The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-14
GOLDEN WEALTH
IN CALIFORNIA
Engineer T. P. Rigney Gives
Fine Description of Placer
COunty'S Gold.
ACQUIRES GOOD GROUND
CLOSE TO WHERE NIxON-WING-
FIELD BONANZA is LOCATED.


FIELD BONANZA is LOCATED.
r p. Rigney. the well known mining
engineer of this city, has returned from
California, where he has been for some
time past investigating mining properties
and power projects in the interests of
eastern investors. While absent he made
a trip into the Forest Hill section OF
Placer county and has the following TO
say of that district and OF the strike
lately made on the property of Nixon
and Wingfield, and near which he Sc
cured valuable ground.
Placer County Is Rich.
Ever since gold. was discovered in the
mill race at Coloma, Placer county mas
been classed as one OF the leading min
ing counties of California. From the
summit OF the Sierra Nevada mountains,
more than 5000 feet above sea level. II
extends westerly a distance of sixty-five
miles to within twelve miles OF Sacra-
mento with an elevation OF less than lOO
feet. To the east II extends TO the Ne
vada line. a distance of about fifteen
miles. Its width north and south ranges
from seven to twenty-five miles, and it
extends from the Bear river on the north
TO the middle fork of the American river
on the south The Southern Pacific rail-
road traVerseS the entire length OF the
northern portion of the county, thereDy
affording ample transportation facilities,
and with good wagon roads that lead out
from the various stations along the line
access to any portion of the county can
be easily and quickly made.
Evidences of Erosion.
The American river with its several
branches traVerses the county from north
east to southwest and through erosion
has cut various channels to great depths,
in some places i. $50 feet below the closely
AID
Placer county at one time was heavily
covered with volcanic Gaping, but ero-
sion has been so great since then that
but little remains of this great flow. in
the early sos attention was first directed
to the rioh placer deposits that were
found on the surface in various sections
of the county. After these rich placers
were exhausted. but not before many mil
lions were produced, attention was d.
rected to the auriferous gravels of the
ancient river channels.
Gold in Ancient River Beds.
These rich deposits far antedate the
placer deposits, wherein the process of
disintegration and concentration or the
latter is even going on today. IT
is found that the beds of these ancient
rivers channels are nearly loo feet
above the present channels OF the prln-
cipal streams. Erosion has removed
great portion of the ancient channels, but
il is found where the volcanic Gaping
still remains these channels and the
gravel contents still remain intact. These
deposits are opened up principally by
tunnels number of which range from
one TO four miles in length. Inc pro-
duction in the county from this source
of mining which is known as drift min
ing, is approximately S70,00O,0O0.
1t has been estimated by those who
have given it much study and attention
that the length of ancient river channels
remaining unworked in Placer county will
amount to 200 miles. 1t will he seen from
this that the field of operation in drift
mining still remains large.
GoId-6earing Lodes.
In all the years that placer and drift
mining have been carried on but very
little attention has been accorded quartz
mining. While some attention has been
given these veins and lodges of gold
bearing quartz. the amount of develop
ment is very limited From the fact that
the source of these large deposits of
rich gravels is due to the disintegration
and concentration of the innumerable
stringers. VEINS and lodges traversing the
country, it is evident II presents an in
vting field for the prOspector and capt.
talist to investigate.
The Nixon WlngfieId Strike.
The predominating rocks in the dis
trict are states, Serpentine, shaleS and
several varieties of porphyritic rocks.
The ore opened up on the Nixon-Wing-
field property lies at the contact between
a slate hanging wall and serpentine
foot wall The rich ore is from six to
twelve inches thick and lies against the
foot wall Above this ore is a body Of
hematite several feet thick. This iron
contains but little value. The contact
dips to the east at an angle of about
70 degrees. It's trend is about n. Is de-
grees W. Mr.. Wingfield on his last
trip out 20 San Francisco took with him
between $4,000 and $1,000 in fine gold
and nuggets. II the present showing will
hold out with further development it viii
make a great mine. Since the story of
the strike has come out many pros
the surrounding territory with the result
that much good looking rock is coming
IN daily.
Rigney Gets Property.
Mr.. Rigney. while there. secured for
himself and associates 10 acres OF the
adjacent ground lying Immediately north
of the Nixon-Wingfield property. The
scene of the strike Is about two miles
southeast OF Forest Hill. in Bath min
ing district. Placer county, California.
Forest Hill affords a good hotel two
chandise and supply stores, meat shop,
restaurant. haif-dozen saloons. black
smith shop, postoffice and outside tele-
graph and telephone service. In the early
days 1t boasted of several thousand in
habitants
Railroad connections on the Southern
Pacific are made at Colfax and Auburn.
Coffax lies TO the northwest a distance
of fifteen miles. Auburn lies to the
southwest a distance OF twenty miles.
through a thickly timbered and watered
country.
Union Assay Office.
NJ. g. Eanauer. ]. v. Sadler.
Ike So West Tenpie. p. o. Box I4ls