aeter of the ore-bodies is that common to these schists elsewhere, consisting of certain belts in the schists filled with pyritic impregnations and imperfectly conformable lenticular veins and stringers of quartz. The principal part of the gold-bearing zone is 1| miles long from northeast to southwest and ยง of a mile wide. There are well-defined veins in the district, among which the more prominent ones are the Randolph, Earnhardt, Honeycut, Standard, Trautman and the McMackin. Some of these, such as the Trautman and McMackin, are heavy in argentiferous galena.1 (See fig. 4, p. 59.)
The first gold was discovered here in 1842, and it is stated that in the next 14 years the total production of the various mines was $2,000,000. In 1853 there was a population of about 2000 in the Gold Hill camp, at which time the Gold Hill Mining Company operated 5 Chilean mills and 40 to 50 rockers, working. 300 hands. Between 1845 and 1850 the Randolph shaft was put down to a depth of 750 feet. This is the deepest gold-mine shaft in the South. The Randolph vein was worked in three principal lenticular ore-shoots, pitching to the northeast, and varying from 50 to 200 feet in length and from a few inches to 6 feet in width. It is stated that remarkably rich ores were obtained in those days, large quantities yielding from $100 to $500 per ton in the mill. In 1881 the Randolph shaft was unwatered to the depth of 400 feet.
The method of working the Gold Hill ores in the earlier days is described on p. 34.
According to Emmons/ the amount of gold produced from December, 1853, to June, 1855 (inclusive), as derived from the company's books, was $136,636.76, and the expenses were $76,429, leaving a net profit of $60,207.76 for 19 months. During the time which includes the foregoing record, however, only the ore taken from the poor pockets was worked.
It is estimated by some that up to 1874 $3,000,000 worth of free gold in the ore was produced. In 1871, Mr. Amos Howes, the owner at that time, worked 3 Chilean mills, treating 7 tons of ore per day. The total daily expenses were $95.51, or $13.64 per ton. Of 8400 tons treated by Mr. Howes he produced $200,000, or an average yield of $23.81 per ton. It is estimated that only 33 per cent, of the gold was saved by this method of amalgamation, 67 per cent, going off in the tailings.
The first stamp-mill (20 stamps) was erected in 1881. The last regular work was done in 1893 by the New Gold Hill Company, Mr. Richard Eames, manager, when the ores from the Barnhardt vein, which are high in copper, were milled in a 10-stamp mill. (See p. 60.)
1 For more detailed description of the structure of the region see Bull. 3; Gold Deposits of J\~. C. 1896. pp. 83-91.
- Geological Report of the Midland Counties of Korth Carolina, 1856. E. Emmons, pp. 160 et seq.
