Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/109

 Great Lakes, where, in more modern times, many of the richest deposits of this metal in the world have been discovered. There is no evidence that copper was mined in aboriginal Virginia within the limits of the modern State. In 1608, when the Potomac was first explored, the voyagers were informed of the existence of a mine of antimony a few miles from the banks of the Quiyough, a tributary of that beautiful river, and when visited, it was found to have been opened by the Indians and extensively worked, the metal being washed free of all dross in a neighboring stream, and sold to the tribes throughout Virginia for personal ornament. A warrior who had recently used this article of adornment is said to have resembled a blackamoor sprinkled with silver, and instances of this effect fell under the observation of the adventurers only a few days after they disembarked at Cape Henry, apparently confirming their hope of obtaining the precious metals in the new country, so ignorant were they of the true nature of the powder which they saw glittering on the bodies of the Indians around them. An alum spring was also discovered in the vicinity of the Quiyough.