Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-08
NATURES WORKS.
Scientific observations in Nevada Vol.
canic Mountain-Extiuct Geys


canic Mountain-Extiuct Geysers.
An interesting article is published by NJ.
1. Arson in the Mining and Scientific Press,
in which he says concerning Investigations
made in Nevada
Between Walker lake and Csndelsria
the Carson and Colorado Railway traverses
desert valleys and playas, or sun-b,ked
mud flats, which occupy the lowest de-
pressions between the bordering mountain
ranges. That these are the beds of ex-
located lakes is apparent in the extensive
deposits of common salt, borax and other
residual salts, now probably worked near
Soda Springs and in djacent valleys. The
country is one of extreme sterility and
desolstion even the yucca, mesquite, catti
and other arid growths of desert lands fur
Their south are absent, and sage is almost
the sole representative OF vegetable life.
The rugged mountains rise on either hand
of strangely tossed and tumultuous aspect,
like monstrous pillows petritied in the act
of melton the grand cleavages of gorges
and arroyos, the varied hues and tisxures
of the strata, and every minor cleft and
wrinkle being wonderfully limned and dis
tinct in the dry air and glare of the SUD,
utterly unveiled by visibS soil or vegeta-
ton.
Providentially, these forbidding wastes
are replete with minerals useful to man, or
the "iron horse of civilization would not
now awaken the echoes that through unre-
corded time have known only the sounds of
nature and the coyotes cry. Nearly mid
way between the points mentioned, in the
range on the north side of Soda Spring val
ley, and few miles from the new town of
Luning, stands the rugged mass known as
Volcano Mountain, which is not OF plutonic
origin, however, but is vast uplift of
limestone silicious schists of palezoic age,
tilted to an angle of about 60 degrees on
its southwestern face. The mountain is
thickly scanned with metalliferous veins,
severally carrying iron, lead, copper, anti
mony and silver, although as yet no ex-
tensive or profitable mine is opened therein
This notable upheavsl is especially inter.
esting in its evidence of extinct thermal
action, there being line of ancient geyser
vents on its southwestern face, at an alti.
tude of |, 800 feet above the valley. These
vents are almost wholly closed by deposits
from the receding solution; but one re-
mains intact, OF eliptical form, three feet
by five feet in diameter, with mouth and
spout-like lip beautifully encrusted with
crystals of spar
l explored the inner recesses of this dead
fumarole or geyser at considerable rick, and
with no small discomfort, finding the cav
ity few feet beyond the mouth expand to
cavernous proportions, thence dropping
sheer in an almost vertical spiral, like the
whorled chambers of some colossal shell to
deeps unknown. A pungent, impalpable
dust, the residuum of ages, had sett ed on
every possible lodgment and assailsd eyes
and nostrils at every movement, almost
quite obscuring the candles dim gljmmer.
The exploration was effected by the aid OF
a rope secured to stick across the en-
trance-the descent being at times down
q steep spiral channel eight or ten feet
nowto narrow throat,
and again expanding into abysses of IN.
known depth, whose sheer, underslopiny
walls left the Investigator no alternative
but to retreat or swing down the rope by
hand.grip into gloom and uncertainty. The
actual depth penetrated was about 100
feet but the floor which barred further
descent was evidently a false bottom,
formed by the Judgment of fallen masses
in construction of the channel.
Future mining operations will doubtless
develop extensive caverns In the heart of
this mountain, and, very probably, valu.
able metallic deposits. Further evidence
of extensive solfataric action appears in
huge ferruginous dyke which traverses the
western TANKS of Volcano mountain,
thence sweeping in a wide circle around
the slopes of vast amphitheater, or basin
of erosion, lying westward. At one point
along this dyke is found deposit of nearly
pure sulphur in solid nodules and concre.
tions, from few pounds each to several
hundred weight, which may prove of much
Importance on further exploration. The
dyke is inclosed in calcareous strata which
dip quaquaversally from the center of de-
preston and here the disturbing cause
appears in the apex of a granite peak
which the deep erosion has uncovered.
Al