Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-13
Communicated for the Democrat. ]

EDITOR DEMOCRAT: | wish to call the attention OF
Che public through your valuable journal, TO the i'm
mense resources of our County and in this communi
cation shall call particular attention to our Quartz
Mining interests and to do so utelgently, will give
general description Of the three great belts of quartz
veins that traverse the County from south to north
The first belt of quartz veins lies the plains in
the foot hills and includes the rich mining districts
of Peone or Indian gulch, Hornas, Quartzburg, and
portion of New Years Dggings, on the north side
of the Merced River. This belt range of quartz
veins are distinguished for their rich pockets and
irregular FORMS frequently traversing the bed rock in
every direction, sometimes in right lines with the
slates and very often either diagonaly or at right
augles with the qualification Of the country The ore
in this district contains large quantities of the sulphu-
rets of iron and is very rich in gold some of which
has been worked with good results at and near Quartz
burg. There are two steam mills and several small
water mills erected on this belt of quartz mines, and
many others to be erected next fall and winter,
The advantages of this district are, that the mines
are near the agricultural portions of this and Merced
Counties all kinds of provisions are cheap and plen-
tfu freghts low, and every part Of the district
or belt is Of easy access from the valley.
The disadvantages are that the country is very dry
most of the year. and in parts is scanty supplied
with timber. These defects only be remedied by
the construction of the Mariposa Canal.
will here remark, however, that the Merced River
cuts the northern section of this belt at right angles
and affords ample facilities for working the quartz on
both sides for three to four miles Many of this belt Of
veins are known to be rich near the river and favor
bic locations may be easily obtained if promptly at
tended to.
laIt -. II da
in width from the range of hills that crosses Bear
Greek, near the Cow and Calf Rancho, to the summit
of Mount Bullion the east side of Bear Valley, and
varies in width from four to six miles This is the
most interesting portion of County and of the
richest in gold bearing rocks in the State This belt
of veins has been rent asunder by immense intrusion
of granite from the Sierra Nevada mountains, and all
traces of them oblterated for many miles south of
the Mariposas in fact am not aware that any veins
of like character has been discovered south Of this
County At some future time will speak of this
matter more fully. The line of contact between the
slate and granite formations nearly east and west,
and crosses the Maposas about two miles south of the
town of Marposa. The states in the neighborhood Of
the granite much distorted and turned out Of their
regular course, that the slate stratas as they ap
proach the granite are turned nearly east, and
terminate abruptly against the granite intrusion that
fills all the southeast portion of the County. From
this point the slate and quartz comprising the great
central belt Of County runs In curved line around
the base of Mount Bullion until they assume their
regular and position in the lower part of Bear
Valley, near Mount Ophr. From this point the gene
raj direction Is north about thirty degrees west till 1t
passes the northern line Of the County. The valleys
of the Mariposas Aqua Frio and Bear creek, are all
included in this belt south Of the Merced River and
covered entirely to the river by the Fremont Grant
The continuation north Of the Merced River is in my
estimation the most important district Of quartz mines
in the State in proportion to its extent 1t is about
eight miles long by four miles wide and Is complete
network of quartz of unparalleled extent and astonsh
ing richness The great central dixie that crops out in
the north end of Bear Valley, known the Josephine
aud Pine Tree veins, great johnson mine, crosses
the Mereed River at Rdleys Ferry, and then branches
into several large veins that dverge from their
until they are in some places near two miles apart ;
and as they approach Pine Blanco, they gradually
come together and are merged into one immense dixie
at the summit of Pine Blanco This district Is known
as the Coutervile district and is cut near its
centre by Maxwes Creek.
Il would be difficult to over estimate the importance
Of this portion of the great central bed Of quartz veins
the vast amount Of oretheir great elevation above
the water evcl-and the ample supply of water power
on the Merced River, which nearly parallel with
the veins Tor distance Of six mies-all goes to show
that it is destined long TO be extensively worked
and must soon become Of the greatest mining dis
trcts in this State in the world for 80 far rs
my knowledge extends there is not district In the
world of like dimensions that will compare with it in
the quantity Of gold bearing quartz. | would there
fore advise persons who wish To invest in extensive
mining operations, that now is the time for them to
secure good locations.
The third belt Of quartz that traverses our County
commences on the great intrusion OF granite before de-
scribed as lying south and east of the town OF Mari
posa and runs north thirty degrees west through the
Sherlock and Colorado districts; thence across the
Merced River by Marble Springs and Gentry's Gulch
TO the Garrotes and Big Oak Fiat, in Tuolumne coun-
ty This third and upper belt, or range OF quartz
veins extends from Mount Bullion the west TO the
granite formations of the Yosemite mountains on the
east and may be set down as being from eight to
twelve miles wide. The rich portion Of this belt, how
ever will not much exceed four miles in width.
The veins in this range are distinguished for their
rich pockets and for the great variety of minerals with
which the veins are impregnated; the sulphuret of
iron, lead and copper are very distinctly markell
The advantages of this belt s that it is in most places
well supplied with good timber, and with water power
most Of the year. The disadvantage is the distance
from the valley thereby making freights much high
err and the cost of living much greater. But the adj
yantages of timber and water will than counter
balance MI other disadvantages, and for small invest
ments of capital it has many facilities that the other
belts do not present The veins are of medium size,
and most Of them are bound in slate rock that can be
worked with the pick and CAD.
have endeavored to give general description OF
the three great ranges of quartz veins that run through
our County, and shall give you particular descrp
ton of each important neighborhood in some future
communications together with such practical sugges
tons in relation to the organization of companies, and
the erection of machinery for working quartz mines
generally, as may be able to present. .t
Very respectfully yours,
J. +. CLAYTON, Mining Engineer.
Johnsonvie, May 7th, 1857.
Hon. ?. T. HERBERT.-We have been favored with
the perusal Of letter dated April I'd, from the Hon.