PART 1I 
ORE DEPOSITS 
CHAPTER III 
ORES OF GOLD 
Gowp AND 17g QuaLITIES—Gold (at. wt., 197°2; sp. gr. 
1973; melting-point, 1950° F.; standard price, 84s. 114d. per 
02.) is the most Precious of the widely-used metals, and owes 
ts influence on history and industry to its beauty, scarcity, 
2nd to the high malleability which renders it easy to work. 
AS it does Not combine with oxygen it does not tarnish or 
oth and jt can be used for decoration in extremely thin 
img as gold leaf. Its heaviness makes it convenient for 
coms, Tp must have been one of the first metals used by 
an, for jts grains are widely distributed, conspicuous, and 
"ly wrought into ornaments. 
Gown py SEA-WATER— Gold occurs in nearly every country 
Which Contains old rocks, and as it is claimed to be a universal 
“Stituent of S€a-water, in which it would occur as a double 
“hloride, it should be Precipitated by light and organic matter 
Joo most Marine deposits. The view that gold and silver 
re Dorma] Constituents of sea-water was based upon their 
of ence in Munty metal which had been used as sheathing 
op brig, the Nina, after three years’ cruise in the Pacific 
oa R. Soc., Vill, 1857, p. 204)" the gold and Jive: vere 
neta] ed—except for the slight amounts in the origina 
sili to electrolytic deposition from sea-water. This possi- 
fotent was SUPported by Sonstedt’s claim in 1872 to have 
for thes gold in the Irish Sea. The weightiest evidence 
S th : seneral EXistence of gold in the water of the oceans 
at of Liversiage, Doubts have often been thrown upon 
35