The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-08-29
GEOLOGY OF THE State.
Origin Of the Whole Of the Pacific
Northwest Country.
OUR GOLD AND SILVER RESOURCES
what Competent biologists Have
10 say ON the SubIeet-The Cas-
cade Mountains Are a Very Re-
cent Production, Comparatively.

To one who makes even casual study
Of the geology OF the country in which he
lives mines and mineral resources will al
ways be subject of deep interest. For
in developing the mines for commercial
benefit science is likewise benefited.
There is an old saying to the affect that
q man who once becomes gold hunter
always remaius gold hunter, and it is
literally true. But this is not at all
strange, for when one is acquainted with
the many channels Of study and thought
to which the hunter for gold has access,
one can readily appreciate the deep inter
est and fascination there is in the work.
1t is impossible TO separate mineralogy
and geology. for they walk hand in hand,
and what aids one cannot but aid the
other.
Mining men in this state have various
ideas concerning the geology Of the re-
gion. The earth in the vicinity is SO
roughly torn up and twisted that the av-
erage man Is seized with what threatens
to be brain fever when he attempt to fig
ure out the reasons and theories OF the
geological formation. In King county
there is coal, Ignite and emi-bituminous,
while in Queen Charlotte island is brok-
en-, crazy vein Of pure anthracite. There
is also little anthracite on Vancouver
island. but the vein is SO blind and broken
and twisted that it cannot be worked.
These two spots on these two islands are
supposed to have been above water thou
sands of years before the rest of the Pa
cific slope. However, that is but the be.
ginning of the geological eonundrum.
Regarding the Cascade mountains, the
range Ii supposed 20 have been upheaved
and raised to its present height by grad
ual elevations extending through long
geological periods. Possibly the strata
which form the lower levels were depos-
tied during series OF upheavals and sub
sidences. The surface will show, should
q person start from the shore OF Puget
Sound and travel eastward, drift areas OF
the recent quarternary. Here and there
as one continues eastward are shown
pionts where the lower stratum appear at
the surface, series Of tertiary sandstone,
showing Ignite Goals. followed by creto-
clous ssndstones. showing bituminous
Goals; then there are series OF elays,
feldsides, with iron ores and some lime
stones. probably belonging to the juro
triosic. Beyond these will be found met
amorphic rocks. probably silurian, cut
with numerous dykes and showing many
contortions OF strata, and in many cases
crystalline rocks, showing no strata, and
interlaced with mineral veins OF all sorts,
extendingt to physiological summit. which
is reached short distance west OF the
summit OF elevation. These strata have
been in many places cut, broken or con-
torted by the intrusion OF igneous rocks.
or basalts and lava, probably formed
sometime in the cretseeous.
DIR. Thomas NJ. Young, says the Seattle
Times, is recognized as one Of the hes,
biologists in Washington, and he has a
very sound, interesting theory concerning
the geology Of this part of the country.