TEE MANHATTAN. 283 



of wliicli the open cut shows Lirge quantities, is referable ahnost beyond a 

 doubt to the period of ore formation. So far as I liave observed, the sihca 

 deposited during the regional nietamorphism is wholly crystalline. 



The siliciHcation, though veiy intense, has not obliterated stratification, 

 and fine exposures of contorted strata converted into nearly pure silica may 

 be seen. Vein-like seams often cross the strata, and in these, as well as in 

 the partings between the strata, cinnabar has been deposited in brilliant 

 contrast to the white background. It is easy to gather fine specimens of 

 cinnabar on the exposed faces, but the average contents of the material 

 exposed is certainly very low. Pyrite accompanies the ore, and copper 

 stains were observed, no doubt resulting from the decomposition of chalco- 

 pyrite. 



Prospects — The Royal and the Grizzly claims are prospects upon which 

 Tittle work has been done. They belong to a type which is very prevalent 

 in the quicksilver belt. Tlie inclosing rock is highly metamorphic and very 

 heterogeneous, but in the immediate neighboi-hood of the oi-e it is strongly 

 silicified, and much of it is converted into a black chalcedony consisting 

 chiefly of opal. In these claims the cinnabar occurs to some extent as im- 

 pregnations in partially metamorphosed sandstone, but for the most part in 

 threads and seams, either crossing or following the bedding, in short, wher- 

 ever the disturbance preceding the deposition of ore left openings into which 

 the solutions could penetrate. It is highly probable that deposits like these 

 might become more regular below, but, so far as these particular deposits 

 are concerned, the quantity of ore at the surface is not suflicient to justify 

 the expectation of ricli developments beneath. Pyrite, quartz, and bitumen 

 accompany the ore. 



The Reed mine. — The Iiced nuue, belonging to the California Quicksilver 

 Mining Company, is on the north fork of Davis Creek and has produced, 

 according to Mr. Randol's figures, 5,653 flasks of metal. It has not been 

 worked for some years past. It lies close to the line which divides an area 

 of serpentine from unaltered, fossiliferous rocks. Mr. T. J. Hall, the last 

 superintendent, informs me that the ore was followed fra:n the surface to 

 the 300-foot level, the deepest in the mine. The trend of the deposit was 

 the same as that of the strata in this neighborhood, nearly parallel to the 



