The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-11-11
Geological Formation of the Great Cave
in Caiaycras.


Lieut.. Williamson's surveying party, and
who returned a few days since from visit
to the great cave in Calnvcras county, has
furnished the Times and Transcript with the
following account of its geological lorna.
ton.
The Cave in CalaveraS County which has
attracted considerable attention by reason
of its extent and the beauty Of portions of
its interior; is about twelve miles from Muir
phys and fifteen from the grove OF Mann
moth trees. Rich placcrs are formed in the
immediate vicinity Of the cave, and mining
is conducted with energy and success. Tho
visitor will fine accommodation in the adj
joining town called Cave City, or at tho
house erected for the purpose near The en-
trance of the Cave.
This Cave is in hard crystalline lime
stone which is not Of secondary age, MS has
been represented, but belongs to the gran.
attic group Of rocks and is popular!y termed
primitive limestone. 1t is intercalatcd with
the talcoSe and clay states, aud forms a Wide
belt which extends in a nearly northwest
and southeast direction through Calaycgas
county.
This rock is sub-crystallinc, and may bo
called granular marble. Many places
were seen where abundance Of fine building
stone or slabs for ornamental purposes could
be produced. It is thickly vencd with light
blue lines, which are all parallel, give .
structural character to the mass, that re-
scmbcs stratatcation. These lines Of struc.
turc give distinct trend to the formation
which is generally northwest and SOUTH
cast but at the cave tound it 70 be north
90 deg. west, deg cast
lAmcStoncS oi TINS character, ionAI M
hcdea IN thc o!d states anu grantees, are
considered by soht geoioeIStS to have once
been horizontal strata laid down under wa
ter and llI.Cd with the relics OF Organic ne
They account Tor 'hG'r preSentpec"..ar ciys-
tallnc character, ana thc absence OF o'saihc
remains, ny suppos'hS tncm 70 nave bc'h
mctamorphosed by great neat anu pressure,
50 that all thclr ofiS!hal ch'rarIe!IslicS nave
been destroyed o'ic'>, conclu'c t'at 'Hcy
were iounn rom iShcons action Eeafy IN
the condition Wh'ch we now hhd thefn In
either case they belong TO the foundations
OF the car'h, ana uhderic the 'uPG'SuuIture
OF geological history, Wh'Ch feco'us u!epl''i
oi animate eNistc"cc' IT,
Inc roaa RON ave ''y " tnc cn'o
house SKIRTS aiohg ''se p"sc oi I'ose vi 'ii's
limestone inc entrance 20 '''C cave - H0"r
t,'e Foa i anu ""a o"I a. " - wv ''."''
inc ha'ur,, o'."".S anu lyfy''".ls ~. '.,.''...5
IinrIl ',i,n Wv "ne',"s ',.L ,L;rt,, CO..,
ue'c,hus son''! ~, e"enty ~ ,''i,y iVoS
anu tl'cil '"pa''!S ,.'1o I,' ''''"'"s''
| when COMMUNICATES ny N"I''"s P"sc"e'S
ana openings Win ".hc'Ul" paris Vi t''c
cave I've, ......u., h.,.t,.,.,.,..n,...
. -. -. - 49,,
iiig IN S,"g 'IVun .M'''.y ieo' Ei'ne " "ne'
my ic1l IL 'Jnatu. lo'ne ". ''' .a T'".
ueTs c"H"I'' oi ms UPe" saseo ~ ''',,-
.hey may DC ", 'i'''s
u.Iuous e",g'i ,h '','a in;ut, % S,' roof Jocy
l'reS''''' "r.' '.'C ca ,''' Vi wv ''''
''0I rt t>oI.' io',1 ~ H., -,r., how, ,,.;,.,,.
nysI "a vas III; ,,;,, c
octn ior'l.u ~ .'tc e.ou."S "l.'o. ,ai,. a, mI
ter' cil"er s'I,r'"S ~ s'o"V p'''I ~; W ,,o
III anu OUT ny c'iIen'tS u @ ".'o ~ 'S'.Ja n'i
are VtS'Dle On ii'e s'usS S'e of' y. .,.'