a pound. A small quantity of gold is sometimes united with platinum, and platinum has been itself discovered between layers of serpentine.

The gold mining system of Russia is thus described by a recent writer, Mr. COTTRELL, and it would appear to be rather a fair and reasonable one. Every freeman in Russia, not being a Government Employé, is at liberty to search for gold; and if an explorer be successful, he announces the fact to the Government, and applies for permission to avail himself of the discovery. A mining officer is then sent to examine the spot, and to mark out a district of about two English square miles, of which the explorer is put into possession, so far as regards gold searching. The speculator is then at liberty to build huts, and to hire and locate laborers in them, who are generally persons who had been exiled to Siberia. At the fall of the year, when the intense cold impedes further operations, the gold procured is taken to a Government office in the nearest town, where it is weighed, registered, melted, moulded into ingots, assayed, and accurately valued-the ingots are then transmitted to St. Petersburg, and coined into money, which is paid to the speculator, the authorities deducting a small per centage for the purposes of the State. The Government is anxious to encourage such enterprises, and does not, therefore, press very heavily upon the adventurers. The returns are, however, precarious, and our author records one instance where a speculator in gold expended 35,000 roubles out of 40,000 of borrowed money, before any fruits resulted-but fortune then showered so bountifully upon him, that in the course of a few years he became a millionaire.

REFINING GOLD.

The gold is melted with three parts of silver, and, when in a melted state, is thrown into cold water. This has the effect of dividing the metal into small flakes, which are thrown into glass matrices and treated with nitric acid, which dissolves the silver and leaves the gold untouched. The gold, after this process, is taken from the matrices, and collected in a large copper pan or other vessel. Any one to look at it, so far from taking it to be refined gold, would imagine it was a collection of worthless brown sand. It is then washed and dried, and afterwards put into a crucible, re-melted and cast into bars of fine gold.

The liquid into which the gold was put for the purposes of disengaging the silver, and which it holds in solution, is taken and thrown into a large vat containing salt and water. The mixture is kept in a continual state of agitation. The silver, by this means, is precipitated as an insolvent chloride.

This white chloride is washed thoroughly in warm water, it is then put into a proper vessel and mixed with granulated zinc. Under violent ebullition for some time, the nitrogen gas is disengaged and the silver left pure. The chloride having a greater affinity for zinc than silver, unites with the zinc and forms a chloride of zinc.

JOURNAL OF COPPER MINING OPERATIONS.

The reports from the different copper mining regions of the country rep-' resent a very active and promising condition of operation. In the distant regions of Lake Superior and Tennessee, great enterprise is displayed, while near our market, in Connecticut and Vermont, the prospect is quite encouraging.

LAKE SUPERIOR MINES.

We shall chiefly confine our notice of the Lake Superior Mines, at this time, to the brief reports relative to their present condition, reserving for future occasions, more extended observations of each one. In this object we are greatly indebted to our friend and correspondent, J. M. Bradford, who is the enterprising editor of the "Mining News," a new periodical at Ontonagon.

Rockland Mine.-This mine is situated on a location until recently known as the Lake Superior Mine, the old charter of that company having been purchased by them.

In September, 1853, a large and rich lode was opened here, which appeared to be identical in course and character with the Minnesota vein.

The Company own 480 acres, and upon this tract they claim that they have both the Minnesota and National veins.

They are driving an adit that they intend shall intersect both veins in its

course.

They have on their location three or four dwelling-houses, a boardinghouse and blacksmith shop.

They have shipped this season 25 tons of copper in mass and barrel work. At the present price of copper, this quantity will pay two thirds of the call upon the stockholders for assessments, which has been but $15,000. At the same time the mine has been advanced by making new openings under ground, and by surface improvements. A force of 80 men are now accommodated and worked during this winter.

Flint Steel Mining Co.-This mine has a large amount of work laid out for winter operations, in the way of opening new ground.

Their first level is to be connected with shafts Nos. 1 and 2.

Their second level they are now sinking their shafts to meet, and when met will open a large amount of stoping ground for producing mass and barrel work, and about 8,000 lbs. of copper has been produced within a short space of time, all ready for shipment.

Windsor Mine.-There are about 40 men employed here, of which 26 are miners.

Six men are engaged in driving up the adit which is now driven about 430 feet.

New England Mine.-This mine was started this season. The stock is divided into 20,000 shares, and is principally held in Boston. The subscription price was $1,50.

The location is on the southern metalliferous range, on or near the lake shore, and comprises fractional parts of Sections 20, 29, and 30; T. 58 north; range 27 west.

The location was formerly owned by the "Keystone Mining Co.;" who did some little work, but abandoned it for want of means to carry it on.

The company commenced work in May last, under the superintendence of Mr. EDWARD TAYLOR, who has employed some 8 hands in a thorough system of exploration, and has opened several small veins; but enough is not yet known of them to warrant working them. He however has discovered one, of from 12 to 15 inches in width, composed of prehnite, quartz, and chloride, with fine copper mixed through the store, and which looks well. The company intend working this vein in the spring. There are three good dwellings, a blacksmith shop, and magazine.

Keweenaw Mine.-The location was formerly owned by the "Lac-la-Belle Mining Company," but was disposed of by them to the present company of English capitalists, who commenced work in November last, with Capt. John Hoar, as agent. A large force was worked until about 3 months since, when the state of the money market caused a reduction in the number of men to 6 miners and three surface men, the force worked at present.

Capt. Hoar thinks that a much larger force will be employed before the winter sets in. The location is in T. 58 north; range 28 west. That part of the location that the mine is on, is a portion of Sec. 13; situated two miles north of the New England, and on the south range also. There are two veins open to some extent. On the west vein a shaft has been sunk to the depth of 55 feet, and an adit driven 90 feet. The vein looked pretty well, averaging two feet in width, from the face to the mouth of the adit. About 500 feet east of these workings is the vein on which work is now being prosecuted. No. 1 shaft has been sunk 54 feet, and No. 3 shaft 127 feet.

At the depth of 60 feet in No. 3 shaft, a level was driven north 158, and south 75 feet. The vein in this level is from 2 to 3 feet wide, and well charged with copper. The shaft (No. 3,) being intended for the working shaft, has been sunk perpendicularly, and the vein pitching to the east. A cross-cut has been driven 20 feet east, to cut the vein. Where the vein was intersected by the cross-cut a week since, it was two and a half feet wide, though a good deal disordered. There are some six dwelling houses on the location-two frame and four log ones; there is besides, a blacksmith shop, barn, magazine, &c.

Clarke Mine.-The first work at this mine was done early last winter. A small force has been worked most of the season, but no miners are employed at present. The agent, Walter A. Northrop, says mining operations will commence in a few days. The company own 1000 acres of land. The mine is on the north of the northeast quarter of Section 9; T. 58 north; range 28 west. From the shaft, which has been sunk 30 feet, and the adit 150 feet in length, several hundred pounds of mass copper has been taken. The vein is somewhat irregular. A mill has lately been erected, to which it is intended to attach stamps in the spring. The number of surface hands employed in working the mill, clearing land, &c., is 16.

The Empire Mine.-On the North Range, five miles in a southwesterly direction from Copper Harbor, and is on the north half of Section 11; T. 58 north, range 29 west. Besides this half Section, the Company own 300 acres immediately adjoining.

The shaft which is being sunk is now some 70 feet deep. The vein has averaged 16 inches in width from the time of starting, and has been heavily charged with copper, stamp and barrel work.

The agent, E. C. Hungerford, says that the mine will work the same force which is employed at present, 4 miners and 3 laborers. The vein is the same on which the "Iron City Company" have been working of late.

The Star Mine.-Capt. James Everington, agent, is on the South Range, in T. 58 north; range 28 west; parts of Sections 9 and 10, comprising 560

acres.

No. 1 shaft is now 70 feet deep; No. 2, 88 feet deep. The top adit is 827 feet in length; bottom adit 600 feet. Winze A is sunk 40 feet from the top adit. Winze B, from the bottom adit, 62 feet. 10 miners are employed in sinking No. 1 shaft, and driving the bottom adit. The vein is the best looking one in this section of the country; the average width being 3 feet, and yielding a quantity of stamp and barrel work.

There is six acres of land cleared, which yielded a good crop this season. There are eight good but small dwelling-houses, a blacksmith shop and barn.

Clinton Mine.-The location upon which this mine is situated contains 320 acres, and is situated about inidway between the Derby and Sharon mines; surface operations were commenced here about the first of July last. A dwelling-house, warehouse, and other necessary buildings preparatory to opening the mine were constructed. About the first of October last the work of opening the mine was commenced. The vein on which the shaft is sinking is thought to be the south vein of the Sharon.

There are only six men now employed.

Gogebec Mine. This location was commenced a little more than a year since, employing a force of 20 men. The yield of the vein in this mine is

similar to that of the Magnetic, being small masses, barrel work and stamp work.

This location is one and a half miles east of the head of Gogebec Lake; a beautiful spot, at least, for a summer residence.

Ridge Mine. This mine is situated three fourths of a mile from the terminus of the Ontonagon Plank Road, and it is designed to build during the coming summer, a plank road to meet that road.

Two shafts have been sunk here, one called the Clark shaft, to the depth of 360 feet, and the other the Hanna shaft, to the depth of 340 feet. During the month ending at this date, the former shaft was sunk 10 feet, and the total amount of stoping was 180 cubic feet.

A force of 70 men is at work, and a steam-engine of 34 horse-power, which drives a saw-mill and 12 head of stamps.

A new engine has been built and forwarded from Pittsburgh, which will be used for pumping water and raising copper.

There are thirty-five acres of cleared land upon which are raised this year, hay, oats, potatoes, and turnips. Eight dwelling-houses have been built.

Metropolitan Mine.-This mine was commenced during the past spring, and a vein was found and opened that was thought to be equal to any in this country in rich stamp work taken from the surface. The surface improvements were commenced at the time that the vein was opened.

The location contains 3000 acres of land. At this time 12 men are employed, and that force will be increased as soon as buildings can be completed to accommodate them.

Nebraska Mine.-This mine has 10 acres under cultivation, and three houses constructed, two plank houses and one log house. Efficient operations were commenced at this mine about the 1st of July, 1854. A level has been driven at the foot of the bluff, on the course of the vein, 46 feet 5 inches, on the 1st of Sept. There have been 3 fathoms of ground stoped, up to the same date, and 6 tons of mass and barrel copper have been taken and made available for shipping, from the ground opened-and 27 tons of rich stamp work. There has also been other barrel work taken out of the ground, which has not been prepared for shipping.

A shaft was commenced the 13th inst., and is now progressing, from which there has been taken 14 ton of mass copper at a depth of six feet; and a well defined vein continues.

A new adit has been commenced on the course of the vein, west from the shaft, in which the vein appears to be well defined. There are six or seven tons of copper ready for shipment.

Adventure Mine. This mine has recently struck upon a new vein of great promise, on the north side of their bluff, from which they have taken 27 barrels of copper, and one half ton of stamp copper, equal to about 15,000 pounds, in one month with only three men.

Magnetic Mine.-This location has 25 acres of land cleared, and good surface improvements generally. Operations were commenced here about one year ago. The vein that has been worked is about 24 feet wide, producing large barrel work and stamp work. Some small masses have been found here. A force of 20 men are employed.

The Evergreen Bluff Mining Co.-The whole amount expended by the Company is $6,000, and for this the Company have, besides the outfit, tools and supplies now at the mine, a good and commodious house erected, 10 acres of land cleared and under cultivation, producing vegetables sufficient to supply the force employed; an adit 120 feet 8 inches in length, and a shaft commenced, and about 2 tons of copper at the smelting works in Detroit, to be smelted.

West Minnesota.-The vein on this location was discovered by Mr. Merryweather, who thought that it was a continuation of the Minnesota. It is situated immediately on the west side of the Ontonagon River, on the course of the Minnesota Range, and occupies the northeast quarter of Section 19; Township 50, and Range 39.

A Company has been organized and the work commenced this fall under the charge of S. H. Broughton, Esq., late of the Bluff Mine on Keweenaw Point.

Cambrian Mining Co.-It is a location that has not yet been worked, but by the best information to be obtained, is worthy of a trial.

A gang of men has been engaged, and are now leaving here to commence operations on the location.

This location has been examined by numerous gentlemen of practical knowledge in mining on Lake Superior, and they advise trying it.

It certainly has great advantages over most locations on account of its abundant and convenient water power, which is so situated that it can be applied to doing all the work required at the location, being only two and a half miles from the lake.

Merryweather Mine.-This is the most western location on the mineral range that has been opened. It was pre-empted by Algernon Merryweather, Esq., and when the company was organized it was named in compliment to the pre-empter. A vein was discovered upon it 3 feet wide.

Explorations only have been made upon it. The difficulties attendant upon the transportation of supplies and necessaries for carrying on the operation, have alone prevented the opening of the mine.

Upon the completion of suitable communications to the mouth of the Ontonagon, operations will be commenced here. It has 640 acres of land, 14 miles west of Gogebec lake.

What Cheer Mining Co.-The What Cheer Mining Company is organized under the general Mining Law of Michigan and consists of 20,000 shares, 3000 shares of which were reserved by the Company, for their benefit.

The What Cheer Mining Company's lands were explored about a year ago, under the superintendence of Mr. Coulter, the able superintendent of the Douglass Houghton Mines, and have five regular veins.

The land is located as follows: containing the South half of Section 16, Town 51, North of range 37 West, in the upper Peninsula of Michigan. The tract is situated 3 miles South and 14 miles East of the mouth of the Ontonagon River, Lake Superior. The main Metalliferous portion of the trap range runs through the tract in two elevated ridges, bearing north-easterly and south-westerly about 30°. The veins run with the formation or ridges across the tract. Vein No. 1, resting upon the conglomerate belt at the foot of the east ridge, has not been uncovered. Vein No. 2, which outcrops 50 feet upon the bluff has been uncovered at several points. It is two feet wide, and is composed of Quartz, Spar, Laumonite and other silicious matter, and metallic Copper. Vein No. 3 is about 45 feet higher up the bluff, and running parallel with vein No. 2; it is also two feet in width and is composed of Chloride, Spar, Quartz, Prehnite and metallic copper, and has been uncovered at points through the entire extent of the tract.

The veins are of the same character, and have the same position in the range as the veins of the Douglass Houghton, the Toltec, National, and the celebrated Minnesota Mine. The veins are all regular and well defined between walls, and appear at the surface to be equal in thickness to the best veins on Lake Superior.

On the west ridge a large Epidote and Quartz vein has been uncovered. This vein opens rich in Copper on the Indiana Mine, and cannot fail to be the same on this. "We have uncovered and examined these veins at different points. The veins of the East ridge are the same which the Douglass Houghton Mining Company are successfully working, adjoining the What Cheer on the north-east, and which the Indiana Mining Company are working upon, adjoining on the south-west."

"The Indiana Mining Company have the best surface show, acknowledged by all who have seen it, on Lake Superior. The vein is over two feet thick, and full of barrel work. At one place there is a mass of copper exposed, of over three feet long, and will weigh several hundred pounds."