San Andreas independent., 1857-08-15

dlrection OF Cherokee, every one acquainted
with the country must admit, and there is very
little doubt but what it is rich in the precious
metal; yet it may not be prospected or worked
for years to come, owing to its depth and the
abundance OF water which is almost invariably
encountered when this channel runs deem Tbo
first appearance of its coming near the surface
is at Slab Ranch, where it crosse, an,o,,
which mas been very rich at that point.
anu from there down, while above NOTHING Of
Importance has ever been found. At this nIaco
most likely, the lead will eventually he :. strnck,,
and followed east and west q, cb.rol,oo FL,
IL 'ile loot OF Bald lIill this channel has been
prospected one hundred feet below the surf,cel
ana worked for over Il year and found to be
extremely rich. Beyond this, passing under
high hills, the great depth prevents its being
proSpected; but, towards the San Antonio
where the bed is not so deep, it has been cx-
tensively worked and also between that stream
and Calaveritas creek, it has been worked in
places with hydraulics, and numbers of tunnels
are now being driven into the ridge Just be-
low this, and where it is severed in twain by
Calaveritas Creek. it appears to have been Joined
by tributary coming from the direction of
Cave City on the north, and the general course
of which was south west. On the ridge. be-
fore crossing Willow Creek, another tributary
from the south-which has left marks of its
passage on the main ridge between the Cross
ing of South Calaveras and Formans and be-
tween the latter place and Lower Calaveritas-
doubtless emptied its waters into the same great
channel. The course of this tributary was north
OF west. Where it crosses Willow Creek, that
stream has been found rich from thence to its
mouth, but nothing ever found above. Where
1t comes out of the hills, at Dog Point near San
Andreas, the old Cunning claim is the best
recommendation of what the channel will nav
when there is chance to work it, This claim
has been worked for four years, yet last spring
a one-thrd interest sold four $4,000. From
the Dunning claim, for about one-half mile the
channel runs deep, and on account of water
has never been proSpccted in but few places
After it passes through Willow Flat, by some
CONFUSION i'll nature the channel was elevated
several hundred feet and formed what is known
rs ''Gold HILL" After passing out of Gold Hill
the channel itself is lost for distance of three
miles, till it again makes itappearance on Stew
arts Hill, west of North Calaveres, and there
formed the deposits which constitute the Dig
gings on Stewards and Central hills and other
flo
appears to have been joined by another northern
tributary coming in at right angles This comes
from east of Mokelumne Hill and passes through
the basaltic ridge lying east of Chile Gulch,
through Worth'S IIill-a little south of which
it united with the main stream Beyond this
the channel cannot be traced with the same de-
gree of certainty, but doubtless extends in the
direction of Campo Sec0 and forms the hill dig
sngs in the vicinity of that place and Chile
Camp.
The gold in this channels found deposited in
:emented sand and gravel, which frequently
varies in color and tenacity. As an instance.
On Gold Hill on the lower edge, where the lead
cropped out. on one side the cement was of a
reddish, rusty appearance on the other a light
grey farther in the hill it changed to dark
grey, while still farther towards the centre it
was OF deep blue and of q hard and hinty
nature. This great channel and its tributaries
have furnished the main digeincs in Calayeras
county. Wherever they have been cut by mod
ern streams, they have furnished those streams
with the precious metal, and where they crop
out of the ground rich surface and gulch Dig
gings have been invariably found. Almost ev-
cry place where this channel has been thorough
ly prospected, rich deposits of gold has been
found to reward the laborer for his industry
and enterprise.
That many who sink shafts are unfortunate
and find nothing, is naturally to be expected,
when it is understood that the channel in many
cases is several hundred feet-and in some cases
as many yards--in width, and that the deposits
are not always left in the deepest part of the
bed, but frequently on the edge or rim-rock.
and sometimes side and again changing
to the other, and not unfrequently thirty or
forty feet above the deepest portion of the bed,
which is owing to the slides and the natural
changing of the channel as the formation of
bars arc accounted for on the modern rivers
These ancient rivers were so bountifuly sup
piled with the precious metal in passing through
districts containing auriferous quartz.
Of gold-bearing quartz we intended speaking
in future number, but finding III The Pacific
an article upon the subject and the best one we
have seen written upon the question, we append
it to the present article:
"The development of gold from the quartz
veins of California, is destined, we believe, to
astonish the commercial world, beyond all yet
known in connexion with the placer mining of
the country. 1t is a source of our wealth surely
while in extent and richness, not
a thousandth part of the truth is generally APP
pretended. The number of veins discovered,