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. * * * * * 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 GETTING GOLD Gold--Poetical and historical references--Its wide distribution--Remains of ancient works--Old appliances--Modern appliances anticipated--Labours of alchemists--Deposition similar to common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 CHAPTER III LODE OR REEF PROSPECTING