284 QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



course of the creek, and the dip was 30° to tlie southwest, which is some- 

 what less than the average dip of the disturbed strata liereabout. A very 

 large part of the ore of this mine was metaciniiabarite, as was the case in 

 the upper portion of the Redington. Pyrite accompanied the cinnabar in 

 a quartzose gangue and some bitumen occurred. The onl}^ accessible por- 

 tion is an open cut at the croppings. Here are exposed both serpentine and 

 the black opaline mass often called "quicksilver rock" in this region. Tiie 

 contact between the two is vertical and is pretty sharp, but the resemblance 

 in general structure and the appearance ajong the dividing line led me to 

 the belief that the opaline mass was an alteration product of the serpentine. 

 Microscopical study has since shown that both in this district and elsewhere 

 this transformation occurs, while other rocks as well as serpentine are, seem- 

 ingly more rarely, converted into opal. The black, opaline mass at the Reed 

 mine contains much pyrite, and the decomposition of this mineral appears 

 to have yielded salts capable of attacking the opal superficially. The cut 

 afforded no opportunity for the study of ore in place. 



The Andalusia mine is in a similar position to the Reed and near the 

 same contact. The rocks at this point have been very considerably decom- 

 posed, apparently as a consequence of the oxidation of pyrite. There are 

 large quantities of black opal here, and some of this contains a considera- 

 ble amount of microscopic millerite — nickel sulphide. 



Vein of cinnabar. — Ncar thc fumacBS of the Redington Company a prospect- 

 ing shaft was sunk for some distance upon a little seam of ore, which proved 

 of no value, but of considerable interest. The deposit formed a vein an 

 inch or two in width, cutting the strata of unaltered Neocomian sandstone. 

 The fissure was filled with attrition material from the walls, cinnabar, and 

 pyrite. This occurrence is in strong contrast with the other and more im- 

 portant deposits of the district, but is no doubt coeval with them and a 

 consequence of the same set of causes. 



THE REDINGTON. 



Rocks and minerals. — Tliis uiiue was dlscovcred in making cuttings for a 

 count}' road. It has been worked since 1862 and has produced nearly 

 100,000 flasks of metal, or more than any other mine in the State, except- 



