The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1902-08-13

county near San Francisco, California,
but, like the blackjack OF the Black
Hills, has SO far been considered value.
less product by the prospector, though
there Is market for a limited amount.
1.ead-This occurs as carbonate (cerus.
site), a heavy light colored earthly min.
eral as sulphide (galena), OF a bright
lead color; and rarer, as wulfenite, of a
bright orange color, and auglesite, the
sulphate. The ores Of this metal are
variable In value according to the ex.
pense Of transportation, the extent Of
the ore bodies and the percentage OF the
metal contents; but, with the present
price of lead, many mines formerly idle
should now pay a profit.
Sulphur-A bright yellow earth which
is generally mixed with volcanic ash, as
near Humboldt Wells, Nevada. For
years the principal source Of supply tor
the Pacific coast was in Japan, but lie.
posit is now being exploited in Lower
California. 1t is possible that deposits
would he found near some Of the extinct
volcanoes Of California, such as I.assen
Buttes. In spite Of the increased use of
iron pyrites for the manufacture Of sui.
phurlc acid, pure sulphur is in constant
demand.
Graphite, "black lead"-Small quan.
titles Of this are found the length and
breadth OF California, but only when Of
superior quality can II compete with that
which is artiticially made.
Asbestos-A white or greenish min.
eral, tibrous like wool. Generally the
fiber is very short, when the mineral is
Of little value. Though found in mum.
erous localities on the Pacific coast, the
deposits so far known are limited in size
and poor in quality. A good asbestos
will be associated with serpcntine rocks,
and should occur in the Sierra Nevadas
and in Siskiyou county, California. For
this there is II market.
Mica in large sheets and free from iron
has ready sale.
Crystals-Not all crystals are Of value,
but it is the gems Of which we know lit.
tie that the prospector should take note,
preserving In his book for future refer.
ence, locality, nature OF country rock
and extent Of deposit.
A few diamonds have been found in
several gold gravel mines Of California,
and quartz crystals, tons in weight, have
been shipped from Calaveras county,
California. Among other crystals, IL
specimens are found clear and uniform.
ly colored, they should be saved. partic.
ularly red garnets (almandite), green
garnets (ouraroite), and the long crystals
Of colOred tourmalines; while among the
gem stones, non crystalline, very often
valuable specimens Of green chrysoprase,
agates, onyx, cat's-eye and opals are
found.
The turquoise found in California IL |
that in New Mexico, being
without the iron specks Of the latter.
There IL no reason to doubt but that
other gems exist in the mountain
ranges of the Pacific coast, where we
have the eruptive actions as shown par.
in the Siskiyous on the border
Of California and Oregon, and the ranges
on the borders Of southwestern Nevada
and eastern California.
The Earths-Only few OF these are
worthy Of the prospectOr's attention. |
for porcelain, is too plentiful
but infusorial earth and Fuller's earth
look so closely similar to 1t that, without
chemical tests, the difference cannot Ike
seen.
Magnesite is also white, but heavy,
while magnesia resembles soft chalk
but Of all these the most valuable would