Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-04-10
Mineral and Metallic Wealth Of
CALF 20 lR MA.

Of II. BUTLER KING. will be read with in
correct information in regard to the golden
wealth of California. Mr. King was sent
out be the government, and his opinions
may be regarded as correct.
The gold region of California is be-
tween four and five hundred miles long.
and from forty to fifty miles broad. fol-
lowing the line Of the Sierra Nevada.
Further discoveries may, and probably
will. increase the area. ltcmbraces with
in It's limits those extensive ranges of hills
which rise on the eastern border of the
plain of the Sacramento and San Joa-
quin. and extending eastwardlv from fifty
to sixty miles, they attain an elevation OF
about four thousand feet. and terminate
at the base Of the main ridge OF the Sierra
Nevada. There are numerous streams
which have their sources in the springs
Of the Sierra. and receive the water from
its melting SHOWS. and that which falls in
rain during the wet season.
These streams form rivers, which have
cut their channels through the ranges OF
foothills westward!v to the plain. and
dscmbogue into the Sacramento and San
Joaquin. These rivers are from ten to
fifteen. and probably some Of them twenty
miles part
The principal formation. or substratum.
in those hills. is ialcosc slate: the super
stratum. sometimes penetrating to great
depth. IS quartz. This. however. does
no, cover the entire face of the country.
but extends in large bodies in various
4 ]
fragments on the surface. and seen along
the ravincs. and in the mountains over
hanging the rivers. and in the hill sides
in its original beds. 1t crops out in the
valleys and on the tops of the hills, and
forms a striking feature of the entire
country over which il extends. From
innumrrabie evidences and Indications. j,
has come to be the universally admitted
opinion among the miners and intelligent
men who have examined this region. that
the gDkA. 7ricihtr IN detdched parHcfeS
AMI picces, Or in reins, 7caS crrnied ~
c,Hlbin0iion Uith the qnarf-. Gold IS
not found on the surface Of the country
presenting the appearance Of having been
thrown up and scattered in all directions
/ by volcanic action. 1t is only found IN
particular localities. and attended by pecu-
liar circumstances and indications. 1t is
found in the bars and shoals of the rivers.
in ravines, and what are called the dry
dicgins.
| The rivers. in forming their channels.
or breaking their way through the hills.
| have come in contact with the quartz con
tanning the gold veins. and bv constant
attrition cut the gold into fine flakes and
dust and il is found among the sand and
| gravel of their beds at those places whe re
| the swiltncSs of the current reduces it. in
| the dry season. TO the narrowest possible
! limits and where wide marg IN is con-
srguentlv left on each side. over which
the water rushes, during the wet season.
! with great force.
AS the velocity of some streams is
greater than others. is the gold found
N fine or coarse part cles. apparently
corresponding to the degree of atirtion TO
which it has been exposed. The water
| from the bills and upper valleys. in finding
its way to the rivers. has cut deep ravines.
| and. wherever it came in contact with the
quartz. has dissolved on crumblcd it in
pieces.
In the dry season these channels are
mostly without water. and gold is found
in the beds and margins Of many Of them
in large quantities.. but in much coarser
state than in the rivers: owing. undoubt
eily. to the moderate flow and temporary
continuance of the current. which has
reduced il to smooth shapes. not unlike
pebbles. hu, had not sufficient force TO
cut ii into flakes or dust.
The dry diggings are places where
quartz containing gold has cropped out.
and been disiniegrated. crumbled 10 frag
meuts. pebbles. and dust. bv the action Of
the water and the atmosphere The gold
has been let j, was made. in all the
imaginable shapes: in pieces Of all sizes.
from one grain 10 several pounds in wei ight.
The evidences that il was created in com
bnatlon with quartz are too numerous
and striking to admi, of doubt or cavil
They arc tonHd IN combination IN large
quantities..
Avery large proportion of the pieces OF
gold found in these situations have more
or less quartz adhering to them In many
specimens they are SO coInb!ned =, ,,,a
cannot be separated withc,Ji' ~, :,
who'll. mas. "uer. ana subJeciInS II
- ne action Of quicksilver.
This gold Lot having been exposed 10
the ai,riiion of strong current Of water.
retains in great degree. It's original con-
formation.
These diggings. in some places. spread
over valleys Of considerable extent. which
have the appearance of an al!Ivon. form
ed by washings from the adjoining hills.
of decompo>ed quartz and slae earth and
vegetable matter.
In addition to these facts. is beyond
doubt true that several vein-nines have
been discovered in the quartz, from which
numerous specimens have teen taken
showing the minute conneXim between
The gold and the rock. and Indicating a
value hitherto unknown in gol,-mining.
These veins do not presentthe appear
ance of places where gold ma have been
lodged by some violent eruption. Ii is
combined with the quartz. in IL imagina-