Gold Mine Distribution South Appalachian Page 80



	74	GOLD MINING IN VIRGINIA.

	pursued here.¹ It may, however, be of value to give the cost of labor at these mines, as this would apply equally to auriferous mining. The daily wages paid are: Carpenters ........................................$1.25 to $1.75 Engineers ......................................... 1.40 Blacksmiths ..............v........................ 1.30 to 1.75 Drill-runners ...................................... 1.35 Helpers ........................................... 1.20 General labor (under ground) ....................... 1.00 " (above ground) ....................... 0.90 to 1.00 The Tinder Flats placer deposits " are situated at the northern end of the pyrite bodies on both banks of North Contrary creek. This bottom was perhaps the best known and most productive source of placer-gold in the early days of Virginia gold-mining. At present the problem is one of reworking shallow placer bottoms on a large scale, and at the time of our visit in 1895, Mr. W. H. Case, of Charlotte, N. C, was testing the ground with this object in view. "Water under natural head cannot be obtained here, the surrounding country being a but slightly indented pene-plain it would probably have to be pumped from the North Anna river. One-half mile southwest of the Arminius pyrite mine, on the same line of strike, is the Walton gold mine. This mine has produced some very rich ore from a shoot or chimney developed to a depth of 150 feet. The property has been tied up in litigation for the past twelve years. Near Mineral City (Tolersville) a vein, known as the Fisher Lode, striking parallel to the pyrite veins and about 2 miles to the east of them, has been opened by the Harris, Luce, Slate Hill, Louisa and Warren Hill mines. Two of these, the Luce and Slate Hill, were in operation at the time of our visit. The Luce mine had been developed to a depth of 2,00 feet, and the total length of drifting on the vein is over 1000 feet. The thickness of this vein is from 3 to 8 feet. The mine is equipped with a 20-stamp, hand-feed mill (Fraser and Chalmers' build). The Slate Hill mine was first opened in 1850, and for a time was extensively worked. It is the southwest extension of the Luce, which formerly constituted a portion of the property. Two veins are developed to a depth of 150 feet. In a report made in 1853, the average value of the ore is given at $4 per ton, and the cost of mining and milling at $1.40 per ton. The present company began operations in March, 1895. A Huntington mill has been erected, and the mine was beingdeveloped in the lower levels at the time of our visit. ¹ For a description of the deposits, see " Origin of the Tron Pyrites Deposits in Louisa County. Virginia," by Frank L. Nason ; Em.], and Min. Jour., lvii. 1894, pp. 414-18. - See Am. Jour. Sci., i, xxxii, 1837. pp. 101,110.