PLACER GOLD OF THE BARKERVILLE AREA. 553
result of stream action. The comparatively rapid flow of the
ground water, due to the steep gradients of the streams, is un-
favorable for deposition of gold from solutions in the gravels. It
is probable, therefore, that under present conditions little if any
deposition of gold from solutions can take place in the gravels.
It is possible that deposition from gold solutions in the gravels
took place formerly, when the streams had low gradients and the
rocks were deeply weathered, but this action was probably of little
importance.

THE QUARTZ VEINS.

Two chief sets of quartz veins, which have been described ° as
the A veins and the B veins, occur in the district. The A veins
consist of large bodies of almost barren white quartz with a
prominent cross-vein jointing. These veins strike northwest and
are sparsely mineralized with pyrite carrying low values in gold.
The B set of veins strikes northeasterly and crosscuts the A set.
They are predominantly narrow—from a fraction of an inch up to
four or five feet in width—but there are many of them. In places
they are closely spaced. They are usually well mineralized with
galena, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and ankerite and carry in places some
quantities of scheelite, sphalerite, and pyrrhotite. At the junc-
tions of the two sets of veins there are usually developed shoots
of sulphide minerals of considerable size.

The A veins occur in the “ belt of veins” trending northwest
and crossing the creeks near the upper limits of the rich placers.
The shoots, therefore, are strung out intermittently along this belt
where the B veins intersect it. |

Some of the larger and more barren veins of the A class out-
crop prominently along the valley slopes and on the grassy
meadows of the upland. Most of the veins of the B class and all
the mineralized intersections were found buried beneath drift.
Veins of both types have been prospected for gold, but no ship-
ping mines have been developed.

*“ Quartz Veins of Barkerville Area, Cariboo District, B. C.,” by W. L. Uglow.
Bull. Can, Inst. Min. and Met., Nov., 1922, pp. 1165-1175.