Statewide County CA Archives History - Books .....Geology 1891
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 29, 2005, 10:12 pm

Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of Northern California

GEOLOGY.

  The geological character of Northern California is too vast for even any
outline in our brief history. Some mention of the most remarkable features is
made under the heads of the respective counties where they are found. Geological
reports scientifically compiled are published, in fragments, but no thorough and
systematic survey has yet been made by the State. It however has published
mineralogical reports, the substance of which we have already given under head
of mining.

  Most geological literature, by the way, is of interest only to the
professional geologist. The public generally are not interested in such
statements as,  "Along the ____ ravine were found specimens of diorite
interspersed among vitrefied masses of metamorphic schist." We may be pardoned,
however, for making the three following general observations:

  The valleys, once under the sea, have been filled up to their present level by
detritus from the mountains, in some places to the depth of a thousand feet or
more. Hence the mountains were once much higher and larger than they now are.

  From the appearance of old river beds it seems probable that the rivers of
Northern California once took their rise much farther to the east than now,
draining Nevada and Utah to some extent. A variety of porphyry is found
scattered along these old channels, evidently from abed east of the present
summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. During the cretaceous period, a great
volcanic eruption occurred burying the country from Central California to
British Columbia 200 to 3,000 feet under accumulations of lava. The glacial
period followed this.

  The collection of diamonds and pearls is becoming quite an industry of late
years along the Sierra Nevada.

  The gold-mining interest is noticed at great length elsewhere, and the
principal mines, gold, coal, etc., are mentioned in the county sketches on
subsequent pages.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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