238 
BORAX  IN  CALIFORNIA. 
mulated.  This  is  called  the  "Sulphur  Banks."  It  consists  of  a 
much  decomposed  volcanic  rock,  fissured  in  innumerable  places, 
through  which  fissures  steam  and  gas  are  constantly  issuing,  and 
all  over  and  through  which  large  quantities  of  sulphur  have 
been  deposited,  so  as  to  give  the  mass,  from  a  little  distance,  the 
appearance  of  being  entirely  composed  of  this  material.  Into 
some  of  these  cavities  a  pole  may  be  inserted  for  several  feet, 
and  they  are  often  lined  with  fine  crystallizations  and  stalactites 
of  sulphur. '  No  doubt,  a  large  quantity  of  this  material  could 
be  obtained  here,  and  the  time  will  probably  come  when  it  will 
be  made  available.  It  is  the  largest  deposit  which  we  have  seen 
in  the  State,  covering  several  acres  of  ground ;  but  to  ascertain 
its  value  and  determine  the  quantity  of  pure  sulphur  it  contains, 
it  would  have  to  be  dug  into  at  various  points. 
Near  the  sulphur  bank,  just  at  the  edge  of  the  lake,  is  a  hot 
spring,  of  which  the  outlet  is,  even  at  low  water,  partly  beneath 
the  lake,  so  that  the  amount  which  flows  from  it  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained without  some  expenditure,  to  keep  out  the  surrounding 
water.  The  flow  of  this  spring  seems  to  be  quite  variable  at 
different  seasons,  and  probably  the  amount  of  material  it  holds 
in  solution  is  far  from  constant.  Dr.  Veatch  found  the  area 
over  which  hot  water  was  percolating  through  the  sand  to  be  150 
by  75  feet  in  dimensions;  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  it  was  much 
less  ;  nor  was  the  estimated  yield  anything  like  as  great  as  he 
made  it,  namely,  three  hundred  gallons  per  minute. 
The  water  of  this  spring,  as  analyzed  by  Mr.  Moore,  is  found 
to  be  of  a  remarkable  character ;  his  analysis  is  subjoined. 
Grains  in  one  gallon. 
Chloride  of  potassiam  . 
Chloride  of  sodium 
Iodide  of  magnesium  . 
Bromide  of  magnesium 
Bicarbonate  of  soda  . 
Bicarbonate  of  ammonia 
Biborate  of  soda 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Alumina 
Carbonic  acid  (free) 
Silicic  acid  . 
Matters  volatile  at  a  red  heat 
trace. 
84-62 
•09 
trace. 
76-96 
107-76 
103-29 
trace. 
1-26 
36-37 
8-23 
65-77 
484-35 
