Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-03-21
Formation of Gold in California.

The following very interesting letter appeared
paper, published in San Francisco. 1t is from the
pen of b. Dcfs, esq, Of this county, practical
miner and man well known and highly esteem
ed by our citizens. In order to give our readers
the benefit of the ideas contained in the letter,
we publish q translation made expressly for this
paper.
How has gold been produced in California
This is a question which almost every intelligent
miner proposes to himself All will readily ad
nit that it is no simple problem to solve, altho'
every one who attempts an investigation Of the
subject solves the problem in his own way. IL is
then but natural that we should hear upon this
subject the most contradictory opinions. Gold,
according to the most probable calculations, is
the result Of old VOLCANOES. II is supposed also,
to originate from or to be the product of some
detrus of rocks which have been decomposed
by the action and under the influence of the at
mospheTe, or il may perhaps have been produced
by the cause of particular risings Of the earth,
which have so frequently produced volcanic ac-
tion, admitting our planet from the origin to have
been an ucandesent body, as many of our most
eminent geologists are willing to admit
Although these propositions may, to n certain
extent, be well grounded, the more reasonable
fact is that gold exists and that it exists even in
all the alluvious grounds of our mountains, and
in truth ii is found sometimes in small parti-
cles that it cannot be detected with the naked eye
Now how is it that the precious metal il found
scattered over so large space Of ground that it
is found even on the top Of the highest noun
tains, as for instance on the summit of Scotts and
those which separate the basin of Weaveryille
and Oregon gulch.
TO the rejecting man who tries to understand
the mystery which nature 50 frequently offers to
his investigation, it becomes evident that a
/ frightful cataclysm has in times past ovcrthrown
| from topt bottom the surface of the globe which
| we inhabit. At every step we take on our noun
tains we find striking proofs Of this truth, as for
example. in the trenches that were made last sea
son on the west slope of SCOTS mountain.
have noticed at the height Of one hundred and
ffty feet above the bed Of the river, large stones
united together by cement of sand, although
/ preyented by imperiOus causes from following
our prospects to the end, we found gold in eact
advancing step. have also noticed a fact of this
nature in q tunnel opened by Messrs Tardif 10
ON the top of Beaver Greek mountain, Siskiyor
CO. | have also heard from Mr.. W. Purdy an in
telligent gentleman, that Messrs. Tardlf x Co
were making S 10 per day, to the hand Thes,
two facts, Mr.. Editor, will materially strengthen
the position which have taken aud the truth o
the opinions have so often expressed that tn
California placers are yet in sheir infancy | d.
not entertain the slightest doubt but that by ell
trenching the mountains in the mineral districts
analogous results would be found. To open sue
works however, money is needed. as is also wa
ter Without these two requisites the miner
helpless, and the business Of mining even in th
richest mineral sections very Improbable. Capi
taIists should look at this matter in its prope
light and come to the miners aid for the dig
ging of those canals will bring everywhere abun
dance, life and rches-for be persuaded that th'
day in which will be found the means OF retain
ing in the country part of the money which /
taken away by every steamer aud the same EN-
ployed to develop our mining resources Will O