Originally published in 1890, this book is a practical guide for miners and prospectors who want to improve their understanding of the chemical processes involved in mining and refining precious metals. Author James G. Black provides detailed explanations and step-by-step instructions for using various analytical tools to identify and extract gold, silver, and other minerals from ore. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of mining or the science of metallurgy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.