Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-16
MINERAL WEALTH
Of CALIFORNIA
FIGURES REPORTED BY STATE
MlNERAL0GlST
Los Angeles Capital In Black Diamond
compsny-RIVerslde oraanIza-
tIon-News From Nevada
and Arizona

Californias gold output increased
$4,000, 900 in 1904 over that of 1903, ac-
cording to the report on mineral prod
uots of the state for 1904, prepared
by Lewis p. Aubury, state mineralo-
gist. His report is compiled from data
received at the state mining bueau IN
answer to inquiries sent producers.
The total value of mineral substances
produced in the state in 1904 was S4S'-
77S,34S; that of 1903, $37, ,040, an in
crease for the last year of $6,O19,3OS,
This is a greater increase than has
been shown for many years past, the
usual amount for the past ten years
being about $1,000, 900 a year. The
largest increase for the year is in the
gold output, which amounted to about
IS, 900, 900 above the yield of 1903.
The total value of the metallic sub
stances Gncluding precious metals) for
1904 was $25, i 1859, which includes gold,
silver, pyrites, quicksilver, copper, lead,
manganese, platinum and chrome. The
silver is given in commercial value,
or amount received for it by the pro-
ducers. IF given in coinage value,
the amount would be nearly double.
The total value of non-metallic sub
stances was s2,131 1863. These sub
stances include borax, coal, mineral
waters, salt, infusorial earth, gypsum,
magnesite, mineral paint lithia-mica,
fullers earth, mica, soda, tOurmaline
and other gems.
The total value of the hydrocarbons
and gases was $9,257, 434, an increas Sc
of S1,S12,161. The hydrocarbons and
gases include asphalt, bituminous rock,
natural gas and petroleum. The pc
troleum price is the average free on
board at wells or stations in each
county. The number of barrels of oil
produced was 29, 9,736,OO3, valued at
1871, ,S09, as against 24,340 SS9 barrels
in 1908, valued at $7,313,271. The lit
crease in asphalt is also very large
for the year, it now being made in the
process of refining the California heavy
oils.
The total value of structural mate
rials was $7,274,846, an increase of $685.
3S3 over the previous year. These ma
terials include brick and pottery clays,
Portland cement, lime and limestone,
macadam, rubble and concrete rock,
paving blocks, marble, granite, sand
stone, serpentine, slate, glass sand and
soapstone.
Bright Prospects
The Black Diamond company of Los
Angeles, of which ]. G.. Bates is presi-
dent, has loaded and shipped one of
the Yarnell roller quartz mills to
Mojave to be taken in the foothills of
the Piute mountains, about thirty-six
miles north of MOjave. The mills will
be installed on the Curtis mines that
We're purcased about two weeks ago
by the Black Diamond company on
bond and lease. The vein is a blanket
ledge and is opened up a distance of
1900 feet along the mountain slope.
There have been several mill runs made
on the property and the least result
was $15 gold, free on the plates. The
lowest assay is stated to have been
better than $50. The company is very
much encouraged over the purcase. The
ground is said to be all picking; even
the ore crumbles up fine enough for
the mill without using a rock crusher
With plenty of fifteen-dollar ore, an
abundance of water and a mill that
will crush from twenty to thirty tone
every twenty-four hours, the officers
of the company are feeling quite jubi-
liant over the outlook.
Riverside at Tonopah
Joseph Urquhart is in from Atwood,
the new town in the Tonopah district,
He reports the new gold fields in Won
derfully fine condition. He secured
new claims in which NJ. r. Whiffen of
and others are interested.
as the Driggs-Atwood .
Mining company, on the basis of
million dollars capital, 100000 common
stock and 100000 treasury stock, at 81
per share.
The new claims We're secured quick /
ly and Immediately after the sale
Urquhart was offered $1,000 increase |
over and above the purchase price for
q half interest in the prospects, There
is continuous outcrop of ore for 22OO
feet. One shaft is down seventy-six .
feet. The ore at the surface runs from
Sl2O to $3.50 ped ton. The $12O sample /
showed gold value of $11S.6O and S1.40|
in silver The higher grades run in
values, showing that il
is true gold property.
The ore body is a vein Of nard
quartz three feet nine inches wide,
with a rich gangue on the hanging
wall. This runs from one to two
inches wide and is composed of por- |
phery and tale. In the two-inch streak |
$41l is the average value, and where |
the gangue pinches to one inch the
gold runs as high as $1,000 per ton.
Urquhart says when he left the
ground there We're twenty-six sacks of |
hlgh-grade ore all ready for shipment. |
This has been picked over and runs
ing the rich gangue matter, 1t is in |
tended to get a test of the real value
of the mine from this big sample. and
the results will be made the basis of
the new company's propositions to the
public.
The new town Of Atwood is in fu1
swing. There are $50 men in and |
around the camp. Four stores have
been located in the town, which is the
only land around there which has
plenty of water. A branch of the
Tonopah Lumber company was opened
last week. A slaughter house has been
opened within a quarter of a mile of
the town, and fresh meat is selling
for nine and ten cents per pound.
Mining Law
The mining statutes of the United
States require a locator of a mining
claim to disclose a vein or lode of ore
in place. but do not require that he |
sink a ten-foot discovery shaft saws
the Mining and Scientific Press. If he |
should sink a shaft to any depth re-
quired by the local state or territorial
laws, and then mark his claim and re-
cord 1t according to law, even though
he found no ore in place in his dis
covery shaft, and afterward discovered |