service of the California Water Company, a considerable extent of them having been found along the line of their new works on the divide between the South and Middle Forks of the American River, in El Dorado County. The formation, here covering a large portion of two entire townships traversed by the company's canal, consists of a soft, easily disintegrated slate, permeated by innumerable small seams of quartz. Many of these seams are rich in free gold, and having become thoroughly decomposed through chemical and elemental action, the metal has been liberated from its matrix, and they, together with the inclosing slates, can now be readily torn down and washed away by the hydraulic process. Some of these slates have already been successfully worked in this manner, the only hinderance to their extensive development having been the want of water. With the quantity that the California Company's ditch will be able to supply, they will hereafter be worked on an extensive scale, and, no doubt, with large profit; and as similar deposits are known to exist in other portions of the State, and so many new water projects are now under way, there is little question but they will add materially to the future product of our California placers.

In the course of the explorations recently carried on in our old riverbeds and other of our deep-lying placers, it has, in many places, been found that, beneath what was generally mistaken for the bed-rock, there is another, and sometimes more than one rich, gold-bearing layer of gravel, adding a novel and valuable feature to these deposits. So important have these lower strata proved that they will cause more careful examinations to be made of the apparent bottoms of these auriferous channels hereafter.

Large yields, strikes, nuggets, etc. In the month of August, 1871, a piece of nearly pure gold, weighing 64 pounds, was reported by the local press to have been taken from a claim on St. Charles Hill, near the head of Fiddle Creek, Sierra County. This report lacks confirmation, and the story is generally considered exaggerated if not apocryphal.

In September a nugget worth $6,000 was taken from the claim of Bunker & Co., in the State of Oregon.

A man named Fields in October last took from his claim on Kanaka Creek, Nevada County, a piece of quartz gold, weighing 96 ounces, and valued at $1,500. The same man took from his claim in one day 18

ounces.

A party of Chinamen mining in Placer County, in dealing with a trader near their camp the past summer, frequently paid for goods obtained of him with chunks of pure gold, evidently cut off from a larger piece, concerning the size of which or the locality where it was obtained nothing could be learned; though from the reticence of the parties having it in possession it was generally supposed they had pilfered it from some white man's claim.

Occasionally some exceedingly rich strikes have been made during the past year both in vein and placer mining, the clean-ups in the mills and hydraulic washings having in some instances never been surpassed. At several points chispas of large value have been picked up in supposed worked-out claims and heaps of tailings.

Have we diamonds in California? - The question of the existence of precious stones in California in paying quantities is one which is still in doubt. In various parts of the State agates, carnelian, and the stones of lesser value abound. Near Mokelumne Hill, in Calaveras County, in a strata of an ancient channel, opals are found in large quantities, but of inferior quality. In El Dorado County diamonds have

been found at intervals, but no systematic search has been made for them. Mr. W. A. Goodyear, one of the assistants of the State Geological Survey, thus writes to the Placerville Democrat concerning the existence of diamonds in the gravel beds of El Dorado County:

One other point which may be noted as being of some little interest to the miners, as a matter of curiosity if nothing more, although it is no new thing, is the occasional finding of diamonds in the auriferous gravel. From all that I have been able to learn, it appears that not less than ten or twelve diamonds have probably been found within four or five miles of this town. And I have no doubt that many more have been picked up and looked at and thrown away, the finders not knowing what they were. During my stay in El Dorado County I have seen and recognized two of these diamonds, both of which were in the hands of people who did not know what they were, but who had simply saved them as little curiosities on account of their appearance and peculiar shape. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the stone, it may be stated here that this peculiar shape of the diamond is one of the easiest and most characteristic features by which it may be recognized. The commonest shape of the diamond in this country is that of a solid or crystal having twenty-four triangular faces. And another remarkable and easily distinguished peculiarity is that these faces, instead of being perfectly flat, as is generally the case with the faces of quartz and other crystals, are very often curved, the center of each face being little his a higher than the surface toward the edges. The diamond, moreover, is extremely hard, and scratches quartz with the greatest ease. If, therefore, any one finds a little white or yellowish white crystal with twenty-four of these curved triangular faces, and if on trying it carefully with a crystal of pure quartz, he finds that it easily scratches the quartz without showing the least abrasion itself, he may be tolerably sure that he has a diamond. I would not recommend any one to institute a special hunt for diamonds, since at best they are not remarkably plenty. But it does no harm and takes no time to keep one eye upon the contents of the pan while engaged in cleaning up sluices, batteries, &c., in working the gravel, and though it may not pay to hunt for diamonds, yet it always pays to pick them up when you do happen to see them.

The State Geological Survey. - The legislature of 1860 passed an act appointing Prof. J. D. Whitney State geologist, and authorizing him to make an accurate and complete geological survey of the State. Prof. Whitney was engaged at the time his commission reached him in making a survey of the lead and copper region of the northwestern States under authority of the legislature of Wisconsin. Having accomplished this duty he departed for the new scenes of his labor and arrived in California during the latter part of the year 1860, since which time he has been engaged, with the aid of accomplished and energetic assistants, in making a thorough geological examination of the State, interrupted, however, from time to time, by reason of the failure of the legislature to continue the necessary appropriations for the work.

The result of his labors up to the present time has been the publication of a volume on general geology embodying the results of a preliminary reconnaissance of the State, published in 1865; two volumes on paleontology; and several maps illustrating the geology and topography of the central portions of the State, showing the area and extent of the auriferous deposit, the course of the pliocene rivers, and the course and flow of the lava streams which in the higher Sierra have filled the ancient rivers. Two more volumes on economical geology and mining are now prepared and ready for press, and their early issue will depend on the action of the legislature of 1871-'72, which will be called upon to make.the necessary appropriations for their publication.

The following extracts are from the biennial report of Prof. Whitney to the legislature of 1871-72:

Immediately after being placed in possession of means for continuing the survey, I began to make preparations for a more detailed survey and examination of the most important mining region of the State, namely, the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, between Mariposa and Plumas Counties. There seems to be abundant reason why this part of the State should be worked up with great care, both from a geological and a topographical point of view; and, as it is impossible to have a detailed knowledge

of the geology except on a basis of accurate geography, I long since commenced gathering our materials into shape with the idea eventually of publishing a map of the mining counties. Such a map has been partly prepared, and will be submitted to the legislature, in order that they may have the means of judging for themselves whether the completion and publication of this piece of our work may be advisable. The already warmly expressed wishes of many persons interested in mining throughout the State seem to me to point very clearly in that direction. The map, as now prepared, is about six and a half feet by four in dimensions, and covers an area of about nine thousand square miles, extending from Stanislaus County on the south to Plumas County on the north. I propose, however, to extend it in both directions, so that it may be published in four sheets, each reaching across the Sierra from foot-hills to summit, and so arranged that the sheets may be had separately, or the whole combined together into one map.

Immediately after the resumption of the survey, the services of Mr. Amos Bowman were engaged, and he was directed to begin gin a minutely detailed exploration of the mining belt of the Sierra, with the special object in view, however, er, of collecting all the data necessary for a full report on the gravel deposits leposits worked by the hydraulic process. Mr. Bowman took the field in April, 1870, Mr. W. H. Pettee joining him in July, and these gentlemen spent nearly all the remainder of the year in orking out the geology and mapping the detailed topography between the Yuba and American Rivers. In the mean time Mr. W. A. Goodyear commenced on the detailed survey of the mining belt of the Sierra lying to the south of the North Fork of the American River, and continued in the field until driven out by the inclemency of the season, having reached a point as far south as Sutter Creek, Amador County.

In the prosecution of this work a large amount of valuable information has already been collected, lected, both of a geographical and geological character. It is confidently expected that the final elaboration of all our materials, with the accompanying maps and sections, will exhibit the phenomena of the gra gravel deposits of the Sierra, in regard to which there has been so much discussion and such a multiplicity of opinions, in a new light, and that many difficulties which have hitherto perplexed the miners will be solved. It is my desire that this work should be continuously and vigorously prosecuted, until a full and detailed map of the whole western slope of the Sierra has been prepared, accompanied by corresponding report. This, it is expected, be accomplished during the next season, if the pecuniary means are forthcoming, the map and report being completed during the following winter.

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The question how and when the geological portion of the survey reports shall be published is one that has been much considered; but in the prevailing uncertainty in regard to the moods of the legislature, and the amount which is to be expended on the survey, it has been found impossible to answer it. Some persons have been so unreasonable as to expect a geological map of the State before a geographical one was or could be got ready. As fast as the sheets of the Central California map are engraved we shall color the geology upon them, and we shall do the same with the map of the whole State, which will probably be colored in time to be exhibited to the next legislature, during the coming winter, (1871-72.) As soon as the maps are ready, it will be time to prepare for the publication of the geological volume to accompany them. The engraving of the sections necessary for this volume should also be begun as soon as possible. It is my impression that the geological part of our work can, by condensation and the use of small type, be compressed into two volumes, with an accompanying atlas of maps, sections, and other illustrations. It also seems, at present, as if the best division of the two volumes would be to allot the general geology to one and the economical geology to the other. In that case the first one would contain a systematic description of the geology of California, arranged in chronological order of the formations; while the other would be devoted to a discussion of the character, mode of occurrence, and value of the useful mineral and metallic combinations which they contain. One volume would be for the use of the scientific and general public; the other for those especially engaged in developing our mineral resources.

The labors of the State Geological Survey have now reached a point where many practical advantages may be expected to follow the publication of the results of their investigation relative to the gravel deposits, their extent and mode of occurrence, and the causes of their distribution. In this investigation, the history of past and present work in the mining region has been carefully prepared, and is chiefly valuable as an aid in estimating the extent and value of the undeveloped ground which yet remains. The survey has already more than paid for the sums of money expended in its prosecution, by revealing to the world the almost inexhaustible extent of our mineral wealth. Capital has thereby been attracted, and universal confidence in our resources prevails. It is to be hoped that this useful work may not be stopped at this time, when we are about to reap the reward of the patient and careful labors of Prof. Whitney and his assistants.

Meteorology of California. -The meteorology of California has an important bearing on the general prosperity of the State, as well in its relations to the mining interest as to that of our agricultural prosperity. In future the subject will have a still greater interest on account of its relations to gold production, in consequence of the numerous great undertakings projected or under way for controlling the waters of the State and economizing them for mining and agricultural purposes, and the extensive development of our unworked gravel deposits, which so largely depend for success on copious and regular rains.

The subject has received careful attention for years past on the part of a few scientific gentlemen, who have, from time to time, published the results of their observations for the benefit of the community. Among these are Dr. T. M. Logan, of Sacramento, and Mr. Thomas Tennent, of San Francisco, who, for over twenty years, have kept accurate record of the rain-fall at those places. Recently the Government has established branches of its Signal Service Department at various points on the Pacific coast, and their records and observations will, in future, prove of great utility to the miner and the farmer, as well as a benefit to science at large.

I select for publication the table of Dr. Logan, which I prefer because his observations are made in the central portions of the State, and in closer proximity to the mining region than those of other observers.

Months.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Total

December.

0.003 0.000 Sprinkle. Sprinkle. Sprinkle.

12.021