EXPLORATION OF THE LAHONTAN BASIN. 17 



Basin was also mapped b}' the surveys in cliai'ge of Capt. George M. Wheeler 

 and Major J. W. Powell ; and geological explorations have been carried over 

 large areas by the geologists connected with these surveys. The present 

 Geological Survey has made special studies of a few of the principal mining 

 centers of the Great Basin, and commenced the investigation of its surface 

 geology in a systematic manner. Even with such a favorable beginning, 

 many years of patient investigation, accompanied at times with hardships 

 and privations, will be required before the geology of the Great Basin can 

 be fully written. 



The exploration of the Lahontan basin, so far as is definitely recorded, 

 began in 1833, when it was crossed by the party in charge of Joseph 

 Walker, as previously mentioned. No report of this journey has been 

 })ublished excepting In Irving's attractive book describing the adventures of 

 Captain Bonneville. In 1843, '44, '45, and '46, Fremont traversed the La- 

 hontan basin throughout nearly its entire extent from north to south and 

 made many geographical discoveries ; but although he noted the presence 

 of tufa deposits about Pyramid Lake, and published a sketch of the tufa- 

 coated island which suggested its name, he does not seem to have recog- 

 nized that his route led through the desiccated bed of an ancient inland sea. 



In 1854, Capt. E. G. Beckwith" crossed the northern part of the Lahontan 

 basin, in the region of the Black Bock and Smoke Creek deserts, but gave 

 little attention to the geology of the country traversed ; the main object 

 of his exploration being the discovery of a practical railroad route to Cali- 

 fornia. Other reports of a similar nature might be cited, as that of Capt. R. 

 Ingalls,^ who traversed the Ijahontan basin in the latitude of the Carson 

 Desert in 1855; little information of geological importance is contained, 

 however, in the narratives of these earlier expeditions. 



The exploring i)arty in command of Capt. J. H. Simpson^ entered the 

 Lahontan basin at Sand Spring Pass, at the eastern end of Alkali Valley, in 

 June, 1859, and encamped on the slough connecting North and South Car- 

 son lakes ; the expedition then proceeded southward to Walker Lake, by 



"Pacific Railroad R<'i>oits, Wasliiiif;ton, D. C, 1861, Vol. II. 

 'Cougres.sional Documeuts: 34tb, Int. H. R. Ex. Doc. 1, j). l!5(i. 



"Explorations Acros.s the. Great Ba.siii ot Ulali, Washington, D. C, lH7(i, i>|i. iM".i,:>l:!. 

 MoN. XI — 2 



