Ga. There is to be seen, here, along a hillside, several
tunnels from 20 to roo feet, in length ; and, also, a number of
shafts, all of which were made, many years ago ; but they are now
inaccessible. It is said, that, at one time, a number of hands were
employed, at this mine, which is reported to have paid fair divi-
dends. The stamp-mill, which was erected on Wild Cat creek,
near by, has long since been removed ; and no attempt has been
made, in recent years, to place the mine in proper condition, for·
examination. Mr. Reaves, who, in the last few months, has be-
come the owner of the property, is now making arrangements, to
open up the mine. At the time of our visit, he had just begun
work, by exploring the old tunnels, and cleaning out the shafts;
but the work had not, then, progressed, to· a· sufficient extent, to ..
 RABUN COUNTY

give any definite idea, of the extent and nature of the ore-bodies.
The only opportunity, offered for an examination of the vein-mate-
rial, was the few pieces of ore, scattered about the dump. These
fragments showed, that the ore-bodies consist of reddish, porous
quartz, frequently showing free gold, on their roughened surfaces.
It is said, that the Gre occurs in veins, of considerable size ; and it
.conforms in strike and dip, to the hornblende- and mica-schists,
which constitute the country-rock. Ample water can be secured on
the property, for mining purposes.
On the opposite side of Moccasin creek, near the summit of a high
ridge, just back of the Stonesypher residence, are other vein-pros-
pects. There occurs, here, a small open cut and a short tunnel,
.exposing a quartz vein, which varies from one to three feet in thick-
ness. The vein dips, at a high angle, to the southeast; and it can
be easily traced, for several rods, along its outcropping. The
quartz has the usual characteristic iron stains; and, in places, it con-
tains considerable pyrite. Some ore, from this prospect, was milled;
.and it is reported to have yielded $7.00 per ton.

THE MOORE GIRLS' MINE

This mine is located on lots 58 and 59, rst district, Rabun county.
Gold was discovered here, som(fifty years ago, by B. J. Patterson;
but no work was done, until about eight years ago, when seven small
cart-loads of the ore were taken from the vein, and milled on a small
stamp-mill, erected on a branch, a short distance below the out-
cropping of the vein. From the above amount of ore, it is reported,
tthat 22 pennyweights of gold were obtained, making an average of,
 Fig. 5

NoRTH CAROliNA

Map of the Northeast Corner of Rabun County, Showing the Location of the Hedden
Placer Mine on Lots 99 and roo, 3rd District.
 RABUN COUNTY 97
probably, $3.00 per ton. An attempt was, also, made, to work, as a
placer, the alluvial deposits, in the creek-bottom, at the base of the
hill, on which the vein outcrops ; but the enterprise proved unsuc-
cessful, and the work was finally abandoned. A few years ago,
another attempt was made to work the vein, and a considerable
outlay of money was made, in conducting water on the mine, for
hydraulic purposes; but this, also, proved unsuccessful; and it was
likewise abandoned. Since our visit to the mine, it has been learned
that a stamp-mill has been erected on the property ; and that a third
attempt is now being made, to work the vein.
The ore-body consists of a huge quartz vein, about thirty feet in
width. It is made up of several layers, a foot or more in thickness,
which, along certain lines, carry a considerable amount of pyrite
and chalcopyrite. The vein strikes northeast and southwest, and
can be traced, for some distance, along its outcropping. The
country-rock consists of mica- and hornblende-schists, and is gen-
erally weathered, to a considerable depth.
Persimmon creek, a stream of some size, traverses the property,
on which the prospect is located ; and it could be used, for mining
purposes, should further investigation prove the mine to be profit-
able.

THE H. W. BARTLEY PROPERTY

This property, lot 44, Istdzstn"ct, adjoining the Moore Girls' prop-
erty, was prospected for gold, in 1849; and some of the ore was
milled. The excavations were all found to be inaccessible ; and
no satisfactory information could be obtained, concerning the nature
of the ore-bodies. The property is now in the hands of Col. L. N.
Trammell, of Atlanta, who, I understand, intends to have the lot
thoroughly inspected, at an early date.
g8 RABUN COUNTY

THE BLALOCK PROPERTY

On the Blalock property, a short distance above Burton Post-

office, a small amount of work has been done, in the bed of Tallu-
lah river ; but gold was not found, in sufficient quantity, to be mined
at a profit, with the means then at hand.
The bed of the river is said to contain more or less gold, for some
distance, both above and below Burton. It seems quite likely, that
much of the bed of this stream might be worked with profit, if suit-
able machinery were used, and necessary judgment were exercised,
in selecting the most valuable gravel deposits.

THE J. M. DILLARD PROPERTY

This property, consisting of lots I90 and I9I, 2nd district, which
lie in the Tennessee Valley, on the North Carolina State line, eight
miles northeast of the Moore Girls' mine, was worked, as a placer,
many years ago ; and a considerable amount of gold is reported,
to have been obtained. Search for the vein has been made, from
time to time, on the property ; but, so far, no ore-bodies of economi"c
importance have yet been discovered.
 RABUN COUNTY 99

1
THE AMMONS BRANCH MINE

The Hall County Belt first makes its appearance, within the
State, in the northeastern corner of Rabun county, on lot I IO, Jrd
district, where a limited amount of placer-work was done, many
years ago. Just across the State line, in what is called Horse Cove,
North Carolina, a great deal of placer-work has been done. Only
a few months since, a rich ore-shoot was struck here, and several
hundred pennyweights of gold were taken out, in a short time.
This prospect was visited and carefully examined, in order to obtain
all the information possible, concerning the mode of occurrence
and the nature of the ore-bodies, of the above gold belt. This pros-
pect is now called the Ammons Branch mine, and is situated only
about I Yz miles beyond the State line. The writer is informed,
that there is a dispute, about the State line, at this point ; and that
a part of the Horse Cove district probably lies within the Georgia
limits. vVhen the prospect was visited, in August, I 896, the work
consisted of an open cut, 50 feet long and from IO to 20 feet deep.
The excavation is located on a steep hillside, a short distance from
a small branch, which has been extensively worked, for its placer
deposits. The vein, exposed here, consists of iron-stained quartz,
varying from a few inches to two feet in thickness ; and, in places,
it shows much free gold. Samples of the ore, from the vein,
weighing several ounces, were seen, the greater part of the masses
beihg free gold, in the form of imperfect crystals. Up to the time
of the writer's visit to the property, if current reports can be relied
upon, there had been taken, from the excavation, about ten pounds
of gold.
1
The description of this property is included ; as a correct location of the State line may
prove, that it lies in Georgia.
IOO RABUN COUNTY

The vein occurs in a garnetiferous gneiss, within a few rods of a

large mass of coarse-grained granite, containing large, irregular
pieces of feldspar. The granite seems to be an intrusive mass, and
appears to be intimately connected with the auriferous vein. In a
few instances, pyrite was noticed in the quartz; but it is of rare oc-
currence. However, it will probably become quite abundant, at the
depth of 40 or 50 feet, the water-level. The country-rock, together
with the vein, dips, at a high angle to the southeast, and strikes N.
20° E.
 CHAPTER IV

HABERSHAM COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, ASSISTANT GEOLOGIST

HABERSHAM CouNTY is traversed by both the Dahlonega and the

Hall County gold-belts. The former occurs in the extreme north-
western part of the county, while the latter reaches its greatest de-
velopment near the center of the county, a few miles west of
Clarkesville. The eastern and western belts seem not to be well
defined. On the contrary, they appear to overlay or merge into
each other, in places. The distance separating the workable mines
of the two different belts, is, however, several miles; and they may
be taken, for our present economic purposes, as the limits of each
respective belt. The character of the rock, occurring within the
gold-belts, is similar to those found in Rabun county. They con-
sist of hornblende- and mica -schists, gneisses and granites. The
latter is often found in huge masses; but, more frequently, it occurs
in the form of pegmatitic veins, interlaminated with the gneisses and
schists, and cutting them at various angles. It was noted, as a gen-
eral rule, that the auriferous veins, examined, in both belts, were
often associated with, or located near, these pegmatitic veins, al-
though the wall-rock was itself generally found to be gneisses or
schists. This association seems to indicate, that the pegmatitic
veins are intimately connected, in some way, with the gneisses of
the ore-bodies.
( IOI)
102 HABERSHAM COUNTY

All the gold-bearing veins, examined, in the county, with one

exception, conform, in strike and dip, to the country-rock, and
vary greatly in thickness, being, more properly speaking, a series
of quartz lenses or ore-chutes, connected by narrow quartz string-
ers. The veins are generally made of porous iron-stained quartz;
and, where not affected by atmospheric agencies, they contain
more or less pyrite.
The exception to the parallelism of country-rock and vein, above
referred to, occurs on the Willbanks property, lot 5I, IItlz district,
7 miles north of Clarkesville. The auriferous vein here cuts the
country-rock, at almost right-angles. It was found impossible to
determine, from the limited out-cropping here exposed, whether
this is a so-called true fissure-vein, or only the filling, with quartz,
of a transverse joint, in the schist.

THE NICHOLS MINE

This mine is located on lots 92 and I 20, I 2tlt district, about 6 miles
east of Clarkesville. Gold was first discovered, on this property, by
A. J. Nichols, its former owner, about I 840. Since then, irregular
placer-mining has been carried on, from time to time, and a consid-
erable quantity of gold has been obtained. The various estimates,
as to the total output of the mine, differ greatly. However, from
the most reliable information, secured from v_arious parties, who
have been acquainted with the mine, for many years, it seems to be
quite evident, that the entire yield of the placer, from its earliest
workings to the present, has been at least 20,000 pennyweights,
and probably twice, and even three, times that amount. The gold,
 HABERSHAM COUNTY 103

obtained from the placer, commonly occurs in fine particles, though

nuggets, weighing 22 5 pennyweights, have been found. It runs
from 7 5 to 8o per cent. fine, the impurity being chiefly silver. The
old works, which cover an area of about five acres, are located
along a small branch, that takes its rise on the property. The
richer part of the placer seemed to be confined, mainly, to the nar-
row bottom along the stream, where the alluvial deposits, consist-
ing of water-worn gravel and clay, have a thickness, varying from
three to eight feet. The adjacent hill-slopes, on either side of the
branch, have been worked several feet, along the bed of the stream,
in places; and they are reported to have yielded gold, in paying
quantities. All the workable placer appears to be, now, practically
exhausted, and the value of the property, for mining purposes, seems
to depend largely on the location of paying veins. Along the hill-
side, near the placer works, are to be seen several excavations, con-
sisting of shafts, open cuts and short tunnels, made with a view to
locating the veins, that supplied the stream below. All the exca-
vations expose quartz-veins; but none of them carry gold, in suffi-
cient quantities, to be of economic value. The veins are mainly
made up of iron-stained quartz, which, in places, contains numerous
imperfect radiating, or interlocking, crystals of the same material,
which give, to the vein, a beautiful comb-like structure. The frag-
ments of vein material, adhering to nuggets, found in the deposits,
along the branch, are said to consist of granular iron-stained quartz.
Diligent search has been made, to locate the vein, carrying mate-
rial of this nature; but, so far, all efforts have been futile.
The country-rock consists of gneiss and schists, much contorted,
and interlaminated, or traversed, by numerous pegmatitic veins.
The prevailing dip is to the southeast, and the strike, northeast and
southwest.
104 HABERSHAM COuNTY

One of the chief difficulties, encountered m working the prop-

erty, has been the lack of water, for mining purposes. This, how-
ever, can be overcome, by constructing a ditch to Deep creek,
some four miles. The creek is of ample size, to furnish water, suffi-
cient to carry on extensive mining operations; and, should valuable
ore deposits be discovered on the property, there is no doubt, but
that the ditch will be constructed, and thus enable the quartz to be
milled, in close proximity to the ore-bodies.

THE LA PRADE PLACER

The LaPrade Placer Mine is situated on lot IJ5, I Ith district, at the
base of Tallulah mountain, about ten miles north of Clarkesville.
Gold has been known to occur here, ever since 1840; and, at times,
very active mining operations have been carried on. The works,
which are located at the junction of two small streams, tributaries to
Soquee river, cover an area of about three acres. From this small
placer, it is claimed, that between 20,000 and 30,000 pennyweights of
gold have been obtained. Several nuggets are reported to have been
found, one of which is said to have weighed three and a half pounds.
The deposit consists of heavy beds of gravel and water-worn boulders,
overlain, by a thin layer of earth, washed from the adjacent hillside.
The paying part of the placer seems to be now pretty well ex-
hausted. However, it is not at all improbable, that other deposits
may yet be discovered, on these streams. A limited amount of
vein-prospecting has been done on the hillside, in the vicinity of
the placer; and some quartz veins have been exposed; but none of
them have carried sufficient gold, to pay for working.
\II" Ill ~ I I >I ·. I >I· 1 11 1·. 11 1.11 1·:.'\L I \ \ I I \ ' 1•: 1\ , \11\1 ' 1: 1·: 1\ 1; 111 ' 1·: 1{ \T I .I I H I T il l·: 1 ' 1. . \TT ~ J:I !{<;II 1;111. 1l \ IJ \ I \ 1; .\ \ II \ IJI .I .I '\1 ; 1·11 ..
\\ ' III'J' J·: (' Il l \ T\ I ; J·:II J{C:J .\ .
 HABERSHAM COUNTY IOS

THE C. T. WILLBANKS PROPERTY

This property, lot 5 I, I Itlz district, was prospected for gold, some
years ago. There is to be seen here, in a shaft twenty feet deep,
a quartz vein, having an average thickness of about 20 inches, and
cutting the country-rock, at almost right-angles. The quartz is
porous and iron-stained, and has all the appearance of being a fair
quality of ore. However, an assay showed only a trace of gold.

THE T. G. EDWARDS PROPERTY

This property, consisting of lot I 47, Jrd district, located on the \

·Chattahoochee river, was prospected for gold, about seven years
ago. There was a considerable amount of gold found on the prop-
erty; but not enough to justify further mining operations. It is
thought, by some prospectors, well acquainted with the river-bed,
in this vicinity, that it contains considerable quantities of gold, and
'WOuld probably pay to mine, if suitable machinery were used.

T. S. BEAN'S PROPERTY

This property, and the adjoining town-lot, now owned by Judge

L. E. Bleckley, of Atlanta, both of which are within the corporate
limits of Clarkesville, have been prospected, to a limited extent,
.for gold; but neither has yielded a sufficient quantity of the yellow
106 HABERSHAM COUNTY

metal, to encourage systematic mining. The gold occurs in the

alluvial deposits, along a small stream, flowing through the eastern
part of the town. The deposit covers only a small area, and does
not carry sufficient gold to be of economic interest. A small
amount of vein-prospecting has been carried on, in the immediate
vicinity, with the hope of locating auriferous veins; but, so far.
the efforts have been unsuccessful.

OTHER PROPERTIES

In the extreme northern part of the county, on lots 20 and 22,

IJtlt district, and, also, on lot 69, 6t!t district, are small placer work-
ings, near the headwaters of the Soquee river. The deposits, con-
fined chiefly to the beds of the streams, have been worked, from
time to time, since 1853; and they have produced several hundred
pennyweights of gold; but the paying parts of these deposits seem,
now, to be exhausted. There has also been a limited amount of
placer-mining, on the \;Vaters and the Warford properties, in the
eastern part of the county, neat Currahee mountain. These de-
posits were neither rich nor extensive; and they have long since
been abandoned.
 CHAPTER V

TOWNS COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, ASSISTANT GEOLOGIST

So far, in only two localities of this county, has gold been found,
in sufficient quantity, to pay for working. Each of these localities
is quite limited in area; and they have, apparently, no connection
with each other. One lies in the eastern portion of the county,
near Visage, and the other, in the extreme northwestern corner, Ill

the vicinity of Welsh.

I_n the eastern portion of the county, which is very mountainous
and rugged, placer-mining for gold has been carried on; notably at
a few places, near Hightower creek and its tributaries. These work-
ings have, generally, received the name of the original owner of
the land; and they are always, locally, called "mines." However,
the term, " prospect," in some cases, at least, would appear to be a
more suitable name.
The streams of this region are numerous and rapid, traversing
narrow, fertile valleys. Many of these valleys, with the adjacent
mountain-sides, still retain a remarkably fine virgin forest, of pop-
lar and the various species of hardwoods. The geological forma-
tion is completely crystalline, and rarely shows any evidence of a
clastic origin. Mica-schists and gneisses, cut by pegmatitic veins,
soapstone and other magnesian rocks, all much folded and con-
torted, make up the underlying geological formations, whose struc-
tural relations are difficult to make out.
(Io7)
108 TOWNS COUNTY

THE NEWTON MINE

This mme is located in the I 8tlz district of Towns county, on lot

IJ I. It extends along both sides of a small stream, which enters
Hightower creek from the east. The worked portion of the mine
covers an area of less than three acres, and lies in a narrow hollow,
formed by the foot-hills, that lead down, from the main ridge, to
within a few yards of the creek.
Gold is said to have been discovered here, many years ago, by
Joseph Eller. His attention was first attracted, by some water-
worn gravel, which his dog had exposed, while making an excava-
tion for a burrowing animal. This led to an examination oi: the
gravel deposits, beneath the overlying soil; and they were found,
to be rich in gold. The work of washing the gravel was begun,
immediately, by Eller, assisted by others; but, owing to the want of
a sufficient amount of water, the work progressed slowly. The
gravel, frequently, had to be carried, some distance, to running
water. However, regardless of this difficulty, it is said, that the
mine paid handsomely.
In I 872, Bush & Lyons leased the property, and operated the
mine, for about two years. To secure the necessary water for wash-
ing, hydraulicking and sluicing purposes, they constructed a ditch,
nearly a mile in length. This ditch conducted the greater part of
the Chastain branch to the mine, and enabled them to operate one
small hydraulic giant. With this equipment, they were able to
work, successfully, much of the gravel, in the lower part of the
hollow; but it was impossible to secure any reliable information, as
to the amount of gold, taken out, during the time of the lease.
After the expiration of this lease, Nicholson & Sons.worked the
 TOWNS COUNTY

mine, irregularly, for about five years, when it fell into the hands
of Mcintosh, who, with a number of hands, operated it, for nearly
a year. Mcintosh had a second ditch dug, two miles in length,
which, on account of its connection with the Chastain branch, near
its source, carried much less water, than the old ditch; but it gave
an increase in fall, at the mine, of nearly a hundred feet. Parts of
the mine, heretofore unworked, by reason of their elevation, to-
gether with certain portions of the old works, are said to have been
worked, at this time, with profit.

Fig. 6

Diagram Showing the Present Condition of the Newton Placer Mine, Towns County,
Georgia.

At the time of our visit, a new company, consisting mainly of

Western men, had recently been organized for the purpose of oper-
ating this mine. They had secured, under certain conditions, both
I I0 TOWNS COUNTY

a lease and an option on the property, for a number of years. It

was the intention of the Company, to work that portion of the
mine, lying between the creek and the old works,' which had, thus
far, been neglected, on account of the difficulty in drainage. Fur-
thermore, they proposed, to re-work certain parts of the old works,
and in the meantime to locate, if possible, the veins, which fed the
placer. The firm had just completed a ditch, three quarters of a
mile long, to the Chastain branch; it was much larger than any
ditch, previously constructed on the property, and of sufficient size,
to conduct the entire stream over the mine. They were thus ready
to commence mining, on a more extensive scale, than had, hitherto,
been carried on, in the locality. But, unfortunately, at this stage
of the work, there originated a misunderstanding among the mem-
bers of the company; and, as a result, the outlook for carrying on
successful mining operations did not appear to be very encouraging.
The gold, found here, is usually coarse, varying in size from a
fraction of a grain to nuggets, weighing from fifteen to twenty
pennyweights. The larger pieces are generally quite rough; and
they show evidence of little transportation.
The vein, from which the gold was derived, although frequently
sought for by miners, has not, yet, been located. There can be but
little doubt, however, by reason of the topography of this locality,
that the vein intersects the hollow, at some point, near the old
works. This opinion, as to the source of the gold, is also strength-
ened, by the occurrence, in the hollow and along the hillsides, of
numerous loose, angular quartz rocks, which frequently contain
iron-stained cavities, and occasionally particles of gold.
From the most reliable information, which could be obtained, it
appears, that between five and ten thousand pennyweights of gold
1
See diagram, p. rag.
 TOWNS COUNTY I I I

have been taken from the mine, since it was first discovered. The
amount of gold, still remaining in the placer, is, at present, a mere
matter of speculation. Nearly all the unwor ked portion of the
mine lies in a boggy bottom, near the creek; and it will have to be
drained, by means of long ditches, eight or ten feet in depth, before
it can be successfully worked. If the reports, concerning the test-
pits, which have been made here, can be relied on, there seems to
be no reason, why this part of the mine cannot be profitably
worked.

'I' HE CHAS'I' AIN BRANCH MINE

The Chastain Branch mine is located on lot IJ6, I8t!t district; and it
lies immediately south of the Newton property. It was discovered,
about the same time, as the Newton mine; and it has probably pro-

Fig. 7

Diagram Showing the Present Condition of the Chastain Branch Placer :\line,
Towns County, Georgia.
112 TOWNS COUNTY

duced an equal amount of gold. The area, over which the old
works extend, is somewhat larger, than the worked portion of the
adjoining property; but the depth of earth and gravel, overlying
the bed-rock, is not so great. This, together with the abundance
of water-power, furnished by the Chastain branch, for sluicing and
washing, has enabled persons to work the mine, at comparatively
little expense.
A few test-pits, sunk near the branch, indicate, that there is a
narrow strip, both below and above the old works, which may still
be worked with profit. The character of the gold is very similar
to that, found at the Newton mine; and, undoubtedly, it has origi-
nated. from the breaking down of parts of the same veins.

THE SMITH MINE

This mine is located, one and a half miles northeast of the New-
ton property, on lot 94, I8tlz district. The placer work has been con-
fined, here, to a narrow strip, not over a hundred feet in width. It
extends, for about one hundred yards, along a small stream, which
enters Hightower creek, from the west. The mine is reported to
have paid the miners, on an average, less than 7 5 cents per day.
All the gold-bearing gravel seems to have been worked out, with
the probable exception of that, underlying a small boggy area, near
the junction of the stream and the creek.
 /'/ .. 1'/'/o" 1"/1

1' 1 \l ' l -. 1 ~ \ 11.' \l'\ t : II ~ l 'tlll :"-- \ l ' I ~ I · .FK. :'\F . \ 1 ~ i : I. . \11 -!~\ ' I I . I Y , l ). H I:\" ('(ll' ~ T\ . (; 1-:t H.:. t:l .-\ .
 TOWNS COUNTY 113

THE WILLS CREEK PROPERTY

On this property, lot I02, I8t!z district, a limited amount of placer

mi'_ling has been carried on. Gold was said to have been discov-
ered, here, more than forty years ago; and to have been first worked,
by a miner, named vVoods. The deposit, in places, is reported to
have been very rich, some ten-foot pits paying, as much as sixty
pennyweights. The works are located near the head of a narrow
hollow, and cover an area, of less than half an acre. Only in this
limited area, has gold been found, in sufficient quantities to pay for
working.
Besides the above described localities, there are numerous other
places, where gold occurs, in this portion of the county; but, in no
other places, as far as known, in sufficient quantities, to be of any
economic value. The distribution and mode of occurrence of gold,
in this region, indicates, that it originated, from the breaking down
of a number of veins. These veins appear, to have become greatly
enlarged, only at a few points in their course, where they formed
rich pockets, that supplied gold to the workable placers.
In the extreme northwestern portion of the county, near \Velsh
post-office, a number of small gold-bearing quartz veins have been
discovered. They seem to be the southern terminus of a more or
less well-defined belt, fully two miles in width, extending into the
State, from North Carolina. The portion of the county, where
these gold-bearing veins occur, is not so rugged or mountainous, as
the eastern portion, though it is equally well-watered, and is made
up, of similar geological formations.
Il4 TOWNS COUNTY

THE MURDOCK VEIN

This property, now owned by the Hiawassee Gold Mining Com-

pany, is located on lots 32 and 42, I7tlz d£str£ct, Tmlins county. Gold
was first discovered, here, in float-quartz, in I 8 s6, by A. B. Patton,
while plowing in a field, where the vein was subsequently located.
A miner, by the name of Murdock, assisted by a few hands, be-
gan mining on this property, in I 8 59, and continued, with a con-
siderable degree of success, for about three years, when the mine
was shut down, on account of the late war. Under Murdock's man-
agement, the vein was worked, for nearly a hundred yards, to a
depth of thirty-five feet. Much of the ore, taken out, during this
time, is said to have been very rich in free gold. It was milled,
near by, on a small stream, by means of an arrastre, a primitive
mill, consisting of a vertical axis, with a horizontal arm, to which,
in this case, was attached a large flat bowlder, that was dragged
over the ore, placed on a bed of flat stones, within a circular box.
This mode, of extracting the gold from the quartz, was exceedingly
slow, and, necessarily, more or less imperfect; but, nevertheless, it is
claimed, that the mine, on account of the high grade of the ore,
paid a fair profit·.
In I87I, Perry Ellis obtained control of the property, on which
the Murdock vein is located. He replaced the arrastre with a ten-
stamp mill, and operated the mine, for three years, at the end of
which period, it passed into the hands of J. B. Puett. The mine
was worked, though not continuously, by Puett, for six or seven
years, and was finally sold by him, in I 884, to the Hiawassee Gold
Mining Company. At the time of our visit, this company was per-
fecting arrangements, to renew mining operations on the property.
 TOWNS COUN7 Y

The Murdock vein is what is known, as a true fissure vein; it cuts

the mica-schist, or country-rock, at nearly right-angles. The strike
is almost due northwest, while it dips, at a high angle, to the north-
east. The vein varies, in thickness, from six inches to two feet;
and it may be traced, with a considerable degree of certainty, for
a quarter of a mile. In places, it is much fissured and broken, as
if it had been subjected to a great crushing force. The quartz is
more or less iron-stained; and it frequently contains cavities, in
which free gold may be seen. The country-rock is so completely
decomposed, even at the bottom of the deepest shafts, that the ore
can be mined, at comparatively little expense.
One hundred and fifty feet west of the Murdock vein, is another
gold-bearing quartz vein, eight inches in thickness. It runs parallel
with the former; but, on account of its small size, it has been pros-
pected, only to the depth of a few feet. These veins are located
near the north end of a low, flat ridge, which slopes, gradually, to
Brasstown creek, and a lesser stream, entering it from the west.
Both of these streams are rapid; and they furnish ample watet:,
during the greater part of the year, to run stamp-mills, with from
five to twenty batteries.

LOT 43, 17TH DISTRICT

On lot 43, I7tlz district, owned by E. R. Brown, and lying imme-

diately east of the property, on which the Murdock vein is located,
a limited amount of prospecting has been done; but no gold-bear-
ing veins, of any size, have, yet, been found, to justify their devel-
opment. Angular fragments of gold-bearing quartz, of consider-
r r6 TOWNS COUNTY

able size, are frequently met with, on this lot. They appear to
have originated from the breaking down of veins, near by.

THE STRUBY PROPERTY

One mile south of Welsh, on lot 67, I?tlt district, some work was
done, in 1870, for gold, on the Struby Property. The prospecting
consisted of a tunnel, driven into the hill, to a distance, of about
one hundred feet, and a number of shafts and cross-cuts, of various
depths. It is reported, that 5everal tons of ore were taken from
these different openings, which were afterwards milled by J. B.
Puett. The ore is claimed to have been of fair quality; but, owing
to the small size of the gold-bearing quartz vein, it could not be
mined with profit.
At the time of our examination of the property, all the excava-
tions had so fallen in, that it was found impossible, to make any
satisfactory examination. Only in one place, was the vein exposed
to view. It varies, here, in thickness, from twelve to eighteen
inches, and corresponds, in strike and dip, to the country-rock.

THE MALDEN PROPERTY

On the Malden property, lot 99, I?th district, one mile west of
Young Harris, a small fissure vein of gold-bearing quartz was dis-
covered, a few years ago. When examined by us, it was exposed
only in two shallow pits, near the road. At these points, it has an
 TOWNS COU1\ TY I I 7

average thickness of about six inches, and cuts the mica-schist, at

nearly right angles. Nothing definite could be ascertained from
the limited exposure, in regard to the extent or general character
of the vein. The strike and dip correspond very closely, to that
of the Murdock vein. An ore sample was taken by the writer; and
it yielded the following result, in the laboratory of this Sui·vey:-
Ore sample, Malden property, .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold per ton.

THE NANCY BROWN MINE

This mine is located on lot 34, I7tlt district. There appears, here,
a more or less continuous gold-bearing vein, extending diagonally
across the northwe:<~t corner of the lot, parallel with the strike of

Fig. 8

Cross-section through the Nancy Brown Gold Mine, Towns Coun'y, Georgia, Showing a
Fault adjacent to the Auriferous Quartz Vein.

the mica-schist. It varies greatly, in size, and in the character of

the ore, at the various exposures. At the opening, furthest north,
near the small stream, which flows from the east across the lot, the
vein is from three to five feet wide, and is made up, of numerous
thin layers of quartz, interlaminated with mica-schist; while at the
opening, furthest to the south, it consists of a compact, milk-
colored quartz, from eighteen to twenty inches, in thickness. The
II8 TOWNS COUNTY

dip of the ore-body correspond to the country-rock; but, at some

of the exposures, there occurs an unconformity between the over-
hanging and foot walls, that is evidently due to local faulting. 1
Williams & Pruett began mining operations, on this property, in
I 874, and worked the mine, though not continuously, for about four
years. During this time, several tons of ore were taken out, and
hauled two miles to a stamp-mill, which had been erected by Perry
Ellis, near Welsh. This ore is said to have milled, on an average,
$I 8.00 per ton, and was taken from the north exposure of the vein,
where a tunnel, several yards in length, was driven into the hill,
along the vein at water-level. Beiow this level, the vein is said to
continue, at its usual width and richness; but, owing to inadequate
drainage and the falling in of the tunnel walls, it was found imprac-
ticable, with the means then at hand, to prosecute the work further.
In I 882, eight years after ·williams & Pruett abandoned the mine,
some prospecting was done on the vein, about two hundred yards
south of the old works. Here, it is claimed, a very rich pocket
was found, containing much coarse gold, which was worked to the
depth of twenty feet, the water-level. There are a number of other
pits and cross-cuts along a line, corresponding with the trend of
the vein; but all have caved in, except the recent cut and tunnel,
at the most southern exposure, where the vein, a5 stated above, is
composed of a compact, milk-colored quartz, dipping with the mica-
schist, at a high angle, to the southeast. The tunnel, which is a
continuation of the open cut, extends into the hill, only about
twenty feet. The vein, throughout its entire exposure, here, has a
well defined wall of black hydro-mica slate, from eight to ten inches
thick.
A number of samples, from this mine, were taken by the writer,
1
See cross-section, p. II7.
 TOWNS COUlv'TY I 19

which, assayed, m the Survey laboratory, gave the following re-

sults:-
I. Ore sample, Pit No. I _________ .IO oz. ($2.00) of gold per ton
2. Ore sample, Pit No.5 _______ Trace only of gold
3· " " 7----- - .05 oz. ($I.oo) of gold per ton
4· Ore sample, Pit No.7-------- .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold per ton
5· Ore sample, Pit No.7 _______ - .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold per ton
6. Ore sample, Pit No.8-------- .075 oz. ($1.50) of gold per ton

LOT 3, 17TH DISTRICT

On lot 3, which lies immediately north of the Brown property,

and which is known, locally, as the "Old Field," considerable work
has been done, on a vein, that seems to be a continuation of the
vein, which occurs on the adjoining lot. Prospecting was begun here,
by Perry Ellis, as early as 1869; and, on account of the favorable
surface indications, more or less work has been done, on the prop-
erty, by various parties, nearly every year, since. Numerous shafts
and pits, varying from ten to fifty feet in depth, with a number ot
short tunnels, have been made, with a view to locating the vein,
from which the rich float ore, scattered throughout the field, was
derived; but, so far, the prospecting has met with only partial suc-
cess. At only a few places, was the vein located; and here it was
found to be too small or too barren, to be worked with profit.
The ore, found on the surface, and scattered through the soil, is
quite abundant; and, in places, several tons may be seen, heaped
together in piles. It consists of brownish or reddish-colored quartz
120 TOWNS COUNTY

bowlders, of various sizes, frequently somewhat granular, and con-

taining iron-stained cavities, with more or less pyrite, in which par-
ticles 'Of free gold may sometimes be detected. There was no
opening on the property, where the ore could be examined in situ/
but, near by, in the northwest corner of lot 34, scarcely twenty feet
from its divisional line with lot 3, a vein, which is said to be the
same, as that prospected on the latter lot, was examined. The vein,
here, is exposed in an open cut, to the depth of about twelve feet.
It consists of a quartz vein, twelve inches wide, carrying free gold,
and conforming in dip and strike, to the folded and contorted
country-rock.
The lack of sufficient water, to operate these prospects, seems
to accaunt, to a great extent, for their present undeveloped concli-
tion. Two small streams take their rise, on lot 34; but neither
furnishes enough water, to be of any economic value, in mining. It
is possible, nevertheless, by digging a ditch, two or three miles long,
to conduct a branch of Brasstown creek to the lots, which would
furnish ample water, to run a stamp-mill, and which could, probably,
be used, in hydraulic mining.

THE HORSE VEIN

The Horse Vein, which is located in the soutlzeastern portion of lot

I, I?tlt district, was visited; but all the old pits were so filled in,
that it was found practically impossible, to make any satisfactory
examination of the vein. The prospecting has been limited, to
some four or five pits, none of which appear to have been originally
over fifteen feet in depth.
 TOWNS COUNTY 121

LOT 2, 17TH DISTRICT

:\Iany years ago, some placer mining was done by Mr. Kinsey,
with slave labor, on a small stream, on lot 2, a few hundred yards
north of where the vein was afterwards prospected. It is said,
that he extracted, in a short time, as much as $1,200 worth of gold
from the gravel covering a very small area.
 CHAPTER Vl

UNION COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, ASSISTA"T GEOLOGIST

The gold-bearing belt, that traverses the northwestern portion of

Towns county, extends, for a short distance, into Union. The
auriferous veins make their appearance, in the extreme northeast
corner of the county, and continue, with frequent interruptions,
through a number of lots, lying to the southwest. This section is
hilly, but well-watered, by numerous small streams, that traverse
narrow fertile valleys, which yield excellent crops of corn, rye etc.

THE WELLBORN HILL MINE

This mine, now owned by the Chattanooga and Gum Log Min-
ing Company, is situated in the southeast corner of lot I8, 9tlz dis-
trict, within a short distance of Gum Log creek. Some prospecting
was carried on, here, shortly after the war; but no systematic work
was attempted, until r883, when the property fell into the hands of
the present owners, who spent a considerable amount of money, in
developing it .. The Company finally abandoned the work, in 1889.
(rzz)
 Fig. 9

Map of the Northern Adjoining Corners of Towns and Union Counties, Georgia, Showing the Locations of the Principal Gohl
Mines in the Included Territory.
124 UNION COUNTY

The main parts of the work are near the summit of a low ridge;
they consist of a main shaft, one hundred and thirty-five feet in
depth, with two drifts at the eighty-five foot level, one extending
north, one hundred and ten feet, and the other, southwest, one
hundred and fifty feet. These drifts are said to have followed up
a gold-bearing quartz vein, that, in places, yielded a high-grade ore.
It was impossible to examine the vein, either in the main shaft or
in the drifts, on account of the water; but, in a second shaft, seventy-
five feet west from the main shaft, and extending down to the
southeast drift, the vein was exposed to view. It has a thickness,
here, of eighteen to twenty-four inches, and consists of a light-
colored, somewhat granular quartz, with numerous iron-stained
cavities. The dip of the vein, which corresponds to that of the
mica-schist and gneiss of the country-rock, is to the southeast, vary-
ing only a few degrees from the perpendicular. At the base of the
hill, about three hundred yards northeast of the main shaft, a tun-
nel, one hundred and twenty feet long, known as the "Old Tunnel,"
has been driven into the hill, on the vein. It is said, that the vein,
in this tunnel, had an average width, of two feet, and yielded an
ore, which gave satisfactory results at the mill. Numerous small
pits and cross-cuts are to be seen about the hill; but all were so in-
accessible, that the vein could not be examined.
The ten-stamp mill, erected by the Chattanooga & Gum Log
Mining Company, is located on Gum Log creek, three hundred and
fifty yards west of the main shaft. This mill, which was run, at
irregular intervals, for four or five years, is still in a fair state of
preservation ; and it would require the expenditure of only a small
amount of money, to put it again in running order. The water-
power utilized here, when the works were in operation, was pro-
duced by a twenty-five-foot fall, which was sufficient to run the
 Uli'ION COUNTY I25

ten-stamp mill, and to furnish all the necessary power, at the main
shaft, for hoisting etc.
Mr. Henry G. H;anks, late State Mineralogist of Californiot,
visited this property, in I 88 5 ; and, in speaking of this mine, he
says:'-
"The mine is fairly well opened, and there is a good mill, ready
for operation, when the water is turned into the ditch, which is
also nearly ready for working. I saw no reason, why the mill
should not be started up, and the quartz crushed with success. The
mill has ten stamps, with space and ample power for ten more. A
projected tunnel, the entrance of which is near the mill, will cut the
vein at a considerable depth, and can be made an outlet, for the
mine, for years to come. When all the upper works are exhausted,
lower levels could be pumped through the tunnel by water-power.
I prospected the quartz, and found some of it rich in gold.
" I think quartz could be gathered on the surface of the ground,
over a large area of co~ntry, which would pay in the mill. The
mine was discovered, about twelve years ago, by Edward D. Rogers.
He used to pay forty cents per bu!3hel, for crushing the ore to sand,
in stump mortars, with stamp pestles, by setting iron wedges in
stems of wood, which, for convenience, were attached to spring
poles. He then rocked the sand with quicksilver. The gold ob-
tained, gave him a profit of about $I .oo per bushel. The stump
mortars may still be seen. The tree was cut down, and the stump
sawed off square. The concavity was made by burning with live
coals, assisted by judicious use of the axe. While this was a rude
substitute, for a crushing apparatus, it served a useful purpose, and
enabled the miners, in an imperfect manner, to extract the gold,
that under other circumstances would have been practically inac-
1
Fifth Annual Report. State Mineralogist of California. 1885; p. q6.
126 CNION COUNTY

cessible. There has, at no time, been a mill at this mme. The

new mill has not yet turned a wheel.
"On my return to San Francisco, a sample of quartz from \Veil-
born Hill, weighing three hundred and twenty grams, was crushed
and sifted, and at my request, Mr. Melville Atwood carefully washed
it in a batea. The prospect, or residue, weighed 0.1263 grams. It
contained a little quartz, but was largely gold, beautifully clean and
bright, and part of it, in distinct crystals. There were some par-
ticles leaf-like, but crystalline. The rock was very easily crushed.
The following is the result of an examination and assay of an aver-
age specimen from Wellborn Hill, Union county, made since my
return:-
Percentage of gold__ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ __ _ ______ _ .015 3
Ounces in ton of 2,000 pounds ____ ·---------· 4-47
Value per ton _________________________ _ $g2.40"

THE BROWN SHAFT

One mile southwest of the vVellborn Hill mine, on lot I9, 9tlz dis-
tn'ct, a shaft, known as the Brown Shaft, has been run down on a
ten-inch quartz vein, to the depth of fifty-five feet. The ore, lying
near the opening, which had been taken from the shaft, contains a
great deal of pyrite ; but, having no means at hand, to get down
into the shaft, the ore could not be examined, in place. It is
reported, that four tons of this ore produced, at the stamp-mill, an
average of twenty pennyweights of gold per ton. Near by, are
other prospecting shafts and tunnels, made many years ago, all of
which are now, more or less caved in.
 UNION COUNTY 127

LOT 20, 9TH DISTRICT

On lot 20, immediately west of lot 19, a large, granular, gold-

bearing quartz bowlder, weighing more than a ton, was seen. It
was located in a depression, near a small ravine ; and it had evi-
dently been derived, from the breaking down of a quartz vein, near
by. A limited amount of placer-work, and some prospecting for
the vein, has been carried on, here ; but neither proved to be suc-
cessful.

THE OLD GUM LOG MINE

This mine is located on lot 52, 9tlz district. It was discovered,

many years ago ; and it was more or less extensively worked, imme-
diately after the late war. If current reports, concerning its rich-
ness, can be relied upon, it must have been, in its earlier days, a
profitable mine; and it could, even now, probably, be made to
pay a fair dividend, if judiciously worked.
The principal part of the work, done here, was near the end of
a low ridge ; and it consists of numerous shafts, tunnels and cross-
cuts. Report is current, that the extreme western point of this
ridge, made up of mica-schists and gneisses, decomposed to some
depth, contains a number of auriferous veins, that have been worked,
in places, to the depth of seventy feet. All the excavations had
so fallen in, that the veins were all hidden from view, except one,
in an open cut, near the top of the hill. This vein, varying in
thickness, from four to twelve inches, corresponds, in dip, to the
128 UNIO_il/ COUNTY

mica-schist ; and it consists of reddish and light-colored quartz,

with cavities, in which free gold may often be seen. Specimens of
ore, lying on the surface, which were probably taken from a con-
siderable depth, contained pyrite.
\Vithin a short distance of the mine on Gum Log creek, may be
seen the remains of an old stamp-mill, which was formerly used,
in crushing the ore. The creek at this point is small, though it has
a considerable fall, and furnishes sufficient power, to operate a small
stamp-mill. An ore sample, taken by the writer, assayed in the
laboratory of the Survey, yielded, as follows :-Ore sample, Old
Gum Log Mine, .05 oz. ($1.00) of gold per ton.

THE HUNT PROPERTY

On the Hunt Property, lot 55, 9tlz district, a gold-bearing quartz

vein was discovered, about eighteen years ago ; and some of the
ore was taken out, and milled. Since then, a shaft, forty feet deep,
and a short tunnel and an open-cut have been made. In the open-
cut, occurs a white quarti vein, from eighteen to twenty-four inches
thick, dipping with the mica-schist. At this exposure, the vein
carries very little gold, and the ore could not be milled with profit ;
while only a few feet away, in the forty-foot shaft, now filled with
water, the vein is said to have yielded a high grade of ore. From
a pile of ore, taken from the shaft, some nice specimens with brown-
ish cavities were secured, showing free gold.
( ,(Jf.f> !>J../'tiS/ I.\ (1/-- ( ,Ftlfl'(, / I /'1.. ·1 f"h" IX
 UNION COUNTY 129

THE COOSA CREEK PLACER MINE

This mine is located on Coosa creek, in tlze 9tlz district of Union

<:ounty, on lots 85, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, I24, I29 and IJO, four miles
south of Blairsville. This section of the country is quite moun-
tainous, with numerous peaks, reaching an altitude, of more than
four thousand feet above sea-level. The creek, along which placer-
mining has been carried on, is a typical mountain stream, making
its way through the hills, in narrow gorges, that, frequently, become
expanded into fertile valleys, underlaid with auriferous gravel.
Within the gorges, the stream forms numerous shoals and cataracts,
having an aggregate fall of many feet, in a few hundred yards.
The channel, in these narrows, is frequently so filled with large
bowlders, which have fallen from the adjacent cliffs, from time to
time, that the stream is often almost hidden from view as it flows
between them ; but, where the obstructions are less abundant, or
.absent, the bed-rock, consisting of mica-schists and gneisses, is worn
smooth or cut into numerous pot-holes, by the action of the sand
and pebbles, driven along by the rushing water. The creek has
ample water, throughout the entire year, to carry on extensive
sluicing; and, by extending a system of flumes and ditches, only a
short distance back into the gorges, almost any desired head of
water can be secured for hydraulic purposes.
The bed-rock, underlying the valley, where gold has been found,
in paying quantities, has not, in all cases, on account of its variable
hardness, been cut down by erosion to a uniform plane ; but it is
more or less irregular. This gives rise to many shoals and eddies,
when the earth and gravel have been removed, by sluicing. These
irregular surfaces seriously interfere w·ith the saving of the gold;
 UNION COUNTY

and, as a consequence, it frequently becomes necessary, to remove

them, by blasting, or in some other way, in order to drain the low
places, where the fine gold has accumulated, in more or less abund-
ance. During the earlier workings of the mine, only that part of
the valley was worked, which formerly constituted the shoals in the
creek's old beds, and had a natural drainage, while the depressions,
although covering a comparatively small area, were generally
neglected.

Fig. IO

Diagram Showing the Present Condition of the Coosa Creek Placer :vline, near
Blairsville, Union County, Georgia.

There occurs, at several places along the creek, a number of

small, isolated areas, containing, usually, only a fraction of an acre,
which, for several reasons, unknown to the writer, have been neg-
lected in all the former workings. On two or three of these de-
tached areas, test-pits, three feet square, were made, and the gravel
was panned. Each pit yielded, from ten to twenty-five cents' worth
of fine gold. Besides these small areas, much of the_ old placer
could probably be operated, with a good profit, if a suitable hy-
draulic plant were erected. This, however, would necessitate a
 UNION COUNTY

considerable outlay of money, which, in most cases, is not, now, at

the command of the owners. At the time of our visit, eight hands
were engaged, here, in uncovering certain promising portions of the
creek-bottoms, and washing the gravel, taken from these pits. By
confining their attention to such sections, they were able to use
their time and labor to best advantage. Working in this way, they
report, that they were able to average, from twenty- fiv.e cents to
one dollar a day, per man. The 'entire output of the Coosa Creek
mine, from its earliest workings to the present, has been estimated
at, from five hundred thousand to one million pennyweights of
gold.
 CHAPTER VII

HALL COUNTY

Bv FRANCIS P. KING, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

The principal mining operations in this county must be spoken

<>f, merely as prospecting. This fact has been due to the properties
falling into unfortunate hands. The occurrence of diamonds in the
itacolumite, north of Gainesville, seems to have attracted more local
.attention, than the auriferous deposits. Nevertheless, when some
·of the well-known gold-bearing veins are free for legitimate devel-
<>pment, this county will average well, in its gold production, when
-compared with other counties, now more favorably considered. The
gold belt of this county extends down from the Habersham county
line, west of the Southern Railway, and out beyond the Chattahoo-
chee river. The best developed property is the Currahee. Other
properties, though less developed, will awaken interest, when more
attention is centered on this county. A description of those prop-
erties, which have been more or less prospected, follows.

THE GLADES

"The Glades," a small settlement five miles northwest of Lula,

is the center of a large body of land owned by Mr. A. J. Jennings
(!32)
 HALL COUNTY

of Brooklyn, N.Y. A portion of this estate lies in the gold belt;

and, some years ago, it was considerably prospected. No develop-
ment of consequence, however, followed the prospecting; and, at
the time of my visit, the results of this old work were not visible.
In the northeastern corner of lot 94, I 2tlt district, the so-called
"Stephenson vein" was opened. The ore-body consists of a sul-
phide-quartz vein, one and a half feet thick, striking N. 80° E.
A quartz vein, said to contain a sulphide of silver, was pros-
pected, by several long tunnels, in the northwest corner of lot 99,
district.
I 2tlz
In 1887, a ditch was constructed from Flat creek to The Glades
- a distance of several miles -for the purpose of hydraulicking the
deposits of the Glades branch. Immediately after the comple-
tion of the ditch, a two hundred-foot sweep was made down the
branch, and $1 o,ooo worth of gold is reported to have been taken
out. The ditch is now used as a water-supply to the house and
stock buildings.
Mr. C. R. Clemmens, manager of the estate, has made an inter-
esting collection of the minerals and ores found on the property.
These were exhibited at the recent Cotton States and Internationaf
Exposition, held in Atlanta. Perhaps the most interesting and
important mineral in the collection, on account of its economic
importance, was monazite, which is now extensively used in the
manufacture of the incandescent mantles of the Welsbach gas-
burner, a new form of burner, which produces a beautiful soft, white
light, now being largely introduced into city homes. The monazite
from this locality occurs as sand, associated with magnetite, garnet,
gold, quartz etc., as other components of the sand.
134 HALL COUNTY

THE ODOM PROPERTY

The Odom Property, about thirteen miles from Gainesville, con·

tains 210 acres in lot III, IIth district. In the summer of 1894,
when visited by me, it was owned by A. M. Whelchel and Benja-
min Parks. At this time, H. Odom and T. C. Evens were working
it, under a lease. Previous to I 8g4, it had not been worked for
fifty years; during the original working, however, by Benjamin
Parks and a man by the name of Garwin, $1,000 worth of gold was
produced, in four weeks. These original operators found a rich
shoot, carried the ore in sacks to a small branch some distance
away, and there washed it by hand.
The vein, upon which all have worked, consists of a system of
quartz stringers intercalated in mica-schist, forming an ore-body
about three feet thick. This ore-body lies on the southeast side of
a hill, near the east side of the lot. The sample, taken by me for
assay, gave, in the laboratory of the Survey, a value in gold of
$6.oo per ton.

THE PARKS PROPERTY

Lot 56, I I tit district, is here noted as the Parks Property. On the
lot, near the center, a solid quartz vein, six feet thick, cuts the
country-rock at a large angle. The strike of the vein is N. 70° W.;
and it dips sharply to the southwest. On the north side, the vein
is practically barren of pyrite, and is solid; but the southern half is
 HALL COUNTY 135

porous, and shows the presence of a large amount of oxidized sul-

phide.
The sample taken from this vein for assay yielded, in our labo-
ratory, only a trace of gold.

THE JOHNSON PROPERTY

This property, lot 7 2, Ioth district, is situated about ten miles

northwest of Gainesville. It is owned by J. W. Johnson, Jr., who
lives close by. A small sulphide-quartz vein, one foot thick, has
been located here, and exposed by a few shallow cuts. The vein
cuts the country-schist, at a small angle, and strikes N. 57° E.
The sample taken for assay was found to contain only a trace
of gold.
The same vein has been traced into Dunnagan's lot, on the east,
and Simpson's lot, on the west.

THE POTOSI MINE

The Potosi Mine is situated twelve miles northeast of Gainesville,

on lot 85, I It!z district. Sixty-two years ago, it was operated, for
two years, by some Englishmen. The oldest settlers tell of an
immensely rich shoot, discovered by these workers; and they add,
that the discovery was blocked by an impenetrable horse. In I 894,
John Johnson and J. H. Summerall took an "option" on the prop-
 L

HALL COUNTY

erty, and sunk a shaft, close to the old works. They soon abandoned
work, on account of their inability to cope with the quicksand. June
I oth,89 5, "The Potosi Mining & Milling Company" was incorpo-
I

rated; and Mr. H. T. Fisher was made president and manager.

The search for the rich shoot was continued. At my last visit,
during the summer of I895, it had not been discovered, and they
were laboring with the quicksand, which had so disarranged the
plan of former workers.
The vein, in which they are attempting to re-discover the rich
shoot, is about eighteen inches in thickness, with a vertical dip, and
striking N. 50° W., cutting the country-schists at a wide angle. It
consists of a milky white quartz, with a structure of parallelly
arranged interlocking acicular crystals. In the joints of the vein,.
made by the meeting of these crystals in their horizontal extension,
free gold is sometimes, but rarely, found. In the ore-body, there
is, however, no trace of sulphides. I have not seen a vein of simi-
lar character in the gold-fields of the State.
The gold, occurring on this property, both in the vein and in the
little branch, is exceptionally low: grade. Mr. Fisher informed me,
that it runs fourteen parts silver and twenty-five parts gold.

THE ELROD PROPERTY

The Elrod Property is situated about SIX miles northwes~ of

Gainesville, on the Dahlonega road. Embraced under this head
are the following properties : -
 HALL COUNTY 137

Lot District
The Stephens __ - __ -. -- . - .. --- -- . ---- ----- 99 10
The Keath ___________ - _____________ ------- 100 10
The Newton ______ ------------------·--- 103 10
The Ivy Mountain __________ -------------·· 104 10

Prior to the war, some rich ore shoots had been found on these
lots, and the owners did an extensive amount of work, as is evinced
by their numerous pits and dump-piles. A few years ago, a fif-
teen-stamp mill was erected on the Ivy Mountain lot, and an un-
successful effort at milling the ore-body was carried on, for a short
time.
The occurrence of the ore-body is interesting, and exceptional
in Georgia. The schists of the region have a very slight dip and
are apparently interbedded with seams of small milky-white quartz,
carrying a small percentage of sulphides. This seam varies in
thickness, from a few inches to several feet, and is evidently a
stringer vein horizoBtally inclined. The topography of the region
is such, that the vein is readily exposed, by shallow pits, and is to
be found over a wide area.
The major portion of this immense bed of quartz is of a very low
grade ore, although, in the past, some rich pockets may have been
found. The mining of the vein, as a body, however, would be
impracticable.

THE PASS PROPERTY

This property was opened up prior to the war; and, with the
exception of some trifling work, done a few years ago, by Beam
 •
HALL COUNTY

and Calhoun, to introduce their chlorination-process, no work has

been carried on, since.
It consists of lots IJ 2 and IJJ, Iot!t distn'ct. On both lots, a vein
about sixteen inches in thickness has been exposed, and shafts forty
and seventy feet deep, respectively, have been sunk. At each
shaft, the ore-body shows the same strike, and is perpendicular and
unconformable to the country-rock. Judging from the position of
the exposures and the strike of the ore-body, it is one and the
same vem.
From the shaft on lot IJJ, the only one I could enter, I took a
sample of ore from the east side of the shaft. The assay value, as
determined in the laboratory of the Survey, was $ 1.00 per ton.

THE LONGSTREET PROPERTY

The Longstreet mineral property lies two and one half miles
north of Gainesville, and consists of lot IJO, 9t!t district. The min-
eral interest in this lot is owned jointly by Messrs. Robert Lee
Longstreet and Benjamin A. Merck, of Gainesville.
Great excitement was aroused over this property, a few years
back, by the discovery of gold in a quartz vein, in the bed of a
small branch. Several hundred pounds of quartz slabs, completely
encrusted with minute plates of gold, were taken from a small pit, a
few feet in diameter. Immediately following this discovery, an offer
of $8,ooo was made to the owners by certain parties ; but it was not
accepted. . Inconsequent efforts, for a brief period, followed up
this discovery ; but, since then, the branch has held possession.
 HALL COUNTY 139

It is presumed by the owners, that this IS a chimney formation ;

but their development was too slight, to warrant such a conclusion.
South of the creek, and cutting the schist formation at a wide
angle, is another vein, which should be developed, in conjunction
with the branch vein. The property was not in such condition, as
to admit of my taking material for assay.

THE MERCK PROPERTY

On the property of Charles S. Merck, of Gainesville, lot I 29, 9th

district, Messrs. Taft & Ehler, of Chicago, prospected a system of
small quartz stringers, which form a zone in the mica-schist, aggre-
gating a width of three feet,. This ore-body lies conformable to
the enclosing schist, with a strike, N. 55° E., and a dip of 35° to
the southeast. Assay of surface material, showing a value of $6
per ton, they erected a plant, at an expense of $700.00. This plant
consists of a small mill-bouse with engine, crusher, concentrator
and amalgamator. Operations extended over a period of several
months, during which time, they had run an incline-tunnel down
on the ore-body, to a length of seventy-five feet. Finding, that
their operations were being conducted at a continued loss, and the
ore decreasing in assay value, they abandoned the property.
140 HALL COUNTY

THE O'SHIELDS PROPERTY

Near the Merck property, on lot I2J, 9th district, Mrs. \V. H._
O'Shields, the owner, has stripped several auriferous veins, for a
few feet On the northeast side of the lot, a vein, one to two feet
thick, cuts the schist at a well defined angle, and strikes N. 7 5° W.
The vein contains some sulphides, oxidized at the depth exposed~

A sample from this vein was taken for assay ; the report, by the-
Survey Chemist, gives only a trace of gold present. The dirt wall-
ing of the vein, when panned, gave a very fair showing of gold.
One hundred yards to the northwest, a smaller vein, similar ill.
character, has also been cut.

THE MAMMOTH MINE

The property, known as the Mammoth Mine, lies three miles.

northeast of Gainesville, close to the Southern Railway. It is said
to belong to William Willim. Several years ago, considerable
prospecting was carried on, here ; but with what results I am not.
informed. There appears one main shaft, which was closed at the-
time of my visit. I examined the ore from the dump of this vein.
and found it to be similar, in character, to that at the Currahee:
Mine, a description of which follows, below
 HALL COUNTY

'I'HE CURRAHEE MINE

The Currahee Mine is located along the Southern Railway, about

six miles northeast of Gainesville. It is owned by Josephus Roberts
.of Philadelphia. Up to a few months ago, J. S. Hamilton, of
Athens, was preparing to operate the ore of this property, by a
roasting process ; financial difficulties and expiration of lease neces-
.sitated his abandoning the property. During his presence here,
however, an admirable twenty-stamp mill was erected ; also a fur-
nace for roasting the ore.
The ore of this mine comes from two veins, both of which have
about the same thickness, strike and dip. One lies on the east side
-of the railroad; the other, on the west. The ore-body on the west
side has· been cut into, by tunnels and open cuts, for a length of
several hundred yards. In the open cut near the mill, it shows a
-thickness of five and one-half feet, striking N. 65° E., with a dip
8 5° to the southeast. The vein on the east side of the railroad has
been less prospected. Upon it, in a sharp ravine, due east from the
mill, is one cut. This exposure shows a three and one-half foot
vein, with practically the same strike and dip, as the western vein.
Specimens from the two ore-bodies are indistinguishable. The
·veins consist of hard milky-white quartz, containing a large pro-
portion of the sulphides, pyrite and galena. As an auriferous body,
jt is of low grade. The ore-bodies, however, are both so extensive
and easy of access ; and the concentration of the sulphides, per
ton, would be so large, that it is very probable, that this property
can be operated, at a satisfactory margin.
 CHAPTER VI II

GWINNETT COUNTY

BY FRANCIS P. KING, AssiSTA!\T GEOLOGIST

The knowledge of the existence of gold in this county has been

apparent, for some time; yet, in the past year, more interest has
been centered here, owing to the application of the Piedmont
property owners to its development. Prior to the late war between
the States, work was confined to the two adjoining properties, the
Simmons and the Shelly, and to the Harris, where the work was
carried on lustily and successfully by the employment of slaves.
It is only in the past few years, that outside prospectors have turned
their attention to this county, and their efforts seem, thus far, to
have been haphazard and spasmodic, rather than well directed and
continuous. The auriferous belt, as now known in this county,
lies along the line of the Southern Railway, between the towns of
Suwanee and Buford, the major portion lying west of the railroad.
A description of properties in this county follows.

THE PIEDMONT PROPERTY

The Piedmont Mine is located on lot 304, 7tlz district, and lies
about two miles northeast of Buford. It is controlled by a stock
( 142)
 GWINNETT COUNTY I43

company, known as the Buford Gold Mining Co., and the work is
carried on, under the personal supervision of Mr. F. ]. Rothpletz,
a mining engineer.
This is the only property, now being operated in Gwinnett county.
The plant, although small, is well-equipped for the present de-
velopment of the property, and consists of -
A mill-house, with all attachments ------------------ 25x30 ft.
An engine-house, with engine ---------------------- I3XI8 ft.
A stable and carriage-house ________________________ I6x24 ft.
A concentrator roof attached to mill __ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ __ I 2x I 6 ft.
A blacksmith-shop, with blacksmith and carpenter tools, I 4x I 6 ft.
A small dwelling-house _____________________________ r6x20 ft.

The old work on this property is on the same vein, that is now
being worked, and consists of one main tunnel, cutting the vein,
I 8 5 feet (still in splendid condition for examination); one cross
tunnel, I oo feet ; one culvert I 50 feet, and seven shafts. The
working shaft is well timbered, lined and partitioned. At the time
of the writer's examination of the property, during the summer of
I 89 5, they were clearing out the stapes, and had reached a depth
of sixty feet. Their purpose, at this time, according to contract,
was to extend the shaft to an eighty-foot level, before they' began
to mill and concentrate the ore.
The Piedmont vein is plainly what is known among mining men,
as a true fissure-vein, cutting the laminated country-rock, at a wide
angle. It strikes about due east, the strike of the country-rock
being about N. 50° E. The ore-body will average, from eighteen
inches to two feet in width, and consists of compact milk-white
quartz, containing varying proportions of pyrite, galena and free
gold, the latter frequently apparent to the unaided eye. Immedi-
ately adjoining the vein proper, or in its "binding," are small quartz
144 GWINNETT COUNTY

stringers, which will undoubtedly pay to work, with the main ore-
body. This ore-body has been traced, already, several hundred
yards, by test-pits ; and surface indications may be found along its
lead, for some distance.
Assays of the ore, made for the company, from both picked and
average samples, have been, thus far, most captivating. Crawford
mill-tests have been made, showing a mill-saving of over seventy
per cent. of its assay value. The lowest assay made was $5 per
ton, while other assays have reached $3 I per ton. These tests have
invariably shown a tendency toward increase in value, with depth.
An assay, made in the laboratory of the Survey, from the sample
selected by the writer, did not yield such high results, a value of
only $I .oo per ton being obtained.

THE SHELLY PROPERTY

The Shelly property lies about four miles west of Buford, and
consists of lot 290, 7tlz district.
Several veins have been cut on this lot, and long lines of open
cuts, now more or less fallen in, may be found along the leads on
this property. The ore-bodies were worked, years ago, by slaves ;
and the reports of the profits have become so warped, by passing
from mouth to ear, that we can only consider them legendary.
Nevertheless, the assays of the ore, made by different people, from
material taken from various points along these veins, seldom fall
below $6.oo per ton ; and picked ore runs exceedingly high. Ore
for assay was taken by me from the largest vein, and the result of
the assay, in the Survey laboratory, is as follows: -
 GWINNETT COUNTY 145
Ore sample taken from the large vein on
the Shelly property -------·---LI75 oz. ($23.50) per ton
The veins strike almost due east and west, and have an average
dip of 65° to the south. They are made up of a compact quartz
body, containing a large percentage of sulphides, which, in the
surface material, has become partially, and often completely, oxid-
ized. The greatest thickness of the vein exposed was four feet ;
the average width, about two.
There seems to be little doubt, but that this property can be
operated most advantageously. A large amount of ore is already
in sight, and the character of the veins would warrant the supposi-
tion, that tbe supply is fairly inexhaustible. During slavery times,
these ore-bodies were worked with arrastres, a rude apparatus, used
in Mexico and certain places in this country, for grinding ore.
Since the war, scarcely any work has been done, on any of the veins.
For the past year, Captain James Thompson' of Buford has.
been interested in the property ; and, through his efforts, we may
look to its early development.

THE SIMMONS PROPERTY

The Simmons property, formerly known as "The Percy Gold

Mine," is now owned by Mr. Roby Robinson of Atlanta. It joins
the Shelly, on the east, and consists of lot 290, 7th district.
The Simmons property was operated, during the same period as
1
Since this report was submitted by Mr. King to the State Geologist, the latter has been informed
by Mr. F.]. Rothpletz, that Capt ..Thompson has become the owner of this property, and that work
would begin soon, on the erection of a 2o-stamp mill, with concentrators and a chlorination plant.
Oct., rll<)6.
I 46 GW.INNETT COUNTY

the Shelly. Unlike the Shelly, surface quartz fragments are not
numerous. One vein, nevertheless, has heen exposed and operated.
The ore is similar to that of the Shelly. The vein has the same
strike and dip, as those of the Shelly.
Such work, as has been done here, time has almost obliterated ;
yet old piles of ore are still in evidence. From these it is judged,
that the value of the ore is unusually high, and that what is said,
in regard to the Shelly vein values, may be repeated here, except
as to the amount of ore in sight. The ore, taken for assay,· in the
laboratory of this Survey, was obtained from a large dump near the
main pit; and it may be taken as an average of the same.
Sample of dump ore on the Simmons property __ ... $16-44 per ton

THE MOORE AND BROGDEN PROPERTY

Lots 309, JIO, JI8 and JI9, 7tlz district, have been prospected
to some extent, in the past year. A few interesting veins have
been exposed, by small test-pits. These were panned carefully,
with most favorable results. The development, however, of any
other vein, at the time of the survey, was too slight, ~to assist in
.drawing satisfactory conclusions.
 GWINNETT COUNTY
147

THE WILL BROGDEN PROPERTY

On lot 258, 7th district, a little over two miles southwest of Bu-
ford, is a large exposure of quartz, which has attracted some atten-
tion, on account of its unusual size. The outcropping is about 20

feet in diameter, .and large bowlders of the same are strewn over
the neighboring surface. As is usual, with such large outcrop-
pings, the quartz is practically barren of gold. Its occurrence,
nevertheless, induced prospecting, and several trenches have been
dug along probable lines of strike, but without resulting in any-
thing further than the attendant expense.

THE ROBERTS PROPERTY

In the southwest corner of lot 253, 7th district, occurs a large

outcropping of a quartz vein, rich in iron sulphide, more or less
oxidized and disintegrated. The vein, at the exposure, swells out,
to a width of ten feet. It has been thoroughly tested by pros-
pectors and pronounced worthless. No attempt seems to have
been made toward tapping the vein at other points. Nevertheless
its appearance is such, as to warrant such prospecting, as a fair test
demands.
The property belongs to Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Roberts, who live
close by, about a mile and a half northeast of Suwanee.
The adjoining lots, 254 and 255, were prospected by Mr. N. P.
Pratt, of Atlanta, during the spring and summer of r895, for iron.
 q8 GWINNETT COUNTY

THE HARRIS PROPERTY

The Harris property lies about one mile northeast from Suwanee,
on lot 275, 7th district. This property is interesting, from the fact
of the occurrence, here, of two veins cutting the schist, at an angle
of about 2 5°, and dipping toward each other. The ore is of the
same character, as at the Shelly and the Simmons properties, that
is, rich in limonite and partly altered pyrite. The presence of sid-
erite (iron carbonate) is also noted, here.
The veins lie about one hundred yards apart, and strike N.
7 5° E., dipping, the one at the north, about 6 5° to the southeast,
and the southern vein, about 5 5° to the northwest. These, as has
been stated, are not conformable to the schist; but they cut it, at a
well defined angle. Their true fissure character is likewise well
shown,· by the crumbling of the schist wall. Very little has been
done, in the way'of development. On the northern vein, a single
shaft about twenty-five feet deep, occurs. A cut, with numerous
pits, is to be found on the southern ve·in. Th"e southern vein was
worked, many years ago, with slave labor, using an arrastre, for
milling the ore. The result of this labor is not known; it can be
judged only by the amount of work, which has been done, here.
Ore for assay was taken from the southern vein; but the Survey
Chemist reports only a trace of gold present.
This property is controlled by J. F. Baxter, Esq. of Suwanee, Ga.

l
 CHAPTER IX

FORSYTH COUNTY

Bv FRANCIS P. KING, AssiSTANT GEoLoGIST

Two gold-belts pass through Forsyth county; the DAHLONEGA

GoLD-BELT, which passes through the northwest corner, and the
HALL CouNTY GoLD-BELT, running through the· entire county, on
the east side. Besides these two belts, we find an isolated area in
the center of the county, the Sawnee Mountain gold area. Au-
thentic records, of gold-mining in this county, date back to some
time, prior to the opening up of the California gold-fields. Nrore
or less stream-washing and vein-prospecting has been going on,
ever since. Although there are no records, of a specially startling
find, in Forsyth, yet a small proportion of the population have
yearly eked out, from this industry the larger part of their living.
The work of such laborers has been confined largely to stream-
washing, although a few veins have been partially worked to water-
level.
No property in this county has been more than prospected, and
this has generally been done, by the owners, who have not suffi-
cient means to supply a proper plant for the development of worthy
discoveries. Several such properties may be especially mentioned;
as, for instance, the Strickland, the crude working of which en-
riched the old members of the family; also the Charles and the
Little properties, both of which are well opened up. The latter
property is in the eastern gold-belt; the two former, in the western.
( 149)
ISO FORSYTH COUNTY

THE CHARLES PROPERTY

This property lies near the junction of Dawson, Forsyth and

Cherokee counties. Lot 77,
It belongs to Dr. Frederick Charles.
3rd district, Ist section, is the land, upon which all the prospecting
has thus far been carried on. This development shows two stringer
leads, each averaging several feet in width, striking N. 60° E., and
dipping 70° to the southeast. These veins are separated from each
other, by a space of about twenty feet. They differ from each
other, only in the extent of oxidation of the iron sulphide. The
vein to the north is rich in iron sulphide. This is comparatively
fresh, while the sulphides of the vein to the south have undergone
considerable decomposition. Pits, varying in depth, have been dug
at irregular intervals along the leads of both these veins, for several
hundred yards. Although, at the time of the Survey examination,
these pits were useless for observation, yet it is said that the veins
throughout the length tested, maintained the average width already
given.
Above the ten-stamp mill, located on this property, a large cut
enabled a very good examination of both these veins. This prop-
erty, lying, as it does, in the neighborhood of the Franklin mine,'
and the ore-bodies resembling each other so closely, much interest
will be attached to its development. Attempts to free-mill the ore
have necessarily proved futile, the gold being bound up in the
sulphide. Enterprise, tending toward a more definite knowledge
of the economic value of these ore-bodies, has probably been ham-
pered by the management.

1
Now the Creighton Mine.
 FORSYTH COUNTY

1
Dr. Becker, of the United States Geological Survey, who ex-
amined this property reports the occurrence, here, of numerous.
slickensides, with their surfaces stained black with manganese ; and
he concludes, from observations of similar occurrences on various
properties, that these are not due to faulting, but to the changes of
the rock in volume attending decomposition. These observations
are of interest, in as far as, if the reverse were true, we should
expect to find, in the working of these ore-bodies, troublesome
displacements.

THE STRICKLAND PROPERTY

• The Strickland mines, occupying lots 67 and 68, Jrd district, Jrd
section, must be judged by past glory, on account of the present
condition of the old works. It is well known, that the Strickland
family were enriched, by the gold, taken from this property.
Nevertheless, no mining work, of any duration, has been conducted
here, for years. The ore, worked by the Stricklands, came from
stringer leads, and only free-milling ore was handled. It is most
probable, that the occurrence of sulphides caused the abandonment
of the mines. The character of the ore-bodies is, very likely, simi-
lar to that of the Cherokee properties, near by.
1
Reconnaissance of the Gold Fields of the Southern Appalachians, by George F. Becker-Six-
teenth Annual Report, U.S. Geol. Sur., Part II, Mineral Resources.
 FORSYTH COUNTY

THE PARKS AND FOWLER PROPERTY

The Parks and Fowler property lies about mne miles west of
Cumming, and consists of lots 933, 934, 935, 936 and 937, in the 3rd
district, Ist section, Forsyth county, and lots 973 and 974, 3rd distn"ct,
2nd section, Cherokee county.
On May 7th, 1867, a New York company purchased this prop-
erty, at a price of $1 ,ooo,ooo. All these lots, with the exception
of the house-lot, 937, were prospected. For years, no work of a
mining nature has been done upon them; and the old tunnels and
pits were so completely filled in, at the time of the writer's visit,
that it was impossible to determine the character of the veins opened.
The abandonment of the property by the New York people tends.
to discredit its value as a mineral property. Nevertheless, local
reports and traditions of the revenue, obtained by the early owners,
working it with slave labor, are very alluring.
Dr. John Hockenhull, of Cumming, Ga., is agent, and owner of
one-third interest in this property.

THE SAWNEE MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

SAWNEE MouNTAIN, lying in the heart of Forsyth county, towers,

in solitary grandeur, 900 feet above the surrounding country, other-
wise practically unbroken. Its central summit rises I ,967 feet above
the sea-level; and spurs, from this, trend from northeast to south-
west, making a total length of about six miles. Generation follow-
 FORSYTH COUNTY 153
:oing generation have panned, and in other ways prospected, this mass,
for gold. The metal, however, has been found, only upon the
southeastern slope.
The objective point, for the past few years, has been on the
-southeastern side of Sawnee mountain, proper. Here, several cuts
.and tunnels have been run, in an endeavor to discover the source of
the stream-gold. These efforts have, thus far, been futile.
During the year 1895, Messrs. Hampton & Herman, of Atlanta,
.obtained control of lots 820, 836, 837, 89I, 892, 893, 909, 9IO, 9I I,
9I2, 9I3, 9I4, 960, 963 and 983, 3rd district, Ist section; and they
have been working the hill-deposits, with very satisfactory results.
Their operations, up to the time of examination by me, were in the
nature of prospecting. With fifteen men (three working at night)
and a tiny stream of water for sluice-box washing, they were able
to overcome twelve feet of "topping," and work five or six feet of
gravel per day, averaging twenty-five dwts. of gold. When we
consider the difficulties, under which they labored, and the small
area, which could be workoo, in this way, during a day - all
being done by hired manual labor - this result is especially
conducive to expenditure, looking toward an easier method of re-
moving the deep "topping," and washing the gravel.
While Messrs. Hampton & Herman were perfecting an organiza-
tion, to operate this property, and were preparing to arrange a res-
ervoir system for hydraulicking, the deed-titles, under which they
held this property, were questioned ; and they were forced to sus-
pend further work, pending court decision. The results of their
labor, however, tend to show, as conclusively, as is possible, on
mineral properties of this character, that Sawnee mountain can be
worked with profit.
Geologically considered, the mountain is made up of schists and
_gneisses, striking northeast, and dipping sharply to the southeast.
I 54 FORSYTH COUNTY

Interbedded with these, are thick beds of quartzite, bowlders of

which overlie the surface, in such abundance, that the mountain is
locally considered to be formed entirely of the same. This latter
idea, however, may be shown to be erroneous, by even a casual ex-
amination of the prospectors' cuts. One of these, a cut of two
hundred feet or. more in length, shows a complete walling of schists,
with the exception of several quartzite beds, one of which attains
the width of twenty feet. Furthermore, a consideration of the laws
of natural erosion, on different rocks here displayed, will satisfac-
torily explain the presence of the quartzite bowlders.

THE COLLINS PROPERTY

The Collins property consists of lot 450, Ist district, Ist section,
and belongs to Mr. Collins, a merchant in Sheltonville, Ga.
Two veins were located on this property, about twenty-four years
ago, by Jack Rogers. These ore-bodies vary in thickness, from
one to three feet. On one, three shafts, varying from ten to seventy
feet, have been sunk ; on the other, only a small pit. The refrac-
tory nature of the ore caused its abandonment by Rogers. Others
have worked here, and have been balked, for the same reason.
When a plant, for working ores of a similar character, is estab-
lished in this vicinity, this property should be taken into account.
 FORSYTH COUNTY
155

THE AD. CAMPBELL PROPERTY

Lot 427, Ist district, ISt section, is known as "The Ad. Campbell
Mine," from the name of its original prospector. Vein-mining re-
ceived first attention, in this part of the country, on this property.
Campbell, early in the forties, with the assistance of slaves, sunk a
shaft one hundred feet deep, and ran out tunnels, in both directions,
on a vein. The ore, brought to the surface, was put through an
ingenious stamp-mill, constructed on the spot. No well directed
effort has been made to operate this property, since, although old
settlers affirm, that Campbell's operations were conducted with suc-
cess. The old works are necessarily in too ruined a condition, to
gain any direct information, as to the nature and character of the
ore-body worked ; neither does the surface reveal anything.

THE SETTLES PROPERTY

Lot 934, 2nd distn'ct, Ist section, is known as the Settles Property.
The same Rogers, who worked on the Collins property, also oper-
ated here. Several shafts, on a large sulphide vein, marked the
extent of his operations. Finding the ore would not free-mill, he
quit. This property, as in the case of those already mentioned,
in this district, should receive the attention of any one, proposing
to operate such ores, in this vicinity.
 FORSYTH COUNTY

THE LITTLE PROPERTY

The property referred to, under this head, consists of lot 420,
Ist district, Ist section. It is owned by two brothers, Dr. E. D.
Little and Mr. G. W. Little, of Sheltonville, Ga.
Dr. Little has had this lot thorough,ly prospected; and, at this
time, it is in better shape for examination, by interested parties,
than any other property, in this section of the county. This pros-
pecting shows the lot to be cut by five veins, all of which are con-
formable to the mica-schists, which make up the country-rock,
except one which cuts the same at a large angle. One of the four
conformable ore-bodies, the one furthest to the east, has shown
free-milling ore to the depth of the shafts, two of which have been
sunk, in close proximity to each other, thirty-seven feet. The vein
consists of a decomposed sulphide-quartz, sixteen inches in thick-
ness. On either side of the quartz, several inches of the schist
" binding" is of such richness, as to necessitate its inclusion as
part of the ore-body.
Three tons of ore, taken from these shafts, were milled by F. L.
Rempess, a western prospector, on an ingeniously arranged single
wooden stamp-mill, located under Dr. Little's grist-mill, and run
by the mill-wheel. From these three tons, he obtained, on milling,
fifty-six dwts. of gold, from the amalgamation plates. The ore,
milled, consisted of the better quartz ore of the vein and all the
schist "binding." This test of the ore-body, nevertheless, was of
such a thorough character, that the result was satisfactory and
highly flattering.
The other conformable vein, being found to contain entirely
refractory ore, received little attention. The vein, which cuts the
 FORSY7 H COUNTY I 57
schists at a wide angle, is several feet in width; but, where ex-
posed, it has not been found sufficiently gold-bearing, to induce
much development.
Besides these veins, this property contains the gold deposits of
a small branch, running through the north side. Six acres have
been worked; and, to-day, native lessees average a dollar a day,
per hand, in working its deposits. Frequently, the favorite local-
ities are re-worked.
 CHAPTER X

DAWSON COUNTY

BY FRANCIS P. KING, AssisTANT GEoLOGIST

The Dahlonega Gold Belt passes through Dawson; its western

limit is a little over one mile east of Dawsonville, the county-seat.
The extent of its auriferous deposits forms a belt, about two miles
wide.
During the operation of the Kin Mori mines, the mining inter-
ests were most lively; but, in r888, when the Kin Mori closed, the
development of all the gold properties ceased throughout the
county. Interesting and important deposits, nevertheless, have
been discovered along the belt in Dawson; and awakening along
the line will eventually take place. A description of those prop-
erties, on which some development may be s~en, follows.

THE MORSE PROPERTY

On the west bank of the Etowah river, where the river forms the
boundary line between Lumpkin and Dawson counties, Messrs.
Urquhart and Elberts did some hydraulicking, the results of which,
though unprofitable to the operators, may be interesting to such
(I 58)
 DAWSON COUNTY
I 59
parties, as are looking into the development of similar property.
By means of test-pits, these gentlemen traced back the old river-
bed, and where the gravel was most promising, with one hydraulic
giant - water pressure being obtained from a reservoir, filled
by a steam-pump at the river - they stripped several acres of
surface, in a few weeks.
The gold, panned in the test-pits and saved from the sluice-
boxes, was extremely fine. With their best efforts, they found,
they were obtaining only a small amount of the test-pit promises;
hence they ceased further operations. This work was conducted,
during the spring months of I 89 5.

THE PALMOUR PROPERTY

That part of the Palmour property, about to be described, lies

about seven miles, by road, to the northeast of Dawsonville, and
consists of lot J6I, north half of the I]tlz, distn'ct, Ist section.
For some years, the presence of gold here has been known; and
members of the Palmour family have worked on this lot, spasmod-
ically, since it came into their possession. There are few places
in Dawson county, that have attracted more attention, locally. The
geological formation, shown by stream-cutting, shafts and excava-
tions, consists of schists, striking N. 35° E., and dipping sharply
to the southeast. Proctor's creek, which runs through this prop-
erty, has been successfully washed for gold. The most interesting
occurrence, however, and that, which has attracted wide-spread
attention, are the quartz stringers, cut at several points along the
strike, but only worked at one point. The present appearance of
160 DAWSON COUNTY

the excavation, in which the main portion of the energy, directed

toward the development of this property, has been concentrated,
shows a cut, about two hundred feet long and forty feet wide. In
the cut, and well separated from each other, are a series of quartz
stringers, averaging from one to six inches in width. On the right
side of the cut, one of these stringers has been discovered to be
exceedingly rich in gold. This lies close to the right-hand wall,
and has varied from a thin ribbon to a vein, one foot in width. It
is this vein, which has furnished the major portion of the gold.
found by all workers here; and it is this vein, for which the exca-
vation was made.
The vein is quite typical m appearance, and may be readily dis-
tinguished from the others, as far as it has been operated. It is
made up of a dark, finely granular quartz, arranged in thin parallel
bands, of about one-quarter inch, in thickness. This laminated struc-
ture of the vein material causes it, when picked out by the miners.
to break into rectangular pieces ; and, on this account, it is referred
to, as "The Palm our Brickbat Vein." Portions of the vein run
extremely high in free gold, the gold occurring, not only in the
quartz matrix, as I found, by powdering and panning a considerable
quantity, but especially along the lines of lamination. In the work
conducted under the Survey management, a large number of pieces
were split open, and almost invariably flaky particles of gold were
apparent to the naked eye. Several pieces have been found in-
crusted with such flakes. The rotten schist walling was also panned
freely; and, from each small panful of earth, the color obtained
was surprising-.
This vein certainly should be investigated further. The topogra-
phy is such, however, that artificial drainage will be required to
sink further on the vein. Up to a short time ago, the Palmour boys
 DAWSON COUNTY 161

worked the vein, when they wished ready money. Lately, they
have worked the vein to water-level, and hence further operations
are blocked, on account of their crude means of operating; their
revenue from this source has, therefore, ceased, for the present.
Mr. W. W. Habersham, of Gainesville, Ga., who held an optio?
Dn this property, at the time of the Survey inspection, had some
beautiful specimens from this vein, showing free gold. Also, there
is in the possession of the family, a block from this vein, about the
size of a man's hand, which being split open, shows the inner sides
of the two halves of the specimen perfectly incrusted with minute
scales of gold.

THE SHELTON PROPERTY

That part of J. F. Shelton's Property, to which the attention of the

Survey was particularly called, lies on lot 24I, north half of the
IJth district, rst section, about four and a half miles northeast of
Dawsonville.
Southwest of his house, on the nC't:theast side of a long ridge, in
the small ravine of a spring branch, Mr. Shelton has partially
opened up an auriferous vein, previously exposed by the channeling
of the branch. This vein consists of a finely granular, laminated
quartz, containing a very large percentage of unoxidized pyrite. It
is five feet in width, and the gold-bearing pyrite is regularly dis-
seminated throughout the quartz matrix. Because of its accessi-
bility, assay material was taken at this point. The Survey chemist
reports on this sample as follows : -
"Shelton Cut, on Sulphide Vein ____________ $1.00 per ton"
 DAWSON COUNTY

Since this is not a free-milling ore, and consequently a special

plant will be necessary to operate it, the vein should be carefully
tested, at various points, to insure a safe investment. Such a pro-
cedure will be practically easy, on account of the ready surface
following of the vein, although attended with some expense. This
should be undertaken, by all means, in order to give this ore-body
a fair test. Sulphide veins, having the inviting characteristics of
this, are of too infrequent occurrence in the Georgia gold-fields, to
be overlooked.
Below the branch, from which the assay sample was taken, a
larger branch cuts this vein. At this exp03ure, the vein is a little
wider, and the pyrite reaches out, some distance into the enclo3ing
schist. From here on, the vein may be traced to the Church lot
opening, and beyond; also, to the northeast, from Mr. Shelton's
last cut. It will probably average four feet in thickness, and de-
scend to an indefinite depth. Concentration of the ore will give,
at least, one ton of crude concentrates to twenty-five tons of ore.
The strike of the vein is N. 55° E., dipping about 65° to the
southeast.

THE CHURCH LOT

This lot is situated about four miles northeast of Dawsonville, in

the north half of the I 3th district, Ist section. An outcropping of a
pyritiferous quartz vein has been cut, for a few feet, near the spring,
back of the church. This is apparently a continuation of the Shel-
ton vein, as it may be traced, from property to property, fairly well,
through the intervening lots and beyond, either way, for some dis-
 DAWSON COUNTY

tance. Furthermore, specimens of ore from this lot are indis-

tinguishable from those, taken at the cut on the Shelton property.
Careful examination of this vein and its environments reveals no
features, differing from those on lot 24T. The vein is fully five feet
in width, and dips about 65° to the southeast, conforming likewise,
in strike, to the country-rock.

THE ELLSWORTH PROPERTY

The so-called Ellsworth mine is situated two miles east of Daw-

sonville, occupying lot 54, 4th district, I st section. Lot 54 is one of
the "fraction lots" of this county.
This property was purchased and operated, for a brief period, a
few years ago, by "The Ellsworth Mining Company," an organiza-
tion composed of persons from Ellsworth, Maine. Since the ces-
sation of its operation by them, Dr. A. J. Robinson, of Dawsonville,
has acted as their agent.
Some time prior to the ownership of this property by the Ells-
worth people, a concentrated belt of quartz stringers had been cut
by native miners. Finding this combination of quartz and dirt to
pan well, they immediately set to work, with pick and shovel, using
a "long-tom," for washing the ore and concentrating the free gold.
For the depth, to which they worked this belt, together with the
character of the material, their crude
I
working tools are said to
have answered their purpose admirably, in that the work paid them.
well.
When the Ellsworth Company arrived on the field, their first
undertaking was the construction of a five-stamp mill, driven by an
164 DAWSON COUNTY

over-shot water-wheel. Immediately after the completion of the

mill, an inclined shaft was run down on the belt, and the milling of
ore was begun. Unfortunately, the ore soon ceased to pay, and the
Ellsworth people retired.
The material, worked, consisted of an ore-belt, about two feet in
width, containing a number of thin quartz stringers. Such a close
aggregate, of these narrow veins of quartz, is so frequently found
to be productive in the Georgia gold-field, that they are sought
after most eagerly, by prospectors. The native miners made a
superficial working of this, pay, even with their rude equipments ;
and assays made through the Ellsworth Company were sufficiently
tempting, for the expense of mill-construction. It is quite possi-
ble, therefore, although verification, at the time of the survey, was
out of the question, on account of water filling the shaft, that the
Ellsworth people were blocked, by attempting to mill the unox-
idized sulphides, depending alone, for their returns, on the gold,
caught on the copper plates.
This belt of stringers, at the point worked, slopes under a small
hill, and dips to the southeast, at an angle of about 2 5°. It con-
forms with the strike, N. 3 5° E., of the mica-schists, which make
up the country-rock.

THE KIN MORI MINES

In 188 r, Charles W. Short, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and associates

purchased between 700 and 8oo acres of land, about four miles
.south of Dawsonville, and organized the Kin Mori Gold Mining
Company. The officers of this company were· Charles W. Short,
 DAWSON COUNTY

President and Treasurer, Charles L. Mitchell, Secretary, and Messrs.

Anderson & Hobbs, of Cincinnati, Engineers. The Kin Mori
property, besides some adjacent land, included lots 86I, 862, 908,
909, 9IO, 9II, 926, 927, 928, 929, 976, 977, 978 and 979· These
are all forty acre lots, and lie in the 4th district, Ist sectwn.
The first work undertaken, looking towards the operation of this
mineral property, was the construction of a ditch, for conveying
water from Nimble Will creek, in Lumpkin county, to the mine.
This ditch, known as the "Nimble Will Ditch," was constructed,
and water reached the property, in the early part of 188 3· The
ditch was thirty-three miles long; and, when completed, it had
cost $40,000. It was designed for a capacity of I ,ooo miner's
inches (Georgia standard) of water, equal to a volume of twenty-
five cubic feet per second. On an average, during the year, the
creek furnished about 6oo miner's inches.
Having obtained water, hydraulic mining was started immedi-
ately. The first objective point was Bean branch. This was worked
fifty feet on either side, by means of a No. I 5 hydraulic giant, with
a water-pressure of I 7 5 feet. From Bean branch, they transferred
their operations to the placer on the Etowah river bottoms, just
above Hugh's Shoals, from which, tradition says, Indians formerly
took considerable quantities of gold. This was the most difficult
task to which they set themselves, both fall and dumping ground
being absent. To surmount the natural difficulties, they resorted
to a hydraulic gravel-elevator. This was operated under a water-
head of 300 feet ; and it carried, to a height of forty feet, all the
water discharged from a No. 8 hydraulic giant, under equal pres-
sure, together with all the clay, sand and gravel moved. The
Hugh's Shoal placer was mined, in the latter part of I 88 3, contin-
uously, for about one year.
166 DAWSON COUNTY

During the winter of I 884 and I 88 5, a thirty-stamp mill, driven

by a turbine wheel, was erected on Harris branch. Following the
erection of this mill, hydraulic ore mining was instituted, and the
property was thus operated, up to the cessation of work, by this
company. By means of hydraulic giants, they cut down, as far as
possible, the so-called Quarles belt, which consists of innumerable
small quartz stringers and lenses in schists. The water from the
giants carried the displaced material, through a long line of sluice-
boxes, to the mill, situated some distance below the workings. In
the mill, the coarse and harder portions were retained in a bin, and
were fed to the batteries by hand, the mud and silt being carried
through into Harris branch. In this way, a large percentage of the
gold obtained was taken from the riffle sluice-boxes. The Quarles
belt was thus mined, until the early part of I887. During the
period of operation on this section, some 300,000 cubic yards of
earth was removed. The estimated expense of cutting down the
ore-body was a fraction of one cent per cubic yard, and of milling
the ore, about 50 cents per ton.
Operations of a proportionate nature were continued, until early
in the year I888, when they were postponed indefinitely. In I883,
Mr. D. Lee Wardroper was appointed superintendent, and remained
in that position, until the mine closed.
The work of the Ohio people points to but one conclusion, viz.,
that the veins and saprolite of this body of land, worked by them,
is not profitable, as free-milling material. Whether or not the con-
centrates of the ore contain much gold is not known, since no at-
tempts were made to save them. It is very probable, however, that
a large percentage of the gold was carried away in the tailings.
Workers of similar material have found such to be the case. A mill
will, in the case of some saprolites, save only about one-fourth of
 DAWSON COUNTY 167
its assay value. It has been
found, that much of the gold
..
- - -- -·~,.,• - - - --
--
is so rusty, that the friction in

-
-- -~~~---
the batteries is not sufficient to
-~=~-- ~~t remove the rust, and the amal-
- -,r;~--
~\~"'"''='- - ~;--- gamation plates cannot catch
such gold. This rust must be

------·- ---
- - - - __..f!..J.L - - - -

------- ...
_______ _
--~-
removed by friction in amal-
gamation pans, or by some
~,

chemical means.

1
~ ___ /llV___ _

----------
~
There is one vem on the
property, which, notwithstand-
~
8 ing the misfortunes of the Kin
i Mori Company, will preserve
.:::
:@ this area from complete con-
demnation. This is known as
"The Big Sulphuret Vein." It
has been prospected by Messrs.
Hall Brothers, Mining Engi-
neers of Atlanta, from a point,
a short distance northwest of
the stamp-mill, to the banks of
the Etowah river, a total dis-
tance of over twelve hundred
yards. Surface shafts have
been made, at various points
along the vein, and one tunnel,
not far from the mill, has been
run into the vein. The same
gentlemen have also made a
survey of the vein, the results of
which have been kindly loaned
I68 DAWSON COUNTY

to the writer, and appear in figure I I. The profile of the vem

shows the elevations and the locations of the tunnel and pits, and
the width of the vein, at the various cuts. The average thickness
of this vein is about six feet. It strikes N. 60° E., and dips sharply
to the southeast. All the cuts show a compact quartz vein, con-
taining more or less pyrite. In the cut at Harris branch, the pyrite
is extensive and unoxidized. At tunnel "No. 7," the character of
the ore-body is somewhat changed ; the previous solid body here
spreads out into stringers, with intervening schists, but still strongly
sulphide in character. Panning from the ore-body, at this tunnel,
failed to give a trace of gold ; yet the sample taken by me, from
the vein, at this point, yielded high assay results. The sample,
assayed, represents an average ore, from the full thickness of the
vein ; and the marked difference, between this and the Crandall
assay, must be accounted for, by the presence of minute particles of
free gold. Mr. W. R. Crandall, M. E., of Dahlonega, Ga., assayed
the Hall samples from these cuts, with the following results : -
Cut~_ ___________________________ $ 4-I3 per ton
" 2 _____ ---- -·------·-- ------ 1.07 " "

" 3- -----· -- ____.. ______ .. __ ---- 1.03 " "

" 6.------------------------- II.57 " "
" 7- - ·----- - --- - --- -- -- -· - ---- -- I. 2 4 " "
THE SURVEY'S ASSAY

Cut 7------ -·------------ -------$23.40 per ton

Cut 1, being across the river, and my attention not having been
called to it, was overlooked. Mr. B. M. Hall, however, informs
me, that the vein, at this cut, is fully ten feet in thickness, and will
concentrate one ton of crude sulphides to twenty-five tons of ore.
The ore of this vein, although low grade, will probably pay a
 DAWSON COUNTY

working margin. A reduction plant will be required. The expense

of constructing a plant will be considerably decreased, on account
of the presence, here, of a large stamp-mill, in good condition.
Thies is said to roast and chlorinate raw concentrates for $3.50 per
ton. If this ore will run $4.00, or even some less, in the ton, and
will concentrate one to twenty-five, a calculation of the cost of
mining, milling, roasting and chlorinating will show a fair profit to
the operator.

THE M' GUIRE PROPERTY

The McGuire property adjoins the Kin Mori. It consists of lots

9I 2 and 925, 4t!t district, Ist section, and lies on the east side of the
Kin Mori mill lot. This property is owned by Mr. J. F. Castle-
berry, a Dawsonville merchant, who is also local agent for the Kin
Mori.
The McGuire property gained considerable fame, from a rich
strike made there, several years ago. About fifteen thousand dwts.
of gold were taken, in a short time, from a small vein near the
center of the lot. The vein, worked, is a thin quartz stringer,
striking N. 50° E., and dipping about 60° to the southeast. The
ore was taken from a short surface cut, and was free-milling. As
it ceased to pay, operations ceased, although the present condition
of the excavation shows that only a few tons of ore were taken out.
About seventy-five yards to the east of the McGuire vein, on the
western side of the opposite ridge, is another prospect. This is
called the Whippoorwill vein. It consists of an aggregation of
quartz stringers, forming a vein five feet thick. This was panned
170 DAWSON COUNTY

at various points, and, invariably, the concentrates showed "a good

color." The strike and dip of the vein is similar to that of the
McGuire vein.
This property should receive attention. Indeed, when the veins
of the Kin Mori are worked, which probably will be the case, in
the near future, this property can be operated very cheaply, owing
to its close proximity to the Kin Mori mill.

THE LOOPER PROPERTY

The Looper Property consists of mineral lots I,ooo, I,04I and

I,o68, 4tlt distn"ct, Ist section. The little work, that has been done on
this property, has been confined almost entirely to lot I,04I. This
work consists of a regular series of surface cuts, only a few feet in
depth, for about two hundred yards, along the lead of a small
quartz vein. This vein, as shown by the best exposures, consists
of a compact, stained quartz stringer, about twelve inches wide,
with small quartz stringers on either side, widening out the whole
ore-body to a width of two feet. Panning from the ore-body, at
the various pits, where the vein was accessible, gave very favorable
results. Not sufficient prospecting has been done, however, to
warrant the Survey in taking assay material.
Results from this ore-body, obtained by Beam & Calhoun, of
Gainesville, Georgia, using their own chlorination process, gave
from $I 2 to $20 per ton in gold; selected material ran as high
as $6o.
This property belongs to William H. Looper, of Barrelsville,
Dawson County, Georgia.
 CHAPTER XI

MILTON COUNTY

BY FRANCIS P. KING, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

A gold belt passes through this county, as is attested by the con-

dition of the stream gravel deposits, and the reports, concerning
the results of their washing; and some quartz veins have been
tested by shallow pits, in the vicinity of Warsaw. One of these
was especially noted, because of the presence of two deep shafts,
said to have been sunk, some twenty years ago, which exposed the
vein excellently. This is on the Brown place, one-fourth of a mile
north of Warsaw. The vein is about three feet thick, with a per-
pendicular descent, and cuts the schist, at a well defined ·angle. Its
ore contains some sulphides, but not in sufficient quantities, to
warrant the expense of reducing.
Quite a number of similar veins, but only shallowly exposed, are
to be seen about Warsaw; but not one, to which any importance is
attached. In fact, no auriferous deposit of any character has been
discovered, in Milton County, of sufficient economic value to ex-
<:ite interest, since the washing of the gravel deposits of the streams.
( I7 I)
 CHAPTER XII

FULTON COUNTY

BY FRANCIS P. KING, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

Gold is reported to occur, in some of the streams of Fulton

county ; and the old mineral map of Georgia, published by the
Agricultural Department, shows a gold-belt passing through At-
lanta. Nevertheless, I have not been able to obtain any informa-
tion, concerning the working of any gold deposits, except at one
locality, which will be described later. It is very probable, that
some of the streams, in the belt mapped, have been worked to a
certain extent; and the presence of gold, in some of Fulton's
streams, is certain ; but the present importance of this belt is very
slight, economically.

THE LITTLE & GOODWIN PROPERTY

This property lies about ten miles north of Atlanta, on lot 38,
I?th district. Two quartz veins have been expo~ed, each vertically
inclined, and striking east and west. Both lie within a short dis-
tance of each other. The large vein is three feet thick, where ex-
posed by a surface cut, and is practically barren. The smaller i:>
(!72)
 FULTON COUNTY 173
not more than six inches thick, and has been sunk down upon,
sixty feet, but with difficulty, on account of the quick-sand. The
ore is said to be free-milling, and of sufficient value, to operate, if
its quick-sand walling can be successfully controlled. From the
character of the surface ore, I see no reason to question this asser-
tion, as to its value. The former owner claims to have averaged
$r per day, for several months, from gold extracted from the sur-
face ore, using a hand mortar.
The present owners of this property are Dr. E. D. Little, of Shel-
tonville, Ga., and Mr. Sterling Goodwin, of Cross Keys, Ga.
 CHAPTER XIII

CHEROKEE COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, AsSISTANT GEOLOGIST

There is likely no county in the State, where legitimate gold

mining has been carried on, so successfully, as in Cherokee. The
early mining was confined, almost entirely, to placer-workings,
which were both numerous and profitable. When these deposits
became less remunerative, or parti~lly exhausted, attention was di-
rected to the gold-bearing saprolites and auriferous ore-bodies.
This class of mining, in places, was also remarkably successful.
Instances are given, on good authority, where several hundred pen-
nyweights of gold were taken from a decomposed vein, by a single
miner, in a few hours. These veins were, in many cases, worked
to the water-level, where the gold occurs in unaltered pyrite ; and
there they were abandoned, on account of the owners of the mines
not being able to erect suitable plants, for working refractory ores,
or, because they were unwilling, to dispose of their property, at
rates, that would justify others in working them. Such, in brief,
has been the history of a number of prospects, that might, to-day,
be paying satisfactory dividends, had they been judiciously worked,
and economically managed. The Franklin, or Creighton, mine is
a practical demonstration, of what may be accomplished, at sev-
eral other places in the county, should the necessary amount of
(I74)
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
175
money and experience be brought to bear, in developing its numer- ·
ous gold prospects.
A great deal of prospecting has been done, in this county, for
gold ; but it has generally been of such a superficial character, as
to give no adequate idea of the worth of the vein, prospected.
Open cuts, shallow pits and shafts, made frequently by farmers and
others, inexperienced in mining, are found on almost every lot,
along the gold-bearing belt. Stamp-mills and other mining ma-
chinery, costing originally thousands of dollars, erected on prop-
erty, before really anything was known, as to the character of the
ore-bodies, are now seen, in advanced stages of dilapidation. Such
prospecting as this, directed by persons, having little or no knowl-
edge of mining, has usually given very unsatisfactory results, and
caused gold property, generally, to be looked upon, however un-
justly, as undesirable investment.

THE CREIGHTON MINE'

This mine, known, for many years, as one of the most success-
fully operated gold mines in the South, is located on the Etowah
river, six miles east of Ball Ground, the nearest railroad station,
and about fifteen miles northeast of Canton, the county-seat. Tra-
dition has it, that the occurrence of the yellow metal, in this
vicinity, was known to the Indians, and was worked by them, prior
to the settlement of the county, by the whites.
About the year r 840, a short time after the property, on which
1 Until recently, this was well known a' the Franklin Mine.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

the mine is located, had fallen, by lot, into the possession of the
Franklin family, the mine began to be worked quite extensively,
and produced, annually, for a number of years, under the manage-
ment of Mrs. Franklin, a handsome dividend. The early workings,
which were executed mainly by slave labor, were confined chiefly
to surface-mining. The residual earth, in the vicinity of the ore-
bodies, and also the veins, themselves, to the depth of twenty or
thirty feet, to which depth the sulphides had decomposed, were
found to be remarkably rich in free gold. Many of the old ex-
{;avations, now partially filled with earth, are to be seen along the
Qutcroppings of the vein. One of these, conspicuous for its large
size, located near the river, and within a short distance of the pres-
ent working-shafts, is said to have yielded, alone, more than fifty
thousand pennyweights of gold.
The system of mining. adopted, during the early workings, con-
sisted principally of sluice-washing and the use of rockers. A
small stamp-mill, located on the site of the present mill, was also
Qperated, at the same time, in working the vein material. By these
means, the greater part of the gold, in the residual earth and the
decomposed quartz veins, was saved; but no attempt was made,
to secure the gold from the sulphides, which were usually thrown
aside, on the dump, as worthless. For twenty years or more, dur-
ing the lifetime of the Widow Franklin, the decomposed, aurifer-
ous material was worked, with marked success. After her death,
the mine fell into the hands of her son, who continued mining
operations, with little success, until the breaking out of the late
war.
Immediately after the war, 'vVatson, Hoskins and Moore success-
fully organized companies, and each operated the mine, for two or
more years, with indifferent results. The great difficulty, encoun-
 PICKE NS

Map of C hero kee County, Showing Locations o f Some of the lmportau t Mines.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

tered by these companies, was the separation of the gold from the
sulphides. As the greater part of the decomposed ore-bodies had
now become exhausted, the value of the mine depended, almost
entirely, on the economical working of the refractory ores, which,
already, were known to exist, in great quantities. The difficulty
was met and partially overcome, when the present company adopted
the cyanide process of extraction. The final solution of the prob-
lem, however, was not attained, until the erection of the present
chlorination-plant, which has enabled the company, to save almost
the entire assay value of the ore.
The Creighton Mining Company, who now operate the mine,
are in possession of several lots, lying along the gold-bearing lead.
Two auriferous veins, running almost parallel, and about one
hundred and fifty feet apart, the existence of which, on the prop-
erty, has long been known, are termed, one, the Franklin, and the
other, the McDonald vein. The former has been prospected and
worked, almost continuously, for fully three-quarters of a mile
along its outcropping; while the latter, being much smaller, has
been prospected, at only a few points. The Franklin Vein strikes
N. 60° E., and dips to the southeast, at an angle of about 40°. It
is not a vein of continuous, uniform width ; but, on the contrary,
it consists of a series of "chimneys," or ore-shoots, connected
together, by quartz stringers. The shoots are from fifty to one
hundred and twenty feet, in length, with an average width of three
feet, and of unknown depth. They dip, in the direction of the
strike of the vein, at an angle of about 45°.
The Creighton Mining Company has worked four of these ore-
shoots, to a depth, varying from two hundred to four hundred feet,
by driving drifts, at one hundred-foot levels, stoping out the ore,
from below. The portions of the vein, between the chimneys, are
178 CHEROKEE COUNTY

left intact, as pillars, or supports, thus making frequent timbering

unnecessary. A prospecting drift, at the time of our visit, was being
made along the vein at the three hundred and fifty-foot level, with
a view to locating other ore-bodies. It had already been extended,
four hundred feet beyond the last ore-shoot, without accomplish-
ing the desired result. Nevertheless, the outlook was sufficiently
encouraging, to warrant further continuation of the work. At the
depth of about two hundred feet from the surface, a large tunnel,
one hundred and seventy feet in length, has been driven, from the
Franklin to the McDonald vein. From this point, a drift, one hun-
dred and fifty feet in length, was afterwards made, along the strike
of the McDonald vein ; but, at no place, was it found to be of
sufficient thickness and richness, to pay for working.

Fig. 12

Vertical Section along the Strike of the Ore-bodies, Creighton Gold Mine, Cherokee
County, Georgia. a. Ore-bodies. r, 2, 3, 4 and 5· Levels. 6. Proposed
Level. A and B. Shafts.

About half a mile southwest of the present works, and on- the
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
179
same vein, is a recent prospecting-shaft, known as" Shaft No. 3."
At the time of our visit, it had been extended, to the depth of
seventy feet, where a drift, thirty feet in length, had been extended
along the vein, and several tons of sulphides had been taken out.
The vein, at this point, varies from two to three feet in thickness,
and carries ore, which is said to assay, from fifteen dollars to twenty
dollars per ton. Near by, is a long open cut, following the slope
of the vein, where large quantities of the ore, from the oxidized
portion of the vein, were mined, many years ago. Still further to
the southwest, say one-third of a mile, and on the opposite side of
the creek, is "Shaft No. 4," also a recent prospect. The shaft
strikes the vein, which is, here, three feet in thickness, at the depth
of seventy-two feet from the surface. The ore, at that depth, con-
sists of undecomposed sulphides in quartz, carrying from $20 to
$30 of gold per ton. The oxidized portion of the vein, at this
point, has also been worked, for several yards along its outcropping;.
and it is said to have paid handsomely. It was learned, that it was
the intention of the company, to begin mining operations at shafts
3 and 4, as soon as a tramway could be constructed to the mill.
The general appearance of the ore and the structure of the
veins, differ but little, from place to place. The vein material con-
sists of a milk-white quartz and thin layers of mica- and horn-
blende-schist, all impregnated with auriferous pyrite.
The veins correspond, in strike and dip, with the country-rock.
The quartz, frequently, presents a banded appearance, due to the
arrangement of the pyrite and quartz in layers. Fissures, from one
to six inches wide, filled with calcite, are sometimes seen, to cut
the gold-bearing veins, at almost ri~ht angles. Along the line of
one of these fissures, occurs a displacement, or fault, of about fif-
teen inches.
180 CHEROA'EE COUNTY

The country-rock consists of mica- and hornblende-schists. The

former is more abundant, than the latter; and, frequently, it carries
garnets, which are quite plentiful, in the grayish variety of schists
from shaft 3· Interlaminated with the hornblende-schist are thin
layers of light-colored mica-schist, that give a peculiar banded
:Structure to the otherwise dark-colored rock. No granite veins or
dikes were observed, in the immediate vicinity of the auriferous
veins; but they occur in the schists, a short distance west of the
river.
The Creighton Mining Company has, now, in operation, at their
mine, a very complete mining plant, which they have been perfect-
ing for a number of years. It consists of a large stamp-mill, with
ten concentrators, a chlorination plant, and all the necessary ma-
chinery, for mining and milling the ore. The mill is located on the
right bank of the river, a quarter of a mile below the present work-
ing-shaft. A dam on the river, at this point, 1 gives a seven and one-
half foot head of water, which, when concentrated into two large
turbine wheels, generates sufficient power, to operate twenty-three
.stamps, ten concentrating machines, an electric plant and a duplex
Rand air-compressor.
There are two stamp-mills, one, of twenty, and the other, of
three stamps. The former is used, in crushing the ore, received
directly from the mine, while the latter is employed, in working
over the tailings, that accumulated, before the erection of the pres-
ent plant. The stamps weigh 8 50 pounds each, and drop seven
inches, at the rate of twenty-seven strokes per minute, crushing
about thirty-five tons of ore, every twenty-four hours. The pulp,
from the stamp, passes through a No. 7 slotted iron screen, over
amalgamated plates, divided into four steps. About half of the
1
See Plate XI.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 181

gold is collected on the plates, and the remainder is carried off, in

the sulphides, to the concentrators, where the greater part of the
quartz and other gangue material is removed, leaving concentrates,
consisting of nearly So per cent. sulphides. From three to five
tons of these concentrates, assaying from $20 to $30 per ton, are
produced daily. The concentrates are carried, in a small car, from
the mill to the chlorination-plant, near by, and are there roasted, in
a double-hearth reverberatory furnace, for twenty-four hours. This
reduces the sulphides to a fraction of I per cent., and leaves the
gold, in such a condition, that it can be readily acted upon, chem-
ically. There are two of these furnaces, each having a capacity of
two tons, every twenty-four hours.
From the furnace-room, the roasted concentrates are elevated to
the third story of the building, and are there dumped into a small
car, which conveys them to the chlorination-barrel. This consists
of an oblong iron cask, lined inside with lead, and provided with
a charging-door, which can be hermetically sealed. It is mounted
on an axis, and revolves, slowly, while in use. The motion keeps
its contents continually agitated, and greatly facilitates the chemical
action, which would, otherwise, be very slow and incomplete. The
barrel is charged, by placing into it one ton of the roasted concen-
trates, with a sufficient amount of water to render it semi-fluid.
To this, is added about twelve pounds of calcium chloride (chloride
of lime of commerce) and an equal amount of sulphuric acid. It is
then sealed, and revolved on its axis, from four to six hours, when
the gold is found, to have been acted upon, by the nascent chlorine
gas, changing it into gold chloride.
The pulpy material is now, removed from the barrel to specially
prepared filters, where the gold chloride is leached out with water;
and the solution is then transferred to storage-tanks. From these
182 CHEROKEE COUNTY

tanks, the solution passes to the precipitating-tanks, where the gold

is thrown down, by means of ferrous sulphate. The gold precipi-
tate is finally collected, dried, mixed with soda and borax, melted
in a crucible, and cast into ingots.
The mine is equipped with machinery, for doing rapid and eco-
nomical work. It is supplied with three engines. One, with a ca-
pacity of sixty horse-power, is used in removing the water from
the mine, while the two lesser ones furnish power, for running the
elevator, ore crusher and machine-shop. The drills are operated,
by means of compressed air, supplied by the duplex Rand air-com-
pressor, which is located at the mill. The air, thus used, performs
the double office of doing work, and, at the same time, supplying
fresh air to the mine.
The ore, from the mine, is elevated, in small cars, to the surface,
where it passes, through the ore-crusher, into bins beneath. Here,
the tram-cars, carrying the ore to the mill, are loaded.
The manipulation of the ore, after it leaves the mine, until it is
received, at the chlorination-plant, is performed, almost entirely
without manual labor.
An office, assay laboratory, commissary, blacksmith-shop, stables,
miner's cottages etc., all substantially constructed and well arranged,
make up the remainder of the Creighton plant. At the time of our
visit, eighty-five hands, working in two shifts, of twelve hours each,
were employed. The wages, received, vary, from 7 5 cents to $2.50
per day, according to the class of labor. The entire cost of min-
ing, milling and chlorination has been placed at $2.70 per ton.
A selected sample of ore, taken by the writer, and subjected to
assay, in the Survey laboratory, gave result, as follows:-
Ore sample, Creighton mine ____ 6.5 oz. ($130.00) of gold per ton
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

THE COX PROPERTY

This property, located about one and one-half miles west of the
Creighton mine, was prospected for gold, some four years ago.
The work consists of a short tunnel, a number of shallow test-pits,
and open cuts. There are exposed in the tunnel, two veins, one,
three feet, and the other, eighteen inches, in thickness. The vein
material consists of light-colored quartz, frequently porous and
iron-stained, interlaminated with thin layers of schist. In dip and
strike, the vein corresponds with the mica-schist of the country-
rock.
Much float, or surface quartz, is found in the vicinity of the pits.
This float is often honeycombed, and is said, to carry free gold.
About three hundred yards below the tunnel, on a small stream,
are to be seen remnants of a patented mill, used, in working a test
of the ore.

THE SANDOW MINE

This mine is situated in thejrd district, on lot 74I. Gold was dis-
covered, here, about r 840, in a quartz vein, on the side of a narrow,
heavy wooded, steep ridge, which is washed on either side by two
small creeks, known, locally, as Fowler's and Smithwick creeks.
Mining operations were begun, almost immediately, and continued,
for about three years. During this time, a great deal of ore was
taken out, and milled in a small stamp-mill, erected near by. These
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

early workings are reported, to have been profitable, and to have

given satisfactory returns, as long as the surface-ores were used.
Two gold-bearing veins occur, here. One only, however, was
exposed to view. This vein, where accessible to examination, is
about eighteen inches in thickness, and dips with the country-rock,
mica-schists, at a high angle, to the southeast. It is made up of
a reddish- and brownish-colored glassy quartz, frequently laminated,
and containing small cavities and cracks, filled with a red dust, of
iron oxide, which readily soils the hands. This product evidently
results from the oxidation of pyrite, this mineral being still found,
unaltered, in the more compact portion of the ore-body.
The old works, now more or less filled with earth, consist of three
tunnels, varying from one hundred to two hundred and fifty feet in
length, besides a number of shafts and open cuts. Gold occurs in
the gravel, along the creeks, on either side of the ridge ; but not
in sufficient quantities, to make placer-mining profitable.

THE S. R. SMITH PROPERTY

On the S. R. Smith Property, lot 70I, Jrd district, adjoining the

Sandow property, are to be seen, on a gradually sloping hillside,
near a small stream, some old excavations. These were made,
many years ago; and they are said, to have exposed a rich pocket
of gold, which was, however, soon exhausted, and the work was
finally abandoned.
The material, from the dump, and the loose surface-rock, in the
vicinity of the excavations, indicate, that gold occurs, here, in
hornblende-schist. On the opposite side of the ridge, a recent pros-
COLI> I>EPOS!'l'S OF (;/,'0 /1 ( ;/ . 1 1' 1.. 1'/F . 1·

OJH:. Jl!l !J Y 1:-: Till·: ~ I A C OLT ~ JILl . CUT , LA JH·: J.I .J·: ~ li ~E. ~ I': A R CAN T ON , C IIJ·: ROKJ·Y ( '(}tiNT\ ' LJ.:OI<(;J I.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

pecting-tunnel has been driven into the hill, exposing a white quartz
vein in mica-schist. The residual earth, along the ridge, in places,
and also the gravel in the stream, at its base, which has been worked,
to a limited extent, carry more or less gold.

THE RICHARDS PROPERTY

This. property, which has been extensively prospected, lies on

the opposite side of Fowler's creek, from the Sandow mine. The
auriferous veins, found here, are probably a continuation of the
veins, occurring on the adjoining lots. They conform, in strike and
dip, with the schists, and carry more or less pyrite, even near the
surface. But little reliable information could be secured, concern-
ing the amount and value of the ore, mined. Nevertheless, the ex-
tent of the work would seem to warrant the conclusion, that the ore,
at one time, was profitable; or, at any rate, that it gave very satis-
factory evidence of future profitable returns. The tunnels, open
cuts and shafts, most of which are, now, inaccessible, extend along
the ridge, for many yards. At only one or two points. was the
vein exposed to view; and, even there, it was found impracticable,
to make a satisfactory examination of it, or to collect specimens of
the ore, that could be relied upon, for giving anything like a fair
average of the ore-body.
Near the excavations, at the junction of Fowler's and Smithwick
creeks, on this property, are to be seen the remains of old placer-
mining, long since abandoned. There is exposed, here, also, in the
bottom of the creek, a band of schist, two or three feet wide, im-
186 CHEROKEE COUNTY

pregnated with pyrite, which has attracted some attention, and

which is supposed, by some prospectors, without apparently very
good reason, to be the source of the gold, found in the placer.

THE LATHAM PROPERTY

This property, lot 805, Jrd district, is situated on the Canton road,
a short distance west of Orange Postoffice. Gold was discovered,
here, in a quartz vein, about I 8 52, by Jack Latham, who mined and
milled a few tons of the ore, from which he is said to have obtained
So pennyweights of gold. Nothing further was done, towards de-
veloping the property, until about seventeen years ago, when Horn
& Hoskins did some prospecting ; but their work was not suffi-
ciently extensive, to give any definite idea, concerning the value of
the gold-bearing vein.
Ten years afterwards, Col. Moore, who was then operating the
Franklin mine, had his attention directed to the property. Under
his management, a shaft, fifty feet deep, was sunk on the vein ; and
some high-grade ore is reported, to have been taken out; but, for
some reason, the work was soon abandoned.
During the summer of 1893, L. L. Thomason, of Chattanooga,
took up the work, discontinued by Col. Moore. He continued
mining operations, for a number of months, and, in the meantime,
erected a small stamp-mill on the property, sunk new shafts, and
took out and milled several tons of ore. At the time of our visit,
the work had been discontinued, for months, and the deeper shafts
were partially filled with water.
Three gold-bearing veins occur here, all running parallel to, and
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

within a few yards of, each other. Vein No. I, on which the
greater part of the work has been done, is twenty-four inches wide,
where exposed in an open cut. At the bottom of the deepest shafts,
which extend only to the depth of fifty feet, it is said to attain a
thickness of more than thirty inches. It consists of a somewhat
laminated iron-stained quartz, dipping with the mica-schist, at a
high angle, to the southeast. Veins Nos. 2 and 3 lie about from
twenty to sixty feet respectively west of vein No. I. The former
is eighteen inches in thickness, while the latter is only ten inches.
Neither has been prospected, to any extent, and little is known of
their importance.
Samples of ore from this property were taken, by the writer,
which, assayed in the Survey laboratory, yielded the following
results:-
I. Ore sample, Vein No. L . _. __ .066 oz. ($1.32) of gold per ton
2. Ore sample, Vein No.2------ .18 oz. ($3.60) of gold per ton

LOT 208, 3RD DISTRICT

On the adjoining lot, No. 208, a shaft, fifteen feet deep, was sunk
by Mr. Thomason, during August, 1893. There is exposed, here,
an excellent-looking, cavernous, iron-stained quartz vein, two feet
in thickness. Some ten tons of ore are said to have been taken
from the excavation, and milled ; but, with what results, we were
unable to ascertain. The nature of the vein, and the general ap-
pearance of the ore, there exposed, certainly warrant further ex-
penditure of money, in development.
188 CHEROKEE COUNTY

FRANK BURT'S PROPERTY

This property, located, a short distance northeast of the Latham

property, has, also, been prospected, to a limited extent, for gold.
An old shaft, about thirty-five feet deep, is to be seen, here, near
the top of a ridge, in which there is reported to be a gold-bearing
quartz vein. As the excavation was inaccessible, no examination
of the ore could be made.

THE RUDICIL MINE

The Rudicil Mine, consisting of both placer-working and vein-

prospecting, is situated on lot IO, 2nd district. The placer-mining,
most of which was done, some fifty years ago, occurs along a small
stream, flowing into Mill creek. The works are only about two
hundred and fifty yards long by fifty, wide ; yet, within this small
area, much gold is said to have been taken out. Nuggets, weigh-
ing as much as seventy pennyweights, are reported to have been
found, here. At the upper end of the placer, five shafts, varying
from ten to twenty feet in depth, have been sunk, with a view to
locating the vein, which has supplied the auriferous gravel, below.
It is claimed, that one of these excavations struck a vein of sul-
phides, from four to six feet wide, assaying about $3 per ton. The
truthfulness of this statement, however, we were unable to verity, on
account of the shafts being filled with water.
Half a mile to the northeast of the Rudicil mine, on an adjoin-
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 189

ing lot, some recent prospecting has exposed a quartz vem, from
oQne to four feet, in thickness. It carries more or less pyrite; and
it is said to assay about $3 in gold per ton.

T. N. WESTBROOK'S PROPERTY

On lot 276, 2d distn'ct, owned by T. N. Westbrook, can be seen,

along a small branch, near where it empties into Alaculsa creek, the
remains of some old placer works, that were made, directly after
the late war. The entire area, over which they extend, does not
exceed three acres. It is said, that a miner could make, here, dur-
ing the early working of the placer, from two to three penny-
weights of gold per day, by means of a long-tom or a rocker. No
gold-bearing vein has, yet, been discovered, in the immediate local-
ity, however; though a number of test-pits have been dug.

THE WORLEY MINE

This mine is located on lots 459 and 460, I jtlz district. The early
workings consisted of placer-mining, which, though limited in area,
and soon exhausted, we learn was very profitable. About ten years
ago, some rich ore-shoots were discovered on the property, which
were, afterwards, worked to the depth, of several feet, below the
surface. At this point, a stratum of decomposed schist, forming a
quicksand, was struck. This quicksand, on account of the weight
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

of the superincumbent rock, flowed into the excavation, as rapidly

as it could be removed, and thereby made it practically impossible,
with the means, then at hand, to follow the ore-bodies to greater
depths. It was not until about two years ago, when the property
fell into the hands of the Cherokee Milling and Mining Company,
that this difficulty was overcome, and the sandstone was penetrated.

Fig. 12Yz

Cross-section through the Worley Gold Mine, Cherokee County, Georgia, Showing Aurif-
erous Quartz Veins in the Crystalline Schists, Indicated by dots and Broken Lines.

At the time of our visit to the property, the company had just
erected a first-class prospecting plant, consisting of mill, hoisting-
engine, pumps etc., and had already done considerable exploration.
A tunnel, five hundred feet long, had been driven into the hill, ex-
posing three gold-bearing veins, I only one of which, however, was
of sufficient size, to justify further examination. They all run par-
allel, and correspond, in strike and dip, to the country-rock. The
larger one has been worked, for twenty feet, on either side of the
tunnel, by driving drifts, and stoping out the ore, from above. Its
greatest thickness is about four feet; but it greatly decreases 111

width, at the end of the drifts, where it becomes so contracted, as

to make further mining unprofitable. Ninety-two tons of ore, taken
from this vein, yielded, in their Huntington mill, $4.08 in gold per
ton. The vein material consists of mica-schists, with thin layers
of quartz, all more or less decomposed, and easily mined with a
pick. Hydraulic mining was first attempted, here, by the Cherokee
Milling & Mining Co.; but it was finally abandoned, as unprofitable.
I
See Fig. 12Y,.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
191
The writer took a sample from this mine, which assayed, in the
Survey laboratory, as follows:-
Ore sample, Worley Mine _____ . . so oz. ($1o.oo) of gold per ton

THE CHESTER PROSPECT

This property, owned by George T. Chester, of Buffalo, N. Y.,

is situated in the extreme southeast corner of the county, on lots
804 and 8o 5,. 2nd district. The work consists of a seventy-five-foot
shaft and cross-cuts, exposing an auriferous quartz vein.

THE DAVIS MINE

The Davis mine is situated on lot

I5tlt district, two miles south
22,

of Canton, near the Marietta & North Georgia R. R. 1 Three par-

allel gold-bearing quartz veins occur here outcropping about four
hundred feet apart. The one, furthest to the west, has four shafts
sunk on it, varying in depth, from thirty to fifty feet. At the bot-
tom of two of these, drifts have been extended along the vein for
fifty feet or more, and the ore has been removed. The thickness
of the ore-body is quite variable, in the different shafts; but, at no
place, does it exceed two feet. The vein, consisting mainly of
1
Now the Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern R. R.
I92 CHEROKEE COUNTY

quartz, somewhat laminated, and frequently showing free gold, dips

with the country-rock, at a high angle, to the southeast.
The east vein has one shaft, eighty feet deep, sunk, during the
summer of I 893. Its upper portion resembles very closely, the
vein, lying further to the west; but, near the bottom, where it is
said to attain a thickness of four feet, it contains much pyrite. A
test of the ore, made on a Crawford mill, erected near the shaft,
was unsatisfactory. Whether this result was due to the low grade
of the ore, or to the imperfect working of the mill, we are uncer-
tain. Should further prospecting reveal valuable deposits of ore,
here, a small branch, near by, could be utilized, in furnishing water
to supply the batteries of a stamp-mill.

THE LA BELLE MINE

This mine, owned by the La Belle Mining Company of New

Orleans, is located on lots I 57 and 205, I 5th district. Mining opera-
tions began, here, in I 888; but they were discontinued, during the
following year.
The main part of the works is on lot 205, and consists of a shaft
eighty-four feet deep, at the bottom, of which, two drifts have been
cut, along the vein, for forty feet, each way; and the ore has been
stoped out, above. Near by, and located a short distance east of
the vein, is another shaft, sixty feet deep. It was the original in-
tention, to extend this shaft, so as to strike the vein, on the three
hundred-foot level, and then work out the ore, above; but for some
reason, it was never completed. The vein, where examined on the
surface, dips with the country-rock, mica-schist, at a high angle, to
(;QU! 1!/o'/'OSI'l'.\' OF CEORC J.,/

ST .\;\ I P- ;1 111 .1. A:\ 1> ll A~ I AC RO SS T il E ET O\VA II I ~ I V I ·: R. l'R I·: I ( : I I T O N C!l l.l > ~ 11 :'\1' 1 ·: . C I II·: ROK I·: I·: COUN T\' (; 1-:nRC I A .
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
193
the southeast. It is from fifteen to twenty inches, in thickness, and
consists of thin layers of quartz and mica-schist, the former fre-
quently having their surfaces thickly specked with free gold; while
the latter, thoroughly decomposed, rarely shows free gold; but,
nevertheless, it pans well.
On lot I57, is a shaft, thirty-six feet deep, and an open cut,
seventy-five feet long and twelve feet deep. These excavations
expose a vein, very similar to that, found on lot 205, and which is
probably a continuation of the same. The ore, taken from these
different excavations, was milled, near the shafts, on lot 205.

The five stamp-mill, erected here, still remains; but it is, now, in
a somewhat dilapidated condition; and it would have to be entirely
overhauled, before it could be again used. The water, which was
sufficient, to supply the batteries of the mill, for only half the time,
was taken from the small branch, at the foot of the hill. Had the
mill been located on Blanket's creek, only a few hundred yards
away, ample water could have been secured, to run the mill con-
tinually, and the expense of milling the ore would have been les-
sened, thereby. The entire works seem to have been poorly planned,
and imperfectly carried out, which had evidently much to do, with
the unsuccessful operations of the mine.
An ore sample, from lot I57, was taken by the writer, which gave
the following results, in the Survey laboratory:-
Ore sample, lot I 57, La Belle Mine __ . I 22 oz. ($2.44) of gold per ton
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

J. C. CASTEEL'S PROPERTY

The property of J. c. Casteel, lot 204, I stlz district, ad joining the

La Belle property, on the east, has two small prospecting-pits, ex-
posing a gold-bearing vein, eighteen inches, in thickness. Average
samples of ore, taken from these excavations, assayed $3.58 per
ton.
A sample, taken by the writer, and submitted to assay, in the
laboratory of the Survey, resulted as follows : -
Ore sample, J. C. Casteel's property __ . I 3 oz. ($2.60) of gold per ton

THE MACOU PROPERTY

Still further to the northeast, on lot I58, is another prospect, the

Macou property. There are two veins here, located about two
hundred feet apart, and running, approximately, parallel with each
other. The one, lying further to the east, has two shafts, each
about forty feet in depth, and connected by an open cut. The ore-
body is from three to four feet, in thickness, and is made up chiefly
of schist, with comparatively little quartz. 1 The eastern vein has
been exposed, at one point, by an open cut, thirty feet long and
thirteen feet deep. The character of the ore and the size of the
vein, found here, differ but little, from that of the western vein.
The greater part of the gold, however, probably occurs in the thin
layers of quartz, in the decomposed schists.
1
See cross-section, Fig. 13.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 195
Fig. 13

Cross-section through the Macau Gold Mine, Cherokee County, Georgia, Showing the Posi-
tion of the Auriferous Quartz Veins in the Crystalline Schist, Indicated by
Dots and Broken Lines.

On the property, are to be seen the remains of an old ten-stamp

mill, erected in 1886. It, like the one, located on lot 205, being,
also, insufficiently supplied with water, was operated, only for a
short time, and, eventually, was abandoned. No reliable infor-
mation, concerning the results of these mill-tests, could be secured.
The La Belle, Casteel and Macou prospects are all located along
the same ridge, on adjoining lots, and might be considered, as
different openings, on the same veins. It is not meant, by this,
however, that these veins are continuous and unbroken ; but, on the
contrary, it is quite likely, that they are frequently interrupted by
barren schists, and form, what my be termed, a series of greatly
elongated ore-shoots, all having the same general direction.

THE CULP PROPERTY

On the Culp Property, lot 30I, I5t!z district, a limited amount of

prospecting was done, some forty years ago. It is reported, that
some rich pockets of gold were discovered, here ; but that they
were soon worked out. None of the excavations are, now, acces-
sible, except one shaft, forty feet deep, which exposes a gold-bear-
 CHEROKEE COUNTY

ing vein, about four feet, in thickness. The vein is made up of

porous, iron-stained quartz, separated by thin layers of mica-schist.
It is quite a promising looking vein ; and it should be investigated
further.

THE PUTNAM MINE

The Putnam Mine is located on Blanket's creek, lots 350 and J7I,
I5th district, about half a mile below the Culp property. It has been
worked, chiefly as a placer, although a remarkably rich ore-shoot
was discovered, here, also. Gold was first found in the gravel, in
I 842. Shortly after this, mining operations began ; and they were
continued, from time to time, until the placer was exhausted.
During these early workings, it is said that an average miner
would make, from fifteen to twenty-five pennyweights of gold per
day. Much of the gold was fine; but there were, also, found some
nuggets, the largest of which is reported, to have weighed thirty-
three pennyweights.
The entire area, covered by the old workings, does not exceed
five acres ; yet, much of this area has been worked over twice ; and
some portions of it would probably pay, for working even a third
time. Much of the placer lies along the creek, where the land is
low, and only a few feet above water-level. The richer part of the
deposit is said, to have been found, on a gradually sloping hillside.
The gold is supposed, to have been derived, from the breaking
down of auriferous veins, located near by. This supposition seems
quite plausible, when it is remembered, that, during the early
placer-workings, a rich ore-shoot was found, near the upper edge
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
197
of the placer, from which, it is said, four men, took, in one after-
noon, seven and one-half pounds of gold.
Many of the statements, concerning the richness of this prop-
erty, will appear almost fabulous ; but they are made, most
frequently, by men, whose veracity cannot be questioned ; and,
hence, they must contain much truth. There can be no doubt, but
that the aggregate output of the mine has been many thousand
pennyweights. There has been only a limited amount of vein-pros-
pecting on the property. However, it would seem, that the finding
of such a rich ore-shoot should warrant further investigation, on
this line.

THE CHEROKEE MINE

This mine, situated on lot 428, I5tlz district, was worked, as early
as r 8 54, by Messrs. McConnell & Putnam. This firm erected a
twelve-stamp mill, on the property, and successfully operated the
mine, for three years, when it was sold to a Boston company, which
continued the work, until the breaking out of the late war. Since
then, no work, with the exception of a limited amount of prospect-
ing, has been attempted.
Both vein- and placer-mining have been carried on, here. The
latter was confined, principally, to the bed of a small stream, that
runs at the base of the ridge, on which the veins are located. The
gold, from this, has long since been exhausted. There is said to
be a number of gold-bearing quartz veins in the ridge, all running
parallel, and dipping with the schist. The excavations, however,
along these veins, are in such shape, that exposures of only one or
Ig8 CHEROKEE COUNTY

two of these were possible to be examined. They are quite varia-

ble, in thickness, and consist mainly of quartz, with iron-stained
cavities. There are numerous shafts and tunnels, at various points,
along the ridge, from which many hundred tons of valuable free-
milling ore were taken.
The mine is reported, to have paid handsomely, as long as the
oxidized portion of the veins was worked ; but when this class of
ore was exhausted, they were forced to shut down, not having suit-
able machinery for working the sulphides. There is little doubt,
but that there exist, here, considerable quantities of ore, that might
be worked with profit, if the mine were judiciously managed, and
the necessary gold-saving machinery were used.
Since the above was written, the property has passed into the
hands of a Chicago company, with C. A. Dye, as manager, who is
now actively engaged, in cleaning out old tunnels and shafts, with
a view of beginning mining operations at an early date.
Four samples, taken from this mine, by the writer, assayed in the
Survey laboratory, as follows : -
No. 1. Ore sample, Cherokee Mine.__ . I o oz. ($2.00) of gold per ton
No. 2. Ore sample, Cherokee Mine __ 0 I 2 5 oz. ($2. so) of gold per ton
No.3· Ore sample, Cherokee Mine __ .425 oz. ($8.50) of gold per ton
No. 4- Ore sample, Cherokee Mine .. _ . 5 50 oz.($ I I .oo) of gold per ton

THE McCANDLESS PROPERTY

The McCandless Property, lot 6I, I 5th district, was first prospected
for gold, in I 88 7. The property shows two small shafts and an
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
199

open cut, exposing a gold-bearing quartz vein, about twelve inches

in thickness. The vein, together with the mica-schist, the country-
rock, stands almost perpendicular, and strikes northeast and south-
west. The quartz carries considerable pyrite ; but it rarely shows
free gold. We learned, that about a hundred tons of this ore was
milled, averaging nearly $5 per ton.
An ore-sample, taken from the McCandless property, by the
writer, yielded, on assay, in the Survey laboratory, as follows : -
Ore sample, McCandless Property __ .120 oz. ($2.40) of gold per ton

LOTS 63, 64 AND 81, 15TH DISTRICT

Downing's creek, which has its head near this property, has been
the scene of considerable placer-mining, especially on lots 63, 64
and 8I.

THE SIXES MINE

The Sixes Mine, lots I50, 2I2, 22I and 284, I5th district, is one
of the best known placer mines in Cherokee county. Gold was dis-
covered in a small stream, now known as Sixes creek, prior to the
removal of the Indians, from this section of the country. As early
as 1834, extensive mining was carried on, here. During these
early workings, an average miner is said to have made, from fifteen
to twenty pennyweights of gold, per day, by the use of a long-tom,
or a rocker.
200 CHEROKEE COUNTY

Fig. 14

Diagram Showing the Present Condition of the Sixes Placer Mine,

Cherokee County, Georgia.

The entire worked portion of the placer does not exceed five
acres ; yet, from this small area, if reports are to be credited, many
thousand pennyweights of gold have been obtained. Much of the
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 201

placer has been worked twice, and even three times ; and it is not
at all improbable, that there may be certain portions of the mine,
even now, containing paying deposits. Both coarse and fine gold
occur, here ; but the latter is more abundant. Many nuggets,
which are usually rough and angular, have been found ; the largest
of which is reported to have weighed ninety pennyweights.
A considerable amount of money and labor has been expended,
in prospecting for the vein, that has supplied the placer ; but, so
far, the work has met with only partial success. A number of
shafts and tunnels have been made, on the hillside, near the upper
edge of the placer. In one of these excavations, near a contact of
granite and hornblende-schist, is a vein or layer of mica-schist,
about three and a half feet wide, which carries gold. It is possible,
that this gold-bearing schist is a portion of the vein, which has fed
the placer. However, if this be true, it must, in places, have con-
tained rich pockets or ore-shoots, that were removed by denudation,
and its auriferous contents, distributed along the stream below.

Fig. IS

•
Cross-section through the Sixes Gold Property, Cherokee County, Georgia, Showing an
Auriferous Quartz Vein in Granite, near the Line of Contact with the Crystalline Schists.

The geological formations, occurring in the vicinity of the Sixes

Mine, are entirely different, from any, heretofore examined. The
hill, on which the vein-prospecting has been carried on, consists of
granite and hornblende-schist ; while the formation, lying to the
east, and forming the greater portion of the bed-rock of the placer,
is mica-schist. The granite is fine-grained, and of a light color ;
202 CHEROKEE COUNTY

and it frequently contains more or less pyrite, unevenly distributed

throughout the rock-mass. All the formations strike northeast and
southwest, and dip, at an angle of about forty degrees, to the
.southeast.

THE COGGINS PROPERTY

This property lies east of the Sixes mine, on the adjoining lot,
No. 2I I, I 5th district. It was worked to a limited extent, some years
ago, as a placer ; but, recently, it has attracted guite a little atten-
tion, as a vein-prospect. Three shafts, varying from twenty to
eighty feet in depth, have been made, near the edge of the old
placer-workings, on a very rich gold-bearing vein of schist. When
the property was examined, by the Survey, the shafts were too old,
to even permit of an examination of the ore in situ.
A heap of thoroughly decomposed mica-schist, lying near the
shafts, showed the nature and character of the ore-body. This
consisted mainly of mica and kaolin, with but little quartz ; yet,
when panned, it showed a very surprising return, in gold. The na-
ture of this veiq seems to be very peculiar ; and it should be further
investigated.

THE CLARKSON MINE

The Clarkson Mine, owned by a St. Louis Company, is located

about three quarters of a mile east of the Sixes mine, on lot 225,
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
203
Ijth district. Work was begun, here, in 1871; but it was continued,
only a short time. The prospecting consists of two tunnels, one,
fifty feet, and the other, 3 50 feet long, and a shaft, eighty feet deep.
Several tons of ore were taken from these excavations, and milled,
on a stamp-mill, erected near by. In a small open cut, there is an
exposure of the vein, which, at this point, presents a width of about
two feet. It consists of a dark-colored, laminated, granular quartz,
resembling quartzite.
Samples, from this mine, were taken by the writer, and three
assays, made in the Survey laboratory, result'ed, as follows : -
No. I. Ore sample, Clarkson mine . I 2 oz. ($2.40) of gold per ton
No. 2. Ore sample, Clarks~n mine .125 oz.($2.50) of gold per ton
No.3· Ore sample, Clarkson mine .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold per ton

LOT 208, 15TH DISTRICT

On the adjoining property, lot 208, 5th district, belonging to

I

James Haynes, is another prospect, where a gold-bearing vein of

mica-schist, about three feet in thickness, is exposed in a small shaft.
The exposure was too limited, to give any definite idea, concerning
the extent, or the general character of the vein.
A sample of ore from this property was taken by the writer, which
gave the following result, on assay in the laboratory of the Survey:-

Ore sample, Haynes Property .I 5 oz. ($3.00) of gold per ton

204 CHEROKEE COUNTY

THE McLAIN PROPERTY

On the McLain Property, lots 72I and 723, 2Ist district, are two
prospecting shafts, exposing a gold-bearing quartz vein, about
eighteen inches, in thickness. Several tons of this ore, milled at
the Georgiana Mine, are said to have yielded $12 per ton. The
excavations were made, some five years ago ; and, at the time of
our visit, they were so filled with earth, that no satisfactory exam-
ination of the vein could be made.
About three-fourths of a mile east of the above prospects, on
the same property, lot 723, are other openings, on a vein, called the
Magnetic Vein. These veins continue to the northeast ; and they
have been prospected, o~ the Clayton and Foster properties.

THE EVANS PROPERTY

This property, consisting of lots 792 and 793, I5th district, was.
first worked, as a placer. We were informed, that this deposit,
which occurs in the alluvium, along Rose creek, has been very rich.
It is now practically exhausted.
Fig. 16

Cross-section through the Evans Gold Property, Cherokee County, Georgia, Showing
the Auriferous Quartz Veins in the Crystalline Schists, as Indicated by the Dotted Lines.
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 205

In the last few years, four well-defined quartz veins have been
discovered on the property, all carrying more or less gold. The
vein, lying furthest to the east, is known as the Bralley Vein, be-
cause of its previous development, on the Bralley property, lying
about two miles to the southwest. The vein is exposed, in a recent
shaft, on the hillside, to a depth of twenty feet. It is only a few
inches, in thickness, and is formed of brownish-colored quartz,
dipping with the mica-schist, at a high angle, to the southeast.
About a hundred and fifty feet west of the Bralley vein, and run-
ning parallel with it, is the Copper Vein, so called, from its out-
croppings resembling gossan. It carries only a small amount of
gold ; and it has received but little attention from the prospector.
The Sandstone Vein lies two hundred feet, still further to the west,
and is to be seen, in some recent excavations, along the hillside.
Several tons of ore have been taken from the vein, and milled, at
a small stamp-mill, erected on Rose creek, a few hundred yards
away. The vein varies from one to three feet, in thickness, and
consists of milky quartz, with crystals of pyrite. It does not ap-
pear to be a continuous vein ; but, on the contrary, it is formed of
a series of greatly elongated lenses or ore-bodies, running parallel
with each other, and corresponding, in strike and dip, with the
mica-schist.
The most western vein, known as the Magnetic Lead, attains a
thickness, in places, of many feet. It carries but little gold ; never-
theless, it is an important vein, on account of its continuity and
conspicuous outcroppings, which enable the prospector to trace it,
from one lot to another, and hence to locate, with a considerable
degree of certainty, the more valuable auriferous vein, always asso-
ciated with it.
206 CHEROKEE COUNTY

The writer took samples from this property, which were assayed,
in the Survey laboratory, with the following results : -
No. I. Ore sample, Evans Property .20 oz. ($4.00) of gold per ton
No. 2. Ore sample, Evans Property .25 oz. ($5.00) of gold per ton
No. 3· Ore sample, Evans Property .25 oz. ($5.00) of gold per ton

'I'HE BELL PROPERTY

The Bell Property, lots J 29 and 900, 5th district, joins the Evans
I

property, on the southwest, and is traversed, by the same veins.

The greater part of the vein-mining, on the property, was done, be-
fore the late war, by Fields, Bell & Co., who erected a twelve-stamp
mill, and worked the sandstone vein, for three hundred yards, along
its outcroppings, to the depth of fifty feet.
Fig. 17

- -=

Diagram Showing the Ore-bodies on the Bell Gold Property, Cherokee County, Georgia.

The vein here, as on the adjoining property, consists of a series

of parallel short veins, or ore-bodies, having the same dip, but each
 CHEROKEE COUNTY
207

occupying different planes. 1 These bodies are usually several yards

in length ; and they are said to vary, from a few inches to six
feet, in thickness. The Bralley Vein and the Copper Vein have
also been prospected. On the latter is a shaft, a hundred and
thirty feet deep, which supplied the water for the stamp-mill. All
the excavations were inaccessible ; and no satisfactory examination
of the ores could be made.

THE COX PROPERTY

This property, lot 90I, I5tlz district, lies immediately south of the
Bell property. The various veins, traversing the adjoining proper-
ties, seem to converge here, and form a gold-bearing zone, not over
one hundred feet in width. Within this zone, are a number of small
veins, consisting of mica-schist and thin layers of quartz, rich in
gold. At a point, near the summit of the ridge, are to be seen,
seven shafts, within a radius of seventy-five feet. These are all
said to have exposed gold-bearing veins. There has been consider-
able prospecting, done on the property, from time to time, and
several tons of the ore have been milled; but, at the time of our
visit, all the excavations were inaccessible, and no samples were
secured for assaying.
The present owner of the property, R. C. Freeman, of Goldsboro,
N. C., has forwarded to Prof. Yeates, State Geologist, a number of
assay reports of the Cox ore. These assays, made at the U. S.
Assay-office, Charlotte, N. C., run from $220 to $350 per ton ..
1 See fig. 17.
208 CHEROKEE COUNTY

Such assays, as these, cannot be relied upon, for giving any definite
idea of the ore-body as a whole; for it is quite likely, that they were
selected only from the richer parts of the vein.

THE WILLIAMS PROPERTY

The Williams property, now owned by Col. J. H. Moore and

others, of Canton, lies immediately south of the Cherokee Mine,
on lot 437, Ijth district. There are to be seen here, besides the re-
mains of an old placer, several tunnels and shafts, made many years
ago; and, also, a number of recent open cuts, exposing auriferous
veins. The old works are reported to have yielded much gold; but
the operators were compelled to abandon them, on account of the
appearance of pyritic ores.
Along the western hill-slope, several gold-bearing vems occur,
varying, in width, from a few inches to many feet. These ore-bodies
consist of quartz stringers, separated by thin layers of schist. The
recent prospecting excavations are all superficial. Nevertheless,
they expose the veins, well enough, to show ore-bodies, sufficiently
inviting in character, to induce further development.
Two assays of samples, taken by the writer, from this property,
vary somewhat widely. Both were made in the laboratory of this
Survey, with the following results:-
No. I. Ore sample, Williams Property, Lot 437,
15th District -----·---------.10 oz. ($2.00) of gold per ton
No. 2. Ore sample, Williams Property, Lot 437,
15th District_ ________ , ___ .025 oz. ($o.so) of gold per ton
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 209

THE BAILEY PROPERTY

The Bailey property, lot 97I, I5th district, was first prospected, in
1840; and it has, at present, in the way of development, numerous
shafts and open cuts, none of which attain a depth, of more than
fifty h:et.
The so-called Bailey Vein reaches its greatest size, on this prop-
erty. It consists of a zone of mica-schist, fifty or seventy-five feet
wide, in which appear a number of quartz veins, varying in thick-
ness, from a fraction of an inch to three feet. The quartz and this
schist walling, carry gold, in considerable quantities. Numerous
quartz bowlders, sometimes weighing as much as five hundred
pounds, which have originated, from the breaking down of the ore-
body, a.re to be seen scattered over the surface of the cultivated
field. Many of these show free gold; and, at the time of our visit,
they were being collected, by the owner of the property, and beaten,
in a common hand mortar. We were shown several hand specimens,
chipped from these bowlders, or taken from the vein, each contain-
ing several grains of gold. This property is considered, to be quite
valuable; and it, probably, would have been developed, before now,
had it not been held, at too high a figure.

THE KELLOGG MINE

This mine, located on lot I,IIJ, I5th district, is noted, principally,

for its placer workings. Gold was discovered, many years ago,
along a small stream, running through the lot; and its bottom has
2.10 CHEROKEE COuNTY

been worked, almost continuously, ever since. The entire output

o( this placer is estimated, at I oo,ooo pennyweights. The most
valuable part of the placer has evidently been exhausted; but there
are still being found occasionally, some nice nuggets. These works
continue into the adjoining property, known, as the Williams prop--
erty.
Some seven or eight years ago, considerable prospecting was
done, on this property, by a New York Company. In one of the
excavations, made by the company, was exposed, at the time of
the writer's visits, a rather compact vein of light-colored quartz,
about two feet in thickness, which dipped with the country-rock, to-
the southeast, at an angle of about 60°.
A sample of ore, taken from this vein, by the writer, gave the
following assay result, in the laboratory of the Survey:-
Ore sample, Kellogg mine __ ---- .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold per ton

THE WILLIAMS PROPERTY

An area of about s1x acres has been worked on the Williams

property, lot I,I 20, 2ISt distn'ct, and many valuable gold nuggets are
reported, to have been found, here. One of the great troubles, in
working the mine, is the difficulty in conducting water to the ele-.
vated portions of the placer, which, in places, extends along the-
hillside, several feet above the present bed of the stream. A num-
ber of veins, carrying gold, have been discovered on this property.
Two samples of ore, taken, by the writer, from this property,
and subjected to assay, in the Survey laboratory, gave results as.
follows:-
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 21I

No. r. Ore sample, Williams Property, Lot I, I 20,

21st District_-·----- -------·375 oz. ($7.50) of gold per ton

No. 2. Ore sample, Williams Property, Lot 1,120,
21st District_ -----------·375 oz. ($7.50) of gold per ton

THE T. D. EVANS PROPERTY

Several shafts and tunnels are to be seen, on the ridges, on either

side of the creek, on lots 829 and 900, 2Ist district, exposing gold-
bearing quartz veins, adjacent to the placer. Only one or two of
these excavations, however, were accessible. The veins exposed to
view, are formed of iron-stained, porous quartz; and they vary,
from one to three feet, in thickness. They carry more or less py-
rite, and correspond, in dip and strike, with the schist. Some very
rich ore-shoots are reported, to have been found here, and to have
been worked, to the depth, of several feet from the surface. The
ore, in some instances, is said to have milled, as much as $60 per
ton.

WILLIAM POOR'S PROPERTY

On the Poor property, lots 760 and 826, 2Ist district, have been
discovered, in the l,ast few months, three different gold-bearing
vems. The east vein is exposed, in a recent twenty-five foot shaft,
near Mr. Poor's residence. It here consists of an almost perpendic-
ular ore-body of decomposed schist, about three feet wide, within
212 CHEROKEE COUNTY

which are numerous thin layers of quartz, frequently showing free

gold. As the vein approaches water-level, however, it carries more
or less pyrite, and increases in width. The limited prospect gives
a very imperfect idea of its economic value. Further investigation
is necessary, in order to reveal its character and extent.
The central vein is exposed in two small shafts, located· on a
steep hillside, a few hundred yards west of the east vein. It is
about two feet wide; and it is formed mainly of quartz, which car-
r:es a good deal of pyrite. Several tons of ore, from these exca-
vations, have been milled at the Georgiana mine; but we were
unable, to obtain any satisfactory report of the results.
The west vein lies a short distance, still further, to the west, and
a number of test-pits have been sunk upon it, at different points
along its outcropping, on both the Poor and the adjoining properties
to the southwest, now owned by H ugher, Evans and Kitchen. This
vein is quite similar, in structure and appearance, to the east vein,
though it is usually much wider, and contains no pyrite, so far.
A sample, taken, by the writer, from this property, gave the fol-
lowing results, in the Survey laboratory:-
Ore sample, William Poor's Property_ .2 5 oz. ($5.00) of gold per ton

THE GEORGIANA MINE

This mine IS located, in the southwestern corner of Cherokee

county, on lot 958, 2Ist distn'ct, three and a half miles northeast of
Acworth. A number of auriferous veins have been located, on this
property; and it has been more or less prospected, in the last few
years. These veins occur, along the side of a ridge, near the head-
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 213

waters of Fox's creek, where they are found, to conform, in strike

and dip, to the country-rock. The prospecting consists of several
tunnels, and shafts, located, at various points, on the ridge. The
main tunnel, four hundred feet in length, driven at right angles to
the schists, cuts three different veins, which vary, from two to
twenty-seven feet, in width. They consist principally of mica-
schist, with but little quartz. The ore is all low-grade; and, thus
far, it has not been milled with profit. A second tunnel, one hun-
dred and forty feet long, exposes an eight inch vein, carrying ore,
that is said to have yielded $5 per ton.
The three principal shafts, all of which were inaccessible, at the
time of our visit, attain a depth of ninety to one hundred and twenty
feet. One of these cuts a quartz vein, from three to six feet wide,
carrying gold, in paying quantities. From these various excavations,
several tons of ore are reported to have been taken, from time to
time, and milled, with satisfactory results. There is located, on the
property, a well equipped Huntington mill, in good running condi-
tion having a capacity of from one-half to two tons per day, de-
pending upon the hardness of the ore. It is operated, by a thirty-
five horse-power engine, and is supplied with water, from one of
the deepest shafts.

THE TRIPP PROPERTY

This property, lot 959, 2ISt district, lies directly east of the Geor-
giana mine, on the adjoining lot. It has had a limited amount of
placer work, and also some vein prospecting. There is to be seen
on this property, within a few yards of the Acworth road, a recent
2I4 CHEROKEE COUNTY

shaft, thirty feet deep, exposing a very rich auriferous quartz vein,
about twelve inches in thickness. The quartz is mostly of a red-
dish or brownish color, carrying more or less pyrite, and frequently
having a somewhat laminated structure.
Some beautiful hand specimens of the ore were obtained from
the shaft, showing free gold. The average assay value of the gold,
as determined in our laboratory, runs from $I 6 to $I 7 per ton.
This is a very encouraging prospect, and certainly warrants further
investigation.
Below, is given the result of one of the assays, from a sample,
taken, by the writer:-
Ore sample, Tripp Mine _________ ·79 oz. ($I5.8o) of gold per ton

THE KITCHEN PROPERTY

The Kitchen property, which has recently attracted considerable

attention, on account of the discovery, on it, of what has been re-
ported to be a very rich auriferous vein, of great thickness, is lo-
cated on lots 823 and 834, 2Ist district. Besides this large vein,
there also occurs, here, many other gold-bearing quartz veins, vary-
ing in thickness, from a few inches to four feet; and all running
parallel with the lamin<e of the schist. Some of these lesser
veins have been exposed, at places, by open cuts, to the depth of
a few feet; and they frequently show what appears to be a good
quality of ore. These surface indications are quite encouraging;
and they would seem to warrant further investigation. The so-
called Kitchen Vein, the large vein, mentioned above, about which
there has been, la.tely, much talk, occurs on lot 823, a short distance
northwest of the Kitchen residence. It outcrops, here, along the
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 215
side, and near the top, of a low ridge, where it has been prospected,
at a number of places, by open cuts, from two to eight feet in
depth. The auriferous ore-body, which has been improperly called
a fissure vein, consists of a zone or belt of garnetiferous mica-schist,
interlaminated with innumerable layers of quartz, all dipping, at a
high angle, to the southeast. Some of the quartz layers contain
partially oxidized crystals of pyrite, arranged along definite lines,
producing a banded structure, while other layers contain mica; and,
when they are removed from their natural bedding, in thin layers,
they are quite flexible. The ore-body, at this point, attains a thick-
ness, of more than fifty feet; it appears to have originated from a
metamorphism of thin beds of sandstone and highly siliceous
layers of clays. Tl}is clastic origin of the ore-body seems to be
quite evident, when we take into consideration its great length,
together with its uniformity of character. It can be traced, with
a considerable degree of certainty, from near Canton, in Cherokee
county, to the Alabama line, near Tallapoosa. At many places,
along its outcropping, it is found to be gold-bearing; especially is
this true, on Burnt Hickory ridge, in Paulding county; and near
the Hollins mine, in Haralson county. Specimens of the ore,
taken from this ore-body on the Kitchen property, assayed fro~

three to seven dollars and a half per ton. The high-grade ore
contains numerous garnets, which are probably the source of much
Qf the gold. The great size of the ore-body exposed here, although
consisting of a low-grade ore, indicates that the deposit is valuable.
Nevertheless, the property should be thorOttghly prospected, before
the erection of expensive machinery.
A sample, taken by the writer, assayed in the Survey laboratory,
as follows: -
Ore sample, Kitchen Property ___ .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold per ton
216 CHERO.f{EE COUNTY

A sample, taken at random, 12 feet below the surface of the large

ore-body, by Prof. Yeates, State Geologist, consisting of semi-
decomposed mica-schist, with interlaminated quartz, was assayed,
in the Survey laboratory, with result, as follows:-
Ore sample, Kitchen Property ___ ·375 oz. ($7.50) of gold per ton

THE STANSILL PROPERTY

This property is located, three miles east of Allatoona, on lot 848,

2oth district, between the Georgiana and the Glade mines. It con-
sists of two recent shafts, one ten and the other thirty-five feet, in
depth. Each exposes an auriferous vein. In the latter, the vein
attains a thickness of about ten feet, while that, in the former, has
a width of less than ten inches. Both shafts are located on the
bank of a small branch, scarcely a hundred yards apart. It seems
quite probable from the strike and the general appearance of the
ore-body that they are continuous ; that is, outcroppings of the
same vein. This, however, cannot be definitely demonstrated, un-
til further prospecting has been done. The vein material, which is
exposed, in the thirty-five foot shaft, is made up mainly of iron-
stained quartz, with more or less pyrite and chalcopyrite. Some of
the quartz is frequently porous, from the weathering of the pyrites ;
and, when broken, it shows numerous cavities, filled with iron oxide.
There also occurs, another variety of quartz, which is of a dark
color, compact, and difficult to crush. Moreover, there is to be
seen, scattered irregularly through the ore-body, more or less py-
ritic hornblende-schist. Samples of the ore, taken from the deeper
shaft, assay from $2.00 to $6.oo per ton ; while small hand speci-
 CHEROKEE COUNTY 217

mens, taken from the other shaft, have been reported to run as high
as $5 8.00 per ton.
In strike and dip, the vein corresponds with the hornblende-
schist, the country-rock.
 CHAPTER XIV

BARTOW COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, AsSISTANT GEOLOGIST

Allatoona, on the Western & Atlantic R. R., in the southern por-

tion of Bartow county, was the center of very active gold mining
operations, thirty or forty years ago. Valuable placer-deposits
were first discovered, and worked here, after which, attention was
directed to vein-mining.

THE ALLATOONA VEIN

The Allatoona Vein, located on lot 929, 2 I st district, was exten-

sively worked, from I 8 3 5 to I 840. It has been prospected, for
fully half a mile, by sinking shafts, at short distances from each
other, along its outcropping. At one point, the ore has been taken
out, to the depth of forty feet (water-level), for two hundred yards
along the vein, and milled. The mine is said, to have been quite
profitable, as long as the oxidized portion of the vein was worked.
There probably exists, here, large bodies of paying ore ; but the
greater part of it, now, likely lies below the. water-level, where it
occurs in the form of sulphides. All the excavations were inacces-
(218)
 BARTOW COUNTY 219

sible; and the only direct knowledge of the vein was obtained from
the examination of a few fragments of the ore, on the dump. It
appears to be made up, of the usual iron-stained, laminated quartz,
which was possibly separated, by thin layers of schist. It is said,
that the vein varies, from one to four feet in thickness, and retains
pretty much its same character, at the various openings. The
strike, which corresponds to the schist, is N. 70° E.; while the dip
is variable, though usually, at a high angle, to the southeast. The
<:ountry-rock is mica- and hornblende-schist. It is so thoroughly
decomposed, above the water-level, that the expense of operating
it is comparatively small.
Other veins, of less importance, are reported to have been dis-
<:overed on this property, though they seem never to have been
prospected, to any extent; and, consequently, but little is known
of the character of the ore, which they contain.
The bottoms, along Allatoona creek, which traverses this prop-
erty, and, also, the two adjoining lots, 930 and 944, are supposed
to contain workable placer-deposits. These, however, seem never
to have been thoroughly prospected, and therefore no reliable esti-
mate can be placed on their value.
A small, intermittent stream, known as Gold Branch, which en-
ters Allatoona creek, at the upper end of these bottoms, has been
worked for gold, for nearly half a century. The placer is, proba-
bly, half a mile in length, with an average width, of a hundred
feet. Much of this area has been worked over, ·many times. The
early workings are reported, to have been remarkably profitable,
and to have produced, in a short time, many thousand pennyweights
of gold. It is said, that even now, after a hard, ~ashing rain, it is
no uncommon thing for small nuggets, weighing from one to five
pennyweights, to be found in the bed of this stream. The nugget
220 BARTOW CCUNTY

form, and the roughened condition of gold, found along the

streams, show, that it has originated, from the breaking down of an
auriferous vein, near by.
A limited amount of superficial vein-prospecting has been done,
at different points, along the adjacent hillsides ; but the mother-
lode, which has supplied the placer, appears never to have been
located.

THE GLADE MINE

The Glade Mine is situated on lots 852, 878, 879, 924 etc., 2Ist
distnd, about two miles northwest of Allatoona. The work, which
consists of vein prospecting, done several years ago, was found to
be in a very unsatisfactory condition, for examination. The Adams
shaft, fifty feet in depth, exposes a large white quartz vein, inter-
stratified with hornblende- and mica-schist, frequently containing
small seams and cavities, filled with calcite. There is a marked
resemblance between the country-rock, found here, and that at the
Creighton mine, in Cherokee county ; though there is quite a differ-
ence, in the appearance of the ore. That, of the _latter, carries a
high percentage of auriferous pyrite, while the ore from the former
is almost entirely free from pyrite. A few yards from this shaft,
and in the direction of the trend of the vein, is a small pit, about
fifteen feet long and ten feet deep. From this excavation, it is re-
ported, that a colored man, by the name of George Freeman, took
out several hundred pennyweights of gold. The story, though
somewhat exaggerated, is nevertheless credited, by some of the
best citizens in the vicinity.
 BARTOW COUNTY 22I

A short distance from the above excavation, on the same prop-

erty, is another shaft, eighty feet deep, on what is called the Eastport
Vein. This shaft exposes, it is said, a gold-bearing quartz vein, from
two to three feet in thickness, which carries ore, milling$ r o per ton.
Near by, is to be seen a partially filled pit, known as the Priest
Hole. In this excavation, it is claimed, was discovered, several
years ago, a very r.ich pocket, from which sixteen pounds of gold
were obtained. The country-rock, at the various openings, consists
of mica- and hornblende-schists, dipping, at a high angle, to the
southeast.

W. M. GOINGS' PROPERTY

The Goings Property, lot 8o8, 2Ist district, situated two and one-
half miles north of Allatoona, was prospected, some years ago, for
gold, by Hoskins & Phillips. This firm is reported, to have dis-
covered, on the property, a small auriferous quartz vein, assaying
$roo per ton. These old works, consisti~g of a few shallow shafts
and pits, are now inaccessible ; yet, there is, near by, a recent shaft,
fifteen feet deep, that exposes a twelve inch quartz vein, showing
free gold. The vein, at the time of our visit, was not sufficiently ex-
posed to give any definite knowledge of its economic value. How-
ever, the prospect was encouraging, and should stimulate further
investigation.
222 BARTOW COUNTY

THE AVERY MINE

This mine is located on lot 947, 2Ist distrz"ct, near the road, lead-
ing from Allatoona to Canton. A gold-bearing vein, consisting of
porous, iron-stained quartz nodules, imbedded in schist, occurs on
this property, outcropping on the hillside. It has been worked, for
several yards, at one point, by an open cut, and the ore, milled on
a small stamp-mill, erected on a stream, at the base of the hill.
The result of the mill-test was not learned. A few other pits are
to be seen on the property ; but they are, now, more or less filled
with earth.

THE ROBERTSON PROPERTY

W. C. Robertson's Property, lot I,097, 2Ist district, which was.

prospected for gold, some six years ago, lies half a mile west of
the Cherokee county-line.. The work consists of four or five shafts,
varying, in depth, from twenty to sixty feet. The excavations are
said, to expose a quartz vein, carrying a good quality of gold ore.
The shafts, at the time of our visit, were all inaccessible ; and no ex-
amination of the ore in situ was made. The material on the dump,
however, shows, that the vein consists of a porous reddish-colored
quartz, with mica-schist walling.
 BARTOW COUNTY 223

EISEMAN'S PROPERTY

On an adjoining lot, owned by B. A. Eiseman, are other similar

excavations, exposing a gold-bearing vein, that is probably a con-
tinuation of the above. There is to be seen, on this property, near
one of the shafts, a comparatively new five-stamp mill, in good
running condition. It was erected here, about four years ago, and
was run, for a short time, in making a mill-test of the ore, taken
from the vein. The result of the test seems never to have been
made public.

THE I. 0. McDANIEL PROPERTY

This property, lot I,075, 2Ist district, is situated near the Western
& Atlantic R: R., one mile south of Allatoona. A gold-bearing
vein was discovered, on this property, in 1888 ; and it has since
been prospected, by a number of open cuts and small pits, for about
two hundred yards, along its outcropping. The ore-body, where
exposed in a cut at the base of the hill, has a width of ten feet_
It consists of mica-schist, in which are imbedded numerous lens-
shaped quartz nodules, of various sizes. The ore is of a low grade,
averaging, probably, less than $6 per ton.
224 BARTOW COUNTY

JOHN J. HOWARD'S PROPERTY

The Howard Property, lot I,224, 2Ist district, was prospected, to

a limited extent, for gold, about five years ago. We found here,
on a steep hillside, several open cuts, that expose a gold-bearing
vein, from one to four feet in width. This ore-body is made up,
principally, of mica-schist, in which occur numerous thin layers
and lens-shaped nodules of iron-stained quartz. The quartz fre-
quently shows free gold on the surfaces, that come in contact with
the schist. The country-rock, in immediate contact with the vein,
is mica-schist; while a few yards away, are hornblende-schists ; all
have a northeast and southwest strike, and dip 50° to the southeast.

•
 CHAPTER XV

COBB COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

THE PAYNE, KENDRICK, RANDALL AND HOUSE

PROPERTIES

The eastern portion of the Carroll County Gold Belt extends

through the northwestern corner of Cobb county. The principal
works are located on the Payne, Kendrick, Randall and House
properties, lots 49, 50, 66 and 67, 2oth district, one and a half miles
east of Acworth. Gold was discovered on these lots, more than
eighty years ago, in the gravel, along the small streams, tributary
to Proctor's creek. These early placer-workings, although cover-
ing only a comparatively small area, are said to have been quite
profitable, and to have yielded, from time to time, several thousand
pennyweights of fine gold. Numerous gravel heaps and pits, fre-
quently overgrown, by trees of considerable size, are all, that now
remain to mark the place of these former works. Several recent
small test-pits are to be seen at different points along the streams ;
but there appears to have been no regular placer-mining carried on,
for a number of years.
It is thought, by some, that there still exists, here, workable de-
posits of auriferous gravel. This however, can only be definitely
determined, after a thorough inspection of the alluvial deposits of
(225)
226 COBB COUNTY

the various branches. A considerable amount of money and labo~

was expended, in vein-mining on the above, and, also, on the ad-
joining properties, prior to the late war. Numerous old shafts and
tunnels are to be seen, on the ridges and hillsides, near the placers.
Some of these are said, to have exposed rich gold-bearing quartz
veins, from which many hundred tons of ore were milled.
All the excavations were inaccessible, with the e~ception of one,
on the House property, where a white quartz vein, dipping with the
schist, shows, in an open cut. It was found, practically impossible,
to get any satisfactory idea of the various auriferous veins, occur-
ring in this locality, from what could be seen in excavations, made
thirty or forty years ago. There can be no doubt, about the exist-
ence of a number of gold-bearing veins on these properties ; yet,
as ·no actual observations could be made, on account of the condi-
tion of the old works, nothing definite can be stated, concerning
their general character or economic value.

THE HAMILTON MINE

The Hamilton Mine is located on lot I I, 2oth district, a short dis-

tance from the Cherokee county-line. It was abandoned, several
years ago ; and it was, therefore, found in no condition, for exam-
ination. There is to be seen, here, a number of old shafts, open
cuts and tunnels ; also the remains of a furnace, used in smelting
the ores.
In two or three of the shafts, quartz veins, from one to three feet
in thickness, are exposed. These may, or may not be portions of
the veins, formerly worked. They consist of a light-colored quartz,
 COBB COUNTY 227

which appears, to carry only a small amount of gold. Several tons

of ore are said, to have been mined here, and treated, in the fur-
nace, by a new process of separation. Whether or not the process,
or the ore, was unsatisfactory, was not learned. However, the
works were soon abandoned. About two miles east of the above
mine, on lot I5, 20th district, known as the Cox Property, are other
old works, long since abandoned, and now partially filled with
earth.

J. B. KEMP'S PROPERTY

This property is located only a short distance south of theW. & A.

R. R., on lot 272, 2oth district. A considerable amount of prospecting
has been done on the property, from time to time; but the excava-
tions were, with few exceptions, found to be inaccessible. On this
lot, are to be seen a number of open cuts and shallow pits. In one
-of. these excavations, which is about twenty feet long and eight
feet deep, is exposed a laminated quartz vein, about twelve inches
.in thickness. The vein conforms, in strike and dip, with the
.country-rock.
Samples, taken by the writer, yielded, upon assay, in the Survey
laboratory, the following results:-
No.1. Ore sample, Kemp Property_ .125 oz. ($2.50) of gold perton
No.2. Ore sample, Kemp Property_ .250 oz. ($5.00) of gold per ton
No.3· Ore sample, Kemp Property_ ·375 oz. ($7.50) of gold per ton
No.4· Ore sample, Kemp Property_ ·3 50 oz. ($7.00) of gold per ton
228 COBB COUNTY

THE W. H. HADAWAY PROPERTY

This property, lot 27 I, 2oth district, situated seven miles south of

Acworth, near Lost Mountain, attracted considerable attention, a
short time ago, on account of the discovery, of what was then
thought to be a very rich gold-bearing vein. It has since been
opened up; and it is now exposed, in several open cuts, to the depth
of ten or fifteen feet. The vein material, which varies from two to
four feet in thickness, consists of thoroughly decomposed mica-
schist, with numerous thin layers of quartz. The latter frequently
show free gold on their surfaces, where they come in contact with
the schist. A number of pan-tests, made at the different openings,
gave very satisfactory results. The dip of the vein, and, also, of
the country-rock is to the southeast, at a high angle, while the
strike is nf)rtheast and southwest.
More or less gold has been found along the small streams, in the
vicinity ; but the workable portion, of these placer-deposits, is now
practically exhausted, so that the value of the properties depends
largely upon the development of the auriferous veins.
Gold has been discovered, at various other places in this county ;
but the works are now all old, and in no condition to report upon.
 CHAPTER XVI

PAULDING COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, ASSISTANT GEOLOGIST

The Dahlonega Gold Belt traverses the northwestern portion of

Paulding county, where it has been extensively prospected on
Burnt Hickory ridge, and in the vicinity of Yorkville. Through
the southeastern part of the county, passes the Carroll County Belt,
which has been worked, as placer, along the tributaries of Sweet-
water creek. Burnt Hickory ridge is a low, broad ridge in the
northern part of the county, separating the waters of Pumpkinvine
and Raccoon creeks. The numerous small streams, which have
their sources on either side of this ridge, in the vicinity of Hunts-
ville, have been worked for gold. Some of these deposits were for-
merly valuable; but they are, now, practically exhausted.

THE SHEFFIELD AND HEIDT PROPERTY

This property, lot 656, Jrd district, situated on Burnt Hickory

ridge, near Huntsville, attracted the attention of gold miners, as
early as 1845· An auriferous vein was discovered, here, a short
time previous to this date, near the source of a small stream, which
(229)
 PAULDING COUNTY

was then being worked, for placer deposits. Prospecting soon be-
gan. The vein was exposed, at several places along the ridge, on
both this and the Hodges property, adjoining; and some of the ore·
was milled; but the results of the various tests seem to have been
unsatisfactory; at any rate, the work was soon discontinued. Since
then, a few other shallow prospecting-pits and open cuts have been
made, from time to time ; yet, no regular mining has been at-
tempted.
The surface of the ridge, in the vicinity of the excavations, is
strewn, with innumerable fragments of quartz, frequently showing
free gold. These fragments are often honeycombed, with remark-
ably perfect cubical cavities, from a fraction of an inch to two·
inches in diameter. Some of the cavities are found to be empty;.
others contain crystals of pyrite, partially decomposed; while, still,
others are found filled with sulphur. These quartz fragments were·
probably derived, from the breaking down of the auriferous vein,.
that has been prospected, at various points along the ridge. This,
howev~r, could not be satisfactorily determined, from the limited
exposure, in the partially filled excavations.
The country-rock is mica-schist, dipping, at a high angle, to the
southeast, and having a northeast and southwest strike, correspond-
ing to the trend of the ridge. Imbedded in the schists, are layers
of dark-colored, banded quartz, from a few inches to several feet,
in thickness, which is said to carry a small amount of gold, in places;.
but, probably, not in sufficient quantities, to pay for working.
These layers, which are, apparently, highly metamorphosed beds of
sandstone, are quite characteristic of the Dahlonega Gold Belt, ex-
tending through Paulding and Haralson counties.
 PAULDING COUNTY

THE HODGES PROPERTY

This property consists of lot 655, 3rd distn"ct, Paulding county.

Two shafts, from 40 to 50 feet deep, were put down on this prop-
erty, many years ago. They are situated about IOO feet from each
other, and are now partly filled with debris. The country-rock,
mica-~chist, has a northeasterly and southwesterly strike, and dips
at an angle of about 7 5° to the southeast. The auriferous vein here
prospected consists of quartz, and is said to be quite rich in the
bottom of the shafts ; but, as the veins were inaccessible, this state-
ment cannot be verified. .The property is located near the center
of the Dahlonega belt ; and the surface indications warrant a more
thorough investigation of the auriferous veins, than has, heretofore,
been made, by the owners of the property.

THE HOBBS MINE

The Hobbs mine is located on lot 7I3, 3rd district, adjoining the
Sheffield and Heidt property. The principal part of the work con-
sists of a number of shafts, from ten to fifty feet deep. The work
was done, several years ago; and the shafts were found to be so filled
with earth, that no satisfactory examination of the vein could be
made. It is said, that several tons of ore were taken from these
excavations, and milled, yielding an average of about $20 per ton.
A small pile of ore, near one of the shafts, shows, that the ore
carries a considerable amount of pyrite. The great difficulty found,
 PAULDING COUNTY

in separating the gold, from these sulphide ores, is said, to have

finally caused the abandonment of the property.
Similar prospecting shafts are to be seen, on the a4Joining properties,
belonging to Quarles, Carlton, Anderson, Cochran and others. There ap-
pears to be a number of auriferous veins, traversing this ridge,
some of which are probably of economic importance; and they
should be more thoroughly prospected.

THE DUNNAWAY PROPERTY

This property is situated on Burnt Hickory ridge, about three

miles northwest of Huntsville, near the Cartersville road. It was
prospected, about four years ago, by Alfred Johnson, who held a
lease on the property. The work consists of four shafts, from
twenty to sixty feet deep, and a tunnel, one hundred and fifty feet,
in length. The tunnel cuts a number of gold-bearing veins, vary-
ing, from a few inches to six feet, in thickness. The vein is made
up of mica-schist and thin layers of quartz, all more or less decom-
posed, and easily mined with a pick. The ore is of a low grade;
yet, on account of its being found in large quantities, it can, prob-
ably, be worked with profit.

THE MICHIGAN GOLD MINING COMPANY'S PROPERTY

The Michigan Gold Mining Company began placer-mining in the

fall of r8g5, about two miles southwest of Huntsville, on a small
(,(!f_IJ fJF!'O S !FS OF (; f ,-!)f!!: / . 1 !'! .. I Tf·: X!!

11 \ - IJR ,I l ' LI C (; 1.1:\" 1' i l\ ()1 '/·: Ri\ TI O N. 0 :<1 Till·: 1' 1./ICI-:R I'IHl i'I ·: I~ T \ ' OF T il E ~ II C III L .\ N (;() LI J :- II N I ;\ 1; CO .,
N EAR IW R N T 1/I C KOR\ ' I 'Al' L IJI :\l; CO l'N'I'\' LHl i ~\: LI.
 PAULDING COUNTY
233
stream trib-utary to Raccoon creek. The Company owns, here, five
lots of land, on which are supposed to be located, valuable placer-
deposits.
At the time of our visit, a small hydraulic plant, consisting of a
fifty horse-power boiler and a Gordon pump, furnishing seven hun-
dred and fifty gallons of water, per minute, had just been erected,
1
and a hydraulic giant, put in operation. The work, however, had
not progressed, sufficiently to give any satisfactory knowledge of
the deposit.
A short distance above the location of the Company's plant,
along the branch, the remains of old placer works, done many years
ago, are to be seen. These works are, from a few feet to several
yards, in width, and extend to within a short distance of the source
of the stream, on the Sheffield and Hodges properties, about one
mile above. The unworked area, in which the gold is supposed to
occur, in paying quantities, extends over several acres, in the nar-
row bottom along the stream. The overburden varies, from two to
four feet, in thickness.

THE MATHEWS PROPERTY

This property, lot Io8, Jrd distn"ct, located about four miles north
of McPherson, has had a considerable amount of placer-work done
upon it, in the last few years. The entire placer covers only a few
acres. It lies along a small stream, flowing into Raccoon creek.
The most valuable part of the deposit has evidently been exhausted.
However, there probably still exists, at various places along the
I See Plate XII.
234 PAULDING COUNTY

stream, small areas, which may, even now, be worked with profit.
No auriferous veins, of economic value, have, yet, been discovered,
in the vicinity of the placer.

THE AUSTIN MINES

The Austin Mines are old placer-works, located on lot 984, 2nd
district, seven miles southeast of Dallas. The works extend along
a small stream, for nearly half a mile, having a width, in places, of
fifty yards. The total amount of gold, taken from the deposit, has
been estimated, at several thousand pennyweights. Some vein-
prospecting has been done, at different places ; yet no discovery,
of importance, seems to have been made.

DR. PARKER'S PROPERTY

On Dr. G. T. Parker's Property, lot 4IO, 2nd district, are similar

placer-works, which were done more than fifty years ago. Gold
has, also, been found, on a number of other lots in the district ;
but, not in sufficient abundance, to pay for working.
 PAULDING COUNTY

THE YORKVILLE MINE

This mme 1s situated on lot JJI, I9tlz district, about two and a
half miles east of Yorkville. Gold was found, here, in a small
stream, in 1855. The discovery was soon followed, by an exam-
ination of the bed of the stream, which resulted, in locating a val-
uable placer-deposit, extending along the branch, for a quarter of a
mile. The deposit was worked, from time to time, for several
years ; and it produced much gold ; but, it being finally exhausted,
attention was directed to vein-mining. Gold-bearing veins were
first discovered, on the hillside, at the upper end of the placer, in
1868. Soon afterwards, an eight-stamp mill was erected, on the
property; and vein-mining was commenced, and successfully car-
ried on, for about five years. During this time, some very rich
ore-shoots were discovered, and, worked to water-level, where they
had to be abandoned, on account of the operator's not having any
satisfactory method, for treating the sulphide ores.
A short time ago, the property was purchased, by a Chicago·
company, who, at once, commenced work, with a view to develop-
ing the mine, in a systematic way. At the time of our visit, the
company had just completed a tunnel, of four hundred and sixty
feet, along the strike of the vein, besides a number of cross-cuts,.
intersecting the lamin~, at right angles. It was learned, that it was
the intention of the firm, to erect a large stamp-mill, chlorination-
plant etc., on the property, at an early date, and to begin mining
operations, on a large scale.
· There are exposed, on the hillside, in the several excavations,
three different auriferous veins, all running parallel, and dipping,
with the country-rock, to the southeast. Two of the veins seem t(}
 PAULDING COUNTY

be a series of ore-shoots, rather than well defined continuous veins,

while the other, which is, now, being worked, continues for some
distance, with an average width of fifteen feet. The ore-bodies
<:onsist of a dark-colored mica-schist with quartz, more or less
contorted, and impregnated with auriferous pyrite. The weathered
surface of the vein is usually quite rough and iron-stained; and,
frequently, it shows free gold.

THE BARTON PROPERTY

J. B. Barton's property, lots 334 and 369, I9th district, lying im-
mediately southwest of the Yorkville mine, was worked, to some
extent, for gold, as early as I856; but the main part of the vein-
prospecting was not done, until I 88o.
The work consists of a number of shafts, twenty to sixty feet
·deep, three short tunnels, and an open cut, two hundred feet long
and twenty feet deep. Several tons of ore were taken from these
excavations, and milled, on a five stamp-mill, erected on a small
stream, near by, yielding, it is said, $I 2 of gold per ton.
Only two of the veins, which have been prospected, were exposed
to view. They are from two to three feet wide, and consist of
stringers of quartz, separated from each other, by thin layers of
mica-schist, which frequently carry more gold than the quartz itself.
The vein conforms, in strike and dip, to the country-rock. Sim-
ilar prospecting has been done on the Singleton, the Dinson and the
McGarity properties, lots 366, 488, 694 and 979, in the same district.
 CHAPTER XVI I

DOUGLAS COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, ASSISTANT GEOLOGIST

The gold deposits of Carroll county continue, without interrup-

tion, into Douglas county, reaching its greatest development in the
neighborhood of Pine Mountain, only a short distance from the
county-line.

THE PINE MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

This property, lot 206, 2nd district, now owned by Miss Jennie
Stone, is a round hill, locally known as Pine Mountain, rising about
zoo feet above the surrounding valley. Along the slopes of this
mountain, and extending well down into the valley, below, are to
be seen extensive surface workings, which, many years ago, yielded
a large quantity of gold. The works are now abandoned, and over-
grown, by trees of considerable size. Several shafts, cuts and tun-
nels are to be seen along the hillside, now filled with earth. In one
or two of these old excavations were noticed exposures of quartz
veins, some of which attain considerable thickness; but the quartz
is of· a light color and carries but little, in value. The character
of the vein differs, but slightly, from the auriferous veins in Carroll
(237)
 DOUGLAS COUNTJ:

-county. The countrycrock is made up of granite and gneisses.

Associated with these veins, and frequently forming part of the
walling, often occurs a greenish-colored mica.
Besides the above-named property, there are several other lots,
owned by Miss Stone, in the immediate vicinity, which have been
prospected, and worked for gold, from time to time. They all
probably possess a mining value. However, they are, at present,
undeveloped.

PROPERTY OF THE SOUTHERN STATES MINING AND

EXPLORING COMPANY

This property consists of lots 205 and 2I 2, 2nd district. The com-
pany is composed, chiefly, of English capitalists, who have been
-engaged, for the last two or three years, in prospecting the above
named lots. The company has spent a considerable amount of
money, in sinking shafts, driving tunnels and erecting machinery;
but, for some reason, possibly bad management, the works have
.apparently met with only partial success. The principal part of the
work has been done on lot 2I2, where four shafts, varying from 30
to 97 feet in depth, have been put down. There has also been
erected, on this lot, a short distance from the main shaft, a 20-
.stamp mill, an assay office and a blacksmith shop, all of which
are in first-class condition. The main shaft is supplied with a steam
hoist and pump, operated by a small upright engine, located near
by. The mill, which has a capacity of 35 tons of ore per day,
has been operated, for only about three months. It is run by steam,
.and furnished with water, pumped from a small branch, at the foot
 DOUGLAS COUN7 Y 239
of the hill, some distance away. There are two drifts, with· an
aggregate length of about 200 feet, connecting the principal shafts,
from which the greater part of the ore has been taken by overhead
stoping. The shafts and the drifts, at the time of our visit, were
inaccessible, and no knowledge, of the size of the ore-bodies, was
obtained, from actual observation. The vein is said to be quite
large, in places, attaining a thickness of 7 feet or more. The ore
consists of slightly stained, light-colored, more or less granular
quartz, with some mica scattered throughout the mass. The coun-
try-rock is granite, having, frequently, a gneissoid structure.
There are numerous old workings on this property, which are
reported to have produced, before the late war, much gold.
Lot 205 has had considerable work done on it, from time to time;
but the various excavations were found to be in no condition, for
examination. It adjoins the Pine Mountain lot, and is probably
traversed by the same veins. The lot is considered, by many, to be
excellent mining property. The few small outcroppings of veins,
examined, certainly warrant a more thorough investigation of the
property.

THE ASTINOL COMPANY'S PROPERTY

This property consists of lots 204, 208 and 209, 2nd district. The
company has carried on the greater part of its work, on lot 204,
where they have been prospecting for some months. They have
driven several hundred feet of tunnels, with a view to cutting the
rich ore-bodies, formerly worked on this property; but, at the time
of the writer's visit, they had not succeeded. Only a few aurifer-
240 DOUGLAS COUNTY

ous quartz veins had been found, and they were either too small, or
ran too low in gold, to be of economic importance. The prospect-
ing is still being carried on, with the hope of striking, in the future,
paying ore-bodies. The ore exposed in the veins, cut by the
various tunnels, consists of iron-stained, granular quartz and white,
milky quartz. The latter usually occurs, in large pockets, and
often shows free gold. The country-rock is granite and gneiss,
usually highly decomposed, many feet below the surface.

THE THOMAS ROACH PROPERTY

This property, which is, at present, being prospected, with en-

couraging results, is lot 2r3, 2nd district.

THE T. DURGY PROPERTY

This property, lot 239, 2nd district, which is now being prospected
by Mr. Durgy, lies without the area, commonly known as the gold
belt, but withi~ what is generally spoken of, as the Red Hill, a local
'- ~

name, so called from the redness of the soil, which results from
the weathering of the underlying hornblende-gneiss and schist.
The lot has attracted the attention of men interested in minerals,
for some years; but, only since it has come into the possession of
its present owner, has any real systematic prospecting been at-
tempted, on the property. The principal part of the work, done
 DOUGLAS COUNTY

by Mr. Durgy consists of five shafts, varying, in depth, from 30 to

1 50 feet, and a few small cross-cuts. The excavation exposes a
highly pyritic auriferous vein, carrying a considerable amount of
hornblende, tourmaline, feldspar, calcite and other accessory min-
erals. The ore from this vein, which, in places, attains several feet,
in thickness, is said to assay, on an average, about $9.00 of gold per
ton, besides yielding a considerable percentage of copper. The
country-rock consists of a garnetiferous hornblende-schist and a mi-
ca-schist, having the usual northeast and southwest strike and south-
eastern dip. The works are supplied with a suitable engine, for
hoisting and pumping purposes; but, at the time of our visit, the
entire prospecting-plant was completely dismantled, a result of a
recent premature explosion of dynamite. On this account, no
examination was made of the ore in sight.

JOHN BAGGETT'S PROPERTY

This prospect is located near the Southern Railway, about one

mile northeast of Winston. It is a- recent prospect, consisting of
two small open cuts, exposing a large mass of thin quartz veins,
interlaminated with garnetifeJ:OUS schists. The quartz is iron-
stained, and carries considerable pyrite, which is said to be gold-
bearing.
 CHAPTER XVIIT

CARROLL COUNTY-

Bv S. W. McCALLIE, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST'

Only in two localities, in Carroll county, has goldloeen·found, in1

sufficient abundance, to be of economic importance. The more-
noted of these localities, lies in the Villa Rica region;. in the ex-
treme northern part of the county. Gold was discovered, here, near·
Pine Mountain, in I 830. Two years afterward, several hundred
hands were regularly employed, in the mines, and produced, annu-
ally, for a number of years, more than twenty-five thousand penny--
weights of gold. The entire output of the mine has been estimated,
by W. B. Candler, who has been living at Villa Rica, for many
years, at $ soo,ooo.
The early workings, which consist both of placer- and surface--
mining, were confined, chiefly, to the narrow bottoms, along the
small streams, and the adjacent hill-slopes. The area, over· which
gold has been found, in paying quantities, is limited to a narrow
belt, not over six miles, in length, and less than two miles wide.
The topography of the region shows an advanced stage of de-·
nudation. The numerous small streams are usually sluggish, while-
the surface, though occasionally broken, by low ridges and hills,
has the general appearance of a plain. With the exception of the·
so-called Pine Mountain, a small hill, near the center of the mining
area, none of the ridges or elevations attain a height, of more than;
(242)
 CARROLL COUNTY
243
seventy-five feet, above the surface of the streams. These topo-
graphical conditions have seriously interfered, in places, with sur~
face-mining, owing to the difficulty, of conveying the water to the
deposits, located on the hillsides. In most cases, this difficulty,
however, has been met, and overcome, by the use of engines, in
elevating the water to the desired point; or, by hauling the earth,
containing gold, to the nearest stream.
The rocks of this area are quite different, from any, hitherto ex~

amined. In immediate contact with the vein, the rock consists

mainly of granite, which is usually much fissured, and occasionally,
to such considerable depths, that the expense of mining the ore is
reduced to a minimum. Associated with the granite, occur schists
and other metamorphic rocks, consisting of masses of hornblende
and of magnesian silicates, such as serpentine, talc etc.
The gold-bearing veins are numerous; but, only a few, so far,
have been worked, with profit. They vary, from a few inches to
many feet in thickness, and consist mainly of quartz, which usually
appears to have been crushed and broken, by some movement of
the rock-mass. These veins often expand into pockets, carrying
many tons of high-grade ore. Instances are given, where several
hundred pennyweights of gold have been taken, from one pocket,
alone.
The vein-mining consists of open cuts, extending along the out~

cropping of the veins. Some of these excavations are many rods

long, and from ten to thirty feet deep, the earth or decomposed
granite having been removed by hand. The principal part of the
works, as well as the most favorable prospects, for further'develop-
ment, are located on lots I55 1 I65, I66, I92, I9J, I94 and I95, Jrd
district.
244 CARROLL COUNTY

THE CLOPTON PROPERTY

During the writer's examination of the locality, only one prop-

erty, in the vicinity of Villa Rica, was being prospected. This is
known as the Clopton property, located on lot I94, Jrd distn'ct. The
property was, then, in the hands of a Boston company, who had re-
cently made a number of open cuts, shafts and tunnels, along the
outcropping of the vein; and had just completed the erection of a
· mill of recent patent, which was at that time, being perfected and
put in running order. As the President of the Company had in-
structed the Manager of the works, not to give any information,
whatever, concerning the value of the ore, or the process of ex-
tracting the gold, nothing was learned about the property, which
would be of interest to the general public.

THE HART MINE

This mine, lot I65, 2nd district, was worked, more or less exten-
sively, several years ago; and it has produced a considerable amount
of gold. The principal part of the works, on the property, consists
of an open cut, 7 5 yards long, about 20 feet deep and several rods
wide. Some two years ago, work was renewed on the property, a
shaft was sunk on a \·ein to the depth of 3 5 feet, and the ore was
taken out, and milled; but, for some reason, the work was again
soon abandoned. There is, now, to be seen in the open cut, pene-
tt·ating the decomposed granite, a quartz vein, about r 8 inches in
 CARROLL COCNTY
245
thickness. The quartz is of a light gray color, and carries, at the
point exposed, only a small amount of gold. Whether the vein,
exposed, is a part of the main ore-body, or only an off-shoot from
it, could not be definitely determined. Unfortunately, the prospects
on this property, as well as on the above named lots, were found in
no condition for examination. There can be no question, about
there being valuable gold properties in the vicinity of Villa Rica.
However. they must be put in a better condition, for inspection,
before any trustworthy report can be made. Nat one of the various
lots, examined, was sufficiently prospected, to throw any definite
light, on the character or value of the ore-bodies. The works are
generally old and well filled with earth, or flooded with water.

THE BONNER MINE

The Bonner Mine is situated on lots 9+ and 99, I I tit district, seven
miles southwest of Carrollton. The first discovery of gold was
made, here, about I 840, in a number of small streams, flowing into
Buffalo creek. Immediately afterwards, placer-mining began, and
continued, with slight interruptions, until the breaking out of the
civil war. During this time, it is estimated, that the mine produced
more, than half a million dollars of gold. Not enly the beds and
bottoms, along the streams, were found to be rich, in gold; but the
adjacent hillsides and dry hollows, also, contained valuable deposits
These were worked by means of rockers and long-toms, paying
each hand, from two to twenty pennyweights per day.
After the war, mining operations were resumed; but, as the most
valuable part of the placer was, now, either exhausted, or expensive
 CARROLL COUNTY

to work, on account of the thickness of the over-

burden, and the scarcity of water, attention was
turned mainly to vein-mining. This class of
~ "'"
~ mining was found to be less remunerative, than
the former; nevertheless, it was continued, for
several years, with profit.
The auriferous deposits of this property are
to be found, on a rjdge, having an elevation of
about one hundred and fifty feet, above the level
of Buffalo creek, which flows, at the base. of its
northern slope. This slope, forming the source
of a number of tributary heads of the creek, is,
consequently, broken, by narrow ravines and in-
tervening ridges. The former are known to carry
much gold; and they have been more or less ex-
~~ tensively worked. The total area of the deposits,
"'0
~ :;:; that have been worked, cover about fifty acres.
"§
::'1
A number of auriferous veins, similar in charac-
"' "5 ter, occur along this slope, following the trend
u
bJJ of the ridge, or, rather, the strike of its forma-
~
~ ,:, tion, which is, practically, its trend. These veins
"d
0
"'~ have been prospected, for nearly two miles, by
~
~ o shafts and open cuts; and they may be described
<J
-5 as ore-bodies, consisting of a great number of
N.._.
0
" small quartz stringers, separated by thin layers of
0

~ ·~ mica-schist. The quartz and the schist are, fre-

"'rn
o;
u
quently, many times repeated, forming, in places,
~ ·~ ore-bodies, from twenty to forty feet, in thick-
>
ness. These am;iferous zones dip with the schist,
the country-rock, at an angle of about 20°, to the
 CARROLL COUNTY 247

·northeast; and they are, frequently, intersected, by small pegma-

tite dikes ( ?), which are now thoroughly decomposed, and forin a
mass of impure kaolin.
The general character of the ore-body can be studied best, by
what is known as "Big Cut," near the Bonner residence. The lat-
·ter excavation is about three hundred and fifty feet long, and twenty
·feet deep; and, from this many hundred tons of ore have been
mined. There can be seen, here, numerous quartz stringers, run-
ning practically parallel with each other, separated by thin layers
.of schist. A shaft sunk, here, to the depth of sixty feet, shows but
little change in the formation. Not only the quartz, but also the
schists carry more or less gold, to this depth. Furthermore, the
Bradley shaft, a quarter of a mile west of this, and the Tuttle shaft,
:about the same distance, east, show, that the ore-body retains pretty
much the same character, for a considerable distance.
There can be no doubt of the occurrence on this property, of an
almost inexhaustible amount of low grade ore, having an assay value
of from $I to $5 per ton. Besides the vein material, there are
nearly a hundred acres of bottom, on Buffalo creek, which will,
probably, pay for working, as placer. The undeveloped condition
of the property seems to be due to two causes: - First, a lack of
.capital, on the part of the owners, for erecting suitable machinery,
for working the ore; and, second, the high price, placed by them,
on the property, making it an undesirable investment for capitalists.
Samples for assay were taken by the writer, from the Bonner
mine, which, in the laboratory of the Survey, gave the following
results:-

No. I. Ore sample, Big Cut, Bonner

Mine ____ ---------- ______ .05 oz. ($r.oo) of gold per ton
 CARROLL COUNTY

No. 2. Ore sample from the same

Cut---- _ --- ----------- .05 oz. ($r.oo) of gold perton:-
No. 3· Ore sample, Bradley Pit,
Bonner Mine_-- ____ .. ____ .05 oz. ($1.00) ot gold per ton
No. 4· Ore sample, from the same
PiL--- -------- -- .05 oz. ($1.00) of gold per ton
No. 5· Ore sample, Tuttle Shaft,
Bonner Mine ______________ .125 oz. ($2.50)of goldperton

No. 6. Ore sample, from the ·same

shaft - ----- -- ... - -- - . ---- . 2 5o oz. ($ 5 oo) of gold per ton
No.7- Ore sample, Bonner Mine __ .14 oz. ($2.80) of gold per ton
Several lots, lying south of the Bonner property, in the same dis-
trict, have also been prospected for gold; but the ore appears to be
of a low grade; and only a few tons have been milled.

THE STACY MINE

This mine, now owned by T. F. Maddox, of Atlanta, is located

on Oak Mountain, about four miles east of Carrollton. An aurifer-
ous vein, three feet wide, was discovered here, about 18 78. Soon
afterwards, a five-stamp mill was erected on the property; and mining
operations began; but the works were finally abandoned, on account
of the difficulty, in separating the gold from the ore.
r;o/.1! /JF/'OS!TS OF 1;!-:0ii!J/ / ' / ..J T / o' .1·11 I

Till•: IW\' A I. C:O I.I J .\ 11 :-J I•: M\ I J ~ 11 1. 1. . N l·:i\R '1'1\ I.I .A I'OOSA , H ARA LSON COUNT Y GEO R( : I A, S HOII' I NC 1:-Jl' I.I N EIJ ,\ NIJ f: U :VA'I'EIJ Ri\ lf. ROA il ,
' US ED FOR CONVEV I NG O R E FROM ~ li NE '1'0 MILL
 CHAPTER XIX

HARALSON COUNTY

BY S. \V. :\1cCALLIE, ASSISTAJ';T GEOLOGIST

Gold has been discovered in small quantities, on several different

lots, in Haralson county; but only at a few places has it proved of
economic value.

THE DEAN PROPERTY

On the Dean property, lot 23, 7tlz district, are to be seen the remains
of old placer-works, from which, it is said, five hundred pennyweights
of gold were taken, about fifty years ago. The works are located
along a small stream, where they cover less than an acre.

THE McBRAYER PROPERTY

Near by, on McBrayer's property, lots I,207 and I,2JO, 2ot!t dis-
trict, are other small placer-works; also, on these, a limited amount
of vein-prospecting was done, a short time ago, by Mr. Singleton,
who then held an option on ~he property.
(249)
zso HARALSON COUNTY

J. W. THOMASON'S PROPERTY

This property, lot I 27, 7tlt district, as well as some of tlze adjoining
. lots, has been worked on a small scale, from time to time, for their
placer-deposits. The aggregate area of the entire works, in the
vicinity, covers only a few acres, and is confined, principally, to the
beds of small streams, flowing into Beach creek. All attempts to
locate the auriferous veins, that have supplied these deposits, seem
:to have been, so far, unsuccessful.

THE HOLLINS MINE 1

This mine 1s situated near Walker's creek, lot IJ4• 8t!t district,
-three miles west of Tallapoosa. Gold was discovered here, in the
early forties, by \Villiam Owens, the original owner of the property.
The manner of its discovery is quite interesting. While washing a
pan of potatoes, taken from a patch, near the present stamp-mill,
bright specks of gold were noticed, in the dirt. Investigation of
the potato-field substantiated the hope, thus raised, and resulted in
the discovery of a rich surface-deposit. Owens soon began mining
operations, which he successfully continued for several years.
During this time he erected a twelve-stamp mill on Walker creek,
and did considerable vein-mining, as wtdl as surface-work. The
property was, afterward, sold to E. W. Hollins, who operated the
mine, with profit, until the breaking out of the civil war.
Immediately after the war, Windom & King worked the mine,
---------
1 Since this report was written, this property has been purchased by the Royal Gold Mining Co.,
·of which Mr. C. E. James, of Chattanooga, Tenn., is President, and Mr. Franklin Harris, also o!
Chattanooga, is Secretary. The mine, which is now called the Royal Mine, has been thoroughly
equipped with a chlorination-plant, etc., and is said to be having much success- \V. S. Y.
 HARALSON COUNTY 251

;for about three years. This firm erected, on the property, a ten-
stamp steam mill, together with the necessary pumping machinery,
to rid the mine of water. Nothing seems, now, to have been done,
at the mine, until I 886, when John Cross leased the property, for a
term of ten years, with the privilege of buying it, for the sum of
$20,000. At the expiration of three months, Cross was successful,
in selling the property to the Camille Gold Mining Comi)any, for
$ so,ooo. The new firm spent several thousand dollars, in erecting
the present well-equipped mining-plant; but they operated the
mine only for about two years. Since then a St. Louis company,
. and, also, French & Fisher, of the old Franklin mine, made some
mill-tests of the ore; but no regular mining has been attempted.
The main part of the old works consists of an open cut, about
two hundred yards long, one hundred and fifty feet wide, and fifteen
feet deep, extending along the outcroppings of the vein. It is
claimed that more than one hundred thousand pennyweights of
gold have been taken, from this excavation, alone. The more
recent work consists of two shafts, located within a few rods of
each other. Both have been driven along the slope of the vein -
one, to the depth of one hundred and eighty-six feet, and the other,
to the depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The former, knovvn
as Shaft No. 2, has three different drifts, extending, at different
levels, along the strike of the vein, in either direction. The first
occurs at a seventy-five-foot level, and runs, east, one hundred feet,
the second strikes in, at a level of one hundred and four feet, and
·extends, east, forty feet; and the third, at the bottom of the shaft,
·drifts, west, fifty feet. The latter, known as Shaft No. I, has two
drifts - one, at the seventy-five-foot level, extending, west, one
:hundred and twenty-eight feet; and the other, uniting the two
shafts. Many tons of ore were taken, from these shafts, and milled;
 HARAI-SON COUNTY

'for about three years. This firm erected, on the property, a ten-
stamp steam mill, together with the necessary pumping machinery,
to rid the mine of water. Nothing seems, now, to have been done,
at the mine, until 1886, when John Cross leased the property, for a
term of ten years, with the privilege of buying it, for the sum of
$2o,ooo. At the expiration of three months, Cross was successful,
in selling the property to the Camille Gold Mining Company, for
$ so,ooo. The new firm spent several thousand dollars, in erecting
the present well-equipped mining-plant; but they operated the
mine only for about two years. Since then a St. Louis company,
and, also, French & Fisher, of the old Franklin mine, made some
mill-tests of the ore; but no regular mining has been attempted.
The main part of the old works consists of an open cut, about
two hundred yards long, one hundred and fifty feet wide, and fifteen
feet deep, extending along the outcroppings of the vein. It is
claimed that more than one hundred thousand pennyweights of
gold have been taken, from this excavation, alone. The more
recent work consists of two shafts, located within a few rods of
each other. Both have been driven along the slope of the vein -
one, to the depth of one hundred and eighty-six feet, and the other,
to the depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The former, known
as Shaft No. 2, has three different drifts, extending, at different
levels, along the strike of the vein, in either direction. The first
occurs at a seventy-five-foot level, and runs, east, one hundred feet,
the second strikes in, at a level of one hundred and four feet, and
·extends, east, forty feet; and the third, at the bottom of the shaft,
·drifts, west, fifty feet. The latter, known as Shaft No. r, has two
·drifts - one, at the seventy-five-foot level, extending, west, one
hundred and twenty-eight feet; and the other, uniting the two
shafts. Many tons of ore were taken, from these shafts, and milled;
 HARALSON COUNTY

but it is said to have been impossible to save the gold,· on account

of the abundance of sulphides.
The ore-body is made up of schists and quartz stringers, forming
a zone, from fifteen to thirty feet wide, dipping with the country-
rock, at a high angle, to the southeast. As the excavations were in-
accessible, no specimens were secured for assay. There is, now, on
the property, in a good state of preservation, an excellent gold-
mining plant, consisting of the following machinery, buildings etc.:-
One Twenty-stamp Mill with 950 lb. Stamps,
Eight Frue Vanners,
One Blake Rock-crusher, I 5x I 9 ins.,
Four Automatic Feeders,
One I 50 horse-power Corliss Engine,
One 50 horse-power Double-headed Engine,
Two So horse-power Boilers,
One Rand Air-compressor, running 24 drills,
Two 2 in. Hooker Pumps,
One Knowles Pump, 2 in. discharge,
One Dean Pump, 2 in. discharge,
One Heater for Boilers,
Four Ingersoll Drilling-machines,
Seven Cottages for Laborers,
One Commissary,
One Blacksmith Shop,
One Superintendent's Residence,
One Assay Office and Fixtures,
One Three-story Mill-house.
 HARALSON COUNTY 2 53

OTHER PROPERTIES

In the vicinity of the Hollins mine, are several lots, which have
been prospected for gold. The lots, that have attracted the most
attention, are 47, 87, 99, I35 and I 45, 8tlz district. All these have
had a limited amount of work done on them ; but it has generally
been, of such a superficial character, as to give a very imperfect
idea, of the economic importance of the veins, prospected. The
surface indications, in places, are quite favorable, and seem to
warrant further investigation. The same layers of dark-colored
laminated quartz (quartzite), which are so characteristic of the gold
belt, along Burnt Hickory ridge occur, also, here; and, in places,
they are said to carry gold. The geological .formations, in the
vicinity, consist, mainly, of mica-schist ; but there also occur, con-
siderable quantities of hornblende-schist and black slate. The
latter is well exposed, in a railroad cut, on lot 45, where it con-
I

tains much iron-stained quartz, that probably carries gold, in small

quantities.
 CHAPTER XX

GILMER COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

THE WHITE PATH MINE

The most noted gold mine in Gilmer county is the White Patht
Mine, located near the Marietta & North Georgia R. R., 1 six miles'
northeast of Ellijay, on lots 253 and 288, 7tlt district, and lot 27 I, Ioth
district. This placer was discovered, in the early forties, by 'vV. J.
Holt ; and it has, since, been worked almost continuously, pro-
ducing, it is claimed, from its earliest workings to the present, more
than one hundred thousand pennyweights of gold. The old miners
tell, what now seem to be almost fabulous stories, about the richness
of certain localities, now known as Austin Bluff, Spriggs' Hollow,
etc. These stories, although doubtless exaggerated, nevertheless,
evidently contain much truth, as they come from various sources,.
and, frequently, from meh, whose veracity, on other points, would
not be questioned.
The gold is usually coarse and water-worn. Many nuggets,
weighing from one to seven hundred pennyweights, have been
found. It occurs in the gravel, along the small streams, that lead
down from the high mountains, lying a. short distance to the east;.
and it is found, not only in the beds of the streams and in the ad-
jacent bottoms; but also on the bluffs,. sixty or. seventy feet high
1
Now the Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern R. R.
(254)
 GILMER COUNTY
255:
The total area of the works does not exceed fifty acres. Much,
of it, however, has been worked over, many times, with profit.
The bed-rock is overlaid with earth and gravel, from two to six •
feet in depth. The overburden, in most cases, has been removed.

Fig. 19

Diagram Showing the Present Condition of the White Path Placer Mine, Gilmer County, .
Georgia.

by hand, and washed in sluice-boxes and rockers, and the gold col--
lected, without the use of mercury. Much of the fine gold, by this
process, must have been carried away with the t'ailings. This may
still be reclaimed, if a more economical mode of working should be
adopted. It seems likely, that the remaining unworked area of the·
placer, which is profitable, is quite limited. Yet, the finding of a
valuable deposit, a few years ago,. i.n. the construction .o.f the. MaLi--
 GILllfER COUNTY

etta & North Georgia R. R., shows that the placer, although known
and worked, for more than half a century, has not, yet, been thor-
oughly prospected. Much time, and a considerable amount of
money, has been spent, from time to time, in trying to locate the
source of the gold, which has supplied the placer; but, so far, all
efforts have been unsuccessful; not even a trace of a vein seems to
have been discovered. The nugget character of the gold, together
with the pocket-like form of the quartz, in the vicinity, indicates,
that the gold, probably, never existed in well defined, continuous
veins, but in pockets or shoots, which have been cut away, by the
action of the running water, and their auriferous contents, distrib-
uted among the water-worn gravel, along the streams below.
The geological formations of the locality consist of mica-schists,
slate, gneisses and marble, having a prevailing southeastern dip.
The former is frequently much folded and fractured, and contains
many quartz veins, of limited extent, running either parallel with
the strata, or cutting them, at various angles. These veins are
often expanded into large pockets, which evidently become con-
tracted, again, into mere stringers, or disappear entirely.
The water-worn quartz bowlders, found along the streams, are
commonly of a dark color, and occasionally quite massive, weighing
many tons. Associated with the mica-schist, in places, are consid-
erable deposits of limonite. This is especially true, of what is
known as the "Dry Hollow," where many valuable nuggets have
been found.
The water supply at the mines, at present, is limited; but, if ne-
cessity should demand, Turnip Town creek could be utilized, which,
would furnish ample water, with sufficient fall, for all necessary
purposes. A mining company, a few years ago, attempted to sup-
ply this mine, and, also, the mine on the adjoining property, with
 GILMER COUNTY 257
water from this source; but, after spending several thousand dollars,
and becoming financially embarrassed, the project was finally aban-
doned.
The number of miners, employed at the White Path mine, is quite
1
variable. At the time of our visit, last summer, which is the
most favorable season, for mining, only about half a dozen were at
work. The miner secures the right of mining, from the owner of
the property, by paying a certain percentage of the gold, for the
privilege, which leaves him, on an average, not over half a penny-
weight per day, for his labor.
The system of mining, as carried on here, consists of removing
the earth and gravel from its natural bed, by means of pick and
shovel, and washing it, in sluice-boxes, 2 where the gold is caught on
riffles, without the aid of mercury.

THE HOLT PROPERTY

This property, which lies immediately south of the White Path

mine, has been worked, as a placer, to a limited extent, along Little
Turnip Town creek. The gold, found here, is usually coarse, and
resembles very closely that, found on the adjoining property. It
occurs in a narrow gorge, which has been cut through the hill, by
the rapidly flowing stream, and also in a wide expanse of bottom,
below, at the junction of Big and Little Turnip Town creeks. A
considerable amount of money was expended, a few years ago, in
1 2
Summer of 1895. See Plate I.
 GILMER COUNTY

constructing a long ditch, and making other necessary preparations,

to put in a hydraulic plant, for working this bottom; but the work
was never completed. It is questionable, whether the bottom really
contains a sufficient amount of gold to justify the necessary destruc-
tion of its valuable farming land.

THE WHITAKER PROPERTY

This property, lot 236, Iotlt district, is located about two miles due
west of the White Path mine. Gold occurs here, in a small placer,
that is said to have produced, from time to time, several hundred
pennyweights. The works, which cover an area of less than an
acre, are located along a small stream, in the upper end of a narrow
valley, shut in by steep hills, on either side, and extending back to
the Ellijay river, about half a mile below. The gravel, overlying
the bed-rock throughout the entire valley, contains more or less
gold; and, if the statements, corn:erning the richness of the deposits,
can be relied on, there can be no question, but that there still re-
mains, here, a number of acres, that could be worked with profit.
The overburden varies, from two to eight feet, in thickness. The
branch, on which the deposit is located, is small, although it fur-
nishes sufficient water, throughout the greater part of the year, for
sluice-washing. The source of the gold is not known. However,
its roughened exterior indicates, that it originated, from the break-
ing down of auriferous quartz veins, near by.
Two or three small quartz veins, containing a considerable amount
of pyrite, were seen outcropping along the north hillside. Those
veins, although they do not carry free gold, that can be detected
 GILJWER COUNTY 2 59

by the unaided eye, are probably auriferous. At any rate, their

·general appearance, together with their close proximity to the
.placer deposit, would seem to warrant such a conclusion.

THE TURKEY PEN MINE

This is a small surface-working, covering only a fraction of an

acre, on lot 45, 7th district. Gold occurs, here, in the residual
I

earth, on a gradually sloping hillside; also in the narrow hollow be-

low. The surface, in places, is said to have been quite rich, and to
have paid well for working; although it had to be carried some dis-
tance, in order to obtain water for washing. On the hillside, above
the surface workings, some prospecting, consisting of an open cut
and a short tunnel, has been done; but the auriferous vein, which
supplied the gold, seems not to have been located. The rocks, ex-
posed in the cut, are mica-schist and hornblende-gneiss, the latter
being, probably, an intrusive mass or dike. They have their usual
southeastern dip, and are cut at various angles, by small, white
-quartz veins.

THE CARTICAY MINE

This mine, consisting of both placer and vein working, is located

on the right bank of Carticay river, on lot IJ9, 6th district, about six
miles east of Ellijay. The greater part of the placer-workings,
260 GILMER COUNTY

which cover a number of acres, was done so many years ago, that
the area is now overgrown, in places, by trees ?f considerable size.
The early returns are said to have been quite profitable, and to
have yielded many pennyweights of fine gold. Only a few nug-
gets, the largest valued at twenty-five dollars, are reported to have
been found.
The source of the placer gold appears to be an auriferous quartz
vein, cutting the mica-schist and granite, at the upper end of the
placer. One of these veins, discovered a few years ago, was thought,
at the time, to be a very important find. Subsequent developments,
however, proved its wealth, as far as developed, to be in a mere
pocket of small dimensions, that was soon exhausted. A tunnel
was afterwards driven, along the strike of the vein, for about fifty
feet; and a number of tons of ore were taken out, and milled on a
small ten-stamp testing-mill, erected near by; but no reliable in-
formation could be ascertained, concerning the result of the test.
At the time of our visit, the pit, where the rich pocket was struck,
and also the tunnel, leading off from it, was so filled with water,
that it was found impossible, either to examine the vein, or to obtain
specimens of the ore. The extent of the prospecting has been
quite limited, and of such a superficial character, as to give no cor-
rect idea of the value of the ore-body. In order to obtain reliable
information, concerning the gold-bearing veins on this property,
there must be a further outlay of money, in sinking shafts and
driving tunnels, at lower levels.
The country-rock, consisting mainly of mica-schist, is much folded
and broken, and is impregnated,.in places, by large veins of coarse-
grained granite (pegmatite), which were injected, while yet in a plastic
state, into their present position, during the folding and breaking of
the country-rock. The gold-bearing vein appears, to be intimately
 GILMER COUNTY

associated with the pegmatite, if not enclosed, entirely, within it.

Further observations, however, are necessary, in order to verify the
latter suggestion. The paying portion of the placer is now sup-
posed to be practically exhausted; and, consequently, the value of
the property must depend, chiefly, on the character of the aurifer-
ous vein, yet to be located. The water supply, for mining pur-
poses, is abundant. Both the river and a small stream, running
through the upper end of the placer, could be utilized, if necessary.
The latter has considerable fall, and has been used, to some extent,
in hydraulic mining.
A limited amount of placer-mining has been done, in the same
district, on the Reese, the Johnson and the Smith properties,· but they
have now ceas~d to produce gold, in paying quantities.
 CHAPTER XXI

FANNIN COUNTY

BY S. W. McCALLIE, AssiSTAI>T GEOLOGIST

The only locality, where gold has been. found, of economic im-
portance, in Fannin county, is in the 7th distnct, on lots 285, J2I ana
3 22. Gold was discovered, here, in the gravel deposits of Noon-
tootly creek and its tributaries, prior to the late war. The deposits
have since been worked, from time to time, yielding, it is claimed,
many thousand pennyweights of gold. The entire area of the works
covers only a few acres. Much of the creek bottom, which, in places,
is more than a hundred yards, in width, seems never to have been
thoroughly prospected. It is quite likely, that there still remains,
here, valuable, unworked gravel-beds. This, however, can be easily
determined, to a considerable degree of certainty, by judiciously
sinking a number of inexpensive test-pits, at various points, in the
creek-bottom. The earth and gravel, overlying the bed-rock, va-
ries from two to six feet, in thickness. The abundance of water, to-
gether with sufficient fall for hydraulicking, reduces the expense of
placer-mining, here, to a minimum.

(z6z)
 FANN!N COUNTY

LOT 321, 7TH DISTRICT

On lot J2I, three pits, from fifteen to twenty feet, in depth, be-
sides a number of open cuts, have been made, with a view of loca-
ting the gold-bearing vein which has supplied the placer. At the
time of our visit, these openings were all so filled with water or earth,
that it was impossible, to make a satisfa,ctory examination of the
veins, prospected, with the exception of a small vein, only a few
inches wide, in an open cut, well up the hillside. This vein con-
sists of iron-stained quartz, dipping with the mica-schists, the coun-
try-rock, at a high angle, to the southeast. It frequently shows
free gold; but its true richness is revealed, only when it is crushed
in a mortar and panned. The decomposed mica-schist, immedi-
ately surrounding the quartz vein, carries gold, making the entire
ore-body about a foot in width. It is mere guesswork, to attempt
to give any correct idea of the value of this vein, from the limited
exposure. Nevertheless, the prospect is encouraging; and it cer-
tainly warrants a more thorough exploration.
Near by, other veins, similar in character, are reported to occur.
One or two of these have, in time, been prospected. Yet, for rea-
sons above stated, their size, and the character of the ore, which
they carry, could not be ascertained, with any degree of accuracy.
The surface of the hillside, about the outcropping of the vein,
and also the hollows, below, in places, are said to carry a sufficient
amount of gold, to pay for working. These auriferous deposits are
located in a rugged and mountainous section, and have apparently
no connection, whatever, with any other deposits, in this part of
the State. The country-rock and the vein material, however, re-
 FANNIN COUNTY

semble that, found in the gold-bearing belt, lying further south,

which indicates both a synchronous and a common origin.
At a number of other places, within the county, gold is reported
to have been found, in limited quantities. One mile west of Blue
Ridge, on a small stream, flowing into Sugar Creek, some placer-
working was dope, a few years ago; and a number of pennyweights
of gold were taken out; but the overburden, which had to be re-
moved, mainly by hand, was so great, that the work proved -unprofi-
table, and it was finally abandoned.
 CHAPTER XXII

LUMPKIN COUNTY

BY W. S. YEATES, STATE GEOLOGIST I

GENERAL REMARKS

When we consider, that, in the latter part of the first half of this
.c;entury, Lumpkin county was one of the most important gold coun-
ties in the Union, so important, in fact, that the Federal Govern-
ment thought the demands of the industry, in this and the neighbor-
ing counties, sufficient to establish a branch mint at its county-seat,
we may well wonder, why its hills and streams have been, for years,
.almost deserted by the miner; for, "in the forties," thousands of gold
miners, scattered along the streams of North Georgia, were enthu-
:siastically engaged in the crude methods of gold mining, which
then obtained. The little country cross-roads, known as Auraria,
in the southern part of Lumpkin county, then boasted of its hun-
dreds of inhabitants ; and a bank, two newspapers, and numbers
.of retail stores catered to the wants of this industrious town.
Now, the place is barely a shadow of its former self. Decay
has settled, like a pall, on the few houses, left to tell the tale of

I When field-work was begun on this county, I expected to be able to complete it, without aid;

but the work was so frequently interrupted, by urgent calls to administrative duties in Atlanta,
that I found it necessary, to assign a portion of the field-work to my Assistant, Mr. McCallie; though,
in most cases, I have personally visited the properties examined by him.

(265)
z66 LUJIIPKIN COUNTY

its by-gone activity. A post-office in a small country store; one

or two other small stores, which, with the first, supply the neces-
sities of life for the immediate neighborhood; and, probably, half a
dozen small dwellings, with a number of untenanted houses, too far
decayed for human use, is all, that is left of lively N uckollsville of
"the forties." The name of the place was changed to Auraria,
through the influence of Senator John C. Calhoun, of South Caro-
lina, who then owned the Calhoun Gold mine, near-by. The oldest
inhabitants tell us, that the primary cause of the desertion of the
gold mines was the wonderful stories of great discoveries in Cali-
fornia, in I 849. This is doubtless true, in a considerable degree;
but, after nearly twenty years of active work, is it not true, that the
gravel deposits were beginning to show considerably less profit,
than formerly? The investigations, detailed in this bulletin, show,
that comparatively little of the auriferous gravel deposits remain
intact, and that many of them have been worked over, as often as.
three times, by the crude methods formerly employed. Compara-
tively little vein-mining was carried on, in those days ; for it is
easier and more profitable, to work the surface deposits, than to fol-
low the vein down deep in the ·earth, especially when the veins are
of low grade ; and it is highly probable, that this had its influence
on the average miner.
In a statistical table of the gold production of the South, com-
piled by Mr. Stuart W. Cramer, and published in the Report of
the Director of the Mint for I Sgz, the amount of gold produced
in Georgia, from the year of its discovery to I 8gz inclusive, is esti-
mated to be $I S,goz,z6o, of which $q, I80,500 was produced prior to·
I 880. It is safe to say, that much the greater part of this was taken
from the gravel deposits; and a large proportion of it, from Lump-
kin county. Again, in an article on Lumpkin county, page 393.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

WHITE's STATISTICS OF GEORGIA, published in I 849, is the follow-

ing, on the gold production of this county:-" From the best in-
formation I possess, the amount obtained from I829 to I838 was
r6,ooo,ooo dwts., and, from that time until now, 4,ooo,ooo, every
year diminishing, notwithstanding the great improvements in ma-
chinery and increased practical knowledge." This estimate places
the gold production of Lumpkin county, alone, at 2o,ooo,ooo dwts.,
during the first twenty years of the industry. While I am not pre-
pared to say, that this estimate is founded on fact, and while it
seems unreasonable, in this day; yet it should be taken into account,
that, doubtless, much information, which was to be had, at the time,
when the mines were being actively worked, has been lost sight of,.
in the long lapse of time. For instance, it was much easier, then,
with the data fresh before one, to approximate the amount of gold,
which went directly into the fine arts, than it is now, with practi-
cally no data, on which to base an estimate. If the larger part of
the above estimates be credited to the auriferous gravel, the ex-
hausting of these deposits would have a decided tendency to de-
crease the yield. From the statement above quoted, it will be seen,.
that, even as far back as I 849, and probably earlier, it was observed,
that the production of gold was " every year diminishing" ; and it
is plain, that, even then, the gravel placers were beginning to show
signs of exhaustion.
However rich some gold veins have proved to be ; yet the find-
ing of new placer areas is always the signal for a rush to the new
fields. The great gold excitements, that, from time to time, have
convulsed the world, were over wonderfully rich discoveries in·
gravel deposits. The discovery of the immense gold nuggets in
Australia and California caused stampedes to the gold fields of those·
noted gold-producing countries. It is not at all unlikely, that the·
.268 LU1l:fPKIN COUNTY

.immense golden treasures of the ancients were obtained almost en-

tirely from the nuggets and gold dust, found in the old river beds
-of Asia.
But the accessible auriferous gravel deposits of the world are, now,
nearly exhausted ; and man is forced to turn his attention to mining
the gold veins, with their greater difficulties, to be overcome. This
is just the condition, that confronts us in Lumpkin county ; and it
.accounts, to a large extent, for the comparatively little work, ·that
has been done in this county, for so long a period. Even now, the
miners sluice down the auriferous saprolites from the hillsides,
and save what they can, even though, in many cases, it is attended
by loss of the greater part of the gold. The mining people of the
-county appreciate the fact, that the veins are richer, especially below
water-level; but, because the saprolite can be mined at the minimum
of e·xpense, and because they have not the means for putting up ex-
pensive modern plants, however desirable, they continue the practice
-of flooding from reservoirs. An instance of the loss, attending this,
.is referred to, in some detail, in the description of the Preacher
.mine, beyond.
The statistics, collected and published annually by the Director
-of the Mint, show, that there was a considerable spurt, in the gold
production of Georgia, in the year 1882, jumping from $125,000, in
1881, to $312,500 the following year; and then decreasing, with
-only one exception, until 1891, when it was as low as $80,622.
By far the greater part of this increased activity was in Lumpkin
1
county, where many mines were being extensively worked, at that
time. It is the general opinion, in the county, as far as I have
heard it expressed, that bad judgment and incompetent manage-
1
See table, p. 318.
 LUlffPKIN COUNTY

ment, and even dishonesty, had much to do with the falling

off of the industry, from I 882 ; but work on some of the prop-
erties was discontinued, because the free-milling ores, at water-
level, gave place to the sulphide ores ; and these would not yield
enough gold on the plates, to pay for working. It is probably
true, also, that the failure of some of the low-grade ores, to
yield a sufficient return, caused them to be abandoned. Though it
has been only a few years since then; yet it was not possible to work
low-grade ores with such profit, as it is to-day, with the many re-
cent improvements in processes; nor can it be said, that the prob-
lem is yet completely solved; for some inexpensive process, for re-
covering the gold from the extensive low-grade saprolite deposits,
must be substituted for the present wasteful method of flooding
these deposits through sluice-boxes into the mills.
One good result of the increased activity, in 1882, was, that a
considerable number of excellent stamp-mills were erected, and
most of these are in very good condition, now; some, however, are
in IJeed of new mill-houses and general repairing. At present, there
are, in the county, twenty-two stamp-mills, carrying 440 stamps,
and one Huntington, and one horizontal Griffin mill. Of these,
twelve sta~p-mills, with 240 stamps, and the Huntington mill are
in active operation. While some work was being done, at quite a
number of mines, during the past summer and fall; I yet, none of
the properties were being worked, up to their full capacity. In
studying the mines of Lumpkin county, one is impressed with the
fact, that so little development has been done ; for not a mine
in the county shows sufficient development, to rank it much be-
yond a good prospect. The reason for this has been indicated,
above. However, I have frequently heard western mining men,.
I J8q6.
:270 LUMPKIN COUNTY

visiting the section, say, that, if these prospects were in the Western
States, money, for development, could be secured, in any amount,
without the least trouble.

DAHLONEGA

This town, the county-seat of Lumpkin, is still the most impor-

.tant mining town in Georgia. The name is a corruption of the In-
dian name, TAU-LAU-NE-KA, meaning yellow money. Dahlonega is
delightfully located, in the southern part of the county, on a low,
flat ridge, in the midst of the foot-hills of the Blue Ridge mountains,
which lie from I2 to I 5 miles to the north. It has an agreeable and
healthful climate ; and, in summer, it is quite a resort, for people,
who are driven from the cities, by the intense heat.
Dahlonega may be reached by hack from Gainesville on the South-
,ern Railway, which, by the shortest route, is twenty-one miles dis~nt;

or, from Ellijay on the Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern R. R., by

the same means, over a distance of about 30 miles. Good teams
.are to be had at both places, at reasonable hire. The regular daily
mail-hacks from Gainesville are usually patronized; but many per-
.sons prefer to hire special teams from the livery stables. Surveys
have recently been made for a railroad, to run, from either Gaines-
ville or Lula, on the Southern Railroad, to Dahlonega; and it is
probable, that this road will be built, in the near future, for the use
of steam or electric locomotion.
The branch of the United States Mint, which was established at
_Dahlonega in I838, continued in active operation, until the break-
ing out of the civil war, in I 86 I. After the war, the Mint, buildings
 LUhfPKIN COUNTY 27I
.and grounds were given, by the Federal Government, to the trus-
tees of the North Georgia Agricultural College, which is still a
flourishing school. During the lifetime of the Mint at Dahlonega,
$6,Io6,567 were coined, principally in quarter- and half-eagles,
the greatest amount, coined in any single year, being $582,782.50,
in I843.

PORTER SPRINGS

PORTER SPRINGS, quite a famous health resort, is located at the

Joot of Cedar mountain, amid most picturesque scenery. Dur-
ing the summer, when the hotel is open for guests, an excellent
line of hacks conveys passengers from Gainesville to the Springs.
It receives liberal patronage from the wealthier class of citizens.

HISTORY OF GOLD MINING IN LUMPKIN COUNTY

It is claimed by the people of Lumpkin county, that the first

:gold, discovered in Georgia, was found, early in the year I 828,
·on the property, now so well known as the Calhoun mine, by Mr.
Benjamin Parks, who, when I saw and conversed with him, in the
early summer of I894, had reached the advanced age of 94 years.
The story of the discovery, as related by Mr. Parks to Mr. P. J.
Moran of the Atlanta Constitution, is, by courtesy of this gentleman,
taken from one of his interesting papers on Lumpkin county, pub-
lished in the Constitution in I 894, and re-published, as follows : -
 LUMPKiN COUNTY

"The gold," he mused; "yes, I will come to that. It was just

by accident, that I came across it ; the site is now that of the Cal-
houn mine. I was deer-hunting, one day, when I kicked up some-
thing, that caught my eye. I examined it, and decided, that it was
gold. The place belonged to Rev. Mr. Obarr, who, though a
preacher, was a hard man, and very desperate. I went to him, and
told him, that I thought I could find gold on his place, if he would
give me a lease of it. He laughed, as though he did not believe
me, and consented. So, a lease for forty years was written out, the
consideration of which was, that I was to give him' one-fourth of
the gold mined. I took into partnership a friend, in whom I had
confidence. I went over to the spot, with a pan, and turning over
some earth, it looked like the yellow of an egg. It was more than
my eyes could believe.
"The news got abroad, and such excitement you never saw. It
seemed, within a few days, as if the whole world must have heard
of it; for men came from every State, I had ever heard of. They
came afoot, on horseback, and in wagons, acting more like cr.azy
men than anything else. All the way, from where Dahlonega now
stands, to Nuckollsville, there were men panning out of the branches,
and making holes in the hillsides.
"The saddest man, in the county, was Preacher Obarr, from
whom I had leased the land. He thought the lease was a joke;
but now he found out, that it was in earnest. One day, he came to
me, and said : -
"' Mr. Parks, I want your lease.'
" ' But I will not sell it to you,' I replied.
" 'Why not?' he asked.
"'Well,' I answered, 'even if I were willing, it is now out of my
 LUNPiaN COUNTY
273
power; for I have taken a partner, and I know he would never con-
sent to it. I have given him my word, and I will keep it.'
" 'You will suffer for this, yet,' said Obarr, menacingly, as he
went away.
"Two weeks later, I saw a party, of two women and fwo men,
approaching. I knew it was Obarr's family, intent upon trouble.
Knowing Obarr's fondness for litigation, I warned my men to hold
their own, but to take no offensive step.
"'Mr. Parks,' were Obarr's first words, 'I want that mine.'
"'If you were to pay me ten times its value,' I replied, 'I would
not sell it to you.'
"'vVell, the longest pole will knock off the persimmon,' he said,
threateningly.
"At that moment, Mrs. Obarr broke the sluice-gates, to let out
the water. A laborer was in the ditch, and the woman threw rocks
in the water, in order to splash him. Failing to make him aggres-
sive, she burst into tears; when her son advanced, to attack him.
I caught him by the collar, and flung him back. Then the party
went off, swore out warrants against us, and had us all arrested.
All this was done, for intimidation ; but it failed to work; and the
next thing, I heard, was, that Obarr had sold the place to Judge
Underwood, who, in turn, sold it to Senator John C. Calhoun, of
South Carolina ; and then I lost a fortune.
" How was that?"
"Senator Calhoun wanted to buy my lease; and I sold it for
what I thought was a good price. The very first month after the
sale, he took out 24,000 pennyweights of gold, and then I was in-
clined to be as mad with him, as Obarr had been with me. But
that is the peculiarity of gold-mining. You will go, day after day,
exhausting your means and your strength, until you give it up.
274 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Then the first man, who touches the spot, finds the gold, the first
opening he makes. It is just like gambling- all luck."
This old man firmly believed, that he was the first discoverer of
gold in Georgia; but, since there is a strong claim made, that the
first gold discovered was on Duke's creek in White county, in I 829,
it probably will never be settled, which is correct. However, in
Lumpkin county, at least, the Calhoun property is undoubtedly
the first place, on which gold was discovered, by the white man.
·with this discovery, men went excitedly to work on the auriferous
gravel deposits ; and, as has been shown above, great activity pre-
vailed, until these deposits ceased to be so profitable, as formerly.
Then attention was given to mining the veins, principally by open-
cut work and stoping, though, here and there, vertical shafts were
sunk arid tunnels were run. Many of the old tunnels, which are to be
seen, on the various properties, are now lost to history. Enquiry
of men, who have worked the properties for years, fails to reveal
the identity of those, who did this early work. While activity
ceased, to a large extent, toward the close of the second decade
of the discovery ; still, all work was not stopped, even during the
civil war.
One of the most active an::l enthusiastic spirits of the flush times,
was Dr. M. F. Stephenson, an amateur geologist and mineralogist,
full of energy and the belief, that Georgia was one of the richest
mineral States in the Union. All honor to this good man t While, in
the light of the advances, that have been made in mineralogy and
geology, since his day, one may smile incredulously, at some of the
extravagant statements, made in his contribution to the mineralogy
and geology of Georgia; I yet the amount of real good. done by
this pioneer, can never be estimated ; and his name should be re-
vered, and his memory, forever cherished, by Georgians.
I The Geology and Mineralogy of Georgia; by M. F. Stephenson.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 275
When, in I 849, the miners, from the various mines in the coun-
try around Dahlonega, gathered, to take action on the project of
deserting the mines in Georgia, and going in a body to the new
fields in California, this earnest believer in Georgia's great mineral
wealth mounted the court-house steps in Dahlonega, and, address-
ing a crowd of about 200 miners, plead with them, not to allow
their heads to be turned by the stories of the wondrous discoveries
in California, but to stick to the Georgia fields, with their abundant
promise of a great future. Pointing to Findley Ridge, which lay
about half a mile to the South, he exclaimed:- "Why go to Cali-
fornia? In that ridge lies more gold, than man ever dreamt of.
There's millions in it." This last sentence was caught up by the
miners, and taken with them to California, where, for years, it was
a by-word among them. It remained to Mark Twain, who heard
it in common use, in one of the mining-camps of California, to
broadcast it over creation, by placing it in the mouth of his
enthusiastic character, Col. Mulberry Sellers.

TOPOGRAPHY

The northern and northwestern boundary line of Lumpkin county

is the crest of the Blue Ridge, and the county is made up of the
foot-hills of these mountains with their intervening valleys. Black,
High Tower, Grassy, Sassafras and Blood mountains are among the
highest peaks on its northern border, the last named having an
altitude of 4,486 feet above sea-level. Other mountains are Camp-
bell, Long, Cedar, Findley Ridge, the Three Sisters, Turkey Hill,
and numerous unnamed ridges, varying from I,6oo to 3,000 feet
276 LUMPKIN COUNTY

above sea-level. Of these, Findley Ridge, lying half a mile south

of Dahlonega, and extending northeast and southwest, for a dis-
tance of about three miles, is, to mining men, of the greatest inter-
est; for, along its sides, lie the Capps, the Bowen, the Fish Trap,
the Crown Mountain, the Columbia, the Stanley, the Preacher, the
Bast and the Findley gold mines.
The county is well watered, all the valleys being supplied with
streams of greater or less pretentions. The great artery of the
county is the Chestatee river, which rises in the Blue Ridge, and flows
south through the eastern part of Lumpkin, and between Forsyth
and Hall, until it empties into the Chattahoochee river. Its chief
tributaries are Tessantee, Yahoola and Cane creeks, the last two flow-
ing, the one by the northeast, and the other, by the southwest, end
of Findley Ridge. Probably no stream in Georgia has greater local
reputation, as a gold-mining stream, than the Yahoola. Along its
banks, lie the Findley, the Lockhart, the Singleton, the Tahloneka,
the Hand, the Yahoola and the Mary Henry gold mines; and the
tailings from their mills have been, for many years, emptied into
this stream, with a considerable quantity of auriferous sulphides,
which passed over the amalgamated plates, without giving up their
gold content. Much of this debris has been carried into the Ches-
tatee river, during flood times; and considerable of the gold, thus
borne along, has been recovered from this stream by dredges, which
have been worked with flattering success. In the northwestern
part of the county rises the Etowah river, which, also, flows south
through Lumpkin, continuing on through Dawson, Cherokee, Bar-
tow and other counties, till it unites with the Oostanaula at Rome,
to form the Coosa.
An important economic feature, in the topography of the county,
lies in the fact, ~hat the source of water-supply, for working the
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
277
gold mines, is the Blue Ridge on the northern border, while the
mines themselves are in the southern, or lowest, part of the county,
thus giving a fall of from 1 ,ooo to I, 500 feet, in a direct line, of
from fifteen to twenty miles. I do not mean to suggest, that it
would be at all practicable, :in such a mountainous country, to bring
a mining-ditch over a direct line. There are already in the county
several very satisfactory ditches, which supply the various mines
with water, the principal one being that, known as the Hand Ditch.
As a rule, these ditches have furnished abundant water, for operat-
ing the mines; but, during the past summer,' which has been the
driest known to the inhabitants, for forty or fifty years, the tax on
the volume of water, supplied by the mountain streams, has been
much too great; and a number of the mines were forced to shut
down, for lack of water. In planning the ditches now existing, it
has not been found necessary to go to so great an altitude, for the
source of water-supply, as was mentioned above.
The hills and mountains of the county are covered with an
abundance of pine, chestnut, hickory, oak etc., sufficient to supply
all demands for fuel, both for mining and domestic consumption,
for many years to come. Much of this is virgin forest. A good
view of the timber, which covers the surrounding country, may be
had, from any one of the higher ridges in the county; and the dense
foliage, which stretches out, below, to the horizon, contributes no
small part to the beauty of the scene.
The scenery, which one observes along the ridges, valleys and
streams, adds greatly to the pleasure of travel through the country.
One of the most striking features is Cane Creek falls, on a pretty
drive of two and a half miles from Dahlonega. At this point,
Cane creek dashes over a huge mass of hornblende-schist, down
I 189f>.
278 LUMPKIN COUNTY

thirty or forty feet, frothing and sparkling, till the waters eddy off
in the stream below.'

GEOLOGY OF THE GOLD DEPOSITS

The difficulties, attending an attempt to study the geology of the

gold deposits of this county, are greatly augmented, by the fact,
that the unaltered rocks are usually buried below many feet of
saprolite ; and, that, only in rare instances, has work been done in
the mines, sufficient to place unaltered material within reach of the
geologist. With the exception of the hornblende rocks, the dumps
are almost barren. It is true, that, occasionally, unaltered gneiss or
mica-schist is to be found ; but it is impossible, at the present time,
to get anything like a complete series of tl).e unaltered rocks.
Hence, reliance must be placed, to a large extent, on what it is
possible to get, from a study of the saprolites. It is this, that ren-
ders the work, at this stage of development of the mines, very
difficult, and not altogether satisfactory. Moreover, the demand
for the economic information, contained in this bulletin, is so ur-
gent, that I am compelled, for the present, to subordinate careful
laboratory study of the rock material, to the economic necessities,
trusting, that, later on, I may be permitted to properly present
these scientific details, which may shed additional light on the
2
subject.
The principal rocks of this county are gneisses and schists. They
have been generally referred to the Archcean. In the valleys, these
rocks are covered with four or five feet of alluvium and detrital
1 2
See Plate XX. See p. 319.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 279
wash from the hillsides. Where exposed, they are decomposed,
from the surface down, in varying depths, to a hundred feet or
more, this material having been very aptly termed "saprolite," by
Dr. Becker. 1 Besides these rocks, there are to be seen quartzose
slates, granites and massive quartz in veins.
The gneisses and schists are intimately related, often shading
from the one form to the other, in the same mass. Indeed, as ob-
served by Dr. Becker, 2 the schist is "immediately recognizable, as
derived from gneiss." They are divisible into two classes, those
containing mica, and those containing hornblende, as an essential
constituent.

THE ORDINARY GNEISSES AND MICA-SCHISTS

These are, by far, the most abundant rocks in the county. In

places, the gneiss predominates ; though gneissoid mica-schists
more generally abound. Outcrops of a highly feldspathic gneiss
are of frequent occurrence, along what are known as the upper and
middle Gainesville roads, for a distance of six or eight miles from
Dahlonega, beginning east of Yahoola creek 3 and south of the
Chestatee river. It seems to be the predominant country-rock
of that section of the county. Muscovite and biotite are the pre-
vailing micas, though hydrous micas are characteristic of some of
the schists, as will be seen, further on.
In the saprolite condition of these rocks, the feldspar and mica
have been subjected to surface alteration, the iron oxides, set free
from the micas, imparting, usually, brilliant tints of red, yellow,
1
Loc. cit., P• 3+·
2
Op. cit., p. IS.
3 The Hand mine is an exception to this.
280 LU1l£PKIN COUNTY

gray etc., to the mass. The gneissic and schistose structure of

these saprolites is, as a rule, quite as distinct, as before alteration.
Many of the mica-schists are garnetiferous ; and, in the gold
district, the garnets often contain gold. Some of the schists en-
close more or less well-defined quartz veins, some of which are
auriferous, the schists themselves sometimes containing gold;
others contain thin ribbon veins and lenses of auriferous quartz,
both much distorted, the whole mass constituting an ore-body; still
other schists, in belts, are auriferous, even though no quartz may be
present. This is explained by Dr. Becker, as resulting, probably,
from the passing away of the quartz in solution, leaving the
gold behind.' These rocks are almost barren of well crystallized
minerals. The disintegrated debris shows the following accessory
minerals:- Gold, garnet, kyanite, magnetite, ilmenite, pyrite and
chalcopyrite. Most of these are to be found, also, in the veins of
the district, besides which the occurrence of allanite, apatite,
chalcocite, malachite, limonite, hematite, pyrrhotite, siderite, tet-
radymite, tourmaline, chlorite, galena and pyromorphite has been
noted, from time to time.

THE YELLOW A~D BLACK BELTS

When one visits, for the first time, the mines around Dahlonega,
he hears, with some confusion, much talk about the "Yellow" and
the " Black " belts ; and he soon finds, that great stress is laid on
these, by the miners, as gold-producers. The schists of the "Yel-
low Belt" contain gold throughout, they say; while, as a rule,
I Op. cit., p. 44·
(;OJ. n /Jio' f'(JS/'! 'S OF (,'Jo'(JJ.'!, I . I /'/.. I Tlo' . \' /I '

V II•: IV I N T ill•: fli' I•:N - CU T O F Till·: S I NG I. I·:Tfl :--1 J\ II N E , I >A III.fl N I·:CA , C I•:()I{(;IA , S II OII' I N(: CO N \ ' O I. U TII> NS O F Til l·: 11 \ ' J) I<fl i\ I ICA S l. i\ '1'1-: S.
 LUJ11PKJN COUNTY 28 I

the veins only, of the "Black Belt" are gold-bearing. These names
apply to certain yellow and nearly black schistose saprolites, which
are to be found at a number of the mines, along Findley Ridge.
They alternate with each other, forming a seri"es, which strikes, as a
rule, N. 50° to 70° W., across the ridge, and dips, usually, from 35°
to 50° to the northeast, the trend of the belts being about N. 70° E.
There are at least two of the yellow belts and three of the black
belts, varying from forty to three hundred and fifty feet wide. This
series lies south of, and adjacent to, the large dike of hornblende-
schist, mentioned elsewhere in this report; and it constitutes the
crest of Findley Ridge.
In one instance, at least, I was able to identify the material of
the so-called yellow belt, as the saprolite of a pearl-gray hydromica-
schist, which I found in a shallow shaft, in the bottom of the open
cut of the Bast mine, on Findley Ridge, where it was easily trace-
able, from the completely altered to the unaltered material. As
to the "Black Belt," a quartzose slate, underlying its saprolite in
the Findley mine, seems to be the unaltered material. It con-
tains considerable dark-green chlorite, of a species, not yet deter-
mined. This slate constituted the largest part of a dump-pile,
which had been taken from an eighty-foot shaft, at the bottom of
the open cut, which was sunk through the black slates, to a consid-
erable distance, in the underlying quartzose schists.
The saprolite of "THE BLACK BELT " is striking! y different, in
appearance, from that of the "Yellow belt." The former has a
decid·edly slaty cleavage, and is colored by manganese and iron
oxides, the brownish-black predominant color being characteristic.
In tunnels, where the tints are brought out, by the condition of
moisture, they sometimes present great beauty, being banded and
flecked with rose, white, delicate blue, dark brown, buff and golden

'..
282 LUMPKIN COUNTY

yellow. These schists usually cleave, along parallel planes, into

thin slates, and are quite smooth, on the cleavage surface. They are
very brittle, because of their decomposed condition, though they are
sufficiently impregnated with manganese and iron oxides, to render
them somewhat hard. Folds in these slates are not uncommon.
An interesting series of anticlines and synclines, with arches not
exceeding six feet in height, may be seen in the slates of "the
Black belt," in the north tunnel of the Crown Mountain property,
with one of the yellow belts overlying it. No bands occurring in
the latter, folds are not easily discernible; and, in this particular
instance, I do not remember to have noticed any.
"THE YELLOW BELT" is also known, among the miners, as the
"Soft belt." These yellow decomposed schists are compact, and
very soft, crumbling readily between the fingers. The schistose char-
acter of these is less easily perceptible, than in "the Black belt";
but the lengthening of the individual grains, in the plane of schis-
tosity, seen on a transverse fracture, would fix their character. The
mass is of ochre yellow ; but red, white and, sometimes, black are
sprinkled all through it. This material, with its vein content, is
easily worked for gold, with the hydraulic giant and the system of
flooding from elevated reservoirs. The slates of the " Black belt"
are not so easily worked by this method ; but the giant may be
used to a limited extent.

OTHER MICA-SCHIST SAPROLITES

That a number of other varieties of mica-schist are to be found

in the mines in Lumpkin county may be expected; but their sapro-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

lites do not vary sufficiently among themselves, to afford positive

differentiation, without proper laboratory study. They vary from
normal gray to a brownish gray. These seem to retain their origi-
nal character, to a more marked degree, than the schists of either the
"Yellow" or the "Black belt." It is frequently the case, that the
mica still shows the strong pearly lustre, so characteristic of the
unaltered material. Some of the masses, like the schists of the
"Yellow and Black belts," show little, if any, crumpling; while
others are much crumpled and plicated. Of the fo.rmer, is the
gray schist, of which much of the unaltered rock was blasted out,
at the Chestatee mine, in building the plant for working the bed of
the Chestatee river. A good illustration of the latter is the sapro-
lite of the Singleton mine. A fold in these may be seen in Plate
XIV, by following the curve indicated by the white feldspathic
band. The axis is just beyond the position of the two miners, in
the picture. The schists in this mine show as striking crumpling,
as any, I have encountered in the county. Where feldspar or quartz
bands occur with bands of mica or hornblende, the contortion is dis-
tinctly seen, and is, at times, remarkable. The mica of the schists,
from the two mines mentioned above, are muscovite and biotite.
Quite recently, I have been able to secure unaltered specimens of
the schist from the Singleton mine; and it is of the ordinary gray
muscovite-biotite variety, totally unlike the unaltered material of
the "Yellow" and "Black belts"; although some of the leading
miners of the section have confused the mica-schist saprolite from
this mine, with that of the "Black belt." However, there are, here
and there, in this mine, streaks of chlorite, resulting from the altera-
tion of biotite.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE HORNBLENDE-SCHIST

This rock leaves, on alteration, a harsh, friable, brownish-yellow

mass, with a multiplicity of joints, slightly oblique to the plane
of schistosity, causing the material to break readily into small
prismatic blocks, with more or less perfect rhombic cross-sections.
These are known, among the natives, as "brick-bat." Referring,
on one occasion, to a dump-pile of hornblende-schist, at one of the
mines, I asked a miner, what it was called among his fellows.
He promptly replied:-
"Brick-bat gone hard," showing, that even the common miner
recognizes the transition of the rock from one condition to the
other.
Many unaltered specimens of these rocks were examined by me,
with the aid of a Browning triplet of ?1l-inch focus. They varied
from the finest grained schist, in which neither feldspar nor quartz
was visible to the unaided eye, to that, beautifully marked with
minute layers of white quartz, more or less discontinuous. All
these specimens, under the lens, showed grains of quartz; and the
layers, visible to the unaided eye, were composed of very finely
granular quartz. I did not observe any diorite in Lumpkin
county; yet it has been observed in several localities, in North
Georgia. In his Reconnaissance of the Gold Fields of the Southern
Appalachians, Dr. Becker states,' that Dr. Hayes has found, in Cobb
county, to the southwest of the Franklin mine, "areas of dark
diorite some miles in diameter, which pass over into schists, similar
to those at Dahlonega and elsewhere."
1
See p. r;.
 LL'MPKIN COUNTY

These sheared hornblende belts vary in

""""'
f-<
width, from a few inches to half a mile.
are intercalated among the gneisses and mica-
They

ti
"' schists, having, as far as noted, the same
""-5" schistosity. I observed, that the shearing
c: passed directly from the one kind into the
<ii
:::: other, of these rocks, showing, that the horn-
-"
;:; blende rocks were intruded, before the dyna-
0
:J]

-5"
mo-metamorphic action, which produced the
"....0 shearing, and which changed much of the
""'0.0. gneiss into mica-schist. I use the word, "in-
< truded," because it seems to me highly proba-
>.
-5" ble, that these hornblende rocks .are very an-
"' ~
"'
;:Q. cie.nt dikes, which had their positions in the
"0.0
"'""' c.,.... country-rock, anterior to the. dynamo-meta-
<:S morphism, which left them gneissic and schist-
~ uilS
N ~ ose, as they are at present. It is not to be
til "'
:;s"' "
'(<
~
" :;s"'0
"'C
= expected, that, after passing through such de-
= formation, they would retain their original
" =
:0
=
.... e
0
:r:
"
u
characteristic outlines; but, that they would
be more or less distorted. This distortion
"'~" introduces, in part, at least, the element of
<
..... doubt, which exists, as to their genesis. But,
0
"' as positive proof is still lacking, the word,
;.§"
;:; "dike," is used, hereafter, tentatively.
0
.s= In the east tunnel of the Crown Mountain
u
property, half-a-mile south of Dahlonega, two
~....
0 small masses of altered hornblende-schist are
u
bD cut through, which I take to be apophyses
·~
=
0 from the immense dike, which is crossed, in
-"
:J]

-" coming up the mountain from Dahlonega. In

u
<i fig. 2 I, I have represented the outlines, made
..:.:
cr;

.. by these two masses on one of the walls of the

286 .lUMPKiN COUNTY

tunnel, which is six feet high. In this tunnel, the uninterrupted

continuation d schistosity between the micaceous and the horn-
blende rocks, mentioned above, may be plainly seen. ·
Two similar limbs were cut through, in the north tunnel on this
property; these are more fully noticed, in the description of the
Crown Mountain property, further on.
Beginning on the west side of Dahlonega, I traced one of these
ancient dikes, for a mile, to Yahoola creek. Its course lies, gener-
ally, N. 70° E., passing through the Hand mine to the creek, and,
probably, beyond. Its width varies from 200 to 2SO yards. It is
well exposed along the road at the Hand mine, where it is deeply
cut by a small stre:\m. About twenty yards southeast of this point,
is the outcrop of another dike. This one is half a mile wide, both
at the creek, and where it is crossed, in Dahlonega, by what is
known as the middle Gainesville road. The belt of mica-schists,
lying between these dikes, presents the cross-section of a lens, at
the surface, for about three-quarters of a mile, approximating 2 so
yards wide, nearly this entire distance. In Dahlonega, along the
street terminating in the middle Gainesville road, it seems to disap-
pear; and little, if any, mica-schist saprolite was observed, though
the belt again appears along the road, just beyond the college,
about 2 so yards west of the street mentioned, where it is fifty yards
wide. At the Ivey mine, this belt again widens considerably.
At the ea5t end of the lens, in the road at the Hand mine, the ad-
jacent margins are, as stated above, only twenty steps apart. At
the top of the hill, southwest of this point, and about a hundred
yards away, the margins are 6o or 70 yards apart. From this hill,
0
the north margin of the lens strikes N. SS E., and the south mar-
gin, N. 3S 0 E. The general trend of the contact between the mica-
schist and the dike on either side, except near the points of the
lens, a5 they appear at the surface, is N. 70° E. It is in these mica-
schists, that the Free Jim mine has been sunk. The larger dike has
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

its south margin lying along Findley Ridge, near its top; and it
forms the hanging-wall of the Findley, the Bast, the Griscom, the
Preacher, the Columbia, the Crown Mountain, the Bowen and the
Capps mines. For want of time, the dike was not traced by me
farther southwest through the county; but it, doubtless, may be
identified with one of those, in that part of the county. On the
Turkey Hill property, near Auraria, on the southern side of the
Chestatce river, there are two dikes, side by side, separated only
by a narrow belt of mica-schist, which contains one of the larger
auriferous quartz veins of the property. These dikes, which, to-
gether, are about two hundred yards wide, cross the middle Gaines-
ville road, about five miles southeast of Dahlonega. It is likely, that
they may be identified with the outcrops in Auraria; as their strike,
N. 70° E., would lead one to expect outcrops at that point. Another
narrow dike crosses the middle Gainesville road, seven miles south-
east of Dahlonega. Two and a half miles northwest of Dahlonega,
the waters of Cane creek dash over a forty-foot precipice of horn-
blende-schist, part of a dike about 300 yards wide, which runs par-
allel with the others described. r Four others, of varying widths,
are to be seen crossing the road, between this one and Dahlonega.
Very little gold has been found in these dikes, the comparatively
few quartz veins, occurring in them, not containing enough of the
precious metal, to class them as auriferous, from an economic point
of view.
Some of the more intelligent mining men claim, that the Ya-
hoola runs along the line of a considerable displacement. The
fact, that there is no continuity, in places, between the rocks on
either side of the creek, and that there is such a difference in their
character, at such points, along the two banks, suggests a ground
1
See Plate XX.
288 LUNPKIN COUNTY

for the claim. As a rule, the rocks east of the creek are much
more gneissic in character. The veins of the Singleton mine, which
extend to the creek, have not been found beyond it. Hornblende
rocks on the west side, striking across the creek, suddenly give
place to ordinary gneisses on the other side. A series of mica-schists,
including those of the yellow and black belts, borders the south-
east edge of the large dike, for a distance of about 2 50 yards
along the creek. The strip, running north and south, is hardly more
than a hundred yards wide. However, tongues of the dike cut
through this strip to the creek. In these mica-schists is the Lock-
hart mine.
That there is some sort of connection, between these hornblende
masses and the auriferous deposits, has long been the observation
of both miners and geologists, familiar with the section; for these
masses are always numerous in the auriferous districts; and, in
many instances, they are either the hanging- or foot-walls of the
auriferous quartz veins. Along the northeast side of the horn-
1
blende mass, marked B, in the east tunnel of the Crown Mountain
property, runs a small auriferous quartz vein, varying from a half-
inch to four inches in thickness, on either side of which is a pale-
yellow clay, three or four inches thick, streaked with red bands, par-
allel with the quartz vein. This forms a sharp line of contact be-
tween the hornblende- and mica-schist saprolites. At the Singleton
mine, the immense mass of hornblende-schist, which constitutes the
northwest half of the hill, in which most of the work has been
done, is the foot-wall of the best producing vein of this mine. 2 At
the Turkey Hill mine, two dikes are the foot-walls of the three-
foot and the twelve-foot auriferous veins, the mica-schists, in which
the two veins occur, being comparatively narrow bands. All along
1 2
See fig. 21. See figs. 26, 27 and 28.
t:OJ./ J f)J·: J'OSIT\' OF (,'FOII't:/.1 1'1-. 1'/ F .\" 1'

llllli ~ ITI ·: ll i K I·:, 1.\"1 !\ !: () !\ T ill' NO RTH OF TH I·: O I' I': N CU T . SI N C I .I-:Til N \ ·I I N I·: . 11!\ HI.O N I·:i: .\ , C l·:llR\: 1,\ ,
AT.Il N <: . S ll l 1·: () 1-' A :--1 AU I~ I F I·: Ril US t) UA RTZ V 1-: 1!\.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 289
Findley Ridge, the large dike, as is mentioned above, is the hang-
ing-wall of the auriferous deposits at the various miJJ.es. Other
instances might be cited, which would show the juxtaposition of
these metamorphosed dikes and bodies of ore.
The comparative scarcity of quartz veins in the dikes is probably
due to the toughness of the hornblende rocks, with their interlocked
acicular crystals, and to the re~dily fissile character of the surround-
ing mica-schists and gneisses, the latter offering feeble resistance,
and fissuring easily, thereby relieving the strain. It may be, that
this had much to do with the gold veins lying up against the dikes;
since, on account of the resistance offered by the hard hornblende
rock, the strain would find a vent between the mica-schists and the
dike.

GRANITE DIKES

Granite dikes seem to be of rare occurrence in the gold belt of

Lumpkin county. I saw one crossing a tunnel of the Mary Henry I

mine near the mouth of the tunnel. The quasi-granite at the Mary
Henry gold mill on Yahoola creek, which shows a slight shearing,
may also be of igneous origin. Mr. McCallie informs me, that he
observed granite dikes, near the Cora Lee property, in the north-
east end of the belt.
I Referred to, as the Murray mine, in Becker's report.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

QUARTZOSE SLATES

About three quarters of a mile northeast of Dahlonega, on the

upper Gainesville road, quartzose slate outcrops, for a quarter of
a mile along the road, being especially noticeable, near the 1 -mile

post. The parallel planes, along which the fine-grained saccha-

roidal quartz is arranged, in bands from an eighth to a quarter of
an inch thick, between thin layers of mica ; and th7 facility, with
which it cleaves along these mica layers, leaving large surfaces of
the outcrop perfectly flat and smooth, is apt to strike the passer-
by, as unlike the features of any other rock, he has seen before,
in this section of the country. About a hundred yards northwest
of the mile-post mentioned, in one of the tunnels of the Mary
Henry mine, may be seen the saprolite of this schist. Its structure
consists of straight, parallel, white, lead-colored and yellowish-gray
bands, from a thirty-second to a quarter of an inch in thickness_
The white bands consist of kaolin; the yellowish-gray, of kaolin with
minute particles of partially decomposed chlorite, the liberated iron
oxide slightly staining the band; and the lead-colored, of small,
glassy quartz grains, with very finely divided particles of decom-
posed mica, intimately mixed with them, giving the bluish-gray
color to the bands.
As has been noted, in another part of this report, the unaltered
material of the saprolite, known as the black slates, is also a quartz-
ose slate; but, while the two rocks are lithologically similar, still
the weathered product of the one is totally unlike that of the other;
and they will, probably, be found to be historically and economic-
ally dis·similar.
 LUllfPKIN COUNTY

ROCKS OF MORE RECENT ORIGIN

Along the streams, spreading out over the valleys, and some-
times occurring even well up on the ridges and hillsides, may be
seen one or more of the unconsolidated sedimentary rocks. Bowl-
ders and pebbles, from the upturned auriferous gravel beds, are
scattered over much of the lower levels of the gold belt ; and, here
and there, they may be found even along the tops of ridges ; de-
trital wash from the decomposed gneisses, schists and disintegrated
quartz veins, which the rains have brought down from the hillsides,
is now, and has been for ages, forming valley deposits ; while clay-
beds, reaching nearly to the tops of ridges, were, probably, depos-
ited, either by slack water, during one of the later geological periods,
or, as a result of the degradation of the ridges themselves. On top
of these, when it has not been washed away, are a few inches of
rich soil, especially in the valleys.

THE GRAVEL BEDS

Before they were worked for gold, the gravel beds lay in place,
on top of the bed-rock, covered with detritus, consisting of clay, sand
etc. The bowlders and pebbles, which, with their interstitial sand
and clay, compose these beds, are formed from the gradual break-
ing away of the quartz veins, which may, or may not, be gold-
bearing. As these angular quartz fragments are carried along,
by the smaller streams, and by creeks and rivers, during times of
freshet, they roll and tumble against each other, and the sharp
292 LUMPKIN COUNTY

angles are gradually rounded, the water with its burden of finer
detritus giving the pebbles their smoothness. The distance, trav-
eled by a quartz pebble, is indicated, in a general way, by the
degree of wear on its angles; those derived from veins close at hand,
having the angles only a little worn; while those, that have trav-
eled long distances, and have been acted on, by the water and its
finer solid matter, during a long period of time, have lost all angular
appearance, and are bounded by sharp, more or less symmetrical
curves. Between these two end types are many variations. The
first type is well shown in gravel piles, which I saw at the Turkey
Hill mine ; but the middle type is the usual form of pebble or
bowlder, which one sees on the rock-piles of the placers in the
auriferous belt of this county, the well rounded type being of rare
occurrence. It is plain, that the rule, given for estimating, in a
general way, the distance traveled by a quartz pebble, will not
apply to a gold pebble; for the much greater specific gravity of
gold (19.25 to 2.65 for quartz) will prevent its being carried by
the waters, as a quartz pebble would be. Besides, the softness
of gold would cause it to wear rapidly, and become round and
smooth, with only a short distance traveled. Belonging to the
State Museum are fourteen such gold pebbles, weighing within a
small fraction of fourteen ounces, the largest weighing 56 dwts.
14 grs. These are from the Hamby Mountain gold property in
White county ; and it is hardly probable, that they could have
traveled a great distance, though they are well rounded, polished
and bright. The beds of gravel usually occur along small streams,
remnants of what were, in the later geologic periods, streams of
considerable size. Some of the larger streams, of present time,
show a shifting of beds ; and, in some cases, the beds of the pres-.
ent streams are many feet below, and to one side of, a former bed.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
293
A notable instance of this is the old bed of the Yahoola creek, on
lot I ,ogg, I 2th district, where the creek bends around the northeast
end of Findley Ridge. The old bed, if we begin our examination
near the creek, widens out up the gradually sloping side of the
ridge, until it attains an altitude of about I 50 feet above the pres-
ent bed of the stream, showing how the creek has gradually shifted
downward to its present position, as it cut its way through the de-
composed rocks.
Mixed with the pebbles and bowlders of the gravel beds, form-
ing an inferior cement, is the coarser sand and some clay, dropped
by the currents. As the stream becomes more sluggish, finer ma-
terial is deposited, until the running water leaves its former bed
high and dry.
As to the age of the gravel beds in this county, there is little
evidence in the beds themselves, beyond the fact, that they are in
place, and that recent detritus is deposited directly on them, assur-
ing us, that they belong to some one of the later periods. In one
instance, at the Singleton mine, where the gravel slopes, from about
20 feet up the mine hill, down toward the present bed of the creek,
there were found, two or three years ago, while working the aurif-
erous gravel, fragments of wood and cones, in the blue clay imme-
diately overlying the gravel. Samples of these were submitted, by
Dr. Becker, to Dr. F. H. Knowlton, Assistant Curator and Paleo-
botanist in the National Museum at Washington, who referred them
to the Pleistocene. I Referring, again, to this same deposit, Dr.
Becker says:- 2 " At the Singleton mine, there are stream-bed grav-
els, overlain by blue clay, containing fragments of wood and cones.
The slack water, indicated by the clay deposits, judging from these
plant remains, is referable to the last well-marked subsidence of the
2
I Op. cit., page 46. Op. cit., page 52.
294 LUMPKIN COUNTY

coast, answering to the Columbia formation." The clew, given by

these cones and fragments of wood, applies, presumably, to the other
gravel beds of the section.

RECENT VALLEY DEPOSITS

It is probable, that the deposits of sand, which lie immediately

next above the gravel beds, and cover the floor of crystalline
schists, where no gravel was deposited, belong to the same, or an
immediately succeeding, epoch, as that of the gravel beds; but
detrital deposits have been forming ever since, some of the earlier
of which may be Pleistocene, but much of which must belong to the
Recent period of the Quaternary. From two to five feet of these
deposits are to be found, covering the gravel ; and this must be
removed, before the auriferous beds are accessible for work. The
lower layers have doubtless been deposited by running streams;
but the top layers result from the rain-wash from adjacent hills.
These deposits consist chiefly of sand or sandy clay, with a few
inches of soil at the top. On pages 86 and 87, sections of this
class of material are given, in the description of the gold deposits
of Rabun county, which are typical of these valley deposits.

HILLSIDE CLAY DEPOSITS

Along the north side of Findley Ridge, may be seen a brownish-red, ·

plastic, transported clay, which extends nearly to the top of the ridge.
On the middle Gainesville road, it overlies the saprolite of the horn-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
295
blende schist; and, at first, I was disposed to consider it a more com-
plete alteration of this rock, than I had before encountered. At the
entrance to the north, south and east tunnels of the Crown Mountain
property, I found the same clay ; and, in each case, the clay was
the outside layer. In the north tunnel, which is 3 5 feet lower than
the top of the mountain, the distance, along the floor, from the en-
trance to the point of contact between the clay and the yellow
.schists, was 50 feet; in the south tunnel, 45 feet below the moun-
tain top, it was 48 feet ; and in the east tunnel, 7 5 feet below the
top, it was 56 feet. In each case, the clay rested unconformably
on the schists. There were neither veins nor pebbles in the clay;
but, near the point of contact with the schists, a scant stratum of an-
gular fragments of quartz was observed, following a former contour
of the ridge. As the schists were approached, the brownish-red of
the clay changed to ochre-yellow. On the broad top of the moun-
tain, I observed quite a number of water-worn pebbles and small
bowlders, though they were not abundant. At one point, on the
north side, about 40 feet below the highest point, I observed a con-
siderable number of small bowlders, scattered over a surface, of not
more than 200 square feet. I saw nothing that would establish the
age of this clay, though, as before stated, it must belong to one of
the later geological formations.

SOIL

On the top of all these rocks, when not denuded, occurs the
soil. This is composed of organic matter, from animal or vegetable
remains, filtered into and well distributed through the loose, porous,
unconsolidated rock, whether it be detritus or saprolite. The soil
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

does not usually extend more than eight or ten inches down, where
it lies, on what is called the subsoil.

FAULTS

The most conspicuous faults, that I have encountered, in the gold

belt in Lumpkin county, are three, which cross the open cuts on
top of the ridge in the Preacher mine, and the probable one, men-
tioned by me on page 287, as occurring along a part of the course of
Yahoola creek, none of which have I yet had opportunity to trace.
Of those occurring in the Preacher mine, the two, which cross the
central cut, form a trough fault; and the trough-piece is called a
"cross course," by the miners. The material of this trough-piece, as
it appeared on both sides of the cut, is apparently a block from one
of the yellow belts. At the bottom of the open cut, it measures 36
feet across, and, throughout, the schists are much contorted. Near
the center, is a vertical band, six feet across, which contains two
veins of quartz crystal groups. It is much iron stained and badly
fractured, and has the appearance of having been thoroughly baked.
The quartz crystal groups usually fall to pieces, because of the inco-
herency of the rusty product, around which the crystals are grouped.
This rusty material has resulted from the decomposition of pyrite
and the mica-schist, which was impregnated with it. The entire
mass of this band is exceedingly friable, and disintegrates, at every
stroke of the pick. The strike of this fault is east and west; and I
was told, by a very intelligent and successful miner, that he had
traced it, for four miles, east of the Preacher mine; and that he
knew it to occur, west of that point, for three-quarters of a mile,
though he had made no attempt to trace it westward. At the point
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 297
of contact with the black slates, along the south side of the trough,
these slates, sharp and clean, dipping eastward, are abruptly cut off
by the fault, and lie in juxtaposition to the contorted schists of the
trough-piece.
This fault has caused trouble, in the past, to some of the opera-
tors, in the Preacher mine; but further reference to it will be made,
in the discussion of that property.
Eighty feet north of this fault, and parallel with it, at the surface,
is another, which dislocates two valuable gold veins, on the north-
west side of the ridge. Farther east, it is exposed on the northwest
wall, in the northeast cut of the Preacher mine, where it causes a dis-
placement in the schists. The shafts and tunnels to the two auriferous
quartz veins, on the side of the ridge, had fallen in; and I was not
able to get in them, to examine the dislocations caused by the fault;
but, from what I could learn from a well informed miner, who had
worked the veins, and who was present, both when they were lost,
and again, when they were found; and from the outcrop of the
two parts of one of the veins at the surface, and its apparent
hade, on the schist wall, above mentioned, I estimate a throw of
about 9 feet, and a hade of something like 3 5° to the, north. In
the case of the fault on the south side of the trough, I was not
able to form any estimate of the throw, because the character of
the saprolite of the trough-piece would not admit of it; but its
hade was 10° to the south.
The altered hornblende-schist shows large numbers of small
slickensides, blackened by manganese oxide; some of them, up to
three or four feet in length. These, I think, may be accounted for;
as are those, in the saprolite at the Charles mine in Forsyth
county, by Dr. Becker, who says:- I "At this property, in the

I Op. cit., page 49·

298 LUMPKIN COUNTY

saprolite and in the partially decomposed rock, there are numerous

slickensided surfaces, stained black with manganese, probably in
the form of wad. Such slickensides, in such positions, are abun-
dant throughout the belt; but I have looked in vain for anything of
the sort below water level. It would seem, that the slickensiding
is due only to the changes in volume attending decomposition, of
which, also, the manganese stains are a result."

THE AURIFEROUS DEPOSITS OF LUMPKIN COUNTY

DISTRIBUTION

The DAHLONEGA GoLD BELT, as will be seen, on the map of the

auriferous deposits, between pages 32 and 33 of this bulletin, en-
ters the State from North Carolina, on the northern boundary of
Rabun county; and, continuing southwesterly, it passes through
Rabun, Habersham, White, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth, Cherokee,
Cobb, Bartow, Paulding, Polk and Haralson counties, and extends
about 50 miles into Alabama, where it has been designated by Dr.
Wm. B. Phillips of the Geological Survey of Alabama, as Tlze
Upper Alabama Gold Belt.' That part of it, which lies in Lumpkin
county, seems, so far, to be its richest portion ; but other parts of
the belt have commanded much attention, containing as they do,
some of the best mines in the State. This belt, which is five
miles, at its widest part, comes in from White county, due east of
the center of Lumpkin ; and, continuing near the southeast border
of Lumpkin, it passes into Dawson county, on the southwest.
1
Bul. No.3. Geol. Sur. of Ala.; by Wm. B. Phillips, Ph.D.; p. n.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 299
Between these boundaries, the mines are scattered along the belt,
being continuous from Dahlonega to Auraria, and beyond, but skip-
ping three or four miles northeast of Dahlonega, in the direction of
Cavender's creek.' The conditions are not ripe for a division of the
belt, in this county, into mining districts, if indeed, there should
ever be occasion for it ; but it is all generally known as the Dah-
lonega district. yYith a few exceptions, the greatest activity has
been exhibited in the mines, immediately around Dahlonega, the
most prominent of which, in the past, have been the Findley, the
Bast, the Griscom, the Preacher, the Columbia, the Fish Trap, the
Ivey, the Hand, the Singleton and the Lockhart. Immediately
around Auraria, the most important mines are the Hedwig, the
Betz, the Battle Branch and the Josephine. About half way
between these towns is the Barlow mine, which, by many, is con-
sidered the best in the county. Its saprolite has been worked on a
larger scale, than that of any other mine. On the south side of
the Chestatee river, the Calhoun and the Turkey Hill are the most
noted mines. The only mine in the northeast part of the belt,
that has been considerably worked, is the Garnet. With the ex-
ception of the fractional lots along the river, all the lots south and
east of that stream are 2 so-acre lots. All other lots in the gold
belt are 40-acre lots, except the fractional lots in the I 2th district,
adjoining the I 3th, and along the county-line of Lumpkin and Daw-
son, where 40-acre lots lie partly in Lumpkin and partly in Dawson.

NATURE OF THE DEPOSITS

In Lumpkin county, the auriferous deposits consist of gravel-

beds, mica-schists and quartz veins in mica-schists, some of the
1
See map of the gold belt in Lumpkin county.
300 LUMPKIN COUNTY

last named being well defined, while others consist of more or less
discontinuous lenses and ribbons in belts of schist, which is itself
often auriferous. These belts, with their auriferous quartz con-
tent, have been called " Stringer Leads", by Dr. Becker. I The
views of this geologist and myself are in harmony. as to the for-
mation of what some have called "bedded veins", that is, veins
which occupy positions between the schists ; nor can there be, in
the light of recent progressive geological thought, much room for
difference of opinion, on this subject. But, in the past, it has
been thought by some able geologists, that these were "bedded
veins ", and by others, that they were " segregated veins "; and
some mining engineers and miners, even now, hold, that they are
bedded veins, advancing the idea, that such veins have no conti-
nuity downward, and that they will soon "give out ". Such views
could not be farther from the fact. It was formerly held, that the
crystalline rocks were metamorphosed sedimentaries ; but this is
true, only in part. Examples of what I take to be changes from
granite to gneiss are to be found in Lumpkin county. The granite
across Yahoola creek at the Mary Henry mill, before referred to,
constitutes a case in point, the rock being only slightly sheared, and
much of it appearing to be true granite.
2
In 1835, Messrs. T. G. Clemson and R. C. Taylor pronounced
similar quartz masses, in the gold regions of Virginia, contempora-
neous with the formations, in which they occur. In 1837, Prof. Silli-
man asserted, that the auriferous quartz deposits in Virginia, examined
by him, were beds. In 1854, Prof. J.D. Whitney classed the North
Carolina deposits, seemingly, as "segregated" veins, "originating
in the gradual elimination of the component particles from the

I Op. cit., p. 37·

2
For the historical data immediately following, I am indebted t:> the excellent report of Dr.
Becker, so often referred to, and quoted, by me, in this report.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 30I

surrounding formation ";I but, in later works, he considered simi·

Jar deposits in California, to be what Prof. Rogers had, before,
called veins of injection. Prof. Ebenezer Emmons, State Geolo·
gist of North Carolina before the civil war, regarded the gold in
the impregnated slates as sediment, contemporaneous with the
slates. He observed, however, that the quartz deposits were real
veins, conforming with the slates only approximately. In I 8 59,
Mr. 0. M. Lieber gave it as his opinion, that the gold was contem-
poraneous with the rocks, but that it took the form of segregations,
at a later time. Prof. Herman Credner took the position in 867, I

that the auriferous quartz deposits in the schists of the Southern

Appalachians were beds, and that "true veins" had ncr existence
in this section. Prof. W. C. Kerr, long time State Geologist of North
Carolina, after the civil war, wrote, in I875, as follows:-"Many
of these quartz veins are in reality beds, as they coincide, in dip.
and strike, with the stratification, whilst an equally great number
run in every conceivable direction, and dip just as irregularly" .2
Mr. J. A. Phillips, in I 884, referred to these deposits as segregated
veins, using this term as the equivalent of bedded veins, and ex-
pressing a doubt, as to whether there was any difference between
these and so-called "true" veins, except as to position. But, as
far back as I 8 3 6, Prof. William B. Rogers, State Geologist of Vir-
ginia (I 8 3 5-' 42 ), indicated that the auriferous quartz veins of that
State were "true veins of injection," observing, that, while the
dip and strike of the veins generally conformed to those of the
enclosing strata ; yet, the conformity was far from exact.
With the advance made in geology, in late years, the views of
1
Reconnaissance of tile Gold Fields of tlze Southern Appa!acilians, by George F. Becker,
p. 35-Sixteenth Annual Report of the Director. U.S. Geol. Sur.
2
Geology of North Carolina, Vol. I, 1875. p. 285.
302 LUMPKIN COUNTY

the best geologists, on this subject, seem to accord with those of

Prof. Rogers. Formerly, the schists and gneisses were regarded
as metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, and their characteristic
markings were considered original lines of stratification ; but it is
now certain, that many of them were primarily igneous. By no
means, should the gneissic and schistose markings in these rocks
be confused with the lines of stratification and bedding, exhibited
by sedimentary rocks. Still, this very confusion, which has been so
common, has given rise to the idea, that the veins, lying between
the supposed strata, were themselves deposited as sediments. Such
an idea should have no place in the minds of intelligent geologists
and mining men, of the present day. It is now well understood,
that the markings in the gneisses and schists have been produced
by immense pressure, exerted on the rocks, which has brought
about a re-arrangement of their constituent minerals, grouping them
in generally parallel lines ; shearing and elongating crystalline
masses ; and sometimes changing cleavable feldspathic grains to
innumerable individuals, of much smaller dimensions. It is not
uncommon, that the metamorphic energy results in chemical, as
well as physical changes, producing well crystallized minerals within
the schists.
In the formation of the veins in question, which includes those,
of like character, in this county, it is evident, that the fissuring was
done, subsequent to the shearing of the schists; and it is reason-
able, that they should have fractured easiest, along the plane of
least cohesion, which is the plane of schistosity. It is not at all
surprising, that the fractures did not continue along straight lines,
but that, while continuing generally along the plane of easiest
cleavage, they broke obliquely across the schistosity, again resum-
ing the direction of easiest cleavage. This would indicate a lateral
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

stress, oblique to the plane of pressure, which had produced the

shearing ; resulting in a dislocation of the walls of the fissure and
the production of pipes, more or less flat and irregular, with con-
tracted spaces between the walls, which, in places, would rest
against each other. The filling in of these spaces by hot water
solutions of silica, gold etc. from below, gr<.tdually deposited on
the walls, would produce "chimneys" connected by narrower por
tions, thinning out, and at times disappearing entirely. A g-ood
illustration of this was seen by me at the Singleton mine. Again,
because of the fracturing obliquely across the schists, the irregu-
larities of fissure produce more or less irregular lenses, which are
at times of considerable size. This is well shown at the Mary
Henry mine, where, when one of the large lenses has been stoped
out, another will be found, by following the small connecting vein.
Veins of this character often contain considerable mica, all through
the quartz. Some of this may have crumbled from the enclosing
schists, and fallen into the vein, while forming; but probably, in
most cases, it has been caused by the many small, attendant
fissures, made when the mass was fractured. Excellent illustra-
tion of this is, also, to be seen at the Mary Henry mine.
Besides the more or less disjointed auriferous veins in mica-schist,
called stringer leads, by Dr. Becker,' there occur in the schists Well
Defined Veins, some of which are auriferous, while others, if so at all,
are of very low grade. Whether or not either class of these veins
is younger, than the broken and discontinuous quartz veins of the
stringer leads or the auriferous mica-schists, I have not sufficient
evidence to establish; but I have no idea, that the coarse, massive,
barren veins are contemporaneous with the auriferous vems. I
hope to get satisfactory evidence of this, later on.
1
Loc. cit., p. 3oc.
 LUMPKIN COl.JNl}

Frequently, have I been asked two questions, which are closely

akin, and to which I here endeavor to give a brief answer. One
of these is " Do you think, these veins are true fissure veins ? ";
and the other, "Do you think the veins will increase in size, as you
go downward on them?".
The first question has been answered, in the foregoing discussion,
if we are to understand the term, "true fissure vein," to apply to a
fissure in the rocks, resulting from dynamic stress, originating below
the solid crust of the earth, which has, later, been filled by con-
tinued deposition, from time to time, of mineral matter, from hot
water solutions, which, successively filled, and receded from, the
fissures, in obedience to subsequent dynamic movements. I believe
the auriferous veins of this belt to have been formed in this way.
The second question cannot be so satisfactorily answered. While
it naturally suggests itself to us, that the many small veins of a
stringer lead should come together in one large vein, deeper down
in the earth, still, no case has come under my observation, in
Lumpkin county, that would assist in a confirmation of this con-
jecture.
As bearing on these questions, I can do no better, than quote so
good an authority as Dr. Becker, in his discussion, on the aurifer-
ous veins in the South:- I
"The question of the persistency of the veins in depth is one,
which, in my opinion, need cause no uneasiness. For reasons, stated
elsewhere in this report, it is believed, that the veins date chiefly
from a pre-Cambrian period; and, if so, the present croppings are
far below the original ones. If mining could be carried to an un-
limited depth, it is probable, that the fissures would be found to
grow smaller; for the greater the pressure of the superincumbent

I Op. cit., pp. 42 and 43·

---------------------~----------·-- ----------

LUfofPKIN COUNTY

mass, the greater must have been the tendency to close openings,
formed under catastrophic conditions; but the total depth of fissures
measured from the original surface is most likely of the same order,
as their length, several miles in many cases, while no mine has
ever reached a depth of one mile. In sinking, it should not be
forgotten, that veins may imbricate in a vertical as well as in a
horizontal direction, and that cross-cutting is, therefore, a very es--
sential feature of development.
"It has been held, that the precipitation of gold took place
mostly near the original surface; I but, if the veins of the Southern
Appalachians are, as they seem to me, of pre-Cambrian age, this
cannot be strictly true ; nor does it seem to me, that the mining:
operations of the last thirty years point to such a conclusion.
Doubtless some veins grow poorer in depth, while some grow richer.
These variations, within accessible limits of depth, are controlled,
for the most part, by circumstances, similar to those, which bring
about variations in tenor, from point to point, on the strike of the
vems.
"An idea is very prevalent, among mine owners, that veins may
be expected, as a rule, to grow stronger and richer with depth.
This is an hypothesis, based on hope, and with no justification m
general experience."
In regard to the belts of Auriferous ilfica-sclzists, which contain
little, if any, quartz, and those, which are in themselves richer than
the quartz veins contained, little need be said, further, than to re-
affirm, that the theory, suggested by Dr. Becker, 2 that the gold
in these schists, occurring in particles, at times of considerable
size, has been left, as a result of the leaching out of the quartz, in
which it was originally contained, is the most satisfactory, yet put
2
I Murchison, Siluria. 4\h ed., I867, p. 459· Loc. cit., p. 28o.
 306 LUflfPKIN COUiVTY

forward. The schists of the so-called Yell ow belt along Findley

Ridge belong to this class, as they are richer in gold, than the in-
cluded veins.
ln auriferous districts, the Graz1el Beds are usually the first deposits,
to give evidence of their auriferous character. Along with the peb-
bles, the sand and the clay, is found gold, in the form of nuggets, 1
grains and dust. In this county, the gold grains vary from fine to
very coarse, and nuggets are said to have been found, weighing as
much as 300 pennyweights. A considerable number of nuggets are
said to have been found, during the early workings of the deposits,
the history of which it is now impossible to get. Comparatively few
have been found, since the civil war, as the gravel deposits had been
nearly all worked, prior to that event. In the breaking down of the
quartz veins, those, that are auriferous, turn loose their gold, in the
forms above mentioned ; and it is carried down stream, subject to
much greater attrition, than the quartz. When broken away from
the parent vein, it is usually very rough, with sharp points and
crystalline faces ; and often with quartz clinging to it, and even
enclosed in it; but it soon looses these and is often brightly pol-
ished by the attrition. Such are the State Museum nuggets from
the Hamby Mountain mine in \Vhite county, before referred to.

CHARACTER OF THE ORE

Tlze C!taracter of tlte Ore in the veins varies in a number of particu-

lars, not only in contrasting one vein with another, but also, the
material of a vein with other material from the same vein, both in
1
This name is g:ven to large masses of gold and ot'·1er precious metals, found in nature, free, or
nearly free, from the vein-stone.
 LUllfPA'IN COUli/TY

·the value, and in the general appearance of the ore. The quartz of
the veins varies from milk-white to transparent, sometimes slightly
smoky, and from coarse-massive to fine-saccharoidal, crystals
being of rare occurrence. Below water-level, the quartz contains
the sulphides, pyrite and pyrrhotite (two forms of iron sulphide),
chalcopyrite (an iron-copper sulphide), galena (lead sulphide) and
sphalerite (zinc sulphide) ; other minerals are free gold, pyromor-
phite (lead chloro-phosphate), chlorite (a dark-green hydrous mica),
garnet, malachite (a hydrous copper carbonate) from the alteration
of chalcopyrite, and sericite, a damourite variety of muscovite, the
most common of all the micas. Of the sulphides, only the pyrite
is in any abundance, the chalcopyrite occurring sparsely, and the
pyrrhotite, galena and sphalerite being rare, especially the last.
The pyromorphite occurs in seams, as green coats on the quartz,
sometimes presenting minute hexagonal crystals with the unit pyra-
mid, thoroughly typical of this species. In the veins of the Single-
ton mine, the occurrence of these green coats is quite common;
and Capt. John \V. \Veaver, a ve"ry intelligent and skillful miner,
who has been in charge of the mine, for several years, told me,
that the finding of these coats was always the forerunner of a good
strike of gold, in this mine. Of the remaining minerals, garnet
and sericite are quite common, and chlorite, somewhat so; but
malachite is rare. Arsenopyrite, allanite, apatite, calcite, ilmenite,
siderite, tetradymite and tourmaline are, also, said to occur; but,
if so, they are very rare.
The pyrite occurs in small irregular masses and in crystals, the
only two forms of the latter, observed, being the cube (I oo, i-i)
and the ordinary combination of this and the tetrahexahedron
(210, i-2), in which the cube face is generally curved, accompanied
by the usual resulting striations, those on adjacent faces, at right
308 LUMPKIN COUNTY

angles to each other, in accordance with the hemihedrism of the

tetrahexahedron.
Above water-level, the pyrite has been decomposed, depositing~

on the rough walls of the resulting cavities in the quartz, thin coats.
of limonite (a hydrous iron sesqui-oxide) and included free gold~

from the most minute particles to thin crystalline plates, several

millimeters across. It is not uncommon, to find a cellular struc-
ture in the altered pyrite crystal itself, consisting of very thin
plates of hard residual limonite, arranged quite closely together,
parallel with the cubic axes, and, generally, equidistant. In other
cases, the residual limonite follows no regular order, in its cellular
structure, though the interior is frequently partially covered over by
minute forms, from botryoidal to stalactitic. It is in this agglom-
eration, that much of the gold is held in captivity, and is pre-
vented from being washed away, by the flowing and seeping waters,.
which find their way through rock crevices and cavities. However,
most of the cavities, left by the decomposed pyrite, are merely
iron-stained, the limonite offering little or no protection to the·
released gold. Much of this is washed away; some of the more
finely divided gold, into the decomposed porous anJ fissured
schists, enclosing the veins, while much the larger part of it is car-
ried, by the waters through fissures and crevices, finding its way
into the streams, below, and, ultimately, a lodgment in the gravel
deposits. Plates of gold, anchored in the quartz, and extending
well into the crystal casts and cavities, left by the pyrite, are not
uncommon, in specimens showing free gold. Except in the case
of the crystal casts, the cavities in the quartz are exceedingly
irregular and jagged, the rock being known as cellular quartz;
though, among the miners, it is more commonly called honey-
comb quartz.
.
The structure of these veins, while not so strikingly
 LUll:fPKIN COUNTY

banded, as the characteristic metalliferous quartz vems of the

vVestern States, is, nevertheless, distinctly banded in most cases,
the bands being arranged parallel with the walls of the vein. A
specimen before me, from the Singleton mine, consists of alternat-
ing bands of saccharoidal quartz and auriferous sulphides, with
very thin seams of sericite, parallelly arranged. The auriferous
veins are those, composed of the fine saccharoidal quartz with its
included minerals, the large veins, with coarse massive quartz, as
before stated, usually being of low grade or absolutely barren.
·One of these may be seen, in the coarse, jointed blocks, near the
•ight hand edge of Plate XIV, a view in the open cut of the
Singleton mine. Some of the saccharoidal veins have disin-
tegrated to sand, and are locally known as " sand veins". They
do not seem to have lost, in any degree, their value, on this ac-
·Count; for some of them enjoy fine local reputation, as gold-pro-
.ducers.
As before mentioned, some of the veins, enclosed by the schis-
tose saprolite, are not so rich, as the surrounding schists. This
:seems to be a very well established fact ; but, in order to test it,
TI1aterial was selected by me, in the north tunnel of the Crown
Mountain property, from which assays were made, with the follow-
ing results:-
(a) All auriferous quartz veins, Yellow belt, from both walls,
North tunneL _________ 0.01 oz. ($0.21) of gold per ton
(b) Schistose saprolite, from the Yellow belt from both walls in
the North tunneL _______ 0.10 oz. ($2.07) of gold per ton
Here, the schists contain just ten times as much gold, as the
ilncluded quartz veins. The particles of gold in these decomposed
.-schists are sometimes quite coarse. It is hardly probable, that
ithey could have been washed from the veins far into the schists;
310 LUMPKIN COUNTY

as a matter of fact, this occurrence supports, in no small degree,.

the theory suggested by Dr. Becker, of subsequent solution, and
1
dissipation of the quartz, leaving only the gold in the schists.
The nature of the Stringer Leads has been discussed above. The
character of the ore varies but little, from that of the well-defined
auriferous veins, the quartz being transparent, saccharoidal ; and
cellular, stained by limonite above water-level, with free gold, both
in the quartz, and in the cavities, but containing auriferous sul-
phides below water-level. As has been before stated, many of
these schistose saprolites contain decomposed garnets in abun-
dance, which are frequently auriferous.
The character of the gold in the Gravel Beds has been sufficiently
dwelt upon, and nothing further need be said, here, concerning it.

IMPROVEMENTS ON THE MINING PROPERTIES

As has been before stated, the mining, done in Lumpkin county,

has been nearly altogether of a surface character; and the devel-
opment work, thus far done, would not entitle the best of the mines
to be classed as more than good prospects, were they to be judged
by this alone ; for such a thing as deep mining has never been at-
tern pted in this county. Reasons for this have been given in
another part of this report. That there are a considerable number
of good prospects, however, and some good mines, will be seen
from the special report on each property, which follows, further on_
While a considerable number of the mining-plants have been kept
1
Lac. cit., p. 280.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 311

in good condition, by practically continuous work, confessedly on a

small scale, in most cases, however ; yet some of the plants have
been allowed to go down, to a surprising extent. These would
require some outlay, before they could be put to use. The plants
consist, usually, of a water-supply ditch, a reservoir for hydraul-
icking, pipe-lines with hydraulic giants, and a stamp-mill with its
accessories; turbine, cascade and overshot water-wheels, or boilers,·
pumps and engines, constituting a part of the outfit, according to
whether water- or steam-power is used.
Following, is a list of the Stamp-mills in active operation, during
the summer of r8g6, with a total of 240 stamps:-
Findley . • 40 stamps \"ahoola . • 20 stamps
Hedwig. • 40 Preacher • 10

Barlow • 40 Singleton • 10

Ralston • 20 Turkey Hill • 10

Lockhart • 20 \Voodwarcl. 5
Hand. • 20 Murray 5

A Huntington roller-mill, also, was in operation at the Betz mine.

Ten mills, with a total of 200 stamps, were idle, as follows:-
Ivey • 6o stamps Siloam • 10 stamps
Calhoun . 40 Lawrence . 10

Josephine . 20 Bast . . 10

Fish Trap . • 20 Stanley 5

Garnet • 20 Horner 5

The water-supply comes from the higher altitudes, in the north-

ern part of the county, principally through the Hand Ditclt. This
ditch supplies nearly all the mines and mills, immediately around
Dahlonega; and a branch of it runs to the Barlow mine. This
ditch takes its water from the head-waters of Yahoola creek,
about seven miles north of Dahlonega; but, on account of the
many ridges around which it must travel, its course is so sinuous,
JI2 LUMPKIN COUll TY

that the water travels twenty miles, before it reaches the Hand
mine, where it empties into the creek. At Dahlonega, the Barlow
branch begins; and, winding its way down to that mine, it finds an
outlet in Cane creek. An independent branch, starting on the
west side of Dahlonega, was built by the owners of the Findley
mine, in order to convey the water from the Hand ditch to that
mme. This branch, which is two or three miles long, belongs to
Mr. Christian Wahl, President of the Hand and Barlow United Gold
Mines and Hydraulic Works of Georgia.
About two miles north of Dahlonega, the water, from the ditch,
is conveyed across Yahoola creek, in a 36-inch iron tube, 2, 300

feet long. In addition to this, there are 6,45 5 feet of wooden pipe,
of the same kind and size as the above, distributed along the ditch.
The main ditch, including the extension to the Findley mine, is
said to have cost about $300,000, and the Barlow branch, $2o,ooo
additional. This ditch supplies water to a large number of mines
and mills, which is bought, at so much per miner's inch. It is one
of the most valuable properties in the county. Its construction
was begun, during the first part of the year I 8 59, by the Yahoola
Gold Mining Company, which was represented by Dr. Benj. Hamil-
ton, of North Carolina, and Dr. M. H. Van Dyke, of New York; but
it was not completed, until after the close of the war. The ditch
was first brought to \Vimpy's grist-mill on Yahoola creek; the water
was then brought across the creek on a trestle, I 50 feet high, and
7IO feet long. Beyond the trestle, the ditch is six feet wide at the
top, sloping to five feet at the bottom, and is three feet deep.
From the trestle to what is now the Hand mine, but which was
then known as the Yahoola mine, a temporary ditch was dug, four
feet wide at the top, sloping to three feet at the bottom, and two
feet deep. The temporary ditch was finished, in the latter part of
 LrhVPKIN COUNTY
3I3

I 86 I. After the war, Dr. Van Dyke, who had remained in Dah-
lonega, all through this period, started up work, and finished the
ditch, in full size. It was then known, as the Yahoola ditch; but,
soon after it came into the possession of Mr. N.H. Hand, in I872,
the name was changed to T!te Hand Ditch, which name it has
since borne. A few years since, it was bought by the Hand and
Barlow United Gold Mines and Hydraulic \Vorks of Georgia, of
which Mr. Christian Wahl, of Milwaukee, ·wis., is president and
principal stockholder. It is still the property of this company.
Three smaller ditches are worthy of mention, viz:- T!te Singleton
Ditc!t, which supplies water to the Singleton mine; The Cane Greek
Ditc!t, which furnishes it to the Ivey mine; and The Mill Creek Ditch,
which delivers it, at the Betz mine. These will be described, with
the properties, to which they severally belong.

COLLATERAL RESOURCES

In its Water Resources, Lumpkin, as a mining county, is peculiarly

fortunate. In its northeastern corner, rises the Chestatee river,
with many tributaries, the principal of which are Yahoola and
Cane creeks. These rise in the mountains along the north county-
line, and flowing south across the gold belt, empty into the river,
within the belt. In the northwest part of the county, the Etowah
river has its source in abundant mountain streams, with larger trib-
utaries farther south, the most important of which are Nimblewill,
Jones and Mill creeks. These two main streams, with their
numerous tributaries, will, without doubt, always suffice, for any
demand, that may be made upon them, for mining purposes, with-
314 LU3fPKIN COUNTY

out materially affecting other legitimate interests. On the larger

streams are numbers of shoals, available for water-power, on a
large scale ; and many of the smaller streams can be made to
contribute, in a lesser degree, to this end.
The abundance of Timber, of both soft and hard woods, for fuel
and for the erection of buildings has been discussed in another part
1
of this report, and need not be dwelt upon, here.
The Soil is rich and productive; and grain, potatoes, grass and
fruits can be raised in abundance. The valley lands are of excep-
tional value for cultivation, though the hillsides, while fertile,
with the loam of ages of decaying vegetation, are often too steep,
to admit of profitable tillage.
The Climate of Lumpkin county is very healthful, and the tem-
perature is remarkably uniform; in summer, never registering very
high, and in winter, seldom, near the zero point. It is protected
from the severity of the northwest winds of winter, by the Blue
Ridge, which rises high on its north and northwest boundaries; and,
in summer, the cool south breezes from the sea reach its high alti-
tudes. Mining operations are carried on, all the year round, without
danger of severe exposure.
Labor for mining purposes can be had, for from So cents to $ r .oo
a day, for the ordinary mining hand; while mine superintendents,
who have had long experience in the mines, are to be had, for
$2.50 a day. The ordinary miners are from both the white and
negro races ; but they work peaceably together; and no strikes,
boycotts or collusions of any sort have ever been attempted.
1
See page 277.
 LU3IPKIN COUNTY
. 3I 5

METHODS OF MINING

In the earlier days of the gold industry in Lumpkin county, the

gold pan, the "long-tom" and the gum ''rocker," with the pick
and shovel, constituted the miner's outfit; and, even in this day,
instances can be cited, where the " tom" and the "rocker" are-
used by tributers. The old Mexican arrastre was probably the first
mill used ; and, later, the wooden-stamp mill. This was succeeded
by the present iron-stamp mill, with steel shoes and mortars. In
the past, the weight of the stamps has been 4SO pounds, though
there is some tendency, now, to increase the weight. Two mills in
the county are supplied with 6 so-pound stamps, and one, with 8 so;.
the others have 4SO-pound stamps.
In the operation of these mills, both water- and steam-power
are 111 use. Steam-pumps are used, at some of the mines, for rais-
ing water to the reservoirs, located on the hill-tops, for hydraulic
mining; less often, for keeping shafts free from water. In mines,.
worked on very small capital, hand-pumps have been resorted to,
when the water became troublesome ; and, when the column of
water became too heavy, to be lifted by hand, shafts, with a good
average sulphide ore at their bottom, have been abandoned, be-
cause of the inability of the miners, to afford the expense of put-
ting in steam-pumps.
vVhere saprolite deposits are being worked by open cut, pipe-
lines are run from the water-supply to the reservoirs, or to hydrau-
lic giants in the cuts. A brief description of this may be of in-
terest. vVhile the reservoir is being filled from the pump-house,
men are set to work in the open cut, with picks, to dig out the soft
auriferous saprolite, and to break up any large masses of quartz,
 LU,1!PKIN COUNTY

-that may be encountered, leaving the material where the waters

-will have free access to it. Generally, two runs, a day, from the
reservoirs, are made, at stated hours. When the hour arrives, the
workmen leave the cut, stationing themselves along the flume, to
prevent its being clogged up by fragments of quartz, and clods, which
the water has failed to reduce. One of their number then goes up
to the reservoir, and opens the gate, when the water pours out, in
torrents, down over the loosened saprolite, mixing with it, till it
forms a thick, slimy mud, of the consistency of fresh mortar; this is
gradually thinned down, by the rushing waters, and is carried, with
the angular blocks of quartz and harder saprolite, through the flume
to the mill. During one of these runs, I have seen blocks of sapro-
lite, I2 x 8 x 5 inches carried, by the torrent, down the slightly slant-
ing cut, with little resistance. To assist in liquefying this flow of
mud, a hydraulic giant is, sometimes, placed in the lower part of the
cut, so as to play upon it; but this helps only a little; for the water,
heavily charged with solid matter, rushes down the flume, through
the sluices, and into the ore-bin in the mill, where it deposits the
coarser material, such as sand and blocks of saprolite and quartz,
while the muddy water, containing a large part of the gold, passes
through the racks, out of the mill, and into the nearest stream.
The material, which has been left in the ore-bin, is fed, by hand,
into the stamp-mill, and the gold is caught on the amalgamated
copper plates, which vary, in length, from four to twelve feet.
Short riffle-boxes, containing mercury, are placed in connection
with these plates, at their lower end, to catch such of the gold, as
may pass, with the tailings, over the plates; though it is known to
be true, that gold, coated by limonite ("rusty gold") will not amal-
gamate; and such of it, as is not caught by the riffles, must be lost.
One cannot repress astonishment, that so wasteful a system
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 317
coulo have been in such general use, for so long a time, especially
as the ores are, for the most part, of low grade ; though it is argued,.
in its favor, that this method of mining the saprolites carries with
it the minimum of expense.
While some of the gold, liberated, by the disintegration of the
auriferous saprolite by the waters, is caught up by the riffles in the
sluices, and another part finds lodgment in the ore-pile in the mill-
bouse, still it is said, and it is currently believed, that, from 2 5 to
50 per cent. of it is lost, being held up by the solid matter in the
swiftly running waters, eventually passing through the racks of the
ore-bin, and out of the mill-bouse, before it is deposited. I am
reliably informed, that gold, passing through the Preacher mill, in
this way, is found all along the bed of the Tan-yard branch, from
the mill to the creek, a distance of one mile.
Still, this system of mining is so inexpensive, and brings such
fair results, that it is only recently, that steps have been taken,
looking toward the saving of more gold. Settling-bins and other
devices, for saving the small particles of gold, heretofore lost, are
now coming into use ; and it is to be hoped, that some method
may soon be devised, that will ultimate in the saving of practically
all the gold. ·without doubt, such a process, with proper economy
in handling, would place these ores on the list of superior invest-
ment.
Among the apparatus, used in mmmg operations in Lumpkin
county, is tlze Hydraulic Giant, which is employed principally, and
most effectively, on the decomposed auriferous mica-schists, and, to
a limited extent, on such of the gravel deposits, as are still worked.
It is believed, that the use of this piece of apparatus, in re-work-
ing all the old auriferous gravel beds in the county, would pay
JI8 LUftfPKIN COUNTY

well, even in the case of those, that have been worked over by the
old, crude methods, two or three times.
T!te Hydraulic Graz,el-elevator has, lately, been used very success-
fully, in mining gravel beds, which have no natural drainage ; and
it is still in use, where such condition exists.
In the Chestatee river, Steam Dn:dge-boats have been used, during
the last several years, with abundant success, in recovering sedi-
mentary gold, from the bed of the stream. The auriferous sand,
pebbles and bowlders are taken from the bottom of the river by
the dredge-buckets, which are emptied into a line of sluices, sixty
to seventy feet long, charged with mercury, through which the
auriferous material is washed.

MINT STATISTICS OF LUMPKIN COUNTY

The following statistics of the gold production of Lumpkin

county, r 880-9 5 inclusive, are from reports and estimates, as given
in the annual reports of the Director of the Mint:-
r8t>o • .$ 96,88o
r88r • 88,ooo
rt\82 • 22),000
r883 • !22,500
1884 • 89,500
r885 . 79,876
r886 • 60,000
1887 • 47.500
r888 • 43,27 5
r889 . 42,246

Forwarded. .$ 894.777
 LUMPA7N COUNTY

Brought forward . . $ 894,777

1890 . 40,652
1891 . 40,450
1892 . 41,666
1893 . 36,493
1894 . 33,551
1s 95 .

Total. • $1,129,780

The only year within this period, in which any considerable ac-
tivity was shown, is indicated in the list above. From my personal
examination of its various gold properties, there seems to be no
reason, why the gold production of this county should not be made
to far exceed any yield, in this list.

ADDENDUM

Since writing that part of this report, which relates to the gen-
eral geology of the gold belt of Lumpkin county, a number of
rocks, collected by me, in the field, have been submitted to micro-
scopic study; and I am indebted to my assistant, Dr. Thomas L.
Watson, for the report, which follows, below.
From a megascopic study, I had believed the hornblende-schists
to be epidiorite; and this accounts for its being mentioned as
"Diorite", on Plate XV, the error being discovered, after the plates
were printed.
320 LUMPKIN COUNTY

A PRELIMINARY PETROGRAPHIC REPORT ON SOME

MET AM ORPHIC ROCKS IN AND AROUND DAHLONEGA,
LUMPKIN COUNTY, GEORGIA

BY TH0~1AS L. WATSON, AssiSTANT GEOLOGIST

The rocks, examined, comprise thirteen specimens, which were,

in great part, collected by the State Geologist, Prof. W. S. Yeates,
during the season of r8g6, and recently submitted to me for a
microscopic examination.
The notes, which follow, represent, at best, a brief examination;
and the names, given to the various rocks, must be regarded as
more or less tentative, until a thorough petrographic examination
and chemical analyses can be made, when definite classification and
grouping may be permanently effected.
The specimens studied, are, almost without exception, character-
ized, first, by a great paucity of feldspar, which, with one or two
exceptions, is entirely absent; second, by the essential minerals
being hornblende or mica, or both, with quartz; and, third, by the
structure being prevailingly schistose. The above features place
the rocks among the crystalline schists; but what they were origin-
ally, whether metamorphosed sediments or eruptives, sufficient
evidence has not been brought forward to determine, from the
microscopic study given them. However, from the field evidence,
it is believed, that systematic and thorough study will prove, that a
portion of them, at least, represent phases of some of the basic
eruptives, such as diorite, etc.
The material has been more or less badly weathered, a feature,
which has rendered its study very much less satisfactory, than it
 LD~VPKIN COUKTY 32I

would have been, otherwise. The extent, to which rock decay

from atmospheric agencies has been carried forward, among the old
crystalline rocks of Georgia, renders it exceedingly difficult, and in
most cases, almost impossible, to obtain perfectly fresh specimens
for study.
I have grouped all the rocks under the general heading, schists,
which must be accepted in its relative sense only, since all the rocks
in the region are laminated. A further division is, into basic and acid
schists. It, at once, becomes apparent, that the division into basic
and acid schists cannot be absolutely fixed, until chemical analyses
are made; hence, it may be found, that some changes will be neces-
sary, after a thorough chemical study of them has been completed.
Furthermore, the rocks are all characterized by an abundance of
free quartz. In most cases, it has been impossible to say, how
much of this mineral is primary, and how much, secondary.
However, it is fairly certain, that, in some of the sections, two
generations of quartz were recognized, which would determine a
part of it, as being formed, subsequent to the deformation of the
rock, and, therefore, secondary in origin.
In nearly every case, the quartz is distinctly granular, and shows
no tendency toward orientation, whatsoever; and, so far as can be
made out, no cataclastic structure is shown. Just how far the
above may be taken as evidence, pointing to the secondary origin
of this constituent, cannot, at present, be stated.
The region, in which the specimens were collected, is a part of
one of the oldest crystalline rock areas, found in the State. The
relative age of this area, and the deformations, throug-h which it
has passed, render the rocks of doubtful and unknown origin.
322 LUft:!PKIN COUNTY

SCHISTS

Acm RocKs
No. D. Locality - The bottom of the So-foot shaft in the Find-
ley mine.
QuARTZ ScHIST. - Megascopically, this is a very compact, fine-
grained, quartzitic rock, dark-gray in color, and containing thin
layers of biotite, chlorite and garnets. These layers are very irreg-
ular, in some cases, reaching a considerable thickness, and assum-
ing, more or less, the form of lenticular masses.
The rock is finely laminated, which, when viewed in other direc-
tions, appears perfectly massive, closely resembling a quartzite.
Quartz, biotite, garnet and pyrite are clearly visible to the unaided
eye.
Microscopically, the rock has a granular structure, with the min-
eral constituents all allotriomorphic. The following minerals have
been recognized, in order of their abundance : - Quartz, biotite,
garnet and pyrite. The main mass of the rock is made up of inter-
locking quartz grains. The garnets occur (I) segregated into lay-
ers, intimately associated with the mica, which forms the dark-
colored, thin bands running through the rock; and (2) distributed
through the ground mass of quartz, as large and irregular crystals,
very much distorted, due, presumably, to the intense pressure, to
which the rock has been subjected. The mica has suffered con-
siderable alteration - in fact, the greater part of it - into a red-
dish-brown product, taken to be chlorite.
The rock represents the so-called "black belt" along the Findley
Ridge, the weathered product of which is a slightly rusty-colored
siliceous sand, through which can be seen, distributed more or less
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

abundantly, folia of mica. Judging from the decayed product, the

"'black belt" varies considerably, according to locality, in mineral
composition. The weathered product is often a mottled clay, the
.coloring of which, in some localities, is largely due to manganese.

BAsic RocKs
Under this heading, I have grouped all those rocks, whose mm-
~ral composition is made up, in large part, of one or more of the
ferro-magnesian silicates. In the majority of them, however, there
is, apparently, an abnormally large percentage of quartz.
No. 2. Locality - The flume cut, Singleton mine.
HoRNBLENDE-MicA ScHIST. - Megascopically, this is a highly
·schistose rock, made up of alternating white and black bands. The
white layers consist almost wholly of quartz, while the dark-colored
bands are composed of a copper-colored mica and green hornblende.
A microscopic examination shows the rock to consist essentially
-of green hornblende, mica and quartz. A large amount of second-
ary calcite is present, with a slight sprinkling of small, irregular
grains of magnetite and epidote. The hornblende has suffered more
..or less alteration to chlorite. The hornblende occurs in deformed
crystals, often, in part, prismatic ; while the mica is prevailingly
made up of fibrous, prismatic shreds. The two are very intimately
associated, and are orientated in the direction of their longer diam-
·eters. An original granular structure is indicated for the rock, with
an induced secondary banded or schistose structure, whereby a
·segregation of the basic minerals into bands has taken place.
The rock has been badly altered, consisting largely in the horn-
-blende having changed to calcite, the latter occurring pseudomorphic
after the hornblende. The polysynthetic twinning and Newton's
-colors, along the cleavage cracks, in some of the calcite crystals,
.are very characteristic.
324 LUllfPKIN COUNTY

No. 3· Locality - The hanging wall in the Sing-leton cut, Sin-

gleton mine.
BronTE-EPIDOTE ScHIST. - Megascopically, this is a compact,
fine~grained and finely laminated rock, of a light-gray color. Bio-
tite, muscovite and a few scattering garnets are the only minerals,
that can be definitely identified, by the unaided eye.
Under the microscope, the rock is shown to be composed, essen-
tially, of mica, epidote and quartz. A large quantity, of what is
taken to be mag-netite, is found scattered throughout the section, in
the form of small and elongated crystals. The mica plates are
drawn out in the direction of their longer diameters, and are ap-
proximately parallel with each other. The alteration, in some
cases, of the mica to chlorite, is noticed.
The quartz occurs as distinct grains, without definite crystal out-
line. A rather large quantity of epidote is seen, which occurs in
somewhat large crystals of indefinite shape. The pleochroism,
which varies from a very light, delicate green to a decided bright,
brownish-yellow, is very marked. This mineral is, in part, asso-
ciated with the mica, and is not infrequently seen, drawn out, in the
same direction, and parallel to the mica plates. No garnets are
visible in the thin section; but they can be seen, sparingly distributed
throug-h the hand specimen.
No. 4· Locality- The dump-pile of the Moore and Cannon cut,
Singleton mine.
QuARTZ AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblcndc-Sdtist).- This is a rather coarse-
grained, dark-colored, speckled rock, with a decided schistose
structure, when viewed from one side. Otherwise, it appears to be
perfectly massive. Hornblende, quartz and pyrite are discernible,
megascopically; the pyrite, however, only in occasional small
particles.
 Microscopically, the rock is composed principally of common
green hornblende, quartz and epidote, with some pyrite and calcite.
The hornblende is mostly prismatic and fibrous in outline, although
allotriomorphic grains occur, in which both cleavages are well
developed. The epidote occurs i.n irregular small grains, scattered
through the interlocking quartz grains.
No.8. Locality- The Knight cut, Hand mine.
GARNETIFEROUS MICA (Biotite) ScHIST.- Megascopically, this is a
very finely laminated, light-gray colored, homogeneous rock, in
which mica and garnets are the only visible minerals.
Microscopical examination shows the rock to be composed,
essentially, of biotite, quartz and garnet. Magnetite and epidote
occur, as accessory minerals.
The quartz shows a decided tendency to orientation, in one
direction. The biotite occurs in unusually long and drawn-out
shreds, arranged parallel to one another, in the direction of their
longer diameters. The alteration, to a certain extent, of the bio-
tite to chlorite, is noticed.
No. IO. Locality- Middle Gainesville road, on the south side
of Findley Ridge, Lumpkin county.
HoRNBLDIDE-MicA (Biotite) ScHIST. - Megascopically, the rock
is fine-grained and decidedly dark-gray in color, with a marked
schistose structure. Quartz, mica, hornblende and some calcite
are recognizable.
A microscopic_,tudy indicates the presence of the essential min-
erals, quartz, hornblende and mica; and, as secondary minerals,
resulting from alteration, calcite and chlorite. Also, a large quan-
tity of accessory magnetite occurs, in irregularly defined grains,
of rather large size. The mica is more abundant, in the rock,
than the hornblende, and is present mostly in the form of some-
326 LUMPKIN COUNTY

what short prismatic plates, scattered throughout the section, with-

out any apparent orientation. The hornblende forms large and
distinct grains, without definite crystal outline, but having, gen-
erally, the two cleavages well developed. Quartz is the most
abundant mineral in the rock, occurring in distinctly granular
masses. It can be stated, with a reasonable degree of certainty,
that the original structure of the rock was granular, since there is.
but slight tendency towards segregation of the minerals into
layers, which is only recognizable in the hand specimen.
No. I 3· Locality- Lot I,os I, Dahlonega; ridge south of the
Hand mind.
AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblende-Sclzist).- The hand specimen reveals a
fine-grained, homogeneous rock, of a dark color, with a decided
greenish cast. The structure shows it to be a finely banded schist.
The early weathering is into long, prismatic blocks.
Microscopically, the rock is composed, essentially, of common
green hornblende, with a considerable sprinkling of quartz, which
has not been definitely identified, as primary or secondary. Epidote
is scattered through the rock, in small, irregular-shaped grains.
Considerably more than half of the rock-mass is made up of horn-
blende, which occurs as allotriomorphic grains and fibrous, pris-
matic crystals, grouped more or less together in an interlocking
manner. The pleochroism is very marked, showing the usual
absorption, a - yellow, b - greenish yellow, c - bluish green.
The maximum extinction angle of a number of pieces, measured
against the prismatic cleavage, was from I 8° - 20°. No orienta-
tion of the hornblende crystals could be made out.
The epidote is intimately associated with the hornblende, gen-
erally filling the interstitial spaces. The quartz is distributed
throughout the rock mass, as irregular grains.
 LUMPKIN COlJNTY

No. 27. Locality- An exposure along the road, at the Hand

mme.
MICA (Muscovite-Biotite) ScHIST. - Megascopically, the rock is
medium-grained, very light-colored, and rather finely banded.
Quartz, muscovite and biotite are visible.
Microscopically, the rock consists essentially of quartz, biotite
and muscovite. Some feldspar, more or less altered, with numerous
small grains of epidote, are found scattered through the section.
The two micas are intimately associated, and are present, in
about equal proportions. Both are drawn out into long, narrow
strips, which are grouped into layers, arranged in the direction of
their longer diameters. The greater part of the rock is made up
of quartz, which forms irregular-shaped grains.
No. 28. Locality- The Hand mine.
AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblende-Sc!tist).- Megascopically, this is a fine-
grained, schistose rock, of a very dark color, with a slightly
greenish cast. The specimen has been very badly weathered, indi-
cated, chiefly, in its highly pitted surface, with the cavities par-
tially filled with bright-colored sesqui-oxide of iron.
When studied, in thin section, it is seen to be composed of the
essential minerals, common green hornblende, which makes up the
greater bulk of the rock, and quartz. Large quantities of magne-
tite, with indefinite crystal outline, and some epidote, are present
in the section. The magnetite has, in some cases, been decom-
posed into the hydrous sesqui-oxide of iron.
The hornblende consists of irregularly shaped crystals, with dis-
tinct cleavage, and a fibrous, prismatic form, showing definite orien-
tation. Both forms of the hornblende show absorption. A large
number of the hornblende crystals gave a medium extinction angle
of I 4°, measured against the prismatic cleavage. The quartz is
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

distributed through the hornblende, in the form of indefinitely

shaped crystals.
No. 31. Locality- The Hand Mine.
QuARTZ AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblende-Scltist). -- Megascopically, this
is an exceedingly finely laminated and compact aphanitic rock, of
a dark-gray color, in ·which none of the minerals can be definitely
identified.
A microscopic study reveals an admixture of very fine-grain
hornblende and quartz, through which are distributed irregularly
shaped masses of magnetite. A large proportion of the magnetites
are very much exaggerated in elongation, in one direction. A few
scattered grains of epidote were identified. More than half of the
rock-mass is composed of hornblende, which occurs in the form of
minute deformed grains and prismatic crystals, with orientation
quite distinct.
No. 33. Locality- The dump-pile of the Moore and Cannon
cut, Singleton mine.
QuARTZ AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblende-Scltist).--Macroscopically, this
is a very compact, dark-colored, schistose rock. The dark horn-
blende layers alternate, with those of the light-colored quartz. The
specimen is badly weathered, principally in the way of minute spots
of bright-colored sesqui-oxide of iron, imparting the appearance of
a pitted and speckled condition to the rock.
In thin section, the rock is shown to be made up principally of
green hornblende, which constitutes more than one-half of the en-
tire rock, and through which are distributed irregular grains of
magnetite and layers of interlocking grains of quartz. A slight
sprinkling of feldspar, with small crystals of epidote, was observed.
The hornblende occurs, chiefly, in the form of long-drawn-out,
prismatic fibres, orientated in one direction. Also, allotriomorphic
 LCJ!PA"IJ\" COUKTY

grains are frequent, with good cleavage development. The absorp-

tion for the hornblende is very strong. The spots of iron stain,
mentioned above, are apparently due to the oxidation of the mag-
netite. The quartz forms a mosaic of interlocking grains, arranged
in layers, which alternate with the hornblende. No clew is offered,
suggesting what the original rock may have been; but probably, it
represents a phase of one of the basic eruptives, such as diorite or,
possibly, diabase.
No. E. Locality- Tunnel, E - H, I Singleton mine.
AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblendc-.Sclzist).- Megascopically, a very com-
pact, homogeneous, coarse-grained rock, very dark in color, and
having a decided greenish cast, A strong tendency towards a
schistose structure is shown in one direction. In others, the rock
appears to be distinctly massive. Hornblende, quartz and pyrite
can be identified.
Microscopically, the rock is composed essentially of common
green hornblende and quartz, with some pyrite and magnetite, and
a considerable quantity of secondary calcite. Also, a few grains of
plagioclase feldspar were observed.
The hornblende is present, mostly in the form of irregular pris-
matic masses, without cleavage. However, the irregular, granular
form is not uncommon, with one of the cleavages more strongly
developed, than the other. It is strongly pleochroic. A very
marked feature of the hornblende is its alteration. Evidently, its
original form was granular ; but it has, subsequentl)".taltered to the
fibrous, prismatic form, in which the cleavage is mostly destroyed.
The crystals are further characterized, by not being continuous, ?ut
rather in disconnected, shredded masses. The shredded fragments
are distributed through large, irregular-shaped crystals of calcite,

I See fig. 29.

330 LUMPKIN COUNTY

wh-ich preserves, to a marked degree, the outline of the hornblende

crystal, from which the calcite is a derived, secondary product.
This alteration has advanced to such a degree, that, in some cases,
almost the entire hornblende crystal has been changed, only a few
shreds of the hornblende being left distributed through the calcite.
It is estimated, that at least 5 per cent. of the rock is calcite.
The quartz forms a mosaic of interlocking grains, distributed, in
part, through the other minerals.
No. F. Locality- Bed of the stream, adjacent to the Dahlonega
and Hand mine road, near the Hand mill.
QuARTZ AMPHIBOLITE (Hornblende-Sclzist).- This is a homogeneous,
coarse, granular, dark-colored rock, with some white material, regu-
larly scattered through the mass. Hornblende, some mica, quartz
and calcite are recognizable, megascopically.
The microscope reveals the presence of common green horn-
blende, mica, quartz, plagioclase feldspar, epidote, pyrite, magnetite
and considerable secondary calcite. The hornblende occurs in the
form of fibrous prismatic crystals, which, for the most part, are in-
terlocking. The absorption is fairly strong. The hornblende, in
this specimen, as in No. E., has been changed, in part, to calcite,
which now fills the spaces, once occupied by the hornblende.
The feldspar is not, by any means, so abundant, as would be ex-
pected. It occurs in irregular grains, more or less rounded, with
the zonal structure but meager! y developed. Some grains are suf-
ficiently characterized, however, to enable them to be identified as
plagioclase. The quartz occurs as irregular interlocking grains.
While the specimen is badly altered, indications are, that it is a
phase of a once existing diorite. The rock shows a marked schis-
tosity in the field.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 331

THE CROWN MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

The highest point of Findley Ridge, which is near its center,

half-a-mile due south from the court-house in Dahlonega, is known
as Crown Mountain. The northern part of the Fish Trap mine,
that part, which has been worked for the gold contained in its
saprolite and quartz veins, lies well down the mountain's south
side; but most of the mountain is included in lot 947, I 2tlt district.
This lot, with 948, immediately north of it, 989, diagonally adja-
cent on the southeast, a ten-acre strip from the west side of 987,
and one acre from the southeast corner of 986, comprise what is
known as THE CROWN MouNTAIN PROPERTY, owned by Judge vV. w.
Murray, of the United States Court of Land. Claims, whose resi-
dence is Huntingdon, Tenn.
Crown Mountain has an altitude of 275 feet above the public
square in Dahlonega, and 250 feet above a well-known spring at its
base. Its altitude above sea-level is I, 7 54 feet. It consists prin-
cipally of the mica-schists of the so-called Yellow and Black belts;
but the schists, of what is known as the Fish Trap belt, form a part
of its southern side, and the large dike of hornblende-schist, dis-
cussed in another part of this report, I forms the greater part of its
northern side. The dip of the schistosity of all these is from 30°
to 50°, usually to the northeast. On the broad oval top of the
mountain are to be found small, well-worn bowlders and pebbles;
and, covering its sides, a bed of clay, described further on. The
mountain is well timbered with chestnut, oak and pine, the two for-
mer being in much the greater abundance.
Some little prospecting for gold appears to have been done upon

I Seep. 286.

/
332 LU31PJ.7N COUNTY

the Crown Mountain property, years ago, before Judge Murray

became its owner ; for, about half-way up the northwest side of the
mountain, is what is left of a few old shallow inclines and prospect
holes; and, near the top, on the south side, a 30-foot incline was run
down on a vein in the "South Black belt," which is said to have
yielded good results. The most of the work, however, seems to
have been done on a large white quartz vein on the northwest side,
which is said to have proved of low grade. As a gold prospect,
the property had little reputation, before Judge Murray began pros-
pecting it, in a systematic way, some two or three years ago. Its
real value, probably, has not been shown, even by the work, done
by this gentleman; for it has been confined to the top of the moun-
tain, no tunnel having, as yet, been driven, down near its base, to
expose the character of the deposits deeper down; though Judge
Murray has this in view. Under his direction, three tunnels, over 200
feet long, with drifts, have been excavated, one each, into the north,
south and east sides of the mountain, at varying elevations near the
top, for the purpose of ascertaining the auriferous character of the
schistose saprolites and the veins encountered. These tunnels are
known, respectively, as the East, South and North Tunnels. In
addition to these, a few prospecting pits have been dug, here and
there, and a shallow incline has been sunk on a small, but rich,
vein near the north tunnel.
 333

THE TUK~ELS I

The entrance to the EAST TuNNEL is along the roadside, on the

east flank of that part of Crown Mountain, which rises above the
top of the ridge, and is about eighty
FIG. 22
feet below the apex of the mountain,
and on a level with the crest of that
part of the ridge, lying east of it.
It is driven 165 feet, in a direction,
S. 6 5° W., through a deposit of trans-
ported clay and the underlying decom-
posed mica- and hornblende-schists of
the "Yell ow belt"; from this point,
running directly west, for thirty feet,
into the slates of the " Black belt",
when it turns sharply towards the
south, running S. 5° \V., for 2 5 feet;
then S. 40° 'vV., for 24 feet, which, with
drift B, makes a total of 270 feet.
Fig. 22 is a linear representation of
the length and direction of this tunnel,
reduced to scale.
The entrance to the SouTH TuNNEL
Linear View of the East Tunnel, is about 65 yards, S. 45° \V., from that
Crown Mountain Gold Property. of the east tunnel, and about 4 5 feet
Length x oh·
It is
above the latter, in elevation.
driven, at an average angle of N. 20° \V., through the deposit of
clay, a belt of the yellow decomposed schists, and into a belt
I For convenience of description, I have designated the tunnecs, with their drifts, by the letters

A, B and C, as may be seen by reference to figs. 22, 23 and 2.1.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY
334
of the black slates, a total of 2I 3 feet. At the point of contact
between the clay and the yellow schistose saprolite, a drift r has
been excavated, in a general direction of about S. 70° vV., for a
total_ distance of 68 feet, through the clay and the yellow schists,
and into a belt of the black slates, known, locally, as the "Soutlt
Black Belt", that, lying at the other end of the main tunnel, being
distinguished, as the " North Black Belt".

FJG. 23

Linear Yiew of the South Tunnel, Crown Mountain Gold Property. Dotted Lines
Indicate the Part Now Filled. Length x oh·

In the rear end of the main tunnel, a few feet within the north
black belt, and 164 feet from the entrance to the tunnel, is a
2
second drift, which has a general direction of S. 6o 0 W., for a
1 2
Marked B, fig. 23. Marked C, fig. 23.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 335
distance of about I 28 feet, of which approximately 70 feet have
been filled up with refuse. This drift runs from the north black
belt back into the saprolite of the yellow belt. At a distance of
fifteen feet beyond the first bend in drift C, an incline 25 feet in
length has been sunk on a large quartz vein, lying between the
yellow and black belts, and dipping with them to the northeast.

FIG. 24

"
''
''''
''
•,'
''

Linear View of the North Tunnel, Crown Mountain Gold Property. Dotted Lines
Indicate the Part now Filled. Length x oh·

The total number of feet driven in this tunnel is about 4 I o. Fig.

23 is a linear view of this tunnel, reduced to scale, except as to
width, which, as is the case with the other tunnels, is three feet.
From the entrance to the South tunnel to the entrance of the
NoRTH TuNNEL, in a line, N. 30° W., is a distance of about I60
yards ; and the elevation of the latter above the former is about· 5
336 LWfPKIN COUNTY

feet. The total number of feet driven in this tunnel, including its
two lateral drifts and an approximation of I oo feet of the main
tunnel, which is filled with refuse, is 486 feet, of which 2 35 feet
constitute the main tunnel. Drift B, running generally west, I is
I 55 feet long, while drift C runs 97 feet almost due southeast. As
in the other tunnels, the clay forms the outside part; but, instead of
the yellow schists, as in the other tunnels, a decomposed apophysis
from the large hornblende dike, farther down the north side, lies
in contact with the clay ; it was evidently exposed at this point,
when the clay was deposited.

THE ROCKS AND ORES

The rocks, cut by the three tunnels and their drifts, are typical
of Findley Ridge; and, as such, their occurrence will be described
somewhat in detail, notwithstanding they have been generically
described, in another division of this chapter.
A section along the south wall of the east tunnel, indicated in
fig. 2 I, by the letter A, is represented in fig. 2 5, showing the rela-
tive positions and extent of the various rocks, cut in this tunnel.
The TRANSPORTED CLAY lies unconformably on a former surface
of the mountain, as indicated by the lines of contact with the
underlying rocks in the three tunnels, the lines converging toward
the apex of the mountain, though the usual irregularities of a hill-
side, resulting from rain sculpture, are, here, quite as pronounced as
elsewhere. The thickness of the deposit, cut by the three tunnels,
I See fig. 2-1.
 LUllfPKIN COUNTY
337
is as follows :-East tunnel, 56 feet ; south tunnel.
48 feet; north tunnel, 50 feet.

"
~
~
As has been stated, before, neither vems nor
pebbles were seen in the clay ; nor were shells, wood
1:§
<1)

>< or other organic remains observed- only the scant

<1)

-5 stratum of small angular quartz fragments near the

c:
2 contact with the schists, mentioned before. As has
:;:;"'
u
r.n been stated, that part of the clay, lying next to the
'"
~
u
""'"
~
schists, is of a bright yellow, overlaid by the brown-
f:Q.
""
;Q
ish-red clay, into which it gradually merges. The
<1)
deposit is compact and apparently homogeneous;
">,..C:~
oc: and, with the exception of the stratum of angular
"::! "'
~0 :i:i"' quartz fragments, is without lines of stratification.
u
0. UJ
"' ' There is no material difference in the character of
".... "u
b" ~ this clay, as it occurs in each of the three tunnels ;
.{ ~
0
N its thickness is practically the same, presumably,
i~ t::
"" all around the mountain, except where it has been
....
[<Y
0
.,..,.... ~i eroded by rain-water. Assays I of this clay from
..
"
·;; tl
-;:: :;:;
samples taken by me, from each of the three tunnels,
u show, that it contains a little gold, as follows:-
::s" r.n
0

".... :0"
"::!
No. I ____ 0.020 oz. ($0.4I) of gold per ton
~
0
"<1)

u No. 2 ____ 0.020 " ($0-4 I) "

"...
0
:r:
"""" r..5
b
No. 3---- o.OIO
No.4---- 0.025
" ($0.2I) "
" ($0.52) "
"
"
"

No. I was from the red transported clay in the

<1)

-5 east tunnel ; No. 2 was from the underlying yellow

be

--;;"
0 transpQrted clay in the same tunnel ; No. 3 was
.: from the transported clay in the south tunnel, with-
~u
<1)
r.n I The assays of the ores from this county, presented in this report, with a
few exceptions, which will be noted, were made for me, by THEN. P. PRATT
I
--.9 CHEMICAL LABORATORY OF ATLANTA, from materia], selected in the field
by myseH and my assistant.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

-out regard to color ; and No. 4 was from the same clay in the
north tunnel.
From assays I and 2, we may infer, that there is practically no
difference in the auriferous character of the yellow clay, which
lies next to the schists, and the overlying red clay.
While examining this property, I had an expert miner pan the
various kinds of ore in the east tunnel, except in the black belt.
An ordinary panful of the clay, taken by me from various places
.along the wall, yielded two coarse particles of gold.
THE ScHISTS OF THE YELLOW BELT consist of a yellow saprolite
mass, speckled crimson, gray and black ; and they show little vari-
ation in the three tunnels, except near the contact with the horn-
blende masses, where the material is more coarsely crystalline. In
the east tunnel, the thickness of these schists, in the direction of
the tunnel, is about 70 feet, trisected by the two apophyses of de-
cayed hornblende-schist, already referred to ; I the south tunnel
.runs through I IO feet of the yellow schists, approximately along
their strike; and, in the north tunnel, drift B is run along the con-
tact between the yellow and black belts, for nearly its entire dis-
tance. Very little of the yellow belt, in the north tunnel, proper,
was accessible; but, with the exception of a few feet of the black
slates, at the end of drift C, and an apophysis of decomposed
hornblende-schist, I 7 feet thick, the entire drift is through the
yellow schists. In the east tunnel, the dip of the schistosity of
the yellow belt was 35° to the northeast, with a strike N. 65° W.
This belt overlies the black belt, which is cut, in the rear of
this tunnel. Near the point of contact between the yellow and
black schists, the former are highly garnetiferous. The dip and
strike of the schists, in the north tunnel, are the same, as in the

I See fig. 25 and p. 285.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY
339

-east tunnel. These schists include numerous quartz veins, usually

from an eighth of an inch to eight inches in thickness, averaging,
probably, three or four inches; but much larger veins are some-
times met with. Where the veins are of any size, the quartz is
generally badly fractured, angular blocks resulting; and these are
often black with a coating of manganese di-oxide, concentrated
from the decomposition of the original surrounding schists. The
larger veins are often ragged in outline, and, sometimes, include
fragments of schist. A 30-inch vein in the east tunnel is of this
description. This vein is said to pan very little gold. Ordinarily
the veins lie between the schists, having the same strike and dip;
but veins, with their trend across the schistosity, were noted. The
character of the quartz is from fine- to coarse-saccharoidal, and
from translucent gray to white in color, with little or no stain of
iron oxide. Certain veins, pointed out to me as " sand veins ", I
found to consist of quartz sand, resulting from the disintegration
·Of fine-grained saccharoidal quartz. Samples taken by me from
the yellow belts of the three tunnels, yielded assay results, as
follows:-

No. 5--- -···- -- ---. -- -·----- - -0.0 I 5 oz. ($o. 3 I) of gold per ton
6 --- .. -------------- .. 0.040 " ($0.83) " " "
" 7---- -----------------0.015 " ($0.31) " .. "
s ___ ---··------·--·- ___ o.roo ($2.07) " " "
" 9--~------------------.0.0IO ($o. 2 I) " " "
No. 5 was taken from the yellow decomposed schists of the east
·tunnel, and contained several small quartz veins, from an eighth to
a half-inch thick ; No. 6, from the east and south tunnels, was
taken from small quartz veins in the yellow schists, from %' of an
inch to 4 inches thick, and included a small quantity of the decom-
340 LUllfPKIN COUNTY

posed schists, lying next to the veins ; No. 7 was taken from the
yellow decomposed schists in the south tunnel; No. 8 was from
the yellow schists of the north tunnel, including no quartz veins ;.
and No. g, from all the veins in these schists, in this tunnel.
Panning Tests of these schists in the east tunnel were mader
during my examination of the property. A panful of the schist,.
containing as little quartz as possible, yielded fairly good results, in
several particles of gold. A panful of the !!mall quart'z veins from
the schist, including a small part of the immediately adjacent schist,.
was then panned; and, to my surprise, the result obtained was much.
inferior to that of the sample, from the surrounding schists.
It is generally conceded, in the Dahlonega district, that the soft
ore, of the yellow decomposed schists, and the clay, along Findley
Ridge, can be mined and milled, for from I 2 to I 5 cents per ton, by
the hydraulic process. It is apparent, therefore, from the foregoing
assays, that, with the immense bodies of this ore on Crown Mountain.
profitable mining can be carried on, in working these deposits alone;.
and the value of this work is increased, by including the richer
veins of the black belts,' which are always worked in conjunction
with the yellow belts.
The veins of the BLACK BELTS appear to be the best gold pro-
ducers along Findley Ridge. In the assay results from the Crown
Mountain property, this is at once suggested.
As may be seen from fig. 2 5, the black slates in the east tunnel
are cut only in the rear end. Drifts C and Dare run alQng the line
of contact between a black and an overlying yellow belt. In this
tunnel, the black slates are gneissoid in structure, the layers of
mineral residuum being arranged in straight, parallel bands, the rich
reds and browns with black, and mixed tints of these, pre-
1
See assays 10, II and 12.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 34I

dominating, though white, pale-yellow and gray add greatly to the

fascinating coloring in these saprolites.
Beginning at the mouth of drift C in the east tunnel, the black
schists constitute most of the west wall of the drift, which is six
feet in height, the overlying yellow schists showing only a few
inches at the top, while, on the east wall, just three feet away, the
.black schists do not reach higher than two and a half feet. The
dip here is about soc to the southeast, with a strike in the neighbor-
hood of N. 40c E. Gradually the black slates lower on the west
wall, until, at the south side of the stope, designated in fig. 22,
their top is only one foot from the floor. From this point, the black
slates rise at an angle of 2 Sc, along the wall ; and, a few feet fur-
ther, they disappear entirely. This is, doubtless, the south limit of
this one of the black belts, and is identical, with the south edge of
the north black belt in the south tunnel.
At fourteen feet from the entrance to drift C, is a drift into the
black slates, for 29 feet, in a direction N. Soc W., designated in the
figure as B. This drift cuts a very rich small vein at its mouth, and,
.farther back, two very badly fractured and very irregular, large white
quartz veins, much stained by manganese oxide, and said to be of low
grade. Assay No. IO, beyond, is from a sample taken by me from
·the small vein, and assay No. I I is from a sample, also taken by me•
from the large vein. At twenty-four feet from the entrance to drift
·C, on the west side, is the stope, above mentioned. It is excavated
-on a quartz vein, which lies along the contact between the yellow
and black schists. This stope extends upward from the drift, for
about IS feet, in a direction S. Soc W., the width of the stope being
4 feet, and the dip Of the Vein S0° tO the SOUtheast.
The south tunnel, with its drifts, cuts two black belts, one in the
farther end of drift B, and the other in the back part of the tunnel.
342 LUMPKIN COUNTY

So far as the drift goes into the south black belt, no quartz veins;
were observed. The strike of these slates is N. 85° E., and their
dip, 40° to the northwest. The south margin of the north black
belt is cut by the tunnel, I6o feet from its mouth ; and a cross-
section of the belt is exposed by the tunne 1, for 53 feet. Numerous
auriferous veins are in view all along this cross-section. These
were sampled, and the result may be seen in assay No. I 2, beyond.-
About fifteen feet beyond the first bend in drift C, is an incline,
about 2 5 feet in length, below the floor of the drift, following, in,
an easterly direction, a quartz vein from I2 to 2 4 inches thick,
along the contact of the yellow and black belts, but diminishing
to about one inch, as it enters the black belt on the north side of
the incline. A sample, taken by me from this vein, resulted as shown
in assay No. I3. Notwithstanding the assay result is unfavorable,
the fact, that the vein was worked to a greater extent by Judge
Murray, than any other, shows, that it must have given encouraging
returns on the mill. I was told, by my guide, who assisted in the
prospect work, that this vein gave very good results; and I was
surprised at the assay disclosure. From the amount of work done,
it is possible, that this vein paid a considerable part of the expense
of developing the property.
In another part of this report, reference has been made to the
beautiful series of folds, shown in the black slates in drift B of the
north tunnel, along the line of contact with the yellow belt.
The entire drift is along this contact, the yellow belt over-
lying the black, the dip of the contact being toward the southeast.
The rear part of the main tunnel was filled with debris, and the
occurrence of the black belt, there, could not be examined. The
last seven feet of drift C is in the black slates, where the dip is 70c·
to the northwest, and the strike N. 45° E. Very few quartz veins.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
343
were observed in the black slates of this tunnel ; and these, I was
told by my guide, contained very little gold. For this reason, no
samples for assay were taken from these slates. In the east and
south tunnels, I took samples from the north black belt, which
yielded results, as follows : -
No. IO.- -----------------1.550 ozs. ($32.04) of gold per ton
" IL _ . ___ - - _ ---- - - -- ·-. 0. 2 50 ($ 5-I7) " " " "
I 2 _____ --- - _- -- . -- - . -- 0. 0 50 " ($ 1.03) " " " "
" I3--------------------0.005 " ($ O. IO) " " " "
Sample No. IO was taken from the small high-grade vein in the
black belt of the east tunnel, at the entrance to drift B; No. I I was
taken from two large veins in this drift, which I was informed were
of low grade ; No. I2 was an average of all the veins in the north
black belt of the south tunnel; and No. I 3 was taken from the con-
tact vein along the incline in drift C of this tunnel. None of these
samples showed sulphides. In fact, I saw no evidence of any ap-
preciable amount of sulphides, in any of the veins, cut by these
tunnels.
The HoRNBLENDE-SCHIST of the district has been described,
elsewhere, in this report. In the east tunnel, two apophyses cut
through the yellow belt, as may be seen by reference to fig. 2 5; and
the sharp end of another projects, for about two feet, above the
floor of the tunnel, at the contact between the transported clay and
the micaceous saprolite of the yellow belt, as is shown by its outline
on the north wall. The decayed rock, as it appears here, is the
common "brick-bat" of the district, already described. I While the
mass is fine-grained, rough to the feel, and broken into small blocks
throughout the main body; yet, near the contact with the mica-
schist saprolite, the material of both kinds of schist is more
I Seep. zR4.
344 LUMPKIN COUNTY

<:oarsely crystalline, and may be classed as gneissoid schist. N u-

merous small slickensides, parallel with the schistosity, are notice-
able. The dip of these schists is from 30° to 3 5° to the northeast,
<:oinciding with that of the mica-schist saprolite. As will be seen
from fig. 21, the outlines of these apophyses are quite irregular, and
their trend is almost normal to that of the large parent dike, whose
southern margin occupies the north side of the ridge. It is a sig-
nificant fact, that, in the south tunnel, which is farthest from the
large dike, the only evidence of the .presence of hornblende-schist
<:onsists of three narrow masses of the saprolite, some distance
apart, in the back part of the tunnel, the largest of which is not
over four feet wide. As before stated, the hornblende saprolite in
the north tunnel is in immediate contact with the overlying clay
deposit. On the east wall of the tunnel, this mass, which was en-
countered on both walls, at 50 feet from the entrance, was thirteen
feet thick, while on the west wall, only three feet away, it was but
five feet thick. The apparent dip of this saprolite, along the trend
of the tunnel, was 20° to the northeast, the same as the dip of the
surrounding mica-schist saprolite. The true dip of both, however,
was ascertained to be 3 5° to the northeast, with a northwesterly
strike. In drift C, a mass of the weathered hornblende-schist ap-
pears on the northeast wall, seventeen feet wide, while on the south-
west wall the width is decreased by only one foot.
lVI y guide informed me that the hornblende-schist yielded very
little, if any, gold; so no sample of this material was taken for assay.
On account of the fresh, dry walls of the tunnels on this prop-
erty, cut through the characteristic saprolites of Findley Ridge, it
was selected for the study of the rocks; and I have dwelt on it, in
detail, to a much greater extent, than is desirable, in the discussion
of other prospects and mines along the ridge.
 LUllfPKIN COUNTY
345

THE BOWEN LOT

Adjoining, on the west, the lot, which embraces the most of

Crown Mountain, is what is known as The Bowen Lot, No. 93 I,
I 2tlt district. The gold belts, which have been described, in the
presentation of the Crown Mountain property, pass through this
lot, a little more than one-third of the lot being occupied by these
belts, and the remainder, by the large dike on the north side of the
ridge. On the east side of the lot, not far from the center of the
north and south lot-line, a sixty-foot tunnel was run, some years
ago, into one of the black belts, with what results, I did not learn.
Over in the southwest ~orner of the lot, not more than seventy-five
yards from the west boundary-line, a twenty-five-foot vertical shaft
has been sunk to cut an incline, which begins, a few feet west of it.
About fifty feet north of the vertical shaft is another incline, sixty
feet deep, well timbered, and in good condition. These shafts and
the tunnel have been made, by men, mining, in a small way. They
are all driven into the black belt; and the ore from the veins was,
probably, milled on the Capps mill. Beyond these small workings,
nothing seems to have been done towards developing the property.
At the time of my visit, the veins were not in such shape, that I
could take samples from them for assay. This property has been
owned by Messrs. H. D. Ingersoll, of Dahlonega, and G. H. Ten-
Brock, of St. Louis, Mo.,' for about four years, having been bought
1
Since this report went to press, this property has been purchased by
Messrs. George H. Clark of Cedartown, Ga., and H. F. VanDeventer of
Knoxville, Tenn. I am indebted to Mr. VanDeventer, for assays of ore
from this lot, recently made by Messrs. Ricketts and Banks of New York
City, from samples taken and forwarded by the owners, as follows:-
No. r -Old shaft, top of ridge . o. 20 oz. ($4. oo) of gold per ton
No. 2 - Bottom of old cut . . . o. 16 " ($3. 20) " " " "
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

by them from Mr. Beverly Martin, as a part of the estate of his

father.

THE CAPPS MINE I

The Capps mine, lot 890, I 2tlt district, joins the Bowen lot, on its
west side. The same gold belts, the yellow and black schistose
saprolites, which pass through the Crown Mountain and Bowen
properties, continue on through the Capps lot. The mine lies on
the north side of Findley Ridge, near its top. It consists principally
of an open cut, about I 50 feet long and roo feet wide, at the sur-
face, and about 40 feet deep, on its north, or lower, side. The
longitudinal axis of the cut is N. 50° E., approximately in the
direction of the trend of the belts, the ore deposits dipping under
the large dike. Lying next to the dike, is a yellow belt, about
twenty feet wide; while, adjoining this, on the south, is the black
belt, about 6o feet wide, which is regarded as the principal gold
producer of the property. Nevertheless, all the material, taken
from the cut, has been put through the mill, the ore, rich and lean,
being reported to average $2.00 per ton, on the mill. In the south
side of the cut, about fifteen feet from its bottom, a short tunnel is
driven into the black slates on a large vein, said to have considerable
value. The ore of this vein, which is known as the twelve-foot
vein, consists of saccharoidal quartz, impregnated with considerable
auriferous pyrite ; and it is said to assay as high as $40.00 in gold
per ton, and to mill $3.00 per ton, on the ordinary stamp-mill. This
vein has been opened, at different points along its outcrop, for at

I Field-work, for the most part, by S. \V. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY
34?
least zoo feet. At the time of Mr. McCallie's visit to the property
the veins were not in such condition, that samples for assay could
be taken.
About 400 feet southeast of the vein just described, is another,
two feet thick, and of about the same external character. The·
upper part of this vein, where it occurs in the saprolite, with its
pyrite decomposed, is said to yield fourteen dollars per ton on the
mill ; but, below water-level, where the pyrite is unaltered and the
assay values, greater, the mill returns are much less.
In addition to the large cut, there are several shafts on the·
property, from ten to forty feet deep, which are largely prospect
shafts.
The history of this mine can be briefly told. It was first worked
for gold in r 840, by a man by the name of Capps, who erected on
the property a small wooden stamp-mill, having three stamps, run
by horse-power. Mr. Capps continued work, for about two years ;
and the work is said to have paid. From this time to I 88 5, nothing
further seems to have been done on the property. Messrs. Ingersoll
and TenBrikk, who are mentioned above, as owners of the Bowen
lot, erected an iron IO-stamp mill in the valley near the foot of the
ridge, and began work, running the mill with water from the Hand
ditch, and using an overshot-wheel. The property had then, long
since, passed out of the hands of its original owner; and it was a
part of the Martin estate, when Messrs. Ingersoll and TenBrock
l?urchased it, with the Bowen lot, from Mr. Beverly Martin. These
gentlemen operated the mine, for a few months, making the large
1
open cut above described.
I
Since the press-work was begun on this bulletin, this property has been
sold, with the Bowen lot, to Messrs. Geo. H. Clark of Cedartown, Ga., and·
H. F. VanDeventer of Knoxville, Tenn. These gentlemen, in the spring.
 LUJJ:!PKIN COUNTY

THE COLUMBIA MINE I

This mine is located on lot 988, I2tlz district, adjacent to lot 947
of the Crown Mountain property, being the first Findley Ridge
lot, east of Crown Mountain. The main part, of the work done,
lies on the north slope of the ridge, most of it, in the northeast
corner of the lot, ending, where the work, in the west cut of the

-of I 897, sunk a shaft, in the bottom of the open cut, to strike the I 2-foot
vem. At the bottom of the shaft, the vein is said to be five or six feet
thick. At the time of a visit to the property, recently made by me, the shaft
was not in such condition, that the vein could be examined, or assay mate-
rial, taken. But the ore, which I saw on the dump, was of the same
character, as stated in the text. One specimen showed, very distinctly,
particles of free gold with the pyrite; but my guide told me, that free gold
was not of frequent occurrence in the mine. I am indebted to Mr.
VanDeventer, who is himself a professional chemist, and a gentleman,
whom I believe to be perfectly reliable, for assays, made for him, from
samples taken from the shaft on the "I2-foot vein," by several assayers, as
follows:-
No. I . $I2.oo of gold per ton
No.2 q.so " " " "
No.3 I2.00 "
,,
" "
No.4. . I6 oz. of gold and o.22 oz. of silver "
Nos. I and 2 were made by Mr. W. R. Crandall, M. E., Dahlonega,
-Georgia; No.3, by Mr. J. W. Slocum; and No. 4, by Messrs. Ricketts and
.
Banks, New York City. Of course, I quote these assays, because I am
not able to furnish others, from samples taken by myself or my assistant;
and the reader will have to form his own estim1te, as to their value; though
I have no doubt, as to their integrity.
I Field-work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
349•
Preacher mine, on the adjoining lot, begins. Most of the early
prospecting work was done, near the top of the ridge; and great
difficulty was experienced in getting water to that point.
The first real mining, Clone on the property, was begun in 1882,
by Mr. 'vV. K. Lawrence, one of the owners of the lot. This work,
which is shown, in a large open cut, was located near the top of the
ridge, where some very rich ore-shoots are said to have been found.
They were worked to a depth, many feet below the surface. The-
ore, taken out, was carried by flume to Yahoola creek, a mile away,
where it was milled. After Mr. Lawrence had operated the prop-
erty for a short time, it passed into the hands of the Columbia
Mining Company, of Augusta, Ga. For two years, then, the prop-
erty remained idle, after which Capt. J. L. Davis operated it, for a
short period, making three large open cuts, in the northeast corner
of the lot, beginning at the bottom of the ridge. These cuts, from
twenty to thirty feet deep, follow three different vein:;;, for from
I 50 to zoo yards, the veins, it is said, varying from a few inches to
two feet in thickness, and being, in places, very rich. Besides the
veins, Capt. Davis worked a considerable part of the saprolite,
which he reports to have paid handsomely, many small nuggets be-
ing found, weighing ten, or more, pennyweights. The vein material
was washed down a flume to the Columbia mill, which stood on the
present site of the Preacher mill, the water, for sluicing, being
pumped from the hand ditch to a reservoir near the top of Crown
Mountain, giving a pressure of ninety feet in the cuts. Since the
work done by Capt. Davis, no systematic mining has been attempted,
though other parties have worked, in a small way, several rich
shoots and ore-bodies on the property. Besides the open cuts
mentioned, others from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet long, and
tunnels of €qual length, and shafts, extending down to water-level,_
 LU!ffPKJN COUNTY
350
are quite numerous, though they were so filled with earth, at the
time of Mr. McCallie's visit, that it was possible for him to examine
only a few of the ore-bodies. These consist of the yellow and
black belts, with their veins, the occurrence of which, on the Crown
Mountain property, has already been described by me. The veins
have the same strike and dip, as the schists, in which they occur,
striking N. 45° W., and dipping 45° to the northeast, though neither
the strike nor the dip is constant, varying, from place to place, by
several degrees. In addition to three black and two yellow belts,
another auriferous schist belt, known as the Fish Trap belt, crosses
this lot on the south side of the ridge. I noticed, in the Lawrence
cut, near the top of the ridge, an apophysis from the large dike,
about the same size, as those in the east tunnel of the Crown Mountain
property. Several small faults cross the northeast corner of the
lot, dislocating the veins encountered. Two systems of quartz
veins, nearly normal to each other, were noticed, in this part of the
lot. Some of the veins are not less, than ten feet thick. In a large
vein, known as "The Sand Vein," considerable pyrite occurs, which
is said to be auriferous. I observed, on the dump from this vein,
large white quartz blocks sprinkled with micaceous hematite, re-
sulting apparently from the alteration of pyrite. The character
Df the quartz is saccharoidal, especially in the smaller veins. Some
Df it shows the cellular structure, due to the decomposition of
pyrite.
Samples for assay were taken by Mr. McCallie; and these gave
results, as follows : -

No.1. ... -------··------- ----O.I20oz. ($2.48) of gold per ton

2 - ---- - ----- -. - -- ---- --0.0 30 " ( $0.62) " " " "
3-- -- - - ------- ----------0.47 5 " ($g.82) " " "
... 4--- - - .. - -- - - -- -- - -- -· -- - 0.040 " ($0.83) " "
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
351
No. 1 was taken from the Stumon shaft; No. 2, from the Clem-
ents tunnel; No. 3, from the Roberts cut; and No. 4, from a re-
cent opening, well down towards the foot of the ridge.
This lot was granted by the State to David Adams. In February,
I 849, it was sold, by the Administrator of the Adams estate, to
Mr. Harrison W. Riley. It was sold again, in May, I 862, by Mr.
Riley, to Mr. W. S. Roberts, President of the Augusta and Dah-
1onega Mining Co. It was next sold, March Ist, I883, when it was
purchased from the Augusta and Dahlonega Mining Co., by the
Columbia Gold Mining Co. In January, I887, it was sold by the
sheriff of Lumpkin county to Mr. Alonzo H. Farrar, to satisfy a
judgment in the Superior Court of this county, in favor of the
Frank vV. Hall Merchandise Co., of Dahlonega. 1

THE PREACHER MINE

This mine is situated in the northwest corner of lot 995, I 2tlz dis-
tri-Ct, which lies adjacent to, and east of, the Columbia lot. Like the
Columbia, this lot includes a section of Findley Ridge, with the
various yellow and black belts of schistose saprolites, bounded on
the north by the large dike of hornblende-schist. The property,
which includes the Preacher mill, located in the southeast corner of
lot g86, is owned by four gentlemen, as follows: - A half-interest,
by Judge W. W. Murray, and a sixth, each, by Messrs. J. Frank
Johnson, J. C. Clements, and D. T. Harris, of Dahlonega. 2
1
Since this property was surveyed, it, with the Preacher and the Griscom lots, has been pur-
chased by the Kentucky Mining Company, of Earlington, Ky., which has made great improvements
on, and is, now, extensively developing, them.
2
This property has, since, been purchased by the Kentucky Mining Co., of Earlington, Ky.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
352
It is said, that this lot was first worked for gold, by a man, by
the name of Dollison, about fifty years ago, evidence of his work
being still seen, in what is left of two old inclines, which were be-
gun at the top of the ridge, near the contact of the yellow and the
north black belts, on two rich shoots in an auriferous quartz vein.
The upper parts of these old inclines have been removed, in exca-
vating what it now the central open cut, at the top of the ridge;
but it is known, that the inclines went down, in a northeast direc-
tion, at an angle, agreeing with the dip of the schists, for about forty
feet, when the trough-fault, described in another part of this re-
port', was encountered, and Dollison lost his vein. It is said, that
the schists of the trough-piece were ~lightly auriferous; but, that
they were so much "leaner", than the vein, he had been working,
that Dollison abandoned the inclines. It is expected, by the pres-
ent owners, that they will find the lost vein, on the north side of
the trough-fault. The ore, taken by Dollison from the two inclines,
was hauled in wagons, two miles, to a 3-stamp mill, the stamps be-
ing of the wooden type, then in use, and the device, for saving the
gold, being an ordinary riffle-box. This ore is said to have yielded
an average of $20.00 a ton, even on this crude mill. The property,
at that time, was leased by Dollison from its owner, Mr. James M.
Brawner, of Elbert county, to whom the property was originally
granted by the State. The work continued, for only a short time
when the vein was lost. No work seems to have been done on the
lot, from that time to 188 5, when Mr. Marion Chester, a miner,
found, in the black slates, lower down the ridge, a rich auriferous
quartz vein. Having secured a lease on the property, from Rev.
H. S. Rees, of Turin, Ga., its then owner, he, with Col. Robt. H.
Moore and Mr. Robert Howell, began to work the vein. Three
1
See page 296.
 LCJIPKIX COCNTY
353
months after operations began, Mr. Chester sold his interest in the
lease to Mr. Jno. L. \Vallace; and work was continued, off and on,
for four years, the entire work, during this time, consuming not
more than a year. After working a rich shoot of the vein, for
some distance down, a tunnel, with its entrance in what is now the
northwest cut, about twenty feet above the base of the ridge, was
driven, for 2 50 feet, to cut the vein lower down. From this tunnel,
the rich shoot was then stoped out, up to where work had been
discontinued in the incline; and the incline was continued further
down, at an angle of 45°, until it measured eighty feet below the
tunnel floor.
The vein, at the surface, trends N. 55° E., and has a vertical po-
sition; but Mr. Chester informed me, that, at some distance down,
it flexed under the ridge, occupying, thereafter, a position between
the schists. He stated, that the vein was richest, along this fold.
\Vhen the rich shoot, along which work had been prosecuted, had
been excavated to a depth of 300 feet, thirty feet below water-level,
the lessees were compelled to abandon it, on account of having to
lift, with a hand-pump, an So-foot column of water, in order to keep
the shaft free. A further reason lay in the fact, that, as the ore
became more pyritiferous below water-level, the amount of gold,
which could be extracted by the mill, was constantly decreasing,
with a consequent loss to the operators; though it is said, that, when
work ceased, the ore was yielding $25.00 per ton, under the stamps.
\Vhen the incline had been excavated, for only fifty feet from
the surface, the fault, elsewhere mentioned, in this report, was en-
countered, and Mr. \Vallace withdrew from the enterprise. After
some prospecting for it, the vein was found, about six feet north of
where it had disappeared, and a few feet lower clown.
The average width of this vein was about two feet; and the rich
 LD~VPli:IN COCNTY
354
shoot extended twenty feet along the trend of the vein. This
much of the vein was stoped out, to the bottom of the 300-foot
incline. The ore, above water-level, consisted of free-milling, sac-
<:haroidal quartz, more or less cellular, and stained by iron oxide.
Much of it is said to have shown free gold, in liberal quantity.
Below water-level, the ore contained considerable pyrite.
Messrs. Moore, Howell and \:Vallace hauled their ore in wagons,
at first to the old Columbia mill, but, later on, to the Lockhart mill,
paying fifty cents per ton, and twelve-and-a-half cents per miner's-
inch, additional, for water, at the former, and one dollar per ton,
at the latter.
After abandoning the shoot, thus far worked, Messrs. Moore and
Howell began work on another vein in the black belt, parallel with
the first, and about thirty feet north of it, farther down the ridge.
It was essentially of the same character, as the first vein; but, in-
stead of one, there were three rich shoots, about ten or twelve feet
apart, the shoots dipping a little more, than in the upper vein. The
ore, too, of the second vein was of the same character, as that of
the first. \York was begun at the surface, on the lowest or most
western shoot, and the one next above it, the third not having been
-discovered, at that time; and, later on, when these inclines had
been sunk to some little depth, a vertical shaft was sunk, farther
·east on the vein, to a depth of thirty-five feet, cutting through the
two upper shoots, the topmost, which was entirely new, being sup-
posed to be one of the two, on which the inclines had been started.
From this vertical shaft, inclines were sunk, and the shoots were
stoped out, to water-level. Both shoots were then stoped upward,
to the point, where they were dislocated by the fault. Here, work
was stopped by l\Iessrs. Howell and l\Ioore, after having stoped out
the bottom shoot from above, to where the vein was faulted. Soon
 LCilfPKIN COUNTY
355
after these gentlemen discontinued work, Mr. ]. Frank Moore, a
son of Col. Moore, and Mr.]. B. Clements began work on the mine,
sinking the vertical shaft deeper, and encountering the lowest shoot,
at about twelve feet below, thereby discovering, that there were
three, instead of two, shoots. This firm worked the middle shoot
twenty feet further, stopping at about twelve feet below water-level.
The lowest shoot, they worked from the bottom of the shaft, till
it was twenty-five feet below water-level; and from the bottom of
the shaft, they stoped it out, in an upward direction, to the fault,
a distance of about forty-five feet. I was informed by Mr. Clem-
ents, who kindly guided me over the property, that the fault line
presented good slicken-sides ; and that, by excavating, from the
fault end of one of his inclines, for twelve feet, in an upward direc-
tion, at an angle of 45° toward the south, and along the slicken-
sides, he drove into the end of the corresponding incline, where
Messrs. Moore and Howell had stopped work. The tunnels and
shafts, at the time of my visit, were not in such condition, that I
could examine the faulted veins; but the dislocation was plainly
noticeable, at the surface. Both veins were cut by the same fault,
and they were similarly affected.
Messrs. l\Ioore and Clements hauled the most of their ore, three
quarters of a mile, to the Lawrence mill in Dahlonega, paying
seventy-five cents a ton for milling; but about seventy-five tons of it
was hauled to the :\1ary Henry mill on Yahoola creek, one and a half
miles from the mine, the same tariff per ton being paid for milling.
I was informed by Mr. Moore, who is a merchant in the town of
Dahlonega, that the ore, worked by himself and Mr. Clements,
averaged ten dollars per ton, under the stamps, notwithstanding the
fact, that much of the ore was highly pyritiferous. This firm
worked the 10\ver vein, off and on, for about two years, the entire
 LUMPKIN CO[J/\'TY

work, however, not consuming over six or eight months. Having

reached the point, where they had to contend with too much water,
for their outfit, and with an ore, constantly increasing in the unal-
tered condition of its sulphides, they abandoned the old shafts, and
spent more than a year prospecting. Mr. D. T. Harris, of Dah-
lonega, was then taken into the firm; and, having leased the Stanley
s-stamp mill, they began work at the top of the ridge, in the yel-
low belt, by inclines and open cuts, hauling the saprolite, with in-
cluded small quartz veins, in wagons, to the mill. They worked, in
this way, continuously, for a year, when the lease on the mill expired.
Up to this time, all work on the property, since I885, had been
done, under lease from its owner, Rev. H. S. Rees, a Baptist cler-
gyman, who had purchased it from the heirs of his \vife's father.
But, in January, I895, the property was purchased by Judge Murray,
who, in April, following, sold a half interest in it to Messrs. Moore,
Clements and Harris; and the four have worked it, continuously,
since then.
The old Columbia mill had been removed; and, in May, these
gentlemen began the erection of a IO-stamp mill on its site, which
is known as the Preacher mill. They ran a line of 4-inch gas-pipe,
from the mill to the top of the ridge, for the purpose of carrying
water to the reservoir at that point, pumped from the Tan-yard
branch at the mill. The reservoir was I 04 feet long by I 4 feet
wide by 4 feet deep, \Yith a working capacity of 35,000 gallons of
water.
On the 4th of July, following, the firm began work, in the ex-
treme northwest corner of the lot, at the foot of the ridge, in the
north black belt, digging out the saprolite and its vein content, and
flooding it twice a day, through a flume, to the mill, I,IOO feet of
the flume being supplied with riffles, and the remainder with false
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
357
bottoms. This flume discharged its contents into the mill-house,
the muddy water, bearing up much of the more finely divided gold,
passing through the racks and into the Tan-yard branch, while the
coarser material remained in the ore-bin, to be passed through the
mill. It was ascertained by the firm, that the loss of a great deal
of the gold attended this method of flooding; and Judge Murray,
at the time of my visit, was taking steps, by which he hoped to ob-
viate this difficulty. Four or five miners found it profitable busi-
ness, to pan the debris from this mill, for a considerable distance
.down the Tan-yard branch; and it was their daily avocation.
At the time of my visit, the cut above mentioned, vvhich I shall
designate as the Nort!twcst Cut, had been completely excavated, for
;about three hundred feet, in a line, S. 32° E., through the black
belt, to the top of the ridge, where it was made continuous with an
-open cut, running 162 feet, along the top of the ridge, N. 68° E.
These cuts varied, in width, from fifteen to forty-five feet, and, iB
depth, from about eight feet, at the bottom of the ridge, to some-
thing like fifty feet, in the cut at the top, which I shall designate
as the Central Cut. The walls of this cut were, respectively, the
north and the south black belts, the intervening yellow belt having
been scooped out, to the bottom of the cut, and sent to the mill.
From the lower part of a small cove, farther east, beginning at the
north lot-line, another cut had been started, with a branch flume,
connecting with the first, farther down toward the mill, the north-
west cut not affording sufficient drainage. This cut was, at the
time of my visit, 27 5 feet long, with a trend N. 47° E. Its widest
point was 50 feet, and its deepest was about the same, with an
average depth of, probably, forty feet.
\Vork on the yellow belt was being rapidly prosecuted; and only
.thirty-five feet of it was left between this cut and the east end of
 LCMPKii'l COUNTY

the central cut. Before my field-season closed, this entire mass.

had been removed and milled, making a continuous cut from the
foot of the ridge, where the work began, in the northwest cut, to
the lower end of the lvortlzeast Cut. This, however, was subsequent
to my survey of the property. The northeast cut is wholly in the
yellow belt, though the south black belt forms the lower end of the
southeast wall, opposite which, forming the lower part of the·
northwest wall, is an apophysis of decayed hornblende-schist, from
the large dike farther down the ridge.
In the lower end of this cut, the yellow schists have been mined
to the south black belt, except a thin, wedge-shaped layer on the
surface, which extends only a short distance up hill; but, on the
north side, beyond the cut, there still remains about thirty feet of
the yellow schists untouched, giving an approximate maximum
width of eighty feet to the yellow belt. In the central cut, it did
not exceed forty feet. \Nhile the central cut coincided with the
trend of the belt, the northeast cut was diagonally across it, but,
approximately, in the direction of the schistosity. The normal
schistosity seems to be to the northeast ; and the variation to the
southeast is likely due to folding. In the upper end of the north-
east cut, the yellow schists dip, along the southeast wall, at an
angle of 2 5° to the southeast, and strike northeast; while, on the
northwest wall, they dip at an angle of 3 5° to the northeast, and
strike northwest, indicating an anticlinal fold.
In the central cut, along the north wall in its west end, the black
slates dip 70° to the northeast, and have a northwesterly strike. On
the same wall, at the other end of the cut, just beyond the trough-
fault, they dip about 2 5° to the southeast, and strike northeast. On
the south side of the cut, the dip of the schists of the south black
belt varies from 2 5°, at the east end of the cut, to 3 5°, at its west
 LCJJPKI;\' COUJ\7Y
359
end, being constantly to the southeast. The trough-fault, which
crosses this cut, in an east and west direction, has been described
elsewhere in this report. I The fault, which dislocates the two au-
riferous veins described, is parallel with the trough-fault, in trend,
and is eighty feet north of it. Still another fault crosses the lower
end of the northeast cut, dislocating the yellow and black schists,
with a throw of three feet to the south. This fault, like the others,
is of the type, known as normal faults.
Samples of ore, for assay, were taken by me, in the central and
northeast cuts. The northwest cut had fallen in, from long disuse,
and the veins were covered. It was impossible to take material
from the shafts, which were filled with water, and which were other-
wise inaccessible. The results of assay are as follows:-
No. r_ _____ -----------------0.06 oz. ($1.24) of gold per ton
2--- -- -------------------0.02 " ($0-41) " " "
" 3------------------------0.0I "($0.21)" "
4------------------ ----- _0.20 " ($4.13) " "
No. I was taken from the yellow decomposed schists and their
included quartz veins, in the central cut; No. 2, from all the quartz
veins in the black slates, in the same cut; No. 3, from the fresh
yellow schists, as the material was being dug out, for a flood-run,
at the upper end of the northeast cut, and from the walls on either
side; and No. 4, from the quartz veins in the south black belt, at
the lower end of the same cut.
On this property, very beautiful specimens of auriferous saccha-
roidal quartz, containing plates of gold six or eight millimeters in
width, have been found, occasionally. A handsome suite of these
are on exhibition, in the State Museum.

I See page 296.

 LU11fi'Ji7N COUNTY

Besides the black and yellow belts, the Fish Trap belt crosses
this lot, on the south side of the ridge. So far as I was informed,
however, no work has been undertaken on this belt. It may be
well to add, that the only work, done on the south black belt, is
the stoping, for a short distance, of a rich shoot.
This lot was originally granted to James M. Brawner, of the
county of Elbert, in I832. In November, I858, it was deeded
to Mr. Brawner's heirs, by the executor of his estate. In March,
I 880, it was bought, by Rev. H. S. Rees, from the heirs of l\frs.
C. S. Moon, a daughter of the grantee and mother-in-law of Mr.
Rees. From Mr. Rees, the property was bought by Judge \V. \V.
Murray, in January, I895; and, in April, following, Judge Murray
sold an undivided half of the lot to Messrs. Moore, Clements and
Harris, who, with him, are now working the property, as has been
zletailed above.
T!tc 111ill, belonging to this property, is a I o-stamp mill, of the
F. \V. Hall patent, the stamps weighing 4 50 pounds, each. It has
two I o-foot amalgamated copper plates, with a sand box at the end
of the plates, followed by a "quick-trap". The mill-bouse is in
fair condition; and it contains, besides the mill, a 3 5 H.P. upright
boiler, jacketed with brick; a IO H.P. horizontal automatic engine;
and a 6-inch duplex double cylinder Deane pump. The mill was
used, three years, at the Gordon mine, and one year at the Mary
Henry mine, before it was set up, at its present location. In ad-
dition to this mill. there is, in the mill-bouse, a small s-stamp steel
mill, with I2 s-pound stamps, built for a test-mill. It is not now in
use. An office and a chemical and assay laboratory, partly equip-
ped, and in a new building; a workshop, also new; and a hydraulic
giant, at the mine, with necessary iron pipe, complete the equipment.
 LC3IPKIN COCi\"TY

THE GRISCOM MINE '

This rmne IS located in the southeast corner of lot 996, I 2tlt dis-
.trict, which lies adjacent to and immediately north of the Preacher
lot. The southern part of this lot includes a part of the north
slope of Findley Ridge ; while a branch, starting in a spring, near
the foot of the ridge, flows north through the east half of the lot,
emptying into the Tan-yard branch. Along this branch, there was
formerly a considerable deposit of auriferous gravel; but most of
it was worked for gold, many years ago. Some valuable nuggets
are reported to have been found in this placer. There still remains
a small unworked area, which it is thought, will prove profitable,
when mined.
Adam Peck, "away back in the forties", was, probably, the first
man to attempt vein mining. He ran an incline on a rich shoot in
a vein, from eighty to a hundred feet deep, in that part of the lot,
in which the Reid cut has since been excavated. It was current
belief, at the time, that Mr. Peck made, what was then considered
a great deal of money. About the year r88o, Mr. Harry B. Neal
a~d his brother came from Virginia; and, having purchased the lot,
they started what is now known as the Reid cut, working the veins,
which had been discovered, many years before, one of which had
been worked by Mr. Peele They worked for about a year, using
a r o-stamp mill. What their results were, I am not able to say;
but, in February, 1879. as elsewhere related, they sold the lot to
Mr. Samuel E. Griscom of Philadelphia, Penn. Shortly after that,
Mr. Joseph Reid began work on the cut, as superintendent for Mr.
1
Field-work by S. \V. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 L0:1IPJ{!i\' COUNTY

Griscom; and he very materially enlarged it, working for three or

four years, and milling the ore on the I o-stamp mill, on the lot.
He is reported, to have found some very rich ore-shoots, which
made the mine quite profitable, until the ore was stoped out to
water-level, when the shafts were ab:wdoned, on account of the sul-
phides.
About I 890, Mr. Geo. M. Stanley of Jackson, Mich., purchased
the property. He erected a 5-stamp mill on the property, soon
afterwards, the Griscom mill having been sold and removed, some
time before. He then began mining operations; but, not being
familiar with mining methods, it is said, he soon became discour-
aged; and, suspending work, he returned to Michigan, leasing the
mill to Messrs. Moore, Clements and Harris, who were operating
the Preacher mine, adjacent. In November, I895, Mr. Stanley
deeded the property to his wife, Mrs. Mary L. Stanley, its present
1
ovvner. The stamp n1ill has since been removed, leaving a small
engine and boiler, in good condition and well housed.
The character of the ore deposits is the same as that of the
Preacher mine, of which these are but a continuation. Both the
black and yellow belts cross this lot; but the Fish Trap belt is too
far south. Both the former are to be seen in the large open cut,
above mentioned, which lies by the side, and just west, of the mid-
dle Gainesville road.
At the time of Mr. McCallie's visit to the property, it was not
in such shape, that samples for assay could be taken.
The Griscom lot was granted by the State to Drewry \Nail,
Sr., of Rabun county, in I832. In April, I848, Mr. Wall sold it
to Jesse C. Henly. A few days later, :\Ir. Henly sold a half in-
terest in it to John W. Grady. In I855, Mr. Henly was pushed,
1
The Kentucky Mining Co. ha> bought this property, also, since r8]6.
 L0~1IPKLV COUNTY

one night, out of the court-house door, by a drunken man; and,.

falling on the sharp corner of the steps. he was injured inter-
nally, so that he died, in a few hours. The feature of this incident,
of interest at the present time, is, that the coroner of the county
levied on the dead man's property, to pay the costs of the inquest.
So, the half interest belonging to Mr. Henly's estate, was sold by
the sheriff, and, by him, was deeded to \Villiam Martin, May
I 2th, I 8 55· From Mr. Grady, his half interest passed to Mr. Mar-
tin, in August, I857· From Col. W. P. Price, his wife and other
heirs of Mr. Martin, the lot was bought by Harry B. Neal of
Virginia, except the farming interest in four acres around the mineral
spring, a mortgage being filed, on the day of the sale, Sept. 29th,
I 877, to secure deferred payments to Col. and Mrs. Price and her
sister, Mrs. Fannie K. Harris. After working the mine for some time,
as has been before related, Mr. Neal, in February, I879, sold the lot
to Mr. Samuel E. Griscom of Philadelphia, except the farming in-
terest, above mentioned, the sale being subject to the mortgage
in favor of Col. Price and others. This mortgage was foreclosed
in July following; and the sheriff deeded the lot, except the farm-
ing interest in the four acres around the spring, to Col. Price, his
wife and Mrs. Harris, her sister. What further title Mr. Griscom
had to the lot, the records do not show; but the title must be good;
as "Samuel E. Griscom, by his attorney in fact, \V. P. Price," sold
the lot, except the four acres, in June, I 8go, to Mr. George M.
Stanley of Michigan, who deeded the entire lot to his wife Mr~.

Mary L. Stanley, the present owner, in November, I 89 5, Col. Price

having deeded the farming interests in the four acres to Mr. Stanley,.
in April, I 894.
 LC'Ml'A"l1Y CCC.\'TY

THE BAST MINE

Looking southeast from the neighborhood of the public square

in Dahloneg·a, the attention is arrested by a large open cut, running
along the north side of Findley Ridge, near its top. This cut is on
the east side of lot I,OJj, I2tlt district, its east end stopping abruptly,
about the middle of the north and south lot-line, between this and
the Findley mine lot, No. I ,048. This cut constitutes what is known
as the Bast mine, named for 1\fr. Emanuel Bast, of Ashland, Penn.,
one of it former owners and operators. The cut is 650 feet long
by about 60 feet wide. Its south \vall is about fifty feet high, and
its north wall, about twenty feet, in the present condition of the
cut; though, in places, the original bottom is said to be covered,
by about twenty feet of debris. Along its longitudinal axis, the
cut has a direction, N. 76° E., approximately the trend of the belts.
In fact, the cut has been made by excavating the yellow belt, nearly
to the point, where the saprolitic condition gives place to the unal-
tered schist. Still, a portion of the yellow saprolite remains in
place, dipping under the large dike, and averaging, probably, fifteen
feet thick. The north wall, in the west end of the cut, presents an
excellent exposure of the hornblende-schist, the most of it, in an
almost completely altered condition, but the remainder, showing all
stages of alteration. About midway of the north wall of the cut,
a drain was cut through the hard, unaltered hornblende-schist,
through which the ore could be flooded to the mill. The large
dump-pile, resulting, furnishes, in abundance, all the variations of
this rock, from the holocrystalline to the aphanitic schist.
Third in the series of these belts, as they lie in this cut, is a belt
--of the black slates, which forms the south wall of the cut, and dips
 LCJIPKIN COUNTY

under the belt of yellow schists. The strike of these slates, taken
in the east end of the cut, was N. 65° vV., and their dip 55° to the
northeast. The strike of the hornblende-schists is N. 8o 0 vV., and
their dip, 45° to the northeast.
Lying between the yellow and blacl.:: belts, is an auriferous quartz
vein, known as the " Big Sand Vein." The trend of this vein is
N. 50° to 60° E., which approximates that of the yellow and black
belts. The ore from this vein is said to have yielded $I r.oo or
$I 2.00 of gold per ton. In the west end of the cut, the vein is
about fifteen feet wide; but, at the point, where my sample for as-
say was taken, I 50 feet east, it is only two feet wide. Beyond this,
in an eastward, direction, it is covered by the weathered material,
which has fallen in, from the walls; but, near the drain cut, where
it is twenty feet under this soft material, it is said to be eight feet
wide.
Only a few feet from this vein, was another, in the yellow belt.
A prospect shaft, about ten feet deep, has recently been driven
through the unaltered schists, along the clip of this vein. The hard
schists, which surround the vein, are pearl-gray, and consist, chiefly,
of a hydrous mica, the species of which has not yet been deter-
mined. These schists, which, as I have before stated, are, evidently,
in part, at least, the unaltered material of the yellow belts, arc,
by no means, so quartzose, in character, as the underlying slates of
the black belt, at the Findley mine. The vein, which is of hard,
white quartz, containing considerable of the hydromica-schist, in
layers longitudinal with the vein, is about eighteen inches thick;
and it clips with the slates about 40° to the northeast, striking
northwesterly. The ore, taken from the shaft, is highly pyritifer-
ous; and I saw quite a number of specimens, which showed liberal
quantities of free gold in plates, with the pyrite. This seems,
j66

though, to have been local; as the sample for assay, taken by me,
only a few feet below, proved to be of low grade.
In the east end of the cut, a vein has been followed by a tunnel,
sixty feet long, into the Findley mine lot, adjoining; and, just op-
posite, on the other side of the cut, is another tunnel, running 100

feet, in a southwest direction, on the Bast lot. These tunnels have

been abandoned, for some time ; and they were not in condition
for examination, at the time of my survey of the mine.
Two samples, taken by me, were assayed, yielding the following
results:-
No. L ___ -----·------------0.090 oz. ($I .86) of gold per ton
2 _____________ -·-- -----0.095 ($ 1.96) "
No. I was taken from the vein in the yellow belt, at the bottom
-of the prospecting shaft. It was composed of quartz and hydro-
mica-schist, impregnated with considerable pyrite. No. 2 was
taken from the "big sand vein", at the bottom of the cut, about a
hundred and . fifty feet from its west end, and only a few feet from
the shaft in the yellow belt. The. sample was taken from about
twenty-five feet of the vein, exposed. The material was saccha-
roidal quartz, more or less cellular, and stained by iron sesqui-oxide,
resulting from the decomposition of pyrite, some of which still re-
mained, unaltered. Good specimens of botryoidal pyrolusite were
taken from this vein, in getting this sample for assay, it being a
secondary mineral, resulting from the alteration of the black slates.
On top of the ridge, about sixty feet from the open cut, is the
remnant of the old reservoir, used for hydraulicking the soft, de-
cayed auriferous schists, from the cut to the mill, which is located
below the cut, about midway up the ridge. \Vater, taken from the
Findley ditch, was pumped from the mill, through a pipe-line, to
the reservoir, from which it was conveyed, by various trenches, to
 LUMPliJN COUJ\7Y

different parts of the cut, as needed. The reservOir 1s sixty feet

long, forty feet wide, and four feet deep; but it is now in a very
dilapidated condition; and, for further use, it would require re-
building.
The mill-house, while well built, of good, strong timber is badly
decayed, for five or six feet from the ground; and considerable re-
building will be required, to place it in proper condition. The mill
is a 10-stamp Hall mill, the stamps weighing 450 pounds, each;
but it is in bad shape, and considerable repairing would be neces-
sary. An So H.P. horizontal engine is in good condition, and
well mounted, on a substantial brick foundation. Two large tubular
boilers, with wood furnaces, are enclosed in a brick encasement on
the back and sides, fitted to the square iron front. These walls are
nine feet high ; the rear wall is ten feet long, and the side walls, fif-
teen feet; all are in good condition.
On the hillside, just back of the mill, is an old drying oven, built
immediately after the war by a man, by the name of Moyer, super-
intendent of the Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia. It is
built of stone, and is ten feet high, eleven feet wide, and eleven feet
deep. The furnace opening, in front, at the bottom, is two feet
high and four feet wide. The ore receptacle, or oven, is funnel-
shaped, from the top of the masonry to the furnace, seven feet,
wide, at the top, and three-and-a-half feet, at the bottom, which is
not now in place, but which consisted of an iron plate; this recep-
tacle is made of riveted three-sixteenths-of-an-inch, boiler iron. A
smoke-stack, of the same material, runs from the furnace through
the center of this oven, and is perforated to the top of the structure.
The smoke-stack originally extended ten feet above the top of the
oven; but the exterior part now lies on the ground, in front of the
furnace. I present, in plate XVIII, a view of this old drying oven,
 L0111PKIN COCXTY

which was called a roaster by the operators, and which, on informa-

tion at first received, I designated as a "roasting furnace".
Lot I o 3 5, I 2th district, was originally granted by the State to
Thomas H. Attaway, at the time of the division and distribution
of the Cherokee country of North Georgia, in 1832. The first deed
to this lot, of record in the court-house at Dahlonega, is a quit-
claim deed, dated January 22nd, r86r, from James J. l\lcCroan to
Elisha Keen, for one twelfth of the lot; and, on March 22nd, follow-
ing, Jacob Lewis gave to Keen a warranty deed to one eighth of the
lot. In June of the same year, Isaiah Attaway and wife conveyed,
by warranty deed, an undivided fourth of the lot to Keen; and, a
few days later, Keen sold I 8 7:J acres of the lot to Augustus F.
Franklin. McCroan, Lewis and Isaiah Attaway were heirs of
Thomas Attaway. In November, I877, Franklin deeded an undivided
half of the lot to Mr. \Vm. J. \:Vorley, who, in September of the fol-
lowing year, sold it to Mr. Emanuel Bast, the Attaway heirs, on the
same clay, selling to Mr. Bast, by their attorney in fact, Mr. \Vil-
liam J. Worley, the other undivided half. In July, 1879, Mr. Bast
sold the property to The Pennsylvania National Gold !\lining Com-
pany of Georgia, with all improvements, water-rights etc., this
company being succeeded in June, I 8So, by tha Consolidated Gold
Mining Co. of Georgia, of which Mr. Bast vvas president. This
company had also bought the I vey mine ; and it operated the two,
simultaneously. In June, I886, the Bast lot, with the 20-stamp
mill and all appliances and appurtenances, was sold by the sheriff
to the Frank W. Hall Merchandise Co. of Dahlonega, to satisfy a
judgment of Court, in favor of that company against The Consoli-
dated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia. In the latter part of the same
month, a half interest in the lot was duly conveyed to Mr. Frank vV.
Hall; and in October, I S8g, the other half was conveyed to him.
In February, I Sgo, Mr. Hall deeded the -entire lot, the mill etc. to
 LUMPKiN COUNTY

The Dahlonega Co., Limited; and in March, 1893, these were sold
by the sheriff, and deeded to Mr. Hall by Capt. John W. Weaver,
Receiver for the Dahlonega Co., Limited. Mr. Hall has, since, been
the owner of the property.
A part of the history of this mine has peculiar interest, in that
it shows one of t'he numerous nefarious schemes, which have been
perpetrated by adventurers, coming into Georgia, and which have
militated against the development of the gold deposits of the State.
In r 889, a man, representing, as Managing Director, an English
syndicate, styled THE DAHLONEGA Co., LIMITED, purchased through
Mr. Frank W. Hall, of Dahlonega, agent for the owners, the Ivey,
the Lockhart, the Fish Trap and the Bast mines, for the sum of
_$40,000 (the Lockhart, at that time, including the Singleton mine),
upon condition, required by the Managing Director, that the owners
should deed the first three properties, as named above, to The Dah-
lonega Co., Limited, and that the Bast mine should be deeded to the
person or persons, thereafter to be named by him. After consulting
counsel, as to the legality of such action, the owners of the four
properties agreed to the condition ; and $40,000 spot cash was paid
them, he leading the syndicate to believe, that the entire amount
was used, in the purchase of the Ivey, the Lockhart and the Fish
Trap mines. He then represented to his associates, that, while he
had been able to secure these valuable properties for $40,000; still,
Mr. Hall had, remaining, the Bast mine, which the Managing Di·
rector said, was one of the most valuable in the State, and for
which the owner positively declined to take less than $40,000. He
colored the subject so adroitly, that his co-directors issued, and
turned over to him, at his suggestion, $40,000 in debenture bonds,
secured by a mortgage on the four mining properties, in order that
he might purchase the Bast mine for the syndicate. He then trans-
ferred the bonds to his brother, living in London, and directed Mr.
 lUMPKIN COUII7 TY

Hall to have a deed to the Bast mine made to The Dahlonega Co.,
Limited.
The syndicate having provided additional funds, for the develop-
ment and systematic working of the mines, the Managing Director
selected Mr. A. B. Linder mann of Philadelphia, as General Super-
intendent of the mines, with headquarters at Dahlonega. Mr. Lin-
dermann, having put several of the mines in good shape, began to
work some of them; the Singleton, he leased to a man who, it is
said, made considerable money, by working the placer deposits of
this mine. Immediately after the promoter, who subsequently be-
came Managing Director, had purchased the mines, he made a
contract with The Frank \V. Hall Merchandise Co., to put the Cane
Creek ditch, belonging to the I vey mine, and the Singleton ditch,
in good repair; and he ran up additional accounts, at their com-
missary. Not being able to get a settlement with him, The Frank
W. Hall Merchandise Co. brought suit, in the early part of r 8g2,
against The Dahlonega Co., Limited, in the Superior Court of
Lumpkin county, by which the syndicate learned, for the first time,
of the double dealing of its Managing Director. The chagrin of the
syndicate, at this discovery, resulted in a resolve to defeat his plans,
at any cost. They made Mr. Hall their agent, and instructed him
to acknowledge judgment, and to have the several properties sold
by the sheriff, and to ~ettle the obligations, incurred by the Manag-
ing Director, with the Frank W. Hall Merchandise Co. and other
concerns in Dahlonega. Things having taken this shape, the
brother of the Managing Director, to whom the latter had trans-
ferred the debenture bonds, brought suit, in the United States Cir-
cuit Court in Atlanta, to foreclose the mortgage on the several
properties, which had been given, to secure payment of the bonds.
As soon as action was begun, the Superior Court of Lumpkin county
appointed Capt. John W. Weaver, of Dahlonega, Receiver. Capt.
 LUMPK!N COUNTY 37I
Weaver held this position, for about two years, until the properties
were sold, by order of the Court, at public outcry, before the Court-
house in Dahlonega, March 7th, I 893. Mr. Hall purchased the
properties and paid off the expense indebtedness ; and the attorney
for the brother of the Managing Director gave notice, at the sale,
that the properties were subject to the debenture bonds. In No-
vember, 1895, a decision was rendered, in the United States Cir-
cuit Court in Atlanta, declaring, that the mortgage, to secure the
bonds, was not valid, thereby releasing the several properties from
any claim, on account of the bonds.
Criminal proceedings were instituted in England against the late
Managing Director of The Dahlonega Co., Limited, whereupon, it is
said, he fled to some one of the South American countries, where he
has, since, resided.
Mr. Hall, to whom I am indebted for the facts, as narrated above,
is, still, owner of these mining properties. That they were involved
in this ugly transaction does not, of course, discredit, in the least,
their value as mining properties. '

THE FINDLEY MINE

At the northeast end of Findley Ridge, are two very extensive

cuts, in what is known as the Findley mine. This mine includes
1
In this connection, it may be of interest to know, that, in July, 1897,
that part of the Lockhart property, known as the Singleton mine, was sold,
for $z3,ooo, to Mr. John B. Atkinson of E:ulington, Ky., and others, who
have since organized, as The Tahloneka Mining Co.; and that this com·
pany is now making extensive preparations, for operating the property, with
modern equipment and methods.
372 LUMPKIN COUNTY

lots I,047, I,o48 and I,o87, I2th district, 1,048 adjoining the Bast
lot, which lies west of it. Probably, no mine in the county enjoys
a better reputation, than the Findley mine; but comparatively little
work has been done on it, for several years. Still, the work, done,
has placed it in a state of development, that is equalled, in not
more than three or four other mines in the county. In a large open
cut, near the top of the ridge, the yellow and black schists have been
taken out, to the point, where the saprolitic condition of the black
slates begins to change to the hard, unaltered underlying quartzo•e
slates. These contain considerable quantities of an undetermined
dark-green chlorite, arranged parallelly along the plane of schis-
tosity. A shaft was sunk, during the civil war, a hundred feet in
the top of the hill, the lower half extending through the hard chlo-
ritic quartzose schists. After the war, the shaft was sunk twenty-
four feet lower; and the dump, from this last work, in the large
open cut on the top of the ridge, affords excellent specimens of the
unaltered quartzose schists. At no place, can one get a better idea
of the character of the black slates, than in this large approxi-
mately square cut in the Findley mine. The northeast wall shows
the overlying yellow belt, about twenty-five feet thick from the sur-
face, and about forty feet of the black belt, to the bottom of the
wall. These all dip, at about 3 5° to the northeast, and have a
northwesterly strike. There are two very prominent auriferous
quartz veins in the cut, one of which, the "dead-horse" vein, is
intercalated between the black slates, and dips, with them, to the
northeast. The other is in an almost vertical position, dipping
slightly to the northwest, and having a northeasterly trend. This
vein, which varies from one to twelve feet in width, contains con-
siderable galena in places; and it has produced some very hand-
some specimens of free gold in quartz, two of which, showing dark-
 LUiVPKIN COUNTY
373
green hornblende, as an associate of the gold, are on exhibition in
the State Museum. The quartz of the "dead-horse" vein is more
finely granular, shows more oxidation of the pyrite, and contains
much more of the mica-schist inclusions throughout; in fact, it is
typical of the "stringer lead". In addition to these, there are two
other veins, which were covered by debris, at the time of my ex-
amination of the property, but which have been examined, since,
by my assistant, Dr. Watson, who describes them, as follows:-
Vein No. 3 lies adjacent and parallel to the "dead-horse" vein.
"The two veins are quite similar in appearance, and are some twenty
paces apart. The former vein will probably average from one to
four feet in width, and is composed of quartz, which is more or less
stained from the pyrite decay. Vein No. 4 is about forty paces
from Vein No. 3, near the southeast end of the cut, and from the
character of the material, from which the vein is made up, is known
as the "cement" vein. At the time of my visit, the vein was
almost entirely covered with debris, which renders a definite and
accurate description impossible. However, the vein apparently
consists of two branches, partially exposed along the face of the
cut, the material of which is a soft, highly-colored ferruginous
mass. The original rock, from which this material was derived,
cannot be recognized from the decayed product."
The work, which has given the greatest reputation to this mine,
has been the excavation of an incline, on a remarkably rich shoot
in a vein, a little south of the upper cut. Large quantities of very
rich free gold specimens have been taken from this incline, which
has been stoped, for 350 feet. It is stated on good authority, that
this shaft has yielded about $300,000, of which $zoo,ooo was taken
out before the war. The work is more fully described, beyond.
The last work done on this shoot was about five years ago; and, as
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
374
a consequence, the incline was not in such condition, that I could
examine the vein or take samples for assay. Some of the most
beautiful specimens of free gold in quartz, which have been pro-
duced by this county, have been taken from this shaft. Below
water-level, the ore of this mine is an auriferous sulphide quartz.
Material, selected, from the several veins in the upper cut, by
Dr. Thomas L. Watson, Assistant Geologist, and assayed by him, in
the laboratory of the Survey, gave the following results : -

No. I ---- - - - - -· - - - __ Q,40 ozs. (S 8.26) of gold per ton

" 2 --- . _________ o.so ( 10.33) " " " "
" 3------------- 0.45 " ( 9·30) " "
4---- -- ------- .o.ss " ( I I. 36) "
" 5- ··-·- ------- ____ 1.10 " ( 22.73) " " "
Nos. I and 2 were taken from the vertical vein; the former, from
the middle of the exposed part of the vein, along its trend, to the top
of the wall on the west, and the latter, from the middle, to the bot-
tom of the open cut. No. 3 was from the "dead-hor5e" vein ;
No.4, from the adjacent parallel vein; and No.5, from the "ce-
ment vein''.
Farther down the end of the ridge is the other large cut, worked,
some years ago. This cut begins at the bottom of the ridge. A
tunnel extends, along the trend of the vertical vein, from the upper
to the lower cut.
On top of the ridge, is a reservoir about I 50 feet long, I 5 feet wide
and 6 feet deep, from which water is delivered, by ditches and iron
pipes, to various parts of the open cuts, for making the flood-runs of
saprolite from the cuts to the mill, and for operating the hydraulic
giants.
On lot 1,087, across the creek, is a large vein, known as the
 LlJfifPKIN COUNTY
375
Evans vein, which is said to average $I 5 per ton, but which has
not been worked, because of its sulphide character.
At the foot of the ridge, by the creek, on lot I ,087, are the mill
and pump houses. The former contains a 40-stamp mill, with 450-
pound stamps, and all necessary appurtenances; while the latter
contains a large pump, used for pumping water to the reservoir, on
top of the ridge. Twenty of the stamps are practically new. The
mill is driven by water, from a dam across Yahoola creek, seven-
teen feet high, a 32-inch Leffel turbine wheel, furnishing 6o H.P.,
being used. ·when last rebuilt, the mill-house was planned, so as
to admit of the introduction of a concentrating plant, for handling
the sulphide ores. The pump was put up, new, by Mr. Wahl, the
owner of the property, during the summer of I 895, at a cost of
over $8,ooo. The water is taken from the Findley ditch, something
more than half way up the ridge, and is conducted to the large
pump at the mill, through heavy iron pipes. The pump consists of
eight cylinders, four of which are motor, and four, pumping cylin-
ders. The water is supplied to the motor- and pumping-cylinders
under equal pressure, thereby practically balancing the pressure on
the discharge side, up the ridge to the point, where the ditch is
located. The water, which is supplied to the motor-cylinders, is
released at the proper point, actuating the pistons, in the same gen-
eral way, as would steam or other power. The resulting power, ap-
plied directly, elevates the column of water to the reservoir, at the
top of the ridge. The water, discharged from the motor-cylinders,
is used, as battery-water in the mill.
The history of this property, as a gold mine, dates from a com-
paratively recent period. Lot I,048, on which nearly all the min-
ing operations have been conducted, was granted by the State to
Talbot Davison, of Jones county, who sold it to James A. Paxson,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

December, 1833. The deed given by Davison, to Paxson, was lost,

and was never recorded. The first instrument of record is a power-
of-attorney, given by Horace Lawrence to James A. Paxson in
January, 1834, to sell an undivided fourth of the lot. In Decem-
ber, 1843, Lawrence, through Paxson, deeded this fourth, and Pax-
son, another undivided fourth, to Lemuel Dwelle of Augusta, Ga.,
this, and other property mortgaged, to revert to Paxson, on the
payment of a note for $549.00. In March, 1852, William Martin,
Administrator of the estate of Richard G. Dunlap, sold an undi-
vided fourth of this lot to Charles M. McJunkin, a wood-hauler;
and, in May, following, McJunkin purchased another fourth from
Bartley McGee. The court records do not show, from whom Dun-
lap and McGee got their titles to the property; and this led to sub-
sequent litigation, when it was ascertained, that the lot had some-
thing more than a nominal value. While it would seem from the
above, that deeds to an undivided half of the lot were held by
Dwelle, and to the other undivided half, by McJunkin; still, I am
reliably informed, that Paxson had mortgaged an undivided fourth
of the lot to Mr. Germain T. Dortic of Augusta, Ga., to secure a
note. While this transaction is not recorded in the office of the
Superior Court Clerk of Lumpkin county; yet, there is recorded a
power-of-attorney, given by Dortic, to Paxson, June 16th, I 8 59,
showing, that Paxson recognized Dortic as the owner of an undi-
vided fourth of the lot.
McJunkin, after having cut the wood from the property, sold his
undivided half of the lot to James Jefferson Findley, in February,
I 8 58. The deed, as recorded, does not mention the consideration
in this transfer; but the statement is generally accepted, that it was
an old horse, that had seen better days. Findley immediately sold
a fourth interest in the lot to Boling W. Field; and, soon after-
 LUNPKIN COUNTY
377
wards, he secured the services of Charles Duncan, conceded to be
one of the best prospectors in the section, to prospect the lo-t for
gold. Duncan soon found a vein, with a small, but remarkably
rich, shoot, which has since become famous, as "The Findley
Shoot". It soon became known, in the neighborhood, that mar-
velous quantities of gold were being taken from lot I ,048; and Mr.
Harrison W. Riley bargained with Capt. John Huff, that, if he
would go, at once, to Augusta, and secure a lease of the half in-
terest, held by Mr. Dwelle, and the fourth interest, held by Mr.
Dortic, he would give Huff a half interest in the lease. Mr. Huff
pushed through the country on horseback, as fast as possible, and
secured the lease, on a royalty. By agreement, the shoot was
yvorked jointly, by Messrs. Riley, Huff, Findley and Alex. Nix, for
three or four months, all work ceasing, on their reaching water-
level. The rich shoot in the vein was only from four to six inches
wide, and from I~ to 2 inches thick ; but it was so rich, that
masses of gold, as large as a man's thumb, were not uncommon in
the quartz. It is said, that the gold was carried away at night in a
water-bucket. Mr. Huff, whose veracity I cannot doubt, told me,
that he weighed a piece of the ore, and found its weight to be
I lb. I I ozs. He then beat it up, in a mortar, and found the weight
of the resulting gold to be I I ounces. The gold in this shoot was
in pockets, and these were found, only now and then. The incline
shaft made was four by six feet, sufficiently large to permit three
men to work, at the same time.
Just before work was stopped, Paxson, who had allowed his note
to remain unpaid, for fifteen years, having learned, that large quan-
tities of gold were being taken from the lot, paid the note, held by
Dwelle, on June I 6th, I 8 59, and secured a power-of-attorney from
Dortic, on the same day. He then brought suit against the mine
 LUMPKIN COU/\7Y

operators, to recover the royalties, leases etc. Having hunted up

Mr. Davison, the original drawee of the lot, he induced him, to
give him, August I oth, I 8 58, a new deed to the property, to take the
place of the one, that was lost 25 years before. Paxson, then, sold
the entire lot, in June, I 86 3, to The Stephenson Gold Mining Co. ;
and, about a month later, he deeded, as attorney for Dortic, the undi-
vided fourth, which he had, previously, included in his deed to the
company. In the meantime, Findley had sold the other fourth, be-
longing to him, to Field, in February, I 8 59· The suit, brought by
Paxson, remained in court, all during the civil war; and it was
compromised in I866, Paxson getting the royalties, which he had
already consumed in litigation. 866, The Stephenson
On July gth, I

Gold Mining Co. sold the lot to Dr. Benjamin Hamilton, who, in
turn, sold it to The Dahlonega Mining Co., a month later. In
October of the same year, Mr. Field, still claiming the half, which
had come through McJunkin, sold it back to Findley. Since that
time, this claim seems to have been quieted, as it does not again
appear in the history of the lot. I am informed, by a disinterested
party, that, in 869, when Mr. W. A. Ives bought the lot from The
I

Dahlonega Mining Co., he employed Judge Geo. D. Rice, a promi-

nent lawyer in the State, to clear the title to this and other prop-
erties; and, that this accounts for the Findley claim's not having
been put forward, since. Dr. M. F. Stephenson, who organized
The Stephenson Gold Mining Co., was its Manager. The last
work, done on the shoot before the war, was stopped, it is said, by
impure air in the shaft, which was then about 2 50 feet deep, on the
incline. Dr. Stephenson, in beginning his work, decided to sink a
shaft at the top of the hill, north of the shoot, until it was opposite
the lower end of the incline, and then to drive a tunnel to strike
the shoot. He sunk his shaft a hundred feet deep, and then drove
 LU!lfPKil\1 COUNTY
379
his tunnel, in a southeast direction, for about fifty or sixty feet,
when he was forced to stop, on account of the scarcity of labor and
the high price of powder, it being then worth $2.00 a pound.
\Vork done, some time after the war by other parties, which is
described, further on, proved that Dr. Stephenson, as he predicted,
had ceased work, at only five or six feet from the shoot; but, that
his tunnel, continued, entered the incline about the same distance
above its bottom.
The Dahlonega Mining Co., who bought the property from Dr.
Benjamin Hamilton in I866, consisted of Mr. Wm. A. Ives, of New
Haven, Conn., a gentleman by the name of Rider, from New York
City, and a number of other friends of Mr. I ves, who resided in the
North. Beyond preparatory work, nothing of any consequence was
done, by this company, on the Findley mine. The most important
operation was the running of a long tunnel, starting from a point
near the middle of the hill, now the location of the lower cut, to
strike the rich shoot at the bottom of the incline, a distance of
about 500 feet from the point, where the tunnel was begun. After
driving 300 feet, the project was abandoned by Mr. Amory Dexter,
the Superintendent of the mine, on account of his having encoun-
tered a belt of very hard rock, and because of some dispute over
the title. In June, I 869, The Dahlonega Mining Co. sold the prop-
erty to Mr. William A. Ives, its President. The company had
leased this and the Lockhart mines to Messrs. Crisson and Huff, in
I 868 ; and their lease was continued under Mr. I ves. They con-
fined their operations to the Lockhart property, until after the re-
tirement of Mr. Huff, when Mr. Criss on, in the spring of I 8 7 I,
removed the Lockhart 24-stamp mill to the Findley mine; and,
having substituted new stamps for those, that were badly worn, he
began mining operations on that property. In the spring of I 8 7 5,
 LCLVPKIN COUNTY

Mr. Crisson secured an option on the two mines; and, the Findley
lots 1,047, 1,048 and 1,087, he sold to Mr. James Farmer, Trustee
for N. H. Hand, Price Bros. and James Farmer, for $30,000. Mr.
Farmer, as Trustee, sold the property, July, 1878, to The Findley
Gold Mining Co., of New York City, for $60,000. It was sold at
sheriff's sale, in January, 188 5, and was bid in, by Mr. George L.
Nichols, for Mr. Spencer Trask and others.
During the time, when the property was under option to Mr.
Crisson, Mr. N.H. Hand, who was interested with the former in the
option, began to develop the property, so as to place it on the
market. Mr. F. W. Hall was placed in charge of the work. He
began, at once, to ascertain the most feasible way of ventilating
the incline, and working the rich shoot. After securing valuable
information from Dr. Stephenson, he decided to drive a tunnel from
the Dexter tunnel to the bottom of the Stephenson shaft, and, after
cleaning the debris from the shaft, to continue the Stephenson tun-
nel, to the shoot. He started his tunnel, about twenty feet from
the end of the Dexter tunnel, in a belt of schist, much softer than
that, in which the latter tunnel ended. The last blast, in the Hall
tunnel, broke through into the Stephenson shaft, and a stream of
water began to flow out; for the shaft was filled with water, earth,
brush etc. After the flow of water had subsided, examination
proved, that the bottom of the Stephenson shaft was four or five
feet below that of the Hall tunnel. After the Stephenson tunnel
and shaft had been cleaned out, work was resumed, where Dr.
Stephenson left off ; and, as has been before stated, five or six feet
put them inside the Findley incline, about the same distance above
its bottom .. Mr. Hall tells me, that about $3,000, in handsome free
gold specimens, was taken out, and that a great deal more was left
in place, the object of the work being, as before stated, to develop
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

the mine for sale. With these superb specimens, Mr. Hand induced
Mr. James Farmer to come from Cleveland, Ohio, to examine the
property. Not to be deceived, Mr. Farmer went into the shaft
himself, and took from the vein, with a chisel, a gold miner's pan
full of the quartz containing free gold. Having brought it out of
the shaft himself, the gold was beat out by him in a mortar; and,
being weighed, it was ascertained, that 546 dwts. of gold was the
result. The sale was made, at once, Mr. Hand taking a third in-
terest. Mr. W. B. Price, son-in-law of Mr. Farmer, and a banker
in Cleveland, came down, to take charge of the mine himself. He
worked the shoot, for a year or more, with great success, while the
pocket lasted, after which Mr. Farmer, as I have before said, sold
the property to The Findley Gold Mining Co., for $6o,ooo. A
young man, a relative of a stockholder in this company, was sent
down from New York, as superintendent. He was fresh from the
mining school, and unwilling to take suggestions from the miners,
experienced in the local conditions. He was not able to find the
shoot, which had been lost; and, ultimately, he abandoned the
work. He continued working in the open cuts; but, after about
two years, work wa• stopped. Soon after this, Mr. George L.
Nichols, Jr., Trustee, leased the mine to Mr. R. B. King. Mr.
King, at once, went to work, to carry out certain conditions of the
lease, in the way of repairs ; and, then, he began mining the vein,
and the rich shoot was almost immediately found. For certain
reasons, the owners directed their attorney in Dahlonega, to have
the lease cancelled; but, as Mr. King had faithfully complied with
the conditions of the lease, the attorney informed them, that there
was no ground, on which he could proceed. The lessee continued
to mine the shoot, I am told, with unvarying. success; when, just
before his year's lease expired, he lost the shoot intentionally;
 LUAfPKlN COUNTY

and he ever afterwards claimed, that he could find it again, at any

time, so I am reliably informed. The Findley Gold Mining Co.
continued to own, but not to mine, the property, until January, I885,
when it was sold to Geo. L. Nichols, Jr., Trustee, at Sheriff's sale,
to satisfy a claim of $5.soo, held by Mr. Spencer Trask and others.
Mr. Nichols, who was a relative, was acting for Mr. Trask, in the
purchase. Five years later, in April, 18go, Mr. Nichols sold the
property to Mr. Thomas J. Cheney, who purchased it for The Tre-
foil Gold Mining Co., of St. Louis, Mo., of which he was President.
This company repaired the mill ; and, changing the elevation of it,
put in a set of concentrators, which, however, proved to be a fail-
ure. It is said, that they did some work in a long tunnel, the char-
acter of which I was unable to learn. Just a year later, the prop-
erty was mortgaged to Mr. Robt. T. Stillwell, who, in July, follow-
ing, sold it, through Mr. vVm. A. Charters, attorney, of Dahlonega,
to Mr. Christian Wahl, of Milwaukee, Wis., its present owner.
Since Mr. Wahl has owned the property, Capt. H. D. Ingersoll has
been its manager, and, for the past year or two, its lessee. While
no extensive work seems to have been done; yet the work on it has
been constant; and, as stated, in the beginning of this report, the
property is one of the best developed in the county.
During the time, when the property was being worked, under
Mr. James Farmer, Trustee, and while Mr. N. H. Hand was, still,
General Manager, a mill, known as the Little Findley mill, was
erected on the northwest side of the ridge, well up towards its top,
for use in milling the ore, brought by flume from the large cut, on
top of the ridge. This cut had been started by Mr. W. R. Crisson,
who was Superintendent of the mine, under Mr. Farmer. This mill
was a 10-stamp Hall mill, which had been moved from the Law-
rence mine in Dahlonega; it was run by steam. When The Findley
 IUMPKIN COUNTY

Gold Mining Co. came into possession, they enlarged the mill to
20-stamps, and increased the steam power, and put in pumps, to
raise water from the Findley ditch, near by, to the top of the ridge,
for use in working the upper cut. They, also, replaced the 24-
stamp-mill, with the present 40-stamp milL
The lower cut was begun, by Mr. W. R. Crisson, when he moved
the 24-stamp mill from the Lockhart to this mine. The cut was,
subsequently, worked by those following him. The veins, in this
cut, were not in condition for examination, at the time of my visit,
being covered by debris; but I am informed, that there are two large
veins in the cut, which yield good returns.

THE LOCKHART MINE

As at present constituted, this property consists of that part of

lots I,oso and I,o85, lying sout!t and west of Yalzoola creek, and tlze wlzole
o; I,o86, all in t!te I 2tlz distn'ct. The original Lockhart lot is I,o86 ,·
at times, the other lots, with I ,084, have been known, as the Single-
ton lots; and, when the several lots, with other properties, were
purchased by The Dahlonega Co., Limited, the Singleton lots were
induded, under the title, "The Lockhart Mines." The Lockhart
lot, I ,086, however, was, for a long time, included in the several
transfers, only as a 99-year lease, which had been given by Eliel
Lockhart to James A. Paxson, in June, I 866, Lockhart, in the in-
strument recorded, acknowledging Paxson to be the owner of an
undivided fifth of the lot. Paxson transferred this lease to The
Stephenson Gold Mining Co., in I 862, when he sold, as agent, a
number of other properties to this company. From that time, the
 lUMPKiN COUNTY

lease was regularly transferred, with the sale of other lots, until
I ,o86 was attached by the sheriff of Lumpkin county, and sold, as
the property of The Singleton Gold Mining Co., September 4th,
I 884, to Samuel E. Griscom. By Mr. Griscom, the lot was deeded
to Mr. Frank W. Hall, who sold it, including the Singleton lots, to
The Dahlonega Co., Limited. Its subsequent ownership is the same,
as that of the Bast mine, already given. In November, I 868, the
sheriff of the county sold to Eliel Lockhart the fifth interest in the
lot, belonging to James A. Paxson, to satisfy two judgments of the
Court against Paxson; and, on the same day, Paxson, as well as
the sheriff, deeded this fraction to Lockhart. Lot I ,086 was origi-
nally granted, by the State, to the orphans of Henry Sturgis, of
Lincoln county. February Ist, I843, an undivided fifth of the lot
was sold by ValentineWeathers to Elizabeth Paxson; and, in De-
cember, following, it was sold by her to Lemuel Dwelle, of Au-
gusta. On the same day, a bond-for-title was given by Dwelle to
James A. Paxson; and a warranty deed was given by him to Pax-
son, June I6th, I859· In March, I849, A. M. Sturgis, administra-
tor of the estate of John Sturgis, deceased, deeded the entire lot to
Eliel Lockhart. Subsequent transfers of the lot have· been given
above.
The other lot of the present Lockhart property, on which min-
ing operations have been carried on, is I ,08 5, adjoining I ,o86 on
the north. The Hamilton cut, on I ,086, lies by the side of tunnel
No. I, which was driven, along the lot-line, on I ,08 5. From this
tunnel, as is elsewhere more fully described, the I 2-foot vein was
worked. Only a little distance further toward the northwest, are
the East and West Crisson cuts. Quite near the line, separating
the two lots, is the present Lockhart mill, on lot I ,08 5.
This lot, which was, for a long time, known as the Brand lot,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 38 5

was granted by the State to Thomas Brand, of Walton county. In

December, I854, it was deeded by Brand to Harrison W. Riley,
-who sold it, in February, I 862, to Germain T. Dortic, President of
The Stephenson Gold Mining Co. This company sold it, July gth,
r 866, to Benjamin Hamilton, who, in turn, sold a third of it to The
Dahlonega Mining Co., and a half of it to The Hamilton Gold Min-
-ing Co., both deeds dated, August 7th, I866. In September, I867,
-that part, lying west of Yahoola creek, the part, in which the mines
-lie, was mortgaged and leased to The Dahlonega Mining- Co., who
operated it, for two years, when it was deeded by The Hamilton
·Gold Mining Co., to William A. Ives. To appreciate this transfer, it
is necessary for me to say, that Mr. Ives was the principal owner of
the stock in the two companies, above mentioned. As the promoter
-of these enterprises, he had interested some of his friends, in the
North, on representations made by Dr. Hamilton, to such an
.extent, that they took stock in the companies formed by Mr. I ves.
Finding, in I 869, that the titles to some of the properties were
beclouded; and, not being willing, that his friends should suffer,
thereby, he bought, from them, all the properties. He immediately
-set :about, to clear the titles of all these properties, employing
Judge George D. Rice, as counsel, as has been before told in this
-report. After clearing the titles, he disposed of his various prop-
erties. This lot he sold, with others, and the lease on I,o86, mak-
ing up the Lockhart and Singleton properties, to Mr. William R.
·Crisson, who, iri November, I875, sold them to Mr. N. H. Hand,
Trustee. In January, I878, Mr. Hand, as trustee, sold the two
properties, including the lease to I,o86, to Mr. Thomas H. White
for The Singleton Gold Mining Co., of which he is said to have
been President; and, about a month later, he transferred them to
the company. From this point, the transfers of these lots are the
.-same, as those of lot I ,086.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

When Mr. N. H. Hand purchased the Lockhart and the Single-

ton mining properties, in the latter part of 1875, he consolidated
them, selling the two, as just stated, through Mr. Thomas H. White,
to The Singleton Gold Mining Co., in which Mr. Hand was a stock-
holder. They consisted, jointly, of lots I,050, I,o84, I,085, aud
tlzat part of I,05I, lying soutlz and east of Yalzoola creek, with the
gg-year lease of I,o86, all in tlze I 2tlz district. They were not again
separated, until Mr. F. W. Hall of Dahlonega, their present owner,
did so, in 1893, dividing them, not by lot-lines, but by Yahoola
creek, so that all that part, lying south and west of the creek, except
I,o5I, should be the Lockhart Mining property, consisting of all
of lot I,o86, ne1trly all of lot I,050, and nearly lzalf of lot I,085.
The mining operations are seen, principally, in several large open
cuts and tunnels, mu,ch of the work having been done, years ago.
The first gold mining, done on the property, was in the early days
of gold mining in the State, on the auriferous gravels of lot I ,086,
along Tan-yard branch, which flows between the Findley and Lock-
hart ridges, emptying into Yahoola creek, on this lot. Considera-
ble gold-bearing gravel was in place, then, running as high as I oo
feet, on the slope of Findley Ridge, and about thirty feet on the
Lockhart ridge. At the extreme end of Findley Ridge, the
gravel may still be seen, in the neighborhood of I 50 feet above
the bed of Yahoola creek. Very early in the history of the min-
ing operations in the county, a man, by the name of John Ballou,
worked, for a short time, a vein, located about what is now the
\Vest Crisson cut, I on lot I ,08 5. He took out not more than I oo
tons of ore, which he milled, on a rude WOOden 3-stamp mill, which
was located near the present Lockhart dam. Later on, probably
about I86o, a wooden s-stamp mill was erected, by Dr. M. F.

I No.4, in fig. 26.

 LUMPKIN COl/NTY

Stephenson, on the Tan-yard branch, near its juncture with the

Yahoola, about I 50 yards south of the present mill, the motor
being an overshot wheel. His prospecting was on the surface of
the Lockhart hill; and the free-milling ores, worked by him, are
said to have been very profitable. About I 86 3, a wooden I 2-stamp
mill, with three batteries, was erected, just south of the present
dam, by The Stephenson Gold Mining Co., of Augusta, who were,
then, the owners of the property. This mill was run by an under-
shot wheel, with water from the creek. The work, done by this
company is reported to have been attended with good results.
In the spring of I862, Mr. W. R. Crisson became the superin-
tendent of the company ; and he began surface mining, by flooding
the soft auriferous saprolites, with water from the reservoir, which
has, since, become the common method of working these ores.
Mr. Crisson worked the mine for two years, when he entered the
Confederate army, placing an old man, Mr. Jeremiah Payne, in his
place, Mr. Payne being beyond the age limit, for army service.
Work was continued by him, until the fall of I865. In August,
I 866, the property was sold by The Stephenson Gold Mining Co.
to Dr. Benjamin Hamilton, who, on the same day, deeded it, partly,
to The Hamilton Gold Mining Co. and partly to The Dahlonega
Mining Co., in both of which Mr. Wm. A. Ives, of New Haven,
Conn., was the leading spirit.
Mr. Crisson, as superintendent for The Stephenson Gold Mining
Co., began work, on the heavy outcropping of a quartz vein, near
the top of the hill, which is now known as Tlte I 2-joot Vein. A con-
siderable opening in the side of the hill, known as Tlte Hamilton
1
Cut, was made by Messrs. Crisson and Payne, stripping the vein
and taking out the ore. A ditch, about a mile long, brought water
1
No.2, on the sketch-map, fig. 26.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

to the top of the hill, from a point on the Tan-yard branch, about
a hundred yards beyond the middle Gainesville road. The water
was used, to convey the ore through a flume, from the cut, to a bin
at the foot of the hill, and to run the slates to a dump, by chang-
ing the position of the flume. The ore was carted to the mill,
which was the one, erected by The Stephenson Co., in I 863, having
wooden rods and stamps, the latter protected by cast-iron shoes,
.and a special device, in the nature of two 8-foot riffle-boxes, charged
with mercury, for extracting the gold. The work by Messrs. Cris-
son and Payne was entirely open-cut work, except a little stoping,
which was done on the vein, by Mr. Payne, just before the property
was sold to the Hamilton and Dahlonega companies.
These companies began work, on an extensive scale, with Mr.
H. Dwight Stanley, a nephew of Mr. Ives, as superintendent. A
24-stamp, cast-iron mill, with 750-pound stamps, was erected. This
was the first iron mill ever put up, in this section of the country, and
the first mill, that was equi.pped with amalgamated copper plates,
for the extraction of gold from the pulp. Work was begun, by
driving a tunnel, on lot 1,085, directly west from a point in the face
of the hill, a few feet north of the Hamilton cut, till it encountered
the I 2-foot vein. The ore was then stoped out, on either side, along
the trend of the vein, for a distance of about 7 5 feet, in all, the
miners having reached, what they supposed was the end of the·
vein on the north side, and the cut, on the south side. Pillars.were
left in the stope, here and there, as a support. Overhead, the vein
was stoped, for about 2 5 feet, and below the floor of the tunnel,
for a distance of about 35 feet, this being twelve feet below water-
level. A hand-pump was employed to keep the mine free from
water. Both in the open cut, and where it was worked in the tun-
nel, the vein is said to have been twelve feet thick. Three pros-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

pecting tunnels were started, by these companies, at the bottom of

the east side of the ridge, about 200 feet apart, the most southern,
which we may designate as No. 2, being a few feet north of the
present mill, and the most northern, No. 4, having since become a
part of the West Crisson cut. After two years of active operations,
the companies, operated by Mr. lves, stopped mining, and made a
contract with Mr. vV. R. Crisson, to deliver, at their mill, 700 tons
of ore from the Hamilton cut, at $I. 50 per ton.
Subsequently, in the spring of I 868, the companies leased the
mine, for an indefinite period, to Messrs. Crisson and Huff, for a
royalty of a third of all the gold mined, the lessees, to keep the
mill in good repair, and the mine in good shape. Mr. Huff retired
from the business, about December I st, I 8 70, selling his interests
to Mr. Crisson. After their mining operations began, Messrs. Cris-
son and Huff worked the Hamilton cut, for only three or four
months, transferring their work to the Findley Ridge cut, where
they mined with good results, for over two years, some of the ore
being worth $5.00 per ton, but the whole, including some of the
schist, averaging about $3.00. In working this ore, the semi-
decomposed schists were dug out with the pick, till the ore was
well exposed, when the schists were flooded to the dump, and the
ore, to the mill.
On discontinuing work on the Findley Ridge cut, the work of
building a reservoir, on top of the Lockhart ridge, and a ditch, to
supply it with water, was immediately begun, the water being taken
from the Tan-yard branch, at a point about 7 5 yards west of the
middle Gainesville road. As soon as these were completed, work
was begun on the vVest Crisson cut,' Mr. Huff retiring from the
partnership, at this time. At first, the ore was of very low grade;
1
No.4, on the sketch-map, fig. 26.
390 LUJJfPKfN COUNTY

but, on going lower down, it proved better. The vein was covered
with debris, so that I could not examine it; but Mr. E. E. Crisson,
son of the lessee, informed me, that its strike was northwest and
its dip, about 50° to the northeast. Work was begun on a ridge of
hard, cellular, iron-stained quartz, outcropping at the top of the
hill, and extending about 2 5 feet down its side, as a transverse lens,
in the vein, its length being about twenty feet. On either side of
the lens, the vein tapered to thin ribbons, which disappeared in the
schists. Mr. Crisson informed me, that the foot-wall side of the
lens was much the richer, the whole vein averaging, probably, $3.00
per ton on the mill. The cut was opened and worked, nearly to
the bottom of the hill, the ore changing, about half way down the
hill, from a free-milling to a sulphide quartz, containing large quan-
tities of pyrite. In the free-milling ore, considerable sulphur, in
loose, minute crystals, with their angles generally rounded, as if
partially fused, were found in the casts of pyrite crystals, resulting
from the reduction of the sulphur in the pyrite. This is an occur-
rence, which cannot be said to be rare in Georgia. It has been
mentioned by Mr. McCallie, in another part of this bulletin ; and
there are, in the State Museum, handsome specimens of the altera-
tion, collected by me, in Haralson county, near Temple, on the
Southern Railway.
This cut was worked, for nearly two years; but it was finally
abandoned, by Mr. Crisson, because of his inability to work the
sulphides with profit. On discontinuing work on this cut, a small
test cut was made, on the west side of the Findley Ridge cut; but
this was soon stopped, as the quartz was too low in gold.
\Vork was then begun on the East Crisson cut, ' which lies im-
mediately east of, and quite close to, the \Vest Crisson cut.
1
No. 3. on the sketch-map. fig. 26.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 391
After the retirement of Mr. Huff from the firm, Mr. Crisson re-
moved the pillars, which had been left in the stope in tunnel No. I,

by the companies under Mr. Ives's management; and, in doing this,

he discovered, that there were several other veins back of, and
nearly parallel with, the I 2-foot vein. This work is said to have
been very profitable. Mr. E. E. Crisson, son of the lessee, is
authority for the statement, that 2, I oo dwts. of retorted gold re-
sulted from a clean-up, after one week's run. He says, that this
was not an unusual thing.
Mr. Crisson continued work, as lessee of the property, till I873,
paying, it is said, thousands of dollars, as royalty to the owners of
the property. Having, by this time, about exhausted the saprolite
area in the Lockhart mine, he moved the mill over to the Findley
mine, which had been included in his lease from Mr. Ives, continu-
ing work there, until I874, when the two mines were sold, through
Mr. Crisson, to different companies. They have not, since then,
been owned by the same company. The parties, to whom the
Lockhart was sold, organized, as The Singleton Gold Mining Co.
This company developed the water-power; erected a 20-stamp
mill; and began to work the I 2-foot vein, below the level of the
tunnel, sinking the 55-foot vertical shaft in the mill-house. At this
depth, they drifted, to strike the vein on its dip. It is said, that
the vein was found, in this drift, to be equal, in size and yield, to
that exposed in the tunnel. Drifts, on either side, were then run,
along the trend of the vein, for about 50 feet; and the ore was
then stoped out, to the old stope above, which had been abandoned
by the two companies, working under Mr. Ives. This work seems
to have been profitable; but, with increasing depth, the free-milling
ore gave place to the unaltered sulphides, pyrite, chalcopyrite and
pyrrhotite, and less of the gold was caught on the amalgamated
392 LU.MPKIN COUNTY

plates. Had the north drift along the vein been worked far
enough, the rich shoot, known as "The I 2-foot Arm" should have
been encountered. This, however, was not done by the Singleton
company; but the present lessees are drifting toward it.
During my several visits to the mine, this part of the vein was
under water; and, notwithstanding several attempts were made to·
free it, in order that I might examine it and take samples, I was
not successful in getting an opportunity to examine the vein. Mr.
W. R. Crandall, M. E., a member of the American Institute of
Mining Engineers, and a man, whom I consider reliable, made an
examination of the property, after my visits, taking samples from
this vein, along the drifts above mentioned. I have permission tQ.
present, here, the results of his assays, as follows:-
No. 2 ______________ o.s6 oz. ($I 1.20) of gold per ton

" 3-------------- I .08 " ( $21.60) " "

" 4-- - -·------ ---- o. 52 " ($10.40) " " "
" 5--------------0.80 " ($I6.oo) " "
No. 2 was taken from the middle of the vein, in the left drift,.
thirty feet from the shaft tunnel; No. 4, from the middle of the
vein, in the same drift, forty feet from the shaft tunnel; No. 5, from
the breast, in the same drift, where work is now going on; while
No. 3 was taken from the vein, next to the hanging wall, in the
right drift, thirty feet from the shaft tunnel, at the point, nearest
the rich "I 2-foot arm".
As has been stated above, I was not able, at the time of my visit,.
to get into the shaft and tunnel, so as to examine the I 2-foot vein;
but I have been able to secure half a dozen large pieces of ore,
aggregating 2 50 pounds, taken from different parts of the vein in
the right drift, at a point I 40 feet from the entrance at the shaft
tunnel. This ore was not selected from the vein, with a view to-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
393
its use as assay material; but, as average specimens, for exhibition.
I have taken, as a sampl~, for assay, these six specimens, which are
in appearance typical of the material, taken from this vein.
When making the ore collection for the Georgia State Exhibit at
the Atlanta Exposition, in I895, two large specimens of ore were
taken, by me, from the West Crisson cut, where they had been
lying for a long time, exposed in the bottom of the cut. These
weighed from I oo to I 50 pounds each. Not being able to get fresh
material from this cut, I sacrificed the smaller of the two pieces, in
order to get an assay of material from this cut. ·while it is not
what I should like, as a sample, yet, the results are suggestive.
The samples taken, as above stated, were assayed in the labora-
tory of the Geological Survey, by Dr. Thos. L. Watson, with the fol-
lowing results:-
No. 1 ____ ---- __ - ___ 3.00 ozs. ($62.oi) of gold per ton
2 ______________ 0.20 " ( 4-13) " " "
No. I, from the right drift of the I 2-foot vein, was rather coarsely
crystalline schist, the prevailing mica being a dark- green chlorite.
Garnets, the size of a filbert, were in some abundance throughout
the mass, and pyrite and pyrrhotite were present in moderate quan-
tity. No. 2, from the West Crisson cut, was a sulphide-quartz ore,
considerably stained by partial decomposition of the pyrite.
As has been stated above, Mr. Crisson had abandoned hydrau-
licking, in the Findley Ridge cut, because the ore was getting too
hard, to be worked by this method. Several short tunnels were
driven, at intervals, in this cut, and the ore-shoots were found to
continue downward; one, known as "The Blackmer Arm," prov-
ing unusually rich. Later on, in 1882-'83, a long tunnel was
driven under this cut, a little to the east of it, beginning at the foot
of the hill, in order to lay bare all the shoots, at greater depth.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
394
For a distance of I so feet, where work ceased, the tunnel exposed
nothing but low-grade ore. From time to time, since then, other
lessees have extended this tunnel, until it is now about Sso feet
long, shoots of good ore having been found, at a distance of 3SO
feet from the entrance, though "the Blackmer arm" has not yet
been reached. Along the 200 feet of good, average ore, the vein
is from 4 to 6 feet thick ; and it is said to yield on the mill, from
$3.00 to ss.oo per ton. The ore, along the level of the tunnel,
contains sulphides, in greater or less quantity, and the assay of
Mr. Crandall's, which follows, would indicate that all the gold is
not caught in the plates : -
No. I ______________ 0.72 oz. ($14.40) of gold per ton
This assay is an average of ore, taken from the stope between
this tunnel and the Stumon-Bell tunnel, above. Most of the ore
from the lower tunnel has been milled; but the tunnel can be
extended 6so feet further, to the south line of the lot, exposing a
considerable quantity of ore; and deeper mining can be done, along
the entire length of the vein.
The Findley Ridge cut begins at the top of Findley Ridge, at
the east and west lot-line, b~tween I ,o86 and the Findley Mine lot,
I,087, about ISO feet from the southwest corner-post of the lot, on
which it is located. This cut has a direction, N. 27° E., for between
I, I oo and I, 200 feet, ending at the bottom of the. ridge, near the
Tan-yard branch. The trend of the cut is practically along the
strike of the black slates, and diagonally across this black-slate
belt. At the head of the cut, the slates strike N. 40° E., and dip
S0° to the southeast. Lower down in the cut, the dip was meas-
ured 60° to the southeast. This cut was washed out, by water
from a reservoir, about I oo feet from the cut, and almost on a level
with the head of the cut. Its location is along the Findley ditch.
 LUlffPKIN COUNTY
395
The dimensions of the reservoir are roo feet long, by I2 feet wide,
by 8 feet deep. At its widest point, the cut is about 70 feet wide,
and its greatest depth is about 50 feet. The cut was started by

FIG. 26

IOSQ

«?-3<t/
::-:~.:'~~~~~...... o--<~
104S -<..<>~

Map of the Lockhart and Singleton Lots. I. Findley Ridge Cut. 2. Hamilton Cut.
3· East Crisson Cut. 4· West Crisson Cut. A. Long Cut through the Singleton
Hill, Consisting of the Singleton and the Moore and Cannon Cuts. B. Cuts
on the Ridge Opposite the Singleton Hill.

Mr. F. M. Blackmer; and considerable work was done, after that,

by Mr. Joseph D. Reid, Superintendent for Mr. Samuel E. Griscom,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

of Philadelphia, the owner. Not far from the head of the cut, and
northwest of it, a tunnel was driven, 6 or 7 years ago, along a
large quartz vein, for about 7 5 yards. This vein outcrops, on the
surface, in large white blocks; and it is 7 or 8 feet thick. Its trend
is N. 3° E., and it dips 35° to the southeast.
By far the greatest amount of work in the Findley Ridge cut,
was done by Mr. W. R. Crisson, as . has been before related. At
the time of my visit, no work had been done in the cut, for several
years, and the vein was covered with debris; so that I was not able
to see the vein, at the bottom of the cut, tho_ugh a number of small
veins were to be seen on the east wall, with about the same strike
and dip, as the main vein. On the west side of the long cut, not
quite half way up the ridge, is a small triangular-shaped cut, cover-
ing not more than I o,ooo square feet, and averaging, in depth,
about I 5 feet, which is said to have been a test cut, made by
Messrs. Crisson and Huff. Just above this, is to be seen the rem-
nant of an old reservoir, which was used for working this and the
lower part of the main cut. The schists, at the juncture of the
two cuts, strike N. 5° \V., and dip 30° to the northeast. On the
south side of the triangular cut, is an apophysis of decomposed
hornblende-schist, about I o feet thick, com formable with the mica-
slates, and having the same schistosity and dip, as has been before
mentioned. On the north wall of this cut, is a large lens, in a very
much broken quartz vein, around which the slates are arched, the
arches being about four feet high, and about I 5 or 20 feet long.
This is at the juncture of the black, and the underlying yellow,
decomposed schists. At a point, just northwest of this quartz lens,
in another black belt, the slates strike N. I 8° E., and dip, at an
angle of 40°, to the southeast.
About I 00 feet from the Tan-yard branch, is the 5 so-foot tunnel,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
397
a little east of the Findley Ridge cut. About half way up the
cut, is another tunnel, lying west of the first. This tunnel is
about I 50 feet long, and cuts the five-foot vein, at a point, between
the bottom of the open cut and the long tunnel, below. This tun-
nel was started by Mr. Reid, and was used, for some time, as a
flume-way, while mining in the cut. It was afterwards filled to a
great extent; but it was re-opened by Messrs. Stumon and Bell,
sub-lessees from Mr. W. G. McNelley, their tunnel changing direc-
tion, by veering to the east. From this tunnel, Messrs. Stumon
and Bell stoped the vein overhead, for about I 5 feet, and for some
distance down, until the upward stope from the lower tunnel was
encountered. The length of the stope, along the Stumon and Bell
tunnel, is about 7 5 feet; while, in the lower tunnel, it is I oo feet.
This vein lies between the schists. Its strike, as shown in the
Stumon and Bell tunnel, is north and south, and its qip, 45° to the
east. The work on the stope in the lower tunnel was done by
W. G. McNelley, who took it up, where it had been left off by Mr.
W. W. Crisson and his partner, Mr. Elliott, who drove the tunnel
to the point, where the large stope begins. Mr. Jos. D. Reid, as
superintendent for Mr. Griscom, had driven the lower tunnel about
82 feet, when Mr. E. E. Crisson, Mine Superintendent for The
Dahlonega Co., Limited, drove it some distance, after which it was
driven by Messrs. Crisson and Elliott to the stope, as above stated.
About a year after the purchase of the property at sheriff's sale,
by Mr. F. W. Hall, it was leased by Mr. W. G. McNelley, who
began work in the lower tunnel, as before related, sub-leasing a
working privilege to Messrs. Stumon and Bell, whose work was
confined to the upper tunnel.
The schists in the upper tunnel were badly decomposed, while,
in the lower tunnel, they consisted of folia of practically unaltered,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

dark-green chlorite, in saccharoidal quartz, and of a light, greenish-

gray hydrous mica, varying in different parts of the tunnel, the
chlorite-schists and the hydro-mica schists appearing to be in dif-
ferent belts, following much the same order, as the so-called black
and yellow belts in the saprolite. The dip of these slates was the
same, as in the upper tunnel. The large stope is well timbered and
lagged; and the vein, as seen along the sides of the stope, is beau-
tifully banded, the quartz being interlaminated with slate, the bands
of the former varying from one half inch to four inches, averaging
about two and a half inches. This is a characteristic stringer ve,in.
It was from this stope, that Crandall's assay No. I, quoted by me,
was taken.
The lower tunnel has a general direction north and south, vary-
ing, here and there, as it follows the vein. The first appearance
of the vein is about fifty feet from the entrance; but it disap-
pears, for a short distance, a little further on. It soon appears,
however, very much spread out, the quartz bands being smaller and
very much separated by schist layers. A few feet further, the tun-
nel has been stoped, a little on either side, along the vein; and, on
the east side, at a point I 5 feet above the vein, it consists mostly of
quartz. From this point, the vein is, all along the side of the tun-
nel, about five feet wide, the quartz being more abundant, though
much broken, with thin leaves of chlorite between the small blocks.
The large stope, begun by Mr. McNelley, begins, at a point 475
feet from the mouth of the tunnel.
In the latter part of the year I 88g, this mine was sold to The
Dahlonega Co., Limited. An interesting story, which forms a part
of the history of the mine, is related, in the description of the Bast
mme. The Dahlonega Co., Limited, rebuilt the mill; but no min-
ing was done. The property was bought at court sale, in the early
 LCJJ:!PKIN COUNTY
399
part of I 893, by Mr. F. W. Hall of Dahlonega, as has been stated
1
in another part of this report. Since that time, it has been leased
by various parties, who have mined, in a small way, only.
From time to time, many concerns have operated on this prop-
erty, some of which are not now in existence, while others were
small lessees, who kept no regular account of their production. For
this reason, it would be difficult, to even approximate the produc-
tion of the property, during its past history. I am informed, how-
ever, that, during the first six months of I 89 5, when a record was
kept, the lessees produced 3,23 I dwts. of gold, valued at $2,700,
the ore coming from the long tunnel under the cut, and having a
highly sulphide character. No attempt was made by the lessees to
save the gold in the sulphides, the ore being run through a 20-stamp
mill, and the gold, that was caught on the amalgamated plates, be-
ing all, that was saved. This ore is said to have averaged nearly
$5 .oo per ton on the mill.
Tlze Mill, on this property, is a 20-stamp mill, of the Hall type,
with stamps, weighing 450 lbs. each. It is operated, by water-
power, from a dam across Yahoola creek, a canal, 2 50 yards long,
with a short 6-foot wooden tube, at the lower end of the canal, con-
veying the water to the mill. This dam was renewed in February,
I 8g6. The 5 s-foot shaft, in the mill-house, is equipped with a
geared hoist, run by a belt from a counter-shaft. A 7-inch pump
is also used, both the geared hoist and the pump being operated by
water-power. The motor, for running the mill, pump and hoist is a
Rodney Hunt three-and·a-half-foot turbine wheel, of 75 H. P. The
mill and its appurtenances are housed in a building, which is in
very good condition.
1
See page 371.
400 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE SINGLETON MINE

The Singleton mmmg property, as it is at present constituted,

consists of nearly all of lot I,084, and about lzalf, eaclt, of I,05I and
I,o85. The original Singleton lot was I,084; while 1,05 I was
known as the Moore lot. The principal mining has been done on
the Singleton hill, in two open cuts, which, though now running,
one into the other, are divided by the north and south lot-line, be-
tween I ,o 5 I and I ,084. So far as I have been able to learn, the
first mining done on lot I ,084 was between I 840 and I 8 50, by
Dr. Joseph J. Singleton, the first Superintendent of the branch mint
at Dahlonega. It is said, that some prospect work had been done,
before; but Dr. Singleton's work consisted, at first, of mining the
veins, by tunnels and incline-shafts from the top of the hill. He,
also, did some work, on the ridge, northeast of the hill, on what
seems to be a continuation of the veins, running through the Single-
ton hill. Later on, Dr. Singleton started the open cut, on the north-
east end of the hill. The mill, erected by him, was a wooden I 2-
stamp mill, run by an undershot wheel, with water from a dam
across Yahoola creek. This mill stood between the northeast end
of the hill and the ridge opposite, at the point indicated in fig. 27.
Dr. Singleton died in I852; and work, for the time being, ceased on
that end of the hill and on the ridge opposite. At the time he was
working the mine, Col. R. H. Moore and Mr. John Cannon were
working the same veins, on the other end of the hill, on lot I ,o 5 I,
using the same mining methods, as were used by Dr. Singleton.
Their mill was a wooden 4-stamp mill, which stood down at the
creek, just opposite the open cut, in the southwest end of the hill.
Nothing more than "gouging" was done on this property, from the
r, t !/_/) OFI'r !Sf T\ f JF t:Fr !fl'(, / _/ /'I .. I '1'/c' .\T/
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 40I

time it was worked by Messrs. Moore and Kennon, until I 860. The
Moore and Kennon cut was, for a short time, after this, called the
Boston mine; and Mr. Walter B. Smith, who owned an undivided
two-thirds of the lot, was its Manager. A new wooden 8-stamp
mill was put up, in place of the old Moore and Kennon mill ; but
operations were soon stopped, by the beginning of the war, in I 86 I.
Nothing of any consequence had been done on the Singleton end
of the hill, until I866, when Mr. John Huff did some prospecting
for Mr. William A. Ives, President of The Dahlonega Mining Co.,
who had become the owners of the property. In the meantime, in
I86o, the heirs of Dr. Singleton had sold an undivided two-thirds
of the lot to Mr. A. M. Eastman, who, subsequently, sold it to Dr.
Benjamin Hamilton, the other third having been sold, by Mr. David
T. Singleton, to Mr. Harrison W. Riley, in January, 1856.
After the close of the civil war, Mr. W. R. Crisson began work in
the Moore and Kennon cut, and continued for some time, flooding the
ore from the cut to a bin, and then carting it to the Lockhart mill,
where the gold was extracted. About the same time, Mr. F. M.
Blackmer was working on the Singleton cut, at the other end of the
hill, employing the same methods of mining, as were being used by
Mr. Crisson. He enlarged the cut, considerably. After Mr. Black-
mer stopped, Mr. Joseph Reid began work, in the cut, and opened
it, to within.a short distance of the Moore and Kennon cut. Mr.
Reid worked, for about three years; but, after his work ceased, the
property lay idle, for a number of years. His method of working
was the same as that of Mr. Crisson, namely, excavating the ma-
terial with a pick, and flooding it from the cut, though Mr. Reid
ran his material through a flume, direct to the Singleton mill, in-
stead of to a bin. This old mill was removed to the Ralston mine,
in I 889. Subsequent to the work, done by Mr. Reid, the Singleton
402 LUMPKIN COUNTY

was consolidated with the Lockhart property, and was sold to The
Singleton Gold Mining Co. ; and, in I 88g, the two were sold, as the
Lockhart property, to The Dahlonega Co., Limited. In 1893, the
several properties, as has been, before, related, were bought at
sheriff's sale, by Mr. Frank W. Hall, who separated the properties,
as stated in another part of this report, so that the Singleton prop-
erty should consist of that part, 1ying north and east of Yahoola
creek.
At the time of my visit to the property, the Singleton hill had
been extensively cut, longitudinally, by excavations, which had been
dug deeper at either end of the hill, the saprolite extending further
down on the ends, than at the center of the hill. At these ends,
the cuts were about sixty or seventy feet deep, on the southeast
side; but, between the cuts, was a mass of semi-decomposed schists,
too hard to be worked by flooding or by the giant. I The schists in
this cut were, of themselves, very slightly, if at all, auriferous; but
three distinct veins extend the entire length of the hill, and appear
on the ridge, about a hundred yards northeast of, and opposite, the
Singleton cut, where work had been done on two small open cuts,
extending north to the line of the Tahloneka lot, the veins con-
tinuing on into this lot. In appearance, the decomposed schists are
gray, and totally unlike the schists of the so-called yellow and black
belts. Bands, of a dark-green chlorite, resulting from the alter-
ation of biotite, and others, of a highly feldspathic gneissoid granite,
occur, here and there, among the mica-schist bands. Alongside of
vein No. I, I lies the southeastern border of a dike, which forms
the northwest half of the hill. Through this, an open cut, about
350 feet long, with a direction, N. 45° W., was made, in June, I8g6,
from the Singleton cut, down to the north edge of the hill, for a
1
See figs. 27 and 28.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

flume-way to the mill. This cut shows the dike to be almost solid
hornblende-schist, though, near the point of contact with the mica-

FIG. 27

Sketch of a Horizontal Projection of the Singleton Hill. A. The Singleton Cut. B.

Semi-decomposed Mica-schists between the Two Cuts, only partly Removed.
C. The Moore and Kennon Cut. D. Rock-pile. E. Mouth of Projected
Tunnel. F. Hornblende-schist. G. Site of Old Mill. H. Shaft
on Vein No. r. I. Shaft on Vein No. 2. K. Mica-schist.
M. Site of Mill. R. Reservoir. S. Flume-cut.
404 LUMPKIN COUNTY

schists, there are included a few narrow bands of decomposed

mica-schist. On the west side of the hill, between its base and the
creek, is a bed, consisting of several acres of auriferous gravel,
which was mined, to some extent, by a Philadelphia company, who
leased the property from The Dahlonega Co., Limited. This
deposit extends up the hill, for fifteen or twenty feet, the creek
seeming to have shifted downward.

FIG. 28

Sketch of a Vertical Transverse Section through the Rocks, at the West End of the
Singleton Cut. A. Floor of the Cut. B. Semi-decomposed Micaceous Schists,
between the Singleton and the Moore and Kennon Cuts. C. Hornblende-
schists. T. Entrance to Tunnel. r, 2 and 3. Auriferous Veins.

The veins, in the Singleton cut, were being worked by Capt.

Weaver, at the time of my visit; but no work was being done, at
the other end of the hill, nor on the ridge opposite the Singleton
cut. A tunnel had been run from the Singleton to the Moore and
Kennon cut, along the contact between the hornblende- and the
mica-schists. Fig. 27 is a sketch of the horizontal projection of
the hill. Vein No. I, at the bottom of the cut and the entrance to
the tunnel, was eight inches wide. Eight feet southeast, was Vein
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 405
No. 2, which had the same width, and was parallel with the first,
along the floor of the cut. Vein No. 3, about twenty feet further
southeast, is a stringer vein, composed of small lenses and ribbons
of quartz, with the mica lying in between, the entire width of the
vein being about two feet. About fifty feet east of the tunnel en-
trance, on the northeast side of the flume cut, an incline had been
driven down on vein No. I ; and, at the bottom of the incline,
which was about twenty-five feet deep, the vein was three feet wide,
and included some mica-schist. The vein is imbricated in the front
part of th'is incline. This condition caused it to be lost, on one
occasion, and work on it was stopped. Capt. Weaver subsequently
found it, only eighteen inches south of where the former work had
ceased. Here and there, this vein is quite rich in free gold. Above
the entrance to the incline, just referred to, and a few feet further
towards the northwest, some ore, very rich in free gold, was taken
out, during the period, in which I was examining the property, a
short incline, about parallel with the one below, being sunk on the
vem. Here, the vein warps slightly from its vertical position, the
top part dipping, at a smaller angle, to the southeast. At the
top of the lower incline, the vein pinches out; but it again ap-
pears in the upper one, where it is, from two to three feet wide, on
the floor; but it again disappears, on the roof of this incline. The
vein includes, here much crumpled, partially decomposed gneiss,
which is gold-bearing. The quartz is very cellular, and is stained
dark-brown, by iron-oxide, which sometimes coats it. Between the
upper and lower incline, is another, which was opened many years
ago, and which has long been completely filled. About ten or
twelve feet from the entrance to the tunnel, a shaft, eighteen feet
deep, was sunk on vein No. I, during the period, covered by my
examination; and it was found, that the two 8-inch veins, Nos. I
406 LUMPKIN COUNTY

and 2, had come within a few inches of each other, I at that depth,
though they were eight feet apart, at the bottom of the open cut.
At a point in the flume-cut, indicated in fig. 27, by the letter E, Capt.
Weaver had begun to drive a tunnel through the hard hornblende-

FIG. 29

Sketch of a Vertical Transverse Section through the Schists in the \Vest End of the Sin-
gleton Cut, Showing the General Position of Veins Nos. I and 2, from the
Floor of the Cut to the Depth of Shaft H, r8 Feet. A. The Veins.
B. Mica-schist. C. Hornblende-schist.

schist, which he supposed would end, about fifty feet below this
shaft. The dotted line, E - H, in fig. 27, represents this unfinished
tunnel! A second shaft, he had sunk ten feet deep, about thirty
feet further east, on vein No. 2. This vein, at a depth of ten feet,
had widened, till it was two feet thick. The quartz, at this depth,

I See figs. 28 and 29·

2
Since the Tahloneka Mining Co. has been operating this property, they
have completed this tunnel, and sunk the shaft to the bottom of the tunnel.
I am informed, that the veins separate, come together for the second time,
and again separate.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

was white, and of low grade. At the time of my examination of the

property, Capt. Weaver was working the three veins, by blasting, ex-
cavating with the pick, and washing, by flood runs from the reservoir,
through the flume to the mill. He mined and milled the decom-
posed mica-schist, along with the vein matter, though the schists
contained very little gold. The ore in the veins consists, generally,
of a saccharoidal quartz, containing pyrite, pyromorphite and ga-
lena, with considerable free gold, in places. Where more than a foot
wide, considerable mica-schist is included. The pyrite is the most
abundant of the minerals mentioned; though the ore cannot, so
far, be said to be highly pyritiferous. The pyromorphite occurs in
crusts, on which, frequently, can be seen small crystals, of the
usual modified hexagonal type ; and the galena, in occasional dark
clouds and lines through the quartz, though at times, small cleav-
age masses are discernible. Now and then, a small mass of chal-
copyrite is to be seen. In the parts of the veins, above the floor
of the cut, the pyrite is decomposed, and the quartz is very cel-
lular, and much stained by the resulting limonite. It is in this kind
of quartz, that the free gold is most abundant.
Samples for assay were taken by me, from all three veins,' in the
Singleton cut. These yielded results as follows : -
No. I------------------ -----0·35 oz. ($ 7-23) of gold per ton
" 2--- ------------------- --2-40 " ($4g.6I) " " " "
" 4 ----·-- ------ ------- ... .o.g5 " ($Ig.64) " " " "
" 5------ ------------ -- - _0.20 " ($ 4- I 3) " " "
" 6 ____________ ---------- _1.45 " ($29-97) " " " "
No. I was taken from vein No. 2, along the vein, near the en-
trance to the old tunnel, and from the bottom of shaft I, ten feet

See fig. 27·

 LUMPKIN COUNTY

below the floor of the cut. The quartz, from near the tunnel, was
cellular and iron-stained; while that from the shaft, was massive,
white, and of acknowledged low grade. No. 2 was taken from
vein No. I, along the vein, near the entrance to the tunnel, and
from the upper and lower inclines, beyond the flume-cut. It was
from the upper incline, that so much free gold ore was taken, while
I was examining the property. The ore ef this sample was mostly
cellular, iron-stained quartz. Sample No. 4 was taken from the
bottom of shaft H, where veins Nos. I and 2 come together. The
ore contained the undecomposed sulphides, pyrite and galena, the
latter very sparsely. No. 5 was taken from vein No. 3, in the west
end of the cut. This ore consisted of mica-schist and quartz
stringers, both of which are said to be auriferous. No. 6 was taken
from the same vein, in the Moore and Kennon cut, at the other end
of the hill.
The ore, taken from the upper incline, was so rich in free gold,
that I took a sam pie of selected material for assay. \Vhile much
of the quartz in this sample showed free gold, much of it did not,
my object being to get a fair sample of the richest ore, and not
merely those specimens, which showed much free gold. All the
quartz was cellular, iron-stained, saccharoidal, and very friable.
The material was sampled by me in the laboratory. A part of the
sample was turned over to The N. P. Pratt Chemical Laboratory,
for assay, and another part, to Messrs. George P. Good & Co.,
Mining Engineers and Metallurgists, of Atlanta. Each assayed
the ore in duplicate. The Pratt Laboratory obtained results, as fol-
lows:-
No. 3· Original sample ___ I2.675 oz. ($261.99) of gold per ton
" Duplicate--------- I2.7J5 " ($264.06) " " "
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 409
Messrs. Good & Co. reported the following, as their results:-
No. 3· Original sample----I3.050 oz. ($269.74) of gold per ton
" " Duplicate---·---~--I2.9IO " ($266.85) " " " "
During the litigation, in which The Dahlonega Co., Limited,
owners of this and other mines, was engaged, Capt. John W.
\Veaver, as receiver, operated the Singleton mine, his receivership
extending from May, I89I, to March, I893· He produced during
this time, with only a few hands, $6,3 I 1.49· When the properties
were sold, he leased the Singleton mine, from Mr. Hall, on condi-
tion, that any mining operations should be, for the development of
the property. Under this restraint, I am reliably informed, that
Capt. Weaver has produced, during the last two-and-a-half years,
$7,000, at an expense of $30.00 per week. Notwithstanding the
restrictions, some sub-lessees from Capt Weaver, during the time,
covered by my several visits to the property, mined from fifteen to
eighteen tons of the ore in the cuts, adjoining the Tahloneka lot;
and these yielded a return, on the mill, of 364 dwts.
The placer area of the Singleton mine lies on lot I,05 I, north-
west of the lower end of the large cut, indicated on the map. 1 About
two thirds of it hal> been mined; but subsequent submergence, from
time to time, has completely obliterated all evidence of work, ex-
cept at those higher points, near the foot of the hill. It is believed,
that the part, which was formerly worked, by the crude methods of
that day, will pay for re-working. The water from the reservoir
on top of the hill, is available for working this deposit, with hy-
draulic giants. The hydraulic elevator would be required in mining
the lower parts of the placer.
In I890, The Dahlonega Co., Limited, transferred a Io-stamp
mill, of the Hall pattern, with stamps weighing 450 pounds each,
1
See fig. 26.
4IO LUMPKIN COUNTY

from the Bast to the Singleton mine, and erected the present mill-
house, which is in good condition, and sufficiently large, to accom-
modate ten more stamps. A Leffel cascade water-wheel, with a
diameter of 26 inches, and of 30 H.P. capacity, is the motor, which
supplies the driving power for the mill.
The device for saving the gold consists of two 4-foot amalga-
mated copper plates, with sand-boxes at the foot of the plates,
leading into two riffle-boxes, 4 feet long by I 8 inches wide,
which, in turn, empty into two "quick-traps"; at the end of these
is a long riffle-box, running the width of the mill-house, 28 feet.
Another riffle-box, 36 feet long, at the end of this, and on the
outside of the house, is the last of the series. From this, the
battery water and tailings, together with the water, which passes
through the racks of the ore-bin, empty into the creek. All the
boxes are charged with mercury. Behind the batteries, on the side,
next to the hill, is a sufficient ore-bin, from which the mill is fed
by hand. One side of the bin consists of a vertical rack, through
which the flume-water, used, to bring the ore from the cut, flows
out of the mill-house.
The ditch, which supplies the Singleton mme with water, was
dug by Mr. W. R. Crisson, in I 867, under a charter to The
Crisson Water-power and Mining Co., of Dahlonega. The source
of water supply is the headwaters of Ward's creek and its branches.
The ditch was originally dug three feet wide at the top, two feet
wide at the bottom, and eighteen inches deep. It was enlarged, by
The Dahlonega Co., Limited, to four feet wide, at the top, three
feet at the bottom, and two feet deep. It brings its water, sixteen
miles, to a reservoir on top of the Singleton hill, a few feet above
the top of the Singleton cut, though, on an air-line, the head of
the ditch is not more than five miles from the mine. The ditch
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 4I I

1
delivers about roo miner's-inches of water. It is said, by a com-
petent engineer, that, if the ditch and flumes are enlarged, Ward's
creek will supply 200 miner's inches, which will furnish go H.P.
Lot I,084 was granted by the State to John Molton, Jr., of Ma-
rion county. It was deeded by John T. Molton, to Terrell and
Montfort, in May, I837· About a month and a half later, in June,
David Montfort and David Terrell sold an undivided half of the
lot to Joseph J. Singleton, and the other half was sold to him by
Terrell, in November, I84r. In January, 1856, about four years
after the death of Dr. Singleton, David T. Singleton, one of his
heirs, sold a third interest in the lot to Harrison vV. Riley. In
January, I859, the administrators of Dr. Singleton deeded this and
other lots to A.M. Wallace and David T. Singleton. An undivided
two-thirds of this lot, besides sundry other lots, were, by these
persons, deeded to Arthur M. Eastman, March, I86o. In Febru-
ary, I 862, Harrison W. Riley sold his undivided third of the lot
to Germain T. Dortic, President of the Stephenson Gold Mining
Co.; and, in June, I863, this company bought the other two-thirds,
with other lots, from Benjamin Hamilton. His ownership, at this
time, is not apparent in the county records; but in July, 1866, this
two-thirds of I ,084 with other lots, was deeded to Hamilton, by
Arthur M. Eastman, and, in August following, Hamilton deeded
them to The Dahlonega Mining Co. From this point, the owner-
ship of this lot is the same, as that of I ,o 50 before given.
The other lot, I ,o 5 I, on which mining has been done, formerly
known as the Moore lot, was granted by the State, in the lottery of
the Cherokee country, in I832, to John Collins, of Columbia county,
who sold it, in December, I853, to Robert H. Moore, for many
years one of the most prominent mining men in the county, and,
1
Equal to r,20o gallons, per mmute.
4I2 LUMPKIN COUNTY

during the civil war, a Colonel in the Confederate army. In July,

I 8 54, Mr. Moore sold the lot to Charles I. Kane, Simeon M. John-
son and Isaac H. Smith. In August, following, Mr. Johnson sold
his undivided third to Robert L. and Fulton Cutting. In July,
I 860, a quit-claim deed was given, by Robert H. Moore to Walter
B. Smith, to all right, title and interest in lot I ,o 5 I. In September,
I 860, Charles I. Kane gave to Walter B. Smith a quit-claim deed
to his interest in the property. A mortgage, to two thirds of the lot,
was given by Mr. Smith to Harrison W. Riley, in April, I 86 I ; but
that interest was afterwards sold, by the sheriff, to Mr. Riley, as
the result of a suit of Evan "Wilde against Walter B. Smith, Oct.
Ist, I86I. In December, following, an undivided third of the lot
was sold, by the sheriff, as the property of Walter B. Smith to
James M. Whelchel, to satisfy a judgment of the Court, in the suit
of John Whelchel against Walter B. Smith. There is no record of
any transfer of this third, by James M. Whelchel, or by any one,
representing him, since that time; and it is probable, that the judg-
ment, if satisfied, at all, was satisfied in some other way. In May,
I 862, Wm. S. Roberts, President of The Augusta and Dahlonega
Mining Co., purchased the two thirds interest in the lot, belonging
to Mr. Riley; and on the 3rd day of the next month, he purchased
the same interest, at sheriff's sale, in the case of Harrison W. Riley
against Walter B. Smith. The undivided third, belonging to the
Messrs. Cutting, was sold by them to Benjamin Hamilton, July
27th, I866; and, about ten days later, this and the two thirds,
belonging to The Augusta and Dahlonega Mining Co., were sold
to The Dahlonega Mining Co., warranty deeds being given, in both
cases. In June, I 86g, this lot was purchased from The Dahlonega
Mining Co., by Wm. A. Ives. From this time, the ownership of
lot I ,o 5 I is the same as that, of I ,08 5, already given, except, that,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

from the time of sale of the properties, by William R. Crisson to

N. H. Hand, only that part of lot 1,05 1, lying east of Yahoola
creek was conveyed; as Mr. Hand had previously bought, from
Mr. I ves, that part of the lot, lying west of the creek, for a mill-site.
The Singleton property still belongs to Mr. F. W. Hall of Dah-
lonega. I Since it has been owned by Mr. Hall, it has been under
lease to Capt. John W. Weaver, the former receiver of the property,
while in litigation. Mr. Weaver worked it for expenses, during the
litigation; and he has done much work, as lessee, since then, pay-
ing a royalty to Mr. Hall.

THE T AHLONEKA MINE

This property, consisting of lot I,o83, I 2th district, and known,

until recently, as THE GowDY LoT, lies adjacent to the Singleton
lot, I ,084, on the north. The veins of the Singleton mine, which
have been worked, on the ridge opposite the Singleton hill, extend
into the Tahloneka lot. Notwithstanding this, little work has been
done, on this lot; and that has been entirely of a prospecting char-
acter. A shallow shaft was sunk, some years ago, by Mr. Joseph
D. Reid; and some other work of a similar nature, was done.
Occupying the position it does, in the trend of the veins of the

I As is stated in a preceding foot-note, this property was sold, in 189 7,

to Messrs. Jno. B. Atkinson and others, who have, since, formed them-
selves into The Tahloneka Mining Co., of Earlington, Ky., and have made
large preparations for aggressive work, making use of modern methods and
machinery.
4I4 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Singleton, and in the heart of the gold belt, it is somewhat surpris-

ing, that this lot has received so little attention.'
The Baker lot, I ,082, is, now, a part of the Tahloneka property.
Lot I,083 was granted by the State to Alexander McDuffy of
Hall county. On May 13th, 1833, an undivided half was sold, by
Thomas Holland and James Gowdy, to Jonathan Jewitt, convey-
ance being by a warranty deed. A mortgage, to this and other
lots, was given by Holland and Gowdy to Paul Rosignol, in Sep-
tember, 1833. In August, 1838, James Gowdy sold an undivided
half of the lot to David Haliburton. In June, 1841, the sheriff of
Lumpkin county sold to Charles S. Hamilton, a resident of Ver-
mont, the half belonging to J ewitt, to satisfy a judgment of Court,
in favor of Maurice Gould & Co., against Jonathan Jewitt. This
half was again sold, by the sheriff, in May, I 88 I, to H. H. Quillian,
for unpaid taxes for the year I 880; but it seems to have been re-
deemed by Mr. Hamilton, as the entire lot was next sold, Oct.
I sth, I 886, to Mr. w. P. Price, by Commissioners, appointed by
the Superior Court of Lumpkin county, to sell the lot, in order
to make a division between Allen L. Pease, administrator of the
estate of Charles S. Hamilton, deceased, and Mrs. E. A. Gowdy,
widow of James Gowdy. By Mr. Price, it was conveyed, by war-

' Since my field-work was finished, in the fall of 1896, this lot has
passed through the hands of several parties; and it is now owned by The
Tahloneka Mining Co. It was bought by Judge W. W. Murray, soon
after my field-work closed; and he began extensive prospecting. He sunk
the Reid shaft much deeper, and did other work of investigation and de-
velopment. The Tahloneka Mining Co. has continued this work; and
it is making preparations to work the mine, in connection with the Single-
ton mine, adjoining. The two mines are, now, under the name of the
Tahloneka Gold mines. A large specimen of the ore from this mine,
showing free gold, was donated to the Georgia State Museum, in July,
1897; and it is now on exhibition in the Museum collection.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

ranty deed, to G. W. Lindsey, September, I888, who likewise con-

veyed it, Sept. I 3th, I 893, to N. C. Lindsey, its present owner.

THE HAND MINE

This mine is located on lots 999 and I ,oJ 2,

2tlt district, all the
I

mining having been done on the latter, the open cuts covering,
probably, as much as six acres. With the exception of the Barlow
mine, no mine in the county has been so extensively worked, for
its saprolite and the included vein material; but the work has been
confined entirely to surface mining. The most extensive cut, which
really consists of a number of adjacent cuts, the partition walls of
which have been taken away, is Tlte Hand Cut, in which lie the
Knight and Antonio veins. It is said, that the mills on this lot
have been running continuously, for thirty years; and this may be
readily believed, when one views the vast cuts, from which the sa-
prolite has been excavated.
T!te Griswold Cut lies well up on top of the hill, in the northeast
corner of I,032, not far from the Yahoola cut, on 1,052. In this
cut, is what is known as The Griswold Vein, which lies near the
east and west lot-line, between 1,031 and 1,032, and quite close to
the northeast corner of the latter. The part, which has been worked
is a lenticular mass of quartz, about fifty feet long, twenty feet
thick, and of unknown width, work not having progressd far enough,
to determine its width. Along the wall of the cut, the vein, at
either end of the lens, narrows to one or two feet. A 20-foot in-
cline, at an angle of 60° towards the north, was sunk several years
ago, under the direction of Capt. H. D. Ingersoll, General Manager
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

of the mines of the company, now owning the property. This in-
cline failed to reach the lower end of the lens. At that time, water
from the reservoir was constantly coming into the incline ; and the
ore being of a sulphide character, not enough gold was saved on the
plates, to justify continuation of the work, with the much larger per-
centage of gold going off with the sulphides in the tailings. The
incline was, therefore, abandbned. I am informed, that the last
assay of this ore, made by the company's assayer, yielded a return
of $6.oo per ton. The shaft was filled with water, at the time of my
visit to the property ; and I was not able to take material for assay
from this vein, though sufficient of it was exposed, along the more
elevated inside wall of the shaft, for purposes of description. The
material, here, was a cellular quartz, much stained by iron-oxide, re-
sulting from the decomposition of the pyrite. Lamin~ of mica
were included in the quartz, parallel with the trend of the vein. It
was quite evident, from the character of the material at the top of
the incline, that, lower down, the vein was of a highly sulphide
character. The saprolite and included quartz from this cut had
been worked, by flooding from the reservoir above, and with the
hydraulic giant, the material being run through a flume to the mill.
Vein No. I is near the bottom of the hill, not more than a hundred
yards from the mill. It has been recently discovered and opened
to view, by Capt. Ingersoll. The cut, thus far made, in working
this vein, is about a hundred feet long by sixty feet wide by forty
feet deep. The work has been done with the hydraulic giant, in
"piping", and in washing down, to the mill, the ore, which has
been broken into small blocks by the miners. The vein, as well as
the soft decomposed schists is greatly contorted, as viewed along
the wall, normal to the trend of the vein. As a result of this dis-
turbance, the quartz occurs in irregular, discontinuous masses, evi-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 417
•
dently twisted out of their original position. The trend of the vein
is N. ro 0
E., and its dip, 65° to the southeast. The quartz is
banded, parallel witlt the trend of the vein, and is slightly stained
by iron-oxide, resulting from the decay of the pyrite, which is
present in small occasional masses, varying from the size of a small
bean to r Yz by 2 inches. Very little mica occurs in the quartz,
and then, it is arranged in lines, parallel with the vein ; but, as at
present exposed, "horses" of mica-schist, irregular in outline, and
as long as six or eight feet, by two or three feet wide, occur in the
vem.
Tlte Pruitt Vein has been exposed at two points - in the bottom
of an open •cut, where it has been worked along its trend, and at a
_point a little west of this cut, higher up on the vein. No exposure
was to be seen in the cut, as the vein had been covered by debris,
since it was last worked; but the exposure, a few feet west of the
cut, 'Vas very good; and I took a sample across the entire vein.
The trend of the vein is north and south; while its dip is 45° to
the east. Its thickness is twenty feet, with bands of mica-schist
included in the quartz. The quartz is curiously banded, par-
allel with the trend of the vein, a narrow band of yellow, transpa-
rent, glassy-looking quartz, alternating with a white, porous, finely
saccharoidal quartz, which is still further divided by exceedingly
thin lamin<:e of mica, barely perceptible, at first glance. These
bands vary, generally, from a sixteenth to a half-inch in thickness,
the bands of white, porous quartz being uniformly wider, than the
other. The quartz is sometimes cellular, and is generally stained by
iron oxide; and considerable pyrite, in masses, the size of those
mentioned, above, in the description of Vein No. r, occurs through-
out the vein. It is sufficiently pyritiferous, to be classed as a sul-
phide ore. Like all the other veins, observed on this lot, the Pruitt
4I8 LUfifFKIN COUNTY

is composed of large quartz lenses, connected by much narrower

quartz bands. The length of the lens, from which my sample was
taken, and which I have here attempted to describe, was about fifty
feet.
About I 50 yards west of the Hand mill, and in full view from the
road to the mine, is The Knight Cut, now included in the immense
excavation, known as The Hand Cut. At the rear of the Knight
cut, hardly more than fifty yards from the road, is a large quartz
lens, known as The Knight Vein, which has been worked, for many
years, from time to time. This lens is about 200 feet long, and
twenty feet thick, along its shortest axis, the length of the longer
lateral axis not being known. Like Vein No. I, this lens includes
irregular "horses" of mica-schist, longitudinal with the trend of
the vein. In the bottom of the cut, the exposed surface of the vein
is but little lower than the road. On the north wall of the cut,
at the farther end of the lens, the vein separates into four. veins,
from 8 inches to two or three feet in width. These veins have been
cut, in another part of the lot, and have been worked, in connec-
tion with ~he surrounding schistose saprolite, in what is known as
the Jackson cut. The trend of the vein, as shown in the Knight
cut, is N. 65° E., and its dip, unusually steep, is 80° to the south-
east. Like the other veins observed on the lot, it is intercalated
in the mica-schists. The character of the ore is identical with
that of the Pruitt vein, on the hill above. I took an assay sample
from across this quartz lens, in the bottom of the cut, at a point,
where it was I 5 feet wide, a "horse" of mica-schist, five feet
wide, being omitted.
A shaft in the Knight cut was sunk eighty feet deep, some time
ago, at the end of the lens, next to the road ; but it is now filled.
Here, is still a large wooden overshot wheel, which was used to run
 LUAfPKIN COUNTY

the pump, that kept the shaft free from water.- Just behind this
wheel, is the entrance to an old tunnel, that was driven, 200 feet,
by Capt. Ingersoll, some time ago, under Tlze Old Hand Cut, across
the strike of the schists. A vein, ten feet thick, was cut, at the
mouth of the tunnel ; another, six feet thick, thirteen and a half
feet further; a third, eight and a half feet thick, ten feet further; a
two-and-a-half-foot-vein, thirty-four feet further; and a fifth, twenty
feet thick, was cut, twenty-five-and-a-half feet from the last.
This was Tlze Antonio Vein. There is a good exposure of this
vein, along the irregular floor of the Old Hand cut, about sixty feet
above the surface of the Knight vein in the bottom of the Knight
cut. This exposure consisted of a lenticular mass of quartz, trend-
ing transversely across the cut, its trend being N. 80° 'vV., and its
dip, 40° to the southeast. Along the floor of the cut, it was twelve
feet thick, while in the tunnel below, as above stated, it was 20 feet.
The most of this vein consisted of a massive, translucent, gray
quartz, very little stained by iron oxide, and containing no pyrite,
or other visible sulphide; though, here and there, a few cavities,
stained by iron oxide, and resulting from the alteration of pyrite,
were observed. Next to the foot-wall of the vein, the quartz was,
for about two feet, of the banded kind, which has been observed in
the Knight and Pruitt veins; but the white bands were much wider,
being, in some cases, as much as an inch or more in width. On the
west wall of the cut, the vein was about two feet wide. An assay
sample from this vein, was taken by me, across its thickest part, ex-
posed in the cut.
The several samples, which I took, have been submitted to assay,
in the laboratory of the Geological Survey, by Dr. Thomas L. Wat-
son, Assistant Geologist, with the following results:-
420 LUMPKIN COUNTY

No. r________________ A trace only of gold per ton

" 2----·---------- 0.250 oz.($ 5·I7)" " " "
" 3--------------- 0.275 " (s s.68) " " " "
" 4--------- ----·- 0.575 " ($I I.88) " " " "
No. I was taken from Vein No. I, all along the exposed part of
the vein for IOO feet. The character of the sample was the same,
as that of the ore from this vein, described above. As has been
stated before, this is the only vein now being worked, on the prop-
erty; and the mill results are sufficiently encouraging, to justify a
continuation of work. The above result of assay was, therefore, a
surprise. The assay was first made, in duplicate, on an assay-ton
of ore, with the same result from each. Two assay-tons were then
used, without change of result; and then four assay-tons, with the
same result. No.2 is from the Pruitt vein; No. 3, from the Antonio
vein; and No. 4, from the Knight vein. The method of taking,
and the character of the ore, of each, are described above.
Lot 999, belonging to the Hand mine, has been prospected to
some extent, the principal work being the excavation of a long,
narrow open cut, across the strike of the schists, by Capt. Ingersoll,
·in order to see the character of any veins, that might be cut. But
none of the material from this lot has been milled.
Tlze Hand Mill is located on lot I ,o 5 I. It consists of twenty
stamps, weighing 450 pounds each, with motor power from a 26-
inch Wilder turbine wheel, developing 30 H. P., the water for which
is furnished by the creek, through a canal, from a dam on lot I ,o 52.
This canal conveys the water to both the Hand and the Yahoola
mills. This mill is the type of the Hall patent, devised by Mr.
Hall, when Superintendent of The Yahoola River and Can·e Creek
Hydraulic Hose Mining Co.
 LUJV/PKIN COUNTY 421

The history of this mine is full of interest; but it can be but

briefly dwelt upon, in this report.
Lot I,032 was granted by the State to John Aiken, of Pike
county. It was sold by Aiken, through his attorney, William
Ezzard, in June, I833, to James Milhorn, who, on the same day,
transferred two-thirds of the lot to Reuben Cone and William
Ezzard, both of Atlanta, then Marthasville. In September, I835,
James Milhorn deeded I 3 73' acres of the lot to Mathias Milhorn,
who, in August, I 8 36, transferred this third to ·william Ezzard. In
December, I 853, William Ezzard made a conditional deed of all
this lot, to George R. Hazwell; but the conditions were probably
not fulfilled; for, in December, I 873, William Ezzard and Julius A.
Hayden, Harriet Eliza Hayden and Sarah S. Ezzard, heirs-at-law
of Reuben Cone, sold all of I,032 to Nathan H. Hand, who trans-
ferred it to THE HAND AND BARLOW UNITED GOLD MINES AND HY-
DRAULIC WoRKS OF GEORGIA, in July, I 890, this company being the
present owners of the property, with their general office at IOO,
Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, Wise.
About the year I845, a man, whose name was Knight, began
working for gold in that part of the lot, which has since been known,
as the Knight cut. To what extent his operations were carried, I
was not able to learn; but, in I 846, while at work in a tunnel, which
was driven into the east wall of the cut, on a vein parallel with the
Knight vein, the roof caved in, and he was killed. Work on the
lot was continued by various persons, in a small way, from the time
of Knight's death, till Dr. Van Dyke arrived in Dahlonega, in the
fall of I 8 58, privilege to work the lot being leased from Judge
Ezzard, of Atlanta. While I,032 seemed to be the lot, on which
The Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co., of
which Dr. M. H. Van Dyke was General Manager, had determined
422 LUfifPKIN COUNTY

to do their principal mining; yet they were able, only to lease the
lot. Dr. Van Dyke erected a wooden 8-stamp mill, near the road,
at the mouth of the Knight cut, to be run, with water from the
ditch. ,The ditch-water he brought, in a box, down hill, from
terminus of the ditch, on the east side of the creek, at an altitude
of 2 50 feet above its surface, to a trestle, which he built up, I 28
feet high, from the banks of the creek, below. Across this trestle,
he carried the water, which entered the temporary ditch, described
elsewhere in this report,' at an altitude I 22 feet lower, than the
ditch, on the east side of the creek. Both the mill and the ditch
were completed, a short while before the civil war began; and
operations were carried on; from that time to some time after the
war had begun. The condition of affairs brought about by the
war, however, finally compelled Dr. Van Dyke to cease work,
which he did about I863, when it became necessary for his super-
intendent, Mr. Amory Dexter, to enlist for service in the war.
From this time, nothing was done, until after the close of the war,
in I865. Dr. Van Dyke was still connected with the company.
In October, I865, Mr. Harvey King was made Treasurer and
Clerk; and the directors made arrangements with Mr. King, who
was a man of considerable means, that he should advance money
for mining purposes, the company to repay all these advances, cer-
tain stock in the treasury of the company being held as security for
Mr. King. The company worked other properties besides this lot,
doing considerable placer work on the Todd lot, No. 930, and on
the Parker lot adjoining, along the public road from Dahlonega to
Auraria. Under the management of Messrs. Van Dyke and King,
immediately after the war, the wooden box, leading down to and
across the trestle, from the ditch, on the east side, was taken out, and
1
Seep. 312.
 LU.MPKIN COUNTY 423

36-inch riveted pipe of boiler-iron was substituted for it. The pipe,
after crossing the trestle, was carried up the hill, to a point opposite
the ditch on the east side, with an elevation of nearly 2 so feet above
the creek, thus forming a U-tube. From this point, a new ditch
was dug to lot I,032, the same size as the ditch beyond the creek,
viz., six feet across at the top, five feet at the bottom and three feet
deep. Considerable money was spent, in the extensive preparations
for mining and in the mining itself, amounting, in October, I 867,
to nearly $40,000. Mr. N. H. Hand was, at this time, elected to
succeed Mr. King, as Treasurer, the latter having voluntarily re-
signed; and he was appointed General Superintendent and Agent of
the company, at a Directors' meeting, two weeks later. The Di-
rectors made arrangements with Mr. Hand, similar to those, which
they had made with Mr. King, as to advances of funds, for mining
operations. In November, I 868, the tall trestle, upon which the
ditch-water was brought across the Yahoola, had so far decayed,
that it could not be further used, unless expensive repairs were un-
dertaken. Mr. Hand had induced Mr. F. W. Hall to come to
Dahlonega ; and he was made Superintendent of the milling and
mining operations, and, a short time thereafter, he was elected Clerk
of the company. In the early part of I86g, Mr. Hall removed the
trestle, and remodeled the iron pipe U-tube, bringing it down, along
the surface of the hill, on the east side of the creek, to about 20 feet
above the bank of the stream. He then carried the tube across
the creek, on well-built stone piers, about twenty feet high. The
tube was then carried up the slope of the hill, on the west side of
the creek, to the head of the ditch, an altitude of about 2 so feet
above the surface of the stream. While the boiler-iron of the pipes,
high up on the hillsides, was only 3-I6 of an inch thick, it was
found necessary, to double the thickness, for the pipes lower down,
 LUMPA7N COUNTY

so as to withstand the pressure of the water. This, a distinguished

engineer, of Boston, insisted, the pipes would not do; but, for nearly
thirty years, they have done so, causing no trouble, whatever.
Mr. Hand, on assuming the management of the company's prop-
erties, tore down the old wooden stamp-mill, built by Dr. Van Dyke,
before the war, and erected an iron 20-stamp mill, having 6 so-pound
stamps. This mill was erected, on the branch, just west of the site
of the dwelling-house, now standing, and about I so yards south-
west of the present mill. It was erected, during the winter of
I867-'68, work on it having been begun, in November. It was of
a western pattern, with high discharge, wide mortars and inside
amalgamated plates, in addition to those, below each battery. The
mill, being completed, mining operations were begun, in the old
Knight cut, mining the ore dry, and carrying it in a car over a
tram-way. It was soon ascertained, that, owing to the high dis-
charge and the inside width of the mortars, not enough ore could
be handled to make the work profitable. It was then, that Mr.
Hall was employed to take charge, under Mr. Hand, of all the
operations, with instructions from the company, to make extensive
experiments, in order to ascertain, what changes could be made
in the mill, to adapt it to the class of ores, they were handling.
Mr. Hall increased the height of the dies, thereby lowering the
discharge ; placed the screens back near the stamps ; removed the
inside amalgamated plates ; and, by further experiments, pro-
duced the mill, now patented as the F. W. Hall gold-mill. After
these changes, much better results followed. A greater percent-
age of gold was saved by the old mill, than by the remodeled
mill; but the capacity was as I to 4 ; and the yield from the
latter was much greater. Contemporaneous with the changing of
the mill, was the substitution of the hydraulic method of transpor-
 L[lAfPKIN COUNTY

tation, for the tram-car. Another excellent device was added to

the mill, which aided greatly in saving the ore. It is known, as a
"jack-plate." The ore coming through the flume into the ore-
bin, was caught on a perforated iron-plate, placed horizontally
in a wooden sluice-box, about I4 inches high, midway between
its top and its bottom. Below the plate, the box converged to a
short and narrow mouth, the sides of which were on a level with
the iron plate. This emptied into another box, about six feet wide,
by I 4 feet long, by I z inches high, across which 10-inch boards,
set up on edge, were placed equidistance apart, forming four or
five compartments, in which to catch the sand and gold, which
had been washed, by the water, through the perforated plate. The
water passed off, after having left its coarse ore, sand and other
solid matter on the perforated plate and in the sand-box. The
washed ore w<l:s shoveled from the iron plate into the bin, and was
fed to the mill ; and the sand was fed from the compartments
to the batteries of the mill opposite them, the "jack-plate" being
placed in the rear part of the ore-bin, parallel with the batteries of
the mill. I was informed by Mr. Hall, that the two batteries op-
posite the sand-box invariably produced more gold, than the two,
opposite the iron plate, which were fed with the coarser ore.
For some time, trouble had been brewing in The Yahoola River
and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co.; and, about the be-
ginning of I87I, Messrs. T. C. A. Dexter, M. H. Van Dyke and
others, representing a minority of the stock, brought suit, in the
shape of a bill in equity, in the United States District Court in
Atlanta, to dispossess Mr. Hand, and_ get control of the property.
This suit was decided against the plaintiffs; but, later, Mr. Hand
voluntarily surrendered the property, and brought suit against the
company, to recover the amount of money advanced by him -
 LVA:fPKIN COUNTY

something over $6o,ooo. Mr. F. W. Hall, to whom certain salary

was due, likewise brought suit, to recover the amount due him; and
it was on this suit, that the property was sold, subject to the judg-
ment in favor of Mr. Hand. The property was bought by Mr.
Hall, for Mr. Hand, who organized, in the latter part of 1873, a
new company, known as THE HAND GoLD MINING Co., of which he
became President and General Manager.
Work was continued, on lot I,032, by this company, from its or-
ganization to some time, about July Ist, I8go, when it was consoli-
dated with the mining interests of the late S. L. M. Barlow, includ-
ing the Barlow mine, into THE HAND AND BARLOW UNITED GoLD
MINES AND HYDRAULIC WoRKS OF GEORGIA, of which Mr. Hand was
also President. This company continued work on lot I,032, and
other properties belonging to it; but, in I 892, the personnel of the
company changed, Mr. Christian Wahl, of Milwaukee, and others
purchasing the stock of the company. Since then, the mine has
been under the management of Capt. H. D. Ingersoll, General
Manager of the mines, owned by this company; and, it has been
almost continuously worked.

THE y AHOOLA MINE I

The Yahoola Mine is located on lot I,05 2, I 2tlt district, along the
west bank of Yahoola creek. The entire property consists of this
lot, and I,OJI and I,053 adjoining, which were formerly known as
the Benning lots.
In the fall of I858, Dr. M. H. Van Dyke, of New York, came to
I Field·work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Dahlonega, to look into the mining prospects, and see, if mining

investments could be profitably made. After spending some time
in his preliminary examination, he organized The Yahoola River
and Cane Creek Hydraul!c Hose Mining Co., of northern capital-
ists, and began the construction of the large mining ditch, now
known as "The Hand Ditch," but, for many years, as "The Ya-
hoola Ditch."
In I86o, Dr. Van Dyke bought, for the company he represented,
lot I,052, and leased I,032, lying diagonally adjacent on the south-
west; and the Yahoola ditch was brought to the latter. But little
work was done on either, before the war.
In the days of "the intrusion," I829-'3I, lot I,032 was looked
upon, as one of the best gold lots in the county; and it is said, that
large quantities of rich ore were taken from the part of this lot, east
of Yahoola creek, by trespassers from the white colony, encamped
near Murrayville in Hall county. Strange it is, that, since the lot
has been systematically worked for gold, all the work has been
confined to the west side of the creek. Very little work was done
on this lot, until some time after the close of the civil war, most of
the operations having been confined to I,032, which had been
leased from Judge William Ezzard, of Atlanta. In I 8 70, the pres-
ent mill-house was erected by Mr. F. W. Hall, under the manage-
ment of Mr. N. H. Hand; but no mill, or other machinery, was
introduced, until I 886, when Mr. Hand put in the present 20-stamp
mill.
The work done on the lot covers two or three acres along the
hillside, sloping to the creek, the highest point being about I so
feet above the creek. At the time of Mr. McCallie's examination,
the property was not in good condition for such work, no regular
mining having been carried on, for some time, with the exception
428 LU.MPKIN COUNTY

of a small amount of work, which had recently been done, by Mr.

Marion Chester. Nevertheless, it was evident, that the property
could be put in good shape, for a comparatively small amount of
money. The work consisted of several large cuts, varying in depth
from twenty to seventy feet; also, a number of prospect shafts.
The material, worked, was principally the schistose saprolite and
its quartz content. These had been worked with the hydraulic

FIG. 30

Ideal Sections through the Auriferous Schists. a. Sections along the Strike and Dip,
with the Ore-bodies in Black. b. Vertical Section.

giant. The vein matter consists of quartz and gneiss, forming belts
(called "blankets," by the miners) and lenticular ore-bodies, in the
mica-schists, which themselves are more or less auriferous, espe-
cially near the ore-bodies. The latter are quite cellular, especially
the quartz. But, as greater depth is attained, the cavities give
place to pyrite and chalcopyrite. Black tourmaline also occurs.
The veins and ore-bodies all dip with the schists, at an angle of
about 30°, and, usually, in a direction N. 70° E. The country-
rock is mica-schist with belts of gneiss and hornblende-schist. The
mica-schist contains much biotite, and it is, consequently, of a dark
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

color. It is much contorted and faulted. The mica-schists often

contain garnet and pyrite, the latter being usually auriferous. The
gneiss lies, in sheets or walls, in the mica-schist. It is of light
color, and, usually, very fine grained; but, occasionally, it passes
into porphyry. Chlorite and large scales of mica are frequently
found between the mica-schist and the gneiss, but more commonly
along the veins or the joints. Both the schists and gneiss are cut,
by two or more systems of joints, dividing the rock masses into
huge blocks, many feet across. These aid the miner in getting out
his ore.
The mine is supplied with all necessary iron pipe, hydraulic
giants etc.; and it gets water from the Hand ditch, for hydraulic
mining.
Samples for assay, taken by Mr. McCallie, yielded results, as
follows:-
No. r ________________ 0.03 oz. ($0.62) of gold per ton
No.2----------------- o.rr oz. ($2.27) " " " "
No. r was taken from a shaft on the "Sulphuret vein," near the
Hand lot; while No. 2 was from an excavation near the creek. 1
The Milt is located on the creek, a short distance from the mine.
It is a 20-stamp mill, of the Hall patent, with stamps weighing 450
pounds each. The motor is a turbine wheel, with a I 2-foot he.ad,
furnished by the creek, which, except in unusually dry seasons,
never fails to furnish water, sufficient to operate the mill, day and
night. Only five stamps are, at present, in operation; but the
others are in good condition. The main building is about 45 feet
1
Since this field-work was done, Capt. Ingersoll has put the mine in
good condition, and several handsome gold-bearing veins are, now, well
shown, among them a large vein, rich in sulphides, known as The McAfee
Vein.
430 LUlllPKIN COUNTY

square, and of the usual height, containing the mill, ore-bins, amal-
gamated plates etc. A new roof and other slight repairs are needed.
Lot I ,o 52 was granted by the State to Alfred Allison of Greene
county. In April, I844, it was sold by the sheriff, as the property
of Thomas Moseley, to satisfy a judgment of the Court, in the suit
of Benjamin T. Moseley against Thomas Moseley, William C. Daw-
son becoming the purchaser. September, following, Dawson gave
Gwynn Allison a quit-claim deed to the lot. In January, I 86o, it
was sold by Allison to M. H. Van Dyke, who, in May, following,
deeded it to The Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose
Mining Co. In August, I 873, it was sold, by the sheriff of Lump-
kin county, to N. H. Hand, at the suit of Frank W. Hall against
The Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co.
In April, I874, Mr. Hand gave to The Hand Gold Mining Co. a
quit-claim deed to this and other lots. It was sold by the sheriff
to The Hand and Barlow United Gold Mines and Hydraulic Works
of Georgia, January sth, I8gz, to satisfy a Court judgment, in favor.
of N. H. Hand and others against The Hand Gold Mining Co. It
is still the property of the company purchasing it, at that time.
The main office of this company, of which Mr. Christian Wahl is
President, is No. IOO, Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. The Gen-
eral Manager of the several properties, owned by this company in
Lumpkin county, is Capt. H. D. Ingersoll, Dahlonega, Ga.

THE MARY HENRY MINE

This mine lies, along the Upper Gainesville road, just opposite
the first mile-post, on lot I,OJO, I 2tlz district; though the mill and
 LUhJPKIN COUNTY 431
one of the veins lie on the southeast side of the public road. The
Mary Henry property includes, also, lot I,OOI, which adjoins 1,030,
on the west. The property is owned by several Tennessee gentle-
men, and is organized, as THE GoLD MouNTAIN MILL AND MINING
Co., of which Judge vV. W. Murray, of Huntingdon, Tenn., is Presi-
dent. The mine bears Mrs. Murray's given name.
There is one principal vein on the lot, northwest of the public
road. Very early in the third decade of the century, a man, known
as Col. Adam Peck, worked this vein, by tunnels, and took out a
small amount of ore, which, I am credibly informed, was very rich
in free gold. Very soon after his work was stopped, Mr. John R.
Cochran began work, in the same way; and he claimed to have
taken out considerable gold. A number of very old tunnels were
observed on the lot; but, except the work done by the two, named
above, I was unable to ascertain, whether or not others worked the
lot, prior to the civil war. It is very likely, however, that a num-
ber of small lessees worked it, from time to time.
Not a great deal of work has been done on this p-roperty, of late
years. In the southeast corner, on the southeast side of the public
road, is a quartz vein, said to average four feet in thickness. It out-
crops, from the top of the hill, flanking Yahoola creek on the south,
down to the bottom of the hill, near the creek ; and it, again, ap-
pears on the hill, on the east side of the creek. It lies parallel
with the schistosity of the micaceous slates. The outcropping of
this ve.in, on the east side of the creek, is but poorly shown in Plate
XVII, a little to th\ right of center, as it lies in between the slates.
The vein may be located, by the debris leading from it. At about
I 5 feet from the bottom of the hill, the vein curves sharply to thel
northwest, for about 20 feet, and again resumes its normal trend.
The first curve may be seen near the top of Plate XVII. The vein
432 LUMPKIN COUNTY

is four feet thick, at the point, seen in the plate; but, a little
higher up the hill, at another opening, it is I6 feet thick. It is
parallel with, and only forty or fifty feet from, a large 20-foot quartz
vein, containing considerable pyrite and chalcopyrite, on lot I ,o 53
of the Yahoola property, known as "The Benning Vein". The
vein, under discussion, is near the Mary Henry mill ; and, for pur-
poses of description, I shall call it The Mill Vein, and the open cut,
through which it has been worked, The Mzll Cut. The trend of this
vein is directly north, and its dip, about 50° to the east. That
part, on the south side of the creek, has been worked by open cut.
About two-and-a-half years ago, Mr. Marion Chester started the
cut, working the vein under a lease, for about a year and three-
quarters. The cut, at the time of my visit, was about 200 feet
long, extending from the top to the bottom of the hill, and forty
feet wide by 2 5 feet deep, the vein lying between the slates in the
bottom of the cut, but entirely covered by soft, decayed schists,
which had fallen in, since it was worked. I was informed by Mr.
Chester, that, for I 5 feet from the surface, the ore was free-milling,
hard quartz, with some cellular, iron-stained quartz all through it,
and that the ore averaged from $6.oo to $8.oo per ton on the mill.
From that point, the character of the ore began to change to a sul-
phide-quartz; and, soon after, the company refused to allow further
work to be done on the vein, as its mill was not fitted, for saving
the gold from the sulphides. Mr. Chester worked the cut, by
flooding the ore, with water from a reservoir on top of the hill, go
feet long by eight feet wide by four feet deep. The upper end of
the cut stops at the lot-line between I ,o 3 I and I ,o 3 2, the former
being one of the Yahoola lots, on which a cut has, likewise, been
worked to the line, so that the two now form one continuous cut,
the same vein having been worked on both lots.
 1, r f.! ! f!l."f' O SU S O F ( ; l: O NC!.I f'/•. 1 'J'F .I T/ f

A L' R IF I·: ROL' S QU .-IHT /. I'E l :\' B ICT \\ ' EE I\ H \ ' D RO :Ill l'A S l Y I'I-:S. :IL\ R \' II E:\ R\' .\ 11 :\ " .
l lA H 1.0:-l l·:r : ,\ . <:1\rlRC I ..I .
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 433

On the northwest side of the road near the creek is a tunnel,

driven under the direction of Judge Murray, this summer, in a
northwest direction, into the foot of a hill, to cut a large vein,
known as The Big Sulphuret Vein. An old tunnel, which Judge
Murray, in prospecting, about seven years ago, had discovered on
the south side of the hill, and reopened, led to the finding of this
vein, the quartz of which is more heavily impregnated with aurifer-
ous pyrite, than any I have seen in the county. The vein lies be-
tween the soft, decomposed mica-schists, and consists, at the junc-
ture of the two tunnels, of a large lenticular mass of sulphide-
quartz and decomposed mica-schist. The length of the new tun-
nel is about forty feet; while the old is only twenty feet long. I
was unable, to find out anything of the early history of the old tun-
nel, as its existence had passed out of the knowledge of men. It
was evidently abandoned, on account of the highly sulphide char-
acter of the ore, which, until recently, was very undesirable, in the
estimation of the miner. The top of the ore-body is about fifteen
feet from the floor of the present excavation, and its length is about
forty feet. About 3 50 tons of the ore were mined, 300 of which
were milled, while the company was prospecting the vein. This
ore is said to have yielded about four pennyweights of gold per
ton, on the mill. The auriferous pyrite increasing with depth, and
the free-milling ore proportionately decreasing, Judge Murray de-
cided, to waste no more of the sulphides, which were all lost in
milling.
Lying over the lenticular ore-body, and with the same dip, as the
underlying sch1sts, is a hard, gray quartzose slate. The bottom of
the lens has not been reached; and its extent, downward, is not
known; nor has its thickness been determined ; for the hanging-
wall has not been reached. Still, the excavation is from twelve to
434 LUMPKIN COUNTY

fifteen feet wide. About a hundred yards west of this work, higher
up on the hill, with the entrance from a small cove, a tunnel, 96
feet long, was driven, about 1891, by Judge Murray, in a southwest
direction, to cut what is known as The Black Vein, which had been
worked, many years ago, through an incline from the top of the
hill, by whom or when, I was unable to ascertain. Encountering
the vein, at the end of the old incline, work was continued, in the
same direction, along the strike of the vein, passing beneath the
tunnel, and generally along its trend. From the point, where the
new work was begun, a quartz lens, 40 feet long, 1 5 feet wide and
5 feet thick, was taken out and milled, the ore, it is said averaging
a little over $4.00 per ton on the mill. After work had proceeded,
for about 2 5 feet along the incline, a shaft was sunk through the
floor of the tunnel, and the ore was hoisted through it. This shaft
is thirty feet deep. The vein, along the lower wall of the incline,
averages about a foot thick. The ore of the lens was an iron-
stained, hard quartz, much broken into blocks, and containing but
little mica; but, near the bottom of the lens, it changed to a sul-
phide-quartz, pyrite being somewhat abundant. This is the char-
acter of the ore, now exposed in the vein.
The strike of the vein is east and west, and its dip, 40° to the
south. The semi-decomposed mica-schists, in the shaft and incline,
strike north and south, and dip, at an angle of 45°, to the east. The
slates, over-lying these, are beautifully banded, decomposed quartz-
ose slates, described on page 290. It is through these slates, that
this tunnel is cut, its entrance being crossed by a small granite dike,
mentioned on page 289. This dike trends N. 20° E., and dips, at
an angle of 30°, to the southeast. The decomposed quartzose
slates have the same direction and dip, as the dike. This tunnel is
known as The Black Tunnel.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
435
About 200 feet west of the Black tunnel, a little higher up the
hill, is an old tunnel, of unknown origin. Judge Murray had it
cleaned out, last June, for a distance of about fifty feet, in a direc-
1

tion, N. 45° W., when a fall of eight feet was encountered, and a
20-foot drift was entered, which had been cut, due north. In this
drift, was a twelve-inch vein of pyritiferous quartz, trending with
the drift, and dipping with the mica-schist, as far as could be seen,
at an angle of 30°, to the east. The tunnel, which I designate as
Tunnel No. 3• is driven through the same banded, gray, decomposed
quartzose slates, as were encountered in the Black tunnel. As is
the case with the other ore-bodies described, these slates lie over
this part of the vein and its enclosing mica-schists.
Samples for assay were taken by me from all the openings de-
scribed, except the vein in the Mill cut, which, as before stated, was
covered by fallen debris, and the vein at the bottom of the incline
below the Black tunnel. When I went, prepared to take my sam-
ple from this point, there had been a small cave, and the vein was
covered with water. Opportunity, later, did not offer. The assay
results were, as follows : -
No. I-------- ------0.050 oz. ($1.03) of gold per ton

..." 2--------------0.I60
3--------------0.075
" ($3-3I) "
" ($I. 55) "
"
"
"
"
"
"
No. I was from the Mill vein, on the north side of the creek, as
shown in Plate XVII; No. 2 was from the Big Sulphuret vein;
and No. 3 was from the vein in Tunnel No. 3· The character of
the ore has been described above.
The Mary Henry mining property presents striking differences,
in comparison with other properties in the district. It has lenticu-
lar ore-bodies, like the Hand mine; but the ore is of a very differ-
1
June, 1896.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

ent character. These ore-bodies, while enclosed in mica-schist, are

overlaid by quartzose slates, unlike the slates seen elsewhere in the
district, these outcropping, for several hundred yards, along the Up-
per Gainesville road, which passes through the southern edge of the
property. The hornblende-schists, so common in the district, are not-
ably absent; and granite dikes, known to occur nowhere else around
Dahlonega, are present, on this property. I am of opinion, that the
mine openings, on the north side of the road, are all on one vein ;
and that the variations, in the trend of the lenticular ore-bodies,
are purely local and normal; and that the general trend of the
vein is almost east and west. The ore is a handsome sulphide ore,
especially that, from the " Big Sul ph uret vein"; and I must confess
myself disappointed, in my assay results, though, of their integrity,
there can be no reasonable doubt.
No mining work has ever been done on lot I ,oo I, the other lot,
belonging to the Mary Henry property.
Tlte Mary Henry Mill consisted of fifteen stamps, when the pros-
pecting operations were in progress, four or five years ago; but,
since then, ten stamps have been removed to the Preacher mill. As
it stands, at present, the mill is of a western pattern, with five
stamps, weighing 8 50 pounds each. I It has an eight-foot amalga-
mated copper plate, below the battery ; and it is provided with a
Gates ore-crusher and an automatic feeder. The ore is delivered
from cars, which come, over a tram-way, to the upper story of the
mill, in the floor of which is the hopper to the crusher, from which
it is fed, directly through a gate, to the automatic feeder, on the floor
below. A Leffel 32-inch turbine wheel is the motor, which runs
the mill and other machinery, water being brought to the wheel,
through a well-built, iron-hooped, 36-inch wooden tube, 2 3 5 feet
2
long, from the dam, the last 70 feet of the tube being reduced to
2
I See Plate XXI. See Plate XIX.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 437
30 inches in diameter. In building the millhouse, provision was
made for the future installation of concentrating machinery. This
house was built about five years ago; and the entire plant is in first-
class condition. A miner's hut, intended for a tool-house, can be
seen in Plate XIX.
The location of the dam across Yahoola creek is a narrow gorge
between two hills, just below an extensive bottom, which, by flood-
ing, would, it is estimated, furnish, on the erection of a dam, from
20 to 30 feet higher than the present dam, several hundred horse-
power. The necessary rights to land, subject to overflow, from
increasing the height of the dam, have been secured by the com-
pany.
Lot I,030 was granted by the State to William Sims of DeKalb
county. It was sold, by the sheriff, in August, I833, to Jesse F.
Cleveland, to satisfy a judgment of the Court, in the suit of John
Choice against William Sims. It was again sold by the sheriff, in
July, I835, to John Choice & Co., at the suit of the officers of
the Court against William Sims. On Nov. I 839. a warranty
sth, I

deed, to an undivided third of the lot, was given by Cyrus Choice

to Tully Choice. In May, I 840, William J. Davis, U. S. Marshal,
sold the entire lot to Horatio Miller and Charles V. Chamberlin, as
the property of John Choice, to satisfy judgments in the U. S.
Court against Choice, Harben & Co., John Choice, a member of
the firm of Choice, Harben & Co., and John Choice & Co., in favor
of Weed & Fannin, Wm. M. Telesten and Henry B. Leeson. From
this time, the lot was known as the Miller, Ripley & Co. lot, after
the mercantile firm in Augusta, Ga., of which Mr. Miller was senior
partner. The next transfer of this lot was in October, I 890,
over 50 years, after the last, mentioned. It was then deeded to
Frank W. Hall, who two weeks later, deeded it, except the farm-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

ing interest m eight or ten acres of bottom lands, to William G.

McNelley; and he, on the same day, Oct. 23rd, I8go, deeded it to
William W. Murray, except the farming interest, above mentioned.
In April, I8gi, William Starr Miller, residuary legatee of Horatio
. Miller, deceased, gave a deed to Frank W. Hall, for an undivided
half of lot I,032. In May, I Sgi, Mr. Hall sold, to John Huff,
about IO acres of farming interest in the lot, the mineral interest
being reserved to W. W. Murray. In October of the same year,
Judge Murray, by contract and agreement, gave to N. H. Hand,
President of The Hand and Barlow United Gold Mines and Hy-
draulic Works of Georgia, right-of-way through the northeast side
of lot I ,030. This was in consideration of a mill-site, for the Mary
Henry mill, on lot I,053, belonging to the Hand and Barlow com-
pany. In January, r8g2, Judge Murray sold to The Gold Mountain
Mill and Mining Co., all of lots I,OOI and I,030, with the mill-site
interest in I,053, except the eight or ten acres of farming interest,
reserved, as before mentioned. In May, I 894, this eight or ten
acres of farming interest was sold, by John Huff, to R. H. Baker,
who is still its owner.

THE FREE JIM MINE

This mine lies in the northern half of lot 998, 2tlt district, in the
I

town of Dahlonega, just east of that part, which has been built up.
The principal work done on it has been the sinking of several in-
clines, to a depth of from 50 to 70 feet, and an open cut, of con-
siderable size; also, a small amount of placer work in the aurifer-
ous gravels.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
439
The history of this mine is somewhat unique. Some time be-
tween 1830 and 1839, a free negro, by the name of James Boisclair,
came from Augusta to Dahlonega, and opened a little cake and
fruit shop in the town. He discovered, on lot 998, a vein of gold
ore, in the early period of gold mining in the county, and desired
to buy the lot. Not being allowed, by law, to buy or sell real
estate, Dr. Joseph J. Singleton, for some time chief officer of the
branch mint at Dahlonega, was made his guardian. The court
records are not clear, as to when Boisclair came into possession of
the lot; but it is well known, that he did own it, for many years, and
I

that he worked it, with great success, for quite a long time. The
proceeds of this mine enabled him, to establish the largest dry-
goods and general merchandise store in Dahlonega ; and, for a
while, he did a flourishing business. In addition to his general
merchandise store, he established a bar-room ; and this led to
trouble; for, on the records of the Baptist church of Dahlonega, of
•
which he was a member, appears an account of his trial, for selling
spirituous liquors on the Sabbath, resulting in his expulsion from the
church. In course of time, however, he repented; and about a year
after his expulsion, he was again received into the church.
In 1849, when there was much excitement among the Georgia
miners, over the gold discoveries in California, he contracted with
40 or 50 miners, to go with him, to seek their fortunes in the Cali-
fornia gold-fields, he, to pay their way to California, and they to
give him, as compensation, half of their first year's earnings. He
had been there, only a short time, when he became involved in a
dispute with a miner, over a claim, and was shot and killed.
During the time he was mining so successfully in Dahlonega, he
was sued by a merchant in Augusta, for a debt he had left un~
settled, and one· half of the lot was sold, to satisfy the claim, Mr.
440 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Harrison W. Riley being the purchaser. I From him, it has come

down to Mr. William A. Charters, of Dahlonega, through The
Augusta and Dahlonega Mining Co. and Judge W. W. Murray.
In I 866, about sixteen years after the death of Boisclair, the
other undivided half of the lot was sold, by the sheriff of Lumpkin
county, to Mr. N. K. Butler, of Augusta, to satisfy a judgment of
the Court, in favor of N. K. Butler & Co., against the estate of
James Boisclair. Mr. N. K. Butler, Jr., administrator of the estate
of N. K. Butler, deceased, sold this undivided half to Messrs.
Hiram D. Gurley and E. E. Crisson of Dahlonega, in February,
I 8g6. Recently, Mr. Charters has sold an undivided sixth of the
lot to Messrs. Gurley and Crisson, so that each of these gentlemen
now owns an undivided third of the lot.
The vein, worked by James Boisclair, is believed to be the same
vein, that has been worked, in recent years, through an incline-shaft.
It is said, that Boisclair sunk three inclines on the vein, west of the
Hand ditch, which now runs through the lot; but, that, on neither,

I The Court records show, that this half of the lot was held, in the name

of Alexander Duncan, and, by him, was sold to Harrison W. Riley. I

am informed by Col. W. P. Price, Ex-member of Congress, and a promi-
nent citizen of Dahlonega, to whom I am indebted for this sketch,
that Duncan was a white man, who lived with Boisclair's sister, as his
wife; and that, as a free negro could not own property in his own
name, except through a guardian, it is practically assured, that, while the
property was in Duncan's name, yet Boisclair was the real owner. While
the Court records seem to be incomplete; yet the title to this lot is good,
in the present owners; for half of it was held by The Augusta and Dah-
lonega Mining Co., from May 4th, r862, to Jan. 31st, 189r, and the other
half was held by Mr. N. K. Butler, of Augusta, from Oct. znd, r866, to
the day of his death, many years after, and was sold by the administrator
of his estate, Feb. 11th, 1896, a tenant living on the property, constantly,
during this time. Seven years ownership, with occupation of the property,
makes title to real estate good, in Georgia.
I ;O L/! /!l.'/ '1 !S / /' S 1 iF l ;l.'O I>I, 1.1 I ' ! .. I I I: .\'I'll!

O I.D R() ASTI :\G FUR:-!ACE A T TH E llAS T 1~MJ:-!E · F IN DLEY RlD CE, JJ A HLONI':GA. GF:() J{(;JA.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 441

did he go down lower than 20 feet. Others are said to have resumed
the work, where he left off, sinking the shafts deeper, and to have had
good results therefrom. Their names, I was not able to le.arn. The
old inclines, however, have long since been filled. East of the Hand
ditch, probably 200 yards, G. W. Jenkins and J. Roberts sunk an in-
cline, on what is supposed to be Boisclair's vein, on top of a knoll,
1
about the year r88I. The.y worked this shaft down below water-
level, a distance of about seventy feet along the incline, where the
iron-stained, cellular quartz began to be replaced by pyritiferous
quartz. The vein, at the bottom of this shaft, I am reliably in-
formed, is five feet thick. The ore is said to have averaged $4.00
per ton. This vein lies within ten feet of the north margin of the
large dike, before described, and has the same trend. At the time of
my visit to the property, no work had been done on the veins, for
some time; and the shaft was not in such condition, that I could get
a sample for assay; but ore, lying on the dump, consisted of sac-
charoidal quartz, quite cellular and friable, and considerably stained
by iron sesqui-oxide. Much of it shows bright, unaltered pyrite.
About two hundred yards west of this shaft, and parallel with the
vein, is an open cut, only a short distance from the south margin of
the smaller dike described. This is known as The Barker Cut. It
was worked, about 1855, by Mr. Joseph J. Singleton, Jr., son of Dr.
Singleton, and Judge J. R. Lawhorn. It was probably started by
them. Their results, it is said, were very satisfactory. Beginning
about r867, The Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose
Mining Co. worked, with a hydraulic giant, the mouth of this cut
and other neighboring deposits, as gravel-placer, their work con-
tinuing, for about three years. No further work was done in the
cut, until about I 89 3, when Mr. Martin Barker, supposing he was
working on lot 999, adjoining, on which he held a lease from The
1
See fig. 31.
442 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Hand and Barlow United Gold Mines and Hydraulic Works of

Georgia, did considerable work, sluicing the mica-schist saprolite,
in which there were a number of small rich veins. Mr. Barker
worked for about eight months, and was doing well, when Judge
Murray, owner of an undivided half of lot 998, had a survey made,
by a competent engineer, who ascertained, that the cut was entirely
on lot 998. Judge Murray at once stopped the mining, in the cut.
Some placer-work was being done on the gravel bed, by Mr. E. E.
Crisson, about the same time; but no work has been done on the
property, since. Fig. 31 will indicate more clearly the situation of
the various openings and belts of schists.
A small stream passes through the lot;
FIG. 31
and along this and in other lower por-
tions of the lot are deposits of unworked
auriferous gravel, covering about . five
acres. About one acre additional has
been worked over, once. In this work,
about 1871, Mr. James McDonald found
a gold nugget, which weighed something
over 32 dwts. This was sold to a mer-
chant in Dahlonega, who sent it, with
other gold, to the mint. While working
the placer, in 1893, with a hydraulic giant
and a sluice-box, Mr. E. E. Crisson saved
200 dwts. in gold nuggets, weighing from
Geological Sketch of Lots 998
and 999· A. Mica-schist
six grains to I 4 dwts. 6 grs., besides a
Belt, in Which the Free Jim quantity of finer gold. The largest nug-
Mine is Located. B. The
Barker Cut. C. North Bor-
get, he sold to Mr. W. C. Albers, of The
der of the Large Hornblende- Chestatee Mining Co., for a pocket-piece.
schist Dike. D. The smaller
Dike of Hornblende-schist.
All these nuggets, Mr. Crisson sold for
F. Mica-schist. S. Shaft of $1.00 a pennyweight. The convenient
the Free Jim Mine.
location of the Hand ditch to this placer,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
443
at an elevation of 7 5 or So feet above it, will greatly facilitate
working it, at the least expense. As much may be said, for the
abundant soft mica-schist saprolite on this lot, which is said to con-
tain a great many very small auriferous veins, all through it.

THE LAWRENCE MINE

This mine is located on lot 95I, I2th district, quite close to the
center of the town of Dahlonega, and in what was formerly known
as The Pigeon Roost Belt, now The Barlow Belt. Soon after the
close of the civil war, Mr. William G. Lawrence discovered a gold
vein on this lot; and soon thereafter, Mr. Wm. M. Varnum hunted
up the grantee of the lot, and purchased it from him. For a while,
it was leased to Mr. Lawrence, the discoverer of the vein ; but Mr.
Varnum associated with him, as owners of the lot, Col. R. H. Moore
and Messrs. James L. Harris, David T. Harris and James R. Law-
horn. They worked the lot, jointly, in 1869 and I8JO, with much
success. I was informed by highly reputable citizens of Dahlonega,
that there was no question about these gentlemen having made a
great deal of money, while working the mine. They worked two
vertical shafts, on the same vein, by levels, hoisting the ore, and
hauling it to the mill, a 4-stamp wooden mill, located on a branch
along the road, not far from Wimpy's grist-mill. The character of
the ore changed, towards the bottom of the shafts, from a free-
milling to a highly sulphide quartz; and the operators became dis-
couraged, and stopped work. Their greatest difficulty, however,
seems to have been the large quantity of water constantly coming
into the shafts. From this time, the mine was idle for several
444 LUMPKIN COUNTY

years. Mr. Varnum had died; and Mr. Weir Boyd had bought
the sixth interest, which had been retained by Varnum.
About 1876, Mr. N. H. Hand bought the entire lot, and put up
a ten-stamp iron mill on it, using water from the Hand ditch. He
put in a steam-pump, by which the shafts were kept fre~ from
water. He sunk the shafts deeper, and continued work, for a year
and a half; but the ore had become so refractory, that only a very
small percentage of the gold was saved on the plates; and so, work
was suspended. In the work done by Mr. Hand, the Messrs. Price
Bros., bankers, of Cleveland, Ohio, were associated with him; and,
during a part of the time, one of them was in charge of the work.
The shafts, at the time of my visit, were filled with water; and I
was not able to examine the vein. On reliable authority, however,
I am able to say, that the shafts are I oo feet deep, and that the
vein is about ten feet thick.
The mill, first erected by Mr. Hand, was removed to the Findley
mine; and, later, a second IO-stamp mill was erected, having a
26-foot over-shot wheel, and using water, taken from the Hand
ditch, the water, after use, being returned to the ditch. This mill
has been used as a custom mill, of late years, having the patronage
of those persons, mining in a small way, and without means to erect
a mill of their own. The mine is provided with pumping, hoisting
and other necessary machinery. In addition to the mill, is a ware-
house and an assay laboratory, all on the Lawrence lot.
This property is now owned by The Hand & Barlow United Gold
Mines and Hydraulic Works of Georgia, and is in the charge
of Capt. H. D. Ingersoll, of Dahlonega, General Manager of the
mines.
 L[/MPKIN COUNTY
445

THE CRESCENT GOLD MINE

This property consists of lots 953, 954 and 955, I2th district, and
is owned by THE CRESCENT GoLD MINING Co., of Grand Rapids,
Mich., of which Mr. J. C. Batdorf is President. This company also
owns lot I,I02, in the same district, about a mile and a half south-
east of the lot, on which the mine is located.
The property gets its name from the existence of a synclinal fold
in the schists, including the vein, which suggests a crescent to the
fanciful. Most of the mining work has been done on lot 9 55,
about a quarter of a mile above Wimpy's grist-mill, on the hillside,
along the northeast bank of Yahoola creek, which flows through
this lot, in a southeasterly direction. Four tunnels have been
driven into the face of the hill, quite close to each other, two of
them, side by side, being called the Double Tunnels. The trend
of the vein, going up stream, is east and west, for a short distance,
when it bends to the north, away from the bank of the creek. The
dip is not more than I 0° to the north, varying to the east. This
vein is from four to eighteen inches thick, averaging, it is said,
about eight inches. The property has been, for some time, idle,
and not in condition for proper examination, or for securing ore
samples. The several tunnels were driven through the soft schis-
tose saprolite, the larger quartz vein and numbers of small veins,
with that part of the schist, immediately surrounding them, being
milled. In addition to the tunnels, there are a number of old in-
clines, from which the ore was mined, down to the sulphides. The
ore is said to be worth, from $5 .oo to $40.00 per ton. I

I Since 1896, Mr. R. W. Walker has leased this mine; and he is now

engaged in some prospecting work. He informs me, that some of the ore,
he has taken out, is quite rich, consisting of a cellular, iron-stained quartz,
and assaying as high as $10o.oo a ton.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE RIDER MINE

About I 846, Mr. Samuel Rider discovered on lot I,o58, I 2tlt dis-
trict, a vein of gold ore. He sunk an incline shaft on it, and carted
the ore to a wooden s-stamp mill, which he had put up, on what is
now the site of the present Lockhart mill, making, it is said, several
thousand dollars, as profit. After this, a considerable amount of
. "gouging" was done on the lot. The first work done, by The
Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co., after
completing their ditch, in I 860, was some hydraulic mining, on this
lot. The old works are now fallen in, and are in bad shape. No
ore samples could be taken.

THE HORNER MINE

About ten years ago, an auriferous vem was discovered on lot

855, I2tlt district, by Mr. Joseph Clements; whereupon he and Dr.
N. F. Howard, a physician in Dahlonega, who, with Mr. W. ].
Worley, owned the lot, erected a s-stamp mill on it, and worked
the vein, for about a year. At the end of this time, the mill was
levied on, and sold, to satisfy a claim against its :former owner.
Dr. Howard informs me, that the ore was worth from $3.00 to
$5.00 per ton. He says, that the vein was worked to water-level,
the ore changing from free-milling to sulphide quartz, which, with
increasing expenses, they were not able to make pay a profit on the
labor; and that, for this reason, he sold the mine to THE DAHLON-
 LUllfPKIN COUNTY 447
EGA GoLD MINING AND MILLING Co., incorporated under the laws
of the State of Illinois. The property was sold, Oct. 3rd, I 88g, to
Mr. H. R. Horner, as Agent, whose name the mine bears; and I
am informed, that a Mr; Hammer of Chicago, Ill., constituted the
company. Mr. Horner was placed in charge of the work. Under
his management, a IO-stamp mill was erected, and work was prose-
cuted, for two years, at the end of which, it is said, that, on account
of extravagance in management, Mr. Hammer directed, that opera-
tions be suspended. Since then, the property has been idle. At
the time of my survey, it was not in such shape, that samples for
assay could be taken. It is still the property of The Dahlonega
Gold Mining and Milling- Co., of Chicago.

1
THE FISH TRAP MINE

The Fish Trap property consists of lots 932, 933, 934, 944, 945
and 946, I 2tlt district, arranged in a rectangle, with its longer diam-
eter, north and south. The first and last named lots lie side by
side, and constitute the south side of Crown Mountain. It is on
these two, that the auriferous saprolites and veins have been worked,
the principal part of this work consisting of three large open cuts,
with many short tunnels and shafts.
The Fish Trap mine was first known, as a gravel placer, the more
southern lots, lying below the mountain, and extending nearly to
the Chestatee river, being considerably worked, about I 840. The
auriferous gravel, 'lying along the Fish Trap and other small
1
Field-work by S. \V. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

branches, which, rising on Crown Mountain, flow down to the river,

are said to have been remarkably rich in gold.
The first rich gold-bearing vein was discovered on the property,
about the year I 840; and it is still known as Bind's Vein, taking its
name from its discoverer. Shortly after this, another rich vein,
called The Freeman Vein was discovered and worked. On Bind's
vein, was a shoot, which was reputed to be very rich. This shoot,
known as Bind's Shoot, was worked to a depth of fifty or sixty feet,
the ore being hoisted to the surface by hand, and carried to a
branch, where it was beaten, in an iron mortar, and the gold, sepa-
rated by panning. As much as IOO dwts. of gold are said to have
been, at times, recovered from a panful of this beaten ore. In
I 88 3, the old shaft was re-opened and timbered, by The Fish Trap
Gold Mining Co., with a view to working the vein; but I am not in-
formed, as to their results. During the civil war, no mining was
done on this property. In fact, it was idle, until I 8 79, when
Messrs. W. H. and Jesse Satterfield, brothers, prospected the prop-
erty, taking out about sixty tons of ore, which was hauled to the
Griscom mill, yielding, it is said, an average of $Io.oo per ton. In
I 882, Mr. Daniel Stambaugh purchased the four lots, 932, 944, 945
and 946, which then composed the property. He erected a IO-
stamp mill, tenement houses, a water- ditch etc. on the property, and
operated the mine, for a short time, selling it, in January, 1883, to
Messrs. C. E. Lovell and L. F. Willetts of Hornellsville, New York.
These gentlemen organized a stock company, THE FISH TRAP GoLD
MINING Co., with Mr. Willetts, as President, and Mr. Lovell as
Secretary and Treasurer; and, having added ten stamps to the mill,
and put the property in excellent shape for mining operations, they
worked it, for a few months, and then leased it to Mr. R. B. King.
He likewise worked it, for a short time, and then it was re-leased to
:11: 1.1 .- l l r\ ~ l OF T i lE :I I ARV 1-1 1·: :\RV GO LD -.\ II L I., DA H LONECA , CEORC IA .
 /

LUMPKIN COUNTY
449
Messrs. Blackmer & Huff, who continued mining operations, until
it was sold, through Mr. Frank W. Hall, to Mr. Marshall A. Phil-
lips, October 30th, 1889, and he, two days later, transferred it to THE
DAHLONEGA Co., LIMITED. Since that transaction, no regular work
has been done on the property. The subsequent transfers are the
same as those for the Bast and other mines, already given .
•
Lot 932 was granted by the State to Mrs. Sophia Marsh, a widow,
of Jefferson county, who sold it in April, 1833, to Campbell Rai-
ford. He immediately transferred it to Jacob Page, who, in July
following, gave to Seaborn Jones a quit-claim deed to f8 of the lot.
Prior to this, in May, I 833, a mortgage on the lot had been given,
by Uriah I. Bullock, to Eli S. Shorter, Seaborn Jones, Edward
Cary, Arthur B. Davis and James S. Calhoun, to this and other lots.
To %of 78 of this lot, Thomas J. Rusk gave a warranty deed to
Jason C. Wilson, in June, 1833. In September, 1842, this and
other lots were sold, by the sheriff, as the property of James S.
Calhoun, to Henry L. Benning and Edward Cary, at the suit of
William Clark against James S. Calhoun. In January, 1843, the
sheriff sold 7'9 of 78 of this lot, as the property of Thomas Rusk,
to Reuben Herndon, to satisfy a Court judgment in favor of A. G.
Walton against Thomas J. Rusk and others. In March following,
Edward Cary gave to Henry L. Benning a quit-claim deed to "one
half of the interest of James S. Calhoun" in 9 3 2 and other lots. No
transfers of record were given, from this time to May 1st, 1882,
when Mary H. Benning, administratrix of Seaborn Jones, deceased,
deeded all of lot 932 to Daniel Stambaugh. Subsequent transfers
have been given above.
The other lot, on which vein mining has been done, lot 946, was
granted by the State to Hamilton T. Boyd, of Butts county, who
sold it in April, 1833, to Enoch Byrn. In July, 1842, Byrn sold it
450 LUMPKIN COUNTY

to Harrison W. Riley, who, the records show, bought it again, at

sheriff's sale, Feb. 25th, I846, as a result of a suit of Isaiah Green,.
Agent for Jesse L. Riley, Guardian for James Boisclair, against
Enoch Byrn. It was held by Harrison W. Riley, till May, I 862,
when he sold this and other lots to William S. Roberts, President
of The Augusta and Dahlonega Mining Co., who -.old it to Daniel
Stambaugh, May 4th, I 882. From this point, the transfers are the
same as those for lot 932, given above.
At the time of Mr. McCallie's examination of the property, the
mine was in no condition for examination, all the cuts, tunnels and
shafts being filled, more or less, with the soft schistose saprolite,
which had fallen in. The largest excavation covers, probably, a
quarter of an acre, and has a depth of, from ten to fifty feet. Be-
sides this, there are two other cuts, from ten to thirty feet deep,
and from thirty to forty feet wide, and about a hundred yards long.
The veins vary, from an inch to twenty feet in thickness ; and, in
their dip, from 20° to vertical, cutting the country-rock, at various
angles. There are quite a number of small parallel veins, which,
frequently, have rich shoots in them, some of which have produced
more than a thousand pennyweights of gold. These rich shoots.
have been worked down to water-level, and then abandoned. The
property has been badly "gouged". It has a good reputation
among the local miners, who consider it to be one of the best pro-
ducers in the Dahlonega district.
The country-rock consists of mica- and hornblende-schist, the
occurrence of which, along Findley Ridge, has already been de-
scribed at length, in another part of this report.
Tlte Mill is a 20-stamp mill, with stamps weighing 450 pounds
each, the source of power being a steam-engine. The mill is in
need of repairs; but it could be put in good order, for a few hundred
 Lllll:fPKIN COUNTY
451

dollars. It is located on Fish Trap branch, about half-a-mile from

the cuts. There is, also, a pump-house and a boiler, located on the
hillside near the cuts, formerly used for pumping water, from the
Hand ditch to the reservoir, on the hill above the open cuts.
Lots 933 and 934 were not a part of this property, until it was
sold by Mr. Hall to Mr. Phillips.
Since March 7th, I 893, Mr. Frank W. Hall, of Dahlonega, Ga.,
has been the owner of the property.

I
THE IVEY MINE

This property consists of lots 8I9, 820, 82I, 86o and 86I, I 2tlt
2
district. The principal part of the mining work has been done on
lots 820, 860 and 86 r. Through 820 and 86 I, runs Stover's branch,
which empties into Cane creek, not far away. The discovery of a
rich, gold-bearing gravel-bed, along this branch, about I840, was
the beginning of the fame of this well-known mining property.
Speaking of this deposit, one of my predecessors, Dr. George
Little, 3 says:- "Soon after the discovery of gold, 500 men were
working in this branch, at one time; and the yield, for one day,
along the whole course of the stream, is known to have been 6,000
dwts."
It is said, on good authority, that, during the first working of
this auriferous gravel-bed, from 50 to IOO dwts. per man was not
1
Field·work by S. W. McCallie, A5sistant Geologist.
2
Since the date of this report, the Shockley lot, No. 891, has been purchased, and made a part ol
the Ivey property.
3 State Geologist of Georgia, r87-!-79·
452 LUMPKIN COUNTY

an uncommon yield, in a day. On either side of the branch is a

low ridge; and, from side to side, of these ridges, the gravel has
been worked once or twice; but, along the branch, it is said to
have been worked over, not less then a dozen times; and it is still
being worked. This bed covers about twenty acres; and, after
having been worked, more or less, for fifty years, men working, in
a crude way, make day-wages.
After the first workings of the auriferous beds, no work of any con-
sequence was done on the property, until 1879, when Mr. R. T. lvey,
owner of lot 86o, for whom the mine is named, prospected the veins
on that lot, making, it is reported, from 50 to 7 5 dwts. of gold, per
man, in a day's work, by beating the ore, in an iron hand-mortar,
and panning the crushed material. On the strength of Mr. Ivey's
work, lot 86o was bought by Mr. Emanuel Bast, in December, I 879,
and lots 820 and 861, in May, I88r. Shortly thereafter, he deeded
the entire property to Tlze Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia,
of which he was manager. In September, I 878, Mr. Bast had
bought the lot, on which was located the mine, that has, since, borne
his name; and, in July of the following year, he had sold it to Tlze
Pennsylvania National Gold Mining Co. of Georgia, which was suc-
ceeded in I88o, by Tlze Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Ger;rgia.
This company, having come into possession of both the I vey and the
Bast mines, work was prosecuted simultaneously on both, for sev-
eral years, lots 820 and 86 I having been bought, in the meantime.
On the lvey, a ten-stamp mill was erected, in the southwest corner
of lot 860, the mill-house being made large enough, to accommo-
date ten additional stamps, if necessary. It was only about ten
months, before these were added, making it a 20-stamp mill. It
was operated for two and a half years, using, as ore, the auriferous
mica-schist saprolite, with its included quartz veins, which was dug
out of the Ivey cut, and flooded to the mill, through a flume.
 LUJI£PA7N COUNTY
453

The 20-stamp mill was removed, about the first part of I 884, to a
point, about midway between the center of lot 820 and its southwest
corner; and forty more stamps were added, making it a 6o-stamp
mill, which was then, and is now, the largest stamp-mill in Georgia.
Having some trouble, in getting water from the Hand ditch, the
company decided to build a ditch; and what is known, as T!te Cane
Creek Ditclt resulted. They bought right-of-way, water-rights etc.,
and built the ditch, in I883, bringing it I8 miles, from the head-
waters of Cane creek, the work being done, under the immediate
supervision of Mr. J. P. Imboden, Superintendent. After increas-
ing the number of stamps from 20 to 60, the company made use of a
portion of the ditch-water, for power, with which to run the mill, the
motor being a high-pressure Leffel turbine wheel, under a I So-foot
head. The remainder of the water was used for hydraulic mining.
Shortly after the large mill was put in operation, Mr. S. Nelson
White, Secretary and Treasurer, died, and about the same time, the
health of the President, Mr. E. W. Andrews, became seriously im-
paired, and he was sent to a hospital for the insane, where he sub-
sequently died. The stock of the company changed hands, and
a new management assumed charge. From this time, no work
of any consequence seems to have been done; though, about three
or four years ago, some work was done in the Rock-house shaft,
on lot 820. This shaft was first worked by a man by the name
of Hampton, years before the civil war, when the lot belonged to
Dr. Joseph J. Singleton. It is generally understood that Dr. Sin-
gleton made thousands of dollars, working this vein.
In I886, the property was sold, by the sheriff, to The Frank W.
Hall Merchandise Co., to satisfy a claim of that company against The
Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia. It was next sold to Mr.
Marshall A. Phillips, and was by him transferred to The Dahlonega
 LWI[PKIN COUNTY
454
Co., Limited, who went to large expense, to have the ditch rebuilt,
and put in first-class condition; but they did not work the mine.
March 7th, I 893, as a result of the litigation, forced on this com-
pany, by its Managing Director, as related elsewhere in this report,
this property was sold by the sheriff, and was purchased by Mr.
Frank W. Hall, of Dahlonega, who still owns it. Since it has been
owned by Mr. Hall, he has bought the property, known as Clay
Creek falls, about two miles distant, with the view to transmitting
the power electrically to the Ivey property, for operating the mill
and other machinery, leaving all the ditch-water for hydraulic mining.
During the time, in which the I vey and Bast mines were operated,
by The Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia, it is said to be
a matter of record, that the stockholders were paid twenty-three
monthly dividends, of $4,000 each. From an original letter, from
Mr. Andrew Mason, Superintendent, U. S. Assay Office, New York
City, addressed to Mr. Robert P. Waring, Assayer-in-Charge, U.S.
Assay Office, Charlotte, N. C., under date of Aug. 17th, 1886,
I have copied the following statement of gross weights after melt-
ing, of deposits of Georgia gold bullion, made by S. Nelson White,
Treasurer, and E. W. Andrews, President of The Consolidated
Gold Mining Co. of Georgia, t~gether with the gross value of gold
and silver contained:-
Gross ozs. Gold Silver
"In 1882------- 1,788.63------$32,598.28 ____ $J65.46
" 1883--- ----- 3,065.98-- --- 53,688.61-- -- 208.07
" 1884--------- 842-93---- 12,919.18---- 103.59
" 1885-------- 101.04--- 0 I,490-5L ___ 27.30

Total for 4 years.-5,798.58 $504-42

 LUMPKIN COUNTY
45 5
From the original of a letter, from Mr. H. C. Hickok, Acting
Superintendent, Mint of the United States at Philadelphia, Penn.,
to Mr. Robert P. Waring, Assayer-in-charge, U. S. Assay Office,
Charlotte, N. C., under date of Aug. 16th, 1886, I copy the follow-
ing:-

" , that upon careful examination of our books, for

the past four years, we do not find, in our list of depositors, either
of the names you mention, to wit:- 'The Consolidated Georgia
Mine', •Bast and Ivey', or •The Frank W. Hall Merchandise Co.'
We know nothing, here, of that mine, or either of the other parties
named. I should add, in explanation, that all deposits, that come
to us, by express, are entered on -our books, in the name of the Ex-
press Agent, who presents the bullion."

The following, I copy from the original: -

"United States Assay Office,
Charlotte, N. C.,
2 I st Aug., I 886.
Memorandum of deposits from the Consolidated Georgia Mine,
:Dahlonega, Ga.,
I 88 I ___ - - _______________________________ _
$2, I I 1.08
1882 ____ _ 5.954·89
I885-

TotaL _____________________ -------- $9,602.99

The above comprise the entire deposits from the above mentioned
mine, at this office.
, (Signed)~obt. P. Waring,
Assayer in Ch."
 LUL}fPKIN COUNTY

In a letter to Mr. Frank W. Hall, Dahlonega, Ga., dated Aug.

21st, 1886, and accompanying the above memorandum, Mr. \Varing
says:- "It is highly probable, that the statistics for New York
are under the mark, as they do not note locality so rigorously, as
is the practice here."
The I vey cut is located obliquely across the lot-line between lots
860 and 861, being about equally divided between the two lots. It
is about 200 yards long, by 150 feet wide, by from r o to 6o feet
deep. It was from this cut, that most of the material, passed
through the mill, was taken. The gold-bearing belt, in the cut, is
about 8o feet wide; it has been worked down to the unaltered
schists, where the ore changed from a free-milling to a sulphide
quartz. The entire belt is more or less auriferous; but the princi-
pal source of the gold is the small auriferous quartz stringers, in-
cluded in the schists, and usually parallel with them. These small
veins are frequently very rich, yielding, it is said, from roo to 500
dwts. of gold to the panful of beaten quartz.
The strike of the country-rock and veins is northeast, while the
dip is, at a high angle, to the southeast.
The Rock-house shaft is located on a vein, on the side of the ridge,
south of Stover's branch, on lot 820, near the line between it and
861, at a point about 200 yards, east of the mill. It is about 40 feet
deep. At the bottom of this ridge, the rock is a typical gray,
gneissoid schist, containing considerable quartz. Alteration in these
schists is only incipient. A number of surface cuts, at the bottom
of the ridge, were worked in a small way, probably by trespassers,
for what could be made from them.
At the head of the I vey cut, is a low-grade auriferous belt of
schists, containing small quartz stringers, which runs along the top
of the ridge, on the north side of Stover's branch, to Cane creek,.
GOLD DEPOSITS OF GEORGIA PLA'TE XX

CANE CREEK FALLS, NEAR DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA, SHOWING THE PART OF A DIKE OF HORNBLENDE-SCHIST, OVER WHICH
THE WATER FALLS .
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
457
on the Gordon lot, 79 r. It has an average width of about 40 feet.
The schists are decomposed at the top, for some distance down, the
red and yellow schistose saprolite being interlaminated with bands
of gneiss. The strike and dip of these schists are much the same,
as those of the schists in the I vey cut.
Five samples were taken by Mr. McCallie, from this property,
which, on assay, yielded the following results:-
No. r_ ________________ 0.05 oz. ($r.o3) of gold per ton
2 ____ ------------0.25 " ($5.I7) " " "
" 3---- -----------0.06 " ($!.24) " " " "
" 4--- ------ -----O.OI " ($0.2I) " " "
" 5---------- ______ o.o8 (Sr.65) " " "
No. I was taken from the Rock-house vein; No. 2, from the
Ivey cut, near its center; No. 3, from the Ivey cut, about half way
between the Rock-house vein and the center of the cut; No. 4,
from one side to the other, across thirty-five feet of the low-grade
belt on top of the north ridge; and No. 5, from the rich parts of
this belt. It should be borne in mind, that the property has been
idle, for a long while, and that it was hardly possible, to take fair,
average samples, in the present condition of the veins.
Tlze Ivey Mill, as before stated, is a 6o-stamp mill, the stamps
weighing 450 pounds each, this size having, for a long time, been
considered best adapted to milling the saprolite ores. The mill
was used only about six months, when work was stopped. It is in
very good condition; and, for a small outlay, it could be put in
good running order.
Cane Creek Ditch, which conveys water, for mining purposes from
the headwaters of Cane creek to the Ivey mine, was constructed,
in I 88 3. It is I 8 miles long. As originally constructed, it was
supplied with dams, trestles, flumes etc., and had a capacity of 300-
458 LUftfPKIN COUNTY

miner's-inches of water. In the winter of I 889-'90, it was enlarged

and rebuilt in part, by Mr. Frank W. Hall, under a contract of The
Frank W. Hall Merchandise Co. with The Dahlonega Co., Limited,
the latter being, at that time, the owners of the property. Since
then, the half of it, next to the mine, has been allowed to go down,
though the earth- and rock-work are still in good condition. The
remaining half has been kept up, by the owner of a grist-mill, for
the use of it.
Lot 860 was granted by the State to Willy Miller, at the lottery
in 1832. In November, 1872, it was deeded by L. B. Miller, ex-
ecutor of Willy Miller, deceased, to R. T. Ivey, who on December
I 5th, I 8 79· deeded it to Emanuel Bast. It was next transferred to
The Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia, by Emanuel Bast,
in June, 1883. On June 12th, 1886, this lot was sold, with the en-
tire property of The Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia, to
The Frank W. Hall Merchandise Co., to satisfy a judgment of the
·Court, in favor of that company. A few days later, The Frank W.
Hall Merchandise Co. transferred this and other lots to Frank W.
Hall, who, in October, 1889, sold it, with other property, to Marshall
A. Phillips. On November 1st, 1889, it was transferred, with other
lots, by Mr. Phillips, to The Dahlonega Co., Limited. In March,
1893, this and o.ther lots, belonging to The Dahlonega Co., Limited,
was sold by Capt. John W. Weaver, Receiver, to Mr. Frank W.
Hall, of Dahlonega, Ga., who is still the owner of the property.
Lot 861 was granted by the State to Mastain Usrey, of Jones
county, who gave a warranty deed to it, in March, 1833, to Wallace
H. Park. By Park, it was sold to Joseph J. Singleton, December
I 5th, I 836. It was next deeded, by Messrs. Wimpy and Quillian,
Administrators of Joseph J. Singleton, deceased, to A. M. Wallace
and David T. Singleton, in January, 1859. In March, 1860, Messrs.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 459
Wallace and Singleton deeded it, with other lots, to Arthur M. East-
man. In July, I863, an undivided half of this lot and 820 was sold
to William S. Roberts, with a warranty deed, by Benjamin Hamil-
ton, to whom a quit-claim deed was given, July Igth, I866, by
Arthur M. Eastman, to all of 86I and other lots. In November,
1872, a sheriff's deed was given to John A. Parker and Beverly A.
Martin to a half of lot 86 I and other lots, on a judgment of the
Court. On March I 6th, I 86 I, Messrs. Parker and Martin gave a
warranty deed, to their undivided half of this lot and 820, to Joseph
King Merritt, Trustee; and, on the same day, William S. Roberts
deeded the other undivided half of this and 820 to Mr. Merritt,
Trustee. On May 3 Ist, following, the latter, as Trustee, sold
both lots entire to Emanuel Bast. In June, I 88 I, these lots were
sold by Mr. Bast to The Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia.
In March, I 882. Gen. James Longstreet, U.S. Marshal, sold an un-
divided half of 86I and 820, at the suit of John VanNest against
Benjamin Hamilton. Mr. VanNest, August 30th, following, gave to
Mr. Bast a quit-claim deed to this undivided half; and, on the same
day, Mr. Bast gave to The Consolidated Gold Mining Co. of Georgia
a quit-claim deed, to all his interest in lots 86 I and 820. From
this point, the ownership of these lots is the same, as that of 860.

THE GORDON MINE I

This mine, known, also, as the New Gordon mine, to distinguish it

from the old Gordon property, now a part of the Barlow property,
lies just west of the Ivey mine, on the opposite side of Cane creek,
1
Field·work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 LUJIPKIN COUNTY

on lot 79I, I 2tlz district, the entire property consisting of lots 609, 679,
68o, 720, 72I, 750, 75I, 79I and 792. The first work, done on the
property, was about I 842, by Mr. Frank Capps, an English miner,
who erected a wooden IO-stamp mill on Cane creek, near what is
now known as the Boston cut. He began mining a vein just across
the creek; and he operated the mine, for about two years, with suc-
cess. This mill was subsequently replaced, by a more modern IO-
stamp mill, which, with the mine, was operated, for about four years,
by Mr. Hezekiah Kelly, under a lease from Mr. George William
Gordon, its owner, the ore being taken from Tlze Boston Cut. Mr.
Gordon sold the property to his nephew, Mr. George A. Gordon,
who operated the mine and mill, until the beginning of the civil war.
From this time, no work was done on the property, until about
I 8g2, when Mr. W. B. Fry, working under the direction of Messrs.
T. K. Clark and David Hunter, operated the mine and mill, for about
three years. During this time, the cut was made across the hill, in
the bend of the creek, north of the Boston cut, and the hillside
was washed, as a surface deposit. These works are said to have
paid well, especially the surface work.
The Boston cut is about I oo yards long, 7 5 feet wide, and from
ten to forty feet deep. The ore, the veins and the country-rock
are similar to those, in the Ivey cut, and need not be described.
The work on the hill, north of the Boston cut, consists, princi-
pally, of surface work, covering about a quarter of an acre, and a cut
on a three-foot vein, which extends entirely across the ridge at the
top, and is about forty feet deep. The ore from this vein is said
to have been, in places, very rich.
The mine, at the time of Mr. McCallie's visit, was in no condi-
tion for examination, and no samples for assay were taken. There
is at present, no mill on the property. The ditch, which brings
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

water from Crooked creek, is two miles long, and furnishes a I2 s-

foot head of water for hydraulic mining, and sufficient water, under
less pressure, to run a 10-stamp mill. The last mill on the prop-
erty is said to have had an over-shot wheel, 33 feet in diameter, as
its motor. The property is owned by Mr. Geo. A. Gordon, of Som-
merville, Mass., whose representative in Dahlonega is Col. W. P.
Price, of the law firm of Price and Charters. Mr. Gordon is, at
present, Secretary of the New England Historical Society, with
headquarters in Boston.

THE BARLOW MINE I

This property consists of lots 74I, 743 to 748, inclusive, 789, 793,
794, 795, 797 and 798, besides tlze Gordon lots, 602, 605, 6o6, 652 to
656, inclusive, 658, 659, 67I to 676, inclusive, and 68I, all in tlze I 2tlz
district.
The Ralston mine, described beyond, and the lots belonging to
the Ralston, have now been incorporated, as a part of the Barlow
property. Even when worked as a separate mine, it was owned
by the parties owning the Barlow property. Lot 747 is considered
the principal of the Barlow lots. On it, stands the Barlow mill;
and much of the mining done has been, on this lot. The Barlow
cut is the largest in the county, enormous quantities of micaceous
saprolite, with the included auriferous quartz, having been excavated
and milled. The greater part of the works lies on the right bank

I Field·work by S. W. McCallie. Assistant Geologist.

 LUJVIPKIN COUNTY

of Cane creek, in quite a broken section of the county, the hills

rising from I oo to 300 feet above the surface of the streams.
No very definite information was secured, as to the early history
of the mining operations, or as to the first discovery of gold on the
property. The placer work, in the gravel beds, which, from the
extent of the debris left, must have been very extensive, probably
yielded many thousand pennyweights of gold, before the discovery
and working of the veins. The first regular vein-mining done was
by THE GEORGIA Co., of which Col. George G. Pride was President.
This company erected, in I866, a 40-stamp steam mill, and anum-
ber of arrastres, at the location of the present stamp-mill, on lot
747· The building still remains, as the mill-bouse of the present
mill. The Pride mill was operated, for about two years, the ore
coming from the Barlow and Ralston cuts. Great extravagance
and bad management are said to have attended the operations of
The Georgia Co.; and, in February, I87I, the property was sold by
the sheriff to Mr. S. L. M. Barlow, to satisfy claims against The
Georgia Co., in favor of S. L. M. Barlow, M. H. VanDyke, John W
Weaver and others. Mr. Barlow then made a contract with Mr.
N. H. Hand, by which a branch ditch was constructed from the
large Hand ditch, near Dahlonega, to the Barlow mines, crossing
Cane creek by 2,300 feet of pipe, in a manner similar to the crossing
of the Yahoola, by the main ditch, the banks and hill-slopes being
of about the same character. The ditch, which, then, was known
as Tlte Pigeon Roost Ditc!t, but which is now known as T!te Barlow
Ditclz, furnished sufficient water, to operate a 40-stamp mill. But
this mill, the arrastres etc., were soon replaced, with a more
modern 20-stamp mill, of the F. W. Hall patent, having 450 stamps.
On lot 748, the Huff and Roberts 5-stamp mill stood on the west
bank of the creek, and was in operation in I 8 78.
 LUJtfPKIN COUNTY

In 1882, in order to work the ore, on the other side of Cane

creek, more advantageously, a 10-stamp mill was erected on that
side of the creek, only a few hundred yards from their other mill.
This mill was operated, for only about two years, when it was torn
down and removed.
Mining was carried on, continuously, for more than twenty years,
the property changing hands, twice, within this period. During
this time, most of the work of excavating the saprolite from the
now extensive cuts, was done, by hydraulic mining. For the last
five or six years, mining on the property has been very irregular, and
at no time, on an extensive scale. The mine is not, at present, in

Fig. 32

Section along the Preston Cut, Barlow Mine. a. Mica-schist Belts. b. Auriferous Mica-
schist Belt, 6 Feet Wide. c. Belts of Hornblende-schist.

such condition, as to advantageously show its value. Much debris

has fallen into the cuts, from their long disuse, and some work
would be required to put the property in good working order.
However, this could be done, at a comparatively small outlay. All
the ditches, dams etc., are in fair condition; but the mill would
require some slight repairs.
With the exception of the gravel placers, all the work, done on
the property, consists of open-cut work on the ore-bodies, which
are composed of decayed mica-schists, enclosing thin quartz string-
ers. Seven large cuts have been excavated, by the hydraulic
method, the largest of which, the Barlow cut, is about half-a-mile
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

long, by from I oo to 300 feet wide, by about So feet deep, in places.

Another prominent cut is Tlze Preston Cut, along the Preston vein.
A noted vein is Tlze Dog-lzead Vein, which, while small, is very rich.
Capt. H. D. Ingersoll, the Manager of this property, reports that eight
tons of ore from this vein, yielded. S48 dwts. of gold on the mill.
A section along this cut is given in fig. 32. The following is a list
of the auriferous belts and veins : -
The Preston BelL._______________ ------SO feet thick
The Barlow " -----------------30 to 200 " "
The Ogle " ---------------------·--SO "
The Dog-head Vein _______ -------------2 "
The Husinger " ------·-·-------------IO inches "
The country-rocks are quartzose schists and hornblende- and mica-
schists. The hornblende-schists occur, as large irregular masses,
imbedded in the quartzose or the micaceous schists, when viewed
transversely; but, longitudinally, they are in bands, intercalated
in the other schists. These masses are similar to those, crossing
the tunnels of the Crown Mountain property, heretofore described,
and which, as then stated, appear to be apophyses from the large
dike lying adjacent. This dike continues from Dahlonega on. down
to the southwestern part of the county, passing through the northern
part of the Barlow property.
The dip of the rocks is usually to the southeast, at an angle, be-
tween 30° and 70°, while they strike, generally, about N. 20° E.
A variation from this ~-as noted, in the north end of the Barlow
cut, where the strike is nearly due north, and the dip, directly to
the east.
Samples for assay were taken by Mr. McCallie, which gave the
following results:-
No. I------------------ _____ o.o2S oz. ($o.s2) of gold per ton
" 2 --. --- .. ----- - . ---- - -. --0. I 60 " ($ 3. 3 I) " " " "
" 3------------------- ..... -0.320 " ($6.6I) " " " "
 '

GOLD DEPOSI'TS OF GEORGIA PLA'T£ XXI

\_

INTERIOR VIEW OF THE MARY HENRY 5-STAMP MILL, DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY

No. I was from the Preston cut; No. 2, from the Husinger vein;
and No. 3, from the Barlow cut.
THE PIGEON RoosT MINE, which was on lot 746, and, for a long
time, a separate property from the Barlow, was operated, for a few
years, until it was advertised for sale, in December, I 884. It is now
included in the Barlow property. The Ogle cut is a part of the old
Pigeon Roost mine. Its IO-stamp mill stood about an eighth
of a mile southwest of the Barlow mill. Success, for some reason,.
does not seem to have attended the work, on this property.

Fig. 33

Section across the Barlow Cut near Its Center. r. Mica-schist. z. Hornblende-schist.

The Barlow Mill, which stands on the site of the old Pride Mill, on
Cane creek, near the mouth of "Pigeon Roost" branch, is a 40-
stamp mill of the F. W. Hall patent, with 450-pound stamps. Only
two batteries, however, are now in running order, the entire mill
being only in tolerably fair condition, though it could be put in
good order, at a small expense. The mill is run by water, taken
from Cane creek. A well-built dam on lot 793, with a conduit to the
mill, supplies, under an I 8-foot head, the water, which actuates a
40-inch Rodney Hunt turbine wheel. This wheel develops about
7 5 H. P. A number of miner's cottages, a shop, stables etc. are
located near the mill; but all are in need of repair.
 LUMPKIN COUKTY

The changes in ownership, of lot 747, will, in a general way, in-

dicate the changes of the entire Barlow property, since it has been
much known, as mining property. This lot was granted by the
State to Martin Strother, of Newton county, who sold it, in Febru-
ary, I833, to Farish Carter. Two days later, Carter gave a quit-
claim deed, to an undivided half of it, to William Ward, who parted
with half of his interest, on May 2nd, following, giving Uriah J. Bul-
lock a quit-claim deed to it. Bullock gave, to Jason C. Wilson,
Thos. J .. Rusk and Leander Smith, a quit-claim deed, to his interest
in the lot. The other fourth, Ward sold to Jacob Page, May 22nd,
1833, giving him a warranty deed. On July 3rd, following, Thomas
J. Rusk sold an undivided twelfth of the lot to Jacob Page, the con-
veyance, by warranty deed. This placed the ownership of a third
of the lot in Page. In January, 1834, Leander Smith sold an un-
divided twelfth of the lot to R. G. Dunlap, who, a year later, trans-
ferred it, by warranty deed, to Robert Patton. The records next
show, that Robert S. Patton, September I8th, I835, gave to John
C. Calhoun a warranty deed to an undivided third of this lot; and,
on the I oth of the following month, a warranty deed to an undi-
vided twelfth of it, to Henry M. Clay and Farrish Carter. This
Calhoun was the illustrious United States Senator. In May, I 844,
Zachariah Samuel deeded to Willis J. Milner a third of lot 747; and,
inN ovember, I 846, Edward J. C. Milner deeded an undivided third of
the lot to William G. Lawrence and Robert H. Moore - presum-
ably the same third. Messrs. Moore and Lawrence sold their inter-
est, in May, I 860, to The Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic
Hose Mining Co., giving a warranty deed. In March, I 866, Mr.
Lawrence gave to George G. Pride a quit-claim deed to an undi-
vided third interest in lot 747· Three days later, A. J. Hansell
gave to Col. Pride a warranty deed to an undivided sixth of the lot;
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

and on the 7th of the next month, Samuel M. Carter gave him a
warranty deed to an undivided sixth of it. On June 30th,
I 866, Geo. G. Pride, U. S. Grant and S. L. M. Barlow deeded to
The Georgia Co. two-thirds of this and other lots. On the same
day, George G. Pride, President of The Georgia Co., deeded to The
Yahoola River and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co. all that
portion of lots 747 and 794, which lies north of a line, drawn twenty
feet north of the north bank of Cane creek, which passes through
these lots, all the remaining portion of the lots being deeded, by
the latter company, to The Georgia Co., upon an amicable partition,
made that day. Gen. U. S. Grant, one of the stockholders above
mentioned, was, subsequently, President of the United States.
In February, I87J, the property of The Georgia Co. was sold by
the sheriff to S. L. M. Barlow, to satisfy a judgment of the Court,
in favor of Clayton & Adair, Joseph Winship & Co., John Tiner,
John W. Weaver, M. H. VanDyke, William H. Veal and S. L. M.
Barlow. On August sth, I873, the property of The Yahoola River
and Cane Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co. was sold to N. H.
Hand, at the suit of Frank W. Hall against that company. In
April, 1874, Mr. Hand sold to The Hand Gold Mining Co. all that
part of lots 747 and 794, belonging to him. On June 3rd, 1879,
vVilliam J. Worley, Rufus H. Baker, James R. Lawhorn and A. G.
Wimpy, commissioners, sold to Patrick Calhoun, of Atlanta, for
partition, one third of lot 7 47, at the suit of Margaret M. Cal-
houn, Sr., and others against John C. Calhoun and others, tenants
in common, this third interest being sold, as the property of John
C. Calhoun, deceased. On the same day, a quit-claim deed to this
was given by Patrick Calhoun to N. H. Hand, who, about three
weeks later, deeded to Samuel L. M. Barlow all of lot 747, except
that part, which had been deeded to The Yahoola River and Cane
 LU111PK!N COUNTY

Creek Hydraulic Hose Mining Co., by The Georgia Co. In May,

I 88 I, Mr. Hand deeded all his interest in this and other lots to The
Hand Gold Mining Co. April I 6th, I 8go, Peter Townsend Barlow
and Stephen H. Olin, executors of S. L. M. Barlow, deceased, gave a
warranty deed to part of lot 747, and other lots, to Nathan H. Hand,
who, July Ist, following, deeded this to The Hand & Barlow United
Gold Mines and Hydraulic Works of Georgia. The remaining part
of lot 747 and other lots were bought, by this company, at sheriff's
sale, January 5th, I8gz, at the suit of N. H. Hand, N. H. Hand &
Co., W. P. Price, Stephen H. Olin and P. T. Barlow, executors of
S. L. M. Barlow, deceased, against The Hand Gold Mining Co.
The Hand & Barlow United Gold Mines & Hydraulic Works of
Georgia, of which Mr. Christian Wahl is President, and whose prin-
cipal office is No. roo Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, \Nisc., still owns
this property.

THE RALSTON MINE I

This property consists of lots 7 26, 7 28 mtd 73 I, I 2tlt district, no

two of which adjoin each other. These lots adjoin the Barlow
property, and are embraced, as a part of that property, though the
mine was formerly worked, as a separate and distinct mine, but by
the same company. The main cut, which connects with the Bar-
low cut, is several hundred feet long, and from forty to sixty feet
deep. The ore-bodies, the country-rock, the dip of the veins and
schists, etc., are practically the same, as those on the Barlow
property, and need not be again described.

I Field-work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY

This property was worked, first, as a placer, along Ralston's

branch, between 1840 and I845, by Mr. Elisha Castlebury, grand-
father of State Senator J. F. Castlebury, now representing the 32nd
district. I was informed, by Senator Castlebury, that his grand-
father found this placer very rich, and took a great deal of gold
from it. Mr. Castlebury also worked some of the veins on the
property, using a 4-stamp wooden mill, which he erected. It is
said, that these veins were very rich. He operated the mine, for
some years. After that, it lay idle, for a long time; and, after the
close of the civil war, it was sold by Mr. R. J. Castle bury, father
of Senator Castle bury, to Col. Geo. G. Pride, in I 866, for $I s,ooo,
Mr. Castlebury having bought the two lots, at the sale of his
father's estate, for $400. Col. Pride then organized THE GEORGIA
Co., consisting of northern capitalists. The Ralston was worked by
Col. Pride, in connection with, what was afterwards the Barlow, and
other properties. In I870, Mr. John Huff and a Mr. Roberts
leased the property, for a term of four years, and erected, on it,
a 20-stamp mill, operated by steam. At the expiration of that time,
Messrs. Huff & Roberts returned the property, including the mill,
to its owner. Considerable success is said to have attended the
work of these gentlemen. It was sold to Mr. S. L. M. Barlow, in
I871. Mr. Barlow operated the mill, for about two years, when
steam-power was replaced by water-power, the water coming from
the Barlow branch of the Hand ditch. After this, it was operated
by Mr. Barlow, and by The Hand and Barlow United Gold Mines
and Hydraulic Works of Georgia; in all, about ten years, since
which time it has been idle, with the exception of some custom
work, on the mill. In I 8 78, a I o-stamp mill, said to have been one
of the most effective mills in the county, was erected on lot 726 of
the Ralston property, for a company, known as THE CINCINNATI Co.
What this concern accomplished, I did not learn.
470 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Tlze Mill, now on the property, a 20-stamp mill, of the Hall patent,
with stamps weighing 450 pounds each, is located on lot 728. It is
in need of some repairs, the cost of which would probably not ex-
ceed $I so. It uses 64 miner's-inches of the ditch-water, under a
pressure of I 2 5 feet. The motor is a 3-foot Knight impact wheel,
the water supply of which is brought through an 8-inch pipe,
developing 40 H. P., which can be increased, by increasing the size
of the supply-pipe.
An assay of material, taken by Mr. McCallie, from a point near
the Barlow cut, resulted, as follows: -
No. r_ _______________ o.I25 oz. ($2.58) of gold per ton

The property is still owned by The Hand and Barlow United

Gold Mines and Hydraulic Works of Georgia, as a part of The
Barlow Mining Property.

1'HE HEDWIG MINE I

The mining property, known by the above name, consists of lots

527-530, inclusive, 59I-594, inclusive, 599-60I, inclusive, 66o-66J,
inclusi·ve, 669 and 670, all in tlze I2tlz district.
Two noted old mines, THE CHICAGO & GEORGIA and THE WHIM
HILL, are included in the large mining property, to which the name,
THE HEDWIG MINE, was given, a few years ago, by Mr. Christian
Wahl, of Milwaukee, Wise., its owner, in honor of his daughter,
Mrs. Weld, whose given name the property bears.
The Chicago otnd Georgia mine is located about a quarter of a

I Field-work, in part, by S. W. McCallie, Assistant GeolcgiEt.

 LUllfPKIN COUNTY 471

mile north and northwest of Auraria, not far from the Etowah river.
One of the principal cuts, Tlte Hedwig_, is located on lot 663, only
a short distance west of the public road, between Dahlonega and
Auraria. \Vest of this, on the other side of the hill, is Tlze C!ticago
and Georgia Cut, much larger and deeper, than the Hedwig. Placer
work on the gravel beds was done on several of the lots of the Hed-
wig property, as early as I 840, and every small stream is said to have
been quite rich. But the first vein-mining, of any consequence,
was done by Capt. J. L. Davis, who erected a 10-stamp mill, at the
mouth of what is now the Chicago and Georgia cut. This mill, he
operated, for only a short time, however, when the property was
purchased by Tlze Clticago and Georgia Co., who moved the mill over
to another small branch, near by, and added to it 10 stamps, mak-
ing it a 20-stamp mill. This company leased 50 miner's-inches of
water from the owners of the Hand ditch, using it for hydraulic
mining, while the mill was run by steam. The Chicago and Geor-
gia Co. operated the mine and mill, for some time, with apparent
success. The property was subsequently sold to Mr. Christian Wahl,
its present owner. Since Mr. \Vahl has owned the property, con-
siderable work has been done, in the Chicago and Georgia cut; and
another, the Hedwig cut, mentioned above, has been commenced,
1
and considerably worked. This cut, which was begun last April,
has been excavated by hydraulic mining. It is now about 500 feet
long, and 40 feet wide, varying, in depth, from 10 to 40 feet, as it
ascends the hill, into which it is cut. Fig. 34 is a transverse section
across the cut, showing the positions of the ore-belts and the adja-
cent schists. There are two of these ore-belts in the Hedwig cut,
one six fee.t thick, and the other, ten feet thick. There are, also,
two in the Chicago and Georgia cut, one of which is 30 feet thick,
2
and the other, 50 feet thick. The mine is in good condition.
2
See fig. 35·
472 LUMPKIN COUNTY

The veins, or more exactly, the auriferous belts, dip with the coun-
try-rock to the southeast, at an angle of 3 5°. The vein material
consists of mica-schist, soft and decomposed near the surface, and
containing numerous small quartz veins, most of the gold being in
these; but the schist is, in places, quite rich. The country-rock
consists of mica- and hornblende-schists, striking nearly north, and
dipping a little to the southeast, at an angle of 3 5°.

Fig. 34

a c b c b
Section across the Hedwig Cut, Showing the Gold-bearing Schistose Belts. a. Mica-
schist. b. Auriferous Belts, Consisting of Mica-schists with Quartz Stringers.
c. Hornblende-schist.

Some work has been done, on lot 662, consisting of inclines,

which have been sunk on rich shoots in veins. The reservoir is
on top of the hill, stretching across the middle part of the lot-line,
between lots 662 and 663. The water for this reservoir, is taken
from the Hand ditch, at a point, near the Hedwig cut, where a
pumping station is located. The pump is a Worthington pump,
I2xJxio inches, operated by a 25 H.P. engine and boiler, both in
 ~0~ sss 6.59\
.
61R.
''
', pli
',,a~

'~

Sol sso 660 '.

'"
\.1r•

'.\611
\b
'\
\
..

669

661

Map of the Hedwig Mining Property, Showing Various Points of Elevation with Reference to the
Bench-mark at the River on Lot 528.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
473
m good condition. The reservoir gives a so-foot pressure, for
hydraulicking in the cuts.
Tlze Hedwig Mill is located on lot 592, near the center of its
south side, on Camp creek, half-a-mile from the point, where it
empties into the Etowah river. It was erected in I 894; and it is in

Fig. 35

Transverse Section through the Chicago and Georgia Cut. a and c. Belts of
Hornblende-schist. b and d. Auriferous Stringer Leads.

excellent condition. It has 40 stamps, weighing 450 pounds each;

and it is operated by a 4-foot Ridgeway water-wheel, the water
being received through two %."-inch nozzles, and under a 228-foot
pressure. It is brought from the reservoir to the mill, through
2,868 feet of I 8-inch riveted spiral iron pipe. I The ore is brought
through a flume, from the cut to the mill, a distance of a little over
half-a-mile, and is stored in three bins, from which it is flooded into
the mill, from time to time. This mill has a crushing capacity of
about 7 5 tons per day.
Between pages 472 and 473 IS a map of the Hedwig Mining

I See map of the Hedwig Mining Property.

474 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Property, which shows the locations of the Whim Hill mine, the old
Chicago and Georgia cut; the mill, reservoir, pipe-line and flume;
the village of Auraria; and various points of elevation, with refer-
ence to a bench-mark at the river, on lot 528.
THE WHIM HILL MINE is another one of those, on which small
shoots of quartz, marvelously rich in free gold, have been found and
worked. It is located on lot 670, on the same side of the public
road, as the Chicago and Georgia mine, but nearer to Dahlon-
ega. I do not know, who discovered the rich shoot, which was
worked early in the gold-mining period of Georgia; but I am in-
formed by State Senator J. F. Castlebury, that his grandfather,
Mr. Elisha Castlebury, owned and worked the Whim Hill mine,
about I 84 5 ; and that he was told, that his grandfather had a glass-
jar, about the size of an ordinary candy-jar, and a tumbler, both
full of gold, which he had obtained, by working this mine; and that
he used to get gold out of the mine, in such shape, that it was nec-
essary, for him to bend it backwards and forwards, in order to sep-
arate it. From this, it is understood, of course, that the quartz was
heavily impregnated with metallic gold, in coarse wire and plates.
There is no reason, to doubt the accuracy of this statement; for
there are on exhibition in the State Museum, specimens from other
mines in the State, that are fully equal to this description. Besides,
it is well known, and disputed by none, that other mines in the
county, among them the Findley, the Ivey, the Calhoun, the Battle
Branch and the Boly Field, have all produced considerable material
of this character, from time to time.
An incline shaft, known as the Bell shaft, was sunk, on top of the
hill, a short distance down, many years before the war. Later on,
Major Hockenhull sunk the shaft I oo feet or more. At the bot-
tom of the hill, a tunnel was driven, years ago, to pass under the
 LUJVIPKIN COUNTY 475
shaft, and strike the rich shoot below; by whom, I did not learn.
This tunnel, which is 500 feet long, fell short of the shaft, about
200 feet, the work being stopped by the hard, unaltered mica-
schist. The quartz from this shoot, rich in free gold, was beaten
in a hand-mortar; and the gold was separated from the disinte-
grated quartz, by panning. None of it was milled. When the in-
cline was worked, a whim, operated by a horse, was used, for draw-
ing up ore and water from the shaft. From this circumstance, and
the location of the shaft, was derived the name of the mine.
The Whim Hill lot was purchased, for $zo,ooo, about thirty years
ago, by Messrs. vVahl Brothers, wealthy manufacturers, of C~icago,
one of whom is now the owner of the large number of lots, con-
solidated, by him, under the name of THE HEDWIG MINE.

1
THE BATTLE BRANCH MINE

This mine IS located on the west side of the Etowah river, one
mile west of Auraria, on lots 457 and 524,
2tlz district. The prin- I

cipal work has been done along a small branch, known as The
Battle Branch. This property was among those, that were mined,
between 1840 and 1850, though placer work was begun on it, m
I 83 I. The branch received its name from the fact, that, in
May, 1831, a number of North Carolina,. South Carolina, Tennes-
see and Georgia miners were engaged, in mining the deposits on
these lots, when a dispute arose, between the Georgia and Tennes-
see miners, as to the possession of the property. A bloody battle
followed, in which a large number of men were seriously hurt.
1
Field-work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 LWfPKIN COUNTY

Since that time, the branch has been kn-own as the Battle branch,
and the mine, most of the time, as the Battle Branch mine.
This mine, with others around Dahlonega, was deserted by the
miners, who left for California, during the excitement, following'
the gold discoveries in that State. In 1843, an Englishman, known
as Major John Hockenhull, began to work the mine with a dozen
men. They worked vigorously, buoyed with hope, for two months,
the only result being an immense open cut. Major Hockenhull's
enthusiasm began to wane, and his means was rapidly decreasing;
while his credit, used to obtain supplies, had been drawn on, to an
extent, that was becoming embarrassing. His men, too, had begun
to show dissatisfaction, because of arrearage in wages. With these
facts staring him in the face, the Major called his men around him,
one day, and candidly told them his condition, leaving it with them,
as to whether or not they would continue the search for the gold,
which he still confidently expected to find. After a conference
among themselves, only one man, John Pasco, thought it worth
while, to continue longer such unprofitable labor. Major Hocken-
hull thus parted with his employees, promising to pay them, as soon
as he could; and, with his lone companion, he resumed work in the
cut, that afternoon. It is said, that, within five minutes after he had
begun work, a beautiful pocket of gold was struck, with nuggets in
the white quartz, varying in size from a pea to an acorn. By night,
fully 2,200 dwts. of gold had been taken from this pocket. An-
other pocket was found, soon afterwards, which yielded g,ooo dwts.
of gold, and a third, it is said, yielded 4,000. Other pockets were
found, in course of time; and it is reported, that Major Hockenhull
retired, finally, with about $8o,ooo worth of gold. 1 His work con-
sisted in hunting out, and working the rich shoots of ore, which
was sluiced, by water from the branch.
1
A letter, from Mr. John Hockenhull, of Cumming, Ga., son of Major
 LUilfPKIN COUNTY
477
After the war, about I 878, this mine was worked by Messrs.
Thomas R. Lombard, Frank Imboden and J. P. Imboden, the last
being the Superintendent of the mine. It was then known as THE
DAHLONEGA MINE. Other rich pockets of gold were discovered by
them; and I am informed that they secured $3,000, as a result of
their work. In I875, Mr. W. G. McNelley, Capt. John W. Weaver
and one or two others worked the property, and they came across
a pocket, which afforded beautiful specimens of gold with galena
in quartz, the gold being. largely included in the galena. Two
handsome specimens of this rich ore are on exhibition, in the Geor-
gia State Museum in Atlanta. Since the work, done by Messrs.
McNelley, Weaver and others, the property has remained idle. At
present, it shows a large cut, made by Messrs. Lombard & Imboden,
who began mining about I878, hydraulicking the saprolite belts,
with water from the Mill Creek ditch. The ore from the cut was
sluiced to a I o-stamp mill, which was located on the river, at the
mouth of Battle branch. A lawsuit, between the owners of the
Betz mine and these gentlemen, as to the ownership of the Mill
Creek ditch, was begun, and bitterly waged, even muskets and shot-
guns being resorted to, by the employees of the parties-at-law. This
brought the work on the Dahlonega mine to an end, about I 882.
Besides the open cut, there is a long tunnel, parallel with the cut, in

Hockenhull, received, since this matter was set up in type, makes no men-
tion of the employment of a force of men by his father, etc.; but he says,
that in driving, in an old tunnel, they struck a pocket of eight bushels of
ore, which yielded z,zso dwts. of gold. He continues:-" Some time
after finding the first pocket, while working in another old tunnel, and in
three feet of where the work in the tunnel had been abandoned, another
pocket, of ten bushels of ore, was found, that yielded Io,ooo dwts. of gold.
I do n'ot remember the weight of gold, taken from other pockets, or the
number of other pockets, but have heard, that they (Messrs. Hockenhull
and Pasco) took So,ooo dwts. from the mine."
478 LUJJIPKIN COUNTY

which, it is said, rich shoots of ore have been found. These shoots
dip with the schists, which themselves are also auriferous. The
country-rock is mica-schist, containing numerous garnets. It strikes
northeast, and has a dip of 3 5° to the southeast. A pile of ore, near
the mouth of the tunnel, consists of white quartz containing some
pyrite, galena and garnets; it is frequently cellular, especially when
taken from near the schist walls. This mine has always been re-
garded, as a very rich "pocket mine."
An excellent water-power can be secured, where the old mill
stood, on the river, with fully a twenty-foot head; this may be had
by the erection of a dam.

THE BETZ MINE

This mine, formerly known, as THE WIKG MINE, is located on

lot 388, I 2tlz district. Lots 384, 453, 454 and tlze mineral interest i"n
459 are also a part of the property. The Etowah river flows diago-
nally across the last named lot, in a southeast direction. The cut,
where the mining operations have been carried on, is in the head
of a small hollow, along which flows a branch, on its way to the
river. Before the civil war, Mr. Hawkins Kelly worked this mine,
to a limited extent. After doing considerable work of preparation,
he had a mining ditch constructed, seventeen miles long; and,
having gotten everything in good working shape, he began to work
the property, when the breaking out of the war caused his work
to cease. After the war, he sold the property to Col. Wihg, and
gentlemen associated with him, who were organized as The Etowah
1
Field·work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.
 LUlffPKIN COUNTY
479
and Battle Branch Hydraulic Hose Gold Mining Co. Subsequently,
Mr. John F. Betz, of Philadelphia, came into full possession of the
mine and the ditch. Some time in the early part of I895, Mr.
Betz beg-an work on the property, with Mr. Otto C. Scupin as
Superintendent and Manager. A Huntington mill was erected, the
Mill Creek ditch was cleaned out, cottages were built, and every-
thing about the place was fixed up in good order. The mine was
in excellent condition, for examination of the ore-bodies, at the
time of Mr. McCallie's visit. The mining work consists of an open
cut, about I oo yards long, thirty to forty feet wide, and from five to
twenty feet deep. Besides this, there are other smaller cross-cuts,

Fig. 36

A Section through the Schists and Auriferous Stringer Leads (So-called Veins) at the
Betz Mine. a. Mica-schists. I, 2, 3 and 4· Auriferous Belts or "Veins."

exposing the ore-bodies at different points. The latter consist of

mica-schist, with inclusions of small quartz stringers. In places,
especially in the main cut, the schists contain much quartz, in the
I

form of small grains, forming ore-bodies, similar to those at the

Barlow mine. In the extreme end of the open cut, is a dark-
colored mica-schist, which is auriferous. The country-rock is mica-
schist, passing, in places, into quartzose schist. Its strike is north-
east and southwest, and its dip, about 30° to the southeast.
Fig. 36 represents a section through the rocks, showing the gold-
bearing belts of this mine. Vein No. I is four feet thick; vein
No. 2, eight feet thick; vein No. 3, twenty-eight feet thick; and
 Ll/MPKIN COUNTY

vem No. 4, thirty-four feet thick. Assay samples were taken by

Mr. McCallie, which resulted, as follows:-
Vein No. I ______ ---- __ o.I05 oz. ($2.I7) of gold per ton
" " 2 ___________ --O.I50 " ($3.IO) " " " "
" " 3 ·- --· ------0.070 " ($!.45) " " " "
" " 4------------0.080 " ($!.65) " " " "
Tlte Betz Mill is a five-foot Huntington roller-mill, which is run by
water from the Mill Creek ditch, under a I IO-foot pressure. There
are two large bins and an ore-crusher to the mill, with the necessary
gold amalgamating plates etc. A large reservoir, on top of a neigh-
boring hill, has a capacity of I ,ooo,ooo gallons of water. This is
connected with the mine and with the mill by iron pipes, of which
there are 200 feet of IO-inch pipe, 200 feet of 8-inch pipe, and I,300
feet of 6-inch pipe. The mill and mine are kept in excellent con-
dition, under the superintendence of Mr. Scupin. I have not seen,
in the county, a mining property, that is in better shape. Mr.
John F. Betz, of Philadelphia, Penn., is the owner of this property. I

I Since press-work was begun on this report, Mr. Scupin has been very

active in his mining operations. He has sunk a shaft, which is now zso
feet deep, on an incline of 4S 0 ; and I am informed by a disinterested
party, that very encouraging shipments of gold are being made, regularly,
by Mr. Scupin, from Gainesville. It is currently reported, that Mr. Betz
has recently refused a handsome offer for the property.
In a letter, recently received from Mr. Scupin, I am informed that, for
every so feet of depth in the incline shaft, levels are run out, in both direc-
tions, along the vein, taking the ore from both the incline and the levels.
Also, that he is now driving another incline, thirty feet north of the
main shaft, for ventilation, the new shaft being already qo feet deep, and
in an ore-body. He states, that the ore-body, cut in a perpendicular, is
I 8 feet thick, and that he has not yet reached the foot-wall; also, that
ISO feet WeSt Of the main incline, another has been driven IIO feet deep,
on another large ore-body, which shows "good pay-stuff with marked in-
crease in value as depth is reached.'' He says, further, that, at I so feet,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

The Mining Ditch, belonging to this property, which was originally

<:onstructed by Mr. Hawkins Kelly, was cleaned out, after the war,
by The Etowah and Battle Branch Hydraulic Hose Gold Mining Co.,
and its volume of water was increased, by the addition of a num-
ber of small streams to its supply. The ditch was, then, and is,
now, known as The Mill Creek Ditch. In the dry season, the streams,
which supply it, are quite low; and only about 1 50 miner's-inches
<>f water is gathered from them, though more could be, if all the
water was put on the ditch, and kept on it. The size of the ditch
is variable. At the rock cuts, where there has been no enlarge-
ment by caving and cleaning, it is 3 Yz feet wide at the top, 2 Yz feet
at the bottom, and 2 Yz feet deep. In the earth cuttings, where
there is no rock, it is from 3 Yz to 5 Yz feet at the top, from 3 to 3 Yz
at the bottom, and from 2 to 2 Yz feet deep. In its present con-
-dition, its capacity is sufficient, to carry not more than 200 miner's-
inches of water; but, by enlarging the flumes and narrow parts in
the rock, and by a thorough cleaning, it could be made to carry
6oo miner's-inches. Mr. B. M. Hall, C. & M. E., of Atlanta, to
whose report, on this property, I am indebted, for the data, just
given, estimates, that, to enlarge and extend this ditch, so as to
furnish 6oo miner's-inches of water, as far as the Gordon, Ralston
and other mines in that vicinity, including the Hedwig mines,
would cost not more than from $20,000 to $30,000.

-sulphides appeared in the ores, and that repeated assays of the sulphides
-show a value of $3o.oo, $38.oo and $4o.oo per ton, according to depth. He
.adds:- "We are now working a force of 30 men, and work is going on,
.day and night. All pumping out the drift-water, hoisting ore, etc. is done
by machinery, for which water is used as the driving-power. The mine
has been paying handsomely, these three years of regular operation,
.although only having a mill capacity of 35 to 40 tons per 24 hours; and, so
far, the best ore-bodies have been kept intact."
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE MCINTOSH LOT

This lot, No. 386,2th district, adjoins the Betz mine lot, 387 r
I

on the south; and a part of it is in the trend of the auriferous belt

of the Betz mine. No regular mining has been done on the prop-
erty, because it has not, at present, the necessary water facili-
ties. However, water could be brought to it, from the Mill Creek
ditch. The surface mica-schist saprolite is said to pan gold, almost
anywhere; and, recently, some prospecting work has been done, in
the nature of a test-cut, about 2 5 by 50 feet in area, following the dip
of the decomposed mica-schists, to a depth of about 20 feet. The
strike of the schists is N. 30° E., and their dip is quite uniformly
30° to the southeast. No quartz veins, of any consequence, were
seen in this cut; but all the saprolite is said to pan considerable
gold. I took a sample of this auriferous saprolite, for assay, from
several points on the sides and bottom of the cut, including an in-
significant quartz vein. It yielded the following result:-
No. I-----·· __________ 0.03 oz. ($0.62) of gold per ton
A small trench, run across the strike of the schists, just beyond_
this cut, exposes two or three small quartz veins. The strike and
dip of the schists, cut by this trench, are the same as those in the·
open cut. Just west of the cut, across a small drain, a short trench
was dug, some time ago, on a white massive quartz vein, which was
I 8 inches thick in places. I was told, that this vein yielded very
little gold.
I was informed by Dr. I. W. Waddell, of Dahlonega, who was.
in charge of the property, that some mill-tests of the saprolite from
the cut, made for him, on the Huntington mill at the Betz mine,
were very satisfactory, 5 tons of the saprolite yielding, on the mill,_
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

23 dwts. I I grs. of gold. This lot occupies a good position in the

auriferous belt; and it should be more thoroughly prospected.
Lot 386 and the adjacent lot, 387, with several others in Lump-
kin county, are owned by Mr. H. M. Mcintosh, of Albany, Georgia.

THE WELLS MINE I

This mine IS located, half-a-mile southwest of Auraria, on lot

I,2IJ, I 2th district. An auriferous vein, on it, was first worked by a
man, by the name of Wells, who owned the lot. He did consider-
able work on the vein, milling the ore, on a small stamp-mill, which
stood, by a branch, not far from the mine. Subsequently, the pres-
ent IO-stamp mill was erected; but it was operated, for a short time,
only. At the time of Mr. McCallie's visit, the mine was not in oper-
ation ; and the works, having fallen in, he was unable to make an
examination of the vein, or take samples for assay. But, previous
to this, when, for a short time, the mine was being operated by
Mr. E. W. Coleman, I made an examination of the shaft and vein,
where he was at work. The shaft was an incline along the vein,
which was intercalated in the schists, its dip being about 40° to
the southeast. The depth of the shaft, along the incline, was
about 40 feet. A few feet below the surface, levels were run
along the vein, for a short distance, and the ore was taken out.
The vein was probably twelve inches thick, on an average. The
ore was a sulphide-quartz ore, containing considerable chalcopyrite,
and showing, occasionally, small plates of free gold. The vein has

I Field-work, in part, by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY

been worked at other points, along its outcrop, for a distance, it is

said, of 700 feet.
The Mill, which was operated by steam, is much in need of re-
pairs. The building is in bad condition, and the boiler and stamps
need repairing. This property is owned by Mr. Daniel Howell, of
Auraria, Georgia.

THE JOSEPHINE MINE

The property, now known as THE JosEPHINE MINE, consists of

lots 526, 595 and I2I5, I2tlz district, and lots I7, I8, 48, 49 and 82,
IJth district, north half. It was formerly known, as the Auraria
mine, and was worked by The Auraria Mining Co., with Mr. John
W. Hutchinson, Superintendent. Probably, no mine in the county
has been so productive, as a gravel placer, as the Josephine. One
mile of the Etowah river, which has never been dredged, flows
through it, along which the gravel-placer yield has been rich. The
McCluskey branch, however, seems to have been more productive,
as a rich placer. About a quarter of a mile of this branch flows
through the property. A large amount of placer work was done
along these two streams, in "the forties."
Some years ago, a man by the name of Westbrook found a nug-
get on the McCluskey branch, which is said to have weighed 300
dwts. Before the civil war, Mr. John Lilly, with a negro slave,
I was informed, took I ,o 50 dwts. of gold from an area of auriferous
gravel, eight by ten feet square. Mr. Howell, father of Mr. Daniel
Howell, who lives in Auraria, found, just in the bend of the Etowah
river, on this property, while working the placer, quite a number of
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 48 5

nuggets of considerable size, the largest weighing I 2 7 dwts. Work

was begun on the gravel of these lots, soon after I 840, and it was
worked by Messrs. Howell, John Lilly, Westbrook, Hall and Guy-
ton. Mr. J. E. Wood, of Auraria, formerly owned lot 595, 12th
district, and lot I 7, I 3th district. Mrs. Hendricks was a former
owner of lots 48, 49 and 82, 13th district. Messrs. Hussey & How-
ell, The Auraria Mining Co. and Messrs. John F. Bigbee & Co. have
also owned this property, the last named company still owning it.
When owned by The Auraria Mining Co., it was known as the
Auraria Mine. Since it has been owned by Messrs. Bigbee & Co.,
several nuggets, weighing from 8 to 27 dwts., have been found on
the property. It is said, that this mine has been the largest pro-
ducer of nuggets in Lumpkin county.
Besides the gravel placers, the auriferous saprolite has been
worked, to some extent. A large open cut was begun about 1878, on
one of the hillsides, not far from the mill. Considerable work was
done, in milling the decomposed schists, with their included quartz
veins, from this cut. In addition, a tunnel, I 8 5 feet long, was
driven from the rear of the open cut, under the hill. A cross tun-
nel was run out from this, and several stopes were made along the
vein. One of these stopes, 87 feet long, came out at the top of the
hill. The rocks, shown in the open cut, are mica- and hornblende-
schists, a considerable dike of the latter appearing near the top of
the hill, on the south side of the cut. On the hill, near the dwell-
ing-house, in which Mr. Bigbee resides, an incline was run down for
fifty feet. This, as well as the tunnel mentioned above, had caved
in; and neither was in condition for examination, or for the taking
of specimens for assay. Nor was the cut in proper shape; for the
soft decomposed schists had fallen into it, from long disuse. At
the time of my visit, no work had been done on the property, for
486 LUMPKIN COUNTY

some time, except on lot 49, where a very rich strike of gold was
recently made, by two or three men, claimed to be trespassers, near
the line of an adjacent lot. These men were boldly aggressive,
and taking the matter into court, they have managed to have this
part of the property tied up, for the present. The work, done by
these men, consisted in running an incline on a six-inch vein, and
stoping it, eight or ten feet, along the trend of the vein. Levels,
on each side, were also run. On the same lot, on another vein, a
45-foot incline was sunk, some time ago, on an eight-inch vein,
which is said to have milled $I 2.00 per ton.
A 20-stamp mill, with stamps weighing 450 pounds each, was
erected about I 880, by The Auraria Mining Co. The property has
been practically idle, now, for quite a while; and the mill is some-
what out of repair.
The auriferous belts which have evidently fed the placers, trend
across the hills, which rise high above the river banks. The river
would afford a fine water-power, if advantage were taken of it;
and, with a pump, of sufficient capacity, water could be elevated
to a reservoir, on top of some one of the high hills, thus giving the
means for hydraulicking the auriferous gravel and saprolite. Other-
wise, a water-supply ditch would be needed, on the property. An
extension of the Mill Creek ditch could, at a small expense, be made
to bring water to it. Fine drainage can be secured. It is said,
that the surface of the hills and hollows pan well.
Messrs. John F. Bigbee & Co., of Auraria, Georgia, as stated
above, are the present owners of this mining property. The mine
bears the christian name of Mrs. Bigbee.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE NORRELL MINE

Across lots 736 and 805, I2th district, lies an auriferous mica-
schist belt, containing 32 small veins, varying in thickness from
that of an ordinary lead pencil to fourteen inches. This belt is
.about 1 50 feet wide, and is said to be gold-bearing, from one side to
the other, the decomposed schists, as well as the quartz veins, being
more or less auriferous.
This belt was worked on lot 736, many years ago, by its owner,
a man, whose name was John Norrell; since this time, it has been
known as THE NoRRELL MINE. The principal topographic features
-of lot 736, consist of two oblong hills side by side with the longer
axis, north and south. One of these occupies the east side, and
the other, the central part of the lot. The remaining part is occu-
pied by a third parallel hill, the most of which lies on lot 735,
which adjoins this lot on the west. On the top of the east hill, the
.eastern foot of which rests on lot 805, is a reservoir of 500,000
gallons capacity. From this fact, the hill is known as The Reser-
voir Hill.
About 1885, Mr. Norrell ran an incline on some stringer veins
-on the west side of the reservoir hill, 70 feet deep, along the in-
dine, which was sunk directly to the east. The strike of the veins
was N. 60° E., with a dip of about 35° to the southeast. A con-
:siderable amount of gold is said to have been taken from this stope,
resulting, I am informed, in the sale of the property, by Mr. Norrell,
very soon thereafter, for several thousand dollars. In the early part
-of 1893, Mr. D. 0. Stewart, who had purchased the lot, sold a half
of it to Messrs. Paul & Gullatt, of Atlanta. The lot was worked by
these three gentlemen, as a company, for a few months, when
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Messrs. Paul & Gullatt sold their half interest to Mr. H. L. Wood-
ward, of Atlanta. · Messrs. Stewart & Woodward then mined this
belt in the latter part of 1893, making an open cut in lot 736, which
was originally about seventy feet long, and from thirty to sixty feet
wide. The decomposed schists have since fallen in, to such an ex-
tent, that the cut is now hardly longer than forty feet. Messrs.
Stewart & Woodward worked the property for about a year and a.
half. In addition to the belt, above described, there is another,.
which passes through the northern part of the hills.
On the northwest side of the central hill, near its top, Messrs.
Stewart, Paul & Gullatt, sunk an incline shaft, forty feet, in direc-
tion due south, on a vein, whose trend was north and south. From
this incline, a wagon-load of the ore was taken, by Mr. D. Morrison,.
of Atlanta, now the owner of lot 736, in order to test the quality
of the ore, before purchasing. This was milled on the mill of the
Hightower mine, by Mr. Otto C. Scupin, now manager of the Betz
mine; and I am informed by Mr. Morrison, that this sample, which
he took, from the top to the bottom of the incline, yielded $9.4S
per ton.
In the ravine, below the southeast part of the Reservoir hill, con-
siderable mining work was done by Messrs. Stewart, Paul & Gullatt,
and Messrs. Stewart & Woodward, with what results, I did not learn.
The quartz, from the veins in these belts, varies from a friable,
saccharoidal, to a hard, vitreous quartz. Very fair specimens of
free gold have been found on the lot, one or two of which, I have
seen. I was informed by Mr. Morrison, that about 1870, Mr .. B.
Roper found, at the bottom of Reservoir Hill, on lot So 5, a "pocket"
of rich gold ore, which yielded $q,ooo.
Lot 736 is owned by Mr. D. Morrison of Atlanta, who has op-
tions on lots 804, 805 and 1,210, the first and last diagonally adja-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

cent, and the other lying in between these two, on the east of 736.
Nos. 804 and 805 are owned by Mr. B. Roper, of Atlanta, and No.
1,210, by Mrs. Norrell, widow of the former owner of 736 and
1,210.
There is no reservoir water on 736; but 804 and So 5 are supplied
with it, from Town creek.
Lot 736 is three quarters of a mile southeast of Auraria, and
about the same distance from the Chestatee river, which flows
northeast of this lot. The auriferous schists of this property are in
the trend of the Turkey Hill, Calhoun and Chestatee mines, which
lie on the east side of the Chestatee river. Only a little further
away, than the Chestatee, flows the Etowah river, west of this lot.

THE TURKEY HILL MINE

All the lots in Lumpkin county, which have been described have
been 40-acre lots, lying north and west of the Chestatee river, and
belonging to the original Cherokee country, which, in 1832, was
surveyed and subdivided by the State into lots, and these were dis-
tributed to certain classes of its citizens, by lottery.
The Turkey Hill property consists of a 250-acre lot, No. I6J, and
the greater part of a fractional lot, I69, in the I Ith district, originally a
part of Hall county. The fractional lot lies along the east bank of
the Chestatee river. This part of the river, it is said, has never
been dredged; and, from the rich returns, which have been had
from the dredge-boat work, it would, in all probability, prove of
great value for dredging. It is estimated, that there are about
490 LUMPKIN COUNTY

thirty acres of auriferous gravel on the property, which have never

been worked. About ten or twelve acres of the gravel beds have
been worked over, once, and about one acre, twice. Where work
has been done, on the gravel placers, near the mouth of the Van
Dyke tunnel, there are piles of pebbles, remarkable for their sharp
angles, which are very slightly rounded, showing, that the material
was brought, only a short distance, and was well covered with
$and etc., before the water had much time to act upon it.
THE TuRKEY HILL MINE is located on one of the high ridges, in the
southern part of Lumpkin county, south of a similar ridge, on which
the Calhoun mine is located, the two properties adjoining. All the
work on the Turkey Hill mine, has been done on the south side of
this ridge; whereas, most of the work on the Calhoun mine has been
on the north side of the adjacent ridge. The hill, on which the mine
is located, gets its name from the abundance of wild turkeys, that
were formerly to be found on the ridge, it being, still, very good
hunting-ground for this species of game. The hill is made up of mica-
and hornblende-schists. I did not observe any of the latter, high
up on the hill; but there are two dikes, near the base of the hill,
on the south side, near the mill, to which I have before referred, in
another part of this report. Adjacent to these dikes, are two veins
on the east side of lot I63. One of these, the more northerly, is a
3-foot quartz vein, with a trend, N. 55° E., and its dip, with the
schists, at an angle of 60° to the southeast. A small prospect
opening had been made on this vein, at a point, about 2 50 yards
from the center of the north and south lot-lines on the east. The
vein consists of saccharoidal quartz, more or less marked with par-
allel lines of limonite, resulting from the decomposition of some
iron-bearing mineral, which, while apparently pyrite, I was not able
to positively identify. The stain-lines are parallel with the trend
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 491

of the vein. Lying adjacent to this vein, on the north, is a dike,

about fifty yards wide; while, on the south side, is another, about
1 50 yards wide, both referred to, above. On the south border of
this dike, lies what is known as The I 2-Foot Vein. The width of
this vein, of which I saw a cross-section, was twelve feet, consisting
of quartz stringers, intercalated with mica-schist, striking N. 35° E.,
and dipping 60° to the southeast, the schists of the country-rocks
having the same strike and dip. This vein was worked, about fifty
years ago; by a man by the name of Reuben Morse. He sunk a
shaft, forty feet deep, on a rich shoot; and another shaft, about
thirty feet southwest of the first, between fifty and sixty feet deep,
on another rich shoot. The ore from these shafts was crushed by
four arrastres; and I am informed by Mr. W. T. Bryson, that Morse
told him, that this ore averaged from $8 to $I o per ton. The ore
was a white, saccharoidal quartz, but little stained, as far as I saw it.
The most important work, that has been done on the lot, resulted
in an open cut, in the northwest corner of the lot, the cut reaching
to the top of the hill, near the east and west lot-lines. This cut
exposed five veins, which are about fifteen or twenty feet apart,
varying from one to six inches in thickness. These veins are
very rich, and show considerable free gold in a porous, saccha-
roidal quartz, very slightly stained, throughout, to a dirty-cream
color, by iron sesqui-oxide. Excellent examples of the free gold
m quartz from this mine are on exhibition in the State Museum,
in Atlanta, the gift of Mr. James J. Packard, one of the owners
of the property. These are very attractive specimens. Besides
these five small veins, there are other very thin, ribbon veins.
The open cut is about two hundred feet long, by about forty
feet wide at the top, and about thirty feet deep. The rocks, ex-
posed by it, consist of gray mica-schists, the saprolite of which,
492 LUMPKIN COUNTY

near the top of the cut, varies from red to yellow. At .the bottom
of the cut, the mica-schists are only partially decomposed, and are
too hard, to be worked by hydraulic mining. The hard schists ap-
pear, at from fifteen to thirty feet below the Surface. The gold is
said to occur, both in the schistose saprolite and in the quartz
veins, running through it, in a ratio, usually of one to one. The
hard schists are said to contain gold, in varying quantities. I was
informed by Mr. Bryson, who guided me over the property, that,
at the top of the cut, the veins were about thirty feet apart; but
they are now from fifteen to twenty feet apart, at the bottom of the
cut. Just west of this cut, a great deal of gold was obtained, by
washing the surface of the hill with a hydraulic giant, for a depth
of from one to two feet. About one thousand square feet have
been thus worked. Lying west of the upper end of the open cut,
is what is known as Tlze Sulplzuret Vein, a small vein, of from four
to six inches in thickness, which outcrops lower down the hill. At
the point of outcrop, samples taken by the owners, were submitted
to Mr. W. R. Crandall, M. E., of Dahlonega; and these yielded
$5.5 7, as a general average of the vein at that point. Another
quartz vein, six inches in thickness, passes through the lot, about
.
its center, outcropping on the north side. No work has been done
on this vein; but samples, taken, by the owners from the surface,
for assay, yielded $3.00 or $4.00 per ton, when assayed by Mr.
Crandall.
In I867, Dr. M. H. Van Dyke did some prospecting work on this
lot, running a tunnel from the bottom of the hill, just east of the
mill, for I 50 feet, hoping to strike .the I 2-foot vein. His work was
stopped by the hard mica-schists, encountered.
The property, at the time of my visit, had been idle, for some
time; and it was not in such condition, that I could get suitable
samples for assay.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 493
Tlze Mill is a IO-stamp mill of. the F. W. Hall patent, with 450-
pound stamps. It has two 8-foot amalgamated copper plates, and is
operated by a horizontal engine, with 10-inch stroke, steam being
generated by a 6o-H.P. boiler. In addition to the mill, there is,
in the mill-house, a Blake pump, with a 6-inch discharge, elevating
the water to the open cut, for use in hydraulicking with the giants.
A line, 3,300 feet long, of excellent iron pipe, for this purpose, ex-
tends from the mill to the cut, about one thousand feet of which is
Leffel solid-iron pipe, the remainder being spiral sheet-iron. A
small dam, across the branch at the mill, is in good condition, ex-
cept that much of the earth filling is washed away. The mill, mill-
bouse, pump, and all other mill appliances, are in excellent condition.
A good flume, about 3,200 feet long, extends from the lower end of
the cut to the mill, with a fall of 321.2 feet. The cut has a fall,
from the upper to the lower end, of about thirty feet. Since the
purchase of the property by THE TuRKEY HILL GoLD MINING Co.,
it has been operated by them, to a limited extent. Messrs. Frank
S. and James J. Packard, of Sturgis, Mich., are the two principal
owners, in this company.
Lot I63, I Ith district, originally Hall, now Lumpkin, county,
was conveyed, in March, I837, by Benjamin Wallace to The Pigeon
Roost Mining Co., under a warranty deed. It was sold, May Ist,
following, by the sheriff, to Allen E. Mathews and Franklin Sum-
merour, at the suit of Elisha Castlebury against The Pigeon Roost
Mining Co. On June 6th, I 848, deeds were made by Ann Math-
ews, widow of Allen E. Mathews, deceased, and Franklin M. Cabot,
administrator of the estate of Allen E. Mathews, deceased, the lat-
ter deed being to Malachi Burns, for the undivided half of the
"mines and minerals" of this lot. In January, I857, "all of I63''
was sold, by the sheriff, to Daniel Neisler, at the suit of Lemuel
494 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Bennett against George W. Smith. In June, I866, Franklin Sum-

merour sold the other undivided half of "all mines and minerals ••
of this lot, to Daniel Neisler. On September 6th, I876, the sheriff
of Lumpkin county sold, to Samuel Stephens, an "undivided half
of all mines and· minerals," to satisfy a judgment of the Court, in
favor of Henry C. Kellogg against Malachi Burns. In November,
I 888, Martha J. Stephens and others gave a quit-claim deed to
Henry C. .Kellogg, to "an undivided fourth mineral interest and
mining privileges" in this lot; and, in December, I 889, M. M. Lon-
don, executor of the estate of Daniel Neisler, sold to John T. Mc-
Lendon all the farming interest, and one undivided half of the min-
eral interest, in this lot. In the latter part of January, I890, A. L.
Keith, administrator of the estate of Samuel Stephens, deeded a
fourth mineral interest in lot I63 to John T. McLendon; and, about
two weeks thereafter, 0. T. Kellogg sold an undivided fourth of the
mineral interest and mining privileges in the lot to McLendon. In
February, I 893, Conway B. Thrasher gave a quit-claim deed to
Frank B. Pratt to all of I63, known as the Turkey Hill Gold mine;
and, about a year after, Pratt sold, to Frank S. Packard and James
J. Packard, an undivided half interest in this lot. On May I sth,
I894, FrankS. Packard, and James J. Packard deeded all of lot I63
to The Turkey Hill Gold Mining Co., "except and reserving, for
F. S. Packard, Jas. J. Packard and Frank B. Pratt, one acre
each, where they may select, for agricultural and residence pur-
poses, said reservation not to interfere with the mining interest."
This conveyance is by warranty deed.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 495 .

THE CALHOUN MINE I

Hardly so much, of historical interest, attaches itself to any other

gold mine in Georgia, as to THE CALHOUN MINE; first, because it is
strongly claimed, that the first discovery of gold in Georgia, by the
white man, was on this property; and, second, because it was owned
for more than forty years, by that illustrious statesman, Hon. John
C. Calhoun, United States Senator from South Carolina, and his
heirs. A sketch of the discovery of gold, and the purchase of the
property by Senator Calhoun, is given on pages 2 71 to 2 74 of this
bulletin.
The property is located three miles south of Dahlonega, along
the southern and eastern banks of the Chestatee river, and consists
of two fractional lots, Nos. r64 and r65, of the 250-acre class,
amounting to 475 acres, more or less, in the northern part of the I rth
district, now in Lumpkin county, but, originally, a part of Hall.
At the time of the discovery of gold on the property, it was
owned by Rev. Robert Obarr, a Baptist preacher. Mr. Obarr sub-
sequently sold the property to Judge Underwood, who, soon ;;tfter-
wards, sold it to Senator Calhoun. Shortly after it came into the
possession of the latter, Mr. John Parks, nephew of the discoverer
of gold on the property, found a remarkably rich ore-shoot, at the
point, now known as The Lawrence Cut. . This discovery was made
known to Messrs. W. G. Lawrence and Charles Sisson, who secured a
lease on the property, for thirty days, during which time, it is stated,
on the authority of Col. Robert H. Moore, for many years an officer
in the United States branch mint at Dahlonega, that $24,000 in

I Field-work by S. W. McCallie, Assistant Geologist.

 LUMPKIN COUNTY

gold was taken from the property. The following is a statement

of Col. Moore:-
''I knew the Calhoun lots, when Lawrence and Sisson worked the same;
and, of my own knowledge, they had a lease for thirty days; and they actu-
ally made $24,ooo in gold, or, at least, they paid rent or royalty at the rate
of 25 per cent. This I know from my own personal knowledge. This lease
was given by Gen. Hansell, who now lives at Roswell, agent for Calhoun,
for only thirty days, until Calhoun could be heard from; and, when heard
from, he refused to lease, and the work was stopped. Later, a son·in-law
of Calhoun, by the name of Clemson, worked the property, for some time;
but I do not know the yield. About this time, I left the county, and know
nothing of my own knowledge, only from hearsay; but the history of that
lot is well known, and considered by all old miners good. A man by the
name of Pasco worked still later, and reported ore worth $4o per peck, or
$r6o per bushel.
At the expiration of this thirty-day lease, Senator Calhoun's son-
in-law, Mr. Thomas G. Clemson, took charge of the property;
erected a 4-stamp mill on the Calhoun branch; and worked the
mine, for two or three years. From this time, no work was done
on the property, until I 847, when Mr. Samuel Pasco secured a lease
on it, for a term of five years, and worked many tons of the Cal-
houn belt, which, it is said, proved very profitable. From this
time, the mine was again idle, until 1858, when Mr. John Huff, who
is, at present, in charge of the property, did considerable placer-
work along the branch- and river-bottoms. From this time, until
1879, when it was purchased by Mr. J. A. Bostwick of New York,
under the name of The Calhoun Gold Mining Co., a limited amount
of placer-work was done, from time to time. In the meantime, the
property had been purchased by Mr. Patrick Calhoun of Atlanta,
at the partition sale, for division among the heirs of Senator Cal-
houn. Mr. Bostwick's purchase was from Mr. Patrick Calhoun.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
497
The former immediately began extensive preparations, for work-
ing the property, and erected a 40-stamp gold mill; a large Blake
duplex pump, with a capacity sufficient to elevate IOO miner's-inches
of water 300 feet, to the top of the ridge; and other mining ma-
chinery, consisting of iron pipes, a hydraulic giant etc.; they, also,
built an extensive dam across the Chestatee river, to supply water
for the mill and mine. These improvements cost $40,000. Mr.
John Congdon, of New York, was made Superintendent, and Mr.
A.]. Reese, of Dahlonega, Assistant Superintendent, of the com-
pany, in charge of the mines and mill. These were operated, for
about a year, when both the superintendent and assistant superin-
tendent died; and, in November, I 88 5, Mr. Bostwick donated lot
I64, with the mill and all other improvements, to The North
Georgia Agricultural College, at Dahlonega. Subsequently,· in
August, I8g2, he made a gift of lot I6S, to the same institution.
The trustees of the college leased the mine at once, to Mr. W. R.
Crisson, who worked it for two years, they receiving royalties from
him, which greatly aided, in paying the expenses of the college.
Mr. Crisson's work was stopped, by the carrying away of a large
part of the dam, by a tremendous freshet; and, the college having
no funds to rebuild it, the mill and mine have remained idle, ever
since, except some small operations in the gravel-placers, this being
continued to the present time. It is estimated by the trustees of
the college, that it will require, from $8,ooo to $I o,ooo, to repair
the dam, and put the plant in first-class condition! There is, on
the Dunagan lot (I6S), from twenty-five to thirty acres of aurifer-
ous gravel, and, on lot I 64, twelve acres of it, no part of which
I
Since the field-work was done, on this property, it has been sold to Mr.
S. M. Wharton, of East Spokane, Wash., who has rebuilt the dam, and is
putting the mill and plant in first-class condition, to resume active opera-
tions.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

has yet been worked; and, on the entire property, there is two
miles of river-bed, which has never been dredged. In addition to
the auriferous gravel on the two Calhoun lots, I was informed, that
there were twelve acres of unworked material of the same sort, on
the northern part of lot I6g, which belongs to Col. W. P. Price,
President of the Board of Trustees of The North Georgia Agricul-
tural College, but which, I was told, goes with the Calhoun prop-
erty. The gravel on these lots is from three to five or six feet
thick. Mr. Huff, who is in charge of the property, and who was
working it, on the occasion of my visit there, told me, that, out of
a superficial area of 6oo square feet of the gravel, he, with two
men, took I So dwts. of gold in one month ; and that, out of a like
area of I ,2 50 square feet, he took 360 dwts. of gold, in a little
more than a month, all of the latter work being done by the use
of a hydraulic giant and a hydraulic elevator. He stated, that, if
he had had plenty of water, twice the work could have been ac-
complished, with the same expense. The entire gravel, worked,
will hardly exceed twenty acres. It is highly probable, that the
greater part of the old placer work will pay for re-working; while
the results, from the new work, are indicated in the statement of
Mr. Huff, just quoted. The over-burden varies from ten to four-
teen feet. It is necessary to use the hydraulic elevator, in much
of the unworked area, along the river. With the mill in operation,
pipe-lines could be run, that would supply an abundance of water to
any part of the gravel placer. The branches are insignificant, and
not sufficient, to afford enough water, for working the placers with
the hydraulic giant, to any degree of satisfaction. A pit, being
worked,-at the time of Mr. McCallie's visit, most of which covered
old work, had produced up to date, I, I oo dwts. of gold, averaging
. about $ !.2 5 per square yard of underlying schist.

....
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
499
The mine was not in condition, to show up the extent and char-
acter of the ore-bodies, most of the excavations being partly filled
with earth. Little direct information could be secured, concerning
the veins. There are, on the property, several large open cuts, and
many small cuts and tunnels, which have followed the rich ore-
shoots, down to the depth of forty or fifty feet, in the hard rock.
Most of the work, however, has been in the saprolite. There is one
well-defined vein on the property, known as Tlte Peachtree Vein, and
two gold-be'aring belts. The Peachtree Vein lies between the
schists, dipping, at an angle of about 30°, to the southeast. This
vein varies from a few inches to three feet in width, and can be
traced on the property, for a mile and a half. It consists of a white
quartz, containing iron-stained cavities, resulting from the decom-
position of pyrite; occasionally, this mineral occurs unaltered. The
Lawrence Belt consists of auriferous mica-schists, with a considerable
number of small quartz stringers, all through it, varying from one
to six inches. This belt is from one hundred to two hundred feet
wide, and extends from one side of the property to the other. The
gold occurs in the decomposed schists, as well as in ~he small quartz
veins. The Parker Hollow Belt is much like the Lawrence, as a
stringer-lead. It varies from fifty to sixty feet in width, extending a
mile and a half through the property. All the veins and ore-shoots
increase in sulphides, with increasing depth. The country-rock con-
sists of a dark-colored mica-schist, containing garnets. It strikes
about N. 30° E., and dips, at an angle of from 30° to 45° to the
southeast. Figure 37 is a section across the property, showing the
Peachtree vein and the two auriferous belts, with their positions
in the schists. Two samples of ore were taken by Mr. McCallie
from the Peachtree vein, the other ore-bodies not being in condi-
tion for sampling. These gave assay-results, as follows:-
soo LUMPKIN COUNTY

No. r_ ______ -- __ -- I.OIO ozs. ($20.88) of gold per ton

" 2-------------0.125 " ( 2.58) " " " "
Tlze Mill on this property, which is located on the river, is a 40-
stamp mill, with 450-pound stamps. It is operated by a large tur-
bine wheel, with a I 2-foot head of water, from the dam, across the
Chestatee river. The Blake pump etc., have been described above.
The pump, also, is driven by a large turbine wheel. The wood-work
about the mill is in need of some repairs. All the machinery seems
to be in very fair condition. There is, on the property, in tolerable
condition, I, 500 feet of I 2-inch flange-pipe, 6oo feet of 7- and 8-inch
sleeve-pipe, and a hydraulic giant.

Fig. 37

Section through the Calhoun Property. r. The Lawrence Stringer-Lead. 2. The

Parker Hollow Stringer-Lead. 3· The Peachtree Vein.
a, b and c. Belts of Mica-schist.

It has already been related, how the property came into the pos-
session of Senator Calhoun, in the early part of the third decade.
Since then, the transfers of lot I64, as recorded in the Court-house
of Lumpkin county, are as follows:- On June 3rd, I879, the lot
was sold, for partition, to Patrick Calhoun, at the instance of Mar-
garet M. Calhoun, Sr., John C. Calhoun, Margaret M. Calhoun, Jr.,
and Patrick Calhoun, as plaintiffs, against John C. Calhoun, Benja-
min P. Calhoun, William Lennols Calhoun, Thomas G. Clemson,
Gideon Lee, Elizabeth Calhoun, Isabella Lee and Andrew P. Cal-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY SOl

houn, tenants-in-common, as heirs-at-law of the late Hon. John C.

Calhoun, of South Carolina. In October, I 879, Patrick Calhoun
gave a warranty deed to this lot to The Calhoun Gold Mining Co.
On November 2nd, I88S, a quit-claim deed to it was given, by this
company, to The North Georgia Agricultural College, the area of
this lot being stated, as 229 33' acres.

THE CHESTATEE MINE

The Chestatee Mining Property consists of lots I44, I45, I46 and
I67, I Ith district, and I,04I, I,042, I,092, I,I86 and I,I87, I 2tfz dis-
trict, all being fractional lots, lying along the Chestatee river, ex-
cept 146, in the I I th district, and I ,092, in the I 2th district. The
river divides the two districts, the former lying south and east, and
the latter, north and west, of it. As has been previously stated, the
lots. of the I I th district are 2 SO-acre lots, while those of the I 2th
are 40-acre lots. There are, in all, probably between 6 so and 700
acres in this property, much of it consisting of a vast expanse of
beautiful valley-land, with low ridges encircling it, and the river
wending its way through its center. Two or three dredge-boats had
been, for some time, having excellent success, recovering gold, by
dredging and sluicing gravel, from the bottom of the river, at va-
rious places along its course. The Chestatee Mining Co., composed
largely of gentlemen of means, from St. Louis, Mo., with Mr. J. D.
Thompson, as President, and Mr. W. R. Crandall, as Mining En-
gineer and General Manager, purchased these lots, and deter-
mined to turn the river into a new channel, to be cut through the
adjacent bottoms, on the north side; and to work the river-bed for
S02 LUMPKIN COUNTY

gold, which, they reasonably supposed, would be found, in paying

quantities. To carry out this plan, extensive preparations were be-
gun, in 1893. A large, but short, canal was constructed, some of it,
by blasting out the hard rock, to bring water, from a dam across the
river to two 66-inch Leffel turbine water-wheels. A I 2x24-inch
Blake duplex pump, with a capacity of I,ooo gallons per minute,
under a pressure of from so to 6o pounds per square inch, was
purchased, and mounted in place; as were also a 2 S H.P. electric
motor, of the C. & C. type, with a so H.P. generator, and a smaller
electric motor. All this machinery was new; and good substan-
tial houses were built for its protection, and for other purposes.
This pl:~tnt was located at Neisler's ford. One of the turbines was
used to actuate the pump, which supplied water, under a 6o-pound
pressure, through a g-inch pipe, to the hydraulic giant, and to a
portable hydraulic gravel-elevator, devised by Mr. Crandall, and
described by him, before a meeting of the American Institute of
Mining Engineers. 1 The water is divided at a convenient point, a
s-inch pipe supplying the hydraulic elevator, and a 7-inch pipe, the
giant. The latter is used, for washing off the over-burden of allu-
vium from the gravel, in the bottoms lying along the river; and
the debris, thus washed off, is taken up by the elevator to a flume
above, which conveys and discharges it into the river, below the
dam.
The other turbine actuated the so H.P. generator, which furnished
electricity to the 2 S H.P. electric motor, and to the smaller motor,
used for pumping water direct from the river, for washing the gravel
in sluice-boxes, for the gold. The plant was designed, so as to
work, day and night, the 'electric generator furnishing light, as well as
power. The water-power is a shoal, with a six- or eight-foot fall.
1
See Trans. A mer. Inst. Min. Eng., Vol. XXVI., 1896, p. 62.
 LUffifPKIN COUNTY

The work of excavating the new channel, for the river, was be-
gun in 1 Sg S ; and the excavation was made about thirty-five feet
wide, and as deep, as the underlying hard schists would permit. Its
location varies, from so to 200 yards from the north bank of the
river, with which it trends, in almost parallel lines. I was informed
by Mr. Crandall, that the gold, saved from the gravel taken out,
about paid the expenses of excavating. After extending this exca~

vation, so as to expose 400 or sao yards of the river-bed, it was

found, that, on account of the water's running quite swiftly, along
that section of the river, the bottom consisted of smooth schists,
with comparatively little gravel on it. A large amount of money
had been spent on the plant; and, when the company learned, that,
after all the work and expense, little gold would probably be found,
to repay this great outlay, operations were stopped, and the prop-
erty was sold, for a comparatively small sum, to Mr. Frank W.
Hall, of Dahlonega, to whom the company was indebted. There
is still a large placer area, that has never been worked. The beds,
along the small branches coming down from the hills, are said to
be quite rich. It is believed, that considerable gold will be found
in the gravel-beds, extending from the river to the foot of the hills,
of which there are 200 acres, only thirty having been worked; and
that the veins in the ridges, which have not been prospected, will
prove to be valuable. Some work was done, years ago, along the
small branches, which flow from the hollows on the ridges; and
the results are reputed to have been very satisfactory. A pocket,
in a small vein, about half way up the ridge, on the south side,
worked by James M. Adams, yielded $7 so, the lot belonging, at
that time, to Mr. Alexander Whelchel (pronounced Wilkie). There
are several old tunnels on the south ridge, worked years ago, in a
small way. While operating along the river, Mr. Crandall also did
504 LUMPKIN COUNTY

a little prospecting on the south ridge. Near the top, he drove a

sltort tunnel, in a southeast direction, to cut an auriferous quartz
vein, and followed the vein, by test-pits, along the top and west
side of the hill, for a distance of, probably, 400 yards, to a point,
where now is to be seen a narrow open cut, on the southwest side
of the hill. This cut, on the side of the hill, is in the nature of an
approach to a tunnel begun, but carried no further. It is about
thirty feet long. The material through which it is cut, consists of
a soft, cream-colored, schistose saprolite, the original rock of which
is completely decomposed, except, that, along the fracture-lines,
are folia of a green chlorite, resembling clinochlore. This mineral
has undergone some alteration. The ore-body, exposed by the cut,
consists of small quartz stringers in the cream-colored saprolite;
these vary from a sixteenth of an inch to four inches in thickness.
The ore-body is from five to six feet thick. The stringers and the
0
schists ·strike N. 6o E., and dip, at an angle of 60°, to the south-
east. About a hundred yards northeast of this opening, along the
trend of the vein, between this cut and the Crandall tunnel, is an old
incline shaft, said to be fifty feet deep, and to have been worked, fifty
years ago. It was filled with caved material, which was covered with
leaves, to within six feet of the top. The material, through which
it was sunk, was of the same character, as that just described; and
the vein was easily seen, on the north and south walls of the shaft, the
latter having followed the vein down, along its dip. The strike of
the vein was N. I 0° E., and its dip, 70° to the southeast. At this
point, the vein was 30 inches thick, and not at all of a stringer
character. From one of the walls of the shaft, I took out several
large slabs of the partially disintegrated quartz. It was filled with
a great many iron-stained cavities (hematite); and, on being broken
across, it showed a large quantity of pyrite, disseminated through
;~~~--~=---------------------
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Map Showing the Lots of a Part of the I5th District, Lumpkin County, Georgia, with Horders around the Lots of Messrs. R. R. Asbury and W W Murray.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY
505
it, in particles about the size of duck-shot. These specimens, and
those on the old dump, at the mouth of the shaft, which were of
the same character, proved, that the ore, in its unaltered condition,
was, to a large extent, of a sulphide nature. No sample for assay
was taken from this point.
About I 50 yards northeast of the old shaft, along the trend of
the vein towards the Crandall tunnel, was a small, square, prospect-
pit, on the west side of the hill, which I have designated as Pit No. I.

This was only four feet deep. The vein, here exposed, was one foot
thick, and the quartz was banded and speckled with pyrite, and of
the same character, as that from the old shaft just described, except
it was very little decomposed. Some of the particles of pyrite, in
the quartz, were entirely decomposed; others, not at all. The vein
was intercalated in the schists, and trended due north, dipping at an
angle of 50° to the east, while the dip of the schists was 6 5° to the
east. A sample for assay was taken from this point, the result of
which is given in No. I, below. Several other pits of this kind
were examined, along the trend of the vein; but they furnished
nothing worthy of note. The last opening, along the vein, in a
northeast direction, is T!te Crandall Tunnel. The entrance to this
is from the north side of the hill. It is about twenty-five feet long,
and is driven, at right angles, to the strike of the decomposed
schists, which is N. 25° E., with a dip of 40° to the southeast. The
schists, in the rear part of the tunnel, are biotite flasser-schist, the
biotite, in part, altered to a dark-green chlorite. At the rear end
of the tunnel, a three-foot auriferous quartz vein is encountered,
which consists of a finely saccharoidal quartz, containing much
pyrite, in which alteration to melanterite has begun. A section
across this vein was taken as an assay sample, the result from which
will be seen in No. 2, below.
so6 LUMPKIN COUNTY

Parallel with the general trend of this vein, and adjacent to it,
on the northwest, is a dike of hornblende-schist, of from I 50 to 200
yards wide, in all particulars similar to those, passing through, and
north of, Dahlonega. Its trend is N. 50° E., and the dip of the
schists, 50° to the southeast.
The samples, taken, as indicated, were submitted to assay, in
the laboratory of the Geological Survey, by Dr. Thomas L. Wat-
son, Assistant Geologist, with results, as follows: -
No. I ---------------O.I5 oz. ($ 3.IO) of gold per ton
" 2--------------0.65 ($I 3-43) " " " "
Since Mr. Hall has owned the property, he has built an additional
house, at the power-station, and given the buildings two or three
coats of paint, for their protection, at the same time adding much to
their appearance.

THE CAVENDER'S CREEK MINING PROPERTY

A large number of lots, occupying a considerable area of the

northeast end of the gold belt in Lumpkin county, north and west
of the Chestatee river, are owned or controlled by Capt. R. R. As-
bury, of Pleasant Retreat, White county, Ga., and gentlemen asso-
ciated with him in this enterprise. While a little vein mining has
been done on a number of these lots; yet, no mines among them
have become prominent, so far. A little work was done, some
years ago, by Capt. H. D. Ingersoll of Dahlonega, on- one or more
of the lots; but his results were not satisfactory, and the work was
not prosecuted to any considerable extent; still, the ore from sev-
eral of the lots shows such good results, when submitted to assay,
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

as will be seen, beyond, that further development may prove this

to be a very valuable property. The lots on which the veins have
been opened and prospected, in a limited way, including those, on
which a little work has been done, are 360, 36I, 373,376, 377,386,
388,389, 390,39I, 400,424, 425, 432, 454, 455 and 458, all in tlze I5tlz
distn'ct. The other lots embraced in this property are Nos.3I I,323,
324,J33• 334,J44,J46, 347,J48, 392,399, 405, 406, 408, 409, 4I7,
4I8,438,452,453•456,469, 470,483,485,492,499,506,507,509,
and an undivided half of 40I, 423 and 464, all in the I5th district.
All these are 40-acre lots, except five fractional lots, along the
river. In addition to these, they own or control, of the Spencer
Mill tract, five acres of lot 230, 20 acres of lot 23 I, and five acres
each of lots 244 and 245, also in the I5th district. Further, they own
the water-rights on all streams between Cavender's creek and the
Spencer Mill property, with the right-of-way for a ditch through
the intervening lots to the Cavender's Creek property. Some idea
of the extent of this property may be had, by referring to the map
1
of a part of the I 5th district, showing the lots belonging to these
gentlemen, marked with a certain border.
In the early days of gold mining in this county, when all the
branches and bottoms were worked for the gold in their gravel de-
posits, the lots, constituting this property, had a good reputation;
and even now, some placer work is carried on, from time to time,
along the branches. It is said, that these placers have produced
$1 so,ooo, taken out by miners, using the long-tom and rockers. No
hydraulic mining has ever been done on it. Parts of these placers
have been worked over, two or three times, but most of it, only
once. About half of the gravel-placer area has not been worked,
1
See map, p. 504.
508 LUMPKIN COUNTY

at all. This includes the numerous dry hollows, which have been
left untouched, for want of water.
On lot 424, only a short distance from Grindle's saw-mill, which
stands on the north bank of the creek, four miles east of Dah-
lonega, is a small cut, where a limited amount of work has been,
and is now being, done, on an auriferous vein, known as Tlze Calico
Vein, from the fact, that the saprolite of the mica-schists, at this
point, is beautifully variegated, a rich pink coloring the kaolin,
which is somewhat abundant, being the prevailing color. The vein
is about I2 inches wide, and gives fair results to the miners work-
ing it. It is believed, that this vein is a continuation of one of the
veins from lots 390 or 39I. It was being worked, in a small way,
at the time of my visit. Specimens of hornblende-schist, contain-
ing pyrite, said to yield a very small amount of gold, were secured
by me from this lot.
On lot 39 I, is a small open cut, on a stringer-lead, whicli is ten feet
wide on the rear wall of the cut. An incline was sunk, some years ago,
on this vein, at an angle of about 3 5°, for a short distance, down;
and the vein was stoped from a tunnel, 200 feet long, the stope being
forty feet, in a perpendicular direction. This is the only work done
on the Cavender's Creek property, except on lot 424, as stated above,
and a short prospecting tunnel and stope, on lot 390. The ore-
body, which was stoped on lot 39I, trends N. 40° E., and dips 65°
to the northwest. It consists of quartz stringers, from the thick-
ness of a sheet of paper to five inches thick, at the top, and four
feet thick at the bottom of the incline. The quartz is white, sac-
charoidal, somewhat pitted and brown-stained, from the decompo-
sition of pyrite in small quantities. The mica-schists have the
same dip and strike, as the vein. A sample of this ore was taken
from this exposure. That part from the bottom of the incline, in
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

addition to being iron-stained and quite cellular, contains a little un-

altered pyrite, here and there. The results of assay from this sample
are given in No. 3 in my assay-list below. Not long since, Mr.
W. R. Crandall, M. E., of Dahlonega, made an examination and
report on this property. Further on, I have quoted, from this re-
port, assays, made by Messrs. Crandall and George P. Good & Co.,
of Atlanta, from samples taken by Mr. Crandall. His sample No.
IO was taken from this ore-body.
Vein No. I lies about two hundred yards east of Vein No.2, in the
northeastern corner of this lot. This vein is twenty-five feet wide,
and is composed of large masses of white, iron-stained quartz, in-
tercalated in mica-schist, much of which is cellular, and of good ap-
pearance. Only a slight opening has been made in this vein, at
this point, which is on the south side of the hill. Its strike is N.
40° E., parallel with Vein No. 2; and it has the same dip. In this
ore, there were small quantities of pyrite. An assay sample was
taken by me from this exposure, the res!flt of which will be seen in
No. 2 of my list of assays, beyond. Mr. Crandall's sample No. 9
was taken at the same point. Scattered over the top of the hill
above the vein, I observed a good deal of hornblende-schist.
In the trend of this vein, on the opposite side of the hill, near
its top, was an opening on a quartz vein, four feet wide, on lot 373,
near its southwest corner. The quartz is of the same character, as
that at the opening on Vein No. I, just described, though it is more
iron-stained, and the iron oxide is hematite, nearly black in color.
The vein has the same strike and dip, as at the opening on Vein
No. I; and it is, unquestionably, the same vein. The sample for
assay, which I took from this point, is No.4, in my assay-list, below.
Mr. Crandall's samples Nos. I and 2 were taken from this point.
510 LUMPKIN COUNTY

In the northeast corner of lot 390, quite near the corner, is a

vein, similar to that on lot 3 73; and, like it, it has a width of four
feet, at the point of exposure; and its strike and dip, and that of the
schists, are the same, as those on lot 373· The sample, which was
taken by me from this point, is No. 7 of my list of assays, be-
low. Mr. Crandall's sample number, from this exposure, is 3 of
his sample-list.
On lot 389, near the northwest corner, at the top of a hill, are
two shallow trenches, about ten feet apart, which expose two veins,
respectively, eight inches and fourteen inches in thickness. It is
said, that these two veins are the same as the vein on the Jumbo
lots, 374 and 375, owned by Judge W. W. Murray and others. My
assay sample from this point was taken from both veins, and is
numbered 5, in my assay-list, below. Mr. Crandall's numbers are
4 and 5, he having taken a sample from each opening.
At the foot of this hill, on lot 390, is a stringer lead, forty feet
wide, composed of quartz veins, intercalated with auriferous mica-
schist. They strike N. 40° E., and dip, at an angle of 60°, to the
northwest. Sample No. 6 of my assay-list was taken from this
point. Mr. Crandall's assay number, for material taken from the
same exposure, is number 6 of his sample-list.
On the west side of this lot, a tunnel, I 7 5 feet long, has recently
been driven, cutting twelve small stringer-veins, supposed to be the
same auriferous lead, as that on the other side of the lot, described
above. These stringer-veins vary from five to twelve feet apart,
and are from five to fourteen inches thick. The material is a very
rich-looking, iron-stained, more or less cellular saccharoidal quartz,
with part of the auriferous mica-schist clinging to each side, where
the quartz is in contact with the schist. Here and there, it con-
tains some pyrite, unaltered. It is said, that the mica-schist, be-
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

tween the stringers bears considerable gold. I was not able, at

the time of my visit, to examine the veins, and take a sample, di-
rectly from them; but, there were several small piles of ore, which
had been taken out, and dumped near the entrance to the tunnel.
From these, I selected, what I judged to be a fair average sample.
As will be seen, by a comparison of the lists of assays, made from
the samples, taken by Mr. Crandall and myself, there is generally
not great variation, between the results of the samples, assayed for
the Survey, and those assayed by Messrs. Crandall and Good & Co.,
except in this particular instance, where one of Mr. Crandall's sam-
ples, No. 7, gave him $37. I 5, and Messrs. Good & Co., $36.00; and
the other sample, No. 8, to the former, $78.43, and to the latter,
$85.70; while the one sample, taken by me, yielded only $5.17. I
am unable to explain the discrepancy. The veins on this lot have
been cut, at a number of intermediate points, between the tunnel
and the cut, at the foot of the hill, in the northeast corner of the lot,
on the 40-foot stringer-lead, mentioned above.
The samples, taken by me from this property, yielded, on assay,
the following results:-
No. I _______________ o.25 oz. ($ 5. I 7) of gold per ton
" 2---------------0·99 " ($20-46) " "
" 3---------------0.20 " ($ 4· I 3) " " " "
" 4---------------1.27 " ($26.2 5) " " "
" 5---------------0-92 " ($19.02) " " " "
" 6 ___ ------------0.80 " ($16.54) " " " "
" 7----------- -·-··- 1.07 " ($22. I2) " " " "
No. I' corresponding to Crandall's samples, Nos. 7 and 8, was
taken from the veins in the tunnel, on the west side of lot 390;
No. 2, corresponding to Crandall's No. 9, from Vein No. I, in the
northeast corner of lot 39I; No. 3, corresponding to Crandall's
512 LUMPKIN COUNTY

No. I o, from vein No. 2, lot 39 I; No. 4, corresponding to Crandall's

Nos. I and 2, from the vein, near the southwest corner of lot 3 73
{the same vein as No. I); No. 5, corresponding to Crandall's Nos.
4 and 5, from the two veins, at the top of the hill on lot 389; No.
6, corresponding to Crandall's No. 6, from the forty-foot stringer-
lead, at the bottom of the same hill, on lot 390; and No. 7, corre-
sponding to Crandall's No. 3, from the four-foot vein, near the
northeast corner of this lot.
When Mr. Crandall made his examination of the property, sam-
ples were taken, as before stated, from the various points, where
openings had been made, which, after sampling, were equally
divided between Messrs. Crandall and George P. Good & Co., of
Atlanta, to be submitted to assay. I am permitted to quote the
following, as the results of their assays:-
Sample Lots W. W. Crandall Good & Co.
L------373-- --I3 dwts. 5 grs. ($13.63)------$ 3.00
2-------" ----II " I5 " ( 12.00)------- 20.00
3-------390----36 " 0 ( 37.15) 36.oo
4~---- --389-----44 " 0 " ( 45·40) -·- 25.80
5 -- -- --·- " - -- r6 " 9 " ( 9·85)-- ---- r.5o
6-------390----28 " 0 " ( 28.90) ------ 56.oo
7---- -· - " ----36 " 0 ( 37.15)------ 36.oo
8------- " ----76 " 0 " ( 78·43) ----- 85·70
9--- --- --39L- -26 " 0 " ( 26.83)------- 10.00
10-. - ---- " . --- 8 " 7 " ( 8. 56)------ 3.6o
The Mill on the property is on lot 458, a short distance from
Grindle's saw-mill; it is a small five-stamp mill, in good condition.
It has, as its motor, an over-shot r6-foot wheel, supplied with
water from a ditch, coming from a point, higher up on Cavender's
creek. A survey was made, some time ago, by Mr. B. M. Hall,

!
I
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

C. & M. E., of Atlanta, for a ditch, to bring water to this property,

from Spencer's Mill creek, which should be I6 miles long, and have
a grade of four feet to the mile. Water for this ditch can also be
had from the Chestatee river, I oo feet above Spencer's mill. If
taken from Spencer's Mill creek, from 400 to 6oo miner's-inches of
water can be supplied. If taken from the river, 2,000 miner' s-
inches, or as much more as may be desired, is available. With
these improvements, an abundance of water can be had, for min-
ing this and other property. Mr. Hall gave, as an estimate for the
construction of this ditch, a sum not exceeding $Io,ooo. Such
a ditch would make available a large area of auriferous stringer-
leads, on the property, where only gravel-placer mining has been
possible, in the past.
A large part of this property is so situated, with reference to a
long narrow hollow, that an excellent site is afforded, for a mill,
that could be easily fed from all the openings, discussed above.
There are extensive bodies of oak, chestnut, hickory etc., affording
all necessary fuel and timber for building, at a minimum cost.

THE JUMBO MINE

THE JuMBO MINING PROPERTY consists of lots 374 and 375, 5th I

district. These lots were formerly known as The Williams Lots.

Judge W. W. Murray of Huntingdon, Tenn., owns a ?1) interest in
these lots, and friends of his own the remainder.
This prospect has been little worked, because there is not suffi-
cient water on the lots, to enable one to operate a hydraulic giant,
and no mill on the property, that could be used for crushing the
 LU31Pf.'EN COUNTY

ore, which would be carried to the mill by flume, if the hydraulic

method were in use. There seems to be a large amount of low-
grade ore on the lots, in the form of an auriferous saprolite belt,
300 feet, or more, in width. This crosses a low, oval hill, on which
was sunk, some years ago, the only shaft, on the property. It is
possible, to pan particles of gold from almost any point on this
belt. I saw a number of pansful, taken from different points on
the belt and panned; and, in almost every case, particles of gold
resulted from the panning. Samples of the soft, decomposed mica-
schist belt gave the following results, when submitted to assay:-
No. L- __ ·- _________ o.oi oz. ($0.21) of gold per ton
" 2 _____ -------------0.02 .. ($0-41) " "

Bearing in ·mind, that, by the hydraulic method, this material,

which is in great quantity, can be mined and milled for 12 cents
per ton, it will be seen, that even these low values will yield good
returns, when hydraulicked economically, and with good judgment,
if water were brought to the top of this hill, with a sufficient head,
to hydraulic these mica-schists. A great desideratum, in this part
of the belt, is such a water-supply canal, as the Hand ditch. If
the Cavender's Creek ditch, surveyed by Mr. B. M. Hall, should be
constructed, the value of the Jumbo prop~rty would be greatly en-
hanced; for these lots are completely surrounded by the Cavender's
Creek property. I
The shaft, above mentioned, is on a small quartz vein, which
probably averages twelve inches, or more, in thickness. It was
originally about thirty-five feet deep; but the sides have caved in,
to some extent, covering the vein, at the bottom. Th.e vein, along
the wall of the shaft, dips, with the schists, at a steep angle. This
ve.in has been traced, by means of a trench, for a distance of prob-

I See map of a part of the ISth district, I'• 504.

 LUflfPKIN COUNTY 5I 5

ably a hundred and fifty yards, in a southwest direction. It is in

the trend of the two veins, which were prospected, a little, in the
northwest corner of lot 389, of the Cavender's Creek property, I
which yielded, on assay. $ rg.o2 of gold per ton. In fact, it is con-
ceded, that this vein, on the Cavender's Creek property, is Tlzc
Jumbo Vein.
I am informed, that there are other veins on the Jumbo lots; but
these I did not see, my visit being limited, as to time, and no other
occasion offering, of which I could avail myself.
There are several small streams on the property, that would have
economic value, if extensive operations should be undertaken, on
these lots; and there is abundance of oak, hickory and other tim-
ber, which would be available, for fuel and other purposes.

THE CORA LEE PROPERTY

Lot 433, I5tlz district, adjoining lot 424, of the Cavender's Creek
property, on the south, has several auriferous veins, which have
been prospected, only in a small way. On the largest of these
veins, a trench has been dug, twenty-five or thirty feet long, expos-
:ing a white quartz vein, which, at times, shows particles of free
gold. Other small trenches have been dug along this and other
vems. From the position of this hill, its veins, without doubt, fur-
nished a part of the gold in the gravel-beds, in the hollows, just
below it. It is only a short distance from the 5-Stamp mill on the
Cavender's Creek property.
Judge W. W. Murray, of Huntingdon, Tenn., owns an undivided
* of this lot, and Mr. D. A. Nunn of Brownsville, Tenn., there-
mainder. It was formerly known as the Satterfield lot.

I See map of a part of the ISth district, p. 504.

5 I6 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE GARNET MINE'

The Garnet Mining Property consists of lots 330, 33 I, 350 to 359,

inclusitN, 378, 379, 403, 404, 439, 442, 450 and 45I, I5tlt district.
The company also owns lot 222, outside of the gold belt, in this dis-
trict. The property, immediately surrounding the mine, is included
in the above list of lots, from 3 30 to 3 79· The other lots are from a
half to three-quarters of a mile distant from this group. Of the
group, on which the mine is located, five are fractional lots, lying
along the Chestatee river, two of which contain nearly forty acres.
The property is located, about seven miles northeast of Dahlonega.
The streams, traversing it, were worked extensively, between I 840
and I 8 50, and are said to have been very rich. The first vein-
mining, done on the property, was commenced, about I 886, by its
present owners, whose corporate name is THE GARNET \VATER-
POWER & MINING Co., with its principal office, Room 26, 52 Broad-
way, New York City. At that time, an excellent mining-plant was
erected, consisting of a 20-stamp mill, with stamps weighing 4 50
pounds each; a Blake duplex pump, a duplicate of the one at the
Calhoun mine; a small dynamo, for furnishing light; two large tur-
bine wheels, one to run the pump, and the other, the mill; and a
40 H.P. engine and boiler; all of which were well housed. A dam
across the Chestatee river was used, for furnishing water to the mill,
tprough a short canal, under a I 6-foot head of water. The entire
power, taken from the river, to operate the mill and dam, was 200
H.P. A reservoir was located on one of the highest hills, about
half a mile from the mill, and about a quarter of a mile from the
cuts. Water was pumped from the mill to this reservoir, through
1
Field-work, in part, by S. W. McCallie, Assistant GeoloJist.
 LUllfPKIN COUlv7Y

a 12-inch iron pipe, and the ore was sluiced to the mill, through a
flume, about }i of a mile long, which began at the outlet of the
cut, marked A in figure 38. A hydraulic giant was used, in exca-
vating the cuts. A two-story dwelling, for the superintendent,
completed the plant. The reservoir consisted of a circular canal,

Fig. 38

+s

OuTLE"T

Plan of the Open Cuts of the Garnet Mine.

from twelve to fifteen feet wide, five feet deep, and having a length
of 450 feet. The details of the lengths and directions of the cuts
are given in figure 38. The width of those worked was about forty
feet at the top, and from ten to thirty feet deep. The cut, marked E
in the diagram, was not worked, it being used merely as an exit for
material from cut D. These cuts are the result of extensive working
of the garnetiferous mica-schist saprolite, which contains stringers
SIS LUMPKIN COUNTY

of saccharoidal quartz, varying from an eighth of an inch to twelve

inches in thickness. The schists dip at high angles, and strike
N. 45° to 55° E. I observed, at the entrance of cut F, on the north-
west side, a Is-foot dike of decomposed hornblende-schist. In al-
most all cases, the cuts have been worked down to the hard, gar-
netiferous schists, which are only partially decomposed; and, at the
time of my first visit, considerable debris had fallen in, covering up
the veins, so that they could not be examined.
In addition to these cuts, there are, on top of the hill, a series of
five or six shafts, which have been sunk, along one of the aurifer-
ous stringer-leads, to a depth of forty or fifty feet. Work was con-
tinued, for about two years. I am not informed as to why it
was stopped; but I was told, that it was generally understood, that
the results were satisfactory. In the latter part of I895, work was
resumed at this mine, by Mr. McManus, Superintendent, who took
considerable material from these shafts, hauling it to a Griffin hori-
zontal mill, which he had just erected, at the time of my visit. A
large boiler and engine had been put in place; and he was about
to begin the milling of the ore, which he had hauled. This mate-
rial was a loose, sandy, decomposed, garnetiferous mica-schist,
which seemed to contain a good deal of gold, judging from sam-
ples, taken promiscuously from the different piles, and panned in
my presence. The plan of Mr. McManus was to mill this mate-
rial, dry, hoping thereby to save a great deal of the fine "flour
gold," which floated off, when the hydraulic method was resorted
to. The quartz blocks in this material proved to be too hard for
the mill; and it is said, that it ran, for only thirty-six hours, when
it was found to be unfit for further use. Mr. McManus soon re-
tired from this work, and Mr. H. M. Smith, of Washington, D. C.,
succeeded him. Operations were continued for only a year, when
 LlififPKIN COUiVTY 5 Ig

work was stopped. At the time of my visit, the flume and other
outdoor wood-work were entirely decayed and useless, and the
roof of the mill and the flooring were in bad condition. The dam
was also in need of repair; but the machinery in the mill-house was
in very good condition, as ~as the iron piping to the reservoir.
With the exception of about twenty feet, all the I 2-inch pipe, from
the reservoir to the cut, had been removed.
A sample, taken by Mr. McCallie, from the Negro vein, yielded
results, as follows:-
No. I ___ . _________ .- 1.40 ozs. ($28.94) of gold per ton.

OTHER MINES

THE BoLY FIELD MINE is located on lot I,I82, 2tlz district, on a

I

vein, very rich in free gold. The lot is a fractional lot, along the
north bank of the Chestatee river. The vein was discovered about
I 840, and was worked, for several years, by its owner, Mr. Boling
W. Field, who is said to have become wealthy, from the gold secured
from this vein. The ore, it is said, was very much like that of the
Findley shoot and the Whim Hill and Battle Branch mines; that
is, quartz, richly impregnated with gold, in masses and wire. This
vein crosses the Chestatee river. So sure was Dr. M. F. Stephenson,
the amateur geologist, before referred to, in this report, that, by
turning the channel of the river, he would find the vein, rich in free
gold on the bottom, that he interested a wealthy gentleman of Bos-
ton, Mass., about the time of the civil war, to the extent of furnish-
ing the money, to make the necessary preparations for the enter-
520 LU.MPKIN COUNTY

prise. Unfortunately, however, just as he was ready to begin op-

erations, a heavy freshet swept his plant away; and work was never
resumed. Whether any other attempt to mine the property was
ever made, after Mr. Field discontinued work, I was not informed.
The lot is now a part of the estate of Mr. Weir Boyd, deceased,
of Dahlonega.
THE JONES MINE, worked years ago, is located on lot 5 I 2, I 5tlz
district, on the north side of the Chestatee river, near Bearden's
bridge, which is on the Upper Gainesville road, four miles from
Dahlonega. I was reliably informed, that, at one time, it was "a
great gold producer"; but, of late years, no mining work has been
done upon it.
THE BuFFINGTON MINE is an old mine, formerly well and favor-
ably known, for the amount of its gold production ; but no work
has been done on it, for many years. It is near the Jones mine.
THE RuFus C. WooD MINING PROPERTY consists of lots 3 I 2, 3 25,
326, 466, 467, 484, 485, 486, 487, 494, 495, 497, yo, 5II, and lzalj
of 335, all in tlze I5tlz district. These lots form a compact area and
one of them, lot 5 I I, adjoins the Jones lot on the east. Cavender's
creek flows through this property, emptying into the Chestatee
river, from lot 497, which is the only lot, that lies along the river.
Auriferous veins, lying along the creek, have been opened and
worked, more or less. Mr. Rufus C. Wood, of Dahlonega, is the
owner of this property.
THE DRY HoLLOW Mnm is located on the 2 so-acre lot, No. I 26,
I Itlz distn"ct, the northwest corner lying along the south bank of the
Chestatee. Years ago, considerable work was done on this mine.
The ore is quartz, containing large quant.ities of auriferous pyrite.
No work has been done on the mine, for several years; but it is
highly spoken of, by the people of Dahlonega, even though the
 LUMPKIN COUNTY 52 I
owner, who lives in the north, seems not to have the cordial ap-
proval of some of them, because a guard is kept on the lot, to pre-
vent any one from visiting the mine.
THE OLD CoLUMBIA MrNE is a mining property lying about ~ of
a mile south of the Findley mine down near the river. Work was
begun here, about I 5 years ago, by THE CoLUMBIA MINING Co.,
composed of Mr. Alonzo H. Farrar and others, of Kinderhook,
N. Y. They built a 20-stamp mill, and put Capt. J. 0. Robertson,
now of Canton, Ga., in charge, as Superintendent. The work con-
tinued for six or eight months, when it was stopped, for some
reason, which I did not learn. The company, having bought lot
988, on Findley Ridge, already described, removed the mill to the
site now occupied by the Preacher mill, and began to work this lot.
The Superintendent's house and other buildings, on the Old Colum-
bia, are now in bad condition.
THE TAN YARD BRANCH PLACER lies along the stream, from which
it takes its name, and which rises at the foot of Crown Mountain,
on lot 949, and flows, almost east, along the north side of Findley
Ridge, through lots 986, 997, I,034, I,049 and I,o86, emptying into
Yahoola creek, at the Lockhart mine. Extensive piles of gravel,
along its course, tell a part of the story, of the large amount of
placer-work done on it. Much of the material has been worked
over, a number of times. On account of its location within the
town of Dahlonega, probably no other placer in the county has
been worked so much.
THE SHOCKLEY LoT, 89I, I 2tlt district, joins the I vey lot, 860, on
the east. Years ago, the man, from whom it gets its name, mined
considerably, in a small ·way, the richest veins on the property.
This is about the extent of the work done on this lot.
THE ToDD LoT, No. 930, I 2tlt district, joins the Shockley, on the
522 LUMPKIN COuNTY

east. It lies at the foot of Crown Mountain, and IS bounded on

the south by the Bowen lot. This lot was once famous, for its
valuable gravel placer, which was worked, many years ago, and
which is still worked, in a small way, from time to time. ~early
all this lot is occupied by the large dike, which flanks Findley
Ridge on the northwest; but I observed one or two very narrow
belts of mica-schist saprolite intercalated in hornblende-schist;
and these are said to be a part of the Barlow belt. This lot is
owned by Dr. N. F. Howard, of Dahlonega, and his brother-in-
law, Mr. I. L. Todd.
THE BARSHEBA WooDY Lor, No. 725, I2tlz district, is almost sur-
rounded by the Barlow property, lot 748, of the Barlow, adjoining
it, on the east; 726, of the Ralston, on the south; and 676, of the
Old Gordon lots, on the west. It lies immediately between the
Barlow mill and the Barlow cut; and auriferous veins, running
through it, are supposed to be the same, as those of the Barlow
cut. One of the veins, averaging about eighteen inches in thick-
ness, has been prospected, at a number of places; and I was in-
formed, that it yielded $I o.oo per ton on the mill. Near water-
level, this vein contains a great deal of pyrite. The shafts do not
extend below water-level. On each side of this vein is a stringer-
lead, the thickness of each being about I 50 feet. This property
is owned by the heirs of Mr. Weir Boyd, deceased, of Dahlonega,
and the heirs of Mr. Charles Davis, deceased, of Augusta, Ga.
THE T AHLONEKA BRANCH PLACER lies along the branch, from
which it takes its name. It rises in the north edge of the gold
belt, and flows into Cane creek. All along its course, are deep
pits and extensive gravel piles, showing the large amount of work,
done in the days of extensive gravel-placer mining in the county.
This stream was formerly known as vVinfield Branch. A fork of
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

it, known as Bath Branch, is, also, said to have yielded a consid-
erable amount of gold.
THE DuNCAN BRANCH PLACER is an old gravel deposit, which lies
along the Duncan branch. The stream, which is about a mile
long, has a gradual fall, and the placer is well located, for working
with the hydraulic giant. Very little work was done, on its upper
end, for lack of sufficient water. This placer is said to have been
very prolific; and it is still looked upon, as one of the noted gold
producers of the county.
THE BRIAR PATCH PLACER consists of a number of lots, lying
next to the Chestatee river, about the mouth of Ralston branch and
of Town creek, the latter stream running through it. The Briar
Patch extends from the river to a point, not far from the Barlow
property, and consists of several hundred acres. The gravel beds,
along its streams, were extensive, reaching well up on the sides of
the ridges. The debris shows, that a large amount of work has
been done upon it. It is believed, that this is still an excellent
placer, and that, if worked with the hydraulic giant and elevator,
it would yield well, as much of it has never been worked, on ac-
count of being below drainage. It is one of the largest placers in
the county.
THE RuTHERFORD MINE was a gravel placer, lying along Ralston
branch, just above the Briar Patch, and adjoining the Barlow
property. The property consists of two 40-acre lots. It was
owned by Prof. Williams Rutherford, for many years Professor of
Mathematics in the University of Georgia. It was worked before
the civil war.
THE KEYSTONE MINE lies on Cane creek, below the Barlow mill,
not far above the mouth of the creek. The auriferous veins, run-
ning through it, were worked, for a while, quite regularly, between
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

-1879 and I883, by Messrs. John W. Stewart, Samuel Stambaugh

.and others, organized as The Keystone Co.
THE STEGALL PLACER, near AUJ·aria, was worked by its owner,
Mr. John P. Stegall, of Emerson, Ga., for three months, in I 888,
·water under pressure being used in mining. Mr. Stegall informed
me, that he did this work, as much for recreation, as for anything
else, and that he found quite a number of gold nuggets, of consider-
able size, the largest weighing 32 Yf dwts., and a great many smaller
-ones, together with gold in fine grains. He stated, that, for the
time, it paid him very handsomely. He also said, that, later on, a
·deposit was found, from which 5,000 dwts. of gold was taken.
Much of the gravel on this property has not yet been mined. In
addition to the auriferous gravel, quite a number of gold-bearing
veins outcrop on the hillsides.
THE BELLE MINE is located about I Yf miles southeast of Auraria.
About I 88 I, a 20-stamp mill, operated by water-power, was erected
-Dn the property, and the mine and mill were operated, for about
.six or eight months. Mr. Leander Smith was its Superintendent.
THE HIGHTOWER Mnm is located in the vicinity of the Wells
·mine. A 20-stamp mill was erected on it, about I 88 I, and it was
operated, for a while, by Messrs. Daniel Howell & Co., with Mr.
B. W. Davis as Superintendent. Nothing has been done on the
property, for several years.
THE SALTONSTALL Mum is located near Auraria. In I88I, a new
IO-stamp mill, operated by steam-power, was erected by a company
irom Lincoln, Nebraska, who began mining the veins on the
property, but with what success, I am not informed. The property
.has been idle, for a long time.
THE WooDs MINE, in the same vicinity, was operated for a while
.by Mr. James E. Wood, of Auraria.
 LUMPKIN COUNTY

THE CLEVELAND Mnm, also known as The Baggs Branch Mine,

is located on the east side of the Etowah river, just south of the
Josephine mine. It was owned by a company from Cleveland,.
Ohio, who, about I 8 78, began development work on it.
THE DA:\LE MINE is located on the west side of the Etowah·
river, just below the Josephine mine. Operations were begun on
it, by Messrs. Lombard & Imboden, at the time they were operating
the Dahlonega mine. Preparations were made to build a mill, to
be run by water-power, but work proceeded no further.
THE GoLD HILL Mr:\E, which, in I 878, was being operated by its
owners, a company from Boston, Mass., is located west of the
Etowah river, a mile and a half south of the Battle Branch mine.
There are several old cuts and tunnels on the property, which were
worked, to only a limited extent.
THE ETO\YAH Mnm is located on a property, consisting of lots
I I?-I 20, inclusiz.•c, I 4I, I 42 and I78, I 5tlt district, lying along the
Etowah river, and along the county-line between Lumpkin and
Dawson. Mining, in a small way, has been done on this property.

THE DREDGE BOATS ON THE CHESTATEE RIVER

About sixteen years ago, the first dredge boat was put into the
Chestatee river, for the purpose of dredging the bottom and wash-
ing the dredgings for gold. Since then, six or eight boats have
been operated, with varying results. At present there are three of
these boats in the river, only one of which is at work. Of the two·
not at work, the one which was operated by Messrs. Benham &
 LUhfPKIN COUNTY

Helm~r, stopped work about a month ago.' Up to the time they

stopped it is said that they were having great success. As a result
.of one week's work, about six weeks ago, at an expense of $ r o8.oo
it is said they washed out 650 pennyweights of gold. In the case
of the second boat, operated by Messrs. Birch & Ammons, of Kan-
sas City, Mo., about a year ago, it was swept away from its fasten-
ings by a freshet, soon after it began operating, and, colliding with
an iron bridge, it was practically ruined. Work of repair has been
going on for some time, and it will be ready, soon, to resume work.
About three years ago, Mr. H. D. Jaquish, of Chicago, bought a
boat, and, with Mr. Thomas Conner, his partner, began operating
it, on a section of the river leased from property owners along its
banks, recovering the gold in sluices, 75 or So feet long; brought
by pontoons alongside the· dredge. I am informed by Mr. Jaquish
that the work has paid well.
1
August, 1896.
 CHAPTER XXIII

BY \V. S. YEATES, STATE GEOLOGIST

STATISTICS OF THE GOLD PRODUCTION OF GEORGIA

The following shows the gold production of Georgia, from I 880

to I895, inclusive, as given in the reports of the Director of the
Mint:-
I88o _____________________________________ $I2I,88o
I 8 8 I -- -- - -- . --- - - --- .. - -- -- ---- . - - . - .. - .. -- . - I 2 5, 000
I882-------- --------------------------- 3I2,500
I883------ ----------· ---------------------· 2oo,ooo
I884 -------------------- --------------- I37,ooo
I885------ -------------------------------- I36,5oo
I 8 86 - - - - -- -- -- -- - - -.- - -- - -- -- - - -- -- - --- -- I 53, 500
I 88 7-- - -- . -- ------ --- -- --- - - _- -- - - . - -- .. - I I 5, 500
I888 ____ -- - --- ----------------------- I04,837
I889------- ---------- ____ ---------- _ ---- I08,o69
I 890--- --· . ----- ----.--- ------ ---------- IOI,3 I8
I 89 I . ---- . - . -- . - -- -·-- - - --- -- - - ·-- -- ------ 80,622
I892---···-- ······------- -·------------··· ___ _ 95,25I
I893 ------- ------ ------------ ------------ I00,375
I 894---- - .. -- - .. -- .. - -- -- - ·-- - .. --- --- - - ---- 99,095
I 89 5 --- ___ - . ________ .. __ . __________ _ I 28,403
(_927)
528 CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS

Having been often asked, since my investigations on the Gold

Deposits of Georgia were begun, if gold mining in Georgia would
pay, it has occurred to me, that this question might arise in the
minds of others, and that it might be generally answered, by
giving some conclusions, reached, during the course of these m-
vestigations.
Certain kinds of gold mining in Georgia will not pay; certain
other kinds will pay. With the subject thus classified, it may be
well to consider those of the first class, so as to eliminate them
altogether, before taking up the second class.
The first question to be settled, when one is considering a mining
investment, is whether or not a sufficient quantity of the mineral or
metal sought is present, on the property under consideration, in such
condition, as to make the mining of it a source of profit. · This may
be stated as a business axiom. It is natural, then, for one to sup-
pose, that investors would satisfy themselves on this point, before
turning their funds over to a certain class of promoters, to be spent
in sumptuous living. But many mine-wrecks in Georgia and other
Southern States are due to this cause. Several cases, similar to the
one related on page 369 of this bulletin, were disclosed, in the
course of my efforts to secure historical facts about the mines;
and it really seemed, as if much of the mining, done, had been, in
furthering the schemes of the crafty speculator. Akin to this, has
been the wanton extravagance and the ignorance of mining, in some
of those, who have been sent to the Georgia gold mines, as super-
intendents and managers of mining properties. Gold mining, under
 CONCLUSIONS

the conditions, cited, does not pay. Again, many of the gold-bear-
ing veins in Georgia, which have produced handsomely, until the
free-milling. ore has given place to the sulphides, have been aban-
doned, because it is not possible, to recover from the latter, on the
amalgamated plates of the stamp-mill, anything like the gold
values, shown by assay, to be in the ores. Therefore, milling aurif-
erous-sulphide ores on the stamp-mill, and allowing the sulphides
to go to waste with the tailings, does not pay. Enlarging on the
axiom laid down, one must be sure, that he has an abundance of
gold ore, to justify a large outlay in an expensive mining-plant.
With the contingencies attending gold mining, wherever under-
taken, it is always best, that sufficient ore, to warrant the expendi-
ture, be taken out, or that it be "in sight," before the extraction
plant is erected. The latter proposition requires a development of
the property, more or less extensive, according to the conditions.
This principle has been violated in Georgia, time and again, often
resulting in failure. An6ther most important factor, in making
gold mining pay, is the employment of a well-trained and compe-
tent mining engineer, of strict probity of character, as one of the
local officers of the concern, affording him the proper facilities for
the performance of his duties. I mention this, here, because the
Jack of such an officer has resulted in the loss of thousands of dol-
lars and the failure of many mining enterprises, in this State.
Another deterrent, which may be mentioned, in this connection, is a
certain class of persons, of unknown antecedents, who, from time to
time, have appeared upon the scene of action, in this and other
Southern States, calling themselves "mining experts," and hailing
vaguely from the Western States, South Africa or some other well
known, but distant, gold-mining country. These men manage to
get themselves well advertised, by their remarkable assurance and
530 CONCLUSIONS

the sensational claims, they make; and, for a while, they thrive on-_
the credulity of some of those, not well informed, as to the char-
acter and occurrence of ores. These fellows sometimes claim, that
the Lord has blessed them with peculiar and mysterious gifts, by
which they can detect valuable ore deposits, hidden many feet
below the earth's surface; the claims of others are not so preten-
tious, though the damage they do is often quite as great. It ~as

been my fortune, to come in brief contact with several of these

peripatetic '"mining experts," who were temporarily in Georgia,
for business. They never become permanent citizens; the reputa-
tion, they make, keeps them moving. He, who mines gold on the·
advice of this class of "experts," will doubtless find, that gold min-
ing does not pay. It must not be inferred, that I, in any way,
depreciate that worthy class of mining men, who come from a dis-
tance, to enter, or promote, legitimate mining, and whose claims·
for preferment are put, within the bounds of business principles.
But there are conditions, under which gold mining in Georgia
will pay. It has been shown, in the preceding pages, that there are
many belts of soft, decomposed auriferous mica-schists, containing
quartz stringers, which frequently carry considerable gold, making
the entire belt a low-grade ore-body, which, when worked intelli-
gently and with proper economy, will yield very fair average re-
turns. While the extravagant method of flooding these ores
through a flume, from the open cut to the mill, can be operated at.
a cost of, from I2 to 15 cents per ton, including the cost of milling;
yet, so much of the gold is lost by this process, unaided by some
device, that will recover both the flour-gold, which is carried with the-
water through the rack, and the gold, coated by a film of iron oxide,
which, for that reason, passes over the plates, that the ore must,
as a rule, average considerably more than the cost of extraction, in.
 CONCLUSIONS 53 r
order that it shall pay a fair profit on the investment. But these
sa pro lites offer the advantage of large handling; and I am of the
opinion, that, when worked on a large scale, and with proper equip-
ment, for recovering the maximum amount from the assay values.
that these belts will pay handsome dividends. This being true.
those of the same kind, which show higher assay values, will. yield
proportionately higher returns. To be more specific:- It will pay
to mine, in large quantities, the soft auriferous schists, which give
an average assay value of 50 cents per ton. These schists have
undoubtedly been the source of much of the gold of the gravel
beds. The auriferous belts are of sufficient thickness, to furnish a
large quantity of ore, for a considerable time; but this time is
limited, by the depth of the saprolite, which is never more than
12 5 feet, being underlaid by the undecomposed rock, from which
it was derived.
One of the greatest impediments, that we have had to contend
with, in making an economic survey of the gold deposits of
Georgia, is the fact, that so little development work has been done
by the owners and operators of the properties; and the further fact,
that it has been so long, since mining operations ceased, in most of
the prospects and mipes, that the veins are covered with earth,
which has caved in, on them, rendering it impossible, with the
means at our command, to take the necessary samples for assay.
This is greatly to be deplored ; for, in such cases, the value of the
veins as ore-producers cannot be estimated, except by hear-say
evidence. However, it will be seen from the assays, from such
veins, as we have been able to sample, that, in many cases, there is
a considerable margin beyond the average of some of the best
paying mines, now being worked in different parts of the world;
while others of the veins, on assay, show high-grade ores. Some
532 CONCLUSIONS

of the mines, it has been stated, have reliable records, of produ-

cing many remarkably rich pockets. When it is taken into consid-
eration, that gold mining in Georgia, in the past, has been con-
ducted by the old methods of extraction, on free-milling ores,
which had, as a rule, lost considerable of their gold, since the de-
composition of their sulphides; and that nearly all the gold, con-
tained in the sulphides milled, was lost; and further, that the
sulphide ores contain a much higher assay value, which, now,
is practically all saved by the chlorination process of extrac-
tion, the conclusion is logical, that a bright future, in legit-
imate gold-mining, awaits this State. There are large numbers of
its veins, which yielded excellent returns in gold, until they were
abandoned, because of the inability of the operators to cope with
the richer, but entirely refractory, sulphide ores. Now, that all
the gold, with the exception of a small margin, can be extracted
from these, at a small expense, there must be, in the near future, a
strong demand for these old abandoned, auriferous-sulphide veins.
What is the mining and extraction cost of these sulphide ores ?
A statement, as to the cost of mining operations in Georgia, and
one, showing the cost, at some one of the low-grade-ore mines,
well known as a regular dividend-producer, will probably best
answer this question. Wood, as fuel, is to be had, delivered at
the mines, in Georgia, for from $ I.2 5 to $I. 50 per cord. Laborers
get from So cents to $1.00 per day. The country roads in
North Georgia are fairly good, except after long continued rains ;
and machinery can be hauled from railroad stations, to the mines,
when necessary, with comparatively little expense, hardly any
haul being greater than thirty miles, and most of them, less. The
official report of The Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Co., for the
fiscal year, ending May 3 I st, I 896, gives interesting statistics, as to
 CONCLUSIONS 533
their operations, some of which I quote, below. Their mines and
works are located on Douglas Island, Alaska, where they have such
disadvantages to overcome, as a very cold climate; the great dis-
tance from the marts of the world; difficulties in obtaining labor;
etc. The average value of the ore handled, during the year, is given,
as $3.05 per ton; the number of tons mined and milled, 263,670,
worth $804,066.73; the total cost of operating, $306,724.51 ; net
profit for the year, $497,342.22, within a small fraction of 10 per
cent. of their capital stock. A dividend of 9 per cent. was de-
clared, and the remainder was carried over as surplus, for continu-
ing operations. I take bodily from their report the following, as to
cost of labor : -
"Wages were paid, as follows:-
Miners_--- ---- ___ - $2.50 per diem, and board and lodging.
Laborers ------ -----$2.00 per diem, and board and lodging.
Drillmen ------ -----$2.50 in summer, and $3.00 in winter, with
bonuses and board and lodging.
Indians ___________ .. $2.00 per diem, paid daily.
Mill Men:-
Concentrators------ $65.00 to $Ioo.oo per month, with board
and lodging.
Feeders------------ $70.00 to $100.00 per month, with board
and lodging.
Amalgamators ______ $90.00 to $Ioo.oo per month, with board
and lodging.
Chlorination Works:-
Roasters_ ____ -- ---.$2.50 per diem, with board and lodging.
" (Helpers)-- $2.00 per diem, with board and lodging.
Floormen . . ---------$2.00 and $2.25 per diem, with board and
lodging.
 CONCLUSIONS
534

Machine Shops: -
Mechanics_------- _$2.00 to $6.oo per diem, with board and
lodging.
Blacksmiths.________ .. $4.00, with board and lodging.
" (Helpers) __ $2.00, with board and lodging.

With all the heavy expense of mining and extraction, still, by

careful attention to every detail, and by the handling of large
quantities of ore, the total cost of operating was $I. r 6 per ton,
which includes mining, milling, chlorinating and the general ex-
penses of the company.
With the exceptional advantages, which the Georgia mines have,
such as easy accessibility, fine climate, in which operations can be
carried on, during all seasons of the year ; the excellent natural
mining facilities ; the small cost of operating; and other conditions
especially favorable to mining operations, I am strongly of the
opinion, that there are many gold deposits in Georgia, that can be
made to pay better dividends, than those of The Alaska Treadwell
Gold Mining Co.
So far as has been tried, the barrel-chlorination process, as modi-
fied by Mr. Adolph Thies, Superintendent of the Haile gold mine
in South Carolina, has proved highly successful, in extracting the
gold from the sulphides in the ores of this State. The ores, with a
few exceptions, are generally uniform in character. I have classi-
fied them, as follows : -

KINDS OF ORE

I. THE PLACER DEPOSITS.

a. Auriferous gravel.
b. " Saprolite.
 CONCLUSIONS 535
II. AURIFEROUS QUARTZ VEINS.
a. Containing little or no Sulphides, either above or below Water-
level.
b. Containing Sulphides below Water-level, and free-milling,
''honey-comb'' Quartz above Water-level.
I. Containing the Sulphides, Pyrite or Chalcopyrite, only.
2. Those containing Galena, Pyromorphite etc.
~III. HARD HYDROMICA SLATES AND GNEISSES, CONTAINING SMALL
LENSES AND RIBBONS OF AURIFEROUS QUARTZ.

The large quantities of gold nuggets, which have been found in

the old gravel-placers, are strong arguments, that the veins, which
produced these, may be expected to produce others, from time to
time. What is needed is development-work. This cannot be done,
·without expenditure of money. On several occasions, western
·miners, visiting the Georgia gold-fields, have remarked to me, in
·casual conversation, that, if such prospects, as they saw in Georgia,
were in the West, money in abundance could be had for their
:speedy development. I do not believe, that the Georgia gold mines
may be expected to produce bonanzas; and the fortunes, to be
made in a day will be exceedingly rare; but there is every reason
·to believe, that, when properly developed and equipped for exten-
.sive operations, the gold deposits of Georgia will rank among the
.best dividend-producers of the world.
 INDEX

Black Belts, The, Assay of Samples from,. 343

A Bean, T. S., Property, The, . . . . 10o-105
Acid Rocks ..................... . .. 322-323 Beds, The Gravel, in Lumpkin County .. 201-294
Addendum .................. . . .... 319 Bell Property, The, . . . . . . 206-207
Africa, Gold Production of, for 1895 ... 10 Betz Mine, The, . . . . . . . . . . . 478-481
Alaska, Occurrence and History of Gold - - - - - - - - - , Assay of Samples
In, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 22-23 from, . . 480
Allatoona Vein, The, ..................... 218-220 - - - - - - - - - , S e c t i o n through the
Ammons Branch Mine, The, .............. 99-100 Schists etc.,.. 479
Amphibolite (Hornblende-schist) .... . Blake Property, The, . 72
.............................. 326, 327-328, 329-330 Blalock Property, The, . . . . . . . . 98
Appalachian Division, The, Occurrence and Biotite-Epidote Schist... 324
History of Gold in, ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-32 Boly Field 1\Iine, The,.. .519--i>20
Asbury Property, The, . . . . . .... 78-79 Bonner Mine, The,.. . .. 245-248
Asia, Gold Production of, for 1895..... 10 - - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples from,
Astlnol Company's Property, The, ...... 239-240 ... 247-248
Atkinson Property, The, . . . . . . . . . . .... 72-74 - - - - - - - - , Diagram of,... U6
Auriferous Deposits of Lumpkin County, Bowen Lot, The, . . . . .... 345-346
The, . .. ... . . ... . .. . ... . . . . 298-310 - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples from,. 345
Austin Mines, The, . . . . . . . . 234 Briar Patch Plaf'er, The,.... 523.
Australasia, Gold Production of, for 1895... 10 British Columbia, Occurrence and History
Australia, Occurrence and History of Gold of Gold in, . . . ... 20-21
in, . . . . ... .. . .. . .... . .. . . .... . 17-18 British Guiana, Occurrence and History of
Austria-Hungary, Occurrence and History Gold in,.. 19
of Gold in, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 British India, Occurrence and History of
Avery Mine, The,.... ........... .. 222 Gold in,. 14
Brogden, Will, Property, The,... 147
B
Brown Shaft, The, . . . . . . . 126
Baggett's, John, Property,...... . ... 241 Buffington J\Iine, The, .. 520
Bailey Property, The,........ . ..... 209 Burt, Frank, Property, The,. 188.
Baker & Sons' Placer Property ............ 76-71 Butt Mines, The, .. 59
Barlow Mine, The, . . . . . ... 461-468
- - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples from, 464
- - - - - - - - , Section alcmg the Pres- C
ton Cut.. 463
--------,Section across the Bar- Calhoun 1\Iine, The,.. . .... 495--i>Ol
low Cut... 465 , Assay of SamplPs from, 500
Barsheba Woody Lot, The, . . . . 522 , Section through, ..... 50()-
Bartley, H. W., Property, The,.. 97 California, Occurrence and History of Gold
Barton Property, The,... 236 in, . . . . . .21-22
Bartow County......... .218-224 Campbell, Ad., Property, ThE',.. 155
Basic Rocks............ . .323-330 Canada, Occurrence and History of Gold
Bast Mine, The, ... , . . . . . . . 364-371 in, . . 20
- - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples from,. 366 Capps Mine, The,:·:. .346-347
Battle Branch Mine, The,..... . ....... 475-478 .·-------,Assay of Samples from,. 348
Belle Mine, The,..................... 524 Carticay ~line, The, . . 259-261
Black Belt, The, . . . . . . . 281-282 Carroll County . . . . 242-248
Black Belts, The,........ .340-343 Casteel, J. C .. Property, The,. 194

(537)
 INDEX

'(Jasteel, J. C., Property, The, Assay of Ore Danae 1\Iine, The, . . . .. 525
from, . . . 194 Davis J\Iine, The, .. . . . . . . . . .191-192
Cavender's Creek Mining Property, The,51)(h513 Dawson County... . .158-170
----------------------------,Assay Dean Gold Mines, The, . . . 55
of Samples from, .. 511-512 Dean Property, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Charles Property, The,.. . .150-151 Dillard, T. llf., Property, The,.............. 98
·Chastain Branch Mine, The, . . . .111-112 Dikes, Granite,.. . . . . . . . ............. 289
----------------------,Diagram of,. 111 Douglas County . . . . . . . . ............... 237-241
Cherokee County . . . . .174-217 Dredge Boats on the Chestatee River,
Cherokee J\Iine, The, . . . .197-198 The, . . . ......... 525-526
Chestatee llfine, The,.... .501-506 Dry Hollow J\fine, The, .................. 520-521
----------------,Assay of Sam pies from, 506 Duncan Branch Placer, The, ............... 523
·Chestatee River, The, Dredge-boats on, .525-526 Dunnaway Property, The, . . . . . . . . . .... 232
Chester Prospect, The, . 191 Durgy, T., Property, The, ........ 240-241
Childs Mine, The,. 39
·China, Occurrence and History of Gold in, 14 E
Church Lot, The, . . .162-163
Edwards, T. G., Property, The,. . .... 105
Clarkson Mine, The, . . . . . . 202-203 Eiseman Property, The, . . . . . . . 223
Clay Deposits, Hillside, .. 294-295 Ellsworth Property, The, .. 163-164
Cleveland Mine, The,. 525 Elrod Property, The, . . . . . .136-137
·Clopton Property, The,... . . 244 Etowah )fine, The, . . 525
Cobb County . .225-228
Europe, Gold Production of, for 1895 . . . . . 10
·Coggins Property, The,. 202
Evans Property, The, . . . 204-206
Collins Property, The, . . . . .. 154
- - - - - - - - - - - , Assay of Samples
·Columbia Mine, The,....... . .348-351 from, ... 206
----------------,Assay of Samples from, 350
- - - - - - - - - - - - , Cross-section
·Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .528-535 204
through,.
Conley Mine, The, . . 47 . 91-92
Evans, Bright, Property, The, ..
Cora Lee Property, The,... 515 . 211
Evans, T. D., The Property of, ..
Cox Property, The, . . .... 183, 207-208
Coosa Creek Placer Mine, The, .. 129-131 F
Creighton Mine, The, . . . . . .. . . .175-182
Crescent Gold liHue, The,.. . .. 445 Fannin County ........................... 262-264
·Crown Mountain Gold Property, The, Faults..................... 296
Sketch of Hornblende Masses of,..... 284 Findley Mine, The, . . . . .371-383
Crown Mountain Property, The, . . .331-344 , Assay of Samples from, ... 374
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • Linear Fish Trap Mine, The, . . . ........... .447-451
View of the East Tunnel, .... 333 Forsyth County ......................... 149-157
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , Linear Fowler & Parks Property, The,...... . . 152
View of the North Tunnel, .. 335 France, Occurrence and History of Gold in,. 13
, Linear Franklin Mine, The,........ . ... 175
View of the South Tunnel, .. 334 Frazier Mine, The,.................... . . . . . 47
, Rocks Free Jim Mine, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . .438-443
and Ores of, . . . . ....... 336-344 Fulton County ............................ 172-173
, Section
along the East Tunnel of, ... 337 G
------------------,Tunnels
. _
Garnet Mine, The,... . ........... 516-519
of, ......... . 333 336
·Culp Property, The, .. . . ... _ , Assay of Sam pie from, .. 519
195 196
, Plan of Open Cuts of, ... 517
·Currahee Mine, The, ... . 141
Garnetiferous-J\Iica (Biotite) Schist, ....... 325
Georgia, Occurrence and History of Gold
D
in,... . ........................ 29-32
Dahlonega ... . ..... 270-271 ----,Statistics of Gold Production of, .. 527
~ahlonega Gold Belt, The,. ..... 33-35 _____ ,Total Production of Gold and Sil-
.Dahlonega Mint, The, Annual Coinage of ver of, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Gold at, ...................... . . ... 30-31 Georgiana Mine, The, ..................... 212-213
 INDEX 539
Germany, Occurrence and History of Gold Gravel Beds of Lumpkin County ......... 306-310
in, . . .... . .. . .. 13 Great Britain, Occurrence and History of
Glade Mine, The, .. . . . .......... 22(}-221 Gold in, . . . 13
Gilmer County....................... . .. 254-261 Griscom Mine, The,... 361-363
Gneisses, The Ordinary,andMica-schists 271!-280 Gwinnett County . . . . . . . . . . .... 142-148
Gold Deposits, The, Geology of,. . .... 278-279 H
--Hill Mine, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . 525
Habersham County.. .101-106
- - Mining, History of, . .271-275
, Other Properties in, ... 106
--Production of Georgia, The, Statistics
Hadaway, W. H .. PropPrty, The, 228
of, . . . . . . . ... 527
Hall County. . ...... 132-141
- - - - - - - - t h e World, for 1895 ... 1(}-12
Harnby 1\Iountain 1\Iine, The,. . . 47
- - - - - - - - - A f r i c a , for 1895... 10
Hamby Placer, The, . . . . . 90
- - - - - - - - - A s i a , for 1895.. 10
Hamilton J\Iine, The, ..................... 226-227
---------Australasia, for 1895.. 10
Hand .1\line, The, . . . . 415-426
- - - - - - - - - E u r o p e , for 1895. 10
- - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples from, ... 420
- - - - - - - - - N o r t h America, for
.11-12 Haralson County.. . . 249-253
1895 ....
- - - - - - - - - S o u t h America, for 1895. 11 Harris Property, The, . . . .. 148
Hart Mine, The, . . . 244-245
Gold, The Occurrence and History of, ....... 7-32
Hedden Placer Mine, The,....... .84-88
- - - - - - - - - - , i n Alaska.. .22-23
-----------Austria-Hun- Henderson Property, The, . . . . . . . ..... 74-75
gary. .12-13 Hedwig '-line, The, . . . ....... 47(}-475
- - - - - - - - , S e c t i o n across the Hed-
- - - - - - - - - - - Australia . . . .17-18
wig Cut. 472
- - - - - - - - - - - B r i t i s h Colum-
bia .2(}-21 --------,Transverse Section of
the Chicago and
- - - - - - - - - - - B r i t i s h Guiana. 19
Georgia Cut . 473
- - - - - - - - - - - ' - B r i t i s h India... 14
Hill, Wellborn, Mine, The,.. . .... 122-126
- - - - - - - - - - - C a l i f o r n i a ..... 21-22
- - - - - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Ore
- - - - - - - - - - - - C a n a d a .. 20
from,. 126
- - - - - - - - - - - · C h i n a ...... . 14
Hightower Mine, The, .... 524
- - - - - - - - - - - - - F r a n c e .. . 13
- - - - - - - - - - - Germany . . . . Hobbs Mine, The, . .......... 231-232
13
- - - - - - - - - - - · Georgia... . .. 2\l-BZ Hodges Property, The, ... 231
- - - - - - - - - - - G r e a t Britain ... 13 Hollins Mine, The,. . .. 250-252
-----------It 1 Holt Property, The, .... .257-258
- a Y · · · · · · · · · · · · ~: Hornblende-Mica Schist . . .. 323
- - - - - - - - - - - Japan Hornblende-)Iica. (Biotite) Schist ...... 325-3~6
-----------Mexico. 20 Hornblende-schist, The, Discussion of,
- - - - - - - - - - - N e v a d a ... ··· 22 284-289,343-344
------------Nicaragua 20 Horner )fine, The,. . .446-447
0
- - - - - - - - - - - - reg n and 0 Horse Vein, The, .. 120
Washington.· 22 House Property, The,. . .225-226
------------Russia · · 12 Howard, John J., The Property of, .. 224
- - - - - - - - - - - - SouthAmerica.18-19 Hunt Property, The, .. 128
- - - - - - - - - - - S o u t h Africa ... 15-16
-----------Sweden.. . .. 13-14
- - - - - - - - - - - The Appalachi- Ivey Mine, The,....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .451-459
an Division .. 25-32 ------,Assay of Samples from, ..... 457
----------The Rocky
Mountain Division.23-25
The Western Jarret Property, The, 39
Coast ........ 16-17 Japan, Occurrence and History of Gold in,. 15
- - - - - - - - - - - T h e United Johnson Property, The, ......... . 135
States ...... 21-32 Jones Mine, The,.. 520
Goings, W. M., The Property of, ............ 221 Josephine Mine, The, ...... ,...... . .. 484-486
Goodwin & Little Property, The, ......... 172-173 Jumbo Mine, The,... . ........ 513-515
Gordon Mine, The, ....................... 45\l-461 - - - - - - - - , Assay of Samples from, .. 514
540 .INDEX

K Lumpkin County, Gneisses and Mica-

schists, The, in, ... . 279-280
Kellogp; Mine, The,. . 209--210
, Gravt'l Beds, The, in,.291-294
Kemp, J. B., Property, The, .. . . . 227
, Granite Dikes in, . . . ... 289 ·
- - - - - - - - - - - - , Assay of Sam-
, History of Gold Mining
pies frorn,. 227
in, . . ... 271-275
Kendrick Property, The, .. . .225-226
Hornblende-schists
Keystone ].trine, The, .. .523-524
in,. .284-289
Kinds of Ore. 535
Hydraulic Giant, The,
Kin ::\fori ::\lines, The, ... . 1!'58,
in,. 317
Kitchen Property, The, . . . .21-l-2l!l
, Hydraulic Gravel Eleva-
, Assay of Sam pI e s
tor, The, in, .... 318
from,. . . 215-216
, In1provcments on the
l\Iining Properties
L in,. . 3HHl13
La Be lie ~Iine, The,. .192-193 , Labor in, . . ... 314
Larnar 1\Iine, The, ... .88- 8\J , .\Iethods of Mining in,~1f>-318
LaPrade Placer, The,. 104 , Mint Statistics of, . . 818-319
Latham Property, The, . , Nature of the Deposits
18&-187
- - - - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Sam pit'S in,.. . 299-306
from,. ·,Other Mica-schist Sa pro-
187
Lawrence c\Iine, The, ...... 44B-4H lites in,. .282-283
Letter of Transmittal. ~ ·, Quartzose Slates in, ...... 290
Little Property, The, . .. .15&-157 ·, Recent Valley Deposits
Little & Goodwin Property, The, ........ 172-17:1 of,.. . ... 294
Lockhart Mine, The, .. . :183-399 ·, Rocks of J\Iore Recent
- - - - - - - - - , Assay of Sam pIes Origin in,.. . ... 291
from, ........ 392, 393, 394 . Soil of, . . . . 295-296, 314
- - - - - - - - - , ~Iap of the Lockhart ·,Stamp-mills in, List of,. :Jll
& Singleton Lots, 3115 -,Steam Dredge-boats in,. 318
Longstreet Property, The,.. .138-1:19 ,Timberin,.. 314
Looper Property, The, .. . no , Topography of, . . . . 275-278
Lot :J, 17th District.. .119-120 ·, "YPllow" and "Black"
Lot 20, 9th District . . 127 Belts in,.. . ..... 28()-282
Lot 43, 17th District.. .115-116 ·,Water Resources of, .... 313
Lot 208, 3rd District . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Lunrsden Property, The,. .. ... ,.3&- 39
Lot 208, 15th District . 20B ---,Assay of Samples
, Assay of Ore from,. 2o:l Taken frotn, . 39
Lot 321, 7th District.. . .263-264 ---,Sketch-map of.. :JS
Lots 63, 64 and 81, 15th District . 199
Loud ~Iine, The, . 75- 78 M
Lurnpkin County, ..... .265-528
--------,Auriferous Deposits )facou PropE-rty, The, .... ............ 194-195
of. .. .... 298-:Jlg - - , Cross-sPction
- - - - - - - - , C h a r a c t e r of the OrP through,. . 195
in, . . 306-:no ~!alden Property, The,. .lHl-117
- - - - - - - - , Clay Deposits in, .... 294-295 Mammoth Mine, The,. 140
, Climate of,. 314 ~lap of the North ern Adjoining Corners of
, Collateral R<•sources Towns and Unio n Countif's. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:3
in,. .3VJ-BH ~Iartin Mining Pr operty, The, ..... 46- 54
--------,Distribution of the Au- ~Iary Henry Min e, ThP,. 430-138
riferous Deposits in ,.298-299 - - , Assay of Samples
- - - - - - - - , F a u l t s in,... . .296-298 from,. 435
- - - - - - - - , General Renrarks on, :260-:!70 ~Iatthews Proper ty, The, .. . 233-234
--------,Geology of the Gold De- ~IcBrayer Proper! y,The,. 249
posits in, .278-:279 ;IIcOandless Prop erty, The, .. .198-199
 INDEX 541
McCandless Property, The, Assay of Ore Parks Mine, The, . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . 47
from, .......... 199 Parks Property, The,. . . 134-135
McDaniel, I. 0., The Property of, .......... 223 Parks & Fowler Property, The,... 152
Mcintosh Lot, The, ....................... 482-483 Pass Property, The,.... . ................ 137-138
McLain Property, The, ....................... 204 Paulding County . . . . 229--236
M'Guire Property, The, .................. 169--170 Payne, Kei1drick, Randall and House Prop-
Mercer Mines, The,............ .. .. .. .. .. .. . 59 erties, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 225-226
Merck Property, The,..... . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . 139 Percy Mine, The,. ........... 145
Merritt Property, The, ....................... 69-70 Piedmont Property, The,.. . .... 142-144
Metamorphic Rocks·, The, A Preliminary Pe- , Assay of Ore from, 144
trographic Report on, in and around Dah- Pine Mountain Property, The, .......... 237-238
lonega ................................... 329--330 Plattsburgh Ore, The, Assay of, . . . . . . 41
Mexico, Occurrence and History of Gold in, 20 - - - - - - - , J \ I i l l and Concentration
Mica-schist Saprolites ................... 282-283 Test of,...... . . . . .. . . . . . . 41
Mica-schist and Gneisses ................ 279-280 Plattsburgh Property, The,..... . ..... 49-- 42
Mica-schist, Auriferous,... . .............. 305 Poor, William, Property, The, ........... 211-212
Mica (Muscovite-biotite) Schist ............. 327 Powell Mine, The,... 47
Michigan Gold Mining Company's Prop- Porter Springs . . . . . . . . . .. 2il
erty, The, ................................ 232-233 Potosi Mine, The, . . . . 135-lll6
Milton County ............................... 171 Potosi Mining and Milling Co., The, ........ 136
Moore & Brogden Property, The, ............ 146 Preacher Mine, The, ..................... 351-360
Moore Girls' Mine, The, .................... 96-97 - - - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples
Morse Property, The, ...................... 158-159 from,............. &59
Murdock Vein, The, ....................... 114-116 - - - - - - - - - , Mili of, . . . . . . . 360
Profile of the Big Sulphuret Vein, Kin Mori
N Mines,.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 167
Putnam Mine, The, ....................... 196-197
Nacoochee Hills Gold Mining Co's. Prop-
erty, The, .................................. 43-46 Q
Nacoochee Valley Mining Properties, Map Quartz Amphibolite (Hornblende-schist) ...
of the, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 ............ 324-325,328,329, 330
Nancy Brown Mine, The, ................ 117-119 Quartz Schist . . . . . . . ............... 322-323
- - - - - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Samples
from, . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .... 119 R
Nevada, Occurrence and History of Gold in, 22 Rabun County . .. . .. . .. ................. 89--100
Newton Mine, The, . . ............. 108-111
Ralston Mine, The,.. . .... 468-470
--------,Diagram of, . . . . . . 109 - - - - - - - - - , Assay of Sample from, 470
Nicaragua, Occurrence and History of Gold Randall, Payne, Kendrick and House Prop-
in,........... . ................... 20 erties, The, .................. 225-226
Nichols Mine, The, .................... .47,102-104 Reaves Property, The,. 78
Norrell Mine, The,..... . ... .487 489 Remarks, General, on Lumpkin County.265-270
North America, Gold Production of, for Resources, Collateral,.... . .313-314
1895, ....................................... 11-12 Richardson Mine, The, . . . . . . ... . . . . 47
0 Richards Property, The,. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 185-186
Rider Mine, The, . . . . . . 446
Odom Property, The, ......................... 134 Roach, Thomas, Property, The, . . 240
Old Columbia Mine, The, .................... 521 Roberts Property, The, . . . . . . . . 147
Old Gum Log Mine, The, ................. 127-128 Robertson Property, The,............... 222
Oliver Mine, The, ............................. 47 Rocks of More Recent Origin.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Ore, Kinds of,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 535 ROcky ~Iountain Division, The, Occurrence
Oregon, Occurrence and History of Gold in, 22 and History of Gold in, .. .. .. .. .. 23-25
O'Shields Property, The, .................... 140 Royal Gold Mining Co., The,........... 250
p Royal ~line, The, . . . ..................... 250
Rudicil ~line, The, . . . . ... 18H-189
Page Property, The, ......................... 99--91 Russelll\Iine, The, . . 47
Palmour Property, The, ................. 159-161 Russia, Occurrence and History of Gold in, 12
Parker's, Dr., Property, ..................... 234 Rutherford ~line, The,................. 523
542 INDEX

s Todd Lot, The, .... . .... 521-522

Ton ton Mines, The,................ 59
Saltonstall Mine, The,.... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . 524 Topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275-278
Sando'v Mine, The, ....... . . ...... 183-184 Towns County. .107-121
Sawnee Mountain Property, The,. . .152-154 Transported Clays, The,. . .. 336
Schists . . . ............................ 322-330 Tripp Property, The,................ .213-214
Screamer Mountain............... 92 Turkey Hill Mine, The, ................. .489-494
Settles Property, The,. ............ . .. 155 Turkey Pen Mine, The,............ 259
Sheffield & Heidt Property, The, ........ 229~230
Shelly Property, The,..
---------,AssayofOrefrom,.
. ....... 144-145
145
u
Union County.... .. .. 122-131
Shelton Property, The,... . .161-162
United States, Occurrence and History of
- - - - - - - - - - , AssayofOrefrom, .. 161
Gold In,.......................... . .. 21-32
Shockley Lot, The,.. . . ...................... 521
Simmons Property, The,.....
- - - - - - - - - - - , A s s a y of Ore from, 146
. ........ 145-146 v
Valley Deposits, Recent, ...... . .. ..... 294
Singleton Cut, The, Assay of Samples from,
................. 407, 408, 409
- - - - - - - - , S k e t c h of, at the West
w
End of, .............. 404-406 Washington . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Singleton Hill, Sketch of a Horizontal Pro- Wells Mine, The,. . ...... 483-484
jection of the, .............................. 403 Westbrook, T. N., Property, The,.. . ... 189
Singleton Mine, The, .................... .400-413 Western Coast, The, Occurrence and Histo-
Sixes Mine, The,.. . ..................... 199-202 ry of Gold in,................. . .. 16-17
Slates, Quartzose, ............................ 290 Whitaker Property, The, .. . . . . . . . ..... 258-259
Smith Mine, The, . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . ..... 92-95, 112 White County. . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . ........ 33-79
Smith, S. R., Property, The, ............. 184-185 White Path Mine, The,.... . .... 9, 254-257
Soil .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. ..... 295-296 - - - - - - - - - - , Diagram of, ......... 255
South Africa, Occurrence and History of White-McGhee Mine, The, . . . . . . 47
Gold in,........... .. .. .. . .. .......... 15-16 - - - - - - - - - - - - , Branch Vein,
South America, Gold Production of, for 1895 11 Assay of the,. . 53
- - - - - - , Occurrence and History of White's Statistics of Georgia............ 267
Gold in,........ . . ........ 18-19 Willbanks, C. T., Property, The,.. 105
Southern States Mining and Exploring Williams Property, The, ............. 208, 216-211
Co.'s Property, The, ..................... 238-239 Wills Creek Property, The, . . . . . . 113
Stacy Mine, The,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 248 Wood, Rufus C., Mining Property, The, .... 520
Statistics of Georgia, White's,............ 267 Wood Mine, The, .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. ... 524
Statistics of Gold Production of Georgia .. 527 Worley Mine, The,...... .189-191
St. George Property, The, ................. 55-58
y
- - - - - - - - - - - , Map of,.......... 56
Stansill Property, The, ................... 216-217 Yahoola Mine, The,............ . .426-430
Stegall Placer, The,..... . ............... 524 - - - - - - - - , Assay of Samples from, 429
Stonesypher Property, The, ................ 95-96 - - - - - - - - , I d e a l Sections through
Strickland Property, The, ................... 151 the Auriferous Schists 428
Stringer Leads, Description of,.......... 300 YellowBelt,The, .... 282
------,Character of the Ore of,. 310 Yellow Belt, The Schists of,.. .338-340
Struby Property, The,.................. 116 - - - - - - - - - - - , Assay of Sam-
Sweden, Occurrence and History of Gold ples from, ..... 339
in,................................... .. .13-14 - - - - - - - - - - - , Panning Tests
of,... 340·
T Yellow and Black Belts, The, ..... 286-282
Tahloneka Branch Placer, The,.... .522-523 Yonah Gold Mines, The, . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
-----Mine, The, .................... 413-415 Yonah Land & Mining Company's Prop-
Tanyard Branch Placer, The, ................ 521 erty, The, .. 59-68
The Glades . . . . ..................... 132-133 - - - - - - - - - - . - - - - , Assay of
Thompson Property, The, ................... 67-69 Samples from ...... 66-67
Thomason's, J. W., Property, .... _..... 250 Yorkville Mine, The, ..................... 235-23().