The Nevada journal., 1851-11-01

4'lEoOnos III ohOi v
sojourn in your city, of some nine or ten
days, for the purpose of making some
explorations relative to the geology of
your district, | have found myself inter-
ested beyond my former anticipations,
to high degree, from the many little
incidents that have occurred in my in
tercourse with many Of the citizens Of
your town.
On my arrival at this place, felt q
little difidence in giving publicity to
the objects of my visit, intending at first
to.pursue it silently and alone, collecting
such information as might by inquiry
Of such persons as might accidentally
meet with, and personal observation of
those characteristics that might fall in
my way: But maturer delibcration has
led me to another course, and that course
has not only led to grateful acknow-
Judgements on my part for the impor-
tant services you have rendered me
through your Journal, in facilitating my
operations in the enterprise have en-
tered into, but also the agreeable ac-
quaintances | have formed during my
intercourse with you.
am aware that natural wish must
spring up in the minds of the citizens
Of this place, to hear through the press
my opinions relative to the few obser-
vations | may have made during my
visit to this vicinity, and with this idea
before me | have ventured to pen these
few lines, hastily thrown together, as
the nature of the circumstances in
which / am placed will not permit 9TH
erwise.
1t would be incompatible with my
present limits, to enter into an elaborate
discussion of the various points conneot>
ed with the purposes Of this tour in
scientific point Of Wow, on account of
various Inconvenience that now attend
me. am, therefore, obliged to defer
those points until future period, when
| hope | may be able to more fully elu-
cidate some points of practical importace,
and general interest.
The immediate district Of Nevada,
presents to the observer many points of
interest in connection with geology and
the collateral sciences; it contains within
its very bosom, those elements that
are calculated to engender not only
hcalthtul but very extended prosperity,
and also inducements Of an eminent
character, to the scientific tourist, 10
make it the theatre Of his many and
varied operations and investigations.
Those points of interest to its prosperity,
as city lies in its rich deposits of gold
which are found in the placers in and
about is. At first sight, the large amounts
that have been taken from this source,
and the broken and upturned features
that now even present themselves, would
seem to debar forever all future search
for treasure here, but such will not be
the case; the placeres will be worked
for years to come, with mere effective
means than now in use, and yield large
profits. The nature of ground in which
the gold is contained in these placers,
is such that the methods now in use
are inadequate to its complete extrac-
ton.
Another point Of important bearing
to the future prosperity Of this city, is
the extensive auriferous quartose for
nations with which the immediate vi
cinity Of the city abounds. Directly to
the west Of the town, and about mile
or 80 distant, is a vein of auriferous
quartz, but little short Of two miles in
length, and still farther west are veins
of large magnitude and equal value.
Many Of these points are now occupied
by companies in actual operation, and
some of them, from the appearance Of
their leads, must prove of immense value
if judictousiy acorked. Heretofore, in
this vicinity, the gangue containing the
quartz appears to have been neglected,
it being considered worthless; but such
is not the case. Those gangues in close
proximity to the veinstone, where this
is lateral one, will be found often to
be even more valuable than the quartz
in which it is imbsdsd. | would sug-
gest to those engaged in these opera
tions, therefore, to give them little
attention. Nearly all the veins found
in argelits or chlorite states will be
found of this character.
On the south of the city, is also found
aurifer0us quartz, and differing entirely
from those on the west, as at tho claim
known as the Illinois and Wisconsin
claim. This vein contains much py-
rites, and also an entire new mineral.
discovered first by Mr. Henry Pratten,
Of this place. This new mineral is as
sociated with the pyrites and sulphurst
Of molybdnium, but is probably of no
commercial Importance. This lead and
and the one adjoining is extensive, and
will probably prove gool investment.
A goodly number of minerals have been
found in this vicinity and last bat not
least among them are the fossils found
IN the Cayots diggings and also th 0 |.
natrifactinns and silinifad uoad. A..