Mariposa Democrat., 1857-10-29
THE MINERAL WEALTH OF MARIPOsA
rNIlNTY.

now dry, but during the winter running with
stream of water adequate to all demands foi
sIuice washing for the dirt or soil contained
within the bed of this stream. This section oi
mineral lands may be properly described as a
basin, circumscribed by slopng hills, with a
gentle declinaton toward the southwest, hav-
ing length of six miles and a width Of -four
miles, beginning at the head of Carson's creek
and terminating at the butt or end of Bear
Valley. The auriferous earth is spread over
the bed rock from ridge to ridge, and from
the beginning to the end it is very accessible
for the introduction Of water and the dspers-
ing Of the same over the various flats, hills and
gulches In forming an estimate Of the actual
value of the mines of quartz, it need only be
said, that of the many veins which have been
opened and prospected, in no case have they
been void of gold, and it has been sarmised
that number of veins, the courses of which
can be readily traced by the projecting bould-
ers visible above the ground, will supply a
very large amount of quartz for at least twenty
years, to like number of quartz mills.
BEAR VALLEY.
Bear Valley District is that area of land
within the grant known as Bear Valley. 1t is
three miles in width, and about seven and a
half miles in length. The great johnson lode
is in this valley, which traverses it from the
eastern Slope in northerly and southerly
course, the northern part Of which is known
as the Pine Tree and Josephine veins The
valley is surrounded by high hills on the
northwest and east Through the center Of
the valley, flows Bear Creek which, in sum-
mer is dry. The course Of the stream is
nearly South, passing out at the Southern
opening of the valley. The most remarkable
quartz lode within the State of California, or
perhaps the world, is here found This lode
will average twenty feet in thickness, and is
heavily charged with gold. There are many
veins traversing the valley visible on the sur
face. or exposed to view by the workings Of
probable that these veins are branches from
the main lode. As regards the surface dig
gngs, they are not so rich as those described
in other districts; but as no water can be OBJ
tained to prospect the hill-sides and flats, no
correct estimate of their real value can be
formed; judging, however, from the extreme
obtained from prospect holes which have been
dug along the stream and on the flats, and
also from the liberal supply of gold obtained
by the miners when working the guches lead
ing into the valley, and from conversations
with old residents and miners and those work
ing in the valley at the present time, we be-
lieve it to be very rich.
We win now proceed to give a description
of those rich mining districts not upon the Ere.
mont grant, which we think will bear compar-
ison with the richest in the State:
MoNo-srocKroS AND BEAR CREEKS.
Northwest Of the town Of Mariposa, lies the
Mono dissatisfaction creek section-and
Bear creek diggings These mineral districts
adon each other. The hills are rough and
rugged, mostly covered, in the Mono District,
by excellent pine timber Bear and Stockton
creeks, during the winter season, afford en-
ployment for large number Of miners, who
make good wages. The Mcrced river forms
the northern boundary of these districts--a
chain Of mountains marks the eastern limits
and the western side is bounded by the Colo
RADIO district. The Mount Bullion ridge of
mountains forms the southern divide from the
Mariposa district In this section are numer-
Gus quartz lodes their courses over the hills
being marked by huge boulders lying upon
the surface of the ground, or scattered upon
the hill sides There is one quartz mill erect
ed on Stockton creek, which, however, is only
in operation during the winter season. The
appearance Of the face of the country is not
so favorable for mineral wealth as in other
locations-yet, there has been little prospect
ing done, save in the rayines and in the beds
of the two streams From all that we could
sec and hear, while examining into the rich
ness of these diggings, there can be no doubt
that there is a sufficient quantity of quartz to
supply twenty or thirty mills for many years.
wHIrLooK's AND sHERLocKs CREEKS.
There are number Of quartz mills on Whit
locks; it is one mile and half in length, and
runs between high mountains, the distance
from summit to summit being about one mile
and half The mountain sides are very rich,
the gold being worn smooth, as though hav-
ing been subject to the action of running water.
There are over twenty quartz veins in all, and
the rock from these lodes is of excellent quail
ity,-the specimens shown to us being sur
passngly rich and the metal of dark, brassy
complexion
Sherlock's Creek is about three miles in
length, and like Whitlock's, runs between high
mountains, about one mile and half from
summit to summit The grade, from the top
of the mountains to the level Of the creek, is a
gradual slope with a smooth surface, expand
ing, in many cases, into large flats What is
most extraordinary in this formation, is, that
from the very banks of the creek to the sum-
mffe of tho hill tonc tho oround will nav we'll