THE

GOLD-SEEKER'S MANUAL.

BY

DAVID T. ANSTED, M.A. F.R.S.
PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY, KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON, ETC.
CONSULTING MINING ENGINEER.

LONDON:

JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER-ROW.

MDCCCXLIX.

PRINTED BY RICHARD AND JOHN E. TAYLOR,

RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

CHAPTER I. On the general distribution of gold

II. The gold district of California

IV. The geological position of gold in various

rocks

Page

1

3

19

38

51

V. The mineralogical and other characteristics

of gold, and the modes of distinguishing it

when found

70

VI. The washing and other mechanical treatment

of alluvial gold

83

VII. The assay, reduction, refinement, and relative

value of gold

110

VIII. Probable influence of the gold of California

on the commercial value of gold .......... 123

IX. The prospects of California as a gold-pro-

ducing country

154

THE

GOLD-SEEKER'S MANUAL.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

THE occurrence of gold in large quantities in a district hitherto little visited by civilized man, and only known by the accounts of a few travellers, has naturally produced great excitement in the public mind and much anxiety as to the possible results.

It has seemed to the author that some account of the general distribution of gold in the world, of the statistics of gold generally, and of the physical peculiarities of that new country to which all eyes are now turned, together with a short and popular, but practical, statement concerning the mode of treatment of this valuable metal, will probably be found interesting to the public at large, and cannot fail to be useful to those who have it in contemplation to journey in search of the mineral

B