Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-20
Communicated for the Democrat
AUARTZ MINING INTERES SIS.

EDITOR DEMOCRAT; In a communication published
in last weeks issue, promised to give particu-
lar description Of the different portions of the three
great quartz belts that traverse County. In the
present number shall conine myself to the descrip
ton Of the Quartzburg District, which includes all
that portion of the lower belt lying south Of the Merced
River.
The veins in the immediate vicinity Of Quartzburg
are better known than in any other portion Of this
range from the fact that they have been thorough
ly prospectcd than other portions. The veins arc
large and irregular in their forms and courses Of
them cropping out in great masses Of many feet in
thickness and then tapering in a wedge form, to a
point or small seam in the bed rock, and in some In
stances entirely disappearing. This is more particu-
ary the case where the ledge rock of the country is
granitic in its character. These irregular veins
strongly impregnated with sulphur and iron, and
inclined to be "pocketyn in their character. Some
however have proved themselves to be both rich and
extensive. One of these veins has been extensively
worked by Mr.. Wyatt, with steam mill near Quartz
burg, called the Washington Mill.
The Mount Gaines Mill is situated about three miles
east of Quartzburg and has been worked with good
results for several years. The mill has some twenty
stamps driven by poperful steam engine This pro-
perty is now owned by +. G. Hall, ESQ., of San Fran
CISCO and is under the superintendent of Mr. John H.
Collins, who has much experience in mining opera
tions, and is man of more than ordinary intelligence
The from this mine has paid very rch of it
yielding from sixty to eighty dollars per ton under
stand that the mill is to be rebuilt soon and the works
put in thorough repair
Messrs. Smith and Wills erected a small mill on e.
dorado Creek last winter, but their water failed
early this spring. that they did not thoroughly test
the value of their veins.
Messrs. Pool & Go. have a valuable vein lode in
the neighborhood of Quartzburg, that would justify
the erection of good machinery. 1t is both rich and
extensive, and bids fair to prove uniform in extent
and richness.
Major Mcneil and Thomas Early have another vau-
able claim in this neghborhood that would make a
handsome yield if properly worked
Mr. Jones has a mill and veins near Corbet's Rancho
that is said TO be valuable. His Mill is run by water
during the winter and spring.
Col Diltz owns valuable claim between Quartzburg
and Corbets Rancho, known the Grimshaw vein,
which has been successfully worked with arastas for
several years. He purposes TO build a mill on Bear
Creek next fall, to work the ores from the Grmshaw
and other veins in the neghborhood. The teamng is
good and grazing excellent most of the year. Ores
can be hauled two three miles in this district at
cost of from one to two dollars per ton.
The jenkins, and McClosky veins, near Corbet's
Rancho, are very rich, and would make an excellent
investment if they eau be purchased at reasonable
rates. There numerous other claims in this Dis
trict that rich, but being unacquainted with the
owners, cannot give the particulars about them at
present.
The extension Of this belt to the Merced River is
known to contain many valuable locations for the
ton of quartz mills. The Merced River affords ample
facilities for working the quartz mines within reach of
it, and the adjacent hills are teeming with numerous
veins that known to be gold bearing thus present
ing inviting field for our enterprsing miners and
capitalists to investigate and develop There also
many good quartz veins the southern borders Of the
County, near the Marposa River, bordering on the
valley and how much further south the Qnartzburg
belt extends am unable at present to state. hope
the settlers on the lower Marposas and Chowchllas
will look into the matter, and inform Of the
tent and character of this belt of veins as extends
south. More anon Respectfully yours,
J. L. CLAYTON, Mining Engineer.
Bear Valley, May 18th, 1857.