Chapter II: Preface: To the First Edition

Some years ago the author published a small book entitled “Practical Mining,” designed specially for the use of those engaged in the always fascinating, though not as invariably profitable, pursuit of “Getting Gold.” Of this ten thousand copies were sold, nearly all in Australasia, and the work is now out of print. The London _Mining Journal_ of September 9th, 1891, said of it: “We have seldom seen a book in which so much interesting matter combined with useful information is given in so small a space.”

The gold-mining industry has grown considerably since 1891, and it appeared to the writer that the present would be a propitious time to bring out a similar work, but with a considerably enlarged scope. What has been aimed at is to make “Getting Gold” a compendium, in specially concrete form, of useful information respecting the processes of winning from the soil and the after-treatment of gold and gold ores, including some original practical discoveries by the author. Practical information, original and selected, is given to mining company directors, mine managers, quartz mill operators, and prospectors. In “Rules of Thumb,” chapters XI. and XII., will be found a large number of useful hints on subjects directly and indirectly connected with gold-mining.

The author’s mining experience extends back thirty years and he therefore ventures to believe with some degree of confidence that the information, original or compiled, which the book contains, will be found both useful and profitable to those who are in any capacity interested in the gold-mining industry.

J. C. F. J.

London, _November_ 1896.

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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION

The reviewer in _Nature_ remarked on the First Edition of this book, “It has often been said that _the practical man_ does not write books, but There Is Here a Complete Refutation of the Calumny.” The sale of two large editions has justified the opinion of the reviewer, and shows that the book from the practical man is valued. The Third Edition has been revised throughout and several new figures in the text and eight full-page plates have been added. It is confidently hoped that this new Edition will meet with the same kindly reception as the earlier ones.

_November_ 1904.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY. GETTING GOLD

Gold--Poetical and historical references--Its wide
distribution--Remains of ancient works--Old appliances--Modern
appliances anticipated--Labours of alchemists--Deposition
similar to common minerals--How first obtained--The Pactolian
annual miracle--Mode of working auriferous sand and
lodes--Principal sources of gold supply--Transvaal
production--Californian production--Real date of discovery in
Australia--State encouragement for new discoveries--Obstacles
in early Australian production--Australasian production to
date--The world’s wealth--Nuggets--Modern methods--Hydraulicing
cheapest--Definition of “lode”--Igneous and aqueous theories
contrasted--Difference between reef and alluvial gold--Mining
terms explained--Usual exploitation and
treatment--Operations--Stamp battery--Its advantages as
crusher--Usual milling operations pp. 1-12

CHAPTER II

GOLD PROSPECTING

(ALLUVIAL AND GENERAL)

Ignorance of prospectors--Chapter specially addressed to the
inexperienced--Valuable finds mostly accidents--Best way to
obtain elementary knowledge--An assaying experience--What a
prospector should know--Usual geological conditions of most
minerals--Unwise to follow theories blindly--Instances of
unlikely occurrences of gold--Importance of examining
outcrops--Curious matrices for gold--Alluvial and reef
gold--Hints to prospectors--Prospecting for alluvial
gold--Tin dish--Dry blowing--Size of prospecting
shaft--Intricacy of deep leads--How to recognise true
bottom--Gold bearing “gutters”--Difference in working
shallow and wet ground pp. 13-21