316 Gold in California. | July, 
tance of over 3,000 feet. These fissures are separated from one 
another by intervals of from 40 to 60 feet, have each a width of 
about 12 inches, and are connected with each other by lesser open- 
ings, intersecting the first nearly at right angles to their direction. 
All these crevices are usually full of boiling water, which overflows 
and escapes in the form of a rivulet; at other times it does not flow 
over, although violent ebullition may be heard to be taking place at 
a short distance below the surface. All these fissures have become 
partially filled by a silicious deposit which is being constantly m- 
creased by the formation of new layers on the sides, whilst a longi- 
tudinal central crevice allows of the escape of boiling water and 
steam. On the most western of these lines of fracture are several 
centres of active eruption, from which boiling water is sometimes 
ejected, by the action of steam, to a height of from 8 to 10 feet. 
These waters are alkaline, and contain, in addition to carbonate of 
soda, the sulphate of that base, and chloride of sodium. . There is 
also a considerable escape of carbonic acid and sulphuretted hydro- 
gen; these products give rise to the deposition, near the surface, 
of sulphur and anhydrous oxide of iron. 
To the west of those above described, another fissure, having the 
same origin, is observed, but this is no longer traversed by currents 
of hot water, although at various poimts throughout its extent it 
still gives off steam and carbonic acid. At its northern extremity 
a central fissure remains open, but in other localities it is, for the 
most part, closed by an accumulation of silicious concretions. 
The total distance over which this deposit can be traced is con- 
siderably more than a mile. The deposits of Steamboat Springs are, 
to a certain extent, metalliferous, and, in addition to oxide of iron, 
they contain oxide of manganese, together with iron and copper 
pyrites. M. Laur, a French mining engineer, deputed by the 
Imperial Government to examine and report on the mineral re- 
sources of the Pacific coast, states that they also contain gold. 
Another remarkable example of the recent deposition of minerals 
is to be found in the vicinity of the celebrated Borax Lake, where 
solfatara action is still vigorous, and a large amount of sulphur has 
accumulated. This deposit is known as the “Sulphur Bank,” and 
covers an area of some six or seven acres in extent. It consists of 
a much decomposed volcanic rock, traversed by innumerable fissures, 
through which steam and various gases are continually issuing, and 
over and through which large quantities of sulphur have been de- 
posited, in such a way that at first sight the whole appears to consist 
of a mass of this substance. This sulphur is being constantly 
deposited, its deposition being attended by the evolution of aqueous 
vapour and carbonic and boracic acids, but it apparently takes place 
without the emission of sulphuretted hydrogen. ‘Lhe gaseous 
matters issuing from the crevices in the rock have usually a tem-— 
