Volume 26 (1873) (431 pages)

MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. {January 4, 1873. MisceLtraneous. Practical Uses of Geology. The object of geological investigations end the general result of sich inquiries being understood, it remeins to consider the various modes of its application to practical purposes in nseful detail, so thet we may clearly prove thet this science, whicb not long ago amused the public mind, and alarmed the timid witb vague speculations andunfounded theories conesrning the origin of things, now involves much tbat is necessery to be known, and has become nn essential partof eound education; being, in fact, es important to the engineer and miner as astronomy is tothe navigator. Since, however, itisthe cese that geology embraces a wide range of subjects, some of which bear more directly on the natural history of living and extinct races of animels and vegetables, while others ere more strictly mechenical,-— and that the latter are those chiefly concerned in the practical applicetion with which we bave to deal,—a very brief summary of such facts mey be useful in entering on a new department of the subject. It will appear, ou a little consideration, thet the facts in question are of very distinct kinds, and may be considered seperately; for we may regard tbe earth's crust either as the place upon which, or within, various operetions are to he performed, or we mey regard it osthegrent depository of all useful and ynoluahle mineral substances, of whatever nature. Thus the agricultarist will regard the earth and the rocks present in his district as providing the soil, and supporting the plant mechanically; but he may also look for valueble minerals to mix with his soil on the surface, and may bs obliged to consider what hidden hut determioahle facts will interfere with or assist his draining. So agnin, the erchitect end engineer will require to dig in some places for stone and clay, in order that they mey erect some structure in nnothor place, whereit is important that the foundation should be sound, aud where no unusual difficulties need he anticipated. And so also the miner, while he is merely anxious to extract mineral wealth, must also regard and carefully estimate the difficulties he willhave to contend with, while piercing to great depths beneath tbe surface, or hurrowing to a distances within a hill. Now in order to understand the application of geology thus presented, it is necessary to be familiar with certein principles and facts, relating chiefly to those masses of inatter already descrihed as rocks, and concerning which it is important that the practical geologist should know hoth their mechanical and chemical condition, and their mechanical position. Such facts duly appreciated, and the hesis of geological science once laid, itis useful to notice how completely, not only the eerth structure but the hahits and even civilization of its inhehitants, corresponds to this geological condition. Thus in our own country it has often been observed that the inhabitants of the mountein districts differ much from those of the plains, while those of the lowlands very according to the nature of tbe underlying rock, because that influences the cultivation. The geological structure and configuration of any country are the main foundations of its physical aspect; and the various operations of elevation, depression, and denudation, which it is the object of the geologist to study, arein affect the cause of all modificution of the aspect and etructure as originally impressed. Thus the mere fect of a line of hillsin » country or a district, sloping gradually on one side and much steeper ou the opposite side—or elsewhere, of bills rising regularly and with monotony—will of itself merk the physical cause of such appearance, whether it is due toa distinct elevation, or to the outcrop of some hard hed. Wherever distinct and definite physical feetures occur, some geological cause may always be traced; end on the other hand, every important geological ovent that hes last happened in a district, is indicated by physical features. A knowledge ofthis is often extremely useful to the traveler;forin this way he may determinc the prohable direction, or even the possihle existenee of rivers and mountain ridges, and elso the places whore natural mineral riches are likely to he found. The nature and use of geological maps and sections—of which many and excellent examples are produced by the geological survey, may also he recognized iu their application to important precticel ques‘ions constautly arisiug iu agricultnre, agricultural engineering, architecture, civiland miltary engineering, and mining. Each of these pursnits and professions having reference to material obtained from tho oarth, and elso to the earth as the basis of operetions, involves many facts of direct geologicalinterest. It isonly by 2 knowledge of geology, and of the mode of applying such knowledge, that much progress can be made in the higher und more euggestive departments of these sciences, and will not he considored that therehas heen any unnecessary considerntion of details in what has beeu said concerning the nature of rock masses, their chemical composition, tbe mode iu which they were aggregated, and tho changes they have sinoe undergone. Thesefacte being the foundation of practical geology, nre in overy way worthy of careful consideration, and cannot be to well understood or too often thought of by practical men. Whilst the epplication of geology to agriculture, engineerjing, and mining, are direct and immediate, and requirs eech in its turn tbe cereful attention of the student, there is ons other less manifest hut equeily connected with ths suhject, that may he regarded es preliminary. It is not elone to mechanical arts and appliances that the study of nature is essential. Itis equally so to those whowouldrepresent the varied physiognomy of naturo in its rocks and mountains, hills, valleys, and plains, and who for this purpose leern the arts of drawing and painting, and apply them to represent the forms andcolors that pleese the eye and instruct the intellect. The artist es well as the engineer, and the critic inart as well as the artist, require knowledge and science, that the one may produce, and the other recognize and appreciete, a true transcript of nature.—Anstead. Klamath River Mines. Remarkable Gravel Deposits of the Lower -Klammath—A Sketch of their Geology. The npper portions of the Klamath River and its trihutaries, the Trinity, Salmon and other, etreems, have long been the scene of active plecer and hydraulic mining. But little ettention has, however, been given, np to this time, to the remarkahle deposits on the mein river, towerd its mouth. This is partly owiug to the fect that ahout the time prospecting had commenced in tbe section, the silver excitement drew off the restless spirits who perform the pioneer-work in all mineral development. Being off the regular routes of travel, and not eesily eccessible from stage or steamhoat lines, and, in eddition, heing the home of Indians alone, few white inhahitants being found for meny miles above its mouth, the gravel dsposits of the lower river have remained unnoticed— almost untouched — while others, in different portions of the State, were being actively worked, and, as a rule, paying the owners better then any other cless of gold-mining. To be geologist, however, end tbe practical mine r, these deposits offer a field of interest and profit second ouly to the famous hlue gravel mines, which they resemhle in meny particulars. Geology of the Deposits. It is probable, however, that they are not the deposition of an ancient river, but that of the present stream, under different conditions from thet now existing. In order to present a theory of their) formation, it is necessery to take into eccount the cheracter of the river and uuderlying rock-strata through which it has cut its wey. The Klamath drains en immense extent of mounteiuous country, through which passes the great auriferous helt of Celifornia, as evidenced by the rich quartz-lends and placer mines on the trihuteries. Being a swift and deep streem, great quantities of weter-worn gravel are swept down hy the resistless floods of winter. These form at present as gravel hars, increasing in extent towards the mouth, all more or less auriferous, and tbeir presence can he easily accounted for. A remarkahle distinction should be noticed here. Any attentive observer who has watched tbe action of the snrf rolling up pebbles ona sea or lake heach has noticed thet the ehape assumed hy the stones is that of a sphere, the grinding action heiug equel on ell sides, On the contrary, the gravel worn by river action alone will be flattened or oblong in shepe, the continuous flow of the river heingin one direction and the gravel wearing more rapidly on one side than . { tbe other. Hence, when deposits of water-worn gravel, flattened rather than rounded in sbape, are found four and five hundred feet above the present level of the stream, one must seck some other solution than tbat of present ection, as no flood, however great, could have piled up these masses of gravel. How the River has Worn Down its Bed. This solution can he found on observation of the rock strata forming the river bed and cropping out on the sides. Commencing at the mouth of the stream, one will notice that this strata consists of ledges of metamorphic sendstone of en exceedingly hard nature, end that it continues to appear for about fifteen or twenty miles as you ascend. In this section, although the gravel bars formed by the present by action of the river ave frequent, yet no old deposits are fouud on the benks. At the end of this stretch of fifteen or twenty miles, the character suddenly changes. A soft micaceous slate now appeers dipping at an angle of 15 degrees to 45 degress egainst the stream. This gradually rises as you proceed up the river until at a distence of thirty miles from the moutb it is seen croppiug out many feet above the level of the stream. It is in this portion that the greet benks of gravel appear on the sides, On investigation of the causes thet formed them, one is instantly struck by the fact thet they are invariably found above and below a rapid or fallin the river, and that the hed rock at these rapids is a herd taleose slate or serpentine. This vein can be seen on the sides of the river also, and suggestsa theory. It is that thé river, which now has a fall of 234 feet in tbe thirty miles from the deposits to the mouth, was at one timo many hundreds of feet above its presont level. Wearing away the soft slnte it has met with an ohstacle in the dykes of ssrpentine forming their lofty waterfalls. Here the gravel was doposited, in the still reach above the eddies below. Gradually the action of the water hns worn away the serpentine, until, what was perbaps a thousand years agoa great fall, is now a rapid, over which canoes can hs teken. That this is ths case, evidence in point is offered by a celebrated and once dreeded repid, celled ths Mereep, ahout 34 miles from ths mouth, Within the memory of the oldest white inhahitent of the river, ths Indiens wers accustomed to land at the foot of this repid and haul their cenoes over the bank ns the fall wes too great to stem going up, and dangerous to run going down. At the present time no difficulty is experienced in poling up or in peddling down. As the river cuts its way down, it also changed its course, perhaps many times, so thet the deposits ere now on one side then on the other of thepresentbed. Opposite the grevel beds is usually n bare mountain of rock, rising nbruptly from the stream, Origin of the Gold Bluff Formation. It is said by some of the old prospectors thet, starting at the point where the candstone formation commences, the gravel can be traced through the mounteins, good prospects being ends in the immense cliff known ns the Gold Bluff, 25 miles below the present month of the Klemath. The spot, the scene of one of tbe early excitements, is at the present time the theatre of active beach mining operations. The sea having forages performed the part of an hydraulic mining pipe has washed down the gravel bluff and separated the black sand, the gold now being gethered from it when tho heavy gnles of winter throw it up on the shore. However, this assertion, in regard to the continuation of the gravel tbrough the mountains may be, the writer is not prepared to affirm from personal observation. Description of an Auriferous Stratum. Of the deposits on the river one will serve as asgample. This is loceted about tbirty miles from the moutb, end the cutinto the hill is 384 feet ahove the streem end some 500 yards away. ‘The surface hank exposed is about 100 feet, and shows alternate strata of gravel and sand. The bed rock is the seme soft slate seen along the river, and is worn into pot-holes and grooves by the old eddies. Above this is a stratum of blue gravel (so-called), decomposed telcose sinte, in reallity, most probably the wearings of the dykes hefore referred to. The stratum is from five to sixteeu feetin thickness, end is of course the richest. Above it a reddish or yellow river gravel mixed with sand, and an occesional streak of oxido of iron formng a soft cement. This entire benk of gravel, as prospscted by weshing out pans-full from each layer, ehowed gold at the bottom of each pen, or what is called a color. In the stratum of blue gravel tbe gold was rather coarse and tbe pieces flat or ohlong in shape, averaging something like two or three centsto the pan. Thie claim is now in successful operation and will doubtless repay its owners handsomely for the labor expended on it, as they have an abundance of water and a great fall for tailings. Advantages for Hydraulic QO erations and for Settlement. Were, however, the most improved methods in use in Grass Valley and elsewhere, to replece the rude manner in which tbis and otber of these deposits have heen and are now being worked, it is believed thet their product would soon attrect greet attention, as the gold is reamerkahly pnre in character. The climete in the vicinity of the mines is very different from the coest, heing hot in summer, with long, rainy winters, but no snow. Peaches, melons and tometoes will ripen and arrive at great perfection, which they will not do on the coast ine. The grnvelly soil seems to he especially edapted to the grape, which grows thrifty and ripens early. " In the vicinity of these deposits are elso found fine groves of cedar, sugar pine and redwood, which, in time, when mills will be erected, will furnish an ebnndance of lumber for mining purposes, Now that the new mineral law allows acquisition of titles to mining property, it is to be hoped that these deposits will receive more attention from our miners and prospectors then they bave hitherto done, and that they may add another element to the repidly increasing mineral weelth of our Stete. _ Munine ror Trv.—There seems to be a reelity in the Austrelian tin mines, as we reed that 51,000 ecres of tin-land, taken up bear an annnal rental of $60,000. Some of this land covers and pays rental in consideration of copper mines, hut hy fer the greetsr portion is set down es ‘‘tin selections.” The lands are in New South Wales, and the reports speak of very large discoveries. We hear a good deal, from time to time, of the shaky condition of the Cornwall mires, and how they are to eee their best dey in consequence of some new finding of tin in other countries. They manege, however, to maintain what ie sometimes called @ ‘‘visibility,’’ though their profits are set down as a very small item, out of all proportion, however, a Californian would think, to their reported values. For instance, the Grenville is valued at $256,000; Treligh Wood, $750,000; Van, $3,000,000; Roman Gravels; $1,000,000 and East Slangquoy $1,000,000. Seventeen other mines are a down as worth from $50,000 to $60,000 each. The values will probubly be kept up nntil other valuable discoveries are made, which give etive promise of furnishing the needed supply of this metal ata price much below that at which it oun be produced at the deep and low per cent. mines above referred to. found even on the summits and thatit finelly . Another “ Ancient City.” Col. W. T Roberts, who recently went dowu to Arizona, hunting for diamonds, etc., reports tlic discovery of the ruins of anancient cily, which covers an area of about three sqiare niles. It wasenclosed by a wall of sandstone neatly quarried and dressed, ten twelve feet thick, and which, judgi the debris, was fiftcen ortwenty feet before its fall. In most places it had crumbled away and fallen, and was coycred with sand, but in many places it was still standing six or eight feet above the sand-banks which had drifted around it. ‘Tho entire area inside of this had at one time been covered with houses, built of solid sandstone, which showed excellent masonry in their construction. ‘This ancient city is situated in Arizona, owbout ninety miles from the boundary line between Utah and Arizona, and the same distance from the wester1 Colorado line. It has the, appearnnce of being an old Aztec city that has been deserted for hundreds of years and fallen toruins. ltis entirely of stone, and not a stick of worked timber is to be found among theruins, Nothing but the walls are Standing, and none of them now are left more thon eight or ten feet above the sand, which is eight or ten feet deep. The walls still bear the traces of many hieroglyphics, cnt deep into them, showing various Indian customs and superstitions. There are also the ruins of stately monuments, built of square block sandstone, well quarried and showing good masonry, which are worked with notches and crosses cut into them at regnlar intervals. The city is covered with sand, which it is thought has blown there from the desert. The sand has become solid and packed by the rains. Uuderthesand is a layer of blue clay, six or eight fect deep. No bones, implements or relics of any kind were fouud, with the exception of some Pieces of pottery of dark color. These were embellished with paintings of flowers and ornamental figures in blue colors. The coloring matteris ofa blne mineral substance of some kind. It is perfectly indelible, .ud pieces] of pottery which have been exposed to storms, which have worn away the solid masonry of the walls of the city, show their colors as fresh and bright to all appearances as when new. The pottery itself has been found to be perfectly fire-proof upon trial in crucibles and furnaces. Srreer Car Tracks.—Mnch compleint is made of the obstrnetions to ordinary travel presented by the strect oar tracks of this and other cities in the United States. The most or alt this objection could be avoided by the adoption of the English form ofstreetcar tracks. The car trecks inLondonconsist ofa flat strip of iron, witha groove for the flange of the wheelto run in. The rail is not sunk, but laid exactly level with the surface ofthe pavement, thus presenting no obstacles to ordinary vehicles. The cars are constructed with outside sents as well ns inside. Ifthe plan of track described works welt in London, why willit uot also answer for Sau Francisco ? Tar RerorTep Curoaco Gram Fravps— Some of the Chicego papers are demending that the grain stored in that city be weighed so as to escertain tho exact amount, as it is helieved by many that the quantity stated as stored does not exist, except on paper. It is steted, that one railroad bas reported 100,000 hushels received, while the Inspector claime that not one-tenth the amout sctually ceme into that city over that road. Also, thet tbe weekly statement sbows an increase, while netnal additions ofreceipts and exports sbow a decrease, : spertoR Tin DiscovERrEs.—Tbe Perlaye Lake Gazette, of a late date, eays:—The unaccountable mystery that lias surrounded tbe claimed discovery of tin upon the north shore of Lake Superior, and the nuenviable relations that have existed between the discoverer and certain parties to whc 1 sold interests, will, it is believed, in certain knowledge of eit : vnlue of the find. A party of ger resenting large interests iu the property, together with several experts and pres3 represontatives, sterted lest week with the original discoverer, who proposes sulisfy them of the genuineness of his cle Lancast. r co for the 1 Tue nickle mine i from whence the nickle coinege is obtained, has been worked for seventeen years, and developod toa depth of two hundred feet. The length of the tween two and tbrve tho d dnces from four lun per month, employing ir mine a force of one hundred men, One mine, tho Miue la eouri, wae worked from 1850 ing of the venty-five tract, MisAhout 0 1550. $100,000 was realized from the croppings of the vein, Croppinge of nickel ore are found also in Madison, Iron and Wayne counties, Missouri. The refined metal is worth $8 per pound.

MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS. {January 4, 1873. MisceLtraneous. Practical Uses of Geology. The object of geological investigations end the general result of sich inquiries being understood, it remeins to consider the various modes of its application to practical purposes in nseful detail, so thet we may clearly prove thet this science, whicb not long ago amused the public mind, and alarmed the timid witb vague speculations andunfounded theories conesrning the origin of things, now involves much tbat is necessery to be known, and has become nn essential partof eound education; being, in fact, es important to the engineer and miner as astronomy is tothe navigator. Since, however, itisthe cese that geology embraces a wide range of subjects, some of which bear more directly on the natural history of living and extinct races of animels and vegetables, while others ere more strictly mechenical,-— and that the latter are those chiefly concerned in the practical applicetion with which we bave to deal,—a very brief summary of such facts mey be useful in entering on a new department of the subject. It will appear, ou a little consideration, thet the facts in question are of very distinct kinds, and may be considered seperately; for we may regard tbe earth's crust either as the place upon which, or within, various operetions are to he performed, or we mey regard it osthegrent depository of all useful and ynoluahle mineral substances, of whatever nature. Thus the agricultarist will regard the earth and the rocks present in his district as providing the soil, and supporting the plant mechanically; but he may also look for valueble minerals to mix with his soil on the surface, and may bs obliged to consider what hidden hut determioahle facts will interfere with or assist his draining. So agnin, the erchitect end engineer will require to dig in some places for stone and clay, in order that they mey erect some structure in nnothor place, whereit is important that the foundation should be sound, aud where no unusual difficulties need he anticipated. And so also the miner, while he is merely anxious to extract mineral wealth, must also regard and carefully estimate the difficulties he willhave to contend with, while piercing to great depths beneath tbe surface, or hurrowing to a distances within a hill. Now in order to understand the application of geology thus presented, it is necessary to be familiar with certein principles and facts, relating chiefly to those masses of inatter already descrihed as rocks, and concerning which it is important that the practical geologist should know hoth their mechanical and chemical condition, and their mechanical position. Such facts duly appreciated, and the hesis of geological science once laid, itis useful to notice how completely, not only the eerth structure but the hahits and even civilization of its inhehitants, corresponds to this geological condition. Thus in our own country it has often been observed that the inhabitants of the mountein districts differ much from those of the plains, while those of the lowlands very according to the nature of tbe underlying rock, because that influences the cultivation. The geological structure and configuration of any country are the main foundations of its physical aspect; and the various operations of elevation, depression, and denudation, which it is the object of the geologist to study, arein affect the cause of all modificution of the aspect and etructure as originally impressed. Thus the mere fect of a line of hillsin » country or a district, sloping gradually on one side and much steeper ou the opposite side—or elsewhere, of bills rising regularly and with monotony—will of itself merk the physical cause of such appearance, whether it is due toa distinct elevation, or to the outcrop of some hard hed. Wherever distinct and definite physical feetures occur, some geological cause may always be traced; end on the other hand, every important geological ovent that hes last happened in a district, is indicated by physical features. A knowledge ofthis is often extremely useful to the traveler;forin this way he may determinc the prohable direction, or even the possihle existenee of rivers and mountain ridges, and elso the places whore natural mineral riches are likely to he found. The nature and use of geological maps and sections—of which many and excellent examples are produced by the geological survey, may also he recognized iu their application to important precticel ques‘ions constautly arisiug iu agricultnre, agricultural engineering, architecture, civiland miltary engineering, and mining. Each of these pursnits and professions having reference to material obtained from tho oarth, and elso to the earth as the basis of operetions, involves many facts of direct geologicalinterest. It isonly by 2 knowledge of geology, and of the mode of applying such knowledge, that much progress can be made in the higher und more euggestive departments of these sciences, and will not he considored that therehas heen any unnecessary considerntion of details in what has beeu said concerning the nature of rock masses, their chemical composition, tbe mode iu which they were aggregated, and tho changes they have sinoe undergone. Thesefacte being the foundation of practical geology, nre in overy way worthy of careful consideration, and cannot be to well understood or too often thought of by practical men. Whilst the epplication of geology to agriculture, engineerjing, and mining, are direct and immediate, and requirs eech in its turn tbe cereful attention of the student, there is ons other less manifest hut equeily connected with ths suhject, that may he regarded es preliminary. It is not elone to mechanical arts and appliances that the study of nature is essential. Itis equally so to those whowouldrepresent the varied physiognomy of naturo in its rocks and mountains, hills, valleys, and plains, and who for this purpose leern the arts of drawing and painting, and apply them to represent the forms andcolors that pleese the eye and instruct the intellect. The artist es well as the engineer, and the critic inart as well as the artist, require knowledge and science, that the one may produce, and the other recognize and appreciete, a true transcript of nature.—Anstead. Klamath River Mines. Remarkable Gravel Deposits of the Lower -Klammath—A Sketch of their Geology. The npper portions of the Klamath River and its trihutaries, the Trinity, Salmon and other, etreems, have long been the scene of active plecer and hydraulic mining. But little ettention has, however, been given, np to this time, to the remarkahle deposits on the mein river, towerd its mouth. This is partly owiug to the fect that ahout the time prospecting had commenced in tbe section, the silver excitement drew off the restless spirits who perform the pioneer-work in all mineral development. Being off the regular routes of travel, and not eesily eccessible from stage or steamhoat lines, and, in eddition, heing the home of Indians alone, few white inhahitants being found for meny miles above its mouth, the gravel dsposits of the lower river have remained unnoticed— almost untouched — while others, in different portions of the State, were being actively worked, and, as a rule, paying the owners better then any other cless of gold-mining. To be geologist, however, end tbe practical mine r, these deposits offer a field of interest and profit second ouly to the famous hlue gravel mines, which they resemhle in meny particulars. Geology of the Deposits. It is probable, however, that they are not the deposition of an ancient river, but that of the present stream, under different conditions from thet now existing. In order to present a theory of their) formation, it is necessery to take into eccount the cheracter of the river and uuderlying rock-strata through which it has cut its wey. The Klamath drains en immense extent of mounteiuous country, through which passes the great auriferous helt of Celifornia, as evidenced by the rich quartz-lends and placer mines on the trihuteries. Being a swift and deep streem, great quantities of weter-worn gravel are swept down hy the resistless floods of winter. These form at present as gravel hars, increasing in extent towards the mouth, all more or less auriferous, and tbeir presence can he easily accounted for. A remarkahle distinction should be noticed here. Any attentive observer who has watched tbe action of the snrf rolling up pebbles ona sea or lake heach has noticed thet the ehape assumed hy the stones is that of a sphere, the grinding action heiug equel on ell sides, On the contrary, the gravel worn by river action alone will be flattened or oblong in shepe, the continuous flow of the river heingin one direction and the gravel wearing more rapidly on one side than . { tbe other. Hence, when deposits of water-worn gravel, flattened rather than rounded in sbape, are found four and five hundred feet above the present level of the stream, one must seck some other solution than tbat of present ection, as no flood, however great, could have piled up these masses of gravel. How the River has Worn Down its Bed. This solution can he found on observation of the rock strata forming the river bed and cropping out on the sides. Commencing at the mouth of the stream, one will notice that this strata consists of ledges of metamorphic sendstone of en exceedingly hard nature, end that it continues to appear for about fifteen or twenty miles as you ascend. In this section, although the gravel bars formed by the present by action of the river ave frequent, yet no old deposits are fouud on the benks. At the end of this stretch of fifteen or twenty miles, the character suddenly changes. A soft micaceous slate now appeers dipping at an angle of 15 degrees to 45 degress egainst the stream. This gradually rises as you proceed up the river until at a distence of thirty miles from the moutb it is seen croppiug out many feet above the level of the stream. It is in this portion that the greet benks of gravel appear on the sides, On investigation of the causes thet formed them, one is instantly struck by the fact thet they are invariably found above and below a rapid or fallin the river, and that the hed rock at these rapids is a herd taleose slate or serpentine. This vein can be seen on the sides of the river also, and suggestsa theory. It is that thé river, which now has a fall of 234 feet in tbe thirty miles from the deposits to the mouth, was at one timo many hundreds of feet above its presont level. Wearing away the soft slnte it has met with an ohstacle in the dykes of ssrpentine forming their lofty waterfalls. Here the gravel was doposited, in the still reach above the eddies below. Gradually the action of the water hns worn away the serpentine, until, what was perbaps a thousand years agoa great fall, is now a rapid, over which canoes can hs teken. That this is ths case, evidence in point is offered by a celebrated and once dreeded repid, celled ths Mereep, ahout 34 miles from ths mouth, Within the memory of the oldest white inhahitent of the river, ths Indiens wers accustomed to land at the foot of this repid and haul their cenoes over the bank ns the fall wes too great to stem going up, and dangerous to run going down. At the present time no difficulty is experienced in poling up or in peddling down. As the river cuts its way down, it also changed its course, perhaps many times, so thet the deposits ere now on one side

then on the other of thepresentbed. Opposite the grevel beds is usually n bare mountain of rock, rising nbruptly from the stream, Origin of the Gold Bluff Formation. It is said by some of the old prospectors thet, starting at the point where the candstone formation commences, the gravel can be traced through the mounteins, good prospects being ends in the immense cliff known ns the Gold Bluff, 25 miles below the present month of the Klemath. The spot, the scene of one of tbe early excitements, is at the present time the theatre of active beach mining operations. The sea having forages performed the part of an hydraulic mining pipe has washed down the gravel bluff and separated the black sand, the gold now being gethered from it when tho heavy gnles of winter throw it up on the shore. However, this assertion, in regard to the continuation of the gravel tbrough the mountains may be, the writer is not prepared to affirm from personal observation. Description of an Auriferous Stratum. Of the deposits on the river one will serve as asgample. This is loceted about tbirty miles from the moutb, end the cutinto the hill is 384 feet ahove the streem end some 500 yards away. ‘The surface hank exposed is about 100 feet, and shows alternate strata of gravel and sand. The bed rock is the seme soft slate seen along the river, and is worn into pot-holes and grooves by the old eddies. Above this is a stratum of blue gravel (so-called), decomposed telcose sinte, in reallity, most probably the wearings of the dykes hefore referred to. The stratum is from five to sixteeu feetin thickness, end is of course the richest. Above it a reddish or yellow river gravel mixed with sand, and an occesional streak of oxido of iron formng a soft cement. This entire benk of gravel, as prospscted by weshing out pans-full from each layer, ehowed gold at the bottom of each pen, or what is called a color. In the stratum of blue gravel tbe gold was rather coarse and tbe pieces flat or ohlong in shape, averaging something like two or three centsto the pan. Thie claim is now in successful operation and will doubtless repay its owners handsomely for the labor expended on it, as they have an abundance of water and a great fall for tailings. Advantages for Hydraulic QO erations and for Settlement. Were, however, the most improved methods in use in Grass Valley and elsewhere, to replece the rude manner in which tbis and otber of these deposits have heen and are now being worked, it is believed thet their product would soon attrect greet attention, as the gold is reamerkahly pnre in character. The climete in the vicinity of the mines is very different from the coest, heing hot in summer, with long, rainy winters, but no snow. Peaches, melons and tometoes will ripen and arrive at great perfection, which they will not do on the coast ine. The grnvelly soil seems to he especially edapted to the grape, which grows thrifty and ripens early. " In the vicinity of these deposits are elso found fine groves of cedar, sugar pine and redwood, which, in time, when mills will be erected, will furnish an ebnndance of lumber for mining purposes, Now that the new mineral law allows acquisition of titles to mining property, it is to be hoped that these deposits will receive more attention from our miners and prospectors then they bave hitherto done, and that they may add another element to the repidly increasing mineral weelth of our Stete. _ Munine ror Trv.—There seems to be a reelity in the Austrelian tin mines, as we reed that 51,000 ecres of tin-land, taken up bear an annnal rental of $60,000. Some of this land covers and pays rental in consideration of copper mines, hut hy fer the greetsr portion is set down es ‘‘tin selections.” The lands are in New South Wales, and the reports speak of very large discoveries. We hear a good deal, from time to time, of the shaky condition of the Cornwall mires, and how they are to eee their best dey in consequence of some new finding of tin in other countries. They manege, however, to maintain what ie sometimes called @ ‘‘visibility,’’ though their profits are set down as a very small item, out of all proportion, however, a Californian would think, to their reported values. For instance, the Grenville is valued at $256,000; Treligh Wood, $750,000; Van, $3,000,000; Roman Gravels; $1,000,000 and East Slangquoy $1,000,000. Seventeen other mines are a down as worth from $50,000 to $60,000 each. The values will probubly be kept up nntil other valuable discoveries are made, which give etive promise of furnishing the needed supply of this metal ata price much below that at which it oun be produced at the deep and low per cent. mines above referred to. found even on the summits and thatit finelly . Another “ Ancient City.” Col. W. T Roberts, who recently went dowu to Arizona, hunting for diamonds, etc., reports tlic discovery of the ruins of anancient cily, which covers an area of about three sqiare niles. It wasenclosed by a wall of sandstone neatly quarried and dressed, ten twelve feet thick, and which, judgi the debris, was fiftcen ortwenty feet before its fall. In most places it had crumbled away and fallen, and was coycred with sand, but in many places it was still standing six or eight feet above the sand-banks which had drifted around it. ‘Tho entire area inside of this had at one time been covered with houses, built of solid sandstone, which showed excellent masonry in their construction. ‘This ancient city is situated in Arizona, owbout ninety miles from the boundary line between Utah and Arizona, and the same distance from the wester1 Colorado line. It has the, appearnnce of being an old Aztec city that has been deserted for hundreds of years and fallen toruins. ltis entirely of stone, and not a stick of worked timber is to be found among theruins, Nothing but the walls are Standing, and none of them now are left more thon eight or ten feet above the sand, which is eight or ten feet deep. The walls still bear the traces of many hieroglyphics, cnt deep into them, showing various Indian customs and superstitions. There are also the ruins of stately monuments, built of square block sandstone, well quarried and showing good masonry, which are worked with notches and crosses cut into them at regnlar intervals. The city is covered with sand, which it is thought has blown there from the desert. The sand has become solid and packed by the rains. Uuderthesand is a layer of blue clay, six or eight fect deep. No bones, implements or relics of any kind were fouud, with the exception of some Pieces of pottery of dark color. These were embellished with paintings of flowers and ornamental figures in blue colors. The coloring matteris ofa blne mineral substance of some kind. It is perfectly indelible, .ud pieces] of pottery which have been exposed to storms, which have worn away the solid masonry of the walls of the city, show their colors as fresh and bright to all appearances as when new. The pottery itself has been found to be perfectly fire-proof upon trial in crucibles and furnaces. Srreer Car Tracks.—Mnch compleint is made of the obstrnetions to ordinary travel presented by the strect oar tracks of this and other cities in the United States. The most or alt this objection could be avoided by the adoption of the English form ofstreetcar tracks. The car trecks inLondonconsist ofa flat strip of iron, witha groove for the flange of the wheelto run in. The rail is not sunk, but laid exactly level with the surface ofthe pavement, thus presenting no obstacles to ordinary vehicles. The cars are constructed with outside sents as well ns inside. Ifthe plan of track described works welt in London, why willit uot also answer for Sau Francisco ? Tar RerorTep Curoaco Gram Fravps— Some of the Chicego papers are demending that the grain stored in that city be weighed so as to escertain tho exact amount, as it is helieved by many that the quantity stated as stored does not exist, except on paper. It is steted, that one railroad bas reported 100,000 hushels received, while the Inspector claime that not one-tenth the amout sctually ceme into that city over that road. Also, thet tbe weekly statement sbows an increase, while netnal additions ofreceipts and exports sbow a decrease, : spertoR Tin DiscovERrEs.—Tbe Perlaye Lake Gazette, of a late date, eays:—The unaccountable mystery that lias surrounded tbe claimed discovery of tin upon the north shore of Lake Superior, and the nuenviable relations that have existed between the discoverer and certain parties to whc 1 sold interests, will, it is believed, in certain knowledge of eit : vnlue of the find. A party of ger resenting large interests iu the property, together with several experts and pres3 represontatives, sterted lest week with the original discoverer, who proposes sulisfy them of the genuineness of his cle Lancast. r co for the 1 Tue nickle mine i from whence the nickle coinege is obtained, has been worked for seventeen years, and developod toa depth of two hundred feet. The length of the tween two and tbrve tho d dnces from four lun per month, employing ir mine a force of one hundred men, One mine, tho Miue la eouri, wae worked from 1850 ing of the venty-five tract, MisAhout 0 1550. $100,000 was realized from the croppings of the vein, Croppinge of nickel ore are found also in Madison, Iron and Wayne counties, Missouri. The refined metal is worth $8 per pound.