No 92 - Gold Placers of California - Haley

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PLACERS OF
IFORNIA
BULLETIN N
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TE MINING BUREAU
[C . SAN FRANCISCO
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1923
BERKELEY
LIBRARY
EARTH
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NOV 121924
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CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU
FERRY BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO
LLOYD L. ROOT State Mineralogist
San Francisco] BULLETIN No. 92 . [June, 1923
GOLD PLACERS
OF
CALIFORNIA
CHARLES SCOTT HALEY
CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFI'ICi;

FRANK J. SMITH, Supcrliit.omleiit
SACRAMENTO, 1023
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SCIENCE
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DEPT.
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CONTENTS.
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I.ETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1
FOREWORD 5
Outline of the Ijulletin and the points proved in same.
Chapter I. Control of Mining Debris 9

Debris control and its results. History of problem and efforts to sol\e
same. Results. Outline of a comprehensive plan of debris control in tlie
Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Fiiture benefits to be derived.
Chapter II. Placer Mining Methods 26

Methods of handling and commercial exploitation of gold-taearins alluvials.
Adaptation of different methods to varying types of deposits. Prospecting
methods.
Chapter III.Placer Resources S2

A by districts, of the location and extent of the principal
brief description,
gold placers in California. Accompanied by a map showing the courses of
ancient channels and the distribution of the principal hydraulic gravels of
the State of California, in the region known as the Sierra Nevada Gold P.elt
and a geological table, by Mr. Mark Ailing, showing the relative ages of the
Cretaceous and Tertiarv channels.
737
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PHOTOHUAPHS Page
1. Characteristic Hydraulicking Gravels in Peru 2G
-. Close-up of Same Gravels in Peru 26
3. Natives Washing with Rocker in Peru 29
4. Nechi River at I'ato. Characteristic Dredging Gravels in Colombia 30
f). I'ortage Creek, on, the Little Delta, Alaska 31
(i. Panning on Portage Creek 32
7. Dredge on Hunker Creek, Klondike Region 33
5. Thawing Frozen Ground on Hunker Creek, Yukon Territory 34
It. Typical Alaskan Gravels near Circle City, Alaska 3G
111. Hydraulic Mining near Forks of Salmon, Siskiyou County, California 43
12. Ruble Elevator at Gilta, California 44
Note tlie sluice under the inclined grizzly.
13. 'Boiling-out' witli Ruble Elevator 43
14. Pliotograpli Showing the Size of Boulders put through the Ruble
Elevator 47
1.5. Yukon Gold Company's Mechanical Elevator, Dawson, Yukon Territory 64
16. Drag Scraper near Fairbanks, Alaska 6.5
17. View of Giffen Placer Machine, Taken When ^Vashing 2 4 Yards per
Hour, Rocklin, California 68
15. Giffen Placer Machine. General Appearance of Plant 69
19. Scott Mountain Region, Siskiyou County, California 96
20. Scott Mountain Region, Siskiyou County, California 97
21. Hupp Mine on Nimshew Ridge 102
22. Gravel Bank at Australia Mine 109
23. Gopher Hill Diggings 110
24. Nelson Creek, Plumas County 116
25. Flume at Morington Mine, Middle Fork, Feather River 105
26. Derrick at Morington Mine, Middle Fork, Feather River 106
27. Gibraltar Mine, Sierra County 115
28. Basalt Intrusions at Port Wine, Sierra County 121
29. Poverty Hill, Sierra County 125
30. Close-up of Poverty Hill Gravels 125
31. Gi-avel at Scales, Sierra County 121
32. Characteristic Glacier on Alaskan Coast 120
33. Near Soulsbyville, Tuolumne County 149
34. Head of Goler Wash, P'anamint Mountains 157
35. Dry Waslier (close-up), Summit Diggings, Kern County 158
36. Dry Waslier, at Summit Diggings, Kern County 159
Plates
I. Details of Rocker Construction 74
II. Map Showing a Portion of the Neocene Gravel Cliannels of Nevada
County lis
III. Map of Gibsonville-La Porte-St. Louis Auriferous Cliannels 123
IV. Map of the Dutch Flat, Gold Run, Little York, and You Bet Mining
Districts 128
V. Profile of tlie Tertiary South Yuba and American Rivers 142
VI. Geologic Cliart appertaining to the Ancient River Beds of California
(In pocket)
VII. Map of Sierran Gold Belt showing Gravel Channels (In pocket)
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
To Wis ExveJlenc}!, the Honorable Friend Wm. I'Jiciiakuson,

Gov(nw)' of ihe State of California.
Sir: I have the lionor to lierewitli transmit BuUetin No. 92 of the
State ^Milling Bureau, rehitinc; to the Cold Placers of California
As a result of adverse legislation, placer mining (partieularly hydi-au-

lie) was practically l)rought to a standstill ])y tlie Sawyer decision in
1884. The faet that vast sums remain in the gravels of our ancient
river channels is shown hy the result of two years of investigation, and

that there is, roughly, in tlie neighborhood of -l^l.OOO.OOO.OOO that '-an
be recovered economically.
A perfectly feasible plan for the workinu' of the ground under tlie
provisions of the Caminetti Act is suggested, ami is to some extent now

being carried out by private corporations.
This l)ulletin is presented to the pulilic in the liope tlial the informa-
tion contained will result in a benefit to tlu^ State of California, as well
as to the gold mining industry.
Kespectfully submitted.
LLOvn Tj. Root,
State Mineralogist.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
For assistance and cordial cooperation in the preparation of this
l)iilletin, the writer is mainly indebted to the miners of the State of

California. At all times, and in all places, from the offices oF the
])rincipal niiniiiii' companies in tlie larger cities to the humblest cabins

in the mountains, the most ready support and assistance have been
invariably afforded, often at considerable personal inconvenience and
expense to the donors.
To my very conscientious and capable assistant in the field during-
the early stages of the woi-k. ]Mr. Theodore Van Dervoort. Jr.. much
credit is due for the chapters on the Klamath and. Feather Eiver
regions. To Messrs. Leon Clough. Ben Jones, E. C. Kelsey, and C. D.
Hazzard, of Quincy, California: to ^lessrs. AV. AV. AVaggoner, AVilliam

Alaguire, and E. C. I^ren. of Nevada City ; to Air. Charles Jen^tt, of
Georgetown; to Air. Tillotson, of the Glenn Aline. Placer County: to
Air. Almon Smith, of Chico ; and to Alessrs. James AI. Hill, of the XI. S.
Geological Survey, Arthur Nicholls, Alark Ailing, Henry Bradley,

and AA''. A. Hunter, of San Francisco, thanks are also given for the use
of i)ers:onal notes and accumulated data. To Air. Charles (}. Yale.
formerly of the T'. S. Geological Survey, for kindly criticism and
a.ssistance; and to Air. IT. Foster Bain. Avho, while editor of the Alining
and Scientific Press, first directed my attention to this work, my thanks

are likewise due.
To many others, too numerous to mention individually, of the mining
i'raternity in California thanks also are due for time and services freely
given in the preparation of this report.
In conclusion, as an independent consulting engineer called into the
service of the state for the purpose of making this report, I wish to
acknowledge the splendid support and unfailing courtesy of all of the

officials of the State Alining Bureau, both under the former administra-
tion, headed by Air. Fletcher Hamilton ; and the present, headed by Air.
Ijloyd Koot. It has been a privilege to be a.ssociated, even for a short

time, with such an organization. exemi)lifying as it does tlie highest
ideals of service to the mining industry.

CiT.VRi.Ki^ SroTT Hai.ey.
:
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNIA.

Forewora.
In spite of the fact that the gokl phieers of California have produced
over a billion dollars since their discovery in 1848, the idea that they
are now completely exhausted is entirely erroneous. The closing down
of the hydraulic mines of the State was accomplished by the famous
Sawyer decision of 1884, and tlieir attempted reopening, under the
terms of the Caniinetti Act of 1898, was so bitterly fought at every turn
by the agricultural interests of the State, that the industry, so far as
tributaries of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are concerned,
has lapsed into a moribund condition.
The prinuiry cause of this was the complete disregard of tlie rights of
the farmers of the State by certain mining interests prior to 1884 and
a revengeful spirit sliown by certain farming interests toward the
miners when the agricultural interests gained tlie upper hjuid in the
courts.
Had a spirit of compromise prevailed in the ranks of ])Oth the
mining and the agricultural interests, there would have been in 1884,
and there would l)e now, no reason why a workable plan for the con-
tinuation of hydraulic mining should not have l)een put into effect. In
the course of an investigation of placer mining conditions in this State,
made by the California State Alining Bureau, in the past two years,
certain facts have been clearly estal)lished; and it is the purpose of
this report to prove these facts, which may be summarized as follows
The principal gold placer area of California lies in the Sierra Nevadas
between Susanville on the north and ^Mariposa on the south. This area
is the one that is restricted by the present debris law. It is trii)utary
to the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, which have been classed as
navigable streams. Aside from this area, there is a very considerable
yardage of available gravel still remaining on the tributaries of the
Klanmth River, which will be discussed in the economic section of this
report. The district within the Sierras, however, is by far the most
important from an economic standpoint. From investigations thus far.
it seems fairly safe to assume a total of about seven billion yards of
gravel distributed among the diiferent drainage areas, as follows
approximatelv: Feather River 500,000,000 yards; Yuba River
3.500,000.000" yards ; Bear and American rivers 2,500.000.000 yards:
iNIokelunnie, Cosumnes. Calaveras. Tuolumne, and Stanislaus rivers
500,000,000 yards. The above figures include both drift and hydraulic
ground.
The above total of 7,000,000,000 yards is of course not all availal)l(^
for woi'king from an economic standi)oint. It is fairly safe to assume
that at least 40 per cent of this, due to its location and elevation witli
regard to available water, is not feasible for working. This leaves,
roughly, al)out 4.000,000.000 yards, wliich, judging from past perform-
ance in the days of uiu-estricted mining, .should yii'ld an average of
about 15 cents a yard: and if hydraulic mining is restoi-ed luider
proper restrictions with reuard to controlling of debris, there is,
roughly in the ncighltorhood of .^fiOO. 000.000 to be ivcovered fi'om these
drainage systems alone.
A perfectly feasilile ])laii for tlie working of tliis ground, imdcf liu'
provision of the Caminctti Act, is now sugi,M'sted and is to .simie extent
n . CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
now l)uing' carried out by private corporations. Should tlie work be

amplified to cover the whole drainage system, it should pi'operly be
under the control of the national and state governments in conjunction.
Briefly, the plan would consist of the erection of concrete debris dams
at controlling points on the Feather, the Yuba, the Bear, the American,
the Cosumnes, the Mokelumne, and the Calaveras rivers. These dams
will take care, not only of the hydraulic miners' debris, but also of the
natural erosion, which is now being carried into the Sacramento and
San Joacpiin rivers by their tributaries, regardless of the restriction and
even elimination of hydraulic operations.
By various independent investigators it has been estimated that the
debris carried down from natural erosion is from 100 to 200 per cent
greater than the amount caused by the mining operations.
These concrete dams will take care of all of the debris, with the
exception of such slimes and flocculent matter as are carried over them
in suspension by the winter and spring floods. This material can
readily be taken care of by the erection of barriers in the Sacramento
and San Joaquin valleys similar to the Yuba barrier at Daguerre Point.
The material impounded behind these barriers can be pumped out and
used for the reclaiming of swamp lands in the vicinity at a cost not to
exceed five cents a cubic yard.
The advantages to the State of California which would accrue from
a construction of these works would be tremendous. In the first place,
the Sacramento and- San Joaquin rivers, notably the former, would
l)egin cutting down to the old grades, which existed in 1848. This
would result in the restoration of navigation in these rivers up to Colusa
and Marysville, as in former days. The advantage to farmers of con-
venient transportation on the Sacramento River would be of great
value.
The effect of this clearing of the rivers would first be felt in San
Francisco Bay. The action of the tidal flow in the Golden Gate would
in a few years clear the channel to Mare Island Navy Yard and would
prevent the abandonment of this navy station, which is now being
seriously considered by the government, due to the continual silting up
of the channel from the debris now being carried down by natural
erosion. Proceeding up the rivers, the expense of dredging and keeping
the channel clear on both the Sacramento and the San Joaquin woiild^
gradually be eliminated. The necessity of building levees would be
gone in a few years, and the direct expenditure saved to the taxpayers
of this State and .those of the nation would be considerable. The fact
of easily available transportation of the farming products of the Sacra-
mento Valley to centers of distribution would result in lowering the
cost of farm products to the consumer.
The miner, secure in the knowledge that his tailings were being
impounded permanently and without any injury whatsoever to the
farming lands below, would begin storing water for mining operations
in every available creek and river. This water, which now goes to
waste in the annual winter and spring floods, especially during the
months of April and IMay, Avould be held back in small reservoirs and
turned into tlic rivci- during the months of July and August, when it
is most nceilcd liy jlic farnici's below for irrigation t>uri>oses. Tliis in.
GOLD PLACEKS OF CALIKOKNIA. <
itself would be worth thousands, and even millions of dolhirs, to the

farmers.
In down to their ohl grades, the Sacramento and its tribu-
euttin<i'
taries would automatieally rei-laim several hundred thousand acres of
land which is now swamp, and which would be converted by this action
into rich farminj; land, thereby chanfjinj^ its value from about ten
dollars an acre to from ten to thirty times that nmch. The counties
that would be notably and favorably affected by this action Avould ])e
Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, (Jlenn, and Yolo. The increased value of land
due to this reclamation would in itself pay for the cost of installation
of the projected dams.
The power companies would benefit materially from the sfovernment
construction of these dams. At present the cost of these works is
defrayed by bonding the power companies, and service charges made
are ultimately borne by the consumer to carry the interest and principal
of these bonds. If the cost of these dams was initially borne by the
crovernment and they were leased for power purposes on long term
leases to the present operating power companies at a figure which would
carry their amortization over a period of. say, one hundred years, the
increased power available could be furnished under federal and state
regulation to the consumers of California at a very moderate fioure and
still leave a fair profit for the companies. In addition to this, the power
companies would rest secure against any fundamental invasion of their
future possibilities of power development from freak legislation of any
sort or type whatsoever.
The advantages to the cities of Sacramento and ^larysville, as Avell
as many other communities, from the flood protection offered by these
dams, is incalculable. From the earliest days of the civilized occupa-
tion of California, about once in a generation an uncontrollable flood
has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars and of many lives. These
floods are periodically recurrent. Tender present conditions, whenever
tlu^ flood plane of the American River and that of the Yuba and its
tril)utaries rise concurrently and not separated by from four to five
days, as is generally the case, the cities of Sacramento and INIarysville
are doomed to a loss which, in tlu'ir present condition, would run from
five to fifty millions of dollars, depending upon the severity and extent
of the flood. No levees as yet con.structed or capa])le of being con-
structed will control the Sacramento River under flood conditions, for
the reason that the cross sectional area of the Caniuinez Straits will
discharge only one-fifth of the volume of water tliat the tributaries of
the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers will pour down under maximum
flood conditions. The excess water l)acks up in tlie valley and at stated
intervals, generally about once in a generation, will completely iniuidate
the two cities above mentioned and cause uncontrollable loss.
It has been proved in the case of tlie city of Dayton, Ohio, that the
building of control dams on the tributaries of the river is the only
means of avoiding such a catastrophe. By proper supervision and
emptying of the reservoirs behind the dams upon the approach of such
a flood, the maximiun dischariie into the rivers can be conti-olled so as
to maintain a steady flow, which will not materially endanger the cities
ahmg Ihe banks of the i-iver.
8 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU,
The above are the advantages to the people of the State not directly
affectedby the gravel miner. It is not proposed to restore hydraulic
mining on the scale in vi^hieh it was practiced during the days from
1870 to 1884. There is gravel available in the Sierras to keep the
hydraulic miner going for the next hundred years at an annual produc-
tion of five million dollars and over. This production will result in
an increased value given to taxable property in all the mountain
counties of the Sierras. Many thousands of men will be given employ-
ment, not only in the construction of these dams, but in the working of
the gravel properties. The quartz mines themselves will be helped from
the reduction in their taxation, from the increased available supply of
labor, and from the fact that during the summer and fall months
innumerable prospectors who have been working in the placer mines
during the winter and spring, will be spread over the country and will
undoubtedly discover and begin to open new quartz properties for
development by capital later on.
Every merchant in every small town, village and city in California
will benefit by the introduction of this flood of new gold every year.
Their sales will be increased by the greater buying power of the
inountain counties.
Under the provisions of the Caminetti Act, these dams are provided
for, their original cost to be borne by the government and to be repaid
by a three per cent income tax borne by the miners. As a matter of
fact, this cost will be repaid many times over by the value of the
reclaimed land, the water available to the farmers for irrigation, the
power available to the consumers through the power companies, the
reduced cost of transportation, and the restoration of the old, open
clear channels to the State of California.
So far as the miner is concerned, his benefit is the smaller considera-
tion of this plan, as his increased scale of operation and production,
resulting in an increase of five to ten millions per year in gold of the
State, is very small, compared to the value of the increased production
and lowering in cost of the agricultural products of the valley.
In conclusion, it may be stated that the purpose of this report is to
prove the facts that have been stated in the above summary. To this
end the report has been divided into an economic chapter showing the
resources and availability of the placer gravels of the State a chapter
;
showing the most profitalile methods of working them and a chapter

;
showing the feasibility and going into the details of the plan for the
restoration of hydraulic mining which has been outlined above.
Again it should ])e emphasized that this plan will work primarily
for the agricultural interests of this State, and secondly for the benefit
of the miners, and through them to the benefit of the power companies,
the merchants, the artisans and mechanics and in short, to the benefit
;
of the people of the State as a whole. There is no single individual in

the State who works with hand or brain who will not benefit by the
increased agricultural and mineral production that will be poured into
the coffers of the State for hundreds of jêars in the future as a result
of the measures recommended above and the increased prosperity of
;
the State will be reflected in that of tlie country at large.

GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFOKNIA. V
CHAPTER I.
CONTROL OF MINING DEBRIS.

As tlie early history of the American occupation of California is
associated with the irold miners of 'forty-nine,' so the economic develoj)-
ment of the State is bound up with the history of hydraulic mining.
During the period from 1848 to 1860, the working of the gravels by
hand was very easy, owing to the thousands of acres of light gravel
whose shallow banks held the concentrates of the gold derived from the
ancient eroded auriferous channels. This work in the early days was
done chiefly by the use of the pan, the rocker, the long tom, and other
crude gold-saving devices.Later, the ground sluice was developed, and
to aid in thewashing of gravel through this, water was applied under
pressure with cotton and rubber hoses through nozzles against the
gravel banks.
Later, iron pipe was used in place of hose, and the nozzle was
increased in size and changed in form until the hydraulic giant was
evolved. From this i)oint on, the development of hydraulic mining
was very rapid, and in 1876, when it had obtained its maximum of
growth, there was over one hundred million dollars invested in plants,
equipment, and property, and the annual yield was from eleven millions
to thirteen millions of dollars. Compared with the fifty millions to
eighty millions of the annual yield before 1857, this does not seem very
large, but without it, during the decade of 1870 to 1880, the annual
yield of California gold would have been insignificant.
In the following resume free use is made by the author of material
collected by him in an article on this subject, published in the issues of
'Mining and Scientific Press' of San Francisco on December 12 and 19,
1914.
While the hydraulic mines were flourishing, the owners apparently
overlooked the growth of another industry which was one day destined
to drive them from their own field by the action of the courts. The
broad valleys, where the tributaries of the Sacramento and San Joacjuin
unite with these streams, teemed with fertility and these rich farming
lands soon attracted the attention of immigrant farmers. Land, which
the miners could originally have bought for a song and held as a per-
petual dumping ground, steadily mounted in value and its increasing
productivity permitted the farming interests gradually to outgrow the
mining in economic importance.
The accumulation of debris in the rivers was long a source of aunoy-
ance and considerable damage to the farmers. Even durinu' the days of
ground sluicing, the great flood in tlie winter of 1862 covered tlie richest
bottom and orchard lands along the Bear and Yuba rivers with tons of
debris from the gold washing. At this time, however, mining was
regarded as the more legitimate and powerful industry, and but little
protest was made. As the .strength of the agricultural interests grew,
protests against the overloadiug of the rivers became more and more
frequent and moiv j)()W<'rful until tlie struggle (Mdiiiiuated in the famous
Sawyer decision on January 2'.i, 1884. This decision, in the form of an
iujuncticm, handed down by the Tnited States Circuit Court, in the
case of Edwards Woodruff vs. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Com-
10 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
pan]) et at., wiped out at one blow property values exceeding one hun-
dred million dollars and indefinitely postponed the addition to the
world's wealth of what has been roughly estimated at from five hundred
million dollars upwards in the value of placer gold.
The Sawyer decision was, however, but the culmination of a long
struggle. The farmers of Sutter, Yuba, Sacramento, and a few other
of the valley counties, organized in the early seventies the Anti-Debris
Association, to take their struggle into the courts. They were opposed
by the once powerful California Miners' Association, and the struggle
was long and bitter. The story of the fight from the miners' point of
view Avas especially interesting, and from it one can gain an idea of
the principles for which each side was contending. To that end, I
quote from a circular issued by the Miners' Association on June 15,
1883, which briefly reviews the then existing situation.
* * * I deem it proper to revert to the services of this association In tlie defence
of the mining industry. The first case of importance was that of Keyes vs. Little York
and 38 other defendants, begun July 29, 1876. After a long trial, wherein the best
legal and engineering talent was employed, a judgment was rendered against us.
We appealed the case to the Supreme Court of California, where it was reversed on a
point raised by demurrer, on the ground of misjoinder of parties defendant.
The City of Marysville then brought suit (September 15, 1879) against the North
Bloomfield Gravel Mining Co. and 32 other companies. They included about 200
other persons as defendants. The defendants appealed to the Supreme Court from
the injunction issued in that suit and al.so demurred and applied for change of the
place of trial. The motion was refused and an appeal was taken to the Supreme
Court, where it is now pending.
* * * Simultaneously with above action {State of California vs. Miocene Mining
Co.) the Attorney General commenced suit (June 28, 1881) against the Gold Run
Mining Company of Placer County. Defendants, through the counsel of the association,
demurred and answered. The trial eame on in October, 1881, and occupied the
court 60 days. The presiding judge (Temple) rendered a decision June 12, 1882,
sustaining the injunction, with a qualification that on a proper showing of the
construction of dams to restrain the coarse material he would entertain a motion
to dissolve the injunction. The point raised on demurrer as to want of authority of
the Attorney General to use the name of the State, was not decided, but referred to
the Appellate Court. Neither party fully acquiesced in the decision. Defendants
appealed to the Supreme Court. Appeals were taken by both, and the day of argu-
ment is not yet set.
Then the County of Yuba sued the Excelsior Water & Mining Co., the Eureka
Lake & Yuba Canal Co. Cons., the Blue Tent Consolidated Hydraulic Gold Mines of
California. Ltd., and the Yuba River Gold Washing Co. The last had further
time to plead, which is now about expired. Injunctions were issued in all these
cases, ex parte and without notice to the defendants. Then came the suit of the
County of Sutter vs. J. F. Hickey et al., commenced April 14, 1882, in the County
of Colusa. The defendant's mine is in Nevada County. Also about the same time a
suit against the Birdseye-Creek Co. of Placer County.
. The last action brought is that of 'Sdtcards Woodruff vs. North Bloomfield Gravel
Mining Co., Milton Mining tG Water Co. and some eight other companies. It is sub-
stantially of the same nature as the others, praying for a perpetual injunction.
Woodruff being a citizen of another state the suit was brought in the Circuit Court
of the United States, Judge L. B. Sawyer presidir.g. Defendants demurred on ground
of misjoinder of parties defendant. The demurrer was argued by the ablest counsel
in the state, occupying the court two weeks, and was overruled. The testimony is
now being taken before commissioners for the main trial in September.
All of the above actions have been defended by the Miners' Association, at an
aggregate expense of not less than $200,000.
The decision in the case last referred to may l)e quoted in its i)rincipal
part as follows:
And that the defendants herein * * * and each and all of their servants,
agents and employees, are perpetually enjoined and restrained from discharging or
dumping into the Yulia River, or into any of its forks or branches, or into any
stream tributary to said river or any of its forks or branches, and especially into
Deer creek. Sucker Plat ravine. Humbug creek, or Scotchman's creek, any of the
tailing, lioulders, cobble stones, gravel, sand, clay, debris, or refuse matter from any
of the tracts of mineral land or mines descril>ed in the complaint. And also from
causing or suffering to flow into said rivers, (rreeks, or tributary streams aforesaid
therefrom, any of the tailing, boulders, col)ble .stones, gravel, sand, clay, or refuse
matter resulting or arising from mining thereon. And also, from allowing others
to use the water sup))ly of said several mines or mining claims, or an.v part thereof,
for the pui-pose of washing into said rivers and streams, any earth, rode, boulders,
cla.v, sand, or solid material contained in any placer or gravel ground or mine.
* * * That the defendants, or either of them, may, at any time hereafter applv
to this court, upon due notice to the complaiiuint * * * f,,i. a modification or
: : ;
GOLD pr.ACEHS OF CALIFORNIil. 11
suspension of this injunction * * upon any showing whicli the court may-
deem sufficient tliat the conditions have been so changed that (he discharge of such
mining debris by said parties or party * * may be resumed or otherwise con-
ducted, so as not to create or continue the nuisance complained of, or a nuisance of
similar character, and so as not to injure or damage said complainant, or upon any
other grounds hereafter arising satisfactory to the court. And for the purposes
aforesaid, the court hereby re.serves the power to modify or suspend said iniunction
m whole or m part, as the exigencies and equities of the case hereafter arising, may
require.
The result of the Sawyer doeisiou was far-reai^hin^ in its eft'eets. The
decree of the court was noiiiinalJy against the duni[)ing' of the debris
into streams and rivers tributary to the watershed of the Great Valley
but in actual fact, hydraulic mining- was permanently enjoined in all
of its major operations. The larger mines were immediately suspended,
as injunction after injunction closed them down; and property worth
millions Avent into disuse and decay.
Many of the smaller mines, however, persisted in continuing opera-
tions, and the Anti-Debris Association, composed of farmers of the
valley, carried on organized opposition to hydraulic mining. Long and
costly litigation resulted and continued for years. As injunctions
had to be secured in each and every ease, the Anti-Debris Association
kept men in the field securing evidence, and among the miners feeling-
ran high against these emissaries of the agricultural interests.
Gradually, however, the operators gave up the struggle. Thousands
of people were thrown out of employment, the gold production of the
State dwindled, and property values in the mountain counties were
decreased by millions. For about nine years that condition continued
in spite of the fact that the jNIiners' Association used every effort to
mitigate the situation from the standpoint of the miners.
A review of the situation, already growing serious in 1881, by the
iMiners' Association, sets forth the losses resulting from the closing
down of hydraulic mining in very emphatic fa.shion. Following are
some extracts from this review
California has produced (1848-1880) * * * between $1,100,000,000 and
$1,200,000,000 of gold, of which very much the larger portion has come, either
directly or indirectlj-, from the ancient or pliocene river channels. * j\s the
(surface) placers became exhausted, the miners naturally turned their attention to
the sources from which the placer gold had been derived. Commencing in 1S.j1. they
have steadily prosecuted the development and working of the ancient river beds,
until the yield from them amounts annually (18S1) to a sum varying from $11,000,000
to $13,000,000, witli the prospect for many years to come of equally great returns.
In order to accomplish this result, the expenditure of large sums of money has been
required in building dams, canals, and tunnels. The Bl0(jinfield and Milton com-
panies afford a good illustration of the large caiiital necessary for the successful
development of such properties. Work was vigorously commenced on the mines of
these companies in 1854, since when about $4,000,000 has been expended all

representing capital account until 1S78, when their works were finally completed.

All this $4,000,000, with^ unim.portant exceptions, was furnished by stockholders
resident in California.
We roughly estimate the present actual value of these mines in California to be
$80,000,000 adding to this the property whose value is dependent on the existence of
;
these mines, there results a total present value of probably $100,000,000.
These statements, made in 1881. show how strongly the danger of

extinction of the hydraulic mines was felt at that time. They also
serve to emphasize what a tremendously important effect upon
the economic progress of California hydraulic mining has bad. To
continue
In the early days of placer mining, when there were literally hundreds of
thousands of miners washing the soil in everv gulch, ravine, and river of the Sierras
the aggregate (luantity of material washed into the rivers must have exceeded the
amount which l)y improved, but similar appliances, is now being placed in them
* * * The gravel channels of California have yielded in the past nearly
$1,000,000,000 of gold, which has been a mighty force in bringing about the existing
prosperity of the civilized world. A still greater quantity remains in our un worked
but developed channels, ready for extraction. * *
Can California can the

United States suffer this great treasure to be forever locked up in our mountains?
Extent of Damage.
The State Engineer in January, 1880, after detailed and careful examination,
reported that 43,546 acres of land had been depreciated in value by the flow of mining
debris, with a resulting damage amounting to $2,597,635. * * * That the
Feather and Sacramento rivers have been injured is conceded by all, but we have the
official statement of Captain Eads
as competent an authority on such matters as
can be found in the world that if the flow of heavy sands is kept from entering
those streams, they can easily, by proper treatment, be brought into excellent con-
dition. * * * It seems to be taken for granted that we have to deal with engi-
neering problems more difficult of solution than have before been encountered. This
is not the case, for both in France and Italy many of the rivers carry larger quanti-
ties of earthy material, in proportion to the water, than does the Sacramento. In
these countries no great difficulty has been experienced in protecting the lower lands
and rivers.
From the examinations and reports of our engineers, we became satisfied, several
years since, that it was practicable, at a comparatively moderate expense, safely to
store for many years to come all the injurious flow of mining debris in the Yuba,
Bear, and American rivers by forming reservoirs by the construction of brush and
stone dams in the bottoms and canons of those streams. * * * ^j^g now famous
'Debris Act' was strongly advocated by both miners and farmers, who, in that
measure, asked for state aid, so that the necessary funds could be secured to establish
a thorough system of protection. In this legislation the miners showed their willing-
ness to pay their full share of the burden, by being taxed in three different ways,
and much more heavily than any other class. Under the operations of this act two
restraining dams were built in 1880, one across the Yuba, and the other across
Bear River, at a cost of nearly $200,000. The residue of the money procured by the
taxes levied under the authority of the act. amounting to some $2 90,000, was spent
chiefly in building levees, for the purpose of confining the rivers, so that they
might, by a scouring action, deepen their beds.
The results of the court decrees have been stated above. For seven
or eight years the industry was gradually paralyzed by the activities of
the Anti-Debris Association in serving injunctions. In the fall of 1891
a number of miners in Placer County who had suffered from the closing
down of the hydraulic mines met and decided to call a county con-
vention to see whether anything could be done to revive the hytlraulic
mining industiy. This convention was called in Auburn with the object
of formulating a plan for a state miners' convention and memoralizing
congress as to needed legislation for the industry. This convention was
later called in San Francisco, and representatives of both the mining
and farming interests were invited. The first evidence of harmony of
the whole long and bitter .struggle was here made manifest, and a
common plan was agreed upon b.y both interests, which, although they
were nominally opposed, had liegun to realize that they were inter-
dependent one with the other.
The basis of this agreement was the report of the government com-
mission of engineers. This commission was appointed by a special act
of congress, upon suggestion of the legislature of California. It
appeared from their report that dams and other restraining works could
be erected in many of the canyons for the restraining of debris caused
by future mining operations, as well as debris already in the rivers from
former operations.
The convention of miners then asked congress to accept and adopt
the report of the commission and to take steps at once to put into
practical operation the plan suggested so that mining might be again
carried on under specified conditions, and the debris restrained froni
the rivers and farming lands. The re.sult of this was the 'Caminetti
Act,' introduced into congress in 1892, and passed in 1893. It is
under
the provisions of this act that whatever hydraulic mining has been done
present day
in the restricted area of the State from 1893 until the
has been carried on. Certain provisions of this act, however, appear to
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNIA. 13
liavebeen overlooked, and it is under these provisions that the present

plan for the control of hydraulic niinijis" debris has been worked out and
is now presented.
The provisions ofthis act are, essentially, as follows:Acounnission is
created, known as the California Debris Connnis-sion, consisting of three
officers of the Engineer Corps of the United States Armj', appointed by
the President of the United States, with the advice and the consent of
the senate. The jurisdiction of this commission, in so far as hydraulic
mining is concerned, extends over the territory di'ained by the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin river systems. Hydraulic mining which
directly or indirectly injures the navigability of these river systems
is prohibited and declared unlawful.
It is the duty of this commission to make examinations and surveys,
which will improve the rivers and insure them against damage due
to mining debris, natural erosion, or other causes, with a view of restor-
ing the navigability of these rivers to the condition existing in 1860,
and perniitting Itydraidic mining to he carried on, provided the same
ea7i he accomplished without injury to the navigahility of said rivers
or injury to the lands adjacent thereto.
The commission is charged with the making of examinations and
surveys of storage sites in the tributaries of these rivers, or in the plains,
basins, and swamp lands adjacent to their courses, for the storage of
debris or water, with the object of aiding in the improvement and pro-
tection of the rivers by preventing the deposition of debris resulting
from mining operations, natural erosion, or other causes, or for afford-
ing relief in flood time and providing sufficient water to maintain a
scouring force in the dry season. In addition to this, they are charged
with making a study of the hydraulic mining industry, and such
research as science and engineering skill may suggest as practicable in
devising a method whereby sucJi mining may he carried on.
The commission takes note of the condition of the navigable channels
and makes its report to the chief of engineers annually, with plans for
the construction of the works outlined in this act, together with
estimates of the costs thereof.
The owners and operators of hydraulic mines are required by law to
comply strictly with the regulations of this commission under an
extreme penalty of five thousand dollars fine and one year's imprison-
ment. In all cases a license or written permission from the commission
must be obtained before hydraulic mining can be legally carried on.
These licenses are revocable by the commission and Avill not be given
unless their requirements as to restraining barriers or dams are com-
plied with, and unless these dams are properly maintained, and all
information asked for by the commission is at all times forthcoming.
Licenses may be revoked ar])itrarily by the counnission.
Hydraulic mining is declared by the act to have the meaning and
application customarily given in the State of California. This term
embraces all mining operations where water is used under pressure
through a nozzle against any l)ank of earth, gi'avel, or similar material,
thus eroding the bank.
Plans and specifications for the building of all restraining works are
submitted for the approval of the commission, and the work is carried
on under its supervision. If the commission is of the opinion that these
rest raining dams arc sufficient to pi'oteet the navigable rivers from
encroachment by debris, the owner of a mine is permitted to commence
operations.
In the case of an impounding- dam restraining tlie debris from
several properties, tlie commission fixes the charge for the privilege of
dumping therein. The expense of maintaining such dams or works is
provided for by this charge. The amount of debris which can be
waslied is not permitted to exceed the amount which can be impounded
within the restraining works erected. The commission may at any time
modify its orders or revoke the privilege to mine. Any intentional' viola-
tion of its orders automatically works a forfeiture of the privileges
conferred.
The commission is empowered to erect dams for the retention of
mining dehris out of a fund provided for this purpose hy a tax of three
per cent on the gross proceeds of hydraulic mining operations. This
fund is denominated the dehris fund, to he expended hy the commission
in addition to appropnaiions made hy law in the constructimi and
maintenance of such restraining works and settling reservoirs as may
he proper and necessary.
In work done by the United States and the State of California jointly,
the commission is empowered to consult with the state engineers, and
the result of their findings, if approved by the chief of engineers of
the United States Army, is followed by the said commission. The com-
mission is directed and empowered, when suticient money is deposited
in the debris fund, to build at points above the head of navigation in
the said rivers and their branches such restraining or impounding
dams as may be required to effect the object of clearing the rivers for
navigation.
Licenses to mine, under the Caniinetti Act, are not transferable and
are valid only for the operations of the special individual, company,
and propertj' named in the license. An application for license must be
advertised in the newspapers to allow any protests to be filed with the
commission. After the sites proposed for restraining works have l)een
approved by the commission, authority is given for the construction
of the barrier or dam, together with specifications for the work. Any
variation in location or change in character of the work from that
specified by the commission may cause rejection of the dam. After
satisfactory inspection of the completed work by the commission, a
revocable license to mine is issued. Until this license is issued, it is
illegal to mine. Ahen mining is begun, monthly reports must be sub-
-
mitted to the commission, and in case of any accident to the barrier,

mining must cease at once and the commission be promptly notified.
When a dam becomes full of debris, mining must cease until more
impounding capacity provided, either by raising the dam or the
is
construction of new works. This work must be inspected and approved
by the commission. Dams must be kept water-tight, and a pool at least
two feet deep must be maintained as a settling basin while mining is
in progress.
While the above is not the wording of the Caminetti Act exactly,
in effect, an abstract of the conditions necessary for the hydraulic
it is,
miner, in any of the drainage areas affected, to observe in order to

continue operations within the law. The power of the Commission is
;
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNL\. 15
arbitrary. This is, of course, necessary for the efficiency of the act
but seems a necessary corollary that the men to Avhom this arbitrary
it
power is entrusted should be thoroughly familiar with the conditions
governing the work which they control.
The area embraced under the provisions of the Caminetti Act includes
all of the country drained l)y the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers
and their tributaries. In the northern portion of the State, tributary
to the Klamath river system, hydraulic mining has been carried on
unrestricted, owing to the extreme grade of the rivers and compara-
tively small area of agricultural land along their banks.
As a result of the lack of restrictions in this area, hydraulic mining
is already within sight of its natural end, due to the exhaustion of
profitable ground.
The passage of the Caminetti Act aroused great expectations in the
mountain counties. It was regarded as the successful termination of a
long and bitter struggle between the mining and agricultural interests
of the State. The general idea among the miners was that their former
prosperity and flourishing condition would be in a measure restored.
It was not expected that mining would be conducted on the same scale
as before the restrictive measures were adopted but it was hoped that
;
two or three millions a year would be addecl to the decreasing gold pro-
duction of the State. In the course of a mucli longer period of time, it
was expected that more than five hundred millions of dollars still
locked up in the Sierras would be added to the wealth of the country.
Another cause for congratulation was that the conditions governing
the passage of the act showed that the miners and farmers of the State
would act harmoniously and cooperate for the general good. As the
act was passed for the purpose of reviving the mining industry, it was
rightly expected that the Debris Commission would not assume an
attitude that was either hostile or suspicious of the good faith of the
miners.
And indeed this seemed to be the case. The members of the Debris
Commission bent every effort to serving the best interests of the State.
While friendly toward the mining interests, there was still no partiality
shown at any point where their interests seemed contrary to the general
good of the commonwealth. With this attitude, the miners Avere well
content, and a certain amount of work was resumed. Restraining
barriers were built in conformance with the act, and for a time it
seemed that all was well.
But this condition was not permanent. Changes came in the Debris
Commission, as was natural in a body composed of army officers, in
accordance with the exigencies of the service. New men came in,
unfamiliar with the requirements of the mining industry, and were
inclined to regard it as somewhat of a trespasser.
In addition, the Anti-Debris Association, like many another body orig-
inally organized for a worthy purpose, when its purpose was accom-
plished, speedily degenerated. The employment of scouts, or 'spies' as
the miners were disposed to call them, was perhaps the first branch
of the activities of the a.ssociation to show decadence. Petty graft crept
in, and men who were disposed to pay for the privilege of working
unrestrained, especially if the property in question were out of the way
and inaccessible to the officers of the Debris Commission, found out
2 2S603
that it was very easy to avoid complaints. Oii the other hand, men who
operated in fjood faith under the law, if they did not pay tribute to
certain individuals, found tlienisolves subjected to continual annoyance
and complaint.
This does not in any way reflect on the membership of the Debris
Commission. Composed as it is of officei-s of the United States Army,
they are above any suspicion of connivance. On the other hand, they
Avork at considerable disadvantage. In the first place, they serve with-
out extra pay, and while the service is given wholeheartedly, their
duties in connection with river and harbor work are so exacting and
onerous that they must of necessity work in part on hearsay evidence
in deciding where to conduct their investigations. Complaints filed by
the Anti-Debris Association l)eing their j^rincipal source of information,
it followed that the latter body had a certain amount of influence, and
its petty influence was embarrassing. Add to this the fact that as soon
as a man had served long enough on the Debris Commission to gain a
practical idea of the work of the miners, he was apt to be transferred to
another post, and it is readily seen that the efficiency of the Commis-
sion's work was subject to continual disturbance.
On the other hand, the California Miners' Association, which for
many years was the most powerful backer of the hydraulic miners,
became, with the development of the quartz interests, less interested
in the matter, and devoted itself to the more 'legitimate' forms of
mining. Thus the hj'draulie miner was left in the lurch, with the result
that instead of the tens of millions which were formerly annually pro-
duced, and instead of the millions which should now be produced, the
present-day production of hydraulic mines in the Sierra region is now
figured in a few tbousands of dollars.
The loss to the State, under present conditions, is tremendous. In the
first place, it has been computed by competent authorities that the loss
due to the closing of the mines from 1884 to 1893 was about fifty
million dollars in income. From 1893 to the present day, it, of course,
greatly exceeds this figure. The actual physical loss in properties may
be estimated from the fact that at the time of the Sawyer injunction,
there were in the State about 5225 miles of ditch, l)uilt at an estimated
cost of $3,800 per mile, including cost of reservoirs. This represents an
investment of about twenty million dollars. Investment in equipment
in the various hydraulic mines of the State total another twenty million
dollars. The value of the gravels themselves, judging from the figures
at which they were assessed, was about sixty million dollars. This value
has been practically wiped out. As a result, it may be said that at one
blow the Sawyer decision reduced the visible assets of the State of
California by one hundred million dollars.
The loss to the farmers and merchants of the State may be fairly
calculated as follows: At the time of the closing down of the hydraulic
mines, their annual yield was about five million three hundred thou.sand
dollars. The cost of supplies and labor in the production of this amount
was between three and four millions of dollars. Fifty per cent of this
was in the form of supplies directly furni.shed by the farmers of the
valley adjacent to the mining region. The merchants of Sacramento,
]\Iarysville, Oroville, and other distributing centers, derived consider-
able benefit from the handling of the supplies consumed by the miners,
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNLi. 17
but the cuttiug off of this market affected many of them to the point of
bankruptcy. In the mountain towns, whole connnunities of several
thousand inhabitants were reduced to villages, and in many cases entire
communities were wiped out. This resulted in the depopulation of the
mining counties, and a depreciation in assessa])le values from which they
have never recovered.
In addition to the above-mentioned losses, there was a potential loss,
which far exceeds all of the others put together, and Avhich directly
affected the prosperity of the State of California during the last forty
years, and still continues to affect it adversely. According to the figures
of the Reclamation Service of the United States Geological Survey,
there are about 800,000 acres of unclaimed swamp lands in the Great
Valley of California. If the silt and finer gravel sent down by the
miners had been diverted to the reclamation of this land, and if the
boulders and lighter material had been restrained from the rivers by
the construction of restraining dams, under the provisions of the
Caminetti Act, the rivers themselves in cutting down to their old grades
would have reclaimed a large proportion of these now worthless swamp
lands. The actual value of the lands, which are possible of reclamation
by an intelligent handling of our river and debris problems, exceeds,
at a modest estimate, one hundred millions of dollars.
The reclamation of these lands will result in the addition of a per-
manent a.sset to the resources of the State of California, which will be of
tremendous value. As a heritage to future generations, these lands,
when reclaimed, will support a population almost equal to the present
population of the State. Their productive capacity is equal to that of
the richest land now existing in the State if they are properly drained
and re-soiled with the light debris which passes over the restraining
dams built in the higher reaches of the rivers. So far from being a
menace to the fanner, a quotation from a. resolution, passed by the
directors of the irrigation district of Oakdale in May, 1919, will
indicate how beneficial this silt is to the lands whose fertility has been
exhausted.
The resolutions state that instead of the silt from tlie rivers injuring
the district, it has been highly beneficial, the debris from the river
having already greatly enriched the soil. They state that investigations
have disclosed that irrigation from the silt-laden river, ])elow the
Goodwin dam, has actually built up fertile soil by depositing the silt
that came down the river on the land and giving it body, as well as
fertility.
In another district, near Turlock, the former chief engineer, Mr. Bur-
ton Smith, stated that land that would not even grow sunflowers w'hen
the district was organized, now produces enormous crops. Experts
ascribe this to the silt deposit on the soil from the rivers.
The above instances are cited from many which have come to the
writer's notice since the organization of irrigation districts in the Great
Valley of California.
In restraining the operations of hydraulic mining, the need of a
training in the principles of the industry would seem to be as necessary
as in the actual operation of the mines themselves. Tlie building of
satisfactory dams, the recognition of the principles controlling the
transportation of sand and clay, as well as light gravel in tho material
being worked, are all factors which should l)e takeii into account. The
principal factor of all, however, and one which under the present law,
is a burden resting altogether on the hydraulic miner, is the natural
erosion caused by the intermittent iiooding of the streams from the
torrential storms of the Sierras. The denudation of our forests and the
increased cultivation of the Sierra foothills have increased the volume
of material borne into the rivers from this source by several hundred
per cent.
The work of regulation requires all the time tliat can be given to it
by a body of men specially assigned for this purpose, if arbitrary
restrictions are to be removed. There is absolutely no reason why
several times the present number of hydraulic mines in the Sierran
counties should not be in active operation, so far as the damage done
by debris is concerned.
A factor wdiich has tended to curtail the operation of hydraulic
mines has been the increasing use of water for power and irrigation
purposes, as wêll as its use for domestic supply for various towns. There
is no question but that the power interests have grown to a position of
great importance, as well as have the irrigation systems; nevertheless,
there is in this fact no need for conflict. During from four to six
months of the year, the streams of the Sierras carry an excess volume
of water, which all the storage systems yet devised or likely to be
devised for some time, can not contain. This w'ater, or a small portion
of it, is wdiat the miners wôuld conserve, and instead of running otf
during the months of April and May, it would be held back and turned
into the rivers during the months of July and August, when it is most
needed.
The conditions which confront the hydraulic miner today, in spite
of the relief supposed to be afforded by the Caminetti Act, are such
that the industry is nearly defunct. The remedy for this state of
affairs is simple and should be applied; it means the increasing of
California's gold production in the neighborhood of five million dollars
a year for the next one hundred years or over, and the restoration of a
portion of their former wealth to the mountain counties of the State.
In a publication of the United States Geological Survey, entitled The
*
Transportation of Debris by Running Water,' there are some very

interesting statements. In speaking of the flow^ of the Yuba Eiver and
its suspended load in 1879, when that stream was at its flood and when
hydraulic mining was being carried on, the following results were
noted When the discharge w- as 26,000 cubic feet per second, a load of
:
0.35 per cent by weight was noted when the discharge was 18,000 cubic
;
feet per second, the load was 0.42 per cent. At low water in the same
year, when the discharge was 510 cubic feet per second, a load of
0.86 per cent was noted. The fact that the river's load is greater in
proportion during low water is explained by the fact that the turbid
tributaries of the river are less diluted with the clearer water from
other tributaries. From these results it will be noted that a decrease
of 97 per cent in volume brought about an increase of virtually 150
per cent in the proportionate load.
On the other hand, in 1906, when most of the hydraulic mining was
suspended, with a discharge of 33,000 feet, the load was 0.65 per cent.
If the increase in load is at all times regular for large volumes (which
:
GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFORNLV. 19
appears a Avarrantable assumption), the suspended load for a volume of

18,000 feet, the same as in 1879, would have been about 0.13 per cent,
or about one-third of what it was at the time when hydraulic mines
Avere working at capacity. In other words, the volume of debris carried
down by natural erosion was, when the mines were mostly shut down,
about one-third as much as when they were working full blast. As con-
ditions of stream bed and other factors were in 1879 more favorable to
debris suspension than in 1906, and as the amount of intensive farming
in the Sierra foothills has vastly increased since 1906, and the area of
deforestation has proportionately increased, there is reason to assume
that the volume of material annually borne into our rivers by natural
erosion is nearly as large as the amount formerly carried into the rivers
by hydraulic mining under the old conditions.
The fact that at low water the percentage of debris transported is so
much less than it might be calculated to be is, of course, explained by
the deposition of debris by the feeble currents and consequent shoalina'
of the river.
Returning again to official statements, we find the following in tlie
report of the Debris Commissioner, from May, 1901, to December, 1902
The debris flow has caused the destruction of thousands of acres of fertile farms
and the serious impairment of navigable rivers. Its attempted solution by injunctions
by the courts has resultfd in the destruction of a profitable industry of the state
that of hydraulic mining. Although many reports have been made on the subject,
there are certain features that have not been given due weight because the various
investigators were not in touch with the actual conditions le;iding to the debris flow.
It is this lack of knowledge that has in a great measure retarded its solution in
the past. Careful consideration by those most interested will show that there is
common ground to stand on, and it is hoped that it will lead to a 'community of
interests' that is so necessary to hasten the much-needed work. * * *
The California Debris Commission in 1894. from the result of borings made by
Col. W. H. Heuer. placed the amount of debris from Mary.sville to Daguerre Point, a
distance of 9i miles, at 308,000,000 cubic yards, and estimated 100,000,000 cubic
yards more to the Smartsville dumps, or a total of 408,000,000 cubic yards. I am of
the opinion * * * 600,000,000 cubic yards are deposited within this area. Of
*
this amount there were deposited * * * during the period 1879-1899, * *
a total of 100,550.000 cubic yards. This repre.sents the cleaning of the canons,
the washing of the hydraulic and other mines, and from natural causes.
During the past eight years, I have endeavored to determine what the relative
erosion was on Deer creek. * * * In the years gone by there was in this
water.shed, considerable hydraulic mining, which is now practically abandoned. The
dumps have been so cut and carried away as not to affect the winter flow. Altogether
it can fairly be considered average conditions for natural erosion on the watershed.
On January 3 and 4. 1895, there fell 7. OS inches of rain in 2-3J hours. The creek
was very high and muddy. The percentage of the silt was determined and a rough
gaging of the flow made. After making liberal deductions for safety it was
found that the creek carried 8G,000 cubic yards of material past the town in twenty-
four hours. Two-thirds of this, by weight, may be counted as sand, being the
mean of a number of observations and checked by comparison of the composition
of soils. At that time the E.xcelsior Water and Mining Company was hydraulicking
at Smartsville. impounding the debris in a worked-out pit. It is one of the largest
concerns operating under the California Debris Commission. Yet that storm sent
down more material In one day than the Excelsior Company mined in six weeks
boulders, cobble, gravel, sand, and 'slickens.'
The point to be emphasized is that with a .system of building restrain-

ing dams and allowinfr operation until they are tilled up, the gravel
miner takes upini himself the burden of restrainin.ir the natural erosion
of the elements.
liy a study of the mai)s of tlic Tuitcd States Geological Survey, it
will be noted that the principal Cretaceous and Tertiary gravels of the
State will be found to be in tlie counties of Sierra, Plumas, Nevada,
Placer, and El Dorado. Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa
contain but small quantities of gravel, comjâred to the immense bodies
of the Slate Creek district or the San Juan Kidge, or the Quaker Hill,
Ked Dog, (lold Run and Dutch Plat region.
During the early days of the industry, work Avas mainly confined to
the lighter surface gravels, and it is from these that most of the
mining debris has come. The gravel that it is desired to work at the
present day, is as a whole much heavier in character. In gravel of this
type, where dumping is not done directly in the rivers, but upon bars
adjacent to them, it may be safely estimated that from 75 to 80 per cent
of the entire material stays on the original dump or within a few
hundred feet therefrom. The finer material and the sand goes down the
river to the restraining dams with the exception of what settles between
the boulders on the dumps. For this reason, it may be made as a fairly
general statement, covering three-quarters of the Cretaceous and Ter-
tiary channels in the Sierras at the present day, that not more than
from 20 to 25 per cent of the washed material will come within the field
of the restraining dams.
Another point can here be made, which illustrates again the principle
of community of interest. Of late years the destruction of valuable
farming land by gold dredging operations, has been the subject of a
c'oocl deal of unfavorable comment. The dredging industry of Cali-
fornia is dying a natural death, and there remains little available
ground of economic value for dredging purposes. However, as a result
of operations already completed, there are in California large areas of
once fertile farming and orchard ground which have been reduced to a
series of unsightly boulder piles. In Australia, the necessity of reclaim-
ing the damaged lands was long recognized, with the result that in
farming communities the gold dredgers were forced at considerable
expense to reclaim the land behind them by pumping sand and silt
back on top of the boulder piles. In the report of the Secretary of
Mines, Victoria, Series 1907-1913, detailed descriptions of the methods
adopted, accompanied by photographs, are given. The expense involved
in reclaiming was borne by the dredging companies, and notwithstand-
ing the value of the reclaimed land, profits were enormously decreased.
Naturally the American companies were loath to follow their example,
with the result that certain sections of the State, notably the district
around Oroville, remained an eyesore to the beholder. As everybody
who has been in the dredging fields knows, these uneven and irregular
gravel heaps can be leveled, though at considerable expense, but getting
a top soil upon them is another matter. It requires the use of suction
pumps to bring up the sand and silt from the river beds. The con-
struction of a few barriers in the lower rivers to restrain such fine
material as may be carried over the debris dams, would bring about the
reclamation of not only the dredged areas, but a very considerable acre-
age of barren ground adjacent. A few suction dredges stationed in such
places as on the Yuba River near Hammonton, and on the Feather
River below Oroville, and behind barriers such as the one at Daguerre
Point, could handle all of the excess material that comes over the debris
dams and is deposited where the rivers lessen their grades.
In discussing the effects of natural erosion on the rivers of California,
it may be noted that in 1897, it was estimated that the debris in the
Sacramento Drainage System totaled 1,529.000,000 yards. The total
amount of de])ris originally deposited in the rivers, including the slick-
ens carried oft' and deposited in the Bay Region, was in the neighbor-
hood of 3,000,000,000 yards. The proportion of this debris, which may
be laid at the door of the miners for operations, between 1860 and 1881,
is calculated liberally at 650,000,000 enl)ic yards. This is only 21 per
cent of the amount of material deposited in the rivers between 1849 and
1897. The balance of this debris may be charged to the increased
area brought under cultivation by the farmers in the foothills and the
;
operations of the lumber companies in the mountains, which resulted in

the deforestation of large areas in the sierras. Among other causes,
the erosion brought about by cattle and sheep and hy ordinary road and
trail traffic, are contributory. It is estimated that the seven thousand
miles of road in this area, worn down two feet in dt'pth, would deposit
twenty million cubic yards of material.
These figures are further borne out by computation made in Italy on
the Po River. There is no hydraulic mining in the drainage of this
river, and there never has been. Its drainage area is approximately the
same as that of the Sacramento. Through natural erosion alone, i^ dis-
charges 56,000,000 cubic yards of material annually into the ocean.
To 'carry out any readjustments of the prol)lem of debris control,
certain radical changes would have to be made. It is suggested that in
order to do full justice to all of the interests concerned, the work should
be under the control, not only of the Debris Commission, composed of
officers of the United States Army, but also of a debris commission of
experienced engineers, permanently appointed l)y the State of Cali-
fornia. This is in accordance with the provisions of the Caminetti Act.
Further, a debris commission, ajipoiuted by the Reclamation Service
of the United States Geological Survey, in the administration of the
reclamation features involved in the problem of debris control, should
be, if not in actual control of the work, in close consultation at all times
with the other two commissions.
The expense of the building of these restraining and reclamation
works should be borne, not only by the miners, but also by the power
companies, who Avould benefit from tlie opportunity of leasing these dams
for power purposes, and by the farmers who occupy the reclaimed lands.
a proceeding which is entirely regular and in accord with that of all
I'eclamation projects. Under the provisions of the Caminetti Act, the
miners would bear their share by a tax upon their gross income. It is
estimated that in carrying out this plan, an expenditure of thirty
million dollars would be involved. This fund should be appropriated
by the state and national governments in conjunction, and administered
under the supervision of the three commissions mentioned above.
The chief advantages of such a readjustment would be: First, a
definite understanding between the government and the hydraulic miner
as to just where the latter stands; second, a distribution of the burden
of restraint which would be just and equitable; third, the removal of
the prohibitive tax placed by natural erosion upon the industry of
hydraulic mining uiuler pre-sent regulations; fourth, a solution of the
waste dredge lands problem, anil tlie problem of the I'cclanuition of our
eight hundred thousand aci'cs of unproductive swamj) lauds. Having
assumed control of the situation, the joint commission, somewhat along
the lines suggested, could take charge of the entire matter and work out
the details of a plan, which would l)e at once satisfactory to the miners
and highly beneficial to the agricultural interests of the State. Tliere is
plenty of common ground to stand on, and the attitude of tlie miners
and the farmers should be equally liberal. The resumption of hydraulic

mining on its former scale is not to be expected, but the six hundred
million dollars, more or less, that is at present locked up in the useless
ground of the Sierra Nevada, may well be expected in the course of a
hundred years to be added to the riches of the commonwealth of Cali-
fornia in increasing volume as time goes on and the efficiency of a
practical working plan of control is demonstrated.
In the course of the past two years, an investigation made by the
writer has resulted in the selection of the sites of six main dams, which
would control the principal watersheds of the Sierras.
Onthe north fork of the Yuba River, below Bullard's Bar, a dam is
now being constructed by private interests, which will eventually be
350 feet in height, and will cost upwards of six million dollars. This
dam will take care of all the hydraulic mining debris ever likely to be
sent i-nto the rivers from any of the hydraulic mines above this point on
the north fork.
On the middle fork of the Yuba River, below the junction of" Deer
Creek, and near Camptouville, a much larger dam with a capacity of
half a billion cubic yards is suggested as a piece of work which should
be undertaken by the United States Government in conjunction with
the State of California. This dam would be about 300 feet in height,
and would cost upwards of twelve million dollars.
On the south fork of the Yuba River, below the junction of Shady
Creek, there is a good opportunity for a .storage dam about 200 feet in
height, which would involve an expenditure of two to three millions of
dollars. The above dam would take care of the major portion of the
debris brought down by the south fork of the Yuba River.
The above are the projected dams for the control of the Yuba River
drainage. The estimates, as to cost and storage capacity, are necessarily
very rough, as time is not available for a careful examination. The
total storage capacity of these three dams sums up to over six hundred
million yards. The Bullard's Bar dam on the north fork is already
under construction by private interests at an estimated cost of from six
to eight million dollars. The total cost to the United States and State
governments of the construction of the dams on the middle and south
forks, as suggested, would be about fifteen million dollars.
On the Bear and American rivers, tentative selections of dam sites
have been made, subject to change upon more extended investigation.
On the north fork of the American River, a dam a short ways above
the crossing of the Forest Hill-Colfax Road, about 300 feet high, would
furnish storage for, roughly, two hundred million yards of tailings at
a cost of about seven million dollars. On the middle fork of the
American, at the junction of Canyon Creek, a two hundred-foot dam
Avould give storage for over two hundred million yards of tailings. This
is a remarkably good storage site, due to the storage space in Otter
Creek and the flat grade of the middle fork for four or five miles above
this site. The cost of this dam, at the height mentioned, would be
roughly around three million dollars.
On IBear River, near Howell Hill, a dam 150 feet in height at a cost
of about two million dollars, would give a total storage of about fifty
million cubic yards of tailings. The beds of Greenhorn Creek and
Bear River are full of tailings from the old hvdraulic mines, which have
GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFOKNLV. 23
been estimated to run from 20 to 60 cents per cubic yard. The amount
of tailings has been estimated at fifty million cubic yards. A diversion
tunnel for many years has been planned in the Secret Canyon, which
would divert the excess fre.shet flow into the north fork of the American.
This tunnel would be approximately two miles in length. Whether it
would be a feasible or practical)le plan to work these Bear River tail-
ings off into the American River through a tunnel of this sort for the
sake of saving the values in them, is a question that would have to be
determined by careful investigation.
In the length of time allowed for this investifration, it has been impos-
sible to make careful estimates of the costs and capacities of the dams
mentioned above. They are, however, within reasonable limits, a fairly
close approximation. Careful survey made by government engineers
would possibly result in more advantageous locations. These dam sites,
as suggested, however, control practically the entire dumping space
of some three billion yards of workable gravel with a storage capacity
of over one billion yards. As the amount of material that would get
down to these dams is about one-fifth of the amount that would be
worked off, they would probably take care of all material likely to get
down to them, in addition to the natural erosion of the next fifty or one
hundred years. In time, of course, like all storage dams, they would
become filled by natural erosion, and it would be necessary to either
raise them or to build others higher up.
In order to take care of the slimes and fine material that would be
carried over these dams by the flood waters of winter and spring, it
would be necessary to place barriers down in the valleys, where the
rivers lose their grade and depo.sit such fine material as they can not
carry to the bay and to the ocean. As a barrier has been constructed
at Daguerre Point on the Yuba River, a puni]) dredge could be installed
behind this to remove the fine material as fast as it came down and
deposit it over the swamp and unreclaimed land adjacent thereto. On
the Feather River, below Oroville. tlie same pbni could be used and
much land reclaimed, including a larue portion of the waste dredge
land. The streams could be widened by diking back, and the greatest
amount of .suspended matter would thereby be deposited. The slickens
could be pumped out. run through sluices for the recovering of such
gold as might be obtainable, and used to cover the waste lands Avith the
finest kind of fertile soil.
On the American River, below Folsoni, a siiuihir bai'rier coukl be
erected, and waste lands adjacent thereto could be ivelaimed in the
same way.
The above plan, while partly tentative in its details, in its general
features is ab.solutely sound. It will inure greatly t;) the advantage of
the farmers of the State by virtue of the reclamation of several hun-
dred thousand acres of waste land: by the storage of water during the
spring months, and delivering into the river.s during the dry season,
when needed by permitting the rivers to cut down to their old grade,
;
and giving transportation and navigation to ]\Iarysville and Colusa, as

in former days. It will also give the farmers a greater market for their
product, clase at hand, due to tlie increa.sed prosperity of the mining
counties. These advantages to the farnu^r. far exceed those iîven to
the miners by this plan. Nevertheless, the rejuvenation of hydraulic
mining in tlie mountain comities will result in the restoration of vigor-

ous life to the entire region affected. Towns that have been almost
evacuated will again be busy, the buying power of the mountain counties
will be greatly increased, and the whole State will reflect their pros-
perity. Thousands of men will be given employment, and the quartz
mining interests will reap advantages from the reduction in taxes and
the probability of the opening of new mines by increased prospecting
during the summer months.
The State, as a whole, will benefit; first, from the clearing of the
Mare Island Navy Yard channel and the bay second, from the clear-
;
ing of the lower reaches of the Sacramento, and the avoidance of the
present necessity of dredging and diking.
The greatest advantage of all, however, will be gained by the cities of
Sacramento and Marysville. About once in every generation, when the
American, the Yuba, and the Feather rivers deposit their burden of
flood waters into the Sacramento at the same time, a flood occur.s, which
is absolutely beyond control of any engineering works that may be or
are likely to be constructed. This flood occurs for the reason that the
Carquinez Straits have only about one-fifth of the cross-sectional area
necessary to discharge the entire amount which the Sierra rivers, at
flood, will pour into the San Joaquin and Sacramento. By the use of
these storage dams and others which may later be built on the Calaveras,
]\rokelumne, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne rivers, the maximum flood can
be held in check by alternately emptying and filling these storage
reservoirs in such a way as to distribute the intensity of the flood and to
hold back the excess volume of Avater whenever inundation is threat-
ened. Often the checking of one of these rivers for a few hoars is
all that is necessary to prevent damage running into thousands, and
even millions of dollars. With the increased population and building
area of the cities of Sacramento and ^larysville, a flood, such as we had
in the winter of 1889 and 1890, would be a tremendous calamity.
The advantages to the power companies from the eon.struction of
these dams and their leasing by the state and national governments at
a figure sufficient to cover a long-time amortization of the co.sts thereof,
will be incalculable. The necessity of heavy bonding on their part
would be avoided, and service charges to consumers would be greatly
lowered. In this v.ay, the people as a whole would reap the benefit of
the enterprise; furthermore, the power companies would be forever
secured against -the possibility of socialistic and freak legislation, such
as has been attempted before, in depriving them of the benefits of their
vast expenditures of time and money in the development of the Avater
resources of the State. As the policy of the power companies has always
been to distribute their stock and their bonds among the consumers
of power and the small investors of the State, this will ultimately result
in a permanent benefit to the public at large.
GOLD PLACERS OF CAL1F0KNL\. 25
Bibliography.
Miuing Debris'. Miuins & Scientific Press, Jan. 15. 1S7G; Feb. 12, :\rar. 18, Mar.
25, 1S7G; Mar. 15, 1879; Mar. 22, Nov. 21), 1879; Mar. 20, 1880; July 30,
1881; Aug-. G, Aug. 13, Nov. 12, Dec. 31, 1S81 .Ian. 22, 1882; July 1, July 29,
;
1882; June 17, 1882; Jan. 12, 1884; Jan. 19, 1884; May G, 1893; Feb. IG,
1895; Nov. 14, 1S9C Jan. 9, Jan. IG, 1897; Oct. 22, 1898.
;
Tieilemption of Groat Valley of California. Trans. Am. Soo. Civil Kngrs., Vol. GG.
Itcstraining Barriers in the Yuba River. Mining & Scientific Press, Aug. IG, 1902.
Debris Control. Miuing & Scientific I'rcss, Sept. 2, 1905; Dec. 2, 1905; Feb. 10
190(>; Nov. 20, 1909; Nov. 12, 1910.
A New Debris Dam. ^Mining & Scientific Press, July 10, 1915.
Hydraulic Mining Debris in California. V. S. (Jool. Surv., P. P. 105.
Transportation of Debris by Running Water. U. S. Gcol. Surv., P. P. 8G.
26 CAIJFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
CHAPTER II.
PLACER MINING METHODS.
In investigating a placer deposit with a view to subsequent mining
operation, one of the most important things to be considered aside
from the values in the property and the facilities of operation is
the adaptation of methods of mining. Different deposits require
different methods of attack, and many mines which might have been
successful have failed, due to tlie use of method.s that were not adapted
to the property.
Photo No. 1. Characteristic Hydraulicking Gravels in Peru.
PiTOTO No. 2. Close-up of Same ravels in Peru,

:
;
GOLD PLACERS OF CAL1F0RNL\. 27
Each individual property rciiuircs its own special study of conditions

and its own adaptation of methods. This should be done by a trained
and experienced engineer; but there are certain general conditions
that call for certain methods of mining, and it is proposed in a general
way and in language that tlie ordinary individual interested in placer
mining or the prospective investor, may understand, to set forth a
view of the best known methods in current practice that have come
witliin the writer's experience.
This chapter does not cover the whole field the limitations of space
forbid but it is hoped that a careful study of tlie bibliography attached
will serve to cover these points, which are not touched upon in the course
of the chapter. In the following resume, material has been freely used
from an article, entitled "The Mining of Alluvial Deposits," written
by Newton B. Knox and Charles S. Haley for the ".Mining Magazine"
of London in 1915.
The most important methods of alluvial mining are dredging,
hydraulicking, mechanical handling, ground sluicing, dry
drifting,
w"ashing, and beach sand work. The last is possibly an adaptation of
several of the former methods. Taking up these methods in the order
of their importance in modern placer mining, we wall begin Avith
dredging.
DREDGING.
The type of deposit that is most suitable for dredging is generally one
in a river that has worn down its gradient to a basal plane, as in the
case of the Yuba River, above ]\Iarysville. California. Another type
is that of a mountain stream at the point where it debouches into a
main valley and there deposits its burden, as at Oroville, on the Feather
River, and at Folsom on the American. A
third type is that of a
meandering river bordered by the broad flats of its peneplain, as on
the Pato River, in Colombia.
An ideal dredging ground should possess the following characteristics
Gravel which is loose and uniformly small, yet sufficiently impervious
always to retain sufficient water to float the dredge a depth which
;
varies from 40 to 100 feet a bedrock that is soft and decomposed

;
an absence of barren top soil, beds of sticky clay, cemented gravel, or

barren sand no living or buried timber and a fairly uniform distribu-
; ;
tion of value throughout the gravel. The river should not be

subject to sudden or extensive floods. In addition to these factors,
availability of power, either water or steam, and accessibility to trans-
port, with its consequent low freight rates, should exist. Preferably,
the deposit should be situated in the temperate zone.
The gravel should be small, which means for an ideal dredging
proposition, the largest stones are smaller than a man's head. Much
dredging, however, is done in ground in which the boulders vary in
size from a foot in diameter, weighing perhaps 200 to 300 pounds, to
boulders wêighing two tons and over.
]\Iost of the records of yardage have been made in California on small
gravel, but on the Trinity River, operation is now going on in ground
that contains boulders weighing up to five tons. As a general rule, unless
such a deposit is unusually rich, it is very unwise to attempt to u.se a
bucket dredge under these conditions repairs to the bucket line are
;
and costly, and the rocoveiy of gold under tlie larger boulders
fre(iiieut
on the bed roek is very small.
Avhicli lie
An excess of cemented gravel or stiff clay as a rule results in reduced
yardage and expensive repairs. Sticky clay means reduced capacity,
due to difficulty in discharging the buckets. It is also a source of
considerable annoyance in the sluices, from which it is apt to remove
the amalgam. Some troubles due to clay can be overcome by the nse
of log-washers on the dredge; but extensive beds of sticky clay, even
when of a high gold content, as those on the coast of Brazil, are
nndredgable.
The gravel should be sufficiently water-tight to hold the level of the
dredge-pond, because a sudden emptying of the ppnd would probably
overturn the dredge and would wreck not only the hull but the entire
mechanical plant. Also it is sometimes necessary to maintain the Avater
in the pond at a different level from that of the surrounding country.
Ordinarily from 50 to 75 inches of fresh water is required continually
to keep the level of the pond constant and to supply wash water for
the digging operations of dredges with capacities running from a
7-foot bucket to a 16-foot bucket.
Deep gravel from 70 to 100 feet is ordinarily worked by dredges
ranging from 15 feet in size to 18 feet. This does not mean, however,
that the size of the dredge is dependent altogether upon the depth of
the gravel. Gravel of a depth of 10 to 20 feet would call for either a
very small dredge or for the adoption of another method of working,
such as the steam shovel or the drag-scraper. The digging depth of
gravel, which means the depth from the surface of the pond to bedrock,
is ordinarily considerably less than the total depth of the gravel. This
is for the reason that practically all dredges carry a bank considerably
above the level of the pond. For instance, in a deposit of extreme depth
a large dredge might carry a 30-foot bank and dig to a depth of seventy
feet below the water level. This would, of course, call for ideal condi-
tions in the bank.
The ideal bedrock in dredging is one which is soft and without ridges
or crevices. In a granite country the bedrock under the gravel is
usually decomposed to the required softness. The same thing is true
of some sandstones and porphyries. A limestone or slate country is
nearly always characterized by a hard, blocky, or knobby bedrock, often
with deep crevices. These latter types are unsuited for dredging, as
the wear on the bucket lips is excessive, and the gold lodges in crevices
beyond their reach. A false bedrock, such as the one of volcanic ash
at Oroville, is ideal. The presence of boulders of the country rock of
the district is usually an indication of hard bedrock.
In judging the hardness of bedrock, the evidence derived from
shafts or drill holes should be accepted in preference to that presented
by exposure in running streams or watercourses. In many cases the
bedrock exposed in the river will be found to be hard, whereas the drill
may prove that the bedrock underlying the gravel adjacent to the
stream is soft and decomposed to a considerable depth. This is due to
the fact that the denudation caused by the river is greater than the
weathering, and all weathering products are swept away as soon as they
are formed. Under the gravel, however, all the decomposed minerals
may be intact and form a soft bedrock suitable for dredging.
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORXLV. 29
Dredgiuj,' in tropical countncs is often greatly hampered l)y tlie

presence of buried timbers, a.s in Frejicli (hiiana, and sometimes in
Victoria. This is always a source of considerable annoyance, and in
fact, if they are in great quantity and well preserved, their presence
will prohibit successful dredging. Dredges which are built for tropical
work should always be equipped with derricks and stump-pullers. In
California, gravel is generally free of buried timber, but standing
timber is quite common, and unless the gravel is sufificiently deep to
distribute the cost of clearing and stumping it over a large yardage,
this feature also adds materially to operating costs. A shallow deposit,
with a forest of large and deep-rooted trees upon it, will l)e pi'ohil)itive
in dredging cost, unless it contains an exceptionally high content of
values.
On the other hand, the dense jungle growth of tropical riversis often
misleading, because, while the growth may be impenetrablv thick, these
Photo Xo. Xati\es ^^'ashill
jungles can be quickly and eheaply cleared, the roots of the larger trees
being very close to the surface. In Colombia, where native wages vary
from fifty cents to one dollar, an acre of thickly covered ground can be
cleared and stumped for $25 to $40.
The gold should be what is known as three-dimension gold, and be
readily amalgamated. It should not be too finely divided, and it should
be distributed with some uniformity throughout the gravel. If the gold
is coarse and confined to bedrock, it is usually a condition of spotty
ground, and unless the bedrock is soft, recovery is very difficult. It
is very unusual for top soil to carry gold in profitable quantity. Exten-
sive layers of sand are nearly always barren, and a deposit in which
much sand occui's is apt to be very erratic in the distribution of its gold
content.
Deposits situated in extreme latitudes often contain permanently
frozen gravel, which can be dredged only by previous thawing. This
thawing is usually done by means of steam-points driven down into the
30 CALIFOKNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
gravel and supplied from central boiler plants through insulated steam
lines; or elseby what is known as cold water thawing, Avhich is often
done by the diversion of large bodies of water over the area to be dredged
and also by its forcing into the ground in points under hydraulic pres-
sure. In Alaska frozen ground has been dredged at a cost ranging from
50 to 75 cents per cubic yard. Aside from the question of accessibility,
dredging in extreme latitudes is greatly hampered by the short seasons,
necessitating either the engaging of a new staff each year or their
maintenance during the idle season. Cold climates also necessitate the
Photo No. 4. Nechi IwYur at Pato. Characteristic

Dredging Gravels in Colombia.
installation of heating apparatiLs and the housing of the exposed part of

the stacker and bucket line.
Dredging in the tropics is likewise more expensive, owing to climatic
conditions, with their accompaniment of malaria and other fevers, as
most of the dredging is done on the lower river bottoms, where fevers
are prevalent. The usual inefficiency of native labor also adds greatlj'^
to the cost.
The attempt to dredge in torrential rivers, characterized by sudden
and extensive floods, is always a hazardous undertaking. Many dredges
have been swept away and wrecked by a sudden rise of the water. The
question of floods is one that should be most carefully investigated, and
GOLD PINCERS OF CATjIFORNIA. 31
data regarding it slionkl 1)C collected over a period covering a nunil)er
of years. a general rule, it may be stated that rivers flowing through

As
narrow canyons are always perilous. Even rivers with adja'*ent flats,
when in countries where cloudbursts are frequent, are liable to floods.
Under these circumstances the ground is often worked by dredging
inland and keeping a barrier of unworked ground to serve as pro-
tection.
The importance of freight rates weighs more heavily with this class
of alluvial installation than any other. For instance, a 7-foot, close-
connected dredge of the California type, complete with spares, steel
pontoon, motors, generators, and repair-shop fittings, weighs about one
hundred tons. Some of the single parts weigh twelve tons; in larger
dredges they weigh up to twenty tons. This being so, the necessity of
reasonably easy access to the property is apparent. Depo.sits reached
by trail are quite prohibitive and the dredge sectionalized for iinile-
;
Photo No. 5. Portage Creek, on the Little Delta, Alaska.
back transport has yet to be proved a success. Not only do excessive

freight rates affect the first cost of a dredge, but they can be felt
during its whole operating life. The erection of one of the larger
dredges should not be attempted very far from good transportation
facilities. .
The Imlky pieces of machinery is suggested by

cost of transporting
the following case: From Colon to Puerto Colombia the United Fruit
Company used to charge a flat rate of $5 per ton for freight. All
pieces weighing over four tons used to pay an excess rate of 150 per
cent; over eight tons an excess rate of 200 per cent. A similar excess
tariff was charged on the Barranquilla railroad and the river steamers
up the Magdelena.
The amount of labor required on a moderate-sized electrically-driven
dredge of the California type may be enumerated as follows: One
dredge ma-ster, three winehmen, six oilers, two mechanics, and several
roustabouts. In tropical countries the roustabouts may be natives, but
3 286n.-;
32 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAIJ.
where skilled labor is lacking, the remainder of the crew, with the
possible exception of the oilers, must be imported. In addition, a staff
for the electric or steam power plant and the shops must be considered.
However, for the amount of matci-ial liandled by a large dredge, -its
labor cost per yard is low.
Dredges are of different typos. Perliaps the oldest form of successful
operating dredge is what is known as the New Zealand dredge. It has
been greatly used both in its home region and in Australia, where con-
ditions are especially favorable for its use. Due to its lightness of con-
Photo No. 6. Panning on Portage Creek.
struction, ithas been extensively used in tropical countries, as well as

in Kussia and Siberia. Compared with what is known as the California
type, the New Zealand type is a light power dredge, usually with a steel
pontoon. Its first cost is lower than the California type, and its
capacit}^ is smaller. This type of dredge is especially adapted for a
small operating compau}' whose acreage or capacity is limited, and
whose gravel is moderately light, uncemented, and easily dug. Its chief
application lies in those districts where lack of transportation is a
salient factor and where heavj- pieces of machinery can be handled
only at a prohibitive cost. Not only is a considerable saving effected in
the first cost, but also in freight charges, cost of erection, and simplicity
of repair shops, 'i'liis savinj^ will offset for some years any liigher work-
ing cost due to the liandliny of a smaller yardage than might possibly be
dug by the California tyi)e.
The California dredge was evolved from the New Zealand in order
to meet local conditions, as the latter type proved unequal to the task
of handling the heavy ground encountered in California. As a result,
moditications of the type were made, and each newly built dredge was
altered, and the method of operation changed until a new type of
dredge and method of work were evolved. This type of dredge has
been enlarged and strengthened and its power tremendously increased.
Photo No. 7. Dredge on Hunker Creek, Klondike Region.
The earlier California dredgeswere e(|uipi)ed witli pan or tray staclc-

ers, as are those of the New Zealand type. These have been changed
to stackers of the belt-conveyor type or straight flinnes. In the latter
ease, yardage is not so much an object as the recovery of the heavy
gold lying mostly on bedrock. Most California dredges are equipped
with close-connected bucket lines, and these have been found to dig
up greater yardage. The New Zealand dredge digs by means of a
head-line alone, but this practice has been found unsatisfactory in
California dredging, and all of these now employ spiuls in digging.
In California most of the hulls were built of wood, but in tropical
countries it has been found that steel hulls are more satisfactory.
The amount of gTavol lumdlod per iiioiilli and the operatinii' cost per
cubic yard vary within wide limits and depend on the dredge itself,
the character of the ground, the size of the gravel, and the depth or
height of the bank.
The California dredges vary in size from 3^ cubic feet to 18 cubic
feet bucket capacity, and are digging in ground varying in depth from
15 to 90 feet. The field of the modern California dredge lies in
Fhoto No. 8. Thawing Frozen Ground on Hunker Creek,

Yukon Territory.
the heavy cemented gravels, which require ponderous and :nassive

machinery to dig; or in those large areas of deep low-grade gravels
lying accessible to cheap transportation facilities. Conditions such as
these exist at Marj'sville and Folsom, California. In Alaska, small
heavily-built dredges of from one to three cubic feet bucket capacity,
built on California lines, are still working.

GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFOKXLV. 35
Another type of dredge, M'hich is adapted to certain types of ground,

is what is known as the Australian pump dredge. This dredge was
devised to meet certain conditions existing in New Zealand and
Australia conditions tliat prohibited the employment of either hucket
;
dredging or ordinary hydraulieking. The most important factor gov-

erning the choice of this method is the character of the bedrock.
Where the gold concentrated or near a bedrock that is rough, hard,
is
and uneven, or where it is deep within the crevices of a shattered or
broken bedrock, it is necessary to expose and clean the rock carefnlly.
This, of course, prohibits bucket dredging. If the deposit be too low for
hydraulieking, other mean.s must be adopted. It is to meet these condi-
tions that this so-called i)ump dredge has been devised.
It consists of a set of centrifugal pumps, mounted on pontoons that
are floated only when being changed from one working face to another.
By its use bedrock is exposed for cleaning. The pump dredge consists
of two centrifugal pumps, one known as the pressure pump and the other
the gravel pump, mounted, together with motive power, upon a wooden
hull or pontoon. AVhile working, the pontoon rests on sills laid upon
bedrock. The mining is done ])y directing a small hydraulic nozzle
against the bank. The artificial pressure employed is usually sixty to
seventy pounds per s(iuare inch, produced by a centrifugal pump of 12
to 14-ineh discharge. From a bank the gravel is sluiced through runs,
cut in bedrock to the sump, which should never be deeper than 20 feet,
which is the limit of the suction. When the bedrock is wavy and dips
away from the sump, considerable expense is involved in cutting down
the runs to grade in fact, when the bedrock dips too steeply away from
;
the sump, it sometimes will not pay to move portions of the overlying
gravel, which are then left behind. As the gravel is piped, all large
boulders are removed and left behind on bedrock.
. The gravel from the sump is raised by the gravel pump to the line of
sluices, a height which depends upon the depth of the deposit and the
fall of the sluice-boxes. A height of over 60 feet requires the installa-
tion of a second lift pump. The gravel pump is usually placed side
by side with the pressure pump on the barge; but in shallow ground this
pump can be worked from the l)ank and it is then placed on the bed-
rock. The gravel ])ump is from 8 to ] 2-inch discharge. A direct-acting
or .small centrifugal pump is installed at tlie head of the sluices to fur-
nish them with wash water. From the ends of the boxes, the tailing
flows back into the worked-out portion, and is there retained by brush-
Avood dams.
The total power required depends on the size and capacity of the
]ilant and the height of the lift. It varies from 120 to 260 horsepower.
The capacity varies proportionately and ranges from 8'00 to 2000 yards
per day. The ti)iie lost in shifting the plant, flooding the workings,
building the dams, and in all repairs is a serious item. In some cases ic
amounts to ten Aveeks in a season 's run of .six months. 13uring moving,
more men are required than in ordinary running. In the cases quoted,
the crews ranged from eleven to fifty men per dredge. The first cost of
these dredges is nuich less than that of a small bucket dredge, which
fact renders it moi-e feasible foj- working snuill areas of giv-nnd.
This method is used effectively where the gravel is deep ami no (luiii[>
is
available; or if the deposit be of average thickness say 25 feet
3G CALIFORNIA STATE MINING lilTREAU.
^\ith its valuable wash lying between a hard uneven bottom

and a tough
overburden full of boulders, this type of dredge is applicable. It must
be borne in mind that a limiting factor is the amount of water in the
ground. If there be too much water, the power required to drain the
ground is excessive; if too little, the time required to fill the pit becomes
too great. Where much buried timber is encountered, this method also
applies. When transport is a serious problem, the lightness of the pump
dredge and its simplicity of installation, compared with that of the
bucket dredge, may render it suitable, in spite of the fact that all other
factors for successful Inicket dredging may be present.
While this method of mining has its own application, it is nevertheless
contrary to all economic principles of engineering. Its effieienc}^ is only
30 to 45 per cent, and the amount of water lifted per cubic yard of solid
Photo No. 9. Typical Alaskan Gravels near Circle City.
is enormous, as 05 per cent of all material lifted is water. This moving

of useless material atfects the cost, which is apparent in the figures for
the work done during 1907 in Victoria. Over ten million cubic yards
was treated by bucket dredges, and nearly the same amount by pump
dredges. The cost per cubic yard in the former case was under 6 cents
whereas in the latter it was over 20 cents. As, however, the pump
dredge treated all the tough, irregular, and deeper ground, which the
bucket dredge could not handle, this comparison of costs is unfair to
the pump dredge. Conditions being equnl, liowever, the cost of pum]i
dredging would be from two to two and one-half times greater than
bucket dredging.
So much has been written, and ably written, on bucket dredging in
California tliat it is useless in a chapter of this scope to go into further
detail upon the subject. The reader is referred to the bibliograi)hy at
the end of this chapter, notably the articles by Robert Cranston in the
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFOHNLV. 37
'Mining and Scientific Press' and the 'Eugineerinj: and ^Mining- .Joiir-
nal'; also by John Power Hutchins and various equally notable authori-
ties; as well as Bulletin No. 57 of the publications of the California
State ]\Iining Bureau, and the volume of D'Arcy AVeatherbe upon gukl
dredging in California and the bulletin of the United States Bureau
:
of ]Mines recently completed by Mr. Charles Janin.
HYDRAULIC MINING.
The term 'hydraulic mining' is here defined as that class of mining
employing the use of water under natural pre-^sure in giants or monitors
for the pnpose of eroding a gravel bank, washing it through sluices, and
disposing of the tailing by gravity. Next to the question of gold
content, the determining factors in the em])loyment of this type of
mining are the presence of an abundance of cheap water that can be
brought to the mine under pressure and the existence of sufficient grade
for the disposal of the tailings. This latter feature, known among
miners as the 'dump' of a property, is exceedingly important.
The size of the gravel is not so important in hydraulic mining as in
dredging. Much larger boulders can be handled, provided there is
room for their disposal. Fairly tight layers of clay and cemented
gravel can be first shattered and then disintegrated by the giant.
Gravels of 600 feet or even greater depth have been worked. In fact,
with the use of a benching system, there is practically no limit to the
depth of the bank that can be exploited. Of course, other things being
equal, the smaller and looser the gravel, the higher will be the duty of
the water.
The influence of bedrock is not so important in hydraulic mining as
it is in dredging, yet an ideal bedrock is one that is even, does not
disintegrate readily, and is soft enough not to cause too nnich expense in
cutting sluice-ways, and is still hard enough for ea.sy cleaning. It is a
great help if the natural grade of the channel assists in setting sluice-
ways. A
deeply .shattered bedrock is difficult and expensive to clean, as
the gold finds its way deep down into the crevices.
In this connection, a type of granite bedrock encountered by the
writer in tropical countries and other places where the rainfall is heavy,
may be mentioned. It weathers underneath the gravel to depths of 10
feet and over and forms a soft hummocky under-burden to the deposit,
all of which, though absolutely barren, must be cut and washed away
in water to secure a recovery of the bedrock gold, lying for the most
par-t it and at the bottom of the gravel.
on top of
The existence of an ample and cheap water supi)ly is imperative for
this class of mining. On the question of water depends in great
mea.sure, that of the duty and subsequent operating cost. The character
of the ground through which the ditch is to be run .should be carefully
considered as to seepages, slides, footings for fiumc i)osts. cross ravines,
general liability to washouts, and its ability to witlistand erosion.
Effective heads raiigc generally from 200 to 600 feet. Below the
former figure the duty is -apt to be low. Above the latter the require-
ments of extra heavy pipe, anchorage, and bracing, become exacting.
Within limits the amount of water required varies inversely with the
head obtainable. With a 200-foot head a flow of 2(X)0 inches would
suffice to operate a moderately sized liydraulic mine, wliile with a 400-
foot head 1000 inches would move nearly the same amount of gravel,
provided it were loose and free.
Few hydraulic mines are so situated that a full head of water is
obtainable throughout the year, consequently part of the excess of water
during the season of greatest flow is conserved wherever possible, in
storage reservoirs. When the supply becomes low, these are frequently
allowed to fill during twelve to twenty hours of the day, the water being
used for only a short interval.
Where it is impossible, from the contour of the country, to obtain water
under a natural head of any magnitude, attempts have been made to
substitute artificial pressure from pumps. This is only practicable where
Avater power is cheap, as wêll as abundant. The most noteworthy recent
instance of large-scale operation of this sort, which has come under the
writer's observation, is the hydraulic work w^hich was done on the
Panama Canal, where sea water was used under pressure for cutting
down the material with giants, centrifugal pumps being employed to
elevate and discharge the material. The latter was chiefly silt and fine
sand, but even under these circumstancs the duty was low and the cost
high. Wliile sucli installations may prove successful mechanically, they
have in most instances been failures financially.
The duty of water, in cubic yards per miner 's inch, varies from one to
ten, and depends upon the character of the gravel, the facility for dis-
posal of tailings, the amount and head of water available.
The presence of an ample supply of good timber for construction is
more vital than in the case of dredging, as it is constantly in demand
for the building and repair of flumes, sluices, trestles, dams, sluice
linings, giant and pipe line bracing, as well as the manufacture of
.sluice-blocks. The presence of buried timbers in the deposits is not at
all prohibitive in this class of mining, as they can readily be piped out
and cut to size convenient for the derrick. The clearing of a dense
growth of standing timber, of course, adds to the cost of mining.
After the equipment and installation of a hydraulic property, the
question of labor is not a serious one, as but few skilled men are
required. Three pipers, six sluice men and ditchtenders, a good black-
smith, and perhaps a winchman are all that are required on a mine of
moderate size, handling from two thousand to five thousand yards of
gravel a day.
One of the chief advantages that hydraulic mining has over dredging
is the fact that it is not so greatly affected by the cost of transport.
A 7-foot dredge complete weighs nearly one thousand tons, whereas the
equipment of a hydraulic mine, handling the same amount of gravel,
complete with giants, pipe, gates, sawmill, derrick, and tools, weighs
one hundred tons.
Besides the cost of equipment in the subsequent running of the mine,
that of supplies and spares amounts to a comparatively small sum, most
of the repairs being made by the blacksmith. For tlie above reasons,
and owing to the fact that all ecjuipment can be shipped in small pack-
ages, a hydraulic mine can readily be operated in districts reached tiiily
by trail. Where timber must be brought, the question of transport
becomes much more serious so serious, indeed, that in some eases it
;
may prove prohibitive.

The question of the iuipounding' of debris is a serious factor iu plans

for hydraulic miuintr in those districts in which debris restrictions are
enforced. The problem in California has been fully discussed in another
chapter of this volume.
In planning the operation of a property, it is important to consider
the effect of the disposal of tailings upon farming and other lands.
Where irrigation canals are fed from rivers below the dumping ground
of the mine it is quite possible that these canals may be silted by mining
operations, which would naturally result in trouble for all concerned.
An ideal dumping ground is one like that of the LaGrange, in north-
ern California. The tailing is dumped into a narrow valley about four
miles long, which is the property of the company and drains directly
into the Trinity River. This river and the Klamath were not included
in the prohibition of the debris law. They are not navigable streams,
and the damage done by hydraulic mining to the farming interests is
practically negligible.
Where all factors calling for the employment of hydraulic mining
are present, with the exception of dumping facility, this adverse condi-
tion can sometimes be overcome by the use of the hydraulic elevator .
Cheap and abundant water under great pressure is essential. This

is due to the fact that the efficiency of these machines is notoriously
low. The lifting power of the elevator is from one-sixth to one-tenth
of the head of water employed. The proportion of solids in the total
weight of material lifted is at most 5 per cent, the remaining 95 per
cent being water. It is largely due to these facts that mining by this
method has not always been successful. Another factor requiring con-
sideration is the size and amount of boulders in the ground. Ordinarily,
with an ample supph^ of water, in regular hydraulic mining, the size
of the boulders that can be ejected through the sluices is in the main
limited only by the width of the latter. In hydraulic elevation, how-
ever, the limit is governed by the width of the throat of the elevator:
consequently, as this, even in a large elevator, is not more than 15
inches, all boulders of larger diameter must either be blasted or handled
by the derrick or stone-boat. Consequently only ground containing
moderately small gravel is adaptable to this method of treatment.
When a deposit of gravel, not exceeding 50 feet in depth, lies on a
hard bedrock with little or no dumping facility, and the water supply
is limited, and when nests of heavy boulders exist, a modification of the
hydraulic method with the adoption of an inclined grizzly or of a

simple inclined sluice may be advisable. The former, sometimes called
the Ruble elevator, will be described in detail later. By the use of it
all the heavy tailing is stacked and left on the worked-out bedrock.
The grizzly is unsuitable on rough and extremely wavy or uneven bed-
rock, owing to the difficulty in moving. Its chief advantage over all
other forms of elevator lies in the low cost of construction, as well as
the fact that it can be made on the ground. Another ])oint iu which it
excels is its capacity for handling heavy boulders.
The inclined sluice is employed to elevate material that has already
passed through a string of sluice lx)xes; or to elevate material from
the diggings to the sluice boxes in order to secure dump. Small
deposits in northern California and southern Oregon have been worked
;
by this method and also deposits in the Circle and Forty Mile districts
in Alaska. On Mastodon Creek, in the Circle district, a small plant is
in operation, which may be cited as an example of this practice. Here
two No. 1 giants and one No. 2 giant have been operating with water
nnder a 100-foot head. The sluice-boxes, 30 inches wide, of which there
were six, eacli 12 feet long, delivered their tailings into a common sump.
From here the tailing was stacked 35 feet high through an inclined
sluiceby the No. 2 giant.
The depth of the gravel was 9 feet, and the duty, including the water
used for stacking, was 2| cubic yards per miner's inch of twenty hours.
Hydraulic mining methods vary greatly in different districts accord-
ing to the physical conditions encountered. Even in California a ca.se
may be cited of two totally different practices in regions only a few
hundred miles apart. In the northern part of the state in territory
tributary to the Klamath and Trinity rivers, the great majority of the
bars which have been worked are not very high above the beds of the
present rivers. The depths of the gravel banks do not generally exceed
from 30 to 50 feet. For this reason, the employment of a drive or
'booster giant' is necessary. This giant is set in such a position as to
drive the gravel directl}^ to the sluice boxes after it has been cut down.
In most of tlie larger mines of the Sierras in eastern California,
hydraulic mining practice is totally different. Here the banks are high,
running to 600 feet in depth, and as a result, resetting of giants is far
less frequent. In the practice in vogue in this territory the giants are
emplojêd mainly for the purpose of cutting down and are set directly in
front of the bank. For transportation, lead water is relied upon, as
the grade and dump are much better than in the northern country,
where most of the water is applied through the nozzle and but little
lead water is used.
In planning the operation of a hydraulic mine, the first question to
arise is that of getting the needful supply of water under working pres-
sure. This is usually the most costly feature of the mine. A ditch and
flume several miles in length may have to be dug and constructed. A
timber or stone or concrete dam may have to be blasted in the river
or stream at the point of diversion of the waters or a tunnel may have
to be cut through the solid rock for several hundred feet in order to
avoid the washing out of the flume by annual floods characteristic of
torrential streams.
In a chapter whose scope is limited, it is impossible to give the more
intimate details of this type of work. The reader is referred to the
bibliography at the end of this chapter for details of construction
however, the broad general principles of procedure will be briefly
outlined.
a rule, in all temperate countries, the first thing to be constructed
As
is a sawmill. If possible, this is usually located near the head of the
ditch, either above or below the point of diversion of the water. As
fast as the ditch and flume are built, water can thus be used to carry
lumber to the point where it is needed and later on to the mine itself.
Most dams in timber countries are l)uilt of a crib work or cross timbers
laid upon sills, which are placed in hitches cut in the bedrock at a point
where a solid foundation can readily be obtained. This crib work is filled
in with boulders, rocks, and sand, and in a short time the material
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFOKXLV. 41
brought dowu by the river will make it a permanent structure. As a rule,

it is faced on the upper side with heavy planking. The turnout gate
for the flume should be seetionalized in order to control the amount of
water admitted to the flume. One very good system is to have the gate
made of 6x4's, which can be raised independently of one another,
thereby widening the aperture into the flume or narrowing it whenever
desired with the least expenditure of ett'ort. The flrst or head l)oxes of
the flume should be protected either by a bedrock wall or a built-up
wall against possible flooding and raising of the river.
In the location of the saw mill, advantage is usually taken of some
small gully running back up tlie hill toward the thickest timber for the
building of a skid-way, and as fast as the logs are cut the regulation
lengths, they are shot down the skid-way into a pond or against an
embankment immediately above the mill. If the mill is at or near the
ditch line, Avhere the latter has already gained enough distance above
the river, the ditch will supply power for running the sawmill. When
a considerable supply of timber and lumber has thus been assured for
flume and dam purposes, a great deal of judgment must be used not
only in the flume construction, but in digging the ditch. In flume con-
struction, the question of footing's is most important and Avill often
determine the life of the flume.
With regard to the general features of the ditch, it may be said that
the grade should be suitable for the quality of the soil, the front bank
should be wide and firm, and the hill bank should be well sloped. The
main idea of its design is to keep the force of the water, as well as the
greater portion of the friction back against the hill as much as possible,
yet not so nnich as to cause extensive undercutting and slides. To
avoid these latter nightmares of the hydraulic miner, even when the
ditch has been well constructed, one or more ditchtenders may be neces-
sary. There are, of course, innumerable methods of ditch repairing and
bracing known to the experienced miner. As it is impossible in limited
space to give too nnich of detail, the reader must again be referred to the
bibliography.
Turnouts and sand gates at frequent intervals are essential, and in
case of breaks in the diteh. may save much damage. Changes of grade
should be avoided unless there is marked change in the character of the
ground, as the point of change merely fills to the regular grade with
cuttings brought down by the water. If the grade used for the roughest
.surface be carried throughout the ditch, things are on the safe side.
The flume grade will of cour.se be constant and much less than the
ditch grade. Care should be used in blasting through hard rock to
prevent excessive fracture and consequent leakage. The whole ditch
should be carefully puddled with clay or saw-dust at frequent intervals.
(.Iround that is apt to slide should l)e flumed in spite of the tempta-
tion to dig the tlitcli in soft ground. It will eventually have to be
flumed anyway, and this, when the footing has slid away, will be done
at a much greater cost. Above all, it should be borne in mind while
constructing a ditch and at all other times that when the giants are
not working there is no money going into the sluices and nothing is
more costl\' than shutting off water to I'epaii- ditdi itreaks (jurini;- the
mining season.
Having brought the water above the property with the desired head,
the next thing requiring careful work is to get it down to the working
face. If the pressure is great and the hillside steep, the greatest care
must be taken in bracing the lower portion of the pipe line. The details
of line, gate, and elbow bracing, as well as penstock building, are'
matters of practical importance, and tlie reader is again referred to the
bibliography for details of construction.
When everything is ready to start laying the branch strings of pipes
and setting the giants, the question of the proper method of working
the ground arises. This calls for the exercise of good judgment.
Ground that has onl}^ an ordinary dump into a river that depends upon
annual floods to carry away excess tailing should never be opened from
the lower end, as a dam will be formed, and all detritus from the work-
ings, including the fines, will fill up the river and spoil Avhat dump there
is. On the other hand, in case of good dumping facilities, it is well to
open at the lower end and take advantage of the bedrock slope in laying
sluices. If two strings of sluices can be so laid that one giant can be
set between and turned from one to the other wiiile heavy boulders are
being blasted or removed by derrick, eificiency is gained. In case a

dump giant has to be used to pipe dump up river it should never be

piped down the water may be turned into it at similar odd times.
The use and placing of a derrick, equipped with chains, for the larger
boulders, and stone-boats for the smaller ones, recpiires judgment and
experience. Care must always be taken not to cause blocks with boulder
piles.
As stated before, there are two general types of California practice
in hydraulic mining methods brought about by different sets of condi-
tions. In the eastern portion of the state, tributary to the Sacramento
River, and now practically closed by the debris law, gravel banks are
for the most part, deep and have excellent dump. As a result, when
bedrock cuts were started for sluice-ways, their depth was usually so
calculated that when a string of sluices reached the limit of the workable
ground, it would still be in bedrock. Thus the sluices were always kept
up to the face, and all giants were employed in cutting down the bank
alone. This is very ditferent from northern California practice, in
which cutting is done by the field giant, which is, in shallow ground,
kept close to bedrock. Driving across bedrock to the head of the boxes
is done by the booster giant, which is often placed on the bank in line
with the boxes. By the shallow cut thus necessary for the sluice--\vay
many feet of dump are saved.
Speed and handling ground are largely dependent on
efficiency in
the personal factors of judgment and experience. Gold saving, on the
other hand, is more a matter of common sense. On this point very
much has been written, and the reader is again referred to the bibliog-
raphy at the close of this chapter. A
general discussion of the funda-
mental principles will, however, bo confined to as short a space as
possible.
For the saving of fine gold, it is generally conceded that railway iron
(usually about forty ponnds Aveight per yard), laid across the ])oxes,
and spaced at 2 to 2^ inches apart, or Hungarian I'iftles, which are
2x4 scantlings covered with steel straps, are the best form of riffles
both for security and durability. These riffles are often placed in sec-
lious, which alteruatoly run lengthwise and then crosswise ol: the
boxes. In many places it is not always possible to secure the necessary
material, and sluice blocks sawed from fir trees, about ten inches thick,
are perhaps more generally used than anything else. These sluice
])Oxes are separated from one another by pebbles placed betiveen them
in order to form riffles two or three inches in width and the depth of
the block. Details of construction of sluices and of the making of
rifflescan be found in any of numerous reference books.
In the case of fine gold, one or more undercurrents should always
be used, no matter how long may be the string of sluice boxes. Quick-
silver is usually left out of the first few head boxes, but in the lowei'
boxes should be used carefully, too much being nearly as harmful as
Photo Xo. 10. Hydraulic :Mining- near Forks of Salmon, Siskiyou County, Cal.
too little, (.'arc, of course, nuist always be used in i)laning and caulking
sluice bottoms to avoid loss. Flooding of sluices by the pipes, with its
constant fluctuation, should never be allowed. To avoid this, where
possible, some lead water should be employed independent of the giant
water. The grade of sluices depends upon local conditions, vaiying
generally from 3 to 9 inches per 12-foot box; 6 and 7 inches per box
are good grades with which to operate.
It has already ])een mentioned that in deposits w-ithout sufifieient
dump for ordinary hydraulicking, elevators may be used. There are
many deposits in California and elsewhere that have been successfully
worked by this means, thanks to the presence of abundant cheap water.
The usual means of operation is to blast out a pit or sump about 4
feet deep and 10 or 15 feet .square in the bedrock. The receiving end
of the elevator is set in the lowest portion of the pit. The sump should
be centrally placed, as a great deal of time is rerpiired to move the
elevator, with consoqiiciit loss of water season. Except where tlie gravel
is very fine, a derriek and stone-boat are used in connection. A
grizzly
is placed in front of the intake, wliose bars are spaced at least one inch
closer together than the width of the elevator throat. At frequent
intervals the grizzly must be cleared by hand labor, assisted by the
stone-boat. As a result, during these intervals there is a loss or waste
of power which varies with the amount of boulders in the ground.
The et^ciency of these machines is low for the amount of water con-
sumed. In the writer's experience of the principal types now on the
market, the Evans, Campbell, and the Hendy elevators are probably the
most efficient. The Evans elevator has a distinct advantage, due to the
air suctions used on either side, which prevents the formation of a
Photo No. If Ruble Elevator at Cilta, California.
vacuum in the discharge column. It is certainly true tliat this inachine

will give a greater lift for a smallerhead than any other type that the
writer has used. It has, however, some disadvantages on account of its
lightness of construction.
One of the most successful elevators in northern California was con-
structed on the mine at the property of the North Pork Salmon River
Mining Company in California. It consisted of a steel-lined box about
18 inches square inclined at an angle of about 50 degrees, with a 5-inch
jet at the bottom and a half -inch steel striking-plate at the top, imme-
diately over the sluice. The material was elevated about 30 feet. The
operating head was about 250 feet. The water supply was exceptionally
good and about 700 inches was required for the elevator. Boulders up
to n or ,12-inch diameter were handled, and there was no attempt at
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNLV. 45
constructing a throat, evorytliing beinj; lifted directly on the jet. The

capacity was approximately 1000 yards per day.
As before stated, the Ruble elevator is simple and is usually con-
structed on the ground where it is to be operated. It consists of an
inclined chute at an angle of about 17 degrees aiul about 100 feet in
length, including a 10-foot apron, which is used to make connection witli
bedrock. This apron is set with its walls fitting closely inside the walls
of the main elevator chute, which is about 90 feet long. When moving,
the apron is moved separately.
The chute itself, as well as the apron, is lined with quarter-inch steel
sides and three-eightlis-inch plates on the bottom. It is about 8 feet in
widtli, and the walls taper from ]2 feet in height at the bottom to about
1 feet at the top. For the first 20 feet of the incline the bottom is solid.
Photo No. 13. 'Boiling out' with Ruble Elevator.
The remaining 70 feet consists of grizzly-bars spaced about 2i inches

apart, running transversely these bars are made of 2 l)y 6-inch timbers
;
covered with straps of half-inch steel. Underneath the grizzly is a

false bottom which slopes down from the upper end of the elevator to
the sluice-box. which in turn runs out at right angles from under the
main chute, directl.y under the lower end of the grizzly. Both the false
bottom and the box are lined with light steel, and 6-foot extensions are
built from the latter on separate bents, set at the desired grade, until
about 60 feet of sluice is obtained. The riffles used are Hungarian,
2 by 4-inch timbers covered with strap steel, set at intervals lengthwise,
but mainly crosswise, of the sluice. If desired, the sluice can be covered
and put under lock and key.
The supporting structure of the main elevator is Imilt on tiiree long
stringers al)Out 12 bv 14 inches in size. Bents 4 by 6 inches are bnilt
crosswise iipou them to support the cliute. Ivoii rods may be used for
bracing. The whole grizzly is mounted upon skids set crossways of the
stringers and supported by blocks resting upon bedrock. When moving,
a roadway for these skids has to be built ahead of it. Moving is done
with a light winch and a cable, one mule furnishing ample power.
The method of operation is as follows: The elevator giant is set
squarely in front and in line with the middle of the grizzly, about 80
feet back from the bottom. Wings are built out on either side of the
elevator, one wing reaching clear to the bank. The wings are about
10 feet high, and faced with the poorest timber scrap on the place as a
protection. The supporting frames can be made so as to be portable
and quickly set up by bolts. They must be well braced from behind, as
gravel is constantly being slammed against them by the giant.
The field or cutting giant starts operations behind the elevator giant
and works along the face from bedrock, taking a layer from 10 to 20
feet thick, driving it up along the bank to the wing of the elevator,
and piling it. From this point onward it is taken in charge by the
elevator piper. As both giants are often in operation at the same time,
a rough shed is built over the elevator giant to protect the piper.
The piper must use great care in order to avoid loss of fine gold. :Iie
picks up a few cubic yards of material and drives it up the solid
portion of the incline. Then he carefully 'boils-out' the fines over the
lower portion of the grizzly. The fines go through into the box, and
not until the boulders and heavier stones are clean and bare are they
pushed over the end of the machine. A few are always left on the
grizzly to act as a baffle for flying fines and gold, as the latter has a
tendency to flick over the end on the giant spray. After the fine
material has thus been separated and put througlr- the;^grjzzl^ .aiji^-the
boulders driven over the end, the action is repeated.
About every hour or so the giant must be swung to one side, and the
fine tailing that is collected and heaped at the discharge end of the
sluice piped away. A dump giant is kept at one side to pile up at odd
moments when the water may not be in use in either of the other two.
When the field giant has been advanced along the face until it has
cut its entire swath, it is drawn back again and another lajêr of 10
or 20 feet removed. From one setting of the machine a tremendous
amount of material can be reached, especially if the pressure is good.
When the boulder dump is filled to the top of the machine, sills
are laid on it with a platform of boards as an extension of the elevator.
This operation is repeated every two or three days until the dump is
piled much higher than the machine. Then the dump giant is run
forward, the whole pile piped down in a few hours, and a new start is
made.
When the driving limit of the field giant has been reached, the
machine must be moved. The time required to do this (5 or 6 days) is
one of its chief drawbacks. This can only be obviated by using two or
three machines and changing the water from one to another. In this
way, two machines can always be kept in operation while one is being
moved. With a 50-foot bank, and the field. giant working under 400
feet of pressure, the elevator should be good for at least four weeks work
in one place.
As previously stated, the machine is moved l)y winch and cable.

Great care must therefore be taken to have the skids level and firm, so
as not to rack it.
The writer has operated a machine of this type on ground carrying
about 10 cents per cubic yard, with about 8 feet of dump into a small
river. From 600 to 1200 inches of water under about 450 feet head was
available for about four months of the year. During this time 100,000
yards of gravel was handled, and the total operating expenses, including
ditch maintenance and all preparatory work, was $6,000, or 6 cents a
yard. As the gravel was heavy, containing nests of boulders from 1 to
5 tons in weight near bedrock, and the bank was only 20 to 25 feet in
I height, this may be considered a fairly Ioav working cost. The powder
'
bill for the season, with ix)wder at 25 cents a pound, was about $200,
Photo No. 14. Showing the Rlzp of Bouldor.s put thrmig-h tho Ruble Elevator.
because all rocks that would not conveniently go over the grizzly had to
be blasted to about half-ton size, or a trifle less. Boulders weighing more
than a ton could be put over the machine; although of course very
slowly, so that it was not good practice to do it.
Although the mine was distant !)0 miles from the railway and all
steelhad to be imi)orted, the total cost of the machine erected upon tlie
ground was about $3,500. The capacity Avas from 1000 to 20(X) yards
per day of 24 hours. This capacity could be increased at Iccost 50 and
perhaps 100 per cent by the use of an automatic gate at the upper end
of the machine, which would keep all fine gold from flying over, and
obviate the necessity of losing time in careful boiling-out of the fines.
This would also prevent any loss due to careless piping, as the material
could be jammed through the machine almost as fast a.s the pipe could
carry it without danger of gold flying over.
4 2S603
The subject of hydraulic mining, if covered in detail, would occupj^

a volume in itself. In the foregoing paragraplis, the writer has endeav-
ored to restrain himself to an outline of the fundamental principles that
govern the selection and operation of a hydraulic mine. For more
complete detail, expressed in a better manner by a man who is a master
of his subject, the reader is referred to Mr. A. J. Bowie's treatise on
hydraulic mining.
One subject, however, should perhaps be mentioned in addition.
The above methods of mining secure their greatest efficiency in gravel
that is moderately loose and free. In a great many of the larger deposits
of gravel now remaining in California, the material is so tightly bound
together that it becomes necessary to blast the banks before Iwdraul-
icking.
The usual procedure in this case is to run a tunnel directly into the
bank, either on bedrock or near the bottom of the ground which is being
benched off to a distance which will approximately equal the height of
the bench. From the end of this tunnel cross cuts are run at right
angles in directions so that the whole working resembles a 'T' in form.
This tunnel is carefully packed with explosives according to the mass of
the ground which is to be broken, and the hole is then carefully sealed
and tamped, connection being first made for electric detonation. After
the bank has been shattered and broken by this discharge, it is eroded
and broken down by the hydraulic giant in the usual manner. The cost
of this blasting will, of course, vary with the physical conditions which
obtain in the bank. As a rule, it will vary between 2 to 5 cents a yard.
DRIFT MINING.
Gravel that is covered by flows of igneous rock or by a heavy deposit
of overburden, and the metal in which is concentrated within a rela-
tivelynarrow strata, is usually mined by drifting.
The relative importance of the factors that govern the choice of this
form of mining is often dependent on the conditions under which
operation must be undertaken. For instance, in the early days of
California mining, many deposits were drifted for their richer streaks
by miners with or no capital. Later, some of these deposits were
little
hydraulieked with great success. In the same way a large proportion
of the Oroville ground was drifted before the advent of the dredge.
The proper conditions for the operation of a drift mine may be
stated as follows Values heavily concentrated in the gravel, without
:
too large boulders, too much water or running sandy ground bedrock
;
that should not be swelling, and yet M^hich is soft enough to have caught
and retained a fair proportion of the bedrock pay or heavy gold. An
ideal drifting ground is one in which gravel is about five feet thick on
a slate bedrock and is capped by a smooth homogeneous body of lava or
volcanic mud. The gravel should be fairly loose, without cement.
In a drift mine skilled miners and timl)ermen are a necessary
adjunct. It is often necessary in opening up such a mine to run long
cross-cut tunnels or to sink fairly deep shafts. These add greatly to the
cost of opening a mine. A heavy fiow of water, which necessitates
much pumping, is also a source of expense. For this reason, ground
should be opened up by tunnels which are deep enough to drain the
channel if possible. Running and sandy ground requires closer timber-
GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFORNIA, 49
ing and extreme viiiilauee. Nests of laree bmiklers brin? np tlie cost
of the mining, as tliey mnst be blasted.
Where the deposit is buried under a heavy lava flow, drift mining
is imperative. AVhere the rich streak is buried under a deep overburden
of barren material this method is often advisable. In the case of
frozen ground, as in Alaska, drift mining has been almost universally
employed in the smaller holdings. During the winter the gravel is
taken out and piled on the dump to be sluiced later with the spring
thaw. Steam batteries with points are employed, and the necessity of
timbering is obviated by the frozen nature of the ground.
In the following, an abstract has been made of a report on 'Drift
Mining in California', by Russell L. Dunn, published in the Eighth
Annual Report of the State IMineralogist of California. In part quota-
tions have been made directly.
Drift mining is peculiarly a California development, originating
from the conditions of location of these deposits. The earlier channels
now cut by the modern streams are usually accessible to bedrock tun-
nels. The ancient river system, Avho.se l)uried channels are auriferous,
extended from Avhat is now Butte and Plumas counties on the north
to Tuolumne on the south, and from the eastern edge of the Sacramento
Valley almost to the summit of the sierras. The topography of the
country during their period of formation can not now be restored with
more than probable certainty. Apparently the ancient river system was
similar to the present one in relative location and direction of flow of
the main streams.
The ancient streams, judging by the masses of gravel in their channels
probably carried larger volumes of water than the present streams, and
the mean gradient of their beds was considerably more than that of
the existing streams at corresponding points, it being almost certain
that the elevation of the Sierra to its present condition and altitude
Avas before the cretaceous period. The general surface of the country
Avas not as rugged as noAv, being hilly rather than mountainous. The
gold in the channels is a product of the primary disintegration of the
auriferous slates, talcose rocks, and quartz veins. The erosive agencies
of water and cold Avere probably more poAverful then than noAV.
Le Conte says that a period of glacial erosion Avas prior to the forma-
tion of the channels, and Avas the greater disintegrating force.
The changes in the location of the channels have been made by erup-
ti\'e agencies and their filling up Avitli accumulations of gravel, sand,
and clay. This covering up and obliteration of the surface Avas not the
result of one season of eruptive activity, but several, separated by
enormous intervals of time. The first fioAvs probably did not com-
pletely divert the .streams, except at a fcAv point's, but merely raised
their beds and changed the character of the channel deposits. The
period of inactivity Avas in time followed by another period of eruption,
and in its turn by a period of quiescence. This sequence repeated
several times, but Avith a diminishing poAver, and finally ended in the
complete cessation of the eruptive energy. These latter floAvs consisted
largely of volcanic ash and volcanic mud. The channels and surface
depressions generally, and some of the lower hill elcA-ations, became more
and more obliterated until at the end of the last period of eruption a
completely new topography Avas forming, the beginning of the present.

Tlu" lessening area to the south eoverec] ])y the successive flows,
fu'couuts for tlie greater erosion of the eru])tiv(' (k'posits in tlie southern
portion, and for the greater depth aiul ]>ioi-e numerous strata f)t* the
nortlu'rn portion. It is probable that many of the existing river
channels are from original ones cut deeper into the country rock, the
volcanic flows not obliterating them at all. This is particularly the case
in the lower courses of the larger streams.

"The old river channels now are as the result of the eruptive flows first filling,

then denudation by glacial and stream erosion depressions in the surface of the
country rock filled with river sands, gravels, and clays, and capped with lava, volcanic
ashes, and tufa, with possibly wash gravels lying between the volcanic flows the
remains of stream erosion in the interval between the flows. The depth of the

g'ravels on the bedrock will vary between limits of nothing to 300 feet; the depth
of the volcanic flows and other gravel deposits from nothing to 1500 feet; though at
no two points would exactly the same deposits, either in quality or relation, be
found. The following data from the shaft of the CJray Eagle Drift Mine, Sec. 6,
T. 13 N., R. 10 B., M. D. M., near Forest Hill, Placer County, is typical, and well
illustrates the phenomena of several of the eruptive periods and the stream flows of
the intervals between. Beginning at the surface, in sinking, the shaft passed
through
Red soiland loam 10 feet
Soft gray volcanic ash 31 feet
Hard gray lava, containing angular fragments of slate 80 feet
River wash, sand and gravel in alternate strata, principally sand 34 feet
River wash, gravel and sand in alternate strata, principally gravel 30 feet
Yellow water sediment, pipe clay 25 feet
Loam, fine black sediment, containing leaves, logs, etc 10 feet
Large boulders, water worn 10 feet
Hard, chocolate-colored lava ^ 60 feet
River wash, gravel and sand 10 feet
Hard, chocolate-colored lava, containing logs, some petrified 20 feet
River wash gravel 7 feet
Hard, chocolate-colored lava 25 feet
"At this point the country rock is struck sloping down, showing that the bottom of
the channel has not been reached. On and in this rock, gold was found.
"In this particular case there are four distinct lava flows determinable and four
river flows in substantially the same channel. Not till the channel became full by
the last volcanic flow did the old stream take an entirely different location. Com-
paratively few shafts have been sunk through these lava flows, the mining of the
auriferous gravels underneath being most practicable through tunnels, and in the
sinking of the shafts but little attention has been paid to keeping a record of the
character of the ground passed through. However, in the workings of some of the
drift mines through tunnels, several of these lava flows have been located far
underground, not superimposed one on the other, but filling channels that have been
cut through and crossed older channels filled with older lava flows. In the Bald
Mountain Mine, at Forest City, Sierra County, the channel being mined was crossed
and cut through by another channel about 500 feet wide. This latter was filled at
the bottom with a kind of volcanic mvid and contained no gold. In the Mountain
Ciate Mine, at Damascus, Placer County, a wide white quartz channel was found to
be cut through and crossed by another channel over 500 feet wide and 60 feet lower
at the crossing. This last channel, unlike that in the Bald Mountain Mine, contained
auriferous blue gravel (almost exclusively slate) from 6 to 15 feet in depth, directly
overlaid with a hard, compact lava. In the Paragon Mine, at Bath, Placer County,
there are three distinct determinable channels. First, the lowest and original, a blue
gravel channel lying directly on the country rock. Second, an upper channel 150
feet above the first in an elevation and having the same general line of flow. Between
the two are alternate layers of wash gravel, sand, and pipe clay. Third, a channel
crossing and cutting through the second, but not down to the first. This last is filled
with a lava flow.
"Some of these old river channels are filled to depths of several hundred feet with
gravel, sand, and pipe clay, all river deposits, which extend to great widths and
far beyond the limits of the lowest channel depression. These immense accumida-
tions of gravel and other detrital matter, in a less degree than the eruptive flows,
have still been the causes of changes in the location of the channels. An example
of this kind of change, which is more than usually marked, exists in the channels
in the vicinity of Forest Hill, Placer County. Four miles above Forest Hill there
is only one channel traceable by surface indications ;a mile nearer Forest Hill it
seems to have had two distinct beds and locations. One of these runs south through
the Paragon Mine, in which it has been followed for almost SOOO feet, thence cut off
and eroded away for over a mile by Volcano Canon, it reappears as the extremely
rich front channel of Forest Hill, having there a southwesterly course. The other,
first having a southwesterly course till it is a mile west of the Paragon
channel,
running through the Mayflower Mine, in which it has been followed
then turns south,
for about 2500 feet, and keeping the same general direction it finally joins the
other about a mile and a half southwest of Forest Hill. It seems almost impossible
that both of these should have been made at the same time, but they are
undoubt-
reuniting have
edly the work of the same stream, though the points of parting and
as vet not been found. Their common origin shows itself in the similar
character of
and the similar character and yield of gold also the widths
the gravel wash in both, ;
GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFORNIA. 51
of the beds of the channels are praeticully the same, and the elevations of corres-
ponding points in these beds in agreement. The extreme rise of the surface of the
country rock between the two channel beds, so far as known, except at a few points
of no extent, does not appear to have exceeded 150 feet.
"The theory (an opinion) of these two channels is, that the first cut out by the
stream became, in the end, filled with gravels and other water deposits until the
water flow was forced over the low elevation between into the channel of a tribu-
tary, which it cut out and made into the main channel till it in turn became filled
with gravels and detrital matter up to the level of the other. From this time on,
the location of the channel was probably not i)ermanently fixed, as wash gravel of
similar character is deposited all over the country rock between the two channels,
and all contains some gold. What has already been noted as the second, or upper
channel, in the Paragon Mine was, from its unusiil richness in gold for gravel so far
above the surface of the country rock, the probable location of the flow for a long
period of time. I!oth channels, the country rock and overlying gravels between, are
covered with 200 feet depth of lava, on which is another deposit of wash gravel from
20 to 50 feet in depth, containing some gold, and over this a second lava and
volcanic ash flow capped with the surface soil, from 100 to 300 feet in depth."
The filling iii and covering of the old channel depasits was not uniform
nor was the sub.sequent denudation. The portions of the channels, in
which were the largest accumulation, seem to have been liehtly covered
and subsequently eroded so that the remains of these larger deposits,
where they have not l)een obliterated, are now in the form of gravel hills,
being the summits of the ridges l)etween the present river canons.
The early miners worked the more .shallow of these 'hill diggings',
and disicovered that the richest gold-bearing gravels lay immediately on
the country rock and followed it into the mountainside. This branch of
the gold mining industry soon became known as drift mining.
Before discii.ssing the details of methods and apiilianccs. the condi-
tions of drift mining are expressed as follows: The auriferous ]>laccr
deposit is river-washed gravel, most often lying in a narrow depression
<)f the surface of the country rock, overlaid with either comparatively
barren gravel and the detritus of fresh water erosion from a few feet
to several hundred in depth or with lava and volcanic flows to as much
an a thousand feet in depth, or with both, in varyiuu' relative propor-
tions and alternation, depending on the surface denudation during the
period of intermittent eruptive activity and since its clo.se. Reliable
surface indications of these ancient channel depressions are practically
limited to the places where they are uncovered by erosion or cut oft'
or into by the present precipitous stream caiions. The present main
river caiions have cut down hundreds of feet lower than these old
channels in all but a few localities.
Experience has shown that of all the old channels, those that are the
olde.st and that are invariably on the bedrock must surely contain gold
in sufficient amount to justify i)rospecting and working. Top wash
channels, or sometimes a stratum of gravel in the channel many feet
above the bedrock, are found to contain sufficient gold to make drifting
profitable, but such instancas are not common. Not all of the oldest
channels contain pay leads, although they almo.st invariably contain some
gold. The pay lead in these cliannels is often an uncertain quantity.
It takes its own course ])etween the rims, and sometimes on them. The
pay lead is usually close to bedrock, and if the latter is soft or creviced,
it is in it. Sometimes the pay lead is tlie full width of the chanuel.
More often it is only a conqjaratively narrow line, meandering through
it, first abutting on one rim, then on the other. It is not always con-
tinuous, being broken by barren places. Great variations in gold yield
will occur in the same lead, due partly to the currents of the ohi stream
and partl>- to the fact that the heavy gold has not been moved very far
from the location of its original matrix. Occasionally, large bodies of

pay are fonnd on the rims at a considerable distance from the bottom
of the channel. These were probably the deposits on the old channel
beds which have been left above as the cut became deeper. The nature
of the bedrock bears some relation to the gold distribution. A soft
slate is favorable, the gold being found in it to the depth of a foot or
more. A rock full of seams and crevices and with a slightly irregular
surface is better than a hard, smooth, water-worn surface.
In prospecting for a channel, if an inlet, or an outlet, or a break can
be found, the location of the channel is not difficult. The principal
difficulty to be contended with is the determining of the rise of the rim
above the channel bed. A cross rim at an outlet or an inlet often shows
by the richness of the gravel on it that it was originally part of the bed
*
of the channel.
Whether the point of opening is at an outlet or inlet necessarily has
considerable to do with both the prospecting and final opening of the
mine. An outlet is naturally the most favorable point from which to
open a drift mine. Prospecting from an outlet requires much less
work to obtain the necessary information on which to open the mine
than where the prospecting is from an inlet. The proper method of
prospecting is to run a tunnel through the rim as near as can be deter-
mined in the direction of the channel and far enough down in the rim
so that when it breaks through the bedrock it will be in the l)ed of the
channel. "When prospecting at an inlet, the tunnel should lie some dis-
tance under the bed. There is always a pos.sil)ility that the prospect
tunnel may be lower than the channel or it may miss in direction and
run off to one side in the rim of the channel. To guard against possible
mistakes, it is advisable to make an upraise from the tunnel as soon
as it is believed to be through the rim.
The development being at an outlet, the channel will be prospected
and worked into on the ascending grade, assuring the most economical
and perfect drainage At an inlet the prospect tunnel must be run rela-
tively lower, and therefore longer, in order to gain on the descending
grade of the channel The channel once found, it must be followed
further and its grade determined with all possible accuracy before open-
ing the mine for work. In the case of a breakout, probably the surest
method of prospecting is to either run a slope on the pitch of the rim
or to sink a vertical shaft on the presumed line of the channel. When
the bed of the channel is located, it is prospected by cross and lateral
drifts to ascertain the width, direction, and grade; and the location,
extent, and character of the pay lead.
The principal difficulty to be contended with in prospecting is the
drainage of the underground water. If the tunnel be too high, and
it is necessary to sink shafts or inclines from it to the channel, a flow
of water, which may greatly increase the cost of handling material and
which may even render it impossible to get to the bottom of the
channel, is apt to be encountered. It is then necessary to run a lower
tunnel to secure drainage.
All channels have not outlets, inlets, or breakouts that can be found
and identified as such. In the case of a channel in which there is only
a thin body of gravel covered by many hundred feet of lava, the dis-
covery of exposed gravel is a very difficult matter. Often it may be
necessary to spend much money in prospecting to determine the loca-

tion of such a channel.
It is only since the origin and character of the gold-bearing deposits
have been understood that engineering science to locate and develop
them has been available. At first its application was quite simple in
character, consisting of obtaining the grade and direction of a channel
By this means a point of probable location
deposit already developed.
was prospected by means of a tunnel or shaft. The
in its projection
Hidden Treasure Mine in Placer County was determined in this
manner.
Ordinarily, the location of a channel, in the absence of surface indi-
cations, is a complex problem involving a survey and engineering
examination of a large territory. The initial step is an accurate topo-
graphical survey of the countr3^ This consists, fir.st, of transit lines
following the line of contact between the rim rock and the lava or
gravel, as the case may be. If this can be made continuous all around
the presumed channel so much the better. If, as is usually the case,
this would include a greater area of country than is necessary, the
transit lines follow the rim lines on both sides of the ridge and are
connected by cross transit lines; also connected Avith these are transit
surveys of the underground works in adjacent property. All of these
lines are leveled and a plat is made.
The problem of the location of the channel then resolves itself to the
determination of tlie lowest point of depression between the two rims.
If the distance apart of the rim lines is not too great, the prospecting
problem is simplified. If it is, the problem is complicated on account of
the possibility of there being two or three channels with bedrock ridges
between.
"In projecting- trial locations for prospecting- work, the work ni adjacent mines i.s
of great assistance because some fair degree of accuracy can be used in determining
the rate of pitch of the rims, the grade of the channel, its relative elevation and
approximate direction. With these data trial cross-sections from rim to rim at
several points can be projected on the plat. If the adjacent workings do not give
data that can be utilized for this purpose, it becomes necessary to assume a mean
rate of pitch for the rims and a grade for the channels. With these, trial cross-
sections are constructed as before, possibly several trial values being tested, till
the cross-sections locate the several possible points of channel depression with a
fair degree of possible relation between themselves. Formulating the method of
determining the channel point in a cross-section line, the rate of pitch of both rims
being assumed the same, it is as follows First, the horizontal distance from the
:
surface point of either rim to the channel point is one-half of the horizontal distance
from the first point to the point of intersection of the horizontal distance line lying
in the plane of the cross-section, with the bedrock slope line, projected if necessary,
of the other rim in the same plane. Second, difference of elevation between either
rim point and the channel point is the horizontal distance first obtained for the
same rim point multiplied by the tangent of the angle of pitch of rim. From the
plat the distance between the two rim points can be scaled on the cross-section line,
also the difference of elevation between the same two points can be taken from the
contours, interpolations being made if needed, as it is not necessary to place them
clo-ser than twenty feet apart.
"E.Kcept in probably wide channels (two hundred feet and upwards) no attention
need be paid to the width of the channel bed in determining the elevation of channel
points from the trial cross-sections. In practice the graphical method of obtaining
these points is sufficiently accurate, and has the advantage of rapidity. With the
trial channel points platted, a profile of the presumed bed of the channel can be
made, using the absolute elevations obtained from the rim points, and its probability
determined. Possibly, several sets of projections and profiles have to be made before
the one of the greatest probability is determined on. From the platted line of the
presumed location of the channel and the surface contours, the most available line
for a tunnel, or the best point from which to sink a shaft, can be readily located;
also the approximate length of the one or the depth of the other can be determined.
The subsequent location of the tunnel line or shaft point on the ground is a simple
matter. Except under exceptional conditions, the tunnel line is always selected, the
point of entrance on the surface being so placed that when the tunnel has been run
with a light ascending grade to the pi-esumed channel line, it will be from twenty to
forty feet below the bed of the channel. In order to avoid being too high with the
tunnel, it is advisable to run it so as to come at least twenty feet lower than the
:
trial location of the bed of the channel. Thi.s additional depth is utilizable for
working down stream. To give a greater asurance of certainty as to the correctness
of the location of the channel, where the construction of long and co.stly tunnels is
necessary, it is recommended that bore holes be drilled to the bedrock on the pre-
sumed line of tlie channel, and on a cross-section line close to where the tunnel line is
located. Their depth being known, the shape and elevation of the bedrock can be
compared with the apiiroximations and estimates of the surveys and plat, and
inaccuracies in the location of the channel corrected. After the mine is opened, the
bore holes can be used for ventilation. Independent of any elaborate topographical
surveying (as the writer is advised), a number of such holes were drilled on a
mining claim near Gibsonville, in Sierra County, and the location of the channel
line determined. Subsequent development by a tunnel verified the correctness of
the location.
"The writer has employed this method of engineering detennination successfully
In a number of instances. It was also applied by Ross E. Brown, E. M., to locate
the up-stream portion of the cross blue-lead channel first discovered in the Mountain
Gate Mine at Damascus, and already referred to in this article. The discovery point
was a mile and a quarter underground, and so situated that, thougli its course,
elevation, and grade were determined, the pitch of the rims could not be. A mile to
the northeast the north line of contact between the bedrock and cement was picked
up. tiâced, and surveyed for eight miles up the ridge known as the Porks House
Divide. The corresponding south line of contact was traced and surveyed the same
distance, the two lines being about 8000 feet apart. On the south line traces of
small channels and one important one in the Dam claim (probably an inlet to this
channel) opened by a tunnel for several thousand feet, all being evidently inlets of
tributaries to the Mountain Gate channel, were found. No main inlet of the main
channel on either side of the divide was discovered, but the survey connections made
from the underground discovery point in the Mountain Gate Mine with the under-
ground works of the Golden Fleece Mine, five miles to the northeast, indicated that
the channel in the latter was the continuation of that in the former. The problem
was to locate the line of channel in the intervening country between these two
points. These underground works being platted, the approximate distance bv the
presumed channel line between the two points was obtained, and this, with the differ-
ence of elevation, gave a mean trial grade from which the approximate elevation
of the intermediate points could be determined. Tlie location of these points between
the rims was determined by assuming a trial degree of pitch for the bedrock of
both rims, and locating them accordingly. A check on the value given to the pitch of
the rims was had in the comparison of the figures of elevation of the bed of the
channel in the same cross-section obtained, respectively, from the mean trial grade
of the bed, and from the assumed mean pitch of the rims. The closer these two
figures of elevation were to each other, the safer was the projection. In addition
to the preceding, other data obtained by the survey coincided in locating the channel
line nearer to tlie north line of contact. Finally, a satisfactory projection having
been made, the shortest line of a tunnel was located from the north face of the
ridge, the entrance being in a sharp, precipitous ravine.
"The running of the tunnel showed that the true location of the channel line had
been very closely approximated to at that point by the trial projection. Tlie first
upraise made at the 2400-foot station broke tlirough the bedrock directly against the
cement, about 40 feet up. The tunnel was then continued to the 3450-foot station,
and another upraise made. This last disclosed so great a rise in the bedrock from
the first upraise that a third upraise was made at the 2000-foot station, which at
15 feet lip broke through the bedrock into gravel containing gold in paying quantities.
This point was on the north edge of the channel. Further development located the
center about the 2100-foot station. The success of this work led to the application
of the same method of engineering investigation to a study of what is locally known
in Placer County as the Forest Hill Divide.
"Though the surveys and necessary investigation are by no means complete yet,
sufficient has already been established to prove that the channel just described as
being found in the Mountain Gate and Red Point mines is continuous through almost
the entire length of the Forest Hill Divide, from Hogs Back, ten miles northeast of
Damascus, to Peckham Hill, three miles southeast of Todds Valley, a total distance
by the Hne of the channel of about thirty miles. On this channel, in addition to
the already noted mines, are undoubtedly the Turkey Hill Mine (now closed), the
Paragon at Bath, the Dardanelles below Forest Hill, the celebrated Mayflower, two
miles north of that town, and the Gray Eagle at Spring Garden, two rriiles west of
Todds Valley. These at this time are the mines producing in addition are many
;
other claims in a more or less undeveloped condition, and some practically worked
out after yielding enormous amounts of gold. Among the undeveloped or partially
developed mines are the Hogs Back Consolidated, Indian Springs, Golden Fleece,
Adams & Sellier, Georgia Consolidated, Baker Divide, Excelsior, Mountain, Spring
Garden, and Big Channel. Among those that have yielded largely, but that are not
worked to any extent, are the Gove, Maine, Independent, Rough and Ready, Jenny
Lind, and Mountain, all lying under the town of Forest Hill. This main channel
seems to have had many tributaries, all rich in gold, and all, so far as determined,
coming in from the east. On them are located many mines that have yielded large
amounts of gold, notably those above Michigan Bluff and on the Deadwood Divide.
At the present time the Dam Mine, south of the Red Point, is the most important.
"The advantages of the engineering method of channel location over the uncertain
haphazard work of the early miners, are such as warant its application in every
locality where drift mining is carried on, and further, to the examination of ail
unprospected ground in which it is possible for an auriferous gravel deposit to
exist. By its use it is possible to determine in advance of doing any underground
work on the claim
1. The approximate location of the line of the bed of the channel.
2. The approximate elevation of the bed at any desired point.
:
3. The location of inlets, outlets, or breakouts, and a reasonable certainty of

distinguishing between them.
4. If inlet, outlet, or breakout, the probable length of rim to bo run through and
the depth at which it must be penetrated.
5. If no inlet, outlet, or breakout, then the nearest point of the channel line to the
surface for tunnel or shaft, as may be most desirable.
6. The determination of the size of the channel and the probable extent of its pay
lead. This being of advantage in estimating the probability of yield sufficient to
warrant the necessary outlay of capital in development.
7. The tunnel or shaft can be so located as to have the shortest possible length
or depth with the greatest possible certainty of finding the channel, and of thereafter
being permanently utilizable for working the mine.
S. The preceding make it possible to estimate in advance the probable expenditure
that will be necessary to open up the mine, and to avoid any unnece.ssarv expendi-
ture, thus a.ssuring the greatest possible economy of opening and of working.
"The entire drift mining district is covered with the evidences of failures to reach
the buried gold-bearing gravels. Hundreds of tunnels, slopes, and shafts abandoned
after the expenditure of thousands of dollars, are silent witnesses to the inefficiency
of the practice of the early miners in their search for the auriferous gravel deposits
In one example coming under the observation of the writer, a tunnel was run 800
feet into the bedrock of a mountain, the tunnel entrance being immediately over a
small channel, when an engineer's examination would have shown, first, that the
location of the channel was at the starting point ; second, that in the line of the
tunnel there was no channel for two miles and third, that the cement relied on as
;
a channel indication was only a shell ten feet or so in thickness lying on the sloping
bedrock, the great mass of it having been eroded by the present river cafion. On
the same channel, containing gold only in sufficient quantity to justify development
on a small scale commensurate with its probable yield, through imperfect knowledge
of it, was expended in the aggregate $150,000. After the expenditure of the larger
portion of this amount, an engineering examination disclosed, what it could equally
well have done before, that the expenditure of only a fraction of that amount was
warranted by the probability of return and with reference to the work done, that
:
certainly $60,000 of expenditure could have been saved. The gold yield would very
nearly, if not entirely, have balanced the other $90,000 expended.
"The cost of an engineering examination by the methods described varies,
dependent on the circumstances of the particular mining claim it is desired to
develop, from $500 to $5,000, sometimes exceeding the latter figure. Under ordinary
conditions $1,000 is a safe estimate for the services of a competent engineer and the
necessai-j- field assistance. So interdependent are all of the drift mines, that the
owners of adjacent mines, from the in.spiration of self-interest, should not
hesitate to render all assistance in their power to this kind of investigation. The
cost of running a tunnel will average, under all conditions, about $12 a foot, so tliat
the saving of 80 feet in the length of a tunnel will balance $1,000 of expenditure
for an engineering investigation. The sinking of a deep .shaft will average upward

of $30 a foot a saving of 33 feet in depth will balance the same $1,000.
from this, the certainty that the first tunnel wîll develop the ground, and be
Aside
sufficiently low to drain it, will counterbalance several thousand dollars expense of
preliminary investigation. In sinking a shaft, the knowledge of the probable depth
carries wMth it the possibility of adjusting from the start the hoisting and pumping
plant to the ultimate possible demands that may be made on it. In the development
of a mine, in the knowledge of the writer, a large sum was expended in the sink-
ing of prospect shafts, and a further much larger amount, unnecessarily, in a main
working shaft, by reason of adding piecemeal to the hoisting and pumping plant
from time to time, as the demands on it increased, all of w-hich, in the aggregate,
amounting to at least $10,000, might have been saved by the expenditure of $500
for a preliminary engineering investigation, for which the conditions were more than
ordinarily favorable."
Haviniu' discovered the location and extent of the mine by prospect-

ing, and the probable yield of pay lead having been estimated, the
its
question of costs is the next thing for discussion. Cost is made up of
the following items
1. Prospecting, which includes all the preliminary work.
2. The cost of opening the main working tunnel or shaft, its mainte-
nance and extension, and the cost of all working appliances and
buildings.
3. The cost of mining, which includes tiie cost of drifts and gang-
ways, breasting out the gravel, conveying it to the surface, timbering
the workings, ventilating and draining.
4. The cost of obtaining the gold from the gravel after it is l)roiight
to the surface.
The first two of these items may be called the construction account,
which is closed when the mine is ready to produce. The last two items
are the cost of mining or running expen.ses.
The construction account should aggregate as small an amount as

possible, consistent Avith the proper opening of the mine. For the
permanent working opening of the mine a tunnel, shaft, or slope is
necessary. The tunnel is the most advisable construction, where possi-
.
ble. It should be run so as to be under the bed of the channel at the

lowest point which it is designed to mine. Working up stream in a
channel with a uniform grade, this main tunnel can usually be run on
the surface of the bedrock. "Working down stream, the tunnel is run in
the bedrock underneath or in the rim to one side of the channel. In
cases where an adit tunnel is necessary to reach the line of the channel,
its direction should be at right angles to the presumed line until it
reaches it, whence its direction and grade are controlled by the channel
to a considerable extent. Grades may vary from one-fourth of an inch
to a rod to ten inches to a rod, the practice being determined by the
character of the track rail, the weight of the cars, and the power
employed to take them in and out of the mine.
Dimensions of the tunnel vary greatly. This depends altogether
upon the conditions which govern the mining operation. A main
working tunnel may have dimensions of eight to ten feet in width at
the bottom and seven to eight feet in clear height. The difference in
the cost of timbering between a large tunnel and a small one is very
little. The speed with which a tunnel can be run and its cost are
dependent upon the kind. of rock penetrated. Closer estimates can be
made on the cost of tunnels run liy machine drill than those run by
hand.
The final charge against a construction account is for the surface
'])lant to recover the gold. Should the gravel be soft and uncemented,
a dump with sluices and a water supply, under a small head, constitute
the plant. Should the gravel prove hard and cemented, it may be
worked in the stamp batteries of a quartz mill. The gravel dump is
usually piled near the tunnel entrance. It consists of a heavy planked
floor, having two slopes, one from the sides inward to a sluice box
running through the middle, the other with the grade of the sluice box.
This flooring should be sheathed so that it can be renewed when worn
out. From the edges of the flooring, walls are built up, the area of
the flooring and the height of the wâlls being regulated by the desired
capacity of the dump. For mines from which large amounts of gravel
are taken daily, a discharging arrangement for the cars at the dump
is of great advantage.
The sluice boxes beginning in the dump are continued beyond it a
convenient distance and discharge into the ravine, in which are placed
additional boxes, undercurrents, and tailing dams, all designed to
recover the fine gold that passes the initial string of boxes. The
special utility of the dams is in impounding the tailings until they are
slacked sufficiently to free the gold cemented to the matrix. The boxes
are 12 x 16, or 24 inches wide and of equal depth, and have a grade of
10 to 18 inches in twelve feet, depending upon the character of the
values and the amount of water used. The bottoms are fitted with
riffle bars that can be removed and reset rapidly.
The water supply is usually provided for by reservoiring the mine

drainage, as well as what surface drainage is available. From this
reservoir, an iron pipe goes to the lower end of the dump and is con-
trolled with a gate. The nozzle for sluicing the dump is connected with
this pipe by canvas hose for the i>urpose of flexibility.
The opening and working of a drift mine through a shaft is only
advisable under conditions which make a tunnel impracticable. It may
be that a shaft of no great depth, comparatively cheap and rapid of
construction, is possible where it would require a very costly tunnel to
reach the same gravel deposit.
"Where the mine must be opened by a shaft it Is advisable to make the construc-
tion thorough and permanent from the beginning. The shaft point being located by
the preliminary engineering investigation and prospecting, the sinking is done, as far
as practicable, with horse power hoisting gear, the influx of water being taken out
by the bucket as far down as it can be done without delaying the work of sinking.
This point will be from 40 to 140 feet in depth from the surface. The power plant
for hoisting and pumping is then set up, being proportioned, so far as hoisting Is
concerned, to lifting the gravel from the estimated depth the shaft will have when
completed, and for pumping the probable amount of water that may be encountered
when the mine is fully opened, a considerable margin of safety being advisable in
providing for this, so that there will be no straining of the machinery. An addi-
tional margin of power is provided for to secure ventilation. Of course, wherever
obtainable, water power is used, being far more economical. Most of the existing
plants are. however, steam, the shafts being on the summits of the ridges, where
it is not possible to get the necessary pressure for use of water.
"While sinking the shaft and prospecting, a bucket can be used to best advantage,
in removing excavated material afterwards in mining a cage on which a car can
;
be lifted is preferable, as it saves one and possibly two handlings of the gravel.
The preferable style of pump is the Cornish, both in sinking, as most rapidly adjust-
able to the conditions of changing depth, and afterwards as being able to control
an increased flow by increase of speed alone, and as having less liability to break-
ages. The influx of water comes from the several gravel or diluvial strata passed
through in sinking. This can be cut off from the bottom of the shaft by sumps, and
pump stations placed where the flow is cut by the shaft. The shaft should be built
in two compartments, one for the hoist and the other for the pump and man-way.
It is timbered with framed square timbers, lagged on the outside and boarded on
the inside in the hoisting compartment. The size in the clear is four and one-half by
nine feet or five by ten feet. The size of the framed timbers is eight, ten, twelve,
or fourteen inches square, and the sets are placed four, five, or six feet between
centers, as controlled by the character of the ground passed through. The lagging
is two inches thick. In lava there is no strain on the shaft, but some of the gravel
and sand strata cut through are more or less liable to loosen and some of the
slightly indurated clays are apt to swell. The cost of sinking a shaft can be safely
estimated for the first fifty feet. $10 a foot; for the second fifty feet, $20 to $30 a
foot for the next one hundred feet, including the power, hoisting, and pumping
;
plant, $50 to $60 a foot, and thence up to four hundred feet depth, from $60 to
$75 a foot.
"Though a favorite method of opening a mine by the first drift miners, a slope is
the least advisable now, and would only be employed under special conditions of
economy, as. for example, in working from a flat, too extensive to be tunneled under,
to a channel underneath a precipitous mountain slope, which would involve too deep
a vertical shaft or in mining from an inlet where neither tunnel nor shaft is
;
practicable. Usually the conditions that indicate a slope as the most direct method
of opening the mine can be better satisfied by a shaft and thence a tunnel from its
bottom. In practice, if an extensive body of pay gravel is developed by a shaft or
slope, a tunnel is subsequentlv run to mine it. This was done in the Derbec Mine,
near North Bloomfleld, Nevada County, a shaft 367 feet deep and a steam power plant
being replaced by a 2000-foot tunnel. Also in the Mayflower Mine, at Forest Hill,
a tunnel nearly 6000 feet long has been run to replace the shaft through which
the discovery was made. At the present time no drift mine in the state is being
worked through a shaft. A few are prospecting through shafts, with the intention of
running tunnels if a sufficient amount of pay gravel is developed. The surface
arrangements for working the gravel after it comes from the mine are the same
in the case of either shaft or slope as already described for a tunnel.
"The preceding pages have considered the dead work of development specially
chargeable to construction account. W'ith its completion this account is closed, and
all subsequent work and expenditure is a charge in a new account the running-
:
expense of working the mine. The expediency of the expenditure of the capital
used in the construction account must be determined on in advance from the results
of the preliminary engineering investigation and prospecting. Once laid out. its
return, as before noted, is from the net yield of the mine over its running expenses.
These running expenses come under the .several heads, as follows :
1. Opening up the channel or pay lead by main tunnel, drifts, and gangway's.
Prospecting for pay lead when it is lost.
2. Breaking out the pay gravel.
3. Timbering.
4. Drainage.
5. Ventilation.
6. upraises, and dumps in the mine.
Track, switches,
7. Cars and motive power for moving the gravel out of the mine.
8. Working the gravel after being taken out of the mine.
"The main tunnel, when in the channel and pay lead, is constructed in larger dimen-
sions and more carefully tlian the drifts and gangways only intended for temporary
service. If timbered, the best timbers are used and the work of setting them up is
done so as not to require early removal. In hard, cemented gravel, requiring blast-
ing, the drilling is single or double-handed, power drills not being used. In wide
i-hannel.s, a.s a precautii^n against possilile caving, a pillar of solid ground is left
(jn each side of the tunnel, from twenty to forty feet wide, dependent on the
stability of the ground. Where the working tunnel is in the bedrock underneath,
following the line of the channel, the pillar need not be left, as the tunnel in the
grtivel becomes a main drift for only temporary use in mining the ground Ijetween
its connections with tlie bedrock tunnel. These connections are made every
200 to 4 00 feet, as determined by convenience of working. The main tunnel in the
gravel on the bedrock, and also the bedrock tunnel, are sometimes affected by the
swelling of the bedrock, usually upward in direction. Under such circumstances
very heavy timljering is advisaljle, and the floor of the tunnel must be cut down
from time to time in order to keep it from closing up. The necessary excavation
can be done without interrupting the working of the mine or the use of the tunnel,
as the swelling rock is always soft and can be worked out without using powder.
The main tunnel is kept as straight as possible and in the center or lowest depres-
sion of the channel. Drifts are run from it at right angles to the rims of the
channel or the limits of the pay lead. These are timbered and lagged in soft ground,
but in not as permanent a manner as the main tunnel. The distance apart of these
drifts is not governed by any special rule. Both the main tunnel and cross drifts
are used to prospect the ground and locate the pay gravel. This will control the
distance to some extent, but not absolutely. In the pay lead the distance apart is
decided so as to secure the greatest convenience of working.
"In the Red Point and Hidden Treasure mines, in which the pay leads are very
wide, the drifts are 3 20 feet apart. In wide channels these drifts are connected
by gangways parallel to the main tunnel, the practice in their number and
distance apart being equally flexible. In the Red Point Mine they are run 65 feet
apart, thus blocking out the ground to l)e mined into rectangles 120 feet by 65 feet.
In the Bald Mountain Mine, at Forest City, the practice was to run both the drifts
and gangway 80 feet apart, leaving a pillar of 40 feet to protect the main tunnel.
In the Hidden Treasure Mine only one gangway is run, connecting the ends of the
drifts at the extreme limits of the pay lead as determined by the prospecting of
the gravel from the drifts. This difference in practice is accountalsle for by the
difference between the character of the mining ground in the several mines. In the
Red Point it is hard and compact, and the openings, except in the breasts, require
no timbering; the gravel, however, is not regular in the amount of the gold it
contains, and closer prospecting is advisable to cut out ground too poor to pay for
mining. In the Hidden Treasure the gravel is soft, the bedrock swells, and every
opening requires timbering to protect it therefore only absolutely essential openings
;
are made for working, the gravel being so uniform in gold yield that special close
prospecting is not needed. The Bald Mountain gravel was soft and as regular in
yield as in the Hidden Treasure. The smaller blocks were doiibtless made to
facilitate the convenience of working, only four and one-half feet of depth of ground
being taken out. The cost of a main tunnel in the gravel drifts and gangways
naturally has a considerable range as between different mines, but is practically
constant in the same mine. In hard, compact gravel, requiring blasting, the cost
of main tunnel, six by seven feet, will be from $4 to $7 a foot ; of drifts and gang-
ways five bv six feet or six by six feet, from $3 to $5 a foot. In gravel not as
diflicult to drill as the preceding, but still requiring blasting, $3 to $4 for main tunnel,
and $1.75 to $3 for drifts and gangways. In soft gravel, requiring timbering, the
figures are about the sanie as those last given, the greater penetrability being offset
by the expense of timbering. In some mines, particularly where pay gravel on the
high rock of the rims is being prospected for, the drift for this purpose is run as
wide as sixteen feet and as low as four feet in height, in order to cover as much
ground as possible, and move as little waste. This method is. however, unsystematic,
and not to be recommended for large mining operations.
"In connection with the opening of the mine and mining properly belongs the
consideration of the utility of trained engineerirhg skill to drift mining. Already in
this connection, with the preliminary work of location of the development works,
has been shown the value of this skill. In connection with the permanent opening
and subsequent working it is of equal service and value. Every drift mine should
have an accurate working map, on a scale of twenty or forty feet to an inch,
of its underground workings and their connections with the surface. On this
map should be shown the tunnels, shafts, gangways, rims of the channel, and
blocks of ground cut out for breaking down ; also the location of air and water
pipes and connections. On it can also be placed the figures of the estimated yield of
the different blocks of unbroken ground, as determined from the prospecting and
the figures of actual yield after working. The ground worked out from week to
w-eek can be marked on the plat by shading. A map so made is of gi-eat service in
directing the main tunnel and prospecting drifts in advance of the ground being
mined out, and in making air and working connections. To facilitate the surveying,
the underground foreman should set points at all angles and intersections in tunnels,
drifts, and gangways. The.se are best set overhead in the roof, as less likely to be
disturbed bv the mining operators. A wooden plug is first firmly driven in a short
drill or gad hole, into this a ring or hook from which a plumb or lamp can be
suspended.
"The breaking out of the gravel, the mine being opened as described, is done from
the faces of the gangways, or if there be none, from the faces of the drifts or main
tunnel. In the Hidden Treasure Mine the side of the gangway toward the main
tunnel is the working breast, and is broken down l)y the miners working the w^hole
length of it at once to a distance of eight feet from the gangway. A new set of
posts, parallel to the gangwav, with caps and top lagging, is put in, timbering up
the ground to the face. The track is then moved from the gangway close up to the
breast, and more ground broken out as described. Not all of the gravel is taken out
of the mine, but only the fine, the boulders being piled back on the ground from
which the track has been moved. A block is thus worked up to the line of the pillar
:
GOI-D PLACERS OP CALIFORNIA. 59

thirty feet from tho tunnel. The gravel being soft, no powder is used. From one
to two feet of soft bedrock and three to IVvur feet of the gravel are mined out. The
method de.seribed was also u.sed in the Bald Mountain Mine, and, in fact, is
employed in all the large, .systematically operated mines, where the gravel is broken
out without j)owdtr. and where the bedrock is soft and of comparativelv even
surface. In mines where the gravel is hard, and has to be broken out with powder,
there is no special care taken to keep the breast faced up even, it being most
economically broken down by working from the corners of the blocks The
drifts and gangways are kept open and the track is not changed, but the broken
out gravel is shoveled out from the breast to the cars after separating the large
boulders. To make the shoveling easier temporary plank floors are put in. In
ground with hard bedrock of very irregular surface the track is not moved up
to the working face, but the gravel is shoveled out to it, as already described.
In narrow channels, where the cross drifts are not connected by gangways, the
sides of the drifts and main tunnel, preferably the former, are made the working
breasts, and the ground broken out from them.
"A method in common u.se among many of the miners for working their ground
even where the pay lead is quite wide, is to mine its entire width in one semicircular
or curved breast without running a main tunnel ahead or cross drifts from it. The
unsystematic and unneces-sarily costly character of this method is evident There
is no opportunity to protect the ground in advance of working it, and there are no
reserves to keep up the output while exploring through a barren portion of the lead.
Timbering can not be done sytematically the main tunnel in which the track runs is
;
not permanently protected against caves. If the ground is hard there is great
waste of labor in drilling and of powder in breaking. The method is to be con-
demned under any conditions.
"In blasting gravel in a drift mine the object is not onlv to get the full effect
of the ))owder in the amount of gravel thrown down, but to pulverize it as com-
l)letely as ))ossible so as to free, in ;i measure, the gold. The best practice is to
drill deep holes three to five feet, chamber them, and then iiut all of the powder in the
bottom of the lio'e. tamping it in tight. Experience will determine the proper load for
the holes to produce the best results. A slow Ijurning powder is preferable pro-
portioned to the tightness of the ground. The usual strength used is from 30 per
cent to 40 per cent nitroglycerine.
"The output of gravel from a drift mine is measured by carloads- the size of
the car is not, however, uniform, so a comparison must take this difference into
account. The cost of breaking out the gravel independent of the expenses of handling
it afterward, or those connected with the opening of the drifts and gangways, tim-
bering, and track, is controlled ly the hardness of the gravel, expense for ijowder and
candles, and the rate of miners' wages. The tabulated figures will show the cost
in several mines, and furnish fair comparative data for estimating
Name of mine
"The different timbermen in the mines each has Ills peculiar method of framing
the tunnel sets of timl)ers, and all seem equally efficient. In placing a set in position,
seats are cut in the floor for the posts to rest in, sills being rarely used. The cap
is mortised at the ends into which the top of the posts tit. These sets are placed
from three to six feet between centers, dependent on the solidity of the ground they
support. The lagging is driven in behind the timbers and towards the face. If not
perfectly solid in place, wedges are driven in, always pointing towards the face.
The size of the tunnel timbers and the inclination of the posts from the vertical
depend on the ground, the size of the tunnel, and desired permanence of the work.
The Bald Mountain tunnel was in soft ground round timbers twelve to sixteen
;
inches in diameter were used the sets placed four feet between centers, and the
;
inward inclination of the posts, two feet nine inches in a rise of six feet six inches,
the tunnel being nine feet, three and one-half feet, and six and one-half feet clear
dimensions. The usual sized timber employed is eight to ten inches in diameter, and
the inclination of posts, one foot three inches to six feet six inches. In the cross
drifts lighter posts are used, but the sets are framed and the construction similar to
the main tunnel, except that only the top is lagged, unless the ground should be very
soft and sliding. In the working gangways the posts are set vertical and the
mortised end of the cap only covers half the top of the post, so that as subsequently
other parts are set up in breaking out the ground as described, the same post will
.support the end of a second cap. Only the top is lagged. In breaking out the
ground the timbering is similar in kind and construction to that in the gangways.
In hard ground that is broken out by blasting comparatively little or no timbering
is necessary. As a rule only posts are used, with or without caps, the latter not
necessarily supported by more than one post. The caps are secured in place by
wedges driven towards the working face to prevent the roof starting, and as a
protection to the post during blasting. The actual cost of setting up timbers and
lagging in working groimd ot a mine can not readily be segregated from the cost of
breaking out the gravel, as it is not usually done by a special force, but by the
miners themselves under the direction of the underground foreman.
"Drainage may or may not be a most important item of expense In working a
drift mine. It is practically nothing, where the mine is worked on an ascending
grade through a tunnel. If it has to be lifted, some of the various pumping devices
are used. For a shaft, the Cornish pump has already been referred to and com-
mended. For making short lifts, less than twenty feet in the altitudes at which
most of the drift mines are located, a siphon can sometimes be employed, and
requires but little attention. Underground, direct acting steam pumps are usually
employed, the steam being brought from the surface, necessarily with a loss of
power dependent on the distance. In the Mayflower Mine, at Forest Hill, Placer
County while worked through the shaft, six pumps were employed underground,
some 'of them 2000 feet from the boiler supplying the steam. In addition to the
great expense involved it made a most unsafe plant, for the breaking down of one
of the pumps destroyed the efficiency of all beyond it in lower levels of the mine.
Sometimes water power is available for direct use underground.
"In tlie Mountain Gate Mine, at Damascus, Placer County, the main bedrock
tunnel is 40 feet lower than the channel being mined, at the point where it is cut off
by the deeper blue lead channel. The channel descending inward to this iDoint, run all
its drainage about forty inches, was collected at the
inner end and utilized to
a forty-foot' overshot water wheel, which gave power to pump and hoist from the
cross channel sixty feet lower. ,,. ^. , ^
"In the Turkey Hill Mine, near Michigan Bluff, water was brought
.
, ^ i +
m
-
*u
throughi *,,
the
air shaft 300 feet deep, falling on an overshot water wheel, and furnishing power
to nump the water from the deep working to the level of the main tunnel, whence it
reached the tunnel entrance by natural flow. In this instance only a fraction of
the effective power of the water was utilized, as it was allowed to fall free in the
shaft Another device that can be used efhciently if water power under high pressure
elevator and
can he had is an arrangement on the principle of the hydraulic
Runsen num'o by which the water power is used directly to obtain a suction and
elevating force The cost of putting in the plant for the water power devices is not
verv large and they can be operated cheaply, the last described at only the cost of
attention whatever. The water
the water 'for power, as it requires, once started, no
nower pumps i-equire more or less repairing and examination to keep working well.
steam pumps and their connections and the expense of operating are
The first cost of
Their employment is condemned except for
a heavv charge on the gravel mined.
ground that can be drained by no other means."
very rich
Ventilation of drift mines is important. With only one opening,

the
tunnel entrance forcing fresh air to the
ventilation is by a fan at the
by pipe line or withdrawing the vitiated air by the
working face a
same means. If water power is available the blower can be driven by
it at little expense. Air shafts and drifts are constructed at minimum
cost for ventilation.
The main tunnel and drifts all have track laid in them and switches
are placed at all junctions and intersections. In the main tunnel the
track is permanently laid. In the drifts and gangways it is removed
as soon as the ground is worked out and relaid elsew^here. Light rail
is sometimes used and sometimes strap-iron spiked on wooden stringers.
:
Cars vary greatly in diinonsions, sliape, inatoi-ial, discharge, gear, and

capacity. In small mines the ears are moved by liand in larger ones ;
by a horse or locomotive.
"The treatment of the gravel to obtain the gold is either by washing it from the
dump through the sluices, or, should it be cemented, crushing it in the stamp batteries
of a quartz mill. The washing plant has already been described. In small mines
where not over one hundred carloads a day are taken out, the washing is done by
the superintendent or the foreman. In larger mines there are one or two men
steadily employed at the washing and cleaning up of the sluices. The latter Is
done in sections, the upper boxes certainly once or twice a day in some mines
those further away from the dump less frequently. The tailings are not allowed
to escape at once, but are caught in brush and log dams, and allowed to accumulate
and slack for several months, when they are rewashed. The common practice in the
mines is to sell them outright for a lump sum to Chinese or others, who take the
chances on getting back their cost and the expense of washing. The cost of washing
per carload is from 11 cents (with large amounts of gravel and free water) to
3 cents. In milling gravel the batteries are best fed by automatic machine feeders.
Hand labor is necessary, however, to separate large cobbles, which can be partially
screened out by a giizzly. The cost of milling gravel per ton in the Paragon Mine,
with steam power mill, is $0.35 a ton. At the Dardanelles, the cost with steam
l)0wer, five-stamp mill, is $0.33 a ton. With water power mill the cost of milling
the same gravel (exclusive of the cost of the water) would be $0.20 a ton.
"The specialized duties in which labor is employed in a drift mine, the ratios
between the amount of labor in these several capacities, and its cost, are seldom
exactly the same in any two mines. The figures for three mines are given here,
and will furnish a fair basis from which to make estimates for projected work
Shift bosses |
2 1
3 00 1 1
2 j
$3 00
Breasters. white '
24 \
3 OO i 17 I
3 00 , 9 { 3 CO
Breasters, Chinese -- '
1
9 I
1 75
Tunnel men .- !
2 j 3 00 ! 2 I
Drift men, white ;

;
\
I
^ j
3 00
Carmen, inside, white i ;
1- \
1
Carmen, inside, Chinese I

1
'
6 1 DO
Carmen, outside 1 i
3 00 1 2 50
Drivers - i
I
-- 2 t
3 CO
Blacksmith j
1 3 00 1 3 00 j
1 3 .fiO
Blacksmith helpers I
1 3 00
Carpenters j
3 4 00
Surface men, white 1 2 50 1 3 00
Surfacemen, Chinese j j
4 17.")
Engineers 2 [
35o| 1 I 350 2 3 50
Battery feeders 2 i
2 50 2 1 3 00
Totals 34
"In the Dardanelles the full force possible is working in two shifts. The force
can be doubled in the Paragon, the i>resent force only working days. At the Red
Point, with sufficient water for washing, a hundred additional men could be employed
in breaking out ground already opened liy drifts and gangTi^'ays. The Hidden
Treasure Mine employs from 100 to 175 men in all capacities, the larger proportion
in breasting out gravel. In the Bald Mountain Mine as high as 250 men have been
<^mployed at one time in all capacities. In the running expense of a drift mine, the
cost of labor is by far the largest item, the proportion, as compared with all other
expenses, being nearl.v vmiform in all of the mines. For the Hidden Treasure Mine
the ratio for four months of ISSS. taken at random from the books, is: For wages.
78 per cent; all other expenses, 22 per cent. For tlie same mine for the eleven years
from 1877 to 18S7, inclusive, the ratio was 7S per cent, and other expen.ses 22
per cent.
"The considerations that should govern the developments of a drift mine and
the most successful practical working of it. summarized from the preceding pages,
are the following: The development or opening of the mine should be done in the
manner that will make the subsequent mining of the ground that is, the running

This means, drift mining

expen.se per unit (carload or ton) of gravel- the cheapest.
ground not being uniform in gold yield, that the greatest amount and area of ground
can then be mined at a profit over running expenses, and that more thorough pros-
pecting that is not dead work can be done. This points, not to the lowest possible
construction account necessarily, but to that which will in the running expen.se
of the opened mine make all the several items take their minimum value, and permit
of the largest proportion of the total of all of them being expended in the actual
mining or breaking out of the pay gravel. It is from this last consideration that the
tunnel is the best form of opening, for through it can be reduced to their minimum
value the several items of drainage, ventilation, and moving of gravel to the surface.
"Tlio gold yield of the gravel is estimated at so much per carload, but the
differences in (capacity of the cars. used in different inines makes direct comparison
impossible. For conxenienee it is desirable to adopt as a unit the ton of 2000
pounds. Tlie minimum limit of yield which it will pay to mine, or rather the
minimum of llie running expense of mining (for it will pay to mine gravel which
will just meet this expense, as increasing the probability of discovery of richer
ground), has a wide range as between the different mines. Probably tlie lowest paying
gravel and the cheapest mining is that of the Hidden Treasure Mine. From Febru-

ary 27, 1888, to June 30, 1888 108 working days the figures are:
Perload,
Total
one ton
Gold yield $1.2347 $39,821 53
Wages 7202 23,528 00
Contracts .1077 3,464 78
Expense, material, etc .0957 3,086 94
Total expense $0.9230 $30,079 72
Profit $11.3111 !fn,741 81
Number of days' labor, 11,104.50. Number of carloads gravel, 32,2.52.
For the eleven years, 1877 to 18S7, inclusive:
lieceiiits.
Gold yield 27
$'^79.i52a
Receipts from otiior sources 19,176 10
Total $'?!)S,6'i9 43
Expendihires.
Wages iHf)0,297 04
All other expenses 137,064 35

Dividends 268,092 00
"The cost per carload ($0.9236) is exceptionally low, as under ordinarily favorable
conditions $1.50 to $1.75 a carload is as low a figure as can be anticipated, and in
most of the mines the cost is from $2 to $3."
In the above abstract from Mr. Dunn's report, it has been necessary
on account of space limitations to omit much material of value, princi-
pally data referring to costs at several of the drift mines which were
operating thirty-five years ago, when the article was written. Costs
have since changed materially, bnt the relative proportion and weight
of labor and material costs is about the same. For this reason the same
factor of increase may be applied in estimating probable costs at the
present day.
Methods of drift mining have not changed materially except in the
application of modern mining machinery to tunnel driving. In the
recovery of gold from the gravels, perhaps the only important change
has been the adaptation of mills of the Price, and Krogh type to the
moderately cemented gravels. Stamp milling is no longer in general
use, unless the gravel is exceedingly tightly cemented. Mills of this
type (the Price, and Krogh type) consist of a revolving hexagonal or
octagonal barrel of about five feet inside diameter, and length varying
from six to ten feet. The walls of this revolving trommel or screen are
perforated, usually with slots of sufficient mesh to allow the fine material
to escape, the boulders and pebbles in the gravel itself acting as a crush-
ing medium until they are discharged. This mill is usually mounted on
trunnions in such a way that if driven by water power through a belt,
the water used on the Pelton wheel is discharged into the mill to serve as
washwater.
In gravel which is not too tightly cemented, this type of mill gives
and a very complete separation of the gold from the
excellent results
gravel without the necessity of crushing the entire mass and conse-
quently at a much lower cost than the old-fashioned stamp mill.
MECHANICAL HANDLING.
In many localities irregular distribution and depth of the gravels,
the inaccessibilty of water, character and type of bedrock, or the remote-
ness from transportation make necessary a departure from standard
mining practices, and the adaptation of mechanical means for handling
gravel in smaller units than those hitherto discussed.
There are innumerable methods which have been devised and are
still being devised, but in general it may be stated that gravel which
is handled by small mechanical units must of necessity be much higher
grade than that which is capable of being handled in large volume by
standard dredge or hydraulic methods.
The first method discussed will be that of handling gravel by elevator
or mechanical conveyor. Attempts have been made from time to time
to overcome the lack of sufficient dump in certain gravel deposits by
means of mechanical elevators of the stacker or belt type. These
machines have been expensive in their first cost, erection, maintenance,
and operation. They have never been, so far as known, a financial
success. However, inasmuch as no serious mechanical problems are
involved, it seems reasonable that a successful machine of this type
might possibly be designed, constructed, and operated. It should be
lighter than most of the attempts made to date, and consequently more
easily moved.
The most elaborate example of this type that has been constructed in
California is the plant of the Tarr Mining Company at Smartsville.
The gravel was hydraulicked to a sump where it was lifted by a bucket
ladder, containing fifty-two 7-foot buckets, to a trommel where it was
screened. The undersize went to the riffles and the oversize to a belt
conveyor 570 feet long. At the end of tlie convejôr two Bleichert
tramways were constructed to provide a larger dump for the tailings.
This plant proved a failure, due largelj' to the cemented character of
the gravel and the complicated nature of the machine, which required
very much power to run.
At Beauceville, Canada, a mechanical elevator was erected by the New
York Engineering Company at a cost of $25,000. Its lifting height was
50 feet from the bottom of the sump to the top of the bucket-line. It
was equipped with 150 h.p., of which the bucket-line of 3^ cubic ft.
close-connected buckets consumed 50 h.p. the remaining 100 being used
;
to operate a 14-inch centrifugal pump. Its capacity wâs 2000 cubic yards
daily. Cost per yard was about 12 cents. The failure of this plant was
due to the high cost of operation and the low grade of the gravel.
Steam shovels of various types have been used in the mechanical
handling of gravels. AYhere there is insufficient water for hydraulick-
ing and where the gravel is more or le.ss cemented, attempts to work
ground by this method have been frequent but witliout any great
measure of success.
As a digging machine, the steam shovel is very effiicient, but its failure
in gravel mining has been largely due to its lack of mobility and to the
528603
fact that its action is intermittent that is, it dumps its loads suddenly,
;
and the sluices are in consequence alternately over-burdened and over-

flooded. This method of charging sluices is conducive to loss of fine
gold. Difficulty has always been experienced in keeping the sluices up
.to the working face of the machine. In the old type of machine which
laid its own track the shovel had all the disadvantages of the dredge
in that its heavier parts were very cumbersome. Eecently, however, a
type of shovel has been devised which runs on a caterpillar track, and
itseems that this type is far better adapted to placer mining than any
shovel hitherto devised, because of its greater flexibility.
In connection with this development of the steam shovel, the power-
driven belt-conveyor has recently been used. On gravel in compara-
Photo No. 15. Yukon Gold Company's Mechanical Elevator, Dawson,

Yukon Territory.
tively accessible, districts, which runs 20 cents per yard or better, there
is a possibility of using this type of machine which is well worth looking
into. At the present time a company is operating low-dump gravels in
the bed of the Calaveras River by this method. The caterpillar steam
shovel, with its radius of action, due to the quickness with which it can
be moved, Avill cut and deliver gravel of this t.ype at great speed, and
with a five or six foot conveyor-belt to carry the material up to a hopper
at the head of elevated sluice boxes, it is possible to handle this type of
gravel much more cheaply than formerly.
Many types of drag-scrapers have been used for the handling of gold-
bearing gravel. In Alaska on Twin Creek the writer has seen frozen
ground handled by this means at a cost not to exceed 50 cents a j'ârd.
A central steam power plant, operated by burning wood, was set in such
a way that the drag scoop, traveling the full length of the cut, would
GOLD I'LACERS OF CALIFORNIA. 65
dump was hoisted to a hopper at the head of the

into a ear whicli
sluices.The sluices had been raised to give ample dump.
So many improvements have recently been made in drag-line scrapers
that they are now veiy efficient digging machines in loose ground. A
drag-line scraper at Cape Girardeau, in Missouri, several years ago dug
a canal 200 ft. wide and 20 ft. deep in this type of material at a cost of
5 cents per cubic yard. It was equipped with a 6-cubic-yard bucket
and had a capacity of 4000 cubic jârds in 24 hours.
Other types of excavators used in handling gravel, sucli as the
Hadsell, whicli operates from a central tower, and another unnamed
type, which operates with variable-speed motors, have been successful.
In this latter type a slow-speed motor is used for digging at the moment
that the scraper takes its charge, and a faster motor is used to convey
it to the tower where it dumps its burden into the sluices.
Photo No. 16. Drag Scraper near Fairbanks, Alaska.
Simple derricks with clam-shell or orange-peel buckets have often

been used for this type of work, but the gravel has to be very high-grade
to justify the expense of this sort of operation.
Various mechanical contraptions with the name of dry-land dredgers
have been built and experimented witli at different times. These usually
consist of some form of bucket elevator mounted on wheels, and in many
parts of our State still stand as monuments to the practical incapacity
of their inventors.
The use of the centrifugal pump in handling gravel has already been
commented upon, but there are certain areas of gravel still available
along the Sierra foothills in regions which were once the deltas of the
Cretaceous and Tertiary river systems, which are capable of being
handled by this method. Where the foothills are low and rolling and
reservoirs can readily be installed, it is possible to increase the head in
tlie operations of giants supplied by these reservoirs by stepping a cen-
trifugal pump into the line, provided the power costs are not too expen-
sive. Probably gravel Avould have to run at least 25 cents a yard to allow
any profit at all by this means of working. The use of centrifugal

pumps as elevators for gravel lias already been discussed under the head
of dredging.
GROUND SLUICING METHODS.

The original and simplest form of mining was by means of the pan
and the rocker. From the development of tlie rocker or cradle came
the longtom, which was a sort of end-shake sluice which permitted the
handling of more material than the rocker. After this came the develop-
ment of the fixed sluice.
There exist deposits where whole areas of rolling ground are covered
with a thin film of varying depths, which at times feathers out to bed-
rock, and upon Mîich water can be brought but not under pressure.
When the intervening gulches have sufficient grade for sluicing and
disposal of the tailings, ground sluicing is the proper method. This
method of mining has perhaps produced more of the world's gold than
any other. During the early days in California, when gold production
was at its maximum, by far the larger proportion of the gold was won
l)y this method. In viewing the ancient Spanish workings in Colombia,
in Peru, and in Bolivia, one can not fail to be impressed by the enor-
mous amount of material that has been mined l)y this means.
The method consists of bringing the ditch to a point on the edge of
the bank to be worked and allowing the water to cascade over the work-
ing face. The work of the water is assisted by the use of picks and
shovels, and the larger boulders close to bedrock are worked around,
if they can not be moved. The duty of water in this method is naturally
low. For example, in a mine of this type in Colombia, 135 miner's
inches, running over a 10-foot bank gave a duty of only 50 cubic yards
per day.
What is known as booming or flooding is an alteration of ground sluic-
ing methods, which is adaptable under certain conditions. Where the
gravel is readily cut and does not attain a depth of over 50 feet and
has a preferable average depth of 10 to 15 feet, this method is practi-
cable provided that the slope of the bedrock is at least 7 inches to
the rod.
A reservoir is built above the deposit in which a self-dumjiing, or
self-opening gate is placed. This gate is so arranged, generally with an
overflow box, that when the water rises to a certain heiglit in the
reservoir the gate opens and empties the reser\ôir with a rush, after
which it automatically closes. The water pouring down the gulch
carries away immense quantities of material until it loses its velocity,
and by this means a large amount of the top gravel is readily stripped,
leaving the bottom part, with the bedrock to be worked off by ordinary
ground sluicing methods.
Where the gold is fine and generally deposited through the gravel,
this method is not advisable, but where the gold is coarse and concen-
trated in a shallow streak or near bedrock, this is often an economical
method of working.
GOLD PIvACERS OF CALIFORNIA. 67
DRY WASHING.
There are many parts of California in Avhieh the gold-bearing gravels
are inaccessible to water in any quantity. As these gravels often run as
high as $1 a yard and in some eases better than this, all sorts of methods
of handling them without the use of water have been tried.
To the Avriter's knowledge, no absolutely dry process has ever been
successful in handling this type of gravel, with the exception of a
Mexican hand bellows or dry-washing machine.
The deposits are usually shallow, more or less cemented, and their
gold contents are very unevenly distributed. Probably the best-known
absolutely dry process is what is known as the Stebbins-Quinner
machine. In most cases the gravel is first pulverized and screened, and
the fine material is run over the Stebbins tables, which use air as a
medium of concentration instead of water. The writer has yet to learn
that any machine using air as a means of concentration Avill prove
successful in liandling gravel. Very often laboratory tests will show
encouraging results, liut it is found in practice that tbe so-called dry
material is never absolutely dry but contains enough moisture to
agglomerate on the canvas, thus interfering with proper concentration.
The hand machine of the Mexican, which has been used extensively in
southern California and in Arizona, is an exception to the general rule
regarding air separation machines, for the reason that it is portable,
and the extremely spotted nature of most of the dry placers results in
local concentrations, which for small widths and in quantities of two or
three yards at a time will often pay fair day wages. Again the writer
wishes to state with particular force that air separation processes, when
applied on any large scale, have invariably resulted in total and al)solute
failure. Two conspicuous monuments to this failure still stand in the
California desert; one at Goler, and the other at Coolgardie. Limited
capacity and imperfect separation are the main reasons. Other
machines of this character are so cumbrous that they lose the chief
advantage of the hand machine, which is its ability to be transported
from one spot or concentration of gold to another as soon as, the pay
has been worked out.
Where a limited amount of water is available, however, it is quite
possible and feasible to work these dry placers, provided the ground is
rich enough. The most successful method of handling this material that
has come to the writer's attention is one which was tried out in the
Randsburg district some time ago. It consists in the use of a very little
M'ater and the constant saving and return of the same for re-washing.
In this method a sluice about 7 ft. long and 14 in. Avide is given a head
motion by an eccentric and is driven by a two-horsepower engine. The
sluice has a false bottom with holes immediately behind the riffles,
which are of the Hungarian type. The material is wheeled and shoveled
in after the boulders have been screened out. The Avater carries out the
fines on about a 12-inch grade into a AAdieelbarroAV Avhich stands over a
pit. The AvheelbarroAv is punched full of holes and the Avater is drained
into the pit from it. It is then pumped back by a centrifugal pump,
Avhich is run by the same gas engine from a countershaft through the
false bottom, Avhere it jets up behind the riffles to perform its service in
carrying the material through tlie sluice again. The only loss of Avater
isthrough evaporation and absorption. The riffles are always kept open
by the ujjlifting jets of water, and the concentrating motion of the

eccentric head makes a very effective jig.
Another machine which is used in localities where there is very little
water has been developed by Mr. J. B. Giffen, of Sacramento. The
macliine consists of either a shaking or stationary hopper and water
feed under pressure in the hopper, a shaking table with a side motion,
set at a pitch averaging about 8 inches to the foot, and a type of riffle
known as the Giffen rifflle. The inventor claims that near Manhattan,
Nevada, he could wash 40 yards of dry gravel with a supply of 9 gallons
of water per minute, for 6 hours a day, the consumption l)eing 80
gallons per yard. By the use of a tronunel, the amount of gravel
washed is materially increased. The dirt is fed into the hopper by an
elevator. As the dirt dumps and spreads out, it is met by the water
discharge, which thus gives a fair washing before the gravel reaches
Thoto No. 17. View of Giffen Placer Machine. Taken when washing 24 yards
per hour, at Rocklin, Cal.
the table. The upper 18 inches of the table has another riffle, thus
alloAving the dirt to spread and cross the table in a thin wide stream,
which causes a very fair degree of concentration to occur before the
first riffle is reached. Four sections of riffle each 16 inches long were
used, although it Avas only necessary to clean the upper one daily, the
second every other day and the other two once a week. "Where water is
scarce, it is pumped back and used
over and over. The plant can be
moved and put than one-half a day. The inventor
in operation in less
claims that under ordinary circumstances the ground can be delivered,
washed, and the tailings cleared away, so far as necessaiy, for 30 to 35
cents per yard.
BLACK SANDS.
The subject of black sand mining has been very ably and thoroughly
covered by Mr. C. A. Logan in Bulletin No. 85 of the State Mining
Bureau. For this reason only a very brief resume of the methods of
recovery in common use will be given in this chapter.
:
One of thecommonest machines in use is the Kellogg black sand

machine. This device consists of an inverted funnel with pockets
around the circumference. As the sand and water are poured upon
this, a boiling action occurs in the pockets and a sort of concentration
is brought about. This is a very simple machine and appears to have
been of considerable use in handling the l)lack sands of the Oroville
district.
Perliaps tlie simplest type of machine used on tlie beach sands con-
sists of a plain duck board riffle, fastened to a plank bottom, which is
set out near the edge of the sea as the tide is coming in, and is kept
constantly in such a position that the outgoing waves would wash the
gold-bearing black sands over it. This machine has been used near
Crescent City, and has paid day wages to the men operating it. Possi-
bly one of the best types of concentratoi*s for this sort of work is the
Iluelsdouk, which the writer has seen operating in Sierra County, and
Photo No. 18. Giffen Placer :Machine. General appearance of plant.
which has successfully been used for years in recovering platinum, gold,
amalgam, and mercury from black sand concentrates at the La Grange
dredge. The description given by Logan^ of this plant follows
"The concentrator works under still water in a box or trough which is 16 feet
long, one foot wide inside, and about one foot deep, being made from two-inch
planks. A .small gas engine mounted on the .sluice furnishes power for shaking the
screen and the concentrator, and for pumping water. The shaking motion is given
by an eccentric with 3-inch travel. The screen moves on a single bolt support on
eachi side, and the power is applied against springs. From the screen the sand
and water pass on to an apron which extends one-half the length of the sluice and
is perforated at regular intervals so as to distribute the sand along the table
proper. This apron and the table are bolted together and are shaken at the rate
of 180 r. p. m. They travel on rollers along the bottom of the sluice, and require
little power. The table proper is essentially a long narrow galvanized-iron covered
trough, extending the full length of box. and tapering at the lower end to a groove
scarcely J-inch wide and deep. The sand enters the groove at the upper end and
as the shaking motion forces it along the lighter constituents are crowded to the
top and forced over the side, falling into a bottom compartment which shakes with
the table and which can be used to give a middling, or to discharge tailing. The
concentrate travels the length of the groove and is tapped off through a spigot
at the end. Middling and tailing are tapped from the side near the end. Huelsdonk
'Logan, C. A., Platinum and allied metals in California ; Cal. State Min. Bur.,
Bull. 85, pp. 100-101, 1919.
70 CALrFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
claims the unit can handle two cubic yards of gravel or one ton of mill tailings
an hour. Twenty cubic yards of gravel give two gallons of concentrate. The con-
centration with mill tailings is said to be 100 to 1. At the La Grange dredge 8 tons
of black sand concentrate were reduced to about one-third of a gold-pan full, which
contained the year's output of platinum. Only |-horsepower is said to be required
for the concentrator. The demonstrating model has a IJ-horsepower engine, which
is claimed to be more than ample for pumping water and operation. A one-inch
centrifugal pump gives an ample supply of water.
"The saving by this machine appears to be very satisfactory, and the concen-
trator seems to have a wide field of application, but ought to appeal especially to
the small miner or the man who wants a portable outfit which is easy to operate
and requires little water. The installation complete, including engine and pump,
weighs 600 pounds, and the heaviest part is the engine. Two men are required to
run the outfit where hand shoveling is done."
Another machine, of the airblast type, has been developed by Sutton,
Steele and Steele, of Dallas, Texas. This machine has been used with
considerable success on concentration of light and finely distributed
materials. "Whether it is adaptable to heavy black sands with the
variety of heavy concentrates which are produced from this class of
material, seems still to be undetermined, but from the looks of the blue-
print submitted to the writer, it looks as if it had possibilities.
METHODS OF PROSPECTING.
In the discussion of the different methods of operation of gold placers,
various factors have been mentioned which determine the choice of the
method of work. In the case of the proper examination of alluvial
properties with the idea of determining the method of working to be
adopted, the examining engineer will carefully consider all of these fac-
tors and their relative importance one to another. If the enterprise is
to be hydraulic, the question of water supply is paramount, and it may
be necessary to determine the extent of the available water, the amount
of the annual rainfall, and its flow-off, absorption and evaporation;
also all data pertaining to reservoir sites and ditch lines. As a survey
of this kind runs into considerable money, it is often well to delay its
undertaking until at least some of the ground has been sampled. In the
case of a dredging proposition, the determination of the amount of
available water-power may be held over in the same way.
In addition to the factors already mentioned, the following points
should be investigated: First, all questions of title, royalty, duty on
mining machinery, and of the existence of legal obstacles to regular
operations. '
^
The determination of the valuable content of the property in question,

that is sampling, upon which hinges the crux of the examination, calls
for the most painstaking and systematic care on the part of the engi-
neer. He must determine as exactly as possible the tenor of the ground
and the yardage available for working.
Gold in gravel exists in two forms that which for want of a better
:
name, we call the 'gravel-gold,' which was deposited simultaneously

with the gravel, and that known as 'flood-gold.'
Economically the former is all important, as it forms the chief supply
of gold in alluvial deposits. It is usually laid down once for all, and
covered by subsequent layers of material. Generally it occurs in well
defined bands, or channels, of varying width and thickness. When it
occurs coarse, the richest portion is usually found on or near bedrock.
Strata of sand are generally barren. Surface soil may contain enough
gold to warant the cost of its removal,
Flood-gold is the bane of the engineer. The majority ofeases brought

to his notice b,y the uninitiated, for example, deposits where natives are
making a living wage by surface panning, prove on examination to be
nothing but barren gravel beneath a thin film of flood-gold. Economi-
cally this form of gold is of small moment. It is usually a finely
divided flour or flakes derived either from the attrition of the lighter
part of the gravel-gold, or being deposited at the present day by the
living stream from quartz veins within the drainage area. It is of a
vagrant nature, and migrates wifh each seasonal flood. It is found
concentrated on heads of islands or bars, and entangled in the vegeta-
tion covering the flood-plane. It is purely superficial, and never attains
any concentration in depth.
The gold in the rivers of Europe is usually of this character; notably
in Hungary, where the peasants, after cleaning up the river carefully,
can depend upon a new 'crop' of gold in the succeeding year. Here the
rivers. Avhether worked or not. show no augmentation of the gold from
year to year by reason of these 'crops.' The rivers of Spain are also
notorious for this character of gold, as also are many rivers in tropical
countries. Deposits capped with flood-gold may or may not contain
gravel-gold beneath; therefore its presence is no criterion of concentra-
tion in depth.
High banks of gravel, suitable for hydraulicking, can sometimes be
sampled by channelling their surface after the manner in which veins
are sampled. Usually the bank is divided into panels of one or two
hundred feet Avide. After cleaning the face, a cut is commenced as
near bedrock as possible, and extended up to about 5 feet. This cut
is conveniently about a foot Avide and about 6 inches deep. Exact
measurements should be taken of the length and breadth and depth of
the cut in several places, and the cubic contents of the sample in place
carefully determined. IMaterial from the cut should be measured loose,
and carefully washed in a rocker; the gold is then amalgamated, parted,
and weighed, and the value per cubic yard, based on the volume in
place, is computed.
Commencing at the level of the top of the first cut, another sample
should be begun and the operation repeated as far up as possible. It is
not necessary that all the divisions of any one sample be in the same
vertical line. They may be 'staggered' to suit convenience. By this
method the exposed surface of a cliff of gravel can be sj^stematically
sampled greater facility being afforded if old tailing is heaped at the
;
base. This method gives accurate results. During an examination of

this character in Peru occasion was had to check certain cuts by
resampling, and it was found that the yield checked almost exactly.
To determine the gold content of the gravel at any distance back from
the face, and also the pitch of the bedrock, either shaft-sinking or
drilling must be employed.
Formerly, in California, it was the practice to sample a deposit by
first installing a small hydraulic plant for the purpose of washing a
portion of it. If the clean-up was satisfactory, the property was
approved. This method has, happily, fallen into disuse, because it
gives misleading results. It gives a large sample from one place, which
may or may not be representative of the whole deposit. A case is
known where $1,100 taken out by the experimental giant on a run of
72 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. .
a few liuiidrecl cubic yards was subsequently only equalled by a whole

season's working of 200,000 cubic yards.
Small dredges have sometimes been employed to test dredging-
ground, especially in New Zealand. Where funds are available, this
method gives most satisfactory results, l)ut is bound to be expensive in
the first cost. Subsequent expense may l)e offset by the clean-ups.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the amount of the sample
taken in gravel that is not firm enough to stand when channelled. In
sampling gravel of this character, the sample should be weighed and
its volume in place calculated. Before commencing to sample, either
by pits or channelling, a deposit of gravel of this character, several
trial-tests should be made in order to determine the weight of a cubic
3'ard of gravel in place. The amount of water in these tests should, as
nearly as possible, correspond with that in the subsequent samples.
Of all the methods of testing alluvial ground, that by means of
pitting, or shaft-sinking, is the most reliable. Any alluvial ground is
not properly and finally tested without the sinking of at least a few
shafts. As will be pointed out later, drilling, in the writer's estimation,
is only a makeshift, the value of which, aside from preliminary testing,
is dependent upon checking by shafts.
In order to save the handling of excessive material, and to keep down
the cost, the shaft should be as small as possible. In California, Avhere
the ground does not have to be timbered, a size of 2 ft. 3 in. by 4 ft. is
often employed. This gives one cubic yard of material to everj^ three
feet of depth. Where convenient, all of the material is put through a
rocker. Sometimes channels are cut down the sides and the gravel from
the measured cuts is washed. It is hardly necessary to state that gravel
taken from cuts should not be (|nartered down, or 'coned,' as in vein-
sampling, for the gold will be concentrated by each re-handling, and
erroneous results obtained.
Herewith is the working drawing of a rocker, used with excellent
results in prospecting ground. Most rockers, the designs of which have
been published, are too high and too short, and consequently are not
good savers of fine gold.
cost of shaft-sinking, compared with that of drilling, is high.
The
Nevertheless, this high cost is justifiable in consideration of increased
confidence in the accuracy of the results obtained. A shaft not only
determines the value of the gravel, but the character of the ground can
be determined in much greater detail than in case of the drill. Boulders
lying in loose gravel, often missed by the drill, are exposed. Bedrock
can also be cleaned and its character ascertained.
Almost all of the dredging grounds in California have been tested
both before the erection of dredges, and afterward, as a guide to opera-
tion, by the Keystone No. 3 traction-drill. This drill uses a 6-inch
casing and is operated by steam. It weighs about 6 tons, and costs, with
all tools complete, a trifle under $2,000. It operates a string of tools on
a cable attached to a drum, the tools being raised by the pressure of
a walking-beam, and dropped by gravity. The drill and stem weigh
about 800 lb. The crushed core is removed from the casing by means
of a sand-pump of the vacuum type, raised and lowered by an inde-
pendent reel and cable. The present-day practice in drilling with this

GOLD PLACEKS OP CALIFORNIA. 73
maeliine is to drive the casing one or two feet by means of a driving-

block clamped on the drill-stem then by means of the drill to crush the
;
material forced into the pipe, and pnmp it out, leaving a core depend-
ing on the character of the gravel. This core should be of such thickness
as to prevent an inrush of material from below; and yet it should not
be thick enough to form a plug that Avill force away gravel from the
casing wben driving is continued. The nuiterial from the pump is
collected in a box, where it sliould l)e measured, and carefully panned
or rocked afterward. The amount of core that has been pumped from
the pipe is recorded in tlie log, and also the num])er and size of the
'colours,' or specks of gold, as well as the character of the ground.
In California gold is usually classified in three different sizes: the
finest (No. 3), weight about 1 milligramme. Those running from 1 to
5 mg. are classed as No. 2; over 5 mg. as No. 1. The fine colours are
usually aggregated and grouped as No. 3. This method of recording
the approximate value of the various pumpings enables the engineer
definitely to locate his 'pay-streaks.' In Alaska, a different classifica-
tion is used, namely. No. 1, 2, 3, and nuggets; No. 3 is 1 mg. No. 2 is ;
1 mg. and No. 1 is 8 mg., while colours above 10 mg. are called 'nuggets.'
After the hole has reached bedrock (into which it should penetrate),
the casing is pulled by means of what is called a 'pulling-cap.' A cap
screwed on the top of tbe upper casing is hammered upward by means
of a heavy steel bar, which passes through the cap within the pipe, and
is operated by the walking-beam and cable. The operation of pulling
pipe in the Keystone is sometimes serious, consuming a good deal of
time and occasionally resulting in loss of casing, due to the stripping
of the threads.
In drilling witli the Keystone, it is not considered good practice to
drill below the casing, for particles of gold lodging beneath loose flat
rocks, even outside the area of the bore, are shaken down into the pocket
formed by the drill and subsecpiently taken up by the sand-pump. On
the other hand, it is not good practice to have too thick a core in the
pipe, as there is then a tendency to force material to the side of the
path of the descending casing-material, which rightly belongs in the
core. With the Keystone, this usually only happens in light running
ground. As a general rule the tendency of the Keystone is toward an
excess of core.
Employing the outside diametei- of the casing as a basis for calculat-
ing the volume, has been found in practice to give high results. pipe A
formula reducing the value of these results, and based on check sliaft-
tests made by W. H. Radford, has been generally accepted. This
formula reduces the results obtained by the theoretical formula about
14|%. In its simplest form, it is as follows:
,, , ,, -
value of gravel per cu.

-,
yd.^
Value

ofgold^-j
;
Depth of hole
m
obtained x 100
:
-r
feet.

It has been stated already that the Keystone is apt to extract an

excessive core. In order to correct this excess, the value of the gold is
reduced proportionally by the ratio of the number of inches driven in
the 'pay-streak' to tlie number of inches in the excessive core. "When
the excess is in barren inaterial, no correction need be made.
MS/A OMJ
y- -'tr/î^/ -
^f
: ;
Owiug to the fact that the casing reiuaiiis stationary during pumping,
excess core can be accurately measured in the Keystone. In this respect
it differs from the Banka hand-drill, as will be shown later.
At Oroville, California, the Keystone drill has been mployed for so
many years, and so much of the ground tested by it has been subse-
quently dredged, that it is possible to determine within narrow limits
the ratio between actual dredge-recovery and averages indicated by
drilling. Where drilling lias been carefully done, 75 to 80% of the
estimated yield can be recovered by the dredge. This includes all losses
not only those in the tailing, but unrecoverable islands and corners left
behind in the course of operations. In Alaska, however, where the
ground is shallow, the gold coarse, and on a shattered bedrock, dredging
results have usually exceeded the estimated yield, the percentage of
recovery being from 103 to 198. When these high recoveries have been
obtained, tlie dredging depth has always been greater than the drilled
depth, in cases by as much as 30 to 40 per cent.
Alluvial gold is found occurring under such widely different condi-
tions, conditions that aff'ect both drilling and dredging alike, that no
arbitrary factor can be applied in estimating the yield of a deposit from
the results obtained l)y drilling. In general, the choice of any discount
factor must be guided by experience. Special conditions govern each
ease, such as the fineness of the gold, the proportion of clay, the number
of boulders, the method by which the deposit is to be worked, and,
finalh^, thepersonal equation of the drilling-crew.
The need of a portable drill in testing alluvial ground has led to
the adoption of several types of drills operated by hand, some of which
are patterned after the well-digger's tools. Mr. Newton B. Knox had
occasion to test a dredging property, in Korea, that consisted of fine
gravel about 20 ft. deep, resting on a soft clay bedrock. The gold was
concentrated in a narrow streak from 6 to 12 inches thick, resting upon
the bedrock. There being no drills available, one had to be devised on
the spot. Attempts were made to drill by following the Keystone
method, that is, to drive the pipe, break the core, and pump, but this
had to be abandoned owing to the ineffectiveness of the home-made
pump. The following method was finally adopted
Holes were bored in the overburden by means of an auger to a depth
of five or six feet, and a 3|-in. pipe (the only size available) was
inserted. This pipe was shod with a sleeve. A sleeve sawed in half,
and screW'cd on top, served as a driving cap. The pipe was driven into
the ground with a wooden driving-block operated by coolies standing
upon a movable platform supported by ladders. While being driven,
the pipe was rotated by means of wooden clamps or chain tongs. No
attempt was made to pump out the core. The pipe was driven into the
bedrock to a depth of about two feet, after which it was pulled by
means of a wooden tripod and chain-blocks, or block and tackle, the
pipe being rotated during pulling.
The material was then removed from the pipe by means of a long
corkscrew auger. Occasionally the pipe picked up a boulder in its
descent, when the hole had to be abandoned and another started.
Otherwise the drill worked satisfactoril.v. About 175 holes were put
down by this means, wliich gave a fair value to the ground. The owners
of the property afterward had it re-drilled witli a machine of the Banka
:
76 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAt*.
type, and the result of 200 lioles tallied almost exactly with the home-
made drill.
One of the hest-known types of hand-drills that is at present in prac-
tical use is the Banka type, which was invented by a Dutch engineer in
the year 1858 for the purpose of testing tin deposits in the Dutch East
Indies. This drill is at present manufactured under its original name
by a firm in Haarlem, and is also manufactured in the United States
by a New York firm, with some modifications of the type, under the
name of the Empire Drill.
The form usually employed is that of a 4-in. flush- jointed casing
shod with a steel-toothed cutting-shoe. The platform, upon which four
men stand while operating the string of tools, is attached to the top of
the easing. The various tools used in drilling or pumping are raised
and lowered by means of a steel rod 1 in. square, Avhich is jointed in
lengths corresponding with the lengths of casing, which are usually
five feet. The theory of this machine is that the casing will sink under
the combined weight of the men and tools while the platform and easing
are being rotated by either man or horse power. The cutting action of
the revolving shoe, while sinking, is claimed to cut a core which is
representative of the gravel passed through. The results of the writer's
experience with this drill have not been entirely in accordance with the
claims put forward by its American makers and, in fact, difficulties have
been encountered that appear to have been entirely overlooked in the
discussion of the drill in the maker's pamphlets.
One of the chief points of variance is the method of sinking. It is
claimed that the drill will sink largely by rotation alone. In attempt-
ing to sink by this method, and keeping a careful record of the cores
ol)tained results have been as follows
First In ground containing any quantity of gravel about tlie size
:
of a man's fist or over, no progress whatever is made hy pure rotation,

and eventually driving has to be employed.
Second In ground consisting mainly of fine gravel, no progress is
:
made until the pump has reached the bottom of the casing. Then,
while pumping with little or no core, sinking proceeds with fair rapidity,
but in measuring the core obtained it is found to be excessive. For
this reason it Avas observed that good progress can only be made by
rotation when the material is pumped away from under the shoe, a
process which necessarily gives excessive cores. The best progress that
can be made in sinking, consistent with the obtaining of an accurate
core, is made by driving with a battering ram, approximately a foot at
a time. The ram should not be too heavy as better core is obtained with
a light ram.
Another claim made for this drill is that 'Svhen running ground is
encountered with the rotated pipe there is much less danger of getting
an incorrect sample, because the rotated pipe immediately sinks through
the gravel till it strikes solid material." In the writer's experience the
presence of running ground has always made itself felt by an influx
into the pipe and while sinking to more solid material an excess core
;
has always been picked up.

One of the weak features of this drill is the method of removing the
core from the pipe, that is, with a ball-valve pump. In breaking gravel
to any size within the pipe, either by means of a pump or the ordinary
GOLD PLACERS OP CALn<ÔRNlA. 77
breaking-bit, a certain amount of the core is always driven out of the

casing and lost. This results in a deficient core. In shallow gravel this
tendency is more marked than in holes over 20 ft. deep.
Another cause of deficient core is the peculiar shape assumed by a
worn shoe. In contrast with the Keystone shoe, wliich is bevelled toward
the outside and tends to retain its shape, as tlie casing is not rotated,
the shoe of the hand-drill, which is at the start perfectly flush with the
easing inside and out, soon wears to a tapered shape with the greatest
bevel on the outside. This, of course, results in forcing aside material
that properly belongs to the core.
The actual value of all drilling results is entirely dependent upon
the representative nature of the core obtained. If an excess of material
from the productive layer is secured, unless allowance is made for that
excess, the results obtained from the hole will be proportionately high.
A deficient core from the productive layer, on the other hand, gives
results unfair to the ground.
The ordinary method of keeping a core record is to compare the total
measured volume of core obtained, upon completion of the hole, with
the theoretical volume required by a cross-sectional area of the casing
and the depth driven. This practice gives a false sense of accuracy,
because a deficient core at one stage of the drilling is often balanced by
an excessive core at another. If the excess happens to come from the
rich layer, the results will be too high, although the total measured
core checks the theoretical. A
driller, knowing that his core was
deficient at one point could counteract this by deliberately taking an
excess at another, and yet the records would fail to show the incorrect
nature of his drilling.
In order to overcome this difificulty and to keep a record of the cores
obtained at each ])umping, all the material derived from each successive
foot of sinking should be measured carefully in a measuring box and
compared with the theoretical volume, based on the actual sinking of
the casing. Thus at any time it is possil)le to tell whether excessive or
deficient cores are being obtained. The extra work involved in this is
negligible and does not interfere with the work of the panner.
There is undoubtedly a slight expansion of volume of the gravel after
it has been drilled over its natural volume in place. The amount of
expansion of gravel under these conditions, that is, after it has been
broken up, re-deposited under water, and drained, has been determined
in various Avays. To some of the statements made with regard to this
expansion, the writer took exception while prospecting some ground in
Colombia. One of these statements was that gravel that has been
excavated occupies from 30 to 40 per cent more volume than when in
place. This might possibly be true in the case of loose gravel, but for
gravel that is broken up, washed, and laid down again under water, it
is certainly entirely too high. The result of the test made by the writer
in conjunction with' Mr. Knox was as follows:
Viilume of
Volume of eravcl In plaoo
0.48 X 0.78 X 1.37 ft.=0.513 cu. ft._-

0.5 X 0.92 X 1.6 ft.=0.736 cu. ft
0.925 X 0.474 x 1.43 ft.=0.627 cu. ft..
Considering the above tests to be reasonably accurate, it appears that

an ideal working of the drill without excessive or deficient core should
give in ordinary gravel 110 to 115 per cent of the theoretical core.
By careful drilling, the writer has found that from 90 to 100 per cent
of the theoretical value can usually be obtained.
As a result then of employing the theoretical pipe formula and using
the gold recovered from the above amount of material, it is seen that
the calculated results will have been automatically discounted from 10
to 25 per cent. This is proved by the fact that the above tests show
an actual expansion of from 10 to 15 per cent, whereas careful drilling
gives but 90 to 100 per cent of the theoretical, volume. This discount
does for the hand drill what the Radford or Keystone formula does
for the power drill, as the latter formula discounts by nearly 15
per cent.
The formula usually employed in calculating results with the Banka
drill for gold consists in dividing the value of the gold recovered,
multiplied by 240, by the depth of the hole in feet to obtain the value
of the gravel per cubic yard.
The Banka drills have come into vogue for testing gold placers so
recently that the results obtained upon ground that has been subse-
quently dredged are not very extensively proved. When figuring the
actual dredgable value of the ground, it seems advisable to employ at
least the same discount of 20 to 25 per cent on results obtained with
the hand drill, as is usual in the case of the Keystone.
In comparing hand and power drills it seems logical to state that
each type of drill has its own particular scope. The Keystone is to be
preferred in places where the ground is heavy, where roads are fairly
good, where labor is expensive, although skilled, and where repair shops
are available. These conditions exist in most parts of California, and
the power drill is employed extensively there. On the other hand, where
transportation is a problem, where labor is cheap, and the ground is
fairly light, the hand drill seems to be the logical instrument. The
main advantage of the Keystone over the Banka type is that it can drill
stiffer ground and deeper holes. It requires for operation a jjanner, a
driller, and a fireman, as well as a man and team to haul water, fuel and
casing. Its divsadvantages are its higher cost, its weight, its liability
to expensive repairs and its cumbrousness in moving over heavy, wet, or
rugged ground. In pulling pipe, the threads are often stripped, result-
ing in loss of casing, and at times the operation of pulling is a long and
tedious one. The former difficulty could readily be obviated by the
adoption of flush joints and heavier threads.
The Banka type of hand drill is less expensive it is light, weighing
;
about a ton, and is portable. It requires few, if any, repairs, and with
the exception of the renewal of shoes, not many extra parts. The drill
requires a panner, four men on the platform, and a man and horse for
motive power. If a horse is not available, men must be employed for
the work of turning. In deep holes it usually requires at least eight
men to turn the drill. In Colombia, in using this type of drill, the
writer found that a crew of 12 men afforded an opportunity for the men
on the platform to change frequently with the men on the rotating
sweeps. It would have been impossible to work one crew of four men
continuously on the platform for ten hours per day, but by working
them in alternating shifts so that they were only working on the plat-
form for one hour out of three, mueh l)etter speed was o])taine(l.
As an illustration of hand-drill limitations, Mr. Newton H. Knox
speaks of testing some ground in southern Siberia. The deposit con-
sisted of loose gravel from 9 to 15 ft. in dej)th, eontaining some large
stones and resting on a hard upturned shattered sandstone bedrock. Tiie
gold was exceptionally coarse, miggets as large as peas l)eing common,
and it occurred generally deep within the crevices, joints, and bedding-
planes of the bedrock, quite out of reach of the drill. Some of the gold
was found beneath boulders and bedded in the ground and lying upon
bedrock. As would be expected, the deposit was patchy. Fifteen holes,
systematically laid out, were drilled and they gave discouraging and
erratic residts. To test as far as possible the reliability of the drills a
series of holes was put down across a valley midway between shafts that
had been sunk dui'ing the winter. These shafts were fifty feet apart
and had given results of 20(^ to $1.20 per cubic yard. Though the holes
were sunk in the bedrock, the drill failed to find any gold whatever, and
consequently this method of testing was discontinued.
Another type of drill in more or less common use on the Pacific coast
and in Alaska, which obviates some of the difficulties of the heavi(^r
Keystone power drill is that known as the Union. This drill is driven
by a light gasoline engine and is mounted in such a way that it can be
readily transported on a wheeled frame. This drill has been extensively
used in Alaska and has given very satisfactory results where the ground
is not too deep. It will undoubtedly drill ground which is much
heavier and stiffer than can be drilled satisfactorily by the Banka type.
While in actual operation the Keystone drill sinks at a faster rate
than the hand drill and yet. if the tinu^ lost in moving is considered, the
hand drill averages about the same number of feet per day. In ordinary
L'ravel two 60-ft. holes a week is a good average for the hand drill. The
pulling of the casing in one of tiiese holes ordinarily requires only about
an hour.
In Keystone drilling in California and Oregon, in ordinarily stiff'
gravel, about 30 ft. per day is a arood average, l)ut the time lost in
pulling and moving reduces the weekly average to about the same as
that of the hand drill.
In general the Keystone, the Union, and the Empire or Banka types
are standard drills which are excellent in their respective fields, but
each one retpiires for careful work considerable experience in operation.
In order that confidence may be placed in any work done by drilling, it
should be done c( nscientiously and cores obtained should be normal and
representative, and the i)ipe formulas used should l)e ajiplied with dis-
cretion. In the writer's opinion, at best all drilling is more or less of
a make-shift and of far more use in determining bedrock contlitions
than in determining the values in the groiuul. Fer the latfei- purjiose
shaft sinking is far more accurate when the (puintity of material taken
out from the shaft is washed throu.iih a sluice box and the results
obtained from this are later checked by chaiuiel cuts made on all four
sides of the shaftand sampled independently.
The number and distribution of holes and .shafts depend chiefly on
the character of the deposit and the distribution of the gold. Of c(mrse
the more holes per acre, the more aeeui-ate will l)e the results, but also
C 2SC03
:
the greater will be the cost of the examination. In tlie Oroville district,
where tlie gold was more or less uniformly distributed through the
gravel, as soon as the character of the deposit was known, one hole per
acre was considered sufficient. In new and untried districts or where
the ground shows a tendency toward spottiness, tlie holes should be
closer togetlier.
Where gold occurs in channels, holes are placed at regular inter-
tlie
vals from 200 to 500 ft. apart, with the intermediates put down wher-
ever necessary to define the limits of the channel. The rows are usually
started 1000 ft. apart, but this distance is determined by local condi-
tions, and should be left to the discretion of the engineer in charge.
It is often possible to segregate and reject low-grade or barren areas,
thereby reducing the yardage, but bringing up the average value for
the remaining ground. In this way sufficient yardage may be proved to
justify an installation, which would l)e impracticable if the whole was
taken into consideration. Plaving proved the yardage and determined
the character of the gravel, the type and size of installation can be
decided. From operations under similar conditions, the working cost
per yard can be fairly accurately estimated, and consequently the
expected yearly profits can be determined within reasonable limits.
Knowing the total life of the i:)roperty, the profits to be derived, and
the cost of equipment and installation, its present worth can be calcu-
lated. Comparing this with the cost of the property, its value as an
investment may be reasonably approximated.
In all prospecting work, the factors of most importance are the experi-
ence, judgment, and discretion of the examiug engineer. A
wide range
of experience will often be of more value in the interpretation of
results obtained from an expensive drilling or shaft sinking campaign
than any other factor in the examination, and the use of judgment in
interpreting these results will often mean the difference between the
al'>solute and unrecoverable loss of a large investment, or the profitable
employment of the same in insuring a long and useful life for the
property under consideration.
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Ilydrniilic Mining. Report U. S.Mng. Commission. Mining & Scientific Press,
beginning; Nov. 28, 1874, and running contimiously through
May 1, 1875.
Hydraulic Elevators. Mining & Scientific rres.s, .Tuly 21, 1877.
Hydraulic Mining. Mining tfc Scientific Press, beginning Oct. 13. 1877, and running
continuously thi'ough Dec. 22. 1S77.
Dry Placer Amalgamator. Mining & Scientific Press, Nov. 10, 1877.
First Hydraulic Elevator. Mining & Scientific Press, Nov. G, 1880.
Drift M'ining. Mining & Scientific Press, Jan. 7, 1<8S2; Jan. 14, Jan. 21. Jan. 28
and Feb. 4. 1SS2.
Hydraulic Elevators. Mining & Scientific Press, Mar. 11, 1S82 ; April 4, 180G
Dec. I, ]8r4: Sept. 20, 1800.
Dredging. Mining & Scientific Press. Nov. m. 1895: Sej^t. 4. 1807; Nov. 13, 1897;
July 8, 3899: Jan. 27. 190O: Feb. 3, 1900; Dec. 15, 1909.
Hydraulic Mining. Mining & Scientific Pres.s, Apr. 10. 1897 to June 12, 1897.
Sept. 18. 1897; Doc. IS, 1897; Dec. 25-, 1897. January 1, 1898
to Feb. 5, 1898. .^larch 25. 1899; Mar. 10, 1900; June 14, 1902.
I'lacer Mining by Machinery. Mining & Scientific Press, Feb. 5, 1898.
Wing Dams. Mining & Scientific Press, Mar. 5, 1898.
Sampling Placers. Mining & Scientific I'ress June 17 1890; June 24, 1899; June 27,
1^)03; July 11, 1903; Feb. 3, 190G ; Oct. 20, 190<k
GOLD PliACERS OF CALII-'ORNIA. 81
>\'oikius ('onioiit Gnivcls. IMinina; & Scioiilitic I'ross, Oct. 27, I'.XXK
Placer Mining Methods. Miuiiip; & Scientific Tress, Mar. 21>, 1902; April 5, 1002;
April 12, 1902.
Hydraulic Mining. Minin;? & Scientific Tress, Nov. IG, 1901 Dec. 6, 1902 Aug. 5, ; ;
liX).-); Aug. 12, 1W7}; Fob. 14, l9iJ3 Apr. 18, 1903.
;
Drift Mining in Cement Gravels. Mining & Scientific Tress, Jan. 3, 1903; Jan. 10,
11X)3.
Ditches. Mining & Scientific Tress, July IS, 1903.
(,'entrifugal I'unips in Ilydrauiicking. ]\lining &
Scientific Tress, April 2, 1902.
Flume Construction. Alining fc Scientific Tress, Oct. 22, IIKM.
Drag Line Work. Mining iV: Scientific Tress, Dec. 17, 1904.
Ilydrauiicking witii I'umps. [Mining & Scientific I'ress, May 12, 190G.
Ilydrauiicking Bedrock Cuts. Mining iV: Scientific Tress, Dec. 1, 190().
Loss of Cold in I'lacer Mining. Mining & Scientific Tress, Feb. 23, 1907.
I'ump Sluicing for Gold. Mining <V: Scientific Tress, Feb. 13, 1909. July 3, i;X)9
Nov. 11, 1911.

Ditches. Mining & Scientific Tress, Mar. (>, 1909; Api'il S. 1911.
Trospecting I'lacers. Mining & Scientific I'ress, May 22, 1909; Jan. 7, 1911; Jan.
28. 1911 Feb. 'ITk 1911 July G, 1912 May 9, 1914 Oct. 10,
; ; ; ;
1914; July 4, 1914.

Nature of Gold in AUuvials. Mining & Scientific Tress, May 29, 1909.
Art of Tiping. Mining & Scientific Tress, Nov. 13. 1909.
Ilydrauiicking Tipe Clay Gravels. Mining & Scientific Tress, Jan. 22, 1910.
Stacker for Ilydrauiicking. Mining & Scientific Tre.ss, Feb. 19, 1910.
Hydraulicking in California. Mining & Scientfic Tress, May 21, 1910; Dec. 2, 1911.
Dry Tlacer Machinery. Mining & Scientific Tress, Nov. 12, 1910; July 13, 1912.
Losses in Hydraulic Mining. Mining & Scientific Tress, Jan. 21, 1911.
Elevating with Ruble Grizzly. Mining & Scientific Tress, April 13, 1912.
I*ay Streak in Tlacers. Mining Scientific Tress, .June 1, 1912.
<Si:
Stacking Hydraulic Tailings. Mining & Scientific Tress, Aug. 24, 1912.
Thawing Frozen Ground. Mining & Scientific Tress Jan. 17, 1914.
Undercurrents. Mining & Scientific Tress, June 5, 1915; May 1, 1915.
Trospecting Wet Tlacers. Mining & Scientific Tress, Jan. 9, 1915.
Gold Saving on Dredgers. Mining & Scientific Tress, Aug. 5, 1916.
Self Shooter. Mining & Scientific Tress. Mar 17, 1917
Timbering in Deep Tlacers. Mining & Scientific Tress, Aug. 11, 1917.
Dams. Trans. Am. Soc. Civil Engrs., Volume 57.
Log Dam Construction. Eng. & Miu, Journal. Nov. 2S, 1896; June 17, 1899.
Cement Gravel Mill Eng. & Miu. Journal, May 1, 1897.
Notes on Hydraulic Mining. p]ng. & Min. Journal, Oct. 30, 1897.
Sweeny Tlacer Machine. Eng. & Min. Journal, Mar. 2G, 1898.
Evans Hydraulic Elevator. Eng. & Min. Journal, May 14, 1808.
Sampling Tlacers by Shaft. Eng. & Min. Journal. July 29. 1899.
Mining Lowgrade Tlacers. Eng. & Min. Journal, Nov. 11. 1899; Nov. 30. 1901.
Tump for Ilydrauiicking. Eng. & Min. .Journal, March 7, 1903.
Hydraulic Mining, lûg. & Min. Journal. May li), 1906; June 2, 190G June 9, ;
190(;; Nov. l(t. T.XIG; Nov. 17, 190G Dec. 2G, 1908; Apr. 8.
;
1911; Mar. 13. 1915.

Trospecting. Eng. & Min. Journal. Dec. 21. 1!X)7 Dec. 12, 1908; May 1, 1909;
;
Mar. 12, 1910; Apr. 5, 1913; July 24, 1915; Aug. 21, 1915.
Ruble Elevator. Eng. & Min. Journal, Nov. 7, 1908; Dec. IS, 1909.
Saving Fine Gold. Eng. & Min. Journal, Aug. 26, 1911; Apr. 25, 1914.
Dry Washing. Eng. & Min. Journal, Oct. 17, 1914; Jan. 23, 191,5.
Scraper for Gravel Mining. Eng. & Min. .lournal, Aug. 14, 1915.
rk)ld Recovery in Tlacers. Eng. & Min. Journal, Sept. 18, 1915.
Hydraulic Mining. Second Annual Report. Cal. State Mining Bureau. Ninth
Annual Iteport, Cal State Mining Bureau.
Drift Mining. Eighth Annual Report, Cal. State Mining Burcaii.
Hydraulic Dredging. Trans. An>. Inst. Min. Engrs.. Volume 40. Also Vol. 6.
Saving Fine Gold. Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Engrs., Volume IS.
Gold Dredging in California. Cal. Slat(> .Min. Bur., T.uUetins No. 36 and .\o. 57.
82 CATJPORNr.V STATE MINING BUREAU.
ClIAl'TKR 111.
PLACER RESOURCES.
The principal gold placers of ('alifoniia are located in the eastern
half of the State in the Sierra Nevada Mountains hetween Lassen
('Onnty on the north and Mariposa County on tlie south. It is from
this area that the g-reater l)ulk of California gold has heen produced and
will he produced in the future. For this reason a map showing the
location of the auriferous channels of this region has been prepared -in
considerable detail.
On the other hand, it nmst not be assumed that all California's gold
has been produced from this area. A small proportion of it came from
the dry placers in the south, and some of it from the upper section of
the Kern River, as well as from various outlying districts in the Sierras
and in the Coast Range. Second only in importance to the Sierra
region is that portion of the State embraced in Del Norte, Humboldt,
Siskiyou, and Trinity Counties, drained for the most part by tributaries
of the Klamath River. The Smith River in Del Norte County also con-
tributed a portion of the total.
Starting, then, in the northen portion of the State, a discussion of this
region is the first that will be taken up. Although the Smitli River is
not a tributary of the Klamatli, it will also l)e included in the same
general heading.
Section I.
KLAMATH RIVER REGION.

Certain geological concepts should be clearly outlined before taking
up the discussion of this region in detail, in order not only to consider
the origin of the gold in this region, but also to distinguish ])etween
two distinct types of auriferous deposits which predominate; namely,
the Cretaceous shore-line or conglomerate deposits; and the fluviatile
deposits of the same period, together with all secondary concentrations
of the same.
During the Cretaceous period, when the shore-line of the ocean
extended east of the chain of islands, which is now the Coast Range,
and its waters beat against the foothills of what is now the Sierra
Nevada Range, there existed an island of almost continental dimensions
close off the shore, which embraced in area territory which is now
included in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Del Norte, and
Tehama Counties in California, as well as a large portion of soutli-
western Oregon.
The shore-line of this island on the west, to a great degree, coincided
with the present western coast line. Starting at Gold Bluff, its course
can be traced northerly nearly to Requa, where it swings northeasterly
and crosses the upper portion of Smith River; thence going northerly
to about the line of the Rogue River in Oregon thence easterly toward
;
Grants Pass, and southerly down toward Cottonwood Creek and Henley
in California; thence still further southerly down the Shasta Valley
to Yreka, where a turn southeasterly carries it across Shasta County
to Redding and almost down to Red Bluff; thence northwesterly again
through Salt Creek and out to Big Lagoon and up to Gold Bluff' again.
GOI.D PI.ACERS OP CALIFORNIA. 83
The draiiiajjfe of this island was largely expressed in two rivers; one
flowing northerly, and the otlier sontherly. These gravels have been
classed as those of the "second period of erosion." The southward
flowing stream can be traced from the upper Trinity, through ^Nliners-
ville and the Weaverville Basin, out by way Df La Grange to Hayfork
and Hyampom. The northward flowing stream can be traced from the
Salmon River in Siskiyou County, through ("rapo Meadows and Portu-
guese (,'reek, on the Klamath, to the head of the Illinois River in
Oregon, and thence out by way of Briggs Creek and Galice Creek to the
northern shore-line. In addition to this, there were coastal streams of
minor importance, the largest of which corresponded in location to the
present drainage system of Clear Creek, whose ancient delta is expressed
at Igo and Ono.
The shore-line gravels can be clearly traced through Siskiyou and
Shasta counties, and have already received considerable discussion,
notably in Mr. Russell Dunn's article on the "Auriferous Conglomerate
in California," in the Twelfth Annual Report of the State Mineralogist
of California. Pôr many years this shore-line was regarded as a true
river channel, whose behavior occasioned great confusion but when its
;
true character as a succession of coastal river deltas was recognized,

the distribution and manner of occurrence of its auriferous portions
was much clarified. Where it has been crossed by more recent river
systems, they have been to a large extent enriched thereby notably in
;
the case of the Smith River in Del Norte County and that of Cotton-
wood Creek in Siskiyou Count.y. The fact that in many places thin
beds of Cretaceous and Eocene sandstone overly the conglomerates has
led to some confusion. This merely proves, however, that intermittent
subsidences, taking place after the river deltas had been formed for
long periods and the shifting beds of the rivers had distributed their
burden of gravel, have covered this coastal area for considerable depths.
In many places this conglomerate belt can be found resting directly on
Cretaceous deposits, although the early rocks are not far beneath. The
presence of well defined rims in a few places indicates a complete sub-
mergence of the coastal rivers by this subsidence as the coast line
receded.
The general strike of the axis of the Coa.st Range through Del Norte
and Humboldt counties is northwest and southeast, with a south-
westerly dip as the crest of the range is nearest to the eastern slope.
The Tertiary rocks preponderate over those of the Cretaceous. From
Re(|ua northerly to the extreme end of the State, the country^ is very
rugged and covered with forests, the rocks greatl.y resembling those of
the Sierras. The gravels of the rivers carry both gold and platinum
values. In this northern region serpentine is the principal rock. Perido-
tite is also foiuul in places. The greater part of the geological forma-
tion of the Smitli River country is composed of sedimentary rocks of
Tei'tiary and Cretaceous age. Apparently, though there are granite out-
croppings, it does not form the axis of the main Coast Range. In the
western portion of this country- sedimentary rocks are i)revalent,
although toward the east granite forms the nucleus of most of the
ranges. The slates carry thin trains of (juartz which are often rich
in gold.
Almost all of the gold-bearing gravels of the Smith River Basin

contain black sands which carry some platinum. The beach sands also
carry values in gold and platinum.
The Cretaceous shore-line, carrying on from Hayfork, hit the present
coast-line somewhere nortti of Trinidad, turning north by way of Gold
Blutf. It passes over the Klamath east of Requa and runs northerly
through Del Norte County across the Smith River, crossing it on both
the south and middle forks. The black sands of the coast in this region
have been a field of investigation for many years, containing platinum
and a very fine comminuted gold. Wherever the shore conformation
and the direction of wind and tide have been right, there has been a
considerable concentration of both gold and platinum. A plant built
two miles south of Crescent City on a so-called magnetic repulsion
prinicple proved a complete failure. The plant was located just back
of the shore-line and consisted of a suction pipe, a convej'or to the
plant, a large area of aluminum plates with riffles, a second area of
small aluminum plates similar to the first, and a third metal plate of
unknown composition, together with electrical equipment for charging
the plates. The sand was delivered from the .suction pipe line to a
revolving screen. The sand from the screen was hauled up an incline
to the top of the treatment plant where water was added in sufficient
quantity to give it flowing properties, four thousand gallons of water
per minute being used. The sand and the water flowed over the riffle
area at the same time that an alternating current of electricity was
passed through the plates. The black sands were supposed to be
repelled, leaving the gold and platinum in a concentrated condition.
Theoretically, a good extraction was supposed to be made, but prac-
tically and conunercially, the plant was a total failure.
At Gold Blufi: the steady erosion and concentration of the Cretaceous
shore-line resulted in values which in the earlier days permitted carry-
ing the sands out by mule loads for treatment. A shovelling plant was
later put up which was unsuccessful, as tlie thin streak of auriferous
sand was covered by too great an overburden of barren material. The
same thing occurred at Big Lagoon. The Cretaceous shore-line, crossing
by Salt Creek over to Big Lagoon and running north along the coast
to Gold Bluff, turns northerly and crosses the Klamath above Requa.
From here it runs northeast to Smith River. The region between the
south and middle forks of Smith River has large areas of semi-cemented
gravel of low tenor, in places concentrated by recent streams. The
commercial value is not very great, although deposits cover large areas.
At Harris Flat, between upper and lower Coon mountains, at Big
Flat and on the ridge between Hurdy Gurdy Creek and Gordon Creek,
the gravel has been prospected Avith little encouragement. It is situated
from 2000 to 3500 feet in elevation and bas been prospected to a depth
of over 70 feet without reaching bedrock.
At Rattlesnake and Little Rattlesnake mountains a deposit of large
acreage exists which has been prospected to a depth of 300 feet. This
shows a very low gold content. The gravel seems to be of three different
ages, and the shore-line has probably changed at least three different
times. Each stratum of gravel has a different character of gold. The
only commercial jirnducer of this section was Big Flat. This paid well
at one time ])ut the pay gravel has lonj< since been worked out. Big
Flat was undoubtedly enrielied by the concentration of hioher gravels.
Small bars along the north, the middle and the south forks of Smith
River have been worked and there is much gravel left tliat is of doubtful
value. The south fork was the richest because its drainage has cut all
of the high shore gravels the most freciucntly. At the junction of the
north and middle foi'ks of Smith Kiver there is a large bar with very
heavy wash and very light gold content. At the junction of Smith
River and ^lyrtle Creek a good bar was mined in the earlier days but
was probal)ly locally enriched, as Myrtle Creek has been the best of any.
It was prol)ably fed from local ledges and stringers. As high as $1,100
has been taken out in one piece on Myrtle Creek. Practically all of the
bars are well worked out at present. Craig Creek has produced both
platinum and gold for many years and some ground still remains on it.
Monkey Creek has produced heavy gold and still has some unworked
ground on it. ]\Iill Creek and Clark Creek were also worked consider-
al)ly in the early days. Clark Creek is reputed to have i)aid as high as
$70 per man per day. This is a concentration of the old shore gravels.
The mines of the Smith River were mostly small hydraulic proper-
ties where one or two small giants were used during the winter months.
In many instances a plain fire hose and nozzle were used on the gravel
banks, and the water collected from the gulches in the rainy season
was stored in small reservoirs.
This country is accessible mainly from Trinidad northerly along the
coast by wagon road and also from Grants Pass by wagon road. There
are no railroads at present constructed through the county, and the
distributing point at Crescent City is only reached by small steamers
and schooners from the south. The principal mines of the district are
the Aurora Hydraulic Mine, located at French Hill; the Dr. Young
^[ine. also located in the French Hill district the Dave Savoy ]N[ine in
;
the French Hill district; the Elkhorn Mine, located at the mouth of
Patrick Creek; the French Hill Mine in the district of the .same name:
the George Washington, situated on Monkey Creek; the George Cook
]\rine on the middle fork of Smith River; the Kaus ]\Iine, situated in
the Craig Creek mining district the Myrtle Creek ]\[ine, situated in the
;
district of the same name ; the Monkey Creek ^Mine, situated in the
^[onkey Creek mining district; the Xels Christensen ]\Iine, situated near
the junction of the south and middle forks of Smith River; the Oak
Flat Mine in the Patrick Creek district, and the Walter Cook Mine in
the French Hill district.
The ])rincipal water supi)ly for mining pur})oses comes from Patrick
Creek, Craig Creek, JMonkey Creek, the south and middle forks of
Smith River, Myrtle Creek, and Shelly Creek.
In general, the gravels of Del Norte County are no longer of great
economic imjôrtance, their tenor beiiur too low for operation on any
large scale. There are. however, possibilities for the small miner content
with making moderate wages. The beach sands of Del Norte County
present a pi'oblem on which hundreds of thousands of dollars have been
spent with little successful practical result. It is possible that some
ineans of extracting the gold and platinum, which undoubtedly exist
in these deposits, may yet be found, but to the writer's knowledge there
is at present no way of making them commercially productive.
<S() CAI.IKOHNIA STAT1-: MI.\L\(i BlUKAU.
Klainatli River and its tributaries liavc ]n\m the most important
agents in the distril)ution of placer gold tlirougli Siskiyou (Uuinty. The
lengtli of the Klamath is about 362 miles, l)ut only the i)ortion from
Honibrook down to tiie mouth of the river is of interest to the placer
miner. In tliis section gold is found wherever the river has deposited
gravel, whethei- it he in the old channel several hundred feet above the
present stream or in tiie present river ])ottom. l-Jelow the mouth of
the Scott River the Klamath has cut through the northern end of the
Coast Range practically at right angles to its trend. This portion is
marked by very steep and rugged canyons with occasional flats and
high bars, in which the river has meandered in f(?rmer ages.
Conunencing at the mouth of the Klamath River, the first natural
division with regard to phy.sical characteristics is from Requa up to
Tule Rapids. From Tule Rapids to Weitchpec the river increases its
grade, but from Tide Rapids down to the mouth it is marked by a much
lighter grade and by relatively smaller gravel. From AVeitchpec down
the lower Klamath is practically virgin grou.nd so far as the placer
miner is concerned. One reason for this is that a large portion of the
river is still in the Iloopa Indian Reservation, and has not as yet been
opened for prospecting. As stated, above Tule Rapids the bars are not
so frequent and the wash is fairly heavy. Below Tule Rapids and
running to Requa is an area which still has some promise for prospect-
ing and exploitation by large capital seeking investment in placer
mines. The only means of access at present is by motor boat up the
Klamath River from Requa.
Extending from the low bars hundred
of the river back for several
feet above the river are high bars which carry gold to a depth of a
hundred feet and over. In most cases water would have to be brought
from tributary creeks of the Klamath for several miles. Below the falls
at Tule Rapids the wash in the present channel and in the low bars
becomes much lighter. At -Johnson's Bar there is a long bar with
about 50 feet dump into the present river, which was worked for many
years to a depth of one hundred feet by the ow^ners, who were Indian
allottees, in a very snuill way by water that was l)rought from Pequam
Creek. This bar is said tr> have averaged about 25 cents a yard. The
wash is very light. There is a high bar above this of about the same
depth. From here on up to Tule Rapids bars are frequent on both
sides of the river, and of such a nature as to be possible hydraidic
ground.
There isnnicli ground below here which seems to have some possi-
bilities fordredging purposes; notably near Johnson's, at Blue Creek,
at Blakes, at Terwah, and from Terwah down almost to Requa. The
wash appears to be light and there should l)e some values in the ground
which averages around a hundred feet deep. If it contains su.fficient
value, this ground could best be wôrked by one large' company which
could control all of the bars and work directly up the river. The allot-
ments can l)e purchased by consent of the allottees, together with that
of the Indian Agency. This consent could probably only be gained by
the transportation and consolidation of all of the local Indian families
to a few bars on the river where they could establish a permaiuMit
dwelling place. One of the large bars might be set nside for a settle-
ment. If proi)erly cultivated, any one of the hirgei- bars could support
(iOM) l'l;AC'ERS OF CAl.IFOUMA. 87
the entire i)()i)ulatioii. Graveyards would, ol* eourse, have to Ix;

respected. This is perhaps an opportunity worth investigating, as
there is very much virgin ground of known richness which has only
remained unworked by reason of the fact that it was in Indian hands.
Owing to tile fact that little liydraulic mining was done in the early
days in tliis section, the bars between Jolnison's and Weitchpee are siill
mostly unprospccted. In oidy tliree bars on the lower Klamath has any
work been done, and records of this work are absolutely lackir^g. These
l)ars were at Johnson's, at Pequam Creek and below Orcutts ranch.
The best water right in this section is from Perûam Creek. Dnmp is
good all the wa\' down. Water can also be obtained from Blvie (,'reek.
Since early days this has been Indian territory, and the bars liave been
alloted to the Indians for use and for their liomes, hence, mining has
been forbidden, and for this reason there has been very little prospect-
ing done. Areas on these bars should l)e segregated 1)y drill pros-
pecting, and no attempt should be made to mine all the bars, as there
is undoubtedly much of the ground that would not pay.
For hydraulic mining many high channels appear to be left, at
elevations approximating a thousand feet above the river. Some of
these prospect very well. AVater and dump are good and the bars ai-e
not heavy.
Most of the lower j)ortion of the river is in Franciscan slate and
sandstone. Shortly below Tnle Rapids these are replaced by the Paleo-
zoic metamorphics. The bars of the tributary creeks do not carry much
gold. It is only in the old channels of the Klamath that good values
appear to be found; although there are no mines operating in this
vicinity. From Tule Rapids to Weitchpee the Paleozoic rocks are pre-
dominant. Weitchpee is at the junction of the Trinity River with the
Klamath. From here on up the grade becomes steeper, and the bars arc
less fre(|uent. The water supply is less from Weitchpee down to Tule
Rapids than it is from Tule Rapids down to the mouth.
At AVeitchpec there is a long high bar on the Klamath on the Indian
Reservation, wdiich might pay to work by hydraulic mining. It has an
e.xcellent dump and water could be brought from Bluff Crtn^k or from
Hopkins Creek on the south side of the river. Below IIo[)kins Creek is
a ])laster bar with the front rim gone, and a very heavy top, which has
been worked unsuccessfully. At Bluff Creek and above at Big Bar a
high bar was worked unsuccessfully.
It is rei)orted that the saving was very pour and that much gold was
run over. At two or three small bars on both sides of tlie river in this
vicinity mining is still being carried on in a small way. At French
Bar much money was taken out in the early days. Below this, at Red
Cap Creek on the south side, is a bar which might i)ay to work from its
favorable location, gcod dump and excellent water right. It is al)out
fifty acres in extent. Below Camji Creek are low bars which look irood
but have poor duni]). The Salstrom Place and the Wildei" Ranch have
a large area of workable ground which should be good if properly
prospected first, in order to direct the mining work intelligently. At
Orleans Bar is a large area of unworked ground o)i both sides of the
rivci-. On the north side llie fnrit ground has ix'cii worked otf. Ou
the south side of the y'ww the old Perch .Mine was the best paying-
gi'ouud and consi{|er;ible tironnd is left; but the l)ars of tlu' Orleans
Company, botli the high and the low, contain a much larger area of
gravel, averaging about ten cents, witli a very good dump. The water
is brought from Camp Creek. There are some bars on Red Cap Creek
and also on Camp Creek which have paid in a small way. Outside of
this, few of the creek bars have paid to work. This country is almost
altogether in the Paleozoic metamorphies. The grade is much steeper
and the boulders are heavier. On the other hand, there is much more
Avater for working purposes to be taken from Hopkins Creek, Bluif
Creek, Camp Creek, Slate Creek and Red Cap.
The lower portion of the river is only accessible by trail or by boat,
but the region from Weitchpee up is accessible by wagon road for
about seven months of the year from the coast. Most of the ground
above Weitchpee would only be suitable for hydraulicking, on account
of the size of the boulders and the character of the bedrock.
Above Orleans are a few small bars between there and Somes. These
are mostly unimportant, but some of them have been worked in a small
way. The Bondo Bar was worked in the early days and paid very well.
The Reese Ranch and Fish Ike's place are bars of fairly good extent.
The Perch property, now belonging to Mr. Young, still contains much
good ground in the form of a high bar. The Nelson property contains
at least a mile of the old channel of the Klamath River with two or
three benches on it. It is said to prospect well in places. It has a dump
of from 500 to 600 feet, but the water problem is almost unsolvable.
Water would have to be brought all the way from Rock Creek or
Dillon Creek, as both the Reynolds and the Ten Eyck Creek water rights
are not very large. The installation would certainly be very expensive.
The Hickok Mine on and near Ten Eyck Creek extends about half a
mile along the river. Here there is very heavy wash and a very good
dump. There are several small bars on the south side of the river
above here all the way to Farnums Ranch. The Sphinx Bar opposite,
has a low and a high bar on a short turn of the river. At Harley's and
at the Lord Mine on the opposite side of the river is a short turn, with
at least two courses of the Klamath upon it. Much gravel is left at the
Lord Mine, but it apparently could not have been pay. From Harley's
Ranch up the river for two miles are numerous large, high bars with
considerably heavy wash. There is excellent dump but not much water.
On the north side of the river, below Rock Creek and extending out
above Dillon Creek, is an almost unbroken bar which has been slightly
worked on the front rim. The water right and dump are excellent.
At Blue Nose and one other bar below, there is considerable gravel that
is reported as of only moderate value, although it has been worked for
many years. At Thomas Ranch and at Aubery's, as well as at Elliotts
and Cottage Grove, a good deal of gravel is still left as both high and
low bars. IMost of the above mentioned gravel will run around ten
cents a yard, and would have to be handled on a large scale in order
to make any profit. There are spots where there is richer ground.
This country is practically all in the Paleozoic metamorphies. Most of
the hydraulic mines of the Klamath River were in this section. It is
now accessil)le by road. Somes Bar on the Salmon River, near its
junction with the Klamath, is the center of a gravel regi(m which will
l)e discussed under the head of Salmon River. The country from
Orleans to Somes is a pocket and stringer country in which many
small quartz mines have operated. Prospect Hill above Orleans has
contributed much by its erosion to the richness of the l)ars of the
Klamath River. The principal water rights in this section are from
Rock Creek and from Dillon Creek.
Immediately above Elliott's is a low l)ar and then a high one. Alxmt
three miles above is a long low bar. From liere on there is nothing
until Crawford's Creek is reached. Beyond this there is a series of
high and low bars: some of them well worked and of considerable
extent, until about nine miles below Happy Camp. The Siskiyou i\Iin-
ing Company worked a large area in this section. Most of the gravel
has a good dump and fairly heavy wash. A high bar extends on the
east bank of the river for several miles below Happy Camp, which has
only been worked intermittently. It has a dump of 300 to 400 feet.
Two miles below Happy Camp and extending from six to eight miles
above is a series of high and low bars of considerable extent. Tiie Davis
or Van Brunt i\Iine and the Siskiyou Mining Company are the principal
companies that have operated here. On the low bars, if the gravel were
prospected sufiticiently, there is an excellent chance to vise a Ruble
grizzly here, as there are many long, low flats with little dump which
might pay to work. At Happy Camp and south, on both sides of
Indian Creek, is a low bar which might be worth prospecting. There is
about ten feet of gravel, but it is said to be very good on bedrock.
There is little dump here. About five miles above Happy Camp there
is an opportunity to turn the Klamath River by one and a quarter
miles of tunnel and secure sixt.y feet of drop for power purposes.
Power for driving this tunnel could be furnished by the flume of the
Siskiyou Mining Company. This will leave nearly seven miles of the
Klamath channel dry for mining in the summer. As this portion of
the river has never been wing-dammed, it might contain consideralde
gold. The creeks in this neighborhood have not been worked much.
Indian Creek, which comes into the river near Hapi)y Camp, Avas very
spotty. The gravel has a low content, but pocket mines and hill sluic-
ing operations, such as at Classic Hill, are reported to have been very
good. Below Happy Camp the principal water rights are from Clear
Creek and Crawford Creek.
Titus Creek, Elk Creek and Independence Creek, all heading on the
^larble ^lountain side, have been worked to a considerable extent, but
there are still numerous small bars on these creeks which miglit be
attractive to the small miner and prospector. In this i-e.giou we i)ass
into the older metamorphic belt which has been classified as pre-
Cambrian. From Happy Camp to Hamburg Bar these rocks are pre-
dominant. The principal enrichment of the placers in this region nnist
therefore have come from the erosion of the gravels of the second cycle,
which have already been mentioned in the first part of this chnpter.
In the neighborhood of Portuguese Cr('(>k traces can be found of the
crossing of the old noi'thwai'd flowing channel of the Cretaceous island
which had its outlet in Oregon on Galice Creek. The ])rincipal water
i-ights of this section come from Grider Creek and Thomi)son Creek,
as well as Seiad.
Six miles from Happy Camp by road and about eleven miles on the
course of the river gravel l)ars ])egin airain at or near the AVonds ^line
below Thompson Creek. From here on the gravel is intermittent with
:
!)() C'AIJI'OHNIA STATK MINING BUREAU.
very lieavy wash all the way to Seiad. The Seiad Valley appears to he a
possible dredging area of several hundred acres in extent. Immediately
above Seiad is a hydranlie liar which has not yet l)een worked out. In
fact, from Seiad up to Hamburg is an almost unbroken section of bars
of fairly good dump. There are high and low bars on both sides of the
Klamath, most of which have been partly Avorked, while others are
virgin. The water here is a rather difficult problem, although Grider
C'reek is the best water right. This country is all accessible by wagon
road.
From Hamburg up to Oak Bar, still passing through the zone of pre-
Cambrian metamorphics, we find most of the bars to be barren. There
are small bars on Horse Creek which have been unprofitable; and on
tlieScott River, which takes its entire course through the later
metamorphics, there is an exceptional enrichment, which is pro])abl.v
the cause of what gold content there is, in the bars at Hamburg and
below. On Horse Creek there is considerable gravel of doubtful value,
which is in the creek bed and lias very poor dump. The higher bars
have been worked off wlierever there is pay enough to work. Above
Oak Bar the river again runs through the Paleozoic metamorphics, and
we find considerable enrichment again. The tributaries of the Klamath,
among which are Beaver Creek, Humbug Creek, Barkhouse, ]McKinney
and Little Humbug Creek, are all very rich, and still contain some
gravel which should be of interest from the hydraulic standpoint. On
Beaver Creek is an extensive area of gravel which looks promising.
From Oak Bar to Horn brook the country has been characterized by
heavy pocket gold. Ihere are small hydraulic mines on both sides of
the river but the wasli is very heavy. This region was Avorked in the
early days and, as it was quite accessible, has been fairly well worked
out, with the exceptions noted. Near Hornbrook the old Cretaceous
shore line is crossed by the Klamath, and this, together with Cotton-
wood Creek, forms the uppermost zone of enrichment of the Klamath
River in the State of California.
The approximate production of the area from Hornbrook down to
Ham])urg Bar has l)een over $400,000. The principal mines of the
Klamath River were worked in the early days. At present there are
probably not more than half a dozen operations. Below Thompson
Creek at the Woods Mine at and in the neighborhood of Happy Camp
;
in the neighborhood of Orleans and also on the upper river above Oak
;
Bar, these few .operations comprise the present production areas of

the Klamath River.
So far as the tributaries of the Klamath are concerned, the Trinity
River is the most imi)ortant next to this the Scott River, and next to
;
that the Salmon. These rivers will be taken up in the order of their
relative importance commencing with the Trinity River.
TRINITY RIVER.
The main Trinity River rises in the neighborhood of Scott ^Mountain,
flows south for about sixty miles, and then makes a detour westerly
for another sixty miles until it unites with Klamath River at Weitchpec
in TTiuiiljoldt County. The south fork, which joins it at Salyer, flows
ill a iKirthwesterly direction from the Volo Bolo IMountains to the junc-
tion. The main river for the most part has its course through the
(JOM) TLACKKS OF CAIjIFOKNIA. 01
Paleozoic secliinciitaru's wliit'li are the source oT most of tlu; yolcl in

California. On the other liaiul, tlie south foi'k has most of its drainage
in the i)re-Caml)rian nietamorphics, wliicli, a.s a whole, are bari'en of
liold-producing ledges and stringers. Commencing at the jun(;tioti of
the Trinity with the Klamath for about two miles above, the gorge
;
is very steep. At the Hull Raneli there is a high bai- which might be
suitable for hydraulic mining, although water is comparatively inaccas-
sible. Above this, the Iloopa Valley, which is one to two miles in width
and six or seven miles in length, contains many liats and low bars
which })robably have dredgeable areas within them. The gravel, how-
ever, is shallow and could only be worked by a small dredge or a liuble
grizzly, as the dump into the river is very poor. The gravel is not very
heavy and the water rights in the Hoopa Valley are good, the best one
being from Mill C^reek. Most' of the land, though, is allotted to tlie
Indians and is their sole support. For this reason it would be difficult
to obtain permission from the Government to mine these l)ars. There
are about three hundred to five hundred acres of unallotted land that is
suitable for placer mining. Some of this ground is reputed to contain
very good values.
Above the Hoopa Valley, the Sugar Bowl Ranch offers the next po.ssi-
ble dredging area. There is a tremendous amount of high wash gravel
on the mountain between Iloopa and Willow Creek, but the gravel is
very low-grade and water is inaccessible. Below Willow Creek, for
three or four miles, there are wide flats which, with proper prospecting,
might segregate areas of dredging or Ruble ground.
From Willow Creek up to Salyer are several high bars which might
contain portions suitable for hydraulicking. The dump is good and the
wash is very light. The water problem is a little difficult however.
There are several large bars at the junction of the south fork at Salyer.
These bars are both high and low.
The south fork of the Trinity is a stream along which little mining
has been done. From Auto Rest down to Trinity many hnrs occur,
which might have possil)le hydraulic ground among them. Some of
these bars contain a large acreage. At Hyampom there is a large
acreage which might prove good dredging ground if there is sufficient
value and depth. It probably contains platinum, and might pay to
prospect for tliis metal. At the head of Corral Creek some heavy gold
has l)een taken out from the old river wash which occurs there. This
is on the divide ])etween the south fork and the main Trinity River.
The pay is fairly good for ground sluicing work, and tiiere seems to be
some ground left which might pay to work. Between Hayfork and
Hyampom, along Hayfork Creek, a little mining has been done but not
to any great extent. A serpentine belt crosses the south fork, and
fairly good platinum prospects have been found at some of the bars.
It is possible that platiiuim might be the main valuable constituent
of these gravels. Ettapom Creek has given results in jilatinum pi-os-
pecting luit has not been mined very extensively.
Tiie south fork, as a whole, is very rugged, and water installations
would be very expensive. The watershed is precijutous aiul the water
supply is naturally limited in sj^ring and sununer. Grouse Creek has
the best water right of any of the tributaries. ]\Iost of the gravel is
rather fine wasli. as heavv wash onlv crosses at the foot of the canvons
aud falls. IMost of tlio bars have good duiii|), hut tlic expense of l)rin<j-
ing on Mater would, in many cases, be proliitjitive.
At the head of Brown's Creek and on Duncan Creek, extending down
to Carr Creek, is a liigh channel similar to the La Grange, and it might
possibly be the same channel emptying into the shore line which, cross-
ing below Hayfork on Salt Creek, runs over below Gold Bluff in Hum-
boldt County. This channel can be traced down Hayfork for several
miles. It has the same type of dead wash in it as the La Grange, and
the gravel is not very heavy. There is a large area in the Hayfork
Valley which looks as if dredgeable areas might be selected in it. Near
Wildwood on the Hayfork is considerable platinum.
Continuing up the main river from Salyer to Burnt Ranch, the main
river is interesting for its platinum content. There is an almost
unbroken succession of high and low bars, mostly on the south side.
At Burnt Ranch itself there is probably an excellent hydraulic property
if portions of it were properly segregated by drilling. Water is avail-
able and the dump is excellent.
Above Burnt Ranch at Cedar Flat is good mining ground on both the
liigh and the low bars. A short turn of the river at Don Juan should
have some good ground on it. Some good ground is still left at Taylor's
Flat and at French Creek Bar, but witliout very much dump. At Big
Bar itself is an inside channel two miles long that has paid well on the
upper end at the Tinsley Avorkings.
Below Burnt Ranch is the junction of the New River with the
Trinity. At the mouth of the New River there appears to be a small
gravel bar of about ten acres that prospects fairly well, but it is not
of sufficient extent to Avarrant putting water on the claim. The first
real gravel bar as we ascend New River is the Siegler. On both sides of
the river is a large deposit of gravel of about 150 acres. It has never
been prospected and is a very likely looking bar. Water could be
obtained from Big Creek on the south side and from Bell Creek on
the north side of the river. Bell Creek is about a quarter of a mile
above the ranch, but Big Creek is the better Avater right. Above Sieg-
ler 's is Hoboken Bar, also called Grant's Slide. It has been mined AA'ith
Avater from Bell Creek, but no record as to the A'alues is obtainable. A
large bar is still left and might be Avorth prospecting. Big Creek on
the opposite side is half a mile beloAV this bar. The next bar above is
a small claim at the mouth of China Creek, about tAventy acres in
extent. It has not been mined. Abar immediately aboAê this has
been totally mined off, however. This bar contained very heaA'y gold,
like most of the Ncav River country.
Above China Creek another large bar is exposed Avhicli contains over
a hundred acres of gravel. A company started operations ten Aêars
ago Avith Avater out of Bell Creek and quit, but no definite reason could
be ascertained. A good Avater right from Panther Creek could be put
on this claim. Above Noble's Bar on Panther Creek is Henderson's
Bar and the Nigger ]\Iine, AAdiich is being Avorked at present. The
Schoolhouse Bar is another portion of this property. Above this, the
Burchoff claim has been mined on the rim, but the main bar is left.
Above this, Jackass Bar Avas mined in the early days and is claimed to
have been good pay. The Owens Bar, aboA'e this, has been mined Avith
Avater from small gulches, Avith no record as to pay.
The New Compauy used to own a very large 1)ar on the

Rivei' I\Iiiiing
soutli side of the riverabove the Owens Bar. This property is now
owned by the Ladd Brothers. Mining- has been done on this bar for
many years, and it is claimed to be good if properly prospected and
segregated. A good water right from Quimby Creek is on the mine,
consisting of al)ont 2500 inches nnder 150 foot head for about five
months out of tlie year. Approximately a quarter section of ground
is left. A couple of high bars are also above this claim. This is about
the. biggest property on New River. Across from this is the McAtee
claim, which is a short turn of the river with three separate channels.
Some of this ground should be good. It paid 30 cents a yard when
mined during 1920 and 1921. Water is piped across the river from
theLadd claim.
At the mouth of Devil's Canyon is a fair sized ])ar. It has not much
dump, but the values are said to be good. Water from Devil's Canyon
could be brought to the bars in the vicinity. This is a very good
all of
water right. Pony Creek, which is a tributary of the east fork, is
reported to have produced about $3,000,000 in the early days. It has
practically all been mined off. The east fork and New River have been
wing-dammed by Chinamen with good results.
The Slide Creek channel is supposed to contain some good ground,
but the dump is poor and the wash is quite heavy. Some of the ground
was prospected by the Tener IMining Company, and their results were
36 cents a yard for about 22 feet in width and 30 feet in depth. The
Boomer Quartz ]\Iine at the head of this creek is reported to have pro-
duced about a quarter of a million.
Eagle Creek and Virgin Creek should be interesting to the small
miner, as they carry heavy gold in rather small bars and fiats.
Emigrant Creek was good, but is mostly mined out. Quimby Creek
was also a good producer.
Coming back to the main river, for about four miles above Big Bar,
are small placer bars either on the river or above it, which are all
courses of the present Trinity River. Some of the gravel is quite heavy.
]\fany of these bars have a production record and still have some good
gravel left. From this point on to Helena the canyon was too steep to
permit the forming of bars. Above the north fork. Red Hill is still
a good hydraulic property if water could be brought to it.
On the north fork itself are some good flats in which small dredging
areas might be segregated. Rattlesnake Creek, Grizzly Creek and
White's Creek still have some good bars in them, which might be
attractive to tbe small miner. Both the north and the east forks have
considerable ground on them that might be suitable for a Ruble Grizzly.
On the east fork of Yellow Jacket Creek both Rich Gulch and Crump
Gulch were very rich and still have some good ground left on them
that might be attractive to the small miner.
Canyon Creek has been worked for fifty ycai-s and still has much
good ground left on it for hydraulic purposes. The best chances for a
large mine lies seven miles up this creek. The dump is excellent, but
water would have to be brought six miles to work the high bars. Five
acres that were mined off are reported to have averaged about 40 cents
a yard. A ditch line from the east fork would bring 2000 inches or
more of water for six months. The bedrock is slate and the gronnd
94 CAI.tKOKNr.V STATE jVIINIKU Bl'REAU.
very easily mined. The hank averages rcoiii iM) to GO feet deep and
has some fine loam on top.
North F^rk, now named Helena, has one or two hij,'h l)ars that were
worked in the early days, and some iiround is still left. Prom North
Fork np to Lewiston are many low hars on wliieh good dredging areas
can be segregated. The Valdor dredge is operating above Helena, and
the Gardella dredge is operating on the Paulsen Ranch, near Lewiston.
The characteristic of the dredging gronnd on the Trinity River is that
about 20 to -10 per cent of the values are in heavy golil wliich, when fine
screens are used in the trommels, pa.sses tlirough them and (nit on the
stackers to be lost witli the boulders.
In this country much hydraulic ground is available in higli bars,
l)rovided water could be brought to it. The area of most promise is
above and below Douglas City. At Steiner Flat, at Douglas City,
Dutch Creek, Brown's Creek, Grass Valley Creek, Redding and Indian
Creeks are large bars of gravel in the form of high bars, as well as some
low ground, which is practically virgin and presents an excellent oppor-
tunity for possible hydraulic ground.
Weaver Creek itself has been well worked, but some gold is still in
the tailings which fill the bars. Some good high ground is .still left at
the Union Hill ^line. From Douglas City up to Lewiston are many
liigh bars on the Trinity that appear suitable for hydraulicking, as well
as low bars that may possibly be dredging ground. A large amount of
])Ossible dredging ground is in the vicinity of Lewiston. in which profit-
able areas can probably be segregated.
The La Grange Mine at the head of Oregon Guh-h, which has for
years been known as the largest operating hydraulic mine in the world,
has been closed down since the War. A large quantity of low-grade
gravel area is still left, but the cost of opening it up again would be
considerable on account of the necessity of a tunnel and deep cut. The
water right on the La Grange ]\Iine came from the east fork of Stewart
Fork for a distance of about 30 miles, and is one of the finest hydraulic
mining rights in the State of California. If this ditcli could l)e tapped
about seven miles back and above the La Grange ]\Iine, there is an area
of gravel on Musser Hill that would possibly make a larger and better
Iâying mine than La Grange. This gravel was deposited by the same
southward flowing Cretaceous channel as La Grange and prospects on
the surface even better than La Grange did. Dump for this gronnd
would have to be purchased on Brown's Creek.
A large amount of gravel is still unworked in the basins of east and
west Weaverville Creeks, some of which appears to be very attractive.
The old-time miners, working on the shallowest banks, covered much
good ground with their tailings, but there are several hundred acres,
both of flat and bench ground, which are still virgin. The gravel is not
coarse, and in many cases is subangular. Most of this gravel is derived
from the erosion and concentration of the old Cretaceous channel which
runs through from Brown's Hill and Musser Hill to La (rrange. Above
Dutton Creek is some ground from this channel.
Under the town of Weaverville is a large amount of good gravel
which lias not been drifted out. The whole basin is largely controlled
by the Union Hill water right, but the upper half of it is undoubtedly
hydraulic mining ground witli excellent possi])ilities. The Lorenz
GOLD PLACERS OP CAfJI-'OKXlA. 05
nvc now working a large and siicccssrul liydi-aulic mine on tin;

]>rotlu'i's
lower end of this basin and stacking llieii- lailings. The l)<)ulders are
not very large, and tlie grad(> of the channel is light.
Returning to the main Trinity River, from Lewiston to Carrville, are
flats which contain a considerable acreage of proliable dredging ground
whieli may be segregated. Tt is to be hoped, however, that this ground
will be worked with tiume dredges instead of tho.se of the stacker type,
not only for the reason that the ground can be more readily resoiled,
but because, unless large screens are used on the stacker dredges, nearly
one-half of the gold is apt to be carried through and redeposited
with the tailing piles. In the writer's opinion, the Trinity Gold Dredg-
ing Company has the only dredge on the Trinity River that is saving
its bedrock gold by digging slowly and carefully and putting everything
through its sluices also, it is leaving the ground level and in such shape
;
that it can be reclaimed easily for farming by damming the river and
overflowing it.
Deadwood Creek has been worked a great many times by small placer
miners, and has provêd very rich, but there appear to be isolated patches
of gravel remaining that might be suitable for the small ground sluicer
or drifter. The same thing may be said of Jennings Gulch and East-
man's Gulch. On Eastman's Gulch is a considerable body of possible
hydraulic mining ground.
From Carrville on the west bank of the Trinity down through Miners-
ville and Buckeye Ridge, Brown's Hill and through Weaver Basin
extends the southward flowing Cretaceous channel. This was greatly
eroded in the Weaver Basin, and every creek and gulch that cut this
channel was enriched. Much of the channel has been worked near
Trinity Center, but above Minersville on the east fork of the Stewart
Fork are several miles of virgin ground which should make possible
hydraulic property. The Beaudry, the Unity and other properties are
on this channel. Near the junction of the east fork and the Stewart
Fork is some possible dredging ground. This channel is the same as
that which goes through Musser Hill and La Grange and on to the
Ilaj'fork country. To the north it has been practically all eroded
above Trinity Center. It can be found on both sides of CoflPee Creek
and also on Scott Mountain.
On the east fork of the Trinity River a large area of possible dredg-
ing ground still remains. There is a tributary high bar on Plummcr
Hill and on the side of Paul's Gulch. There is also a more recent
channel on Crow Creek running over to Slate Creek, and also on the
head of Snow Gulch is considerable recent gravel.
Coffee Creek has been mined for many .years. The upper portion of
it was evidently drained by what is now the south fork of the Salmon
River in preglacial times. A

few small placer mines are still on Coffee
Creek, which may have some value. Tlie Nash ^Mine, later known as
the Big Flat, is one of these. It has had a fair production record and
undoubtedly has some good ground left.
Dredging operations in Trinity county have been largely contined to
the middle fork of the Trinity River. The largest dredges are oper-
ating in the section between Carrville and Trinity Center. Below this,
a flume dredge is operating above Lewiston another near the Rush
;
Creek confluence; and another above Helena.

m CAT.IFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
SALMON RIVER.
Tile southwestern portion of Siskiyou County eonipi-ises the draiuage
area of the Salmon River and its tributaries. The topography is
very steep and water installations quite expensive. This district is
connected by a wagon road forty-three miles in length between Etna
and Scott Valley and Forks of the Sahnon, located at the junction of
the north and south forks of the Salmon River. As most of the level
ground in the district consists of the low lying bars on the Salmon River
and its branches, this section is practically dei)endent for food and sup-
l)lies upon communication with the outside which is only open for wagon
or truck traffic for about five months out of the year.
In the early days the Salmon River was famous for its front rim dig-
gings in low bars close to the present river. These diggings were very
rich. In the main, since the days between 1850 and 1870, the larger
hydraulic operations have been unsuccessful. At present very little
Photo' No. 19. Scott Mountain Region, Siskiyou County, California.
mining is being done on the river, as the best of the available ground
lias been worked out. The Salmon River suffers from many drawbacks.
In most cases wrter installation is very difficult and expensive. The top
is heavy or else the dump is very poor, and many heavy boulders hamper
the work. The pay is generally confined to a narrow area and the
greater portion even of some of the best bars is too low grade to be
j^rofitable. Commencing at the upper end of the north fork, the best
placer remaining lies in White's Gulch at the Craig Mine, and in Eddy's
Gulch at the Peterson Mine, both of these gulches being tributaries of
the north fork above Sawyer's Bar. Due to the erosion of the old
Klamath ledge and other blanket ledges, Eddy's Gulch and Sawyer's
Bar, just below it, we're greatly enriched. With the excejitions named
above, most of this country is now worked out. Above Eddy's Gulch
on the main river there is considerable gravel in high bars, but as a rule
it has not paid to work. From Sawyer's Bar on down are still hundreds
of acres of unworked high l)ars with very heavy top, heavy boulders and
good dump. One or Iwo siiuill mini's arc woi'kiiij:: indcsultoi'V fasliioii,
hut without enough water to accomplish much. Hch)\v IJonaly Bar.
whicli is ahout three iinh>s ahove Forks of Sahnou. is souu' good ground
and much gravel is hd't, sonu' of which is said to l)e pay gravel. At the
Forks itself a fair sized Hat is still left which contains some good ground,
hut this has heen largely drifted. The only water that is available for
mining this ground is that formerly used by the Forks of Salmon Min-
ing Company. This flume could be repaired and extended so as to
cover the ground at Forks of Salinon.
Up the south fork of the Salmon considerable work has been done
as far up as Oreutt's Kaneh, and sonu* small liars are still left which
probably would not pay to work. The principal gravel areas of the
south fork are at Cecilville and Summerville and extend clear up to the
('oifee Creek Divide. There is a tremetulous amount of gravel here,
hut the pay is very irregular and spotty and, as a rule, mining opera-
SCOTT AND SHASTA RIVERS.

The last three miles of the Scott River, before its junction with the'
Klamath, are the richest portion. Practically all of this distance has
l)een wingdammed wherever possible. Some low bars are still left, but
outside of the flat on which the town of Scotts Bar stands, they have
been drifted out. A deep channel is still left in this vicinity which
might pay if the water is not too hard to handle. A great proportion
of the enrichment in this part of the channel comes from the ero.sion of
Quartz Hill. This hill has been hydraulicked for many years, and is
still being operated at a slight protit. About a half mile above the
junction of the Scott and Klamath rivers is a high bar at the Rox-
bury Mine, which is probably one of the most interesting hydraulic
propositions in California today. There are in the neighborhood of five
to ten million yards of gravel, which will probably run from ten to
fifteen cents a yard. The present water right is not sufficient for the
profitable working of the property. It will be necessary to bring water
from Thompson Creek, and about twelve miles of the necessary ditch is
still uncompleted. Considerable money was spent here in 1917 by the'
present owners but not to good advantage. The grade used on the sluice
boxes is entirely too high for the saving of any fine gold with the amount
of water that is used.
Continuing easterly, the principal gold-bearing tributaries of the
Scott and Shasta rivers were Greenhorn. McAdams and Cherry creeks.
A deep channel with cemented gravel, which is probably a portion of
the delta gravels of the Cretaceous island before mentioned, underlies
Greenhorn Creek. There is a tremendous amount of water in this, and
it is now used as an auxiliary water supply for Yreka. A
large propor-
tion of the gold-bearing gravels of Greenhorn Creek has been partly
dredged. McAdams Creek has been dredged for the greater part of
its length, but on the lower two or three miles there is still some virgin
ground which might possibly be capable of yielding a profit. Some
hydraulicking has been done on Greenhorn and Cherry creeks, and some
good ground still remains.
Quartz Valley, which is tributary to the Scott River, has the appear-
ance of a possible dredging proposition, which has been fed from the
gulches on either side of Evans Creek. Considerable good ground still
remains in these gulches for the small operator, notably on the east side.
A large channel, which is possibly the old Tertiary equivalent to Scott
River, which contains subangular and slightly cemented wash, comes
down from near Callahans through Etna and across the upper end of
Quartz Valley, and into the present bed of the Scott River where it
turns westerly toward Scotts Bar. Spills from this channel enriched
the old Etna Creek diggings and faulted portions of it were worked at
the Old Piney and the New Piney diggings on both sides of the ridge
west and south of Evans Creek. This channel has the possibility of
being one of the largest hydraulic propositions yet remaining in the
northern end of the state, but considerable ground would have to be
bought for dump purposes and water would have to come from the
Scott River.
Oro Fino Valley- appears to have some possible dredging ground. For
a great distance on both sides of the valley the slopes of the ridges have
been worked since the early days. Fed from a rich pocket country a
GOLD PLACERS OK CALIFOHXIA. 99
great mass of sulusijoular erosioiial detritus still occupies the center of

this valley, and evidently contains some gold. Considerable areas of
ground, possibly suitable for hydraulicking. still remain on the ridges.
In all cases where this has been mined, the bedrock has evidently been
very carefully stripped and cleaned. Presumably most of the pay lies
close to the bottom.
Below the junction of the south and east forks of Scott River, north
of Callahan, is still some excellent dredging ground in spite of the fact
that one disastrous and abortive attempt was made to handle it several
years ago. Above this junction of both the south and the east forks
there is also some promising ground. In this region one of the best
areas of hydraulic ground also remains, Avhich is suitable for the small
operator with little capital. Unfortunately a large proportion of this
ground is tied up in the Beaudry Estate, lying on Wildcat Creek and
also on the south fork. However, on Fox, Slide, Grouse and Kangaroo
creeks a small (|uantity of spotty pay gravel still remains in small segre-
gated areas, which might be interesting to the pick and shovel miner.
East of Kangaroo Creek very little pay is encountered. North of the
junction of the Shasta River with the Klamath, Cottonwood Creek
forms a dividing line in northern Siskiyou County between the aurif-
erous and barren gravels which lie respectively on the west and east
sides of it. South of Hornbrook the old blue shore gravels of the
Cretaceous island are being worked by drifting at the Bradley INIine.
This shore gravel extends south under Yreka and the Shasta Valley,
and has l)een worked at the Blue Cravel Mine west of Greenhorn
Creek. Greenhorn Creek itself has been worked by dredging with fair
success and on the upper end there is still a considerable area of good
gravel. The bars of Humbug Creek and the bars of the Klamath have
been worked clear through as far as Hornbrook. Not very much
remains on Humlnig Creek but a few small deposits near the head.
This creek is tributary to tlie Klamath. Most of the gravel is
snbangular.
"Wherever any gulches have cut and concentrated the old shore
gravels the work has been profitable on both sides of the Klamath.
At HaAvkinsville a large area of shallow gravel has been worked off
by hand. The gravel is from one to ten feet deep and a great deal of
it still remains, but water is not available for hydraulicking. It is
possible that by using an excavator of the Hadsell type, some of this
ground could be handled with a small amount of water.
On Yreka Creek, south of Ilawkinsville, some ground still remains
which appears to have possibilities of dredging. This lies north of the
old dredge workings on this creek. The town of Yreka appears to be
located on possible dredging ground, but in order to handle any of the
area in this vicinity, a resoiling dredge would probably be required, as
the present holders of the land in this locality do not wish to see it
mined in the same way that it has been near Oroville.
Further down the Shasta Valley and north of Scarface Gulch, and
running down the ridge to Granada, is an old channel with some well-
rounded wasli. This contains gold and platinum and where it has not
been eroded might possibly be hydraulicked. AVater would, however,
have to be brought from the Trinity Slope to cover it.
SACRAMENTO AND PIT RIVERS.

The Sacvainonto River rises in the mountains al)Ove the northern
boundary of Sliasta County, together with the ÎcCloucl, its principal
trilnitary. The Pit River has its source in ^Modoc County. The Saera-
iiiento flows southM'ard through the western half of Shasta County in
a deep canyon. The Pit crosses tlie axis of the Sierra Range and joins
the Sacramento in the midst of the copper belt of Shasta County. The
MeCloud discharges into tlie Pit above its eonfluenee with the
Sacramento.
South of Dunsmuir and extending to Redding there is a tremendous
amount of gravel on the Sacramento River, hoth creek gravel and
ancient shore wash. It contains little value and is not of great economic
importance. Immediately above Redding these gravels are being
dredged with indifferent success. The ]\IcCloud and Pit river gravels
are of no economic importance, although of considerable extent. The
lava-capped channel is exposed on the Pit River near Fall River Mills,
but to date it has never been worked.
At Portuguese Flat and near La Moine the low bars of the Sacra-
mento were once worked, but with the exception of the front rims did
not pay very well. In general, these gravels may be dismissed as of no
economic importance.
In the eastern portion of Shasta County the drainage of Deer, i\Iill
and Battle creeks is practically covered by lava for hundreds of feet
in thickness. For this reason the gravels are nearly all volcanic pebbles.
They are purely Quaternary channels, and no gold has ever been found
in commercial quantities in this region. The same condition prevails
down Payne's Creek to Red Bluff.
Going north to Redding and out on the Alturas road we come to
^Montgomery Creek Ranch. A little successful placer work was done
on oNIontgomery Creek near here, but as a rule the gravels are prac-
tically barren. At Hayden Hill, near the northern part of Lassen
County, is a channel of intervolcanic gravel some two miles in length
whicli has never been productive. Beyond Alturas. on the east side of
the Warner Range, is a channel near Cedarville which has been pros-
pected slightly but without satisfactory results. This, also, is volcanic
wash. It is reported that a deep blue channel under the shoulder of
Eagle Peak in this range contains some auriferous gravel. Coming
down from Alturas by way of the JNIadeline Plains no gravel is noted,
the whole country being covered by lava and scoria. Until Long Valley
is reached no extensive gravel deposits are noted ; and these are
Quaternary and of no commercial value.
The western portion of Shasta County is about the only auriferous
drainage of this part of the Sacramento River Just below French
Gulch, and including the town of French Gulch, considerable ground
on Clear Creek might be worked by hydraulic means It is not heavy
ground, but lies rather low Four miles above on Drunken Gulch and
Shirttail Gulch is a mile and a half of channel which might have
hydraulic mining possibilities. On Clear Creek, successful dredging
has been prosecuted also on Cottonwood Creek. Some dredging has
;
becii done near Redding.

GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORXLV.. 101
The drainage on tlie south shore of the Cretaceous island was not
altogether contined to La (Irange eliannel, which probahly entered the
shore line ])eh)\v Hayfork. Tliis sliore line can l)e traced from Kedding
southerly and westerly below Centerville to Igo and Ono around Nigger
Hill and westerly. Clear Creek, entering the ancient sea near Igo,
deposited much rich gravel in a sort of delta. The old Piety Hill ]\Iine
still contains some good hydraulic ground. The rrardella dredges are
operating on Clear Creek gravel at a good profit. There are three dis-
tinct channels at Igo, in all of which it should be possible to segregate
some areas of dredgeable ground, proliably about six hundred acres in
extent. In addition to this, between these cliannels, are about 2500
acres which may be good hydraulic ground.
Oregon Gulch produced, a concentration of shore gravels near Center-
ville. This was very rich with much shallow rocker ground. The
channel heading up on Arbuckle Gulch produced the same condition
at Nigger Hill and at Ono. Near the shore line much of this ground
is cemented.
Cottonwood Creek in Shasta County, particularly the north fork,
was worked on its front rims for the enrichment produced from these
ancient shore gravels. The dredger that is at present operating near
Gas Point is making a fair platinum recovery, which is probably caused
by the erosion of the Beegum channel on the Bald Hills into Cotton-
wood Creek. This channel was eroded by the middle fork of
Cottonwood Creek.
From the western slope of the Yolo Bolo ^Mountains down Beegum
Creek, and extending along the Bald Hills toward Gas Point, this
channel can be traced. It carries some gold but more platinum and
iridium. This channel has enriched the. present Beegum Creek
wherever it has crossed it.
At Harrison Gulcli some local enrichment has caused tlie formation
of good, small placer diggings l)elo\v the town. Theiv is no ancient
channel in this vicinity, however.
Sfx'tion 2.
FEATHER RIVER REGION.

For the i)urposeof this report and as a matter of convenience, the
gravels in the drainage of Butte Creek and of Dry Creek will be
included with those of the Feather River .region. The drainage of all
three of these streams in their lower courses is through bench gravels
and undifferentiated Quaternary deposits, and through the sands,
tufiPs and clays of the lone f(n'mation higher up. However, the under-
lying amphibolites come to the surface and it is in this, as well as
in the Paleozoic metamorphics that tlie greater portion of the stream
enrichment has occurred. The area west of Big Butte Ci'eek is largely
covered with volcanics of Tertiary age, and it is not until the shore
gravels around Centerville are reached that we find any notable con-
centration of gold. Big Butte Creek and Little Butte Creek have lioth
been worked since the early days of California, and several millions
have been taken out from them. These creeks have concentrated the
gold from two well-defined channels which entered the shore of the old
Cretaceous sea near Centerville. The lower portion of the channels,

due to the delta condition, is very spotty, and the pay is not concen-
trated. Going np from Centerville on the east side of Big Butte Creek
the channel down the Nimshew Ridge is of considerable importance
from the standpoint of possible drifting ground. This channel extends
from Nimshew through Hupps Mill, Powelton, Inskip and Chaparral,
one branch of it heading up near Mountain Meadows. This branch has
been worked at the head of Chips Creek and Yellow Creek, and can be
traced over across the head of Chips Creek through Lotts Mine. Por-
Photo No. 21. Hupp Mine on Nimshew Ridge.
tions of this mine were rich and thereis still some good gravel in it.
Coming down above the Philbrook Valley, this channel Avas worked at
the Carr and Princess mines. Below Powelton it crosses a wide
porphyry dyke Avhich is evidently mineralized and contains stringers
and benches of pocket gold. Undoubtedly this is the source of the
principal enrichment of this cliannel. Considerable dredging has been
done and there is still some operating on the lower reaches of Butte
Creek, whose gold is mostly derived from this. The age of the main
channel is probalily Cretaceous, and all the way down from Powelton
through the Nimshew Ridge a large portion of it is still intact. A
later
channel of Tertiary age crossed and recrossed it many times and this
channel, whicli reconcentrated the gold from the older one, was in its
turn cut down l)y Big Butte Creek, and was the source of most of the
enrichment of that stream. Upon this cliannel three or four successful
drift mines have heen operated, but as they generally follow the smaller
channel in from the exposures on the west side of Nimshew Ridge and
stay close to the west rim until they come out again, the fact that the
larger and older channel existed was only made evident at the Emma
]\Iine. There is undoubtedly a chance for a large drift mine here, which
is well worth investigating.
Another branch of this same channel is known as the Magalia
Channel. The junction of the two was probably in the neighborhood
of Centerville. This channel runs through ^Mineral Slide and a trifle
west of Magalia, up through Lovelock and Sterling, northeasterly
through Kimshew Creek and Snow's Mine to what is called Table
^Mountain. There are apparently two branches of its drainage in tlie
neigliborhood of Kimshew Creek, one coming through the Crane
Valley. The tributary to this channel above Magalia. known as thi;
Perschbacker Channel, was exceedingly rich and about two million
dollars was taken from it. Undoubtedly this channel receives its
enrichment from the dyke mentioned before in connection with the
Ximshew branch. This dyke runs a trifle east of southerly and may be
traced through the country for many miles. The ^Magalia branch has
not been worked out, largely on account of difficulty of operating con-
ditions. There is a great deal of water, and the ground is hard to
liold. A very expensive tunnel will be necessary in order to jirospect
this channel and secure drainage. On the other hand, the Ximshew
is accassible by means of short tunnels, exposures of well-washed
gravel are seen along the road from Nimshew to Centerville and break-
outs from this channel have been worked at the Oro Fino, Indian
Springs. Robbers Roost and Kohl properties, with a reported pro-
duction of over a million and a half. On Big Butte Creek is a lari^v
amount of shore gravel which might possibly pay to liydraulic if the
debris (piestion could be taken care of. On the upper portion of the
Nimshew branch, near the summit of the West Branch Divide, in Phil-
brook Valley, and on the Gravel Range are the headwaters of this
channel. Tributaries of subangular gravel come in from Carr's
diggings and the Westcott Mine.
The ^Magalia cliannel can be traced northerly by its rims from west
of jNIagalia througli Appleton's and past Doon's ]\IilI. directly uudei-
Sterling. North of here, on the southwest side of the west branch is
an excellent exposure of the rims and gravel, showing the ancient wash,
mixed with subangular gravel of later age which is slightly cemented.
This channel continues northeast to Table Mountain.
At the head of the Dry Creek drainage near Cherokee is one of the
most baffling channels with regard to origin in tiie State of California.
It is possible tliat it originally came from the "\V;dker Plains over above
Las Plumas to Cherokee and south under Table ^Mountain. The rolling
hills between Oroville and Pt'ut/, Kanch are covered with shore gravels
and delta gravels from the Cretaceous rivers which deboudu'd along
the shores of the ocean. Originally a regîon of low relief, the uplift
of Jurassic times caused very i-apid erosion. The Cherokee channel,
with a short tributary above Pentz Ranch, is all that is left in channel
form of this stream, with the exception of all that buried under the
Table Mountain basalt flow and a small section above Las Plumas.
Nevertheless, Oregon Oulch, Cherokee Gulch, Morris Ravine, and
luimerous otlier gulches have been enriched from the erosion of this
channel. The pay channel is over a thousand feet in width and has
been hydraulicked at the Spring Valley Mine for a mile and a half in
length. Coarse gold was obtained and also some diamonds, which are
peculiar to this channel alone. A mile and a half of possible drift
ground still remains near Cherokee aiul probably at least as much
under Tal)k^ Mountain. A narrow pay streak in this channel prospects
very well, and a leaner streak about twenty feet above will run about
$2 to the yard. Whether drifting can ever be made to pay on this
channel is extremely doubtful, due to the cost of handling water and
to the fact that the pay streaks are widely distributed. This channel
is one of the oldest in the state and in its lower portion may possibly
be of preCretaceous age. It extends clear through the South Table
Mountain almost down to Oroville.
Dredging ground around Oroville comprises several thousand acres
of the present flood plains of Feather River. The width varies from
one to two miles. The average deptli of the gravel is from 25 to 40 feet.
The gravel rests on a false bedrock of volcanic tuff, and is at the present
time almost entirely worked out. The upper portion of the Feather
River drainage passes from the amphibolites into the Carboniferous
slates and limestones through what is known as the upper gold belt
of the Sierras. Of the Quaternary gravels of the Feather River little
has been said. They are, of course, concentrations of the Tertiary and
earlier systems. In the lower reaches of the present north, middle and
south forks the Cretaceous and Tertiary channels were evidently almost
completel}^ broken down into the present channels and reconcentrated.
This accounts for the tremendous enrichment at Bidwell Bar and
smaller bars, such as Island Bar, Rich Bar and Big Bar. In every case,
the breaking down of an earlier channel is directl.v responsible for this
enrichment. Along the courses of all three forks of the present river
are innumerable benches from the level of the river up to five and six
hundred feet above it, which would pay to hydraulic in a small way,
provided water could be obtained inexpensively. It will, of course, be
impossible to enumerate these bars individually for lack of space. The
only gravels whose systems will be traced are those of the earlier
channels.
The Oroville Basin has been so frequently studied and is so well
worked out that little time will be taken in describing it. The reader
is referred to the bibliography for the results of many excellent detailed
studies of this region.
Connnencing in the neighborhood of Brush Creek on the main Pikes
Peak highway, a channel, which may or may not be the upper extension
of the Cherokee Channel, can be traced through Junction House and
Merrimac to the Walker Plains. There seems to be no doubt that this
was the master stream which corresponded to the Feather River drain-
age during Cretaceous and Tertiary times. The wash is mixed, being
largely volcanic with a considerable proportion of white qiuirtz, which
probably dates from Cretaceous times. This channel for the purpose
of convenience we will call the :\rt. Ararat (.'liannel. Rising somewhere

above Spring (rarden it goes across Thompson Creek near the summit
of the Nelson Point Road, and through the Clermont Hill. Here it was
possibly joined by a short tributary from the east. At Clermont this
channel divides, to be reunited at Mt. Ararat. Two different courses
are evidently of distinctly different age. One course crosses Bear
Creek and comes np on ^Nlt. Ararat to the east of the older chajinel,
which can be traced throuiih the north side of Clerniont and out by
way of Hungarian Hill, and the head of ;McFarlan(rs Ravine, where
it joins the front channel and breaks out into Willow Creek. The
erosion of this channel has enriched WiUow Creek from this point down
to the middle fork of the Feather River. A
tributary comes in across
Hartman's Bar where it has been broken down into tlu' middle fork and
caused considerable enrichment. An unsuccessful attempt was recently
uuide to mine a hole in the iirKhlic fork of tlic Feather River at this
I'hoto Xo. Flume at MoriiiKtnn Miiu uii Miilille Vrnk ni Feather River.
])oint, and a very considerable amount of money was wasted witliout

determining whether any values existed as a result of the concentration
of this channel. This can be traced under Franklin ^Mountain on tlie
south side of the middle fork. Its course is uncertain beyond Dogwood
Peak and may i)ossibly be trending towai'd Little Grass Valley. The
gi-avel in this channel is well rounded and probably of Cretaceous age
with Tertiary wash on top. The front channel has some possibilities
for hydraulicking, and the back channel may possibly contain some
good drift ground. It is practically virgin.
From ]\It. Ararat southwesterly this same chaunel can be traced by
way of the Gravel Range and the Walker Plains above ^lerrimac. Tliat
this was the master stream, draining the present Feather River country
in Cretaceous and Eocene times, seems very probable. The gravels of
the Walker Plains aiul on the head of ^Farljle Creek al)ove ^Ferriniac
correspond in every ])articulai" to those of Clermont Ilill. Below
Buckeye and ]\Ierrimac the erosion of this channel has greatly enriched
the gravels of the tributaries on l)oth sides of the ridL'e into the north
and middle forks. Notably this is true of the Mosquito Creek and Sky
High Ridges. Below Sky High on the middle north fork there is con-
siderable channel gravel and it extends as far down as Turner's Mill
near Bald Rock Can,yon.
On top of Clermont Ridge lieavy wash gravel, which shows for a
distance of about two miles, proves the existence of the above mentioned
channel, presumably the equivalent of the present middle fork of the
Feather River. A great deal of work was done by an English com-
pany several years ago in an effort to prospect this channel. Two long
tunnels were driven, both of which in the writer's opinion parallel
the channel instead of cross-cutting it and both were too high. No
results, either positive or negative were obtained. The proper place to
prospect this channel would have been on the north side in the gulches
just above the turn-oft' on the ]\Ieadow Valley trail. This is undoubt-
edlv the same channel which runs under Mt. Ararat and can be traced
-Fhoto N it Morington Mine on Middle Fork of Feather River.
for over twenty miles. At the head of Gansner Ravine a lower channel
goes through which has been prospet-ted slightly by the Laurison
Tunnel over the ridge to the east. This channel crosses over the head
of Mill Creek, and is said to be traced clear over to Happy Valley.
Nothing much is definitely known about it. It is supposed to have come
through Hungarian Hill, where it was worked and proved to be fairly
rich. It contains very heavj^ wash.
Tributary to this main channel are two Ijranches which come in from
the southeast side. Commencing up near Fowler Peak, and coming
down by way of Browns Hill, Sardine Gulch and the ridge just south-
east of the present middle fork, crossing near Cascade and Lava Top,
and going down as far south as Lumpkin, is a very well-defined channel
from which the lava cap has been largely eroded. This channel is
probably prevolcanic and of at least Eocene age. There are several
miles of iôssibh^ hydi-jiiilic ground upon it. and the whole is covered
with excellent timber. The great difficulty is the fact that it will be
extremel}^ hard to get water on it under sufficient i)ressure to operate.
Water would liavti to he l)r(ni<;lit from iivc to ten miles. Duiiii) is

excellent. About the only work now being done on this channel is at
Spencer ]\line above Cascade. This was formerly owned by Îv. Bean.
It consists of erosional material from the original channel.
It is entirely distinct from the Franklin Hill and Deadwood Peak
channel, which crosses the present middle fork above Hartman's Bar
and goes across Willow Creek to the Gravel Range. This same channel
has been eroded below Lumpkin and probal)ly enriched the ^looretown,
Sucker Creek and Enterprise diggings. A portion of it still remains
on top of Kanaka Peak, which has been recently drifted.
At Cascade this channel did not pay, although considerable money
was spent in developing it. Higher up at Browns Hill and Sardine
Gulch considerable money was taken out.
There is not much doubt that this, like the ^looreville Ridge and the
Ararat Channel, formed the ancient Feather River drainage. There
is no possibility that either of these channels were drained by the
Cretaceous Yuba. Most of this channel could be readily prospected
with a drill, as it is on the wagon road as far up as Cascade. A branch
of the "Western Pacific is now being run to Lumpkin for the benefit of
large timber holdings along this channel, which is almost entirely in
private hands.
Coming down from Little Grass Valley, a channel follows the ^loorc-
villeRidge in a southwesterly direction. This is pro])ably of at least
Eocene age. The gravel is rather light, about fifty feet thick, and in
many places is covered with pipe clay and a thin basalt cap. The Dod-
son Mine is the principal working on this channel and paid very well
as a hydraulic mJne, although drift operations showed the bedrock pay
to be very spotty. This channel is from six to eight miles in length,
and appears to be good prospective hydraulic ground. It enriched both
the south fork and Lost Creek on either side of the ridge. After reach-
ing the junction of the south fork and Lost Creek, the crossing of this
channel is probably through Field's Ranch toward ]\Iooretown. It is
not absolutely certain, however, that it did not follow the present south
fork channel and that it might possibly have been eroded into it. In
the ridge on the southwest side several gulches and creeks, draining into
the Feather River, have been enriched Avitli well-worn gold of about
the same appearance and grade as the Dodson gold. This is notably
the case in Robinson Gulch, which produced over two millions. If this
channel goes under Sunset Mountain, it is very deep, as the whole
country around Forbestown is slide country. Its presence, however,
seems to be indicated by numerous springs which maintain the same
level and which flow the j'ear round.
Above Strawberry' Valley and southeast of Lost Creek is another
channel which was probably drained by the ancient Yuba. It extends
from the head of Sly Creek down across Owl and Eagle Gulch and
through Clipper IMills. This channel has been worked since the early
days and was quite productive. Considerable, drift ground remains
on it yet. It passes out to the south before reaching Woodleaf and
may possibly connect with the fork of the Yuba which comes out east
of Challenge.
Coming back to the country around iloiintain Meadows, Ave find a
very important channel which has its origin near Prattvillc. This
108 CAlJFORXIA STATE MINING RUREAtT.
is divided into two parts.

clinniicl They arc exposed on llio east side
of Barker Jîvine at Cnnmiinjis Hill and in the (jreat Western Power
('ompany's tuiniel from lûtt Valley to Almanor. Starting near Lake
Almanor, the crossing is by way of J'rattville and Cummings Hill,
where the ehannel is bent by fanlting. From here, aronnd the head of
Barker Ravine, the top gravel was hydraulicked fifty years ago and
eontinned around through Duteh IHll. The front ehannel was all
drifted out here, but the back channel remains. Making a sharp, right-
angle turn, it passes down under the ridge below Duteh Hill and out
through the Sunnyside Mine. The gravel is two hundred feet deep,
l)ut only the bottom portion is good pay. It is lava capped all the way
down. There is an opportunity for a large drift mine here, working
either through the Kelley or the Cameron ground deep enough to bot-
tom the whole channel. At the Sunnyside the pay is quite consistent
and from 60 to 220 feet wide. Another channel crosses high up on the
head of Chips Creek and Yellow Creek. This is also prevolcanic and
goes dowai from Humbug Valley.
In this same region the Glazier Channel comes down from the present
Lake Almanor, on the east side of the north fork of the Feather River,
crosses about two miles below tlie lake, and comes down the west side
lêlow^ Seneca, where it is probably eroded by the present north fork.
Lower down under Red ^Mountain it appears again on the east side of
the river. Tliis channel is comparatively recent and starts only sixty
feet above the present north fork. Lower down near Seneca it is two
hundred feet higher than the present river. In many places, as at the
Scott ]\Iine, a great deal of very good hydraulic ground is still left,
although as a drift channel, it has never paid well.
Most of the gravel around Belden, aside from the main Feather
left
River, is confined to Chips Creek, ]\Iosquito Creek and Mill Creek. At
the head of Chips Creek is apparently an old channel ^îth very heavy
wash. Lower down the creek the channel of the present stream was
extensively worked in the early days. The same ancient channel prob-
ably crosses the head of Yellow Creek. I\Iosquito Creek, while very
short, has probably more virgin ground suitable for drifting by the
small miner than any area in this country. The type of gold now being
produced is very heavy and the wash seems to be much lighter than
that of Chips Creek.
On ]Mill Creek are still several large areas of gravel which are
unprospected, extending down from near Mountain House to the mouth
of the creek. This creek was undoubtedly fed from a channel which
can be noted on the Spanish Creek side which passes through Bean Hill
and Kanaka Flat. Some of this ground is said to pay very well
even yet.
Onthe main north fork of the Feather and on Indian Creek, which
is locally called the east branch, are many small areas of gravel from
one hundred to five hundred feet above the river, which would still pay
to hydraulic, but are not individually of any great extent. In Round
Valley, above Greenville, there is a local concentration of subangular
gravel Avhieh is said to be rich.
About twelve miles southeast of Quiuey. Nelson Creek empties into
the middle fork. The bars on either side of the creek have been worked
for many years, as well as the bed of the creek. The middle fork at
GOr.D PFjACERS of CALIFORNIA. 109
this point was exeeptionally rich in the early days and was worktul 1o
a great extent, ineluding the higher I)avs on either side. Apparently
there are nnnierous small areas of gravel still left on Nelson Creek at
points fifty to one hnndred feet above the bed of the present stream,
whieh are still being mined. Some heavy gold is being taken out on
these short sections. Most of these bars can best be worked by drifting.
The wash is very heavy. The bedrock varies from a block schist to a
soft schist and slate. Practically all of this territory is in the Paleozoic
metamorphics. Considerable work has also been done on Willow Creek
above Nelson Point, but there is still a good deal of ground which
apparently has not been prospected. At Nelson Point the Pauly Ranch
undoubtedly contains a short turn of the middle fork which is nearly
half a mile in length and which is said to be still intact. If this is the
case, there is a possibility for some good drift ground here, as all of
PhciTc ivel Bank rit Australia Mine.
the high bars of the Feather Eiver in this region paid very well in the
early days.
The region in the ncigliborhood of Quiiiey and ]\leadow Aâlley has
been greatly comi)lii'atcd by Pleistocene faulting, which has made it
exceedingly difficult to correlate any of these channels. IMeadow Valley,
whieh is believed to have been formed at the close of the ]\Iiocene period
by a down-throw, was in Pliocene and Pleistocene times probably a
glacial lake, fed by streams of Pleistocene age. It is, roughly, an area
of four or five square miles, practically all covered by gravel from three
to eighteen feet thick. The main feeders of the present valley are
Waupanse C*reek and Spanisli Creek. (Travel has been Avorked on all
sides of this valley, and it seems possible that the uuiin valley might
have some ground suitable for a very light dredge or for a Ruble
grizzly. Water for the latter could be obtained from Spanish Creek
for three or four months of the year, in excess of the requirements of
the Spanish Creek sawmill, which holds first water rights.
The Australia Mining Company recently operated a mine on W;ui-
panse Creek l)y the hydraulic process. Th(> gravel and overburden were
110 CMJFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
aUoiit a liuiulivd Iwt in dcptli. c'X('('])li()ii oi' about six feut of

AVitli llic
blue gravel on the bottom of channel, most of the sravel was sub-
tlie
angular and Avas probably late wash. Operations in 1921 gave a total
recovery of about two cents per yard. Apparently much fine gold was
lost on account of the grade which was given to the sluices. The miners
in this region persist in using from twelve to sixteen inches of grade per
tvv'elve-foot box, regardless of the width of sluice or quantity of muddy
vrater that may be used. This is all right for heavy gold, but the
process used in northern California with five- to nine-inch grades for
saving fine gold, according to the writer's experience, produces much
better results.
On the opposite side of Waupanse Creek lie the old Gopher Hill dig-
gings, closed down by the Debris Commission about 1895. Most of the
debris from this mine was left on the dumps, only the very fine pebbles
and silt going doM^n Spanish Creek. This region is very well worked out.
Photo No. 23. Gopher Hill Diggings.
The Australia channel is supposed to come down from the old Pine
Leaf diggings, and about two miles long.
is
On the southwestern end of Meadow Valley are numerous small
deposits of subangular gravel, most of which are probably lacustrine
in origin. The most notable of these. Scad Point, is reported to have
produced about a hundred thousand dollars. Operations on this end
include the Hazel and the Deadwood mines. The Channel Peak INIine
on the west side of Spanish Peak may possibly be a continuation of the
old channel which crossed at the head of Mill Creek above Belden.
This is probably one of the Neocene feeders of the area previous to the
down-throw of Meadow Valley. This channel on Spanish Peak is about
two miles long, and is covered with a very heavy pipe clay.
On the northwestern side of the valley, coming up Spanish Creek
and its tributaries to Mountain House, is a channel system which is
prevolcanie, and is probably one of the most important streams of this
area. A well-defined channel, notable by the white quartz which pre-
dominates, can be traced through from Bean Hill clear over to the
north fork of the Feather. It is, of course, broken in many places by
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNLi. Ill
erosion. ^Most of lava caj) has Ix'cn ])rok('n down.

tlio A considerable
portion of this ehanncl is still nndrifted and is the property of the
Spanish Peak Lunil)er Company. Water for operating? would have to
be brought from Spanish Creek. This ehannel is about a hundred feet
deep, the top portion being white gravel, whioh at Bean Hill proved to
be vers- poor. Drifting operation in the red gravel close to bedrock
appears to show much better values. Following up Spanish Creek
below IMountain House there are gulch diggings which were evidently
rich enough to be extensively worked, and below ^lountain House is
Kanaka Creek and Maple Flat, which in 1875 or thereabouts supported
many nlen. Most of this gravel appears to have been a concentration
from the main channel which goes over toward the north fork of the
Feather. It may have been a concentration of this channel or it may
still be possible to develop a good drift mine on Kanaka Flat. The old
ditches are still in existence and plenty of timber is available.
It will be noted that, while much of the gravel surrounding the
vallej^ is recent and of laerustine origin, there are still two main
channel systems of prevolcanie times which have furnished most of the
gold which has been taken from the ]Meadow Valley and Spanish Ranch
district. A
reported production of twenty-four million dollars has
lieen taken from this region. On both of these channels areas of
nndrifted ground are still left, sections of which might be Avorth Avhile
prospecting.
The American Valley, in which Quiney is situated, has been pros-
pected only slightly. The ground is too deep for dredging and too
heavy and full of water for drifting except at great expense. Agassiz
and Shaw attempted to work the bedrock of Spanish Creek over twenty
years ago but met wîth complete failure after the expenditure of a
great deal of money. Shafts sunk by local prospectors in the tributary
branch of the valley have given much better results. One shaft, sunk
in the northern portion of the valley below Elizabethtown Flats, is
reported to have yielded two hundred thousand dollars.
On Rock Creek, which is a tributary of Spanish Creek, and on Slate
Creek is the Plumas Imperial property. The main channel comes down
between both of these creeks on the ridge. A face 1500 feet Avide was
worked some twenty-five years ago by Mr. Hazzard, who then owned
the property. This face shoAvs that a portion of the ehannel is a light
cemented gra\êl similar to the Channel Peak, and may have been left
there by the major doAvn-throAv Avhich caused the formation of ^leadow^
Valley at the close of Neocene times. The remaining portion of the
channel is a fine gi'avel of probably Pleistocene age. The dump into
Rock Creek is excellent Avith good impounding facilities in the basin.
There Avasapparently ample Avater for operations Avith a head of 450
feet. This ground is now OAvned by the Spanish Peak Lumber Com-
pany. Above this on Slate Creek two other channels seem to have
emptied into the main channel, but Avere eroded at the point of junction
doAvn into the basin. Avhich has never been bottomed. One channel
comes doAvn Quigley Ravine and has been Avorked since the earliest days.
The other comes doAvn Slate Creek. In this basin there is a po.ssible
chance for a hydraulic mine, as the basin could be bottomed by a four
or five hundred foot cut up Slate Creek, and from this basin both
Quigley Ravine and Slate Creek gravels could be AVorked. The basin
828603
mentioned formed a natural concentration basin for the gold from

these channels. The gravel above this l)asin, when hydraulicked, is
reported to have paid $1.50 a yard. There is also an excellent oppor-
tunity for drifting on the Rock Creek side, as the pay in this portion
of the channel is confined to a narrow width.
On Mill Creek, east of Quincy, an area of gravel about a quarter of
a mile long on the middle fork is now being prospected by a bedrock
tunnel some six hundred feet in length from which raises are being
made to the ancient channel. Below on this same property is a flat
which has never been worked, which looks like a concentration from
this same channel. Farther down on the same creek, where it empties
into the American Valley, is a large area, which, if the boulders are not
too heavy and the ground is not too deep, might possibly have an
opportunity for dredging.
North of Quincy, Bushman Gulch, which enters Black Hawk Creek
on the southwest, has been worked since the early days. At the head
of the gulch the channel extends for over a mile. The whole gulch,
including tailings, would probably pay to hydraulic. At the top of the
gulch three shafts have been sunk to liedroek at a depth of nearly one
hundred feet. This bedrock is higher than the main channel and may
be either a fault block or a bench which has not been eroded. In order
to tap the main channel with drifting operations, a tunnel 1800 feet
long was run about thirty years ago, which is twenty-two feet above
the bottom of the channel. A new tunnel at about fifty feet greater
depth would bottom this channel and permit drifting virgin ground
for nearly a mile which is locally supposed to be good. This tunnel
would be rendered much shorter by first stripping the gulch to bed-
rock by hydraulic methods. Excellent impounding space and dump
exist in Black Hawk Creek, and plenty of water is available in the
old Bushman ditch. Possibly the best place to get in to the Bushman
channel for extended working would be over on the Black Hawk side.
A tunnel about a thousand feet in length should give access to the
entire channel, as both rims are visible. For the upper ground a short
tunnel could be driven below the present shafts. Part of this ground
paid from five to ten dollars, but a portion of it is still unworked.
Lower down on the channel the gravel is said to be practically intact.
This portion would be best reached from the Black Hawk side.
The greater part of the Quincy district is composed of slates and
quartzites of the Calaveras formation. Clermont Hill is capped by
basalt. West of Clermont Hill the contact is with an amphibolite
schist. Farther north the contact is with the Calaveras. All the region
from Clermont to the northwest of Thompson Valle.y, including the
rock under the alluvial deposits of American Valley, is composed of
Calaveras formation. American Valley and Thompson Valley are
covered by recent alluvial deposits. American Valley represents a
basin filled with gravel, sand and other sediments, deposited by large
creeks emptying into it. The Calaveras formation Avas deposited in
Carboniferous times and is the oldest formation in the district. This is
immediately overlain by the youngest formation, which is the alluvial
deposit of American Valley.
In American Valley Pleistocene gravels are found between Quincy
and Meadow Valley, several hundred feet above the present canyon of
GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFORNLA.. 113
Spanish Creek on the noi-tli side of llie stream. American Valley ^vas
evidently a lake until a short time attei- the dislocation at the close of
the Neocene period. Gravels indicating' an outlet are found near
Elizabethtown. The gravel corresponds to some small remnants of
bench gravel about five liundred feet above the present bottom of Lower
Spanish Creek. This outlet was later abandoned by Spanish Creek in
the gulch from Elizabethtown to American Valley. Auriferous deposits
of later channels are found draining toward American Valley.
:^rost of the prevolcanic streams of the Sierras appear to have had a
general southwesterly drainage into the inland sea of the Sacramento
Valley. Upon the present drainage of the Feather River, there is
evidence, however, of a stream which flowed northerly and westerly
toward Mountain ^Meadows and was of considerable extent. This has
been named the Jura River. Two main branches of this stream have
channels which are distinct and well-defined. The westerly branch is
first noted in the ]Mohawk Valley. On the south side of this valley there
is evidence of a channel apparently prevolcanic, whicli is exposed at
the Jackson and the AVilson diggings on Sulphur Creek. This channel
contains a deep wash without volcanic pebbles, much like the wash of
the ]\IcCray Ridge but not so heavy. It may possibly be a portion of
tlie same system wliieh was thrown down by the ^lohawk Valley fault.
]\rore probably, however, it is a portion of the Jura channel, which
flows along the north edge of the valley. This channel comes through
from above Clio and around by Blairsden. Continuing on under the
southern base of Jackson Peak, it extends northwesterly. Up aliove the
lumber mill at Cromberg there is evidence of hydraulicking done
seventy years ago on this channel. Below Jackson Peak the channel is
well-defined with some intervolcanic wash and some older gravels,
extending all along the northeast side of the Mohawk Valley. The
channel passes through the TefTt ]\rine and over the head of Long
Valley and Little Long Valley to Grizzly Rock above Squirrel Creek.
From there on it makes its way on the south side of Grizzl}-^ Valley
to the Cascade ]\Iine, and then on dowTi Grizzly Creek toward
Genesee Valle3\ There has not been much drifting on this channel,
although the gulches intersected by it have, in almost every case, been
ground-sluiced or hydraulicked. A great deal of hj'draulicking was
done above Lovejoy's at the Cascade ]Mine. From here on the channel
is practically eroded into Little Grizzly Creek wliich it has enriched all
the way down, resulting in the Grizzly Creek placers.
This channel crosses Indian Creek somcAvhere below Genesee and
appears again a mile northeast of i\ fount Jura at Taylor's diggings,
where apparently the southAvestern rim has been Avorked. The gravel
here is clearly prevolcanic in character. At Taylor's diggings the
channel goes deep under the ridge and crosses the heads of Light's and
Cook's canyons southAvest of Kettle Rock and through -Moonlight
Canyon. From here on it empties into Mountain MeadoAvs, Avhere it
A\ inds out into a very deep channel Avhich is probably a delta. On the
rims of this, and especially above here in ]Moonlight Canyon and Light's
Canyon, much gold was taken out in the early days.
The main branch of the Jura RiAêr, hoAvever, Avas a much longer and
wider course to the north and east of tiie one described. This emptied
314 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREATT.
into the ocean iiiiR-li I'arthci- norlh nuni Mouiihiin IMcMdows, being
abont whciv Dnck Ijakc is now. The lowci- end is coniplctcly covered
])} a volcanic cap. Tlie head waters of this eliannel were proba])ly
somewhere near Loyalton and are deeply buried under the Pleistocene
wash of Sierra Valley. It crossed somewhere above Beckwith and
can be picked up above the road on Red Clover Creek a few miles from
there. From here on it can be trailed on the sonthwest side of Red
Clover Valley around the east side of Blount Ingells and across Squaw
Creek and Indian Creek a considerable distance above Genesee. It
passes north of Kettle Rock and through by Diamond Mountain where
it has been bent from the Honey Lake fault, thereby giving the impres-
sion of a southward flowing channel. It passed west of Susanville and
crosses the road not very far from Westwood. I-ts course can be clearly
traced through the Walker Ranch as far as Duck Lake. A branch
probably came in at the head of Lone Rock Creek, which crossed high
up on Indian Creek. The fact that this is the older course of the river
is evidenced by the age of the fossils found west of Susanville, whereas
the western branch, described before, shows fossils that are much
younger. For this reason, it seems possible that a diversion may have
l)een caused by the Honey Lake faulting, thereby changing the stream
from an older to a later bed. Possibly, however, there was a .iunction
of these two channels at the delta near Stockton's Ranch. The
immense amount of gravel here is probably more largely due to the
eastern branch than to the western, which is comparatively small. This
channel can clearly be traced as an entirely separate stream from that
of the IMohawk Valley until the possible junction above mentioned.
In addition to the gravels already discussed under the head of the
Feather River, there are certain sections of channel which undoubtedly
drain southward toward the old Cretaceous Yuba. Commencing above
Moh.awk Valley on the ridge dividing Jameson Creek and the east
fork of Nelson Creek, Avhich are both trilnitary to the Feather River,
there is a channel called the McCray Ridge Channel, which is still very
largely virgin, and in many places is heavily lava-capped. There are
excellent opportunities for drifting on this channel, and the work at
the Sunnyside Mine has proved the values contained therein. The first
trace of this channel appears above Squirrel Creek in the Mohawk
Valley. Crossing over to the west side of the ridge, it breaks out on
the head of Jameson Creek, and can be seen all the way dovm from the
crossing of the Johnsville-La Porte Road for four or five miles down
to the Sunnyside Mine. This channel carries a great deal of Avater and
is Cretaceous in its age, the original channel being without volcanic
wash. On this ridge there is at least four miles of virgin channel. It
is one of the most important channels in the district and, judging from
M^hat wâs done at the Sunnyside Mine above Rattlesnake Peak, it
contains good values.
About a mile north of Rattlesnake Peak a flow of the younger basalt
crossed the j\TcCray Ridge Channel and forced a large portion of the
gravel down the hill. This was discovered in 1882 and worked by
hydraulicking as the Sunnyside INIine. In ten years upwards of ninety
thousand dollars was taken out in the handling of some twenty-five
thousand yards of gravel. There still remains nearly ten times as much
gravel here, which seems suitable for hydraulicking. The great diflfi-
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFOKXLA.. 115
ciiltv,however, lies in getting suffieient water on the gronnd to handle

the material to the greatest advantage. In the early days whatever
water eame down in the spring and fall was iinponnded. and as mueh
as two thonsand dollars taken out with twenty days' work for one man.
This gravel has undoubtedly been pushed out from the iNIcCray Ridge
Channel. A tunnel was run in about 850 feet to tap this channel but
was too high. A shaft was sunk at the end of the tunnel ninety feet
to bedrock, l)ut thei'e was not a very tliick streak of pay gravel. Al)out
twelve carloads taken from this streak, amounting to only about four
cubic yards, before the water from the channel drove the operators
out produced $150. The gold was heavy, as was tliat in the hydraulic
Photo No. 27. CJibi-aUar Mine, Sierra County.
diggings below, largest piece being over $3,000 in value, from the
tlie
Sunnyside Hydraulic ]\Iine. Tlie channel swings southwest across the
Burnham ground, adjoining the Sunnyside, and goes on under the
east slope of Rattlesnake Peak, as the rims can be traced over half a
mile at this point. Beyond the west slope of Rattlesnake Peak is the
Gibraltar ^line. It is woi'king on the gravel which is probably another
run of this same channel. Considerable lii'avy gold has been taken out.
On the south fork of Xelsoii Ci-eek, which drains into the luiddh'
fork of the Feather River, there is evidence of a channel which extends
northeasterly from Table Rock under Mount Fillmore. In addition to
this, the extension of the Hepsidani Channel conies around under Blue-
nose Peak and swings easterly toward the McCray Ridge. This has
been eroded into Nelson Creek and has gradually enriched it. Near
the head of this creek erosion from Bluenose Ridge has produced a
large amount of gravel which is suitable for hydraulic mining, and
which has been mined in a small way for several years with debris
dams. The principal operators are at Bull Gulch, at Red Ravine and
at the Standard Mine on the main Nelson Creek. This ground has
been worked since the early days and has proved quite rich. At present
it is being operated by ground sluices, but a large area of hydraulic
ground is still available. The Standard Mine put in a debris dam, but
it is now full, and they have discontinued operations.
On Hopkins Creek, Poormans Creek and Dixon Creek there is con-
siderable hydraulic ground, caused by the erosion of the Onion Valley
Photo No. 24. Nelson Creek, Plumas County.
and Sawpit channel, which will be discussed under the head of the
Cretaceous Yuba River drainage.
Including all of the available drift mining territory of the possible
hydraulic ground embraced in the drainage of the Feather River, it is
fairly safe to assume a total of about five hundred million yards, of
Avhich probably three hundred million yards is of economic value. The
lower portion of the Feather River system drains the area of amphib-
olite schists and green stone. Higher up, however, we encounter rocks
of Carboniferous age in addition to great masses of Tertiary volcanics.
The Feather River region, as a whole, has produced many millions of
dollars, but at the present time there is very little gravel property in
an operating condition. Notwithstanding this fact, there are undoubt-
edly several opportunities for opening up profitable drift and hydraulic
mines. The question of debris storage would probably be solved by
building dams on Indian Creek and on the middle fork of the Feather
River. - "Îfli
The water rights in this country are excellent, as they drain from
the high slopes of the Sierras, on which the snow is densely packed in
winter.
gold placers of californu. 117
Section 3.
region of the yuba, bear and american rivers.

In the consideration of the region around Bangor, although it is
drained by Honcut Creek, which is a tributary of the Feather, it is
taken under this heading as during the period of Its formation it was
undoubtedly a portion of the ancient Yuba River delta. A large
channel, which is first noted on the Turner Ranch near Bangor, crosses
under the town and runs toward Wyandotte, thence turning westerly
toward the Feather River. This is locally known as the Blue Lead
Channel, and the point at which it joins the Neocene shore gravels is
still obscure. It has been extensively mined at Kentucky Ranch, at
Bangor and at the Turner Mine, but the main channel is still intact.
The gold is rusty and rather flaky and in spots on the upper benches
the channel is very rich. The gravel is hard and cemented in the main
channel, although some soft ground exists near Bangor. This channel
could be drained above Kentucky Ranch, but most of it would have to
be worked by a shaft. IMuch gulch placer work was done near Wyan-
dotte in the early days. IMost of it probably came from local seams
and pockets which were concentrated in the gulches. The same type
of workings appears near Honcut, but apparently most of this ground
has been completely worked out.
A good deal of loose, detrital material has been washed for gold at
Perry diggings and other places north of Honcut, but most of this
material is similar to that around Wyandotte, being probably of
Pleistocene age, and deriving its gold from quartz seams in the under-
lying rock. South of Wyandotte is an exposure of shore gravels that
have been waslied by hydrauliclang, which contain layers of yellow
sandstone. In this region there is evidence of shore gravels of two
periods which merge into one another.
In the dredging fields around Ilammonton are extensive areas of
gravel which are undoubtedly a portion of the delta of the ancient Yuba
River. These dredging fields have been so often described, and are so
near exhaustion, that the reader is referred to the bibliography for
details concerning them. These gravels often occur interstratified with
rhyolite and andesite mud. For some distance above Hammonton, in
the low, rolling hills to the east, there is no further sign of this channel,
but about six miles west of Smartsville, and south of the present Yuba
River, there is a very good exposure. At Sicard Flat, north of the
Yuba River, a large quantity of hydraulic gravel is still available,
which has an excellent dump into the present Yuba. Above this, at
Timbuctoo, the gravel is all well mined out, but in the neighborhood
of Smartsville there are a great many million yards which appear to
be excellent hydraulic ground, at Succor Flat. From Smartsville on
up to Mooney Flat considerable mining has been done, but millions
of yards still remain to be hydraulicked. From INIooney Flat on up
to French Corral the major portion of the channel seems to have been
eroded, possibly by the present south fork of the Yuba, but west of
Rapp's Ranch there is still a little gravel. The more or less continuous
deposits from San Juan to French Corral have been hydraulicked
almost throughout their entire extent. The main portion of the
channel has been worked, but there is considerable gravel on both front
and baek rims. The maximum depth of this gravel is 250 feet.
Although Frem-li Corral has l)een mined since the early days, above it
at Sweetland, Bireliville, American Diggings, and Sebastopol there is
still a good deal of gravel to be mined. At North San Juan is a tre-
mendous body of gravel available for hydraulicking. Most of this
ground is tributary to the old IMilton ]\Iining Company's ditch. A
characteristic of most of the channel from North San Juan down is
that the upper portion seems to have been cemented by tremendous
flows of volcanic mud.
At North San Juan is a channel which comes in from the northwest
on the east side of the north fork of the Yuba River. This extends for
several miles on the west side of Moonshine and contains considerable
virgin ground, which wôuld probably be worth while drifting, as,
wherever the gulches from MooiLshine Creek have cut it, they have
been greatly enriched. This channel crosses the north fork of the Yuba
in the neighborhood of Foster Bar and goes up toward Challenge. "West
of Greenville some mining has been done on this channel, and a good
deal has been done at New York Flat and east of the Clayton Ranch.
Whether the New York Flat diggings are connected with this same
channel is, however, extremely doubtful, as the gravel appears to be
subangular and is possibly of local origin. It may be that, after leav-
ing Greenville, this channel runs almost due north across the lower end
of Woodville Creek, as this was considerably enriched, presumably by
the erosion of one of the ancient channels. Above North San Juan for
about four or five miles the main channel of the ancient Yuba appears
to have been practically eroded. At Badger Hill, however, it again
assumes enormous proportions, from Badger Ilill clear up to North
Bloomfield, along what is known as the San Juan Ridge.
This area probably contains the largest possible hydraulic mine yet
remaining in the State of California. Gravels are from three hundred
to six hundred feet in depth, and bedrock has not been exposed in the
center of the channel during practically the entire length of seven
miles. This is undoubtedly the largest single body of commercial
hydraulic gravel in the State of California. It is mostly owned by one
company and contains anywhere from eight hundred million to twelve
hundred million yards of gravel, which will run, according to the
records of former operations, in the neighborhood of twelve to fifteen
cents a yard. In the IMalakoff diggings on the upper end of this body
of gravel drifting operations in the past two years have shown values
running better than $25 a yard on and near bedrock. In 1917 the
ground from North Columbia down to Badger Hill Avas prospected by
Keystone drills very extensively.
The values in this ground may roughly be estimated from the fact
that the old washings of surface ground near ]\Ialakoff from 1870 to
1874 were estimated at about 3,250,000 cubic yards, the yield of which
wâs in the neighborhood of three cents per cubic yard. In 1876 and
1877 about 1,600,000 yards were washed, which yielded about four
cents per cubic yard. This, of course, was top gravel. At the same
time the company washed about 700,000 yards of bottom gravel, which
yielded about thirty-three cents per cubic yard. The liottom gravel
extended from liedrock upward about seventy feet. The top gravel
averaged from thirty feet to over two hundred feet in depth. The
119
3s from
waters
me that
lis com-
t. The
h of the
French
;tly dis-
middle
r Creek
low the
the tail-
's. The
. at this
porta lit
I of the
it eig'ht
osed at
largely
ut over
'h finer,
of sand
mbia a
P gravel
zly Hill
before
rvey on
tlon^ rlic
channel,
pest blue
clay and
ith ande-
is aâin
e breccia
e east of
ael forks
north of
channel.
5, capped
;ry larse
1 feet in
posit has
Canyon,
he water
lB tunnel
the only
(d before
)omfield
anee of
y. The
ed. l)ut
MAI _
SHOWirSC A PORTiOIJ
NKIMKNK <ii;AVKlJ'IIANXKI-S
NK\:\1>A X'l ^ ( )f
TodVÔ ..It -:.-.:. :.
K.I" < i*i.-i..M i;

:
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNLl. 119
water used in mining this particular section of channel comes from

the old Milton ditch and tlic Eureka ditch, which derived tlieir waters
from Big Canyon Creek and the middle Yu])a River. At the time that
hydraulic mining was suppressed, the total reservoir area of this com-
pany contained a capacity of about 2,200,000,000 cubic feet. The
length of the ditches of this company was 157 miles. The length of the
ditch of the Milton Company, which operated below, above French
Corral, was about 80 miles.
The tailings from this tremendous body of gravel were mostly dis-
charged in tributaries of the soutli fork of the Yul)a and tlie middle
fork. By the building of a dam jnst below the junction of Deer Creek
and the middle fork, and the construction of a similar one below the
junction of Shady Creek and the south fork, practically all of the tail-
ings of this area could be impounded for the next hundred years. The
channel is probably at its widest near North Columbia. Gravel at this
point is over four hundred feet in depth. A junction of two important
streams occurs at a place near North Columbia. The total area of the
gravels between Badger Hill and North Bloomfield covers about eight
square miles. Gravels in the deepest trough, which is exposed at
Badger Hill and at Grizzly Hill, are very coarse and made up largely
of metamorphic rocks, while the deep gravels which spread out over
the benches are largely composed of white quartz and are unich finer.
Near the surface, but at the base of the lava cap, is a great deal of sand
and light-colored clay. In the neighborhood of North Columbia a
great deal of surface work has been done and about 150 feet of gravel
has been washed off. The deepest part of the deposit at Grizzly Hill
will re(iuire a considerable expenditure for bedrock tunnels before
working. To (piote from tlie report of the U. S. Geological Survey on
this area
"At North IllouniHi'ld tlic exposures are mostly in the hydnuilic l)aiil\ nloiii; tlie
(<'uterof the channel. The bedrock I'ises north and south of the main cliannid.
Acrass the bottom it is nearly level for three or four hundred feet. The deepest bhi<i
gravel is 130 feet thick. This is capped by heavy? bodies of light-colored clay and
sand, iuterstratified with fine gravel, and near the top occasionally also with ande-
sitic tuff. The clay and sand may reach ISO feet in thickness. Tills is again
covered by six hundred feet of tuffaceons breccia. The lower surface of the breccia
is uneven, as shown by the fact that sand and clay crop out a short distance east of
the Dorbec Mine. About one mile north of North Bloomfield the channel forks
again below the lava. The main fork has its inlet from the lava ridge north of
Backbone House, where the configurf^tiou shows the existence of a deep channel,
along the center of which Bloody Kun has excavated its canyon. Gravels, capped
by heavy masses of slide clay, are here exposed.
"Hydraulic mining has been carried on at North Bloomfield on a very large
scale. The excavations extend for fvCOO feet and are five to six hundred feet in
width. The banks are as nuicli as five hundred feet in height. The deposit has
been opened by a bedrock tunnel 7874 feet long, starting from Humbug Canyon.
The sum of .t;."..(MtO.(l(l<) is said to have been exjjended upon this tunnel, the water
supply and other preliminary work. Shortly after the comi)letion of the tunnel
hydraulic mining was suspended by injunction of the courts and since then the only
gravels worked have Ikh'u those the tailings of which could be impounded before
reaching the river."
The evidence upon the channel extending from North IMoomfield

down as far as French Corral shows very plainly the importance of
glacial action with regard to the distribution of gravels and pay. Tlie
theory of pre-Tertiary glaciation has not been generally admit ted. hut
118
and back rim

Altliougli Frei
at Sweetland,
still a good de
mendous body
ground is tril
characteristic
that the uppe
flows of volcar
At North Sj
on the east sid
several miles (
virgin ground
wherever the
been greatly ei
in the neighbo
of Greenville
deal has been
Whether the
channel is, ho
subangular an
ing Greenville
of Woodville '
the erosion of
about four or
to have been
assumes enori
Bloomfield, ah
This area p
remaining in 1
to six hundrec
center of the
miles. This
hydraulic gra^
company and
hundred milli
records of for
cents a yard,
of gravel drif -
running bette
ground from
Keystone dril
The values
that the old "\
1874 were esti

was in the ne
1877 about 1
cents per cub
time the comj;
yielded about
extended froi
averaged froi
:
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIPORNLi. 119
water used in mining' this particular section of channel comes from

the old ]\Iilton ditcli and the Eureka ditch, which derived tlieir waters
from Bio- Canyon Creek and the middle Yul)a River. At the time that
hydraulic mining was suppressed, the total reservoir area of this com-
pany contained a capacity of about 2,200,000,000 cubic feet. The
length of the ditches of this company was 157 miles. The length of the
ditch of the ]\lilton Company, which operated below, above French
Corral, was al)out 80 miles.
The tailings from this tremendous body of gravel were mostly dis-
charged in tributaries of the south fork of the Yul)a and tlie middle
fork. By the building of a dam jiLst below the junction of Deer Creek
and the middle fork, and the construction of a similar one below the
unction of Shady Creek and the south fork, practically all of the tail-
.i
ings of this area could be impounded for the next liundred years. The
channel is probably at its widest near North Columbia. Gravel at this
point is over four hundred feet in depth. A junction of two important
streams occurs at a place near North Columbia. The total area of the
gravels between Badger Hill and North Bloomfield covers about eight
square miles. Gravels in the deepest trough, which is exposed at
Badger Hill and at Grizzly Hill, are very coarse and made up largely
of metamorphic rocks, while the deep gravels which spread out over
the benches are largely composed of white quartz and are much finer.
Near the surface, but at the base of the lava cap, is a great deal of sand
and light-colored clay. In the neighborhood of North Columbia a
great deal of surface work has been done and about 150 feet of gravel
has been washed off. The deepest part of the deposit at Grizzly Hill
will require a considerable expenditure for l)edrock tunnels before
working. To quote from the report of the U. S. Geological Survey on
this area
"At North JJloomfii'ld the cxiiusun's are mostly in the liydraiiHc hank alon.u the
center of the channel. The hedrock rises north and sontli of the main channel.
Across the bottom it is nearly level for three or four hundred feet. The deepest bluo
jjrravel is 130 feet thick. This is capped by heavy bodies of light-colored clay and
sand, interstratified with fine gravel, and near the top occasionally also with ande-
sitic tuff. The clay and sand may reach 150 feet in thickness. This is again
covered by six hundred feet of tuffaceous breccia. The lower surface of the breccia
is uneven, as shown by the fact that sand and clay crop out a short distance east of
the Dorbec Mine. About one mile north of North Bloomfield the channel forks
again below the lava. The main fork has its inlet from the lava ridge north of
Backbone House, whei-e the configuration shows the existence of a deep channel,
along the center of which Bloody Run has excavated its canj-on. Gravels, capped
by heavy masses of slide clay, are here exposed.
"Hydraulic mining has been carried on at North Bloomfield on a very large
scale. The excavations extend for 5000 feet and are five to six hundred feet in
width. The banks are as much as five hundred feet in height. The deposit has
been opened by a bedrock tunnel 7874 feet long, starting from Humbug Canj-on.
The sum of .$.">.( HIO.tKJO is said to have been expended upon this tunnel, the water
supply and other preliminary work. Shortly after the completion of the tunnel
hydraulic mining was suspended by injunction of the courts and since then the only
gravels worked have Ix'en those the tailings of which could l)o impounded before
reaching the river."
The evidence upon the channel extending from North Bloomfield

down as far as French Corral shows very plainly the im|)ortance of
glacial action with regard to the distribution of gravels and pay. The
theory of pre-Tertiary glaciation has not been generally admitted, but
it seems hard to explain the distribution of the gravels in this particular

area without admitting the probability of glacial action on these chan-
nels. The Cretaceous and Eocene periods extended over a period
variously estimated at from one million to five million jêars, and during
that time, previous to the period of extensive vulcanism, therie must
have been many climatic changes, caused by the shifting of ocean cur-
rents and pressure areas which would have given the Sierras a climate
similar to that prevailing at present in Alaska and British Columbia,
entirely independent of any general shift of the Polar ice cap, such as
occurred in Pleistocene times.
The evidence and positive proof of local glaciation in this channel is
so pronounced that it can not be overlooked. Discrepancies in bedrock
elevations in the down-stream course of the channel may be in part,
although not altogether, explained by the differences in datum from
whicli these elevations were obtained; but the presence of bedrock
Photo No. 32. Characteristic Glacier on Alaskan Coast.
fluting and of single and double U-shaped channels of heaps of heavy

;
boulders of varied character which could not have been carried so far
from their source by water alone; and of the immense white quartz
channels in which all the metamorphic wall-rock has been ground up
and transported out by water; in which the grinding would have been
impractical without the aid of ice action and the fact that the depth
;
and width of these channels was often increased irregularly all of these
;
phenomena indicate the deposition of much of this material and the

hollowing out of the channels by local glaciation. At the present day
similar phenomena have been observed by the writer in Alaska, espe-
cially in the streams of water discolored by blue mud, Avhich come out
from under the major glaciers in the Cathedral Mountains.
That water sorting followed and was intermittent with this action is
also indubitable, as the shingling and sorting of the gravel shows
beyond doubt that these were the courses of ancient streams. One
thing may well be noticed; that is the relative elevations of the lava
and gravel contacts. It may well be possible that a series of readings

taken on these would show the original grades of these streams far
better than bedrock elevations would, even when properly correlated.
Somewhere between North San Juan and Badger Hill the main
channelis .joined by a tributary coming down from the north. No
gravel is noticed in place on this tributary until Camptonville is
reached. Here a wide, deep channel has been thoroughly worked out.
Above this, at Galena Hill, at Youngs Hill and east of Oak Valley, con-
siderable gravel is still left. The wash is mostly white cpiartz and not
particularly heavy. At Jouberts and at Indian Hill a large amount
of gravel is still available for hydraulicking, although the central
channel at the former place has been pretty well cleaned out. At
Brandy City and at Council Hill are still large quantities of gravel,
but the flows of lava mud, lying closely on top, have in many places
encroached so heavily on the gravel that it does not pay to work it.
Photo No. 31. Gravel at Scales, Sierra County.
Going northerly from here through Union Hill, which is almost

entirely hydraulicked out, the channel extends to Scales.
The Brandy City Mine, which is now being worked, still contains
about half a mile of unworked ground along the channel. There is a
very heavy top of volcanic mud and from fifty to one hundred fifty feet
of fairly good gravel. There is a good water right on Canyon Creek
amounting to about three thousand inches. At Indian Hill on the other
side of the north fork an interesting development of cemented gravel
is seen. Ferric-sulphate is still forming and cementing the gravel at
the present time. At Scales, below the junction of the Port Wine-
La Porte branches there is very heavy wash, which is largely inter-
volcanic. This underlies the original white gi-avel which is mixed ^^-ith
fine andesitic pebbles toward the surface. There is a tremendous area
of unworked gravel here. ]\Iining is still being done in a small way,
])Oth hydraulicking and drifting. From Scales on up the Port Wine
Ridge, the channel is almost intact and is largely virgin. At Mount
Pleasant, above Scales, is the .junction of the La Porte and the Port
Wine ehaimols. There are from sixty to eiglit.y million yards of gravel
here which would make one of the easiest hydraulic deposits in this
state to work. INIount Pleasant and Poverty Hill may be considered as
one property, although the Poverty Hill portion is supposed to be con-
siderably better gravel. This is one of the most important hydraulic
deposits in the state. About two hundred feet in depth the bank is
composed of small white quartz gravel with an unknown width, which
is presumably, at least, half a mile. The channel extends for nearly
two miles. The center of it has been worked for about half a mile, but
the balance is practically virgin. It is eminently suited to hydraulick-
ing, as the values run clear up to the top soil and the bedrock pay, judg-
ing from the history of the early mining, is undoubtedly good. The
Poverty Hill branch of this channel extends on up through Secret dig-
gings to La Porte. Both of these places are pretty well worked out,
and were among the richest gravel deposits ever known in the State
of California. Above La Porte the main channel is practically intact,
although some prospecting has been done on it at the Bellevue INIine.
As the channel at this point was continuously crossing a belt containing
quartz seams and stringers which were rich in gold, the values appear
to run almost uniformly through the channel. The Bellevue Mine itself
probably contains from four to five miles of virgin channel, which
should be among the best drift ground yet remaining in the State of
California. Passing under the Gibsonville Ridge, where a great deal
of hydraulic ground Avas develojêd in the early days, it continues on
up to Hepsidam and AVhiskey diggings. It is almost altogether com-
posed of white quartz gravel wherever it is exposed, and the bottom
strata have almost invariably made excellent drifting ground wher-
ever it has been tapped. From Hepsidam the channel continues north-
west and east of Pilot Peak. It turns sharply to the east, passes
through around to the north of l^luenose Mine and swings over on the
west side of Nelson Creek, the tributaries of which have nearly all been
enriched. From here on this channel has already been described under
the Feather River drainage. Another branch of this channel comes
down from the upper end of Little Grass Valley and enters it some-
where in the Bellevue ground, not far from the Thistle shaft. The
upper end of this channel is now being worked at the McFarland ]\Iine
and is paying very well. The gold appears to be distributed through the
bottom ten or fifteen feet of the gravel with a great deal of uniformity.
Still higher up,, around the eastern slope of Pilot Peak, we have the
Onion Valley channel. This is one of the richest feeders of the Gibson-
ville-La Porte channel that is first noted above Washington Creek near
Golden Gate. From here it crosses through the old Sawpit diggings,
where a portion of the channel was faulted dow^n for about a mile and
was iiydraulicked at Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill was one of the
richest hydraulic mines in the state at the time of its operation. The
whole flat above Saw]nt has been drifted out, although the channel was
pretty well spread over a large section of country by the faulting.
Passing around the head of Weldon Ravine and directly under the
main ridge ])etween Dixon C'reek and Onion Valley Creek this channel
is seen again at Red Slide Hill, where it swings around to the south
and .joins the main Gibsonville Ridge channel. This channel has been
eroded into Dixon Creek and has enriched it greatly. The channel is
123
y ol
l)ove
d be
the
nion
have
ered
ralia
have
mels
iside
dley,
1 the
is an
. A
head
arge,
iving
xten-
1 the
1 the
ville-
insey
wide
; was
se of
)uteh
nter-
rallel
d by
:erial
quite
lidge
these
deep
nain-
ed to
thing
e cut
eked,
for
aville
d on
king,
el at
ande-
lowa
days
"ising
GOLD PLACERS OP CALTFORNL\. 123
Very lU'ar tlie top of old (^rclaccous divide tind is evidently of

llic
('i-etaeeous aye. Between old Australia tunnel and the entry above
tlie
Sawpit Flat there is i)robal)ly a mile of virgin oronnd which should be

some of the best drifting? ground left in this state, judgin*,' by the
records of the old Sawpit and Richmond Hill mines. On the Onion
Valley side two tnnnels. the Pioneer and the Weldon Ravine, have
been run to tap the channel, but to date they have only encountered
the bench gravels in raises. On the Dixon Creek side, the Australia
tunnel has been driven in for over 1500 feet with i-aises which have
also tapped tlie bench gravel. Undoubtedly l)etwcen these three tunnels
is a deep channel which should pay to work. Onion Valley itself, aside
from the main channel, appears to have been a recent glacial valley,
but a large part of the detritus in it is eroded stream gravel from the
channel above mentioned.
On the south fork of the Feather River in Little Grass Valley is an
area Avhicli appears to have some possibilities as dredging ground. A
branch of the Gibsonville channel, as stated aliove, runs across the head
of it and may possibly have enriched it. The Avash is not very large,
but there is too much water for drifting operations witliout driving
a long drain tunnel. This side of the ridge has not been very exten-
sively mined, although some placer work was done lower down in the
early days. Apparently three channels run transversely across the
valley. The most easterly is the north branch of the Gibsonville-
La Porte channel mentioned above, with its west rim near Kinsey
Ravine. Farther west is another channel several hundred feet wdde
also running northerly and southerly on which the Tombs incline was
sunk in early days. Both rims are well-defined and from the strike of
the channel it appears to join the main Gibsonville Channel at Dutch
diggings above La Porte. This gravel has a slight proportion of inter-
volcanic pebbles.
Still farther west is a very large channel Avhich runs nearly parallel
with the direction of the valley. This has been slightly prospected by
Keystone drills. It contains a large proportion of volcanic material
and runs out considerably to the west of the other channels. It is quite
possible that the drainage of this channel is down the Mooreville Ridge
through the Dodson Mine.
The south fork of the Feather River runs directly across all these
channels, and could be used to supply water for hydraulicking if a deep
bedrock cut were run from the outlet of the valley. The gravel remain-
ing under the first layer of pipe clay, which is about one hundred to
one hundred fifty feet deep, might then be dredged and the whole thing
later converted into a reservoir or power site or else, by making the cut
deep enough to drain the valley, the whole thing might be hydraulicked.
At Gibsonville a large area of ground is still available for
hydraulicking. The same channel passes on under the Gibsonville
Ridge and comes out at Bald Mountain. At Dutch diggings and on
Bald IMountain considerable gravel is still available for hydraulicking.
Coming back to the junction of the Port Wine Ridge Channel at
jMount Pleasant, it can be traced to the northeast under a lieavy ande-
site cap for a matter of about ten or twelve miles. At the old Iowa
shaft north of Mount Pleasant good gravel was found in the early days
but was not prospected far on account of water. The area comprising
122
Wine chan
here which
state to wo
one proper
siderably 1:
deposits in
composed (
is presume
two miles,
the balanc(
ing, as the
ing from 1
Poverty H
gings to L
and were
of Calif on
although &
As the cha
quartz sea
to run aim
probably
should be
California
of hydrau
up to Hej
posed of
strata ha^
ever it ha;
west and
through a
west side
enriched,
the Feath
down froi
where in
upper enc
and is pa;'
bottom te
Still high
Onion Va
ville-La I
Golden G
where a j
was hydr
richest h;
whole tlal
pretty w
Passing .
main rid:
is seen a
and join!
eroded ii
GOLD PI>ACERS OF CATJFORXIA. 123
very near the top of tlie old ( "retai-roiis divide niid is evidently of
Cretaeeous aiie. P>et\veen the old Australia tunnel and the entry above
Sawpit Flat there is i)i'ol)al)ly a mile of virgin orroimd which should be
some of the best drifting i^-oiind left in this state, judging by the
records of the old Sawpit and Richmond Hill mines. On the Onion
Valley side two tunnels, the Pioneer and the Weldon Ravine, have
been run to tap the channel, but to date they have only encountered
the bench gravels in raises. On the Dixon Creek side, the Australia
tunnel has been driven in for over 1500 feet with raises which have
also tapped the bench gravel, l^ndoubtedly between these three tunnels
is a deep channel which should pay to work. Onion Valley itself, aside
from the main channel, appears to have been a recent glacial valley,
but a large part of tlie detritus in it is eroded stream gravel from the
channel above mentioned.
On the south fork of the Feather River in Little Grass Aâlley is an
area Avhich appears to have some possibilities as dredging ground. A
l)ranch of the Gibsonville channel, as stated above, runs across the head
of it and may possibly have enriched it. The wa.sh is not very large,
but there is too much water for drifting operations without driving
a long drain tunnel. This side of the ridge has not been very exten-
sively mined, although some placer work was done lower down in the
early days. Apparently three channels run transversely across the
valley. The most easterly is the north branch of the Gibsonville-
La Porte channel mentioned above, with its west rim near Kinsey
Ravine. Farther west is another channel several hundred feet wide
also running northerly and southerly on which the Tombs incline was
sunk in early days. Both rims are well-defined and from the strike of
the channel it appears to join the main Gibsonville Channel at Dutch
diggings above La Porte. This gravel has a slight proportion of inter-
volcanic pebbles.
Still farther west is a very large channel which runs nearly parallel
with the direction of the valley. This has been slightly prospected by
Keystone drills. It contains a large proportion of volcanic material
and runs out considerably to the west of the other channels. It is quite
j)0ssible that the drainage of this channel is down the ]\Iooreville Ridge
through the Dodson ]\Iine.
The south fork of the Feather River runs directly across all these
channels, and could be used to supply water for hydraulicking if a deep
bedrock cut were run from the outlet of the valley. The gravel remain-
ing under the first layer of pipe clay, which is about one hundred to
one hundred fifty feet deep, might then be dredged and the whole thing
later converted into a reservoir or power site or else, by making the cut
deep enough to drain the valley, the whole thing might be hydraulicked.
At Gibsonville a large area of ground is still available for
hydraulicking. The same channel passes on under the Gibsonville
Ridge and comes out at Bald ^Mountain. At Dutch diggings and on
Bald ^Mountain considerable gravel is still available for hydraulicking.
Coming back to the junction of the Port Wine Ridge Channel at
]\rount Pleasant, it can be traced to the northeast under a heavy ande-
site cap for a matter of about ten or twelve miles. At the old Iowa
shaft north of Mount Plea-sant good gravel was found in the early days
but was not prospected far on account of water. The area comprising
the Poverty Hill, ]\loiint Pleasant and Scales deposits pro])al)ly eon-
tains about 350 million yards of i?ravel. The Slate Creek Avater could
be brought down the Port Wine Kidge and used to good effect in min-
ing this gravel. It would undoubtedly make one of the largest and
best paying hydraulic mines in the state, although fitting up would be
expensive on account of dump and drainage problems. Undoubtedly
a long drain tunnel would have to be run from the Slate Creek side to
the lowest point in the channels which join on these properties.
Photo No. 28. Basalt intrusions at Tort Wine,

Sierra County.
Although the channel is more or less intact from the lowâ shaft almost
up to Port Wine, it is heavily lava capped, and would probably have to
be drifted. At Port AVine there is an intrusion of the younger basalt
w^hich is very interesting. From Port Wine up to Grass Flat the channel
is more or less exposed. At Gardner Point is considerable hydraulic
gravel, and at St. Louis is a very large body of gravel which is appar-
ently exceedingly low-grade, the best of it having been worked out by
the early day miners. From here on the channel passes up through
Howland Flat, where it was extensively drifted, and swings around
under the andesite at Potosi, breaking out again at Poker Flat where
considerable work was done on it. There is a possibility that the Poker
Flat diggings are not connected with Potosi, but that the drainage was
down the other way

througli Dcâdwood toward IMorristowiL Almost
parallelling" the channel,which extends from Potosi to Grass Flat, is
another channel which is buried deep nnder the lava at IMoviiit Fillmore
and Table Rock. This channel has been drifted in the neighl)orhood of
Table Rock bnt is largely virgin from here on down. As it is much
narrower than the Ilowland Flat channel on the west, it is quite possible
that it may be considerably better drifting ground. This channel
Photo No. 29. Poverty Hill, Sierra Count j'.
appears at the Pioneer ]\Iine near Grass Flat, but instead of joining
the front channel and going down toward Port Wine, it swings out to
the south through Happy Hollow and MorristoMu, where it is joined by
a tributary coming down from Deadwood. From ]\Iorristown it goes
through Craig's Flat to Eureka, where it will be discussed later under
the head of White Bear Channel.
^
m
Photo No. 30. Clo. Poverty Hill Gravels.

The liccidwcttcrs of the Wliitc Boar cluiniiel arc foniul soinewhere in

tliclU'i^hhorliood of Dcaxhvood Poak. From here it rims southerly
under Saddh-haek Moniitain and l^^'irtoj), passiny' through the Cooper
Ranch under Monte Cristo. It was extensively drifted at the old White
Bear Mine above Monte Cristo and proved exceedingly rich. The
characteristic of the gravel of this channel is the large amount of white
quartz boulders. From here the White Bear channel runs southwesterly
and is eroded into Goodyears Creek clear down to Goodyears Bar where
it caused an extensive enrichment. The upper portion of Goodyears
Creek and also part of Eureka Creek were greatly enriched by a branch
of this channel coming down from Happy Hollow through Morristown
and Eureka as above stated. The junction was probably on Goodyears
Creek, a mile or two above Goodyears Bar. Below Goodyears Bar this
channel was joined by a tributary coming down from McMahons through
the St. Charles Ranch. From Goodyears Bar it goes on southwesterly
to the east of Snowden Hill and Humbug Creek. On the head of Little
Humbug Creek the lava cap was sufficiently removed to allow^ consider-
able hydraulicking. This channel crosses Oregon Creek about two miles
south of Mountain House and goes through the ridge to Kanaka Creek.
On the south side of Kanaka Creek it continues through the ridge,
crosses the middle fork of the Yul)a River and swings westward toward
Grizzly Ridge. Here it turns southerly to enter the main Columbia
channel somewhere east of Tollhouse.
The channel mentioned under the Feather River system as the McCray
Ridge channel comes down under the east side of Rattlesnake Creek and
runs southerly on the east side of Rattlesnake Creek and on the north
fork of the North Fork of the Yuba River. Coming down the ridge
between this fork and the middle fork it swings westerly to Monte
Cristo where it crosses the White Bear channel. At Monte Cristo
a great deal of drifting was done and the channel proved exceedingly
rich. From here the channel flows almost straight south under the
ridge Mêst of Downieville until it crosses the north fork about two miles
east of Goodyears Bar. From here it is eroded into the Rock Creek
drainage, but appears again at the Kirkpatrick Mine near the old Hen-
ness Pass road. A great deal of drifting has been done upon the channel
at this point, and a large amount of low-grade gravel uncovered. From
here on it passes through Forest and proceeds southward parallel to the
Alleghany channel, thence swinging southwesterly toward Grizzly Ridge.
Another run of this same channel, starting on the ridge between the
north and middle forks of the North Fork, comes down through the old
Craycroft Mine and is eroded directly into the Yuba River at Downie-
ville. The concentration of this channel into the bars around Downie-
ville is responsible for the millions of dollars which were taken from
this place. Crossing southerly through Slug Canyon, it is found again
at the Ruby Mine and the old Bald Mountain, where it was extensively
drifted and much rich gravel taken out. Here it joins the other channel
a short way above Forest City. A short tributarj^ coming down from the
east joins it at this point also. Still farther east of this on the head of
Secret Canyon another channel comes down through the Pliocene Mine,
crosses through the ridge on the head of Little Kanaka Creek and joins
the Forest channel at Alleghany.
From Alleghany down this channel was extensively worked clear
through Chip 's Flat to Minnesota and proved exceedingly rich. Crossing
the middle fork to Orleans from this point on down it was extensively
hydranlicked to Moore's Flat. Entering the ridge again above Moore's
Flat it crosses the head of Bloody Run, and comes through west of
Backbone House into the old Malakoff diggings where it is now being
drifted by a local company. From the old Derbec Mine immediately
above North Bloomfield a channel can be traced through the northern
edge of Relief Hill up by Snow Point where it crosses the middle fork
of the Yuba River. From here on up to American Hill there is still
some virgin drift ground. Two tributaries enter this channel on the
east and west sides of the camp of American Hill. From American
Hill toward the northeast this channel can be traced through the lava
capped ridge on the north side of the middle fork clear up to Milton.
At Milton a fair sized body of hydraulic ground was formed from the
erosion of this channel. From Milton it can be traced northerly to the
Hilda Mine southwest of Milton Creek, and it is again picked up on
the opposite side of the north fork at the Thousand and One Mine. A
branch coming in from the Deer Creek drainage meets it at this point.
The main channel goes along the ridge west of Williams Creek, cross-
ing the north fork of the North Fork below Bassett's. Erosion from
this channel on Williams Creek has created a very promising body of
hydraulic gravel. Followdng up Sardine Creek, where it is mostly
eroded, this channel is again picked up below Gold Lake. At this
point the channel crosses a pocket belt which has greatly enriched it.
Above here it is .joined by a tributary running westerly from the
Haskell Peak region. The main channel crosses through Church
]\Ieadows, northwesterly by Gold Lake toward Mt. Elwell. From here
its course is rather uncertain, as it was undoubtedly affected, so far as
elevations are concerned, by the dropping down of the Mohawk Valley.
Judging by the enrichment on Jamison Creek and by the exposures
above the Little Jamison Mine, it is probable that its course up stream
was in a northerly direction for a matter of seven or eight miles.
On this channel much margin ground remains to be drifted all the
way from Mt. Elwell down to American Hill. It is possilile that some
of the gravel may be worth while drifting, but tlie pay is exceedingly
irregular and very spotty.
A northward flowing tributary on the east side of English ^Mountain
and Findley Peak joins this channel near Milton but is of no economic
importance.
Below Snow Point this channel is joined by a branch which comes
down from Pinoli Peak through the granite belt north of Graniteville.
This is joined by another tributarj^ from Bowman Lake. Gravel in tliis
channel is practically all granitic wash and will probably not pay to
drift. This channel can be traced through Shands down to Relief Hill,
where it is joined by another minor tributary which parallels it on
the south. None of these latter channels are of economic importance.
From North Bloomfield east a very important channel passes through
Relief, where it has been extensively hydraulickod and considerable
hydraulic gravel remains. Following southeasterly from Relief, the
channel has been eroded by the south fork of the Yuba but can be
picked up again at Alpha. From here on its course through Omega can
be followed by immense bodies of hydraulic gravel. From Omega it
follows the head of Diamond Creek and crosses the south fork of the
928603
Yuba again at Langs, wiiere it can be traced up to Zion ITill. This

channel is joined by auotlier tributary coming through Lake Valley
north of Emigrant Gap.
At North Columbia this main system of channels is joined by an
equally large tributary -which comes from the south by way of Grizzly
Canyon. This channel, in the extent of its drainage, is probably quite
as large and quite as important as any of the northern ones. Follow-
ing up the stream in a southerly direction tremendous masses of low-
grade hydraulic gravel are encountered near Blue Tent and on the
Rock Creek drainage. Apparently one branch of this channel passed
through Scott's Flat to Quaker Hill. There is an enormous mass of
low-grade gravel at Scott's Flat. The other branch of the channel
passed through Galbraith and crossed above the nortli and south forks
of Deer Creek. Below this the}^ were joined by an unimportant south-
ward flowing tributary. Joining the course of the old channel again
at Quaker Hill enormous masses of hydraulic gravel are again devel-
oped. Presumably, in the area from Scott's Flat to Gold Run there
is in the neighborhood of a billion yards of gravel. At Hunt's Hill,
Red Dog and You Bet extensive mining operations were carried on
in the early days, but a tremendous amount of gravel still remains to
be developed. Coming up from Tollhouse above Colfax a tributary,
which has mostly eroded into the Bear River, joins this channel near
Little York. The main channel, however, swung easterly to Dutch
Flat and southerly through Gold Run.
In connection with the effect of this channel upon the enrichment of
Bear River, it may be stated that the liA'draulic operations of Green-
horn Creek and the main Bear River have produced a tremendous mass
of tailings which have been variously estimated to still contain from 20
to 40 cents a yard in value. Several years ago a report on this subject
was made by two or three of the most prominent engineers of the time,
in M'hicli recommendations were made for a tunnel which was to be
driven through from Bear River below the junction of Greenhorn Creek
to Secret Canyon, a tributary of the American.
The idea of this project was to permit the working of the enormous
accumulation of tailings on Bear River and, on account of the differ-
ence in elevation ])etween the bed of Bear River and that of the north
fork of the American, to thus create a dump which would permit of
the disposal of the tailings in their reworking.. This project was after-
ward abandoned, doubtless because it could not be satisfactorily proved
whether the value in the tailings were sufficiently great to permit of a
profit in the operation. A map sho-âng the location of the principal
properties in the neighborhood of Dutch Flat, Red Dog, Little York
and You Bet is herewith included. This map also shows the location of
this proposed tunnel for reworking Bear River tailings.
The lower reaches of Bear River, especially in tlie rolling land above
Wheatland, have resulted in the concentration of a certain amount of
delta gravel, which was worked in the early days for many years with
satisfactory results. Some unsuccessful dredging has been done on the
lower reaches. Owing to the lack of Avater, most of this work was done
by means of rockers and short sluices immediately after and during
the rainy season. For many years some of the old-time prospectors
have been working the short turns and bars of the Lower Bear River
;
129
n of
Flat
st a
gton
ary
'here
from
el is
aced
yon,
)ther
this
k of
yta.
lerly
:the
s of
'rom
Hill,
are
unel
con-
car-
dtu-
iod,
ame
igan
; to
3 to
and
the
Lilly
ame
aw
. of
3wn
ter-
illel
lill.
was
be
son
the
vey
! to
1 it
/els
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIPÔRNIA. 129
for the fine iôld wliicli is aniuially hrou^ht down from tlie erosion ol!
the south fork of the Neocene Yul)a in the neighborhood of Dutch Flat
and Greenhorn Creek. This area undoubtedly contains at least a
billion yards of economically workable gravel.
At Dutch Flat this cliannel is joined by a tributary from Remington
Hill through Lowell Hill, where it is joined by a minor tributary;
thence through Liberty Hill and the Polar Star to Dutch Flat. There
is still a tremendous amount of good hydraulic gravel, ranging from
10 to 25 cents a yard, on this channel. At Dutch Flat tliis channel is
also joined by what is known as the Alta channel. This can be traced
along the line of the Southern Pacific Railway clear to Blue Canyon,
where there is a very considerable body of hydraulic gravel. Another
branch comes down from Texas Hill through Shady Run and .joins this
channel. Still another minor branch comes across the north fork of
the American River through p]uchre Bar and joins tliis channel at Alta.
Following the course of the main channel from Gold Run southerly
through Wisconsin and Indiana Hill and, crossing the north fork of the
American River, it appears again in the form of immense masses of
hydraulic gravel at Iowa Hill. It is here joined by a tributary from
Succor Flat through Monona Flat and Roach Hill. At Iowa Hill,
extending southerly through the branches of Shirttail Canyon, are
still tremendous bodies of hydraulic gravel. From here on the channel
can be traced southerly through Yankee Jim, where there is still con-
siderable hydraulic gravel and where drifting operations are now car-
ried on. From Forest Hill on, this channel presents a most baffling situ-
ation, due to the tilting movements at the close of the Eocene period,
which gradually changed the direction of flow.
The original system, working upward from Yankee Jim, came
through the Dardenelles and Forest Hill by way of Bath to IMicliigan
Bluff and up through Turkey Hill and the Hidden Treasure to
Damascus aiul Red Point; tlience extending aroiuid l)y AVestville to
Secret Canyon.
Another brancli, whicli has been greatly eroded l)y the American and
Rul)icon rivers, runs northeast to Devils Peak and across through tlic
Ralston Divide.
The lower reaches of the middle American have been successfully
dredged, ])ut are now worked out. Tlie enrichment undoubtedly came
from the erosion of this system.
At the close of the Eocene period, with the beginning of the heavy
rhyolite flows, this distri])ution was materially changed. Instead of
going north by way of Yankee Jim 's the channel turns southwest down
the present middle fork, where it has been greatly eroded. An inter-
volcanic channel appears on the Ralston Divide and numerous parallel
ones below it, all converging towards Todds Valley and Peckham Hill.
A careful study of this region, made by the writer during 1922, was
published in the October issue of 'Mining in California,' and Avill be
quoted bodily herewith. In many respects tlie writer has found reason
to differ with the channel system as quoted in the Colfax folio of the
U. S. Geological Survey. In the main, however, the work of the Survey
has l)een so thorough and so painstaking that it seems of little use to
revamp any of the information contained therein. For this reason it
seems best to quote also from the report upon the auriferous gravels
128
Yuba again
channel is
north of Er
At North
equally lar^
Canyon. T
as large ani
ing up the
grade hyclr
Rock Creek
through Se
low-grade j
passed thro
of Deer Cr(
ward flowi]
at Quaker
oped. Pre:
is in the n
Red Dog
in the earl;
be develop!
which has
Little Yor]
Flat and s
In conne
Bear Rivei
horn Creels
of tailings
to 40 cents
was made 1
in w^hicli i
driven thr(
to Secret C
The ide?
aceumulati
ence in ele
fork of th
the disposi
wârd aban
whether tl
profit in t
properties
and You I
thispropc
The low
Wheatlani
delta gra\
satisfactoi
lower reac
by means
the rainy
have been
GOiiD PliACERS OP catjfornia. 129
for the fmc oold wliicli is annually l)r()uglit down from the (3rosion of
the south fork of the Neocene Yu1)h in the neighborliood of Dutch Flat
and Greenhorn Creek. This area undoubtedly contains at least a
billion yards of economically workable gravel.
At Dutch Flat this channel is joined by a tributary from Remington
Hill through Lowell Hill, where it is joined by a minor tributary;
thence through Liberty Hill and the Polar Star to Dutch Flat. There
is still a tremendous amount of good hydraulic gravel, ranging from
10 to 25 cents a yard, on this channel. At Dutch Flat this channel is
also joined by Avhat is known as the Alta channel. This can be traced
along the line of the Southern Pacific Railway clear to Blue Canyon,
where there is a very considerable body of hydraulic gravel. Another
branch comes down from Texas Hill through Shady Run and .joins this
channel. Still another minor branch comes across the north fork of
the American River through Euchre Bar and joins this channel at Alta.
Following the course of the main channel from Gold Run southerly
through Wisconsin and Indiana Hill and, crossing the north fork of the
American River, it appears again in the form of immense masses of
hydraulic gravel at Iowa Hill. It is here joined by a tributary from
Succor Flat through Monona Flat and Roach Hill. At Iowa Hill,
extending southerly through the branches of Shirttail Canyon, are
still tremendous bodies of hydraulic gravel. From here on the channel
can be traced southerly through Yankee Jim, where there is still con-
siderable hydraulic gravel and where drifting operations are now car-
ried on. From Forest Hill on, this channel presents a most baffling situ-
ation, due to the tilting movements at the close of the Eocene period,
which gradually changed the direction of flow.
The original system, Avorking upward from Yankee Jim, came
through the Dardenelles and Forest Hill by way of Bath to Michigan
Bluff and up through Turkey Ilill and the Hidden Treasure to
Damascus and Red Point; thence extending around by A\^(stville to
Secret Canyon.
Another branch, which lias l)een greatly eroded by the American and
Rubicon rivers, runs northeast to Devils Peak and across through the
Ralston Divide.
The lower reaches of the middle American have been successfully
dredged, but are now worked out. The enrichment undoul)tedly came
from the erosion of this system.
At the close of the Eocene period, with the beginning of the heavy
rhyolite flows, this distribution was materially changed. Instead of
going north by way of Yankee Jim 's the channel turns southwest down
the present middle fork, where it has been greatly eroded. An inter-
volcanic channel appears on the Ralston Divide and numerous parallel
ones below it, all converging towards Todds Valley and Peckham Hill.
A careful study of this region, made by the writer during 1922, was
])ublished in the October issue of ']\Iining in California,' and Avill be
quoted bodily herewith. In many respects the writer has found reason
to dift'er with the cliannel system as quoted in the Colfax folio of the
U. S. Geological Survey. In the main, however, the work of the Survey
has been so thorough and so painstaking that it seems of little use to
revamp any of the information contained therein. For this reason it
seems best to quote also from tlie report upon the auriferous gravels
;
130 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BURfeAtJ.
given in the Colfax folio. F()llo^\ing is the quotation from 'Mining

in California:'
"From both tlici historical and the economic standcoint, the buried channels of what
may be termed the Cretaceous-Eocene south fork of the ancient river system which
drained the major portion of the present American and Yuba rivers territory, are
among the most important in the state.
"From Yanlvee Jim on northwesterly, through Iowa Hill and Dutch Flat to its
junction with the north fork at Columbia, the course of this channel is well defined,
and admits of little argument. From Yankee Jim east, however, there is a vast
difference of opinion with regard to the correlation of this stream and its tributaries.
'This is largely due to the change in drainage of the system which occurred toward
the close of the Eocene period and contemporaneously with the earlier rhyolite flows.
It seems undoubtedly to be the case that a large block of the western slope of the
Sierras was tilted and dropped at this time, and comparatively abruptly because a ;
drainage was established toward the southwest, and appro-Kimately down the course
of the present middle fork of the American, along lines which It retains to this day
although a gradual subsequent uplift dtiring Quaternary time has altered the course
of present day streams, and heavy erosion has taken place. Coincident with, and
immediately following upon, this shift, new channels were cut. The flows of lava
pouring down the western slope at intervals, in part following the old stream beds
and in part obliterating them and transporting tlieir contents to other courses the ;
dams of volcanic asli temporarily created and later released like tremendous 'self-
shooters,' with all the volume of pent-up torrents behind them to cut new courses;
and the comparatively quiescent periods between lava flows when the new streams
pursued, perhaps for thousands of years at a time, new and wandering courses, dis-
tributing both new and ancient wash according as they were cutting lava or ancient
stream beds all of these influences combine to produce perhaps a unique condition,
;
and certainly one of the most puzzling and complex situations with which the gravel
miner has ever had to contend.
"In working out this system, it is absolutely necessary to make one sharp distinction
primarily that between the tributaries of the old Cretaceous-Eocene, northward flow-
;
ing stream, and those of the post-Eocene, southwesterly course.

"In doing this, it is impossible to correlate exactly. Drainage lines as followed out
may not have been contemporaneous by a matter of a thousand years, or even several
thousands but along broad general lines, it seems peifectly clear that the system is
;
well established.
"To begin wuth the larevolcanic system. Following upstream from Y'ankee Jim
through Forest Hill, Mayflower and Bath to Michigan Bluff, we have an important
tributary coming down from the north which we may follow up through Gas Hill,
Turkey Hill, Hidden Treasure and Sunny South to Damascus and Humbug Bar, with
a tributary coming in by way of Red Point which may be traced below Westville clear
up to the head of Secret Canyon. This evidently had a divided course at a later period,
crossing over through Black Canyon and being; joined by a tributary from Whiskey
Hill, and later resuming its course near Westville. Another tributary to the Hidden
Treasure branch came in by way of Deadwood. This in turn may be traced through
Last Chance, American Hill and north of Antone Canyon up to Canada Hill and Sailor
Ravine.
"Coming back to the junction at Bath, we have the old Breece and Wheeler channel.
For some distance this has been eroded but in general it followed the middle fork to
;
the Rubicon and up Long Canyon nearly to Wallace, where it crossed to the south
side and goes through what is now Nevada Point to Little Grizzly thence up Pigeon ;
Roost to the eastern .slope of Devils Peak, where it is very deeply buried under sub-
sequent lava thence through and across the upper portion of Long and Wallace
;
canyons to the northeast side of Jerry's Canyon, where it went through the Ralston
Divide and its entrance may be seen above the Little Crater. From Jerry's Canyon
on down another run of this same channel may be traced around Blacksmith Flat by
way of the old Clydesdale over to the Nevada Point side, where it joins the old course.
Following up from Little Crater, it crosses the middle fork to Duncan Creek, where it
is joined by two tributaries the Blue Eyes, coming down from Deep Canyon and the
: ;
Glen, coming down from Flat Ravine. Continuing north through the Hard Climb to
Chalk Bluffs, it goes up the middle fork toward Castle Peak.
"Again coming back to a junction southwest of Bath, we have another major fork.
Crossing in a southerly direction near Volcanoville. we follow it upstream southeasterly
toward Twelve Mile House and along the Georgetown Divide through Fornis Ranch,
across Pilot Creek to Eleven Pines, and on the south side of the Rubicon through Uncle
Tom's and thence easterly and northerly by way of Mount Mildred to Tahoe. A
tributary comes from the southwest near Robb's Peak and joins this near the eastern
edge of the Placerville quadrangle.
"South of this area, we have tributaries running into another great stream, which
was at this time the equivalent of the present south fork of the American, with regard
to territory drained. Commencing near the head of Rock Creek and also the head of
Silver Creek we have two channels which drained southerly, and are almost eroded
except for fragmentary patches until we get to WHiite Rock Canyon and to Badger
Hill, respectively. Their relation to the intervolcanic streams will he shown later.
"Such was the general situation during Cretaceous and Eocene times. These chan-
nels had planed down the metamorphic rocks of the Sierras for probably a million
years or more. In their beds was the source of most of the present day enrichment
of the placers of this portion of the Sierras. Like gigantic sluice boxes they stretched
their shining lengths over the rolling foothills of the Sierras, wending their way
toward the northward flowing tributary of the Cretaceous Yuba, and contributing to
the enormous masses of gravel already deposited in the glacier-hewn channels of what
is now Quaker Hill and Blue Tent. "VX'henever these streams crossed a rich pocket
and seam area, like that running northerly through Georgetown and Michigan Bluff,
they were enormously enriched but the heavy gold gained from these areas did not
;
:
GOLD PLACERS OF CAL1F0RNL\. 131
travel far and hence these channels were, like those nE the present
day, extremely
spottv. The fine gold was far more generally distributed. ^ * *,
the ilattei
"The beginning of the era of intensive vulcanism is generally placed atsh9wers
end of the Eocene period. Tiie first manifestations of it were extensive of
volcanic ash and pumice, which coated the flanks of the Sierras for many feet in depth.
Probably the source of these eruptions can be traced to two or three vents and
;
from
the present topography it is rather hard to estimate their positions. These vents
covered the Cretaceous summit of the Sierras and its flanks for over a hundred miles
in length with a mass of steaming mud and lava. . .^
'As the thick coating of ash was gathered up by the tributaries of the region,
it
collected in enormous masses alone the main channels, causing them to dam ud and
change their courses. Then came the first flows of rhvolite, and a period of compara-
tive quiescence for a few thousand vears. New cement channels were formed, cutting
the old ones and changing the drainage lines; but in general the course of the drainage
was the same. ^, .*,.
"Next came the enormous eruptions of rhyolite and other acid lavas, together with
j.
the older basalts on the north. Pouring down the mountain sides in slow-moving
masses, converting whole rivers into steam and causing tremendous explosions along
their flanks and beneath the viscous masses, they cooled and solidified, raising the
enormous rock masses that we now know as the Ralston Divide, the Nevada Point, and
the Georgetown Divide, which were greatly increased in their relief by the later erosion
of Quaternary streams. Coincident with this came the dropping down of the area
south and west of the present middle fork of the American. A new drainage to the
ocean was established in a relatively short time: the then shore line being at the edge
of the Sierras, and the diversion point being somewhere near the Dardanelles.
"Intermittently, then, wa.s created a whole new system of Tertiary streams, which
may well be terrned the sluice robbers of that and even of a later period.
"The effects of this sudden change are well shown at Todils Valley. Enormous
masses of rhyolite lava, alternating with flows of steaming, viscid mud. tore down the
old courses of the white quartz and metamorphic channels and picked up their con-
tents bodily until, losing their grade and their momentum, they deposited them in this
flat space. Quaternary erosion did the rest, the gold concentrated, and the result was
the enrichment of Todds Valley. The gold originally lay in the channels of the old
Cretaceous river but these sluice robbers picked it up and redeposited it. Another
;
similar drainage was estabhshed by way of Peckham Hill. Passing east through
Volcanoville, we can follow another stream of this system which is joined by a tribu-
tary coming down the Ralston Divide. This latter nicked up its enrichment from the
crossing of the old channel near and below the Goggin diggings. Gathering some
legitimate enrichment in crossing the pocket belt, but for the most part containing
what gold it had taken from the older channel, this meets the Volcanoville Tertiary,
which heads somewhere east of Bacchis. Together they form a larger channel which
crosses Otter Creek to Gravel Hill and Jones Hill, and on into the present middle
fork, where they were in turn eroded. At .Tones Hill, or near there, this main channel
is joined by another Tertiary stream wliich comes down from Seven Mile House
through Bottle Hill. This also has another course through Three Mile House and
southwest of the Georgia Slide, where it doubtless picked up some legitimate, primary
enrichment. The Ralston Divide branch also had another tributary which later buried
Nevada Point under a tremendous lava flow.
"To the southward, via Kentucky Flat, Tiedemenn's, and Tipton Hill, still further
flows of volcanic mud and ash. as well as rhyolitic lava, poured down the Rock Creek
drainage toward Placerville. Later, this channel, both in its Cretaceous and Tertiary
form, was erorled by Rock Creek between Tipton Hill and White Rock Canyon. A
few traces of the gravel remain on widely separated points. The same condition was
duplicated both as to formation and erosion by Silver Creek in the channel which came
down from Eleven Pines by way of Mundy's and McManus to Badger Hill.
"While these Tertiary channels may have accumulated a little gold for themselves,
in the main they secured what wealth they have from their crossing and intermin.gling
with the older Cretaceous drainage already described. In the main, they do not pay
to drift, excent near the sources of their enrichment and often they do not pay to
:
hydraulic. They are marked by a heterogeneous collection of quartz and metamorphic

gravels robbed from the older streams, and by rhyolite boulders and ash, as well as
intermittent solid rhyolite flows.
"The principal one of these channels was undoubtedly the Ralston Divide-Volcano-
ville ; .and up near the Goggin diggings, where it more or less conformed to the old
drainase. there was ,a fair, if somewhat spott.v. gold content. Aarain at the Ralston
iît. whe'-e it mav have caught a northerlv swing of the old channel over tow.ard
Bru.shy Creek, before the piling up of the main lava flow, and stripped the same, there
appears to have resulted some enrichment. Again. wet of Volcanoville. this channel
has been enriched by crossing another of the old channels. This enrichment continues
all thp way to .Tones Hill, where there was good hydraulic ground.
"Wherever the modern rivfrs crossed and reconcentrated the Tertiary channels,
there was little relative enrichment but wherever they crossed the channels of the
:
old Cretaceous system, as at Horse.shoe Bar, the enrichment appears to have been the
greatest."
The following is quoted from the Colfax folio of the U. S. Geological

Survey
"Auriferous Gravels.
"Neocene
exposed,

iie-volcaiii': giavels. Along Oregon Orepk
lying on flat benches sometimes less than 100
se\eral bodies of eravel are
feet above the stream. The
gravels at Tippecanoe are 100 feet thick and consist of quartz and chert pebbles, often
imperfectly washed. They contain no volcanic rocks. The course of the Neocene
stream must, as shown by bedrock relations, have followed the present Oregon Creek.
l;}2 CAIilKOliNIA STATE MINING J'.UHEAIJ.
Tile gravel at Keinargis and CJale.s diggings, 2 miles fartlicr up llie ereek, is siinUar.
At Tippecanoe a few acres have been hyilraulicked, and some work lias also been done
at (Jales tiu" gravel is liere 50 feet thick and is covered with 30 feet of pipe clay.
:
Small bodies of gravel crop near Nelson mill, and below the andesitu one mile east of
Plum Valley. A sharply defined channel containing little if any gravel is noted at
Daneckes tunnel, 2 J miles northwest of Tippecanoe. This Neocene gulch probably
di'ained northward.
"A junction of two important streams took place near North Columbia, and here
the auriferous gravels are developed to a greater extent than at any other place. In
the Smartsville quadrangle there is a large area of gravel extending from Badger Hill
to the limit of the quadrangle. This is continued in this quadrangle as far east as
North Bloomfield, covering about 8 square miles. There was doubtless a deep channel
with slight giade running from Grizzly Hill (one mile southwest of Kennebec House)
to Badger Hill, where it was joined by the steeper channel of North Bloomfield from
the east. The Nortli Columbia gravels are among the most extensive and deepest
known, the depth along the center of the channel being from 400 to 500 feet. The
gravel in the deepest trough, exposed at Badger Hill and Grizzly Hill, is coarse and
made up largely of metamorphic rocks, while the top gravel, spread out over the
benches, is fine and much more quartzose. Near the surf.ace, and especially up toward
the base of the lava flow, there are heavy masses of sand and light-colored clays.
"The gravels at North Columbia are owned chiefly by the Eureka Lake Company,
their claims covering an area of 1445 acres along 2i miles of channel. A large amount
of surface work has been done and 150 feet of gravel has been washed off. The deep
part of the deposit exposed at Grizzly Hill could be reached only by running long and
expensive bedrock tunnels this would have been done but for the injunctions against
;
hydraulic mining. It is estimated that 25,000,000 cubic yards have been washed off
and tliat 165,000,000 cubic yards remain.
"Mining operations from the Derbec shaft have proved the existence of a deep
channel extending for several thousand feet eastward. This is not the main North
Bloomfield channel though it connects with that a short distance westward. The
Derbec channel, which lias a steep grade, has been mined up stream from the shaft
for a. distance of 7000 feet, following a curve: the width of pay gravel was from 150
to 600 feet; the height was from 8 to 16 feet from the bedrock. The gravel is coarse
with many bpulders, some of which are of granite. The average value per ton is
$2.47. The mine was in operation from 1877 to 1893, and the production in some years
reached .$200,000.
"There can be but little doubt that the Derbec channel continues towards Relief.
At Relief erosion has exposed a deep trough in the old bedrock and about 200 acres of
auriferous gravels. The oldest gravels, as usual coarser and containing less quartz,
are 60 feet deep and are covered by from 100 to 200 feet of alternating sand, fine
quartz gravel and clay. Some hydraulic work was done long ago at the southern and
eastern rims. For many years drifting operations only have been carried on. The
Union tunnel about 2500 feet long has been driven from the southwestern side of the
gravel area, and amounts up to $30,000 and $40,000 per year have been produced for
a number of years. Drifting has also been done from the Blue Gravel tunnel, starting'
from the northeastern side of the deposit.
"For a long distance east of Relief the bedrock keeps high, and no gravel outcrops
along the contact, but at Mount Zion, at Devil's Canyon, fine quartz gravel, having a
thickness as great as 50 feet, crops below the North Blooinfleld ditch for a distance of
nearly one mile. Some little hydraulic work, as well as drifting, has been done here.
Many years ago the main tunnel, running due west for 1400 feet, struck bedrock
pitching west. It is probable that this gravel filled a tributary running northward and
joining the Derbec channel.
~"At Cherry Hill, between Shands and Mount Zion, a small body of gravel crops
below the North Bloomfield ditch. A few very small areas were noted at Shands ;
the largest was 100 feet thick, composed of well-washed pebbles, and covered by sub-
angular gravel. The small patches north and south of Graniteville are also partly
subangular giavel. Well washed gravel crops below the andesite north of the town
but is thin and irregular. A small, rapidly rising channel probably continues for some
distance below the lava.
"At Snow Point and Orleans are small bodies of auriferous gravel, the bedrock
rising rapidly southward. At both places the gravels have been nearly exhausted for
hydraulic mining. A little drifting has also been clone at Snow Point. At this place

the bank is 135 feet high; the lower 15 feet contains coarse gravel, covered by 90 feet
of fine sandy quartzose gravel, again overlain by 2 feet of clay. At Orleans the
gravel was also largely quartzose. West of Orleans is Moore's Flat, where a consid-
erable body of gravel is exposed. It is of the same character as at Snow Point, from
100 to 130 feet thick, and is covered by andesitic breccia. Boulders of quartz, from
2 to 6 feet in diameter, are found on the bedrock. It is estimated that 2 6,000,000
cubic yards have been washed off, and that perhaps 15.000,000 remain.
"At Woolsey Flat there is likewise a large body of gravel exposed. The heavy
gravel up to a thickness of 100 feet, is similar in character to that just described, but
it is then covered by as much as 150 feet of clay. In all of these gravel bodies the
gold on the bedrock is rather coarse. But little hydraulic gravel remains at W'oolsey
Flat, as the thickness of the nonproductive strata is rapidly increasing. The produc-
tion of these hydraulic mines, while very laige, is not definitely known. None of them
have been in operation since 1886.
^- * :!: *
"The continuation of the Minnesota channel is found one mile south of Alleghany
at Smith's Flat, somewhat higher in elevation than Chip's Flat. Here a little hydraulic
work has also been done and tlie banks are fifty feet in height. I'^rom here the chan-
nel has been drifted through to Forest. As usual in this channel the bottom gravel is
coaise and contains many flat cobbles and boulders of a bluish-white siliceous slate;
also much quartz. The gold on the liedrock is coarse, and has often worked its way
GOLD I'LACEKS OF CALIFORNIA. 133
down some distance into the decomposed bedrock. The production of this channel has
amounted to several million dollars, though it is impossible to obtain exact statistics.
One of the most successfully worked claims was that of the Live Yanliee, extending
aiong 2600 feet of channel. Its production was nearly $700,000.
"A -small amount of heavy gravel crops at Forest, but the channel enters the
northern ridge immediately and continues in a north northeast direction. It was
worked bv the Bald Mountain Company, from 1S72 to 1879, for a distance of about a
mile, producing ?150,000. The gravel was extracted to a height of 3i feet, including
one foot of bedrock. The yield per cubic yard of unbroken gravel was about $7. A
shaft sunk ISOO feet from the mouth shows 215 feet of clay and sand covering 15 feet
of gravel no such heavy masses of silt are found farther down on this channel. The
;
Bald Mountain channel was found to be cut off by a lower intervolcanic claannel filled
with lava, but continues beyond this to the Ruby Mine and the Downieville quadrangle.
"At Blue Tent the gravel crops extensively below the lava, tilling a deep trough in
the bedrock, the deepest part liaving the same elevation as Grizzly Hill across the
canyon. Tlie bottom gravel is coarse and cemented and is covered by over 300 feet of
light-gray sand and clay, mixed with tine quartz gravel. The sand is particularly
abundant and nearly barren. About 15,000,000 cubic yards have been removed and
some 90,000,000 remain, much of which is barren clay and sand. The lower gravel
averaged 15 cents or more per cubic yard, while the sandy top gravel contained only
2J" cents.
"On the ridge northeast of Nevada City a small but rich channel has been drifted
from the east and west Harmony inclines. The gravel, which is partly subangular, is
taken out to a depth of four feet. In Rock Creek below the andesite lie large masses
of clay and sand, similar to the deposit of Blue Tent. Still larger accumulations are
exposed at Scott's Flat and Quaker Hill. The gravel, covered with rhyolitic tuff and
andesite, fills the deep trough well-exposed by Deer Creek and Greenhorn River. Along
the principal channel the gravels are nearly 600 feet deep the bench gravels surround-
;
ing the deepest trough are about 300 feet in depth. At Hunt's Hill the deepest
channel exposed by mining operations is about tlie level of the tailings in the river.
North of this point it is not visible until exposed again at Blue Tent. The evidence
of the bedrock relation, and the accumulation of gravel clearly show that the deep
channel is continuous from Hunt's Hill to Blue Tent. A shaft has been sunk in the old
diggings at Quaker Hill and bedrock was found at an elevation of about 2 650 feet. A
shaft sunk in tlie creek at Scott's Flat struck bedrock at an elevation of about 2770
feet, the lowest bedrock not being found. At Quaker Hill the width of the channel
said to pay for drifting is about 130 feet and the depth of pay gravel is from four to
sixteen feet. As usual the gravel is coarse and cemented in the deep trough, while the
bench gravels, several hundred feet thick, are chiefly fine quartz gravel mixed with
sand.
"The yield of the top gravel rarely exceeds 6 cents per cubic yard in fine gold,
while the bottom gravel may be very rich. It is estimated that near Scott's Flat
12,000,000 cubic yards liave been removed, while 35.000,000 measures the amount at
Quaker Hill, where the gravel banks reach a thickness of 250 feet. A vast amount of
workable gravel, estimated at 140.000,000 yards, remains at Quaker Hill. At both
Quaker Hill and Scott's Flat it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain dumping ground
and sufficient grade for sluices.
"Deep gravel fringed with rhyolite for three miles east of Quaker Hill represents
without much doubt a tributary crossing the ridge near Galbraith's. South of this
place there is aljoiit 100 feet of clay underlain by some gravel. Here some drifting
lins been done, both on the north and south sides. Heavy clay masses are exposed at
Burrington Hill, where some hydraulic work was done long ago. The gravel of this
tributary has also been hydraulicked on the north and south sides of the Quaker Hill
ridge.
"High bedrock appears on the ridge three miles northeast of Quaker Hill. East of
this are exposed the small Red Diamond channel on the north side of the ridge, and
other channels covered with deep clay on the south side. A little work has been done
on all of them. At Cooper's Mill it is said that an old incline was sunk on the rim,
tracing the bedrock down to an elevation of 3500 feet. If this is correct, it would be
highly remarkable, as this is considerably lower than the rim rock at any point in
this lava area and it would imply the existence of a closed basin. The important
Centennial channel is covered by this same lava area. Buckeye Hill is a small mass
of bench gravel southeast of Quaker Hill. The gravel has been almost entirely
removed.
"At Red Dog and Hawkin's Canyon near You Bet the deep channel has again been
exposed and is beyond douV)t continued between the two points. The gravel is similar
to that of Quaker Hill. The deepest gravel has been hydraulicked only at the nlaces
mentioned, but considerable drifting by means of tunnels and inclines has been done
from Niece and West's claims for li miles northeast on the Steep Hollow side. The
channel has very little fall, the average elevation being 2600 feet. It is estimated
that 47,000,000 cubic yards of gravel haVe been removed, leaving over 100.000.000
yaids available. Much of this would, however, he difficult to wash on account of lack
of grade. Reports of yield and grade of gravel are not available, but the You Bet
diggings have probably produced $3,000,000.
"The Little York gravel area contained a fragment of the old deep channel, which
lias been almost comnletely removed by hydraulic mining. The character of the gravel
is similar to that of You Bet. As usual the narrow, deep channel contains a hard
cemented gravel 30 or 40 feet thick, capped by as much as 350 feet of fine gravel,
interstratifled with some clay and sand. Large boulders of quartzite and quartz occur
on the bedrock, both in the deep channel and on the benches. The vield has nrobablv
exceeded $1,000,000. The continuation of the deep channel is found at Dutch Flat and
its direction is plainly marked bv the small intervening gravel bodies of Missouri Hill
and Eastman Hill. The principal area at Dutch Flat extends oast to west for a mile:
the gravel has a maximum depth of about 300 feet, the lower 150 feet consisting of
coarse blue gravel, largely made up of metamorphic rock, well cemented and covered
by varying thickness of finer quartz gravel, clay and sand. In the lower gravel and
on the bedrock heavy boulders are plentiful. The channel has a very strong grade,
in marked contrast to the level stretch below^ You Bet. Hydraulic work has been done
chiefly at the eastern and western end, at both of which places the deep bedrock is
exposed. About 90,000,000 cubic yards have been washed and a considerably less
amount remains. Practically the whole extent of channel has been drifted and
cemented gravel worked in stamp mills. The yield is not known but probably exceeds
$3,000,000. The Polar Star gravel is said to average 11 cents per cubic yard.
"From Dutch Flat the gravel area continues southward, narrowing to a few hundred
feet at Squire's Canyon and widening to from 1500 to 3000 feet near Gold Run; its
southern end, overlooking the American River, is called Indiana Hill. Over a large
part of this area the gravel is deep, reaching in places 300 feet and even a maximum
of 400 feet.
"The surface is as usual reddish, containing many small quartz pebbles and some
interstratified sand and clay. The bottom gravel in the deep trough at Indiana Hill
shows 60 feet of coarse cemented blue gravel with a large proportion of raetamorphic
boulders; the lowest trough is here from 300 to 500 feet wide. The question whether
there is a deep and continuous channel from Indiana Hill to Dutch Flat is one of
much importance. Deep bedrock has been found at Jehosaphat Hill, half a mile south
of Dutch Flat, having an elevation of 2 877 feet, this part of the channel clearly con-
necting with Thompson Hill, a short distance northward. In Squire's Canyon, where
the gravel area nari'ows down to 500 feet in width and the elevation is about 3050
feet, a shaft is stated to have been sunk to a depth of about 150 feet, striking pitching
bedrock at that depth, and showing the existence here of a deep trough, having an
elevation of less than 2 900 feet. If this is correct, there is little doubt that a continu-
ous deep channel exists between Indiana Hill, with an elevation of 2792 feet, and
Dutch Flat, with a moderate grade of 25 feet per mile toward Indiana Hill. Bedrock
has again been exposed 1200 feet farther north by the Cedar Creek tunnel, and again
2000 feet from Indiana Hill by a tunnel from Canyon Creek, run by the Gold Run
Ditch and Mine Company. From the former place the bedrock was said to slope
gently toward Indiana Hill. The so-called '49' shaft was sunk nearly to the bottom
of the channel between Gold Run and Indiana Hill, but exact data regarding its
elevation were not available. Another shaft, 75 feet deep, was sunk to the bedrock
of Canyon Creek about half way between Gold Run and Dutch Flat. Extensive
hydraulic mining operations were carried on at Gold Run for about ten years, in
which time perhaps $3,000,000 or more were extracted. Some 84,000,000 cubic yards
have been washed off, but an equal quantity, estimated at 92,000,000, remains. An
area of 555 acres has been washed off to an average depth of 75 feet. At Indiana
Hill the bottom gravel was drifted and crushed in mills. The yield per cubic yard of
hydraulic gravel is said to be 11 cents, but this estimate is in all probability too high.
The drifting ground at Indiana Hill yielded between 1872 and 1874 at the rate of $9
per cubic yard of gravel in place. Above Dutch Flat toward Alta is the gravel hill of
Nary Red, the narrow channel of which has been drifted and hydraulicked the gravel ;
is a medium, fine red quartz, covered with rhyolitic clays. From here the channel
extended in the hill toward Alta. A shaft sunk at Alta 35 feet below the railroad
found bedrock at 132 feet. A tunnel extends from Canyon Creek one-half mile south
of Alta to the shaft and the gravel in the channel is now being worked. The gravel is
soft quartzose, not cemented. From this point a branch channel probably crosses
Canyon Creek and extends to Moody Gap, east of which the remainder is probably
eroded. Another branch extends from Alta eastward, probably emerging at Shady
Run, and grading sharply westward. It is mostly filled with rhyolitic clays, although
a bank of gravel also appears on the northern rim which has been washed. Minor
drifting operations have also been undertaken in this vicinity. A remainder of the
same channel is preserved at Lost Camp two miles south southeast of Blue Canyon.
Here are about 120 acres of quartzose, imperfectly washed gravel, 50 to 75 feet deep,
containing some rather large boulders. Only a smaller portion has been hydraulicked.
"A branch of the Dutch Flat channel continued across the present Bear River.
Elmore Hill on the point between Bear River and Little Bear Creek has been almost
completely washed off. Rising at a rapid rate, the continuation of the channel is
found at Liberty Hill. The gravel is here about 60 feet deep, 30 feet of reddish quartz
gravel covering the same amount of blue gravel full of very large boulders of gabbro
and serpentine. The amount of gravel removed is estimated at 2.000,000 cubic yards,
some 16,000.000 remaining. The channel continues up to Lowell Hill, but the gravel is
here covered by very heavy masses of light-colored clay. At Lowell Hill the gravel is
30 feet deep, the coarse bottom gravel being covered by finer quartzose gravel. The
heavy clay banks make hydraulic working difficult. Considerable work has, however,
been done at the Klamath Mine. Drifting operations have also been undertaken south
of Nigger Jack Hill at the Valentine Mine and farther south opposite the Klamath at
the Swamp Ansel.
"Opposite Lowell Hill lies Remington Hill at a slightly higher elevation. Here
again is an old depression filled with gravel of which a few acres are exposed. The
gravel is similar to that of Lowell Hill and is capped by heavy masses of clay. The
amount excavated is estimated at 1,750,000 cubic yards, while possibly 600,000 cubic
vards remain. Much of this, however, is heavily capped by clay and volcanic tuff.
The channel has been struck by two drift tunnels a little eastward, making it possible
that the channel comes out again at Democrat, another little gravel point, separated
from Remington by a bedrock spur, where hydraulic work has also been done.
"On the point between the forks of Steep Hollow, opposite Democrat, is the small
gravel hill called Excelsior, doubtless representing the extension of the Democrat
channel. To the north and northwest of Excelsior the bedrock rises rapidly. The
channel may have continued a couple of miles farther northeast, but whether it enters
under the lava flow or follows the present course of Steep Hollow is uncertain.
"On the south fork of the Yuba several important gravel bodies are found. A few
small points covered with quartz gravel occur southeast of Relief on the south side
of the canyon. At Alpha about 75 acres of gravel are preserved, the pebbles consisting
chiefly of quartz, quartzite and a hard conglomerate. Some quartz boulder.=! on the
beflropk reach 5 feet in diameter, but most of the gravel is light and sandy. The
banks are 90 feet high, including 2 feet of clay at the top. The amount removed is
5,000,000 cubic yards only a quarter of that amount remains.
;
"At Omega several hundred acres of gravel are exposed and have been extensively
worked. The gravel lies on a flat bench and apparently extends southeasterly under
the lava. The greatest thickness is 175 feet. The bed consists of 150 feet of gi-avel,
covered by six feet of clay, above which is again 20 feet of gri'avel, all showing colors.
The lowest stratum contains some large boulders of granite from the Canyon Creek
area, but the main body is composed of smaller cobbles up to six inches in diameter,
quartz decidedly predominating. Tlie extent of this channel southward is not defi-
nitely known, though a shaft was sunk to bedrock on the Blue Tent ditch, cutting
good gravel. Its depth is not known. Some distance soutli of Omega is a small gravel
flat called Shellback at a higher elevation beyond this the bedrock rises rapidly.
;
Towards the southeast the bedrock also rises, though less rapidly, and gravel is found
in places along the rim. At Diamond Creek a small body of quartz gravel is exoosed,
having a maximum thickness of 12 feet, and covered by nearly barren Pleistocene
morainal boulder clay.
"Extensive hydraulic operations have removed 12,000,000 cubic yards at Omega, the
tailings discharging in Scotchman Creek through a 3000-foot bedrock tunnel. Appar-
ently reliable calculations give 13 J cents as the yield per cubic yard; the lowest gravel
of course being much the richest part of the deposit. About 40,000,000 cubic yards
are estimated to be still available for hydraulic mining.
"It remains to mention the occurrence of many uncertain and puzzling features at
Phelp's Hill, Centennial, and San Jose shafts. At Phelp's Hill, at an elevation of about
4060 feet, 15 to 30 fêt of gravel outcrop below the lava for one-half mile. Heavy
quartzose boulders are found on tlie bedrock. A remarkable disturbance occurs here,
the gravel being cut by a fault which throws the west side down about 40 feet. The
fault is traceable for at least 400 feet, running north and south. The Centennial shaft,
one and one-third miles south southeast of Phelp's Hill, was sunk in 1887 to a depth
of 400 feet, and the bottom of a deep channel was found by drifting from it. Later
a tunnel was run 2500 feet south from the place indicated south of Phelp's, the eleva-
tion being about 4080 feet. A channel was struck at the tunnel level :it is 400 feet in
width, and carried quartz and greenstone gravel, the gold being fairly coarse. Work
has been suspended, from which it may be inferred that on account of its width the
gravel body on the bedrock is not very rich. If, as seems probable, this channel con-
nects with that of Phelp's, it can have but little grade.
"A mile southwest from the Centennial shaft the San Jose shaft is sunk in the bed
of south fork of Deer Creek to a depth of 340 feet, giving the channel an elevation of
between 4000 and 4100 feet, which is stated to be somewhat higher than the Centen-
nial channel. Drifting from the shaft showed the channel to be about 300 feet wide.
The gravel is composed of cobbles of quartz and country rock about seven to fifteen
feet thick, covered by 40 feet of clay, above which is lava. There is little doubt that
this channel is continuous with the Centennial, and it appears probable that its grade
is northward, making it a branch by way of Phelp's Hill of the main stream from
Relief Hill to Omega. It has been thought bv .some that this channel might continue
to Remington Hill with a southerly grade. This appears unlikely, however, and it is
scarcely possible that there should be a continuous channel between Phelo's and
Remington hills, for the channels at these two places certainly connect with different
branches of the old Yuba River. There will probably be found a low divide separating
the San Jose channel from Remington Hill and from the Quaker Hill drainage. It is
also very unlikely that any of the channels under this lava area had any direct con-
nection with Omesra.
"On the Iowa Hill and Forest Hill divides a small amount of gravel is exoosed on
the surface, but the channels preserved below the lava are rich and numerous. At
Iowa Hill a deep channel extends from northwest to southwest across the ridee north
of Indian Creek. The sharply defined trough is 200 feet deep and is filled with coarse
gravel, well cemented in its lower parts. The total thickness is over 300 feet. The
channel is from 200 to 400 feet wide on the bottom. This gravel has been hydrau-
licked. except a narrow ridge upon which the town stands. Lighter quartzose bench
gravels extend northeast of Iowa Hill. They have a maximum thickness of 200 feet
and are covered by thin rhyolite tuff and andesite. They have been extensively
hvdraulicked and some ground yet remains.
"At Succor Flat a deep and narrow channel, belonging to the intervolcanic epoch,
has been drifted for a distance of 2500 feet. The same channel probably crosses
Indian Creek at Monona Flat and finds its outlet at some place on Roach Hiil. South
of Indian Creek over 300 feet of gravels crop; southward they thin out with rising bed-
rock but deepen again near "Wisconsin Hill, having at both places the same general
character as at Iowa Hill. Between Morning Star and Wisconsin Hill there is doubt-
less a deep and continuous channel, which is clearly the extension of that underlying
Iowa Hill. Extensive hydraulic work has been done, both near Morning Star and east
of it along Indian Creek, as well as at TV^sconsin Hill. A body of higher bench gravel,
across Refuge Canyon at Elizabeth Hill, has also been hydraiilicked. but nearly all of
this work has ceased during the last decade. Instead extensive drift mining has been
carried on. At the Morning Star the deep channel, extending in an easterly direction,
has been mined for a distance of nearly 3000 feet about seven feet of cemented gravel
:
are extracted, the width of the pay gravel being from 80 to 200 feet. This drift mine
has proved among the richest in the gold belt. The gravel contained for a long
Tienod. it is stated $7 ner carload, equal to $14 per cubic yard, and the annual produc-
tion ranged from $2,500 to $150,000.
"The Bisr Dipper Mine has been working- the same channel since 1890 from the
Wisconsin Hill side with excellent re.'ûlts. The grade of the main channel is remark-
ably slight. 2692 feet being the elevation of bedrock at Wisconsin Hill. 2R85 feet at
the Morning Star, and 2631 at the Northwest side of the Iowa Hill channel. In 1899
the workings of this mine were connected with those of the Morning Star, pi'oving
conclusively the identity of the channels. A smaller channel pitching into the ridge
ba.s been followed .some di.stance in from Grizzlv Flat and nrob.ablv joins the Morning
btar Channel. A small body of well worked quartz gravel was found at Kings Hill,
I'SC) f.MJFUHXJA STATK MINING m'KEAU.
chiflly uiK' and iHit-lialf inilos .S(nitli\vest of Wisconsin Hill; it is interosting bL-caiiso
of its position between Yankee .Jim and Wisconsin Hill, and its comparatively low
elevation 2550 feet. Four or five acres liave been washed here to a depth of 20 feet.
"Above Monona Flat very little gravel is exposed, the andesite tuff resting on bed-
rock of irregular configuration. At the Giant Gap claim, four miles west of Damascus,
the lava cap is very narrow ;below it a gorge-like intervolcanic channel has been
exposed. Three miles west of Damascus is Mclntyre's claim, where a thousand foot
tunnel has exposed the same or a similar narrow channel. One mile northeast of this
is the Colfax claim, showing some quartz gravel, probably belonging to a prevolcanic
channel, a continuation of which may be found at Jimtown, three-fourths of a mile
north of the reservoir. At Jimtown a shaft, 100 feet deep, has been sunk, finding
quartz gravel and pitching bedrock. No data are available to estimate the yield of
Iowa Hill Divide since 1849. It probably considerably exceeds $10,000,000.
"To begin now a rapid sketch of the Forest Hill divide, it should be stated that
comparatively little of the mining work done falls south of the boundary of the Colfax
quadrangle. At Peckham Hill a little unsuccessful drifting has been done on the deep
and narrow cement channel finding its outlet there. At Todd "Valley a body of bench
gravel crops, which was washed at Pond's claims until the overlying lava became too
heavy to handle. This gravel is partly cemented, poorly washed, and about 40 feet
thick. About 11,000,000 cubic yards have been washed off, the yield of which is given
as $5,000,000, but this is probably too high.
"At Georgia Hill, opposite Yankee Jim, a thickness of 100 feet of gravel is exposed
below the lava, and a few acres have been washed off along the edge. At Yankee Jim
a larger area of gravel from 40 to 100 feet thick Ls met with, which toward the east
disappears under the lava. The gravel is fairly coarse, being composed of metamor-
phic rocks with some quartz. The bedrock is at nearly the same elevation as at
Georgia Hill, and the main channel seems to have had its direction northeasterly and
southwesterly, though a somewhat higher channel extended eastward, and probably
connected with the Smith's Point bench gravel a mile and a half distant and situated
on the south fork of Brushy Creek. The gravel at Smith's point is fifty feet thick,
interstratified with sand. It is estimated that S, (530,000 cubic yards have been removed
from Georgia Hill, Yankee Jim and Smith's Point, and that the yield has been about
$5,000,000. The amount remaining available for hydraulic work is undoubtedly less
than that removed, for the volcanic cap will soon make hydraulic work impossible.
One-quarter of a mile east of Georgia Hill the Anthony Clark tunnel has recently been
run in a southerly direction about 550 feet, and it is reported to have shown the
existence of a large channel with much granitic detritus. The tunnel is found to be
too high, striking the channel above bedrock.
"It is believed that the Yankee Jim channel flowed northward toward Wisconsin
Hill by way of Kings Hill. It is also believed that it connects below the lava with the
Dardanelles channel, though the latter intervolcanic channels may have removed much
of the earlier accumulations and in some places destroyed the older channel.
"At Dardanelles and Forest Hill the canyon slope has exposed below the lava a
long, low trough, filled with gravel and rhyolitic tuff. The gravel is moderately coarse,
composed of quartz and metamorphic rocks, and is well cemented near the bedrock.
Above it rests rhyolitic tuff, intercalated with some gravel, clay and sand. The thick-
ness of these two formations varies exceedingly. At the New Jersey claim the gravel
is only eight feet thick, and is overlain by rhyolitic tuff. At the Dardanelles it has
a maximum thickness of 70 feet. In the region above Mayflower are extensive bodies
of rhyolitic tuff with intercalated gravels, as well as clays and sands, of more doubtful
origin. The depth of these accumulations at Mayflower over the deep channel is 350
feet. In the intercalated gravels granitic and rhyolitic cobbles are common. At
Adams tunnel 178 feet of rhyolitic clay are exposed with two smaller gravel bodies.
Again at Black Hawk, Wasson, and Westchester claims similar bodies are exposed.
At Bath, again, the same channel is exposed with about 250 feet of overlying gravel
and white tuff. The lower part is a trough 500 feet wide and 100 feet deep, filled in
the bottom with washed and rounded bedrock boulders, composed chiefly of serpentine
and greenstone. Above this comes a thick stratum of the usual coarse quartz gravel,
and above this a thick series of rhyolitic tuff with intercalated gravel, having a maxi-
mum thickness of 30 feet, and containing granite and rhyolitic boulders. The thickness
of this series varies from 100 to 250 feet, and it is again covered by 270 to 300 feet of
andesitic tuff breccia.
"The main prevolcanic channel enters the ridge at Bath and runs northerly for a
mile with very slight grade, then curves west and south, assumes a grade of 60 feet
per mile, and passes below Mayflower and Forest Hill to the Dardanelles, where it
turns northwest again towards Yankee Jim without leaving the ridge.
"The mining operations in this vicinity have been very extensive. The hydraulic
operations have mainly ceased, though a considerable amount of ground is still avail-
able at the Dardanelles arid around the head of Brushy Canyon. At the former place
and at Forest Hill 4.850.000 cubic yards have been excavated: at the head of Brushy
Canyon probably 7.350.000 cubic yards. Only drift mining is now carried on.
"The main old channel has been drifted at Dardanelles for 2 500 feet in a northwest
direction: the gravel which is cemented was here five feet deep and 75 feet wide.
Mining is still in progress here. The mine is believed to have produced $2,000,000 or
more by drifting and hydraulicking.
"Below Forest Hill a number of smaller depressions, called front channels, were
worked many years ago from Jenny Ijind and New Jersey tunnels, but no extensive
recent work has been done there. The main channel has been reached by the Balti-
more tunnel .and Excelsior slone, but some drifting ground still remains between these
points and the Mavflower. The giound in this vicinity is supposed to have produced
$5,000,000, about $1,500,000 being taken from a strin of ground in the New Jersey
claim. SOO feet long and 300 feet wide.
"Fi'om the Maydowei- tunnel. 4740 feet long, the main channel has been worked,
chieflv from 1R8S to 180 1. for a distance of three miles, connecting it with the Paragon
workings. A bed of gravel from two to fourteen feet thick, having an average width
of 75 feet, was removed from the bedrock. The yield has been approximately $1,500,000,
;:
or $7 per ton of louse gravel delivered. Sixty-six per cent of the

bottom giavel \vius
found to pay for extracting. Between the Paragon and the Mayflower m the bend is
a narrow gorge, 1000 feet long, where the channel is only 25 feet wide and poor in
feet above
gold \n npper lead or streak of gravel enclosed in the rhyolitic tuff, 150 channel as
the iaedrock and paying for drifting, is said to exist along the Mayflower
well as at the Paragon at Bath, but it has not yet been worked to any extent.
L-ittlo
work is being done at present on the main channel at the Mayflower. The same
channel has been worked from the Paragon mine to a distance of 6S00 feet north
at
The width of gravel breasted is 50 feet, depth 2 to 7 feet yield per ton delivered At tlie
surface $10, total vield bv hydraulicking. $500,000, by drifting, $8d0,000.
Paragon there exists an upper streak of pay gravel 150 feet above the bedrock. Thus
was followed for 2000 feet until cut off by a channel of intervolcanic erosion tilled non-
with andesitic tuff. The width of this upper lead was 225 feet, the depth of total
cemented pay gravel 5 feet, and the yield per ton of loose gravel ?4.o0. The
yield was $900,000. The mine has been operated for 3G years, and the channels are
said to be nearly worked out. , * ^r- v,-
"\ portion of what is doubtless the same channel has been preserved at Michigan
Bluff The deposit which covers about 40 acres is composed of pure quartz gravel
on tlie bedrock lie huge rounded quartz boulders. Some 6,000,000 cubic yards have
been removed and a smaller quantity remains. The yield is reported to have been
$5 000 000, some of the ground being exceedingly rich. The deposit bears the
character
of bench "ravel At Sage Hill and Birds Valley a long, narrow channel, with strong
southwest^grade, is preserved. The outlet of it at Sage Hill is somewhat lower than
Michigan Bluff It has been worked to some extent, but is not so rich as that at
Michigan Bluff. Much coarse, rough and crystallized gold was found here, as well as
in Mad and Lady canyons. j
"\t Edwards Hill a small patch of partly volcanic gravel has been worked. From
. , ,r. i tt.
here* north a number of small gravel points appear, most of which belong to inter-
volcanic channels. At Gas Hill, however, there is a patch of the same quartz gravel
as is exposed at Michigan Bluff. Immediately to the north it is eroded by deeper
volcanic channels but iDetween Hidden Treasure and Damascus a nearly continuous
old prevolcanic channel, having a grade of 70 feet per mile southward, has been found
under the lava cap. This is a wide, flat channel, filled with about 200 feet of non-
cemented quartz gravel, sand and clay. The material is decidedly finer than that of
the Bath-Mayflower channel, although some quartz boulders may be found on the bed-
rock. It is cut off bv two deeper intervolcanic channels, one a mile south of Damascus
another one and a half miles north of Sunny South. Between these a fragment of the
old white channel remains. This channel was first found at Damascus and drifted on
until cut off bv the intervolcanic channel mentioned. The yield of this part is reported
to be $6,000,000. From Sunnv South the Hidden Treasure mine has worked the
deposit 7700 feet northward, width of gravel breasted 250 feet, depth 4 to 7 feet,
*****
yield of loose gravel delivered $1.75 per ton. The total yield to 1890 was $1,150,000,
and up to 1S9S probably nearly $2,000,000. Since that time the operations at Sunny
South have been discontinued, and another tunnel has been started at the
one mile farther north, from which the fragment of channel remaining between the
volcanic channels is not being mined. The mine has been worked for 23 years.
*
"The general Neocene drainage of this quadrangle has been roughly considered
Dam
claim,
under the heading of auriferous gravels, but it remains to indicate in a more detailed
way the connection of tlie channels of the southern part of the area with those of the
region between Dutch Flat and North Columbia.
*
"There is not the slightest doubt that a river, corresponding roughly to the present
middle fork of the American, had its source near Castle Peak, thence flowed across
to Soda Springs, and approximately followed the present middle fork, entering this
quadrangle under the ridge between Long Canyon and the middle fork, and in the
southern portion of this ridge curving into the Placei-ville quadrangle. It entered the
Colfax quadrangle again a few miles west of this, and the channel emerged from under
the volcanic capping at Ralstons. A tributary from the Duncan Peak region joined it
with a general southerly direction. From Ralstons much of it eroded, but it may be
regarded as certain that the main channel continued westward, touching Michigan
Bluff and Sage Hill, here receiving an important tributary, running nearly due south
from Damascus. The deposits of this latter channel are preserved below the lava
ridge, between Dama.scus and Gas Hill. Near the latter point it receives a tributary
from Last Chance and Deadwood.
"Again east of Michigan Bluff the channel is eroded, but it is certain that its
continuation is found at Bath, whence the main channel ran through the Mayflower.
Here it made a wide curve and ran soutliward to Forest Hill and the Dardanelles.
Thus far the general course is outlined without uncertainty, but from here on the diffi-
culty begins. This main channel is marked by its heavy deposits of gravel and clay,
and its broad well-defined channel. Under the southwestern prolongation of the Forest
Hill lava ridge nothing has thus far been found which would indicate that the main
old river channel flowed down in this direction. It is true that a narrow channel of
the intervolcanic epoch continues down in this direction, but these channels were
notably independent of the older and main drainage basins. The intervolcanic channels
were excavated after a large part of the old river basin had been filled by accumula-
tions of silt and volcanic mud. and nrobablv also after the tilting of the Sierra Nevadas
had taken place. Their direction, then, offers no criterion of the prevolcanic drainage
lines. It would cert,ainly seem as if some fragments of the accumulations of the old
channels would have been preserved southwest of the Dardanelles had the ch.annel
taken this course. Tlie gravels -exposed at Todd Valley offer no solution of the prob-
lem, for they are at a higher level and evidently represent a bencli filled with gravel
after the clogging of the main channel.
"TlK-rc is. however, a solution of this problem, which is advanced as having many
plausible points, though it can not be said to be free from all obiections. This Is, that
the old channel of the Forest Hill divide emerges at Yankee Jim and Georgia Hill,
and that its course from there is northward to Wisconsin Hill, thence through the lava
ridge and curving eastward to the Morning Star mine, thence to Iowa Hill, crossing
the canyon of the present river to Indiana Hill and from there northward to Dutch
Flat, whence its course has already been established. This hypotliesis, in the first
place, necessitates the existence of a deep and continuous channel between Dutch Flat
and Indiana Hill. That such a deep channel exists appears now very probable and
may be regarded as certain if the development south of Dutch F'lat and Squires
Canyon will sliow the existence of a deep trough at this place, which it has been
asserted was found by the exploration. One of the principal difficulties appears to be
the fact that the eravel at Georgia Hill and Yankee Jim differs somewhat in character
from that of the Mayflower and Forest Hill. This may be explained by the fact that
the river at this point spreads over a larger and flatter bottom, whicli would naturally
influence the character of its deposit.
"The difficulty, which at first glance appears to be an insuperable one, that is, that
of the grades, on closer examination, converts itself into an argument in favor of this
hypothesis. From the Dardanelles to the Yankee Jim is a slight grade which is suffi-
cient for the requirements. From Yankee Jim to Wisconsin Hill the channel would at
present have a slight upward grade. From Wisconsin Hill to Iowa Hill it is appar-
ently approximately level. From Iowa Hill to Indiana Hill it has a slight southward
grade and similarly from Dutch Flat to Indiana Hill is a grade which, though slight,
is opposite to that which the river, according to this hypothesis, would have had.
"From Yankee Jim to Dutch Flat the Neocene river would have pursued a nearly
due northerly course now it is likely that this river from Yankee Jim to Dutch Flat
;
had originally a very slight grade northward, similar to that of the Neocene river
between You Bet and North Columbia. Examinations of channels in various parts of
the Sierra Nevadas have shown the occurrence of a tilting movement which has
affected the grades of the channels according to their direction. Channels running
north northwest to south soutlieast would retain their original slight grade. Those
running west of this line would have their grades materially increased by the tilting.
On the other hand, those flowing in a more or less easterly direction from this axis of
tilting would have their gTade decreased or even reversed. A côse examination of
the elevations of Indiana Hill. Dutch Flat, Iowa Hill. Wisconsin Hill, and Yankee Jim
will show that, in fact, the present level character or slight southward gi-ade of these
channels is exactly what would follow if the Neocene river with a northerly course
had participated in a westward tilting of the block of the Sierra Nevadas, amounting
to about 60 or 70 feet per mile.
"If this hypothesis be true, it solves in an exceedingly satisfactory way, a number
of the perplexing problems which were presented by the enormous accumulation of
gravels in the drainage of the old Yuba River. It increases vastly the watershed of
the Neocene stream, which as now outlined extends from the headwaters of the north
fork of the Yuba. The waters of all this territory found an outlet through the narrow
channel from North San Juan to Smartsville. In the central part of this drainage area
longitudinal depressions existed, bordered on the west by the high diabase ridges of
the foothills. All these conditions naturally tended greatly to increase the accumula-
tion of gravel. What has formerly been supposed to be the north fork of the Neocene
American River now becomes the south fork of the great Neocene Yuba River. The
Neocene American River is reduced in size, and consists only of the stream coming
down from Pyramid Peak by way of Placerville.
"During a rather long interval between rhyolitic and andesitic flows new channel
courses were established. A disturbance had taken place that increased the slope of
the Sierra Nevadas and the streams began active cutting thus on the Forest Hill divide
;
there exists a complicated system of narrow, deep channels, which in many places have
destroyed the old "ones. These intervolcanic channels, often called cement channels,
belong to at least two systems, the younger being characterized by a large amount of
coarse volcanic gravel, rarely containing much gold, and having been formed after
the first andesitic flows had already invaded this region. The older system carries
thin, mixed metamorphic and volcanic gravel, rarely more than ten feet thick, there
being no gravel at all along certain parts of the streams. This gravel lies on the
naked bedrock, and is covered by a series of flows of andesitic tuff, the lowest usually
fine-grained, and referred to as chocolate or ceinent: the upper flow consists of the
\isual tuffaceous breccia. Strata of gravel and sand of mixed character, volcanic and
metamorphic, are often found interbedded with the andestitic tuff. Wherever the
intervolcanic channels have robbed the old channels, they are likely to be rich, thousrh
irregular as to their pay. Some of them, however, have been found unexpectedly
poor. The gold is usually coarse. The upper gravels in the andestitic tuff sometimes
carry gold, though seldom enough to pay for drifting. Some of the volcanic channels
have not only cut through the old channels but have eroded small canyons in the bed-
rock up to a depth of 150 feet. One of the most conspicuous of these crosses Volcano
Canyon, and is exposed by the Hazard shaft. The grade of these channels is always
steep, usually from 70 feet per mile upward.
"A whole channel system, belonging to this period, is buried below the lava of
Forest Hill divide. The principal channel can be traced almost continuously from the
Weske tunnel, above Michigan Bluff, down to the outlet of Peckham Hill. It cuts
the old channel several times, and receives numerous tributaries, preserving through-
out the same character of a deep erosion channel, sometimes barely reaching the bed-
rock, sometimes cutting deeply into it.
"At Peckham Hill and Blue Gravel shaft, in the Placerville quadrangle, it has been
opened but apparently does not pay. For 2i miles north of Peckham Hill it has not been
bottomed, but at Gray Eagle tunnel it has been opened by a tunnel from Owl Creek,
2.')00 feet long, and a shaft .360 feet deep. Though somewhat too high, the tunnel has
folloMêd the channel up stream for sever.il thousand fpet. The pay is snotted, the
gravel thin, though often rich. In the Mayflower mine, the channel is again exposed ;
it is here called tlie Orono, and has cut down to about the level o^ the bedrock in the
Mayflower chaiinel. From here it has recentlv been worked for a distance of 2000 feet
through the Mayflower tunnel. Again, a little below the mouth of the Mayflower
tunnel, in Brushy Canyon, a channel crosses the canyon at a lower elevation than tho
GOLD PLACERS OF C^VLIFORNLi. 139
Mayflower, called tlie Live Oak. It has been drifted upon northward for 2000 feet.
Southward It probably joins the Orono channel. Below the volcanic capping, between
the forks of Brushy Canyon, are several intervolcanic cliannels, such as the Adams,
Nil Desperandum, Westchester, Black Hawk, and Wassen, the relations of which are
littleknown. .
"Farther east the main channel is again found in the Paragon mine, where it has
not quite cut down to the bottom of the old channel. Again it is exposed where it
crosses Volcano Canyon, in which the Hazard shaft has been sunk 180 feet; the
narrow channel was followed west for 3000 feet and some rich gravel was found.
Above there are about two miles in which the channel has not been exposed, though
a deep tunnel from near Michigan Bluff has been proposed, but above this, it has
been drifted for over 5000 feet in a westerly direction from the Weske tunnel. In
spite of difficult working conditions, this enterprise yielded excellent returns, pro-
ducing approximately $7 50,000.
"A smaller intervolcanic channel, filled with heavy volcanic gravel, crosses the
Weske channel near its inlet and thence continues some distance north. It has not
been worked to any extent. About a mile north of the "V^'eske channel a small old
stream bed has been worked to some extent from the Bowen and Oro tunnels. The
latter is about 2500 feet long.
'Above Weske tunnel, confronting El Dorado canyon, there are a number of smaller
gravel hills, most of which have been hydraulicked. Among these are Drummonds
Point, El Dorado Hill, and Batchelor Hill. The gravel at all of these places appears
to belong to the intervolcanic epoch, and the deposits evidently form part of a some-
what complicated channel system near the point where the channels from Deadwood
join those coming down the main ridge. It is probable that the channel on which the
Oro tunnel is driven finds its way down below the level ridge on the western side of
the Hidden Treasure tunnel, but it has not been exposed north of the tunnel mentioned.
"A narrow, intervolcanic channel, with heavy volcanic gravel and appai-ently
barren, runs north for some distance from Sunny South, parallel but a little east of
the Hidden Treasure channel. At Sunny South it has cut across the latter, obliterat-
ing it and eroding some distance into the bedrock below the level of the Hidden
Treasure. This is the reason why no quartz gravel can be seen cropping out at Sunny
South. About a mile south of Damascus the Mountain Gate channel was cut off by a
deeper, intervolcanic water course, eroded to a depth of about 150 feet below the older
channel. This so-called Blue channel was drifted from the Mountain Gate tunnel,
producing $175,000. A little over two miles north of Sunny South the same old chan-
nel is cut to about the same depth by another intervolcanic channel, finding its way
southeasterly to the Dam claim, and thence for a mile farther in the same direction
to the Mitche'l claim. The Dam channel, though narrow and irregidar, has been
drifted for 2500 feet northwest of the point where it crosses El Dorado Canyon. The
Mitchell claim on the same channel has also been worked for a distance of 2000 feet.
Still another intervolcanic channel, called Bob Lewis channel, has been worked for
1000 feet, south of its inlet on the east side of the Mountain View channel at Damascus.
The principal intervolcanic channel, which probably continues from the Oro to the
Blue channel of the Mountain Gate tunnel, has again been exposed at Red Point, and
worked for a distance of 12.000 feet up stream froin the Red Point tunnel, which
strikes the channel 2000 feet from its mouth. The Red Point channel is somewhat
irregular in width and depth of gravel and in pay. The average fall of the channel
is 75 feet per mile. The width of gravel breasted is 120 feet, the depth from 2 to
12 feet but generally small. As delivered at the surface, the gravel contains 52.50
per ton. Volcanic pebbles are of common occurrence in the wash material. The Red
Point mine has been worked for ten years, and during that time has been a steady
producer. It is immediately capped by the hard, andesitic tuff. Large wash boulders,
often two or three feet in diameter, occur in the gravel. The total production during
the five years from 18S8 to 1S92 was $308,000, and it is believed that since that time
an almost equal quantity has been extracted.
"As we approach the higher region of the Sieri-a, where accumulations of nre-
volcanic gravel were small or did not exist at all, the difficulty of distinguishing
between prevolcanic and intervolcanic channels becomes greater. Strictly speaking,
all of the channels must be considered as belonging to the later group, as some
erosion necessarilj' took place in all of them in which bedrock was exposed. Going
UD tow-ard Duncan Peak we find in general that the grades of the channels increase
and that they assume more and more the character of narrow tributaries or gulches.
"It is believed that the Red Point channel continues up the ridge. It has indeed
been exposed at the Hogsback tunnel 5i miles northeast from Rel Point. The tunnel
runs south-southwest 2500 feet, exposing a very deep and narrow gorge with steep
westerly grade ;and contains very little gravel. Though yielding some gold, the
channel was not found to pay. About a mile south of the Hogsback channel another
deep ravine has been exposed at the Greek mine and the Black Canyon, between
whieh points it is probably continuous. The Black Canyon has been worked for 700
feet eastward. The channel is narrow and very steep, having a grade of 7 feet per
100, with several abrupt falls. On the bedrock rests a few feet of coarse gravel,
containing very coarse gold. Above this lies 50 feet of andesitic tuff, gravel, and sand
interstratified. Xo volcanic pebbles were seen in the gravel and the channel probably
belongs to the prevolcanic period. The cost of working this channel is necessarily
very high. The inlet of the Hogsback channel is probably found at the low place half
a mile north of Secret Canyon House.
"Near Canada Hill another steep, narrow channel has been exposed which anpears
to have a very sharp northeasterly grade and the direction indicated on the man.
This channel probably crosses Sailor Canyon, entering the Truckee quadrangle, and
then joins the main channel, following approximately the Middle Fork of the Ameri-
can .somewhere near French Meadows. The western end of the Canada Hill channel
is not covered bv volcanic rocks but by heavy morainal detritus. A short dist.ance
eastward the volcanic rocks begin and cover it to a depth of about 100 feet at the
Reed mine, a half mile east of its beginning. A few feet of poorly washed gravel are
found in the bottom of the channel, above which are a few feet of clay containing
l40 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU.
farbonized wool!. Above Ibis lies a little massive vbyolite eoveietl by heavy masses
of andesitic breccia. This cbannel has been successfully drifted and in places hydrau-
licked as far as the place where it enters the high volcanic ridê. It is believed to
continue with steep grade imderneath this ridge, and its outlet has probably been
found at the Sailor Canyon mine two miles northeast of Canada Hill. At this place
bedrock tunnels have shown the existence of a narrow channel containing ang-ular,
pQorly washed gravel covered with a dark clay. The relations at this place are some-
what obscured by considerable masses of morainal material.
"Deadwood Ridge is crossed by channels belonging to both the earlier and later
periods, which have been extensively worked. The older channel is believed to enter
the ridge somewhat south of the Devils Basin, and finds its outlet half a mile north
of Deadwood. It is characterized by thicker gravel bodies containing large boulders
of quartz and metamorphic rocks. This channel has been worked from the Rattle-
snake mine on the eastern side of the ridge, and from Reed's and Hornbush's tunnels
on the western side. The principal intervolcanic channel has its inlet at the Devils
Basin, and has been worked from there for a distance of half a mile, yielding very
rich returns. The thickness of the gravel is said to average two and a half feet. The
outlet of this channel is probably 3000 feet north of Deadwood, and somewhat lower
than the adjoining outlet of the older channel. From this side it has been worked
3000 feet eastward without, however, connecting with the basin tunnel. A second
intervolcanic channel enters the ridge south of Deadwood and runs in a northerly
direction. It has been followed down .stream for 3000 feet.
"At Last Chance several channels are known to occur and have been drifted for a
considerable distance, although some ground is yet unopened. As at Deadwood there
is a prevolcanic channel and several intervolcanic channels. Both classes follow
approximatelv the same course, though the intervolcanic channels are about 20 feet
lower than the others. The gravel and its covering material are similar in character
to that of Deadwood. The upper continuation of the Last Chance channel may prob-
ably be found at American Hill on the ridge between Lost Canyon and Antone Canyon.
"Below the volcanic areas, south of Duncan Peak, narrow and deep channels have
been found which, however, have not thus far yielded much. One of these extends from
Flat Ravine southward for IJ miles. It has been opened by tunnels at both ends and
worked to some extent. Another channel is exposed by the Abrams tunnel on the
west side of Duncan Canyon. This branch probably joins that from Flat Ravine and,
crossing under the lava ridge between Duncan Canyon and the middle fork of the
American, becomes a tributary of the main Long Canyon channel. Depressions indi-
cating channels also exist below the andesite areas of Big Oak Flat."
In the above described area there is still a great deal of virgin ground
on which some drift mines may possibly be developed. The course of
the old Breeee and Wheeler channel, where it goes through the lava
caps of Nevada Point, of Devils Peak and of the Ralston Divide, offers
an opportunity for some profitable drift mines. The Glenn Mine, on
the channel coming down from Flat Ravine, has produced considerable
money in the course of the last two years, and it is quite possible that
some of the other tributary channels may be well worth developing.
In commencing drift operations the primary distinction to be made is
that between the prevolcanic or Cretaceous cliannels and the inter-
volcanic or Tertiary cliannels, which latter are of little importance from
an economic standpoint, except where they may have rob])ed gold from
the older channels.
There remains to be spoken of, in connection with this channel
system, a tributary on the north side of the main ancient river which
comes in near Badger Plill and can be traced up the ridge between
Oregon Creek and the Middle Fork of the present Yuba. This channel
has been wôrked at Grizzly Gulch, at Tippecanoe and at Nigger Tent,
and possibly contains some ground yet which would pay to drift.
In addition to this, we have the Nevada City and the Grass Valley
channel systems which are more or less worked out, but which have
produced a great deal of gold.
Coming l)ack to the Nevada City and Grass Valley region, we have
a large tributary entering the main channel at or near Mooney Flat
above Smartsvilie. This channel has been eroded along Negro Creek,
but appears as hydraulic diggings on the south side of the ridge between
Negro Creek and Deer Creek. From here on it can be traced through
Randolph Flat, where it is joined by a tributary from the southeast,
known as the Old Alta Hill channel. This channel can be traced
GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFORNIA. I4l
directly under tlie town of Grass Aâlley and soutlieasterly by way of

Osborne Hill. Another channel, cominsr down from Kres across the
head of Little Greenhorn Creek, joins this channel at or near Grass
Valley. Still another one comes down from Banner Hill in a south-
westerly direction. A westward flowing channel from Crystal Spring
comes through the Towntalk Ridge and joins this channel near Ran-
dolph Flat. Still another from the Harmony Ridge, passing through
Nevada City in a southwesterly direction, undoubtedly joined this
same s.vstem at or near Randolph Flat. On the other hand, a large por-
tion of this drainage from Nevada City undoubtedly flowed northerly
and westerly through ]\Iontezuma Hill; thence southwesterly through
Bunker Hill, across the south fork of the Yuba River in the general
direction of Kentucky Ravine. Still another cement channel runs
across through Shelby toward Jones Bar.
Practically all of the Grass Valley and Nevada City systems is now of
little economic importance, as the richest of the drift ground has been
worked out, and only the Tertiary and cement channels remain virgin.
The accompanying map shows the general distribution of these systems.
The area described in what is known as the Colfax cpiadrangle prob-
ably contains the most important bodies of hydraulic gravel yet remain-
ing in the State of California. In the Downieville quadrangle to the
north, there are large areas of higher grade gravel, but they are not
nearly so extensive.
It has already been mentioned that in tliis area evidence of the
glacial origin of the Cretaceous white gravel channels is so clearly
manifest that it can not be overlooked. A sketch or profile showing the
elevation of the Tertiary Yuba from Badger Hill to iMichigan Bluff is
inclosed. The data for this profile were taken from Professional Paper
73 and maps of the U. S. Geological Survey, supplemented by detailed
])rivate surveys and other data. The projected fault corresponds to
the North Bloomfield fault. The diverging of the Tertiary South Yuba
and American channels from a common source and the occurrence of
diverging runs with apparently different courses in the same channel
system can be paralleled among the glacial channels in Alaska.
The top gradients of the gravel channels are such as prevail on the
debris dei)Osits resulting from operating the hydraulic mines.
This profile was prepared to accompany a paper upon the origin and
deposition of the gravel deposits, which is now in preparation by
Mr. W. AY. Waggoner of Nevada City.
It will be noted upon the small-scale map of the Sierra channels at
the conclusion of this report that in many places these diverging and
converging channels appear to run uphill. The fact that these channels
are originally of glacial origin, explains very clearly what can not be
explained by a.ssuming a pure fluviatile origin. This is the difficulty
which can not be surmounted by advocates of the pure stream bed
theory of origin of tliese channels.A notable case in point is the system
of channels at Little Grass Valley in the La Porte district. Fi-oin the
^rcFarland ]\Iine above La Porte it is noted that the shingling of
the gravel appears to have two directions from one high point in the
bedrock. In connection with this district, a sketch map. made by
Mr. Stretch, an old-time engineer and surveyor who resided in the
district for many yeare, is submitted. See Plate II. This sketch, to
'/f.'U o/9'^'y/0
GOLD PLACKRS OF CATJFORNiA. 148
the writer's iiiind, contains more aecurjitc inroniuitioii with reiiai-d to

the c'oursea of these channels than is obtainalile from any otlier source,
and proves almost conclusively the original glacial origin of the channels
in the higher Sierras, together with subseciuent stream distribution of
the gravels.
The region discussed in this section is probably tlie most important
from an economic standpoint of any of the placer mining ground
remaining in the state. The water rights controlling this section and
the ditches governing it are larsely in the hands of private power cor-
])orations and public service utilities. For this reason it might possibly
be thought that the operation of the hydraulic mining in this region
would be opposed to the interests of the big power companies. As a
matter of fact this is not the case for the reason that not one-tenth of
the water available during the hydraulic mining season is now being
used by the power and irrigation companies. During the months from
December until June the excess water going down the Yuba and the
American rivers is several times the amount which would be required
to wash all the available gravel in this region, large as that amount may
seem.
The increasing of water storage facilities, the building of the
impounding dams necessary for holding not only the miner's tailings
but the natural erosion, which far exceeds Avhat the miner develops,
will furnish to both the power and the irrigation companies Avater and
power far in excess of an}- of their needs for many years to come, and
the mutual benefit derived therefrom will result in the complete
harmony of all apparently conflicting interests.
During Cretaceous times the equivalent of the American River was
undoubtedly much smaller than the present stream, as the greater
portion of the area now drained by the north and middle forks Avas
then drained by the great south fork of the Cretaceous Yuba. The
lower drainage of the American is now expressed in channels of two
types; one lying deep under the Quaternary alluvials of the present
Sacramento Valley between Roseville and Au1)urn, and the .second or
intervolcanic phase lying along Boulder Ridge. Both of these, by their
erosion, have created a certain enrichment among the Quaternary
gravels, which is of some economic importance, in the neighborhood
of Loomis there is a very considerable body of gravel which will run
from 20 to 30 cents a yard, in which the values have evidently been
concentrated by the erosion of the original shore gravels. This con-
centration was of irregular depth, in most places, l)eing quite shallow,
and covers several thousand acres in the aggregate. It might p()ssil)ly
be worked by an adai)tation of the hydraulic method, with centrifugal
pump stepped into the line to furnish pressure. It is possible also that
some of this gravel might be worked by the use of steam shovels or
other mechanical handling.
Tlie original Cretaceous channel of the American River prol)ably had
its outlet somewhere near what is now Secret Ravine just east of Rose-
ville. Going uji stream in a northeasterly direction we And traces of
the channel southwest of Loomis and at Rattlesnake Bridge. From here
the channel runs almost due north to Auburn, where it makes a sharp
bend southward again across Knicker])()cker Creek to Pilot Hill. The
Tertiary phase of this chanud is expi-cssed on Boulder Ridge aud tiic
10 2SG03
rid,!;'e to tlie north of Duteli Ravine. Some eoiiceiLtration from this

sluice i'ol)l)er cliainic] was res])onsihle for the phieer (lig.yinffs at Gold
Hill and at ()])hir, altlioiigh local stringer enrichment was also
responsible for a large part of the values.
In the vicinity of Auburn some possible drift ground still remains
in the old channel where it has not been cut away by the intervolcanic
channel, and lower down near Loomis are several acres of good
hydraulic elevator ground, which is fed from this channel. From Pilot
ITill in a southwesterly direction traces of this channel can be found
near Clark Mountain and at Thompson Hill and Granite Hill southerly
from Coloina. It does not, however, find its fullest expression again
until it reaches the Placerville district. In this neighborhood there has
been a great deal of enrichment due to the erosion of the original
Cretaceous channel.
The Placerville district, situated on tlie ridge between the south fork
of the American River and Webber Creek, has been a very rich field.
The modern drainage, enriched by the eroded gravels, probably yielded
the larger proportion of the gold which has been taken out, but con-
siderable money was derived from drifting. It is estimated that about
$25,000,000 has been produced from this area. A
very full description
of this area is given in Professional Paper 73 of the U. S. Geological
Survey, to which the reader is referred for further information.
The original channel, which fed the Placerville Basin, has never been
l)ottomed from Texas Hill west, and this could only be done by a long
tunnel on the "Webber Creek side. Webber Creek itself offers some
dredging possibilities due to the old tailings which have been reeon-
centrated therein from the washings of the Placerville district. Dredg-
ing operations, however, might possibly be hampered by the narrowness
of the Webber Creek channel at irregular intervals. In the neighbor-
hood of White Rock Canyon, immediately north of Placerville, and in
Randolph Canyon, is still some good hydraulic ground. In the former
section mention was made of two tributary channels which came in
from the north and were mostly eroded by the drainage of Rock Creek
and of Silver Creek. Undoubtedly the channel which came down from
Kentucky Flat contributed very greatly to the enrichment of the
Placerville district, as it crossed the pocket belt which extends in a
general Avay from the Georgetown district down toward Placerville.
The district immediately north and south of Georgetown has produced
a great deal from pocket mines, and the erosion of gravels of modern
streams still contain a very considerable gold content. From Placer-
ville east to Newtown this channel crossed the north fork and the south
fork of Webber Creek. At Newtown considerable hydraulic mining
was done. A
branch apparently came into this channel from Pleasant
Valley, which contains a very large quantity of gravel, in portions of
which dredgeable areas could undoubtedly be segregated. This is
especially true of the region around Newtown and immediately to the
south. From Newtown on, this channel passed in a northwesterly direc-
tion on the ridge between the south and north forks of Webber Creek,
and may be picked up at Clayton and again near Pacific House, where
it has been drifted more or less unsuccessfully. It was joined from the
north l)y the Silver Creek tributary, both forks of which had their
origin on Pilot Creek above and below Forni's Ranch. From Pacific
House ii cliaiuu'l cnii Ik- traced in the canyon of tli(> Soulli Fork of tlic
American River on either side almost up to Ralston Peak, but is of little
economic importance. A tril)utary from the south joins this channel
near Bullion Bend, which probably had its orig'in near Round Top and
came down througli Ilell's Deliglit Valley.
From an economic standpoint by far the most important portion of
this channel lies in the neighborhood of the Placerville Basin.
Apparently there still remains a possibility of drifting in this district,
which might be profital)le if drainage could be gained at the bottom of
the Deep Blue lead. To the northwest of Placerville the whole of this
stretch has been drifted except for about a quarter of a mile south of
the Gas Pipe claim. According to Lindgren, from Smith Flat to Alta
near the Landaker tunnel, the channel's general course is from east
northeast to west southwest for about two miles. The grade from
White Rock to Prospect Flat is 39 feet to the mile from Prospect Flat
;
to the Linden Mine the grade is 53 feet to the mile, but from Texas Hill
on southwesterly the channel has never been bottomed and the grades
are unknown.
As there is very little of value from an economic standpoint on this
channel, it is hardly worth while to go into much more detail regarding
it. The reader is referred again to Lindgren and to Whitney's orig-
inal report on the auriferous gravels of California for information
which may have a historic value, if not an economic one.
The large dredging field in the delta gravels around Folsom has been
described in detail many times. The reader is again referred to the
bibliography.
Section 4.
cosumnes, mokelumne, calaveras and stanislaus rivers.

Along the old shore line, considerably north and even a little south
of lone, is very much delta gravel which has been deposited by the
ancient river in its migratory discharge. Where modern gulch erosion
concentrated these shore gravels a very considerable proportion of it
was worked in a small way. It might still be possible to handle some
of these shore gravels at a profit.
The lower reaches of this river are almost entirely eroded above lone,
although the junction of its north and south forks left a little gravel
at Irish Hill. Above this, on both forks, the channel is nearly always,
where present, heavily lava capped except on the upper reaches of the
north fork, and also near Volcano on the south.
At Oleta the north fork is concentrated into the gulch made by
modern erosion, and very good placer diggings resulted. Below Oleta
the channel is found in place. Following up stream by way of Aukum
it passes west of Cedar Creek to Fair Play. Above Fair Play modern
erosion again produced a concentration in the gulches on both sides
of the 7nain river. At Omo Ranch the channel is again lava capped, also
at Slug Gulch. There is considerable virgin drift ground here whicli
has some possibilities in many places, however, the gravel has been so
;
completely cut out by the lava flows that, even including bedrock pay,
there is not enough in the channel to justify working. At Menden and
at Indian diggings are considerable bodies of lu'draulic ground, but
there is not a great deal of water for working purposes. A
lirancli
146 (^\L1F()RNTA STATE MINING BUREAU.
stream Klal by way of llic llciiry diuyinus.

caiix' in frDiii (Jri/./.ly Tliis
stream still has some iiood drift <iromi(l on it. A lower course of this
same river down from IMenden throuiih IJouyhman's Mill. Again
ji'oes
joining- the main channel, it passes out through Coyoteville.

Following lip the south fork of the ancient river from Irish Hill its
course is very nearly the same as that of Dry Creek. At Posey Hill
is a drift channel which has considerable possibilities. At this point
the main channel is joined by another branch which comes down from
the northeast. Still another channel comes through Volcano, where it
has been largely eroded into the gulches to join this main channel by
way of the south side of Dry Creek. Passing upward through Lock-
wood, where it is joined by still another tributary, it continues easterly
for several miles along the ridge. From Posey Ilill on up, the channel
is heavily lava capped and apparently the greater portion of it is
virgin. There is not, however, a great deal of water to work with and
it is extremely doubtful if this channel can be called drift ground
except in certain localities.
Coming down to the extreme lower reaches of the ancient river, which
have been widely distributed over the rolling hills of the Sacramento
Valley by modern erosion, on the Plymouth Road between Michigan
Bar and Forest Home, there is still a great yardage of gravel which
could be hydraiilicked, and also several thousand acres of shallow
ground in which it is possible that portions might be segi*egated which
Avill prove economically profitable for a small dredge. Only a portion
cf this ground is deep, as in most places the bedrock comes close to the
surface. The onlj" possilile water for working this ground would have
to be obtained from the Cosuinnes River. This ground is within 25 to
30 miles from Sacramento by wagon road.
As stated before, the exact course of this channel is rather hard to
determine in its lower reaches. IMany of the creeks above lone, includ-
ing Horse Creek and Mule Creek, were worked in the early days and
paid very well. They wêre undoubtedly enriched by the erosion of this
channel. From Pl.ymoiith on up to Volcano there have been several
fairly good hydraulic diggings, notably on the headwaters of Rancheria
and Dry Ciieek. At Volcano was probably the greatest enrichment.
Here the bedrock is largely limestone, and the gravel and lava were
removed by erosion, concentrating the values in the channel to such an
extent that they formed what Avere at one time some of the richest
placer diggings in the State of California. Above Volcano to the north,
the Elephant Mine has been operated within the last few years. Con-
siderable gravel still remains in these diggings. From Volcano on up
to the head of Ashland Creek, the channel has not proved of any great
economic value. A
branch running down to the east of Pine Grove has
l)een hydraiilicked to a certain extent. jMost of the bedrock here is
in the Paleozoic metamorphics, but there has not been a great deal of
local or stringer enrichment.
The north fork of the river, passing up through Bridgeport, has been
worked at various places and, between Fair Play and Grizzly Flat, it
crosses a pocket belt which has been responsible for considerable enrich-
ment. This channel can be traced up the ridge between Long Canyon
and Steeley Fork for a eonsideral)le distance, and some mining has
been done on its upper end.
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFOKXIA. 147
The south fork of this channel extends much farther Ijack into the
Sierras. From Lock wood up to Hams its course can be traced by a
heavy lava cap. Sliiihtly above Ilams it divides, one branch goinii-
toward Leek Spring Hill and tlie other running almost due east toward
]\lokelumne Peak. Neither of these branches are of any economic
importance.
The Cretaceous eriuivalent of the ^lokelumne River is proba])ly the
most important of the southern rivers. Starting- with the Concentrator
channel near Amador City, which was extensively worked by hydraulic
mining in the early days, the ground has been drifted down through
Jackson and Butte City to ^Mokelumne Hill. Below this point it is
joined by a number of channels wliich are partly virgin. All of these
converge at Central Hill. In Chili Gulch, lielow ]\Iokelumne Hill, there
is still some good hydraulic ground, and also to the west of this. The
main channel, which passes down near Fosteria, is practically virgin.
The gravel is very deep, with intermittent lava capping.
The Tunnel Eidge channel, the Duryea channel, and the Blue Lead
still have considerable virgin ground which might possibly pay for
drifting, but in which a good deal of water would have to be handled.
AVater for mining purposes would probabl> have to be obtained from
the ]\Iokelumne. At Central Hill these last named channels unite with
the main branch wliich comes across from Altaville, through San
Andreas. Near Calaveritas this channel is joined by the Fort ]\Ioun-
tain channel. Starting on the west side of Tiger Creek, and going
through on the east side of Bald ^Mountain there is considerable
hydraulic ground on this channel. On the other branch, coming down
east of West Point through Railroad Flat and Fort Mountain and
down to Sheep Ranch, are several miles of virgin drift ground. At
Rigneys, near Sheep Ranch, and below, is a considerable body of
hydraulic ground of a grade and feasibility of working that might make
it attractive to the small placer nuner. From Sheep Ranch on to Cala-
veritas, erosion has removed a good deal of this channel, although at
Cave City and at Old Gulch considerable hydraulic mining has been
done. Coming back to the main south fork of the ancient river we
follow it from Fourth Crossing through Dogtown and Angels Camp.
Considerable drifting and hydraulicking has been done in this neigh-
borhood. The headwaters of this braiicli are on the north and south
sides of the north fork of the Stanislaus River. It is again picked up
about six or eight miles above Avery and follows down the ridge in a
southwesterly direction to Douglas Flat. From here it is joined by a
very rich tributary which conies down from above jMurpliy's Ranch.
At Vallccito it is joined by a northward flowing tributary whicli came
through liy way of Coluni])ia. At Vallecito there has been a great deal
of erosion and some exceedingly rich placer diggings have been
developed.
At San Andreas is still untouched drift ground of possilile value.
Below Central Hill the channel swings into the old shore line near
Valley Springs. It has lieen reconcentrated in the Calaveras River, on
the lower reaches of whicli considerable dredging and placer mining
has been done. Continuing on westward to the region of Campo Seco,
Comanche, and Lancha I'lana. the delta of tliis river was e\ceedingl.\
rich,and was much worked in the early days. The low, rolling hills
in this region are covered with shallow gravel, which will run any-
where from 20 to 50 cents a yard. There is an excellent opportunity
liere for either hydraulicking witli centrifugal pumps or for working
with a steam shovel plant and belt conveyors. The average richness
of this ground and the uniformity of the gold distribution make it
attractive, and it will undoubtedly be worked at some future date.
Some dredging has been done near Campo Seco.
On this cliannel of the ancient Mokelumne are probably upwards of
400.000,000 yards of gravel, a large portion of which has a good chance
of being worked at a protit by either dredging, drifting, hydraulicking
or mechanical methods, such as steam shovel work.
Lower down, near Jenny Lind, a southward flowing delta of this
same river has concentrated much fine gold, and a good dredging area
has been developed here, which is now almost worked out. From Jenny
Lind north along the shore line of the ancient ocean, there is still a
good possibility of finding shallow areas of ground which might be
worked either by meclianical means or by hydraulicking with reservoirs
and centrifugal pumps.
Coming back to the south fork of the South Fork of this ancient
]\Iokelumne River, we have an area between Vallecito and Yankee Hill
which has been one of the richest from the point of production in the
State of California. The bedrock here is largely limestone, and the
channel was concentrated in many places to the point of exceeding rich-
ness. In the neighborhood of Columbia, alone, over $55,000,000 has
been taken out. The course of this channel can be followed up stream
across Woods Creek, where it makes a sharp bend to the north thiôugh
Yankee Hill and again crosses the south fork of the Stanislaus River.
The last trace of this branch is found near American Camp where it
was hydraulicked. The Stanislaus River was tremendously enriched
from about the junction of Five Mile Creek on the south fork clear
down to ]\Ielones, by the erosion of the branches of this channel. After
crossing Woods Creek, the main branch of this channel can be followed
almost due ea.sterly through Phoenix Lake by way of Browns Flat to
Arastraville, where it makes a sharp turn to the northeast, and. can be
followed up tlie ridge between the north fork of the Tuolumne River
and the south fork of the Stanislaus by way of Confidence, Sugar Pine
and Long Barn clear up to Cold Spring. This channel has never been
of economic value from the drifting standpoint, though considerable
work has been done upon it.
At Melones, near the junction of Coyote Creek, is considerable local
enrichment, due to the crossing of the pocket belt, which comes through
by ]\Ibrgan Hill. This, in addition to the gold which was brought down
by the Stanislaus River from the crossing of the old channels four or
five miles above, resulted in some very fair surface placers.
In connection with this river, it is advisable to trace the course of the
channel which has probably been one of the most effective sluice robbers
and the cause of more blasted hopes among placer miners than any
cliannel in the State of California. This is what is known as the Table
jMountain channel. Starting in on the ridge below Clover ]Meadow, it
runs southerly across on tlio Middle Fork of the Stanislaus to Shotgun.
From liore it turns Avesterly by way of ]\Iount Kniglit and Collierville
toward Douglas Flat. This channel was a strietlv intervolcanic channel
of late Neocene age. For this reason it contains no values until it meets
the old channel below Douglas City. Crossing down slightly to the east
of Vallecito, it follows the bed of the old Columbia channel for several
miles. As this was an exceedingly rich ancient cliannel flowing north-
ward, and the Table Mountain channel flowed southward with its course
cut out and carved by frequent rushes of volcanic lava, the channel
was enriched to the extent of its ability to rob from the old Colnmbia
channel for a very considerable distance beyond the point of its
departure, which occurred somewhere in the neighborhood of Parrott's
Ferry on the main Stanislaus River, (-ontinuiug southward west of
Springfield and Shaws Flat, this channel can readily be traced under
what is now known as Table jMountain through the ridge west of
Jamestown. Wherever it has been eroded by modern drainage there
has been a certain amount of local enrichment, but practically all of
this enrichment was undoubtedly derived originally from the old north-
Photo No. 33. Near Soulsbyville. Tuolumne County.
ward flowing Columbia channel. At IMontezuma and ^fountain Pass

this channel has been worked by hydraulic mining and has also been
drifted. At numerous places north of this, notably at Springfield,
much money, has been spent in an attempt to drift this channel but
none of the attempts have been successful.
A characteristic of this channel is that numerous parallel courses of
shallow depth have been cut out and then tlie who'e covered by an
enormous flow of latite. For this reason prospecting it has proved
tremendously expensive. The course of this channel can be traced by
this latite flow from INIontezuma down through Peoria Mountain, on
the southeast side of the present Stanislaus River, clear down to
Knights Ferry, where it probably emptied into the old Tertiary ocean
somewhere near Wildcat Creek. At various points along tliis line it
has been mined, notably at the Wagner Ranch, Peoria Basin and on
Ow^ Creek, but none of the operations have ever been successful.
Judg'ing from its history, this channel shoukl be avoided from a mining
standpoint.
150 CALIFUKMA STATK MINING BUItEAU.
Coining back to tho (-olnmbia channel, in its course up toward Yankee

hydraulic ground; also on the main Stanislaus
Hill, is still isonie possible
River at the junction of the south fork there is a deep hole which might
possibly pay to prospect with a view of turning the main river during
the summer time and working the gravel. It would probably be a very
expensive operation, liut there is u)uloul)tedly (()nsideral)le gold in the
main stream at this point, due to the erosion of the rich channel which
crossed above it on the south fork.
No recommendations have been made with regard to debris dams on
either of these streams. Owing to the rolling nature of the country, it
seems that more likely dump sites could be found in the uplands above
the streams, and if hydraulic mining were resumed, it is probable that
very satisfactory brush and crib dams could be constructed without the
necessity of the expensive concrete construction which is absolutely
mandatory in the northern rivers. As the water rights in this country
are not nearly so good as the water rights to the north, it does not seem
very likely that hydrau.lic operations would ever assume the proportions,
even relatively, in this region that it would in the region of the Ameri-
can, the Bear and the Yuba. On the other hand, there is no doubt that
there still remains in this region several hundred million yards of gravel
which are adaptable to handling by hydraulicking, or by the use of some
form of mechanical elevation. In addition to this, there is still consid-

erable virgin drift ground notably in the region around Vallecito,
San Andreas and Mokelumne Hill.
TUOLUMNE AND MERCED RIVERS.

The Tuolunnie River is the last of the great rivers toward the south
which drained the western slope of the Sierras during Cretaceous and
Tertiar.y times. A shore outlet of this river was apparently located at
what is now Chinese Camp. At this point the gravels were distributed
and reconcentrated by modern erosion, and were exceedingly rich.
Although little water was available for working them, an entire hill of
gravel was broken down and hauled away, operations being conducted
in the simplest and crudest manner; but with considerable profit to the
owners due to the extraordinary richness of the gravel. Apparently
another outlet of this stream came through to the southeast of Chinese
Camp by way of what is known as the Mencke Ranch. To the north of
this considerable handwork was done on the concentration of the ancient
gravels of the river. There is still a possibility of a drift mine in this
locality, although the amount of water in the course of the old channel
makes it rather expensive working. Following up stream the ancient
channel goes back almost along the present caiion of the Tuolumne
River. At various points are still segments of uneroded gravel, notably
on Big Humbug Creek, and a trifle to the north of Smiths Station.
To the north of Groveland, on the head of Big Humbug Creek, is an
area of exceedingly spotty gravel, from which the lava cap has largely
been eroded. This has been worked with very little success for several
years. From here on up to the Gi'avel Range, on the east side of the
present Tuolumne River, are several deposits of the gravel of the
ancient stream, which apparently have not been considered sufficiently
profitable to do much wôrk on. As in this neighborhood we are going
away from the main belt of metaTuorphic rocks and approaching the
(ioLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNIA. 1-31
granitic area, this may possibly be the reason that tlie value of the
gravels appears to have ijrreatly decreased.
Above Jacksonville on ^loecasin Creek a great deal of work was done
l)y the early miners on the light gravels which were concentrated in that
creek. It is quite possible that another course of the Tuolumne River,
which has now lieen completely eroded, nuiy have contril)uted toward
the enrichment of ^loccasin Creek.
At La Grange, on the present Tuolumne River, and in the immediate
vicinity, there is a tremendous amount of delta gravels which were
apparently fairly profitable during the days of unrestricted hydraulic
mining. Many mines were operating here during the 70 'vs and 80 's. and
at present along the bed of the present river the ground is being dredged
at a fair profit. From one to two miles above La Grange there are still
large banks of gravel whieh are capable of being hydraulicked. The
gravel is slightly cemented and not very heavy. It is possible that this
area, instead of being a delta of the ancient Tuolumne River, may have
been built up by a minor stream which, more or less, corresponded to
the present Pierced River in its drainage. As the coimtry has been
heavily eroded to the eastward, it is exceedingly hard to identify this
delta deposit with any of the ancient streams.
On the ^Merced River there has been some very fair gravel at Suelling,
where a dredge was operating for several years. Between Suelling and
]\lerced Falls, in the early days, considerable surface placering was
done. From here on up to Horseshoe Bend the river had considerable
grade, but a small amount of placer work was done in Pleasant Valley.
At Horseshoe Bend efforts are still being made to mine the stream.
Above Bagby and in the tributary gulches in that neighborhood some
hand mining was done in the early days.
There are traces of an ancient channel above Coulterville, about four
or five miles south from ^Mountain King and on the southeast side of
Mount Bullion. Whether this channel was continuous through these
areas, or whether they are fragments of several small channels, is a
matter that is impossible to determine, due to the extensive erosion
which has taken place. There is no question, however, that most of the
modern enrichment of the present Pierced River has been derived from
the pocket lielt which extends northward from ^lariposa toward Coulter-
ville at Bear Valley. A few miles south of Bagby extensive placer work
was done in the early days, ])ut the richness of the gulches in this neigh-
borhood was undoulitedly caused by the primar.v concentration of quartz
seams and stringers bearing fairly rich pockets in this neighborhood.
The .same thing applies to the placer work on Hornitos Creek and Burns
Creek in the neighborhood of Hornitos. This placer was fairly good in
the gulch diggings in the early days, but it has now been pretty well
worked out. The Pleasant Valley gravel is said to run better than 30
cents a yard. If tliis l)e true, it is strange that it has not been worked,
as there is a considerable yardage of available hydraulic gravel still to
be seen. Above Coulterville at Dogtown hydra ulicking is now being
used to .sluice ott" an area of seams and pockets which has made placer
diggings by its erosion. From Bear Valley down to ^lariposa are local
concentrations in the gulches caused by the erosion of pocket veins on
the ]\Iariposa drainage. These gulcli diggings have been worked by
hand, and it is quite possil)le that some of them would still pay to
hydraulic.
In the main, the ^Merced region consists of very spotty gulch diggings,
which are mostly worked out. The channel mentioned above, which
])asses about five miles east of Coulterville, has been slightly drifted,
])ut without much success : for one reason because the cuts which run
into it did not reach the bottom of the old channel.
UPPER SAN JOAQUIN, FRESNO, KINGS, KAWEAH AND KERN RIVERS.

On the upper San Joaquin, which forms the boundary line between
^Madera and Fresno counties, there has been some slight enrichment
which was worked in the early days, notably at Italian Bar and in the
neighborhood of Huntington Lake and Cascade. There have been .some
placer operations, but no great amount of mone.y has been taken out.
In Madera County, on tributaries of the Fresno River, considerable
placer work was done in the early days. Grub Gulch was worked for
several miles toward the river, but it is now all worked out. The same
applies to Coarse Gold Creek. On Kings Gulch, above Grub Gulch, is
a fragment of an old channel which has been unsuccessfully drifted.
This may possibly be connected with the segments to the north which
have been noted on the ]Merced River, but probably is independent. At
Friant, on the Fresno River, the gravel runs a few cents a yard, and
the saving of from one to two cents a yard is now being made as a
by-product in a gravel crushing plant located there.
On the Kings River, about twenty miles above Piedra, is a gravel
deposit on which considerable money has been spent in a futile manner.
This deposit drains the granite belt almost exclusiveh^ and is exceed-
ingly low-grade. The front rims, however, in the early days paid small
wages to miners where there was a certain amount of local concentra-
tion, and as a result of exaggerated stories regarding the richness of
these diggings, numerous companies have been floated without the
slightest prospect of success.
On the Kaweah River, in the Marble Fork, attempts have been made
at placer mining, but none of these have been successful. Practically
all of the gold in the gravel, which is extremely low-grade, has come
from the breaking down of pyritic masses from the granite, which is
the predominant country rock.
Around Woody, in Kern County, and White River, in Fresno, the
erosion of stringers in the granite has produced local gulch concentra-
tions which were extensively worked for considerable distances in the
early days. Very little of this is left, however, which can be classed as
placer ground. There have been some good quartz ledges in this dis-
trict, which were probably responsible for the feeding of the placers.
One of the earliest placer camps in the state, at Keyesville on the
upper Kern River, consisted mainly of gulch diggings, which were
enriched by the erosion of stringers in the granite close to an area of
metamorphie rocks. In Rich Gulch, Sand Gulch and Keyes Gulch there
is evidence of much work, but little or no workable ground is left. For
thirty miles down the river, however, the gulches have been worked at
intervals. Around Havilah is much gravel, but the pay has already
been worked out. On Piute and Greenhorn mountains is still a little
gravel which might possibly pay to Avork.
On the south fork of the Kern River, about thirty miles above
Isabella, there is a little hydraulic ground with poor dump, which is
GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFOUNLV. 153
not of very high grade. Attempts, however, have been made to work
it. The river sands below the junction of the north and south forks of
the Kern River carry some telluride combinations of gold. There is a
gorge in the river below Isabella and eommeucing just above Keyes-
ville, which could easily be Avorked ])y diverting the river. This river
is reported to be virgin at this point on the authority of the men who
tried to work it about fifteen years ago. It seems quite possible that
this gorge might be worth while prospecting, as mucli gold must have
been fed into this river from the gulch diggings on the northeast side.
It would not be a very expensive undertaking to prospect it.
Section 5.
OUTLYING DISTRICTS.
While the Coast Range in the Franciscan rocks has never been
l)roductive of any great concentration of gold, nevertheless there have
been numerous local enrichments in which extraction has been attempted
at various times by placer miners. In San Luis Obispo County is an
area of Franciscan metamorphics which has thrown some gold into the
tributaries of Poso Creek, but not in any great cpantity. Attempts have
been made to work this by steam shovel and by mechanical elevation.
At Fraser Canyon and near La Panza are considerable areas of gravel
but they are low-grade and extremely spotty. Thus far no economic
success has attended any work done in this district in spite of the fact
that there is plenty of water available for workinu-. The gold is exceed-
ingly flaky and fine and the district is very spotty.
West of Jolon, in Monterey County, is a pocket district close to the
coast which, by its erosion, has produced some very heavy gold. Some
of the finest nuggets that the writer has encountered in the whole state
have been exhibited to him as coming from this regiou. Apparently,
however, there is no considerable amount of placer territory which
would justify the expenditure of any great capital or an attempted
working of this district by anything but pick and shovel methods.
At Surf, Santa Barbara County, is a very considerable concentration
of black sand which is slightly auriferous but which is not an economic
proposition.
Returning to the northern portion of the Coast Range, in ]Mendocino
and Lake counties, there are local concentrations similar to those
already mentioned at Poso and La Panza. While in the northern
country these areas carry some platinum, their gold content is so
low that they are not of any economic importance. There is one
deposit in the neighborhood of Hopland which carried considerable
platinum, but the distribution of both gold and platinum was so spotty
and irregular that an attempt made to work it by modern mechanical
methods failed of success.
There is only one of these outl\-ing districts away from the great belt
of metainorphic rocks in the Sierras which seems to the writer to have
any economic interest. In ]\Iono County, on the headwaters of the
Walker and on Virginia and Dog creeks, is an area of gravel which will
pan about 25 cents a yard. At Bodie Flat, not far from this region,
considerable placer work was done in the early days. While the Bodie
concentration appears to have been principally a primary enrichment
from ledges and strin2:ers, tlie area on Virginia and Dog creeks consists
of well-rounded wash gravel, varying in depth from five to ten feet and
distributed over several hundred acres of ground.
At the time of the writer's visit the dei)th of the gravel did not
ai)i)ear to be sufficiently great to justify the expense of a hydraulic
installation, owing to its widespread distribution, and the difficulty of
getting the water upon the ground under pressure. Since that time,
however, it is reported that shafts have been sunk through Avhat
appeared to l)e the bedrock of the country, proving it to be false bed-
rock. It is said that about thirty feet of gravel has been developed
underneath this false bedrock, which carries fairly good values. If so,
,
the district is worthy of investigation, with an eye to the possibility of
working it with a small dredge, as the upper gravels apparently carry
gold in sufficient (juantity to make them of economic consideration.
DRY PLACERS.
Dry placers of the State of California are for the most part located
in the southern portion, chietiy in the region of the ^lojave and Colorado
deserts. These were probably tlie earliest known sources of gold in the
state. In connection with the dry placers of this region, there is one
district, however, that has not heretofore been discussed but, as it lies
in the same general region, it will be brietiy described.
This district forms what is probably the only promising or possible
area of ground in southern California which is suitable for dredging.
It lies in the Iloh-omb Valley about four miles north of Big Bear Lake.
It is apparently a i)rimary concentration from the erosion of the schists
and porphyrys of the Gold IMnuutain region. It is a broad porphyry
belt which crosses the country in a northwesterly and southeasterly
direction and can be traced for several miles. This belt is apparently
full of numerous quartz stringers and pocket seams. In places the
country rock for considerable widths will run three or four dollars a
ton in gold. It is from the erosion of this belt that the Holcomb Vallej'
placers have been formed. During the late 80 's and early 90 's it was
operated by an English company by means of steam shovels and eleva-
tors, ^lost of the work was done around the edges of the deposit and
but little was attempted in the deeper gravel in the center. However,
it is said that most of the material handled by this operation averaged
between 30 and 85 cents a yard. Tliis seems quite possible from the
nature and type of the erosion.
At the present time there is an area of some three or four hundred
acres on Holcomb Creek, which varies in depth from ten to fifty or
sixty feet, and which seems as if it might be possil)le to segregate suffi-
cient dredging ground to make an economically feasible proposition.
The only water available is that from Holcomb (h-eek, but a minimum
of thii'ty to forty inches is at all times available and during the winter
and spring months there is eonsiderably more. This water should be
sufficient to maintain the dredge jvond dnriug the greater portion of
the year. The proposition appai'ently justifies prospecting to determine
its possibilities.
Coming back to the dry placers proper, n good deal of i)r()specting
and work has been done in the San (ial)riel Canyon and, in the late SO's,
several small operations were in process on the auriferous gravels that
:
Hank the iiioiiiilaiu sides. Tlu'sc arc mul()iil)li'dly of recent origin and
of primary concentration. The amount of water available for working
them was very limited, but for the most part they wei'e worked in tlie
spring when imponnding of water was possible.
From the time of the days of the ^NFexican colonies gold has been won
from the dry placers of the desert. The Indians in the days of the
padres nsed to l)ring in gold to the misisions. which was laboriously
recovered from the desert washes by the crudest of methods. Unfortu-
nately, however, there is no relial)le record of production until compara-
tively modern tiiues; but we know that in total it amounted to many
millions of dollars. Since the American occupation of California, we
have, however, somewhat of a record, and we know of districts which
have produced from a hundred thousand to two millions of dollars all
won by hand methods and mostly by dry washing.
It should be remembered, however, in consideration of these figures,
that the values won from the desert placers have generally been earned
by the operations of a multitude of men working indepeiulently and
that the extent of their operations in point of time covered a great many
years: for instance, in one district, the Potholes district near Yuma,
from which a reported production of .$2,000,000 has been taken out. as
many as 400 or 500 jMexicans were Working with hand washing machines
for a period of several years. If this point is borne in mind in consider-
ing the gold production of the desert, it will be readily understood why
it is that to date not a single large-scale operation haiuUing dry placers
in southern California has ever been successful.
The results of the writer's investigation, which has covered every dry
placer district of importance in the desert, have on the whole been
decidedly disappointing, and the writer is forced to the conclusion that,
these placers have already been exploited by the only practical means
the Mexican with his little hand-operated bellows and rocker. The
reasons for tbis conclusion will l)e given herewith. From the standpoint
of geological history, the district sonth of the Tehachapi has been dis-
tinctly diflt'erent from the region of the great valley to the north. The
ranges of subsidence and elevation have been nuich less during Tertiary
and later times. During the later ocean transgressions, including the
lone, which covered the foothills of the western slope of the Sierras and
of the Coast Range, this region was comparatively quiescent. For this
reason it may be assumed that the topography and to some extent the
climatic conditions of this region, during the time in which changes
were taking place to the north, did not vary greatly.
This fact leads to a vital ditferem e in the manner and amount of
deposition of the gold in the desert channels, so far as it occurs along
the line of channels. Whereas in the north we have a primary concen-
tration from the erosion of the metamorphics and intrusives of the
Sierras, to be followed later by a reconcentration of the values in the
Cretaceous and Tertiary streams by the present, or Quaternary, drainage
running in many ca.ses normal to the older, in the region of the desert
we have an entirely different condition, and one not nearly so favorable
to the concentration of gokl in large (|uantity and persistent amount.
In the .south, the drainage during Tertiary times evidently did not
greatly vary from the present lines. Roughly, practically all of the
deposits on which stream action bad the slightest bearing may be classed
along the drainage lin(^s of ancient streams whose courses follow the
<:(Mi(M-al (lircftioii of llic iiiodcni oik^s, such as they aro. In some eases,

the aiieieiit ones seem larger than those of the present day in other
eases smaller.
In San Diego Comity, we have a course which, commencing in the
Cuyamaca ^lountains. near Julian and the Banner district, runs down

through Ballena via Hatfield and Coleman creeks which liave crossed
it and caused local concentration down through Ramona and the San
Vicente region, and finally empties into the ocean somewhere around
La Jolla. This region is not of economic importance, as the values were
very spotty, according to the records of the districts, and facilities for
working are limited to a very short season of the year.
East of this, in Imperial County, we have either local erosion deposits,
like that in the Borego country which is said to average about fifteen
cents a yard or the deposits in the Chuckawalla basin, the Chocolate
Mountains, the Eagle Range, and the country north and east of Desert
Center. These were all more or less tributary to the drainage system of
the Colorado, which is })robably one of the oldest rivers on the western
slope. On the Colorado itself, or near it. we have the Potholes, at
Laguna the Picacho Basin and other deposits in the Blythe-Parker-
; ;
Ehrenberg region. These were all investigated by the writer; and his
conclusion is that, although a recorded production running into the
millions has come out of them, little remains of interest to either large
capital or the small miner.
The gravel, or eroded material, was very spotty and seemed to carry
the values in the subangular stuff at some distance above bedrock; and
any pumping scheme which miuht be used to get water would be so
costly and cumbersome that the ground will never pay it back. The
]Mexican with his little portable machine and lack of overhead in moving
from gulch to gulch where the greatest concentrations were, had the
only feasible system. The Picacho and Laguna deposits are disinte-
grated schists and slates for the most part, containing quartz stringers
from which the gold has come. In both cases the erosion caused by the
Colorado River at the base of a low range of hills has resulted in the
accumulation of this material. The river wash itself does not earrj'
much value, but the disintegrated matter above carries it; and the ero-
sion of present day gulches has resulted in local concentrations which
were worked by the IMexicans.
In the Owens Lake country, along the eastern base of the Sierras, is a
series of short channels and delta gravels along the shore line of the
ancient sea, which once occupied the Owens River Basin. Apparently
a short channel came in through Red Rock Canyon, where it was joined
by another which came from the west in the neighborhood of Tehachapl
by way of Jawbone Canyon. The shore line can then be traced clear
through liy way of Goler and Sunnnit Diggings to Copper Canyon and
Long Range. It is especiall.y developed at Coolgardie, but is again lost
as the formations dip under the recent wash near Barstow. At inter-
vals, notably at Goler and at Coolgardie, there appear to have been
short channels whose deltas are expressed in these places.
In addition to this, there are washes of recent origin, such as the one
at St. Elmo near Goler. The St. Elmo wash was directly enriched in
modern times from the erosion from the Stringer district, and is still
being worked in a small way by hand dry washers. Another short
channel comes down from the Goler wash in the Panamint IMountains.
GOr.D PLACERS OF CALIFORNIA. 157
As this wasli is typical, a plmtograpli of it is shown. This system oP

channels and of shore j^ravels is one ot! the host known in the south and
corresponds, in the nature of its formation, to the auriferous and con-
glomerate gravels which have been noted in Siskiyou and Shasta coun-
ties. The conditions of its formation were, however, widely different.
This system illustrates a point which strikes the writer very forcibly
in its bearing on the possible economic operation of these gravels.
As a rule, the stream gravels, which consist of well-rounded boulders
of crystalline rocks from the Sierras, carry no value at all. Wherever
Photo No. >4. Head of Goler Wash, Pana-

mint Mountains.
they cross a belt of raetamorphies containing quartz stringers, or any

body of olivine bearing, or other basic rocks, by local erosion there is
jiroduced, in connection with the heavy cloudbursts that sweep down
the gidches intermittently, local concentration of gold. As a result,
at Goler, for instance, one can notice that the shingling of the washed
material is transverse to the general direction of the coiu'se of the
deposits. Heav}' gold is found JU'ar the tops of the ridges and from 30
to 60 feet above bedrock and on local false bedrocks of clay and dis-
integrated volcanics.
158 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING KUREATT.
At Siiiniuit DiysiinKS, iiitensively worked on account of its shallow

depth during tlie early days, operations have been started which con-
template bringing water twelve miles to cover the deposit. The same
thing has been proposed at Coolgardie with a fifteen mile water system.
As tlie richer portion of the concentrations, that is, the portions which
have accumulated in the present day gulches, have long- been worked
Photo No. 35. Dry Washer (Close-ur), Summit Diggings,

Kern County.
out by hand methods and the general body of the deposits in either of
these places will only run from 15 to 60 cents a yard, it does not seem
that either is an economic proposition.
In Lytel Creek, along the line of the Santa Fe. there was a local con-
centration from the stringers in the granite. Tliis has already been
worked out. A little water was available here.
GOLD PLACERS OP CiULÎFORNIA. 159
In the prospecting of any of these areas it should be borne in mind

that the greater concentration of values will always be found where
there has been the greatest erosion. This concentration will naturally
lie fairly close to bedrock, but in estimating the average values for the
yardage available care should be taken to prospect the entire surface
of the available ground and to carefully note the deposits of the richer
strata of material. This characteristic is especially evidenced in the
placers above mentioned on Lytel Creek.
The last of these very interesting systems consists of a channel which,
coming down from Placerita Canyon near Newhall, is another branch
which headed above Bouquet Canyon, crossed into San Francisquito
Canyon and came down somewhere below Piru, to be joined by another
course which came from Lockwood by way of Piru Canyon. This was
^ ^^^.
Photo Xo. a6. Dry W.islvr, Summit Diggings, Kern 'wny. Cal.
much worked in the early history of Los Angeles and Ventura coun-
ties,but, as even the Chinamen gave it up as no longer affording them
a living, it would not be advisable for a white man to try it. The values
appeared to be concentrated on the points of the present hills and in
the gulches. Quite a little water was available for worlcing this system.
Attention nuist again be called to the fact that, in estimating the
gross production of this, as well as other regions of the desert placers,
a large part of the work which has been done there was done when
wages averaged alwut $1 a day in times of industrial depression. ]Many
men, making a ])arp living at best, preferred to ])e their own masters
while doing it; and the aggregate of all their earnings presents an
impressive figure. Considering the length of time involved and the
number of men emi)loyed, it is no wonder that the aggregate amount,
even from very poor diggings, was large.
One final point that has impressed the writer, and with particular
force, is the total and absolute failure of air separation processes when
1128603
;
applied on anything larger than a hand scale. Two monuments to

this failure still stand in mournful state one at Goler, and the other
;
at Coolgardie. Limited capacity and imperfect separation are the main

reasons. A machine which will work on a laboratory scale with material
which has been dried on a hot plate certainly will not be a success when
applied to the general run of desert material, especially after a shower
has moistened the ground. The material simply balls up on the canvas
tables which are generally used. Furthermore, machines of this char-
acter are generally so cumbrous that they lose the chief advantage of
the hand machine, which is its mobility. As the hand machine is light
and easily operated, it can be transported from one spot or concentra-
tion of gold to another as soon as the pay has been worked out.
In the accompanying illustrations the simplest form of hand machine
for working dry placers is shown. These photographs were taken dur-
ing the prospecting of the Summit Diggings before referred to.
At the present time, near Randsburg, a dredge operation has recently
been started in which the principles involved in the Huelsdonk con-
centrator, described in the second chapter of this volume, are being used.
There is not much question that the saving should be satisfactory with
this type of machine, but to the writer's mind the question remaining
to be proved is whether the values are in the ground, as the con-
centrations in this district are exceedingly treacherous and spotty.
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Mining and
Gold Run District. Mining and Scientific Press, March 13, 1875.
Hydraulic Mining on the American and Bear Rivers. Mining and Scientific Press,
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Wisconsin Hill. Mining and Scientific Press, May 6, 1876.
San Juan Ridge. Mining and Scientific Press, May 13, 1876.

Fairplay Cosumnes River. Mining and Scientific Press, June 17, 1876.

Forest Hill American River. Mining and Scientific Press, July 8, 1876.
Michigan Bluff. Mining and Scientific Press, July 15, 1876.
Yield of Gold Placers. Mining and Scientific Press, January 20, 1877.
Gravels of California. Mining and Scientific Press, September 20, 1879.
Projected Weaver Basin Tunnel. Mining and Scientific Press, February 7, 1880.
Theory of Auriferous Gravel Channels. Mining and Scientific Press, October 9, 1880.
Spring Valley Mine. Mining and Scientific Press, December 31, 1881.
Dry Placers. Mining and Scientific Press, April 20, 1895.
Black Sands of Pacific Coast. Mining and Scientific Press, Mav 16, 1896 December
;
11, 1894 December 17, 1894 May 15, 1897.

; ;
Mining in Northern California. Mining and Scientific Press, February 6, 1897.

Recollections of California Mining. Mining and Scientific Press, January 29, 1898.
Old Channel Placers. Mining and Scientific Press, April 13, 1901.
Dredging. Mining and Scientific Press, January 5, 1901 January 12, 1901 Novem-
; ;
ber 2 to December 14, 1901 April 16, 1904 April 15, 1905 April 22, 1905
; ; ;
April 29, 1905 August 19 to September 9, 1905.

;
Drift Mining at Placei'ville. Mining and Scientific Press, July 12, 1902.
Beach Mining with Surf Washer. Mining and Scientific Press, June 6, 1903.
Gibsonville District. Mining and Scientific Press, July 29, 1905.
Calaveras Channels. Mining and Scientific Press, September 9, 1905 September 16,
;
1905.
Hydraulicking at Cherokee. Mining and Scientific Press, September 8, 1906.
Dredging. Mining and Scientific Press, May 4, 1907; August 1.5, 1908; April 15,
1911; October 7, 1911; October 14, 1911; February M, 1912; March 2, 1912;
March 9, 1912; March 8, 1913; November 8, 1913; November 22, 1913; Feb-
ruary 22. 1919; April 5, 1919.
;;;
Ancient Channels. Mining and Scientific Press, June 8. 1907.

La Grange Mine. Mining and Scientific Press, October 10, 1908.
Placers in Ventura Countj'. Mining and Scientific Press, March 5, 1910.
Hydraulicking in Trinity County. Mining and Scientific Press, July 30, 1910.
Hydraulicking on the Klamath River. Mining and Scientfic Press. March 28, 1914.
Dry Placer at Goler. Engineering and Mining Journal, August 29, 189G.
Dredging. Engineering and Mining Journal. March 13, 1897 November 20, 1897 ;
December 11. 1897: December 25, 1897; August 4, 1900; August 11, 1900;
August IS. 1900 June 29. 1901 July G. 1901 November 7. 1903 March 31,
; ; ; ;
1904 July 7, 1904 December 8. 1904 July lo. 1905 July 22, 1905.
; ; ; ;
Drj- Placers. Engineering and Mining Journal. July 8, 1899 May 9, 1903 August
; ;
'
29, 1903.
Gold in Tailings Engineering and Mining Journal, January 18, 1902.
^Trinity River.
Wing Dam on River.
the Engineering and Mining Journal, October 11, 1902.
Tuba
Cretaceous Conglomerate of the Siskiyou Island. Engineering and Mining Journal,
October 31, 1903.
Hydraulicking in Humboldt County. Engineering and Mining Journal, February 23,
1905.
Origin of Placers. Engineering and Mining Journal, June 1, 1905 June 22, 1905 ;
June 29. 1905.

Dredging. Engineering and Mining Journal, April 14, 190G April 21, 1906 May 30,
; ;
1908; April 24. 1909; October 15, 1910; July 8, 1911 ; September 30, 1911;
from February 17. 1912, to May 31, 1913; August 19. 191G; June 23, 1917;
Januarv 22. 191G January 5, 1918 February 7, 1914 March 28, 1914 April 4,
; ; ; ;
1914 August 22, 1914.

;
Black Sands of California. Engineering and Mining Journal, June 1, 1907; August
10, 1907 February 8, 1908.
;
Nomenclature of Placers. Engineering and Mining Journal, August 17, 1907.

Brandy City Mine. Engineering and Mining Journal, June 4, 1910.
Trinity River Gravel. Engineering and Mining Journal. September 9, 1911 May 17, ;
1913.
Drift Mining in California. Engineering and Mining Journal, October 23, 1915
November 17, 1917.
Gravel Mines of the Sierras. Mineral Resources West of Rocky Mountains for years
1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874.
Tertiary Gravels of the Sierras. Professional Paper No. 73, U. S. G. S.
Placerville and Georgetown Region. Mineral Resources West of the Rocky Moun-
tains, 1872.
Placer Mines of Nevada and Butte Counties. Mineral Resources West of the Rocky
Mountains, 1872.
Mines of Northern California. Mineral Resources West of the Rocky Mountains for
the year 1875.
Mines of Plumas and Nevada Counties. Mineral Resources West of the Rocky
Mountains for the year 1876.
Auriferous Gravels of the Sierras. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology
of Harvard Contributions to American Geology, Vol. 1, by J. D. "VMiitney.
;
Hydraulic Mining Ditches of the Sierras. Mineral Resources West of the Rocky
Mountains for the year 1868.
Study of the Forest Hill Divide. Tenth Annual Report, California State Mining
Bureau.
Auriferous Black Sands of California. Bull. 45, California State Mining Bureau.
A Practical Treatise on Hydraulic Mining in California, by A. J. Bowie.
Reports of the State Mineralogist. California State Mining Bureau, from Vol. 1 to
17, inclusive. Especially the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Annual Reports.
Mining in California. California State Mining Bureau, 1922-1923.
Geology of the Lassen Peak District. Eighth Annual Report of the U. S. Geological
Survey.
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The Auriferous Gravels of California. Ninth Annual Report, California State
Mining Bureau.
Auriferous Gravels of the Sierras. Folios Nos. 3, 5, 17. 18, 29. 31, 37, 39, 41. 43. 51
and 66 of the Geological Atlas of the United States, of the U. S. Geological
Survey.
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State Mining Bureau.
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Bureau.
Gold Dredging. Bulletin No. 127, United States Bureau of Mines.
Platinum and Allied Metals in California. Bull. So, California State Mining Bureau.
INDEX.
Page
Advantages to cities of Sacramento and Marysville 2i
Alleghany Channel 133
Alluvial mining, divisions of ^ 27
American Hill Channel 127
River 117
River system 143
Tertiary, profile of 142
Valley district -- 111
Ancient river cliannels, cliaracteristics of 50
Anti-debris Association 11, 15
Artificial pressure in hydraulic mining 38
Auburn district 144
Australian Mine, gravel bank at the_- . 109
pump dredge 35
Badger Hill and North Columbia 132
Bald Mountain Channel 12(5
Mine ^ 58
Ballena Channel 156
Banlca and Empire drills 76
Bear River 117
tailings 128
Beauceville elevator 63
Bellevue district 122
Beneficial effect of silt 17
Bibliography of debris control 25
mining methods 80, 81
placer resources 160, 161, 162
Big Butte Creek 101
Black sand 68
Black-sand machines, types of 69
Blasting gravel banks 48
Blue Tent 133
Bowie, A. J 48
Brandy City district 121
Breece and Wheeler Cliannel 130
Bushman Gulch 112
Calaveras River 145
California Debris Commission 13
dredges, types of : 34
Caminetti Act 12
Canada Hill Channel 139
Carrville and Trinity Center region 95
Centrifugal pumps for elevating 65
Channels, engineering determination of 53
Characteristics of ancient river channels 50
dredging ground 28
ground
drift 48
ground
liydraulie 37
Cherokee Channel 103
Chinese Camp . 150
Circle and Forty Mile districts 40
Clermont Ridge 106
Closing of hydraulic mines, loss due to 13
Colfax Folio of the U. S. Geological Survey, quotation from 131
Columbia Channel 148
Comparison of'hand and power drills 78
Concentrator Cliannel 147
Conditions of drift mining 51
Construction account in drift mining 56
work in hydraulic mining 40
Continuity of Forest Hill channels 54
Coolgardie district 156
Cost of engineering determinations 55
Ruble elevator 47
transportation 31
Costs, distribution of drift mining 55
at Hidden Treasure Mine 62
Cosunines, Mokelumne, Calaveras and Stanislaus Rivers 145
Cottonwood Creek district 101
Coulter ville district 151
Cretaceous Island ~__ 2
Dam sites, location of I 22
Dardanelles Channel IZII 136
Deadwood and Last Chance Channel Z 140
Debris control, bibliography of ' 25
readjustment of 21
in Sacramento drainage system I _ 20
Del Norte County 83
Mines of _ZI ~ I_I 85
Derbec Mine _I _ _~~ I 57
_
164 INDEX.
Page
Development of hydraulic mining 9
Different types of dredges 32
Distribution of drift mining costs 55
of pay 51
Ditch construction 41
Divisions of alluvial mining 27
Drag scrapers 64
Drainage of Tertiary Yuba 138
Dredge, Australian pump 35
inVictoria, Pump 36
Dredged lands. Reclamation of 20
Dredges, different types of 32
Dredging deposits, types of 27
ground. Characteristics of 2S
in cold countries 30
in tropical countries 2'J
Drift gravels, gold yield of 62
ground, characteristics of 48
mines, methods of opening 57
mining, conditions of 51
construction account in 56
costs 59
costs. Distribution of 55
Gold recovery in 56
Labor costs in 61
methods 48
Drill in Korea, handmade 75
Prospecting by 73
Drills, comparison of hand and power 78
Dry placer processes, failure of 158
placer work, Hand machines for 159
placers :
154
Recovery from 155
washing 67
Dunn, Russell L., report of 49
Dutch Flat 129
Channel 134
mining district, Map of 128
Edwards ^Voodruff vs. North Bloomfield ^9
Empire drills 76
Engineering determination of channels 53
determinations. Cost of 55
Evidence of glaciation 120
Expansion of gravel in drilling 77
Factors in prospecting worl^ 80
Failure of drj' placer processes 158
Feather River gravels, extent of 116
Feather River region 101.
Forest and Allegliany Channel 133
Forest Hill Channel 135
channels, continuity of 54
mine 50
region 130, 136
Forty Mile district 40
Fowler Peak Channel 106
French Corral to North San Juan 118
French Gulch district 100
152
FVesno River
Georgetown Divide Channel 130
Gibraltar Mine Up
GibsonvlUe, map of gravel channels of 123
Giffen placer machine 68
Glacial distribution of gravels 141
CJlaciation, evidence of 120
Gold recovery in drift mining 56
Run 129
mining district, map of 128
j-ield in drift gravels 62
Goler district 157
Gopher Hill diggings 110
Grade of sluices 43
Gravel bank at the Australian Mine 109
distribution, profile of 142
''''
in drilling, expansion of
Mechanical handling of 63
Metliods of prospecting 70
Gravels, glacial distribution of 1-11
in Mono County 153
Greenville district lOS
Ground sluicing methods 66
Grizzlv Flat 146
Hamilton field 11"
Hand and power drills, comparison of JS
machines for dry placer work 159
Handmade drill in Korea 75
INDEX. 165
Page
89
Happy Camp region
Hepsidam Channel :f^
J^^'
Hidden Treasure Channel
Mine ^
Mine, Costs at 5
i^-*
Holcomb Valley district
Holes, Placing- of "
Honcut and Hamilton fields IJi
Hoopa Reservation. 86
Huelsdonk Concentrator 69
Hunts Hill. Blue Tent and Scotts Flat 1^3
Hutchins, John P 3(
Hydraulic elevators ||
equipment, Relative weight of 38
ground. Characteristics of 37
ground, Method of working 4L
mines, closing of. Loss due to 1
mining 37
Artificial pressure in j'
Construction work in 40
Development of 9
practice 40
Igo and Ono districts 101
Imperial County placers 156
Iowa Hill 12!'
channel 135
Janin, Charles 37
Jolon 153
Jura River Channel, main 114
Channels 113
Kaweah River 152
Kern River 152
Kernville and Keyesville 152
Keyesville 152
Keystone drilling 75
Kings River 152
Klamath River above Orleans 88
below Orleans 87
Knox, Newton Booth ^
'
26
Korea, handmade drill in 75
Krogh Mill -- 62
Labor costs in drift mining 61
La Grange Mine -- 39, 94
La Grange, Stanislaus County 151
Lake County 153
La Panza 153
La Porte and Bellevue districts 122
La Porte, map of gravel channels of 123
Last Chance Channel 140
Little Grass Valley district 123
York and You Bet 133
York mining district, Map of 12S
Location of dam sites 22
Location of valley barriers 23
Loss due to closing of hydraulic mines 16
Lowell Hill and Remington Hill 134
Lower Klamath River St;
Trinity River 91
Magalia Channel 102
Main Jura River channel 114
Map of Dutch Flat, Gold Run, Little York, and You Bet Mining Districts 128
gravel channels of Gibsonville-La Porte-St. Louis-Onion Valley 123
Neocene gravel channels of Nevada County ^'
US
Marysville, advantages to , 24
McCray Ridge Cliannel 114
Meadow Valley and iSpanisli Creek district 109
Mechanical handling of gravel 63
Merced River 150, 151
Method of working hydraulic ground 42
Methods, ground sluicing 66
of opening drift mines 57
prospecting gravel 70
sampling :
7I
timbering 60
Michigan Bar 146
Bluff Channel I 137
Mill Creek district ~
I lOS
Miners' Association,
Mines of Del Norte
Review of
County
I n
I 85
Mining methods, bibliography of ~
I SO. 81
Mokelumne River _~
145
Mokelumne Hill district I_I I_ ~~~ _Z 147
Mono County, Gravels in 153
Monona Flat ~ ~ ~ " ~_~_
i^^g
Monte Cristo Channel ~_ _~ ~ _"
J J l-ig
166 INDEX.
Page
Montezuma ami Mountain Pass 149
Mooreville Ridge Channel 107
Mountain House Channel 110
Meadows Cliannel lOS
Pass 149
Mt. Ararat Channel 105
Mt. Pleasant and Poverty Hill 122
Nelson Point district 109
Nevada City and Grass "Valley channels 140
Countv," Map of Neocene gravel channels of 118
Newhall district 158
New River district 92
Nimshew Ridge Channel -- 102
North Bloomfield. report of the U. S. Geological Survey on 119
Values at US
North Columbia 132
North Pork Salmon River 44
Omo Ranch district 145
Onion Valley, Map of gravel channels of 12:5
Ono district 101
Operation of Ruble Elevator 46
Oresfon Creek Channel 140
Orleans Channel 132
Oro Fino Valley -- 98
Oroville Basin 104
Outlying districts 153
Owens Lake district 156
Pav. distribution of 51
Peckham Hill 138
Pit River 100
Placer resources, bibliography of 160, 161, 162
Placer resources of California 82
r-'lacerville district 144
Placing of holes 80
Port Wine Channel 124
Poso and La Panza 153
Potholes district 155
Poverty Hill ^ 122
Power hand and, comparison of
drills, 78
Profile of Tertiary South Yuba and American rivers 142
Prospecting bv drill 73
by shaft 72
for channels 52
gravel, methods of 70
in Siberia 79
work. Factors in SO
Pump Avistralian
dredge, 35
Pump dredge in Victoria 36
Pumps for elevating, centrifugal 65
Quaker Hill 128
Quartz Valley -- 98
Quincy district 112
Ralston Divide Channel 131
Readjustment of debris control 21
Reclamation of dredged lands 20
swamp land 17
Recovery from dry placers 155
Red Point Channel 139
Relative weight of hydraulic equipment 38
Relief Channel 127
Remington Hill 134
Report of the Secretary of Mines, Victoria 20
Report of the State Debris Commissioner 19
Review of Miners' Association 11
Riffles, types of 42
Rock Creek district 111
Rocker. Details of 72
Ruble Elevator 30, 45
Cost of 47
Operation of 46
Sacramento and Marysville, cities of, advantages to 24
Sacramento and Pit Rivers 100
Sacramento drainage system, debris in 1 20
Salmon River 96
Sampling, methods of 71
San Gabriel district -- 154
San .loaquin, Fresno, Kings, Kaweah and Kern Rivers 152
San Juan Ridge 118
Sawyer Decision 10
Scales district 121
Scott River 98
Scotts Flat 133
Scotts Plat, Quaker Hill and You Bet 128
Secretary of Mines, Victoria, report of the 20
Seneca district 108
g
INDEX, 167
Page
Shasta River 99
Siberia, prospecting in 79
Silt, beneficial effect of 17
'Sluice robber' channels of Placer County 131
Smartsville district 117
Smith River placers 84
Snow Point and Orleans Channel 132
South Fork Salmon River 97
South Fork Trinity River 91
South Yuba River, Tertiary, profile of 142
Spanish Creek district ._ 109
Stanislaus River 145, 150
State Debris Commissioner, Report of . 19
State Engineer's Report '
12
Steam-shovel mining 64
St. Louis, map of gravel channels of 123
Stretch, R. H 141
Study of Forest Hill region 130
Succor Flat Channel i 135
Summit Diggings 138
Sunnyslde Mine 114
Sunny South and Red Point channels 139
Swamp land, reclamation of 17
Table Mountain Channel 148
Channel, Oroville 104
Rock Channel 125
Tar Mining Company 63
Tertiary South Tuba and American Rivers, profile of 142
Yuba, drainage of 138
Transportation, cost of 31
of debris by running water 18
Trinity Center region 95
River ; 90
above Big Bar 93
above Burnt Ranch 92
Tuolumne and Merced Rivers 150
Type of California dredgers 34
Types of black-sand machines 69
dredging deposits 27
riffles 42
Under-currents, use of
Union Drill " Z I_I 43
79
Union Valley Channel "_
" " 122

Upper Klamath region ~_
90
Scott River ~_
I I 99
Use of under-currents 43
Vallecito district II I47 14
Values at North Bloomfield I I
'
us
Ventilation of drift mines 60
Volcano district ~_
145
Victoria, pump dredge in '_
I
~_
35
Victoria, Secretary of Mines, Report of the 20
Waggoner, W.
Walker Plains
W " 141
II 104
Weaverville Basin I 94
Weight of hydraulic equipment, relative I 38
Wheeler Channel 130
White Bear Channel I 126
White River I I 152
Wisconsin Hill 13 5
Woody and Wliite River ~
I_II I 152
You Bet 128, 13:i
You Bet Mining District, map of 128
Tuba, Bear and American rivers 117
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LOAN PERIOD 1
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No 92 - Gold Placers of California - Haley

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iwwi miiiii iniiiiiMiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i^ia

LLOYD L. ROOT State Mineralogist

San Francisco] BULLETIN No. 92 . [June, 1923

CHARLES SCOTT HALEY

CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFI'ICi;

Chapter I. Control of Mining Debris 9

Chapter II. Placer Mining Methods 26

Chapter III.Placer Resources S2

To Wis ExveJlenc}!, the Honorable Friend Wm. I'Jiciiakuson,

Sir: I have the lionor to lierewitli transmit BuUetin No. 92 of the

State ^Milling Bureau, rehitinc; to the Cold Placers of California

As a result of adverse legislation, placer mining (partieularly hydi-au-

river channels is shown hy the result of two years of investigation, and

provisions of the Caminetti Act is suggested, ami is to some extent now

tion contained will result in a benefit to tlu^ State of California, as well

as to the gold mining industry.

For assistance and cordial cooperation in the preparation of this

l)iilletin, the writer is mainly indebted to the miners of the State of

])rincipal niiniiiii' companies in tlie larger cities to the humblest cabins

Hazzard, of Quincy, California: to ^lessrs. AV. AV. AVaggoner, AVilliam

Georgetown; to Air. Tillotson, of the Glenn Aline. Placer County: to

Geological Survey, Arthur Nicholls, Alark Ailing, Henry Bradley,

and Scientific Press, first directed my attention to this work, my thanks

acknowledge the splendid support and unfailing courtesy of all of the

Ijloyd Koot. It has been a privilege to be a.ssociated, even for a short

ideals of service to the mining industry.

GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNIA.

now l)uing' carried out by private corporations. Should tlie work be

itself would be worth thousands, and even millions of dolhirs, to the

showing the most profitalile methods of working them and a chapter

of the people of the State as a whole. There is no single individual in

the State will be reflected in that of tlie country at large.

CONTROL OF MINING DEBRIS.

GOLD pr.ACEHS OF CALIFORNIil. 11

these mines, there results a total present value of probably $100,000,000.

These statements, made in 1881. show how strongly the danger of

liavebeen overlooked, and it is under these provisions that the present

mitted to the commission, and in case of any accident to the barrier,

miner, in any of the drainage areas affected, to observe in order to

GOLD PLACERS OF CALIFORNL\. 15

Transportation of Debris by Running Water,' there are some very

GOLD PLACERS OP CALIFORNLV. 19

appears a Avarrantable assumption), the suspended load for a volume of

The point to be emphasized is that with a .system of building restrain-

operations of the lumber companies in the mountains, which resulted in

and the farmers should be equally liberal. The resumption of hydraulic

and giving transportation and navigation to ]\Iarysville and Colusa, as

mining in tlie mountain comities will result in the restoration of vigor-

Photo No. 1. Characteristic Hydraulicking Gravels in Peru.

PiTOTO No. 2. Close-up of Same ravels in Peru,

GOLD PLACERS OF CAL1F0RNL\. 27

Each individual property rciiuircs its own special study of conditions

varies from 40 to 100 feet a bedrock that is soft and decomposed

an absence of barren top soil, beds of sticky clay, cemented gravel, or

tion of value throughout the gravel. The river should not be

Dredgiuj,' in tropical countncs is often greatly hampered l)y tlie

misleading, because, while the growth may be impenetrablv thick, these

Photo Xo. Xati\es ^^'ashill

Photo No. 4. Nechi IwYur at Pato. Characteristic