Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-14

Some time ago the Prescott Courier
mentioned that an immense quarry of
extremely hard, horn-colcred stone,
slightly streaked with lighter colors in
places, had been discovered in He'll
cafion. Some of this stone has perfectly
round white spots in it larger than q
silver dollar. This stone is very hard,
but not of flinty character; does not
chip off easily, and will almost dent
like metal when struck with a hammer.
Much diversity of opinion exists as to
the classification of this very rare rock,
some claiming it to be lithographic
stone, while the majority of local. ex-
perts class it as jasper. A Phoenix ex-
bert, who examined piece of the rock,
pronounced it very close approach to
lithographic stone. 1t has q soft. vel
vety feel to the touch, and is of rich
color and susceptible of handsome
polish. Some idea of the steel-like
texture of this rock may be formed when
it is stated that Joseph Kerr, local
sharpener of edged tools, took a con-
tract to saw two slabs from q
block Axe inches for $5. Joseph has
sawed steadily for four days, ex-
pended So for saws, and when the re-
porter visited him the second slab
| lacked about one-half an inch of being
sawed off. The slabs will be sent to
Washington, after which we will soon
know the nature and value of this
strange deposit. Jasper proper is gen.
orally of dull color, breaking with a
| smooth surface. 1t admits OF a high
polish, and is used principally for vases,
seals. snuff boxea, etc. When the colors
| are in stripes or bands it is generally
called striped jasper. The Egyptian
variety is brownish yellow. The
| Courier is inclined to think that the
rock in question is what is known as
jasp onyx, which is defined as "the
purest horn-colored onyx, with beauti-
| full green jaspery zones, composed OF
genuine matter of the finest jaspers."
THE MAsAc CONCESSION FORFEITED.
Those persons who are interested in
the progress and development of Lower
California will be glad to learn that the
large mining territory situated near the
town OF Real del Castillo, in San Rafael
valley, which was ceded to Mr.. I. Masac
by the Mexican government about four
years ago, has been forfeited by the con-
cessionaire and will be thrown open to
the public. The territory, rich in silver
and go d, which has been closed to pros
| pectors and mining men all this time, is
| ten miles square. Numberless expert
enced miners have always believed it to
! be the richest territory in the northern
district of Lower California, if not in the
whole peninsula, and large influx of
prospectors into it can now be expected.
1t has long been known that the re-
quirements of the concession on the
part of Mr.. Masac have not been full
filled, and this fact has caused great dis
| satisfaction among not only miners who
knew of good properties in the territory
! which they were anxious to locate and
develop. but farmers and others who
had settled in the Real del Castillo and
San Rafael and who have witnessed the
decline of business in their community
as a result of Mr.. Masac's failure to
comply with his contract with the
| government and develop the immense
| property. Now that the public will
! have a chance at it we look for good
times in the Real del Castillo and q
better feeling among the people of the
surrounding country.-[Lower Califor-
nian.
THE COTTONWOOD SPRINGS FIND.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. August
Weinman showed the Courier reporter
says that paper of San Bernardino, 9
splendid specimen OF gold which was
found in the new mines discovered neal
Cottonwood Springs. These rich dis
coveries we're made by Herman Bern
hardt, Herman Rene and Emil He'll
man, who have been prospecting in thai
region for some time; but only few
days ago were they successful in making
this rich find. Other specimens can be
seen at Frank Schlegel's which are truly
worth looking at. The Courier wishes
| kho fo~%,,roto EpIoVo c,,oon,s