Volume 28 (1874) (430 pages)

ence and Progressi ve Industry. BY DEWILhY & Co., Patent Solicitors. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1874. VOLUME XXVIII Number 4, Beach Mining, The miniag operationa earried on at Gold Bluffs, where the anriferoua send is gathered from the heach, are something pecnliar to California, but very little seems to he known concerning these mines and the way they are worked. The deposit of anriferons gravel is on the coast lino of Klamith county, Cal. In 1850, when this portion of the coast line was still in undisturbed possession of the Indian tribes, a party of adventnrers traveled from Trinidad np, seeking for the month of Trinity river, which instead of beiag in reality an affluent of the Klamath, was supposed to have aseparate month. One of this party was d. Johnson, now @ resident of Crescent city. At a favorable spot on the beach they saw glittering particles inthe sand, which on examiuation proved to he gold. After collecting come of this gold they went back greatly excited to Triaidad to procure provisions, etc. On their return, however, they found nothing but a bed of gravel, a change in the direction of the surf having carried away or covered up the gold. It may be remarked that when the direction of the wind is suoh that the aurf breaks square on the beach, it rolis up masses of coarse gravel and no black sand is visible; bntwhen it cents the beach at an angle the gravel is washed into heaps in certain spots, and in others black sand is deposited, more or less rioh in gold, After the discovery mentioned above ensued the famons ‘‘Gold Binff excitement,’’ well rememhered by mauy early Cslifornians. The first mining claim taken up was located hy Bertrand and Nordhamer in that year, The heach sands were worked, in rockers and sluices. From that time to the present these beaches have been steadily worked, the highest amonnt taken out in one year up to the present being said to be $25,000 for the lower claim. The proprietors have, howéver, labored nnder the disadvantage of a seanty snpply of fresh water, not being able to keep their slnlces running more than onethird of the time. At the last meeting of the California Academy of Sciences Mr. A. W. Chase, of the United States Coast Snrvey, read a paper descriptive of these bluffs, and presented at the same time drawings showing a general view of the miuing ground and scctions of the bluff. He describes the coast linc, coming from the north after leaving the Klamath river, as being extremely broken and rocky, At point about four milessouth of the river, banks and desposits of sand appear, althongh the commencement of the blnffs proper is at the month of the Ossegan creek ‘and seven miles from the Klamath. Then for nine miles there is an almost unbroken line of cliffs, varying {from one to five hundred feet in hight. Many of the bluffs are absolutely vertical, and in some instances are overhanging. At low water there is a narrow beach, but when the tide is full the aca Washes directly against the base of the cliff, the béach being then impassable. A view of the beaoh is shown in Fig, 1 of our engravings. The monntains hack, of which the blinffs form the sea escarpment, are all one immense mass of gravel, of varying size and distinctly marked layers or stratifications, This gravel can be traced across the country northeast: wardly to a point on the Klamath river, about thirty milee distant, where the aame form of deposit makea Ite first appearance as yon de: second the river. i As the bluffs ore similar, or noarly so, in stratification, we give a ent (Fig. 2), made from drawings by Mr. Chase, showiag the section of the cliff. The hight of this oliff from low-water mark is nbout 227 feet, the sketch showiag a vertical section, The thickness of different strata are by estimation, as Mr. Chase had no avyailahle means of determining them with exactness. Commeneing from the top, there is first a section of ten feet of loam and then twenty feet of yellow clay. Then forty feet of coarse yellow gravel, which covers a stratum of sandetone of brownish color, 10 fect in thickness. Next in order is forty feet of red-and-yellow gravel. Then comes five feet of a hlue-colored sandstone. ProjecFIG. 2.—Section of Bluff. In Fig. 2, A ia loam: B, yellow clay; ©, yellow gravel; with wood lignite; G, coarse red gravel; H, very fine tiag from this layer are numerous stumps and other portions of trees partially transformed into lignite. Then thereis fifty-five feet of very coarse red-and-yellow gravel, and immediately beneath it five feet of very fine blue-colored gravel. Under this is fifteen feet of indurated soad, covering o stratnm of ten feet of gravel, stained a deep red, probably from the presence of oxide of iron, Beueath this is another stratum of sandstone, five feet, blue in color, wlth pieces of the lignite before referred to, projecting from it. Then five feet more of blne sandstone withont any lignite. Then seven feet of gravelly beach to low-water mark. The cliff described is at the lower end of the bluffs and near the mining works, The strata all dip to the north, at an angle of abont 15 degrees; while that at the north end, although mnch broken, eeems to dip towarde the sonth, 10, from the top,in whlch, on examination, mioa and fine gold can be detected with a microsoope. Tho specimen was a concretiou, cemented together by the oxides of iron on alerge houlder. Mr. Chase believes that it is from this stratum that the largest amount of fine gold is obtained. In deacribing the method of working the mines, he says that he rode np the beach with the Superinteudeut of the lower claim, just as the tide was turning to go out, The practiced eye of the Superintendent of the claim noted every indication of the presence of black sand. FIG. 1.—The Beach at Gold Biuffe, Looking South. Alighting at a spot at the hase of the cliff, he scraped away the loose gravel, and taking up a shovel-full of the sand lying bencath, he panned it out in the little pools of water left by the receding tide, On finding a ‘‘good prospect” FIG. 3.—Black Sand Mine. D, sandstone; E, red and yellow gravel; F, aandstone bluish gravel; I, indurated eand; J, gravel with iron coment; K, sandstone with lignite; L, beach; M, low water mark. he dispatched a messenger to the works and the mule traincame down, There are some 40 of these animals employed, altogether, but in the present instance but 16 of them were used. Each mule carried a couple of sacks of Coarse canvas attached to the pack sad. dle. Each sack will contaln about 125 pounds of sand and gravel, the mule packing, therefore, 250 pounds, and the train of 16 carrying some 4,000 pounds, or two tons at one trip. Fig. 3 shows the mine, with the mules waiting patiently to be loaded. There being no shafts or tunnels, timbers or pnmpiag and hoisting machinery, the ontlay for ‘‘mine expenses’’ is not quite so great iu o black sand mine as in one of the Comstock mines. The top gravel being stripped off, the underlying eand was gathered into little piles. While the men were thus engaged the Superiutendent Mr. Chase presented apecimens of stratum, No. . invited Mr. Chase’s attention to the appearance of the bed-rock, which glittered with particles, and he could well believe the etories of the first discoverers. So exceediagly fino, however, is the character of tho gold that it re. quires @ much larger quantity of these particles to make a cent in yalue than one not familiar with the snbject would suppose. After the sand hed been shoveled into little piles, the canvas sacks were taken from the mules and filled. With a word from the driver each mule walked up gravely between his sacks. On their being placed on his back he would start off on a trot for the works. The animals had to pass several points where the sea was breakiag pretty well upon the bluff. When they saw a heavy breaker coming in, they would face the cliff like veterans with firmly braced feet and drooping ears, and allow the watertodash over them. When the swell receded they would start again on their way. Dariug the time Mr. Chase was present these mules made three trips, carring up over six tons during a eingle tide. On atrival at the works the sand is placed inan enclosnrecalled the ‘‘sand corral.’’ A large lagoon near by supplies the water for separation. A small stationary engine and force pump is in nse. The washing is dene in “Long Toms” with copper plates. The plates are first coated with a layer of silver hefore the quioksilver is applied. Duriag the week Mr. Chase was in the vicinity of the works they cleaned up a six or seven dsys' run and retorted $1,600 from the washing of two maehines. The succeeding week they cleaned up $1,700. This yield comprised the gold from a portionat least of the rich deposit spokeu of. As the experience of the successive proprietors of this extraordinary gold mine goes to prove that immediately after a heavy cave or slide of the banks, the beaches are richer and ita gold coarser, it seems strange that up to the present time no artificial means have been resorted to in the way of blasting down the cliffs or underminiug them by hydraulie process to increase the yield of gold. The sea working ceasclessly night and day, is the great natural separator, and man has hut to gather the results of its tireless work, Many ideas have been advanced as tothe possibility of gold in quantities and coarser in character, beiug found beyond the line of surf. Predicated on the fact thatit,ia conjuuction with black sand, has been said to have been brought np from the bottom by the leads of sailing vessels. Severs] expeditions have been fitted out from this port to proeure this aand by means of diving apparatus, etc., but none of them were succeseful. Two or three facts can be taken in conjunction to form an idea on this subject. The first is, that the gold evidently comes from the hluffs. This no one csn doubt after once viewing them. The second, that after caves, the gold obtained is much coarser in character. The The third, thatitis only after a continued snecession of swells that cut the beach at an angle, that the rich sands are found. When the surf breaks square on, let the storm be evor so heavy, it simply loads the beaches with gravel. The fourth, that no one witnessing the power of the surf, hreaking os it does, with no rocky headlands, peints or rocks to deaden it, can doubt that it must have an immense grinding force. From these facts Mr. Chase believes that the gold follows the first two or three lines of breakers, and will never be found in paying quantities beyond. . Mr. Chace sent to Prof. J.D. Dann specimens of the sands of Gold Bluff, and that gentleman, in speaking of the eands says: The red grains in the eand are garnets. It is altogether probable that the depoeit datee partly from the elose of the glacial era; that is, the time of melting of the ice in the early part of the Champlain period when floods and gravel depositions were the order of the day, and partly from the later part of the Champlain period, when the floods were bnt partially abated, yet the depositions were more qniet,

ence and Progressi ve Industry. BY DEWILhY & Co., Patent Solicitors. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1874. VOLUME XXVIII Number 4, Beach Mining, The miniag operationa earried on at Gold Bluffs, where the anriferoua send is gathered from the heach, are something pecnliar to California, but very little seems to he known concerning these mines and the way they are worked. The deposit of anriferons gravel is on the coast lino of Klamith county, Cal. In 1850, when this portion of the coast line was still in undisturbed possession of the Indian tribes, a party of adventnrers traveled from Trinidad np, seeking for the month of Trinity river, which instead of beiag in reality an affluent of the Klamath, was supposed to have aseparate month. One of this party was d. Johnson, now @ resident of Crescent city. At a favorable spot on the beach they saw glittering particles inthe sand, which on examiuation proved to he gold. After collecting come of this gold they went back greatly excited to Triaidad to procure provisions, etc. On their return, however, they found nothing but a bed of gravel, a change in the direction of the surf having carried away or covered up the gold. It may be remarked that when the direction of the wind is suoh that the aurf breaks square on the beach, it rolis up masses of coarse gravel and no black sand is visible; bntwhen it cents the beach at an angle the gravel is washed into heaps in certain spots, and in others black sand is deposited, more or less rioh in gold, After the discovery mentioned above ensued the famons ‘‘Gold Binff excitement,’’ well rememhered by mauy early Cslifornians. The first mining claim taken up was located hy Bertrand and Nordhamer in that year, The heach sands were worked, in rockers and sluices. From that time to the present these beaches have been steadily worked, the highest amonnt taken out in one year up to the present being said to be $25,000 for the lower claim. The proprietors have, howéver, labored nnder the disadvantage of a seanty snpply of fresh water, not being able to keep their slnlces running more than onethird of the time. At the last meeting of the California Academy of Sciences Mr. A. W. Chase, of the United States Coast Snrvey, read a paper descriptive of these bluffs, and presented at the same time drawings showing a general view of the miuing ground and scctions of the bluff. He describes the coast linc, coming from the north after leaving the Klamath river, as being extremely broken and rocky, At point about four milessouth of the river, banks and desposits of sand appear, althongh the commencement of the blnffs proper is at the month of the Ossegan creek ‘and seven miles from the Klamath. Then for nine miles there is an almost unbroken line of cliffs, varying {from one to five hundred feet in hight. Many of the bluffs are absolutely vertical, and in some instances are overhanging. At low water there is a narrow beach, but when the tide is full the aca Washes directly against the base of the cliff, the béach being then impassable. A view of the beaoh is shown in Fig, 1 of our engravings. The monntains hack, of which the blinffs form the sea escarpment, are all one immense mass of gravel, of varying size and distinctly marked layers or stratifications, This gravel can be traced across the country northeast: wardly to a point on the Klamath river, about thirty milee distant, where the aame form of deposit makea Ite first appearance as yon de: second the river. i As the bluffs ore similar, or noarly so, in stratification, we give a ent (Fig. 2), made from drawings by Mr. Chase, showiag the section of the cliff. The hight of this oliff from low-water mark is nbout 227 feet, the sketch showiag a vertical section, The thickness of different strata are by estimation, as Mr. Chase had no avyailahle means of determining them with exactness. Commeneing from the top, there is first a section of ten feet of loam and then twenty feet of yellow clay. Then forty feet of coarse yellow gravel, which covers a stratum of sandetone of brownish color, 10 fect in thickness. Next in order is forty feet of red-and-yellow gravel. Then comes five feet of a hlue-colored sandstone. ProjecFIG. 2.—Section of Bluff. In Fig. 2, A ia loam: B, yellow clay; ©, yellow gravel; with wood lignite; G, coarse red gravel; H, very fine tiag from this layer are numerous stumps and other portions of trees partially transformed into lignite. Then thereis fifty-five feet of very coarse red-and-yellow gravel, and immediately beneath it five feet of very fine blue-colored gravel. Under this is fifteen feet of indurated soad, covering o stratnm of ten feet of gravel, stained a deep red, probably from the presence of oxide of iron, Beueath this is another stratum of sandstone, five feet, blue in color, wlth pieces of the lignite before referred to, projecting from it. Then five feet more of blne sandstone withont any lignite. Then seven feet of gravelly beach to low-water mark. The cliff described is at the lower end of the bluffs and near the mining works, The strata all dip to the north, at an angle of abont 15 degrees; while that at the north end, although mnch broken, eeems to dip towarde the sonth, 10, from the top,in whlch, on examination, mioa and fine gold can be detected with a microsoope. Tho specimen was a concretiou, cemented together by the oxides of iron on

alerge houlder. Mr. Chase believes that it is from this stratum that the largest amount of fine gold is obtained. In deacribing the method of working the mines, he says that he rode np the beach with the Superinteudeut of the lower claim, just as the tide was turning to go out, The practiced eye of the Superintendent of the claim noted every indication of the presence of black sand. FIG. 1.—The Beach at Gold Biuffe, Looking South. Alighting at a spot at the hase of the cliff, he scraped away the loose gravel, and taking up a shovel-full of the sand lying bencath, he panned it out in the little pools of water left by the receding tide, On finding a ‘‘good prospect” FIG. 3.—Black Sand Mine. D, sandstone; E, red and yellow gravel; F, aandstone bluish gravel; I, indurated eand; J, gravel with iron coment; K, sandstone with lignite; L, beach; M, low water mark. he dispatched a messenger to the works and the mule traincame down, There are some 40 of these animals employed, altogether, but in the present instance but 16 of them were used. Each mule carried a couple of sacks of Coarse canvas attached to the pack sad. dle. Each sack will contaln about 125 pounds of sand and gravel, the mule packing, therefore, 250 pounds, and the train of 16 carrying some 4,000 pounds, or two tons at one trip. Fig. 3 shows the mine, with the mules waiting patiently to be loaded. There being no shafts or tunnels, timbers or pnmpiag and hoisting machinery, the ontlay for ‘‘mine expenses’’ is not quite so great iu o black sand mine as in one of the Comstock mines. The top gravel being stripped off, the underlying eand was gathered into little piles. While the men were thus engaged the Superiutendent Mr. Chase presented apecimens of stratum, No. . invited Mr. Chase’s attention to the appearance of the bed-rock, which glittered with particles, and he could well believe the etories of the first discoverers. So exceediagly fino, however, is the character of tho gold that it re. quires @ much larger quantity of these particles to make a cent in yalue than one not familiar with the snbject would suppose. After the sand hed been shoveled into little piles, the canvas sacks were taken from the mules and filled. With a word from the driver each mule walked up gravely between his sacks. On their being placed on his back he would start off on a trot for the works. The animals had to pass several points where the sea was breakiag pretty well upon the bluff. When they saw a heavy breaker coming in, they would face the cliff like veterans with firmly braced feet and drooping ears, and allow the watertodash over them. When the swell receded they would start again on their way. Dariug the time Mr. Chase was present these mules made three trips, carring up over six tons during a eingle tide. On atrival at the works the sand is placed inan enclosnrecalled the ‘‘sand corral.’’ A large lagoon near by supplies the water for separation. A small stationary engine and force pump is in nse. The washing is dene in “Long Toms” with copper plates. The plates are first coated with a layer of silver hefore the quioksilver is applied. Duriag the week Mr. Chase was in the vicinity of the works they cleaned up a six or seven dsys' run and retorted $1,600 from the washing of two maehines. The succeeding week they cleaned up $1,700. This yield comprised the gold from a portionat least of the rich deposit spokeu of. As the experience of the successive proprietors of this extraordinary gold mine goes to prove that immediately after a heavy cave or slide of the banks, the beaches are richer and ita gold coarser, it seems strange that up to the present time no artificial means have been resorted to in the way of blasting down the cliffs or underminiug them by hydraulie process to increase the yield of gold. The sea working ceasclessly night and day, is the great natural separator, and man has hut to gather the results of its tireless work, Many ideas have been advanced as tothe possibility of gold in quantities and coarser in character, beiug found beyond the line of surf. Predicated on the fact thatit,ia conjuuction with black sand, has been said to have been brought np from the bottom by the leads of sailing vessels. Severs] expeditions have been fitted out from this port to proeure this aand by means of diving apparatus, etc., but none of them were succeseful. Two or three facts can be taken in conjunction to form an idea on this subject. The first is, that the gold evidently comes from the hluffs. This no one csn doubt after once viewing them. The second, that after caves, the gold obtained is much coarser in character. The The third, thatitis only after a continued snecession of swells that cut the beach at an angle, that the rich sands are found. When the surf breaks square on, let the storm be evor so heavy, it simply loads the beaches with gravel. The fourth, that no one witnessing the power of the surf, hreaking os it does, with no rocky headlands, peints or rocks to deaden it, can doubt that it must have an immense grinding force. From these facts Mr. Chase believes that the gold follows the first two or three lines of breakers, and will never be found in paying quantities beyond. . Mr. Chace sent to Prof. J.D. Dann specimens of the sands of Gold Bluff, and that gentleman, in speaking of the eands says: The red grains in the eand are garnets. It is altogether probable that the depoeit datee partly from the elose of the glacial era; that is, the time of melting of the ice in the early part of the Champlain period when floods and gravel depositions were the order of the day, and partly from the later part of the Champlain period, when the floods were bnt partially abated, yet the depositions were more qniet,