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Miner's Guide and Metallurgist's Directory, 1849 [159040]

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Miner's Guide and Metallurgist's Directory, 1849 [159040]
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The Miner's Guide, and Metallurgist's Directory by J.W. Orton. Published by A.S. Barnes & Co., 1849. First edition. Rare. Title page with small vignette of 3 miners panning for gold plus 2 Indian or Black laborers. The book contains the earliest descriptions of assaying, extraction and parting of gold and silver used by early Gold Rush miners. The basis of the book is a discussion of the metal and their properties, with methodology of identification. Orton discusses quicksilver amalgamation in detail, but there is insufficient detail from which to render quantitative assays for gold ores containing silver; thus, the miner would get incorrect higher assays for gold using the methods described in this book. For the general gold ores found in most of the Mother Lode region of California, this methodology would be adequate, though nowhere near as accurate as it could be. This is clearly a book intended for California miners attempt to educate them about metals and, to some degree, about geology. Unlike some other similar works of this period, Orton knows his subject matter very well and has illustrated important points in carefully flowing language that makes sense. While Orton has used the term "Directory" in the title, it is not a directory in the sense of a bibliophile's use of the word. Rather, the reference to "directory" here is with regard to a directory of metals, though Orton did not use these terms. 86 pages plus advertisements. Bound in brown cloth with floral designs, gilt lettered spine. Some wear the ends of spine, some brown spots on first few pages, otherwise good condition. 4 x 6 inches.

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