tJiVK . .7>»M>«WM^ .. .-^^^«»«iM»-S THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS U^5.i:^l^46<^ J. f 3 4 cc o z z s u < »- «) z c o o ^ < S 3 a: ui d z "S 3 QQ •J. < o i i: O z LL.' ■on ^g —. •E ^ _. z z: '>■ cy5 !/■] £ E Cti i 8 ^_ Ul < J" < Si 00 o <7i q: N < 3 < U K 3 a o z i i u < « < i ■3 00 C ^'^ LlJ DC D N < 3 < U K O m o z Id I- < I- z c o k. u BULLETIN No. 50. September, 1908. THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Issued by the CALirORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU, Ferry Building, 5an Francisco. Under the direction of LLWI5 L. AUBURY, state Mineralogist. SACRAMLNTO: W. \v. SHANNON, ::::::::: SUPERINTLNDLNT STATE. PRINTING. I 908. LTDRARY UNTVFR«;iTV OF CALIFORmA •- A ^"'Q CONTENTS. rAOK. cnNhlTlnN or I 111: iNhrsi UV 11 STAl'IS'lK'S ol" l'K( (hrcrioN -I iiisTi tUKAi. M>ri:s •'•" SHASTA (OrNlV "*'' 'I'm: ("uri'KK Hki.t ■'" (;K(>I.T rn.MY 1^" TKIIAMA. <; I.K.N .N. a. mi < 'oi.l SA ( "( )1 .\ TI KS 1-I-' .MKMlOriNO ('(tr.MY 1'" r.AKi; I "orM Y ^''•' Nai-a r..i nty "'^ SllNd.MA ("dIMY ''"'' MVK.N r..,NTY l"'^ Al.A.MKDA CdINTY '' Contra Costa Coi.n ty ^ ' ' Mkkcki) * '(tr.NTY ' ' ' San r.KMTO ColNTY ^ '-' Sa.n 1. 1 is < H:1S1MI ( 'OINTY ' '-' riii: sii:i;k.\ .\i;vai».\ hklt ''' I'M .MAS A.Mi SlKltKA (ol NTIKS ''' 1 s; t NK\ ADA ( m .NTY Vl MA Cot NTY -"•' I'l.AC KK < or. NTY i;i I >(I1{AI)0 ( "OINTY ••■'1 .\MAI)OK ( OINTV 22S. ( AI.AVKUAS t OINTY 4 CONTENTS. THE siKKKA m:\aiia i:i:i;r~< 'om imki). pace. Ai.i'im; Cointy iMCi 'I'roi.iM.NK Coi'MY L'47 .M AlUI'OSA ('(11 .\IY -'>] .Madkka Coi \TY . L'li'.t Fresno Coi'nty l'77 'rn.AKK Cor.NTY l!v.» KKK.N ( 'Ol XTY li'.l."! SOITIIKKX AM> KASTKKX 1 >i:i'( >SII'S li'.is .Mono ( 'oiN TY . : '2'.)S I \ Yo County -U'J Sax r.KKNAHDINO ( "OINTY '.\'2~) KlVKKSIDK CoiNTY ."UU San Dikoo Cointy .".44 Los Angeles Cointy o4."» Al'l'KXIUX -Ml ('Ar.iioKNiA Stati: Mini.nc I'.iHKAr '.'A~ -MiNKHAi- Statistics .■'.":! LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Pack. r.iilly Ilill Mini's iiiiil Siiifllrr. Sluista ("oiinty 1-'*> Uoiistin;: stalls foriMfily iisi-d liy llu- Minintniii Ckiiiht ( 'niiiiiany. K.swick. Sli.ista County 1"' .Moiiiitaiii CiipptT ( 'iimpaiiy's ()ii;iinal sint-ltrr plnni. Kiswirk. Shasta ('onniy 1 ' Suil'arf niiiiiii;: plant of tin- < 'upper .Mining' Company in Siiik Umk Canyon, with lion Mountain at ihr rii.'hi •".'.' HlistiT coiJptT from r.nlly Hill smcllfr awaiiiui: shipmcnl 1" 'rnnncl entrance ai ilie Smrar Loaf Copper Mine. Shasta ('ounty... 41 View iif the Hully Hill Copper .Mines from the north ■'.■". r.ully Hill. Shasta County, show ini: orii;iiial tnniiel djiened in Isti.';. . '<>'< (leolosieal seftioii. acc-offlim: lo available data '>•'• Sketcli showiii;; on- deiiosits of Iron .Mountain Mine liii Sketch showiiif; ore hodi^-s of lialaklala and Shasta Kini; *>1 McDouirall roastiu}; furnace. Ki'swick smelter. Mountain Copper Company. Shasta Counl\- ~- Iloastin.s; stalls at I'.ully Ilill snnlier. Shasta County 77 Cross section of UmIIn Ilill .Mine. Shasta County 7M Smelter at the Unlly Hill Mines. Shasta County ^1 Clmte hetwi-eii tunnels and e|e<'tric iiowerliouse an Shasta Kiu'.: .Mine. Shasta Count \- Mi l^alaklala ( 'oiisolidated Cojtper .MiniiiLr ('omi>any smelter, ('uram. Shasta ( 'ounty 's'.i (lOssaii cropiiinirs and inniiej. r.alakiala .Mine. Shasta ("ounty !M Mammoth Mine. Shasta County li.'! Mammoth Coi)i)er Mining' Company smelter. Kennet. Shasta Co.... !i'.> Aftei'thou^'lit smelter at In^'ot. Sliast;i County li'l Section throujrh Copper Hill and .Vfterthou'^'ht claims. Shasta Co.... HM Preston I'eak trroup of copjter mines 1.!1 LIST OF ILLISTHATIONS. Pace. Low Dividi' Miiiiiiu: District. Del Xorte Ciuiiiiy I."'.." Croppiiifis at Islaud Mountain ('oi)i)tM- Miiu-. 'I'liiiiiy ("oiinty 147 liowldt'i-s of copiKM- ore at Islniid Moiiiitaiii ('u|ipiT Mine 14fl Copper bowlders at ratii( k I'oiiii. Iluniboldt County I."i4 Copper oroi)pinj2;s, Williams' claim, (icntscc. Plumas County ISo Mountain on which is located tiic Dum-an crroup of coiipcr mines. IMunias < 'ounty 1>>.'» Cro.ss section of Siienceville formation I'.iH I'latit of the Sjience Mineral Company. Speiiceviile l!l."i Si7 Penn Copiier Mining Company's mine at Campo Seco -.'!!' Smeltins works of the Penn Mining Company at Camjjo Seco 1240 Penn Chemical Companys smelter and roasters. Calaveras County.. 1'41 Napoleon Cojiper Mine. Cala\eras County -4.". (Jreen Mountain ("ojiper .Mine. .Mariposa County '2"> (ireen Mountain and I^one Tree Mines. Marijiosa County J.'i'.i Pocahontas Copper Mine. Mariposa County L'Cil Willie Ro Plant of Copper King Mining Company. Ltd.. Fresno County 2N.'> Shipping station and smelter of the Copper King. Ltd.. Contra Costa County I's4 Smelter at Fresno -Mine. Fresno County "jsii CopiHM- Mountain Mining Company's claims. Tulare County 2".'l (ireenback Coppir Mine. Kern County l".i."> Coi)i)er croppings at Copper King Mine and at Dodd's Springs. Ubehebe District. Invo Countv 30.~( LIST ur ii.i.rs'i'HATioNS. ' Page. Inyo Copi-'i- Sin.'liin- iui.l Miiiini-' « ■..iiii-mmv. riM-li.-l).- liisiii.t. . .. :!'iT lliyo ( Mil Illy Cross sec-tion <.f Iny- CnlM'-'- M'"'"-' =••"' ^^''''-''i"- •'"•"I'iniy i.rui.- ci-ly. riM'lirlir I»isiri..n\vat.T. liiy.. ( ",,uniy. (;n-..n\val.T Copii.T C.n.i.any .-.17 C, iiwal.T n.'aili Vall.'y Coi.!.. r Company. Iny. C..iinty :;i'.i-:;-Ju Vi..w of D.'i.ili VmIN'.v from Fmi.Tnl Itaiii:.' ami rat.amint Kaiiu.^... --I ... . >— ' » (Jr. (11 water •• :'.J7 •►•Ml Copiifi- Wuii.l .Mini'. San P..'riianliii<> County Maiivcl. San lifrnanlinn < "(luiily Sini'ltci- at N 11. 's. San I'., riianliiio Lonnty •'— Oraii'.:.' Blossom .Mine. San r..'iiianlino County Kerry Kuildimr. San Fran.is.-.,. in wJii.h is situate.l the California :;4s Stale .Mining' I'ur.au Min.T.i! Musriim. Slat.' .Mining' r.ur.'an LETTER OE TRANSMITTAL. Tn Ills K.rnlhnr„ -Iamks N. (iliXHTT. (In,: rnnmf I In Sl.,1, of Calit-nn,.,. o,ul I In llnnnrahh llu Board W V..s/<..s nf lln Slair Miniinj liiirciii. Cknti.kmkn: I l.av.- 11... honor 1.. In.ns.ui! lo you Uulhlin No. .')<». "Coi'I"-'' R«^s'>iii'^'^'^ "^" ('"lif'"""'='-" * Tins n.port is n r-visi-.n of V,u\\rUu No. 2X "CoIMH'V Resoun-s of ( "nlUonna.- wln-l, u.s pnl-lish.-a n> VM^l Uy thisa.partmonl. ( hvin. lo ih. iumu-ns.. .l..v..lo,nn,.nt u. cupiH-r nnnn.. whi.-h h.s t.K.n ,.h ,„ Ihis S.,,. sn,.- IIh- latt.r H„n,,in was pul.lislH.l. it l:ns he.n .onsHl.-n.! ..Iv.sahl.. <> ,.,„.... tins pul.li.ation np to -lat.. nn.l furnish nil poss.hl. i„fornK.tion on ^IrvelopuuMits in ••opp-r for tlu- ,.asl s,s y-ars. , i„vr ....Irnvon-.l to inrorporntr descriptions ol all ropprr ,,,..sp.-ts .n.l nnn.s n. this linlh-tin. On o.M-.sions. .t has ,„pp..n..a that wh.n Ih-hl assistants visitnl ...rtan. properties. „., .,„.. ,vas to 1... t-MUHl. ana therefore access ^vas not possa.- ,„., no n,torn.a„on .-onhl he ..htain.-a. Where the Hehl assistants vish.-a ,Mo,..Hi..s. w.. hav.. to n.port that th..y w.-re inv.riahlv 1n-a1..a uilh llu- .rratest courtesy by n.n.- ounrrs ,„a sn,..M.inP.na..n1s. ana 1 wish to .-xKna th- thanks ot this ,l,.,,nr1nirnl l.r t hr assistan.-r n.n.lm.a to ihr,,,. ,.,„„.,,,1 ,s h..hl assistants ul.o .-olh.H.a aata for the revision of -('opi'-- H. -un-es of Cal.rornia - u.mv Dr. A. ll.usn.ann. ^vho v,.,!..! llu- -onnti-s of Siskiyon. D.l Norte. Trinitv. Shasta, ana ll.nnhoiat in thr north, ana Ins assistant. Mr .l"Kruttsehnitt..lr.. whorarri.-.lon a ,.nr1 ion of t h. work in Shasta and Siskiyon -ounties. Dr. llansn.ann also n.porlr.l „j,„, the nnnes in San Hernaraino. Inyo, ("alavras. Anuulor. 10 I.KTTER OF TKAXSMI'lTAI.. 'riKiluiiiiM'. .M.-iripcs,!. .M.i(!('r;i. ;ii!(l Fresno couiil ics. .Mr. \V. Iv 'I'linfiif was ciiyaiicd in licld wdi'k in i*ln('er. El Dnrado. and Nrvada counties. .Mr. .1. A. Mdnian repoiMeil on new dis- covei'ies in I'luiuas ( 'ouni \'. Thanks aic tlue and are cordially extended to all of those who have in any wa,\' assisted in the pcepaiMtion of this l^nlletin. Kesperl fully sulnnitted. LKWIS H. AriJlKV. Shilt M iitn-iihit/isl . Xoveinher 1. 11)08. THE COPPER RESOURCB Of CAllfORNIA. CONDITION Of TME INDUSTRY. ('upper ...-.•upi'-s llK' pl:>M' ..r tliinl iiiiiM,rt:inr.- in \\u- annual m-onl of California -s niinrral product i..ii. and with an oulpul of :V2.(i()2.!»4:) p..unds. valued at *(i.:Ui;iS7 in I'.HlT. (•alif..nna is the fifth copper-pnHlucin- state of 1h.' Tnion. The total pn.durtion for the last t\\vn1y-on.' years from 1S87 to I'HIS was •_>!I1.7:5!).7-!l> pounds, valued at >i;44,():U.()()8. more llian Iti^^ ,.,Mi1s a pound. While .Mi.-hi-an. Montana and Arizona -really exeeed this outi)u1. Ilu' hu'ures of the world's production show that this State will undouhtedly soon assume a mu.li lar-cr importaiiee as a copper field and that it will Ion- rcmaiu a stron«r factor in the industry. The copper industry is an old one in California. Many thousands of tons of lidi ores were shipped for reduction fi-oni San Francisci. to the Atlantic coast ;,,„! Kur..p.' lu'tween IHtil and 1886; but thereafter, for many years, the industry remained at a low ebb, and copper was one ;,f the minor mineral products of the State. In 18!)f) canie the discovery of the possii)ilities of the larufc copi)er belt in Shasta County, the result of the ivopenin- and siiccessful ojx'ration of the mine of the Mountain Co|)per Company in 1 i-on .Mountain. This mine soon took hiirh rank amonu: the <;reat coi)i)er mines of the world. The further exploitation of the Shasta copper belt soon followed the early success of the :\Iountain Copper C,„,,p;iny. and in l!»(ll a -n-at prop.-rty. the I'.ully Hill, entered llie Held as a |)roducer. e(niipped with a modern smeltin:th and breadth of the State and occni'rin'4' in practically every one of its fifty-eitiht coun- ties. Thonsands of deposits liaxc been subjects of niinin deti'ital dei)()sits of the valleys. Till' deposits of economic importance, however, are mainly concentrated in certain belts and districts which require chief considei'at ion. Foi' ( oiivenieiice. the ( upper deposits of the State are in this bulletin uronped in four ,u:eoo:raphical divi- sions: Shasta County; the Coast Ran|)|»ei' disti'ici of ('alil'ornia. and the one that promises to remain of overshadowinu' importance for a good while in the future, in total out|)ut of metal, is that of Shasta County, in the north-central paii of th<' State. Here is a sei'ies of (opix-r deposits formiui;- a curved belt nearly 30 miles lonu', and a co|)pei' district which must soon rank with the few great individual copper disti'icts of the world. Of second impoi-tatice is the coppei- belt of the westei'U slojK' of the Sierras, wliirh in territoi'ial magnitude is not rivaled in the woi'ld. llei'e is an almost contiinious series of copper dei)osits stretching north and south for about 400 miles. In this belt the principal (ojipei' mines of the State in former 14 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. yours wci'c (Icvclopcd. .iiid jiIoiil;' it llicrc will uiKloiihtcdly he iiijiiiy iH'odiiciim' iiiiiics dcvt'lojx'd in tln' I'litiire. While the Coast Ranufe displays (•()[)per deposits throughout its h'li'i'th of 500 miles, its important copper districts are in its iiorth('i-ii port ion, e.\tendinper 55.5, iron 16.4. snlphnr 2S.1. It has hccu fonnd in Plnmas. Fresno, Shasta. Santa ("lara. Calaveras, and ln\"o connties. Chalcocite. — Copper ^hmce: is a siilpliide of coi)per. of a (lark lea(l-iira\- color, often trrceii on the snrfaoe. with a metallic luster and lilackish lead-Liray slreak'. ol'teii tarnished lilue or irreeti. The hardness is 2.5 to ;i. and specific Lrravity 5.5 to 5.8. It contains 7i).8 coppei- and 20.2 sidpluir. witli sometimes a little iron and silver replacinu' part of the copper. It has been fonnd in Inyo. San Bernardino. San Dic. and Monterev counties. It carries 6!). 2 copper o.xide, 25. (i carbonic acid, and 5.2 water. Malachite, is the ^i-een carbonate of copper; the color is bright green, giving a pale green streak; the hardness is 3.5 to 4. and specific gravity 3.9 to 4. It is found coiiunoidy mas- sive, but also incrusting. with a delicate fibrous silky structure. It contains 1!).!) carbon dioxide. 71.9 cupric oxide, and 8.2 water. It is a valuable copper ori', anil when found massive is used for ornamental puriioses. It is found in numerous parts of Califoi'nia. Imt hitherto not ma.ssive. Cuprite. — Red oxide of eoppei-; is an oxide of copper of various shades of red. from cochin(>al I'ed to almost black. It H X, o 'J X X. >5 X. X 2— BuL. 50 18 THE COPPER RESOUKCES OF CALIFORNIA. has an adamantine or submetallic to earthy luster, and a brownish red, shining streak. The hardness is 3.5 to 4, and specific gravity 5.85 to 6.15. It contains 88.8 copper, 11.2 oxygen, and is a common mineral in California, having been found with native copper in Del Norte and Plumas, also near St. Helena in Napa County, farther in Kern. Tulare, Shasta, Mono, Colusa, Placer. Trinity, and Nevada counties. Native Copper. — This is pure copper, containing often some silver, bismuth, mercury, etc. The color is copper red, giving a metallic shining streak, and showing a metallic luster. It has a hardness of 2.5 to 3, and a specific gravity of 8.8 to 8.9; and is found rather sparingly in California accompanying the various other copper ores, especially in the vicinity of igneous rocks, although it is also found in clay slates and sand- stones. It has been found in Calaveras, Plumas. Amador, Napa, and Shasta counties. Chrysocolla. — This mineral is a silicate of copper, with an opal-like or enamel-like texture. It varies in color, passing from a mountain green and bluish green to sky and turquoise blue; if impure, it may be brown to black. It has a vitreous, shining luster, and the streak (when pure) is white. The hardness varies from 2 to 4 ; the specific gravity is 2 to 2.238. As it is an alteration product, it is found in connection with other copper minerals, more especially in the southern portion of the State, though very handsome specimens have been found in Plumas County. It contains 45.2 copper oxide, 34.3 silica, and 20.5 water. It is a good copper ore. Among the less frequent copper ores found in California we may note : Melaconite. — Black oxide of copper. It is formed by decomposition of chalcopyrite and other copper ores. It is found earthy black, massive, with a specific gravity of about 5, and consists of 79.8 cupric oxide and 20.2 oxygen. It has been found in Calaveras, Shasta, and Kern counties. Chalcanthite. — This is a native sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), and results from decomposition of copper sulphides. It occurs usually as an efflorescence in old copper mines. It I WHAT CONSTITUTES COPPER SMELTING ORE. 19 has been found in Califonii;! in thf IN'i-k niinc. Shasta County; als»> in Nevada County. Tetrahedrite. — Cray copper ore (fahlore). This mineral has a i,'ray to iron-l)laek eolor and streak, with inetallie luster, a hardness of 3 to 4.5. and a specific gravity of 4.4 to ')A. It i'ontains 23.1 sulphur. 24. S antimony, aiul r)2.1 copper. The antimony is sometimes replaced l)y arsenic, when the ore is named Tennanitc. These ores frr(|ucntly carry some silver. WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD "COPPER SMELTING ORE"?* The discovery of a mine is in itself not always eciuivalent to success, for the mere possession of an ore \nH\y in the iiroiiiid is not a source of revenue, and mdess the next important question has liecn solved, how to convert it into money, there may be thousands or millions of dollars worth of ore exposed, not bring- ing' revenue, but causing the loss of money. The reason for such an apparently contradictory condition is, that all the useful metals, with the partial exception of gold and plat- iinun. occur as a ruh'. not in a native state, Imt as ores, i. c. chemically combined with other elements with which they form new bodies, having but little reseml)lance either in appear- ance or (|uality with the metallic constituents of which they are composed. Iron, for instance, is found combined with oxygen as a brown earthy substance; a little sulphur converts the white, silvery, li(|uid mercury into the bright red, solid cinnabar; lead forms with molybdenum and oxygen transparent yellow crystals, with o.\ygen and carbon white crystals of brilliant silky luster, «tc. These elements unite in certain fixed proportions, accord- ing to certain laws of afifinity and may be separated again under the same laws. On the knowledge of these laws is based the science of metallurgy, the art to produce the metals from their compoiuids in a form in which they can be used in the indus- tries, which also includes the preliminary mechanical work frequently required to separate the ore from the bulk of the baser material in order to obtain it sufficiently pure for treatment. * Bv Dr. A. Hausmann. 20 TllK COPPER RESOURCES OF CALII'OHNIA. Altliouii:li iiu'tals have been protlnced in i)rehistori(' ages, metallurgy has (Uivelopcd in very recent times only from an empirical cusloni to an exaet science, which has ,L:reatly modi- fied the processes and increased their efficiency. In no olhei' branch of industi\\' does financial success dejicnd to such an exteni on the |)ractical application of theoretical knowledge (which is really nothing else but a systematically arranged eoUeetion of facts obtained by experience), as in metallurgy. While it is possible under certain conditions to ol)1ain good results by mere praetieal methods, such work as is done by large modern smelteis. would be impossible without the scien- tifie basis, which permits of calculating the results in advance with absolute certainty, leaving nothing to chance and acci- dent. Notwitlistanding many practical demonstrations that these metallurgical calculations are indispensable for financial success, the necessity of scientific methods is still too often ignored and this disregard causes fre(|nent failures, involving great financial losses, to the detfiineiit of the mining industry, which is usually blamed instead i>r individual incompetence. Idle reduction woi'k's. mills, smeltei-s. etc.. form a conspicuous and unpleasant feature of many mining camps in the United States, representing a deploral)le loss of money. The failure of these plants is usmdly due to these causes: lack of oi'c. or character of ore, which renders it unfit for treatment in that particular plant, but at the present state of metallurgy, there is no excuse for such failures. A striking example of this kind is the ease of the Fresno mine, where, with tiiousands of tons of ore on the dump and exposed in the mine, its value seems to have been luiknown. On the supposition thai it contained 7 pel- cent copper, a smelter was built at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars, but after if was finished it was suddenly discovered that the ore only contained 2 ])er cent copper and was ton low grade for smelting. The sm(>lfer was never blown in. Another very couuiion mistake is to ligure on the composition of the ore as it appears on the surface, without faking into consideration the almost certain change taking place in depth. This applies especially to gold veins which carr.v free milling ore on the surface, the residf of exposure to the aii', which oxidizes the base metals and liberates the srold. Without ascer- WHAT CONSTnTTKS fOPPKR SMKLTINP. ORE. 21 taiiiiiii: how dft'i) tliis five iiiilliiii; on- cxtemls. a mill is put up wliicli works all rii;lit as loiipr as this ore lasts, hut when it (•liauiTt's into suli)hi(l('. it is no longer i'vcv niillini; and opci-a- tions have to he suspended. l-'or cop])!'!' oi-cs snieltinir is almost the oid\ ti-t-atmi'nl to he considered: it is applieahle to all of them without exception, althouirh they arc not cipially well adaptc(l to it. The (piestion of smelting at the mine is of «rreater importance loi- copi)er than foi' 'jfold or silver ores, hecause the formei- can never attain such hi- begins with ]8Sl*. when the United States (}eoh) California State Mining Bureau's care- ful yearly (•()ni|»ilat idii of the aiiKiiiiils and \alucs of the State's miiici'al pfoduds l)e.i'-an in 1S!)4. 'I'hei'c arc i-adii-al (lisajjree- mculs hclwccn llic rccoi-ds of the \' . S. (Jcological Sui'vcy and those of ■■ -Mineral huhislry " as to some of the years succeeding 1891. ami between tliese records and Ihat of the State Mining Burc^an as to some of the years succeeding 1893. The following statistical I'ccord of the copper |>roduct of Califoi-nia. in fine pouiuls, for 1882 and following years, is matle up of the record of the V. S. (reological Survey for the years preceding 1894 and of the record of the State Alining Bureau for the succeed- ing years : Year. Fine Pounds, Year. Fine Pounds. 1SS2 S2(;.( >!!.-. is'.r. 22r).<;,io 1S83 l.C.00.sr,2 1S!)t; 1.!><)2..S44 1S84 sTc.ic.t; isjtT i;i.(»s.(;-j(; 1885 4(;! MIL'S ]S!»8 21..";4.'}.22'.> 18S<> 4;:i>.2io ]Sf)i) 2;',.!>ir>.4.s<; 1887 1.(;(Mi.(MMl 1000 2!)..")iri..->12 1888 l.r)TO.()2l l!Hil .S4.n81.!»S.-> 1889 l.-.l,.-.0.1 11M>2 27.8(M).1G2 181)0 2:!.:!47 100:5 io.n:?.8<^i 1891 :J.:!07.4o.-. I'.KM 20,074, ir.4 1892 2.0so.«>44 19(>."> lft.9i)7.4S0 189.3 2.S0.(;s-_> v:x)i\ 28.72t;.44S 1894 7;!S..V,)4 1007 ;J2,tJ02.045 ■i *- O a. ^ O to o to ^~. i^ m n 1^ ^ W at o <^ 3-^ lO ^ c> «-i v» •o ^D uo ^ ^ •4 S3-~ oi "• tr> s2 «o «9 II ^r> o — <>4 ^ •*■ i^ I ^r> o — c^ O-, o^ 0-. CT-^ <3--. 5^ — — - OZ, OO ^ O — csj rr> o O o o Q-^ 0~> ^r>> G^ O^ ^i^ w^ |0 .- 26 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNLV. 00 E o « >- e « h o c 3 O O >• .0 « B O B O u 9 s a. « a a o « be e i e JO CO « (2 3 d CD 3 pq u> c c i •4-1 d 4-1 m 03 o i: 3 C C 00 ^ a 3 "3 > I i O Si 3 g o .a > •J 9) 3 f— « 3 > 3 "3 > .o > p o o g s t^ 00 in s 10 3 s r^ OS -" S ss CO so O o a> S •w > o c 5 Q 3 OS _■ "< O W £3 lO 1-4 55 oo CO s i CO s i i ^ s 2 CO o> o> o o o o GO ■n in M to s CO in CO s o c s M to o s 00 lO 5 00 in Si £ "3 V C o 3 « 2 ca •-; o. ij * 3 S 2 2 ^ 3 5 = ^ Z 03 X D STATISTICAL TABLES. 27 28 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. Copper Production of California for fourteen years, from 1894 to 1908. Compiled from the Annual Mineral Statistics of the blale Mining Bureau. County. Product in Fine Pounds. 1 Value. Alameda . . .. 13,728 8,377 r)00,248 23,436,038 31,700 165,859 6.292,172 270,983 673,440 849 (>75.225 382,087 108,371 3,5:i8 474,271 964 1,185,650 2,906 502 2,007 4,989,151 18,054 240,554,804 393 365,030 4,838 155,826 1,460,923 $2,162 1 319 Alpine Aniadt)r 68,409 3,643,093 3,645 25,901 Calavera.s Contra Costa E\ Dorado Fri'sno .. .. 8ii0 607 Invo .. .. . 37 606 Kern ^ 96.047 ho^ Angeles ^^_*n. Madera ... 169 103,088 52,350 Mariposa .. Merced 16,024 Mono - 513 Nevada 60,409 Orange .. .. .. .. 193 Placer . 175,043 Plumas _ 404 Riverside . Sacramento . 100 316 San Bernardino . . 814,213 San Diego .• .. 3,409 Shasta_- __ ■_. 36,503,120 Siskivon . 62 Stanislaus. .. .. 47.181 Trinity 761 Tuolumne 17,920 Unai>portioned _ . .. .. _ 231,903 Totals _ 281,777,954 ,$42,795,967 California's Copper Production in 1907, by Counties. County. Pounds. Value. Amador Calaveras EI Dorado, Fresno _. Inyo Los Angeles Madera Nevada _ Orange Riverside San Diego San Bernardino Siskiyou . Shasta Totals 27 5,300 ,941,883 606 250,000 6,779 849 1,895 22.082 i«;4 .'i02 i;5,246 514,282 193 .844,364 $1,020 60i 1,203 122 .'>0,(KX» l,3.'i6 169 379 4,418 193 100 2,659 102,856 39 5,5<)8,873 32,602,945 ' $6,341,387 STATISTICAL TABLES. 29 The Progress of the Copper Industry in the United States, as Shown by the Production by States, in Pounds, in the Years 1890, 1895, 1900, and 1905. Soi'RCE. 1890. 1H95. 1900. igo.'i. Lake Superior Montana 101,410,277 ' 129.330,749 i 145,461,498 U2,980,8i)(> 190,172,150 270.7:W.489 218,999,7.59 319.179.880 Arizona Utah California. Colorado Wvotnint; :«.7!Hi,r,89 47,9.53,.5,53 l.(Kit!,t)36 2,184,708 23,:i47 218.332 3,585,«!tl (1,079,243 118,317,7t^4 222,8(Mi,020 18,^54,726 51,9.'-)0,7S2 28,511,225 l(i,(i97,48H 7.82(i,m9 9,8.54,174 4.2(>3,77() 2,393,201 New Mexico 850,034 143.719 4.1. 25 1876 21.00 12 1877 18.62 75 1878.- 16.50 87 1879 17.12 25 1880 20.12 25 1H81 18.12 75 1882 18.50 12 1883 .-15.87 ()2 1884 13.87 ,37 188.5 -.11.12 62 188H-. 11.00 ,62 1887 11.25 ,00 1888.- .-.16.66 ,00 1889 13.75 .25 1890 15.75 .50 1891 12.87 Year. 1892 I'elUs pir lb. 11.50 1893.-.. 1894 -- ..-10.75 9..5«( 1895 ... 10.76 1896 10.88 1897.--. 1898 11.29 12.03 1899 17.61 liKX) --- ltj..')2 1901 .- 16.72 1902 .-. 12.16 1903.-.. 1904 -13.72 13.01 1905 . . - - . 15.89 1906 . . - 19.15 Table Showing the Position of Copper among the Principal Mineral Products of the United States in 1906.* Products Exceeding 110,000,000 in Value. Quantity. Value. Coal, bituminous -.short tons Coal, anthracite, Pennsylvania long tons Pig iron, snot value long tons Copper, value New York pounds Clay products Gold, coining value troy ounces Petroleum... barrels Stone Natural gas Cement barrels Lead, value at New York short tons Silver, commercial value troy ounces Zinc, value at New York short tons Lime short tons Sand, molding, building, etc short tons 342,874,867 63,(^5,010 25,307,191 917,805,682 4,565,3.33 126,493,936 51,000,445 .350,1.53 56,517,iKXJ 199,694 3,197,754 31,842,572 1381,162,115 13I.917,()94. .505,700,000 177,.-)95,888 Kil, 032,722 94,373,800 92.444,735 («i.378,794 46,873,932 55..302,277 .39,917,442 :^8,2.5(>,400 24,362,668 12,480,6.53 11,489,420 Total value of all mineral products in 1906 $1,839,288,540 •Report of the United States Geological Survey. 30 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. HISTORICAL NOTES. The liistory of the copper industry of California is naturally divided into three periods. Tlie first extended from 18()() to 1868. and was a period of active and widespread development and operation of copper mines, some of them on a considerable scale, and of the shipment of many thousands of tons of copper ores by sea to reduction works at Baltimore, New York, and Boston on the Atlantic coast, and to Swansea in Wales. The second period was one of depression and. in fact, of almost complete prostration, extondina; from the practical cessation of all development in 1868 to 18!J5. The third and present period is that beginning with the operations of the Mountain Copper Company in Shasta County in 1895, marked by the discovery and development of the immense ore bodies of the copper l)elt of Shasta County, and by a general revival of interest in the industry throughout the State as a consequence of the successes won at the north and of the recent period of high prices for the metal. The widespread occurrence of copper in California had been known for many years before the industry began its productive career, but without attracting more than incidental attention. Old records state that as early as 1840 copper had been noted near Soledad Pass, in Los Angeles County, and that about 1854 tile deposits afterward worked there were discovered by a Frenchman named INIaris. About 1855 a small deposit of copper ore was fouiul in Hope Valley, Alpine County, by "Uncle Billy" Rodgers, and the specimens from it attracted considerable attention on account of their beauty and richness, but the discovery was soon forgotten. Dr. J. B. Trask. who acted as State Geologist from 1851 to 1854, discovered copper minerals in nearly every county in the State, but his reports thereon appear to have had no influence on the later beginning and progress of copper mining in California. Available historical material is so fragmentary and often unreli.iblc .iiul conflicting that the actual beginning of the HISTORICAL NOTES. 31 industry caii not 1k' tixctl. A vjilu;il)l(> and Icnjjthy paper in J. K(>ss Browne's official report on tin- .Mineral Kesonrees of the States ;in«l Territorie.s west of the Koeky .Mountains, made in 18G7. identifies tlie be^'innin^^ with the discovery of the Napoleon mine in Calaveras County, late in 18»i(). hy Hiram Hughes. This is essentially an error, as other records show that several copper mininj,' companies, maiidy of Del Norte and Calaveras counties, were incorporated in that year, some of them in the sprintr. Lan^dey's State Re^nster for 1850 says, in part, re^'ardintr the copper resources of the State: "The ore from the vicinity of the Pitt and McCloud rivers, Shasta County, is said to excel in richness the celebrated Arizona mines, and to contain in addition a considerable (piantity of iTold. Ore of exceedinf; richne&s has also been found in ditTer- ent localities in El Dorado County, and a vein on the Cosumnes has yielded over seventy per cent of jMire metal. There is a vein of copper on the middle fork of the Cosumnes River, Mountain Township, El Dorado County, now being worked by machinery i)ropelled by water. The mill has three stamps attached, and has so far yielded a handsome return to the proprietors. ' ' The la.st reference is believed to be to the old Cosumnes mine of that county, which was opened chicHy as a gold mine. The evidence indicates that, at the close of the decade of the fifties, practical attention was just turning to some of the known copper deposits of the State, and that modest plans for their exploration were being quietly formed. However, that discovery by Iliram Hughes late in 18^0 appears, from all historical data here available, to be entitled to the honor of being regarded as the real heginning of the notable period of copper mining that quickly ensued, because it does not seem 1" liave resulted from what had been known or done before, and because the copper excitement of that day was a direct consequence of this and related discoveries. ^Mr. Hughes, according to J. Ross Browne's report, had lived and mined for gold for some years in the region of his discovery in the Gopher Hills, in the low foothills of the western end of Calaveras County. When the first Washoe excitement ])roke out he joined the rush to the famous new silver field of Nevada, and later joined the returning procession of the unsuccessful. 32 THE COPPER RESOLRCES OP CALIFORNLV. His observations of the Comstock lode had awakened his interest in roeks he had often seen near home, and on his return he be^an jirospeetinj? for silver. lie found the gossan eap of what beeanie the Quail Ilill No. 1 mine, found it rieh in gold, and began working it as a gold mine. Soon after he found the gossan of wlial was soon the Napoleon mine, and finding no gold, sent some of the ore to San Francisco for assay. It was reported to carry 80 per cent copper, and to be woi-tli ^120 ])(']• ton. A local excitement broke out. the lode was traced antl located f(tr a nnnibci- of miles, and hundreds of claims were staked out. Among the local people who joined in tlie sean-h for rich copper ores like those of the Napoleon, were W. R. Reed. Dr. Blatchly. and ^Ir. ^FcCafty, who in -lune. 1861. made the important discovery and location of the Copperopolis lode, a few miles east of the Napoleon lode. ^McCarty had mined and farmed in the Salt Spring Valley for ten years, and in 1852 had sunk a prospect shaft on the lode he now helped to locate. Finding no gold he quit, throwing away rieh surface cojiper ores of what was to be the productive Keystone copper mine. ('o])per ores had in fact been familiar l)ut worthless rocks to these local miners for many years. The men named located 11.250 feet of the Copperopolis lode, and the Copper- opolis mine soon appeared richer than the Napoleon. New life was given the local copper excitement, and more hundreds of claims were staked out along and near the Copperopolis lode for twenty miles. Tlie copper excitement thus started quickly spread, and in a few months it filled the State, running its course after the natural manner of popular mining excitements, and expanding into adjoining States and Territories. The furor and specula- tive excitement lasted as such for about two years. Prospectors l)y hundreds visited Copperopolis. and went home or elsewhere to search for similar ores and formations. The period of 1862-63 was marked by a speculative mania, the organization of hundreds of copper mining companies, and the wildcat exploitation of slight surface prospects. Copjier operators soon realized the fact that money, skill, and legitimate development were necessary to success, and the boom suddenly burst, leaving legitimate mining companies to here and there, lIISTORir.M, NOTF.S. ss tliruu^hout tlif Slatr to ptirsiic their efforts tn iii;iU»' money from tlie development of mines and the shipment of ores. The follo\vin«r notes etineerninjr the active period of the sixties are fiirnished hy Tlumias Price of San Francisco, a nietallur^Mst who has l)een intimately associated with the California copper industry almost since its inception: -It was wfll on in tin- yi'ar ISCI hcforp anythinc considcrahh' had Im'hh (lone in iln- ili'vclopnicnt of tin- newly discovfrcd i-opiHT deposits of (Cali- fornia. l>ut at this time small slii|)ments were made to Hoston and Haltimore. and one small lot was sent to Swansea. Wales, by way of New York. liy the spring' of ls<">.'i the shipments of ropper ore from California to other parts of the I'nited States and \n (Ireat Britain had assnmed very considerahle proportions. "During this period the most important coiiper mines were near the towns of ('opi)eroi»olis. Campo Se00 feet, and the vein of .solid i)yritic ore averaged about 14 feet in width, assaying from IJ to 25 per cent copper. In dei)th. however, the vein was found to be considerably mixe«l with slate, and the grade fell off from «» to N per cent. "The miners at Canipo Seco and Lancha IMana shipped several thousand tons of chalcopyrite ore. but the grade was not as high as in the mines near Copperopolis. Between lSt« and l.s<;!» several hundretl tons of ore were shipin-d from the Napoleon and Quail Hill mines, two mines situated some six miles to the we.st of Coi)peropolis. From near the surface to a depth of about li(M) feet the ore in the Napoleon averaged L'O per cent copix'r. The Quail Hill yielded large quantities of carbonates and oxides of coi)per. and carried, in addition to the copper, considerable gold and silver. Several years after it had ceased to be worked as a coi)per mine, a forty-stamp mill was erected on the ground and an attempt was made to operate it as a gold and silver projierty. but the saniruine expectations of the owners were far from realized. "I'.y stains and other in(lication.s the copper belt in Calaveras County can be traced for fully thirty miles, and during the early sixties literally thousands of claims were staked out along its course. There is no doubt but that systematic work would result in the development of many valuable copper properties along this belt, in addition to those now known and in process of exploitation. "In .Vmador County, the old .lackson. afterward known as the Newton mine, which was discovered in 1S(;1. yielded, down to a depth of liOO feet, a hiu'h grade of chalcopyrite. running from l'r> to :i."» per cent copper, with small (|uantiti«-s of gold and silver. Several thousand tons of ore were shipped from this mine, most of which went to (ireat Britain; but as greater depth was attained the grade of ore decreased, and it ceased to pay for shipment under conditions and prices which then prevailed. "From the Newton mine the copper belt extended north to the Cosumnes River, and n(>ar the river a low-grade deposit was opened up. but it proved too poor to stand the expense of shipment. Both Mariposa 3— BuL. 50 34 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. and Fresno counties, as then known, prwlnct-d some copi)er ore. The linihanan mine was the hir.i;est property in that section, and some hnndreds of tons of ore were shipped from it. "Hased iiiion the early day prospects. Tuohimne. Mariposa. ^ladera, Merced. Slanishius. Fresno, and Tulare comities should prove larjie producers of copper when their resources in this direction shall have received proper attention. The Santa Cruz Mountains yielded several hundred tons of ore in the year ISCT. "Earlier than this considerable very high-grade ore. carrying as much as 4S iHM- cent copper, with 2 ounces of gold and 4{) tons of the ore were shipped to San Francisco, but on sampling it was found to contain only S per cent cojjper. and was. therefore, of no value. On being assayed further, it showed a value of $40 per ton in gold and $20 in silver. It wajs shipped to Swansea, and gave a small margin of profit. "Small quantities of copper ore were shii)i)ed to San Franci.sco from Colusa County during the period from isij'J to 1S<>4. Some of the ore mined from near the surface was very rich in coi)per. lint the grade deteriorated very rai)idly with depth. "It was well known in these early days that coi)per dei)Osit.s exi.sted in San Bernardino County and other southern counties, hut their distance from shii)ping points rendered them valueless at that time. "During all this period the product of our copper mines had to be transported first to San Francisco and thence shii)i)ed to Boston, Balti- more, or Swansea. From lSt»2 to ISii." the i)rice of copiier ranged from $4 to $."> per unit : that is. an ore containing 20 per cent co|)per was worth from $80 to $100 iier ton of 237014 pounds, delivered at any of these three i)oints. Nothing was ))aid for any gold in the ore below one ounce per ton. and from the silver contents a deduction was made of three-fourths of an ounce for each one per cent of copper. After com- mencing to fall, the i)rice of copjier soon reached a jioint as low as .$.1.20 per unit. It was this, coujiled with the natural lowering of grade as dei>th was attained, which sank the copjier industry of California into the ]irof()Uiid slumlier from which it is only just awakening. "The following pru funna statement of a shipment to Swan.sea may prove interesting at this time. The copper ton there is 21 hundred- IIISTORIC.M- NOTKS. 35 \v»'i;;lit. or l.';{.~>2 pouiKls. to wliicli must Iw ;i.-0 40 Frei;rlit fiom Stockton to S;in I'rancisco, jU $1.U.") 141' If. Sainplinj; and assayin;;. San Francisco. ai .Sl.rnt ITS 120 Commissions. San Francisco, 2'_. per cent 2."iO IM) Freiffht from San Francisco to Swansea. at .$L*0 i)er '2-24() lbs '-Ml-'O <•<) Insurance, o per cent :! 2i; Net value .*.">. ."4.'> T4 "To smelt copper ore at the mine was. in these early days, simply out of the (piestion. The tirst smelting works in California con.sisted of a small reverheratory furna. erected under the direction of the writer at .\nti(Kh. in Contra Costa County, in the year ISAwl. The fuel was coal from the Mount Diablo mines, for which $S i)er ton was i»ai(l. and althoujrh lijjnite is not a very good fuel for reverheratory furnaces, with a step f;i"ate fairly Kood results were obtained, and no difficulty was experienced in producing a matte carryin}; from 4."> to 4.S i)er cent copper. Uoastin^ was almost entirely dis])ensed with, as there was an abundant supply of low->;rade oxi(liz<'(l ores to mix with the sul|)hides. These works were of a purely experimental capacity, not over ten tons per day. and althoimh several thousand tons were smelted, the subsetiuent fall in the price of coiiiier ^'ave no encourairement to an increase in their cai)acity. aiiil tliey finally ceased ojierations. At the Union copper mine, Copper- npolis. a small blast furnace was erected under the direction of Constantine Ilensch. and this produced considerable (piantities of a very hi;rh-^'rade matte. At the Campo Seco mine. Calaveras County, several thousand tons of ore were treat(>d by kernel roasting, and with some success. A reverheratory furnace was erected on the Cosumnes liiver. and produced considerable matte of fairly f.'ood (inality." Tills pffidd of activity practically closed in 18()8 with a fall in llic price of copper, increased co.st of mining and lessened values as depth was attained, and the persistent failure of most properties to pay dividends. The report of J. Ross Browne for 36 TllK COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 1867 was made near the end of this productive era. and the statement there ^iven of the shipments of copper ore and rejrnlns (matte) is approximately complete for that decade. The following tahU' is taken from that report: i Copper Exports from San Francisco, 1862-1867. [Tons of 2370 poll mis.] To New York. To Boston. To England. Total. Year. Ores. Regulus. Ores. Regulus. Ores. Regulus. Ores. Regulus. 1862 86 1,337 4,905ig 4,146^0 9,962^ 2,633 3,574jg 4,208}g 5,064 9,050 4,5.36jg 3,660ig 5,553}8 10,234^ 17,787 J 8 2G,883ig 4,.511 1863 264/ff 2.59ljg 12,384jg 1,378 1864 1865 25 422 178 25 1866 80i8 14lig 502^8 1867 319J8 Totals •2Z,0-0^a 625 26,434;^ 17,126 Jg 22*2^ 68,631^ 847A The report of J. Ross Browne on the ]\Iineral Resources of the United States west of the Rocky Mountains for 1868 gives the following statement of the noteworthy smelting plants for the reduction of copper ores which had been erected in Cali- fornia : Location. County. Style of Furnace. Estimated Cost. Antioch Contra Costa Calaveras Plumas Mariposa Mariposa Mariposa Placer .. Welsh .--. $25,000 Copperopolis Genesee Vallev German .. 75,000 Local - - 30,000 .Tames Ranch Bear Vallev Haskell's Haskell's Haskell's Haskell's Haskell's Welsh 20,000 20,000 Hunter Valley 20,0an(ies aiiioiiLr llii- ciirreiilly recorded estimates ot" eopper prinliict ion for this ami tlie siirceediii;: decade, and. in fact. I'nr 1 he entire time up t<» lSi)4. when the State .Miniiiir i>nreaii licLian tiie comiiijat inn uj" annual mineral statistics. It has lieeii round iiiipossihie to ]>resent any record of California's total co|)per prodm-tion worthy to he dijznified as statistics, hut such li^nires as are here pr(>seiited serve to irive a ireiieral coiiipi-ehension ot" the productive course of the industry. Of such value only is the following; statement of copper e.\|)orts from San Francisco, compiled hy a San Fran- cisco |)ai)er in 187.1 : Tons. Valuf. ISCI 1.7.-n .$ll'L'.."iSl is<;i' ;;.:m( i.'!i;5.i!i4 1 vr,;; .-,.!i:W r.i i'.'*:.'.'. is(;4 I4.:]ir> i.inu.c.co 1st;.-, u.-...s:50 i.siii.:;(;o ise,r, 1M.S13 l.:is;j.s.-,i' iscT 7.s:::{ 4lm .." u\ isc.s .-..077 L''J7.'.tL:."i 1 se,n -jJA^ 1 1 7.i:{.'! 1S70 LM'.-4 1 i:!.7:;l' is;71 L'..-.-.2 IL'I. '.!.".< I 1S7:.' IM'.KJ 11.V.t7o 1 s7:i 1 .S.TJ 1 1 4.S.-L' 1.S74 i.;',.-L> (;7.4uo ri' Total !m;.(;7I $7.4:51MtNit The al)(»ve statement does not inlnrm ns what ton was used as a hasis of calculation for a period when the short, loni:-. and W'ejsli tons were Variously so used, and it does not ilist iiiiiuish hetweeii copper ores ;iiiil copper matte. It. however, corre- sponds in a Lidieral way with the annual condition of the industry. When transcontinental railroads were estahlished cop])er shijtments l)eLr«in to he also maile liy rail, ami the statistics of exports by sea became still less a reliable measure of production. From the beirinninir shipments l)y sea from San Francisco also included ores and some matte from adjoin iny; States and Territories, includiipj liritish Columbia. Oreper has suddenly assumed makes this related history pertinent and of interest. HISTORICAI- NOTES — SHASTA COUNTY. 39 The sin-ract' placci's ul" Shasta ('(miily wcrt' still rii-li. and its placiT niiiiitiir camps were prosperous when prospccttn's first noted Imtli Lrt>ld and cupper in tlic vein format ions of the l»clt. Some of tlicsc placci- distiMcts closely llanked the copper licit, and had jjaincd the troKl in their Lii'avels par11_\ from the ores in the helt itself and jiaitly from the ^'old quart/ veins adjacent to the helt. 'I'lici-c appear to have lieen no attempts at niiniiifx the ores of the helt until in the decade of the sixties. As early SfRKACK MIN1N(; PLANT Ol' TIfE MOUNTAIN COPPER COMPANY. IX SI.ICK ROCK CANYON. WITH 1 R( ).V MOUNTAIN AT THE RIGHT. as 18"):^ i)laeer j^'old was discovered in the re.Lrion of l^nlly Hill, which heeame known as the Pittshurre of little value. Althouuh s(tme small placers are still workeil ill this district, active interest had lapsed long before 1870. In 1862 sold was discovered in the surface rock of the Excelsior claim, near the |)resent site of Copper City, by Jack 40 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Killingrer and J. P. Williams. The ore was found to contain silver as well as jjold. and another lusli into this district was begun for the location of the supposed rich veins of gold and silver. The liills were covered by locations for many miles. It was in the spring of 1862 that the ground now covered by the Bully Hill and adjoining claims was tirst located by BLISTER COPPER FROM THE BULLY HILL SMELTER AWAITING SHIPMENT. Alexander Sanford. and the story of the Bully Hill miniim property was begun. The Killinger and Williams company, which was incorporated, sold stock and began the operation of their mine, which was continnod until ISGf). A shipnumt of ore was made to Swansea, and realized a fair {)rofit ; luit as later shipments were less fortunate, they were not long con- tinued. At the same time was organized the Baxter ]\Iininy o u 7. 4L* the copper resources of CALIFORNIA. Company, which operated on adjoinino; gronnd. ^Meanwhile, at Bnll\' Hill. (). R. Johnson & Co. had aiMpiired some of the claims located by Sanford and he^nn operations under the corporate name of the liully Hill Cold. Silver and Copper ^lininu: Company. Xo attempt at reduction was made. l)ut exjiloitation was betiun on the east face of the hill at the site of what is still tunnel Xo. 1 of the Bully Hill mine. The work was not successful, and the claims were eventually abandoned. In this period, in the early and middle sixties. Copper City, which was the result of the discoveries and the mining life of this district, enjoyed a lively boom and looked forward to a long and great career. These mining enterprises, dealing with very base surface ores at an earl\' stage in the development of lode mining in the State, and at a long distance from ore markets, soon demonstrated the impossibility of realiz- ing profits, the bottom dropped out of the mining boom, and little was done for another decade. It was early in the decade of the sixties that Iron Mountain began to cut any tigui-e in the story. William ^lagee. a Ignited States land surveyor, noted the enormous capi)ing of gossan on the mountain, and in association with Charles Camden secured the property as an iron mine. It was idly held as a simple iron deposit of possible future value until 1879. The decade of the seventies brought a revival of interest aiul activity to the Pittsburg district. The claims in Hully Hill, which had been abandoned by the Bully Hill Company, had been relocated by T. .M. and .1. W. Popejoy, who sold them to Alvin Potter & Co. in 1877. Potter reopened and retimbered the old tunnel (Xo. 1). and at the same time carried on other developments. Soon the property passed to the Extra Mining Company, which built the first mill at Copper Cif.x' in 1877. A tramway was built at an enormous expen.se to convey ores from Bidly Hill by gravity to the mill. During the few years (perhaps three or four) in which the company ojierated, it was said to have extracted as much as $H40,()00 from these ores, and interest on borrowed money, a part of the principal, and dividends were rapidly ]iaid. but the property was finally turned over to creditors. The Extra .Mining Company worked only the surface ores from these mines, having no successful process for the redm-tion of the baser ores, though an attempt HISTORICAL NOTES — SHASTA COINTY. -i'A Avas made at roastiiitr. Tlu' mill was i-iin lor some years for the (•nnlitors. tli»nii,'li not very successfully. I^ater .Messi-s. Potter ami Hall ohtaiued possession of the mill and tramway, i)ur- vhasetl the .Ienii> .lune claim from II. ( ". .McClure. and success- fully worked these ori's for a time. Imt the hase ores finally caused them to al)andon the worl<. Iron Mountain makes its entr\ as a factor in the industrial story of the lielt in ISTfl. In that year James Sallee, whose name was thenceforth to be prominently a.ssociated with the development of the (•o|>per belt, visited Shasta County and incidentally Ii'on Mountain. 1 1 is assays of surface ores revealed the presence of silver and irold. and the outccmie of his discovery was the ae(|nirement of a om*-tliird interest in the property by him.self and Alvin Potter, under whose direction the mine be^an the second period of its evolution. This tliscovery was soon noised al)road and a cliaracteristic stampede to the reirion ensued. Thi^ i)opular effect is well sliown in a news letter to the Mininir and Scientific Press from a "Whiskeytown correspondent in .lune. 1880. He writes in l>art : "At this particular time, in this part of Shasta County, the silver boom is up hi^'h. and such expressions as 'the most e.xtensive and the richest silver ledire the world has ever seen' are frecpient. Some five or six miles from the ancient town of Shasta was known to exist what was called Ii'on .Mountain. Xothinii was expected of it. and no one prospected there. A curious expert came fi-om the city and has been secretl\' looking at its formations, assays have Ihch m.-idc of his finds, and now the whole country is wild and claims are staked off for miles. A new silver belt has been discovered, the assays of which S!)7. the jiroperty was transferred to the [Moun- tain Copper Company of London. The history of the Peck and Afterthought mines in the Cow Creek district has l)een in many respects parallel to that of the Iron [Mountain and the Bully Hill. The earliest attempts at operation were made for the extraction of gold and silver values from the oxidized surface ores. Later an effort was made to HISTORICAL NOTES — SHASTA COUNTY. 45 Work tlic baser ores l)y a process n\' roast ini: and niilliuiLr. C. ^r. Peek, who had erected the first oiv mill in the vicinity of Copper City, also pnt up the first furnace for sineltinjr in Shasta Couiity. Ilavinu: obtained foi' a nominal sum the property" aftt'iwafd incorporated and known as the Peck mine, and HOW" included in the Afterthouirht mine, he betran its snc- ees.sful operation upon the oxidizetl surface ores. In 187;") he erected a small reverberatory furnace, in which wood was to be used as a fuel in the reduction of the baser ores. Naturally this attiMnpt was not successful, as these ores have since defied more ri^'orous methods. Upon the advice of a Mr. Williams, a secontl furnace, of the water-jacket pattern, was built, in which charcoal was to be used. The refractory character of the ore. which occasioned repeated freezing and other difficul- ties which could not then be surmounted, proved to be too much, and this attempt also ended in failui'c. It was claimed, how- ever, that a continuous and fairly successful run of seven days was made at one time. The quantity of charcoal required amounted to nearly 1000 bushels per day. Subsequently, John Williams, father of the former su|ierintendent, and afterward a man named (Jerrish, made other \uisucce.ssful attempts to reduce the ore in the same furnace. Later on this property was acquired by Joseph Cone and others of Retl IMulV, who erected a small water-jacket furnace of 25 tons cajiacity. Two attempts were made with this furnace, both of wliich tcrniiiiated wifhouf success. During: the period in which Peck operated in this district, he had discovered the Donkey mine, which he sohl to A. J. Cook for the sum of $110(1. The ores of this mine are similai' to those of the Afterfhouuht. 4(5 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. SHASTA COUNTY. Shasta County commands first and chief attentidii in a survey of the present condition of California's rising; copper indnstry. In its great copper "or "l)ase-ore" belt, which enrves as a thirty-mile string of ore deposits through its west central part, are the mines and smelting i)lants which yield most of the current copper output of the State, and the various extensive ore bodies whose exploitation gives the chief promise of an early and marked increase of copper production. While the copper industry is directly confined in Shasta County to one definite mineral belt, the county as a whole presents various features contributing to the exceptionally favorable conditions surrounding the industry. The county lies in the mountainous region about the head of the Sacramento Valley, nearly equally distant from the western, northern, and eastern boundaries of the State, and is about 90 miles in length and 60 miles in width, having an area of 3675 sfjuare miles. The western border of the county is along the Trinity range summit, and the county reaches eastward high up the slope of the Sierra Nevada range, which liears westward and merges with the Coast Range in Shasta and Siskiyou counties. Short, irregular ranges fill tlie greater part of the county between tlie main ranges to the east and west. The Sacramento Valley thrusts its rapidly narrowing northern end a short distance up into the southwestern part, affording the principal agricultural and horticultural region of the county and meeting the long canyon of the Sacramento River a little above Redding, about 20 miles above the southern boundary. In the southeastern corner of the county is Lassen Peak, an extinct volcano, the lavas from wliich have blanketed the eastern portion of the cou)ity as far as the Sacramento River. From the valley and lower foothills of the southern part of SHASTA COUNTY. 4< tilt' (■(•iiiity the sui't'iicc iiiriU'iist's ill iMiu'LTt'iliu'ss Mild t-lcviit is as a r\iU\ and the snows of the hiiiher ranges maintain the streams throuirhout the summer months. The principal streams are the Sacramento. Met 'loud, and Pitt rivers, the first two risin«r in the mountains above the northern houndarw and the last in Modoe County. The Sacramento tlows southward throu{!4;54.48:? (coinage value) in silver. This made Shasta also the leading silver- producing county of the State. In 1896, just Ix'fore copper l)roduetion began, the total mineral outi)nt was imt 51^813,503. The mineral statistics for 1907 show that 27,844,364 pounds of copper were j)rodnced, valued at $5,568,873. further iiici-easing Sha.sta's mineral preeminence. Shasta's total ]>roduction of all minerals in 1907 was $7,084,706. of which $791,997 was in gold and $370,211 in silver. Vai'ious niinei'a! products are minor features of the record. The following table, giving the annual values of the tlin'e chief mineral products and the total annual mineral produc- tion from 1894 to 1907, inclusive, shows the expansion due to the i-ecent (leveloinneut of the copper industry. Besides the value of gold, silver, and coj)per. the totals include the minor mineral products, embracing $1500 in iion in 1894. chrome in 1895 and 1900. and mineral waters, lime, limestone, and l)rick in most of the .vears. The gold increase is comparatively small, owing to the closing of several important -gold mines at about the period that the ^Mountain Topper Company began pro- ducing gold as a by-product. The large increase in silver in 1900 was partly due to its being measured in coinage value for that year instead of in commercial value as in preceding years: 4— BuL. 50 50 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNI.V. Ye.\r. Gold. Silver. Copper. All Minerals. 1894 -- - $617,436 781,696 51^9,209 569,071 860,180 873,719 733,467 927.975 878,706 771,242 1,031,429 684,952 819,144 791,997 $5,032 28,417 24,233 96,869 171,868 1!HJ,213 635.640 891,994 306,887 203,991 399,660 167,548 434,483 370,211 $715,769 1895 811,233 1896 $184,208 1,5.35,966 2,465,830 3,ri(J5,023 4,166,735 4,881,048 2,496.731 2,171.497 3.439.974 1,688,614 4,338,121 5,568,873 813,593 1897 — 2,224,700 1898 3,510,728 1899.. 4,661,980 1900.- 5,574,026 1901 — 6,737,571 1902 - 3,730,049 1903 3,201 ,680 1904 4,898,033 1905 - 2,579,014 1906. 5,745,843 1907 7,084,706 Totals ... $10,940,223 $3,933,046 $36,502,620 $51,441,705 As these figures indicate, copper is the chief product and the chief basis of the mining: prosperity and prospects of the county. All of the silver is produced by the smelters from ores mined chiefly for their copper; and in the temporary absence of production in some important mines, the gold output has, until recent 1\-. been sustained in the same way. At the present time several prominent independent gold- producers are being operated, and the output, exclusive of gold produced l)y ores mined chiefly for copper, is as great as it has been at any time during the past ten or fifteen years. THE COPPER BELT. Shasta County's copper belt is composed of a series of ore deposits arranged in the form of a crescent, which bends through the low mountains and foothills directly north of the head of the Sacramento Valley, and which spans a distance of about twenty-five miles between the eastern and western horns. The apex of the Sacramento Valley plain and the city of Redding are near its western end and but a little south of the chord of the arc described by the belt. Iron Mountain, at the end of the western horn, is about ten miles northwest of Redding, in a direct line, and the eastern horn, in the Furnace- ville district, is about twenty miles n(irth of east from the same point. The length of the belt is approximately thirty miles, and the width from one half to four miles. The term "belt" is used with the broad meaning which it SHASTA COUNTY — THE COPPER BELT. 51 propt'i'ly carrii's, and not as syiioiiynums with "lotlt'." Tin- ore deposits do not mark a praetieally continuous tissure system in which directly related vein formations have resulted, l)ut occur as disconnected masses, or frroups of vein formations, forming' individual lodes and districts. These jrroups of deposits vai\\ in foi'm of occurrence from massive, tlat-lyin rcLrion of the old t(»wn of Shasta, four miles south of Iron .Moinitain. ami are distributed for scn'eral miles south and east of this end of the belt through the Shasta and Flat Ci'eek districts, the latter lyintr between the belt and tlie Sacrameiiti) Kiver. Eastward from this portion of the l)elt. across the Sacramento Rivei- and within and without the chord of the bell 's ai'c. is the Old Di^trinhide copper ores. In turn, tlie smelters have created a market for these ores and enabled the developnu'ut and mining' of a numbei- of (piart/. properties. The stimulus thus afforded (piartz miiiiii'^ in this rcirion is one of the important local benefits of the development i)f the cop|)ei- iiulustry. (Jold ores are not only supplied from closely ad.jacent districts, but are hauled by teams and shij)ped by rail from (piite remote localities, includintr points in Siskiyou and Ti'inity counties, the ores beinu: rich enouirh to stand the larire transportation costs. Other tluxin«r materials are e(pudl\- plentiful and convenient. Iron ores and limestone are also used for tluxintr. Limestones are the most abundant, and are found alon? lar^e belts near the smelters. The supply is practically inexhaustible. Iron ores, both majrnetite and limonite, have been used for some of 54 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. the more refractory sulphides, l)iit the former lias not been found to be suitable for such uses. It is now believed that a mixture of ores from this belt can be made that will obviate the use of iron ores. The copper belt thus presents many favorable conditions for copper mining and smelting. There are distributed through a long mineral belt massive ore deposits whose quantities, as well as values, are attractive to conservative mining capital. These deposits are usually embedded in great hills, and can be economically explored and mined through tunnels. Water is especially abundant, and desirable sites for reduction works are conveniently available. Opportunities for the generation of electric power are widely present. The belt is bisected by a main railroad lino, and highways reacli llic various districts. Climatic conditions are all favorable. The wood and timber supply is ample. At the Keswick smelters wood now costs about $4.25 per cord. Alal)ama coke, carrying 16 per cent ash, can be delivered at Redding for about $13 per ton. Belgian coke, with 15 per cent ash, has been obtained for $12.20 per ton. From 1895, when the Iron ^Mountain mine was recognized as a copper mine and passed into the possession of the ^loun- tain ^Mining Company, until a few years ago, this property at the western end of the copper belt, and the Bully Hill mine at the eastern end, were the two principal producers. Up to January 1, 1902, the Iron ^Mountain mine had produced 825,000 tons of ore, which were carried on the narrow gauge railway eleven miles to the company's smelting plant at Keswick for treatment. The resulting matte and blister copper were shipped to the company's refinery in New Jersey and yielded 120,000,000 jwunds of fine copper. The company had paid in dividends up to December 31, 1900. over 50 per cent of the capital stock of $6,250,000. The Bully Hill mine is credited with having reduced 50,000 tons of ore averaging 10 per cent copper, aflPording 5,000 tons, or 11,200.000 pounds of copper, with an equal value of precious metals, during the first ten months after beginning operations in ]\Iay, 1900. This is an unofficial estimate, but is believed to be approximately correct. Groups of claims are closely ranged for ten miles northeast of Iron ^lountain, embracing broken and wooded cam-ons, o y. o X 56 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. liillsick's and elevations, and eoverinii' widtlis of three miles in places. Several of these properties have developed within the last three or four years into paying mines, ecpiallino: or surpassinji' in importance the Bully Hill mine. These are: the Balaklala, which has recently completed a lar^e smelter, and the ]Mannnoth, whose smelter has been runninji' for several years, and has lately been considerably enlarjred. The mines of the Trinity Copper Company, headed by Thomas W. Lawson, of Boston, the chief property of which, the Shasta BULLY HILL, SHASTA COUNTY, SHOWING ORIGINAL TUNNEL OPENED IN 1S63. Kinjjf, adjoins the Balaklala, about four miles east of Iron Mountain, are being prospected. Of the properties in the eastern portion of the belt, the Afterthouiiht has made the greatest prooress, liaviiitr erected a smelter near the mine. In the Donkey mine near by work has been resumed and man\' improvements made. In 1902 the number of mines in the Shasta copper belt was wiven as 57. and the number of feet of tunnels and drifts as 39,000, approximately, aside of the workinjis of the ^Mountain Copper mine. A computation of the extent of the underirround workinas at the present time is not possible, because the data are not obtainable, but it is SHASTA COUNTY GEOUKiY OF TllK COPPER BELT. 0( safe to say that tlu' minibcr of iniiii's h;is inoivased about 50 per eeiit. and tlie amount of work lias at least doubled. Sliafts cut a notieeably small fi'-rure aloni? the copper belt, and they may be praetically reLrarded as non-existent. They have nearly all i)een early prospect shafts sunk in preliminary surface exploration. Throutrhout the t)elt development and mining are conducted throujrh tunnels, which the topography so generally favors. Tilt' range of the altitudes credited to the mines is wide, and illustrates the rugged nature of tiie country. The highest projx'rties are in the elevations west of the Sacramento River. The top of Iron Mountain is :U)00 feet above the sea and 2400 feet above the Sacramento River. The ^Marshall and Waters group, two miles north of Iron Mountain, includes a point 3500 feet in altitutle. and the Summit group, farther north, lies at 8000 feet. The lowest property is the Ilotchkiss, 750 feet, a little south of Bully Hill, which rises to 1400 feet. Forty-four properties are above 1000 feet, twenty above 2000 feet, and fourteen are at altitudes below 1000 feet. Redding, on the Sacramento River, is 550 feet above the sea. The development of water powers and electrical plants, the building of towns and branch railroads, the stimulation of gold mining, lumbering, manufacturing, and other industrial enter- prises, and increa.se of population and of general i>rosp<'rity are among the features incidental to the progress of the copper industry and maiuly consequent ou it. GEOLOGY OF THE COPPER BELT. It would not be possible to include in this report a discussion of the geological features of the Qopper belt that would be in any degree complete. Only brief statements can here be given regarding the various classes of rocks more directly connected with the ore deposits. The oldest sedimentary rocks that are encountered here are tho.se of the Devonian age. They are found especially along the western districts, extending at intervals northward from Clear Creek to the Big Backbone, or beyond. They have been found also to the east of the Sacramento River, in the vicinity of Baird and perhaps farther south. The.se rocks are mainly 58 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. metamorphie, often becoming schistose or crystalline. They include the limestones and their underlying slates, or schists, near Kennet and Copley, and at the lime quarry on Clear Creek in the vicinity of Horsetown. Probably the schists entangled with the eruptives throughout the western districts are of Devonian age. The next succeeding period represented among the sedi- mentary rocks is that of the Carboniferous. This period is represented by the conspicuous limestone belt east of the McCloud River, near Baird, and extending in a soutlierly direction toward the Great Valley to the south of Pitt River. Bass's ranch, on the old Oregon road, is a classical locality for Carboniferous fossils in California. The Carboniferous beds, like the Devonian, include both limestones and slates, both of which are in a large degree metamorphie. The thick lime- stones are underlain by dark slates, and both are very fossil- iferous. These beds will l)e referred to again in connection with certain metalliferous deposits in the vicinity of Pitt River. Succeeding the Carboniferous period, the next oldest sedi- mentary rocks in this region are those of the Triassic age. These occur still farther east in the vicinity of S(|uaw Creek and Bear Mountain. The>' consist for the most part of dark, thin-bedded, silicious slates, overlain in some places by lime- stone, which is usually very fossiliferous. The Triassic strata are much less affected by metamorphism than either the Car- boniferous or Devonian rocks. The limestone is higlily crystal- line, but the slates are rarely if ever scliisted. though they are much disturbed in their position, being usually more or less tilted. The lower portion of the Triassic beds contains thick beds of fragmental volcanic rock of an andesitic character, resembling beds of volcanic tuff of a much younger age. These are espe- cially noticeable near the bridge on Pitt River east of Copper City. It is curious to note the general resemblance of the sediments in these three distinct periods. In each case the lower beds are of a slaty nature, whik^ llie upper are of lime- stone. The limestones to the north and east of Bully Hill belong to the Triassic period, and have furnished not only an abundance of marine shells, but aLso the bones of extinct saurians. SHASTA COUNTY GEOLOGY OF THE COPl'ER BELT. 59 The last important sodimontary beds that require mention are those of the Cretaceous period. These beds are confined to the lower foothills of the copper belt, and to the valley floor. They occur near Ilorsetown. Reddin?. Sand Flat, Dry Creek, and Cow Creek, forming an irregular belt or zone extending in a nortliea.sterly direction toward the low country north of Lassen Peak. They are of Upper Cretaceous age, and are generally fossiliferous. The beds are of shale and sandstone, which have a relatively slight dip to the south or east. It is this series which has been i)rospected for petroleum. The Cretaceous beds, and in fact some of the older l)eds of the foothills, are overlain by beds of volcanic tuflp which were once more extensive in tlieir distriliutiou than now, and also by accunndations of alluvial gravels. It is impossible in the limited space of this report to give more than a mere outline of these deposits, but it is important that at least a few para- graphs be selected from the geological history of the region in order that there may be a better comprehension of the para- graplis which follow. THE IGNEOUS ROCKS. ]More vitally connected with the ore deposits of the copper belt are the igneous rocks embraced in its area. Those which are directly concerned are either of one class, or they belong to ela.sses closely related, and are probably of about the same age. The geological age to which they seem referal)le can not be younger than the CretaceoiLS nor older than the Triassic. Their approach toward the surface of the earth as intrusions covering an extensive territory was no doubt very gradual, though in its late stages it was doubtless accompanied by erup- tions of lavas and the formations of dikes that were of more sudden creation. ^Nlost of these rocks are of an acid character, or in other words, high in their percentage of silica. It would be interesting to note the relation of these igneous rocks to the topographic features of the country, to the older sedimentary rocks, and to the ore deposits themselves, but this would carry the discussion beyond the limits of the present paper. A little may be said, however, regarding the structural features of the countrv and the classification of these rocks. 60 TflE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. In the main, eruptive or igneous rocks liave the appearance of underlying all of the sedimentary rocks, including those of Devonian as well as those of Cretaceous age. In all the larger streams, and in many of the smaller ones, erosion has cut down through the overlying sedimentary rocks and exposed the erup- tives along the valley bottoms. As extensive intrusions which have risen into the old sedimentary rocks, there are many variations, and no less variety also in the flows of volcanic rocks that finally resulted. The deep-seated phases of these eruptions include granite, granite porphyry (quartz porphyry), and diorite,' including quartz diorite. These rocks are either coarsely or finely crystalline, and of a light gray color, greenish or dark, varying with locality. Rhyolite, trachyte, and andesite are names properly given to surface flows of volcanic rocks, and such flows occur through- out the copper districts, associated with tuft's and breccias of a similar age and character. These flows doubtless corresi)ond in character to the deep-seated rocks already mentioned, and represent the outpourings that followed their action. These volcanic rocks, including both the flows and the fragmental rocks, are especially seen near Iron ^Mountain, the Shasta King mine, l^ully Hill, and the Afterthought. The term porphyry should perhaps be applied only to dike rocks, and some of these are found along the copper belt. There are certain dikes, however, which cut the limestones in the vicinity of Baird, which should be classed as diabases. These accompany the iron ores and the occurrences of magnetic pyrite. METAMORPIIIC ROCKS. A third and important class of rocks that are frequent in the copper belt includes most of the crystalline limestone, and certain "slates" and schists near Copley, Redding, and Clear Creek. These rocks are largely of Devonian age. and appear to be partly of an igneous origin. Truly metamorphosed .sedi- mentary rocks are very often involved in the eruptive and volcanic rocks along the copper belt, and are not always easily distinguished from them, where the metamorphic action has ])eo]i intense and the weathering consideraljle. In the main structural features, therefore, the copper belt consists of a number of north and south folds, or belts, of sedi- .VJ .^ f ^ ws-^m ^^^^ :s^^i^^ MAP OF A PORTION V' jy iH ja i>/'^»^' 3HT DV\\aUJO\A\ .naVIP OTl^3MAnOA3 3 33»Tfl3<^0fl° - ^' MINING BUREAC C LEWIS E AUBURY. .\\\^^^^^\^\ j m i m i 'i^yyy-^ --- aunr MILL -CMOLfo ro itcseMtkN gkow £ M'CLunti - , II ^aeeci. •e SlLAv£S J r^MM^^cK - 14 f/onTnei'^ LiaiT Mi\c ' Attfi , /J teirn _ . MOa£ft»V»nec 3 /rotrn C*i innfeST/wtir ca i) c^^"" e-'r . 19 MEMORIAL MAP OF A PORTION OF THE SHASTA COUNTY COPPER BELT EAST OF THE SACRAMENTO RIVER, INCLUDING THE BULLY HILL DISTRICT, SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL MINING PROPERTIES. ...ff'- ■ i':^r ',' V '?> ^ ^iajv\tf^ :-^i -- ^ 'i -IT - V5 1/ 3HT ^0 HOITROS A lO ^AM Y I lliR ; v//}>\ SHASTA COUNTY GEOLOGY OF THE COPPER BELT. 61 iiu'Mtary rocks, wliidi l>t'K)ii<; to a suct't'ssion of pcriotls. and Ix'ticatli wliifh I'xtcnd the rock.s of the jrreat ^'ranitic intrusion. Dike rocks have l)een found peuetratinfr both the eruptives and tlic overlyin*; .sedimentary rocks. A clear knowledf^e of these structural features in a measure simplifies many thinj,'s relat- ing to the ore deposits. ORE DEPOSITS. The deposits of copper ore belonsjinir to the copper l)elt. that are now attractinjr so nnich attention in this country, are (|uite unlike the usual (piartz veins as ordinarily understood, both as to their forms as ore bodies and as to their ori discomposed suli)hidt'. (2) Iron oxide is carried In circuhiting waters toward the surface or elsewhere, and deposited as crusts or beds of limouite. (3) Iron oxide may merely stain the more or less altered country rock, becominir very deceptive as to the quantity and quality of the sulphides from which it has been derived. The sulphates that result from oxidation of iron sulphides react stronjrly on the country rock, reduciufr it to the form of white clay and fine "svhite silica, but the oxide of iron may also stain tliis material to a brownish or dark color. (4) Much of the so-called "gossan" of Bully Hill is only decomposed rock, consisting of silica and clay which is often only slightly stained with iron oxide. Secondary enrichment in these ore deposits is very frequent. The leaching of the surface ores results in the formation of soluble sulphates and perhaps other compounds of the metals whicii are carried downward into the lower portions of the ore body, where richer sulphides are again precipitated. This ap|)ears to have been the origin of much of the chalcocite and of the chalcopyrite and other richer ores whicli are found below the zones of complete and partial oxidation. Such richer ores commonl.x liave a banded structure showing clearly their sec- ondary deposition, which the unaltered sulphides do not appear to have. The depth to which this secondary enrichment has extended varies with the conditions, no doubt. Below the zone of secondary enrichment the ores are usually of lower grade, consisting largely of the unaltered sulphides, which in them- selves often become more sparingly distributed. Tlie banding of the ores, that is, the alternating darker and lighter bands that are often found in them, is probably the result of secondary action within the ore body, subsequent to the formation of the ore body itself. The much talked of ore deposits of Iron ^Mountain deserve to be particularly noticed in several of their aspects. The 5— BuL. 50 66 THE COITER KESOIRCES OF CALIFORNIA. prineij);!! one of these lies on the southern slope of the ritlire to the north of Slick Kock Ciinxon. where its position and extent are superticiall\' indicated 1)\ an impressive outcrop of jiossan. This tiossan consists of various materials, the most noticeable 7, O /. y. ■J. one naturally hein^^ the iron oxides. The oxides of iron occur as thick beds or crusts of limonite, or as infiltrations or stains minjrled with more or less rock and earthy matter. The limo- nite accumulations have at some points a thickness of more than 30 feet. SHASTA COUNTY — GEOLOGY OF THE COPPER BELT. 67 As an ore body this deposit of sulphide is roughly lenticular in form, standing' in a steeply inclined position, the upper border of which has been truncated by the slope of tlie hill under atmospheric erosion. The loufje.st dimension of the ore l)ody conforms to the strike of the rocks in which it is inclosed, and approximates a len?:th of about 600 feet. Its course is northeasterly. Its vertical depth is something over 300 feet, 68 THE COPPER HESOrKCES OF PAEIKOHXIA. and its gfreatest thiekne&s about 250 feet. Il li.is been deseriboil as being "egg-shaped," with its smaller end dow iiwni-d, but this is true only in ci-oss-section. There is comparatively little waste rock contaiiic(l wilhin its bimndiirics. ;md foi' the most part it could be described as homogeneous sulphide. There- fore, its total tonnage of sulphide has probal)ly exceeded that which has comnumly been reported, yet not all of this is to 1)0 regarded as ore. In the several levels in which this ore body has been explored the sulphide is not of uniform grade. In an intermediate zone or level, generally spoken of as the "copper level," the ore -consists of mixed pyrite and chaleo- pyrite, and has an average grade probably not below 7 per cent of copper; indeed, some portions of it carry a value above 12 per cent or even 15 per cent in copper. Above this zone is that of partial or complete oxidation, from which the copper contents liave been largely removed by leaching, l^elow the "copper level" the ore is likewise of lower grade in copper, but in this case from a diiferent cause. The "copper level" is a zone of secondary cnrichniciit. hclow which such action has not ]H'i'n effected. The ore carries considera])le value in gold and silver, its gold values ranging above $5 per ton for large nuisses of ore. Prol)al)ly noiu' of the sulphide is without its gold content, cxcu when it contains only a trace of copper. The mineralog.N' of the oi-c deposits is a tojiic for fruitful investigation. The deposits of the eastern ;ind tlie western districts differ to some extent in their mineralogy as well as in the richness of their ores. ]\Iost of the ores of the western district are of lower grade than those worked at the Bully Hill mines, though at the same time they are of miich hirger dimensions. Large bodies of ore characterize tlie western district, while high-grade ores are more frequent in the eastern. The ores of the Bully ITill mines are usually of a dark lead- gray color, ill whicli the dark sulphides of co])]ier and zinc often form the predominating elements. The siime is true of the ores found in the workings near Copper City and in the mines of the Afterthought group. The ores contain zinc blende, chalcocite. hornite. (•hal('oi)\rite. te1i'iih«>drite. melaco- nite, and carbonates of copper, with some luitixe copper, silver, and gold. The gangue minerals are barite, calcite. quartz, and residual clay silica and iron oxide. SHASTA COUNTY — GEOLOGY OF THE COI'PEK BELT. 69 In tlie western district, the ores of the Bahiklala, Shasta King. ^lanunoth, Smnmit, and (Jolinsky groups, and also of some others, are an intimate mixtnre of pyrite and chaleo- l)vrite, with oecasionallv a little zine ])lende and some carbo- nates. In the ores of Iron .Mountain there are some of greater value, including bornite and chalcocite. The gangue includes silicious materials, commonly known as quartzite. both east and west: but as the ores are not always connected with sedi- mentary bt'tls. the silicious material is perhaps largely of a seeondai-y nature. The Iron Mountain ores comprise the oxides at and near the surface and the deeper-lying sulphides. The oxides carry but a very small percentage of copi)er, their main vjiiues being in gold and silver, foi- which these ores were at one time worked. They consist principally of ferric oxide, accompanied by a little silica and alumina. Analyses of trial lots have afforded iho following: Snliiliiir 1.",.41 2.40 I mil in FoS, 11. 40 12. (lit Ferric o.xido 48.22 70.88 Zinc 0.24 0.21 Silica 11.4.". S.r>7 Alumina 0.00 3.39 Water 14.00 13.43 The sulphides, which carry as nuicli as 10 [)cr cent of copper in some parts of the mine, are much poorer in gold and silver. One lot of sulphide ore, consisting of 754 tons, smelted in 1896, a.ssayed partly as follows: Sulphur 45.00 I ron 30.07 Zinc 3.41 Silica n.OO Alumina 1.57 The total of these tigures being only 93.21 per cent, it may be inferred that the remaining 0.79 i)er cent consists mainly of copper and the precious metals. Regarding the composition of the ores of the Bully Ilill mines less is known, but it is clear that their content of iron is comparatively low. rendering a ferruginoiLS flux necessary, and there is a corresponding increase in the percentage of 70 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. zinc, with barytes as a fjangue mineral. Antimony and arsenic are also present, thoufrh to what extent is not known. The ores of the Peck, Afterthoiilant could l)e found nearer to the mine than a point several miles down Slick Rock Creek, and a little over a mile west of the Sacramento River. Here the company at the start esta])lished the reduction i)lant. The private railroad extends to the Southern Pacific line at the riv(>r. The early smell iiiu r.'ifilities included five water-jacket blast fui'iiaces, one brick liot-nir stove to supply li(i1-;iii' bbists. one Ropp roast- McDOUGALL ROASTING FURNACE. KESWICK SMELTER, MOUNTAIN COPPER COMPAXV. SHASTA COUNTY. iiii;' furnace, eleven Wri'jht circular calcinin.L;' furnaces, three l)i'i(|iiet1in,i>- nuichines, a three-stand converter plant, a sampling plant, and other necessary adjuncts. An extensive foundry ami machine shop were amonu' the other features. The ca])acity of the plant was 1000 tons of ore i)er day. When reduction was first attempted in lS!i(i, the i)\"ritic method was tried, under the direction of Herbert Lang. This method was soon abandoned and the ordinary blast furnace method in general us(^ in Montana was adopted. A new plant was installed by II. A. Keller. The capacity was at first 250 tons per day. This was (puidrupled by successive enlargeuKMits mtkI additions. SHASTA COLNTV — MOLNTAIN ((tlM'KK MIXE. 73 The ore. ;is it comes from the mine, carries al)out 45 per atcnted invention of Lewis T. Wright, the general manager of the projierties and ojx'rations of the ^Mountain Copper Com- pany in Californiii. The plant was arranged on tlie one-level plan, the site not permitting the terrace arrangement which facilitates the hand- ling of material. The ore floors, cupolas, roasters, etc., were all upon one i)laiu\ and liydraulic elevators were used for hoi-sting to the charging floors, though .some of the ore was eonve^-ed directly to the cupolas on elevated tracks. The ore cupolas produced a low-grade matte, probably containing 20 to 30 per cent of copper, and this was in part subjected to another roasting before going to the matte furnaces for still further reduction. The fines from the calcining furnaces, together with the flue dust and other similar material, were bricked by tlie briquetting machinery for reduction in the various furnaces. Early in 1902 electric light and power for both smelter and mine began to be supplied by the Keswick Electric Light and Power Company from its generating plant on ]\Iill Seat Creek, 40 miles southeast of Redding, and about 55 miles from the mine. The company owns a large area of timber land on the Pitt River ()5 miles from Keswick, and the timber and wood supjdy is fl(jated down the Pitt and Sacramento rivers to near Keswick. Water for use at the smelter is pumped from the Sacramento River. The company has also extensive holdings of land in the general regions of the mine and smelter. Some of it was acquired for its timber, some for its possible mineral values, and some on account of the destructive influence on vegetation of the sulphur fumes from the burning ore heaps and the smelter. ^lany details of interest are necessarily absent from this sketch of the ^Mountain Copper Company's projierties and operations, owing to the limited information afforded the public by the company and its rule that the officers shall not 74 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. discii.ss its liusiness. Its annual reports, however, afford a general kno\vled}?e of its operations and jrive the financial information which measures its sueeess. Production licufan early in 181)6, and during that year 5663 tons of fine copixT were produced. The copper production of the four following years is stated by these reports as follows: 1S'.»7. 1S!)8. ISIM). T.KIO. Ore extracted, tons l(>ri.(K;n -J-Jl.Sit.-) 2(K5.')Ci.") lT'.t.fH>4 Oil' sni(>lt<>(l. tons !»7.1.S.-) I(;s.r.l4 ITtl.f.Sil L>07.r)71 Copper nuitte, tons l:S.',s lO.Tlil 1it.t;t;4 ll.'.HS Copper refined, tons .■>.!t.")8 8.27:; 1 1.:{88 11,443 Copper sold, tons CO-J.") S,27:'. •.•.8 Average per cent copper in ore 7.5 G.33 0.04 ."».77 It was semi-oflfieially reported that during the first six months of 1001 the amount of ore smelted was 172,783 tons, which would represent something over 8000 tons of fine copper. The (juantity of ore smelted during the first half of 1J)01 was over 80 per cent of the total quantity for the previous year, and had this rate of production been continued through the year a very large annual increase would have resulted. A fire in the mine and other circumstances caused a large falling off in the output of the last six months. The available figures indicate a total of approximately 020,000 tons of ore smelted during the first six years of operation, with an approximate total output of 54,105 long tons of fine coppcM-. This is efjual to 121,306,800 pounds. Custom smelting has been practiced at Keswick since the earliest operations, but mainly upon silieious gold ores. Only to a limited extent have copper ores found their way to these works, except from adjoining counties. Most of the custom work has lieen for the purpose of obtaining the silieious material required as fiux by the smelters themselves. Gold concentrates have been treated generally, but this patronage is not solicited. Owing to the exceptionally low percentages of arsenic, anti- mony, etc., the refined product of the ^Mountain Copper smelter conunands a premium in the market for electrical uses. Its conductivity is rated at 101. or more than the standard pre- viously fixed for copper commercially recognized as pure. A paper by Edward Keller, in ^Mineral Industry for 1000, affords an analysis of a sample of copper matte from the ^fountain SHASTA COUNTY MOrXTAIX roiM'KK MINK. <•> CuppiT ('(.iiipMiiy's siiK'ltcr. ^Mvin^' the follow in-- composition by pereenta^'es : Copper. ."iT.S:}; .sulpluir. 22.47; iron. l."3.28; nickel and <-..l)Mlt. .(><»:); /-inc. 2.0!); lead. .0711); bismuth. .OOU; antimony. .071!); aisciiic. .013; tellui-imii and selenium. .OOli ; silver. 13.4 o/. per ton: i^old. ..■>1 o/. pci- ton. This matte, of course, carries the products of tlu.xin^ materials. An analysis of the refined product is not available. Since the pnl)lication of the "Copper Resources of Cali- fornia" in 1!)02. Ki'i^'ttt chan^'es have taken place in the opera- tion of the company's smelter at Keswick. In consefiuem-e of the destruction of all ve«ietation within a radius of several miles from the smelter, the company became the defendant in several suits for damao^es broujrht ])y individmil property .nvn.Ts in the nei^diborhood, and the Cnited States Forest Reserve. An injunction was served against the roastinu- of the ores, which, of course, interfered with the general i)lan followed in the treatment of the ores and necessitated a change in the smelting operations. Roasting in heaps and stalls has been abandoned entirely; of thirteen McDougall roasting furnaces, eight have been removed to the company's chemical works at ^Martinez. All the citrht converters have been transferred to the same place and two of the five matte furnaces were torn down. Of the three remaining, the first one was blown in the latter part of Jidy, 1!)07. after an extended period of idleness. :\Ietallic copper is no longer produced at the smelter and the matte is shipped to the company's plant at Martinez for further treatment. Instead of 1000 men as before, only 350 were employed at the time mentioned, but it is the intention of the company to increase the capacity as soon as the legal difficulties have been adjusted. Natm;ill\ the suspension of the smelting operations affected the production of the mines, and at the time mentioned only about 150 men were employed in the two principal camps of the company on Slick Rock and Boulder creeks. Improve- ments, however, have not been interrupted, and preparations are made for an increased output as soon as the ore can be handled at the smelter. At the Slick Rock Creek camp the change from steam power to electricity has been completed for the entire plant, and 76 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. freight is lifted from the railroad ears by an electric hoist and placed on a horse tramway, level with the mines. A building lias bcoti ci'cctcd in which the waters coming out of the mine pass tliruugh a series of long boxes tilled with scrap iron to precipitate the copi)er held in solution, and the value saved in this manner is considerable. A light scum floating on the surface and showing bright metallic scales contains 30 per cent copper, while the heavier coating on the iron assays 60 per cent. Oil the north slope of Iron ]Mountain, on Boulder Creek, an iiiiiiicnse ore l)ody has l)een exposed in the Hornet claim, and i)reparations are .being made to work it on a large scale. A heavy gossan running nortli W degrees east indicates the position of the deposit whicli has l)een reached by several tunnels, the dimensions of which have not yet been exactly determined. One tunnel, located 300 feet above the creek, follows its eastern edge for over 500 feet; another starts a short distance above the creek and runs the greater part of its length, whicli is 1600 feet, along the western border. About midway between these t\v(». but on a lower level, has been started the main tuiniel, 10 l)v 10 feet, wliieh will be the outlet for all the ore taken from the mine. The arrangements for handling the ore will be exactly the same as in the Slick Rock camp. Electric cars will haul the ore to a point above a spur of the railroad. Avhence it will be carried by a gravity road to the bunkers below and loaded on the train that carries it to the smelter. The main tunnel measured 300 feet in July, 1907. It was plainied to make accessible a large tonnage of ore. East of the Hornet on Iron Mountain, and on the mountain north of Boulder Creek, are several outcrops of go.ssan, which will l)e prospected by means of diamond drills. About three miles west of Iron ^lountain, in the slate for- mation, is located the Lone Star group of claims, owned by the ^Mountain Copper Company. A gossan running southeast- iiorthwest crops out in calcareous shale, and about 400 feet of prospect work, in three tunnels and one winze, has been done, showing small bodies of silicious sulphides. The Iron Clad [Mining Company owns a group of six claims on Clear Creek, township 32, range 6 west, sections 16 and 22. A strong iron dike, which can be traced for some distance, crosses tlie cn^'k at Covote Point, and on th<' eastern bank. E- D O u 73 s 3 CO r- y. 78 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. where it shows a strong gossan, an open ent exposes a vein about 12 feet wide, carrying iron and copper sulphides. The company has started a new shaft on the west bank of the creek. J. 0. GiLson. French Creek post office, has charge of the property (1908). ]\Iaruce, Lynch et al. have located six claims on an iron outcrop near Whiskeytown and run two tunnels of 138 and 110 feet, intended to cut the vein 150 feet below the surface. At the head of Motion Creek, west of Copley, have been made a number of locations on iron outcrops, which are very similar to those of the Iron [Mountain in the south and the Balaklala on the north. BULLY HILL MINE. This property is situated nearly twenty miles in a direct line north of east from Iron ^lountain and well toward the eastern end of the copper belt. The Bully Hill is an old property, which, like the Mountain Copper, was long ago and for a good while mined, with little or no success, for the gold and silver in the gossan near the surface. During the first years of the operations of the ^Mountain Copper Company this property underwent extensive exploration, which developed important ore bodies justifying the expensive further development and the installation of mining and smelting plants which followed. The Bully Hill property includes (1908) seventeen lode claims and one placer claim, all patented, aggregating 213 acres. It stretches for about two miles in a northeasterly direction, close to Squaw Creek and but a little north of Pitt River. It is in sections 15, 16, 21, 22, and 28^ township 34 north, range 3 west. It is near the old town of Copper City, aiul the new town Delamar adjoins. About 1899, on the strength of the showing made by tuiuiels driven by James Sallee, the property was bonded by J. K. I)e La Mar, and after further develoi)ment was purchased by him for $225,000. In 1901. the property was transferred to the Bully Hill Copper Milling and Smelting Company, of which ]\Ir. De La ^lar was president. It is now controlled by the Western Electric Company. The Bullv Hill mine lies in a formation classified as meta- A7/'/ce /'ctZ/'z ed fafc arid Shuttered /Va7J HocTc Califiirniit Slate Minins Bnrc.n CROSS-SECTION OF BULLY MILL MINE, SHASTA COUNTY.- •By J. J. Kkittschmtt. Jb 80 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. rhyolito. The ore is found in veins trending east of north, with an almost vertical dip to the east, varying' in width from 4 to 400 feet, averatfiiiir al)out '-iO feet. The eastern wall is formed by basalt and the vein beiNveen the two formations is considered a shear-zone, bein^ filled with minei-alized talc and shattered wall rock. Two main parallel bodies have been exploited in the lode claims and one in the Popejoy placer claim. The ore occurs in irregular lenticular ])()dies, connected l)y narrow seams of ore, attaining a width of 43 feet and a length of 200 feet. In tlie basalt wall are found ore deposits fully equal to those OQCurring in the vein. Copper oxides (cuprite, malachite, etc.) are found in the upper levels, changing into copper glance, bornite, with depth, and chalcop3'rite in the lowest levels. The ore is of a complex and refractory nature, carrying zinc, antimony, etc.. and (as stated by good authority) enough gold and silver to constitute about half the value of the matte so far produced. The mine has been opened by a number of tunnels with extensive drifts, crosscuts, upraises and stopes, comprising many thousand feet. The lowest tunnel, No. 3 level, was run as a crosscut and struck the vein at a distance of 1100 feet and about 600 feet below the gossan outcrop. At this point a station of 100 feet square has been established, and exten- sive hoisting and pumping machinery has been in.stalled for the purpose of continuing exploration at greater depth. A shaft, well timbered, with three compartments and two cages, has l)een sunk to a depth of about 600 feet below the apex. and a number of levels extend from it along the vein. Tlie ore held out so well in the lower workings that the company intends to continue sinking. It was originally believed that the basalt was barren at this depth, but the good showing seemed to disprove this assumption, and a l;?0-foot drift was run from 5th level into the basalt, with the result that an exceedingly large and rich deposit was discovered. No. 3 level is connected by chutes and upraises Mith the upper workings, of which some drifts run along the vein 800 and 1000 feet. The mine is timbered by the square-set system. Alining timbers are floated down Pitt Kiver from the timber region to the northeast, as is most of the cordwood used for fuel at the power plant and the roasting stalls. Development work (1908) is eonstantly going on at the O < ■f. 72 a 2 J Da tE a J H 6— BuL. 50 82 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA, rate of about 600 feet per month, and massive bodies of unusually rich sulphides are being opened with remarkable consistency. The lowest tunnel, level No. 3, is connected by a railway with the well-equipped smelting plant one mile distant, which began operations in May, 1901. The raw ore is first roasted in stalls, built on the hillside near the smelter, forming a stone structure 39 by 310 feet with a brick stack 90 feet high, connecting with the stall Hues. The smelting i)laut cost about .$200,000, and included one water-jacket furnace 42 by 120 inches, two calcining furnaces, five converters for bessemerizing the matte, a machine shop, etc. The furnace charge usually consists of about one half raw and one half calcined ore. The charge carries 8 to 10 per cent coke, 2 to 3 per cent limestone, 1 to IVij per cent ironstone, and the balance ore. Limestone and iron for fluxing are obtained on the McCloud River, aliout six miles distant. Sufficient silica is obtained from the mine. The furnace produces a matte carrying from 35 to 55 per cent copper, which is taken directly to the converters in a ladle handled by an electric crane having a capacity of 20 tons. The converters are 68 by 98 inches in size and have a capacity of five tons. The product of the converters is blister copper about 98 per cent fine, which is cast into large rec- tangular slabs for shipment to the refinery built by Captain De La Mar on Kill von Kull, near New York City. ^Mining and reduction cost values and output are not obtainable. The power for the mine and smelter is furnished by the California Power Company, which has transmission lines run- ning to Bully Hill from three of its generating stations. The voltage of these lines is 35,000 volts. The company has constructed (1908) a standard gauge rail- road from De La Mar through Copper City to Pitt, a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad, two miles above Kennet, of great economic value, because heretofore the company had to carry all its freight to Bella Vista, to the line of a private railroad. The Bully Hill Mining and Smelting Company pur- chased and bonded other properties on the belt of which the most important was the old Baxter and Winthrop group near Copper City, ranking (in 1908) fourth along the whole bolt in the amount of development. CHl'TK BKT\Vi:i:X TlXXIOhS N*.4#x. BALAKLA1.A CONSOLl OATKU COITKK MINING COMPANV SMELTER, CORAM. SHASTA COUNTY. and faulted. The ore occurs in flat bodies with a slight dip to the north and the greatest extension nearly east and Avest. A serias of step faults from north to south, running east and west, have caused a displacement of the ore bodies from a few feet to 100 feet and more. The ore bodies farthest west, on the Early Bird, the Copper Alps, and the El Capitan claim in Windy Gulch, occupy a horizon more than 100 feet above the Weil tunnel deposit, and the ore in the Shasta King is several hundred feet lower than the latter. Besides the faults there are fissures running north and south through Windy Gulch and :\Iule Gulch, which define the ore bodies. These •«r AV»^ Ko^i*i^i^ aA.-k^ ■ tOA ( runqOJ aii i .■.:Ji-l'Jc:^'l' SHASTA COUNTY — COPPER MINES ANO CLAIMS. 89 SliJista Kiiii,% bolon^nng to the Trinity Copper Company. Tlie camp is situated between Windy Gulch in the west and Mule Gulch on the east, close to the latter. It is well equipped with everything necessary to operate the mines on a large scale. The pay roll showed 164 names in 1908, but accommo- dation was being made for a much larger force. Wood and water are abundant, and a good wagon road leads to Coram, about six miles distant. The formation is described in the report of the United States Geological Survey as meta-rhyolite, extensively folded BALAKLALA CUXSOLl DATED ( -1 I'Kli -MI-NING COiMPANY SMELTKR, CORAM, .-IIA-TA CorXTY'. and faulted. The ore occurs in flat bodies with a slight dip to the north and the greatest extension nearly east and west. A serias of step faults from north to south, running east and west, have caused a displacement of the ore bodies from a few feet to 100 feet and more. The ore bodies farthest west, on the Early Bird, the Copper Alps, and the El Capitan claim in Windy Gulch, occupy a horizon more than 100 feet al)0ve the Weil tunnel deposit, and the ore in the Shasta King is several hundred feet lower than the latter. Besides the faults there are fissures running north and south through Wmdy Gulch and Mule Gulch, which define the ore bodies. These 90 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. fissures are supposed to have affected the ore bodies, which increase in size and improve in qualitj' in their neiijhborhood. The ore is a hard, heavy iron sulpliide, carrying chalco- pyrite, a little glance, covellite and a little gold and silver. Iron varies from 31.6 to 42.2 per cent and silica from 23 to 55 per cent. The locations cover over 3000 feet on the strike of the lode, and besides some undeveloped prospects two large separate ore bodies are known, one near Mule Gulch, the other in the vicinitj^ of Windy Camp. The latter was discovered first, its eastern portion cropping out on the mountain side where about 40 feet of ore are exposed and a number of tunnels Avere run into it, two of which were 900 and 1000 feet long. It is known to measure 900 feet on the strike, varying in thick- ness from 20 to 60 feet. The ore is reported as assaying : Gold 025 oz. Silver 85 oz. Copper 2.4G% Silica 23.5 % Iron 29.8 % There is a possibility that new ore bodies may be found farther west, good ore having been discovered on the Early Bird and Copper Alps claims. The eastern body, near Mule Gulch, was discovered by means of the diamond drill, and developed through the Weil tunnel, which reaches it at 750 feet. Upraises were made through its entire thickness and drifts run on both sides until the walls were struck, and in this way the dimensions were found to be approximately 1200 feet in length from east to west, 300 feet in width north and south, and from 20 to 40 feet in thickness. At No. 1 raise the ore lies 95 feet above the tunnel, at No. 4, 720 feet west of No. 1, 20 feet, showing a decided pitch in that direction. This ore is reported as assaying: Gold 0228 oz. Silver S2 oz. Copper 2.734% Iron 29.10 % Silica 29.80 % The cost of mining is estimated at $1.75 per ton. Ore blocked out, 1,051,555 tons; ore estimated, 1.040,894 tons; total, 2,092,449 tons. These figures are taken from a report y. y. y. 3 •/. o U X •/i o 92 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. on the property l\v Duncan IMacvichie, for which we are indebted to the courtesy of the Balakhda Consolidated Copper Company. A drift has been run from the Weil tunnel towards the Windy Camp deposit, from which a 240-foot upraise opens in front of tunnels Nos. 8 and 10. It is the intention to carry all the ore from this part of the mine to the Weil tunnel, from which it will be hauled by electric cars to the bins at the terminal of the wire tramway. Here it is reduced to the size of 4 to 5 inches and loaded into the buckets which deliver it at the smelter. The tramway is of the Riblet system, 16,130 feet in length, with a capacity of 75 tons per hour. An arrange- ment has been made with the Trinity Copper Company to carry the ore from adjoining property over this tramway to the smelter or the railroad station, and for this purpose a gravity road 800 feet long has been built from the ore bin down the steep slope to the bottom of Squaw Creek Gulch, where it con- nects with the main tunnel of the Shasta King. The Balaklala Company has constructed a large smelter at Coram Station on the Sacramento River, township 32 north, range 6 west, sections 20 and 21. nine miles north of Redding, which is nearly completed. The principal structures of the plant are the furnace house, the blower building, the matte and roaster buildings, dust chamber and smokestack, ore bins and the usual accessories, machine and repair shops, assay office and laboratory, general offices, residences, etc. The furnace house contains a reverberatory smelting furnace and three matte blast furnaces. The reverberatory furnace is 90 feet long by 15 feet 6 inches wide inside, and oil is used as fuel. The waste heat is utilized to generate steam power in two Sterling boilers. The matte furnaces are of the largest size. 56 by 240 inches between tuyeres, of which there are 20 on each side, and 18 feet high from bottom to feed floor. AVater jackets form the walls from the bottom to the feed floor, and except a 12-inch layer of fire brick in the bottom, no material but iron is used in the construction. The capacity of each furnace is at least 400 tons per day. The furnaces stand on an elevated floor, which facilitates the handling of the product. The slag is tapped into large ( ^ ■ — — % % — / O"* V r«^ .AlHHOILIAO .irniUOO ATo^vrt J A JXf-L~l ^JJ STATE MINING BunEAT'. MAMMOTH COPPER MINING COMPANY'S PROPERTY, SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. n^i I a >?.T 94 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. irou pots on wheels and hauled by electric engines to the dump. The matte runs into iron pots which are lifted by an overhead electric crane and carried to the matte house, where it is cast into iron molds and put on railroad cars, if rich enough for shipment, or returned to the furnaces if too poor. A separate building contains four jNIcDougall roasting fur- naces of 50 tons capacity each. They are not provided with fireplaces, only a little fuel being required at the beginning to start the combustion, which afterwards is kept up by the sulphur in the ore. Three 300 cubic feet -Root blowers furnish the blast for the furnaces, each driven by a 450-horsepower tandem compound steam engine, directly connected. Steam power is supplied by five Sterling boilers, for three of which oil is used as fuel, while two are heated by the gases from the roasting furnace. Blast pressure will be about 36 ounces. One large building contains the bins for receiving ores and the sampling floor, and on the level with the feeding floor of the furnace house is a roAV of bins 500 feet in length, from which the ore is carried in cars to the feeding doors of the furnaces. Part of these bins contain the fluxes necessary for smelting the ores. Large dust chambers carry the smoke and fumes from the roasters and furnaces to a smokestack 250 feet high, on top of the hill, an elevation which is deemed sufficient to avoid evil consequences. When the ore arrives from the mines it wall pass through 4 b}^ 10 feet revolving sizing drums, and the coarse material goes to the blast furnaces. The fines are roasted in the McDougall furnaces, and with flue dust are smelted into matte in the reverberatory furnace. Ohio Consolidated. — Patented claims in section 12, town- ship 33 north, range 6 west; owned by Morton & Bliss, New York. No development. Friday & Lowden Group. — The Friday & Lowden group consists of tliirteen claims, located in sections 5 and 6, town- ship 33 north, range 5 west, and also that portion of the north- west quarter of section 5 and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 5 not included in the mineral locations. SHASTA COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 95 This part of the land is patented. This group of claims is the first encountered on the copper belt on the north side of Squaw Creek, and is directly east of the gold belt in which the Uncle Sam mine is located. The geological conditions, however, are similar to the conditions encountered in other parts of the copper territory. The mine is opened mainly by means of tunnels. A crosscut tunnel driven on the northerly end of the group, on the Cleveland claim, is in ore. A second tunnel iuis been started 175 feet deeper. On the Wild Bear claim easterly from the main development a 70-foot tunnel discloses considerable ore, and a shorter tunnel 250 feet farther along the strike is also in ore. On the common end line of the "Wild Boar and Comstock claims a tunnel 65 feet in length shows some sulphide, after penetrating the gossan or oxidized ore, the latter prospecting in free gold. The total tunnel open- ings aggregate fully 800 feet in length. The strike is northeast and southwest, and the croppings occur at an altitude of about 2000 feet. ^Messrs. Friday and Zowden, of Redding, owners. MAMMOTH MINE. This property is situated in the Backbone district, in the most northerly portion of the copper belt, four miles north of west of Kennet; elevation, 3000 feet, or 2200 feet above that place. It consists of twenty-five claims and fractions in sec- tions 32 and 29, and part of sections 31 and 33, township 34 north, range 5 west, and some land in sections 2 and 3, town- ship 33 north, range 5 west, in all about 1900 acres, patented. It is owned by the United States Mining and Smelting Com- pany of Boston, but is operated as the Mammoth Copper ^Mining Company; Fred Lyon, manager, post office Kennet. Formation and character of ore are the same as in the other mines of the western part of the Shasta County copper belt. A gossan outcrop, 200 feet wide, can be traced 800 feet, and the underlying ore bodies, which are reported to be very large, are opened up by numerous tunnels, drifts, etc., aggre- gating about 14,000 feet. The lowest tunnel, the Coleman level, serves for hauling the ore from all parts of the mine to the surface. In working the mine the caving-in plan is used; after removing the ore from a certain area the empty 96 TUE COPPER RESOURCES OF C.VLIFORNIA. stope is filled by shooting down the roof. The effect of this method is seen on top of the mountain above the mine, where the ground has caved in many places and is crossed by numerous fissures. After the erection of the company's smelter the output of the mine, amounting to about 500 tons per day, was trans- ported to the smelter over an aerial wire tramway, Riblet system, 13,000 feet in length; but when the planned enlarge- ment of the smelter is completed, this quantity will be inade- quate to supply the increased capacity and a change in the transportation system will be made. The mines will be equipped with an electric railway, 3-foot gauge, 2 miles long, which will carry the ore to the head of a gravity road 4000 feet long, with a drop of 1700 feet. This road will have a gauge of 4 feet 8 inches, a double track, and skips of 20 tons capacity each. From the l)ins at the bottom of this road the ore will be loaded into ordinary railroad cars and carried 2 miles to the smelter. Oil is used as fuel for the locomotives and the cars are bottom dumping. The mine is equipped with all the buildings and mechanical devices necessary for operations on a large scale, offices, dwelling houses, air compressors, sawmill, blacksmith and repair shops, etc. The smelter, built in 1905, is located one and one half miles from Kennet, near the Southern Pacific Railroad, and con- nected with it by a spur. It has three blast furnaces, 42 by 180 inches at the tuyeres, steel water-jacketed, provided with both side and end doors ; joint capacity about 1000 tons of ore and fluxes per day (75 per cent ore, 25 per cent fluxes and furnace by-products), Avhich are fed mechanically, with exception of the coke. The smelting is semi-pyritic, the ore being smelted without roasting and with a low percentage of coke. Cold l)last of 42-ounce pressure is supplied by three Connersville cycloidal blowers, belt driven by three 200- horsepower alternating current motors. The furnace settlers are of the continuous flow syphon type, and thf matte is discharged from the spouts upon a traveling matte casting machine and when chilled is dropped into wheelbarrows. The smoke from the furnaces passes through a 200-foot flue into a dust chamber 60 feet long, 456 square feet area, and SHASTA COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 97 escapes through a steel stack 12 feet in diameter, 150 feet hijrh. The flue dust is mixed with some fine sulphide ore and made into bricks by a l)i'i(iuettinjj: machine of a capacity of G tons per hour. In 11)07 the company conuuencod with the enlartrement of the plant, which necessitated a change in the transportation of the ore from the mine. Two new bla.st furnaces, constructed like the old ones. .")() by 180 inches between tuyeres, will be erected and two converter stands, each of four AUis-Chalmers improved !)(> by ir)()-iii(li converter shells, will l)e added. Instead of shipping tlu' matte to the company's works at Bingham. I'tah, as has been done heretofore, in future it will 1k^ resmclted until rich enough to be refined in the converters. Four additional Connersville blowers, each driven hy one 22r)-h()rsep()wer general electric motor, will be installed and a Xordberg converter blowing engine of 750-horsepower. The present storage capacity will be increased many thousand tons In the addition of a number of new ore bins, and dust chamber and smokestack will also be greatly enlarged. Water is obtained from Big Backbone Creek by a ditch and flume and delivered at the smelter inider 60 pounds pressure. More than 1(M»0 men are cmidoyed at mine and smelter. Mayflower. — Six unpatented claims in section 32, township 34 north, range 5 west; owned by C. G. Ferguson and B. ri()linsk.\-. of Kennet. A little development work has shown some high-grade ore. Bohematosh. — Seven claims in section 25, township 33 north, range (i west; owned )>> AValter Friday and J. R. Low- den. Disseminated sulphides are abundant, with ext«'nsive croppings of gossan. This is several miles north of the definite limits of the belt j)i-opcr. Summit Group. — This property consists of thirty unpat- ented claims located on the eastern slope of T-5ohematosli Mountain, on a ridge lying between the north and south t'oi'k of Little Backbone Creek, in section MK township 34 north, range 5 west, at an elevation of about 3000 feet, and adjoins the Mammoth Company's property on the west. The Graves, Summit, and North Mammoth Extension groups comprise the Summit holdings. The ground is ver^- regular, the formation 7— BuL. 50 98 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. being the same in character as the more southerly part of the belt. The country rock is heavily mineralized and the surface indications are very pronounced in this part of the belt. The strike of the ore can be readil}- traced around the mountain side for fully 2400 feet. Three tunnels have been driven, one on the northeasterly, one on the southerly, and one on the westerly portion of the ground. No. 2, the main tunnel, is in about 400 feet and an upraise is driven at 350 feet, which is about 50 feet high at present, to determine the foot wall of the sulphide ledge encountered in the floor of the upper tunnel, No. 1. The ore body, which appears to lie between tunnels Nos. 1 and 2, has a shallow dip to the northwest. Prospect shafts sunk in the croppings above tunnel No. 1 indicate a width of at least 35 feet, with ore reported to assay 8 per cent copper : the sulphide ore from the tunnel is reported to contain from 6 to 141/2 per cent copper. The first 90 feet of tunnel No. 1 was driven through a secondary deposition caused by leaching of the ore bodv and carrving values throughout. The next 50 feet passed through a quartzite foot wall, intersected with numerous seams bearing sulphide ore, varying from a few inches to a foot and a half in width. Between the foot wall and the solid sulphide l)()dy a breccia carrying a high percent- age of copper sulphide was encountered. Tunnel No. 3, situated at some little distance from Nos. 1 and 2 and driven nearly west, is in 400 feet, following a contact of rhyolite and i)orphyry. Ore has been found here, but more or less in a disseminated state. Total development about 1200 feet. AVater and timber in abundance are on the ground. The property is under bond to the Stauffer Chemical Company of San Francisco, which has installed a Sullivan compressor with a capacity of four drills. Superintendent, Chas. Kunze; post office, Kennet. Ferguson & Limbough. — This group, in section 4, township 33 north, range 5 west, is developed by 165 feet of tunnels showing some ore. Great Verde. — Twelve claims, four of which are patented, in sections 11 and 12, township 33 north, range 6 west; owned by the Vulcan ]\Iining Company, John Lyle, of Dunsmuir, president, and "W. T. Shaw \ace-president. This property u o o -< K J a 7- O '.J o lUO THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. adjoins the lialaklala on the north and the Sliasta Kin shales and stratified andesite, ricliest ores are encountered. The contact is followed to a considerable depth, much of the best grade ore being mined from the lower levels. The ledge has a northwest-southeast strike and dips steeply to northeast. Development work in the Afterthought ha.s been greatly increased and systematized under the present management. The main working or adit tunnel extends 3000 feet into the hill, intercepting the shaft which is 330 feet above this level and 194 feet below it, and is still being sunk. All stopes and levels are connected with shoots and upraises, so that gravity trams the ore from the various levels to bins on the tunnel level. In stoping the square set timbering system is employed, the timbers for which arc furnished by the Terry Lumber Company, whose famous 30-mile V-flume pa.sses directly in front of the mine. The depth of the shaft is 545 feet, the aggregate tunnel development reaches 2555 feet, and the total of the drifts is 4000 feet, a summary which does not include several upraises, winzes and crosscuts. All of this work, with that in the smelter, is yielding employment to 200 men. The ore is extremely refractory, containing in its mineral content high percentages of zinc and barium. Gold and silver in the content greatly enhance the commercial value of the ore, but at present no attempt is made to recover the zinc occurring as the sulphide (sphalerite). Copper sulphurets are essentially in the form of peacock ore, or bornite, and copper-pyrite, or chalcopj'rite. The ore is sufficiently silicious to eliminate the necessity of smelting any barren material with the exception of limestone, and this quantity is minimized by lime in the ore. The lime rock is transported two and a half miles by team, stored in large bins on the sidehill near the mine, and drawn off into ore cars as it is needed at the smelter. Immen.se bodies of the ore are so heavy in zinc that the com- pany is installing a hand-picking belt with an idea of picking out the zinc and waste. This will produce two very important economic results, namely, the recovery of the zinc, which has heretofore been lost in volatilization, and a material reduction in the refractoriness of the ore, thereby lessening the percent- age of coke in the charge as well as minimizing the tendency of the furnaces to freeze. This class of ore will first pass through a 1-inch revolving bar screen. The coarse or oversize 104 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. will then be directly fed to a 15 by 30-inch Blake crusher, and thence on to the belt conveyor discharging into bins above the trades in the smelter yard. As the belt conveys the ore to the bins the waste will be picked out and discarded, and the zinc will be sorted and stored for shipment or treatment as the company may plan. The ore in the liins. together witli Co/>DCr Jft'ii JifferlkouI. AND AFTERTHOUGHT CLAIMS, SHASTA COUNTY.* the fines from the screenings, will be smelted. Of course, this method of treatment nuiy be varied somewhat to comply with the varying character of the ore. Connecting the main work- ing tunnel of the mine and the smelter, about one mile apart, is a 30-inch gauge railroad, equipped with Davenport steam locomotives. Each train of about 12 cars represents a lot of homogeneous ore. Lots of different character are dumped at the smelter from high trestles in layers so as to make a mixture ready for smelting, thus approximating the bedding system. * Bv J. Knittschnitt. Jr. SHASTA COUNTY — COPPER MIXES AND CLAIMS. 105 On* from the bins. foll(t\v'm«r the ('nisliiii per cent grade is being driven into Iho liill to connect the shaft 250 feet below the surface. The Copper City Mine of the Bully Hill Copper Mining Mild Smelting Company consists of four claims, and was formerlv the Copper City group, comprising the E.xcelsior. Brown. Humboldt, and Baxter claims. Here development work is being carried on along the same lines as the Bully Hill and Ri.sing Star mines with equally satisfying results. The ores of thFs mine are high grade, carrying gold and silver values and high percentages of zinc in parts. Though the mineral exposition is extensive and high grade, the mine is a compara- tively shallow one. and it is more than reasonal)le to suppose that the ore bodies now extending upward will be found, on sinking, to gain depth with similar consistency. The standard gauge railroad to Pitt passes directly througli this prope_rijL Schmidt's Claim.— One claim near the Kosk Creek group; owned by Charles Schmidt. Some work has been done, show- ing sulphide ore. The vein is said to be 10 feet in width. Chattadown Group.— Consists of an uncertain number of claims situated near the headwaters of Chattadown Creek, some twenty miles north of Baird, east of the :\rcCloud River ; owned by Edward Sweeney, Reed Bemis, and others. Some showing of gossan on surface and some work done showing sulphides, etc. 108 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORXIA. Kosk Creek Group. — Consists of twelve claims situated in section 23, township 37 north, ran^^e 1 west, a number of miles north of the copper belt; owned by William ]\I. Murray. R. .M. Saeltzer, and others. Bonded by W. G. Scott and associates of San Francisco. This ^rroup is especially interesting:, from the fact that the ore is a dark basaltic rock carrying: native copper. The copper occurs in globules and films in the joints and vesicles of the rock. The ore is said to carry some gokl. The zone of rock carrying copper is said to have a width of 200 feet. Native metal occurs only near the surface ; with greater depth, sulphides are found. . Hartford Group. — Consists of ten claims three miles north of the mouth of Protem Creek, Shasta County; owned by the Hartford Consolidated ^Mining Company, Wm. Geary presi- dent and J. B. Gitfen secretary. More than 400 feet of tunnels have been completed, proving some good sulphide ore, but at present only in limited quantity. The lode is said to have a width of 8 feet or more, and to appear along the surface for a distance of more than 100 feet. The surface ores are oxides and carbonates. Cowboy Group. — Consists of three claims in section 4. township S'S north, range 2 west ; owned by II. A. Cook et al.. San Francisco. This property has good surface indications. Over 200 feet of tunnels have been completed, and good sulphide ore has been found. The property includes, in addi- tion to the claims above mentioned, 160 acres of land in section 9 of the same township. Black Diamond Group. — The Black Diamond group, con- sisting of a half section of land and eighteen claims located in sections 2 and 3. township 33 north, range 4 west, in the Still- water mining district, is the property of the Northern Cali- fornia Investment Company. A great deal of development work has been done, but the ground is as yet in a practically undeveloped condition. A body of ore of a reported value of 8 per cent copper was encountered. In addition to the Black Diamond holdings, the company holds between 4000 and oOUU acres of patented land located in the Bully Hill region and in the district to the southeast. George Bayha. the vice-president of the company, is in charge of the property. SHASTA f'OrXTV ("OI'PKR MINKS ANM) CLAIMS. 1(»!) Roseman Group. — The KosiMiiaii jirroup consists of nine claiiiis and a snioltor site. located in section ."5. towiisliip Mi north, and section 84. low iisliip iU noi-lli. i-anentini'. The development is maiidy alon^- the (Mitcrop and the t and De La Mar's property on the west. \\;'s ac(piired by the Mount Shasta (Jold IMines Corpora- tion, and will he developed with the .McClure group. This ground is located mainly on the south and west slopes of Hully Hill and is crossed by one of the Hully Hill lodes. The ])rin- cil)al outcrop of the Bully Hill lodes is on the common end line of the Recorder and the Ydalpom claims, the latter being one of the claims that form the Michigan group. The development work consists chiefly of tunnels and drifts. Some very high- urade ore has been encountered in the woi'kings. A shaft sunk on the North Star claim disclosed some very good sulphide ore. The Mount Shasta Gold !\lines Corporation acquired an option 110 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. on 80 acres of land adjoining the Bully Hill smelter site, which will probably be used as a site for the proposed reduction works in the Bully Hill district. W. F. Russell is in charge of developments. Northern Light. — One claim, unpatented, in section 21, township 34 north, range 3 west ; owned by the Bully Hill Company. Considerable development work has been done on this ground, and good bodies of sulphide ores similar in char- acter to other deposits in this district have been discovered. Excelsior. — A group of five claims, two of which are pat- ented, located in sections 21 and 28, township 34 north, range 3 west ; owned by the Bully Hill Gold ^Mining and Smelting Company. A considerable force of men was employed in development work upon the Excelsior, South Killinger, and Baxter claims, including what are known as the Baxter and Winthrop tunnels. The lowest tunnel is the Winthrop, which has been driven for a distance of 850 feet, and it is expected that it will crosscut the Baxter-Excelsior ore bodies. In the Excelsior tunnels a body of solid sulphide ore has been exposed more than 20 feet in thickness, but probably high in its per- centage of zinc. Arps Group. — It consists of fifteen unpatented claims owned by R. M. Saeltzer, William Arps, T. Jaegel, and J. A. Keeney, of Redding. W. Arps, after whom the group was named, is in charge of the property at Copper City, which is located in sections 20 and 21, township 34 north, range 4 west, adjoining the Copper City mine of the Bully Hill Copper Mining and Smelting Company. Five or six tunnels have been driven, directed largely to surface exploration, though they yielded a shipment of ore running high in values. The property is being developed under bond by W. E. Casson, of Nevada. McClure, or Pioneer, Group. — This property is located principally in section 1(). township 34 uortli, range 3 west, and adjoins the De La Mar mine on the northeast. It includes a quarter section of patented land and six claims. The most important claim, the Recorder, lies on Bully Hill immediately adjoining the De La Mar holdings, and is on the strike of the De La Mar lode. The development work on several levels SHASTA COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. Ill of De La ^Nlar's Bully Hill mines has been carried practically to the Recorder claim. The principal development work ou the Recorder claim consists of a crosscut tunnel which was started by the pioneer owner of the property, II. C. ]\IcClure, and this tunnel has been continued by the ]\Iount Shasta Gold ]\Iines Corporation, which is now developing the mine. Ore has been reached in this tunnel. The ore, like that of its famous neighbor, is higli grade and carries good values in gold, silver, and copper. Where the outcrop crosses the ^IcClure ground, recent explorations have disclosed a lode of great width. Ydalpom. — Consists of two unpatented claims in section 16, township 34 north, range 3 west ; owned by T. M. Popejoy and others of Copper City. INGOT. Polkinghorn Claims. — Five claims pending patent, owned by tlie Polkingliorn Mining Company, with post office address at Ingot. R. Polkinghorn is superintending the development of this property. A shaft is being sunk on the croppings. This property is located in section 11, township 33 north, range 2 west. Canyon Group. — Four unpatented claims in section 2, township 33 north, range 2 west; owned by H. A. Cook and ]\r. Osborn, of Ingot. A 70-foot prospect tunnel has been run under gossan croppings, a little copper pyrite being encoun- tered. Congress Group. — Six unpatented claims in section 4, township 33 north, range 2 west; H. A. Cook and brothers, of Ingot, are owners. A series of exploration tunnels aggre- gating 430 feet have been run, but no great depth below croppings has yet been reached. Gold Belt Group. — Six claims pending patent, in section 4, towusliij) 33 north, range 2 west, belonging to J. H. Jones and A. II. Tucker, of Ingot. A shaft down 30 feet penetrated about f) feet of iron capping, below which a schistose and slaty formation was encountered carrying copper sulphurets with traces of zinc, gold, and silver. 112 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CiVLIFORNIA. Sanders Group. — Five unpatented claims in section 21, township 34 north, ranjre 4 west; owned by William Arps, K. ^I. Saelt/.er, and otliers of Reckling. This property adjoins the Rising- Star mine of the Bully Hill Copper jNlining and Smelting- Company, and was under bond to a Nevada company headed by W. E. Casson. Tunnels of a prospective nature have been i-un ticai- Ihe surface. Sinking to encounter ore at depth has been planned. Slaughter Group. — Four unpatented claims in section 26, township :U north, range 3 west; owned by George T. Slaughter, of Dehnar. A 70-foot tunnel was run into side of hill to tap ledge, which apexes about 30 feet wide, with a northeast-southwest strike. Horse Mountain Group. — Nine unpatented claims owned by W. Fluke and Carl Jeris, of Copper City. This property is situated near the crest of Horse Mountain, in section 18, township 34 north, range 3 west. Assessment work alone has been done. A very interesting deposit of native copper dis- seminated through a meta-rhyolite is exposed on the surface. Bismarck Group. — Located in section 3, township 33 north, range 4 west, and consists of six unpatented claims; owned by Joseph Jaegel. of Grey Rocks. A niim])er of tunnels have been driven and some shafts sunk in developing this property. Small amounts of copper sulphides have ])een disclosed. American Girl Group. — A group of three unpatented claims in section 34, township 33 north, range 4 west, belonging to W. Fluke, Ira P. Engle, James Doyle, and Alec Han.sen, of Copper City. Tlie mineralized formation outcrops, and is reported to \ ichi a very favorabk^ assay for copper. The ju-operty is abt)ut four miles west of Copper City. Senator Group. — Located in section 2, township 33 north, range 4 west, about five miles from Copixu' City on Pitt River, is this group of fourteen unpatented claims; owned and developed l)y the Combination (iold and Copper Company of Nevada. James T. Davis, of Carson City, is the company's managing director; 450 feet of tunnels represent development work on this property. SHASTA COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 113 Sulphide Group.— Four unpatented claims belonging to J. F. ConkliuL;-. of Wliiskeytown. This property, about lialf a mile from the town, is in s«-ftion 16, township 32 north, range (j west. .\ shallow exploration tunnel run along a coutaet shows lip low-grade sulphides carrying gold. Reno Group.— Fourteen unpatented claims; owned by K. y\. Saeltzer. AVilliam Arps. J. Jaegel. and J. A. Keeney, of Redding, and situated in section 20, township 34 north, range 4 west. Some shafts and tiuuiels have been run as iissessment work. A little copper ore uncovered during this development. William .\r])s. of Copper City, is in charge of the property. Crystal Group.— Owned by the Crystal Copper Company; \V. S. Tyler, president; J. C. Harrington, vice-president: -I. L. Maginnis, secretary and treasurer. This property consists of twenty-three unpatented claims in section 11. townshij) 33 north, range (i west, adjoining the Balaklala on the north and llit> Vulcan claims on the west. Development l)y tunnels aggre- trates 2()() feet. The company expects to explore its locations by the use of diamond drills. Endless Chain and Missing Link Claims. — Two unpatented claims: owned and being i^rospected by F. L. i'opejoy and James Drannan. of Copper City. The exph)ration of this property consists of two 30-foot tunnels. The location is about 3 miles west of Copper City, in section 24. lownship 34 north, range 4 west. Graham Group. — Nine unpatented claims; owned and worked 1>\ P.. A. (Jraham. in section 24. township 34 north, range 4 west. Post office address. Ydalpom or Copper City. A series of prospect tunnels aggregating 240 feet, a .shaft 74 feet, and a drift 5.') feet indicate what development w^ork has been accomplished. This property was under bond to W. E. Casson. of Nevada. Oregon Consolidated Copper Mine.— This property is com- po.sed of two groups previously known as the United and Queen Copper groups, in sections 13. 14, and 23, township 33 north, range fi west. The locations are owned and operated by F. L. Scamman. W. R. Follis. and William Candrick. the 8— BuL. 50 114 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. latter of whom is in eliarge of the work. Al)oiit 1200 feet in tunnels comprise tlie development work, wliicli is undergoing a steady inerease. The mine w.is under bond to the Baker Consolid;it('{l ("()|)j)er Company, of Detroit, ^Micli. Reynolds Claims. — Five unpatented claims in section 10, township 33 nortli, range 6 west; owned by C. W. Reynolds, of Kennet. This property, newly located, adjoins the Halaklala (111 the north. Varsity Group. — Eight unpatented claims in sections 13, 1-t, and 24, township 34 north, range 5 west; owned by C T. Dozier and C. V. Dittmar, of Redding and Kennet, respectively. Tlie i)roperty is two and a half miles due south of Kennet. The Copper Crest Group of four claims in township 33 north, range (i west, is owned by the Federal Exploration Com- pany, No. 370 Bullit building, Philatlelphia. It ad.joins the Manmioth property, and shows some gossan on which an incline has been started. About one and a half miles north of Kennet in the copper belt, where it has assumed an eastern course before crossing the Sacramento River, lies tlie Shasta Kennet Group, con- taining 80 acres, with about 700 feet of workings. The face of the main tunnel, 470 feet long, shows vein matter with some iron and copper sulphides. It belongs to the Shasta INIay Blossom Copper Company, ulliee No. 410 Kearny street, San Francisco. The Ingersoll Group consists of fourteen non-patented claims on the south fork of ^lotion Creek, in township 33 north, range 6 west (railroad section 25), adjoining the Trinity Copper Company's property. Some heavy gossan outcrops are found, and the two tunnels of 180 and 135 feet show con- siderable iron and copper sulphides. A tunnel of 165 feet has been run on a quartz vein carrying gold and a little copper. Owner, J. N. Sherman, Copley. The Motion Creek Group (Ui llie north fork of Motion (reek, township 33 north, range H west, sections 13. 18, 19, and 25, partly railroad land, adjoining the Spread Eagle group, consists of ten non-patented claims, with surface indi- cations similar to the j>reeedinL;' grouj), and two tunnels. COAST RANGE DEPOSITS. The Coast Ran^'o of California presents a copper field of very lar miles long, running along the eastern slo{)e. near 1hi' range summit, from Tehama County soutliward through fJlenn and Colusa to a termination in Lake County. This is a mineralized zone, along which copper deposits have been dis- covered at intervals, and many have l)een superficially opened by shafts and tunnels. One of the small early attempts at copper smelting Mas made on this belt, and a few tons of ore have been shipped: hut. as elsewhere tlirough this portion of tlie range, no copper deposits of mucli importance have been discovered and ii<» succe.ssful mining has ever been carried on. "West and south of this belt are many sporadic occurrences in the counties named, and a considerable number have been prospected to a limited extent at various times, chiefly during the copper excitement of the early sixties and within the past two or three years. The deposits of this portion of the range are more advantageously situated in respect to convenience of acce.ss than those of the north. Copper mining in these counties has amounted to little more than gophering after stringers and pockets of ore, often rich in (piality, but small in quantity. For a distance of about 200 miles southward from the region of San Francisco to San Luis Obispo County, copper minerals have l)een noted in every county of the range, but the occur- rences are sparse and of slight significance. In the region of ^Fount I)ial)lo. in Contra Costa County, many thousands of dollars were spent between 1860 and 1866, by several com- panies, in prospecting for copper, of which there were surface indications in the form of float, but no deposits were ever found in i)lace. Close to Oakland, in Alameda County, a lode carrying copper and ii-dii pyrites lias been mined to supply sulphur for acid manufacture. IMany years ago some copper ore was shipped from a deposit in San Benito County. The only copper district worthy of particular attention, between San Francisco Bay and the Tehachapi region at the southern end of the Coast Range, is one in San Luis Obispo County. Here is a belt of cupriferous ores extending for perhaps 20 miles through the mountains between the town of San Luis Obispo and the old mission of 120 THE COl'l'KK KESOLKCKS OF CALIFORNIA. Sjiiit.i .Margarita. During the first period of copper mining in California a great many claims were staked out and <'on- sideral)le ore was shipped from several mines of small develop- ment. Recently renewed attention has been given to some of these properties. Near Solcdad Pass, in the general region of the mergence of the Coast and Sierra Nevada ranges at the south, there is a copper district which afforded the first copper ores ever mined in California, and which was a lively copper mining camp for a short time in early days. Throughout the Coast Range there has been no production of copper since the small ore shipments of former times. Many new and old locations have been prospected recently. The northern counties promise important future develop- ments, and throughout the range various properties will probably become small producers in time. SISKIYOU COUNTY. Siskiyou County lies along the noi'thern boundary of Cali- fornia, one half tlie length of which it measures, and has adjoining it Del Norte on tlie west. ^Modoc on the east, and Shasta and Trinity counties ou tlie south. Its entire area of 30-iO s(|uare miles is an exceedingly broken and picturesque expanse of mountains, canyons, and wilderness, threaded hy a ninllitiide of streams running southward 1o the Sacramento and northci'lN- and westerly to the Klamath I\ivt'i\ whidi courses for 70 miles through the county. The most prominent mountain ranges are the Klamath, Scott, and Salmon. IMount Shasta, in the southern part, raises its whitened volcanic peak 14,380 feet above the sea. The eastern third of the county, comprising thirty-four townships, is blanketed by a portion of the great Sierra Nevada lava sheet, forl)idding lioth mining and agriculture. The rest of the county displays much mineral wealth, mainly concentrated in various belts and districts. There are but two agricultural valleys of importance, the Scott and Shasta, the former 40 V □ ^ SCU/Sr/k MICA ■SCHtST POfiPHYftV S£flPEl>lT/AJ£ STATE MININi: UCUKAU. COPPER BELT OF NORTHERN SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. sisKnoi corNTV 1-Jl iiiil.'s luiijr l)\ ti miles \vi«l<'. 'riicrc is ;i limit it us for their multiplieation. River-hed minintr. hy the use of \vin«,'dams. has Iteen pursued more extensively than in any other county. Now ^'old dredirinir has hecome firmly estahlished and prom- ises to expand. Here, as in other mininij: counties, the growth of the minins: industry depends on the development of the quartz mines, and in this direction Siskiyou County is now makinir the frreatest proirress in its history. Successful gold fpuirtz mines have been developed in the past, notably. the Black Bear with a re<-ord of over Jl?2.r)00.000. hut only within three or four years has i)rospectin? for 'j:old ores heen general and active and investments of mining capital fre(|uent. This development proceeds i-apidly. in spite of the surprising lack of roads and trails to some of the rich hut remote mining districts. The South. in I'aciHc railroad In Oregon crosses the cnunty. with a i)rancli 1(« Vivka. Most of the county is yet pul)lic hind, iiiid the jirosix'ctor has a wide and free field. IMaliiiiiiii. chrome, lead. coal. iron, and mineral waters are among the minerals occurring liere. This is oue of the few- counties of the State making an annual mineral record exceeding $1.(M)().()()(). Its output in 1!>(«> was $1,010,383. of which $n.'31.3!)T was in gold. The copper mines and i)rospects of Siskiyou County are widely scattered over the central and northern portions of the county, and include some properties of considerable magni- tude. Most of them are of comparatively recent development, few of them having found mention in other reports of the State Mineralogist. In the central portions of the coimty the prospects are confined to a very few townships lying to the east of Scott Valley, in the vicinity of Fort Jones and on certain tributaries of the East Fork of Scott Kiver. The formations in which these deposits occur are either peridotite or gabl)ro. or a metamorphic schist overlying these eruptives. X '<* ^ » »«\V # "/ & SISKIYOI' for NT Y I'Jl niilt's loiif? \)\ >i inilfs w idi-. There is a iniillitude of spl•i^^^s. ami some important miiiei-al spriii^rs are well known. Its mineral resources constitute the basis of Siskiyou's pros- perity and in'oirress. lis iiiiril'cnins <::ravels still provide the hulk of the county's trokl output, thouirh the |)eriod of simple placer mining passed lony: ago. Along the Khnnath and important tributaries large gravel deposits support profitable hydraulic mines and afford ai)undant opportunities for their multiplication. River-bed mining, by the use of wingdams. has been pursued more e.xtensively than in any other county. Now gold dredging has become firndy established and prom- ises to expand. Here, as in other mining counties, the growth of the mining industry depends on the development of the (puirtz mines, and in this direction Siskiyou County is now nudving the greatest progress in its history. Successful gold quartz mines have been developed in the past, notably, the Black Bear with a record of over $2,500,000. but only within three or four years has prospecting for gold ores been general and active and investments of mining capital frequent. This development proceeds i-apidly, in spite of the surprising lack of roads and trails to some of the rich but remote mining districts. The Southei-n racitic raili-oad to Oregon crosses the count\'. with a liranch 1o Vi-eka. .Most of the county is yet public land, and the pros])ector has a wide and free field. Platinum, chrome, lead. coal. iron, and mineral waters are among the minerals oceurriiiL:' here. This is one of the few counties of the State making an ainiual mineral record exceeding $1.()00.0()0. Its output in !!»(•(» was .$1. 01 0.383. of wjiich $051.31)7 was in gold. The copper mines and prospects of Siskiyou County are widely scattered over the central and northern portions of the county, and include some properties of consideral)le magni- t\ul<'. Most of them are of comparatively recent development, few of them having found mention in other reports of the State Mineralogist. In the central portions of the count\' the prospects are confined to a very few townships lying to the east of Scott Valley, in the vicinity of Fort Jones and on certain tributaries of the East Fork of Scott River. The formations in which these deposits occur are either peridotite or gabbro. or a metaraorphic schist overlying these eruptives. 122 THE COPPER RESOURCES OK CALIFORNIA. The ores are largely sulphides of iron and copper, and include pjTite, pyrrhotite. and chalcopyrite. Some of the deposits tliat have l)een regarded as valuable for copper are chiefly interesting for their gold and silver values, and as a possible .source of silicious ores for prospective operations. The prospects found to the north of the Klamath River are scattered throughout the whole extent of the Siskiyou range from the vicinity of the Cottonwood Valley westward to Pres- ton Peak. They may be grouped in five districts — the Cotton- Avood, Applegate. Indian Creek. Clear Creek, and Preston Peak districts. The formations in wliich tliese deposits occur are various. The Siskiyou range, like other east-and-west ranges in the Klamatli region, is one of complex geological structure. In general terms it is composed largely of crystalline schists and slates and basic eruptive rocks which are involved in or under- lie them. The basic rocks are mainly of the peridotite-diorite class. Granite also occurs at intervals througliout the range. The basic crystalline (eruptive) rocks form some of the most prominent j^oints of the range, no less conspicuous for their color than foi- their altitude. Several of the prominent mountains have been indiscriminately styled "Red ^foun- tain." on account of the reddish-brown color which peridotite assumes in weathering. Preston Peak, Greyback, and others of the higher summits are of diorite or kindred rocks. While the main course of the range is westerly, its actual watershed is extremely devious, passing alternately into Oregon and into northern California. Copper deposits are found either in slate, schist, diorite, gabbro, or serpentine. The Siskiyou ]Mountain copper belt, if it may be so styled, follows approximately the Oregon and California state line for a distance of 60 miles, with a width of more than 20 miles from the Klamath River north into Oregon. As a mining region it has been prospected to a very small extent for either gold or copper. Yet it is interesting to remember that the streams heading in this range, both on the north and south, have been among the richest placer streams in this region. And it is also true that this range contains as clear evidences of copper deposits as of gold, and should be as attractive to prospectors in search of base metals as to those in search of SISKIYOU COLNTV — Col'l'KK CLAIMS. 12:{ jiiiy olliri-, Allhiiuj,^li tliis region is except ionally ru^y:e(l in places, it is hy no means nnapproadiahle, particularly from the north. Tlic natural advanta^jes of water-power and timber are everywhere aliuiuhmt. The follow inu' irronps of copper claims ai-f those of mo.st note tiiat ai-c known in Siskiyou County: Hummer Group. — Consists of three claims in section 18, townshi|» 4i> tiorth. range 7 west. Mount Diablo meridian; owned h_\- Messrs. Misdilcr tJc Rollins, of Callahans. These claims have hccn worked to only a limited extent by shafts and open cuts. The formation is mainly serpentine, thouj^h the ore deposits are connected with dikes of quartz porphyry which have penetrated tlie serpentine. The ore lies in irregular bodies, consisting of pyrrhotite and other sulphides <'nri-ying copper. Tlie ore is said to contain nickel. Bonanza Group. — Tw^elve claims in one body situated in sections 27 and 34, townsliij) 42 north, range 8 west; owned by Charles S. Cowan, of Fort Jones. W. S. Carrico, and others. Developed by shafts and tunnels. These deposits are in the form of quartz veins carrying a small percentage of sulphides, but are chiefly interesting for their gold and silver values. Copper Queen Claim. — One claim in section 27, town.ship 46 north, range !) west; owned by TI. J. Barton, of Oak Bar, and William ^loxey: developed by tunnels 300 feet in length. The deposit is a quartz vein carrying sulphurets of iron and copper. Plutus Group. — Five claims situated in sections 12 and 14. townshij) 40 north, range 8 west; owned by McCarter and John Erickson. of Callahans. The ore is pyrrhotite, with a small percentage of copper. The formation is gabbro and serpentine. Fortuna Group. — Two claims in section 14, township 40 north, range 8 west; owned by E. (1. Harrison of Callalians, and others. The ore is pyrrhotite, etc., in gabbro and diorite. Solomon. — One claim in section 14, township 40 north, range 8 west; owned by .M. Greenberg of San Francisco, and developed by one shaft. 124 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORXIA. Hidden Treasure. — Tlirrc claims, located on Boulder Creek, four miles southwest of ("allahaus; owned 1)\' .John Russel and the Alger Brothers of C'allahans. The vein is said to liave a widlli of S feet, consisting of sulphide witli some quartz. It carries copper, with some gold and silver. On the pr()]i('i'ty tlien^ is one tunnel. August Flower Group. — Two claims in section 1, toAvn- ship 41 nortli. I'ange 8 west; owned by Harrison Bros., of Callahans. The ore consists of irregular hodies of pyri'hotite and clialcoi)yrite in serpentine. Huntley Claim. — One claim situated in section 12. loAvn- ship 40 nortli. range 8 Avest ; owned b.v Harry ]\Iitcliell. "Williain Bremer et al., of Callahans. The ore consists of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. Lytic. — Two claims in section 20. town.ship 40 north, range 7 west ; owned by J. A. Lytle & Son, of Callahans. Developed by tunneling. The ore. which consists of irregular bodies of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. follows a contact between a dike of quartz ])oryhyry and serpentine. Some of the lenses of ore have a thickness of 10 to 15 feet. The ore also contains some gold. Polar Bear Claim. — One chiiin in section 12. loAvnship 40 north, range 8 west ; owned by (}. AVelker & Sons, of Callalians. and others. Developed by a shaft and tunnels. The principal ore body consists of a shoot 5 to 6 feet wide, from which nearly 200 tons of ore Avere extracted in 1900, carrying values reported at about 17 per cent of copper. The ore is clialcopyrite and pyri'hotite in serpentine. Rader Group. — Three claims in section 17. toAvnship 40 north, range 7 west; owned by Charles Radei'. of (razelle. and others. Some development work has been done. The ore con- sists of pyrrhotite. and is said to contain nickel. Turner Claim. — One claim in section 7. lownship 40 north, range 7 west. Some work has been done, with a good showing of chalcopyrite. Monarch Copper Group. — Consists of al)out 240 acres of patented land situated in the east half of section 7. township 40 north, range 7 west ; owned by the ^lonarch Copper Alining SISKIMH ((H NIV — COI'PKR CLAIMS. 125 Company. Charles l'\ rt'ttey. of Callaliaiis. prcsicloiit. Devel- oped 1»\ tunnels and shaft.s. Sidpiiide ores of j;ood ^rade are reported. Thanksg^iving Group. — Con.sisl.s of several claims one and a lijilt" miles nurlheast of Oro Finn; ount'd liy (rcorjie Hen- derson, ot" Fort .lones. Surface indications very j.rood. Rothkoph Group. — Fifteen claims located in sections 5, 6, 7. and 8, township 43 north. ran«re 8 west, four miles northeast of Fort .loncs; owned by Geor<>:e ilriidei'son. ol" l''ort -lones. Developed liy shafts and tunnels. The formations are l)asic eruptive rocks, including: s<.'rpentine overlaid hy silicious .strata containing; some slate. The ore lies partly along the contact, and consists of chalcopyrite and pyrite in lenticular bodies, liavinjr a width of 5 or G feet. Several patches of jzossan and iron-stained rock occur on the surface. Some of the ore <*arries values reported at 12 to lo i)cr cent coj)i)er. Schnider Claims. — Two claims in section 12. lownslii]) 40 north, ranu'e 8 west, and .section 18. township 40 north. i-an8 in Camj). Clear Creek District. — A number of claims have been located on Clear Creek and its tributaries, west of Happy Camp. About eight miles above its moutli l)i'. F. Tebbs, of Weed, owns and has Ixnided forty claims on which are large iron outcrops. The Buster Group nf ten claims belong to the same parties. Buzzard Hill Group. — Nine claims on the east side of the Klamath. Titus Creek, on the east side t)f the river, ten claims owned by Dr. Tebl)s. Eighty feet iron outcrop. Titus Creek had very rich placers in the early days. Nigger Creek Group. — Several claims owned by David Jones I't al.. of Fort .lones. situated near the head of Nigger (Veek. five miles northwest of Hand)urg Bar. Preston Peak Group. — Five claims situated at the head of the .south fork of hulian Creek, one and a half miles north of Preston Peak; owned by Preston Peak Copper Mining Com- pany. Developed to some extent in past years. The formation I)i:i, NOHTK CDINTV'. ]'l^ is inaiiilv diorilt' ni- 'jiilyltro. Tin' Indc crosses llic siimiiiil in a soulhwTstt'rlv diccct itni. ;iinl foiisists nt" a succession of shoots, some of w liicli have a width of 2(1 to :{(l feet. Thf oi-es are |)\ I'ile and chah'opvfite. The averay^e iii'ade of the ore is said to he \'2 per cent in copper, with some irohl. 'I'his property is one of till' [lioiieer iliscoveries (»f the Sisl() to fiO jx'r cent in coj^per. The cost of shi]>ping ore from Crescent City to San Francisco is approximately $(> ]iei- ton. The transportation of ore from the mines lo llie landing varies in each case, hut it has generally ranged hctwicn .^^2.50 and $10 ])er ton. The following are some of the more imj>ortant coppei- mines and elaiiiis in the various districts of Del Xorte County. According to reports oidy assessment work has been done on Diamond Creek, hut a number of prospects are being developed on Patrick and Sliell,\- Creek (^lonnmental post office) along the stage road from Grant's Pass to Crescent City. Of greater importance, however, is the resumption of work in the Low Divide district, which ]n'o(luccd all the ore shipped in former years to Swansea or el.sewhere. THE LOW DIVIDE DISTRICT. Situated at the head of Copper Creek, a tributary of Kowdy Creek, in the mountains which reach an elevation of '2iH)() feet above sea level, twenty miles from Crescent City, and nine miles from Smith Kiver, witli a fail" wagon road from the latter place. The formation consists principally of serpen- tine, compact and fine grained in the lower jiarts. coarse grained with bron/.ite and hornl)lende in the upper portions, resembling gabbro. On the surface it assumes a gray and granular ap|>earance, owing to the deterioration of the softer minerals in its composition. The main vein follows a ridge on the east side of Copper Creek, course north and south; dip east 45 to fiO degrees; width 4 to 6 feet, with considerable enlargement in i)laces. Ore. tine grained sulphides, pyrrho- tit<'. ehalcocite. bornite, chalcopyrite, blackish green in appear- ance and generally high grade. On this vein are located the principal mines. The Alta Group, consisting of two patented claims, and the four claims forming its southern extension (Occidental group), has been bonded to the Tnion Coi)per .Mining Com- I>i:i, NOKTK COITNTY — CH)PPKI{ ("L.M.MS. I !( I>;iiiy. wliicli (iwiis llic riiioii claims adjoiniiiii' tlic ,\lta »tii tin- north. At tilt- tiiiic (if its srrcatcst prosperity, hctwccii ]S(I(» and ISTn. tin- mint' was t'(|iiipp('' in lS(i;{ and lSfi4 show returns of ^41 to ;f;l(>2 |»ei' ton. The company which has the option on the mine inteiuls to lirst open the tunnel fi'om the uulch. hopinjr to find the lower workinfrs open to ])enuit an e.xamiiuition. <>n the norlliefii extension of the \-ein. adjoiniuL: the Alta. the I'nion Copper Mining' Company. 1. X. Tni-ner. Salt Lake, pi'esidenl. owns two (daiins and a fraction. :?()()() Iiy (iOO feet. On the lii-st (daim. not far frv the hydraulic pi'occss. Kor iiiaii.\' years hxdraidic iiiiniiii:' has hern 1 he chief form u|' I he inilnst ry in Trinity ( 'oniity. and. since the h'lzal I'estrict ion of hydi-aulie uiininL; on the Siei-ra slope, the larirest hydianlic ()|)ei-at ions of Aiiici'ica have l)ecn those l).v the Trinit.x. iieai' .luiiction ('it>. As the Trinit.\' and Klamath ai-e not navi^'ahle. hydraulic minirm' is here uidiampei'ed l)y law. and extensive new entei"|)rises ai'e under way. Lar^'e iri'avel deposits are favorably situated foi" u'old di'ed,Lrin»r. which is assuming; importance in this coun1\'. Quart/. iiiiniuL;- has hej;un to make iicneral progress. A lunii- hcr of important iidid mines liave been develoiXMJ in the past, notably the lirown Ucai' at Deadwood. which is reported to have pi-oduced .j;(i.( )()().( )()(). Ill numerous lai'i;!' (|uai'1/. miiiiiii: districts valuable mines have been developed, and there is much inininsi- activity in spite of the han(lica[) of .")() to 1(10 miles distance from railroad facilities. Like Siskiyou County, this is an ideal field foi' the pi'ospect(W. ()iie of the most important cpneksilvei' mines ol' the Stale, the Altoona. has but recently entered a loni; productive career. This is the chief i)latinum- producinir county of the State. The copper |»i'ospects of Trinity ("ount\' are pei'haps moi'e widely scattered than those of an\' othei' county in northeni California. They may be Lirouped. howevei'. in ihree districts. or belts, all of which are essentially areas of pei'idotite. Few y Win. I'attie. llay Fork. Vine Oak Group. — Two i-lainis in sections 2 and ^^), lowji- ship 1 nortli ami 1 south. lanLi'e 7 east. IIuinl)ol(lt meridian; owned by ha 1*. ('ollins. llay h'ork. Some developuKMil work has lnnMi done. The ore is of lair iicade. l)Ut in small bodies as shown at prrsrnt. The country rock is dioi-itc; the ore cai-rie.s some ^'old. Extensive placer minin<,' was carried ou iu the early days on the bars and tributaries of New River and it is still the most imjiortant industiw in this part of the country, althouirli lode mininLT has made trreat pi'o^ress within the last few years. All the veins, perhaps with thi' exception of a few claims on P^ast Fork, were oriiriindly worketl I'oi- their ^^old values only, and no attempt was made to save the copper, of which a certain amount is found in all the ores. Recently, however, this metal has attracted more attention and has become itself the object of prosjiect intr. NEW RIVER DISTRICT. Granite Group. — Sexcn claims on (^>uind)y Creek, six nnles altove its mouth; owned by V. ( ". I'atton. Fi'aiik Evans et al.. Weavei-ville. The ore occurs in serpentine and slate at inter- vals aloiiL; the entii-e chain of claims. Oidy a little develof)- ment wiu'k has yet hetii done, thoujih jrood oi-e is found and in considei-altic (|uaidit\'. Some of the ore has a value of 25 per lent in (•oi)|»cr. with some irold. Facilities for minin*; are good. Nonpareil Group. — Four claims on the East Fork of New River, four nnles above the mouth; owned by C. S. ^leAtes. ReddiuLT. The lode varies in width fr'om 1 to 14 feet, but is not traced for a ^'reat distance. One tunnel on the property is 25 feet in lentrth. Th<' cT'opjnnOURCES OK CALIKUKNIA. alonfj the strike of the loch' for one mih*. The average value of the ore is saiil to he al)out 8 per eeiit eopper. The Bear Tooth Mining Company, Frank P. Hurris. presi- dent, (^uinhy post office, owns ciyht claims on the east side of New Rivei". at an elevation of 2()00 feet above sea level. It is claimed that fonr veins, from 1 to 4 feet wide, are on the gronnd, running' parallel sonth by 10 dejrrees east, noi-tli by 10 degrees west, bnt all the development work has been done on one vein. The upper tunnel. 110 feet in. cuts the vein not far below its outcrop; the second tunnel of 125 feet is about :^00 feet lower, and a third one, 120 feet in. has been started 400 feet below its apex. The foot wall is formed by a coarse hornblende rock, probably gabbro; the hangiuir wall by a dark, fine-grained rock, apparently an altered serpentine. The ore is o\' a complex character, sulphide of Iinui and cop{)er, and probably arsenides, manganese, etc., in a gangue of (piartz. In the upper part of the vein the ore is oxidi/ed and less refractory, liesides the oxide of iron and car])()nate.s of copper, chalcanthite. or sulphate of co])per, occurs in the vein in con- siderable (piantities. These ores were treated in a one-stamp Xis.sen iiiill. wliich was replaced 1)\' a Ilinitini:ton mill of 8 tons capaci1.\-. The ore shows considerable free gold in panning. The Birdie Mining Group. — Six claims: owned l)y II. .\ona- maker and W. 11. Ilanunond. Quinby post office. A Hat xciu. 1 to 2 feet thick, running east and west. Sulphide of iron and little copper in (|uart/. gangue rock. The sui'face ore was treated in a stamp mill. The Quinby Mining Company, owns six claims on Quinby Creek. A vein 4 to 5 feet wide, east l)y north 10 degrees, west t»\- south 10 degrees, has been opened l)y two tunnels, tlie ui)per one 100 feet h)ng. with 200 feet of drifts; the lower one. 120 feet below. 400 feet long. Ore (piartz gangiu' with sulphide of iron and copper, oxidizeil in the upper jnirts and carrying sulphate of copper. Owing to the difficulty of transportation, each stamp has a separate mortar. The Big Buck Claim, adjoining, owned by 11. Xonamaker, shows some copper eai'lxinate and sulphate in a 20-foot shaft. The veins on these two properties aic in ])orpliyi'y. (Quinby Creek is a tributarv of New River on the west, and crossing the TKIMTV COl NTV — COPPER CLAIMS. 145 dividi' ;il its lirjid is locatctl tlic Horse Linto claim. Two open cuts ill ;iii ii'mi oiitfrop show sdiiic |)\ rite of iron. The Last Chance Group, *m I'antlicr Crcok, sliow.s u largo L'ossaii oul('ro|). I'liiiiiiiiLr <'ast ami west. A tiinnol has eiiterod a body of irctii sulphide with some copper. Discoveries of copper are reported from Ilyampom, between Smith and Hay l-'orU. of TiMiiity River, and it is stated that veins carrying chalcopyritc have Ix-cn located. TRINITY FORK DISTRICT. Cinderella Group. — Two claims in section D, lowiisliip 37 north, range 7 west. Mount Diablo mei'idian; owned by 1*. A. "Wagner and E. A. Wagner. Carrville. Developed ])\ 300 feet of tunnels and a shaft .")() feet deep. The vein is reported to be Id feet in width. The country rock is serpentine. Some of the ore i-anies Id per cent of copper. This property joins the Copper (^iiceii on tiie north. Copper Button Group. — Two or more claims located in .section 3(). township :',! ikhiIi. i;iiil:c 7 west, jMount Diablo meridian; owned l)y Jl. Z. Osboi'iic. of Los Angeles, and Thomas Jiaker. Dcn-eloped by short tunnels and opiMi cuts. Ore occurs in connection with dikes of quart/ porphyry in serpentine. ;uid consists of oxides, carbonates, and sulphides. It is a|»parently of high grade. Copper Queen Group. — Three or iiioi-e claims situated in section Hi. township 37 iiorlli. i-;iiil;c 7 west, Blount Diablo meridian; leased by George H. Fitch. Jvedding. This property is developed by tunnels and a shaft. The formation is serpen- tine. 'J'he ore consists of the o.xidcs and carbonates of copper, with a little sulphid(> at the lower levels. Crown Point Group. — Three (daims in section 18. town.ship 37 north, range 7 west. .Mount Diablo meridian; owned by George L. Carr, Carrville. and others. The ore body is said to be very wide and to be otherwise extensive. Eureka Group. — Two claims in sections 17 and 18. town- ship 37 north, range 7 west, ]\rount Diablo meridian; owned by H. F. Dimock, of Carrville, and L. :\I. Iloefler et al. The 10— BuL. 50 146 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. ore is silicious. earryinjr a small peropnta,T. M/JP or THE /SUIND MOUAfTfltf^ COAISOUOflTSD COPPFfi M/NCS T/^INITY COUNTY C^L. 3£m« fvtftr a«- Sg-cnoMS 3^fO^ IS - liOWLDKR OK ("OIM'iOR OHIO 00 I'lOKT ACKOSS BASK. 30 KKIOT DliKP, 25 KEET At'ROSS TOP. ISLAND MOrXTAIN COPrKK MINK. TRINITY COUNTY. BOWLDERS OF COPPER ORE ON NORTH BANK OF EEL RIVER, , FROM OUTCROP 500 FEET DISTANT. ISLAND MOUN- TAIN COPPER MINE. TRINITY COUNTY. 1 "^-^ •.nl'l'>' '!'L ;:^^|c;;;;;:;;:^^ ""lr^'>VVV>^ -i \ J :%'V'.\ '■ X"" '{'<. nowLDKR OK roi'i'KH OKI-: CO i"i:i:t Aciioss bask, :!(i kkkt ijkki', 25 KKET ACROSS TOP. ISLANO Mol'NTAIX COPPER MINE. TRINITY COl'NTV. BOWLDERS OF COPPER ORE OX NORTH BANK OF EEL, RIVER, . FROM OL'TCROP 500 FEF:T DISTANT. ISLAND MOUN- TAIN COPPER MINE. TRINITY COUNTY. 150 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. The eoimlry iHtck on the hanging wall is soft sandstone and the foot wall calcareous shale. Several trenches from 3 to 5 feet deep have been made across the outcrop, northwest of llic 4!)()-f()nt lunncl, showing the croppiugs to be from 60 to 130 feet wide. The water running from the tunnel is highly impregnated with copper. The elevation at the mouth of the long tunnel is 1300 feet, and on Lake IMountain, where the croppiugs cross, 1700 feet. The country rock to the north, down the sloi)e of Lake ^Mountain, is composed of serpentine and sandstone. Island IMountain is on the south side of Eel River and directly crjiposite the claims. Owner, Island ]\Ioun- tain Consolidated Copper Ccmipany. San Francisco. HUMBOLDT COUNTY. Tlie scattered copper deposits of the Coast Range extend, to a slightly known degree, into the coast county of Ilumlioldt. which stretches for about 100 miles along the ocean shore soutli of Del Norte and reaches 30 to 40 miles eastward into the mountains to adjoin Trinity Coiinly. This county, chietiy famed for its redwood liiiuhci' and dairy industries, is one of the minor mineral-producing counties of the State, thouuh it has extensive undeveloped mineral resources. For forty years it has held out the promise of showing a large aiul valuable oil field neighl)oring the ocean, and on its shores has, since early days, hecn the, chief scene of lieach placer mining on the Pacific coast. It has numerous coal deposits of prospective value. Along the Klamath, at the nortliern end, some hydraulic and other placer mining operations have proceeded for a great many years. A large portion of the county. end)raced in its eastern pai't. is mineralized and depends niaiiily on its minerals for what- ever future industrial (.levelopment it may know. Low-grade auriferous veins oeciir. This eastern portion of the county, throughout its length, is in general nnich broken, unsettled, remote, difficult of access, and little exi)lored for minerals. It is densely forested, is full of streams, and being on the western JILMHOI-DT COLNTY — COIM'KK CLAIMS. 151 slope, has a lieavy rainfall. Tliese and other characteristics it shares with western Trinity. The mountainous ea.stern portion is p(M»r]\- s\ipplir(l witii roads and trails. It is in a rejrion <'i" this nature tiuit Humboldt's known copper deposits occur, and in their kind and oeeurrenee they resemble those of Del Norte and Ti-inity counties. The copper elaims now held may l)e o:rouped in tliree districts. The best known are in the extreme northern part near the Klaiiiatli Kiver. At the head of Red Cap Creek, south of the river and on a hiiili i-idiie. are copper indications which have caused considerabh' expenditure in i)rospectin^: in the i)ast. I.ai-iie pieces of boi-nite and luitive copper occur as th)at. North of the river, near the headwaters of Camp Creek, lar^^e bodies of h)w-h''o. the latter forming the crest of the mountain, and porphyry in places. For miles alonf; the ridire, near the contact of the serpentine and ,i,'a])hro. indica- tions of copper ai"e found in the iron-stained formation, the color of the oxides, sul[)hides, and snudl seams of cuprite and chalcocite. The Copper Glance Group, of twenty-six claims, is owned by J). Wil.sun, of Korbel, and Dr. W. L. Perrot et al.. of Eureka, who established a camp and started a tunnel, intended to cut ^a fifossan outcrop ninninu north 55 degrees west. Adjoining in the north lies the liliiid Lead group of fifteen claims, owned by 1). AVil^on and E. .\. Walker, of Eureka. Indications of copper are found in niany placets. Rich float and ore were found on the eastern slope of the mountain, a short distance l)elow the summit, on a group of fourteen claims owned by George Henderson. ?]ureka. Fine specimens of cuprite, copper glanee. anil native coppei- were found, of the latter a piece weighing over 400 pounds, which had to be broken up before it could be transported. So far, the source of this float has not been discovered, but several surface deposits of copper glance have been found from which enough ore was shipped, according to tlie owner's statement, to l)ay for all improvements, which include several oi>en cuts, a well-e()uip|)ed camj* and a 180-foot tunnel. The copper glance occurs in form of impregnated ore deposits, in the serjXMitine. without any indication of vein formation, except that tlie.x' are found on the same level in a general direction southeast- northwest. I. Charles l^lake. post office Korbel, owns four and a half claims ad.joining the preceding group, with an ii-on outcroi> running southeast-northwest. On this property a small deposit of pure copper glance of the same character was opened up by an open cut without a vein being found. 154 THE COPPER RESOURCES OK CALIFORNIA. E. 1*. Sliyer, Eureka, has located two claims continuous in tlu' saiiu' direction, and found the same kind of ore in a shallow excavation. COPPER BOWLDERS AT PATRICK POINT, HUMBOLDT COUNTY. An interesting discovery "vvas made at Patrick's Point, ahout six miles mirth of Trinidad. 1). W. Stapp. of Santa TKHAMA. CLKNN. AND COMSA COINTIES. 1">.> Cm/. w;is wMlkiiii: Jil(»n<: lln- Ix-Jicli. wliicli is coviTcd willi iiiiiiit'iisc l)o\vl(l«'rs, wluMi his attciititm was attracted by the peculiar irrcciiish color of some of the waterwoni. i»olished rocks. lie lirnke otV several pjj'ces. which i)roved to be solid sulphide of iron and copper, containiuir over !• i)er cent of the latter. Then he took samples of all the ore in siudit and made a careful e.stimate of the (|uantity. When the assay «rave a fair pei-centaire of cop|)er and the calculation pi'oved a satisfactory value in siirht. he bou-rht the land on which this mine is situated, and lieiran at once the preparati«tns f(»r shipping; ore. It is over :i(H) feet to the top of the blutf and the ore is hauled up in a sled ]>y a }?15. ijfold, silver, and copper, present prices. Prop- erty is owned hy the California and ^lassaelmsetts Copper ]Minin^ Company. ()i'eelin<; fur copper and uold. ()ld tunnels and shafts ai'e l"rc(|ueiit. To the north of Chrome Miuintain. two miles. A. W. Lehoin owns claims where there are «,'Ood eopjx'r indicatit>ns; foi-mation serjientine. Develop- ment consists of a tunnel 2(10 feet Ion*,'. Lai-^'e pieces of native copper an' here foinul. some weiiihin^; about two pounds. South from the lUack linttes. alon^r Grindstone Creek, and following' the creek tweiilv-Hvc oi- thirty miles to Stony Creek, it is all a mpjiei- niinei-ali/ml coiititry. COLUSA COUNTY DEPOSITS. Gem Group. — Located iiy W. W. Heard and others consist- hv^ of fonrteen claims in section 2ened eleven claims in sections 2!l jtiid 'A'2. townslii]) 17 north. I'aiiuc (i west. No great (Icvclopiiiciil. and no lar.ue deposits are yd sliown. The prin- cipal iiulications on this ^i-onp are Hoat copper. On the tiround of llie Mark llaniia Oil Compan.w in section 35, township 17 north, i-ange 7 west, there are indications of copper ore. Lion Mine.— On this old property, the present owner of wliich is J. F. Easton, there has heen consideral)le work done in the past. MENDOCINO COUNTY. .Mendocino Conidy knows little of the mineral iiuhistry in any of its forms, but carries various economic minerals' in its mountains, prominent among which is copper, of which many surface showings occur. The county occupies about 85 miles of llie coast line south of Humboldt, and in its widest part reaches 60 miles eastward to the summit of the Coast Range, where it meets the vaUey connty of (llenn. Its southern half shares the higher mountain region with Lake County. Mendo- cino lias rich agricultural valleys, the chief ones being those of the Eel ;ind Rnssi.in rivers. The redwood belt extends through the county, anil lumbering is the chief industry. The lower elevations afford extensive grazing lands. Mineral springs and an extensive undeveloped coal region in the northern part provide the best known mineral features. Copper occurrences are sporadic and form no "belts." They are found along the eastern side of the county and across the southern end to the range nearest the coast. As elsewhere in this general coast region, they vary in nature, displaying car- bonates most frequently and occurring in metamoi-i)hic forma- MKNDOCIXO C'orXTV — COPI'KR CLAIMS. 161 tions. Several prospects displav rich ores in small ((uantity. lull lilt' prospecting,' that has Ihmmi carried on intermittently for many years has not yet revealed any notable depasits. In the northern part of the county, the Thomas projjcrty has been lonroperties are noted. Copper Prince Mining Co. — Pro])erty consists of three claims, four miles northwest of Middletown. in section 19, townshii) 11 north, range 7 west, in the southern part of the 164 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. (Mtuiity. Developed mainly hy one tunnel and two open euts on the vein, sliowing the vein to l)e from 6 to 8 feet wide, with limestone walls. Heavy gossan can be traced through the claims. The company surveyed on the north slope of the ridge preparatory to starting a tunnel with the view of cut- ling the vein on deeper levels. The ore on the tunnel level is impregnated with blue and green carl)onates, and is reported to assay 5 per cent in copper, $3 in gold and 1 ounce of silver. President. E. Lobree; secretary, J. C. Ruddock, TT-iah. Christiansen Tract.^This comprises 294 acres in toAvn- shi]) l:i north, range 7 west, and is three miles south of Clear Lake. Considerable float has been found on the low lands, evidently coming from the high ridges that are somewhat prominent tliroughout the tract. Several pieces of float have been a.ssayed, and are reported to contain 65 per cent copper. In 1879 a tunnel was run about the center of the ranch, 112 feet north, on a contact of serpentine and limestone, but no vein was found in place. Owner, Peter Christianson. Poe Claim. — Seven miles north of Lakeport, in section 27, township 15 north, range 10 west, a shaft of 35 feet was sunk and a tunnel of 65 feet was run in 1870. In 1900 parties relocated and ran an open cut 25 feet long on the south end croppings. The vein is 5 feet wide, in a serpentine belt, and shows a light trace of carbonates. There are ten sulphur springs at the north end of the property. Owners, II. B. "Wells. A. Smythe and James Lee, Lakeport. NAPA COUNTY. Napa County is one of the mo.st favored and fertile counties of the Coast Range region. It lies south of Lake County and east of Sonoma, and reaches south to San Pablo Bay. Topo- graphically it is mainly composed of the rich and populous Napa Valley, and of two flanking mountain ranges. At the head of Napa Valley, at the northern end of the county, is ]\Iount St. Helena, altitude 4343 feet, the highest point in this XAl'A COLNTV — COl'l'EK CLAIMS. 165 |>;ii-t of the Coast K;mirt'. S;\\)n is iiuiiiily a fruit. Lii'aiii. aiitl vine-^'ro\vin«: (•(nmty. l)nt it alsct |)().s.se.s.ses a variety of niim-i-al re.soiirfe.s, tliose of greatest present importam-c being fpiiek- silver and mineral waters. Tn the northern portion of the oonnty are some of the important (piicksilver mines of Cali- fornia, and some of its mineral springs are widely known. Other mineral resources are gold, silver, chromium, iron, manganese, and building stone. In I'JOO Xapa Comity's mineral output amounted to s};493.100. and in 1809 to $701,416. Copper occurs sporadically, as in adjoining counties. Two deposits are noted. Napa Copper Claim.— One claim, situated thirteen miles south of Middletow 11. in section 17, township 10 north, range ;■) west; developed by a crosscut tunnel south 400 feet. A gos.san capping can be seen through the entire plain. Several years back a shaft was sunk 50 feet on the west end of the plain, and reported to have eneountered several bunches of high-grade sulphide ore. A new corporation Avas organized, and work was resumed. A 700-foot tuiuiel was started on the north side of the mountain, with the view of cutting the vein •SOO feet from th(> surface. The country formation is serpentine. Owners, Xapa Copper Company — Ov.eu AVade, president ; T. A. Taylor, secretary. St. Helena. Search Group. — This property consists of eight continmms claims, seventeen miles north of Xapa, in section 5, township 6 north, range 5 west. Very little work has been done. There has never been any vein found in place, although considerable float, consisting of sulphides, has l)een picked up on the slope of the mountain. The formation is serpentine. Several years ago .several crosscut tunnels were run iiortli. but were not extended far enough to encounter the vein. The capping has an east and west trend, is 2 to 4 feet wide, and is sprinkled with blue and green carbonates. Owner, E. F. Kossan. Clen Ell.'u. inf) TIIK COPPER RESOURCES OF C.M.IFORNMA. SONOMA COUNTY. <^juitt' a iiiinil)(.'r of fopjJiT dt'posits of minor iniporlaiicc, as far as developed, are found in the bay county of Sonoma, whicli lies for nearly 60 miles along the sea south of IMendo- ciiKi. ('xtciKJs hac-k some 40 miles to tlie suiniiiil of the main Coast Ranu:e. opens on San Pablo Bay at its south. ;md leaves the small coiuity of ^Nlarin oeeupying the peninsula opposite San Franeiseo. The county is traversed by several low north- and-south ranjres. and possesses some of the large.st and most famous of the horticultural and agricultural valleys of the State. These fertile valleys are the chief fountains of its life and wealth. The redwood belt near the coast supports an extensive lumber industry. Of minerals, the county po.ssesses a variety. There are slight occurrences of gold and silver, and scattered deposits of iron, coal, manganese, mineral paint, chrome, clays, building stones, etc. The copper ores discovered form no connected licit. l)nt occur within two vertical tiers of townships through the central region of the county. The occurrences are similar to those of adjacent coast counties. Several prospects have ])een opened by s\iperficial sluifts. tunnels, and cuts, a few tons of ore taken out and slight experimental shipments made in past years. Several properties have been reopened. Wall Tract. — Consists of 200 acres of patented laud five miles .southwest of Santa Ro.sa. in section 30, township 8 north, range 9 west. Several pieces of rich copper float have been found on the 1i-act. but as yet no vein in j)lace. A sluift 10 feet deep has shown native quicksilver. Owner. 11. C. Wall. Hilton, Sonoma County. Archer Tract. — This tract joins the AVall tract on the north, and comprises 288 acres of patented land in townshii) S north, range 9 west. In 1880 considerable rich float was found and shipped, and two tuiuu^ls nni north on the contact. 2r)() feet apart, for a distance of 200 feet. No vein was fouiul in i)lace. The tunnels were abandoned. Interest was later I'enewed, owing to rich float being again found. The formation is serpentine and sandstone. Owner, J. II. Archer, Ilealdsburg. SutKima Counfv. SONOMA COINTY — COPPER CLAIMS. 1«)T Healdsburg Lode. — One cliiiiu. ti'ii luilrs iioiili of llcalds- hiirir, <»n liliick Moimtain. in section 81. t()\viislii|) 11 north, i-iinire 1) west. A very proiiiiiii'iit uossjiu cropping' oxtendiny: several feet ahove the surfaec nms throuiih the elaim. The proptity was opened many years ajro hy a tunnel which pene- trated nothinir hut limestone. The owners i-an a crosscut tunnel (Ml lh.- wrsl slope of 1lir iiKuiiil ai II. wlUi a vi<'W of cutting' the vein 100 fe«'t from the surface. The elevation on the summit of lilack Mountain is 2500 feet. Owners. Ed Kllis and J. (i. Caldwrll. llcaldsburir. Grizzly Claim. — This property, ten miles northwest of ll.'ahlsi)ur^-, is situated on Pine Creek, in townshii) !» north, i-an^'e 10 west, and was relocated. Croppiii^s. principally (puirtz. carry coppei- stains. Old works consist of two caved tunnels on the s(mth slope of the mountain 200 feet apart, ruiHiin^' Avest 100 feet. The formation is sandstone on the north and serpentine on the south. Owners. C. F. Brandt et al., irealdshurir. Ward Tract.— Consists of oOl acres of patented land, five miles west of Healdshur-i-. in section 22. township !• noi-tli. ran^ro 10 west. Gos.san croppin-s can !>(> followed for one mile eastward throu'jh the tract alon^- a contact of limestone and sri'|)rntine. Some very rich coppei- float has heen found on the tract, hut no vein has heen discovered in place. Owner. J. \V. Wai-d. llealdslniru-. Altamont Group.— This property is eighteen miles north- west of Santa Kosa. in section 17. township 7 north, rau^e 10 west. It is developed by an open cut and shaft. The croppinos (M.nsist of a ^rossan capping several hundred feet in length, whicli exposes a vein 5 feet wide of copper carbonates. Tlie fonnation on both sides of capping is serpentine. At the end of the open cut a shaft has l)een sunk on the vein matter. Owners. .1. 1). CoiuicUy. .lames Owens, 11. M. LeBaron, Occi- dental, Sonoma County. Baby Jack and Earl Clare. — Situated seven mih'S north- west of llealdsl)urg and two miles west of Dry Creek, in town- ship 9 north, range 10 west. In 1875 these claims were worked and several tons of copper ore shipped to San Francisco. Later they were aliandoned and relocated from time to time. 168 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. The Baby Jack is developed by a 35-foot tunnel at the soutli end, on the strike of the outcrop, the face giving about 35 feet of backs. About tlie center of the claim a vertical shaft has been sunk 22 feet on the vein. The gangue of the vein is principally quartz carrying no copper sulphides, but stained somewhat with blue and green carbonates. The formation on the east is limestone, on the west serpentine. Considerable timber is growing on the claims. Owner, C. C. Echlin, Santa Rosa. MARIN COUNTY. The small i-oasl county of Marin, lying across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, presents a few small copper deposits among its slightly developed mineral resources, w^hich include small seams of coal, iron, manganese, chrome, l)uilding stones, and claj's. Brick and rubble are the current mineral products. Nearly forty years ago two copper deposits close to the shore, between Mount Tamalpais and Bolinas Bay, were opened by tunnels and later al)andoned. One, in Union Gulch about three miles north of Bolinas, was opened in 1863 by the Union Copper ]Mining Company, which shipped several tons of ore for reduction. Eftorts to develop a profitable supply of ore lasted seven years. In 1863 the Pike County Gulch Copper ]\Iining Company opened another mine a mile south of the Union in Pike Gulch. During three years a 700-foot tunnel was run, but the enterprise was abandoned. In this neighbor- hood there is a 4-foot vein cropping carrying iron pyrites and covering low-grade copper ore. The ores in these deposits occur in veins, associated with quartz and lying in metamorphic sandstone. Bolinas Copper Mining Co. — This company has exploited a copper projx'rty in the region described, four miles northeast of Bolinas Bay, in section 1, township 1 north, range S Ave-st, and twenty miles from San Francisco. The property consists of nine paralh'l coi)per-bearing veins encased in serpentine. The veins trend northwest, are vertical, and are from 6 inches CLAIMS JN .MAKIX AND AI.A.MEUA CDLNTlliS. lUl' t(t 2 ft'ct ill w idth. On the western vein a sliaft has been sunk 180 feet, and froiii it 2500 feet of drifts have been driven north and south on the 100 and 180-foot levels. In former times short tunnels were run on the veins to test their values, but these tunnels eaved. The owner is the Bolinas Copper Mininsr Company; T. I*. 11. Whitelaw. ]iresidont and nianairer. San Franeiseo. ALAMEDA COUNTY. Alameda, a rich and populous county lyiiiu on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, made up topoj^'raphically of fertile valleys and low ranges of the Coast system, has added copper to the list of economic minerals counted among its resources. It has been an important producer of salt, manganese, clays, building and paving stones, etc. A copper-bearing lode was discovered a few miles east of the bay shore, close to the city of Oakland, and directly across the bay from San Francisco. An exposition of it is contained in the following descriptions of the two properties in which development occurred: Alma Mine. — This property embraces over 80 acres of laud belonging to the Koehmer ranch, four miles east of Broadway. Oakland. Its development has been undertaken by the Stautt'er Chemical Comi>any of San Francisco, and consists of about GOO feet of tunnels, Avith some unimportant shafts and open cuts. The ore body forms a shoot of solid pyritic ore ("black pyrites"), apparently lenticular in shape, having a thickness of 12 to 18 feet. The shoot has been followed for more than 100 feet along its strike in a northwesterly and southeasterh- course. Other shoots have been proved, in the near neighbor- hood. They occur along a zone or belt of indefinite width, ranging Avith the strike of the ore and crossing the canyon of Redwood Creek. The belt has been traced for a distance of about 3000 feet, including the deposits of this and the following property. The whole amount of ore available upon this prop- erty is very great. The ore zone follows very nearly along the line of contact between serpentine and a silicious rock resem- 170 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. I)liiiii' a nu'taiiioi'phosed clicrt. Croppinjis of jiossan also occur outside of the direct line of the main ore zone. The ore from this mine consists of the simple sulphide of iron and copper, the percentage of copper being low, ranging, it is said, between iy2 and 3I/2 per cent, and carrying gold to the value of about .^2.50 per ton. Tlie ore is mined chiefly- for its contents of sulphur, of which it carries about 45 to 50 per cent. A repre- sentative analysis of the ore is given by the Stauffer Chemical Company, as follows : Sulphur, about 50 per cent ; copper, 3 per cent; gold. $2.50, and silver one ounce per ton; silica, traces; balance, iron. The ore is shipped from the mine directly to the acid works of the Stauffer Chemical Company, or to supply the demands of other chemical companies depend- ing upon tlie use of pyritic ores for their source of sulphur. The Peyton Chemical Company of San Francisco is a large consumer. This mine is important, not only for the present and i>rospeetive value it contains within itself, but from the fact that its development opens uj) the }n*obability of still other similar deposits in this region, where similar geological condi- tions are not uncommon. Leona Heights Mine. — To the south of the Alma mine and on the strike of its ore-bearing zone, is the mine owned and operated hy the California Improvement Company, under control of the Realty Syndicate of Oakland, of which F. M. Smith is president. The ore body of this mine is similarly situated and is similar in character to that of the preceding property. It is develojied l)y tunnels, showing a shoot of ore alxmt 12 feet in thickness. The croppings of gossan (limonite) iirc very coiispicuoiis a.t the surface. f'ONTKA fOSTA CorN'TV .MKKC"i:n CorNTV. 171 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. MOUNT DIABLO DISTRICT. Tliis Bureau has received a communication from ^Messrs. •Jolui Xeate. M.E.. and Cluis. Olaine. No. 425 Bank street, San Francisco, referring to copper dei)Osits on Blount Diablo (elevation 3054 feet), from which are taken the following statements : Some forty years ago some i'i<'h float found, especially copper glance, led to tiie discovery of copper ores, which attracted considera])le attention and were worked to some extent, but under the conditions prevailing at that time they could not be mined to advantage, and were soon abandoned. The correspondents ])r()spected in that region in 1907 and found several veins carrying values of gold and copper in the ravines on the north and west slope of the mountain, running noi't Invest and southeast, the same as the gulches. They report one lode from 80 to 100 feet wide in section 27. from which they obtained sami)les assaying from $4 to ii;26 in gold and 2 to 2\U per cent copper. In section 26. on Mitclicl f'reek. they rej^ort veins carrying from 21 ■_. to 10 per cent copjxM-. MERCED COUNTY. Jose Copper Claim. — I^ocated in the Coast Range in sec- tion 4. township 14 north, range 9 east. aV)out thirty-five miles east of Ilollister. the nearest railroad station. The development has exposed cpiite a body of ore, but so far the ledge has not been located. There is a tunnel 500 feet long, but little ore was encountered. A 30-foot shaft was sunk and a drift run about HO feet, exposing a good body of coi)]ier ore. The ore was chalcopyrite. running liigh in gold and silver values. Idle. R. Jose, of Ilollister. owner. 172 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. The Victor Bonanza Group. — Located in sections 30 and 31, township 13 south, ranj^e 10 west, and sections 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, and 25, township 13 south, range 9 west, sixteen miles southwest of Dos Palos, and thirty-five miles southeast of Ilollister. The croppings show a mineralized belt extending' five or six miles, and varying- from 100 to 200 feet in width. Native copper and chalcopyrite are found frequently in the croppings. The formation is sandstone and porphyry. The ledge matter is quartz. Practicalh^ no development has been done, but the surface indications are good. ^l. T. Dooling, of Hollister, is president of the company. SAN BENITO COUNTY. Lewis Creek Claim. — The property is located on Lewis Creek, the southern boundary of San Benito County. It is sixteen miles from King City, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and in sections 2, 3, and 4, township 19 south, range 10 west. The development consists of a 100-foot tunnel, which was intended to tap the ledge, but missed it. Nothing could be learned further than Avhat could be determined from the crop- pings. The croppings may be traced for four miles. The ore is chiefly chalcopyrite. The formation is sandstone and ser- pentine. G. AV. Spencer, of Hollister. and F. AV. Saffel. of Lonoak, owners. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. Los Osos Mine. — Located ciglit miles southwest of San Luis Obispo, and on the south side of Los Osos Valley. The mine was worked forty years ago, and the ore hauled l)y wagon to Port Harford and shipped to Swansea. There is a good wagon road from tlic mines to San T^uis Obispo. The ore SAN LUIS OBISPO CorXTY — COPPER CLAIMS. 173 (u-i'urs ill a porphyritic win in sandstone and shab/s. A shaft 230 feet deep was sunk on the ledge, a tunnel 235 feet long was run to the bottom of the shaft, and good ore was found in the shaft and the tunnel. The works were not properly i^rotected and were allowed to cave in, eouvsequently all observations had to be made from the surface. Instate of J. M. ( Heaves, San Francisco, owner. Tiptop Claim. — T.ot-atcd tm miles north of San Luis Obispo and three miles southwest of Santa Margarita, a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad. There is a ledge 14 inches wide, carrying native copper. The country rock is shale and serpentine. No development has lieen done. A. Guillemin. of Santa Margarita, owner. On the same ledge is the Gloria and the Tassajara mines, similar to tlie Tiptop, and owned by Mrs. R. Childs and F. Flores, of San Luis Obispo. No development work has been done. Prodigal Son. — Six miles east of Cayueos, l)etween Toro and Old ereeks. and twenty-two miles west of San Luis Obispo. The development consists of a 50-foot shaft on the ledge and 100 feet of tunneling intended to tap the ledge 130 feet below the collar of the shaft. At the time of visit, the tunnel had not intersected the ledge. The ledge is apparently about 7 feet wide, carrying chalcopyrite, gold, and silver. The gangue is quartz. The formation is syenite and serpentine. E. P. Lor- intr. of fnyueos. owner. Sky Scraper. — Located seven miles east of Cayueos, on upper Toro Creek, and about twenty miles west of San Luis Obispo. The development consists of two tunnels, crosscutting the vein, one 250 feet and the other 103 feet long. "Where the tunnels tap the vein the ledge appears to be about 10 feet wide. The ledge is porphyry, the formation granite, and the ore chal- copyrite. "William Drought, of Caj'ucos, owner. Schneider & McCles Claim. — On San Bernardo Creek, seven miles east oi" Mnrni. The owners had just begun to develop and had not encountered the ledge in the tunnel. Eight men were employed developing. Schneider & INfcCles. of ^Morro, owners. 174 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIP^ORNIA. Refugio Claim. — Located on Chorro Crci'k, about seven miles uortli of San Luis Obispo, on the west side of the moun- tain. The development consists of a 135-foot tunnel. A -t-foot ledge, carrying native copper and sulphide ore, was encoun- tered. The fonuation is granite and serpentine. ]Mrs. R. Childs and F. Flores, of San Luis Obispo, owners. Guerro Claim. — Located one-quarter mile north of Ser- I'ano station and six miles from San Luis ()l)isp(). The ledge is in serpentine and shows copper in the ('i'()[)pings. ^Irs. K. Childs and F. Flores. of San Luis Obispo, owners. Guadalupe Claim. — Located one and a half miles from Serrano station and six miles from San Luis Obispo. The croppings show a ledge of quartz 2 feet wide in serpentine. ^Irs. R. Childs and F. Flores. of San Tiuis (Obispo, owners. THE SIERRA NEVADA BELT. The Sierra Nevada Mountain range contains copper deposits in wider distributiou and probably in greater total (juantity than any of the other general geographical divisions of Cali- fornia by which the copper resources of the State have been classified. Copper ores have been found practically through- out the length and breadth of the range, which runs for about 500 miles through the eastern side of the State, with a width of from 50 to 75 miles. The deposits are mainly concentrated ahmg a mineral belt which appears high in the range to the north, sweeps southwestward toward the central valley of the State, and then continues for about 300 miles southeasterly through the western foothills, to disappear in Kern County near the southern end of the range. Here is a definite copper belt approximately 400 miles long. From Nevada County southward it is known as the Foothill Belt, .qnd with it the history of the copper industry of Cali- fornia up to 1896 is mainly associated. The other copper deposits of the range occur, with wide intervals, along both slopes, mainly in the ba.se-ore mineral regions of the higher Till-; SIERRA NKVADA BliLT. 17.") portions of tin' raiiirc <>ii Imth sides of the siininiit line, iiiid espeeicill.v on the eastern slope in Mono and Inyo counties. The copper deposits of these two counties on the eastern side of the ran^'e. in the (Jreat liasin. are Q_ O u _l < I u < u a: OD O Z bi I- 4 I- (A Z a. o u. O I'M MAS AM) SIliKKA COl'XTIKS. Ill tlinniirli \ho principal airi-iciiltiiral and lioiticultural portions of tlifsc (dimtit's. 'I'hf climalt' is that ot" tlic pojuilous portion of the central intci'ior of llic State. The croppinj^s of tlie iiiinei'al deposits of the belt ranire in altitude from 300 to noO feet in Nevada and I'lacei' counties to several hundred, or, in places. 2000 feet in the counties to the southwai'd. reacli- in Cosmopolitan, ami now the Hewartl, was discovered in LS()2, and in 1863-()4, during the copper boom of that period, was e(juipped with a small ojien- hearth smelting plant at a cost of $:i(),()0(). A few tons of nuitte were ju'oduced and ship|)ed, but, as the surface car- lionates and oxides were succeeded at a iilljc depth iiy snl- l)hi(les, the process and i)lan1 soon pi-oved a failiiic. The I'est of the stoiy of |)i-ogress is one of claim-holdiiiL; tor I'oi'ty years. with occasioiud s|uii-ts of snudl development operations. In many instances the vein fonnations in which the ores occur are Avide and strong, and copper ores of high grade are found carrying good values in gold ami silver. The courses of the copper-bearing veins are frequently marked by gossan cappings. The contiguous districts thus descril)ed are embraced in an area about Id miles wide and 1.") miles long from north to south, in tioi'tli-ceiit ral Plumas County, and only minor occurrences iiiai-k- llie copper belt s\)uthward through I'liiiii;!s and Sierra to Nevada County. There are sporadic deposits ea.st and west of this licit, includiiiL; norlhwest Plimias ('oimly on a line with the Shasta County belt, but the mineral resources of western Plumas are mainly buried by the great lava sheet, near the edye of which are the chief districts described. PLUMAS COUNTY DEPOSITS. Montgomery Group. — Alxuit one mile south of Taylorville is the J'ettinger mine. Owners, J. 1). Williams et al. In this mine the ores are mainly carbonate, with some sulphide. The openings consist of a shaft 60 feet deep, with southerly drift 180 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 100 feet loiiy. Tlie vein formation is 6 feet witle. There is some good earhonate ore on the dump. A tunnel 30 feet long, higher up the gulch, shows a vein several feet in thickness and the same class of ore. Other claims higiier up the mountain have open cuts on them, which are noticeable mainly because they show heavy 'gossan cappings. There is also exposed on this mountain a very heavy and almost pure deposit of pyrites, about 40 feet wide, containing a small percentage of copper. Polar Star. — To the north from the highAvay leading from Taylorville to Flournoys and up the mountain is the Polar Star mine, owned by ^Messrs. Cox. Keasy, and Cooksey. and now controlled by J. D. Williams. This mine is tive miles southeast from Taylorville. it is openeil by a tunnel and an open cut. The tunnel passes through the vein, which is 10 feet tliick. and runs some distance ahead in the east wall. The cut is in a l)ody. or vein, of good ore. Tlic ore is peacock, sul- phide and carbonate of copper, with considerable red oxide in seams and bunches. The mountain and ad.jjHcut country are heavily timbered with i>iue and tir. Water is plentiful. Blue Bell Mining Co. — Along the road toward Genesee, about a mile beyond llosslekuss's. a limestone belt ]>asses through the country in a northeast and southwest direction. At the apex of a hill on this belt are some heavy croppings to get under which the Blue Bell ]\Iining rompauy, J. J. Sulli- van, superintendent, ran a tunnel whicli has intersected seven veins of impoi-tancc. Reward (formerly Cosmopolitan). — Belonging to the Re- ward and Bcckwitli group: Ahssis. Salinger. Emerick, and Rosenthal, owners. Adjoins the Blue Bell group on the east. The vein is intersected by a tunnel 100 feet below the surface, which is exposed 2 to 6 feet in width. Two tunnels tap the ore body. The upper oiu^ is 175 feet long, and the lower one, 900 feet long, reaches a depth of 400 feet below croppings. A shaft 125 feet deep (caved) is on the higher portion of the claim. Ore on tlie dump appears to be of good grade. The veins lie between granodiorite on the east and limestone on the west. In 1863-64 there was an old smelter at Coppertown, near Hosslekuss 's. in which was smelted several hundred tons PLUMAS COUNTY DEPOSITS. 181 (if »>i-i' frtmi the Cosmopolitan. Tln' product was sul)s«nnuMi11y .sent to Swansea. At the site of this snieltcr tluTc still remain al)out 7.") tons of ore, such as was then smelted. The facilities for openinii' up hotli of the above properties, vi/,.. Blue Ucll and Keward irroups. are excellent. The Duncan Mine. — At the north end of Genesee Valley is a »rrou|) of twelve locations, known as the Duncan mine. They extend from M.lOO to 5400 feet altitude, and are situated west of and near to Indian Creek, one mile fi'om its couHuence with Ked Clover Creek, and half a mile from Flournoys ranch. The locations cover i)arts of sections ;^0 and :^1. township 2(5 north. ran«,'e 12 east. Blount Diablo meritlian. The mine is located on a broad, but rujrfred and exceedin end of the tunnel is 65 feet below the erojipintrs. Tunnel Xo. 2 is 325 feet lonu', with crosscut at end which shows a widtli of 45 feet of sulpliide ore 110 feet below the croppinjis. Tunnel Xo. 3 (lowest) is 100 feet lon^, with crosscut at end showinu' 87 feet of ore and 20 feet of intermediate vein tilling'. The ore is carbonate, and is 200 feet below croppinjis. Open cuts on the surface show ore. Considci'ahlc ore lias Ikm'ii extracted from these mines and sold. The facilities for iiiiiiiim- heiv are good, and there are exceptional lunnel privileges. Heavy growths of jiine and fir on the locations and surrounding country furnish abundant mining timber. All the properties included in the Engels grou])s. named herewilh. are now owned by the Engels Copper Minirg Company of California, office 30 Liberty street. San Francisco, Cal. They are divided into tM'o groups : The Engels group, situated twelve miles north of Taylor- ville at 5000 feet elevation, has a strong gossan outcrop 200 feet wide, between a porphyry foot and a diorite hanging wall, of Avhich 6000 feet are covered by four claims located end to end. The following samples are taken from assays repi>rted : Copper (!.087e 39.407 •_'.'.. 13<^ Gold .f;0.41 .$1.08 .$t;5.oo Silvei- .$1.08 $10.98 $3.04 The Superior group is located a few miles southwest of the former, in section 17, township 27 north, range 11 east, on Lights Creek, near the road from Indian Valley to Susan- ville. La.ssen County. The formation is the same as in the Engels group, width of lode between diorite and porphyry 200 feet, strike east of iiorlh .ind west of south, dip 65 degrees east. A new tunnel has been started and seams of ore are reported to come in at 200 feet. It is expected that tlie "West- ern Pacific Railroad, Avhose main line runs within twelve miles of the property, will soon be c(Hnjd(^ted. Assays i-epoi-ted : CopiMM- 4.4.">'c 14.207 1T.3S7 l'4.527o Gold .$0.41 $(».S2 $1.(M> Silver ,$0.."0 .$4.20 $."..04 $7.14 It is also reportetl that analysis of the ores from the various claims showed the mixture to be well adapted for smelting. I'l.lMAS COUNTV DKI'OHITS. 1S( Hussleman & Shaw Group. — This •^^roiii). in .M(»(.iili,L:lil Civfk (listiMct. l^iizlits (';iii_\(in. comprises tliirl x-onc locntions. (Ill iicjirly all of whicli some (Icvclopiiicnt lias Ixm-ii done. A tiiiiiii'l has hccii startt'(l well down (Ui tlif nionnlain side, so as to ol)tain SOO to l(»(i() feet of depth nndcr tlic licaviost croppiii'Ts. This is a crosscnt tnnml and is now in l.")!) t'cct. Till' iiioimtain side hci'c is Xi'vy alirnpt. l'assin<4 throu'4:h these claiiiis is also a hiirhly niiiicrali/cd licit, whii'li <-iuitains masses of hiudi-Ltrade oi'c. Oil the Mammoth claim of the alio\'c uroup the vein trends northeast and southwest. Several (»pen cuts show sulphide ore as well as earhonates. A eappiii<>: of diorite eovers a vein about 8 feet wide, as shown in the lar«rest eut. The cappin»r lies flat and the \('in is perpendicular. There is a ci'osscul on the Vein 1(1 reel in Icnulli. with 11(1 wall discoNcrcd. A uiiod tpiality id" iron and copper |)yriles is shown in face of cut. The same ela.ss of ore is traced northerly 1)\' cuts foi- 900 feet. ( )ii the Orient claim a tunnel has heeii dri\-eii 150 feet. On ihc mounlain side and follow iiiLf the couise of the p?'o- posed tunnel twelve hnlf^^es are encountered, all e.\posed by open cuts. The widest vein is found near the ajx'X of the hill and is about l.'J feet wide. It is opened by an extensive eut. and from it (U'c has been extracted and shipped. The character (d' the ore is carbonate with some sulphide. The (Jentle Anni(" claim is [prospected with open cuts showiiu:- a vein () to >^ feet in width. The oi'c is mostly silicimis cai'i-yiuir red oxide, carbonates, aiul i)yi'ites. and can be ti'aeed for over 800 feet. Claims Xos. 1 and 2 have a shaft ^'^ feet deep, showini; peacock copper ore in the bottom. Near by is a belt exjiosinir on the surface iron oxides. The width of the copper vein is unknown. Assays from these claims are reported as shovvintr from 10 to 60 per cent co[)per. On the Ore.tron claim at the east end there is a shaft 13 feet deep, all in Lireen and bliie-staiiied (U'e. said to contain I'd per cent (d" copper and rich in iiold. Some copper A few minor copper deposits liave been noted in tlie north- western part of tlie eonnty, and there are a few other localities where eoppcr-xstained roeUs are known to exist, as near Mohawk, and in seetion Ki. township 23 north, ranire 11 east, hut none of these occurrences have a.ssumed importance. SIERRA COUNTY DEPOSITS. Ill the Poker Flat district, in townsliip I'l noith. i-ange 10 ea.st, John H. Lassiad owns a claim showinj^ a copper deposit about (id feet wide, carryin«j: pyrites, o.xides. and carbonate of copper. Bassett's Pride Claim. — About five miles east of Sierra City. Some native copper siiows in the deposit, in which a tunnel has been driven. This mine is in section ]'2. township 20 noi'th. rauire 12 east, and is owneil l)y Albert C'luirch et al. Near Sierra City, in section 19. township 20 north, ranjire 12 ea.st, east of Whitney Camp and northwe.st of the Buttes Rock, there is a copper mine owned by George Zuvei". There is a shaft 40 feet deep from which copper sulphides have been extracted and shipped. The Antelope Xeck mines, in section 27. township 21 north, range 15 east, show a wide vein of copper sulphide. ]\Ir. Beamer is the owner. In ]\Iohawk Valley near the l>ulli(tn ciaiin is a jirospect showing veins 15 feet in width carrying oxide, sulpliide. and carbonate ores of copper. The owners are J. 11. Ilapgood and J. J. Miller. NEVADA COUNTY. Nevada, the l)anner ^old-producing county of the State, with a record of about $215,000,000 in total output of this precious metal, presents some noteworthy copper deposits among the various minor features of its mineral wealth. This county, which still leads in gold production, is so prominently identi- fied with the history of gold mining in California that it is more familiar to the mining world than ;m>- of its sister mining counties. Quartz mining in California began in Nevada 190 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA, County in 1850 and here Avas the origin of hydraulic and drift mining. The copper mine at Spenceville, which has been a snuill producer through many years, gives the county a some- what i)roiiiin('iit identification with the story of the copper industry in tlie State. This county comprises a narrow strip of mountain and foot- hill reaching across the Sierras 75 miles to the edge of the Sacramento Valley, where the altitude is hut aliout 400 feet. Its central and eastern parts are characteristically Sierran. The higher lakes and the Bear and Vulia i-ivers, between which the couutx' mainly lies, afford, in connection with many tribu- tary streams and with great systems of canals and ditches aggregating hundreds of miles, a copious and well-distributed water-supply. Electric power is also extensively generated and distributed. The Central Pacific Railroad runs along its southern boundary and a branch line runs to Grass Valley and Nevada City, affording convenient transportation to a rich and well-populated mining and horticultural region that enjoys a splendid climate. The county's mineral resources are chiefly near its lower western end. Here, aliout 15 miles from its western boundary, are the renuirivable and famous gold quartz districts of Grass Valley and Nevada City. Through this region and extending to the central part are displayed the ancient river channels which have afforded such extensive hydraulic and drift mining operations, and over the same area are distrilmted the minor quartz mines of the county, which is traversed by throe niain auriferous l)elts. A little west of the Grass Valley gold belt an ii'on belt crosses the county, and west of this comes the copper belt. From Sierra County it swings southwesterly along the northwestern boundary of the county for perhaps 25 miles, and then turns southward with the direct western boundary line, which it parallels at a distance of from two to four miles along an 'eighteen-mile course into Placer County. Along the entire course of the belt copper indications occur at intervals, but the chief known deposits are at two points — at Spenceville in the southwestern corner of the county, and about ^lineral Hill, three miles to the north, where various properties exhibiting strong veins are being actively prospected, and from where shipments of ore have been mad(> at various times. NEVADA COl'NTY — COPPKR MINKS AND CLAIMS. 1!)1 TluTi' iii'c here iii;ni\ slroiii: (■()()p('r-l)('ariiiir veins. ;iii(l the soniewli.-it cxlt'iisive develoiHiu'iits that have been made i^ive jH-oniise of |ii-ulitahh' and lnnroduct of |.yi-ites was used lor llie manul'acture of both mineral paint and sidplnii'ic acid. It has been the scene of a nund)er of metallnrgical experiments. It is located in the town of S|)eiU'eville. in the southwestern corner of the count w at an altitude of 4r.() fe(*t, and is now owned and operated by the Spence Minei-al Company of San Pranci.sco. The ore occurs in a series of wid(> iri-euulai- fissures near the contact of two large areas of country rock (diorite and granodiorite). the fissures being filled with sulphide ores carrying copper, gold, and silver. Mining has been confined almost entirely to that ore. wliich occurred in the main foot wall fissui-e in the form of chalcopyrite and in.n pyrite. Iteinu a continuous vein i'.dO feet long, and 1.') to 55 feet wide. This vein yielded I.IO.OOO tons of ore. the copper content varying from 2 to 20 per cent, the greater part averagin-' ab(.nt 5 per cent. V,y the crude 192 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. method of roasting and leaching: only about 4 per cent of this ore. or 6000 tons, was recovered as eoppei". the jjold and silver, which averag:ed from $3.50 to $4.50 per ton. beint; lost. Parallel and cross fissures on the hanjring- wall side of this main ledge are filled with strongly mineralized schi.sts and altered diabase, too low in suli)hur to be burned and requiring a different method of treatment, ])ut indicating a wide area of mineraliza- tion having possibilities in depth. The San Francisco Copper Conijiany pursued active opera- tions for thirteen years succeeding 1875. The mine was opened by shafts and drifts to about 150 feet in depth, and then, after the works had caved in. mining was pursued in an open cut which became 300 feet long. 70 feet wide, and 75 feet deep. Ideol Cross Section oj Sf>eoceviI!e formation Most of the^ ore taken from the mine, approximately 150.000 tons, carrying an average of 5 per cent of copper, Avas extracted by this company prior to cessation of operations in 1888, and the sale of the property in 1890. owing to the fall in tlie i)rice of copper. This company made some costly and unsuccessful smelting experiments, and produced some matte and ingot copper. ]\Iost of the output, liowever. was cement copper, pro- duced by heap roasting and leaching, this company being among the first in this country to introduce and successfully operate b\- tliis method. During the year 1882 the company mined over 16,000 tons of ore averaging 4 per cent in copper, and 966,061 pounds of cement averaging 83 per cent in copper, which was shipped to Boston. There was roasted 12.300 tons of ore, yielding a net profit of $2 per ton at current prices. During th(^ year 1882 the cost of production was 9.4 cents NEVADA COUNTY — COI'I'KK MINKS AND CLAIMS. 1!):^ per poiiiid of Hue copper. The water from tlie mine \vorkiii^'.s was also run throw jrh prpeii)itatin>r sluices. The price of copper cement fell in 1887, and operations cea.sed. In 1890 the Imperial Paint and Copper Company acquired the property for the purpose of utilizing the old dumps of roasted ore. They erected a paint mill and calcining furnace and manufactured red metallic paint from the iron o.xide, whidi constitutes approximately 40 per cent of these dum|)s. They also leached the dimiiK nnd utilized the mine waters in I'LA.XT OK THE SPENCE MINERAL COMPANY, SPENCEVILLE. making cement copper. The company did no mining. The paint manufactured was of exceptional ([uality, and had a ready sale at the market price of standard paints. In 18{)7. the Sj)ence Mineral Company ac(|uired the propei'ty and introd\iced into California a new method of manufacturing sulphuric acid by suV)stituting pyrites as a source of sulphur for tlic crude sulphur imported from Japan. This |)roved thoroughly succes^sful and has revolutionized tlie methods of aeid-making on this coa.st. The mine was unwatered and reopened and large bodies of low-grade pyrites left in the old l:^— BuL. r)0 194 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. works were shipped to manufacturers of acid on the bay of 8au Francisco at a good profit, the cinders being: returnable to the company. These ores proved to be well adapted to this purpose, owing- to the absence of arsenic and other injurious elements, and to their free-burning quality, yielding up their 45 to 50 per' cent of sulphur without the least tendency to clinker, and retaining the smallest percentage of sulpluir in their cinders. The copper contained in these cinders, amount- ing to from 3 to 3iA per cent, together with the gold and silver, and the iron which has a value as a flux, netted the company from $2 to $3 per ton when subsequently sold to smelters. A successful leacliing plant has been constructed ])y the company on the bay of San Francisco, where its cinders are leached and cement copper manufactured. At the present writing the company has under way tiie thorough development and exploitation of its mine l)el()\v the 150-foot level, and throughout its mineralized area above described, and lias under consideration the future treatment of its ores by more modern and efficient methods. Charles W. Howard, Spenceville, is general manager and superintendent. Between Spenceville and the Placer County line to the south there are several prospect holes sunk on the mineral belt. showing the same character of copper mineralization as at Spenceville. On the Nickerson ranch, in section 29, township 14 north, range 8 east, by Wolf Creek, there are exposed two large ledges carrying almost pure pyrites and some gold. Tests of ore from dumps show a copper content of 4 jier cent. There is a crosscut tunnel 200 feet in length, whicli taps the ledge. Croppings are visible for about 800 feet along the ledge. Very little development, however, has been done. The owner is J. R. Nickerson, residing on the proj^erty. ^lany of the })rospect holes before mentioned were made in early days, since which time the lands have been patented and prospecting stopped. This is true also of the territory lying north of Spenceville. At the Henry IIil)ber mine, in section 32, townshij) 14 north, range 7 ea.st, seven and a lialf miles southeast from Spenceville, there are croppings of gossan 3 feet wide and over 400 feet in length. The vein here dips west. The east wall is diorite; the west, schistose diabase. AVhen inspected NEVADA COrXTV — COPPKH MINKS AND [iller and K. A. K'oberts of Sacramento. The Green Lead is owned by the heirs of Thonms :\Iooney, residing in Smarts- ville. Yuba County. The .Afonmonth and Climax claims are owned by J. F. Dempsey of Smartsville. Bitner & Austin ran a crosscut tunnel through the Advance Chance. First Chance, Afain Chance, and Sacramento claims easterly from the ravine, expectiu'.^- to intersect thirteen ledges 196 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. will) this tunnel, as that number outcrop on the hillside. The course of this vein is east of north. The thirteen parallel veins vary from 5 to 30 feet in width on the outcrops. All of them show chalcopyrites. A shaft near the hilltop follows the 100-foot vein pitching to the east, which shows some very good red oxide, carbonate, and sulphide ores. The formation tliat incloses the mineral is a hard diabase. The Last Chance is opened by a shaft 240 feet deep, with steam hoisting works. The vein is 5 to 8 feet wide, carrying pyrites and chalcopyrites in considerable quantities. Some good ore now lies on the dump. There was considerable ore shipped from this mine as long ago as 1876. The pyrite occurs in this mine, as well as in all others in the district, in lens-shaped bodies, the inclosing formation being a hard, dark- blue diabase. East of the Last Chance is a series of diorite and quartz ledges, wide and of low grade, of which little is known. They vary from 3 to 100 feet in tliickness. One ledge exposed on the hill, and owned by the First National Bank of San Fran- cisco, is fully 100 feet wide and is traceable for over two miles. These ledges occur in succession until the east granodiorite wall is reached. The Green Lead Avas worked some years ago, and appears to have a large deposit of good ore. It is in section 12, town- ship 15 north, range 6 east, and is opened by two shafts each about 160 feet deep. The ores are peacock copper (bornite), chalcopyrites, and red oxide, mixed with cpiartz. Formation same as Last Chance. Ore has been shipped to San Francisco at various times. The Golden Eagle is opened by a shaft 15 feet deep, show- ing a 4-foot vein of sulphide of copper and iron. At the north end line, on a vein west of and parallel with the Last Chance vein, is a shaft, inclined to the east. 150 feet deep. To the east of these veins is a tunnel 70 feet long, driven on another vein 300 feet, and at its end is a crosscut to the west ledge. This vein carries the same apparent variety and grade of ore, having some gold content. A considerable amount of carbonate ore ship]KHl from this mine is said to have had a value of $12.50 gold per ton and 10 per cent of copper. In tile Sixtoon-to-Onc miii(\ a shaft has been sunk in a XKVAOA COUNTY — COI'l'KU MINKS ANI> CLAIMS. 1!)7 2U-l:oot vein. At the time of iii.spe«-tiuii it was 80 feet deep, all in on'. The ore appears to he of the same L'eneral eharaetei- as in the other mines of the Mineral Hill group, is in cpiart/. and tliai)ase tranLrnc matte!-, and cai-ries from 7 to 14 per cent of copper. In tlif .lai-ksdu mine, the iniprovciiii-nts consist of a 450-foot tunnel on the ledire. started near the snutli end of the claim. A hody (iT ore wjis ])assed throULiii near llic inoulh ol' the tun- nel. Most of tills oi-e Itody was extracted and sliip]>ed. It is said to have yielded 8 per cent of copi>er and $10 in yold. The vein is from (! inches to 7 feet in width. There are croppin<,'S beyond the i)reast of tunnel 60 feet wide. There is also a shaft 50 feet deep, in ore. The Arkansaw Traveler has a tunnel 12 feet lon^ showing a vein of ore ;? feet wide. Ore yieldincr 5 per cent of copper ami $7 in gold has been shipped. The Genevieve is owned hy (". ('. Bitner and F. B. Yei-l»y. The I'i'ogress mine has a shaft 30 fei't deep, and shows sulphide <»re similar to that of the mines of the district. The ^NFonmouth and Climax claims have a tunnel 460 feet long intended to tap a ledge, and two shafts, one 30 feet and one 50 feet deep, on different veins about 100 feet ajxirt. The ores are light-colored sulphides, wiiich can-y 'A to 4 pei- ceut of copper and some gold. Thciv ai'e gossan outcrops in various |)laces on Mineral Hill. especially on the south end of the Advance and First Chance claims. .\il oi-e shoots i)it<'h to the noi'th. All the veins passing tliioiiL:li the hill appear to l)elong to a lode lying to the east of the Spenceville lodes. C. C. Bitner produced and marketed cement copper in issd fnun the (Jolden Eagle ores. Tile California Gold and Copper Company have been driv- ing a long tunnel to obtain several hundred feet of l)acks in its claims. The .Mineral Hill Mining and Smelting Company has also been driving a deep tunnel to obtain 500 feet of de])th under the best of its (daims. This tuiuud cut three very promising ledges. The facilities for working any group of the mines men- tioned are excellent. An abundance of heavy pine timber stands on the claims, and covers the adjoining country. The 198 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. « ahriiptncss of the hills makes tunnel mining possible for many years to eomc. AVater for power could be obtained from the Excelsior AVater Company, one of Avhose ditches passes along the top of the hill. Ledges of copper-l)earing rocks not greatl\' prosj)ei'ted appear in places along the belt to the north county line at Yuba River. From the Green Lead going north, the belt appears to swing to the east and passes through the east half of section L township 15 north, range 6 east, and section 6. township 15 north, range 7 cast. I)y the old Hartley house. It thence makes to the. north thi-ough section 31. township 16 north, range 7 east, and then through sections '.i\ and 19, town- ship 16 noi'tli. range 7 east, to the Yuba River. There are no extensive workings on this section of the belt; croppings and shallow holes indicate the course of the belt, which follows closely the granodiorite formation. On the road from Smartsville to Grass Valley copper crop- pings may he seen on the Finie ranch and on the Campbell rancli. Croppings occur also one mile south of tlic J. Fenni- more i-jindi. Here the vein matter is about 40 feet wide, but not prospected. Toward the south and southeast of Alineral Hill, the copper belt passes through the Bingers ranch. a])out four miles south of Aliiicral Hill, where there are strong croppings. Springs on this property are very strongly impregnated with copper. Near French Corral, in township 17 north, range 7 east, tlicrc is a large deposit of pyrites carrying chalcopyrites. Daniel Roberts, owner. Xcai- Sweetland. in townsliip 17 north, range 8 east, is an unexplored copper vein. In Washington Township, section 8. township 18 north, range 11 east, is a vein 6 feet wide, cari-ying copper, but little developed. E. T. "Wortliley. ownei". Xear North Bloomtield. in section (i. township 17 north, range 10 east, is a claim called the Edison Copper Aline; Wm. Alobley. owner. It is opened by a shaft 45 feet deep, following the vein. The hanging wall is a schistose diabase; the foot wall is serpentine. The vein averages about 13 feet in width in the bottom of the shaft, where some drifting has been (lone. It is reported to carry 3i/> per cent of copper and $3.25 NKV.VDA COUNTY — COPI'EK MIXKS AXO CLAIMS. I*)?) ill LTold. TlifiT is also a tiiiiinl ilfivni 240 I'lH't. AX the Tace of the tiimu'l drifts have lii't-n iim mi t lie v(Mn 25 and 15 feet in length, rcspectivclx . Bitner Mine. — In section i:}. township 15 norlh, ranti:e (> east. .Mount DiaWlo meridian, thi-ee miles north of Sjxnieeville ; ownei". (". ( '. liitner. Speneeville. ("alifoiMiia. .\i'ea. lliO aeres (locations ). Elevation, t)2() feet. Development. .'5 adits 1250. 5(1. and 450 feet, respectively. There are 4 shafts of 150, 30, 20. and 50 feet, all veilic;il. Kail\va.\-. seventeen miles to Wlicatland, on Sonthern Pacific Railroad. Big Bend, l-'i-tiicii Corral: located in sections 25 anil '.Hi, townsliip 17 iKUili. ran.nc 7 east. Mount Dialilo meridian; owner. A. F. .McPherson, French Corral. Area, 60 aeres (loca- tions). Development. 18-foot adit. Formation, schist. Crossan, in Ill-stained schist. 120 feet wide in i)laees on surface. Valnes, copper. nA. intendent. Area, 160 acres; elevation, 1750 feet; dip of vein. 62 degrees east ; strike, north 8 degrees west of formation -. shear zone nortli HO degrees west. Geology, quartz porphyry, rhyoiite. Foot wall, diabase; hanging wall, serpentine. Vein matter 27 feet wide. Development, main shaft, vertical, two- compartment. 200 feet; other shafts and inclines. 200 feet; drifts. 1100 feet. Equipment, 10-stamp mill. 1000-pound stamps; 3 vanuers. amalgamation plates; full equipment for free milling ore ; blacksmith shop ; 2 drill compressors ; 8-horse- power geared hoist; boarding house; bunk house; mill build- ing, assay office; office building; 2 pumps. Power, steam. 85-horsepower. Ore, gold, copper, silver, chalcopyrite, mala- chite, red oxide, bornite, native copper, in clay ; quartz. ])yrite, iron oxide. Fine white kaolin. 150 feet wide; some barite. Gossan, iron-stained porphyry and rhyoiite; limonite. hema- tite, lias been worked as a gold mine. Water from adit running through sluices precipitates some cement, copper and iron. Nearest railway. Auburn. Red Ledge Mine. — Located in section 36, township 17 north, range 7 east, Mount Diablo meridian ; owners. A. F. ^IcPher- son et al.. French Corral. Area. 360 acres (locations) ; ele- vation. 1220 feet; dip of vein, 60 degrees west; strike, north 45 degrees west; walls, schist. Development. 6 adits; No. 3. 110 feet in length. 7 feet of ore; No. 2. 167 feet in length. 27 feet of ore: Xo. 6. 330 feet in length. 16 feet of ore; Xos. 1 and 4 caved, old work; Nos. 2 and 3. about 100 feet above No. 6. Ore. gold, silver, copper, malachite, chalcopyrite. iron pyrites, quartz. Gossan, iron-stained schist, about 500 feet wide in places. Equipment, 10-stamp mill. 1000-pound stamps ; water power, impulse wheel ; cyanide plant. AVorked as gold mine for some years. Kailway. fifteen miles southeast to Grass Valley. Red Mountain Group, Cisco; located in section 17. township 17 nurlh. range 13 east. Mount Dia])Io meridian; owners. Red ^Mountain Copper-Gold ^Mining Conqiany. J. A. Wilcox, manager. Cisco. California. Area, 640 acres (locations) ; walls, schist and slate. Ore, copper, gold, and silver. Values reported, gold $15.50. copper 4i/4 per cent, silver 1 ounce; average from car lots. Development, adit 30 feet in length. Railwav, three and a half miles to Cisco. NEVADA COUNTY COPPKK MINKS AND CLAIMS. 2(^! Sweet Ranch. — l.ocalt'd in st'ction \'-i. township 14 north, i-iiiiL;!' 7 i-ast. .Mf:l..")(i to .^12 jioUl and silver. A part of Tine Hill. Ureccia shown south side of hill, some barite on top. Nearest railway point, fourteen miles .south to Auburn. Tola Group, ( iseo ; located in section 27, township 18 north, ran,«;e I'i I'ast. .\biiitit Dialilo meridian; owners, E. E. AVyman et al. Area, (id acres. Dif) of vein. 4!) degrees south; strike, 82 deforces west; vein, 4 feet; walls, porphyry; elevation, 7150 feet, (rossaji. iron-stained porpliyi-v. Ore, chalcopyrite, pyrite, mahicliite. Values reported. 1.") to IS tons shipped in 1906 averajred $28 i)er ton in Liold. silver, and copper. Development, open cut. 50 feet: 12-foot adit; 3 to 10-foot holes. Equipment, bunk and l)oarding house and barn. Road. ei<:ht miles to Cisco, on Southern Pacific, over a fair mountain road. Turner Group, Cisco post office ; located in section 16, town- sliip 18 north, range 13 east, Motuit Diablo meridian; owner. "\V. .M. Tiirner. Webber Lake. Sierra County. Area, 120 acres (locations) : strike of vein, northwest: dip, south; vein 16 feet at shaft. Oos.san. iron-stained porphyry; walls, porphyry. Development, 18-foot shaft ; some cuts. Ore. chalcopyrite, pyrite; values reported, gold $9, silver 5 ounces, copper 4 per cent. Good wagon road to Trnckee. thirty-three miles south- east ; ten miles fair road to Cisco. Wetteran Ranch, Spenceville post office; located in section 34, township 15 north, range 7 east. Mount Diablo meridian; owner, G. G. Wetteran. (irass Vjilley. K. F. D., Box 62. Area. 540 acres. Elevation, 900 feet. Railway, ten miles northeast. to Grass Valley. Development, 20-foot vertical shaft, open cuts, trenches. Strike of vein, north. Gos.san. linionite, iron- staiiied breccia of rhyolite. Ore, malachite, pyrite. Good wagon road to Grass Valley. Boss Mine, North San Juan; located in section 12. township 17 north, range 7 east, Mount Diablo meridian ; Louis Sehloss & Co., San Francisco, owners; J. II. Collier, manager. Rail- 202 THE COPPEK RESOLKCES OF CALIFOKXIA. way. fourteen miles southeast to (Jrass Valley. Nevada County Railroad. p]levation, 2100 feet. Area, not 'riven. Develop- ment. 250-foot 2-compartment vertical shaft. 34-foot crosscut at 150-foot level to vein. Power, electric. E(|uipment. 50- horsepower electric motor; 1 8-drill comjire«sor; 1 2-cylinder geared hoist, air driven; shaft house, power iiouse. hlacksmitli shop. 6-post head frame. Strike of vein, north ; dip, 80 degrees east ; walls, schist ; ore consists of copper, gold, silver, iron pyrites, iron oxide, clialcopyrite. Oxidized /one about 100 feet deep, (iossaii. iron-stained schist 1000 feet wide in places. Vein 2 feet wide at 100-foot level. 12 feet wid.' at 150-foot level. Worked for gold some years ago. Carlisle, Cisco post office; located in section 4, township 17 north, range 13 east, Mount Diablo meridian. Area. 260 acres (patent). Elevation. 5600 feet. Strike of vein, southeast and northwest; dip. not given; width of vein. 2 feet to 10 feet; walls, porphyry. Gossan, iron-stained porphyry. Develop- ment, adit No. i, 500 feet, and No. 2, 400 feet ; others 400 feet ; total. 1300 feet. Ore values reported, copper Ti/o per cent, gold $6. silver 4 ounces. Silica, iron, and copper sulphide. Good mountain wagon road, nine miles southeast to Cisco; seven miles southwest trail to Crystal Lake, both on Southern Pacific Railroad. Ecpiipment. aerial tramway 2600 feet; turbine wheel 200-horsepower ; sawmill. l)lacksmith shop, boarding house and bunk house ; power, water power. Fairview Mine. — Located in section 2. township IT north, range 10 east, Mount Diablo meridian: owners. Fairview Min- ing Company; C. ]\1. Wilson, superintendent. Relief Hill post office, Nevada County. Area. 160 acres (8 claims, locations). Elevation. 4325 feet. Hanging wall, schist: foot wall, serpen- tine. \'eiii. 12 feet in places; dip of vein. 65 degrees 30 minutes west; strike, north 17 degrees west. Go.ssan. iron- stained schist. Nevada City nearest railway point, twenty-one miles southwest. Development. 375-foot adit in on vein; about 170 feet backs. Ore. chalcopyrite. red oxide of copper, iron pyrite. gohl, (juartz. iron oxide. P^cpiipment. car. track, and blacksmith shop. Values reported, copper 1.1 per cent, gold $4. silver 16 cents. Open cut on hill was Avorked for gold by sluicing some years ago. XKVADA COl'NTV — COIM'KR .MINES AND CLAIMS. Ii03 Gautier Ranch. — FjocattMl in soction 28, township 1-i liorth, i-aiiirt' ^ cast. .Mount Diablo meridian; owner. Willi.nn Gautier, .\uliurn. California. Kh'vation. 14r)() feet. Strike of vein, north 4 deirrees west: dip. 80 de^ree-s east; strike, hreeeia. 1 de«rree northwest; dip. nortlieast. Foot wall, schist; han^'inw wall, schist. Area. 320 acres. Vein, (luartz porphyry, with .some rhyolite showiutr. Gossan, iron-stained porphyry and rhyolite. with .some limonite 30 feet wide in places. Ore, malachite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, quartz. Development, old shaft, vertical. 80 feet deep. California Mine. — Owners. California Gold and Copper Company, Spenceville. Strike of vein, north 48 de«;rees west. Area, 6") acres. Elevation, 560 feet. Dip, 60 dejjrees north- east. Walls, diorite. Vein. 4 feet wide Development, main adit. 1000 feet. Drifts. 600 feet on vein. Located in section 12. township 1") north, range 6 east, ]\Ioiint Diablo meridinn. three miles iiorlli of Spenceville. Railway, seventeen miles to AVhentland. on Southern Pacific Railroad. Good wagon road. H<|uii)ment. blacksmith .shop, office. Gossan, limonite and iron-st;iined diorite. Fifteen men work- ing. Backs, 224 feet above adit level. Values reported, copper 6 per cent, .some gold and silver. Ore, malachite, bornite, chalcopyrite, iron pyrite, quartz. Iron Mountain Mine, Feridey post office; located in section 3. townsliip 1.") north, range 7 east, .Mount Diablo meridian; ownei-. Mammoth .Mining Company. Kciinet. California. .Vrea, 120 acres. Klevaliou. 1775 feet. Strike of vein, north and south; dip. 7(1 degrees east; vein. 12 feet wide. Walls, rhyo- lite. Gossan, limonite ;ind iron-stained rhyolite cropping for half a mile. 300 feet wide in places. Development. 250-foot vertical shaft, 2-compartment ; 2300 feet of drifts. Ore. gold, copper, iron oxide, pyrite. malachite reported to ciMitain 33 per cent of sulphur and 67 |)er cent of iron. Railway ten miles southwest from Grass Valley, the nearest railroad point. Good wagon road. Ecjuipment, shaft house, blacksmith shop, buid< house, geared hoist. 2-cylinder link motion; power, steam, 25-horsepower ; 1 horizontal and 1 vertical boiler; pump and horizontal boiler at creek punq^ing water for steam purposes. Values reported, gold, copper, and silver. 204 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Lotzen Ranch, Grass Valley post office ; located in section 2, township li north, range 7 east. IMonnt Diablo meridian; OM-ner. AVilliam Lotzen, Grass Valley, California. Area. 158 acres. Railroad, ten miles northeast to Grass Valley. Nearest post office, Wolf, three miles. Elevation. 1050 feet. Foot wall, granodiorite : hanging wall, diorite. Strike of vein, north 30 degrees west ; dip, 85 degrees southwest. Vein, 16 feet in width. Development, 60-foot adit crosscut; 16 feet of this is a mineralized diorite, showing chalcopyrite. bornite. pyrite. quartz, red oxide of copper. Appears to be near water level. Gossan, iron-stained diorite and limonite. Good wagon road. Mammoth Gold Copper Mine, North San Juan post office; located in section 12, township 17 north, range 7 east. Mount Diablo meridian ; owner, G. W. Broyles, French Corral. Area. 60 acres (locations). Development, 40-foot adit. Walls, slate: dip of vein, 85 degrees east; strike, north and south. Values reported, copper 2 per cent, gold $3. On main Yuba River, work near river level. Railway, fifteen miles southeast, to Grass Valley. Good wagon road. (Not visited; owners report. ) Mammoth Group, Cisco post office; located in section 4. township 17 north, range 13 east. Blount Diablo meridian. Area. 80 acres (locations). Strike of vein, northwest: dip. south : w'alls. porphyry. Gossan, iron-stained porphyry. Development, shaft 285 feet deep, vertical ; drifts in ore 75 feet; No. 1 adit, 75 feet; No. 2, 200 feet. Ore, copper, gold, and silver. Values reported, gold '^\i), copper 4 per cent, silver trace. Good mountain wagon road to Cisco. Equip- 7ii('iit. iiiachiiicry for a lO-stamp mill, not in place. (Owner's report.) Grizzley Ridge, North Columbia ])ost office; owner. Grizzley Ridge Mining Company. North Columbia post office. Values, gold 4^40. copper V/^ per cent, silver 17 ounces. These values are owner's report. YUBA COUNTY — PLACER COUNTY. 205 YUBA COUNTY. To the west of Nevada and also north of its western portion lies the small vaHcy and foothill county of Yuba, whioh pre- sents a few ofcurrenees of copper ores. These are but a few miles from Nevada County's line of deposits, and may be regarded as lu'longintr to the same l^elt. flanking it in the maimer of so many occurrences that elsewhere mark the vary- ing zone described as the general foothill belt. The principal occurrences are on the Dempsey ranch, five miles north of Spenceville. near the county line, and on the Brady ranch, in the southern jiortion of the county west of Spenceville and northwest of the chief occurrences in Placer County. Dempsey Ranch. — Here bold croppings over 400 feet wide, exhibiting gossan croppings. present interesting surface indi- cations of what may be a large copper deposit. Some samples of ore have assayed 35 per cent copper. This prospect is on a productive ranch and has received little intelligent develop- ment, the latter consisting of some prospect holes and a tunnel 100 feet long. Brady Ranch.— On lliis randi. in section 1, township 15 north, range 5 east, and in section "35, township 16 north, range 5 east, croppings occur and there is an old abandoned shaft, the water from which is strongly impregnated with copper. Prospect holes trace the belt southeast to Bear River, through sections 21. 22. 27. and 2^^. township 14 north, range 6 east. On the Brady ranch is what is called the Old Red Ledge, wherein red oxide of copper is visible. This deposit was quite extensively exploited in 1863. PLACER COUNTY. Placer, one of the tier of rich mining counties which span the Sierra range, lies south of Nevada County, and in its length of 100 miles it reaches from the angle in tlie State's eastern l)()iuidary down into the Sacramento Valley, possessing 206 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. in its foothills a section of the eo])p('r belt. Its pliysieal eliar- acteristics are those connnon to its neighbors of the great range, as were the general features of its early raining period. It shared largely in the prosperity of the period of hydraulic mining through the pussession of rich and extensive ancient river channels. Its drift mines now give it its claim to preeminence in one feature of the mining industry. In the Forest Hill Divide, a great spur of the range, reaching westward down the slope for 25 miles, there lies deeply buried under lava cappings the most extensive network of ancient river channels found along the range, and in this dfvide are the chief drift mines of the world. This divide has yielded over $30,000,000. and tlie Inilk of the total current out[)iit of tlie drift mines of the State is yet credited to Placer County. A little to its south, in El Dorado County, is what is gener- ally taken to be the northern end of the Mother Lode, and a little to its north, in Nevada Countv, are the famous Grass Valley and Nevada City mining districts. The great Sierra gold belt crosses the county, presenting innumerable and widely distril)uted (piartz veins, and there are nuniy rich mines, but (|uartz mining is yet in a relatively backward condition. Granite and pottci'v arc the chief additional features of its mineral industry, in wliich Placer County holds a leading place. Iron, chrome, manganese, marble, limestone, and min- eral waters arc among its other mineral resources. Lake Talioe, at an elevation of over (5000 feet, lumber forests, and a rich horticultural region in the foothills, are among other features of the county. The Central Pacitic Railroad trav- erses the entire length of the county along its northern border. At various places along an irregular line across the western portion of the county the foothill mineral l)c]t displays copper deposits. A few have been prospected and small amounts of copper ore have been shipped. Some very wide veins are dis])layed. Ther(> is an (nist and west belt of copper in this county. The west belt is composed of that along or near granite contact: Dairy Farm, Valley View, Algol, and Eclipse Consolidated. This belt is in ])laces two and a half to three miles wide, i. e., Vallev View to Algol. I'l.ACKK COUNTY COI'l'KH MINKS AND CLAIMS. 2tl( (iossan and copi)er stain show in a ^'ood many placos alouLi' this west belt, between the known mines, but is not continuous. Strike, west of north on l)oth belts. The property of the California Mineral Land Company is on east belt. Wliil.' the «,'assan and copper stain can be traced for a ^'ood i)art of the way across the country, it is not con- tinuous, or not so well developed as the west belt. The east belt in places follows a brecciated zone, with a strike of north about tiO degrees west, but on account of the limited develoi)ment it can not be stated if it follows this at all times or not. Eclipse Consolidated. — This miuc is located in section IT, townsliip 12 math, raiit^e 8 east. Mount Diablo meridian, two miles .southwest of Auburn; owners. R. B. Simiu-^ton, San Francisco, and (}. F. Lavalee, Auburn. Area. 100 acres. Strike, nortli: dip. 22 de-lu)rsepower. Area, 160 acres. Thomen Mine. — Located in sections -4 and 5. townsliip 13 north, ranue 8 east. .Mount I)ia])lo meridian ; owiiei-. A. Thomen, Auburn. Placer ("ouuty. Ai-rn. Tdd acn-s. Strike, north 5 degrees west; dip. 80 degree east; formation, schist. Ore, ehaleopyrite. malachite, iron oxide, iron pyrite. Width of vein not known. Development, 90-foot shaft. Hlcvation. 1450 feet. The mine is eight miles north nf .\iiliiiiii. There is a good wagon I'oad to Auburn. Davenport Mine. — Located in section 15, township 12 north, range 8 east. Mount I)ial)lo meridian. al)out one mile south of Aulmrn; owner. N. K. Davenport, AuburiL Strike, south 3 degrees east; dii), 80 degrees east. Walls, slate. Ore. (puirtz, ehaleopyrite, nudachite, iron oxide, iron pyrite. \'ein alxtut 2 feet wide. DevelopnuMit, 70-foot incline sliaft. single compart- ment. Elevation. 1200 feet. Reported values, copper 1 per cent, gold 75 cents. Small lioist. Power, steam. lO-horse- ])uwei'. Ti'ail to mine. Nevada Mining Company. — Located in section 32. township 14 north, range S east. .Mount Diablo meridian. .\rea. 150 acres in Placer County and 30 acres in Nevada County. L. G. Schuster, manager. Auburn. Strike, north 5 degrees, west; dip. 30 degrees east. In diorite. near slate. Ore, ehaleopyrite, malachite, iron oxide and iron pyrite. Width of vein not known. Development. 55 feet; 2-C(mipartment incline shafts. P^levation. 1475 feet. Values, gold, silver, copper. Efpiipment, blacksmith shop, shaft building, and boarding house. Copper showing in three places, small amount on surface. Railroad eight miles north of Auburn. Good wagon road to Auburn. 14— RrL. 50 210 'I'lii'; cori'i^K liKsoriiCKs of California. Elder Mine. — This mine is located four and a half miles \\t\sl of Clipper Gaj). on Southern Pacific Railroad, in section 4, township 13 north. I'an^e 8 east. Mount Diablo meridian; owner, Kobert Elder, Auburn. Area, 300 acres in Placer County and 60 acres in Nevada County. Strike, north 5 degrees west; dip, 80 degrees east. Ore, chalcopyrite, mala- chite, red oxide of copper, iron pyrites, iron oxide; small amount of molybdenite, showing in a granodiorite. Foot wall, probably slate. Width of vein not known. Development, 25-foot vertical sliaft in granodiorite. Elevation, 1550 feet. Wngon road to railroad. Big Pine Mine. — In section 16, township 12 north, range 8 east; J. A. Bonk and C. R. Buslmell. owners. Shaft 170 feet deep, showing chalcopyrite. said to carry 10 to 12 per cent of copper. EL DORADO COUNTY. El Dorado County, the scene of jMar.shall's discovery of gold and the earliest beginning of the modern era of gold mining, includes, through its lower western portion, along the edge of the Sacramento Valley, about 25 miles of the foothill copper belt. Along this line the belt mentioned displays many copper deposits that have been prospected in the superficial way common to the Sierra Nevada array of the.se deposits. They are but a little north of the section of the belt through Amador and Calaveras counties, in which the chief development and production of this copper belt have occurred. None of the counties of the slope presents more favorable conditions for mining and none oflfers a wider or more attrac- tive field for mining enterprise. The chief of the mineral belts that cross the county is the ^Mother Lode, the northern end of which is near the northern boundary and along which, across the county southward, is a succession of valuable and promis- ing quartz mines. Since the exhaustion of the rich surface placers and the cessation of hydraulic mining, quart/ mining is the leading feature of the county's niinine industry. There EL DORADO COUNTY. 211 iiic iii.iiiv iiiilt'S of uiiprospof'ted aiR-iciit river channels. The northern and sonlliern honndarios are formed respeetively l»y the Middle Fork of the American and the ("osumnes River, and these streams, with the South Fork of the American and the many tril)utary streams, bounteously water the county and att'(»ril convenient sources of powci-. The timber resources are those common to the slope. The western portion of the county has a deliirlitful climate, and the foothill mineral belt runs tlirou^'h a rich and settled re^non. It is crossed by the branch railroad running'' to Plaeervill(\ While ar. They consist of four main tunnels and one prospect shaft 20 feet deep. The ores are principally sul])hides, l)ut there are also other varieties of copper ore. The ore masses occur in lenses in the limestone. The mine is eleven miles from Auburn, Placer County, connected with that place by a good stage road. Elevation, 1050 feet. Strike of vein north, dip west. Ore seems replacement of porphyry, and is reported to average 10 per cent copper, 10 ounces HL DOKAIX) C'orXTY — COl'l'KR MINKS AND CI-Al.MS. 2l:{ silviT. ;iimI •+!(• ill jTdM. The niiiif is cquipix'd with all ih-ccs- sary l)iiil(li[iir.s. hiacksiiiilh shop, assay oHicc. etc Pioneer Mine. — 'Piiis is an extension of the Lilyaiiia. The Vein ore and I'm-nialion are pi-eeiseiy the same in itoth niines. It is in seetion :i. township,! 1 noiMh. ranj^o !) east. The owner is Williain Ilaaker. The vein matter is 50 to 60 feet wide. The vein runs the leiiLith of the 80 aeres of patented firound. It is opened by a main tunnel 900 feet lon^' with two branches, one of 350 feet and another of 200 feet. There are two shafts, one of 90 feet and one of 100 feet, connected at bottom by a drift 50 feet lonjr. These enconnter a good body of ore. which consists of bornite. malacliite. copper and iron pyrites, some oxides and some «rold and silver. Klovation lOlO feet. Strike of vein north, dip west. Homestead. — Tliis property, which has been worked for the i:ol(l eontetits of a led^M' 14 feet wide, is three miles west of (Ireenwood at the northern side of the county, and displays ore carryintr a considerable percentage of copper. Owner, Mr. McC'rary. Cambrian Mine. — Jn section 23. township 11 north, range 9 ea^t. about ten miles from Placerville. When tirst opened in the fifties it was for gold, but latterly the good percentage of copper has brought this mineral into prominence. The present owner is the Cambi-ian ]\lining and .Milling Company, a corpo- ration, of which F. Thomas is president, Leonard Thomas general manager, and D. R. Roberts superintendent. The com- pany took possession in January. 1898. The width of the three veins passing through the property is from 15^^ feet down to an average of G to 8 feet. The veins are from 50 to 70 feet apart. The vein matter is talcose schist and lime. The east wall is granodiorite. the west serpentine. Between these are bands of schist and limestone. The croppings are talcose schist and gassans in the schistose rock. All dip to the east. There are three tunnels — one of 113 feet, the second of 220 feet, the third of 13()0 feet in length. Also two winzes, each 187 feet below the 1360-foot tunnel. There are over 1350 feet of drifts. The ore is sulphide, green carbonate, red oxide, and native copper, and carries reported values from 8 to 16 per cent eop|>er. The most interestinii feature, however, of this ore is 214 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. the quantity of a. 60 acres (loca- tions), in section 24, township 12 north, i-ange 10 east, near Georgetown, twenty miles west of Auburn, on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Elevation, 3550 feet. Owners, El Dorado lii.-j&..«^iA '^:><. The owners extracted and shipped good ore up to the seventies. \'ein matter, schists; oi'c. sulphides. Dr. Wren Claim. — In sect ion 7. township 9 north, range 11 east; east of Cilio's ranch, and east of the ^Mother Lode. A-^ein matter talcose schist, foot wall porphyry, hanging wall black slate. \'ein. 6 feet wide; shaft. 18 feet deep. Several o])en cuts. Reported values 5 to 18 per cent copper. Robert Claim. — Owned by W. E. and L. Robert, in section 13. township 9 north, range 11 east. Vein is 3i/i> feet wide. Formation slate, with a quartz vein on the east side. Foot wall schist, hanging wall slate. Shaft 80 feet deep and a tunnel l.")0 feet long, tapping ledge. Copper content reported to be from 4 to 24 ]^vr cent. There ai'c several holes between Shingle Springs and Latrobe. wlier(> former prosjieetors searched for copper. The developments are. however, so slight that they serve to indicate the presence of copper ore rather than the extent of it. The Bryant ranch, in section 2. township 8 north, range 9 east, one and a half miles northwest from Latrobe. Ledge 4 feet Avide ; shaft 65 feet deep. Idle since 1860. Ore carbon- Ki. DttHAix) (•()^^"l'^■ — copi'iiiv .mi\i:s .\ni> claims. 1*17 jitr ;iii(l iri'jiv oxide loppcr. < >\viit'r. " Uiir .liiii." a ('liiiu'sc. wilt) alsd nuns i\ piopcrty in sect ion S. t(»\viislii|) S north, raiii^e !) east, five mill's north of ('o|)p('i- Hill. \'t'in li int-lics wide. TniUH'l li'ii feet. Oi'r cai'lxtiialc and trray cop])!-!". Larkin Mine, Diamond Si)i'inLis; IocuIlhI in section i!'.), township !<• north, rane-e 11 east. .Mount Diablo meridian, one and a half miles west of Diamond Springs, on the Southern Paeitie : o\\ nei'. Watieii Lai'kin. IMacerville. California. .\i'ea. 48 aeres ( patented K Strike of vein, north L'2 degrees east ; dip. 80 degrees east. W.ills. schist. Elevation. 1!)]0 feet. \'.'iii. :{ feet w itle. ( )i'c : clialco|»\ rite, nialacliilc. ii-on pyrite. iron oxide, gold, silver, qnartz. Shoots dip north. Few tons of ore on dump. Ixepol'ted values, cojjper. IH |»er t-ellt ; sulphui'. 40 pel" eent ; gold. >\^'2 : silver, trace. Development. llJO-foot xcrtical 2-(M)mpai-tment shaft; 14()-foot drifts. E<|uii)ment, 4-post head frame: 2-cylinder. single motion geared hoist; i^O-horsepower. Also pumping engine; jiowei*. steam. (Jossan, iron-stained schist. Califorjiia Sash and Door Company's narrow gauge railroad runs within 400 feet of this property. Hale Mine, h'airplay; located in section 2;"), township iioitli. I'aniic 12 east. Mount Diablo meridian; owner. N. B. Hale, Fairplay. California; south extension of Cosumnes mine. Reported as showing some eopper. Revoir Mine, I'ilot Hill; located in section 12. township 11 north, range 8 ea.st, Mount Diablo meridian; eleven miles west to Newcastle on Southern Pacific. Area, 160 acres (patent). HIevatiou. 1675 feet. Strike of vein, north; dip, east. South I'Xteusion ol'l'osta (daim. This covers main peak of Pilot Hill. Good wagon road to Newcastle. Oest Mine. — This mine is located seven miles north, one half mile east of Auburn, in section 4. township 1:? north, range 8 east, Blount Diablo meridian ; owner. IT. Oest, Auburn. Area. 10 ;ici*es. Strilce. noi'tli and south; dip. 75 degrees east. Walls, diorite ami schist. Ore: (dialcopyrite, iron pyrite. some native copper, malachite; vei-y little go.ssan. Width of vein could not l)e determined. Development. 2-com- partment vertical shaft, depth of which could not be deter- mined, but was reported as 70 foci. Elevation. 1490 feet. 218 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Equipment. 2-post head frame, about 18 feet high. Black- smith sliop. Good wagon road to Auburn. Cambrian Mine. — Lotus post otiKct'. Development, hnvor adit about 2500 feet. Otherwise about same as 1902. Bulletin No. 2-i. Work was stopjXMl about tln' lime Xo. 2:? Avas pub- lished, and there has been no work sincf. Pioneer. — Located in section 3. township 11 north, range 9 cast. .Mount Diablo meridian. Thirteen miles northwest to Auburn, on Southern Pacific. Owner. William Ilaaker. Xow York City. Area, 80 acres (patent). Strike of vein, north; dip, west; hanging wafl. diorite; foot wall, granodiorite. Ele- vation. 1010 feet. Ore: bornite, malachite, chaleopyrite, iron oxide, iron pyrite, quartz, gold and silver. Gossan, some hematite and magnetite; iron-stained diorite. Irland, Plaeerville ; located in section 15, township 10 north, range 10 east, Blount Diablo meridian, three miles northeast to Plaeerville on Southern Pacific Railroad; owner, H. Ii. Irland, Plaeerville. California. Area. 420 acres (patent) ; strike of vein, north; dip. east; walls, granodiorite. Elevation. 1510 feet. Ore: chaleopyrite, gossan, iron-stained granodiorite. Development. 75-foot vertical shaft, 2-eom- partment ; 18-foot drift from deep shaft. Values reported, 2 per cent copper. Some gold and silver. Under bond to Barry & Wilkins. Some ore taken from deep shaft and shipped to AVales. England, about 1866. Costa Ranch. — This mine is located in section 12. town- ship 11 north, range 8 east. [Mount nial)lo meridian, eleven miles west to Newcastle, on Southern Pacific Railroad; owner. Frank Costa. Pilot Hill. El Dorado County. Area. 160 acres (patented). Elevation. 1625 feet; strike, north; dij). east. Development. 60-foot vertical shaft in iliyolite. Several cuts, most of them caved. Ore : some malachite, chaleopyrite. quartz, iron pyrite. Geology: cap of hill, rhyolite. Beneath this .shows an andesite. On foot wall side shows diorite. Not enough work to determine other wall. Work done on north peak of Pilot Hill. E. E. — Situated in section 18. township 9 north, range 11 east. Mount Diablo meridian ; owner. Joseph Sdiupple. El EL DORADO COUNTY— COPPER MIXES AND CLAIMS. Jl'* Dorado. Font- and oiu' half inil.s m.rtliwest to El Dorado on South.Ti. i'a-horsepower. Development, 85-foot vertieal shaft, snigle compartment: 60 feet drifting: 1 300-foot adit; 1 100-foot adit. Alx.ul a mile north of Latrobe a prospect owned by W . NN - Woods displays a shaft 12 feet deep in a Vi-in 5 feet wide. Strong iron capping. Vein matter s.-bistose diabase. Ore, suli)hide and oxides of (•oi>per. Bunker Hill Claim.— Tn section 14, township 12 north, range 9 east, four miles soutliwest of Greenwood. There is a shaft no feet dee]). Good .)re. Owner. ^U: Terry. Rip and Tear Mine.— Two miles north of Latrobe. The own CLAIMS. 22:^ The 'jossan-ciippcd vein is froiii 4 to ^ fi'<-t wide, courses cast of uurili. (lips 7<» (Icirrccs to the cast, aiitl (lisi)lays solid lon- ticular ore hoilies. not iiiin^d(>d with the coutainins rock, as is the case at C'opperopolis and mines elsewhere. The property has been opened hy two shafts, one 150 and one 430 feet deep, and l)y 2<»(»0 feet of drifts on four Kvcls. besides winzes and stopes. Tlie richest or.'s were yiehh'd in llie woririce of copper was maintained, this ceuienl brought in San Francisco 12 cents per pound for its copper contents. Sacking and transportation to New York via San Francisco cost about one cent jxt pound of copper contents. The total output of the mine to date is reported as 33,000 tons of ore, two thirds of which has been worked on the ground. Two 20-foot winzes and the shaft sump show that the 400-foot ore body mined maintains its width and values below the 400-foot level. These openings and the 150-foot extension of the 400- foot level constitute tlie only exploration in advance of mining operations. X Moon Mine. — Owned by the INIoon Gold Mining Company of Valley Springs, of which J. B. Lucas is vice-president and superintendent. Situated in sections 3, 9. and 10. township 5 north, range 10 east, about two and a half miles east of Richey. and southerly from the Newton mine. There are two shafts, one of which, equipped with a horse-whim, is 100 feet deep. The other is 140 feet deep. The mineralized zone is over 1000 feet wide. Formation, diabase schi.st down to talcose schist : course of vein, northwest and southeast. The vein stuff is a mineralization of the schist. NO large deposits of pyrite or chalcopyrite are yet reached. Gossan croppings are from IS inches to 8 feet in wndth. Granodiorite runs to the east of all prospects in this neighborhood. The vein matter also resembles closely that of the mines in ^Mariposa County. AMADOR COUNTY — COl'l'KH MINKS AND fLAIMS. 225 TluTc art' st'wral aljamloncd sliafts in this vicinity, on the thnnps of whicli the same kiiul of vein stutt' and ore ean still be observed. To tlie west of the .Moon 1000 feet is another old shaft. 140 feet deep, sho\vin«r the same sort of formation as does the .Moon. Thayer Mine. — In section 23. township 5 north, range 10 cast, a little north of the Calaveras River, on a continuation of the Satellite vein. It is opened by cuts and a main shaft. 240 fret dcr|). This shaft is c(|uippcd with a horse-wliini. The ore is snli)hi(lc l)cl(>w and carbonate above. lone City Mine. — This i)roi)crty, opened in the sixties, is in sections :i and 4. townsliip 5 north, ranjre HI east. Ore sulphide and vein matter amphibolite schist, with no iron caiipin^'. Owner. •!. Hoone. Chaparral Mine.— Tn section 10. township 5 north, range 10 east; has a shaft 120 feet dce|). which was opened in 1864. Now idle. The ore is sulphide and decomposed ironstone. Vein forniation. schistose diabase and amphibolite schist. Russel Mine. — This is on the Russel ranch, section 10. town- ship .') north, ranire 10 east. The shaft is 200 feet deep. There is a lari^^e diunp. 80 by 20 feet, of hi^ddy mineralized rock. 'I'he vein foi-?iiation is schistose diabase. Owner, II. Russel. Bull Run Mine. — On ^Vharf 's rantdi. in section 15, town.ship 5 noi-th. raii^M" 10 cast. Sliaft 400 feet deep. Large dump of sulpliide ore. Fornuition of vein, schistose diabase. Ore was shipped in the sixties from this pi-opeity. It was tlic reported intention to work this and tlie Russel mine uiuler the direction of the Huena Vista Copper .Mining Company. The Thayer mine has been added to tlie property of the Penn Chemical Company. A group of mines are situated in the northwestern part of the county in a broad, triangular formation of igneoas rock, quart/, porphyry, resting with the ])ase on the Cosumnes River, and extending al)out three miles south. The principal vein, the Cosumnes lode, known since 1860, carries high-grade sul- phide in a gangue of bla(d< shale and (puirtz. A paralhd vein of (piartz carrying iron and copper sulphides has been discovered at a short distance west of the main lode. This country consists of low hills mostly covered with grass. 15— Bfl. 50 226 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. and has been taken up for ranching purposes in large tracts, the mineral veins being included within their boundaries. The Copper Hill Mine. — This property comprises 2500 acres of patented land, owned by W. F. Detert. of Jackson, and that portion on which the old workings are located lies in sections 34 and 35, township 8 north, range 9 east. Large slag dumps show that at some time in the past the mines pro- duced considerable ore. After a long period of idleness the mines were opened again. The main shaft is situated on the Cosumnes vein, running south by east and north by west, dipping nortli ])y east about 60 degrees, varying in width from 2 to 4 feet, and, judging by the size of the slopes, forms much larger ])odies in places. The ore is prin- cipally a fine-grained, massive chalcopyrite, said to assay from 20 to 30 per cent copper, and to contain apprecialile values in gold and silver. The shaft is equipped with a 10 by 12 double- cylinder steam lioist, and has attained a depth of 500 feet. At the 80-foot level a drift runs nortli 150 feet and south 200 feet. At the 130-foot level a drift runs south 120 feet, and connects by a 50-foot crosscut with the workings of another shaft; another drift runs 280 feet west ; on the 230-foot level a drift runs 100 feet north and 250 feet south. On the 250-foot level one drift runs south 228 feet and one north 328 feet, from which most of the good looking ore on the dump has been taken. A short distance from the main shaft is located the southeast shaft, on a vein running parallel with the Cosunnies vein, about 50 feet east of it. It is a 3-compartment Incline and equipped with an 8 by 12 doulile-cylinder steam hoi.st. Tlie incline is 144 feet deep, and from the bottom I'uns one drift 50 feet south and one 28 feet north, connecting with the crosscut from the main shaft. In all other respects, this vein is identical with the Cosumnes vein, and perhaps it may be a spur only of the latter. Several hundred feet Avest of these veins, a shaft, the ''Blind Pigeon," was sunk 130 feet on a quartz vein carrying iron and copper sulphides and some zinc. Numerous prospect holes have been sunk along the outcrop of the main vein, of which the following are the most important : Tlie Pine Tree shaft, 1500 feet south of main shaft. 90 feet deep; Little Oak shaft, 150 feet south of southeast shaft. 90 feet deep; air shaft, southeast of main shaft. 150 feet deep; AMADOR COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. L'J _::( ziiK- shaft. 1)00 feet north of southeast shaft. 100 iV-ct (Iccp. There are over lL»00 feet of shafts and over 1800 feet of drifts, or more than :]000 feet of workings in the mines and of surfa<'e improvements: there are besides the shaft houses, worivshops and huihlintrs \\>v thr accdiimiudat ion of the workinir fni'<-<'. The Johnson Ranch Mine.— This properly is local. d on Stony CreeU. aJMiiit livr iiiilr.s southwest of JaeUson. in seetions 2'). :3r>, and M), township (i north, range 10 east. TIk; vein lies l)etween the greenstone and slate, eourse wrst l.y north, dij) northeast, and two shafts have been sunk nn it. Tlir one farthest south is said to he DO feet deep, with .") to (J IVet of vein carryin-i ure reported at L'.ti \u-v cent eopper, s}!3.75 in gold, and a little silver. About 1500 feet north there is another shaft said to he (50 feet deep, with a 12-foot vein in the bottom, carrying ore of a reported value of 10 per cent eopjx-r. ^24: in gold, and .+'4 silver. Owiiri-. Fr;ink Johnson: post offi<-c. Jackson. The lone Coal and Iron Company, a bi-anch of tli.' Paeifie Iniprovenieiit Company, ofliee Crocker building, 8an Francisco, has (i])eiu'd an old mine on its patented ground near Irish Hill, about three miles ikuMIi of lone. The vein is about 4 feet wide, with amphibolite schist for hanging aiul aluminous shales for foot wall: course north by west, dip 70 degrees east by north: ore. copper and iron sulphides, with eonsidera])le Muart/. A steam hoist has been installed at the :?00-foot shaft. The outcrop can he traced for a long distance. anuntain ran«re. here dispbiys two important lodes. The nuiin one cro.sses the county and apix-ars to ]iresent a fairly con- tinuous system of veins, which display considerable variations of contents, inclosin*: formations, etc. At (Vunpo Seco. on llie northern boundary of the county, is a izroup of patented claims, (piite extensively developed, which display stronjr veins and ores carrxini: some jrold and silver. Well toward the south side of the count i> a IV tlie mines at Copperopolis, the most important of the entire licit in the past, and here frold is absent from the ores. The practical continuity of this lode is shown by croppinprs and a «rreat inimber of shallow shafts sunk all alon-i' the lode at various times. A few miles westward of this lode is another one which is traced for a number of miles and in which is the Napoleon, the pioneer developed copper mine of the State. Heavy jrossan capjuu'js characterize both lodes. In early days several mines on these lodes other than those of present interest here described were opened to considerable depths and shipped more or less ore, but they arc now for^'otten. Some may a^'ain be jirospected at a futui'e time. Union Mine. — By far the most important copper mining property developed in California prior to 1896 is the extensive 230 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. one known since the beginning of, copper mining in California as the Union. For a great many years it has inchided the Keystone, which was. during the same period, the copper mine of second rank in the State. These two patented mines con- stitute tlie historical and widely known "Copperopolis Mines." They are in the town of Copperopolis, which they created in a little valley in the southwestern portion of Calaveras County, and in section 34, township 2 north, range 12 c.ist. on the main lode of the foothill copper belt, which here strikes 30 degrees east of .south and dips about 60 degrees east. The elevation is 1000 feet. The Union, was the first copper mine of the State to be productively developed on an important scale. Large bodies of rich ore were encountered near the surface and i)er- sisted downward, and for several years succeeding January, 1861, this mine produced the bulk of the California copper ores mined and shipped. In 1866, a year or two before the Union first closed, it was credited with having shipped 56,500 tons of ore assaying 15 per cent or more, and a much greater (juantity of ore of lower grade had been mined. The second largest producer at that time, the Keystone, was credited with 5719 tons shipped. The story of the Keystone during tliis period runs on similar lines, but this mine did not approach the success of the Union, which paid large dividends and was once held at a valuation of about .1>4.0()0.()00. Both mines were then opened to about the present depth, and operations ceased with good ore bodies displayed by the lowest workings. At 500 feet the Union shaft was in an ore body 15 feet wide ard of medium grade. The Union remained closed from 1868 to 1887, nineteen years. In the latter year it was \inwatered under the management of IT. D. Ranlett. The main shaft was sunk to (iOO tVet, and mining was resumed for about a year and a half, during wliich time 5000 or 6000 tons of ore were shipped. In 1889 a lOO-ton Orford smelting furnace was installed, without vei-y successful results. Operations again ceased in 1892. Leaching the dumps has been carried on during many years and a large amount of cement copper has been produced. The formation in which these mines occur is black pyritous slate and amphibolite schists and can be traced through Cala- veras County north into Amador County and south into Tuol- nmiio Countv. The lode in which are the Napoleon and Campo 232 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Seco niinos is to the westward, the distance being about six miles from Copperopoli.s, while the Campo Seco mines at the northern boundary of the county are nljout three miles west of the Copperopolis lode, as the latter is termed in this county. At the Union mine, and for a consideral)le distance north and south, this lode ])resents a sinule vein of l)lack pyritous shite in a belt of amphil)()lite schist, this formation exliibitino; no SMELTER OF UNION COPPER MINING COMPANY, COPPEROPOLIS, CALAVERAS COUNTY. material variations. The United States Geoloijical Survey has shown l)()th vein and inclosing formation to Ix' identical in age and character with the slaty veins aiid jiinphibolite schists (greenstones) of the parallel IMother Lode about twelve miles to the east. At Copperopolis the vein is from 3 to 40 feet wide, and occupies the trough of a .small valley which here averages a half mile in width, the valley itself being the result of the erosion of the soft slate and of the softer greenstones directly bounding it. Being covered by detritus and vegetation the vein exhibits no croppings in the immediate vicinity of Copper- opolis, and copper stains were the only indications which CALAVERAS COUNTY— COPPER CLAIMS. 233 . guiclt'cl the prnspoctiiiir thiil Itnl to the discovery uf the rich ore bodies l)elo\v. The Tnion and Keystone patented ehiinis comprise ry254 feet of the lode. The property of the Union Copper Minintr Com- pany, whieh is controlled by the estate of Frederick L. Ames, of Boston, also includes the Empire, the undeveloped south extension of the Tnion. an.l SOO acres of patented a-ricultural iK U CONCKNTKATOIi. INKJN COi'l'lOll MINING CuMl'AXV. ^"^'^'^ COPPKROPOLIS. CALAVERAS COUNTY. land north and .south of the mines, ^'ivin^r the company posses- sion of over three miles of the lode. Production has l)een con- fined to the Union claim and the south end of the Keystone claim, and undcrtri-ound exploration practically so. The vein, which in these claims exhibits a maximum width of about 40 feet and an averajre width of about 15 feet, carries a succession of ore bodies which are lenticular masses of sulphide copper ore (chalcopyrite) connected by strin«;ers of ore. The water level is here very close to the surface, and the alteration of the sul- phides has"extended to a depth of about 30 feet only. Within this zone of oxidation the ore bodies 1)elow the surface gossan 234 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. present a little native copper, and carbonates and oxides that are frequently very rich. There is no zone of secondary enrichment, and below the depth of 30 feet the unaltered sul- phides extend downward practically unchanged in character and average copper content to the greatest depths yet reached. Three ore bodies have as yet been opened and worked. Two of these outcrop in the Union and one near the south end of the Keystone. These ore shoots dip eastward with the vein and also longitudinally to the north. The largest one is the southernmost one, in the Union claim, and is about 300 feet long, from 2 to 40 feet wide, and has been followed to a depth of 600 feet, where it reaches the northern vertical l)oundary of the Union claim. One stope in this body, from which ore was extracted in the decade of the sixties, was about 40 feet wide. 80 feet high, and 100 feet long. The next shoot to the north in the Union claim is 200 feet long, is of less average width, and reaches well into the Keystone property, where it has been worked to the same depth as the larger ore body. The developed Keystone ore body is 100 feet long, from 1 to 15 feet wide, and is exactly similar to the others in character. It has been worked to a depth of 250 feet. The underground open- ings of the T^nion and Keystone claims, consisting of several thousand feet of drifts, .shafts, and stopes, are connected. Nine levels have been run in the mine and six shafts have been sunk to varying depths on ])oth properties. The question of the permanence .of values at depth in this foothill mineral belt is. in a way. (|uite as interest- ing and important as the same question in regard to the parallel ]\Iother Lode. Within recent years this question has been affirmatively decided along the IMother Lode, especially in the neighboring county of Amador, and at the Gwin mine, in Calaveras County, where extensive and valuable ore bodies are being mined at a present depth of about 2000 feet. This problem gives significance to the persistent characteristics of the ore shoots at CopperojKtlis and to the geological identity of the veins and inclosing formations of both lodes. AVithin the limits of the Union and Keystone claims, and outside of them along the lode through this company's prop- erty, superficial prospecting has revealed the buried outcrops of a nnniber of other bodies, all of wliich are remarkable CALAVERAS COUNTY — COPPER CLAIMS, 235 ill tlioir similarity to the throo developed ore bodies at the surface. The prospecting' and developing of such new ore bodies await the future. The Union ore bodies are, as indicated, practically solid masses of sulphides, carry no gold or silver, and are excep- tionally free from ])aser metallic elements. These ores thus differ from thase of the Napoleon-Campo Seco lode to the west, which carry gold, silver, and l)aser elements. It is stated that the copper ju'odiict of this mine has generally been used for the manufacture of copjier wire without electrolytic refining. The product has been two grades of ore — one a smelling ore averaging 11 ])er cent of copper, and the other a leaching ore averaging T) to .l'^^ per cent. Tlie mining operations liave yielded about two tons of the latter to one of the former, t»ut the low-grade leaching ore has l)een largely taken from the radiating stringers. 'I'lir surface plants, erected years ago, are extensive and inchule a large leaching })lant, necessary buildings, hoist, pumping j)laiit. etc. Tlit> mine yields a maximum of 80,000 gallons of water per twenty-four hours. Steam power is used, wood co.sting from $3.50 to $4 per cord. Water is pumped from a creek half a mile distant. Timl)ers and lumber are supplied from Stockton and the mountains to the east. The I'nioii Electric Light and Power Company, which is under the same control as the mine, owns 1200 acres of land, largely irold i>lacer ground, on the Stanislaus River at the southern boundary of the county, and there are several miles of water ditch. This property was secured to provide a supply of water and power for the mine and town. The company has added to its holdings by purchasing adjoining property, and now owns besides the P^mpire, Union, and Keystone claims, over 1500 acres of patented ground. Important improvements have been made on top, and the geological and mineralogical conditions of the mine have been carefully studied by John A. Reid, who has published the results of his investigations in a monograph entitled "The Ore Deposits of Copperopolis, Calaveras County, California." which gives a minute description of the ore deposits and the formation in which they occur. According to this author the amphibolite schists in which the copper mines of Amador 236 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. County and in the northern part of Calaveras County are sit- uated do not enter this section, but come to an end about two mih's north of Copperopolis. The hills Hankinji; tlie narrow valley in which the camp is located on the east and west, ar<' formed by meta-andesite (augite porphyry) intercalat(Hl with beds of chlorite schists. The vein which occupies nearly the center of the valley, lies in a narrow strij) of Mariposa slates which f>radually merjies into the schists on both sides. The ore-bearing formation is chlorite schist about 100 feet wide. with scarcely any other gangue rock minerals. Tlie liaiii:iii<: wall is formed by slate throughout, l)ut the foot wall is fonucd in })laces by a thin layer of serpentine, separated from tiie ore l)y a band of talc. Of the two principal ore bodies. No. 1 lies east on the hanging wall, No. 2 west on the foot Avail and north of it, extending into the Keystone. In the lowest levels, at a depth of 600 feet, they show no change in the character of the ore and size, the width varying from 'M) to 50 feet and over. Lately only the main Tnion sliaft on the east slioot was used for hoisting, but the Keystoiu^ shaft on the west shoot, 400 feet deep, was being put in sluipe. It is cfjuipped Avitli a steam hoist and a steel gallows frame, fitted with iron ore l)ins. There are two levels in this shaft, from Avliieli it is staled good ore has been taken. Eight levels have l)een run from the main shaft, and from the six lower levels crosscuts exteiul through the west vein to the foot wall. Two winzes have l)een s]mk in the bottom of the lowest level, one near the main shaft. 25 feet deep, and one in the west ore shoot 80 feet deep, with a drift in the l)ottoiii. both showing the ore body undiminished in size and the ore improved in grade. A drift from tlie seventh level connects with the Keystone shaft. The following analysis of the lower grade, or concentrating ore, is given in Mr. Reid's assay: SiO. 1M.14 AlA 14.1(t FeO i:J.!tl Fe,03 11..")! Cab <••!) McO S..-0 K2( ) Trace "SluO Traco I'D, Trace II.O north. range 10 east, sections 4 and '^. township 4 north, range 10 240 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. east. SuhsLHiuent developments have sliown that tlie vein splits north of the Campo Seeo shaft into an east and west braneh whieh continue parallel in a southerly direction, not far apart, and can be traced l)y tlieir outcrops for a long distance. The point where the west vein begins is not known, but it must be somewhere between the INIokelumne River and the shaft, because it can l)e plainly seen west of it, and in the river bed, which cuts deeply througli the hills and exposes the formation, onlv one vein can l)e found ci-ossing it. The liills SMELTING WORKS OF THE PENN MINING COMPANY, AT CAMPO SECO. througli which the east vein passes are capped by heavy deposits of auriferous river gravel which has been extensively washed and exposes in many places the heavy gossan on the apex of the vein, making it easy to follow its course. Of the five shafts on the property, three are located on the eastern vein, on the Campo Seco and Hekla claims, and two on the western vein, on the Satellite claim, farther south. Two shafts, one on each branch, serve for hoisting purposes. Beginning at tlie southern end. shaft No. 1 is 400 feet in depth, it serves for ventilation; No. 2 is 750 feet and the CALAVERAS COUNTY COPPER CLAI.M.S. liU deepest sluift in (•anip. Il is eper have Ici n found. In the deeper parts of the mine, the i)rincipal ore is chalcopyrite with iron i>yrit(^s. with occasionally some cop])er glance, bornite and (ovellite. It is reported that the ore bodies attain a thickness of 30 feet in places and contain 7 in— BiL. 50 242 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CAMFOKXIA. to 11 per cent copper, $3 to $4.50 gold and $5 to $6 in silver. Most of the ore carries a little zinc, and some of it a rather high percentage. The reduction plant is ((iiiiposed of a water- jacket blast furnace 36 hy 72 inches, of 100 tons capacity (about 80 tons net ore) ; two reverberatory furnaces of 50 and 100 tons and ciLiht ]\lcDougall roasting furnaces of 16 tons each, the entire smelting capacity being about 230 tons. The walls of the reverberatory furnaces arc lined with chrome-iron, cemented with a mortar made of gi-ound (juart/C, and tiie talcose shales mentioned alxjvc. A liigii-gi'ade matte of 60 per cent and over is the final product of the smelting opera- tions. Crude oil is Tised as fuel for the boilers, the reverbera- tory furnaces and the locomotives which haul the ore from the mines to the smelter. Electricity generated on the ground, is used I'or lighting and also for motive power; electric loco- motives are employed in the yard for hauling slag pots, etc. Between 150 and 200 men are employed on the premises. Tlic company has .secured tlic Thayer claim, and consider- able ground ])esides on the northern extension of the vein, across tlie ^lokelumne Eiver. in Amador County. The Constitution Mine. — South of the property of the Penn Chemical Comi)auy are three claims belonging to C. Borger, of Campo Seco, two of which, the Meteor and the Constitution, are located on the southern extension of the east vein ; the third, the West Constitution, forming a continuation of the Satellite claim. A shaft has been suidv on the Constitution to a depth of 400 feet, and some good ore has been found scattered tlirough the vein. A shaft was started in the gossan a short distance south of the main shaft, and a streak of ore was discovered which incrcasi'd at 45 feet to a body of good ore 4 feet wide. The ore is tlu' same as in the Penn Chemical Companj^'s property, and assays of 15 per cent copper, witli some values in gold and silver, are reported. ]\Ir. Borger secured the mineral rights on this vein for a considerable distance iM^yond his property. Napoleon Mine. — This, the oldest copper mine in the State, lies to the south and west of Copperopolis al)out nine miles, and is in section 23. township 1 north, range 11 east. r.M-AVF.KAS COrXTV — fOIM'KR CLAIMS. 243 It is thirteen ;iii mine. There is also a large dump of oxidized and suli)hide ore. About two and a lialf miles farther north, near the IMokelunuie Rivei-. is another shaft called the "Salt Gulch." Jackson McCarty Mine. — Known al.so as the old Calaveras mine; about three miles north of (^ipperopolis. in section 23. township 1 north, range 12 east. It has a shaft 250 feet deep. lALAVKRAS COlNTV -(•(H'l'KU CLAIMS. 24;> Caledonian Mine.— (Mi tlir mad fn. ni Vall.'v Spi-inf,'s to (;asl(Mrs ran.-li: has a sliafl L'.')!! f.vt .Iccp. sunk in llir sixties. The Pool Mine.— This pn.pri-ty was turned over 1(. ihe Nassau CopixT C.Mnpany. whi.-li put u]. a strani lioist aiul sunk the shaft to :5<><> fret, witli srvn-al hundred feet of drifts. .Me., and is reported as having taken out $7(),00(> of ore. Th»' water taken frein the mine is run into pre- eipitatini: tanks. The vein varies from 15 to ::<> feel; tlie ore differs from the ore of the I'nion mine. earryin<-- more (piartz. jrroater values in izohl an'><^ Sul|iliiir — '" Zinc ^;:% Copper '% (Jol.l ^'^"-• Silver '"'•'^• President. 1. E. Porter. No. 1155 Castro street. Oakland, California. On the road to Aiik'eLs Camp, three miles north of Copper- opolis, in section 2. township 2 nackward state. Quite a number of important mines have been developed and operated, however. This remote region has frequently, but erroneously, been given the honor of possessing the first copper deposit discovered and opened in the State. This deposit was found in Hope Valley in 1855 by "Uncle Billy" Rogers. The ore occurred in the form of a "chimney," presented a beauti- ful appearance, was I'ich in garnets, and attracted considerable attention for a brief time. Other deposits of better com- mercial value were later discovered and opened. Two Imve been noted. Leviathan Mine. — Owned by T). Bari. of Silver Creek, California. The mine is located ten miles east of ]\Iarkleeville. The nearest ])oint to a railroad is Carson City, fortv miles distant. There is a 400-foot tunnel tapping the ledge 250 feet below the outcrop : 200 feet below this tunnel another tunnel is in 700 feet. Both tunnels are connected by a winze. The ore occurs in kidneys in porphyry. About 300 tons of ore have ])eon sliipped to a smelter. Stella Mine. — Located two and a half miles southwest of the Leviatlum, and is owned by an Englisli company. The mine has been operated for silver and copper. There is a 300- foot shaft and hoisting apparatus. Water power is availal)le. TJie ^Morning Star mine, an old mine in the ]Mogul district north of IMarkleeville. has been again productive. It is operated as a gold and silver property, luit the ore carries a good deal of copper. One lot of 22 tons mined in 1901 is reported to have yielded 17 per cent of copper, nnd $32 in gold and 40 ounces of silver per ton. TUOLUMNE COUNTY, 247 TUOLUMNE COUNTY. Another of tli." ^'reat gold-mining; counties of the slope iTossed l.\ llic foothill eopper helt is Tuoluninc. a lar-e. irregn- larlv shaped eounty. which stretdies its eastern and lon-.-st hmindary far along the Sierra crest, reaches westward down the slopJ l)etween torrential streams, and claims a small section of the foothill region with its narrow western end. It is a part of the Wonderland of the general region of the Yosemite Vallev which lies to the south, and includes aboiit half of the Yosemite National Park and of the Stanislaus forest reserve. Iletch-IIctchy Valley and some of the higher peaks of the ranire are amon- the varied features of its scenic grandeur. It has a wealth of natural resources yet but slightly exploited. Agriculture and liorticulture Hourish more largely than m some neighboring counties, and there is an extensive lumber industry. Splendid opportunities for the extensive generation of electric power are presented. :Mining is yet by far the dominant industry of the ounly. Its i-i.li early placers luive been succeeded by an era of (luart/. minim:, wiiich for some time has been showing marked prog- ress. Few counties of the State have recently attracted so much mining capital to their gol«l mining fields or seen more active developnuMit of successful or promising .piartz mines. The :^rother Lode crosses its western part and affords some of the b.'st and well-known mines of the State. The east belt. paralleling the ^lother Lode, shows its most valuable and most extensively developed mines in Tuolumne County. The base- ore belt of the high Sierras is wholly undeveloped h<'re. as in other counties. The ccmnty's mineral resources are widespread and various, but irold. and a little silvei- mined with it. .v.'t ,-(mstitutes the princii)al mineral product. The mitput in lOOG wa.s $L080.675 in gold and $8.47() in silver. Besides the great continuous lielts along which gold mining is maiidy concen- trated, there are districts containing many lidi pocket mines. One of these mines has yielded .^2.000,000. The Sierra rail- 248 THE COl'l'KK KESOUKCES OK CALIKOKXIA. way crosses the foothill and ^Mother Lode belts, affording direet eomniunieation witli the most populous and productive l)ortions of the county. Throutrh the western end of the county the copper belt pre- sents two branches. It enters the county from the north closer to the ^lother Lode belt than elsewhere, being but two or three miles westward. The two divisions of the belt diverge some- what in crossing the county southeasterly, and both are marked at intervals by outcrops of cupriferous veins and l)y old shafts of slialldw depth, whicli mark the man\- pi-ospecting efforts of former periods. A few properties have shipped a little ore, mainly forty years ago. but no mines of note have yet been developed. ^lany of the deposits carry gold, and in a few gold aft'ords the chief incentive to exploration. The western ])ranch of the belt is the stronger one. From Copperopolis, in Calaveras County, it enters Tuolumne County at Byrne's Ferry, and passes through the Don Pedro district to the south- east. Tlie eastern branch enters the county .just west of Tuttletown and passes out at ^loccasin Creek at the south. The copper belt is clearly defined, exhibits favorable indica- tions, and. as do other sections of the belt, presents strong possibilities for the future. On the Kohl ranch, in sections 6 and 7. township 1 north, range 14 east, west of the Rawhide gold mine, and to the west of the Serpentine, the east branch of the copper belt is traced l)y croppings and cuts. The vein matter here has the appear- ance of a chloritic schist. On the Shell ranch, in section 17. township 1 north, range 14 east, southwest of the Rawhide mine, on tlie flank of Table ^Mountain, a copper deposit exists. This ore is rich in gold. ill till- town of Chinese Camp is an old shaft about 100 feet deep. The dump shows good copper ore. This is in section ft. township 1 s(mth. range 14 east. On the Olson ranch, in sections 31 and 32. township 2 south, range 14 east, is the old Golden City mine, which shows copper ore. The mine, however, has been worked chiefly for its gold. On the ^Fackay ranch, in section 28. township 1 north, range 14 east, is a shaft in croppinirs showing copper ore. mainly carl)onate. Tt til.r.MNE COrXTY — COl'PER CLAIMS. •J41> On .M.M-.iisiii Cnvk. in s.-.-tions l!i. L'O. 2s. .md L".!. ttiwiislup 1 south. i-Miii:.' l."» cast. iir«' copp.-r troppinirs and a shaft '22 feet deep, showiiiir .-lialfopyritc l-'i-diii the Tuolimmc Hivor sroin«; south in this rauirc a deposit ol" copj)!'!- with lu-avy iron- stono cap can l)c tniccd l)v crop|)iu.irs for over a mile. Alonir the west lode tlie foHowiuir properties aic noted: Washing-ton Mine.— In sections :?(». .n. and •■V2. townshi]) 2 south. I'ani:.- 1.') rast. The owners are W. H. Ilensley and (1. A. Ilensley. There foriuerly was a town of over 400 people sustained by thr mine. Th<' town was destroyed l)y tire: the price of copper depreciated: the place was deserted. The ores are of a very jrood grradc. sulphides pri'douiinating. The vein fonualinii is diabase and nieta-diabase. On Donahue's ranch, in section 2'.\. townsliip 2 south, range 1-4 east, there is an old tunnel said to be 1000 feet lon^\ with good eop|)er HI'.' on the dump. The foi'mer superintendent, Mr. Z. lirown. shipped sonu' hiuh-.urade copper ore. In the Don Pedro district the copjier l)elt is ch^arly traced in its course northwesterly. Prospect holes are found in section f). township A south, range 15 east. On the Hlam-hard place is a shaft 60 feet deep, in which is exposed good chalcopyrites. At Montezuma is the Ohio House mine, showing good copper ore. On the AY. X. Adams place, in section Ki. township 'A south, range 1.") east, are shafts and o|>eu cuts, showing coppei- ores, which were opened in the sixties. The Kohl, Shell and Mackay Ranch and Chinese Camp.— No further woi-|< has been dime nn these prospects. Dan Mahon located two (daims. unpatented, on Wood Creek, between Sonora and Chinese Camp, section 21. town- ship 1 north, range 14 east, on cojjper croppings in serpentine, lying between granite in the east and granodiorite in the west. .\ -JO-foot shaft was sunk in the gossan on tlu^ granite eon- tact, sliowing some copper oxides, and an 18-foot open cut a little west of it in the serpentine shows several streaks of iron and copper sulphides reported to assay ') per cent cop]>er and $2.50 in gold. Ad.ioining the property F. T. Lillard located fonr claims (unpatented i on an iron outcrop showing copper oxides, which 250 THE COI'PER HKSOLRCES OF CALIFUKNJA. can he traced for some distance. In a shallow shaft on Ihe hill- side a small amount of rich ore, consisting of copper glance and oxides, was found, and a tunnel was started lower down to crosscut Ihf narrow vein. A small pocket of rich ore, similar to that taken out of the shaft was encountered and the face of the tunnel, which is in serpentine, showed streaks of iron oxide. The formation is serpentine. The property is situated in sections 18 and 21. township 1 north, range 14 east. Oak Hill Copper Mine. — This property is located on pat- ented jiround. on a large vein in porphyrite, strike northwest, with slight dip to southwest. Gangue rock consists of clay shale, generally showing a foliated structure, but al«o forming homogeneous masses without any regular cleavage. Iron pyrites and some copper are disseminated throughout this entire mass, the presence of the latter being proven by the crystals of copper sulphate in all the workings, which in places occur in such masses as to ])artly cover the walls of the drifts and stopes. The eastern wall of the vein is formed by a quartz dike 30 to -iO feet wide, from which it has been crosscut west 80 feet, without reaching the western wall, so that its width is not yet known. This quart/, dike and the adjacent part of the vein crops out on the surface and can be traced over 350 feet. l)ut neither the western part of the vein nor its wall appear on the surface, from which its width could be determined. Two ore shoots are known, one close to the eastern wall, the other near the present western lioundary. varying in width from a few feet to 6 feet and more, the old workings near the surface showing stopes 30 feet wide. From the surface to a depth of 100 feet, the ore consists of oxides, carrying a fair percentage of gold. Below that level it is mostly sulphide, pyrites of iron, chalcocite and perhaps some oxide and other metals, the richest ore being black and soft. Chalcopyrite seems to be almost absent in the upper workings, but 6 feet of i- have been struck in a drift on the 300-foot level, after passing througli 75 feet of the black ore. When the present company took hold of the property in 1001. a new shaft was sunk 150 feet on the west vein, a littb^ north of the old discovery shaft, drifts run from the bottom and the 100-foot level, and the ground between them stoped out. After it TUOLUMNE COUNTY COIM'KK CLAIMS. -i")! had ht'i'ii worked for two ycjirs. and leased for a short time, it was shut th)\\ii and reiiiaiiie(l idh' until work was resumed uiuler mauairemeiit nf ( '. !•'. Stnckinn. A drift was run east to the <|uart/. and the ore shoot discovered, whieh was stojX'd up to the lOO-foot h'vel, the same as the west shoot. The shaft was sunk to '^'^0 feet, with 800-foot drifts on the lOO-foot level; 4()0-foot drifts on LlO-foot level; 350- foot drifts on 300-foot level: altojrether there are {)rohal)l\- about 2000 feet of development work in the mine. The ore shipped duriny: the tirst period varied, aceordiiii: to report, from: ^'old. .22, .71. and .<)2 of an ounce; silver. 2.38, 7.11, and 6.1 f) ounces; co})per. 4.!). 10..'). and 20.!' ]ier cent. The sliaft is e(|uip|)ed with a irasoline hoist, and the huildintzs necessary for the operation of the mine are on the tri-ound. Mana^'er. C F. Stoekinu'. La (!r;iniri' post office; main ol'ticc. Santa Cruz. Mitchell or Bonne Terre Mine. — About one mile west of Oak Hill mine, situated on patented ground. The shaft is 100 feet deep, with 100 feet drift on a vein cairyinf; sulpiiides almost from the surface, besides fair values in j?old. but also a hiirh percenta<;e of /inc. ()\\nei-, Locke Robinson. .M.E.. et al.. Sonora. Washington Mine. — Only assessment work done for some years. East of the ^lother Lode, ill sections 20 and 21. township 2 north, ran^'e 17 east, copper oi-e in (|iiai't/. occurs in consider- able quantities. This deposit is similar to one described as the Robert mine in El Dorado County. The ore is rey:arded mostlv fur its irold value. MARIPOSA COUNTY. In ^lariposa Count\ the copper belt presents some of the extensive ore bodies developed alonj; the belt outside of the few lar^rer producing; mines to the north, and the deposits here are most noteworthy, on account of the large percentage of gold frerpiently carried by the ores. Some of these ore bodies attracted attention during the earliest vears of the 'S-)'J. 11 IK COPPER RESOURCES OK CALIFORNIA. iiulustry. and here were some of the earliest iniiiiim' operations aiul attempts at copper smeltinu'. Thousands of tons of ore iiave been mined and shipped, with or without concentration, and in the sixties the industry supported a considerable popu- lation. During a period of copper activity several promising properties, old and new. were opened and actively developed. Mariposa County covers a large area of the Sierra slope at about the latitude of San Francisco, has an irregularly tri- angular shape, and. unlike Tuolumne County on its north, has the base of the triangle it constitutes in the foothills and its narrow end near, the crest of the range. It shares the rugged topography, forests, and ai)uiid;uit water characteristic of the slope. The county is chiefly known to the world through its possession of those natural wonders, the Yosemite Valley and the chief groves of the kingly Sequoia giganica. or "Big Trees." A branch railroad reaches to Raymond in ]\radera County close to the southwestern boundary. The Yosemite Valley Railrdad. which extends from Merced up the Merced River canyon lo El Portal, furnishes li-ansportation facilities nearly to Vosciiiilc A^alley. It also furnishes facilities for reaching tin' nn'ning disti-iets on both sides of the IMerced River. AVhilc the county has various resources and attractions, it is and will remain chietly a mineral county. As such it has an important future. It is full of ojiportunities for legitimate mining enterprise backed with sufticient capital. The great ^Mother Lode courses through the county and finds its southern termiinis in the southern ])art of this county, where it loses its identit\- and is succeeded by the irregular system of quartz veins which continues far southward along the slope. In I\Iariposa County the ^Mother Lode is characterized by the great width of its quartz veins and ore bodies. About fifteen milas of the lode are included in tlie ^lariposa Grant, an estate of over 44.000 acres, owned by a company that reopened some old mines, one of which yielded $4,000,000 many years ago. Another section of the lode is included in the 20.000 acres held by the Merced Gold Mining Company. Some miles from the ^Mother Lode is the east belt, one of whose mines has produced $2,500,000. The copper belt running through the foothills courses for forty miles through Mariposa y hJ. '•^'.X ^^*^ ■^ YTM-JMUO ./^-PO'TIPX.M GREEN MOUNTAIN GROUP OF MINING CLAIMS, MARIPOSA COUNTY. MARIPOSA C017NTY. 253 County, and licrc I hen- has Ix'cn a ^M-.-al dral of at-livii y in ilir opening of both gohl and copper mines. The eo])|)(r |)r()])ei-- ties here deserihed ace mainly taken in suc(Tssi(»n north\vai-d t'l'itm the soutli si(h' of the count \-. Neai' the south lim- of .Mariposa ("ounty, in i-aiiLie IS cast. is Green Mountain, a considerable prominence throuudi whose suuuuit i)asses a vein of ironstone carrying copper. This vein is a part of the great California copper l)elt. and at this locality has a large, heavy, bold cropping of gossan, which is a hydrated. siliciou-s iron oxide, the decomposed remains of a solid iron sulphide rock that contained copper. .Ml the copper. formerly doubtless in the condition of copix-r sulphide, has not leached out of this gossan mass. A small amount, from 1 to 4 per cent, sonu^times i-emains on the decompo.sed sui-face material, and in sevei'al inslaiices has been the means of lead- ing: to the discovery (d" the nuisses of richer copper oi'e ]\iim below the /one of decomjjosition. Green Mountain Mines. — Siiualed about six miles west from K'a.Muond. in sections :{1 and ;!l'. township 7 south, i-ange 18 east. The owiu'rs aiv O. K. Sydney et al. ; |)o.st otfice address. Le <;ran(le. The mines have been worked at various times since lM(i;}, and have produced large (piautities of hiuh-grade copper oxide and carbonate ores. Thousands of feet of tuiuiels and drifts have been run in development and foi- the extrac- tion of oi'e. Tliesi' openings, as well as 1 he croppings of gossan, show the vein, or deposit, to be from :}()() to 1200 feet in width between the inclosing walls of granodiorite on the east and dioriti' on the west. There is a large number of openings on the property, the most important of which are two tunnels several hundred feet in lengtii, above which are the stopes and chambers fi-om which the best ore has been taken and shipi)ed. The lower or east tunnel is in (iOO feet. At al)out 400 fed it has crosscut a vein HO feet in widt h. The main body of ore lies l)ack of this, the openings or workings of which are about 60 feet above the tunnel level, to which they are all connected by an upraise. From this upraise, several hundred feet of drifts and chambers are i-un in sul|)hide ores of good value. Thus far. no walls have been found in these workings. About 900 feet west from the above tunnel, and 50 feet al)ove it. another tunnel has been run several hundred feet, and from it a large — -^/fc' .4..; ■-""'■••■V"'/ \ « f' "* W^^-I^ff if . il i '--XM li I 1 — ? >i 'K^ . ^\ k ^c^-r-^ ■< ^ V »«4Aa3^ OH«t4IM "^O «t^4 to ^5 gold, and with a force of 6 or 7 men netted $1000 per month for quite awhile. A tunnel has been run about 500 feet on the east side of the mountain, and from the point where it cuts the vein a drift has been run along the latter for more than 20»l feet. Near the end is a winze filled with water, which is reported to have over 5 feet of ore in the l)ottom. The outcrop of the vein can l)e traced aloim' the hill t'oi' (jiiite a distance. The aral)le land is limited to a small. com])aratively level area, surrounded by hills on three sides, through which passes a large quartz vein. Close to the dwelling house are some old workings, and it is reported that some rich ore was shippi^d from an old shaft now tilled with water. There are numerous and large outcrops of (piai'tz on the hills all around this place, and a short distance east of the Green mine tunnel is the old Toad mine, which is said to have produced some rich ore. This part of the county consists entirely of hills, which are MAKII'OSA COINTY — COPPER CLAIMS. '_'.)( mostly too steep to be aclapted for ai;rieultin-;il pui'iioses. and with the exception of the small i)ii'ct' iicai- Chapiiiaii 's house, no cultivated land can be seen for a lonir distanct' in any direetiou. Lone Tree Mine. — Tiiis pnipci-iy. situated a shoi-t distance we.st from the Green .Mountain, with the same ownership, shows a well-defined vein of sehistase rocks, or coppery ^'an<;ue, about iJOO feet wide, from which lar.uc (luantities of carljonate ores have been extracted and shipped. This mine is opened l)y several shafts, varying' from 25 to 100 fec^t in deplh. all .showing coi)pei- oi-e of £rood (piality. The a\'erage de])th below croppinirs. in l)otli the Green Mountain and Lone Tree mines, to which the r body, in si/e. of the best (piality ore discovered in the mine. This is ;i dark-bine snl- pliide ore. (ireen carbonate oi-e has been shi]>])ed that yielded POCAHONTAS COPPKi: -Ml.Xi:. MARIPOSA COUNT!'. 35 per cent copper. Other carload shijnnents have jjiven 30 per cent copper. There is on the diiinp over 350 tons of ore of fjood grade. The former lessees (Wilcox Bros.) within the three years shipped over $30,000 worth of copper ore. The adjacent country consi.sts of low rollin*/ hills and grazintr land, is easy of access, and is twenty-four miles frt)m .Merced, and about fifteen miles from the Santa Fe Railroad. These properties, the Great Northern and Pocahontas, are controlled since July, 1907, l)y the Pocahontas Copper Alining Company, office Xos. 112 and 114 .AJlarket street, San Francisco. Manager, David Ross, Lewis post oifice. A new shaft has 262 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. been sunk on the hillside, and a tunnel has hecn started at the foot of the hill whieh is in :U{) i'.'cl. AIm.uI 200 feet of vertical depth -will be gained. On the Pocahontas the main shaft on top of tlu' hill has been sunk Iroin 120 to 200 feet and a drift started to cut the vein, whieh has dipped away from the shaft within the last 25 feet. There are several old drifts above the 100-foot level from whicli oi'e has been stoped up to the surface, and below that level is a 25-foot winze sunk into a body of dark sulphide ore, wliich has been stoped f(U' ab(uit 20 feet in one dii-ection. At the 150-foot level, a drift runs 80 feet south on the vein show- ing over 4 feet of ore. chaleopyrite of good grade. South of ihe main shaft is an old 60-foot shaft., connected at tlu' bottom with a 300-foot tunnel, starting at the southern extremity of the hill. Some good oxidized ores have been taken from shaft and tunnel and some good sulphides from a winze in the latter. Considerable improvements have been made on the surface. A steam hoist has been placed on the shaft and tlie necessary buildings for blacksmith shop, assay office, lodgings, office, etc., have been erected. The former owners under bond, Roberts, Higgins & Co., Avorked the mine six months and shipped nine carloads of ore. A. C. Smith owns a copper mine about one and a half miles west of the Pocahontas, on patented land, in section 9, town- ship 7 south, range 17 east, which was discovered twenty-five years ago. and has been worked on and off under lease. The vein seems identical in course, dip, and character of ore with the Great Northern, of whicli it apparently forms the con- tinua'ion. The shaft is 80 feet deep. Charles Hill shipi)ed a carload of ore reported to have assayed 15 per cent copper. White Rock Copper King Mine. — In section 14. township 7 south, range 17 east. It lies aliout a quarter of a mile west of the contact of the granodiorite belt. The vein matter is schistose diabase, 25 feet and upward in width. There are heavy gossan croppings. Cuts, shafts, and openings in these croppings show that these decomposed masses extend down- ward for more than 30 feet. The main shaft is over 150 feet deep. This is equipped with a whim hoist. Develoi)ment work in this shaft was in progress. Below 100 feet the ore is WHITE ROCK, MARIPOSA COUNTY. WHITE ROCK MINE, MARIPOSA COUNTY. 264 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNLV. sulphide. From the shaft there are over 175 feet of drifts, all in ore. The vein channel is 100 feet wide, as shown by these drifts. Several carloads of oxide and carbonate ores were shipped, which yielded 35 per cent copper. On the dump there are several varieties of copper ore, while the bottom of the shaft is in ^rood sulphide ore. One carload of ore was shipped that assayed over 40 per cent copper. Thi' vein is traced southward to the Green Mountain mine, a distance of over three and a half miles, and northward for over half a mile. The ore carries from $1.50 to $2.50 in gold and 1 to 31^ ounces of silver per ton. About 100 feet to the east of the main shaft is a hole 10 feet wide, 15 feet lonjr, and 40 feet deep, all in jrossan. This eossan contains from about 4 to 7 per cent of copper. The superintendent of the property is Edwin L. Foster; post office address, Lewis. The mine was discovered in 1!)00. At this point the copper belt is known to be over three and a half miles wide. The property is about thirteen miles east of Le Grande, on the Santa Fe Railroad, and easily accessil)le. The mine, owned by the White Rock ^Minintr Conip.iny. in .Maine, has been idle foi- the last three years. Tlie main shaft is said to be 160 feet deep. Throughout the belt of country in which are the Green Mountain, Pocahontas, and AYhite Rock mines, can be seen on almost every knoll, for a width of three or four miles, very heavy croppings of decomposed ironstone which carry copper. All of these have a general northerly and southerly trend. This character of formation, with slight modifications, extends ui^ to and beyond Hornitos. but is particularly noticeable in tlic White Rock section. Another feature of the White Rock section is the frequency of strong wliite quartz croppings. from the principal one of which the district derives its name. Cornett Copper Mine. — Tn section 19, township 6 south, range 17 east ; II. \V. Cornett, owner. The sulphide ore appears at the surface. The vein matter is schistose diabase, the most mineralized portion of which forms a vein 34 inches wide. The ^-ranodiorite belt is only a short distance to the east. The ore is mainly sulphide, and 160 sacks of it shipped yielded 17. 22, and 23 per cent of copper. $2.26 and $4.60 in gold. The deposit is about twenty-one miles east of ]\Ierced. MAKIPOSA COUNTY COPPER CLAIMS. 'id") (liarlt's liill workrd a j)r(i|)crly l)('l(»ii<,nn^ lo I'r. I'atf, about five iiiili-s west, on the i'dixr of the San Joa(|uiii \ alley. Yosemite Copper Company. — This coinpany. ollii-c 7)A Pm-lcr liuildiiiu'. San .losi''. owns a lariif nniulx'i' of claims on the road fi'oiM ( "oullci'villc lo KaLrl»y. about two and a half miles from the lattt'i' plaff. A shoit lunurl ciin in on licaxy uossan sliows some iiravy suli)liidi' of ii'on with some copper in it. and sonic oxidized ores are found on the sui'faee. .\ tunnel ha.s liecn .started some dislanee liejow, which is in 300 feet. Lone Tree Mine. — ()\vned b\- II. W ("ornctt -, is in section 2, township 7 south, ranue Jt) east. IIeav_\- y:ossan cii»ppiny;s sliow in several places on the claim. The inclosiuL: rctcks are a slaty •schistose diabase. The de\-ehiiinien1 is a shaft abmit "JO feet deep. This i)roi>erty is about seventeen miles east of Mei'ced. The ure cari'ies a nood percenta northern boundary, was operated with the aid of a small iurnaee. and l-')!) tons of copper bars had been shipped. This county has al.so been the scene of later attempts at mining and reduction of copper ores bv the California Copper Company, though temporary failure' has marked the attempt. Several copper properties have been vnidergoing development. Madera County differs from its northern neighbors of the Sierra Nevada I'liin.-ral belt in reaching westward past the foothills to the center of the great San Joaquin Valley, and so including in its area a large section of that fertile plain. It mainlv lies on the slope, however, reaching to the summit line of th(" ranue. and possessing a wealth of minerals, for&sts, and waters. Though the Moth.M- Lode and the auriferous slate belt of the slope terminate just to its north, the county includes a rich section of the Sierra auriferous belt, but tli.' iniiltitudi- nous quartz veins are in granite and oilier formations. There are several important gold mining districts in the county, including Grub Gulch, Fine Gold, Fresno, Potter's Ridge, and others, and a numl)er of important mines have been developed, yet the county has been strangely neglected and its mineral resources are but slightly developed or even known. Ilieh in the Sierras, by the Minaret :\rountains. are rich silver-bearinir veins, and one of the largest and richest deposits; 270 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. of iron ore in the United States. Difficulty of access and other conditions have kept them undeveloped. Among other mineral resources of the county is granite. The granite quarry at Raymond is one of the largest and most active in the west. The foothill mineral belt crosses the county from IMariposa to Fresno, maintaining its southeasterly course and its relative position on the slope. Buchanan Mine. — Close lo Ihe northern l)oundary of Madera County, hut a little south of the Green ^lountain mine, in ]\Iariposa County, is the old Buchanan mine. It is in section 33, township 8 soutli. range ]8 east, and is oa\iu'(1 l)y G. A. Pherson. Five miles southwest is Daulton, on tlie branch rail- road to Raymond. The mine is opened by five tunnels, respec- tively 500, 120. 100, 60, and 30 feet in icngtli. There are also two shafts, each about 200 feet deep. The vein matter is diabase and amphibolite schist, l)otli mineralized. The east wall of tile diabase dil^e is granodiorite. The ores are princi- pally oxides near the surface. In depth they are the unaltered sulphides. There are three winzes ])elow the 500-foot tunnel, which show the four veins from 4 to J) feet wich\ Tlic large dumps show that extensive work has been done in times past, since the discovery of the deposits in the early sixties. What ore can be seen appears to be good both in (juantity and (piality. The mine is near tiie railroad. On the line southeast toward the Daulton ranch house there are several openings on the 1)elt consisting of okl and new shafts, cuts, and tunnels, whereby one is enabled to, trace the course of the belt unerringly. The mine has been worked by the United States Copper Smelting and ?\Iitiing Company, under liond. ^Vitll one exception. Ilic obi tunnels are partly caved in and are no longer in use. and a new shaft has been started below the old one near the foot of the hill about 200 feet east of the vein. It is 200 left deep and a drift runs from the bottom in a westerly direction, intended to cut the vein dipping towards it within about a hundred feet. The shaft is equipped with steam hoist, air compressor, and the necessary accessory build- ings. The principal vein has been traced alonu- tlie slope of the hill for some distance, its strike bearing north 15 degrees west, with a dip of 70 degrees towards the east. Several small Eh z D O o < a x; Pi o a A y. 23 272 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. ore seams of little importance are found east of this vein with a course parallel to it. Part of the mine was worked under lease by .Mr. Van Timmens. w ho worked the main vein through a tunnel over 200 feet long-. 1100 feet north of the shaft. A winze was sunk in a drift at the end of the tunnel on the vein from 2 to 4 feet wide, carrying a black sulphide with chalcopyrite. The ore was reported to assay 15 per cent copper. 4'-i in gfold. and 12 ounces of silver. Joe Wagner Mine. — The Joe AVagner mine is situated in section 2. township 8 south, range 18 east, and section 35, township 9 south, range 18 east, on land patented January 10, 18()3 ; owner, Caesar Vignola, Raymond. Aliout one and a half miles due east from the Buchanan. P^ormation, schist ; vein, southwest-northeast. Old shaft full of water, about 100 feet east of it is a shaft 25 feet deep ; dry. but inaccessible. Old shaft said to be 80 feet deep; one drift in bottom; one 30 feet from surface, and said 1o have j)roduced some copper ore. Very little evidence of copper ore, except a few pieces of oxide copper ore, mostly malachite, on the dump. Has been idle many years. The property is distant from Raymond aliout six miles. Copper Queen Mine. — In section 15. township 9 south, range 18 east, two and a half miles north of the Daulton house. ]\Ir. Allinger bonded the property and sank a shaft in the same formation as at the Buchanan and in the Daulton mines, and obtaining the same class of ore. Owner, the Daulton estate. West of the old Daulton schoolhouse a short distance are several old shafts, showing copper ores, oxides and sulphides. On the northern part of the Daulton ranch there are several good copper prospects. California Copper Co. — This is a New York corporation which bought the Xe Plus Ultra and other claims on the Daulton ranch, near the railroad, in section 35. townsliip 9 south, range 18 east. The mine was developed and a 100-ton smelter Avas erected at INIadera. twelve miles dis- tant, in 1899-1900. After four months of smelting, the smelter and mine closed down in June. 1900. and have since been idle. The claims are opened by three shafts and equipped Avith steam hoists. The depths of the shafts are respectively 200. 200, and 120 feet. Besides the east, on patented land owned by ^Irs. L. Krohn. •). H. Ward developed undei- b(uul an ohl cbiini whidi was oi"iginally taken up for ji'old. Good coppci' ore and iudii-at ions of a deposit wei'o observ(Ml. Adobe Ranch. — Tiie ero])pings lead into what is known as the Adobe ranch, owner ('. S. Moses, in township 10 south, range 19 east, comprising thirty-five sections of land, and nine miles south of Uaulton. There are seviM-al phices on the ranch Avhere 30 per cent copper ore is said to have been taken out. One local i)eculiarity of the belt in Madera County is the presence of graphite in seams and bunches within the copper belt. At the Fresno River there are several old shafts, the dumps of which show copper ore. The l)elt bears oH' easterly' and crosses the San Joacpiin at Pollasky, which is in township 11 south, range 21 east. On tlie Chowchilla River, in the northern part of the county, in township 7 south, range 19 east, there is et wide. Here the smaller veins are of ((uartz. in a schistose vein matter of exten- sive width. One tunnel is in 46 feet. There is a sliallow shaft 10 feet deep. The greater pari of the work is against the face of the bluff, where the veins are exposed. The copper ores are sulphides, oxides, and green carbonate, and it is said that they carr>' values of $4 to $5 in gold per ton. FKKSNO COUNTY. 'Ill FRESNO COUNTY. About :?•• iiiilt'^; of the foothill cni)])!'!- l)cll nuvisures the iijii'i'owcsl |i,irt (if tlu' lar^c ami iini)ortaiit (•(niiitx of Fresno, wliieh stretehes from tlif crest of the Sierra Nevada raiiyc foi- nearly !")() miles down tlie Sierra slope, aei'oss the San .loaijuiii Valley, and up Ihe eastern sloj)e of the Coast Ran«re to its snnuiiit. It thus naturally displays ;i very y:reat divtM-sifieation of physieal feature^^. eonditi(»ns. and resources. The ru'jucd and well timbered and watered Sierra slope, nearly (iO miles wide from ranf OO foet. S.v.ral hu.uln.l tuns ot ore hav. h....n .xtra.-t,.a a.ul ship,,..!, an.l is sai.l to Ik.v. yu^U -1 a„ av.ra.... of i:. ,.or cut copp.r. Tl..- .opi-'- "'It =' t'>- point is two nnh-s wide. Tl.e Painter nune ,s on tl,e (..st sule La th.. lleisUell nnn. on the west side of the heh. There are a few buihlin..s on tlie property, su.h as assay offiee, board.ncr and hunk houses, barn, etc Fresno Copper Mines.-Tlns cjroup. formerly knowu as the IIoiskMl. .-ousistiug of five full Maims, was owurd by 11 H. Vereoe et al II. south, rancre 21 east. The eourse of the vein is "north and south, width 18 feet. There ;-- ^^^f-;" en.ppiu.'s. The -ossan extends downward about oO feet. Belol th^e .ossan eaps are bluish-blaek sulphides The mines are opened bv shafts, two of 200 feet each in depth, one of oO feet one of' 45 feet, and one of 35 feet. Six men were emploved. Tlie ores are car])onates and oxides above and sulphides below, and the avera^^e assay value of the ore was stated to be 7 per cent copper and $2 in aold. Since the publication of Bulletin No. 2:? tliese mines u.ve become the property of the Fresno Copper <''>»;P^'">'-/^^;^:-;;; 01as,^ow. Scotland, which has increased by purcliase of ad,o u- i„„ ,,,opertv the aiva of its possessions to more than 20)0 acres Tlu- .-ompauy made ext.nsivr improvmruts on llu" around, consistiner of hoist and pump for th. main shaft, air compressor, electric liudit plant, sawmill, machine shop, assay office the necessary buildin^^s for offices and residences, and a copper smelter. Steam furnishes the power for ho,st ami a. eompressor. The pump, ele^-tric li.ht plant, sawmill, a workshop are operated by .lectri.-ity furnished by the San , Joaquin Power Company. The smeltin. plant -^"s.sts o three essential parts: the furnaces, the converter shed, and the power house. The two furnaces, each of 200 tons capacity, are of the round type, built of brick, lined with .-hronu- iron brick, and fitted with heavy air pipes for hot I'last- An iron floor extends around and between the furnaces, a little below where the iron cone-shaped coverin- commences, wluch has a lar.e round openin.r at the top for introducin.^ the chari^e there bein- no feed doors. Each furnace has alon.crside of it 280 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. a cyliiKli'ical dust clianihci- of sheet ii'ou. with a smokestack of tile same material attaeheil. On one side stand three \i\r^e fvlindrical air chambers, made of iron and lined with fire briek. with a stove foi- heating- the air. All of these structures stand on a cement foundation, elevated about 12 feet above the izronnd, with a railroad track immediatel.\ in front and across it a level s|)act' for beddiiiL; the ores and a bin for receiving the readv mixed charjies. A movable derrick running on the track, was intended to carry the ores from the beddin<"' floor to the bins. Fi'om each fui'uace an iron fi'ame extends to the I'UIOSXO ("OPl'lOIi MI.\i:, FRKSXO COl'.X'I'V oi'e l)in. containing a wire cable, by means of which an iron bucket filled with the oi'c chai'Lic is lifted to tlie to|) and dis- charged through the a|»er1ui'e in its center. The converter house (an open ii'on shed) contains three convei'tei-s of the Leghoi-n t\pe. with all tlie necessary ai)i>ai-atus ; a car fitted with an iron box. lined with fire brick and heated with oil. for conve\ing the matte from the furnaces, slag pots, anil molds for receiving the metal. The motive power for furnaces and converters is supplied from a building situated between them. where a 500-horsepower engine drives a large piston blower for the furnace blast, a smaller one loi' the converter and a pumping machine to produce hydraulic pressure for the opera- FRESNtt ((MNTV (OI'l'KK MINKS AND CLAIMS. liSl tiuii nf the iiHiviiij^' iifjir (if llu- latlci-. A r;iilr»t;i(l h.id liri-ii surveyed !<» tin- nearest point nii tin- l-'iTsiiti-PollasUy hraiidi. three iiiil<'s distaiil. and hefore tin- loadltcd was liiiislied a loeoiiiotivf and sevei-al ore cars wci'i- ordered and di'li\fiTd at the mine. This smelter has neviM- been in operation to an> •rreater extent than the startimj; of a lii't' in the air heatei- and a trial run of the machinery, whii-h revealed a serious defect in its construction. Aftei- the jdaiit was conii)leted. it was discovered that tlie ore. of which there were tiiousands of tons on the dump and exposed in the mine, was too low irrade foi' treatment, and the company deeided to (-online operations at present to the ex|)loration of the iniiu'. ho|)inL:- to lind ln'ttcr ore at ^'reatcr dei»tli. the i)rospeet work heini; carried on under the nianairement of ( ". C Leavitt. The miue is situated in the western coi)pei- licit, in a low hill on the edire of the San Joa(|uiu Valley, and lliere is no ^^ossan or any other indication of ore outside of it in the innncdiate neiLrhhorhood. The ore occurs in schistose rock. partl\ nncaccous. with strata of dark. tine-^M-ained rock re.sembliu'r diabase. Near the surface, extend- iu'T only to little depth, some I'ich oi'cs had lici'ii found and were smeltc(| nn the ui'ouud. as shown li\' a small pile of slaii'. but at what time and by whom this was done is not known. Three veins are known within the wide minerali/.ed zone, one ea.st and one west of the main vein. Imt except the latter, they have not been explored Ix^low the gossan. The main shaft is 530 feet deep. Drifts on the 2(»(> aiul :^)()()-foot levels expose a solid body of sulphide ore. principally pyrrhotite, extending- 40(1 feet alou'T the course of the vein, attainiii'r a width of over 50 feet in places (avera'_dn<: U feet in thickness), and of unknown extent downwards. 'I'his oi-c was supposed to averaei- and api)reciable values in i^dld. but when it was sampled afhr I In siinlhr hail Ik < ii ((iiii ph litl and was ready to be started, tin- astonishin<><^^ values in silver. Small streaks of chal(-o|\vrite appeared in the lower work in us. 282 TIIK COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Copper King- Mine. — This mine is in section 'A. township 12 south, range 2'-i east. It was owned l)y tlie Copper King Mining Company. Ltd.. of London, of whieh \V. II. Daily was tlie general manager. The property consists of one mining claim. 1500 hy 600 feet, with all necessary bnildings thereon. The vein courses northeast and southwest. The vein matter appears to have a width of over 100 feet. It is schistose and meta-diabase in its composition, all mineralized. The lenses of ore consist of carbonates, oxides, and sulphides of iron and copper. The sulphides obtain to the exclusion of the others in the deeper workings of the mine. This was opened by three shafts, the deepest of which was used for operating purposes and the others for ventilation only. The first named shaft is 450 feet deep. Altogether there are six levels driven from the operating shaft, with total lengths of over 2500 feet. The usual granodiorite belt bounds the copper belt to the east and diorite lies to the Avest. The smelter of the Copper King, Limited, at Seal BlnflP Landing, on Suisun Bay. forty miles from San Francisco, was called the Pacific Coast Smelting and Refining Works. Besides treating the ore from the company's mine in Fresno County, copper ores were sought and received from many sources. After running the smelter for awhile, the comi)any failed, and the property went into the hands of a receiver. While the smelter remained closed, the mine was worked in the interest of the creditors in charge of C. C. Leavitt, under whose management it paid a hirge amount of money from a 16-foot vein of chalcopyrite, aver- aging 8 per cent copper. In June. 1907, the property was sold by order of the court and bought by the Hart Mining Company of Fresno, for nearly $45,000. which started work in July, and is said to have taken out more than that value in a few months. The main shaft has reached a dejith of nearly 800 feet and the other incline a depth of about 700 feet. The two properties, the Copper King and the Fresno mine, promoted l\v the same party, present interesting examples of faulty mining operations, if nothing worse: Itut this is not the place to make an attempt to draw the delicate linc^ between unintentional and intentional mistakes (frauds), or to fix the responsibility upon any definite individual. It is sufficient to state the facts and let the reader draw his own conclusions. 284 THE COPPER RESOURCESOP CALIFORNIA. The Copper Kiii": consisls of one claim only, and at the time when the sincltfi- was huilt. the deepest shaft had reaelK'd 4M) feet oidy. Although llic Nciii was wide. li> feet ill phices. and the ore of fair j^rade, it does jiol seem pr()l)al)le that a earefnl estimate of the ore in si(). aecordino- to a statement by Herbert Lanu- in the " Engineering and Mininti' .rounial." of November 30. 1907. The company having failed, the ])roperty pa.ssed into tile hands of a receiver, and was worked from lf)Or) until in()i> for the creditoi's. in charge of ('. C. Leavitt, and .sold in .luiie. 11)07. 1o the Hart .Mininu' Company, of Fresno, wliich coii- tiiined operations for sevei'al months and took out. accordint:' to reliable information, more than the purchase money, which amounted to $44,000. The ore taken out for the credit(n"s was not treated in tlie com{)any's own works, but sold to another smeltei- and netted a hiru'e sum. which seems to be sufficient ])i'oof llinl the mine would have paid under eomi)etent manage- ment. Aecordiiiii' to TTerbert Lanu's statement, the mine could have paid at least $100. 000 ch-ar profit witli econ(miical man- agement. The case of the Fresno mine is somewhat dilferent. Leaving out of consideration the limited (piantity of oxldi/.ed ores near the surface, the mine never had ore of sufficient grade to justify the erection of a smeller on tlie premises; l)ut it is evi(h'n1 Ili;i1 the eom])any was not aware of this fact, for no ])ers(iii of sane mind would invest money in an enterprise knowinu' fin' eerlain that it must lie a failure. Tn llerhiTl Lang's article occurs the fi llowing interesting ])assage : "The lens upon which the major part of the devel- ojjment has been done uave promise at lii'st of carrying good values, but after the long deferred samj^ling had been per- formed, it was found that its sulphide portion contained on the average hardl>' 2 per cent copper." The expression ''long defei-red sam|ilinL;"" implies the idea thai the compaii\- bad not sampled and tested the ore before, and was ac1nall\ in igiioi"- anee about its values and character all the time while the smeltei- was being built. AVith thousands of tons of ore on the dump and exposed in the drifts of the mine, such a sup- position seems incredible, and it seems more prol)able. as stated by well informed ])arlies. that the company tiniily SIIII'I'INC STATION OF COPPER KING. OX S. P. R. R. ,I.MlTI-:i). AT DKKRING. iTcVl k1 .4fp4»^^p4n|i«| »>. ^. »i»i't*ir» 7! ' SMELTER Oy THE COPPER KING. LIMITED. AT SEAL BLUFF LANDING, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. 286 11 IK COPPEK RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Ijt'lieved the ore averaged 7 per cent copper and carried appre- cial)l(> values in uold besides. When the smelter was completed, a iHctallur^ist was en.iia.ued to niii it. He sampled the ore, found it "to average scarcely 2 per cent copper, and sent in his resignation with this report. Then two experts were sent to sample llie iiiiiic and when lliey contirmed the low-grade character of the ore no further attempt was made to start the SMELTER AT FRESNO MINE, FRESNO COU.VTV. smelter. It is a i-ein;ii'ka!)U' cii'eunistaiice that Mr. Lang was likewise ignorant of the character of the ore. for otherwise he could nol have advised the company to put uj) a plant which cost about half a inillion dollars, lint whatever may have been llie circumstances and conditions, the erection of the smelter was a blunder which coidd easily have been avoided and for which there was no excuse. Some one lias been guilty of gross negligence, if nolhing worse. Something might be said about the type and arrangement of the smelter, but such technical (piestions are irrelevant to the main point at issue; the great mistake was to i>ut it up in a place where it ought not to be. KKKSNO COINTY — C'OPI'KK MIXES AND CLAIMS. 2h/ Wabash Mining Co. — This conipany has located ground suiTouiuliiiy: thf Cupper Kinir iiiiiir on all sides. There are two shafts on this pr(»pt'rty. one alxmt 40 t"e<;t deep, on wliirh the owm-rs niadf preparations to n-fct lioistinjr uiaehinery. 'I'Ih' (;thcr slial'l is ovci" 'M) feet th't-p. One lunncl lias been nm over 400 feet, and another MOO feet. Tlic vein formation is siniihir to thid of the Copper Kinir. 'IMicsc mines arc in sections 2. :>. 10. and 11. lownshi]) 12 south, rauire 2'-\ east, and ai'e owned liy I)i'. JJryaiit and others t)f Los Anireles. Mount Sterling. — ()\vnrd by Kncipcr (S: Ashl)rook. and adjoinini; the Wahash .irronnd on the soutli. in section lo. township 12 south, rauire '2'A east. ()n this |inipcit> the owners di-ove a tuinicl to cut the h'd W. S. Ci-annu'r. It is on patented land. The vein is in limestone ( calc spar), and averajres about 3 feet in width. This ore is said to carry 15 to 1!) per cent copper and $5 in .u^old per ton. 'I'he openinjrs comprise a shaft 30 feet deep, a tunnel run in a northeasterly direction aloui.; the course of the vein for (iO feet, and another tunnel 20 feet below the tii'st named, following' the vein for 180 feet. The vein sj)lits and has decidedly bi-anchiuL; tendencies. At the mouth of the ISO-foot tunnel there is a shaft 30 feet deep in ore. A third tunnel, intended to sti'ike tlu- vein 100 feet below the bottom of this 30-foot shalt. has been started. It is now in 12.") feet. ( )|).Mi cuts aud shallow holes on the surface dis- cover the same (lUalitv of ol-e whel'cvel' tlle\- have been suuk. The ore is o.xidc and sulphide of trood appearance. The east wall is a ^vay diabase, associated with talc schist. Buck's Peak Claim. — Two miles south of Black I\Iountaiu; owned by W. S. ( 'ranmer. Shows two veins. 30 feet apart. "288 THE COPPER KESOIKCKS UF CALIFORNIA. one of which is one foot wide and the other three feet wide. A shaft 12 feet deep on the 3-foot vein shows green carbonate of copper ore for the wlioic width of the vein. Sunset Mine. — in section 35. township 11 south, range 23 cast ; owners, i). S. Snodgra.ss I't al. Tliere are gossan croj)- piugs. The ledge matter is 60 feet wide. The ore is of about the same character as that in the Copper King, and consists of carbonates and sulphides. There is a shaft 90 feet deep. with crosscut at its bottom 60 feet long, all in ore. which is said 1o average 10 per cent copper and to carry about $14 in gold per ton. The. vein matter is schistose diabase. A l)clt of limestone occurs in the east side. A. L. Hilde])rand has locations on both tlie north and south ends of the Sunset claim. On these locations arc croppings of the same character as on the Sunset. Ilcin'v Wineberger has locations on the northwest side of llildebrand's claim, on wUiih thcM'i^ are indications of copper. Happy Camp Claim. — Three aiul a half miles east of the Copper King mine. There is a tunnel 135 feet long, witli crosscut at end 17 feet long from wall to wall. The ore is decomposed (piartz. said to carry 4 per cent copper and $10 in gold. "\V. L. II inkle & Bros, have some claims in sections 25, 26, and 27, township 12 south, range 24 east, that show copper ore in tah'ose schist. There are several other prospects near b\-. which yield copper minerals. Anderson & (list own fifteen claims on Hog ^lountain. one and a half miles west of Trimmer Springs, in sections 14. 15. 23, and 24. township 12 south, range 24 east. Across the river east of TrimmtM- Springs. ^Ir. Terrill of Visalia is working ten claims in sections 16 and 17 on the cojiper lu'lt, with some favorable prosjiects. These claims are in township 12 .south, range 24 east. Then^ are heavy iron gossan crop])ings on the property. In Kings Kiver Canyon, high in the Sierras, in sections 9 ami 10. township 13 south, range 31 east, there aiv indications of copper deposits. George Badders & Co. are now working seven claims, in which thev find some very go(5d oxide and UJ t I < < 3 < 111 E 3 n o z z i u I- < I- 0) < z a TULARE COUNTY. 289 sulpliidc ores. Tlicy liml opened a sliaft 30 feet deep. Imt not enough development work had liccn i^erformed to determine the e.xtent or value of tlu'.se tleposits. The vein matter is mostly (juartz. P. A. Kanawyer cV: Sons own a pjroup of eij^ht elaims in seetion 11. township 13 south, ranire 31 east. The vein matter is (piart/. with ^'ranodioi'itc walls. The vein shows 6 to 15 feet in width, and is ti'act'd for two miles. It earries. accord- ing to information, over 10 per eent eopper and $11 in gold. There arr oix-n cuts and a perpendieidar eliff 100 feet high; the eliff shows the vein in its face. The prospeet is thirty-six miles from .Miilwitod. TULARE COUNTY. A large area of the Sierra slope is comprised witliin the bounds of Tulare County, the eastern boundary of which runs for about 75 miles along the range summit and the western portion of which embraces a fertile and favored section of the San Joaquin Valley. In this county, in the Sierra foothills, is one of the important orange districts of California, and here, also in tlie valley plain below, are extensive orchards and vineyards as well as many great grain ranches. This is one of the minor mineral counties of the State, though it has extensive mineral resources awaiting the future. In this county, the copper b(»lt displays bnt occasional indica- tions of its presence, has been but little explored and only slightly developed. The branches into which the belt divides in Fresno County appear to be prolonged with increasing divergence through Tulare County. The western branch is the most clearly defined, and is characterized by narrow diverging seams or stringers of copper-bearing minerals. Just east of Porterville. there is an area of country fully five miles wide, in which these small veins occur. Like the ea.stern branch this one is extensively hidden by detrital deposits, and outcrops only at intervals. This west branch appears to lose its identity and disappear near Kernville. in Kern County, to 19— BuL. 50 290 THE COPPER RES0URCE:S of CALIFORNIA. the south. The east l)raneli of the belt swings easterly and mounts to an altitude of over 5000 feet. The chief deposits identified witli this east branch are near the middle of the county, thirty miles or so east of Porterville and the west belt, and amid the forest region, where some of the chief sequoia groves of the State are found. Copper prospects of possible future value occur high in the Sierras, notably some descril)ed below, located close to Kearsarge Peak in the extreme north- eastern corner of the county, above the timber line and at an altitude of 10.000 to 12,000 feet. W. F. Powell owns some claims in the east branch of the copper belt, located in section 30. township 19 south, range 31 east, on the middle fork of Tule River, thirty miles east of Porterville. at an altitude of about 5500 feet. The mineralized zone is said to be 300 feet wide, and can be traced by surface croppings for more than six miles in a northerly direction. There are three tunnels, one cross-cutting the mineralized rock for 150 feet, without reaching a wall. The course of the vein is northeast and southwest. The copper ores are yellow and black sulphides, carrying 3 to 4 per cent copper. Occasionally, however, small quantities of native copper are found. Tlie vein matter lies between a limestone east wall and a serpentine west wall. W. F. Grider has a claim two miles east of the Enterprise sawmill, in section 31, toAvnship 19 south, range 31 east. Some test lots of ore have been shipped. C. W. Keller owns claims near Powell's in the same town- ship and range. The vein matter is reported to be not less than 70 feet Avide on any of these claims. A lime belt 4 to 100 feet wide intersects the copper lode near these places. The copper belt crops out again strongly five miles above Three Rivers, and there are several locations on this part of the belt.. East of Porterville. ten miles, in section 14. township 23 south, range 28 east. Dr. Barber, of Porterville, prospected wlijit proved to be a blanket, or slide, of ore reported as carry- ing 8 to 37 per cent copper. Dr. Barber also has a claim located eight miles east of Porterville, in section 19, township 21 south, range 29 east. -^K^: - -<4 >^^\.ij?»- COPPER. MOUNTAIN MFNING COMPANY'S CLAIMS. TTJLARE COUNTY. 292 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Here there is a heavy iron capping, and the vein appears to be 20 to 30 feet wide. Below tlie iron cap carbonate and oxide of copper ore is fonnd. The formation is diabase and aniphih- olite schist. The goUl content is reported at from $3 to $4 per ton. Dewey Claim. — Owned hy J. F. Boiler, of Forterville, is in section 32, townsliip 19 .south, range 31 east. Only a small amount of divclopment has been performed. Tliis exposes sulphide ore. On the hillside east of Porterville is an abundance of small pieces of copper float,_ which doubtless came from the five-mile belt of snuill stringer veins. Copper Mountain Mining Co. — Owns fifty claims in sec- tions 34 and 35, township 14 south, range 31 east, near Kear- sarge Peak, close to the crest of the range. H. ^IcCourt is superintendent, and J. B. Campbell, of Fresno, president. The mines were opened in July, 19UU. The ores are sulphides and carbonates, carrying from 2 to 25 per cent of copper. The mineral-bearing belt is a mile wide, and courses northeast and southwest. The deposit in the richer veins of this belt is opened by a shaft 18 feet deep, a tunnel 5 feet long, and an open cut 50 feet long, on the east side of Roaring River. On the west side there is an old shaft and drift. At the head of Cloudy River Canyon, close to the Copper IMountain property, there are some cuts, and a tunnel 40 feet long. Quartz shows strongly in this tunnel. The decomposed ironstone carries gold. The old shaft shows a 3-foot ledge of carbonate ore. The vein matter is schist, diabase, and amphib- olite. The claims are 1000 feet above the timber line. A dike about 3000 feet wide passes through the summits of the mountains. This dike is of mineralized rock. A few miles east of Lindsay the foothills of the Sierra rise abruptly from the plain to a height of about 900 feet, present- ing smooth lines and rounded summits. The formation is schist, serpentine, and granite porphyry. They are separated by Lewis Creek from the adjacent hills on the north, which are composed entirely of granite and present a very broken and rugged appearance. KKHX corxTV. 203 In 1905, A. W. Sherman, post office Lindsay, found some copin'i- on the soutlicrn slope of a Iiill and loeated llir l>lne Crystal (|uai-t/. iiiiiie. one elaim. non-patented. A small vein in serpentine, rnnninir southwest-northeast, carried oxidized ores with a little hornite and ehalcopyrite. The workings con- sist of an open cut and a tunnel of about 7') feet, from which some ore was taken. So l;ii". no shipment has been nuule, but it is stated that a samjjle assayed 81) per cent copper, $32 sold. $15 silver. Broad bands of massive Vesuvianite or Cali- fornite liave been encountered in the workinfjs. On the northern slope of the same hill the Gill mine has been located in scliist and altered i)orphyritic rock. An open cut and tuiuiel. tofjether about 90 feet in length, shows a 2-foot vein running southwest-northeast, carrying some oxi- dized ores. KERN COUNTY. The foothill ro])per belt terminates in a vague way in Kern County, where a few groups of co|)per deposits cut a small figure among the varied mimral products of a great mining county. This is one of the large counties of the State, having an ;irea of about 8100 .sfpiare miles, and it is characterized by greater variety and contrasts of topography, geology, climate, and I'esonrces than any othei- ( 'aliroriii;i county. Its eastern and southeiii parts contain the southern end of the Sieri-a Nevada range and its mergence with the Coast Range at Tehachapi. Its western liotuidai-y is along the summit of the Coast Range, and the upper end of the San Joacpiiii Valle\- makes up about one third of tlu* county's area. The .southeastei'u slope of the Sierras and a large |)ortion of the Mojave Desert are included in its southern j)ai-t. The county thus includes slopes of two nu)untain ranges, a large and fertile valley plain, and an arid desert region. All of these contrasted regions contain much mineral wealth. On the Sierra slope, amid forests and waters, are important quartz mining districts. In the valh-y plain, near Hakersfield. is the 294 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. reniarkahk' and widely known Kern River oil-field. On the eastern slope of the Coast Range are the Sunset and ]\IcKittrick oil-fields. Avhich help make Kern the preeminent petroleum- ])rodneing county of California. Tlic foothills of both these ranges abound in various minerals, including gypsum and antimony. In the desert region of the county is the Rands- burg district, one of the chief gold fields of the State, and other gold districts are undergoing development on the desert side of the Sierras. The mineral output of the county in 1907 was $6,092,006, of which $878,798 was in gold. In the San Joaquin Valley are extensi^^i orchards and the largest irrigation systems in tlie State. The Kern River, of the Sierra slope, furnishes power for one of the important electric power trans- mission plants of the State. The copper occurrences are so few and widely separated, as far as discovered, that one is hardly warranted in identifying them with the (oppcr ])elt, except in the most general way. The continuity of the belt is less apparent than in any of the counties of the slope to the north. Copper deposits have attracted attention principally in three localities: Near Woody and (juite a distance east near Kernville, on the western Sierra slope ; in the Rademacher mining district, on the southeastern slope of the Sierras ; and on tlie northern edge of the ]\Iojave Desert, north of Randsburg. In the neighborhood of Walker's Pass, between Kernville and the Rademacher district, copper minerals are found, and the copper claims of the latter district may, perhaps, be appropriately classed with the Sierra Nevada deposits raflier tlian witli tliose of the arid portion of Soutliern California. Greenback Copper Mine. — Located in northern Kern Countv, al)out thirtv-five miles bv wagon road from Bakers- •,■7 • * C7 field and about eighteen miles due east of Jasmin on the Porterville branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The property of the Greenback Copper Company consists of sec- tions ] and 3, and the southern part of section 2, township 26 south, range 29 east. eml)racing in all 1520 acres. The mine lies on a slight elevation in a basin, the rock forming which is granodiorite. The granite is intersected by a jiarallel system of joints or fractures, which usually trend approximately east KERX COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 295 and west. In addition, tliore are very abundant dikos of a white, fine-grained granite (aplite) in the eoarse granite or granodiorite. They are from a fraction of an ineh to 10 feet in width. Inhere are also wliite. coarse, pegmatite dikes, or veins in Ihc granite, and some of these are (h'veh)ped sporad- ically as hunches of white (juart/. (""Ijuir' i|uai-tz). Copper has hccn found at a number of points in the neighborhood, anil the lodes are usually more oi- l(>ss parallel to the structure planes of the inclosing rocks, liut this is not the case with the 'H^i^FT GREENBACK COPPER MINE. KERN COUNTY. Greenback lode, the general trend of which is across the east- west fracture system of the granodiorite. About one mile southwest of the mine lies a high east-west ridge known as Iron ^Mountain. The upper part of this ridge is composed of a variety of rocks, some of which strongly resemble quartzite, but the slopes of the mountain are all of granite rocks There are several cuts and shafts on the tdj) of the mountain in the hard quartzite-like rock, but no strong indications of copper appear to have been found, except on the north slope, just 296 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. west of the line of section 3, and on the south slope of the east end of the mountain, -where some work has been done on a copper lode. Several claims are located on this lode. At most of the points where copper has been found, the lode at the surface is composed of a gossan of rusty iron-stained material, often apparently rotten granite, generally somewhat gneissic and not always showing copper carbonate. The crop- pings of the Greenl)ack lode consist of altered granite, decom- posed, and impregnated with iron oxide and at some points with copper carbonate, and there is more or less quart/ mixed with it. The Greenl)ack lode has been opened by a shaft which inclines to the north about 60 degrees, and from this shaft three levels have been run to the north. The upper part of the main ore shoot is composed of carbonate ore, and has not l)een stoped out ; but from a point about 65 feet below the croppings to a point 170 feet below, this ore shoot has afforded ore that has been shipped, the reported average contents being 5.7 ounces of silver and 19.4 per cent of copper per ton. As seen in the cross-section, the ore shoot is lenticular in form, with a maximum width of about 20 feet. Outside of this ore shoot the granite is irregularly impregnated with copper pyrite, so that there is a much larger amount of lower grade ore in the mine than of shipping ore. The Greenback lode does not appear to show any well-defined fissure. While there are walls and seams along which movement has taken place, and these usually have a trend to the east of north, yet these walls and seams appear to dip both to the east and west at high angles. As indicated by the croppings. the lode may be said to have a length of perhaps 350 feet measured from the south base of the dump to the old shaft on the top of the liill. A. J. IMaltby owns two claims in sections 4 and lO, low iishii) 26 south, i-ange 29 east. Here there are gossan croppings and schistose-diabase vein matter, as well as talcose schist. There are open cuts exposing ore. Two shafts. Ki and 35 feet deep, are in ore. There has been shipped some ore said to average about 6 per cent in copper and a sum 11 amount of gold. The Spa and Bonanza claims, in sections 3. 4. 9. and 10, township 26 south, range 29 east, show copper ore reported to average from 15 to 20 per cent. There are four shafts on KERN COl'NTY — COPPER MIXES AND CLAIMS. 297 tlicse I'laiins. On section f) lioavy ironstone ; of a ^'roup of copper claims in sections 7, 18. 19. and M), township 28 soutii, ranjre 40 east, and in sections 12. l;{. and 24. township 28 south, ranj^e 39 east, in the Kademacher district n<'ar the ea.stern county boundary, in tiie ^Mojave Desert. The belt liere is (»ne and a half miles wide. ( Jranodiorite lies contijruous to the cast, and (Hi tlie west there is a lime belt. The lode is formed of a mineralized nieta-diabase schistose, chanizccj in part to talcose schist. The seams of riclier copper ore iiiii I'l-mn 2 to 12 inches in width, and where they form lenses or "shoots" tliey have widths occasionally of 60 feet. These lenses of hi^ddy mineralized rock constitntiiifr the ore carry a - ""' - ," ..,.,„in,..l. A s,„all l„,,.a.-.. was onee erecte.1 a.,.l s,„„ o,e t:;'.,l Wat..,- pow,.r is avaiial.l... ,,,.,1 .l.e.-e .s a., al.on.lanee of liinlxT in Hit' rc-iion. Goleta Consolidated Mines.-'l'l.,. (iol.-.a ...i.- »- »'- on (Jopp...- .M......la.... H"-!' W. N.'lson. of .l..,-.la.,. .s snper- "tend ,.. Tl„s ., ,. is P,i...a.-.l.v a gold n,i.,.-. but ttere ,s „, " n |.p,..- l,..lu.. wl,i,.l. is ..xposed o„ the hau.-„,K wal s.,!.- ., , , ,; ,.„,,,.. l,ev..lo|>u,..„ts l,ave exposed a ve,„ of ...pper a ',-a«i„« 6 feet i„ uidth, the ore appearing to he ehr>..^ „,„,, .n,„e ,s a tunnel 200 feet on the ve,n, app,ng t 300 feet helow the outerop, TI.,- ..,i.,es are worked onl.v for the *„d „,d silver The ,.,■.. is I. eat,..! hv the evan.de proeess, a 40.1;,,;;! :L l...... ,.s,..l ... — .. tl,e ore. AVater power is used. INYO COUNTY. Invo Co«„t,v is a ..reat and pieturesrp.e expanse 10 000 square n,iles in extent, l.ving hetween the s„>nn„t of the S.crras o,*: the west, Nevada on ti,e east, .lono ('"^"^yj^-^^J^ and San Bernardino Count.v on the south. ),. ts western :„dar.v ris<.s Mount AVhitne.v (14.515 feet) the « ^ '^ i„ „,e ,„i,ed States proper, and about 7o '"''^ f 'T'^' ^^ Death Valle.v, the lowest part of whieh .s ,nore than 400 fee helow sea-level. At the foot of .he Sa-rra rang ,s Owens Lake fed l.v Owens River and hav.ng no outlet. Sc^da ,s Ir^elv produeed f,-..,„ the u-a.,.,-s ,.r this h.ke. Praet.eally all 300 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. the arable land is eomprised in a stri]> of bottom land, 2 to 3 miles wide, liirouuli Owens Kiver \'alley. wliidi has a widlli of 8 to 10 miles. The Carson & Colorado Railroad, running- southward to K(Mder on Owens Lake in the west-eentral part of the countN'. largel\' relieves the handicap of reniotenc^ss from whieh the county suffers. Lack of fuel, water, facilities for coiniuunicalion, and con- venient sources of supply join with an unfavorable climate to repress tlie mininu- industry .ucncrally Ihroucjhout the south- western desert region, but the great extent aiul frecpient rich- ness of the mineral resources of Inyo County have made it one of the important mining counties of the State since early days. The Panamint. Argus, and Inyo ranges and some lesser ones run parallel with the Sierras through the southern part of the county, and from the ledges that fill \ho\u the bulk of the $12,000,000 worth of ])recious metals Inyo has produced has come. Some of the rich mines of the west were operated in various well-known districts years ago. The ores of this region are base and a large percentage of silver accompanies the gold, while lead, copper, and other metals are also characteristically associated with the precious metals. This county has been the chief silver pi'oducer of the State, and the di'op in Ihc price of silver was the nuiin cause of the (juielude of the mining industry here in recent years. During the past few years much active development has followed several large invest- ments, and here as elsewhere through that desert region, prospectors have turned numerously to a field full of great possibilities. The provision of railroad facilities through the southern portion of the county will afl'oi'd another great stinndus to mining activity, as heretofore only high-grade ores could b(^ worked. In Death Valley is one of the cliief borax fields of the' United States. ]\Iarble of fine (|unlit\' is among the mineral resources awaiting favorable conditions, and extensive deposits of nitrate of soda have been found. There are numer( us occurrences of copper, generally in association with greater values in other metals, but it is occa- sionally th(> jiredominating metal in ore bodies. Some copper ore carrying gold and silver was smelted to matte and shipped via the Colorado River in early times, but the copper output ;a. a A Av ^tm «^N>OVv^ .IJAO AUiJ'J U ;V' \ SALINE VALLEY ■•J'. B/.tSoory i -t ' i\. , ... /""/'"■'"'"iM^.'i '':,,*-"''ll''<,,,,.''iH^>H''"',,„.'"l " _. / ,J ' '-^ s//^- ■ V..-r# Vi ' \;-: :: I ••"Villa; V •e:^•^>^■■'■ .■■.'*.--'-\v>.''-"c=j- ,, - ., -.-^ '•■■•-^ ■' ^p'-'-,'"' '■' • '■ { .' .■•"•■t"-t»_Ji' "'■„,-..,.- ■■■■■•„.■■■■•>•■ .'■.,.■■■ (f*!,! ....■>;.'•■■ W" ' '■ ■ J)»a»^jMSi.ir*t ■',„-.,,..■■"■•■■"• ,-.' ~ ,/.- ! -■. ...; : "'"'•,■■ : ■. -vv "> i --.■■••;■■*"'! i. *-'=••■">.".,..!; v „ ■.. • "„,..; ■-,,., •;.•.„.■■ , V '■,... _. I .•; ''''■»'4,,1>, ,„• ■■ ;' V v '?.>«>■• ;•'.-, t '"" .•■•-'■•■ ?=3= •,-......->' ^ /;'^ ■'>'•'■ „.;.....■ :,;:r^^ ■■-';.:: -""i ■' ■> ■■ ."-. ■■ .■"-, ■i,.„.;r«ll' ^,,niT.iiiii!ii''>iliil|illw'niin!iPf|-ir!!!it(^iij--, ■V ,-.; ■• ,.;"'"":"i,.,,o-.-- 1 ;:■;•■-/■••. -XM. '"••";/;■ ,,f v. •.-,,»..--- " ^'./AV-^v, /SV"W-,,j''^^.-- !*■••. W;. '.:'•■ ?:„•■ -,'■■■■■' .-.l„.«.r.> ' V V--. : •" -K .'• ■■■.:;',••■..■' '■"■' '-•-,„ .>*wrfj«^^J»'.-i v..,-/- ^• ; ' - ,>,.'-- ..■■H ,,,■■ y.fS*-—- "~ --- DRY LAKE BED i ,■■•'■•■■-"•.;'■'". i ■*' ■^ -.,,„.■«,.•■*■. :y, „,'^^ %J"'i < Z /Wf CON /s/ ELL g. SC OT T A TITUS 3 CftOOKJt B/IYS D 0/V WEDDIN6 STAKE 4- ONYO COPPER M IM. i Sf^- CO. tf RO eeRTS -fc DERAT 6 OLIOA 6RCUP 7 WOO OIN t^ MS C ONHELL a SAE/vGER enbop S MARIES eROUP ro LAKE VIEkV STATE MINING BUREAU. MAP OF THE UBEHEBE MINING DISTRICT, INYO COUNT Y, CALIFORNIA. INYO COLNTV — COI'l'KK .MINL.S AM) CLAIMS. 301 lias IxHMi sniiill. With clifiiiici' fui-l ami I ranspDiMat ion facilities nio(.U'i-ii siiicltitii: plants will he I'staldishcd in this re'^noii ami thru cdpiici- w ill liUt'ly airain tif^uiv in In\i>'s iniiicral initpiit. Wisconsin Claim. — This prospect is located about a mile south«>ast ol" Darwin, and is owned by Cliai'lcs Ividiardson of Darwin. Tht- vein is a tontaet between limestone ami trranite. The ledire varies from 2 to ti feet in thiekness and is e.xposed on the surface for .several hnndn'd fi'd. ThciT is a shai't about 150 feet deep, with ^ood ore in the bottom. The ledj.'e shows malachite, chalcopyrite, and cuprite, carryinjr .some gold and silver. The nearest point to a railroad is Keeler. twenty-four miles distant. Kingman Claim. — lames McDonald of Darwin, owner. There ai'e two claims located one mile .southeast of Darwin. The led^e is a contact vein between limestone and i^ranite. and the avera}j:e width of the vein is about 3 feet. There are two tunnels, each in about a hundred feet. The ledge shows mala- chite, chalcopyrite, and cuprite, carrying some gold and silver. THE UBEHEBE DISTRICT. The TT)ehebe district is located east by north from Keeler, the terminus of the Carson & Colorado Railroad on Owens Lake, about 3") miles distant. It comprises api)roximately an area of about IT) miles long, and nearly as wide, boumled on tile west bv Saline \'allev. on the south bv spurs of the Lno range extending to the mountains on Hunter's ranch; on the east by the continuation of the Panamint range, and on the north li.\ liills extending from Saline Valley to Lost Valley, the northern continuatif)n of Death Valley. Most of this ter- ritory is occupied liy two mountains, the I'beliebe and the Dutton range, the former on the west, running south and north for about 8 miles, forming the eastern ])ouiulary of the Saline Valley; the latter on the east, running jnirallel with it and attaining about the same elevatioTi. 5000 feet above sea level, iioth are separated by a valley, a couple of miles wide, the greater ])art of which is occupied by a dry lake bed. per- fectly level and formed of hard clay, and called the "Race Track." During the winter it is sometimes covered by shallow water, seldom more than a foot deep. SS^Wvak^M ---***-'Tv Z, O "^ "V T o INVO roCNTY t'OlTlOR MINES .\NI> CLAIMS. 301 has iM'en siiinll. With duMpcr fiu'l miuI t nmsporlat i.ui facilities nioiU'ni siiH'ltiiiir I'l.inls will !..• estal)lislif(l in this rej^ion and tlu'ii copper will likely airaiii ti-rinv in lny..'s initicral mil put. Wisconsin Claim. — 'Phis prospect is located ahovit a mde southeast nl' Darwin, and is owned l)y Charles Kir|i;iidson of Darwin. The vein is a contact hctween limestone and ^n-anite. Tile led.L't' varies from 2 to (i feet in thickness and is exposetl on the surface for several hundred feet. There is a shaft al)out 150 feet deep, with frood ore in the bottom. The ledire shows malachite, chalcopyrite. and cuprite, carryinj; some gold and silver. The nearest i)oint to a railroad is Keeler, twenty-four miles distant. Kingman Claim. — lames McDonald of Darwin, owner. There are two claims located one mile southeast of Darwin. The ledge is a contact vein between limestone and granite, and the average width of the vein is about 3 feet. There are two tunnels, each in about a hundred feet. The ledge shows mala- chite, chalcopyrite. and cuprite, carrying some gohl and silver. THE UBEHEBE DISTRICT. The rbehebe district is located east by noi'tli fi-om Keeler, the terminus of the Carson & Colorado Railroad on Owens Lake, about 35 miles distant. It comjirises approximately an area of about 15 miles long, and nearly as wide, bounded on the west by Saline Valley, on the south by spurs of the Inyo range extending to the mountains on Hunter's ranch; on the east by the continuation of the Panamint rang<'. and on the north by hills extending from Saline Valley to Lost X'alley, the northern continuation of Death Valley. Most of this ter- ritory is occupied by Iwd iiKiiintains. the I'lu'hebe and the Dutton range, the former on the west, running south and north for about 8 miles, forming the eastern boiindai-y of the Saline Valley; the latter on the east, running parallel with it and attaining about the same elevation. 5000 feet above sea level. Doth are sei)arated l»y a valley, a couple of miles wide, the greater part of which is occupied by a dry lake bed. per- fectly level and formed of hard clay, and called the "Race Track." During the winter it is sometimes covered by shallow water, seldom more than a foot deep. 302 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. FORMATIOX. The mountains are composed of granite, ciuartzite. and lime, with occa.sional dil\es of porphyritic and dioritic rocks. Granite is predominating. It occurs in great masses along the western slope of the Ubehebe mountain ; forms the entire mountain in its central part and the highest peaks. Quartzite and lime are prominent at the .southern and northern extremities, and some of the hills are entirely composed of either of these rocks or of both combined. The quartzite is very ma.ssive; the lime contains magnesia and is either of yellowish color with a sandy grain, or of a bluish color, resembling closely the Leadville dolomite. No fossils' have been found, but from the position of the rocks, the quartzite overlying the archoean and the lime the quartzite. it seems safe to consider them palaeozoic rocks of the Cambrian and Silurian ages. ORES. The ores are mostly found in the limestone, usually on the contact with the granite or close to it. It is an interesting fact that the veins generally do not lie directly on the contact, but are separated from the granite by a dike of igneous rock, a granitic porphyrj', diorite or quartz-porphyry, which may have played an important part in the mineralization of the contact. The ores are principally oxides of copper, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla. and cuprite, and occasionally some sulphides, espe- cially chalcocite, of which handsome specimens have been found. A few veins carry gold as the principal value, and recently some silver-lead ores have been discovered. On the whole the surface ores are of a good grade, and compare favorably with ores from camps that have lately attracted much attention. The gangue rock consists of the usual material, silicious iron, jasper or chert, quartz, calcite. and in places garnet rock, epidote. pyroxene, etc. The veins are generally wide and can often be traced for hundreds of feet on the surface. No ore has been found on the lime and quartzite, and quartzite and granite contact. FACILITIES FOR WORKIXG THE MIXES. The Ubehebe district has been known for more than thirty years, the first location being made at the time when the Cerra IXVO col NIV — (.orrKK .MINKS AND CT-AIMS. ' ;K)3 Clordo iiiiiif ill tlif Inyo I'iiiiLTt'. iicjir Kct'lcr. was in a jn-os- ptToiis coiulitioii. Hut tlif iiiiiics did not \>>\y. work was suspendt'd. aud they have hcrii i miles in a straight line, it is of little advantage for the canij) l)ecause there is no wagon road to the station, and j)ractieally it has been in communication with the railroad oidy since the completion of the new line from Tonopah to Bullfrog. A wagon road has been ])uilt from Ubehebe through Lost Valley (which is here 2000 feet above sea level) and the Grapevine range to the small station IMon- tana. a short di.stance from \he old Thorpe mill. liy trail the distance to Keeler and Darwin is about 35 miles, the wagon road to Montana oO miles. There is another wagon road from Alvord through the Inyo ranire and Saline Valle\-, but it is a long distance and particularly disagreeable in summer time on account of the irreat heat in that vall(\v. The Valentine Group of fourteen claims, situated about halfway between Keeler and T^behel)e. has several veins between granite and lime, reported to assay 2i{. to IH per cent copper, 9 to 14 ounces of silver, and a little gold. The copper bullion has over 50 feet sulphide in lime, said to assay 4 per cent copper. Owners. I. Anthony and D. Pobst. Lone Pine. Cal. Navajo Chief Claim.— Owners. W. T. Grant of Olancha and George ]\IcConnell of Independence. It is located one quarter of a mile south of Dodd's Springs. Elevation, 4000 feet. The 304 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. vein outcrops for about 1000 feet, showing an average width of 50 feet, and with a strike north; dip 80 degrees east. The hanging wall is limestone and the foot wall granite. The ore is chietly malachite, carrying some gold and silver. There is sufificient water for mining purposes. The nearest railroad point is Keeler. thirty miles distant. Eureka Claim. — Owned by Jacob Stininger; post office address. Tule Canyon, California. It is located one eighth of a mile south of Dodd's Springs; elevation, 3500 feet. The strike of the vein is north, and dip 60 degrees to the east. The crop- pings show a length of 150 feet, and an average width of 5 feet. There is an 80-foot shaft and 100 feet of drifts on the vein. The ore is malachite and shows some galena. Trail Claim. — Owners, AV. T. Grant of Olancha and George McConnell, of Independence. It is located at Dodd's Springs; elevation, 3900 feet. The vein has a strike north; dip 70 degrees to the east. It outcrops about 800 feet, and shows an average width of 5 feet. Dodd's Springs Claim. — Owned by AV. T. Grant of Olancha and George ^IcConnell of Independence. This mine is located on the same ledge as the Trail claim. It outcrops for 1000 feet and shows a vein about 15 feet wide. The character of the ore is malachite. Ulida Group. — This group includes eight prospects: The Ulida, Sorbia, Sardine. 11. ]\I. Stanley, Kabba Riga, Virginia, ^Maryland, and Hunter, located in the Button range, three miles north of Hunter Ranch ^NFountain, and thirty-five mile-s east of Keeler. Elevation. 6000 feet. The nearest water is three miles distant, and could be obtained by gravity. All of the veins are contacts between limestone and granite. The ore, which occurs mostly in the limestone, is malachite, tetrahe- drite, and cuprite, carrjnng gold and silver. Immense out- croppings, varying from 10 to 20 feet in width and showing malachite, are expased. At the Ulida there is a tunnel 150 feet on the vein, and another tunnel above. 150 feet long, runs for 40 feet on the vein. There has been some sloping done, and about 400 tons of ore are on the dump. The ore is sorted, packed out on mules seven miles to a road, then hauled to Keeler and shipped CROPPINGS OF COPPER KING ^riNMO. UBEMEBE DISTRICT, INYO cor XT Y. COPPER CROPPINGS AT DODDS SPRINGS, UBEHEBE DISTRICT, INYO COUNTY. 20— BuL. 50 306 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. to the smelter. Owners, Spear Bros, and AVilliani L. Hunter; post office address, Lone Pine, Inyo County. The Ulida is one of the oldest claims in the district. Adjoining the I'lida jironp on the norlheast are the Keeler, the Olancha. and the Spear, owned by ^NlcConnell & Spear. The outcroppinos are similar to those of the Ulida group. Copper Knife. — Located a quarter of a mile east of the Randolph race track ; owners, W. T. Grant of Olancha and George JNIcConnell of Independence. The ledge outcrops about 800 feet, and shows a width of 10 feet. The ore is malachite. Anton & Pobst Claims. — These mines include iivc claims, located sixteen miles east of Keeler. The claims show out- croppings 100 feet wide, 800 feet in length, on the strike of the vein. Tlie ore is chiefly malachite. There is a tunnel about 20 feet long, in good ore. Owners, John Anton and David Pobst, of Lone Pine, Cal. Silver Hill. — This claim is located seven miles east of Independence, and one lialf mile from the Carson &r Colorado Railroad; t^lcvatiou. 4r)00 feet. Owner, J. C. Roeper, of Inde- pendence. There is a 70-foot tunnel, showing a 2i/2-foot vein of malachite. The vein is a contact between granite and lime- stone. There is i)lenty of Avater for mining and reduction purjioses. Green Monster.— Owner, D. C. Riddell, of Gilroy, Cal. This is a continuation of the Silver Hill prospect. Develop- ment consists of a 300-foot tunnel and two crosscuts, one 80 feet and th(^ other 50 feet. Some good copper ore has been exposed. Copper Tail. — J. C. Roeper, owner. This* claim adjoins the Green Monster. It has a 40-foot shaft in the ore body. The ledge is 4 feet wide at the surface, but pinches at tlie bottom of the shaft. Copper Point. — Owner, IMax Fausel ; located one mile northeast of tlie Green ^Monster. It has a 10-foot shaft in good ore. The vein shows a width of 2 feet, and an outcrop of about 500 feet on the surface. It is a contact vein between granite and limestone. The ore is malachite. INYO COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 307 The Inyo Copper Mines and Smelter Company. — l>y far the most important exploration work in tlie district has been dono ])y this oonn>Mn.\ . whose property consists of nineteen INYO COPPER SMELTING AND MINING COMPANY, UBBHEBE DISTRICT, INYO COUNTY. 308 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. claims, located in the lime and quartzite formation at the southern extremity of Ubehebe Mountain. On twelve claims, havinii: an area of 2-40 acres, ore has been found reported as assaying: from -4 per cent to 41 per cent copper, and carrying small (piantities of silver and gold. Excelsior. — A vein is found in the lime not far from the contact, about 20 feet wide, .strike southeast-northwest, dip about 65 degrees; ore, oxides, reported as assaying from 2 to 16 per cent copper. A 70-foot shaft cuts the vein and con- tinues in the foot wall. No crosseutting has yet been done. At about 400 feet south another opening has been made, showing strongly copper-stained gangue rock. Fairbiiry. — Shows a vein about 6 feet wide, witli lime for a foot and diorite for a hanging Avall; strike east and west; dip about 50 degrees north. Shaft of 40 feet passes through vein; no crosseutting yet. Ore reported as assaying 3 to 11 per cent copper. Fairbanks No. 4. — A 30-foot open cut and tunnel runs across the contact, but does not show the full width of the vein, which runs east and west. Several streaks of ore, principally malachite, with some sulphide, are found, one about 2 feet wide, reported as a.ssaying 37 to 41 per cent copper, a few ounces of silver, and a little gold. Ormonde. — An open cut of 35 feet crosses mineralized zone Ijetween lime hanging and diorite foot wall; strike north- east and southwest ; dip about 50 degrees south ; 5 feet reported as assaying 5 to 30 per cent copper. A 9-foot shaft a short distance from the cut shows several feet of vein matter with some sidphides. Ormonde No. 2. — Sho\vs several veins of 3 to 4 feet in lime- stone; strike north and south; dip about 60 degrees west; reported as assaying 8 per cent copper. A tunnel 50 feet in is run to cut the vein. Kenilworth No. 1. — Has vein on contact between lime and diorite. In a few small holes ore reported as assaying 7 per cent copper was found. Kenilworth No. 2. — A out of 15 feet and a tunnel of 45 feet have been run on a 4-foot vein, with granite foot and lime INYO COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 309 hanfrinj: w;ill standing: almost vertical. Ore reported as assay- ini; 8 per cent copper. Pluton. — Shuws vein in open cut of 30 feet, ninning nearly north and ca.st ; continuation of Ormonde vein; reported as assaying 7 per cent copper. Ajax. — Open cut 15 feet; shaft 12 feet, with over a foot of ore ; reported as assaying 6 per cent copper. On the rt'sl of the claims l)iit little work lins Ixmmi done. POffP/fYR O/?^ £. *f^S aoARTZITE •CROSS-SECTION OF PROPERTY OK THE INYO COPPER MINING AND SMELTING COMPANY, UBEHEBE DISTRICT, INYO COUNTY. Some of them look promising, showing a continuation of con- tacts in which ore has been found in other places. ^Manager, R. G. Paddock, Keeler. At the nortiiern end of the Uhehebe ^Mountain are located some of the older claims, on which work has lately been resumed. The SniiLrcr iiroup consists of: The Tip Top. — Thirty-five feet of tunnel on granite-lime contact; H to 8 feet of ore. Star. — The prospect is located at the base of the Ubehebe Mountain ; the strike of the vein is north. There is a GO-foot cut, 6 feet deep, showing malachite. The ore outcrops 800 feet ■on the .strike and shows a widtli of 60 feet. 310 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFOKNIA. Copper King. — It is located one mile west of the Star; owner. W. A. Sanger, Big Pine. The ledjre shows on the sur- face a width of 100 feet and a lenijth of 700 feet. There is a shaft 60 feet deep and a 2()-foot drift, showing malachite. The Prince Group. — Four claims. Crosscut 60 feet, show- ing oxides and some native copper; owned by W. A. Sanger & Son, Big Pine, Cal. Bluejay. — Owned by A. ]Mairs, of Independence. It is located on tlie east side of Saline \'alley. The outcroppings show a ledge 60 feet wide, and may l)e traced 500 feet on the surface. There is a tunnel in 100 feet, a winze 35 feet deep, and a eros'^cnt 25 feet. Tlie oi-e is malachite and chalcocite. The Red Bird. — Showing some native copper. F. A. ]\Iears, Big Pine. Good Luck Group. — Three and a half claims on diorite dike, showing copper sulphides and some oxides. R. Lockhardt & Penrod, Rhyolite. In the southern part of the Ubehebe ^lountain a lead-silver vein, running north and south, has been recently discovered in the lime on the AVedding Stake claim, and a small copper vein, with a strike southeast and northwest ; ore reported assay- ing 35 per cent copper, 103 ounces of ?ilver, and a little gold, on the Red Bear, both owned l)y J. H. Crook and Sam Baysdon, Keeler. Several claims have been located on sui'face indications by Roberts & Derat. and Woodin & INIcConnell. Some geld and copper have been discovered on the eastern .slope of Tin ]\lountain. in the Dutton range, on the Lake View claim, owned by W. 1). Blackman, Rhyolite. W. Scott and ]Mr. Titus have located twelve claims not far from Dobb's Spring, the ore carrying gold, silver, lead, and some copper, calbnl the Scott group. The Sanger Group is controlled by John Salsbury, of Tonopah, who established the new camp called Saline town. Some locations liave been made on the western slope of the Inyo range, about five miles north of Keeler, in a formation consisting i>rincipally of phonolyte of a sl"aty or schistose structure, very much broken up, at an elevation of from 6100 DAUWIX LOOKING SOUTH, ARGUS RAXGE IX DISTANCE. SMELTIXc; PLANT AXI> HOIST OF LANE MINE, DARWIN, INYO COUNTY. 312 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. to 6500 feet above sea level. The veins have a course of south- west and northwest ; clip almost vertical ; a ganj;ue rock of quartz with a little lime; ore mostly oxidized, with some sulphides, copper glance, etc. The Rainbow Claim is owned by L. Boshart, and the Horseshoe claim by Joe Anselowitch, Keeler post office. DARWIN. Darwin is situated north of 36 degrees latitude, in township 19 south, range 40 east, at the foot of the western slope of a spur of the Argus range, which forms its northern extremity and is separated from its main part by tiie Darwin Canyon, through which the drainage of Coso Valley passes into Pana- mint Valley. About ten miles to the west are the Coso Mountains, the vallev of the same name Iving between them and the Argus range, and being separated in the north from the Owens Lake Basin by a chain of low hills. The elevation of the town is 4746 feet, that of the highest point of the spur 6190 feet. The formation is limestone, overlying granite, penetrated by numerous dik&s of porphyritic rocks and diorite. At the contact with these igneous rocks, the lime appears greatly altered, the blue color changes into white, the texture becomes crystalline, marble-like, and the increased hardness indicates a partial silicification. The veins are found in the contact or in the lime close to the contact, seldom in the igneous rocks, and. so far. never in the granite. Tliey seem to have been formed by replacement, the vein matter consisting of quartz and massive lime spar, carrying galena, carbonate of lead, silver, a little gold, oxides of iron and copper, but seldom their sulphides. Only one fossil has been found in llu- liiui'. apparently an orthoceras, which would indicate lower carboniferous, perhaps upper Silurian. Forty years ago Darwin was an imi)ortaut mining camp, producing ore enough to keep several smelters in operation. The mines were worked only for their values in lead, gold, and silver, and with the gradually declining price of the latter metal, and the decrease in the grade of ore, they were shut down one after the other and the camp became almost deserted. INYO COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 313 No attempt was made to utilize the copper ores until 1898, wlieu a smelter was liuilt at the Lane mine, which, after a brief but siu'ce.s.sful eampaiirn, in which it is said to have produced .$17.()(MI woi-th of eopper matte, shut down permanently. Quite recently, the copper prospeets l)ej;an to attract attention, and the work of exploration has already commenced. Some of the old mines will resume operations, anil, ti» ail appearances, the camp will enter a new era of activity. The camp has a good supply of water, and is distant from the nearest railroad .station. Kcrlcr. oidy 2") miles. .Most oi" the ores near Darwin carry a little copjx'i-. and there are num(>rous outcrops of eo])]ier veins on wliich not enoutih work has l)een done to determine the details, size, dip, etc. They occur usually in lime, on or near the contact with igneous rock, run east and west, or north and south, with a steep dip, varying in width from 3 to 6 feet, occasionally increasing to several times this measure Tli(» ores are mostly oxidized, malachite, chrysocoUa. and seldom azurite and cuprite, occa- sionally sidphides and little lead. All the mines are located in the spur north of Darwin Canyon, witliin an area of about 4 to C) miles. The Giroux Group, Kio Tinlo; seetion 24, township 10 south, range 40 east, nine claims. In a lime ledge, overlying diorite, are several copjier veins of Avhich three have been exposed within about loO feet, running east and west and dipping south into the hill at a steep angle. A shaft has been sunk in the diorite foot wall 203 feet, and a crosscut run from its bottom to the lime 95 feet, wliere work was stopped. The outcrop can be traced along the hillsides for several thousand feet, and a number of holes sunk in it show copper through the entire distance. Owner, Joseph Giroux, Los Angeles. Richardson Group. — Eight claims in section 24, township 19 south, range 40 ea.st. A sliaft was sunk 103 feet on a 4-foot vein in the Alameda claim, and a great deal of ore was extracted. On another claim in Ihe same group, a 100- foot tunnel fol- lowing a silver-bearing vein, cut through a vein carrying copper, which has not been explored. Owner. I. E. Kidgeway, Darwin. 314 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Custer Mine. — In section 24, town.ship 19 south, range 40 east, a lar^e vein, runnint;' east and west, and which can be traced for several hundred feet, has been partly opened hy an open cut. showing a face of over 10 feet of ore. In a 120-foot tunnel below the vein has not been reached. Owners, Gorman & Anthony. Independence. Ill the same township and range are the following claims: Climax. — Two veins, east aiitl west; one vein, north and south; copper, silver, lead, gold. J. W. Clark, Darwin. Winchester Group. — Five claims, three copper veins. Sam Brooks, Independence, owner. Verde. — Copper, lead, silver. Inyo Copper Company. Darwin. Argo and Arrov^head Claims. — Three claims ; copper. Inyo Copper Company, Darwin. Keystone. — Extension of Giroux vein. Long & Clark, Darwin, owners. Copper Alta. — Copper. Porter Bros., Darwin, owners. Windy Group. — Three claims; copper, silver, lead. Clark &: Long, owners. Madox Group. — Eleven claims ; copper, silver, lead. John Adams. Darwin, owner. All the old mines to which Darwin owed its prosperity forty years ago, the Independence. Defiance. Tjucky Jim. Promon- tory. Liberty and Columbia. Jacka.ss and Lane, carr.\- a little copper, or have separate veins on their ground that have l)een neglected, with the exception of tlie last named. T!ie Lane mine has one shaft of 700 feet and one incline of 500 feet, from both of which copper ore was taken, aiul smelted into matte, but the ore gave out at 550 feet, in the deep shaft, and mine and smelter were shut down. References: Jul. A. Luck. E.]M. ; A. Held, assayer and chemist; J. W. Clark and John Adams, of Darwin. ' .-• .■ . • -lit .'■ 'i ; r i :' -' r- A, V\*w^ " \y . ..■..^^vjt^ ,-'■■'01 K :.'•.:.■ J-'<".-. ^ i «• • ' ' ■ '.V ^.W- -■: . ' ■ , ; •' ^' Sly MAP OF GRKEX WATER MIXING DISTRICT, IX YO COUXTY, CALIFORXIA. 316 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. BONANZA GREENWATER COPPER CO. This property is situated in tiie old Kestiiiti' S{)riiii;-s mining district. Inyo County, California, six miles easterly from Willow Creek, and about ten miles westerly from the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. The names of the claims owned by this company are the Bonanza and Bonanza No. 1. The general formation of this section is lime and porjihyry, the ledges occurriiiii' botli as contact and Hssure veins. The main ledge on these two c laims varies from 12 to 80 feet in widtli and over 3000 feet in length. In many respects they are the most remarkable croppings discovered since 1849. The ore bodies rise above the ground to a height of 20 feet, solid bodies of cerrusite. A shipment made of these croppings taken wholly from above the surface gave a reported return of $21.82 per ton, gold $4.94, silver $1.23. and lead $15.24. with some iron. The ore lying next to the porphyry wall carries gold and lead values, and the ore next to the lime wall carries gold, silver, lead and copper values. A reported oif er from the same smelting company for the next shipment taken from the part of the ledge nearest the lime wall was given as gold $2.66. silver $1.23, lead $27.80, and copper $29.90, a total of $57.82 per ton. The development consists of a tunnel 72 feet in length following the vein into the mountain, all in carbonate of lead with streaks of galena all through it, also two shafts about 20 feet in depth. The gold values reported increase from $2, 20 feet above the surface, to $12.40 at the surface, and the ore in Ihc face of the tunnel pans free gold. A fine auto and wagon road has been built from the mine over the mountains to the old Daggett and Furnace Creek road at an expense of $6000. The elevation of this property is 4064 feet. A fine spring of water has been discovered about a mile and a half easterly from the mine and about 1500 feet above it. This can be carried by gravity to the mine. Tliere are about twenty claims in this section that are similar to the two described above, and owned by other parties.* * From company's report. »v.* >f-i L_ AIKiiO / ■ i ■ <^ /^"^-^ MAP OF MINING DISTRICT IN IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF GREENWATER, INYO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. STATR MTNING RIUlRAr INYO COUNTY — COPPER MINES AND CLAIMS. 317 GREENWATER MINING DISTRICT. Tills district is situated uortli of tlic thirty-sixth degree of latitude, in the western part of the Funeral rantre. wliidi forms the eastern huumhiry of Death Valley soutli of l-'uniaee Creek, and is named Black .Mountains on some maps. While the eastern .section, with Myrnmid IN'jik' as the hiulicst point, con- sists of sedimentary rocks, who.se strata, raised u}) vertically, OUTCROP NEAR GREENWATER. DEATH VALLEY, GREENWATER COPPER COMPANY. jrives the mountains a peculiar I)anded ai)pearancc, the western ridire consists entirely of if^meous rocks, granite, porphyry, I'lix'olite. andesite, diorite, etc.. with occasional dikes of trap (diaba.se. basalt, commonly called lava), and one of the highest mountains is formed entirely of this eruptive rock. Sedimen- tary rocks are only found on the western slope, exposed in the gulches running down to Death Valley. The eastern and western portions of the Funeral ^Mountains are separated by a shallow valley running nortli from Hrcon- Th. ^ V ^ Af ,=i_i INYO COUNTY — COPPER MIXES AND CLAIMS. 317 GREENWATER MINING DISTRICT. This district is situated north of the thirty-sixth dejurree of latitude, in the western part of the Funeral rantre. which forms the eastern boundary of Death Valley south of Furiiace Creek, and is named Black Mountains on some maps. While the eastern section, with Pyramid Peak as the hi^diest point, con- sists of sedimentary roi ks. wiiose strata, raised ui) vertically, •->■"» ''W^' ^^^m^m- \3' m ^^^^^^^^^B^^^E!S^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^r "^ ' '"^^^l^^^^^l 1 OUTCROP NEAR GREENWATER, DE.\TH VALLEY, COPPER COMPANY. GREENWATER jrives the mountains a peculiar Ijanded appearance, the western ridije consists entirely of igneous rocks, granite, porphyry, rhyolite, andesite, diorite, etc., with occasional dikes of trap (diabase, basalt, commonly called lava), and one of the highest mountains is formed entirely of this eruptive rock. Sedimen- tary rocks are only found on the western slope, exposed in the gulches running down to Death Valley. The eastern and western portions of the Funeral ^Mountains are separated by a shallow valley running north from Green- :ns TIIK COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. i V: wjitiT and ciidiim in tlie Furnace Creek Canyon, wliicli. turning west, opens into Death Valley. Its total lenpfth is twenty-four juiles, and the ditt'ereuee in elevation hetween its termination and its beoinnin walls are distinctly developed, with smooth, polished faces. The ore, with rare exceptions, con- sists of oxides of copper, principally malachite, chrysocalla, some azurite, cuprite and melaconite. It is probable that oxidized ores will prevail, to a INVO COI NTV — COI'l'ER MINES A.\[) CLAIMS. 319 >,'i-fal ilt'ptli. because an artesian bore Imlc lias shown the water to be below i)()0 feet. The existence of copper in (Ireenwater. whieli takes its name from a water lioh' near by. has l)een known for a lonii; time — it is cbiiineil ovei- fifty years air"». when a party of eniifii;rants perished in Death X'alley. But at that time such ore was worthh'ss. and tlie camp remained comparatively unknown Ql'EEN No. 2. GKKK.NW A I 1;K liKAlll \"ALLfc:V CuPPKK CuAIPAiN V. IXYO CorXTV. until February. IDOfi. when Arthur Kunze, Frank [McAllister, and Hank Kniiiht. the pioneers of (Jreenwater. arrived and took up some claims. At the same time P. Clark sent out some prospectors who located the Furnace Creek property, and sunk the first .shaft. In July of the same year Arthur Kunze suc- ceeded in interestintr Charles Schwait. li. A. Parkhurst. M. ^I. ]\Icl)onald. and Donald (Jillies. and fi-om lliat time dates the later period of active exploration. In January. 1907, the first camp, "Kunze," was moved two miles farther east to 320 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Ramsey and calk-d Greenwater; but four miles northwest from the hitter a new cauii) called Furnace sprung up. Greenwater. tiic [)riiiii|)al camp and post office, lies almost due east from Telescope Peak in the Panamint range, on the gently inclined eastern slope of the Funeral range, 4315 feet above sea level. T1 cm lie reached by stage from Zabriskie, on the Tonopah-Tidt'watci' Hailrcad. thirty miles south, from ■'^'. , .^ r> .'\. -^t. iil ^^ ''^'■M^ "•;.**»»■■ ^>^- j_t^ QUEEX No. :^. CREENWATKK DIOATII VALLEY COPPER MINING COMPANY, GREENWATER. INYO COUNTY'. Amargosa, a station on the Salt Lake-Los Angeles Railroad^, fifty miles east; and from Rhyolite l)y automobile. In May, 1907, the mines were still in the prospective state; most of the companies did not attempt to take out ore, because it was their intention to prospect at great depth and commence drifting at 500 feet oi- more. Only one shipment liad been made at that time. Thirteen shafts were equipped with gaso- line hoists, six of the Greenwater Death Vallev ^Mining and IMilling Company; two of the Furnace Creek Company; one of tlie Furnace Valley ^Mining Com]iany; one of the Butte Furnace Range Company; one of the ITank Knight Company: \ii:\\ .)i' i>i;A'ni \.\m-i:v. ixvo coi'xtv. i^'rom funeral rax(;e. PAXAMINT RANGE AND DEATH VALLEY. FROM SUMMIT OF FUNERAL RANGE. INYO COUNTY. 21— HlL. 50 322 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. one of the Red Bay Copper Company ; one of tlie Saratoga Copi^er Coni])aiiy. The Greenwater Death Valley Copper Company. — Tliis represents a consolidatidn of a numljer of })rop<'rli»'s willi an area of about two hundred claims, or 4000 acres. The offices are located near the old camp Kunze. about two miles from town, and Terry Rourke has charge of the property. Elevation, 4600 to 4800 feet. The six shafts fitted with gasoline hoists are on the following claims: (Jlance No. 2. vein of 12 feet; north 65 degrees east; dip 70 degrees south ; depth. 400 feet. Queen No. :1 vein of 50 feet; north 45 degre&s east; dip 70 degrees south ; depth 400 feet. Queen Xo. 2. vein of 50 feet; west-east; dip 80 degrees north ; depth 500 feet. Glance Xo. 5. vein of 100 feet ; north 65 degrees east ; dip 70 degrees south ; depth 250 feet. Wanda, vein north 25 degrees east; depth 100 feet. Siieenlator. vein northwest-southeast ; dip northeast ; depth 30 feet. Close to the old town is located the Hank Knight group on an iron outcrop showing .some ore. The Furnace Creek Copper Company's properly is located near Furnace Camp. A strong vein runs through the property from southwest-northeast, on which a shaft and incline have been sunk. The latter on llic .Matte claim, 185 feet deep; the shaft. 550 feet deep, cutting throuuh the vein, is on the Copper Blue, 500 feet distant. The one and oidy shipment made from Greenwater came from these two ^\•orkings. It consisted of two lots, reported as assaying 18 per cent and 22 per cent in copper. Adjoining lies the property of the Furnace Valley Company, Avith a shaft 250 feet deep on a large vein. The offices of both companies are in Spokane, Washington. I. P. Harvey is the manager. A little further to the nortli a deep canyon cuts through the Funeral range into Death Valley, and on the mountain form- ing its southern slope an iiuinensc iron outcrop can be traced for several miles. On the eastern part of this dike is located the jiroperty of the Clark Copper Company : on the western INVO (orNTV — lOIM'KR MINKS AM) tl.AIMS. 323 the ( laiins l»el(m«riii^' to tin* Kcinplaiul Copper Company. A lutmlxT of prospect holes sunk all alouii- the dike have exposed ore. and on tlie Clark property a shaft has been sunk 70 feet on the vein, and a tunnel h;is 1 n started to crosscut the vein at irreater depth. Ou the Kenipland. a tunnel has heen run on the Death Valley side, which, it is claimed, cut a vein 30 feet wide at 280 feet. GHJOKNWATKK. The otlHccs of both (•uiii|)ani('s arc in Los Angeles. I. P. Ilarvey has charIN(> CtilNIV. 'o2o SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. Soulln'.ist of the terminus of the Sierra Nevada Mountain rani;e is the vast expanse of the Mo.jave Desert, a rugg«.'(i. (h'sohite region, tilled with niountiiin groups and ranges and eharaeterized hy a laek of ahnost every natural eondition favorable to the operations of the prospector and miner, hul one throughout whieh nature has lavishly distributed mineral riehes in exceptional variety. Copper is one of the minerals thus widely distributed here. l)ut its innumerable occurrences are generally, as far as explored, in (|uantities too small fnr ennuiiereial exploitation. The largest portion of the Mo.iave Desert is included within the bounds of San Hernardino County, which is the largest county in the State. In the southwestern portion is a region unrivaled for beauty of fruits and flowers, fertile and charm- ing valleys, and rich orange groves. Eastward from this Eden. for about loO miles to the Colorado River, and northward for 7.") miles to Inyo County, stretch the forl)idding wastes that compose the most of San Bernardino County. It is in the little southwestern corner, where sheltered valleys open to the sea, that tlie population and developed wealth of the county are maiidy concentrated, and it is by this corner that San Ber- nardino is chiefly known to the world. The rest of the county is ruled by the miner. Prospectors have persistently explored its desolate and dangerous fast- nesses for two generations and l)rought to general knowledge a mineral empire which capital is slowly possessing. There ai-e few long well-defined belts or lodes, the multitudinous mineral-lx^arimr veins coursing in all directions and being gen- erally and irregularly distributed. There is a number of well- known mining districts scattered through the length and breadth of the county, where concentrations of mineral values have occasional important developments, and in which well- known mines flourish. The metalliferous ores carried by the veins are nearly always base. Gold is the dominant metal pro- duced, but with a more favorable market for silver, the latter 326 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. W()\il(l probalily assunic first importance. In 1907 the uold output was .$158,676 and that of silver .$81.33!). The county, liowever. displays a yreater variety of mineral products than any other eoiuity in the State. In its northern portion are inexhaustil)le deposits of borax, the chief i)resent mineral product of the county, the output of which in 1907. refined and crude, was valued at about $1,000,000. The only tin mine of the State was operated in this county a few years ayo. In this county is an exceptionally large and rich deposit of iron ore awaiting conditions favorable to its exploitation. One of the countj^'s mineral^ products is turquoise, of which $20,000 worth was mined in 1900. At Colton. Portland cement is made. Among other minerals are lead. salt. soda, antimony, sulphur, asbestos, onyx (aragonite), lime, granite, and marl)le. There has been much activity in various gold mining districts. The county is crossed by the main line of the Santa Fe Railroad, and branch roads reach different i)arts of the county. The Southern Pacific road runs through and near the southwestern portion. AVhile the occurrences of copper ore are frequent and wide- spread, there are yet but few mines or prospects worthy of particular note, or which attract present attention. But. as with other resources of this great mineral field, there has been but a small beginning made in the prospecting and developing of the copper stored in these rugged wastes, though there is a great number of more or less promising copper claims show- ing superficial development. The Copper World. — This is the chief developed and pro- ducing mine in the county. It is equipped with a smelting plant. A few years ago considerable high-grade ore was shipped to Swansea from the Tiptop mine in the Lava Beds district, a silver mine in which bunches of rich copper ore were found along fault planes in the country rock. This ore. after con- centration by jigging, yielded 33 per cent of copper and 15 ounces of silver per ton. The prevalent copper ores of this region are carbonates and oxides, and characteristically occur in irregularly shaped masses, frecpiently in association with limestone formations. SAN HKKNAKniNO CorNTV — COl'PKK CLAIMS. :i27 Copper World.— This mine is locati-d in riark :M<)un1:iiii. Clark .Miiiiim District, towiisliip Hi north, raiiiic Vi cast, twenty niih'.s from Ivan|)ah. the terminus of a Itranch of the Atchison. Topeka. and Santa Fe. l.-avin-j; the main iin.- at (ioft^'s station. Fdevation .'):{(!() feel. It consists of a l.n.ad minerali/ed zone. traversin>j: a low ridyrc extendin() feet wide in places, consists of iron, silica, decomposed portions of the inclosintr rocks and veins of copper ore. mostly oxides, malachite lari^-ely ])redominatin^^ South of the i)ori)hyry lime i^ found ai;ain and copper has been traced throu^di the entire lentith of the ridge. On the eastern slope the deposit has been extensively •worked on llie surface, from the top of the rid^re to the bottom of the 'Milch, a vertical distance of not more than loO feet. Nnt 328 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. far from the bottom a vertical shaft has l)een sunk 180 feet on a 5-foot vein of ore. niakintr the trreatest depth attained aliout 300 feet below the onterop on top of the ridue. Besides the extensive surface workings, which give the slope the appear- ance of a (piarry, there are several tunnels of considerable length and many drifts, stopes, winzes, etc., which combined nndoiibtedly represent several thousand feet of work. The property was formerly owned liy the Ivanpah Smelting Company, of Los Angeles, which liuilt a smelter at Valley Wells, about five miles southwest* of the mine, where the ore Mas reduced and black copper of about 98 per cent produced in one operation. It is stated that the total value of copper shipped from this plant was about $750,000, ])ut that the cost of smelting and the losses in the slag were too great to make the enterprise profitable, and mine and smelter were shut down and remained idle for some time. Dr. L. D. (lodshall in 1907 acquired title to the property and organized the Coeopah ]\lining Company, which is operating the mine at the present time. D. ]\Iurphy, Los Angeles, is president; L. D. (lodshall. Needles, general manager of the company. All the ore from the mine is hauled by teams to Ivanpah and shipped to the smelter at Needles. It averages without being assorted, it is reported, from 6 per cent to 10 per cent copper. Production is limited l)y the capacity of the smelter, and will be increased. A much larger force of men tlian employed at present could be used to advantage as soon as the increased output can be handled. There are good accommodations at the mine, but the water has to be hauled a distance of nine miles. About two miles south, in another low spur of Clark ^NFoun- tain. is located the ]\Iohawk. sliowing a strong vein of over 10 feet between a hanging wall of lime and a foot wall of por])hyry. strike northwest-soutlieast : dip almost vertical, sliglitlx' inclined north(»ast. Cliaracter of ore the same as in the Copper World, bul canying more azurite. There are several hundred feet of tunnels, drifts, etc.. on this vein, and Avork will undoubtedly be resumed in the future. The prop- erty lielongs to the Coeopah Company. On a parallel ridge west of the Copper World, G. Hamp- stead, of Manvel. has sunk an incline 75 feet on a copper vein from which a reported shipment of 13 per cent ore has been made. MXNVKL S\X I'.KRXARDINO COUNTY. NKW YORK MOL'NTAINS IN Tino nrsTAXCB. SMELTER AT NEEDLES. SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. 330 'I'lii': COPPER iu;s()rRCES of cami'okxia. About seven miles northeast, in township Kl north, rani' Coni|)anv. haviin: a loO-foot shaft on a vein i-eporlcd as eaiTviim' 10 jx-r eeid copix-i-. Owners. X'ieloi- Marsli and Di". E. D. King, Pasadena, and S. Norman, of Spokane. Ivanpah Mammoth, in the Ivanpaii .Mountains. al)out five miles from Ivanpah. townsliip 15 noi'th. i-ant^f 14 east, two veins, one silver and copper, the other eo])pei- and Liohl: sliaft down 100 feet. Copper King-, twelve miles from Ivanpah. Both belong to the Quartette Company, of Searchlight. Standard Mining Company, claims located in same district, have shipped some copper ore. Leastalk Gold and Copper Company. — Two shafts, each 150 feet in limestone. Ore contains silver, copper, lead, and a little g-old. The Arizona-Mexican Mining and Smelting Company, Needles. This com[)an,\', i)ract ically consisting of the same parties as the Cocopah Coni|)any. was organized a few years ago, bought out the Fletcher Smelting Company, and erected a new plant on the site of I he old one. less than a mile north- west of Needles, on the bank ot the Colorado Hiver. The plant consists of one lead I'urnaci-. one co|)pei' fuinace, one roastiuL; furnace, crusher and sampling tioor. assay and Liciieral office. The lead furnace is 120 by 42 inclies. witli six water- jackets, one in front, one in rear, and two on each side. l)oslied : automatic lead well; eight tnyei-es on each side; sheet-iron hood and pipe descending into dust chamber. This type of furnace is known as a 100-ton furnace, jdthoutili it can attain this capacit.N' oidy with exceptionally fa\'oral)le ores. The cop])ei' fnriKice consists of an oval ii'on watei'-jacket from the crucible to the feed floor (14 feet above), !)(> by 'M\ inches, with ten tuyeres and ii'oii hood, the same as the lead fiiiaiace. Not- withstanditig its smaller size, its capacity i.s greater tlian that of the lead furnace, owing to the faster smelting of copper ore. The roasting furnace is of the M(d)ouuall pattern, a huge iron &;VN BERN.\KI>IXO OUNTY — COI'PKR CLAIMS. '.VM cylinder, nearly :{(( leet liiL'li. with six separate eoniparliiieiils all eoimeeted. The fireplace i.s under the lowest one. hut eoal has hoen snhstitnted hy oil. and two i)ipes furnish the necessary fuel. The ore is charirt'd from ahove. a vejMical shaft rotatin^^ in the center, fui'nished with arms to which blades are attached, keeps stirrinir the pulp and movinir it continually from one compartiiieiit In tiic other initil it drtijts out ri-um the last one. bein^ finished. This i-oaster drives y:real satisfaction and forms a very essential part of the plant, because the ores treated are mostly sulphides, and most of the iron recpiired for fluxing is ol)tained In- i-oastin*; pyrites. Incidentally, a little copper matte is obtained from the lead furnace, but the bulk of the copper ore is smelted by itself in the special furnace, however in a manner diffei'ent from the process used at the Valley Wells smelter. Xo attempt is made to obtain metallic copper directly from snieltinir the oxides, because it has been found that this metliod entails too j;reat a loss in the slay: and that it is more advantageous to save the copper values in form of matte. Sufificienl sulphides aii" therefore added to the oxidized coi)per ores to produce a hiy:h-i'oceeds. The liaiiuiiiL: walls are granite, and tlic I'odl walls limestone. Tliei-e ;ifi' tlircc veins about 30 feet apai-t covered by this chiiiii. ( )n(' shaft is 212 feet deep, two are (iO feet, and one is 40 feet deep. At 1!)() feet on the 212-foot shaft a crosscut has been run. but it does not reach either wall. The ore is said to go 17 per cent in copper and $3 in uold. The vein mattei- is of a talcose natui'e carrying coi)per sulphides thron<:liout. Owner. Tnion Devel- opment Company, of Raston. Juanita Group. — Besides iln' -luanila mine, there are 141 other claims, constituting what is called the .luanita group. Among these claims, those having the most notable develop- ment are the Henrietta. Lookout, and Big Three. The Henri- etta is opened by a shaft 52 feet deep, drift 28 feet long, and a winze fi-oni its end 1(1 feet deep. The character of the ore is oxide. The width is undetermined. The ore is said to assay 14 per cent copper, ^^2 in gold, and 2 ounces of silver to the ton. The Lookout claim is opened by a tunnel 30 feet long, striking a vein of carbonate ore about 3 feet in width, said to contain 32 p«M- cent coj)])!-!' witli no gold or silver. The foot wall is porph\ ry. with intrusii)iis of limestone. There are eighty-six other shafts on the group, attaining depths of from 20 to 30 feet, showing veins of oxide ores from 2 to 40 feet in width, said to average 7 pei- cent copjier. $4 in ^"-old. and 3 ounces of silver. The Tiig Three chiiiii is opened by a shaft 77 feet deep. Lytle Creek Mine. — li lies twenty miles nortlnvest of San Bernardino, and lias been worked for twenty years. It con- tains bunches of high-grade copper ore. The Peacock, or Lava Beds, Mining District. — One liundred miles east of San Bernardino, in the south-central part of the county. It contains .some claims with gossan croppings unde- developed that show indications of copper ores. 336 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Ord Copper Group. — This group consists of tweuty-three claims ill Ord ^Mountain, fourteen miles south of Daggett. The strikes are nearly north and east. The deposits carry copper and gold, the former largely predominating, except in a few places. The main vein is about three miles long and averages about 20 feet wide. The lianging wall is granite and the foot wall decomposed porphyry. The ore is copper carbon- ate and sulphide. A shaft 154 feet deep and a tunnel 400 feet long, with about 1000 feet of other development work, con- stitute the openings. Several of the claims are patented. Osborne & Drew, of Daggett, owners. About fort.y miles northeast of ^Vhitewater station, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, in Riverside County, is a group of claims located in the Copper ^Mountains, a small group otf the San Bernardino range, just west of the Twenty-nine Palms district. Owner, II. R. Hudspeth, of Los Angeles. The claims are on a lode crossing the principal lodes of the county. The deposit is between lime and porphyry. The copixT is in the form of cuprite and ohry.socolla. On thr outcrop tlie mineral- ized zone is about 250 feet wide. The development consists of shafts, drifts, and cuts, and a tunnel 105 feet long. About three miles north oi Klinefelter station is a mine owned by Lewis & Shafer, displaying a vein from 3 to 6 feet wide, between massive slate and granite and porphyry walls. The ore is stated to bear 20 per cent of copper associated with gold. A vshaft has been sunk to a depth of 75 feet and a tunnel driven 50 feet, with about 100 ftn^t of t)ther dovelopmont work. Leastock Gold and Copper Mining Company. — A group of twelve claims in the Vanderl)ilt district. San Bernardino County. Vein hotwoon lime and granite, carrying ore reported at 7 per cent to 30 per cent copper, averaging 12 per cent. Shaft 150 feet; total development about 500 feet. (Reported by the Leastock Gold and Copper Alining Company.) In the southeast corner of San Bernardino County are the Whipple and ^Monument Mountains and west of these the Turtle ^Mountains, where some old mines are located, which produced rich ore in former years, when the Planet and Rawhide mines in Arizona Avere in operation. After lying idle a long time, this part of the county again attracted atten- tion, work on some of the old mines was resumed, and a number SAN BERNARDINO COINTV — COl'PKR CLAIMS. 337 of new prospects were tU'Vi'htpt'd. 'I'lic l'n||(i\viti<^ information al)t)ut this r»'L;ioii was obtained from Mi-. S. A. MeUonald, of Los AnLTelcs. jind .Mr. I'. Walters, of Santa Monica: American Eagle Group. — Situated about thirty-five miles .south of Needle.s; lias a shaft 130 feet, with some drifts show- ing: sulphide ores. Adjoining on the north is the Dayton groui), and the Wilbur and CopperHeld j;roup, which has a jia.soline hoist. Still farther .south are the Wyatt Earp, Martin, Bonner irroup. and several other claims. Fifteen miles southwest in the Turtle .Mountains lies the Horn jrroup of fifteen claims, with TOO feet of development work. sh()win:old ore. Large go.s.san outcrops and copper ore have been found in Iron wood district, some distance south of these properties. Si.xty miles south of Needles, occupying the extreme south- east corner of San Bernardino County, are the Whipple and Miuiumeiit raiiire, and a little west of these the Turtle Moun- tains, where some rich gold-copper ore was taken out forty years ago, at the time when the Rawhide and Planet mines in Arizona were producing. After being abandoned and lying idle for a long time this district again attracted attention, nnd several mining camps have l)een established. Copper Basin is situated in Mount Whipple district, not fai- from the Colorado River, and several veins have been located on a contact between a foot wall of diorite and a hanging wall of lime. .\. Wilson and .\. .M. Cornelius, of Needles, (»wn four claims on a 7-foot vein: R'. K. Neil, of Spokane, owns a group of twelve claims, with a 20-foot vein of oxidized ores: on the Catspaw are two shafts of 100 feet. The D. & W. (Dayton & Wilbur) has a shaft and hoist: the .\merican Eagle group in .Monument district has a shaft of 130 feet, expo.sing a large body of sulphides, which are encoun- tered at a little depth in this region, the water line being only 75 to 100 feet. On the eastern slope of Turtle Mountain lies the Black ^Metal mine, and in the northern part of this range, -the Sunrise district has been recently located. 22— Bt'L. oO 338 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Twenty miles farther down the river, in Riverside County, eio:lity-one miles frtmi Needles, \\ AValters. of Santa ^lonica, tliscovered ore and loeated a niuiihcr of claims. The formation is granite, schist, and lime; course of veins southeast-northwest; ore, copper, with a little gold. One shaft is down 150 feet and one tunnel on Copper Hill is 35 feet in ore. Several shipments of 20 per cent ore, mostly oxides, have been made to the smelter in El Paso, it is reported. Sulphides are expected at 200 feet, the water level. Between Goff station and INFanvel lies the Von Trigger camp, where a number of claims have been located on gold-bearing (luartz. Some of the veins carry copper, particularly in tlie group of claims owned by A. 11. Cramer, Blake post office. Old Dad Mountain Mining District. — This district, situated northeast of Bagdad, was discovered by a I'iuto Indian, named Ilikorum, in 18i)7, who I)rought some oi-c to Needles and described the locality where he had found il, whereupon some miners went to the place and made the first locations. The principal formation is granite, hut the veins are found in a por- phyritic rock, varying from coarse-grained rock resembling granite, to a fine-grained variety, apparently a (|uartz-])or- phyry. The walls of the veins ai-c generall\' not clearly defined, which applies esj)e(Mally to the foot wall, and il is. therefore, difficult to determine accurately the width. The i)riiic!pal vein is from 4 to over 20 feet wide ; strike 20 degrees west, north 20 degrees east; dip 60 to 72 degrees. Carries quartz, ii-on. lime, etc., and values in gold and copper, mostly oxides witli some glance, and a little silver. This vein has been traced for more than two miles and on it is located the property of the two principal miijing companies in the district. The Orange Blossom Mining and Milling Company own ten claims, thi-ee of which are located along the apex of the vein, which has been traced through their entire length. This property is situated in lowiiship 8 north, range 11 east, nine miles from the station Bagdad. 2()!)0 feet alxtve sea level, or 1975 feet nixive that place, which is 715 feet above sea level. Besides the slwillow openings along the apex of the vein, by which its course has l)een traciMl. the principal workings are on the Orange TMo.s.scmi claim and consist in two shafts not far SAN HKRXARDINO COINTV — COPPER CLAIMS. :i:}!) apjirt. lollowiiiLr llic vein ;it an aiitrlf of 7l' degrees, the clip being wrst l)y nortli. Tl Id shaft lies fartlun- nortli. is 106 foot d<'o|). and has one drift running north 40 foot, at 15 feet, ami anothor at af) feet runninu' south, showing ore in their entire length. The new shaft is 'Mi'i feet deep, well timbered, of doui)le compartment, one for bucket, one for ladder way, and is ea\> aiuiwiwix i -isiiiicr s\\ BKRXARDINO COUNT V. level are 1 Of) feet of drifts, coiiiieit Jul;- with the old shaft: at th.' 100-foot level there are :55 feet ..f drifts; at the L'OO-foot level, 45 foot; at the :WO-foot level, 35 feet. ;dl showing a wide vein, and ore. Between the two shafts is an open cut 60 feet Ioiil: and aliout S feet deep, all in vein with several feet of good ore. .Mtogether there ;iiv 471 feet of shaft, 261 feet (.f drifts, anil 60 feet of cut. or 7!)1 feet of development. The camp has good accommodations and an assay office. Office: San Diego; John Denair. president : W. I. Coapman, .secretary. 340 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. The Orange Blossom Extension adjoins the preceding on the north. Its property eonsi.sts of twenty ehvims, five of which are located on the same vein which continues without any par- ticular chanuc in its geological and inineralon with irold and silvrr oi-cs. and a iniiiilier of properties have received superficial tlevelopnieiil. hut noiu' have yet assumed importanee as |)roducciN. The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses the countN' diaironally. ^'ivini; faii'lx" convenient access to several mineral ilistriets. The southei-n boundary of the county runs throuirh the depression known as SmIIou Lake, the lowest pai-f i>f which is 27') feet below the level of the sea. Orphan Boy Mines. — They are in the Valeii .Mountains, about twii miles south of Packai'd's Well. Ironwood district. Elevation. 1S.")() feet. There an- llirre claims in this lifcaip. The minerals ai'«' copper, i-old. and silver, and the mineralized /.one is about 100 feet wide, dipping; southwai'dly. The eoimtry roek is i>or|>hyry. There are three open cuts and a shaft 8 feet deep levealinj; jrood ore. Assays are reported to show more than 'M) per cent coj)])er. The han' Danes Lea Mining Co. — The mines of this company are located near the coast, eight miles east of Encinitas. in town- ship 13 south, range 3 west. San Bernardino meridian. The development consists of two shafts 200 feet apart and a tunnel. One of the shafts is down 280 feet and the other 100 feet. The shafts are sunk in the ore body, the ledge being about 3 feet wide in porphyry formation. The ore is chaleopyrite. averag- ing a fair percentage of copper. A 12-horsepower gasoline hoist has been installed. Tlie company intend to erect a con- centration plant as soon as the developments will .iustif\" the expenditure and to ship the concentrates to a smelter. In the group there are twenty claims, all showing copper in the crop- pings. W. IT. Mackinnon of Encinitas is manager, and AV. C. Harland. of San Diego, president. SAX mvAH) c'orNTY — LOS axcf:les corNTV. 34;> Barona Copper Claims. — This pn.pniy is localtd ihirty- five miles iioiilicast of San I)it* development.s have been performed. TIk^ ore is prineipall\" ehalcopyrite and black oxide of copper. It assays about 8 per cent copper antl carries .^^1.50 in fjjold and 8 ounces of silver per ton. The ledire. a schistose quartz, is in granite. T. J. Dalev. of San Die^o. owner. LOS ANGELES COUNTY. Los AuLieles ('oiuit,\ . wliich reaches eastward from the sea in the most favored portion of southern California, is far- famed for its climate and the wealth and beauty of its orange groves and luxuriant gardens, and possesses, in tlie city of Los Angeles, the metropolis of this large section of tiie State. There are three rich oil fields in the county, those of the city of Los Angeles, AVhittier, and Puente. The petroleum (mtput in 1907 was 4,318,73!) ban-els. and oil refineries produced a large amount of asphaltum. Xortli and east of the fertile valley regions of the county, in its nortiiern and eastern parts, is a considerable i)ortion of the j\Io.jave Desert, similar in character to the desert regions of the adjoining counties of Kern, San Bernardino, aiul Riverside. In this region ])lacer gold was mined l)efore ^Marshall made his discovery in 1848. and ever since Itnii |)lacer miiiiuL; operations have continued on a small scale .\ few valual)le (juartz mines have been developed. Co})pei- was noted and a little ore mined near Soledad l*a.ss hefore the American occui)ation. The copper deposits are in the northeastern pai't of the county, near and northeast of Acton, in Soledad Pass, on the edge of the Mojave Desert. 346 TIIK COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. Palm Development Co. — This company has supcrlicially developed some claims located twenty-three miles northeast of Acton and three miles southeast of Little Kock Creek, in sec- tion 30. township 5 north, ranyc 10 west. San Hernardino meridian. The ore is found in deposits in a porphyritic dike, which averages 180 feet in width. The mineralized zone may be traced for one and a half miles. Three shafts have been sunk. While some ore was encountered in these shafts, they failed to show any defined led^e or continuous deposit. The ore is chiefly malachite and carries gold and silver. The mines have lieen h-ased to Messrs. Elliot & Leavitt. who erected a leaching i)hiiit. E. M.-Ross and .Joseph H. Call, of Los Angeles, owners. An extension of the claims of the Palm Development Com- ])aiiy is owned by William i\I. Van Dyke, of Los Angeles. Free Cuba. — Located a half mile .south of the Southern Pacific Railroad station at Acton. This mine was first worked about forty-five years ago, and abandoned. The old shaft has been cleaned out, and at the bottom. 200 feet from the surface, samples of native copper were found. A quartz ledge in granite is 23 feet wide. Ira L. Houser. of Acton, owner. Mooney & Williams Claim. — Located two miles south of Acton. A crew was developing the property, and in the tunnel some fair copper ore had been encountered. The character of the ledge is similar to that of the Free Cuba. Moonev & Willinms. of Acton, owners. APPENDIX. CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. This iii.stitiitiun aims to hi' the chief soiiree of reliable infor- inatjoii altoiit the iiiiiieral resourees and miniii«r imlustries of ( 'alif(»niia. It is eiicouraired ill its work by the fact that its publica- tions have been in such demand that larj^^e editions are soon exhausted. In fact. f'0]>ies of them now connnand hiirh prices in the market. Tile publications, as soon as i.ssued, find their way to the scientific, public, and private libraries of all countries. STATE MINERALOGIST. The California State Mining; liureau is under the supervision of TTon. Lewis E. Au])ury. State :\Iineralo.trist. It is supported by le^Mslative approju-iat ions, and in some decree performs work similar to that of the ^eolofrical surveys of other states; but its purposes and functions are mainly practical, the scien- tific work lieiuL' clearly subordinate to the economic phases of the mineral Hi-ld. as shown l)y the or};anic law governinpr the Tiui'cau. which is as follows: Sec. 4. It shnll !)<■ tin- the information availaliic to thoso desirini; it. and to provide a custodian specially ipialilied to i»roniote this i(uri)Ose; to make a i)iennial report to the lioard of Trnsteos of the Mininy; Hnreau, settinjr forth the important n-snlts of ids work, and to issne from time to time such linlletins as he may ileem advisable concerninj; the statistics and technology of ilie mineral industries of this State. • THE BULLETINS. The field covered by tlie Ixtoks issufd nndor this title is .shown ill the list of piihlicatioiis. Each bullet in deals with only one phase of mininji'. Many of tliein are elal)orately illus- trated with engravings and maps. Only a nominal priee is asked, in order that those wIki need them most ma}^ obtain a eopy. THE REGISTERS OF MINES. Tlie Registers of Mines forms {)raetieally l)oth a State and a County direetory of the mines of California, each county being represented in a separate pamphlet. Those who wish to learn the essential facts about an\- particular mine are referred to them. The facts and figures are given in taliular form, and are accompanied by a topographical iii;i|) of the county on a large scale, showing location of each mineral deposit, towns, railroads, roads, power lines, ditches, etc. HOME OF THE BUREAU. The ]\Iining Bureau occupies the north luiir of the third Moor of the Ferry Huilding. in San Francisco. All visitors and residents are invited to iiisi)ect the Mu.seuni. Library, and other rooms of the I'ureau and gain a per.sonal knowledge of its operations. THE MUSEUM. The Museum now contains over 16.000 specimens, carefully labeled and attractively arranged in show cases in a great, well-lighted hall, where they can be easily studied. The collec- tion of ores from California mines is of course very extensive, and is supplemented by many cases of characteristic ores from the prinei|)al mining districts of the world. The educational 350 THE COPPER RESOURCES OP CALIFORNIA. value of the exhibit is constantly increased by substituting the best specimens obtainable for those of less value. These mineral collections are not only interesting. l)eautiful. and in every way attractive to the sightseers of all classes, but are also educational. They show to manufacturers, miners, capitalists, and others the character and quality of the eco- nomic minerals of the State, and where they are found. Plans have been formulated to extend the usefulness of the exliibit by special collections, such as one showinj; the chemical com- position of minerals; another showinu: the mineraloirical com- position of the sedimentary, metamorphic. and iitineous rocks of the State; the petroleum-bearing formations, ore bodies, and their country rocks, etc. Besides the mineral specimens, there are many models, maps, photographs, and diagrams illustrating the modern practice of mining, milling, and concentrating, and the technology of the mineral industries. An educational series of .specimens for high schools has been inaugurated, and new plans are l)eing formulated that will make the Museum even more useful in the future than in the past. Its popularity is shown by the fact that over one hundred thousand visitors registered yearly, while numv failed to leave anv record of their visit. THE LIBRARY. This is the mining reference library of the State, constantly consulted by mining m^n. and contains between 4000 and 500(1 volumes of selected works, in addition to tlie numerous publi- cations of the Bureau itself. On its shelves will be found reports on geology, mineralogy, mining, etc.. published by statas, governments, and individuals; the reports of scientific societies at home and abroad: eneyclopa'dias. scientific papers, and magazines; mining publications; and the current litera- ture on mining ever needed in a reference library. Manufac- turers' catalogues of mining and milling machinery by California firms are kept on file. Tlie Registers of Klines form an up-to-date directory for investor and nuinufacturer. The librarian's desk is the general l)ureau of information, where visitors from all parts of the world are ever seeking information about all parts of California. < O 2; a Eh 7> a: o fa a a z 352 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. READING-ROOM. This is a part of the Library Department and is supplied with over one hundred current publications. Visitors will find here various California papers and leading mining journals from all over the world. The Library and Reading-room are open to the public from "9 A. M. to 5 p. M. daily, except Sundays and holidays, and from 9 A. M. to 12 M. on Saturdays. THE LABORATORY. This department identities for the prospector the minerals "*vhich he finds, and tells him the nature of the wall rocks or dikes that he may encounter in his workings: but this depart- ment does not do assaying nor compete with private assayers. The presence of minerals is determined, but not the percentage present. No charges for this service are made to any resident of the State. Many of the inquiries made of this department have brought capital to the development of new districts. ]\fany technical ((uestions have been asked and answered as to the best chemical and mechanical processes of handling ores and raw material. The laboratory is well equipped. THE DRAUGHTING-ROOM. In this room are prepared scores of maps, from the small ones filling only a part of a page, to the' largest County and State maps; and the numerous illustrations, other than photo- graphs, tliat are constantly being required for the Bulletins and Registers of ]\Iines. In this room. also, will be found a very complete collection of maps of all kinds relating to the industries of the State, and one of the important duties of the department is to make such additions and corrections as will keep the maps up to date. The seeker after information inquires here if he wishes to know about the geology or topog- raphy of any district: about the locations of the new camps, or pasitions of old or abandoned ones; about railroads, stage roads, and trails: or about the working drawings of an\'thing connected with mining. A 1 'I 'ENDIX — STATISTICS. 353 MINERAL STATISTICS. One of the features of this institution is its niinci-jil statistics. Their annual compilation liy the State Mining Bureau l)ey:an in 1SI»:{. No other State in the Union attempts so elaborate a record, expends so much labor and money on its (•(>m|)ilation. or secures so accurate a one. The State Mininj? Bureau keeps a careful, up-to-date, and reliable but coutidential retrister of every producini.' mine, mine-owner, and mineral industry in the State. Prom them are secured, under ph'due of secrecy, reports of output, etc., and all other available sources of information are used in checkinjr. verifyinfr. and supplementinir the information so gained. This information is published in ;in aiuiual tahidated, statistical, single-sheet bulletin, showing- the mineral i)rodue- tion bv both substances and counties. TOTAL GOLD PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA— 1848-1907. IMS 1840 ls,",o l.s.-,i ls.-,2 i.s,->:i 1.S.-4 is.v. is.-.c, 1S.-,T ]s.-,.s isv.t ist;o isci ISCli isr,.-, 1S(U I8r>.-. i.soe, ISC.T 1S(>S ISiCO 1 sT< • 1871 1872 1S7:'. 1874 1S7.". 187(; 1877 1878 .$l'4."..:!Ol 10.1ol.3r,4l 41.27;{.l(Xi 7.".!>:{.s.i>:!-_> 81,294,700 ii7.tn:i487 (;o.4:].'}.n:!i .").48.-».:!i».1 ."M..">0t),411 4.^(;2.8.172 4tJ.."'.!n.l4(» 4r>.84(;..")rH» 44.0(».-.lC..'^ 41.8.S4.!l'.t.') :i8.8.")4.(W>8 2.*i.."01 .7.*u; 24.071. 42.-; 17.n30.8.jS I7.i2.-;.8r,7 1S.2(;."..4."2 17,5.>").8G7 18.220.044 17.4.-.8.1.'« 17.477..S8r» 1. "..482.104 1. ".,01 0.2 10 17.204..S3r. ir..87r,.ooo l."..r,10.72.'. lG..^01.2fJS 18.8:i0.141 1870 18.80 1.881 1.8.82 i.ss;^ 1.8.84 1.88.". 1.S8G 1.887 l.S,88 1.8.80 1.800 1801 I S02 1803 1.804 1.8!>.". 1.80<> 1.807 i.sn.s 1.809 1IM>0 I'.Mll 1002 VMK', IIMM- UK).". v.hm; 10(17 .Sio.(;2t;.(r.4 2o.(i:!o.7r.l lo.22;{.i.".r. I7.i4e..4in 24.:iic..87;j i3.r.oo.o il.2i2.oi:j 12.:!<»O.703 12.72.s..S(;o 12..".71.0(N) 12.422..811 1.3.02:5.281 1."...3;U.317 17. 181 ..".(^.2 1. "..871. 401 1."..(mm;.478 1.^>..33(!.031 1."...S(k3.;!.".". 1G.0.S0.(M4 10.910..320 ir,.471.2(U lO.ioo.crKt 19,107.043 18,7.32.4.".2 10,727,028 Total $1,409,513,691 23— BUL. 50 354 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. TOTAL MINERAL PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA FOR 1907. Tlie follow iiig lal)k' shows the yield and value ui' iiiineral sul)stances of California for 19U7, as pei' returns received at the State JNIining Bureau, San Frauciseo, in answer to intjuiries sent to producers : QrANTITV. WVLIE. Asbestos TO tons .$.",,."»0l) Asi.halt 7!>.71S tons 1,058,400 liituniinons rock 24,122 tons 72,835 lioinx Kic.si'.-.OOO lbs. 1,200,913 Cement l.Ui;5..">ti.) bbls. 2,585,577 Chrome • 302 tons 6,040 Clay ( brick ) :!t;2.1(;T M 3,438,951 ( 'lay ( pottery I l(;i).:;!S5 tons 2.54.4.54 C,,a 1 23.7;{4 tons .55.S49 Coi)i)er 32.<)02.'.>45 lbs. 6.341. 3,S7 Fnller's earth IW tons 1,000 Gems 2:]2.042 Gold S(»!».2i:!..52 ounces 1(;.727.!I2S Granite .•'.I»!».4:J1 cu. ft. 3T:!.:!7<; (Jyiisum 'S.OOO tons 5T.Tn() Infusorial earth 2..5:n tons 2S.948 Iron ore 4(X) tons 400 I^ad 1<>-1 tons 16.(590 Lime 684,218 bbls. T56.:',76 Limestone 230.9S5 tons 406,041 Macadam L5-14.<'.17 tons 1.082.302 Magnesite 6,405 tons 57.720 Manjranese 1 ton 25 .Marble M7.512 cu. ft. ] 18.066 Mineral paint -'.50 tons 1.T20 Mineral water 2.!»2-l.26'.l -als. .544.o|6 Natural sas IC'.t.OOl cu. ft. 114.75!» Paving blocks 4.604 M l'.t!>.:i47 Petroleum . : 40.:m.l71 bbls. 16.78:',.!»43 Platinum ;!00.()7 ounces 6.25.5 Pyrites 82.270 tons 251.774 Quartz crystals 4.0(V) lbs. 10.(K>0 (Quicksilver 17.:'.7!i Hasks 063.178 Rubble 744.271 tons 832,713 Salt 88.063 tons ' 310,967 Sand-glass 11 .065 tons 8,178 Sandstone 150.573 cu. ft. . 148.148 Serj.entine 1.0 MINING BUREAU PUBLICATIONS. l*ul)licMti(»IlS of this l>lll-c;m will he s.'iit mi receipt dl' Ihe r('(iiiisile iiiiiniint ami jtoslafr*'. Only stamps, coin or money orders will be accepted in payment. Do not send personal checks. \n of the ;iiiieii(liiieiit which .stati'.s: "The hoard i hoard of trustees) is hereby eiiipowci'ed to li.\ a pi-ice upon, and to dispose of to the piihlic, at such prices. '■"">• and all publications of the iJin-eaii. iiicludiuiz' repoi-ts. bulletins, maps, reijisters. etc. The sum derived from sihdi disposition must be aeeounted for and used as a revolviiiL;- printiii'j and publisbint:- fund foi- other reports, maps, reeis- tcrs. etc. The pi-ices fixed must approximate the actual cost of pi'inliim and i.ssiiinu- the respective i-epoi-ts. l)ulletins. maps. reiristers. etc. without I'ld'erence to the cost of oi)taininu and l)repai-in^ the information enilir;iced therein."' Price. I'uslilijo. RejHU-t X I — is'li;. First Uicmiiiil .$1.(M1 .$(t.1.". Itcport XIII — iSiMi. Third I'.iciiiiiiii I.dii .^n liuiifiiii No. (i — "(Toid .Mill riiuticcs in Californiu" " •►'• '■''■ > 7,U M Kiillfliii N.i. '.I — ".Mine. I )r;iiiiii;rc, rnnips. Klc." iioiini] .do .os ItiiJlfliii .No. 1.". — .Miip (,r Oil City nil Fields. Fresno ("oiiiily. ( 'iiliforiii.i" (|-, ()•> liiilleiiii .\o. 'Si — "Copper Kesonrces of ( ';ilifori)i;i" ."lO .Hi Hulletiii .\o. '24 — "Saline Deposits of CalifoiiiiM" .".ii .10 Itiillctin .No. '27 — "Quick.silvor Kesoiircps of Caiiroiiiia " . . .7.", .O.S r.nlletiii .No. .'{O — "IJildio^rraiiliy Itelaliii^' to the Ceolojry. I'ala'oiUoloKy and .Mineral Kesoinres of California," incliidini,' List of .Maps r,l) to Bulletin .No. .'51 — "Clieniie.il Analysis of Califoniia I'e- trolenni" _ _ qo r.nlleiin .No. ;;:.' — "I'roduction ami Ise of California Fe- ll'oleiun" -- Qj^ P.nlletin .No. '.'.r. — "(Jold I»redj;in}; in California" CM e.l. i .."^i .os Hnlletin No. 37 — "(Jems and Jpwelers' Materials of Cali- fornia" (2<1 ed. ) .-(I .0.S 3o() THE COl'l'EK KESOUKCES OF CALIFORXIA. rrici'. I'ostaKC. r.nlli'liii \o. .'>S — ■■Striicliiral Mini Itidiisli-iiil M.ilciials of < "iilifornia" $0.7.". $0.20 I'.ullriin .No. 42 — ■■.Miiicnil I'lodiirtion of Califdriiia" — lili C» .02 Itiilli'tin .\o. 4."i — ••Auriferous Blaek Sands of California" .10 .02 r.iillriiu Nil. 4f> — "Index of Miiiiii,;i Bureau Puhlicatious" .30 .0(*. liulk'tin .\o. 47 — •••-Mini'ial rroduction of California" — Ukk; .02 Bulletin No. 4N — ••.Minci-al I'ro hiction of California for 20 Years" .02 Bulletin No. no — "Copper Resources of California" Bulletin No. 51 — '•Mineral rroduction of California"-^ 10(»7 .02 liulletin No. r»2 — '•Mineral I'rodnction of California for 21 Years" .02 ( "aliforiiia .Mine licU Signals ( < "ardhoard ) (»."» .02 California Mine I'.ell Signals 1 1'aper) O.-, .02 (lOkl Production in California from IS-IS to l!i(i7 A)- Besister of Minis, with Map. .Kniador Coiint.v 2.~> .08 Be.iiister of Mines, with Maj). I'.utte Count.v 2."i .08 Register of Minos, wiili Maji. El Dorado Count.v 2.""i .08 Register of Mines, with .Map. In.vu Count.v 2."i .08 Rej;ister of Mines, with .Maji. Kern Count.v 'J."i .08 Register of Mines, with Mai>. Lake Count.v '2.") .08 Register of Mines, with Map. Mariposa Count.v '2~> .08 Register of Mines, with .Maj). .Nevada Count.v 2." .08 Register of Mines, with Map. San Bernardino Count.v 2."> .08 Register of Mines, with Maj). San Diego Count.v 2.") .08 Register of Mines, with Map. Santa Barhara Count.v 2.") .OS Register of Mines, with Map. Shasta Count.v 2."i .08 Register of Mines, with .Map. Sierra Count.v 2r> .08 Register of Mines, with Map. Siski.vou Count.v '2~> .08 Register of Mines, with .Mai). Trinit.v Count.v 2."» .08 Register of Mines, with .Map. Tuolumne Count.v 2r> .(KS Register of Mines, with .Map. Yuha Count.v 2r> .08 Register of Oil \Vells, with Map, Los Angeles Cit.v 35 .02 Mai. «>f Mother Lode 0.") .02 yii\\> of Desert Region of California 10 .02 Map Showing Copper Deposits in California (►."> .02 Map of Calaveras Count.v 2.". .03 Map of IMumas Count.v 2." .03 Map of IMacer Count.v 2."> .08 Mineral and Relief Map of California '2.'. .05 MAp of Forest Reserves in California (.Mounted) "tO .08 Map of Forest Reserves in California (Unmounted) 30 .06 Map of Minaret Mining District, Madera Count.v '20 .02 SaiiipU's OiiiiittHl to llirt'c at one time) of any mineral found in the State may be sent to the Bureau for identification, and the same will be classified free of eliarge. No samples will be y. y. •r. o o 358 THE COPPER RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. determined if received from points outside the State. Tt must ])<• iindirst (»()(!. Dial no assays, or quantitative determinations will be made. Saiiii)]cs sliiuild l)c in a hiiii]) t'onu if ])i)ssililc. aiiA I'Ol'N'rY— Uescrlp- tioii of T'-' Mines in — Alma !«!» Leona HoiKlits 1"'^ ALI'INIC COrXTV — Descrip- tion of . . -^''> Mines in — Leviathan -"' Stella -^*' AMADOR COUNTY — Destiip- tion of --^ Mines and claims in — Newton 222 Moon 224 ■,-l,:iyt.r 225 225 lone City Chaparral --n Hiissel 225 Bull Run 225 Copi)cr Hill 226 .Johnson Kan
  • A 174 HKLT. COAST RANGE 115 m-UEAr. STATE MININ<:.... :{47 CALAVERAS COINTY — I )e- si-ription of 228 Mines and claims iii - Union '■ 229 Keystone 233 Penn Chemical \Vorks 238 Constitution 242 Napoleon 242 Star and Excelsior 244 Collier 244 Eagle 244 Josephine 244 Pack. CA LAVERAS COUNTY— Cont. Mines and claims in — .lackson-McCarty -I' Caledonian 245 Pool 245 CALIFORNIA COPPER PRO- 1 )UCTION— 1882-l!t07 24 COPPER PR01>UCT1<)N I.V COUNTIES 2t; COPPER PRODUCTION FOR 21 YEARS 25 CALIFORNIA MINERAL STA- TISTICS 353-354 COLUSA COCNT Y — I >escrip- tion of 15" Mines and claims in— (Jem Group ■•"■' Blackbird ^-^^ ( ".ray Eagle ^"^ Pacific 159 Ruby King l*'^ Mark Hanna l*"'" Lion 1"'» DEL NOR'I'E COUNTY— De- scription of 133 Low Divide District 13'! Alta Group 13ti Union Copper '•''" Mammoth Group 13S Frank Zaar 13S Five I )iamonds 138 Keystone '38 McKee 13*< Alameda 131t Call f'.ro\ip 13!t Eva 13!. Prudential 13'' Tuesday Morning 13!) Del Norte 13-' Doctor 13!* Higgins Mountain 140 Monkey Creek 140 Bear's Nest 138 Bagley 138 360 INDEX. Pagk. EL DORADO COFNTY— De- scription of 210 Mines and claims in — • Alabaster Cave 211 Kelley Bros 212 Lil>ania 212 Pioneer 213 Homestead 213 ('aml)rian 213 Cosumnes 214 Fnrci Group 214 Arizona 216 Copper Cliief 216 Agrara 216 Boston *. 216 in*. "Wren 216 Rol>eit 216 Larkin 217 Hale 217 Revoir 217 Oest 217 Cambrian 218 Pioneei- 218 Irland 218 Costa Ranch 218 E. R 218 Bunker Hill 219 Rip and Tear 219 Bob 219 Noonday 220 FRESNO COFNTY — Descrip- tion of 277 Mines and claims in — • Painter 278 Fresno Copper 279 Copper King 282 Wabasli 287 Mount Sterling 287 Grubstake 287 Black Mountain 287 Buck's Peak 287 Sunset 288 Mappy Camp 288 I lild. ■brand 288 W. L. Hinkle 288 Anderson &- Gist 288 Kanavvyer 289 GEOLOGY OF SHASTA COP- PER BELT 57 GLENN COUNTY— Description of 1.0.5 GLENN COUNTY— Cent. Mines and claims in — Hudibras 15S II. I>. Kniglit 158 St. .bilin Development Co... I'lS Black Buttes ],59 HISTORICAL NOTES 30-45 HI'MBOIJ )'l' COUNTY — De- scription of l."ill Mines and claims in — • Red Cap 151 La Perin 152 Red Lasseck 152 Rainbow 152 Crimson 152 Copper Gl.ince 153 Henderson 153 Blake 153 Shyer 154 Patrick's Point 154 INYO COUNTY— Description of 299 Mines and claims in — Wisi'on.«in 301 Kingman 301 Valentine 303 Navajo Cliief o(t3 Eureka 304 Trail 304 Dodd's Spring 304 Ulida 304 Olancha 306 Spear 306 Copper Knife 306 Anton & Pobst 306 Silver Hill 306 Green Monster 306 Copper Tail 306 Copper Point 306 Inyo Copper Mines and Smelter Co 307 Excelsior 308 Fairbury 308 Fairbaidis No. 4 308 Ormonde 308 Ormonde No. 2 308 Kenilworth No. 1 308 Kenilwortb No. 2 308 Pluton 309 Ajax 309 Sanger Group 309 Cojiper King 310 INDEX. 3(U Page. 1NY<» CUIXTV— Cont. Mines and claims in — • Prince Group 310 Biue Jay 310 Red Bird 310 Good Ln(k Group 310 Rainbow 312 Giroux Group 313 Ricliardson 313 Custer Mine 314 Climax 314 Wincliester Group 314 Verde 314 Argo and Arrowliead 314 Keystone 314 Copper Alta 314 Windy Group 314 Independeni-e 314 Bonanza Greenwater Cop- per Co 316 Greenwater District 317 Greenwater- Deatli Valley Copper Co 322 Furnace Creel< Copper Co.. 322 Butte Furnace Range Co... 323 Greenwater Red Boy 323 Saratoga 323 Kast Greenwater 324 Vindicator 324 Calumet and Hecla 324 Copper King 324 Pittsburg-Greenwater 324 Greenwater Blai k Jack 324 Greenwater Copper Mining Co 324 South Greenwater 324 Willow Creek 324 Arcturu.s 324 Donald.son & Co 324 Robicheau & Cox 324 Sheep Creek 324 KERN COUNTY — Description of 293 Mines and claims in — Greenback Copper 294 A. J. Maltl)y 29G Spa and Bonanza 29C J. I>. Hooper 297 J. R. Manning 297 Gallow Glass 297 LASSEN COUNTY— Copper in. ITi^ Pace. LAKH COUNTY — Description of li;:! Minos and claims in — Copper Princ-e Mining Co... H13 Christianson Tract 1*>4 Poe Claim 1>>4 LOS AN(5i:r>KS COUNTY— De- scription of 345 Mines and claims in — Palm Development Co 34fi Free Cuba 34G Mooney & Williams 34G W. M. Van Dyke 34r; MADERA COUNTY— Descrip- tion of 2<;9 Mines and claims in — Buchanan 270 Daulton Ranch 270 U. S. Copper Smelting ami Refining Co 270 Joe Wagner 272 Copper Queen 272 California Copper Co 272 Questo 274 Adobe Ran< h 27fi Old Reed 27G Big Chief 27G C. M. Ward 27G C. S. Mo.ses 276 Mrs. L. Krohn 276 MARIN COUNTY— Description of 168 Mines and claims in — Bolinas Copper Mining Co.. 168 Pike Gulch Mining Co 168 Union Copper Co 168 MARIPOSA COUNTY— Descrip- tion of 2.'>1 Mines and claims in — East Belt 252 Green Mountain 253 Lone Tree Mine 257 Cavan M. & M. Co 257 Rothcliilds 257 Sunset 258 Crown Point 258 Copper King 258 San Jose 258 Stonewall Jackson 258 Mammoth 260 362 INDEX. Page. MAUU'OSA COUNTY— Cont. Mines and chiims in — Great Northern 260 Pocaliontas 260 A. C. Smith 262 White Rock Copper King. . 262 Cornett 264 Yosemite 26.5 Lone Tree 265 John Dias 265 La Victoria 265 Baretta 267 Castignetto 267 Farrari 267 Barfield 267 Antone liilin 268 Flyaway 268 Copper Queen 268 Commissiona 268 Heiser 268 MENDOCINO COUNTY — De- scription of 160 Mines and claims in — Potter Valley 161 Thomas 161 Native Copper 161 Red Mountain 161 Ogle 161 McGimpsey 162 Pieta 162 Redwood Copper Queen.... 162 MERCED COUNTY— Mines and claims in^ Jose Copper 1 71 Victor Bonanza 1 72 MODOC COUNTY— Copper in.. 176 MONO COUNTY — Description of 298 Mine's and claims in — Santiago. Cuba and Havana 299 Goleta Consolidated 299 NAPA COUNTY — Description of 164 Mines ;ind claims in — Napa Copper 165 Search Group 165 NEVADA COUNTY— Descrip- tion of 189 Mines and claims in — Spenceville Copper 191 Page. NEVADA COUNTY— Cont. Mines and claims in — Spence Mineral Co 19.'? Nickerson 194 Henry Hibber 194 Mineral Hill 195 Last Chance 196 Green Lead 196 Golden Eagle 196 Jackson 197 Arkansaw Traveler 197 Genevieve 197 Progress 197 Monmouth and Climax 197 Cal. Gold annuM-y I"-' Polar Still- 180 Blue IJoU 180 Kewaril 180 I>iini-UM 181 Shoofly 182 Peters 184 Little Gem 184 Williani.s Group 184 lUivis 185 Kngle Copper Mining Co 185 Kngle Bros. Group 185 Kngels Copper Mining Co. of California 18G Superior 186 Ilusselnian •& Shaw 187 RIVKRSIUE COUNTY — De- scription of 340 Mines and claims in — Orplian Boy 341 Palen 341 Homestake 341 Mountain King 342 Randolpli & Hamilton 342 Anderson 342 Badger State 342 Fluor Spar 343 Vulture Crag 343 Shadow Mountain 343 Ironwood District 343 S.\N BIONITO COUNTY— Dewis Creek Claim 172 S.\N BEUN.MiDINO COUNTY— Description of 325 Mines and claims in — Copper World 326 G. Hampstead 328 Manvel Mining 330 Ivanpali 330 Copper King 330 Standard 330 Leastalk 330 Arizona-Mexican M. & S... 330 New York Mountains 331 New- York Mine 331 Giant Ledge Gold and Sil- ver Co 333 Von Trigor 333 Copper Mountain 333 Pack. SA.X BIOKX.Mil iIN( > CO.— CoMl. Mines and claims in — l{o.«e 334 Camp Vera 334 .luanita 335 .Juanita Group 335 Lyttle Creek 335 Peai'ock . . 335 Ord 336 Hudspetli 336 Lewis & Sliafer 336 Leastock G. & C. M. Co.... 336 American Eagle 337 Dayton 337 Wilbur & Copperfield 337 Horn 337 Grey i*t Brown 337 Ironwood District 337 'I'urtle Mountains 337 Copper Basin 337 Black Metal 337 P. Walters 33S Old Dad Mt. District 338 Orange Blossom 338 Orange Blossom Extension. 340 Lady Lou 340 SAN DIEGO COUNTY — De- scription of 344 Mines and claims in — Danes Lea M. Co 344 Barona ^"•" SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY— Mines and claims in — Los Osos 1 '- Tiptop 1*^3 Gloria '"^ Tassajara 1'3 Prodigal Son 1"3 Sky Scraper 1"3 Schneider & McCles 173 Refugio 1'4 Guerro 1 "4 Guadalupe 1 ' 4 SHASTA COUNTY'— Copper Belt of 50 Geology of •''" Historical 30 Mines and claims in — Mountain Copper 70 Iron Mountain 76 Lone Star 76 364 INDEX. Page. SHASTA COUNTY— Con t. Mines and claims in — Ironclad 7t; Maruce-Lynch 78 Hiilly Hill 78 Mineral Mountain S4 Sugar Loaf S4 King Copper 84 Jumping Jack 85 Giant Consolidated 85 King 85 I'nited Copper 85 Webster Consolidated 85 Waters Group 85 Spread Eagle 85 Loralne 87 Shasta King 87 Balaklala 88 Ohio Consolidated 94 Friday & Lowden 94 Mammoth 95 Mayflower 97 Bohematosh 97 Summit 97 Ferguson it T.imlinugh 98 Great Verde 98 Golinsky 100 Keystone 100 Gregory & Whalen 100 Shasta May Blossom 100 Brushy Canyon 102 Doedollis 102 — Afterthought 102 Donkey 105 Rising Star 106 Copper City 107 Schmidt 107 Chattadown 107 Kosk Creek 108 Hartford 108 Cowboy 108 Black Diamond 108 Roseman 109 Jaegel 109 Memorial 109 Michigan 109 Northern Light 110 Excelsior 110 Arps 110 McClure 110 Ydalpom Ill Polkinghorn Ill Canyon Ill Paoe. SHASTA COUNTY— Con t. Mines and claims in — Congress m Gold Belt Ill Sanders 112 Slaughter 112 Horse Mountain ]12 Bisniar(f< 112 American Girl 112 Senator 112 Sulphide 113 Reno 113 Crystal 113 Endless Chain 113 Graham 113 Oregon Consolidated 113 Reynolds 114 Varsity 114 Copper Crest 114 Shasta Kennet 114 IngersoU 114 Motion Creek 114 SIERRA COUNTY— Description of 177 Mines and deposits in — Lassiad 1S9 Bassett's Pride 189 Zuver 189 Antelope Neck 189 Bullion 189 SISKIYOU COUNTY— Descrip- tion of 120 Mines and claims in — Hummer 123 Bonanza 123 Copper Queen 123 Plutus 123 Fortuna 123 Solomon 123 Hidden Treasure 124 August Flower 124 Huntley 124 Lytle 124 Polar Bear 124 Rader 124 Turner 124 Monarch Copper 124 Thanksgiving 125 Rothkopli 125 Schnider 125 Rainbow 125 Yellow Butte 126 INDKX. 365 Tack. SISKIYOr COl'NTV— Corn. Mines and claims in — Bonanza 1 26 Bunnell 126 I'nexpeited 126 Silver Mountain 1 2( Ten Lakes 127 Hathaway 1 Eaton 127 Batliluirst 12 l>risKs 12 KUiot Distriil 128 Blue Ledge 128 St. Albans 121t Cook & Green 129 Bloomtleltl 129 First National 129 E. L. Jones 129 Iglo 130 E. S. Huff 130 Morris 130 Sliato 130 Selby & Mc-Gill 130 A nderson 130 Wellington. Green & Page.. 130 Copper City 130 Little .limmy 130 Jonesville 130 Happy Camp District 130 Oak Hollow 130 1 )ewey 132 Gilpin 132 Doolittle Creek 132 Little Blue 132 Clear Creek 132 Buster 132 Buzzard Hill 132 Titus Creek 132 Nigger Creek 132 Preston Peak 132 SONOMA COl'NTY — Descrip- tion of 1 fit; Mines and claims in — Wall Tract 166 Archer Tract 1 66 Healdsburg Lode 167 Grizzly 167 Ward Tract 167 Altamont 167 Baby Jack and Earl Clare.. 167 Page. TEHAMA COl'NTY— Descrip- tion of .• 155 Mines and claims in — Kestner & Tliompson Iii7 Elder Creek 157 L. E. Perine ir,7 White Bluff 157 Tom Head 157-158 California and Massachu- setts Copper Co 158 I'ncle Sam 158 Halley iss Verde iss TRINITY COUNTY — Descrip- tion of 140 Mines and claims in — Cold Creek 142 Lambert 142 Lone Pine 142 Maddox 142 Murpliy 142 Pattie 143 Vine Oak 143 Granite 143 Nonpareil 143 Bear Tootli 144 Birdie 144 Quinby 144 Big Buck 144 Last Chance 145 Cinderella 145 Copper Button 145 Copper Queen 145-146 Crown Point 145 Eureka 145 Le Blanc 146 Slioemaker 146 Maitland 146 Jackson & Carter 146 Fortuna 146 Iron Mountain 146 Black Palatigus 148 Island Mountain Cons 148 South Fork District 142 New River District 143 Trinity Fork District 145 Other districts 146 TULARE COUNTY — Descrip- tion of 289 366 INDEX. Page. TULARE COUNTY— Cont. Mines and claims in — W. F. Powell 290 W. F. Glider 290 C. W. Keller 290 Barber 290 Dewey 292 Copper Mountain Mining Co 292 Sherman 293 Gill 293 TUOLUMNE COUNTY — De- scription of 247 Page. Tl'OLUMNE COUNTY— Cont. Mines and claims in — • Washington 249 Don Pedro District 249 Kohl. Shell, Mackay Ranch and Chinese Camp 249 F. T. Lillard 249 Oak Hill 250 Mitchell or Bonne Terre. . . . 251 Moccasin Creek 249 YUBA COUNTY— Copper in 205 Mines and claims in — Dempsey Ranch 205 Brady Ranch 205 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW JM & AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. ( r \ \ NOV 14 19^ NOV 7 1990 R£ CD RECEIVED NOVA?^ 193, AU6 25 1992 ^ .SEP 2 G 1992 L, Book Slip-15m-ti,'5T(C8107s4)4J<> 164906 Map op e# aowing the '^' Approximate Lr ■ ^ of the Pri„ • •''^'^ation ^ nncipaj Mtf- I^ •^ OR To ^^°"^Pany Bui/etin No. ^ ^"^ STATe U. 50, "Th^ r '^^^°PPer Resources of Caff ISSUED BY THE '^aWomia," CAUFORiV/A ST4TP , ^^^'S E ^„3^^^ ■™= D^R£cT,o^, » » ^905 ... t) ^ c> ■£*-..„, THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW J*K & AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. NOV 14 19^ NOV 7 1990 SEP RECEIVED ( r .euxs SCI UB AU6 25 1S92 .SEP 2 G 1992 Book islip-loHi )3,'57(C8107s4)4o<> UinVERSITY OF DAVIS 164906 \ MNIVF RSITY OF CALIFORN.A-OAVIS mill 3 1175 01437 6639 a le \ mfi mmmfmn .a' '<' <^/^ r^fr''30^^: .NX . . r;'-N»vi '^'^^.^.-S.:^:'-^ r*>>^-v^,^*»-ii >»*,--: 'Ji^^K^ i&4-7*f; ^ , - -t.^.^-^ ^ >_.,-„ «--