PREFACE.

The State Mining Bureau is maintained for the purpose of assisting in all possible ways in the development of California's mineral

resources.

As one means of offering tangible service to the mining public, the State Mineralogist for many years has issued an annual or a biennial report reviewing in detail the mines and mineral deposits of the various counties.

The weak point in work of this character has been that the results of field investigations were so long in preparation that they had lost much of their usefulness by the time they finally appeared in print.

As a progressive forward step in advancing the interests of the mineral industry, publication of the Annual Report of the State Mineralogist in the form of monthly chapters was begun in January, 1922.

A monthly publication admits of several improvements over the old method of procedure. Each issue contains a report of the current development and mining activities of the state, prepared by the district mining engineers. Special articles dealing with various phases of mining and allied subjects by members of the staff are included. Mineral production reports formerly issued as an annual statistical bulletin are published herein as soon as returns from producers are compiled. The executive activities, and those of the laboratory, museum, library, employment service and other features with which the public has had too little acquaintance are reported monthly. assistance formerly given to producers and consumers by consultation or correspondence only, is also proffered through this medium.

The

While current activities of all descriptions will be reported in this Monthly Chapter, the Bureau will not discontinue its practice of issuing from time to time technical reports on special subjects. A list of such reports now available is appended hereto, and the names of new bulletins will be added to that list in the future as they are completed.

The Monthly Chapters will be subject to revision, correction and improvement. Constructive suggestions from the mining public will be gladly received, and are invited.

The one aim of the Mining Bureau is to increase its usefulness and to stimulate the intelligent development of the wonderful latent resources of the State of California.

'Mining in California' is sent without charge to those on the Bureau's exchange list and to all others who make written or verbal request. Pages are numbered consecutively throughout the year, and an index to the complete reports will be included annually in the December number.

TO THE MINING PUBLIC.

The miner is by nature a pioneer and as such, the mining fraternity has evolved into a group whose thoughts have been governed by the pioneering spirit and whose individual activities have been largely independent.

This typical American spirit also dominated commercial and other industrial enterprises for many years, but during the last few decades the leaders of industry and commerce have learned that there are many advantages to be gained by cooperative associations that develop a closer relationship between man and man.

The miner, as a rule, still clings to the idea of independent action, but it is my belief that he can solve many of his problems and help relieve the industry, as a whole, of some of its burdens by working for the good of all through closer cooperation with every agency maintained for the benefit of the mineral industry. In California for the past forty-three years the State Mining Bureau so far as it has been able has rendered service to the large and small operator, the investor, and the prospector.

The service given by the State Mining Bureau is thoroughly discussed in the November 1922 issue of 'Mining in California' by Fletcher Hamilton, retiring State Mineralogist..

It is my belief that those in whose behalf the Mining Bureau functions have not always taken full advantage of the opportunity for cooperative effort, and it is my desire to assist in every possible. way in bringing the Bureau into closer mutual relations with every individual interested in any phase of the development of our immense mineral resources. To that end constructive criticism of the State Mining Bureau's work is invited and specific suggestions, wherein a more economical and efficient plan can be devised for carrying on the functions of the Bureau, will be given full consideration.

The united efforts of the State Mining Bureau and those directly and indirectly affected by the condition of this basic industry in California, alone, can give to the mining industry that feeling of strength that will bring it the recognition it deserves from the commonwealth. With this object in view, it will be my endeavor to cooperate with, and render every aid possible within the scope of the Bureau's activ

ities to one and all.

LLOYD L. ROOT, State Mineralogist.

DISTRICT REPORTS OF MINING ENGINEERS.

In 1919-1920 the Mining Department was organized into four main geographical divisions, with the field work delegated to a mining engineer in each division working out from a local branch office.

This move brought the Bureau into close personal contact with operators, but did not materially shorten the time between the gathering of data in the field and their publication in the Report of the State Mineralogist at the end of an annual or biennial period.

Mining activities and development noted by district engineers in their respective fields are now embodied in monthly reports published in each issue of 'Mining in California,' thus making these data available within a maximum period of thirty days, and the Monthly Chapter as far as possible a compendium of current mining progress throughout the State.

The counties included in each field division and the location of the local offices are shown on the accompanying outline map of the State. (Frontispiece.)

Although the petroleum industry is but little affiliated with other branches of mining, oil and gas are among the most valuable mineral products of California, and a report by the State Oil and Gas Supervisor on the current development and general conditions in the State's oil fields is included under this heading.

Shasta County.

REDDING FIELD DIVISION.

W. B. TUCKER, Mining Engineer.

COPPER.

Akers Group of Mines, located in Secs. 6 and 7, T. 33 N., R. 5 W., 5 miles west of Kennett, in the Backbone mining district. Elevation 1000 feet. Holdings comprise fourteen claims, totaling approximately 280 acres. located along Squaw Creek, between the Mammoth and Balaklala mines and adjoining the Trinity Copper Company's property on the east. The development work on these claims is confined to five tunnels along an intrusion of quartz-augite-diorite, about 200 to 300 feet in width, with a general east and west trend, which occurs in the Balaklala rhyolite. The gossan croppings are prominent and ean be followed for about 1000 feet. The ore occurs in small irregular lenticular ore bodies along irregular fissures, one of which trends north and south, with a dip of 60 degrees east, the other having a N. 40° W. trend. The ore is chiefly pyrite, with more or less chalcopyrite and occasional traces of bornite, and carries $2 per ton in gold and silver. Developments comprise five tunnels from 100 to 300 feet in length with numerons crosscuts. The present work is confined to No. 3 tunnel, where a series of parallel north and south fractures and a N. 40° W. fracture are being drifted on. Some small lenses of ore have been exposed along these fractures varying in width from 2 inches to 2 feet, and from 10 to 15 feet in length. In this tunnel there is a drift 261 feet north on a north and south fracture, and one to the south 244 feet on a parallel fracture, and in this south drift the main N. 40° W. tissure was cut.

On the claims located on the south side of Squaw Creek there are two tunnels, which have lengths of 100 feet. In the lower tunnel, which is driven on a northwest fracture a small lens of ore 40 feet in length and about 2 feet in width has been developed. Samples taken from this orebody are reported to carry from 2 to 6 per cent copper. One man employed on development work. J. W. Akers of Kennett, owner.

Woodrow Wilson Mine, located in Sec. 4, T. 33 N., R. 2 W., 13 miles southwest of Ingot, in the North Cow Creek Mining District. Elevation 1800 feet. Owners are the Triumvate Mining Company of Ingot, H. M. Swift, president, J. H. Jones, secretary. The holdings consist of the following claims: Homestead Extension, Woodrow Wilson, Woodrow Wilson Extension, Woodrow Wilson No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4, approximately 160 acres, located on the East Copper belt, and adjoining the Afterthought Copper Company's property on the west. Two systems of veins have been developed, known as the Homestead and Woodrow Wilson lodes. The former occurs in a sheer zone in the rhyolite which lies south of the contact of the rhyolite and shales of the Pit formation, and has an easterly and westerly trend with a dip of 75 degrees to the north. Two shafts have been sunk on this vein to depths of 35 feet, developing 6 to 8 feet of quartz, in which occur irregular lenses of ore. The ore is of a different character from that developed in the other mines of this district, in that it carries high values in lead. The quartz contains galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite and sphalerite. Samples taken from the vein are reported to assay, copper 2.5 per cent, lead 17 per cent, zinc 3 per cent, gold and silver $3 per ton.

The Woodrow Wilson lode lies close to the contact of rhyolite with black and gray shales, and strikes northeast and southwest, with a dip of 50 degrees to the northwest. The ore is similar to that of the Afterthought mine, being composed largely of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena with local traces of bornite. Samples taken from No. 1 and No. 2 tunnel workings are reported to assay, copper 1 per cent, lead 6 per cent, zinc 13 per cent, gold and silver $2 per ton. Developments on this lode consist of three tunnels; No. 1 tunnel is driven N. 30° E., 140 feet in the slate hanging wall, then 120 feet east to the contact, where some small lenses of ore were found. No. 2 tunnel is located 180 feet northwest and 70 feet below No. 1 tunnel, and is a crosscut driven 400 feet southwest in the slate to the contact, with a drift to the northeast 200 feet on the contact. The ore developed occurs on the contact in the rhyolite, and is quartz containing small lenses of ore. Owing to the fact that no crosscuts have been driven in the rhyolite in these workings, the possible extent of the orebodies are undetermined. No. 3 tunnel, which is located 650 feet west, and 100 feet below No. 2 tunnel, is a crosscut tunnel driven S. 70° E., 200 feet in the slate hanging wall towards the contact. It will require approximately 300 feet of additional drifting to cut the orebody developed in No. 2 tunnel workings. Only assessment work is being done on the property.

Uncle Sam Mine, one of the noted quartz mines of Shasta County, is located in Secs. 1 and 6, T. 33 N., R. 6 W., 6 miles west of Kennett, in the Backbone Mining District. Elevation 2300 feet. The present owners are F. H. Dakin Company of San Francisco. who control 140