The Placer herald., 1866-06-09
The Minerals Of California.

The number and variety Of mineral species
in California, and their geographical distrib
uiion, is the subject Of a report by Prof
VIM. P. Blake TO the California State Board
Of Agriculture. Although comprised 10
pamphle. Of only 81 pages. it contains an
unusual amount Of interesting matter. 1t is
in the form Of an "Annotated Catalogue Of
the principal mineral species hitherto recog'
nissd 10 California and the adjoining States
and Territories and gives them in alpha>
betical order, with the localities 10 which
each has thus far been found, together with
minute references TO those publications in
which they have been previously noticed,
wherever such has been the case. Where
the rarity Of the mineral makes it desirable,
the names Of those persons who have report.
ed specimens are given. 1t gives also, q
memorandum Of the principal mineralogical
and geological collections, both public and
private, in California; and and an aIphabeti'
cal list OF the authors and publications upon
the miueralogy of the Pacific slope. From
it we learn the different forms in which not
only the precious metals, but copper. tin.
iron, zinc. quicksilver, ETC., occur on this
coast, and the localities Of each. Petro cum,
salt, gypsum, and other minerals Of economic
value, are duly noticed; and we learn that
we have among US the diamond the OPAL
topaz, agate, corneisn and chaIcedony. But
perhaps the most interesting part Of the re.
port is that comprised within the last four or
five pages. In these the Professor takes a
comprehensive view Of the distribution of
the different metal bearing rocks. The open
ing paragraph Of the chapter is so graphic
that we condense it below.
"lf we attempt to delineate by colors up.
on map, the geographical distribution of
the gold, silver, copper and quicksilver local.
tiles Of the Pacific slope, we obtain series
OF nearly parallel belts or zones, following
the general course or trend of the mountain
chains and Of the coast" He goes on to
describe these zones commencing With
quicksilver, Of which The Coast Range is the
depository. In this connection he speaks of
the other more volatile and soluble minerals,
such as petroleum, uphur, lime, ETC., which
seems to follow the same distribution and to
be chiefly confined to this range. Next,
comes the copper zone, as, after crossing the
coal beds, partly visible, as Mt. Diablo, and
partly, in all probability, under ying the Sac,
ramento Valley, We rise upon the slope of the
Sierra Nevada. These copper producing
rocks can be traced almost uninleruptedly
along the lower hills of the Sierra, from
Mariposa to Oregon. Next comes the gold.
bearing zone, 10 lines of quartz lodges, foIh
owing the same general northwes and south
east course. After crossing the crest Of the
Sierra, in our progress eastward, we come
into region where the silver is mingled
with gold-extending from Arizona and
Mexico on the south, to Idaho on the notrh.
Next 10 order comes the silver zone--as in
the Reese river mountains-and with it are
associated antmony, arsenic and some other
metals. "1his grouping" the Professor
adds, sis in its turn replaced by the gold
bearing sui phurets Of the Rocky Mountains"
This is certainly comprehensive birds.
eve view Of these rocks. The reader feels
at once as if he was looking from height
upon these zones; and the oumberess gold
mines, and silver mines, and copper mines,
and quicksilver mines, the relative positions
of which had before been hope lessly confused
in bis mind, now seem by this simple stroke,
to have arranged themselves 10 order, and 10
accordance with system.
We now come TO point in the report es.
pecially to be dwelt upon. 1t is we'll known
that the goldbearing rocks have been unil
versaly considered as belonging to the Silur
ian or Halacozoic age; and il has been sup.
posed that no gold need be looked for in
rocks of the secondary period. As this bore
directly upon the question Of the manner 10
which the gold'bearing quartz veins we're
formed, question Of great interest among
geologists, inasmuch as certain facts seemed
inconsistent with the suppostion that they
we're Of igneous origiD-it has been with
them q special matter to search for
fossiIs that might determine the age Of these
rocks. As California offered the largest
field in the world for such researches, atten.
ton was naturally directed thither. Prof.
Blake was the fortunate man to whom it was
granted to notice the first specimen. It was
from the American river. He met with It
in 1852 in the cabinet Of Mr.. Spear Of San
Francisco, and recognized and pointed out
its importance. At bis instance it was pho.
tographed, and copies Of it sent to the Smith
sonan Institute at Washington. The next
year, while he was making professional ex
animation of the Mariposs estate-the mines
Of which are upon the chief goldbsaring
rocks Of Calfornis-be identified group Of
secondary fossils from the slate contiguous to
the Pine Tree Vein, and noticed them at
meeting Of the California Academy, IAN
nouncing the jurassic or cretaceous age Of
these States" The Geological Survey upon
this sent Mr.. Gabb, its pal@contologist, to
visit the locality, and obtain specimeus.-
These were engraved, and an extra plate of
them published in the Appendix to the frst
volume Of the Geology.
The chapter concludes with some remarks
on the lithology Of the great "Mother Vein"
Of gold in California; in the course Of Which,
the Professor gives q cross section of tbe
"Mariposa," from notes taken in 1894, dur
in9 the examination Of the aatata 10 which