Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-24

color white, various shades of rose-red,
gray, brown, green and nearly black. The
composition is so varied that no single
analysis would convey a correct idea
When expressed by the formula CA, o
cox MIG OCO2, if contains carbonate
of lime 81. 80, carbonate of magnesia 1865.
In klaproths Chemical Mineralogy. pub
lished in English, in 1901, may be found a
detailed analyses of two specimens-on
from Sweden and the other from Tyrol-
from which time very many analysis have
been made and published Before 1871
dolomite was COMPOUNDED with the lime
stones, or was wholly unknown, until the
celebrated French chemist and mineralog-
ogist Dolomieu, called attention to it. He
first noticed it among the remains of
ANCIENT SCULPTURE IN ROME
In paper to the Journal of Physics, he
described it under the name of " calcare-
Gus stone, which effervesces but little with
the acids" Saussure, Swiss naturalist,
found ii in place in the Alps, and named
it after the original discoverer, "Dolomie."
The present name. "dolomite," was
given to it in 1894 by Kirwan, an Irish
chemist and mineralogist. Dolomite was
originally sedimentary rock. This is
proved by the fossils it often contains.
There are several theories as to its forma-
ton; but the chemistry of its genesis is ad-
mitted to be very imperfectly understood.
Dolomite has been formed artificially in
several instances-once in flask contain
ing mineral water which held the bicar-
donates of lime and magnesia in consdera-
BILE quantity, crystals of dolomite formed
from two TO three millimeters long Nor
lot produce. dolomite crystals by heating
carbonate of lime with solution of sui
nj a If NDsfa ,ls cod +,xI
cher subjected fragments of porous lime
stone in a bed of chloride of magnesium
for three hours in gun-barrel kept to a
red heat. Dolomite crystals formed, which
were stained yellow by iron. Other sue
cessful experiments of similar nature
have been recorded. Dolomite has been
used in sculpture, in architecture and for
making lime and cement. In the United
States lime made of it is held in high
esteem; but in England it is considered of
bad quality and is not much used. Mag
neslan limestones burn more easily, slack
more slowly and do not set so quickly as
limestones. AS a building stone dolomite
ranks among the best. But there are many
different qualities, some of which are infe-
rlor to others. 1t is one of the chief build
ing stones of the north of England, where
a slliciouS dolomite is used in paving and
building, which gives perfect satisfaction
A yellow dolomite was used for the front
of the museum of Practical Geology in
London. and the Parliament houses were
built OF it. But it has been shown that
this stone was failure. The Commission
Of Geology and scientific men appointed to
select suitable stone for these buildings
decided that crystalline dolomite was the
best and most durable, in proportion as
the composition approached a mixture in
chemical equivalents. The so-called
INYo MARBLE
Has been selected for the building material
TO be used in the construction of the Sha-
ron gate at Golden Gate Park, and of
which l am quite sure the people of San
Francisco and California will be proud. As
early as 1862 travelled from the south side
OF Mono lake TO the head of Owens valley.
From Adobe Meadows our party of four
saw for the first time the grand summit of
White mountain capped with what
seemed SO be aged snow" slightly
yellow in tint, which we attributed
to the golden light Of the setting sun. or
dusty particles blown upon it from the
desert adjacent. When, after passing many
weary miles we reached the base of the
discovered that the apparently
snow summit was in reality composed of a
white rock, and in the rugged CANYONS we
picked up fragments which, when freshly
broken, were as pure and white as the
finest Cararra marble Subsequent chemi-
;al examination proved it to be dolomite of
inc finest quality. This was the now cele-
orated Inyo marble, which is found in nu-
merous localities in the Inyo range, from
he White mountain south 100 miles or
more. While we make special mention of
lnyo marble, we must not for that reason
omit to state that other beautiful marbles
and building stones are found in these
The most beautiful porpby-
ries. equal to those of Egypt, are Of frequent
occurrence. while granite, syenite, pegma-
lite and various other crystalline and met
rocks, are met with in the sub
lime canyons, or lie tilted against the tanks
Of the higher mountains.
OWENS VALLEY
Is sloping ribbon of agricultural land ~
ing between two chains of great mountains.
The Inyo and Sierra Nevada ranges.
Ovens river, fine stream Of the purest
water, flows from the eternal SHOWS of the
nigh Sierra. The snowy Sierra is generally
granite, while the rocks of the Inyo noun
aims are IN etamorphic and sedimentarv and
are probably geologically much older. but
he exact horizon has not yet been satisfac-
orily determined. These mountains are
Known to be highly metaliferous-gold,
silver, copper, lead, anthony and other
minerals have been found in
veins and deposits of greater or less magni-
Jude. But with the exception of the Cerro
iordo mines, which have produced much
silver and lead, the work done has been too
superficial to base more than an opinion
lpon as tothe prospective yield of the preci-
1us metals.
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