Doc. No. 9.] 59 



On the Rancho La Brae, near the Pescadero, and into the very^ edge of 

 the Valley Santa Clara the talcose series and gold is found ; on crossing 

 the Pajaro, these rocks and with, them the gold closes ; not a trace of 

 this metal, or rock that would indicate its existence was to be found in 

 any of the hills east of the Gabilan. 



The district of country in the Coast Mountains in which the aurifer- 

 erous deposits are now known to occur is about eighty miles in length, 

 and thus far is confined to the counties of Santa Clara, Monterey and 

 the north part of Luis Obispo. This is a material addition to the al 

 ready known area in which this metal is found, and its location in what 

 has heretofore been considered the agricultural districts of the State, 

 will in time exert a beneficial influence in the permanent settlement of 

 those sections. 



ANTIMONY. The common sulphuret of this metal fs Very abundant 

 in the Monte Diablo Eange ; at Mount Oso it is found in large masses, 

 also at various other points throughout these mountains ; it occurs in 

 considerable quantities in some parts- of the County of Santa Barbara. 

 This mineral is deserving of attention as it often contains a notable 

 quantity of silver, though as yet no specimens which have been found 

 in this country contain a large per centage of this metal. That variety 

 of the antimonial ores which is argentiferous, has a lively steel-gray 

 color, cuts easily with the knife and is brittle, while the common gray 

 antimony, which is the principal yet found, has a lead-gray color, its 

 fractured surface, easily tarnishes and scales of the mineral are slightly 

 flexible. * 



BITUMEN. Bituminous springs abound through the Coast Moun 

 tains, and in some places is much used in the construction of buildings, 

 and walks in front of buildings ; for the latter purposes it is admirably 

 adapted in situations where the sun will not have too powerful an effect 

 upon it, as in such cases it is apt to become soft. In the counties of 

 Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey, several of these springs occur, 

 and further south are found more abundant. Information has been re 

 ceived of an extensive deposit of bitumen in Contra Costa, some six 

 miles from the scores of the bay, but at what point I have as yet been 

 unable to learn. This article has been used of late in the manufacture 

 of gas, for illumination, and it possesses some advantages over the com 

 mon oil or resin gas in general use ; a sufficient quantity for the illumin 

 ation of the country may be easily obtained and at low rates when re 

 quired for this purpose. 



CINNABAR. This mineral is well known, and the principal mine now 

 opened in this country is at New Almaden in the County of Santa Clara 

 and situated twelve miles from San Jose. The town of Almaden is sit 

 uated four hundred and eighty feet above the sea and the mine is eight 

 hundred and sixty feet above the town, making the elevation of the 

 mine thirteen hundred forty -five above tide level. The ore_at this mine 

 is found in bunches or deposits in a clay highly charged with peroxide 

 iron. The cinnabar contains considerable arsenic generally disseminated 

 through the ore, small veins of calcareous spar are found running 



