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THE RECORDS OF GOLD-WASHING.
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about
two hundred and thirty miles, and its valley is from two hundred and
fifty to three thousand feet wide. The river in places is very narrow,
forming rapids. On the Buruma and the Tujimo, feeders of the Gorbilka,
a tributary of the Pit, there were formerly some washings. Below the
Gorbilka the Pit is joined by the Penchenga, which, with its numerous
feeders, especially the Greater Lower Ollonokon, is auriferous. The pay
alluvion along the last-named tributary is confined to a channel from
fifty-six to one hundred and seventy-five feet wide, and is from eight
to twelve feet deep. In general the valleys of the Penchenga are
considered too poor to work, though on some of the feeders washing has
been carried on.
On
the Untuguna, a feeder of the Ayakta, gold has been washed, and
almandines, rubies (poor quality), tourmalines, and an abundance of
zircon have been found.
Atchinsk and Minusinsk Fields.—The
Atchinsk and Minusinsk fields, which have contributed for many years to
the gold production of Siberia, have declined lately in importance.
Kansk and Nij neudinsk. —
Kansk and Nijneu-, dinsk, in the governments of Yeniseisk and Irkutsk,
formerly produced a large amount ot gold annually, but of late years
their yield has been much reduced.
Verkneudinsk.—The
Verkneudinsk district, which is southeast of Lake Baikal, produced up
to 1874 some 17,640 pounds of gold, but in 1877 its production was only
480 pounds. North of this field are the auriferous tracts in the basin
of the Lena, which have been worked since 1867.
Barguzinsk, Olekminsk.—The
Barguzinsk district, in Trans-Baikalia, is imperfectly known. The
Olekminsk circuit is situated in the basins of the Vitim and Olekma,
tributaries of the Lena, where extensive mining operations have been
carried on. This district is one of the most promising centres of
gold-mining in Siberia, although the climate is very severe and the
ground is frozen during the entire year.
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