Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-04-29

Hos uyssery 81 y Dprfugs ~.
esssssd Ter BY Easy. Nasarai
asa seisssiae rrt.eipies ana
Cassss.
A day or two since . reporter Of the
Nxws visited the recently discovered
sulphur beds, situated ct the base OF the
mountain. q and ons-haf miles west
OF Steamboat Springs, In washos ooun.
~. and from . personal inspection Of
the mines and surrounding country. II
enabled 10 lay the following facts and
conclusions before our readers: Tho
sulphur belt was discovered . few
months since BY Thomas Wheeler and
Isaac spencer, Of Reno. who were pros
pscting in that section for cinnabar.
Tbs deposits have been opened by cuts
and shafts at different points. extending
north and south for q distance OF half q
milo OF more. Tho sulphur 10 imbed.
ded In . light colored. chalky appearing
formation. strongly resembling s~teatits,
which formation 10 half q mile in width.
and can be traced northsily and south
sfly for at least n mile. and. judging
from tho general surface appearances. II
IL reasonable TO suppose undsrlies the
whole extent Of the magnetism form
alton. The sulphur has been found In
most OF the shafts and cuts q very few
feet below the surface. On the surface
no escapes or indications OF heat are
visible, but in all the cuts and shafts
great heat, steam and gas have been de-
veloped = very few feet below the crust.
The principal claim. known A. the
Wheeler * Spencer. has been leased 10
James Duffy and Thomas Smith Of Car
son City, for q term OF three months.
These gentlemen have commenced tho
opening Of the sulphur deposit on .
point Of the mountain. some l50 feet
above the level Of the FIAT, having Sc
cured for q foreman Of tho works the
services Of Mr.. Joseph Scott. who 10
probably tho bsst posted sulphur miner
and prospector in the State. Mr. Scott
opened the famous Rabbit Hole mine in
Humboldt county. and has been q steady
prospsctor in that line for several years
past. The mine at that point has been
opened to q depth Of twenty feet by
running open cuts into the hill side wide
enough in which to turn q horse and
cart. The cuts show the sulphur to lie
in crystallizsd punches and streaks, In.
termixod through and through the tale.
or magnetism bed. Five or six tons Of
sulphur hal been extracted, and lay
piled UP ready for shipment, and some
iity tons more were stripped. almost
ready for extraction. AT the bottom OF
the pit the heat Was great enough To ruin
the solss OF a mans boots who would
dare to lingsr there any length OF
time. and the sulphurous gases and
steam made IL a very uncomfortable
place in which to labor. The appear
ancss show. beyond q doubt, that a large
and paying deposit OF sulphur has been
found. The sulphur. In its raw state.
Just as ID Il extracted from the mine. as
says about ssvsnty-five per cent. OF the
pure article. and Is worth in the San
Francisco market $50 per ton. These
beds are within easy reach Of the rail-
road, aud IL IL Ia desirable q side track
can be. easily constructed almost TO the
mines.
These hot, stsaming beds Of birthstone
undoubtedly furnish . natural clue to
the causes that operate The famous
Steamboat Springs. q mile n . ball
10 the eastward. The formation under
lying the sulphur beds Is undoubtedly
an Immense ledge OF magnetism lime
stone, filed with veins OF iron. sulphur,
aud other minerals. Immediately In
front, and everything this bed OF min
erals, il q mountain OF hard. sysnitic
granite. Back Of ID the mountain rises
quite abruptly. and there IL but little
doubt that some OF the small lakes
formed by the melting SHOWS on the
table lands above find outlets through
the open rocks into this bod. thus pro-
iucing q decomposition OF the minerals
and releasing the carbouic acid in the
limestone, which creates the power
full heat Of the Springs. The min
erals are thus sublimated. and after.
wards condensed by the cold near
the surface aud left in the state IN
which We now find them. The hrst dip
OF the stratum, ut the base OF the noun
tain, 10 quite steep. and tho How oil
water following tho strong inclination
of the rocks evidently passes under
meath the belt Of syenitic granite In
front, and finds IN outlet through the
assures and seams in the soft rocks be-
yond. The damming or closing mp at
times Of these escape valves no doubt
often confines the sublima;sd minerals
and superheated steam to such an OK
tsut that Il Is forced TO the surface with
great power. which readily accounts for
the mysterious oxidation Of the sedi-
msnt aud waters which 30 often takes
plscs 30 forcibly. and has attracted 30
mueh attention from visitors.