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By F. B. WEEKS

I HAVE chosen for my subject a mining district which in an article published four years ago I referred to in the following words: "One of the un- usual anomalies of mining development and history is that a district having added thirty or more millions of wealth to a principal mining state, situated within four to six miles of two transcontinental railways and two auto highways, and within 150 miles of the most widely advertised part of the United States, should have been so completely lost sight of that probably not one mining man in ten can tell offhand where it is situated." But this district never was a dead one: it was only slumbering. During the past four months, day by day, it has been emerging from that state of slumber.

Jan 1, 1929

By Paul C. Merritt

Chrysotile asbestos producers in Quebec may soon experience a unique situation-i.e., strong competition from American ore sources for the short fiber market west of the Mississippi River. This com- petition will be forthcoming from Copperopolis and Coalinga, two deposits now being developed on opposite flanks of the San Joaquin Valley in central California. The combined output now planned from both deposits is 100,000 tons annually, equivalent to about 50% of the annual market demand in the western, central and Gulf States, and more than twice the tonnage sold in 1960 by all other American asbestos producers combined. The principal companies involved in these new undertakings are Jefferson Lake Asbestos Corp. (subsidiary of Jefferson Lake Sulphur Co.), Hidden Splendor Mining Co., Coalinga Asbestos Co. (Johns- Manville Corp. in conjunction with Kern County Land Co.), Union Carbide Corp., and Asbestos Corp. Ltd. Jefferson Lake's principal interest is at Copperopolis where the company's new 70,000-ton per yr mill recently went on stream. The company also holds some claims at Coalinga, but this latter area is better known as the site where Hidden Splendor, Coalinga Asbestos Co. and Todd Industries (a local company) have established operating mines and mills capable of turning out 30,000 tons of fiber each year. Coalinga is also the site of exploration by Union Carbide Nuclear and Asbestos Corp. Ltd.

Jan 9, 1962

By Carrie Pourvahidi

The California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) was created by the State of California through legislation in 1996. The purpose of the Authority is to plan, construct, finance and operate a statewide intercity high speed passenger rail system. In 2004 the Authority prepared a programmatic level environmental document in compliance with the California Environmental Quality and National Environmental Protection Acts (CEQA and NEPA).The Authority and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) were the lead agencies overseeing the development of the environmental documentation. The resulting document includes two volumes and 64 supplemental technical reports analyzing the transportation needs for California and the selection of an approach to meeting the project transportation needs. The Programmatic Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) identified High Speed Rail as the most environ-mentally protective, sustainable and economical approach to meeting the state?s projected transportation needs.

Jan 1, 2008

By Greg R. Wheeler

Few members of the general public have a clear understanding of mineral resources. Most people do not know how minerals are mined or why they must be extracted from many diverse locations. Many people acquire knowledge of mineral development from mass media sources with incomplete details or obvious anti-mining bias. The California Mineral Education Foundation was formed in 1991 to provide educational opportunities for the public and industry. There have been major changes in earth science teaching requirements for kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) curricula since the passage of California Senate Bill 813 in 1983. Model graduation standards, curriculum standards and the state science framework mandate substantial coverage of geoscience topics. The California State Commission on Teacher Credentialing has completed changes in multiple subject and single subject science credentials which will require more geoscience preparation for all teachers. The need for pre-service and in-service education in geoscience is at an all time high. Teachers must have continuing education to maintain their credentials and many are now seeking information in geoscience. The California Mineral Education Foundation designed and conducted the California Mineral Education Conferences held in August 1991 and 1992. The conferences involved lectures and field trips on mining geology, environmental problems and political concerns. Master teachers were employed to share how they get across mineral resource concepts in the classroom. Ninety-six percent of the participants stated that they had changed to a more positive perception of mining after taking the three day course.

Jan 1, 1995

California Oil and Gas Association, 510 West Sixth St , Los Angeles, Calif Edwin Higgins, Secretary This Association for many years published the monthly magazine, "Oil Bulletin " Publication was discontinued in June, 1932, and numbers are now available only in reference form Some of the articles in the magazine dealt with the geology and natural resources of gas and oil

Jan 1, 1933

By L. E. Porter

The demand for crude oil on the Pacific Coast during the year 1945. was so acute that the California crude supply had to be augmented by tank-car imports from the Texas and Rocky Mountain fields. Crude imports reached a high of 64,800 bbl. per day during June, with a total of 14,259,000 bbl. imported during the first 11 .months. The U. S. Navy also implemented the crude output from California pools by drilling and completing approximately 300 wells in the Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 (Elk Hills), from which an established production of 65,000. bbl. per day was reached in late February and maintained until Aug. 17, 1945, when it was reduced to its preprogram level of 15,000 bbl. per day. Even with the conclusion of the Pacific war on V-J day (Aug. 14), the military petroleum product requirements have permitted little material reduction in output of California crude to prewar rates. During the year, a total of 327-760,000 bbl. of crude was produced, or 19 per cent of the total crude production within the United States during the same period, as compared with 310,996,000 bbl. or 18.4 per cent of the nation's crude production in 1944.

Jan 1, 1946

By H. NORTON JOHNSON

THE oil industry in California during 1929 reached new heights and new depths in the discovery and development of the oil resources of the State. The discovery of new fields, and more especially the discovery and development of deeper prolific sands in known fields has, for the first time in its history, brought the potential production of completed wells within the State to over 1,000,000 bbl. oil per day. Constant improvement in equipment and technique has made possible economic development to depths unheard of but a few short years ago. Commercial production from a depth of over 4000 ft. was considered quite an accomplishment in 1923 when the Meyer sand at Santa Fe Springs was developed, and when later oil was successfully raised from this depth.

Jan 1, 1930

By James Douglas

This sketch of the history, geography and topography of the American transcontinental railways is based upon a paper read many years ago by the author before the American Geographical Society, and now re-cast, with numerous modifications and additions required to bring it up to date. It was intended primarily for the information of members and guests of the Institute from the East attending the California meeting; and, with that purpose in view, the Secretary of the Institute compiled;

Jan 1, 1900

By E. T. Dumble

DuriKg explorations made for the Pacific Improvement Company in the early part of this year, deposits of natural coke, of such extent and excellent quality as to be worthy of record, were found in the Santa Clara coal-field. This coal-field lies in the neighborhood of La Barranca, a small town, 95 miles northeast of Ortiz, on the Sonora railway. The coal-beds are exposed in the drainage-basin of Calera creek, which empties into the Yaqui river opposite Toniche; and the old mining town of Turahumari is nearly at the center of the field. Without going into a detailed geological description, it Will be sufficient to say that the entire area is underlain by rocks of Triassic age, much disturbed in places, and cut through and covered by eruptive rocks of various kinds and ages. The coal-beds occur in a series of interbedded sands and clay, in the upper half of the sedimentary Triassic rocks. Below them is a great series of quartzitic sandstoiles and very sandy slates, and above them are other sandstones, and the eruptive member of the group, viz., the Lista Blanca formation', described in my paper on the " Geology of Sonora," presented at the New York Meeting of February, 1899.* Speaking very broadly, these sands and clays, with their included coal-beds, dip about 30 degrees S.E. This gives their outcropping edses a 3J.E.-S.W. direction. The general dip

Jan 1, 1900

By David H. Browne

The trite maxim that man is a tool-using animal might nowa-days be amended by saying that man is a tool-choosing animal. The chipped flint, at first all-sufficient, gave way to hammered bronze, and that, in turn, to wrought-iron and steel. As our knowledge of metals increases, we learn to specialize; we temper and anneal; we alloy and intermix; and we fashion for ourselves a metal suitable to our necessities. The knowledge of the properties and uses of the various metals and their alloys has become the capital of every constructive engineer, and the currency of every intelligent brass-founder aid blacksmith. Prom year to year, the specifications of the designer become more rigid, and the steel-maker is forced to study more closely the qualities obtainable by changing the treatment, or altering the composition, of his metal. Of making alloys there is no end. We have heard much, during the last decade, of manganese-steel and chrome-steel, of aluminum and tungsten, of titanium- and silicon- and copper-steels, and of every conceivable union into which steel could be coerced or cajoled. Without denying to each of these alloys novel and valuable properties, it. must be admitted that, of all alloys, the one which shows the greatest range of adaptability, and has met the largest measure of popular approval, is nickel-steel. Introduced to public notice by Mr. Riley, in 1889, its field of usefulness has been rapidly enlarged, until, at the present day, the use of nickel-steel is as thoroughly recognized as that of carbon- or manganese-steel. Concerning the properties of nickel-steel numerous articles have appeared in the technical journals. For the man in a hurry, who wishes to look up the properties and limitations of nickel-steel, these articles might almost as well be in the lost

Jan 1, 1900

By Frank Soulé

Secretary E. H. Benjamin, of the California Miners' Association, has proposed and begun, in co-operation with the testing laboratory of the University of California, at Berkeley, a series of tests which should prove of great interest and practical use to all persons making extensive application of steel wire cables, and especially to miners who run them in deep mines. Mr. Benjamin is endeavoring to obtain pieces of cable both new, and old and worn, from every deep mine of importance on the Pacific Coast, together with all the data obtainable concerning their manufacture and particular use. Pieces from each sample will be broken ill the laboratory before mentioned: and as far as possible the effects of winding around drums or pulleys ; of sudden starting and stopping when loaded; of heavy shocks, and of the general wear and tear of the cables, will be ascertained by these tests. The Olsen testing-machine of 200,000 pounds capacity will be used to break the cables, and the rupturing force, in different instances, will be applied slowly and also rapidly, in order to make the tests comparable as far as possible with the practical use of the cables themselves. All information and data available should be obtained for each specimen sent to the laboratory, the name of the manufacturer, the date of making, strength of cable when new and unrusted, as well as the circumstances and conditions of the practical use of the cable. Having this information before us, we shall be able to tell, approximately at least, the effects of age, rust, wear and tear, shocks, etc.; and perhaps be enabled to draw the line of limitation beyond which it would be no longer safe to use a cable of known manufacture. Moreover, by means of such tests we may, perhaps, he able to recommend worn cables for other uses, less severe in character, thereby prolonging the life of their effective usefulness. When we consider the great number of miles of steel cable now in use, and of the greater number constantly being manu-

Jan 1, 1900

By W. L. Watts

The existence of petroleum in California has been known for many years. From time immemorial the California Indians used this mineral, in the form of asphaltum, for various purposes. In the early history of the State the Catholic fathers utilized it for roofing their missions and other buildings. It is said that in 1855 or 1856 Andreas Pico distilled petroleum on a small scale for the San Fernando Mission. He obtained his crude oil from Pico canon, near Newhall, in Los Angeles county; and he was probably the first refiner of petroleum in this State. In 1856 a company commenced work at the La Brea ranch, in Los Angeles county, and tried to refine the crude oil. In 1857 an attempt was made to produce illuminating-oil from crude petroleum at Carpenteria, in Santa Barbara county; and there are records of similar attempts in other localities previous to 1860; but none of them were successful. The first scientific report on petroleum in California was made by Prof. B. Silliman, who published his researches in 1865. He spoke favorably of the possibility of obtaining petroleum in remunerative quantities in this State, and gave the results of his experiments in the fractional distillation of California petroleum. The next decade was marked by a considerable oil-excitement in California; and a great many companies mere formed for the purpose of petroleum-mining and for distilling crude oil. In most instances these companies did not meet with success; but it must be remembered that the pioneer oil-miners did not

Jan 1, 1900

By A. F. Lucas

The rock-salt deposit of Petite Anse, in Louisiana, has been known for many years. A description of it, with an account of the method pursued in its exploitation, was contributed in 1888 to the Transactions of the Institute* by Mr. Richard A. Pomeroy. But this locality does not by any means comprise the whole of the resources of the State in rock-salt. A few months ago the writer published a general account + - of all the Louisiana localities now known, together with particulars concerning their technical and commercial development. In view of the fact that active enterprises in this line have increased in number, and promise to constitute an important, if not controlling, factor in the supply of salt for the immense demand of the United States (including, as it does, the consumption of this mineral as a raw material in chemical manufactures), the present paper has been prepared. While it necessarily contains much of the substance of the article above mentioned, it is accompanied with illustrations and details not heretofore published. Moreover, the former article is out of print, the publishers having no copies left of the number of their journal in which it appeared, and the writer is therefore warranted in the belief that a paper placing the essential facts on record in a form more permanently accessible to mining engineers will be acceptable to the members of the Institute.

Jan 1, 1900

By B. L. Thane

Within the past few years, the mining industry has taken a new impetus in all its branches. New mines are being opened every day, while old ones, which have been either working at a loss, or have been compelled to shut down, are now gradually being reopened and placed on a paying basis. This growth and new life is due, in a measure, to the discovery of new mining districts, but the most important cause of the progress is the wonderful advance that has been made in all branches of mine-engineering. By means of the important inventions and discoveries that have been made in mechanics, chemistry, and electricity, we are now able to work ores which, only a short time ago, would have been regarded as worthless. We find, for instance, the electrician eliminating two of our greatest difficulties, those of distance and superior elevation, while the mechanic has brought to the highest degree of perfection, not only ore-crushing and hoisting machinery, but all such devices as pertain to the mechanical handling of ores, and, at the same time, the metallurgist, with his combined chemical and mechanical skill, has helped us to extract the precious metals from the most refractory of ores. But when we turn to examine methods in actual use for

Jan 1, 1900

By James Douglas

At this last meeting of our Institute for the year 1899, it is appropriate that we should look back at the past. To review the century's progress in the exact sciences and the resulting arts that fall within the scope of our labors is beyond my ability. But I wish to draw your attention to some phases of that progress, almost as important, which lie within the zone of sociology, touching at so many points the domain of applied technology. One of these is suggested by the library of technical literature which this century has produced —not the least important contribution to which is our own Transactions. The nineteenth century has witnessed the beneficial spread of democracy in politics. Under the impulse, to no small degree, of the same spirit, there has grown up a brotherhood of fellow-workers and a sense of fellow-ownership in the secrets of nature. Though the Patent Office has assumed such proportions as to hare become a source of national revenue, and a multitude of inventors, great and small, are seeking through its agency to secure some pecuniary profit from their devices, there is even greater eagerness among both interested and disinterested workers in the field of technology to publish their observations, and even their discoveries, and to give them to the world without remuneration. The motives influencing the great body of writers who, without any pay, use the technical journals and such media of communication as our Transactions, in order to give to the brethren of their craft the results of

Jan 1, 1900

By William M. Brewer

Until quite recently, in fact within the past two gears, but little attention has been given to the outcrops on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and their copper-contents. During the past few months the writer has been engaged in examining and developing some of these prospects. In many respects he has found characteristics associated with these prospects which, in his experience, are unique. In the first place, nearly all the outcroppings which overlie chalcopyrite-ore along the west coast of the island are composed of a high-grade magnetite. The magnetic qualities of some of these outcrops arc so pronounced that the magnetite possesses polarity. Although the writer hinlsclf had no analyses of this magnetite made, yet from its appearance he can readily believe that analyses made for other parties, which show a yield' of 62 or 63 per cent. of metallic iron, with only traces of phosphorus and silica, are correct. At a very shallow depth, masses of chalcopyrite, yielding in some instances as high as 32.6 per cent. of copper, occur associated with the magnetite; and in one instance, which recently came under the writer's observation, a solid body of high-grade chalcopyrite, fully 4 feet in thickness, occurs Within 6 feet of ; the surface. Usually this solid sulphide-ore carries low values in gold. Probably ail average of' $2 per toil would be fairly representative. But in some instances development has determined the occurrence of narrow stringers of pyritous quartz, associated with the sulphide-ores, which yield by assay more than $20 per ton in gold. In the districts examined by the writer, the country-rock is usually crystalline limestone, with dikes of igneous rock as intrusions. Sometimes the outcrops of magnetic iron-ore are

Jan 1, 1900

By E. H. Barton

The necessity, on the Pacific Coast and throughout the semiarid regions in particular, of the conservation of waters for agricultural, industrial and mining purposes has forced itself upon the minds of those directly or indirectly interested in these industries. To meet the requirements of the case, storage must be provided for the flood-waters so abundant during the rainy season in order to insure a constant and unfailing supply during the summer months. Such storage can only be obtained, in the greater number of instances, by the erection of reservoir-walls of great height. The feasibility of employing earth or timber in the construction of such high dams is questionable, especially when (as is often the case) they must be placed in torrential streams. The experience of recent years with masonry dams, throughout this and foreign countries, has demonstrated that such dams, when intelligently and correctly designed and properly constructed, will meet the requirements of larger storage by means of increased height. The failures of masonry dams have been few; only two of any consequence being on record, namely, that of the Puentes dam, in Spain, in 1802, and that of the Habra dam, in Algiers, in 1810.* On the other hand, the failures of wooden and earthern dams are innumerable. The following are some of the most important structures constructed in recent years. The list is taken from Mr. Wegmann's book, just cited: The Furens, Zola, Ternay, Ban and Verdon dams, in France; the Nizar, Lozoya, Villar and the two Hizar dams,

Jan 1, 1900

By John C. Branner

Within a couple of years I have received many inquiries in regard to the manganese-mines of Brazil. These inquiries were doubtless directed to mc because I had lived and traveled in Brazil for more than eight years, and was therefore supposed to be pretty well acquainted with its geology and mineral resources. Somewhat to my chagrin, I not only knew nothing of manganese-mines in that country, but I had never before heard of the mineral having been found here in quantity, and I did not even know in what State the mines were located. The present summer found me in Brazil again, trying to finish up some of my early geological investigations along the northeast coast, and I have used the occasion to find out something about the manganese-deposits. Very little is known of these mines, even in Brazil. While at Pernambuco I was told that they were in the distant interior of the State of Bahia. In August I reached Bahia, and there I found out, concerning the mines and their geology, enough to be worth telling for the benefit of those interested in the mining or using of this mineral. Thus far, all the manganese-ore shipped from this State has come from two mines, the principal one of which is known as the Pedras Pretas mine. This was the first mine opened, is the best developed, and was the original discovery; the second one is on an adjoining tract, and the general geology and natural conditions are about the same in both. The Pedras Pretas mine is on the Nazareth-Amargosa railway, twenty-six kilometers west of the town of Nazareth, which is on tide-water, at the head of navigation, and is reached from the city of Bahia by a small side-wheel steamer that runs across the bay of Bahia and up the Rio Jaguaripe

Jan 1, 1900

By Sidney H. Loram

As the work carried on by this Company, of which the writer has been in charge for the past two years, is somewhat unique, the following account of it may be of interest, and, on that account, is offered to the Institute without any attempt to claim this practice as the best. Mines. The mines supplying ore to the Company arc situated in three groups: the Guanaco field,.about 80 miles N.E. of the port of Taltal (lat. 25" S., long. 70" 30' W. of Greenwich); the Sierra Overa, about 63 miles S.W. of Taltal; and Paranao, about 42 miles due N. of Taltal (12 miles N. of the small town of Paposo, once famous for its copper-output). Guanaco. This field lies in the center of an absolutely waterless mountainous desert, where not a sign of vegetation can be found for miles. The dryness is such that ivory and horn crack and open, while raw-hide must be used in place of leather, which -would become worthless in a very short time. Water is brought about 21 miles by piping from the Cordillera, but only in small quantities, and costs in the Guanaco $7 (= $1.78 gold) per cubic meter. All supplies and food are sent from the port of Taltal, which in turn draws its supplies from the south of Chile, the

Jan 1, 1900

By Edward Halse

The tin-deposits of Durango, Mexico, have been ably described by Mr. W. R. Ingalls in a paper published in our Transactions in 1895.* While the occurrellces of tin-ore in other parts of the Republic are similar in many resperts to those in Durango, there are noteworthy local differences which, it is hoped, ma? lend interest to the present paper. The deposits examined by me in May, 1895, are found in the Serrania de Chacuaco, Municipality of Sain Alto, District of Sombrerete. The workings are situated in a range of mountains having a general northwest to southeast trend between Sombrerete and Fresnillo; the most northerly claim (La Desparranlada) being about six leagues southeast of the former town. El Refugio lies about four leagues to the southwest, and El Calabrote eight leagues to the west, of Fresnillo. The claims are from about 8425 to 8775 feet above sea-level, and from 1500 to 1800 feet above Sain Alto, the position of which town is marked in the map printed in Mr. Ingalls's paper. In order to reach the claims, one uses the carriage-road from Sain Alto to the small tin-colony of Las Cuevas; from the latter place to the mines there is only a rough mule-track. The mountain range consists of a rugged, weathered, gray granite rock, remarkable for large grains of quartz, and is flanked by masses of rhyolite and rhyolite-tuff of upper Tertiary age. The whole formation is broken up by narrow and steep willding arroyos and deep barrancas, mainly the result of denudation, and it appears to be a southeasterlj extension of the tin-bearing belt of rocks north of Durango City. Here and

Jan 1, 1900