H. G. Hanks — Ranksite from California. 65 



Overlying No. 5, is a thin seam or stratum difficult to pene- 

 trate, to which the name " hard stuff " has been given, the 

 exact nature of which is unknown. 



Borax is produced at these works by three different methods. 

 By evaporating natural solution of borax ; by lixiviation of 

 crude material ; and by solution and re crystallization of tincal. 

 What is known as "crude material" is a somewhat pulveru- 

 lent, slightly yellowish, amorphous incrustation which yields 

 about eight per cent, of borax when worked on a large scale. 



Borax is obtained from this crude material by solution and 

 evaporation The plant, which is very extensive, and owing 

 to the distance and isolated position of the deposits, costly, con- 

 sists of a large steam flue boiler, and a multitude of boiling 

 and crystallizing tanks, of wood and boiler iron. Steam is 

 conveyed in pipes to the various tanks, instead of utilizing the 

 heat of the sun, which would be more economical and the 

 yield and quality quite as good. The peculiar dryness of the 

 climate is specially favorable for solar evaporation and gradu- 

 ation. Fifty men and thirty -five animals are employed in 

 these works. The product is hauled in wagons to Mohave 

 station, a distance, of about seventy miles, over a sandy desert, 

 so dry and sterile that a supply of water must be hauled in 

 other wagons for the use of men and animals. The fuel used 

 has been generally the sage-brush which is gathered at heavy 

 cost, and thrown under the boilers with pitchforks, like hay 

 into a barn ; but recently, California crude petroleum has been 

 substituted. 



Hanksite first came to San Francisco in the massive form 

 and was called by the borax miners " Ice," which it certainly 

 resembled. It was examined in the usual manner and found 

 to be an anhydrous sulphate of soda, and was labelled thenar- 

 dite. No analysis was made and the small proportion of car- 

 bonic acid was overlooked in the blowpipe examination. The 

 next specimens received were small hexagonal plates, found in 

 the highly concentrated waters of the lower lake. These went 

 to New Orleans with the California exhibit, and were shown 

 at the exposition of 1884-5, where they attracted the attention 

 of Mr. William Earl Hidden, who was the first to suspect a new 

 species. The results of his study of the crystals led to a paper 

 by him, which he read before the New York Academy of 

 Sciences, May 25, 1885.* 



The magnificent crystals recently discovered were taken 

 from the sandy clay No. 2 of the section, and No. 7, seventy 

 feet or more below the surface. There were not more than 



* This Journal, xxx, 133, 1885; 



Am. Jotje. Sci.— Third Series, Vol. XXXVII, No. 217.— Jan., 1889. 

 5 



