Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/609

 CALIFORNIA COS galena abounds in the island of Santa Oatalina. Iron ores of superior quality exist in the Coast range mountains and in other parts of the state, but not generally under circumstances favorable to their reduction. The most valua- ble deposits are in Sierra co. The ores occur in a belt of metamorphic rocks, and are mark- ed by an entire absence of arsenic, sulphur, phosphorus, and such other substances as tend to deteriorate the quality of the metal. The ores are magnetic, and of the same variety as those from which the best Swedish and Russian iron is made. Iron pyrites, or the snlphuret of iron, is found with gold in many of the quartz veins. Deposits of chromic iron and man- ganese exist in the Coast range. Copper ore has been found in various localities. Sulphuret of copper, or copper pyrites, is found in aurif- erous quartz lodes in nearly all the mining counties. Platinum abounds in the lower part of the Klamath valley. In the coast mountains asphaltum exists in immense quantities, and petroleum has been obtained to some extent by tunnelling. Deposits of lead and zinc have been discovered, but are yet undeveloped. Tin ore of a rich quality has been found, also plumbago, cobalt in various ores, a large lode of sulphuret of antimony, chalk, and chromium. Alum exists in Santa Clara and Calaveras counties, and at the Geysers and Owens's lake, where there are hot alum springs. Fine speci- mens of alabaster, marble, granite, and buhr- stone have been obtained. The beautifully variegated Suisun marble occurs in the sand- stones of the Pelevo hills. Bismuth, gypsum, and many varieties of precious stones occur throughout the mountains. Fine varieties of porcelain clay exist in many of the mining counties; and clay suitable for making fire brick is found near Benicia. Beds of hydraulic limestone, occupying a position between the sandstones and the shales, occur in the creta- ceous strata, but cannot be obtained of sufficient size for use as an ornamental stone. Of the non-metallic mineral products, the most im- portant are coal, borax, sulphur, and salt. In 1860 valuable deposits of coal were discovered on the N. slope of Monte Diablo, in beds vary- ing in width from 30 to 50 inches. Bituminous coal of good quality is obtained, which is taken by rail to the San Joaquin river, 5 m. distant, and shipped thence by water. In 1870 the shipments to San Francisco amounted to 129,- 761 tons, and in 1869 to 145,227. Coal also exists in the hills S. of Monte Diablo. In 1859 remarkable deposits of borax, or biborate of soda, were discovered beneath the waters of Borax lake, near the S. extremity of Clear lake. The water of the lake, which generally covers about 100 acres at an average depth of 3 ft., is impregnated with borax. Beneath the water, in a thick layer of mud, borax abounds in crystals, some of which are 3 inches across. This mud has been tested and found to be charged with borax to the depth of 60 ft. There is another borax lake a few miles N. E. of Clear lake. On the edge of the latter is a group of boiling springs, scattered over an area of about eight acres, lightly charged with bo- racio acid, soda, and chlorine. These springs discharge about 300 gallons of water per min- ute. Sulphur occurs in various parts of the state, but most extensively near Clear lake and in Colusa co. Near the former place are immense deposits which yield 70 to 80 per cent, of pure brilliant sulphur. Salt is found at various points. The most extensive works are in Alameda co., near the bay of San Fran- cisco, where the salt annually collected ex- ceeds 10,000 tons. Mineral springs of every variety exist in abundance, some of which are highly esteemed for their medicinal qualities. In San Bernardino valley are numerous warm springs with temperatures varying from 108 to 172. The climate of California varies greatly in different parts, irrespective of the great range of latitude, 9, through which the state extends. It differs widely from that of the Atlantic slope in the same latitudes, and probably from that of any other country in the world. Properly speaking, California has sev- eral climates : the basin of the Sacramento and San Joaqnin valleys having one ; the western slope of the Coast range, N. of lat. 35, anoth- er ; and that portion of the state S. of 35 still another. The climate W. of the Coast range is different from that E. of the same range, which is less than 60 m. in width. At San Francisco the mercury seldom rises above 80 in the dry, or falls below 40 in the wet season. A record of the climate of San Francisco, ex- tending from 1850 to 1872, shows that the greatest degree of cold during that period was in January, 1854, when the mercury fell to 25. The extreme of heat for the same period was 98 in September, 1852, a very unusual temperature for San Francisco. Snow very rarely falls there, and the winters bear a strong resemblance to the Indian summer of the Mis- sissippi valley. The mercury seldom if ever remains at the freezing point 24 hours together. It is doubtful if any other country in the world has so cool summers and so warm winters, yet there are comparatively great changes in sum- mer days, the mercury sometimes falling to 46 in July, and rising to 87; variations of from 20 to 30 during 24 hours are not un- common, yet the mean temperature of the coldest month is only about 10 lower than that of the wannest. The coolness of the sum- mer nights is attributed to the extreme clear- ness of the atmosphere favoring radiation. The wind blows for a part of each day from the N. and N. W. along the coast nearly the whole year. During eight months of the year the prevailing wind in San Francisco is south- west. This wind commences pouring through the Golden Gate toward noon, and increases in violence and chilliness till late at night. Heavy fogs occur during the night in the months of June, July, and August, but are of rare occurrence in winter, when the winds