The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-11-13
NfvADA'S CfO[OC.
|CAL FORMATIONS


gineers of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey. The industries of the
state are so closely related to its min
eral resources that the work of this
Federal bureau is always a matter Of
interest and Importance to Nevada s
citizens.
The results of thorough examina-
tion of the geology and ore deposits of
the Ely region by Geologist A. c.
Spencer will be embodied in report
now nearly ready for submission. A
reconnaissance survey of the copper
deposits in the Mason valley district is
also in progress by Geologist B. s.
Butler. The search for potash, by
Geologist III. s. Gale, will be continu-
ed in the buried deposits of the Colum-
bus Marsh and the Black Rock and
other deserts, where the evaporation
deposits of former lakes will be explor-
ed by the drill, this work being in
charge of G. f. Watson, in the hope of
striking potash bearing salts of COM
mercial value. Geologist f. C. Schrad-
study of the Rochester gold-slver dis
trict and more detailed investigation
of the geology and ore deposits at
Rawhide, Wonder, Fairview and other
districts in the Carson Sink region. He
has also visited the Bernice, Alpine
and other minor districts in the state.
In the eastern part of Nevada j. M.
Hill has continued his reconnaissance
of the lesser minin~ districts. A re-
port by Mr.. Hill on several districts in
the northwestern part of the state is
now in preparation.
New Topographic Maps for Nevada.
The topographic branch of the sur
vey is making a detailed Topographic
map of the Yerington district, in Lyon
county, which will cover an irregular
area of about so square miles. This
work is being done by Topographer R.
H. Chapman. The Nevada portion of
the White Mountain 30-minute quad
rangle, in Esmeralda county, is also
being completed by T. P. Pendleton
and D. H. Watson. This area includes
about 400 square miles.
This topographic work will include
the detailed surveys necessary to pre-
pare maps which will show all rivers,
towns, roads and railroads, as well as
the surface relief of the country by
means of 25 and 100 foot contour lines.
The Yerington map will be engraved
on the scale of 1000 leet to l inch,
and the White Mountain on the scale
of miles to l inch, and both will
probably be ready for distribution in
about two years after the completion
OF the field work
Investigation of Nevada's Water
Resources.
The water resources of Nevada are
being studied by the water resources
branch of the survey, and for this pur-
pose 33 gaging stations are maintained
in the state. Of these two are in the
Colorado river drainage basin, three in
the Snake river basin and the remain
der in the Great Basin. The records at
two stations are furnished by the
United States Reclamation Service
Other Federal bureaus cooperate on
three stations, the state co-operates
on 81 and private persons on four sta
tions. At these gaging stations the
height or stage of the rivers is deter
mined each day by local observers, and
at some stations by automatic cages,
and measurements of the discharge of
the streams are made by engineers of
the survey. From this data the guam
tity of water flowing past the stations
is determined. Stream-flow data in
Nevada are of particular value in the
design, construction and maintenance
of water-power plants and irrigation
projects, in Carey act examinations,
and in Investigations for the proper
classification of the public lands.
Hydrometric data are also used in all
problems where the quantity of water
is involved, such as those relating to
river regulation, stream pollution,
seepage, water storage flood control
and municipal water suppnes Such
records are valuable for general statis-
teal and comparative purposes.
The Investigations of surface water
by the United States Geological Sur
vey in Nevada are being carried on by
f. A. Porter, district engineer, and
Frank Weber, with offices in the Fed
eral building. Salt Lake City, Utah.
The cooperating state Official is w. NJ.
Kearney. state engineer, Carson City.
Examinations and reports needed by
the land classification board of the
passing on right of way applications
involving the use of water in Nevada
are made under the direction of n. c.
Grover. chief hydraulic engineer, by
f. C. LaRue, hydraulic engineer, Fed
eral building. Salt Lake City, and E.
c. Murphy, hydraulic engineer, Napa,
California
Underground Waters Studied
The study of ground water condi-
tions in Nevada has been confined to
the Las Vegas valley and adjacent
parts of southern Nevada. The state
is a succession of desert ranges and in
tervening valleys. Areas in which
surface waters are available are few
and small in extent. Many of the
desert valleys, however, are underlain
by sands and gravels which contain
considerable water and il is anticipat
ed that irrigation win be possible in
the future by the utilization of these
waters.
A study of the underground water