The New York _Evening Post_ has an article upon this subject, from
which we take the following:
The places where it is found are much more numerous than we might at
first suppose. The mines of America, however, surpass those of all
other countries. Though of comparative newness, they have furnished
three times and a half more gold and twelve times more silver than
those of the old world. Silver and gold were, before the discovery of
America, supposed to bear to each other the relation of 55 to 1. In
Europe the proportion is now about 15 to 1.
The gold of Mexico is chiefly found in argentiferous veins, as at
Guanaxuato, where it is obtained one ounce in 360. The only auriferous
veins, worked as such, are at Oaxaca. The rivers in Caraccas flow over
auriferous sands. Peru is not reported rich in gold at present. The
gold of New Grenada is found in alluvial soil, and is washed out in the
shape of spangles and grains. The gold of Chili, is found under similar
circumstances. Brazil formerly brought the most gold to market, not
even excepting Russia, which now, however, surpasses her. All the
rivers running from the Brazilian mountains have gold, and the annual
product of fine metal is now rated at $5,000,000.
There are no very late tables of the products of the American mines. We
have ascertained, by accident purely, how the estimate is made at
present.