The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1901-09-26
Geology and For
nation of the
Mineral Belt
of Lander
County.


The everything masS Of rock In Lander
County presents maLy kinds, principally
porphyry, extending from the Eozoic
Time into the Carboniferous Age. In
the Lewis Range. syenite is the surface
rock on the eastern slope. while Weber
quartz, porphyry and limestone FREEDOM
mate on the western side.
In the syenite, a~uriferous veins are
found, on n Of which the celebrated
Pittsburg and Morning Star mines are
situated. Argentiferous veins the ores
of which assay highly, are numerous on
the western slope Of this range as is evil
denced by the successful working Of the
Starr & Grove. Highland Chief, Eagle
and Betty O'Neal mines. Chloride ore
Of a high grade is also found In this vi
cinity.
Around Austin the surface rock Is
granite. Further north slate and por-
phyry are the rocks on top. In and
around Austin numerous and exceed
ingly rich veins OF silver bearing ores
have been discovered, and have proven
to be among the richest in the State.
Most Of these veins are narrow but their
richness fully compensate what they lack
in width. Here the rich ruby, stepha-
mite, and chloride ores have proved, 10
the hands Of several parties, to be bo-
nanzas. The ruby ore is found below
the water line, the chloride though once
very rich. is now nearly exhausted owing
to its being found neal the surface.
At Kingston slate and porphyry, with
q low grade limestone, Is found On the
surface. Wide veins of auriferous ores
are found here, and this old camp may
again come to the front 10 the rear fu-
ture as the mines are looking good and
may fall into the hands OF eastern CAPT.
talists.
Wherever, in the Toiyabe Range. min
ing has been attempted, the surface rock
presents more or less change. The
mighty convulsions that threw up this
range brought. in many places, the old
est rocks to the surface and tumbled the
formations in an irregular mass. With
in a single mining distric. strata may be
found horizontal, vertical, tilted up, con-
torted, inclined and anti-clinal; hence,
auriferous aud argentiferous veins are
found within q few rods OF one another.
What has been said Of the Toiyabe
Range, is, IN the main, true Of the Sho-
shone Mountains. Near Triplett's warm
springs about Is miles west Of Austin,
syenite appears on the surface in which
rock, gold is found in paying quantities.
Further north, in the Battle Mountain
Range, the surface rock is limestone at
the highest points; on the slopes sand
stones, states, porphyry, quartzite, and
graywacke. On the eastern and western
slopes Of this range metaliferous veins.
extending several miles, rich in galena,
copper, silver and gold exist. The ga
lena is highly charged with silver; the
copper is red oxide 4 copper, cope r
glance, carbonate and ~silicate of cope
the silver is ruby and assays, per ton, as
high as four thousand dollars. Most of
the pres 10 this section are found cement.
ed in ~conglomerate masses Of ore and
gangue with calcspar.
Throughout the Shoshone Range vol
canic rocks are met with; such as trachyte
lava, and obsidian; these rocks present
themselves along the Toiyabe Range
also.
TO the geologist, the valleys of this
county present an interesting feature in
Natures handiwork. They may be
classed with those Of the Quarternary
Period; and whose waters were at first
saline, afterwards fresh. undergoing
many changes in this respect by a~lterna-
ton as is shown by the salt and fresh
water deposits.
With few exceptions, these are con-
caved depressions surrounded by high
mountains whose sides are furrowed
with deep gorges and canons, through
which flow cool, sparkling streams OF
delicious water, most of which abound
In trout Of several varieties, the noun
tain variety pre~dominating. These
streams flow toward the center of the
valleys and disappear in the loose por.
GUS soil.
The watermarks high upon the noun
tain sides show that these valleys were
once lakes Of great depth whose waters
rising 30 as to break over the lower
places OF the surrounding mountains,
wore a channel for their drainage.
The climate oil this country was, at
some remote period, much more humid
than now, otherwise many valleys in the
county would be lakes; for the water
they received from the surrounding
mountains was sufficient to keep them
full to the brim, now they are marshes
or quite dry.