124 PROCEEDIXGS OF THE CORDILLERAN SECTION 



CLIMATIC PR0TIXCE8 OF TEE UXITED STATES WEST OF THE ROCKIES 

 BY WILLIAM G. REED 



(Abstract) 



The State boundaries form an unsatisfactory method of dividing the area 

 for climatic purposes and it can not be considered as a climatic unit. The 

 grouping here suggested conforms more or less closely with the physiographic 

 provinces and seems to be climatically sound. The area west of the Sierra- 

 Cascade crest may be called the Pacific Province ; it is characterized by gen- 

 erally mild temperatures and a winter maximum of precipitation. It may be 

 subdivided into the Californian district with dry summers and the Dregonian 

 district with occasional summer rains. Both districts may be further sub- 

 divided on the basis of the annual rainfall. East of the Sierra-Cascade crest 

 is the Rain Shadow area ; it is characterized by large daily and annual ranges 

 of temperature and generally deficient precipitation. It may be subdivided 

 into the Great Basin district with generally less than 10 inches annual rain- 

 fall ; and the Snake River district with 10 to 20 inches annual rainfall, with 

 a spring maximum. 



Discussion by Weber, Louderback, and Holway. 



OCCURRENCE OF FREE GOLD IN GRAXDIORITE OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, 



CALIFORNIA 



BY A. F. BOGEBS AND E. S. BOUNDEY 



(Abstrdct) 



An addition to the very few authentic occurrences of original gold in unal- 

 tered igneous rocks. 



Illustrated by specimen. 



NOMENCLATURE OF MINERALS 

 BY A. F. BOGEBS 



(Abstract) 



About five thousand mineral names are in use, though there are not more 

 than a thousand definite minerals known. It would simplify the nomenclature 

 if names of varieties, mixtures, pseudomoi'phs, and isomorphous mixtures were 

 discarded. Minerals are mainly isomoi-phous mixtures of simple molecules. 

 The name of a mineral would be determined by its predominant molecule, the 

 name being that of the end member of the isomorphous series to which it be- 

 longed. If this suggestion were adopted, such names as embolite and pisanite 

 would be discarded, while some new names would be added. 



