Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

The Mining and Scientific Press. ee _ = = = ‘depress the priccs of stock, as might hest scrvo the interests of those having contro! of them, is not likely to he practtsed to the sauic extent as formerly, it threat: eniny to provo nearly as dangerous to those enzaged in carrying: it on as to their intended victims. ‘Thur this business inay speedily be purged of thie nnd alt other abnses is greatly to be hoped, since to it wo must continue to look fer those hinge and certain revenues which havo thus far never fiiled us, as they are not likely to do, onr mines beim: vast in extent an literally exhaustless, * © * * Whierever it lms been carried on in a legitimnte manner, being conducted with the snio discretion and care evinced in most other callings, it has generally preveil a suctess; the failures moatly being attributable to lack of skill, extravagant expenditres, or coureother gort of mismanagement. EXTENT OF THE MINING FIELD. We have now within tho American posscesions, west ef tho Rocky Mountains, three States and five ‘Territeries, cmibracing au uren of more thin one million square mila, the whole of which may be cousidered a mining country. Not thac overy part of this vast region is nietalliferons ; there heing large tracts of it in which the precions metals at least have not been met with in any considerable quantity Sdll, scattered everywhere over its surfuce are districts abounding in not only these but also in neorly every variety of the useful inctals; the latter, i some one or more of their varied forms, being nearly everywhere present. ‘Te what extent this rezion $8 metal bearing ls as yet heen but partinlty determined ; its magnitude, and the . difficulties atten:ling its exploration, hnving precluded a thorongh examination of . more than a sinatl part of it. Of that portion lying within the limits of Catifornin Vand Nevada, with which we have become most familiar, it can be truthfally said thitt the more it lias been explored the grenter appears to bo its enpncity for yiel:linz, under tho coujeint nil of well-directed lahor aml mople capital, large amounts Of ob} and silver. It is now perevived thut tbe placcr mines of this State, liberally as they gave up their trensures at first to the simple and inexpensive processes employed for working then, formed but the husk and chaff, us it were, of one real aml more substantial mineral wealth, hid awny in the vast repositeries of auriferous quartz found in every county that flanks the Sierra ; while the further tho work of prospecting hns deen carried into the wilds of Nevada, Utuh, and Idaho, the richer aml nore cxtensive huve been tho disvoverics made, establishing, to all practical intents, not only tho illituitable bounds, but also the inexhaustible eharacter of this field of labor. ’ PLACER OR SURFACE DIGGING. To tho placer miners of California the past year has been ono of general snecess, tho supply of water having been better than usual, and the season every way fuyorahle, There is no question but tho aggregute yicld from this source has heen larger the past thon for several years immediately preceding, though wo huve not tle means of ascertaining the exact amount taken out during this time. Besides the causes mentioned above, there have been others lately brought into operation tending to swell the product of this class of mincs—snch as larger numbers engaginy in thent; the discovery of new digyzings; the re-opening and working over with greuter care, or hy improved appliances, of old ones; penetrating further into the gravel deposits; lurger crushings from the cement beds, and a general enlarginy of the aren of the mines, conpled with a more efticient style of muichinery, greater economy, and more careful manipulations of the auriferous earths, * * * * Coming into Tuolumne and Calaveras, ail passing thence through the ticr of counties thnt lio against the westcrn stope of the Sicrru into southern Oreyon, we tiad the work of placer mining being vigorously and intelligeatly prosecuted, in all its different branches ; and aided hy all the auxiliaries that capital can command, or that ingennity has hcen ahle to invent, or science enpply. Here we have every varicty of mining, and see at work the many devices contrived for diminishing labor.aud saving gold. The several styles of stuices, the hydraulic washings, the long tom, and in some instances the still more primitive pan and rocker are all encountered, and the hill, gravel, dry, river, tunnel, and cement diggings aro scen in every stage of devclopment. By passing over to the sea shore, in Klamath County, we can even witoess the operations of what is known as “ beach mininy,” carried on in the vicinity of the once famous Gold Bluff. To describe these different kinds of mines, and the various eppliances and modes adopted in furtherance of this business, would require more space than contd well be spared ; siittice to say, the latter nre nearty all the inventions of practical miners, called forth hy the necessities of their business, or suggested by expericnce, and that water is tho principal agent employed in sepnrating the gold from the eurth and gravel iu which it is inbedled, theso contrivances being simply used to apply it more effectively. It is in the central and northern portions of the State that we find the principal hydrantic washings, and here too are the blne gravel lead and cement deposits, muirked feamres of that section, from all which large quantitics of gold are annually, extrucied. The supply of water furnished hy the lato copions rains having enabled tho miners to get to work oarly in the scason, there is much activity gyrlcel iss thronyhout the plarer diggings, and with timely rains from this on till the drycsaa-son sets in, the product trom this source will undoubtedly prove individually remun nerative, and in the aggregate large. QUARTZ MINING. While in the province of placer mining the new discoveries being made are few tnd unimportant, and the diggings alrendy found are being gradnatty depleted, the nrea of the aurifcrous quanz is being constantly extended, every year adding stendily nnd largety tothe yicld derived from this source. In magnitude the quartz region of California is already even more than commensurate with that of the surface mines, and in genernl terms may he said to reach from the Clear Creek District, in the southern extremity of Tulare County, to the northern tine of the State, a lincar distance of nearly five hundred miles. In breadth it varies from ten to a hundred miles, giving nn aggregate nrea of at least twenty thousand square miles, over which theso metalliferous lodes are seattcred, some districts containing them in great numbers, and others more sparsely, Theso lodes do not ahound in all parts of this extensive territory, but lie in groups or spots, sometimes widely separated, the intervening country being comparatively harren, or containing veins of little value, In some sections, too, the quartz is much moro highly auriferous than in Others, the smaller and more regularly shaped veins, as a common thing, carrying the Inrger per ecntage of gold. As is usually the case with auriferous lodes elsewhere, those of California generally have a north-westerly and south-easterly strike. In thickness they vary from a few inches to as many fect, being in some instances of a much greater size. Ledges a hundred feet thick are not sncommon, but this elass arc not ordinarity composed of pay rock throughout; in fact are apt to have what gold they do contain so diffused throughout the mags as to render it valucless. Tt wonid almost seem ns if natnre had altotted a specific amount of the precious metal to each lelve, the large and small alike, thereby rendering the working of the latter u much easier mutter than the former, the amount of rock requiring to he reduced being so much less in order to secure an equal amonnt of gohl. The large sized ledges, however, often contain streaks and pockets that prove very rich. The dip of the lodes in this State is almost uniformly townrds the enst, some of them having a high and others a low inclination. Some of the richest veins stand nearly perpendicular, while others lie almost flat. In length they are equally and even more viriable, beiag traceable sometimes for miles, while again they can be found only for a few hundred fect, or perhaps Icss. ‘The position of the qunrtz belt of California is longitudinalty through the cchter of the State, embracing the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It has au altitude varying from one to five thousand fect ahove the level of the sea, reaching at a tew points to a greater height, but not often found helow the line of elevation first mentioned. ‘Towards its southern limit this belt trends to the east, and crossing the Sierra Nevada chain has its extremity in the Owens Vailey country; while in the opposite direction, following tbe straggling spurs of this same range, it sweeps to the north-west, and terminatcs on the shores of the Pacific, a portion continuing on into southern Oregon. <Atone time it was thought there was no quartz in the more elevated portions of the Sicrra Nevada, but this has since been found to be a mistaken opinion. More recent exBecton havo bronght to light extensive districts containing lodes of this rock, ighly impregnated with hoth gold and silver. The Kearsarge District, in Tulare, and tho Excelsior, in Nevada County, with several of less importance situate between them, but all lying high up the sides, and several quite on the summit of the Sierra, disprove this theory, and go far toward warranting the belief that these mountains may yet become tlie theater of large and profitable mining operations. * * * * Aided and stimulated by tho liberal investments being made, there is now mach prospecting going n, both in the way of opening ledges alrendy located, ne and in searching for new ones. In most cases miners who dispose of their interests eimploy tho proceeds iu proxpecting for others, or in working the claims they may still own. Tho quartz mills thronghout this Stato vary in eapaeity from three stamps to fifty ; the number coutained in the mills built at mn earlier day generally running trom Give la twenly. Lately the nunter las bees larger, Mo] of the ollie are ecpley el fy crushing rock [ram the ledges beloagua to iher several proprietors ; apd heace there Ig In many districis a eed fur mills tade cusiom work, It is usually estimated Ihat each slau hus # eapachly lo crush ous tou of rock in twenly-fonr hours, The rarnings of some of these mills aml mines are shorinous. Tho average monitily ylctd of four mills on the Fremoa) Maripusa es. lute Was over $60,900, The nel earnings of the Crescent Coajany, Plumas County, have been ni the rate of $100,000 per annum, while, a8 we huve already seen, muny of Ibe leading mines abont Grass Yutey hay produced still mere munificcatly, The total yield of the Allison Ranch Mine a) thal place, since operaliens were first meneed upon . t. bus exceeded €2,500,009; The group of claims on Massachusells Itil have tel eat aleul $3,600,000; tho North Sar and ater mines ou New York [tl havo yleblet $2,500,000, aud The Nerambagua slane $1,000,000, The complemen! fur Weld ltill bas been $3,C00.000, nud fur the Lous Jack Mine, Oputr, bs borae, and Utueston Hilla, the aggregaie las been Lally $3,500,000. The prodnet of ihe Eureka, during the past two yeurs, hus excerded $500,000, 1s cariduge lor the menuth of December last aloag having been mory tan $45,000. The ngeregale amount of gobl taken from ibe quartz tines within dhe limits of the Grass Vulicy Mairi since 1362—thirteen yeurs—his been at least $20,000,000, In corroboration of tte substantial correriness of ihis gtatement, we find, afler a yery careful exuntaallon of atl ihe recomia and olher dada at our disposal, [lin] the ageregale ylold of Grass Valley, during the past thirtecn years, has heen about $23,000,000, including all ihe recetpts from the surtico wlaiug chitm® ty thai region. Front theso laller seurers the mos? roliable shutisites show thal about $8,000,000 has been obtained, leaving $20,000 000 na the probable prod of tho quarlz oilues since 1852, This Is helleved by aiauy well iMmoriwned par: lies to bo Ina ulancstimale, bul wishing lo be witkda bounds wo contorm to thy above Bg: ures. Ditring the pasl your the quartz mines of Grass Valley have ylelded utiout $3 300,00u, or an average ol $275,000 per inenth, wad The coming year ts likely to shaw a product ol amare than $5,000,000, Tho Suulsby Mill, Tuolnaie County, tured oul at tho rate of $50,000 per month when it first started, and although It did not keep ayethad yleld, has earnel yast sums mosl of Mie Lime sides, A lorge nomber ¢f mulls of ordinary capacity might be meniloned that for years Nave steadily earnel Irom $10,000 to $20,000 per moath. Mot of thesu mills run nightand diy. Imiense sums haye heretofore heen umd are still betug logt in the working of qumriz, from inubility Ja separate Tho gald, by the ordinary miles of treatment, Irom ihe sulphnreis of lrou ual copper with which it is combined. Many efforts aro heing alade to meet this dificully, some of which have been partially successiut, nnd hero is reason to lmpe that Ihe desiderntom will be supplied ut aa curly day, Ahout two-hirds of the mitls in Califoruta are propoded by steam, and tho halauce hy water, the latter generally helag thosu of tofertor capacity. The mos? of them ran night and day, sopping uly Jor repairs or oa Sunday. Thr business of quariz inlning upun this coast is aot confiacd to California, thore belng a greal number of ledges in Nevada, ldaho, and Jn fact througbou) all paris of nur Pacifie posses: slons, that are now being or will hereaiter be worked by ushajde gold-saving process, that metal, while there is ulways a small per cent. of cilver present in lhe rock, greatly predomiuatlng. Tie bulllon oltuiued from thls class of ledges Is worth from $0 to $14 per ounce, SILVER MINES AND MINING. While Callfornia has within her borders a considerable number of what may properly he termed silver-bearing lodes, she has as yet produced but little of this metal, the hulk of 11 haying come from the mines ahout Virginia City, and other localltes ia the Stute of Nevada. whrre the business of mining for it is exlensively engaged in. The yleld of Ihat Siule for the past year amounted, in round numbers, 10 $16 000,000, the same as Lhe year before; the entire prouct of that region, since the discovery of siiver tbhcre iu 1859, heing estimated at ubout $40,000,000. AMOUNT OF BULLION TRANSPORTED BY WELLS, FARGO & 00., FOR 1865, The follawing is a statement of the amoual, of Lullioa received, exclusive of coin, from the dillerent mimes of the Pacific Cunst, at Sau Francisco, from Juuuary Ist to December 1st, 1865, by Wells, Vargo & Co's Express Comipauy : Fram Northern Mines,,...910,620,436)Estimatan for the month of December : From Washoe (Virginin City, Gold Fram Nor bern Mines « $1,764,000 Hill, Silver City, etc.) oe 14, From Wasboe . 1,000,000 From Reese River Mines Front Reese Riv 77.000 From southern Mines, 4,707.274. From Southero d 875 000 From Portland (Idaho yete.). 4,510,096 From Victoria. 272.000 From Victoria (Carriboo, Fraser RivFrom Portland . 50U.000 OP, CLC). cece eer eee ereueetees 1,469,061 a ee Eslimnated for December .. 3.958,000 Amount received..++++$45,245 004 Amuunt reecived ...,. 40,245 .004 TOtall vecseesceessescss sees 949,290,004 SODIUM AMALGAMATION. Numerous inventions have been devised to prevent the loss which often attends the best conducted operations, and avoid the causes whicb involve it; but until lately with very indifferent success. portion of the metal sodium, has the power of destroying tbe action by decomposition of all substances which bave hitherto proved so serious a difficulty in bringing the gold into contact with the mercury. The sodium, from its decomposing power, preserves the quicksilver in a pure and active state, so that, when introduced into the battery, or pan, amalgamation takes place with great rapidity. The quicksilver, from the motion of tbe stamps or muller, is projected against the cast iron sides, and sticks tbere as perfectly as it has heretofore done hy the troublesome process used in galvanizing copper plates. For galvanizing copper plates nothing bas as yet proved anything like its equal. No wasbing by nitric or other acid is required. It is only necessary to rub the sodium amalgam on the plate. For amalgamating in pans, the sodium amalgam should be dissolved in the mereury, in the proportion of two ounces of the former to five pounds of tbe latter, one hour before being put in. For amalgamating in the battery, the bottle containing tbe sodium amalgam should have a buckskin cover tied over its mouth, through whicb the amalgain is sifted into the mortar, through the feed opening, which operation requires to be repeated every balf hour. A preliminary experiment or two will sodium, 1. Shake up, in a test tube, a small quantity of mereury, say half an ounce, with a moderately strong solution of sulphate of iron. ‘Che mercury is presently reduced to the condition of thick mnd, being so completely granulated (floured) as to resist ull efforts to restore it to its proper condition, and retaiuing this condition almost indefinitely. Drop now a ininute particle of sodium amalgam into it, when instantly the whole is restored to its fluid state, and subsequent efforts to reproduce tbe granular condition are futile if tbe least trace of sodium remains. 2. Bring a small particle of placer gold, or gold from quartz, into contact witb a little clean mercury, in its ordinary condition. It will be seen to push the gold before it as it rolls about, and refuse to amalgamate with the gold, even when beneath its surface. In fact there seems to be a sort of active repulsion between tbe two metals. 3. Bring the same particle of gold into contaet with mercury having a minute portion of sodium amalgam dissolved in it, when immediately the gold is eompletcly entilmed by tbe mereury and disappears under its surface. Tbe Sodium Amalgam, as well as the metal itself, ready for use, nay be obtained in any quantity desired at tbe Miners’ Foundry, or of H. P. Wukelee, Druggist, eorner of Montgomery and Bush streets, San Franeisco, California. It has been ascertained by repeated trials that the use of a minute } serve to illustrate the remarkable properties imparted to mercury by 10 shs Impenat at 165 per share, 33. 20 shs Sierra Nevada al 104; per share, Delis Exchequer at wesXy por share, 25 sbs Lady Bryan al 3iz per ehare, APTKRADON SESSION. 3shs Favase ai 1010 per loot, s 30. lah Suvuge al 1030 per fout. lsh Savage 41 1023 per foot, b 3. Sshs Savage »)1 20 per foot, b 10 Sshs Savage al 1020 per fool. 4shs Savage ai [000 per foot, 8 $0. lsh Savage a1 1015 por foot, 83. 2 ahs Daney at 11 per fool. 24 ahs Ophir al 675@670 per fool. 12 sha Oplor #1 660 per foot, 3 3, 12 shs Opltr at 655 per foot. 120 shs Ophtr a1 66) per foot, bS. 132 shs Ophir ai 660 per fuot. 24 shs Ophir a1 957% per Yoot, 5 3. 12 sha Ophir nt 66744 per fool, b 10, 12 shs Male & Norcross a) W2u@1i0 per ft 5 shs Uelcher at 880@325 per fout. 5shs Belcher at 320 per foot, s 3, 3 shs Belcher at 320 per foot. 3shs Belcher at 320 per foot, s 6. 4shs Crown lolnt at 1300 per foot, 5 6. WW shs Yellow Jacke! at 60@585 per foot. 8 ahs Yellow Jacke) a) 635@480 per f1, b & Ish Yellow Jackot a} 600 per foot, b $0. Jshk Y¥ctlow Jacke! al 560 per lool, » 30. 4sha Yellow Jacke) a1 580 per foot. 5shs Yellow Jacket ut 575 per fool, 8 3. 7 shs Confidence a172!% per shure, $3. 30 shs Conlidence at 73@"4 por share. 35 shs Confidence at 79 per share, b 30. 46 shs Confidence 11175 per share, 10 shs lmperlal at 1624g per shnre. 10 shs linperlal at 160 per ahare, s 3. 25 shs linperlal a1 160@159 per shure, 5shs Imperial a) 160 per share, 1) 10, 10shs Iniperial at 160 per share s 10. 7shs Empire M & M Co, at 215 prsh. 5 shs Overman ai 74 per share, 6shs Ovorman a) 75 per sh, b 6. 5shs Overman at 7234 per sh. 5shs Overman al 75 per sh, b 10, 5shs Overman a) 74 per share. 6shs Overman al 70 per share, 6 3. 6 shs Overinan at 70 per share, 5 10. 60 shes N B & Misstoa R. R. at 49 per Share. AMOUAL Of SAICS.6005000111 52 -228,669 25 Thursday, Murch 15, 204 shs Ophir at 660 per foot, 492 sls Ophir at 660@659 per foot, b 5, 72 she Ophir at 675 per fool, b 40. 18 shs Chollar-Potosl at 40214@293 per foot. 5slis Chollur-Potost a1 400 per fool, b 5. i4shs Hale & Noreross a} 101U0@1016 per ft, 5shs Nale & Norcross at 10:0@1015, 85, 4shs Halo & Norcross a) 1020 per root. 12 shs Hale & Norcross at 90@1000, 8 30, 6shs Hale & Norcross al 1010@1100 per ft. 201 shs Dancy at 12 per foot, b 30. 17 shs Yellow Jackot a1 750@730 per ft. 2 shs Ycllow Jacke) at 740 per foot, 5 3, 5 shs Beleber at 315 per foot. lsh Belcher at 315 per foot, *b 3. ish Belcher at 310 per foot, b 5. 6 shs Belcher at 305 per loot. 6 shs Belcher a) 300 per foot, 5 10. dshs Savage at 981@976 per foot. ‘4 she Suvage at 976 per foot, b 10. 3 shs Savage at 1000@990 per foot, b 30. 6 sbs Savage at 965@970 per foot. 4shs Alpha at 310 per foot. 4shs Crown Polat at 1:00 per foot. 7shs Empire Vi & M Co. at 215 per sh. 10 shs Overman at 70 per sh, s 30. 6&0 shs Overman at 70 per sh, b 10, 15shs Overman ai 70per sh, b3. 20 shs Overman at 724 per sll, bi 30. 15 shs Overman at 69 per sb. 10 shs Overman at 69 per sh, 6 3. 25 shs Overman at 68@074 per sh. 6 shs Overman at 70 per sb, b 30. 10 shs Overman at 66 per sh, b 3. 15 shs Overman at f6@55 per sh. 15 shs Sicrra Nevada at 1144 per sh. 10 shs Confidence at 80 per share, -b 30. 16she Confidonco at 76@74 per sh. 5 shs lmperlal at 160 per share, 6 30, ish Imperlal at 162 per share. 5shs Bulllen at 87% per share, ¢. 100 shs Firemen's F. Ins. Co., at 12234 pr sh. $3u,000 Legal Tender, Notes at 764g per cent. AFTERNOON SESSION. 2shs Yellow Jackot at 740 per foot, s 3. 2 shs Yellow Jacket at 740 per foot. lsh Yellow Jacket at 740 per foot, b 30. 2 sha Yellow Jacket at 725 per loot, 8 3. 13shs Yellow Jackot at 750@75. per foot. 2 ahs Yeilow Jucket al 735 per 100], 3 30. 2shs Yollow Jacket 017523, per foot. 132 sha Ophir at fiat per 1001. 24 sha Ophir at 655 per fool, b 10, 2& shs Ophir ai 670 per foul, b 3U. 12 sits Ophir at 650 per foul, b 3. 12shs Ophir at 65U per foot, b 5. 72 shs Oplilt al 675 per foot, b 30. 9 ahs Crown Point at 1180@1175 per foot. 10 shs Belcher at 300@290 per foot. 2shs Belcher a) 300@290 per Yoo}, § 3. 10 shs Haie & Norcross at (t80@1090 per ft. 10 shs Suvage at 470@960 per luot. 2uhs Suvage at 10U@995 por foat, b 30. foot, 330 iy 10 shs Ghollur: Polos at 39234 per 5shs Buillon al 90 per sharo, 5 shs Bullion al 9) per share, 3. 30 sh Confidence at 78@76 por tt, b 30, 25slis Confilence at 70, 8 30. 10 shs Confidence at pore ft. 10 shs Enuplre M & M Co. at 215 per sh. 12 sha Empire M. & M. Co, at 215, b 6, 5sh3 Overman a] 61@65. 30shs Exchequer at 935 per share. 10 shs Jinperlal at 165 per sbare, Amount of sales,. «236,400 60 Friday, Morch 16, 228 shs Ophir at 650@620 per foot. 1Zshs Onhir at Sade, foot, b 30. §shs Savnge al 9606965 per loot. 3 shs Savage at 949u@10WW) per foot, b 80, 80 sha Yrtluw Jackel at 735@69 per toot. 3shs Yellow Jacket at 71h per loot, b 30, 5 shs Yellow dnekel at 695 per foot, 3 30, 26 shs Choilar-Polusl 4139244 @385 per toot luishs Eaipire M & MCo at 214 per sh. 27 xhs Contidcace at 7244@87 per share. 20 shs Baltimore American at 7 per share. 4shs Alpha, @ 1H, at 400 per foot. 27 shs Belcher at 245@2") per fool. 12 shs Belcher al 26°@270 per lool, § 30. 6 sha Belcher at 28l per foot, b30 60 shs Dverinan at 6244@87 per sh. 22 she Exchequer at 11@¥ per share. 36 xh4 Bullimi at 89@Hl pershare b 30. lf ahs Pactficlasurunce 11 168 per share, $20,090 Legal ‘Fender Notes al 76c, 14sh+ Linperial at 1574.@155 per share 25 dhs linverlal at 60@l4u per share, 5 30 10 shs Imperlat at 140 per share, s 60.

The Mining and Scientific Press. ee _ = = = ‘depress the priccs of stock, as might hest scrvo the interests of those having contro! of them, is not likely to he practtsed to the sauic extent as formerly, it threat: eniny to provo nearly as dangerous to those enzaged in carrying: it on as to their intended victims. ‘Thur this business inay speedily be purged of thie nnd alt other abnses is greatly to be hoped, since to it wo must continue to look fer those hinge and certain revenues which havo thus far never fiiled us, as they are not likely to do, onr mines beim: vast in extent an literally exhaustless, * © * * Whierever it lms been carried on in a legitimnte manner, being conducted with the snio discretion and care evinced in most other callings, it has generally preveil a suctess; the failures moatly being attributable to lack of skill, extravagant expenditres, or coureother gort of mismanagement. EXTENT OF THE MINING FIELD. We have now within tho American posscesions, west ef tho Rocky Mountains, three States and five ‘Territeries, cmibracing au uren of more thin one million square mila, the whole of which may be cousidered a mining country. Not thac overy part of this vast region is nietalliferons ; there heing large tracts of it in which the precions metals at least have not been met with in any considerable quantity Sdll, scattered everywhere over its surfuce are districts abounding in not only these but also in neorly every variety of the useful inctals; the latter, i some one or more of their varied forms, being nearly everywhere present. ‘Te what extent this rezion $8 metal bearing ls as yet heen but partinlty determined ; its magnitude, and the . difficulties atten:ling its exploration, hnving precluded a thorongh examination of . more than a sinatl part of it. Of that portion lying within the limits of Catifornin Vand Nevada, with which we have become most familiar, it can be truthfally said thitt the more it lias been explored the grenter appears to bo its enpncity for yiel:linz, under tho coujeint nil of well-directed lahor aml mople capital, large amounts Of ob} and silver. It is now perevived thut tbe placcr mines of this State, liberally as they gave up their trensures at first to the simple and inexpensive processes employed for working then, formed but the husk and chaff, us it were, of one real aml more substantial mineral wealth, hid awny in the vast repositeries of auriferous quartz found in every county that flanks the Sierra ; while the further tho work of prospecting hns deen carried into the wilds of Nevada, Utuh, and Idaho, the richer aml nore cxtensive huve been tho disvoverics made, establishing, to all practical intents, not only tho illituitable bounds, but also the inexhaustible eharacter of this field of labor. ’ PLACER OR SURFACE DIGGING. To tho placer miners of California the past year has been ono of general snecess, tho supply of water having been better than usual, and the season every way fuyorahle, There is no question but tho aggregute yicld from this source has heen larger the past thon for several years immediately preceding, though wo huve not tle means of ascertaining the exact amount taken out during this time. Besides the causes mentioned above, there have been others lately brought into operation tending to swell the product of this class of mincs—snch as larger numbers engaginy in thent; the discovery of new digyzings; the re-opening and working over with greuter care, or hy improved appliances, of old ones; penetrating further into the gravel deposits; lurger crushings from the cement beds, and a general enlarginy of the aren of the mines, conpled with a more efticient style of muichinery, greater economy, and more careful manipulations of the auriferous earths, * * * * Coming into Tuolumne and Calaveras, ail passing thence through the ticr of counties thnt lio against the westcrn stope of the Sicrru into southern Oreyon, we tiad the work of placer mining being vigorously and intelligeatly prosecuted, in all its different branches ; and aided hy all the auxiliaries that capital can command, or that ingennity has hcen ahle to invent, or science enpply. Here we have every varicty of mining, and see at work the many devices contrived for diminishing labor.aud saving gold. The several styles of stuices, the hydraulic washings, the long tom, and in some instances the still more primitive pan and rocker are all encountered, and the hill, gravel, dry, river, tunnel, and cement diggings aro scen in every stage of devclopment. By passing over to the sea shore, in Klamath County, we can even witoess the operations of what is known as “ beach mininy,” carried on in the vicinity of the once famous Gold Bluff. To describe these different kinds of mines, and the various eppliances and modes adopted in furtherance of this business, would require more space than contd well be spared ; siittice to say, the latter nre nearty all the inventions of practical miners, called forth hy the necessities of their business, or suggested by expericnce, and that water is tho principal agent employed in sepnrating the gold from the eurth and gravel iu which it is inbedled, theso contrivances being simply used to apply it more effectively. It is in the central and northern portions of the State that we find the principal hydrantic washings, and here too are the blne gravel lead and cement deposits, muirked feamres of that section, from all which large quantitics of gold are annually, extrucied. The supply of water furnished hy the lato copions rains having enabled tho miners to get to work oarly in the scason, there is much activity gyrlcel iss thronyhout the plarer diggings, and with timely rains from this on till the drycsaa-son sets in, the product trom this source will undoubtedly prove individually remun nerative, and in the aggregate large. QUARTZ MINING. While in the province of placer mining the new discoveries being made are few tnd unimportant, and the diggings alrendy found are being gradnatty depleted, the nrea of the aurifcrous quanz is being constantly extended, every year adding stendily nnd largety tothe yicld derived from this source. In magnitude the quartz region of California is already even more than commensurate with that of the surface mines, and in genernl terms may he said to reach from the Clear Creek District, in the southern extremity of Tulare County, to the northern tine of the State, a lincar distance of nearly five hundred miles. In breadth it varies from ten to a hundred miles, giving nn aggregate nrea of at least twenty thousand square miles, over which theso metalliferous lodes are seattcred, some districts containing them in great numbers, and others more sparsely, Theso lodes do not ahound in all parts of this extensive territory, but lie in groups or spots, sometimes widely separated, the intervening country being comparatively harren, or containing veins of little value, In some sections, too, the quartz is much moro highly auriferous than in Others, the smaller and more regularly shaped veins, as a common thing, carrying the Inrger per ecntage of gold. As is usually the case with auriferous lodes elsewhere, those of California generally have a north-westerly and south-easterly strike. In thickness they vary from a few inches to as many fect, being in some instances of a much greater size. Ledges a hundred feet thick are not sncommon, but this elass arc not ordinarity composed of pay rock throughout; in fact are apt to have what gold they do contain so diffused throughout the mags as to render it valucless. Tt wonid almost seem ns if natnre had altotted a specific amount of the precious metal to each lelve, the large and small alike, thereby rendering the working of the latter u much easier mutter than the former, the amount of rock requiring to he reduced being so much less in order to secure an equal amonnt of gohl. The large sized ledges, however, often contain streaks and pockets that prove very rich. The dip of the lodes in this State is almost uniformly townrds the enst, some of them having a high and others a low inclination. Some of the richest veins stand nearly perpendicular, while others lie almost flat. In length they are equally and even more viriable, beiag traceable sometimes for miles, while again they can be found only for a few hundred fect, or perhaps Icss. ‘The position of the qunrtz belt of California is longitudinalty through the cchter of the State, embracing the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It has au altitude varying from one to five thousand fect ahove the level of the sea, reaching at a tew points to a greater height, but not often found helow the line of elevation first mentioned. ‘Towards its southern limit this belt trends to the east, and crossing the Sierra Nevada chain has its extremity in the Owens Vailey country; while in the opposite direction, following tbe straggling spurs of this same range, it sweeps to the north-west, and terminatcs on the shores of the Pacific, a portion continuing on into southern Oregon. <Atone time it was thought there was no quartz in the more elevated portions of the Sicrra Nevada, but this has since been found to be a mistaken opinion. More recent exBecton havo bronght to light extensive districts containing lodes of this rock, ighly impregnated with hoth gold and silver. The Kearsarge District, in Tulare, and tho Excelsior, in Nevada County, with several of less importance situate between them, but all lying high up the sides, and several quite on the summit of the Sierra, disprove this theory, and go far toward warranting the belief that these mountains may yet become tlie theater of large and profitable mining operations. * * * * Aided and stimulated by tho liberal investments being made, there is now mach prospecting going n, both in the way of opening ledges alrendy located, ne and in searching for new ones. In most cases miners who dispose of their interests eimploy tho proceeds iu proxpecting for others, or in working the claims they may still own. Tho quartz mills thronghout this Stato vary in eapaeity from three stamps to fifty ; the number coutained in the mills built at mn earlier day generally running trom Give la twenly. Lately the nunter las bees larger, Mo] of the ollie are ecpley el fy crushing rock [ram the ledges beloagua to iher several proprietors ; apd heace there Ig In many districis a eed fur mills tade cusiom work, It is usually estimated Ihat each slau hus # eapachly lo crush ous tou of rock in twenly-fonr hours, The rarnings of some of these mills aml mines are shorinous. Tho average monitily ylctd of four mills on the Fremoa) Maripusa es. lute Was over $60,900, The nel earnings of the Crescent Coajany, Plumas County, have been ni the rate of $100,000 per annum, while, a8 we huve already seen, muny of Ibe leading mines abont Grass Yutey hay produced still mere munificcatly, The total yield of the Allison Ranch Mine a) thal place, since operaliens were first meneed upon . t. bus exceeded €2,500,009; The group of claims on Massachusells Itil have tel eat aleul $3,600,000; tho North Sar and ater mines ou New York [tl havo yleblet $2,500,000, aud The Nerambagua slane $1,000,000, The complemen! fur Weld ltill bas been $3,C00.000, nud fur the Lous Jack Mine, Oputr, bs borae, and Utueston Hilla, the aggregaie las been Lally $3,500,000. The prodnet of ihe Eureka, during the past two yeurs, hus excerded $500,000, 1s cariduge lor the menuth of December last aloag having been mory tan $45,000. The ngeregale amount of gobl taken from ibe quartz tines within dhe limits of the Grass Vulicy Mairi since 1362—thirteen yeurs—his been at least $20,000,000, In corroboration of tte substantial correriness of ihis gtatement, we find, afler a yery careful exuntaallon of atl ihe recomia and olher dada at our disposal, [lin] the ageregale ylold of Grass Valley, during the past thirtecn years, has heen about $23,000,000, including all ihe recetpts from the surtico wlaiug chitm® ty thai region. Front theso laller seurers the mos? roliable shutisites show thal about $8,000,000 has been obtained, leaving $20,000 000 na the probable prod of tho quarlz oilues since 1852, This Is helleved by aiauy well iMmoriwned par: lies to bo Ina ulancstimale, bul wishing lo be witkda bounds wo contorm to thy above Bg: ures. Ditring the pasl your the quartz mines of Grass Valley have ylelded utiout $3 300,00u, or an average ol $275,000 per inenth, wad The coming year ts likely to shaw a product ol amare than $5,000,000, Tho Suulsby Mill, Tuolnaie County, tured oul at tho rate of $50,000 per month when it first started, and although It did not keep ayethad yleld, has earnel yast sums mosl of Mie Lime sides, A lorge nomber ¢f mulls of ordinary capacity might be meniloned that for years Nave steadily earnel Irom $10,000 to $20,000 per moath. Mot of thesu mills run nightand diy. Imiense sums haye heretofore heen umd are still betug logt in the working of qumriz, from inubility Ja separate Tho gald, by the ordinary miles of treatment, Irom ihe sulphnreis of lrou ual copper with which it is combined. Many efforts aro heing alade to meet this dificully, some of which have been partially successiut, nnd hero is reason to lmpe that Ihe desiderntom will be supplied ut aa curly day, Ahout two-hirds of the mitls in Califoruta are propoded by steam, and tho halauce hy water, the latter generally helag thosu of tofertor capacity. The mos? of them ran night and day, sopping uly Jor repairs or oa Sunday. Thr business of quariz inlning upun this coast is aot confiacd to California, thore belng a greal number of ledges in Nevada, ldaho, and Jn fact througbou) all paris of nur Pacifie posses: slons, that are now being or will hereaiter be worked by ushajde gold-saving process, that metal, while there is ulways a small per cent. of cilver present in lhe rock, greatly predomiuatlng. Tie bulllon oltuiued from thls class of ledges Is worth from $0 to $14 per ounce, SILVER MINES AND MINING. While Callfornia has within her borders a considerable number of what may properly he termed silver-bearing lodes, she has as yet produced but little of this metal, the hulk of 11 haying come from the mines ahout Virginia City, and other localltes ia the Stute of Nevada. whrre the business of mining for it is exlensively engaged in. The yleld of Ihat Siule for the past year amounted, in round numbers, 10 $16 000,000, the same as Lhe year before; the entire prouct of that region, since the discovery of siiver tbhcre iu 1859, heing estimated at ubout $40,000,000. AMOUNT OF BULLION TRANSPORTED BY WELLS, FARGO & 00., FOR 1865, The follawing is a statement of the amoual, of Lullioa received, exclusive of coin, from the dillerent mimes of the Pacific Cunst, at Sau Francisco, from Juuuary Ist to December 1st, 1865, by Wells, Vargo & Co's Express Comipauy : Fram Northern Mines,,......910,620,436)Estimatan for the month of December : From Washoe (Virginin City, Gold Fram Nor bern Mines « $1,764,000 Hill, Silver City, etc.) oe 14, From Wasboe . 1,000,000 From Reese River Mines Front Reese Riv 77.000 From southern Mines, 4,707.274. From Southero d 875 000 From Portland (Idaho yete.). 4,510,096 From Victoria.. 272.000 From Victoria (Carriboo, Fraser RivFrom Portland . 50U.000 OP, CLC). cece eer eee ereueetees 1,469,061 a ee Eslimnated for December ... 3.958,000 Amount received....++++$45,245 004 Amuunt reecived .....,. 40,245 .004 TOtall vecseesceessescss sees 949,290,004 SODIUM AMALGAMATION. Numerous inventions have been devised to prevent the loss which often attends the best conducted operations, and avoid the causes whicb involve it; but until lately with very indifferent success. portion of the metal sodium, has the power of destroying tbe action by decomposition of all substances which bave hitherto proved so serious a difficulty in bringing the gold into contact with the mercury. The sodium, from its decomposing power, preserves the quicksilver in a pure and active state, so that, when introduced into the battery, or pan, amalgamation takes place with great rapidity. The quicksilver, from the motion of tbe stamps or muller, is projected against the cast iron sides, and sticks tbere as perfectly as it has heretofore done hy the troublesome process used in galvanizing copper plates. For galvanizing copper plates nothing bas as yet proved anything

like its equal. No wasbing by nitric or other acid is required. It is only necessary to rub the sodium amalgam on the plate. For amalgamating in pans, the sodium amalgam should be dissolved in the mereury, in the proportion of two ounces of the former to five pounds of tbe latter, one hour before being put in. For amalgamating in the battery, the bottle containing tbe sodium amalgam should have a buckskin cover tied over its mouth, through whicb the amalgain is sifted into the mortar, through the feed opening, which operation requires to be repeated every balf hour. A preliminary experiment or two will sodium, 1. Shake up, in a test tube, a small quantity of mereury, say half an ounce, with a moderately strong solution of sulphate of iron. ‘Che mercury is presently reduced to the condition of thick mnd, being so completely granulated (floured) as to resist ull efforts to restore it to its proper condition, and retaiuing this condition almost indefinitely. Drop now a ininute particle of sodium amalgam into it, when instantly the whole is restored to its fluid state, and subsequent efforts to reproduce tbe granular condition are futile if tbe least trace of sodium remains. 2. Bring a small particle of placer gold, or gold from quartz, into contact witb a little clean mercury, in its ordinary condition. It will be seen to push the gold before it as it rolls about, and refuse to amalgamate with the gold, even when beneath its surface. In fact there seems to be a sort of active repulsion between tbe two metals. 3. Bring the same particle of gold into contaet with mercury having a minute portion of sodium amalgam dissolved in it, when immediately the gold is eompletcly entilmed by tbe mereury and disappears under its surface. Tbe Sodium Amalgam, as well as the metal itself, ready for use, nay be obtained in any quantity desired at tbe Miners’ Foundry, or of H. P. Wukelee, Druggist, eorner of Montgomery and Bush streets, San Franeisco, California. It has been ascertained by repeated trials that the use of a minute } serve to illustrate the remarkable properties imparted to mercury by 10 shs Impenat at 165 per share, 33. 20 shs Sierra Nevada al 104; per share, Delis Exchequer at wesXy por share, 25 sbs Lady Bryan al 3iz per ehare, APTKRADON SESSION. 3shs Favase ai 1010 per loot, s 30. lah Suvuge al 1030 per fout. lsh Savage 41 1023 per foot, b 3. Sshs Savage »)1 20 per foot, b 10 Sshs Savage al 1020 per fool. 4shs Savage ai [000 per foot, 8 $0. lsh Savage a1 1015 por foot, 83. 2 ahs Daney at 11 per fool. 24 ahs Ophir al 675@670 per fool. 12 sha Oplor #1 660 per foot, 3 3, 12 shs Opltr at 655 per foot. 120 shs Ophtr a1 66) per foot, bS. 132 shs Ophir ai 660 per fuot. 24 shs Ophir a1 957% per Yoot, 5 3. 12 sha Ophir nt 66744 per fool, b 10, 12 shs Male & Norcross a) W2u@1i0 per ft 5 shs Uelcher at 880@325 per fout. 5shs Belcher at 320 per foot, s 3, 3 shs Belcher at 320 per foot. 3shs Belcher at 320 per foot, s 6. 4shs Crown lolnt at 1300 per foot, 5 6. WW shs Yellow Jacke! at 60@585 per foot. 8 ahs Yellow Jacke) a) 635@480 per f1, b & Ish Yellow Jackot a} 600 per foot, b $0. Jshk Y¥ctlow Jacke! al 560 per lool, » 30. 4sha Yellow Jacke) a1 580 per foot. 5shs Yellow Jacket ut 575 per fool, 8 3. 7 shs Confidence a172!% per shure, $3. 30 shs Conlidence at 73@"4 por share. 35 shs Confidence at 79 per share, b 30. 46 shs Confidence 11175 per share, 10 shs lmperlal at 1624g per shnre. 10 shs linperlal at 160 per ahare, s 3. 25 shs linperlal a1 160@159 per shure, 5shs Imperial a) 160 per share, 1) 10, 10shs Iniperial at 160 per share s 10. 7shs Empire M & M Co, at 215 prsh. 5 shs Overman ai 74 per share, 6shs Ovorman a) 75 per sh, b 6. 5shs Overman at 7234 per sh. 5shs Overman al 75 per sh, b 10, 5shs Overman a) 74 per share. 6shs Overman al 70 per share, 6 3. 6 shs Overinan at 70 per share, 5 10. 60 shes N B & Misstoa R. R. at 49 per Share. AMOUAL Of SAICS..6005000111 52 -228,669 25 Thursday, Murch 15, 204 shs Ophir at 660 per foot, 492 sls Ophir at 660@659 per foot, b 5, 72 she Ophir at 675 per fool, b 40. 18 shs Chollar-Potosl at 40214@293 per foot. 5slis Chollur-Potost a1 400 per fool, b 5. i4shs Hale & Noreross a} 101U0@1016 per ft, 5shs Nale & Norcross at 10:0@1015, 85, 4shs Halo & Norcross a) 1020 per root. 12 shs Hale & Norcross at 90@1000, 8 30, 6shs Hale & Norcross al 1010@1100 per ft. 201 shs Dancy at 12 per foot, b 30. 17 shs Yellow Jackot a1 750@730 per ft. 2 shs Ycllow Jacke) at 740 per foot, 5 3, 5 shs Beleber at 315 per foot. lsh Belcher at 315 per foot, *b 3. ish Belcher at 310 per foot, b 5. 6 shs Belcher at 305 per loot. 6 shs Belcher a) 300 per foot, 5 10. dshs Savage at 981@976 per foot. ‘4 she Suvage at 976 per foot, b 10. 3 shs Savage at 1000@990 per foot, b 30. 6 sbs Savage at 965@970 per foot. 4shs Alpha at 310 per foot. 4shs Crown Polat at 1:00 per foot. 7shs Empire Vi & M Co. at 215 per sh. 10 shs Overman at 70 per sh, s 30. 6&0 shs Overman at 70 per sh, b 10, 15shs Overman ai 70per sh, b3. 20 shs Overman at 724 per sll, bi 30. 15 shs Overman at 69 per sb. 10 shs Overman at 69 per sh, 6 3. 25 shs Overman at 68@074 per sh. 6 shs Overman at 70 per sb, b 30. 10 shs Overman at 66 per sh, b 3. 15 shs Overman at f6@55 per sh. 15 shs Sicrra Nevada at 1144 per sh. 10 shs Confidence at 80 per share, -b 30. 16she Confidonco at 76@74 per sh. 5 shs lmperlal at 160 per share, 6 30, ish Imperlal at 162 per share. 5shs Bulllen at 87% per share, ¢. 100 shs Firemen's F. Ins. Co., at 12234 pr sh. $3u,000 Legal Tender, Notes at 764g per cent. AFTERNOON SESSION. 2shs Yellow Jackot at 740 per foot, s 3. 2 shs Yellow Jacket at 740 per foot. lsh Yellow Jacket at 740 per foot, b 30. 2 sha Yellow Jacket at 725 per loot, 8 3. 13shs Yellow Jackot at 750@75. per foot. 2 ahs Yeilow Jucket al 735 per 100], 3 30. 2shs Yollow Jacket 017523, per foot. 132 sha Ophir at fiat per 1001. 24 sha Ophir at 655 per fool, b 10, 2& shs Ophir ai 670 per foul, b 3U. 12 sits Ophir at 650 per foul, b 3. 12shs Ophir at 65U per foot, b 5. 72 shs Oplilt al 675 per foot, b 30. 9 ahs Crown Point at 1180@1175 per foot. 10 shs Belcher at 300@290 per foot. 2shs Belcher a) 300@290 per Yoo}, § 3. 10 shs Haie & Norcross at (t80@1090 per ft. 10 shs Suvage at 470@960 per luot. 2uhs Suvage at 10U@995 por foat, b 30. foot, 330 iy 10 shs Ghollur: Polos at 39234 per 5shs Buillon al 90 per sharo, 5 shs Bullion al 9) per share, 3. 30 sh Confidence at 78@76 por tt, b 30, 25slis Confilence at 70, 8 30. 10 shs Confidence at pore ft. 10 shs Enuplre M & M Co. at 215 per sh. 12 sha Empire M. & M. Co, at 215, b 6, 5sh3 Overman a] 61@65. 30shs Exchequer at 935 per share. 10 shs Jinperlal at 165 per sbare, Amount of sales,. «236,400 60 Friday, Morch 16, 228 shs Ophir at 650@620 per foot. 1Zshs Onhir at Sade, foot, b 30. §shs Savnge al 9606965 per loot. 3 shs Savage at 949u@10WW) per foot, b 80, 80 sha Yrtluw Jackel at 735@69 per toot. 3shs Yellow Jacket at 71h per loot, b 30, 5 shs Yellow dnekel at 695 per foot, 3 30, 26 shs Choilar-Polusl 4139244 @385 per toot luishs Eaipire M & MCo at 214 per sh. 27 xhs Contidcace at 7244@87 per share. 20 shs Baltimore American at 7 per share. 4shs Alpha, @ 1H, at 400 per foot. 27 shs Belcher at 245@2") per fool. 12 shs Belcher al 26°@270 per lool, § 30. 6 sha Belcher at 28l per foot, b30 60 shs Dverinan at 6244@87 per sh. 22 she Exchequer at 11@¥ per share. 36 xh4 Bullimi at 89@Hl pershare b 30. lf ahs Pactficlasurunce 11 168 per share, $20,090 Legal ‘Fender Notes al 76c, 14sh+ Linperial at 1574.@155 per share 25 dhs linverlal at 60@l4u per share, 5 30 10 shs Imperlat at 140 per share, s 60.