Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1907-10-12
BLACK SANDS OF
PACIFIC COAST

sand, because it is an interesting
subject. Here in Seattle it has play
ed a dramatic part in the we'll known
case of the Adams s~tealings from the
United States assay office. This black
sand was secured from Shi Shi beach,
about ten miles south of Cape Flat
terry.
The writer has prospected this
beach, also for thirty miles south
thereof, and is familiar with the sub
ject. The country is wild, broken
and rugged and o easy OF access.
The beach. with here and there for a
few miles is smooth, but in many
places very rocky and even danger
Gus, and generally strong surf when
tide is coming in. Rocks and reefs
are quite general, and in some places
extend six or more miles out in the
sea. The changing tides and winds
often cause a heavy surf and tre-
mendous seas. During fall, winter
and spring storms are not uncom-
mon. and sometimes will come up
with hardly any warning. Many
ships and lives have been lost along
this dangerous coast. There are
very few white settlers along here.
mostly Indians, who are industrious
and win treat one right as long as
o treat them right.
What little black sand Is seen on
The beach is merely the d~iscoloration
OF the ordinary sand. There are no
deposits, layers or stratas Of black
sand like along Grey's harbor, the
Oregon and California coasts.
Such deposits or layers generally
carry small, II any, values. Along
this beach and bluff it is in the gray
el. and the concentrates thereof are
this black and also ruby sand that
carry pay.
Nearly every place carries eolors
in these concentrates. more or less.
1t is common to find ten to several
hundred colors in a pan. The gold
Is mostly fine and round, though Of
ten some larger that can readily be
with the naked eye. There is
generally found with 1t pure plati-
mum and relatively to gold will be
one TO nine.
There are many places where the
blurfs reach from fifty to 100 feet
high, carrying stratas OF gravel OF
different colors, mostly dark, iron
stained, from IN to three feet wide.
These stratas are more noticeable
along the base OF the bluffs. This
gravel carries pay, how much is
hard TO say. and in some places is
than in others.
There are also in some places large
deposits OF aceentuated eonglomerate
very fine to look at-very hard
while in place, and need a mill for
treatment. and no doubt carry pay in
gold and platinum The pebbles are
smooth. showing that all this was
brought about by the action of the
sea for many ages.
The beach grayels are covered by
a layer OF three to eight inches OF
ordinary sand before it is reached.
The gravel varies from two feet to
five or more feet in thickness. then
water and blue clay bed rock are en-
countered.
All who have prospected along
there agree the gold is there. A man
with rocker viii scratch out a living,
but what is a living there. especially
outside the four summer months?
live and work alone for any
of time in such a place is apt
drive a man insane. The rainfall
IS very heavy outside the summer
months and heavy storms prevail.
the summe months there is
very little water In the creeks. With
proper plant and good management.
that a large amount of dirt can
be handled quickly, there are places
there that will pay big. Besides. this
will not require large capital. ANY
one not familiar with the conditions
undertakes to work any of those
even with "a plant, will likely
make a failure.
1t is a common thing to hear
would-be miners on the streets of
Seattle who actually know nothing
about mining, that have never seen
or prospected this beach, say that pay
IS not there and no one has made any
money there. This knocking gives
those fellows a sort of self-satisfac-
ton and only illustrates the saying
that where ignorance is bliss 'tiss
TO be wise" The writer knows
It is there. OF course, such fellows
know more about it than the practi-
miner who has %prospected and
worked the ground
Miner.
SPEAKING or FACES.
~ Z