708 GOLD 



which those conglomerates are composed present specimens of all the harder rocks : 

 metamorphic sandstones, clinkstone, trap, porphyries, and quartz, make up the larger 

 part of the mass. They are all perfectly rounded, but in the lower deposits are so 

 soft that, with the exception of the trap and quartz, they generally fall to pieces on 

 exposure to the air. The strata, as before observed, are nearly horizontal and con- 

 formable ; if they have any dip, it appears to have been owing to the slope of the 

 surface of the rock on which they were deposited ; in fact, no displacement seems to 

 have taken place in this country since the time of their formation. They lie perfectly 

 horizontal over the almost vertical edges of the upheaved slate-rocks. 



As regards the mineral riches of these deposits, it would appear that gold is found 

 wherever they exist. The ravines coming from the ridges on which they are found 

 are generally extremely rich, and always contain gold, even in places whore the 

 deposits themselves have been worked without success. In some places where they 

 have been worked as much as thirty thousand dollars have been taken from a claim of 

 fifteen feet square ; and there are many instances where ten and fifteen thousand 

 dollars have been taken from claims of the same size. But few of these rich spots 

 have, up to the present time, been opened, yet there can be no doubt but that many 

 still remain to be discovered. "Whore the deposits are found extending over a large 

 surface on the elevated flats, gold is always met with, generally diffused through the 

 gravel immediately above the rock on which they rest. 



A recent Blue-book gives some important information on the subject of Californian 

 mines. It states that the short supply of water during the past year has interfered 

 materially with mining operations, both in Canada and Nevada. Many of the quartz- 

 mills in this State have been idle for many months, and hydraulic mining has had to 

 be suspended altogether in many localities, both from want of water for hydraulic use 

 and from the accumulation of the 'tailings.' Every year new capital is brought to 

 bear on mining enterprise ; and it is no longer difficult to find the requisite means to 

 work a mine, if the prospects are at all encouraging. 



During the past year, notwithstanding the limited supply of water, there have been 

 more enterprises started or increased in magnitude than in any previous year. Hy- 

 draulic mining is the most attractive, and as the course of the old river-channels are 

 more surely traced, this interest will be enormously extended. The State geologist 

 has had, during the past two years, some of his staff employed in tracing the course 

 of these rivers, and the result of these scientific researches will bo to facilitate the 

 action of the mines materially. In a semi-official report he says : 



' In the prosecution of this work a large amount of valuable information has already 

 been collected, both of a geographical and geological character. It is confidently 

 expected that the working-up of all materials collected, with the accompanying maps 

 and sections, will exhibit the phenomenon of gravel deposits in regard to which 

 there has been so much discussion and such a multiplicity of opinions in a new 

 light, and that many difficulties which have hitherto perplexed the miners will bo 

 solved. He desired the work to be continuously prosecuted until a full and detailed 

 map and report on the whole region have been prepared, which he thought would be 

 accomplished the next session if the pecuniary means are forthcoming.' 



Hydraulic mining is becoming more general through the mining districts. It was 

 for some years mainly confined to the counties of Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, 

 and Butte, but it is spreading to Mariposa in the south, and Trinitio, Klamath, and 

 Liskyon counties, in the north. Yuba and Nevada, always the leading counties in 

 hydraulic mining, still maintain the ascendency. From one small district in the 

 former county nearly 100,0007. were received, and the yield from the completion of 

 tunnels will be much greater this year. Tuolumne has added to the counties known 

 to possess old river-channels. A large ditch is nearly completed to bring water from 

 the Tuolumno river to a very extensive gravel-deposit near La Grange, which is said to 

 be unusually rich and free from cement. The great hindrance to the working of these 

 mines has generally been the want of drainage-capacity, which has compelled the 

 construction of long and expensive tunnels, a work of great labour and time. 



The large ditches now furnishing water for hydraulic purposes supply hydraulic 

 power from nozzles of 7 inches in diameter, and the force is tremendous. Two or three 

 years ago a 3-inch nozzle was the largest in use. A groat many very fine quart /.- 

 mills have been built, with all the improvements that science and practical experience 

 have taught; and though labour has not depreciated sensibly in value, quartz of a 

 much lower grade can be profitably worked than heretofore. 



The two leading quartz-mines of California the Amador, in Amador county, and 

 the Eureka, in Nevada county have paid in dividends respectively 172,0007. (since it 

 lias been an incorporated company) and 354,8007. The total yield of the California 

 gold mines is estimated at 3,000,0007. Extraordinary developments have been made 

 in the great ' Comstock lead ' of Nevada, and the yield has reached 2,200,0007,, fully 



