Ounces Of Gold Research Articles

V.—On the Gold-fields (?) of South Africa

Gold is said to have been found in South Africa, and very probably it is. I have myself an undoubted specimen from the copper mines in Namaqualand, in which the gold is imbedded and associated with silicate of copper or chrysocolla; but with regard to the “diggings,” as they are called by the Cape papers, and which are situated some considerable distance up beyond the Great Orange River, and north and west of Natal, the question is whether the gold is in sufficient quantity to pay for the labour and expense of its production. It is certainly very premature to call this auriferous district “Gold diggings” and “Gold fields,” when really not ten ounces of gold have as yet been produced altogether in something like twelve months. Parties have been up and returned, each on some very trivial excuse. Some travellers describe the gold quartz as containing gold in large quantities, and yet they have not obtained satisfactory specimens themselves, although these “rich beds (it is said) extended over many miles of country, and rich gold quartz could be had almost for the trouble of picking it up.” The great idea seems to be in getting persons to come out on a wild-goose-chase, when nothing definite is known about these wonderful “diggings.” Ancient furnaces are said to be found in the neighbourhood, and of course plenty of fuel!!