170 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



formation of the hills, the succession of gorges, the 

 entire absence of fertility in many portions, distinctly 

 exhibit the result of a great up-heaving during past 

 times. But there is one phenomenon in the mining 

 region which defies all geological research founded 

 upon any other premises than volcanic formation. 

 Throughout the whole territory, so generally that it 

 has become an indication of the presence of gold, a 

 white slate rock is found, and is the principal kind of 

 rock in the mining region. This rock, instead of 

 lying as slate rock does in other portions of the earth, 

 in horizontal strata, is perpendicular, or nearly so; 

 seeming to have been torn up from its very bed and 

 left in this position. On the banks of the Middle 

 Fork are several excavations, wliich can only be ac- 

 counted for upon the supposition, that they were at 

 some time volcanic craters. There is one of these on 

 the mountain side, about five miles below the " Big 

 Bar;" from which, running down to the base of the 

 mountains, is a wide gorge entirely destitute of ver- 

 dure, while the earth around it is covered with shrub- 

 bery. This, I am fully convinced, was the bed of the 

 lava stream that was thrown up from the crater ; and 

 in searching for gold at the very foot of it, I found 

 several pieces entirely covered with the black cement 

 or lava, of wdiich I have previously spoken. From 

 all these evidences, I am fully satisfied that at some 

 early date in the world's history, by some tremendous 

 volcanic eruption, or by a succession of them, gold, 

 which was existing in the form of ore, mixed with 

 quartz rock, was fused and separated from its sur- 

 rounding substances, and scattered through every 

 plain, hill, and valley, over an immense territory. By 

 its own gravity, and the continual washing of the 



