50 



in the canon spoken of, no veins are again met with, until the base of this ridge 

 is approached, towards the Trinity River, when they are again found crossing 

 about two miles to the east of Lewis's Bridge on this stream ; but we shall for 

 the present defer their consideration till we come to examine them again in the 

 county of Trinity, where they belong. 



CARBONIFEROUS LIMESTONE. 



In the eastern part of the county of Shasta, there is a group of calcareous 

 rocks, stretching obliquely across the head of the Sacramento Valley, whilst the 

 mountains in which they are situated, or more properly, the mountains of which 

 they compose the chief part, hold a due north and south trend. Their color 

 and altitude when seen from a distance of twenty or thirty miles in either direc 

 tion, form striking features in the landscape scenery of this part of the country, 

 peering upward in their more northern portions to the height of about 3000 

 feet. Their light blue tint projects them in strong relief, against the dark rocks 

 and darker herbage of the mountains beyond, in such a manner as to display 

 their rugged and bold outline in the clearest and most distinct picturings. 



These limestone mountains, thus termed because there are no rocks of any other 

 description to be found upon them, extend across the Pitt River in a northerly 

 direction for a distance of about thirty or forty miles, forming a portion of the 

 canon of McCloud's Fork, and are situated on the western banks of that stream, 

 between which and the Sacramento flows the rapid stream termed by Mr. Dana, 

 Destruction River, a name which it still retains. 



The dip of these limestones is to the east at an angle of about 20 degrees; the 

 strata, which are very distinct, vary from a few inches to eight feet in thickness, 

 and the thicker beds appear extremely solid, scarcely exhibiting even a small 

 seam. Those which lie near the base of the mountains are much darker in color 

 than those above them, and form a most beautifully variegated marble, inferior 

 to none of those varieties used in ornamental architecture, or for making furni 

 ture* The lower, the middle and a considerable portions of the upper beds are 

 highly fossiliferous, consisting of marine species entirely. The fossils are composed 

 of several species of encriuite, orth'is and small spirifers, in the middle and up 

 per beds, and of corals among the lower ones. This I believe is the first fossili 

 ferous limestone, as yet found in any portion of this State, it has heretofore been 

 entirely wanting. 



The discovery of this group of rocks brings us in close connection with a new 

 geological era within the State, and enables us to present the outline of a strong 

 hope that we mav yet be able to discover that article of comfort and economy 

 so much needed on these western shores. These rocks belong to the carbonifer 

 ous system and appear to be the representatives of that system developed during 

 the survey of the north-west Territories by Mr. Owen. They appear almost 

 identical with the superior portions of that group known as the " Carboniferous 

 rocks of Iowa and Des Moines " and in which the coal measures are found. 



1 do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter, nor to say one word which might 

 induce individuals to invest capital or time, in what would be considered fruitless 

 attempts in search of coal. The only evidence existing, that this article may be 

 found in quantities that would be adequate to the demands of this State, will de 

 pend upon the character and extent of this group of rocks under consideration. 

 My time did not permit that extensive examination of the group, which I wished, 

 but it was conducted far enough to determine the fact of their carboniferous character 

 beyond question. As before stated, these are the first rocks which have been found 



