Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-02
h-SSyON OF THE THEORY OF
{ DEPOSITS-VlEWS OF PRO-
kKOR CLAYTON.

SOK Z AsA aONs
Salt Lake Mining Gazette is per-
n TO publish the following extract
a letter addressed by Professor
on TO prominent scientist in
pn. The views of Professor Clay
ill doubtless be read with inter-
his numerous acquaintance in
ec;ion, and more particularly as
he says with reference to the ore
its of Little Cottonwood applies
EQUAL force to the mines of Eu-
I have described the facts in re-
to the Davenport mine rs faith
as | knew how, in the report. |
hot repeat them here, YOU already
that am not careless, or SUI
ial observer of t0ctS. The only
lon of import is whether /
interpreted the facts proper
feel certain of the general cor
ess of the theory given in my re-
and am sorry that the narrow
of such report would not allow
enter into more elaborate dis
hn of the subject.
We studied the same class of facts
mcrouS districts in Nevada and
during the last ten Years. and in
single instance the facts point tie
way. viz: That the ci,minuiiDn #
pnotuls and mefatS IN rcinS, pipes
cpo@ts, harc been from the iDWci'
! hjghef >0ncS. In nearly all lime
and quartzite formations where
ire deposited, there are occasional
of shalc from one foot to twenty
Or more i'll thickness. Where
Shale beds arc not cryst0ii-ed
form an impentrable barrier to
hSSagc of waters or vapor> from
j diree ion, and where deposits OF
Re found in contact with them, 1t
5uiIabiY Untlri' the .shu'e and ncrcl'
bp. where the beds are inclined,
ed in.o anticlinalS, or horizontal.
here the igneouS action has been
FitIit " VI ' StttiiHt tiit SIltIc vi
beds, they become tiSsile and
llt the escape of the mineral solu-
to higher zones where they meet
better conditions f&r deposit.
fe We may find in one district that
)lu,onic disturbances are light, and
ruption liniie | to the lower strata.
E the upper zones are unbrOken
hc;dlS will be confined to the Older
! and no trace of deposit will be
q i'll the upper beds,
al joining district in the same
|of uphcaval may show Il totally
Peat state of facts. Itthe eruption
penn more extensive and powerful,
to send diles OF porphyry or trap
nrl through the whole series of
|aIizcl strata, you will find that
petals have also aSccntlcd to high
)nc>. leaving the oi,lcr sfi'at0 h0,'u,
b i"c a"d b"lrrn. In fact | have
4 visited Il mining district in Utah
eNada that has not shown numer-
pets to prove that the elimination
EeatIng ont process has been up
and oHfWdIu from the centcrS of
pnlr activity, a> we'll as tutcr0Vy in
B zones of bedded strata that have
heated by such igneous causes.
psi also be remembered that in
II not al districts where metals
been deposited they were be-
he permanent water level at the
OF such deposits, thus pre-
pnS the possibility OF an intil-
pm downward. consider it en-
fiy doubtful if ony lodes were ever
(ed, or metals deposited therein
I The then water level. Intiltra-
downward and deposits of cop
prom and such metals as are solu-
Fhd not liable To be tixei by chem
FeaSent> present at the time of oXi-
lh' are quite common, but such
p invariably ceases at the perma-
water line. Then arises the queS-
'" here was the water level at
eme original deposit was made ?"
IPPoSe the disturbances that gave
Iohulllons of heat and consequent
Ilicai action that produced deposits
i We're submarine, the only move
OF the waters and gasses that eli
H'eu 'he minerals must have been
ru and outward from the centers
Iu'onlc Y action. The water saturat-
'he lower beds would be driven
ny The heat. carrying the metal
piu IONS OF points where the tenn
lure allowed deposit and crystali-
l" 10 take place. The chemical re-
IL 81 met with by the solutions
~ nave a modifying influence on
".l'o>lt OF the metals, that is to
Nrohg chemical reagents may
y, caused the deposits to take place
en 81. temperatures in one locality,
"nefe such powerful reagents
d aol present, the minerals would
,ncPoSit until much lower tenn
,nie sa was reached. AS the erup-
,r ,pehS slowly cooled, the deposit of
w "'uid take place at points near
,o =. cehters of activity, until (as in
=, 'aSes) the deposits would be ex-
w. ~. downward to the contact with
4up.iVe dikes, provided the metals
!. not all sweated out" of the
cod nI'ies before the temperature was
N.u ~. 10 the proper degree for de-
,v vi crSSlaliZation. In this sense
."rr o,a portion ofthe mines or deposit
'i"i> I,> IN deep seated assures have
q IIlit ,I. downward; just as bees
nc 'ne honeycomb by constantly
bes ~ ~ ,he lower portion until it
N ch .lle bottom of the hive.
, a "ie the facts as | have observed
!, y. ana snchare the conclusions that
n iiiami mint are i'll harmony with the
o. s'T'lS under which the active
/ 1--we operated. You must not
rv ''at q, l am trying To find Il new
if me theory is not new one,
o l,ue ue II can bo elaborated and