_Underground Treasures._ NOTE. This little work was not written for mineralogists, but expressly for the landholder, the farmer, the mechanic, the miner, the laborer, even the most unscientific. It is designed to enable such to discover for themselves, minerals and ores of use in the arts, and thus develop the resources and ascertain the value of any particular farm or region. It may save the owner from ruinous bargains, and may reveal a mine of mineral wealth, more sure and more profitable than any bank. _List of Illustrations._ PROSPECTING THE GROUND Frontispiece. FAC-SIMILE OF NUGGET OF GOLD, (California,) Illuminated Title Page. PROSPECTING DIAMOND DRILL 40 WASHING AURIFEROUS SANDS 47 SEARCHING FOR DIAMONDS 121 THE SAW-MILL OF COLOMA 129 (The place where Gold was first discovered in California.) A KEY FOR THE READY DETERMINATION OF ALL THE USEFUL MINERALS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. MONEY IN THE ROCKS--THE UNDERGROUND WEALTH OF OUR COUNTRY--VALUABLE MINERALS DISGUISED--HOW GREAT FORTUNES ARE MISSED--NUMBER OF MINERALS IN THE UNITED STATES--OBJECT OF THIS WORK AND HOW TO USE IT--THE BEST MINERAL REGIONS. Minerals head the list of the sources of our nation’s wealth. Gold, iron, coal and marble have not only contributed largely to the enterprise and opulence of America, but at this very moment they exert a commanding influence in political circles. No one can prophesy the greatness of the commercial power which is sure to rise on their foundations. No other country can boast of such vast and valuable mineral deposits. Yet our country is not half developed. Treasures lie undiscovered in our mountains and under our farms,--gems of “purest ray serene” and still more precious metals. Some will be accidentally brought to light; but the majority are so disguised that their real nature is not seen. How unpromising are the best ores of iron, zinc and silver and the rarest gems! Then, again, there is “mimicry” in the mineral kingdom; worthless stones are often good imitations of the valuable, and fortunes have been sunk in mining pyrites for gold, mica for silver and slate for coal. But if we wait for mineralogists to develop our mineral resources, we must wait a millenium, our country is so vast and scientific laborers so few. Fortunately, however, nature has stamped upon each mineral some peculiar feature or assemblage of characters which enable any one with average common sense to distinguish those which are of value in the arts.