The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25
THE MOTHER LODE IDET

HA;T2ITH the revival Of gold-mining
QSHfeo we constantly hear of inquiries
WM:N almost all over the world about
the great mother lode OF California. The
foreign investor wishes to know more
about this mineral belt, the fame OF which
has spread everywhere-what IS its ex-
tent, the character of its ores and the
possibility OF favorab BILE returns for money
expended. That he has a very iEdefi-
mite idea of the character of the mother
lode is rot to be wondered at, and it is not
surprising also that this term to his mind
means everything of any real value in
California. But at home, however, where
we have such a good opportunity of ac-
ouirlng some definite conception of what
is meant by this term it is surprising that
there should exist such an indistinct idea
of it's significance.
Such is the magic influence of the term
that not only does every miner in the
main gold belt of California feel assured
that his property is more valuable if he
can trace the mother lode through it, but
even in far Siskiyou or San Diego or in
the hot stretches of the desert the pros
pector, when he has found something ap-
parently valuable asks himself if it cannot
be possible that his property is on con-
tinuation of the great lode of the central
part of the State. He sometimes goes so
far as to lay down rule on the map for
the purpose of seeing if the course of the
lode in the central counties will not carry
it near his discovery.
Descriptions OF mines sent abroad for
the purpose of making sales are sure to
attract much more attention if it is as
serted that they are on the mother lode.
Every new camp of any i'm Importance Is sure
to have its mother lode. We frequently
hear of it lately at Randsburg.
Those VINO are familiar with the origi-
nal mother lode know its really unique
character as continuous mineral belt of
remarkable richness, but they also know
that because mine is on this belt it is
not necessarily bonanza, is not neces-
sarily even paving mine; that here as
elsewhere are met the same difficulties in
mining, the same low grade or barren
veins; in fact, the same chances OF success
or failure which characterize mining
everywhere. A man who has a compre-
henslve knowledge of the character of the
gold deposits of California as a whole
knows that there are just as good mines
off the so-called mother lode as on it, and
that the undue exaltation OF this lode not
only Injuries its permanent reputation, but
works against the miues in other parts
of the State.
AS was to be expected when gold was
first discovered here attention was given
exclusively to the placers, but these how
ever. could not last. As far as We know
The term mother lode was first used in Ell
Dorado County when the miners began 10
leave the shallow placers and seek for the
source of the gold. 1t had frequently been
found in quartz powders, and conse-
quently its original occurrence must be
looked for in the great veins of quartz
which ran through the country.
While these veins were found 10 con-
tain gold over a great area of the Sierra
Nevada foothills it was soon recognized
that there was one remarkable mineral
zone stretching from Mariposa County
northward. For over 100 miles the pros
pector traced this remarkable lode, some
times able to walk on its groupings for
miles at q stratch. For long distances
the fssure occupied by the most import
ant vein had the appearance of being con-
tinuous, and while contracting here and
there was characterized at certain spots by
great "blowouts" of quartz affecting even
the topography of the country. The
greatest body of quartz exposed above
ground is found on the Mariposa grant
in Mariposa County. 1t rises eighty feet,
with length of 100 and a thickness at
the base of twenty feet. 1t is known as
the May Rock and presents a most strik-
ing appearance. Carson Hill, Quartz
Mountain and other eminences are due to
nf LODI Ioa
not always occur as one great vein, for
through much OF its length il consists of
numerous veins scattered in belt of black
slate through which course dikes of green
stone parallel to the straufcation. Thus
it has happened that while the whole
western slope OF the Sierra Nevada is
more or less mineralized, the geologic
structure is such that it has favored great
er development of assures and subse-
quent quartz veins along a com paratively
narrow line.
Every thing in nature seems to have
conspired TO make this belt one of the
greatest centers of mining in the world
In the hrst place it is situated in a health
full, pleasant region, well watered and
with plenty of timber, and comparatively
easy OF access. The geological formation
known as the Mariposa states, which the
lode follows almost continuously from
Mariposa through the intervening coun-
ties to the south fork of the American
River. has comp mparatively regular dip
and strike in general parallel TO the line
of the Sierras, thus contrasting strongly
with much of the metaphoric rock in
other parts of the State. The disturbing
forces which folded the states and the
dies which have been intruded parallel
with them have given opportunity for the
formation of regular and extensive assures
which were subsequently penetrated by
the mlneral-bearing solutions as they per-
colated upwari and filled with the cuid-
bearing quartz. 1t hardly seems possible
that the bottom OF the states will ever be
reached In mining, and it is more than
likely that gold will still remain when the
greatest depths which can be worked vii h
profit shall have been reached. Nature
could hardly have done better for US along
the great gold belt OF California. 1t is
possible that if she had been more prodi.
gal the gold would have been obtained so
easily that i: would not have the value for
us which it now has.
What do we understand then by the