STATE OF CALIFORNIA
•
GOODWIN J. KNIGHT, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DeWITT NELSON, Director
MINERAL INFORMATION SERVICE.
Vol. 7 October 1, 1954
MINERAL INFORMATION SERVICE is a monthly news release concerning the mineral resources and industry of
CALIFORNIA, designed to inform the public of the discoveries, operations, markets, statistics, and new publications. It is
distributed without cost upon request.
POZZOLANS IN CALIFORNIA
Frederick. W. Drury, Jr. •
Cements have been . used in constructjon for sev-
eral thousand years~ first in mortar for masonry
construction and much later in concrete. Original
cements were produced by calcination of gypsum, but
during the Roman and Greek eras calcined limestone
was employed with water and sand, gravel, crnshed
stone, tile, brick and certain volcanic materi~ls.
The builders noted that combinations of certain of
thee~ materials produced mortars which were not
only· stronger and more durable, but which would
harden ~nder water. These superior materials were
principally volcanic ashes, found near Naples and
the adjacent port of Pozzuoli, from which locality
such materials dr~w their name of "pozzuolana," or
"pozzolan" as they a-e known today. Roman terri tor-
ial expansion carried the use of pozzolans into
much of western Europe and England, though in the
latter country, ground tile or brick was used in-
stead of unavailable volcanic materials .
In time, other natural and artificial materials
were used as pozzolans with considerable success .
Outstanding examples of the Roman use of pozzolanic
mortar and concrete are the Roman Pantheon, the Col-
osseum, and the ~asilica of Constantine , all struc-
tures in a remarkable state of preservation after
2000 years of exposure to the elements .
Recently a sample of pozzolanic concrete taken
from a submerged pier near Pozzuoli was submitted
to the American Concrete Institute for testing.
Prel.i minary study shows the sample to be in excell-
ent condition despite centuries of exposure to ag-
gressive sea water. However, freezing and thawing
resistance has been found to be low, so perhaps
some of the longevity of such structures built with
pozzolan-lime cement can be attributed to the rela~
tively mild Mediterranean climate.
After the decline of the Roman Empire and the
advent of the Middle Ages, the art of eoncrete man~
*Chief Engineer, The Airox Company, 307 W.
Eighth St~eet, Los Angeles 14, California
DIVISION OF MINES
Ferry Building, Son Francisco 11
OLAF P. JENKINS, Chief
No. 10
by
ufacture was lost, and consequently was of no sig-
nificance until the discovery of portland cement
by Aspdin a century ago.
Aspdin's discovery, complemented by the early
investigations of Smeaton, Feret, Vicat and Le
Chatelier encouraged development of the concrete
industry .as we know it today . Because portland
cement was a homogeneous material with relatively
constant composition and characteristically pro -
duced higher strengths in mortar and concrete, use
of all other types of cement declined rapidly. In
recent years, however, it has been r ecognized that
some of the limitations of portland cement could
be overcome by the admixture of a suitable pozzolan .
Contemporary use of pozzolan
Portland- pozzolan cements have been used ex-
tensively in Europe, particularly for marine and
hydraulic structures. In many cases their use was
dictated by economy, but in general, their primary
purpose was to produce concretes less permeable to
the passage of moisture and more resistant to the
action of aggressive waters.
The first substantial quantity of portland-poz -
zolan cement used in the United States was in the
Los Angeles Aqueduct (1910-1912) . Savings of some
$700,000 over the cost of non-pozzolanic portland
cement resulted. Though certain handling problems
occurred, the finished concrete was excellent in
every respect . Recent 'inspections of this aqueduct
have shown conclusively that an unusual degree of
watertightness and freedom from leaching was ob-
tained.
The employment of a pumice pozzolan in Friant
Dam resulted in savings of some $301,000 in cost
of portland cement . Similar savings were made in
construction of Bonneville Dam and of numerous
structures by the Los Angeles County Flood Control
District.
In the early 1930's, the Santa Cruz Portland
Cement Company began production of High Silica Ce-
2 California State Division of Mines (Vol.7

View west toward Airox plant and quarry, Santa Maria. Placing pozzolanic concrete .

Finishing pozzolanic concrete . Quarry and mill of the Airox Company, Santa Maria .
 No.IO) Mineral Information Service
•
ment, composed of portland cement interground with
a mixture of lime and calcined Monterey shale.
Structures throughout California, including the
piers of the Golden Gate Bridge and portions of the
San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge attest to the
quality of this pozzolanic cement.
In 1937 , about 15,000 barrels of portland-poz-
zolan cement containing calcined Puente shale were
employed in lining over 2000 feet of arch of the
San Jacinto Tunnel.
More recently numerous projects of the Bureau
of Reclamation have been completed with the aid of
pozzolan; Hungry Horse Dam (fly-ash), Cachuma Dam
(calcined oil-impregnated diatomite), Davis Dam
(calcined Puente shale and calcined oil-impregnated
diatomite), Falcon Dam (calcined scoria).
Of more interest to the California concrete in-
dustry, however, is the rapidly growing use of poz-
zolan in structural concrete as well as in mass
concrete which, until recently, absorbed most of
the pozzolan produced.
For example, calcined precipitated silica and
calcined oil impregnated diatomite were used exten-
sively in concrete pipe and structures of the East
Bay Municipal Utility District for improving sul-
fate and acid resistance and for decreasing perme-
ability.
Calcined oil-impregnated diatomite was used in
Big Creek #4 Dam of the Southern California Edison
Company and is currently being used in construction
of the M0rro Bay Steam Power Plant of Pacific Gas
and Electric Company, the Union Oil Coking Plant
near Guadalupe, California, and Santa Felicia Dam
near Piru, California.
Pozzolanic Reaction
Calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime) is liberated
during hydration of.portland cement. The lime con-
tributes nothing to the strength of concrete , and
because it has low solubility may be removed by
leaching action. Deterioration of the concrete
usually results.
American Society for Testing Materials Standard
C 219-53T defines a pozzolan as "a siliceous or sil-
iceous and aluminous material, which in itself po-
ssesses little or no cementitious value but will,
in finely divided form and in the presence of moist-
ure, chemically react with calcium hydroxide at or -
dinary temperatures to form compounds possessing
cementitious properties."
The primary reaction product is usually consid-
ered to be hydrous monocalcium silicate. Rowever,
most pozzolans contain substantial amounts of ma-
terial other than silica, and more .complex reactions
involving alumina, iron, and the alkalies probably
take place.
•
Generally speaking, the better pozzolans appear
to be those of high fineness with a silica consti-
tuent of amorphous form . Thus finely ground quartz,
though meeting the definition of a pozzolan, is
extremely slow to react with lime whereas finely
ground opal is exceptionally reactive. Because
3
chemical composition does not aid particularly in
determining pozzolanic activity, it becomes neces-
sary to JUdge the efficiency of a pozzolan by in-
direct tests and past performance.
For these reasons, progress has been slow toward
establishment of American Society for Testing Ma-
terials standards for pozzolans, although a tenta-
tive standard for fly-ash as a pozzolan has been
pro~ulgated. However, newly issued Federal Specifi-
cation SS-C-208b for portland-pozzolan cement and
American Society for Testing Materials Proposed
Tentative Specification C 34o-54T for portland-poz-
zolan cement do place certain requirements on poz-
zolans considered suitable for use in portland-poz-
zolan cements.
To date the most widely accepted specification
for pozzolan per se is that advanced by the Bureau
of Reclamation and incorporated in recent general
specifications for Reclamati on Projects. Copies of
this specification and methods of testing pozzolans
may be obtained from the Office of the Chief Engin-
eer, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, Colorado.
In many cases specifications for pozzolan in-
corporate sections of the above mentioned specifi-
cations, or merely refer to "approved sources of
pozzolan" based on performance records of the poz-
zolans concerned.
The most reeent example of this form of specifi-
cation is Specification No. 4 of the United Water
Conservation District of Ventura County. Item 20
in this specification states: "raw materials. The
raw material from which the siliceous material is
produced shall be an opaline cherty shale, oil im-
pregnated diatomaceous shale, chert of porcelaneous
rock found in the Monterey formation or other Mio-
cene strata of similar litho logy .•••• " Certain ad-
ditional physical limitations are also placed on the
processed pozzolan .
. Until such time as detailed and suitable tests
are developed for distinguishing between good and
poor pozzolans, spec~fications will probably con-
tinue to be based on known performance records of
commercially produced pozzolans. Inasmuch as poz-
zolans vary so widely in their effects on concrete,
this practice would appear to be advisable.
Classification of Pozzolans
Pozzolans may be divided into two principal
classes: (1) artificial pozzolans and (2) natural
pozzolans.
Artificial pozzolans include fly-ash (precipi-
tated residue from flue dust in the burning of pow-
dered coal), silica fume, and calcined bauxite -all
by-products of industrial processes. Few fly-ashes
are suitable for use as pozzolan, the limiting fac-
tors being carbon content, fineness, and uniformity
of composition. For certain technical and economic
reasons, artificial pozzolans cannot be considered
practical for use in California at the present time.
Natural pozzolans may be divided into two prin-
cipal classes: (l) Those derived from volcanic
rock in whiah the amorphous constituent is glass
 4 Cal iforn ia Sta te Division of Mines
produced by fusion and (2) those derived from rocks
or earth in which the silica constituent contains
opal.
Constituting the first class are the volcanic
ashes, pumice . obsidian, scoria, and tuffs .
Constituting the second class are the diatom-
ites, cherts, shales and clays containing substan -
tial quantities of opaline silica.
The pozzolanic properties of many of the mater-
ials of the second class, and a few of those of the
first class, may be improved through calcination at
some optimum temperature below fusion. Some mater-
ials not normally pozzolanic such as the clays, may
be rendered pozzolanic by calcination.
Most natural pozzolans require fine grinding,
although pumicite used in Friant Dam was so excep-
tionally fine in its natural state that no further
grinding was necessary . Such deposits are rare,
however.
Prospecting for Pozzolanic Materials
Few laboratories are equipped to properly test
deposits which ·might be exploited to produce a qual-
ity pozzolan . However, the Bureau of Reclamation
bas studied potential sources of supply in Califor -
nia, and this information may be found in reference
(3). Should doubt exist as to the potentialities of
a deposit. samples of the source material may be
sent to the Bureau of Reclamation laboratory in Den -
ver for testing, provided survey of the deposit in -
dicates it can be practically processed into pozzo-
lan. Factors to be considered are the extent and
uniformity of the deposit, the cost of mining, the
cost of calcining, the cost of processing and the
cost of shipment to potential consumers .
Most major portland cement manufacturers have
thoroughly investigated sources of pozzolanic mater -
ials, although few such companies are processing
pozzolan for inter - grinding or blending at the pre -
sent time .
Use of Pozzolans with Portland Cement
Pozzolans may be interground or blended with
portland cement to produce portland-pozzolan cement,
or may be produced separately for use as an admix-
ture. The latter method is gaining favor because a
much higher degree of job control may then be obtained.
This is particularly important when it is realized
that pozzolans are used in varying proportions in
accordance with job requirements. For example, the
quantity of pozzolan used to improve sulfate' resist -
ance will differ from that used to control alkali -
aggregate reaction, etc .
Proportioning Pozzolan in Concrete Mixes
Pozzolans may be used as additions to or as
replacements of a portion of the portland cement in
in concrete . When used as additions, pozzolans are
employed in small amounts, sufficient only to affect
the properties of fresh concrete. Present practice
overwhelmingly favors the use of pozzolan as an in-
tegral ingredient in concrete, in which case it is
looked upon as a part of the cementitious material
( Vo l. 7
•
as is portland cement. When compared with a normal
cement concrete. the use of pozzolan in this manner
reduces the amount of portland cement required.
Because of differences in specific gravities,
substitution of pozzolan for part of the portland
cement usually increases yield unless the mix de-
sign is altered, generally by reduction in sand con-
tent.
In general, optimpm quantities of pozzolan de-
pend upon (1) properties desired in fresh and hard-
ened concrete (2) character and fineness of the poz -
zolan (3) composition of the portland cement (4)
richness of the mix (5) grading of the aggregate.
Because of the varied effects of different pozzolans
in concrete, this optimum quantity must be deter-
mined by experiment and experience . Percentages of
replacements, on a weight basis, may vary from 10 to
35 percent. Most producers of pozzolan in Califor-
nia can furnish information relative to optimum
quantities of their pozzolan required in concrete
for any specific purpose .
Effects of Pozzolan upon Fresh Concrete
When used as cement replacements, natural pozzo-
lans characteristically increase plasticity and co-
hesiveness and decrease the tendency towards bleed-
ing and segregation of concrete· mixes. These de-
sirable effects may be further enhanced by the jud-
icious use of air entrainment .
Most effective are the finely ground diatomites,
opaline sbale~and calcined clays . Less effective
are the volcanic glasses .
For a given slump, natural pozzolans may in -
crease the water requirement. However, proper mix
design and/or the use of a suitable wetting agent
are effective in reducing to . normal the water re-
quirement of concretes containing pozzolan. With
pozzolanic concrete, workability is more accurately
defined by the Powers remolding apparatus than by
the slump test . This may be effectively shown in
the ease with which pozzolanic concrete may be vi-
brated .
Effects of Pozzolan upon Hardened Concrete
An analogy can be drawn between the effects of
pozzolan upon hardened concrete and the cbaracteris·-
tic action of Type V (sulfate resistant) portland
cement. As tested, (see pages 51 and 52 of reference
4), Type V Portland aement is slow in early age
strength gain, but at later ages gives high strength
development . It ~s very low in heat generation, a
factor of great importance in mass concrete . It is
high in sulfate resistance . According to the Con- J
crete ·Manual (Reference (4), p . 52) "Type V cement
is, from a theoretical point of view, the nearest
approach to an ideal cement . " Unfortunately, Type
V cement is a premium cement not readily available .
In general, use of California pozzolans (natural
pozzolans), in proper amounts results in concrete of ~
lower cost having less heat generation, maximum rate ,..,
of beat development at an earlier age, lower permea -
bility, greater resistance to aggressive soils and
waters, higher later age strengths, and freedom
from leaching.
No. IO) Mineral Information Service
Substitution of poz zolan for a portion of the
portland cement not only results in a low cement con-
tent which, in itself, is highly desirable, but also
compensates for any undesirable characteristics of
the concrete that would be introduced if the cement
·content were similarly reduced without addition of
the pozzolan .
Detailed discussion of the a forementioned bene-
fits of pozzolan in concrete is impractical in this
paper . For further information the reader is refet-
red to the listed references and to the brochures
issued by the existing commercial producers of poz -
zolan in California .
Alkali -Aggregate Reaction
The most important use of pozzolan in Califor -
nia is in controlling the alkali - a ggregate reaction.
In the early 1940's, T. E . Stanton discovered ·
that certain r ocks and minerals reacted with alkalies
released during hydration of portland cement and
caused rapid deterioration of concrete . Examples of
such deterioration may be seen throughout California,
although such deter ioration is most obvious in coast-
al areas.
From 1941 to 1947 knowledge of the.mechanism
and control of this r eaction accumulated and full
dependence for pr otecting concrete structures against
this reaction was placed upon a limitation of the
alkali content of portland cement to 0 . 60 percent .
I n 1947, however , tests with a very low alkali port -
land cement and a ggregate proposed for use in Davis
Dam indicated exce s sive reactive expansion . Forth -
with the decision was made to require use of pozzo -
lan in the concr ete of this impor tant structure .
This was a tacit acknowledgment that limitation of
the alkal i content of portland cement within practi -
cal limits may not be sufficient to protect concrete
permanently against alkal i -aggregate reaction .
As a consequence of this vital work with pozzo-
l ans in countering alkali -aggregate reaction, suit -
a ble pozzolans a r e now used extensively with and
without low-alkal i portland cement as a positive
means of insuring the dimensional stability of con -
crete . The trend is toward using pozzolan whenever
aggregates of known or questionable reactivity are
employed .
Merriam (Reference (5)) discusses known and sus -
pected sources of reactive aggregate in California,
and should be a part of the library of every engineer
who enjoys responsibility for concrete mix design .
American Society for Testing Materials Specifi -
cation C33 - 52T recognizes the alkali -aggregate reac -
tion problem when it states in part that reactive
aggregates may be used "with the addition of a mate -
r ial that has been shown to inhibit undue expansion
due to the alkali - aggregate reaction . "
Great caution should be exercised in the selec -
tion of a pozzola n for positive control of the alkali -
aggregate r eac tion . Relatively few poz zolans will
satisfactor ily contr ol the alkali -aggregate·reaction
when used in optimum quantities . For example, a
pozzolan used as a 15~ r eplacement of total cementi -
t ious materia l may enhance the desir able properties
5
of concrete. but may be insufficient to control the
alkali -aggregate reaction .
Future for California Pozzolans
Pozzolans in concrete are not cure -alls . When
properly used, however, they can result in the
placement of superior concrete at lower cost . The
obvious quest i on would be, then, why are pozzolans
not used in larger quantities than at present? The
answer to this question contains the key to the
future for California pozzolans .
Through the efforts of the Portland Cement Asso-
ciation and many other trade and research organiza -
tions , the production of quality concrete is now
less of an art and more of a science. Constant im-
provements are taking place, but the time required
for exhaustive testing and acceptance of new meth-
ods and materials is long . All materials have limi-
tations which must be thoroughly understood . Recent
major con·s truction such as the Morro Bay Steam Power
Plant shows what a good pozzolan properly employed
can do to enhance the desirable properties of con -
crete . More such projects are currently under con -
struction . Within the next few years it is prob -
able that the performance record of suitable pozzo -
lans in structural concrete will be universally re-
cognized .
Another factor in widespread use of pozzolan is
cost. Although pozzolans now commercially produced
are less costly than all types of portland cement,
installation of bulk facilities for handling pozzo 7
lan at transit -mix plants is a major cost item . It
would appear, however, that within the near future
plants within the reactive aggregate areas will
seriously consider installation of such facilities
for two reasons : (1) Customers will demand absolute
protection from the alkali -aggregate reacti on and
will want other desirable qualities of pozzolanic -
concrete ( 2) Cost of concrete will be reduced .
Other Uses of Pozzolans
The tonnage of pozzolan employed in concrete
products is rapidly increasing . However, the bene -
fits of pozzolan in this large and growing industry
are not so specifically identified as in monolithic
concrete .
In the concrete block industry for instance,
pozzolans have been used primarily to overcome de-
ficiencies in raw materials such as lack of fines in
sand or poor grading of aggregate . In some cases,
pozzolans have permitted adjustment of mix designs
which resulted in superior ~roducts at lower cost .
Per haps the largest potential market for pozzo-
lans in the concrete product industry is in concrete
pipe of all types .
The East Bay Municipal Utility District has
installed thousands of feet of pre - cast and centri-
fugally spun concrete pipe containing large percent-
ages of pozzolan as a partial portland cement re-
placement . Reports on the performance of this pipe
indicate the desired results of (1) improved resist-
ance to sulfate and acid attack, and (2) remarkable
reduction in permeability have been achieved . Costs,
techniques and results obtained in the use of poz -
6 California State Division of Mines
zolan by the East Bay Municipal Utility District are
available (Reference 11) .
It is important to note that when pozzolan is
employed in concrete products, additional curing is
often necessary to gain maximum effectiveness from
the pozzolanic reaction. However, as the search
for improved concrete products continues, it is
likely that the use of suitable pozzolans will con-
tinue to increase despite changes that may be re-
quired in techniques of manufacture.
Climatic conditions in California have generally
precluded the outlay of capital for installation of
autoclaves . However, the outstanding results achiev-
ed in the midwest and east, combined with the ulti -
mate economy of autoclaved products makes it seem
probable that in due course manufacturers of con-
crete products in California will seriously consider
the advantages of autoclaving .
Almost without exception, materials high in sil-
ica such as pozzolans prove very beneficial in the
autoclaving process.
Investigations now under way indicate a market
potential for pozzolan, in combination with lime,
for soil stabilization. Comprehensive testing in
Texas has indicated that excellent results , from the
standpoint of quality and economy, can be obtained
in the stabilization of many soils with lime-pozzo-
lan mixtures.
California Manufacturers of Pozzolan
California pozzolans are produced for blending
with portland-cement or a separate ingredient for
admixture.
At the present time, two portland cement manu-
facturers are known to produce portland-pozzolan ce -
ments utilizing fixed percentages of pozzolan re-
placement:
Permanente Cement Company
Kaiser Building
Oakland 12, California
Portland Pozzolan Cement
Monolith Portland Cement Company
3326 San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, California
Monolith "Tufa"
The writer is not acquainted with the physical
and chemical characteristics or the service records
of the pozzolans used by these companies .
Two companies are actively manufacturing pozzo-
lan for sale as a separate ingredient for blending
with portland cement or for admixture.
(1) The Airox eompany, manufacturers of
"Airox Pozzolan" ( calcined oil-im-
pregnated diatomite)
Offices : 307 West Eighth Street
Los Angeles 14, California
Plant : Orcutt -Casmalia Road
Santa Maria, California
(2) The Basalt Rock Company, manufacturers
of "Basalt Pozzolan" (calcined pre-
cipitated silica)
Offices : 8th and River Streets Plant : Napa ,
California
(Vol. 7
Further information regarding composition, na-
ture, use and cost of these pozzolans can be ob-
tained by writing to the companies concerned.
Conclusion
Many materials in California may be considered
potential sources for pozzolan, but should be tho-
roughly investigated before exploitation is under-
taken .
Pozzolans of high quality can be used to pro-
duce superior concrete at low cost, but must be used
cautiously and according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations .
Few pozzolans will satisfactorily inhibit alka-
li - aggregate reaction when used in reasonable quan-
tities . Pozzolans high in opal or consisting of
finely ground diatomite are generally the most act-
ive, and contribute most to sulfate resistance. Cal-
cined clays, otherwise suitable as pozzolans, may
contribute little or nothing to sulfate resistance.
Any pozzolan being considered for use in con-
crete should meet accepted standards and should
have a satisfactory performance record.
REFERENCES
1 . Am. Soc. Testing Materials; Special Tech . Pub.
99, Symposium on Use of Pozzolanic Materials in Mor-
tars and Concretes, 1949 .
2. Am. Soc. Testing Materials; ASTM Standards on ~
Mineral Aggregates, Concrete, and Nonbituminous ~
Highway Materials, Oct. 1952 .
3 . U. S . Bur . Reclamation, Research and Geology Div.
Materials ~nv. Rept . MI-10, Investigations of Con -
struction Materials for Projects in Region 2.
4. u.s. Bur. Reclamation; Concrete Manual, 5th Ed-
ition, Sept. 1949.
5 . California Div . Mines; Special Rept . 27, Alkaii-
Aggregate Reaction in California Concrete Aggregates,
by Richard Merriam, 1953 .
6 . u.s. Bur. Reclamation, Research and Geology
Div. Petrographic Lab . Rept. Pet - 90B, Materials for
Ppzzolan: A Report for the Engineering Geologist .
7. Federal Specification SS -C-208b; Cement; Port-
land- Pozzolan .
8 . United Water Conservation District of Ventura
County, California; Specification No. 4, Furnishing
Pozzolan for Santa Felicia Dam and Appurtenant Works,
June 1954 .
9. Am . Soc. Civil Engineers, Proc . Dec . 194o; Ex-
pansion of Concrete Through Reaction Between Cement
and Aggregate by Thomas E. Stanton .
10 . The Airox Company; Advance Information concern-
ing Airox Pozzolan for Concrete, Brochure .
11 . East Bay Municipal Utility District; Pozzolan-
ic Materials and their Use in Concrete Pipe and
Structures by Walter R. McLean .
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS
The annual fall meeting of the Pacific Section
of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists
will be at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, on No-
vember 11 and 12. Program will consist of a series
of technical papers on petr oleum geology in the
Pacific states; no field trips are scheduled.
 No. IOl Mineral Information Service 7

Ca liforni a Topographic Mops

The Topographic Mapping section of the u.s. Geological Survey haq announced that the follo~ing topographic maps of California
areas recently have become available in final for~. Copies may be secured by over - the - counter sales from local distributing agen-
cies and u.s . Geological Survey Public Inquiries Offices , Room 8o], Post Office and Courthouse, Los Angeles and in San Francisco
at Room 724, Appraisers Building 630 Sansome Street . Copies · can be ordered by mail from the U. S. Geological Survey, Denver Fed-
eral Center, Denver 15 Colorado, at a cost of 20¢ each . The Division of Mines is NOT a distributing agency for these topographic
maps.

Location of southeast corner

Quadrangle map Latitude Longitude Contour interval
name De g . Min . De g . Min . County in feet Scale

Camino 38 37-5 120 37-5 ElDorado 4o 1:24,000

Cro~s Landing 37 22 . 5 121 00 Stanislaus 5 1:24,000
Due or 35 52 - 5 119 00 Tulare 5 1:24,000
Duncan Peak 39 07 . 5 120 30 Placer 4o 1 : 24,000
Greek Store 39 00 120 30 Placer 40 1:24, 000
Newman 37 15 121 00 Stanislaus 5 1 : 24,000
Po-y Valley 32 52 .5 117 00 San Diego 25 1:24, 000
Richgrove 35 45 119 00 Tulare, Kern 25 1 : 24 , 000
San Luis Creek 37 00 121 00 Merced 25 1 : 24,000
Tassajara 37 45 121 45 Alameda, Contra Costa 4o 1 : 24 , 000
waterloo 38 00 121 07 . 5 San Joaquin 5 1 : 24,000
Yermo 34 52.5 116 4.5 San Bernardino 20 1:24,000

Advance Prints

Advance prints are black or blue line ozalids prepared by the Survey for final checking and editing purposes . Copies may be
secured at a cost of 50¢ each by addressing the Pacific Region Engineer, Topographic Branch, u.s. Geological Survey, P. O. Box 197
(T and C) Sacramento 21, California. Please notice that payment in exact amount by check, money order, or draft, should accompany
orders for advance prints; cash or postage stamps ~ill not be accepted. Make remittance payable to the Treasurer of the United
States . Orders for less than $1 . 00 cannot be accepted. The Division of Mine~ is NOT a distributing agency for the topographic
maps.

Bachelor Valley 37 52 . 5 120 45 Stanislaus, Calaveras 10 1:24,000

Clayton 37 52.5 121 52.5 Contra Costa 4o 1 : 24,000
Goose Creek 38 15 121 00 Amador, San Joaquin 10 1 : 24,000
Granite Chief 39 07 . 5 120 15 Placer 4o 1:24,000
Honker Bay 38 00 121 52 . 5 Solano , Contra Costa 10 1 : 24,000

e Lincoln
Mountain Vie~

Panther Springs
38
37
4o
52 . 5
22 . 5

00
121
122

121
15
00

45
Placer
Santa Clara, San Mateo,
Alameda
Tehama
5

5
8o
1 : 24, 000

1 : 24.,000
1 : 62,500
Patterson Mtn. 36 45 119 00 Fresno 8o 1 : 62,500
Tehipite Dome 36 45 118 45 Fresno 8o 1 : 62,500
Turlock Lake 37 30 120 30 Stanislaus, Merced 10 1 : 24,000
Went~orth Springs 39 00 120 15 Placer 4o 1:24,000
Zamora 38 45 121 52 .5 Yolo 10 1 : 24,000

Quicksilver Purchase Program

Regulations governing th~ purchase by the u.s . Govern -
ment of domestic and Mexican mercury for the national stock-
pile ~ere announced July 6, 1954 by the General Servi ces Ad -
ministration .
The program calls for buying a maximum of 125,000 flasks
of domestic mercury and 75,000 flas ks of Mexican metal. Pur -
chases ~11 be made until this amount has been obtained or un -
til Dec . 31, 1957, ~hichever occurs first .
In all cases the price paid ~ill be $225 per 76 lb. flask,
f.o .b . delivery point, ~th duty paid by the vendor ($19) in
the case of the Mexican materials .
Under the Regulations, persons desiring to supply the
strategic metal must signify their intenti ons to do so in
~iting, or by telegram, to the Regional Director of GSA, 49
Fourth Street , San Francisco, California.
The Regulations further provide that GSA will acknowledge
notices of desire to participate, which must be received no
later than June 30, 1955 , but that no producer should forward
material until specific shipping instructions have been issued .
A producer must notify the Regional Director at least 30
days in advance of an intention to ship . Prime virgin mercury
~hich is 99 .9'1> chemically pure and is "clean and bright" ~ill
be accepted. in minimum l ots of five flasks . While the ~ought ­
iron or steel flask is standard, GSA may accept deliveries in
other containers, of similar material, ~hich are nominally
the same size and shape . But all units in any given delivery
mus t be in the same size and shaped containers . Government in
inspectors ~ill examine material arriving at the appropriate
depots and ~ill make the final decision as to ~hether or not
the material meets specifications . Rejected shipments must be
removed at the vendor 's expense..
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL MEETINGS
The 1954 meetings of the Geological Society of America,
Mineralogical Society of America, Paleontological Society, and
Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists ~11 be held at the Stat-
ler and Bi~tmore hotels in Los Angeles on Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday, November 1, 2, 3, 1954 . A series of technical
papers ~ill be presented, preceded and follo~ed by 8 one - day
to 3-day geological field trips .
Field trip 1 - Death Valley· and Mojave Desert region ~ith
stop - overs at Trona and Furnace Creek Ranch. Nov . 4-6 , inclus -
ive .
Field trip 2 - Ventura Basin and Transverse Ranges, with
a symposium on the first evening at Santa Barbara . Oct . 30 - 31,
inclusive .
Field trip 3 - Eastern portion of the Los Angeles Basin;
Laguna Beach and return . Oct . 30 .
Field trip 4 - South~estern portion of the Los Angeles
Basin, including Palos Verdes Hills, Oct . 31 .
Field trip 5 - Peninsular Ranges, including the Crestmore
and Pala mineral localities and Elsinore, San Jacinto and San
Abdreas fault zones. Nov . 4- 5, inclusive .
Field trip 6 - Catalina Island. Oct . 31 .
Field trip 7 - Northeastern Los Angeles Basin, including
a trip to the Seismological Laboratory of the California Insti -
tute of Technology and dams in San Gabriel Canyon . Nov . 2 .
Field trip 8 - Western Los Angeles Basin, including the
Santa Monica Mountains. Nov . 3 .
8 California State Divis ion of Mines
SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF MINERAL PRODUCTS
Producers of mineral commodities are constantly faced with
the need to standardize their products. Potential buyers de -
mand that the materials they use meet certain minimum physical
and chemical requirements . The dealer who can guarantee the
specifications of this product will, in general, find an en -
larged and more receptive market .
In order to meet this need for industrial standardization,
there are three organizations that are responsible for the ma -
jority of materials standards used in this country : National
Bureau of Standards, American Society for Testing Materials,
and American Standards Association . In addition there are num-
erous organizations conducting standardization research in
specific fields or for special purposes . Notable among these
are the various agencies of the Government. Materials purchased
by the Federal Government must meet the requirements adopted by
the General Services Administration . It is the function and
responsibility of this organization to eliminate duplication
and estabLish standards for goods used by the Federal Govern -
ment . The General Services Administration maintains two offices
in California - at 49 Fourth Street, San Francisco , and in the
Western Pacific Building, 1030 South Broadway, Los Angeles .
California residents can secure copies of the Index of Federal
Specifications and Standards ($1 . 75) and individual specifica -
tions from the above offices .
The National Bureau of Standards
The National Bureau of Standards is the principal govern -
ment testing laboratory and it is responsible for the develop -
ment of new and improved methods of testing materials . It
serves as a depos i tory for the national standards of measure -
ment, by which all industrial and research standards are cali -
br ated . The Bureau also engages in fundamental research in the
fields of physics, mathematics . chemistry, and engineering,
and acts in an advisory capacity to the other branches of the
Federal Gover nment. The standards established by the Bureau
are summar ized and indexed for easy ref2rence in their various
publications . The most comprehensive single source of inform-
ation by this bureau is the National Directory of Commodity
Specifications, Miscellaneous Publication M 178 issued in 1945,
and a Supplement issued in 1947. These reports can be consult -
ed by California r esidents at the libraries listed below.
Location Library
Berkeley University of California
'Claremont Pomona College
Eureka Eureka Free *
Fresno Fresno County Free*
Long Beach Public
Los Angeles Los Angeles Public
Occidental
University of California, L. A.
University of Southern California
Oakland Oakland Free
Pasadena California Inst . of Technology
Redlands University of Redlands
Sacramento California State
City Free
San Diego San Diego Public
San Francisco Mechanics Institute
San Francisco Public
Division of Mines (Ref . onlY*)
Santa Barbara Santa Bar bara Public*
Santa Rosa Fr ee Public*
Stanford Stanford Univer sity
Stockton Stockton and San Joaquin Count y Public
Torr ance Torrance Public*
*Libr aries whi ch do not file ASTM publicati ons or whose
holdings are incomplete .
The American Society for Testing Materials
The American Society for Testing Mater ials is a non-pr ofit
national technical organization founded to promote the knowl -
edge of the materials of engineering, the standardization of
specifications, and the methods of testing. Curr ently this
society is engaged in several hundred research pr ojects and
studies which are carr ied on by more than 8o technical commit -
tees and as many as 2,000 working groups and subcommittees.
These committees operate under definite regulations to insure
the maximum benefit to producers, consumers , and the gener al
(Vo l. 7
public . The Society is composed of 7700 individuals and organ -
izations who have developed over 2,000 standard specifications
and methods of testing . The results of the Society's work are
reported in their many publications and these are the principal
sources of industrial materials standards. Standards and spec -
ifications developed by the A. S. T. M. that will be of greatest
interest to California producers are listed under the follow -
ing beadings in the "Index to A. S. T.M. Standards" :
asbestos diatomite petroleum products
asphalt ferro -alloys platinum
barite gravel potassium
boron gypsum pumice
calcium chloride iron refractory materials
cement lead sand
ceramics lime silver
chromium magnesium slate
clay mercury stone
coke mica sulfur
copper molybdenum zinc
Specifications established by the A. S . T. M. for a typical
pr oduct would include a discussion of the following items : a
definition of the product, range of sizes required for differ -
ent uses, the chemical composition, methods of sampling and
testing, packing and marketing, inspection, and the conditions
of rejection . If the product has a variety of uses, the speci -
fic standards will be covered under separate sections .
Persons interested in standards and tests developed for
specific commodities can secure this information at nominal
cost from the Society's headquarters at 1916 Race Street, Phil-
adelphia 3, Pennsylvania . The current index to A. S . T.M . stand-
ards and a list of the Society's publications are available
from their headquarters on request .
The American Standards Association
This body is made up of national technical societies,
trade associations and government agencies . Its prime function
is to establish national standards for any industry or group
of industries . The association maintains that all standards
adopted by them within a field are done so with the approval
of all important interests . This organization conducts innum-
erable standardization projects for the mining industry and
many of the standards followed by this industry are the result
of the Association's work . The standards adopted by this group
with other national and international standards information is
carried in "Standardization" , the Association's monthly publi -
cation. The headquarters of A. S. A. is at 70 East 45th Street,
New York 17, New York.
ABBOTT QUICKSILVER MINE
The Abbott mine, 15 miles east of Clear Lake , is operated
by the California Quicksilver Mines Inc . In this area a strip
of Knoxville (?) shale and sandstone beds striking northwest -
ward is bounded on the east by a serpentine body. The dips are
steep and variable.
The mine is located in a contact zone where the serpentine
has been brecciated and silicified and the rock is locally
called opalite . . Concentrations of cinnabar . occur where faults
intersect the bodies of opalite . Metacinnabar, marcasite, py-
rite , and quartz also occur. Slight seepages of petroleum are
encountered in places in the wall rocks .
The principal current ore production is from stope 220E
which is about 1200 feet southeast of the mine shaft. The ore
consists of brecciated serpentine replaced by opalite. The
square set mining method is employed.
Trial runs on a new battery operated trammer are being
made with the expectation of eliminating the long , wasteful,
band -tramming operation. After hoisting to the surface, the
cars are delivered to ore bins over lying the feed box to the
4o - ton rotary furnace . Plans are underway to enlarge the fur -
nace capacity of the plant. About 30 men are employed under the
supervision of c.o. Reed .
No. IO) Mineral Information Service 9

QUICKSILVER MINING IN NEW I DRIA DISTRICT

A considerable increase in the tempo of activities was

noted recently at the New I dr ia mine . During the past two
years an exploration program, executed under contract with the
Defense Minerals Exploration Administration , has been under
way at the northwestern end of the property and is now begin -
ning to show tangible results .

The rocks exposed in the New Idria district consist of a cen -

tral core of serpentine and Franciscan sandstone which has
been uplifted in relation to a fringe of surrounding Upper
Cretaceous (Panache} and Tertiary sediments . Structurally
the rocks form a northwest - trending eroded anticlinal dome .
The mine is located on the northeast flank where the upper
Panache shales are crumpled and overturned beneath the New
Idria thrust fault. Most of the ore consists of cinnabar vein-
lets, films, grains, and lenses which fill f r actures in the
indurated shale .

Under the new pr ogram turns were made on the 5- and 10 -

levels northwestward from the entrance adit . After drifting
about 500 feet on 10- level and "breaking through" a "false"
footwall, a cinnabar -bearing carbonate zone was encountered .
The ore was followed for about a 1000 feet and in in places Entrance to main haulage adit, 10 level , New Idria mine .
consists of cinnabar coatings, globules, and fillings in frac -
tured Panache shale .
Mt. Jackson Mine
A 200- foot raise was r un in carbonate ore, and a 75 - foot
raise was run in shale or e . The new openings off the 10- level FUll scale ore production is being maintained at the Mt .
including r aises and explor atory cross - cuts, total about 2,500
feet. The drift along the str ike on the 5- level was continued Jackson mine near Guerneville, operated by the Sonoma Quick -
silver Mines, Inc . The ore occurs in steeply dipping tabular
for 14oo feet .
shoots enclosed in silica carbonate rock, and in Franciscan
sandstone . Cinnabar is the ore mineral, and the ore averages
Current production is running about 4,000 tons of ore per
about 10 pounds per ton.
month. About three - quarters of this production is made from
the new workings at West Idria . The r emainder of the produc -
tion is made f r om C- stope , a good producer during World War II . Current production between the 875 - and 975 - levels is
made from a body of opalite a very hard siliceous rock . One
Three 100- ton furnaces ar e treating ore at New Idria . The stope off the 875 - level is producing ore from a body of Fran -
ciscan sandstone. Redevelopment of a body of opalite near the
fourth furnace is being rel ined for future operation. To
facilitate new- term resumption of full - scale furnace operation, 775 - level is also under way . Shrinkage stope mining methods
a new hoeing machine is being installed to serve furnaces #3 are generally employed.
and #4 . A similar machine, which eliminates the handling of
The mine is running two shifts six days a week. while the
r ubber condenser buckets and reduces the attendant health haz -
mill operates continuously. The latter includes a 4o - and an
ards, was install ed near the close of World War II to service
80- ton rotary furnace . Employment at the mine totals 52 per -
furnaces #1 and #2 . The details of this installation were
described in Califor nia Journal of Mines and Geology, January sons.
1947 .

During the latter part of 1953 a change in company manage -
ment was effected . c . F. Parker was installed as pr esident;
c . Hyde Lewis, mine super intendent for near ly 20 years, was
made vice president and gener al manager; Wee Shadduck was made
mine super intendent . About 14o men are empl oyed at the mine
and constr uction of a new bunkhouse is planned .
The New Idria furnaces a r e also t r eating l ow grade ore f r om
the open pits of the North Star and Anita mines, operated by
Louis Knepper . The North Star mine, west of New Idria, is
proaucing from a fractured zone in the centr a l serpentine core
of the sea. Cinnabar occurs as coatings and fillings in the
fracture planes .
The Anita mine is pr oducing from an indurated bed of Pa -
nache sandstone interbedded with over turned Panache shal e on
the southeast margin of the s erpentine core . The cinnabar
occurs as blebs and fracture fillings . The or e is l oaded on
trucks with a scoopmobile and hauled about 10 miles to the
furnace .
The Juniper mine in Griswold Canyon is pr oducing cinnabar
ore from fractured Panache sandstone of Cretaceous age. The
ore is mined from a ver tical 50 - foot winze, sunk at a distance
of about 550 feet f r om the main por tal. The or e is r aised in
a bucket to the haulage level, t r ammed to an or e bin at the
portal, and trucked half a mile to a two -pipe Rossi retort near
the campsite .
Small scale mining is under way at the Vall ey View property,
west of the Lone Oak mine . A streak of cinnabar occurs in the
Franciscan sandstone just below the outcrop of an east - dipping
quartz ledge . The or e is t r eated at the Lone Oak retorts .
MINERAL PRODUCTION
The value of mineral output of the United States increased
from $4,812,000,000 in 1925 to $11,855 , 000,000 in 1950 or
about 147~ . FUels increased from $2,9Q5,000,000 in 1925 to
$8 , 681,000,000 in 1950 or about 19~· Nonmetallic minerals in -
creased from $1 , 192,000,000 in 1925 to $1,823,000,000 in 1950
or about 53~ and metals from $715,000,000 in 1925 to $1, 351,000,000
in 1950 or about 88~ .
The value of California ' s mineral output increased from
$434,519,660 in 1925 to $1,056,047,000 in 1950 or about 143~ .
FUels value increased from $346,503,791 in 1925 to $841,127,94o
in 1950 or about 143~ . Nonmetallic minerals increased from
$63,612,075 in 1925 to $187,751,329 in 1950 or about 195~ and
metals from $24,4o3,794 in 1925 to ~27,167,731 in 1950 or
about 11~ .
EXPANDED SHALE
A plant at French Camp, 5 miles south of Stockton, is
being operated for the manufacture of basalite building blocks
by the Basalt Rock Company, Incorporated . Raw materials used
are expanded shale , sand and cement; the shale comes from the
company's plant at Napa . The material is mixed and the blocks
cast in automatic block-forming machines . The blocks are then
dried . Basalite blocks are used in the construction of home
farm, and industrial buildings . '
A bibliography on lightweight -aggregate materials made
from clay, shale, and slate was included in the May 1954 issue
of MINERAL INFORMATION SERVICE .
 -"'- 0
0 R E G 0 N \
I I I I \
MAP OF CALIFORNIA
SHOWING
OCCURRENCES OF RADIOACTIVE MINERALS
PRELIMINARY COMPILATION PREPARED BY
CALIFORNIA STATE DIVISION OF MINES FROM
VARIOUS AUTHENTIC SOURCES

(Not in clud ing placer deposits, black sands and many

of the specimen occurrences}

I
-
0
I 0

)> Radioactive minerals are widely distributed in California, but most of the reported occur -
rences are ih the southeastern part of the State . Primary uranium minerals have been found in .,
0
extremely small quantity in some granitic r ocks, pegmatitee and quartz veins . Secondar y urani - :l
um minerals , notably autunite and torbern1te, .... .::'e 'found _in great~r abundance in California than
0
the primary uranium minerals and appear to be more commonly associated vith Tertiary volcanic

()
\ tf
and sedimentary rocks of the Mojave Desert pr ovince .
Although approximately 6o significant occurrences of uranium have been repor ted from Cali -
f ornia, only one of them, up to the present time, has shipped commer cial · ore . --
(/)
0

J e~f~~~L~~~l.o<~t-~~~~~~~~~i!~~±t~~r~-·k---- <II
1-- - Thor ium- bearing minerals, Chiefly1 tbor ite, monazite and allanite OCCur as accessory
1 miner -
- ~ ~ n..~ =~t!~e~r!~:l~~:e~::a~=i~:::s~t: ~~ !~e":!:~~~ ~:a~:::· ~~r!!:O~~::t ::~:~:n::; 0
j ~ l n~... of thorium have been reported from biotite - rich por tions of granitic
.:t_ L~l"· rocks in the eastern part of the San Bernardino Mounta i ns and in the <
~ \~~
\.'I'"Tt-lf-4.-2~
' ~
~~~~i~~~~~~~~~VfA
~~~I~-':~t~~~t! ~~ ~-"{-Lli_ ~
IS:
!.L.
- ~,. . . !L:: ro: I"V
desert r egion farthe r to the east . Uranium also occurs with thorium in

oome ~!d;-::·;:,.:o~:=~ ident i fied in a manganiferou~ ointer occurring in

VI
0

-
:l
Plumas County. No uranium or thorium, however, has been detected in
\_1~ ~\.. 1.-, t his deposit . 0

----~--"'______. ~~~~;~~~~if\r~'!:\(~'[t~~~
1 t-, ~:t.',?~j.l:.~~~~~~~$~~~~~~~i·~~-jrii~~E J.M ~
1 ~ ~~~~ i~~~~~=l~h~ ~ ~:~=p~!!~~ ;~~i:~!~e!~ ~!i;:-
I 8 0
0
M f~ 'l
-··:..
·-~
.] _ 0_
I ••
r-.
V
nia
Ber nar dino Counties, the Kern River Canyon ar ea east of
Bakersfield, the vicinity of t he San Ber nardi no Mountains, - - - - t- ;" 11
~~~ ~T{. - ~~'='f.::=j=~EJ.lL~~~'f! !j-=!l';;
l":':i';;;:_-~M~~.;::I::j"=t=j=,_~,"'). ___...__ _ _ and the eastern parts of Rive r side and Imper ial Counties .
1
'
......_ ..I"\\.f Tr]S~ 11"1-r p... ..,
- " ~ IX: -fx-'H-tth-1-:rl' ...., LJ',
~ ~\',~~~ ~ 1\ "~ h
()

<
0

z
?

-
0

No. Name County Element No . Name County Element

1. Stokes and Stowell Plumas Radium 30 . Golden Rod claim Kern Uranium
2. Property near Chilcoot
3. Floriston and Green Boy
4. Rathgeb mine
5- General u.s. Grant mine
Plumas
Nevada
Calaveras
Tuolumne
Uranium
Uranium
Uranium
Uranium
31.
32 .
33·
34 .
Jumpin claim
Dono-Han claims
Lookout Lode claim
Baxter property
Kern
Kern
Los Angele s
San Bern .
Uranium
Uranium
Uranium
Uranium
-...
:l
0

3
0
6 . Rainbow claim Madera Uranium 35 . Roll property San Bern. Uranium 0
7. Wild Bill group Mono Uranium 36 . Rafferty property Los Angeles Uranium :::J
8. Ubehebe mine Ipyo Uranium 37. Fiend claim San Bern . Uranium (/)
9. Lippincott mine In yo Uranium 38. Kramer Hills San Bern . Uranium .,
<II
10. Santa Rosa mine Inyo Uranium 39. Grimes Canyon area Ventura Uranium <
11. Joe McCulley property In yo Uranium 40 . Tnum Bum claim San Bern. Uranium 0
<II
12 . Miracle Mining Co . mine Kern Uranium 41. Yerih group San Bern. Uran~um
13. Kergon No . 1 Kern Uranium 42 . St. Patrick group San Bern . Uranium (?)
14 . Rademacher claim Kern Uranium 43 . Rock Corral area San Bern . Thorium
15. Chilson (Summit Diggings) Kern (or S . B. ) Uranium 44. Zabdiel Mining Co. San Bern . Uranium, thorium
16 . Alpha, Beta, Gamma claims San Bern . Uranium 45. Alpha Mining claims San Bern . Uranium, thorium
17 . Josie Bishop group Kern Uranium 46 . Original and Pack Saddle San Bern . Uranium
17a . Silver Lady claim Kern Uranium 47 . Red Devil claim San Bern. Uranium
18. Mountain Pass area San Bern . Thorium 48 . Copper Mt. Uranium San Bern. Uranium, thorium
lBa . Jeep No. 2 claim San Bern . Uranium 49. Homestretch claims San Bern. Uranium, thorium
19 . Rainbow group San Bern . Uranium 50. Live Oak Tank area Riverside Uranium, thorium
20 . Paymaster mine San Bern . Uranium 51. Uranus claims Riverside Uranium, thorium
21. Hoener -Ross pegmatite San Bern. Uranium 52. Desert View claim Riverside Uranium, thorium
22 . Harvard Hills San Bern . Uranium 53. Granite mine Riverside Uranium (? )
23. Coon claims San Bern . Uranium 54. Aurora No . 1 mine Riverside Uranium (?)
24 . Unnamed property San Bern. Uranium 55. Lady Katie claims Imperial Uranium
25. Vanuray claim Kern Uranium 56 . Lucky Star claim Imperial Uranium
25a .Emerald Queen claim Kern Uranium 57- American Girl mine Imperial Uranium
26 . Middle Butte mine Kern Uranium,radon 58 . Cuyama group Santa Barbara Uranium
27 . Rosamond prospect Kern Uranium 59 . Frenchman's Point group Ventura Uranium
28 . Uranium Mines, Inc. Kern Uranium 6.0 . Prospect Ventura Uranium
29 . Stillwell property Kern Uranium
12 Californ ia State Division of Mines ( Vo I. 7

THE AMERIC,u CER~'IC S<-CD.TY l<IEETPlG

The American Ceramic Society 7t h Pacific Coast Regional

Meeting ~ill be held October 27 through 29 at the Ambas sador
Hotel, Los Angeles , California --Si xty- eight technical papers
have so far been scheduled for the meetings along ~ith demon-
strations and symposia.

Program

The tentative program for the convention are released a t

press time is as follo~s :

Opening Day--Wednesday, October 27 :

General registration --9 A. M.

Addresses , films, exhibits.

Thursday, October 28

Technical session --~hite ~res, glass , r e fractories,

heavy clay, design and general interest --9 A.M.-12 Noon .

Friday, October 29

Technical session--design demonstrati on and general papers- -

9 - 12 Noon .

Selected Topics

Cer amic Materials

1. California Clays and Materials . Beehive kiln.

2. Tales of the Death Valley Region.
3. Clays of the Ione Area in California. Wbite~res #3
a . Geology.
b . Cer amic Test and Proper ties . 1. California Wollastonite.
c . Correl ation of Ceramic Tests ~-i th Geology. 2. Cordierite .
3. Fatigue Characteristics of Wbite~re Bodi es .
Wb ite~re s #2 4. Decorated Tile .
5. Plaster Molds .
l. Effect of Barium Additions on Wbite~re Bodies .
2. Deflocculation of Tales in a casting Slip . Research
3. Wall Tile Bodies.
4. Grinding ~th Alumina Pebbles . 1. Challenges in Ceramic Research .
2. Ho~to Attack Industrial Rese·a rch Problems .
Wbite~ res #3 3. Some Applications of Infrared Spectroscopy in Cer amics .
4. Observations on Some Reactions in the Fir ing of Clay-
Tile Bodies .

Kilns, Equipment and Firing

1. Mechanization of the Small Pottery.

2. Automatic Fi r e Control for Shuttle Kilns .
3· Measurement of Heat Effect on Ceramic Bodies by a Method
Other Than Cones .

General view of large cerami c plant.

Further informati on on the content of the pr ogram or on

r egistration may be bad by contacting John Boros, Treas . , c/o
Spr aying glaze on unfi r ed cer amic tile . P~cific Tile and Porcelain Co., 7716 East Olive St . , Paramount,
California.
No.IO) Mineral Information Service 13

· MINERAL MARKETING INFORMATION BENTONITE (Wyoming type) , per ton, carload

Nationwide Market Quotations
The following quotations are taken from E&M.J
Metal and Mineral Markets , published weekly by Mc -
Graw-Hill Publishing Company .
Metals (Sept . 9 , 1954)
COPPER , electrolytic, 29.70¢ per pound, dom-
estic refinery.
LEAD, refined 14.30¢ per pound , (st . Louis);
14 . 50¢ per pound , (New York).
ZINC , Prime Western, 11 . 50¢ per pound, East
St . Louis .
Metallic or es (Sept. 9 , 1954)
(Price in tons of 2000 lbs ., or in "units" of
20 lbs . unless otherwise stated) .
CHROME or e , per long ton, dry basis, subject
to penalties if guarantees are not met,
f . o .b . cars New York: Pakistan ore, ~
Cr 2 o~ , 3 to 1 chromium to iron ratio, $47
to $ll-8 .
MANGANESE ore, on current business, nearby
arrivals , quotations on Indian ore , basis
46% to 48% Mn, nominal at 85¢ to 90¢ per
long ton unit, c . i . f .
California Market Quotations
The following quotations are from San Francisco
area processors and dealers , and were those in effect
on Sept. 13 , 1954 .
lots, pulverized 200 mesh , $32.50 San Fran-
cisco and Los Angeles areas .
FLUORSPAR, per short ton , San Francisco
area, metallurgical grade ( 85% CaF2 , maxi -
mum of 5% Si02, 0 . 3% S) , $35 to $50; cer -
amic grade (98% CaF2 , maximum of 1% Si02 ,
1% caco3) ground bagged, $68 to $80 .
PERLITE, per short ton , Los Angeles area ,
crude plaster grade $11 . 32 to $12.75; crude
concrete grade per short ton, $9 . 72 to
$11 .
Recent copies of E&MJ Metal and Mineral Markets
giving late market reports may be consulted at the
Division of Mines Library, Ferry Building , San
Francisco.
CHILI BAR SLATE MINE
The Chili Bar slate mine , 3t miles north of
Placerville is operated by the Pacific Minerals
Company, Ltd., of Richmond, California. All of the
underground workings are entirely within black Mari-
posa slate which strikes in a general nor th direction
and dips nearly vertical . The mine is worked thr ough
an 800 - foot adit with a main 500-foot crosscut branch-
ing east and west from the adit . Slate is mined by
the room and pillar method and by shrinkage stopes .
Little or no timbering of the underground workings
is required.

Metals

QUICKSILVER , per flask of 76 pounds prime

vir gin, price paid to miner about $285 , San
Francisco , New York $30~ to $305 in small
lots. Premium for large lots .
CHROME ore , G. S.A. stockpile , Grants Pass,
Or egon , . 48% Cr 2 o~, 3 to 1 chromium to iron
ratio , basis lump ore $115 per long ton ,
concentr ates $110; premiums for better
grade ; penalties for poorer grades .
MANGANESE or e , delivered at G.S . A. stockpile,
Wenden, Arizona, ~ Mn , 6% Fe, 11% Si02 I
Al2o 3 , $2.30 a long ton unit; premiums for
better grades , penalties for poorer grades.
Low-grade manganese or es for concentrating
vary from $8.54 per long ton for 15% Mn to
$88 . 00 a long ton for ore running 40% Mn .
TUNGSTEN concentrates and ore , per short ton
unit . Concentrates 60% wo , $63 in ton lots
3
f . o . b. rail shipping p oint ; penalties for
molybdenum , copper, and other objectional
impuritie s. Low grade tungsten ore deliver-
ed Pine Creek mill in 100- ton l ot s , per Portal of slate quarry, Chili Bar.
short ton unit W03 contained, 0 . 300% to The slate ore is treated by hammer mills,
0 . 349%, $20; 0 . 350% to 0 .399% , $28; 0 .400% scr eened and classified by a Sturtevant air classi -
to 0 . 599% , $36; 0 . 600% and higher, $37. fier to produce roofing granules , minus 10- plus -
35 mesh , and slate flour, minus 200-mesh. These
Nonmetallic Minerals (Crude unless other wise products which are used as a filler in the manufac -
states ) (Prices depend upon chemical analysis , ture of prepared roofing , are shipped to the market
color impurities , and physical properties . in bulk although a minor amount of the granules and
Market generally limited) . flour are bagged for the market . The slate products
are hauled to Placerville by truck and deposited in
BARITE , per short ton , San Francisco and Los railroad car s . Most prepared slate is shipped to San
Angeles areas, 90% to 98% BaS04, $14 to $16 . Francisco Bay and Los Angeles a reas, some to Oregon .
 14 Co-liforni.o State Division of Mines
NEW MINING LAW
On August 12, 1954 the Multiple Mineral Development Lav
vent into effect . This law is of particular concern to persons
interested in uranium. In view of its importance, the bill
has been reproduced below in its entirety.
Public Law 585 - 83d Congress
Chapter 730 - 2d Session
s. 3344
AN ACT
To amend tbe mineral leulng l&1f8 and lbe mining lure to pro•lde for multiple
mlneral development of tbe same tracts ot tbe pubUe Iandi, a.nd for other
pa.-pooea.
Be it tnact~Ai by the Senat~ and BoUle of Repru<ntative~ of the
Uflited State• of America in Oongru• IJJisemlJud, That (a) subject to >!!.nord loodns
the conditions and provisions of this Act and to any valid mtervening dat.s.
rights acquired under the Jaws of the United States, any mining claim Pret'erenae
located under the mining Jaws of the United States subsequent to u.tegori ...
July 31, 1939, and prior to February 10, 1954, on lands of lhe United
States, which at the time of location wer~-
( 1) included in a permit or lease issued under the mineral leas-
ing laws; or
(2/ covered by on application or offer for a permit or lease.
whic 1 had been filed under the mineral leasing_ laws; or
(3) known to be valuable for minerals sub)ect to disposition
undtr the mineral leasing laws,
~hall bet'tfective to the SAme extent in all respects as if such lands at the
time of location, and at all times thereafter. had not been so included
or covered or known: Provided, however, That, in order to be entitled
to the benefits of this Act, the owner of any such mining claim located
prior to January 1, 1953, must have posted and filed for record, within
the time allowed by the provisions of the Act of August 12, 1953 (67
Stat. 539), an amended notice of location as to such mining claim1 30 usc 501- 504.
stating that such notice was filed pursuant to the provisions of said
Act of August 12, 1953, nnd for !he purpose of obtaining the benefits
theN>Of: And provided f=ther, That in order to obtain the benefits of
this Act, the O"'ner of llll¥ such mining claim located subseQuent to
December 31, 1952, and prtor to February 10, 1954, not later than one
hundred and twenty days after the date of enactment of this Act, must
poet on such claim in the manner required for posting notice of loca-
tion of mining claims and file for record in the office where the notice
or certificate of location of such claim is of record an amended notice
of location for such claim, stating that such notice is filed pursuant to
the provisions of this Act and for the'/urpose of obtaining the benefits
thereof and, within said one hundre and twenty day period, if such
owner shall have filed a uranium lease application as to the tract cov-
ered by such mining claim, must file with the Atomic Energy Commis-
sion & withdrawal of such uranium lea~ application or, if a u.nnium
lease shall have issued pursuant thereto, a release of such lease., and
must record a notice. of the filing of such withdrn wal or release in the
b:~tl !tffifur";.:~~~~ such notice or certificate of location sha.IJ have
1
(b) Labor performed or improvements made afrer the oril(inalloca- Labor and
tion of o.nd upon or for tht benefit of any mining claim which shall be hlprovemente.
Pntitled to the benefits of this Act under the provisions of subsection
(a) of this section 1, shall be recognized as applicable to such mining
rlaim for all purposes to the same extent as if the validity of such
mining claim were in no respect dependent upon the provisions of
this Act.
(c) As to any land covered by any mininj!' claim which is entitledWithdro"'l or
to the benefits of this Act under the pro,•is1ons of subsection (a) of land•, eto.
this section 1, any withdrawal or reservation of lands made after the
original location of such mining claim is hereby modified and amended
so that the effect thereof upon such mining claim shall be the same as
if such mining claim had been located upon lands of the United States
which, subsequent to July 31,1939, and prior to the date of such with-
drawal or reservation, were subject to location under tlte mining laws
of the United States.
Sw. 2. (a) If any mining claim which shall have been located
subsequent to December 31, 1952, and prior to December 11, 19>3, and
which shall be entitled to Ute benefits of this Act, shall cover any lands
embraced within any mining claim which shall have beenlocatedfrior
lo January 1, 1953, and wh1ch shoJI be entitled to U1e benefits o !his
Act, then as to such area of conflict said mining claim so located subse-
quent to December 31, 1952, shall be deemed to ho.ve been located
December 11, 1953.
(b) If any mining claim hereafter located shall cover any lands
embraced within any mining claim which shall have been located prior
to February 10, 1954, dnd which shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Act, then as to such area of conflict said mining claim hereafter
locared shall be deemed to hove been located one hundred and twenty-
one days nfter the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEc. 3. (a) Subject to the conditions and provisions of this Act and urentum
to any valid prior rights acquired under the lnws of the United States, l.asea. eto.
the owner of any pending uranium lease application or of any uranium
lease shall have, for a period of one hundred and twenty days after the
date of enactment of this Act, as limited in subsection (b) of this sec-
tion 3, the right to locate mining claims upon the lands covered by said
llpplication or lease.
(b) Any rights under any such mining claim so hereafter located
pursuant to the ~>roYisions of subsection (a) of this section 3 shall be
subject. to any nghts of the owner of any mining claim which was
located prior to February 10, 1954, and which was valid at the date
of the enactment of this .Act or which may acquire validity under the
provisions of this Act. As to any ln.nds covered by a uranium lease
and also by a pending uranium lease application, the right of mining
location under this section 3, as between the owner of said lease and the
owner of said npplicutionz shall be deemed as to such conflict area to
be vested in the owner or said le1tse. As to an_y lands embraced in
more t.l1an one such pending uranium lease apphcationJ such right of
mining location, as between the owners of such confl1cting DJ>plica-
tions,shall be deemed to be vested in the owner of the prior Hpphcation.
Priority of such an application shull be determined by the time of
posting on a tract then nvniluble for such lensing of 1\ notire of lease
(Vol. 7
~plication in accordance with paragraph (c) of th,. 4.tomic Ener~
Commission's Domestic Uranium Program Circular 7 ( 10 C. } . R.
60.7 (c)) ~rovided there shall have been timely compliance wiU1 the
other prov1sions of said paragraph (c) or, if there shall not have been
such t1mely complia nce, then by the time of the filin~ of the uraniwn
lease application with the Atomi r Energy Commission. Any rights
under any mining claim located under the provisions of this section
3 shn 11 terminate at the expiration of thirt,y days after the filing for
record of the notice or certificate of location of such mining Claim
unless, within said thirty-day pet"iod the owner of the uranium lease
application or urnnium lease upon wl1ich the location of such mining
claim was predicated shall have filed with the Atomic Energy Com-
mi ion a withdrawal of said application or a release of sa1d lease
and shall have recorded a notice of the filing of such withdrawal
or release in the county office wherein such notice or certificate of loca-
tion shall be of record.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (a) and ( b) of !his
section 3, no mininl!' claim hereafter located shall be valid as to any
lands which at the time of such location were covered by a uranium
lease application or a uranium lease. Any tract upon which a notice
of lease application uas been posted in accordance with said para-
!l'"aph (c) of said Circular 7 shall be deemed to have been included
m a uramum lease application from and afte.r the time of the posting
of such notice of lease apl'lication: Pr0t1ided1 That !here shall have
been timely compliance w11h lhe other provisiOns of said paragraph
(c) or, if there shall not have been such timely compliance, !hen from
and after the time of lhe filing of a uranium lease application wilh U.e
Atomic Energy Commission.
Sro. 4. Every mining claim or mlllsite-- PUtw-e ~n1ftB
(1) heretofore located under the mining laws of lhe Unired ol.&i.. , ....
States which shall be entitled to benefits under the first lhree
sections of this Act; or
(2) located under the mining laws M the United States afrer
lhe etfectiv~ date of passage of !his Act, shall be subject, prior to
issuance of a. patent therefor, to a reservation to the United States l'ti.Mr&l r .. erva-
of all Leasing Act minerals and of the right (as limited in section tton to u. s.
6 hereof) of lhe United St•tes, ita lessees, permi~ and Jicen-
to enter upon the land covered b:y such mining cla1m or millsite
and to prospect for, drill for, nune, treat, store, transport, and
remove Leasing Act minerals and to use so much of the surface
and subsurface of such mining claim or millsite as ma.y be neces-
sary for such purposes, and whenever reasonably necessary, for
thts purpose of prospectmg for, drilling for, mining, treating, stor-
ing, transporting, and removing Leasing Act minernls on and
from other !u.nds· and any patent issued for any such mining
claim or millsite ~all contain such reservation as to, but only as
to, such lands covered thereby which at lhe time of lhe issuance
of such parent were-
(a) included in a permit or lease issued under the miner&!
leasing laws; or
(b) covered by an application or offer for a permit or
lease filed under.the mineralleasin,::; laws; or
(c) known to be valua.ble for minerals subject to disposition
under the mineral leasing lr.ws.
Sr.c. 5. Subjeet to the conditions nnd provisions of this .\ct 1 mining Loo&tion.
claims and mlllsites may hereafter be ln<"Rted und<-r U1e minmg laws
of the United States on lands of the Unj1ed "totes which at the t1me of
location are--
(a) included in a permit or lease issued under t11e minera.lleas-
ing laws; or
(b) covered by an application or otTer for a permit or lease filed
under the mineral leasing laws; or
(c) known to be valuable for minerals subject to disposition
under the mineral leasing laws;
to the same extent in all respects as if such lands were not so included
or covered or known.
Sw- 6. (a) Where the same lands are being utilized for mining ltlDl.ns and
operations and Leasing Act operations, each of such operations shall Ltuing Aot
be conducted, so far as reasonably praclicable, in a manner compatible operation..
with such multiple use.
(b) Any mining operations pursuant to rights under any unparented
or I?atented mining claim or millsite which shall be subject to a reser-
vatiOn to the United tfttes of Leasing Act minerals as t>rovided in
tl1is Act, shall be conducted, so far as reasonably practicable, in a
manner which will avoid damage to any known depos1t of an; Leasing
..l.ct mineral. Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) o !his sec·
tion 6, mining operations shall be so conducted as not to endanger or
materially interfere with any existing surface or underground im-
prov-ements, workings, or facilities which may have been made for
the purpose of Leasing Act or.rations, or with the utilization of such
improvements, workirigs, or acilities.
(c) Any Lensing .\ ct operations on lnnds co,·ere<l by an unpatented
or }?tttented mining claim or millsite whkh shnll be subject to a reser-
\'atlo n to the Cuited "" tt\tes of Leasinl! Act mineruls as provided in
this A c-t shnll be conducted, so fnr us rensonalJ\y pructt CI~ ble , in a
manner which willtn·oill dnmuge to any known depos1t of any mineral
not so 1·esen-eU from such 111ining cltun1 or mills1te. Subject to the
provisions of subsee t ion {d) of this sectio11 6. Lell~ing Act operations
shn ll be so conducted as not to endnnger m· nutte1·in lly interfere with
nny exi:sting suduce or underground imp1·ove1Hents1 workings. or
fA.cilities which may lut,·e been mude for th e purpose ot mining: opern-
tions. or with the utilization of such impron~111euts, workmg.o:. or
faci lities.
(d) lf, upon petition of either the mini11g opern tor or the Leasin~
.\ ct opert\for, nny court of competent jurisdiction shl\11 find that R
purtirular use in connection with one of such operntions cunnot be
reasonubly nnd properly eonduded without emlon~t"I'IIIJ! (.r nmte1·ially
interfe1·ing with the then existing impronments, \\Orkin~s, or f,n·i ll-
ties of the other of such opemtions or with the utilization thereof, and
shn ll find thnt under the- conditions nnd drcumstontes, 1\S they then
nppenr, the injury or dnmag-e which would result from deni~tl o f
such pnr~iculur use would outweig-h the injUI'Y or dnmu!!e which would
l'esult to such then existi ng im/>ro,·ements. workin,rs. or f1tcilities or
from interference with the uti ization thereof if thnl particular use
,·:ere allowed, then nnd in such event such ('ourt 1nny permit such use
upon payment (or upon Curnishin~ of sec urity determined by the
court to be ndequate to secure pu,vment) to the pnrty or purties who
would be thus injured or damn~ed. of un nmount to be fixed by the
No. IOl
court ns constilutin~ fair com\>ensntion for the then rensonnbly con-
templnted injury Ol' dtlrnage w 1ich would result ro Snl'h then existing
im\>rovements, workin~, or facilities or from interference with the
uti izM.tion thereof by reason of the nllownnce of such particular use.
(e) Where the same lands are being utilized for mi111ng operations
:lnd Unsin,:r .\ ct ope1·ntions, then upon request of the party condueting
either of said O~lerntions. the party conductin~r the other of snid opera-
tions shall furmsh to nnd at the expense of such 1-e<JUesting party copies
of any informa.tion which aid other party mny hn\·e, ns to the situs of
n11y improvemet1ts, workin~, or facilities theretofore mnde upon such
lands, and upon like request, shnll permit such requestinjl pnrty, ut
the risk of such requesting- party, to hnve access Rt l"eKsonable times
to any such impro,·ements, workin1!5. or fHcilities for the purpose of
survesing- nnd chKkin~ or determining the situs thereof. lf dnmage
to or material interference with a pnrty's impronments, workin;:rs,
facilities, or with the utilization thereof shnll result from sm·h partfs
failure, after request, to so furnish to the requesting- pnrt:v such infor-
mation or from denial of such a cress, snch failure or deninl shall relie,·e
the rcquestin~ party of any linbility for the dumaJte or interference
resultinl!' by renson of such failure or tleninl. Failure of n party to
furni sh l't'~nested information or uccess Bhall not impose upon sul'h
pnrty nnv liability to the request in~ party other than for such costs of
('OUrt nna llttOrney's fees as may be nlJowed to the l'e(\Uestin:z party in
£:n forcin~ by CO\lrt action the obligations of this section as to the
furnishin~ of information nnd access. The obli~tion hereunder of
any party to furnish requested information shn ll be limited to map nntl
survey information then a\·ailnble to such party with respect to the
situs of impro\'ements, workinl!$, and facilities and the furnishing
therMf shnll not be deemed to constitute any representation as to the
accumcv of such information.
SEC. 7. (n) Any applicant, offeror. pnmittee. or lessee uucler the
mineral l ensin~ laws ml\y file in the office of the Secretary of the
1nterior, or in such office as the Secret-ary mlly designate, a request for
publication of notice of such application, offer, permit, or lease, pro-
vided expressly, that not less than ninety days prior to the filing of such
request for publicntion there shall have been filed for record in the
county office of record for the county in wh.ich the lands covered
thereb,y are situate a notice of the filing of such application or offer or
of the ISSuance of such permit or lease which nooce shall set forth the
date. of such filing or issuance, the name and address of the applicant,
offeror, permittee or lessee unci the description of the lands cove1·ed by
such app lication, offer, permit. or lease, showi ng the section or sections
o f the public land surveys which embrace the lnnds covered by such
appHcntion, offer, permit, or lease, or if such lands are unsurveyed,
P1ther the section or sect.ious w},ich would probably embrace such lands
when the public lands surveys are extended to such lands or a tie by
courses nnd distances to an appro,·ed United Stutes minernl monument.
The tiling of such request fo1· publicntion shuJl be nC'Comp~tnied by
a certified copy of such recorded notice and nn nffidnvit or nffidn\'its of
a J>el"tiOn or persons O\'er twenty-one yenrs of <\ge setting forth that
the nffiant 01· nffinnts have examined the lands im·olved inn rensonuble
effort to nscertnin whether any pe i'SOn or j>ei'Sons were in nctunl pos-
session of or engRged in the working of sue 1 lands or any pnrt thereof,
und, if no pe1'SOII or persons were found to be in l\Ctuttl possession of
or engnged in the working of suid lands or any pnrt thereof on the
date of such exnminntion. setting forth such fact, or, if nny perSOn or
persons were so found to be in actual possession or engaged in such
\\'Orkin;;r on the dllte of such exruuinntion, setting forth the name nnd
nddress of ench such person, unless llffiant shall have been unable
through reasonable inquiry to obtain i.1 ~-.Jrrnation as to the name and
1\ddress of any suc h person, in which e,·e11t the affidavit shall set forth
fully the IHlture nnd results of such inquiry.
T1le filing of such request for pub lication sh all also be accompanied
by the certificate o f n title or nb:;trnct compa n.y, or of a title abstraC'tor,
or of an attorney. based upon such company s, ab tractor's. or attor-
ney's exnminauion of the instruments llffecting the lands ill\'oh·ed, of
record in the public records of th~ county in which said lands are
situate as shown by the indices of the public records in the county office
of record for said county, setting forth the name of nny•person dis-
closed by said instruments to have nn interest in snid lands under nny
unpnt1•nted minin~rclnim heretofore located. together with the address
of such J>ei'SOn if diS('losed by such in trmnents of record.
Thereupon the Secretory of the Interior, or his designated repre-
sentntive, nt the expense of the requesting person (who, prior to the
commencement of publicntion. must furnish the agreement of the
publisher to hold surh requestin!! person nlone resJ>onsible for charges
of \n:blic1ttion), ~~nll cn.use not1C'e of such ~pplicntion, ~fferl1~rm~t,
or e1tse to be pubhshed 111 n newspaper hnvmg general c1rcu alton m·
the rounty in which the lands invoh·ed are situate.
Such notice shall describe the lands covered by such application,
offer, pe1·1nit. or lease, as pro\'ided heretofore in the notice to be filed
in the office of re<·orcl of the cou nty in which the hands covered nre
ituate, nnd shall notify whomever 1t may conC'ern thnt if any person
clniminft or nssertin;.r unde1·, or by virtue of, nny unpatented mining
claim heretofore located. an.v riJ:ht or interest in Leasm~ Act minerals
as to such lands or any part thereof, shall fail to file in the office whf're
such request for publicAtion was filed (which office shall be specified
in such notice) and within one hundred fifty days from the date of
the first publication of surh notice {which date shall be specified in
such notice), a \'eritied statement which sha.Jl set forth, as lo s uch
unpatented m.ining claim:
(1) The date of locntion;
(2) The book and p:~.ge of recordution of the notice or certifi-
cate of location;
(3) The section or sections of the public land s urveys which
embrace such min.ing claim; or if such lands are unsurveyed,
either the section or sections which would probably embrace such
mining claim when the. public land sur\'eys are extended to such
lands or a tie by courses and distances to an approved Un.ited
tates mineral monument;
(4) Whether such claimant is a locator or purchaser under such
location; and
(5) The name and address of SUC'h claimant and names and
addresses so far as known to the claimant of any other person or
persons claiming any interest or intere ts in or under such
unP.atented mining claim;
such fa1lure shall be conclusively deemed (i) to constitute a waiver and
relinquishment by such minin~ claimant of any and all right, title, and
interest under such mining claim as to, but only as to, Leasing Act
mineruls, and (ii) to consti t ute a consent by such mining claimant that
such minintr claim and any patent i ued therefor. shall be ~ubj ect to
the reservation specified in section 4 o f this Act, and (iii) to preclude
thereafter any assertion by such min inA claimant o f any right or title
Min eral Information Service 15
to or interest in any Leasing Act minernl l>y reason of such mining
claim.
If such notice is published in a daily t>•per, it shall be t'ublished in
the \V('dnesdny issue for nine consecuttve weeks, or, if m a weekly
paper, in nine consecutive issues., or, if in n semiweekly or triweekly
paper, in the issue of the same day of each week for nine consecutive
"·~ks.
Within fifteen dnys after the date of fii'St publication of such notice,
the person requesting such publicntion ( 1) sha ll cause a copy of such
notice to be p~rsonally delivered to or to be mailed by registered mail
addressed to ench person in possession or engngerl in the working of
the land whose. name and address is shown by an affidnvit filed as afOre-
said, and to each person who mny have filed, ns to any lands described
in said notice, n request for nohC'es, as provided in subsection (d) of
this section 7, and shall cause a copy of such notice to be mailed by
registered mail to t>ach person whose name and address is setiorth in
the title or abstract company's or title nbstrnctor's or attorney's cer-
tificate filed a.s nforesnid, as llnvittg an interest in the lnnds described
in said notice under any uupntented mining ciRim heretofore located,
such notice to be directed to such person·s ad<lress as set forth in such
certificate; nnd (2) shul1 file in the office where said request for publi-
cation was filed an affidal'it showing that copies have been so delivered
or mailed.
(b) If any clai 1l\B.nt under any unpatented minin~ claim heretofore
located whiCih embraces any of the lands described 111 any notice pub-
lished in accordance with the prol"isions of subsection (a) of this sec-
tion 7 shall fail to file a Yerified statement, as above provided, within
one hundred and fifty d"ys from the date of the first publication of
~uch notice. such failure shall be conclusively deemed, except as other-
wise provided in sub3ection (e} of this section 7, (i) to constitute &
unpatented waive1· and relinquishment by such mining claimant of nny and all
mining olaima. ri~ht, title, and interest under such mining C'laim as to, but only as to,
Procedure ror Leasing Act minerals, and (ii) to constitute a conse.nt by such mining
detennination. claimant that such mining claim and any potent issued therefor, shall
h. ling or be subject to the reservation specified in section 4 of this Act, Md (iii)
notioe. to preclude thereafter any assertion by such mining claimant of any
right or title to or interest in any Leasing .\ ct mineral by reason of
such mining claim.
(c) If any verified statement shall be liled by a mining claimant as
proVIded in subsection (a) of this section 7, then the Secretary of the
Interior or his designated representative sha1l fix a time and place for
a hearin:;.: to determine the validity and effectiveness of the m ining
claimants asserted right or interest in Leasing Act minerals, which
place of hearing shall be in the county where tile lands in question or
parts thereof are located, unless the min.ing claimant agrees otherwise.
The procedures with respect to notice of such a hearing and the conduct
thereof, and in respect to appeals shall follow the theu established
~eneral procedures und rules of practice of the Department of the
Interior m respect to contests or protests affecting public lands of the
United States. If, pursuant to such a heari!lg the final decision
rendered in the matter sha ll affirm the \'alidity and effectiveness of ~tny
mining claimant's right or interest under the mining claim as to Leas-
ing Act minerals, then no subsequent proceedin~ under this section 7
of this Act sha11 ha\'e Rny forc6 or effect upon t.he so-affirmed right or
interest of such mining claimant under such mining claim. If at any
time prior to a hearing the person requesting publication of notice and
nny person filing a verified statement pursuant to such notice shall so
stipulate, then to the extent so tipuluted, but only to such extent, no
hearing shall be held with respect to rights asserted under that verified
statement, and to the extent defined by the stipu lation the rights
nsse.rted under that verified statement shal l be deemed to be unaffected
by that particular published noti ce.
(d) Any person claiming any right in Leasing Act minerals under
or by virtue of any unpatented mining claim heretofore located and
desiring to receive a copy of any notice of any application, offer, per-
mit, or lease which may be published ns nbove provided in s ubsection
f a) of this section 7, and which may affect lands embraced in such
mining claim, may cause to be filed for record in the county office of
record where the notice or certificate of location o f such mining claim
Ehall have been recorded, a duly acknowledged request for a copy of
nny such notice. Such request for copies sha11 set forth the name and
Address of the ~rson requesting cop ies nnd shal1 aiso set. forth, as to
each ~ining claim under which ·uch person ns~rts rights in Leasing
Act mmerals:
.(1) the date of location;
(2) the book and page of the reco•·d11lion of the notice or cer·
tificate of location; and
(3) the section or sections of the public lnnd surveys which
embrace such mining claim; or if s uch lands nre unsu rveyed,
either the section or sections which would probably embra·.-e such
mining claim when the pcblic land surveys are extended to such
lands or a tie by courses and d istances to an apprO\'ed United
States mineral m01.ument.
Other than in· respect to the requirements of subsection (a) of this
section 7 as to personal delivery or mailing of copies of. notices and
in respect to the pro,•isions of subsection (e) of this section 7, no such
request for copies of published notices and no statement or allegation
in. s~ch r equest and no record at ion thereof shall a.ffect title to any
numn,r clntm or to an_y land or be deemed to constttute constru ctive
notice to any person thRt the person requesting copies has~ or claims,
anJ riAht, title, or interest in or under any mimng cl aim referred to in
~uch request.
(e) If nny applknnt, olferor, permittee, or lessee shall fa il to comply
with the requirements o f subsection (n) o f this secti on 7 as to the
personal deli\'ery or mail in~ of a copy of notice to any person, the pul>-
licntion of such notice shutl Ue deemed wholly ineffectual ns to tbnt
person or as to the rights as:,erted by thut. person and the bilure of
that person to file n verified statement, as pro\·itl.e<.l in such notice 1 sha ll
in no munner afft-ct, di1nini sh, prejudice Ol' bar uny r ights ot that
person.
SEC. 8. The owner or owne1'S of any mining clnim het·etofore located Her•torore
looated
may, at any time prior to issuance of patent therefor, Wllive and re-
linyuish nil riO'hts thereunder to Leasing .\ ct minerals. Tl1e execution ola111U!1 .
u.nd ncknowl~gment of sudt n wninr u111.l ,·elinquishment by such Rel1nqu1ahment
owner or owne1'S nnd the recordu.tion thereof in the office where the
or mineral
righ'ill .
notice or certillcute of IOC"·atiun of such mining daim is oi 1-ecord shn11
render suclt mining cl1~im thereafter ~ul>ject to tl1e re~n·ation referred
to in section 4 of lhis .\ ct and uny putenl issued therefor shn l1 conu.tin
such a J'eservntion, but no such wai,·e1· Ot' relinquishment shn11 be
deemed in any munner to <·onstitute t\llY concession as to the dttte ol
priority o! rights untler snid mining claim Ol'US to the ndidity thereof.
EC. 9. Lands withdrawn !rom the public domnin which nre within Helium lands
{n) Helium R escn·e N umbt>t·ed 1, pur~unnt to Execmh·e ordi.'l'::, of aubJeot to
~larch 21, 19-2!, unci Jnnuary :l , 1926. allll {b) Jl eliurn Reserv~ Num- entry .
 16 California State Div ision of Mines
berPcl 2 pursuant to Ex('Cu ti,·e Order 6184 of Jun e ~G, 19:la, sha11 be
su bject to entry nnd locntiou under the mining laws of the United
~totes, nnd to pe-rmit und lease under thf: mineral lensing laws, upon
determination by the Secretory of the Interior, based upon n,·niluble
gt>olo~ic nnd other iniormntion, that there is no rea~llllhle probability
fhnt operations pursuunt to entry or location of the particular htncfs
under the mining lnws, OJ' pursmmt ton permit OJ' lease of the pur-
ticu lnr lands under the :Mi neral Leasin;.r ..\ ct, will re ult in the extmc- 41 Stat. 437.
tion or rnuse loss or wnste of the helium-bearing gus in the lands of 30 usc 22,
such reserves: Providnl. That the lttnds shilll not become subject to 181 et seq.
Publ1c&tion or
entry. loca tion, permit. or lense unt il such time as the Secretnry desig-
nates in an order published in the Federnl Rc~i ster: And '{h·ovided order in FR.
furth er, Thnt the Se-crt>tury mn.v nt uny time us a condition to con-
tinned mineral operntions require the ·entryman, ]ocntor, permittee
or lessee to take such measures either above or below the surfnc~ of
the lands as the Set.·r\'f;u·.v deems necessary to pre\"ent lo or waste
of the helium-beurin~ g-lh·.
SEc. 10. The .Ai blllll' E11"'r~y _\ct is hereby amended as follows:
\n) Scction5 (b) (."•) j..,,.,,,·i~t>dtoread: 60 st&t . 761.
'(5) ACQUISITrox.-Tht> ('ommi ion is authorized to the extent it 42 usc 1805
deems neccs..~ry to e ffl>t" l lWI\' the provisions of this Act- ~H ~~~ble
,~;"Ju~~)U~~~-c~tt ~~,!~:~~ {:~~~~~~~~;~{e~1=~~~r ~n~! i~;t~·;::ta~ ~~~~::
0 1
1
qu ; b mate -
real property containing deposits of fi ssionable sou rce mnterials;
and
"(B) to purchase, take, requisition, condemn, or otherwise ac-
quire ri,ghts to enter upon any rent property deemed by it to have
possibilities of contninin ~ deposits of fissionable source materinls
and to conduct prospecting tlnd exploratory operations for such
deposits.
Any purchase made under this paragraph may be made without regard
to tl1e provisions of section 3i09 of the Revi sed Statutes (U.S. C., title
41, sec. 5) upon certificution by the Commission thnt such action is
necessary in the interefit of the common defense and security, or upon
a showing that advertising is not reasonably pro.ct.icnblc, and partial
nnd advance payments may be made thereunder. The Commission
may establish guaranteed prices for all fissionable source materials
dehvered to it within • specified time. Just compensation shall be
made for any property or interest in properLy purchased, taken, ~ui ­
sitioned, condemned, or otherwise acquired wtder this parngrnph. '
(b ) Section 5 (b) (6) is revised to read: • 2 usc 1805
''(6) 0PEBAT10NS ON LANDS BELO~GlNG TO THE UNITED STATES.- (b}(6) .
The Commission is authorized, to the extent it deems necessary to
effectuate the provisions of this Act, to issue lenses or permits for
prospecting for, explorution for 1 mining. or removal of deposits of
fissionable source materials (or for any or all of these purJ,><?ses) in
lands belonging to the United States: Pro.~.·ided, That, notwuhstand-
iug any other ptoYisions of In w, such lett Sf'S or permits mny be issued
for lands administered for national park, monument, and wildlife
pur poses only when the President, by Executive order, finds nnd
dednres that such action is necessary in the interests of national
defense."
(c) Section 5 (b) (7) is revised to read : 42 usc l8o5
' 1(7) P uBLIC L,ums.-No individunl, corporation , partnership, or (0}( 7) .
nssociation, which had any part, directly or llldirecLiy, in the de\·elop-
ment of the ntomic energy progrnm, may benefit by any locu tion, entry.
or settlement upon the public domain made alter such individual/
cor,)oration, partnership, or association took part in such program, i
sue 1 individuall corpo1·ntion, partnership, or association, by reason of
having had sucn part in the development of the tltomic euergy pro-
l?ram, acquired confidential official in1ormnti.on as to the existence of
aeposits of such uranium, thorium, or other fissionable source mate-
rials in the specific lands upon which such location, entf, or settlement
is m.nde, and subsequent to the date of the enactment o this Act made
such ]ocntion, entry, or settlement or cause tbesnme to be made for his,
or its, or their benefit. In cases where any patent, oom•eyn.nce, lease,
pet mit, or other authorization has been issued, which reserved to the
United States fissionable source materinls and the right to enter upon
the land and prospect for, mine, and remove the same, the head of the
derartment or agency which issued the patent, conveyance lease, per-
mit, or other authorization shall, on appl ication of the holder thereof,
~~tl~o~t!~~i~~ ~ftf~~~:~ ~:~t~t~~}~yance, lease, permit, or other
(d) Notwithstnnding the provisions of the Atomic E ner gy Act , and 42 usc 1801 note.
particularly section 5 (b) (7) thereof, prior to its amendment hereby, Supra..
or the r,rovisions of the Act of August 12, 1953 (67 Stat. 539), and 30 usc 501-505.
particu nrly section 3 thereof, any mining claim, heretofore located 30 usc 503 .
under the mining Jaws of the United States, for, or based upon a di's-
co,·ery of a minernl deposit which is a fissionable source material and
which, except for the possible contl·ary construction of said Atomic
Energy Act, wou]d have been locatuble under such min ing laws, shall,
insofar as adversel_y affected by such possible contrary construction,
be valid and effective, in a1l respects to the sa me extent ns if said
mineral deposit were a locatable minera l deposit other than n. fission-
able source matel'inl.
SEc. 11. .\s used in this Act "mineral leasing laws" shall mean the" M:I.nef'lll leu-
Act of October 20, 1914 (38 Stat. 741); the Act of February 25, 1920 i ng l&wa. "
(41 Stat. 437) ; the Act of Apri l 17, 1926 (44 Stat. 301); the Act of 48 usc 22- 287,
February 7, 1927 (44 Stut. 10~7); and all Acts heretofore or here- ~
after enacted which are nmendntory of or supplementary to any of
the fo regoing- Acts i "Lensing Act mineruls" shall mean all rninera.ls 11 i.eastng Aot
which, upon the effective date of this Act, are provided in the minera l minerals . "
]easing laws to be di sposed of thereunder; "Lensing Act operations""Leuing Aot
shall mean operations conducted undc.t. a lease, permit, or license operations. "
issued under the mineral lensing laws in or incidental to prospecting
for, drilling for, mining, treating, storing, transporting, or remov-
ing Lensing Act minerals; "mining operabons" shall mean operations"M1n1ng opera-
under any unpatented or patented mining claim or millsite in or inci- tions . "
dental to prospecting for, mining, treating, storing, transporting,
or r emoving m1neraJs other than Leasing Act minerals and any other
use under any chUm of right or title based upon such mining claim or
millsite ; "Leasing Act operator'~ shall mean any party who shall " E..w1 ng Aot
conduct Leasing Act operatic..ns; " mining operator " shall mean a n~ OPir&Uona. "
party who shn l1 conduct mining opemtions;, "Atomic E nergy Act ''rllnl ng
shall mean the Act of August 1; 19-!6 (60 ;:::,tat. 75~ 1 as amended; operator ."
~~~~;cc!~~~Y i~~~s~otil~~~:ds~~~e~t~~enl~~n~;k~er~"t,\'~t~~::'~; ~!.~c
1801
amendments thereofi " fissionable source mater iR.l" shall mean urn- ::~~;~ona.b 1 e
nium, thorium, and all other materials referred to in section 5 ( b) (1) souroe mat e-
of th e Atomic Energy Act ns reserved or to be reserved to the U nited rid ."
States ; "uranium lease ap~;>lica tion" shall mean an application for a -42 usc 1805
uranium lease filed with satd Commission with respect to lands which (b)( l ) .
(Vol. 7
would be open for entry under the mining laws except for their being "Uran hn laue
lands embmced within nn offer application, permit, or lease. under a.pplioat ion. "
the minera l lensing laws or lands known to J:x. va luable f or mmerals
)easnble under those lawsi "urnniu~n .Jense". shall mean a uranium ''Urani um le&ae ."
mining lease issued by mud Com m~s.~I?n. w1th respect _to nny such
lands · and "person·' sha ll mean any md1vJdua l, corporation, partner- "Per• un."
shiJ>, ~r other legal entity. .
SEc. 12. Nothing in th1s Act shall be construed to wan•e, amend, or Requ1 re~~~ent.
repeal the requirement of any provision of any l a ~v for approva~ <?f
any official of t he U nited States whose approval pnor to prospectmg,
exploring, or mining would be required. .·
S.zo. 13. If any p ro vis ~o n of t his Act 1 or the appli ca~io n _of s u e~ proy1- Sepe..rabilU.Y.
sion to any P.t:rson or Ci rcu mstances, .1s hel d unconstitu~l on,al, mvahd ,
or unen forCi ble the remainder of thts Act or the apphcabon of such
provision to ~ns or ci rcumstances other than t hose as to wh ich it
ts held unconstitutional, invalid, or unenf orcible, sh all not be affected
thereby.
Approve d August 13, 1954.
NEW MINING LAW REVIEWED
The American Mining Congress Bulletin for August 17 , 1954
published a summation of Publi c Law 585 prepared by Clair M.
Senior, Attorney, Salt Lake City, Utah . His remarks will help
to clarify t he. main points of the bill.
The Multiple Mineral Development Bill became law on the
afternoon of August 13, when the measure was signed by Presi -
dent ~isenhower. It is Public Law 585, 83rd Congress .
Public Law 250, which was enacted August 12, 1953, pro-
vided for the validation of mining claims which were l ocated
subsequent to July 31, 1939 and prior to January 1, 1953 on
lands not subject to location because covered by an outstanding
filing under the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as
supplemented and amended, .o r because known to be valuable f or
one or more of the minerals covered by that Mineral Leasing
Act .
In order to obtain the benefits of Public Law 250 the
owners of the mining claim must have posted and rec orded an
amended Notice of Location within 120 days from August 12,
1953 (that is, on or before December 10 , 1953) , stating that
it was filed to obtain the benefits of that Act . An owner of
a mining claim validated under Public Law 250 is not required
to do anything further to obtain the benefits of the new law .
The new law is of no avail to the owner of a mining claim
located before Januar y 1, 1953 · where the mining claim was in -
valid because of conflict with a Mineral Leasing filing and
where an amended notice of location was not filed and recor ded
within the 120 - day period a l lowed under Public Law 250 .
Under the new Multiple Use Bill, the owner of any mining
claim loca ted subsequent to December 31 1 1952 and prior to
February 10 1954 on lands covered by a Miner al Leasing Act
filing or known to be val uable for a Miner a l Leasing Act min -
eral, must post and recor d within 120 days f r om August 13,
1954 (that is, on or before Dec~mber 11, 1954), an amended
notice of location stating that the notice is filed pursua~t
to the provisions of the Act and for the purpose of obtaining
its benefits . Where the owner of the claim has filed a uranium
lease application, or holds a uranium lease, the owner must,
within that 120- day period, if he desires to rely on his mining
locatlon, also file a withdrawal of the application or release
with the Atomic Energy Commission and must record the with -
drawal or r elease .
Where one posted a notice of application for uranium
lease after Febr uary 9 , 1954 , and has compl i ed wi th Atomic
Ener gy Commission Circular 7 r equirements as to recording the
posted notice ·within 30 days and filing of l ease application
with the Atomic Energy Commission within 6o days after the re -
cordation , the new Act allows the par ty a period of 120 days
in which to make a pr eferred mining location.
The law r equires that one who exercises this r ight of pre -
ferred loca tion within that 120 - day peri od must , within 30
days after recording the notice or certificate of location,
file with the Atomic Ener gy Commission a withdrawal of the
uranium lease application or release of the uranium lease, and
must record that withdrawal or release .
In a numbe~ of instances, persons who have made mining
locations since Febr uar y 9, 1954 , on lands within a Miner al
Leasing Act filing, have · not posted noti ces of application f or
uranium leases under Atomic Energy Commission Circular 7,
either because they did not recognize the invalidity of their
mining claims or because they were interested in a mineral de -
10 California State Di vision of Mines
posit other than a fissionable source material. In other
instances, parties who have posted notices of lease application
in accordance with Atomic Energy Commission Circular 7, have
failed to make a timely recordation of such notices or have
failed to make timely filing of a lease application with the
Atomic Energy Commission. A number of parties in these cate-
gories are depending for their rights upon being the first
persons to file after the new Act became law and have been
standing by waiting for the President's signature before mov-
ing to make new locations.
In other instances, parties who appear to have
the 120 days under the law to protect their rights by amended
locations or new preference locations, haye been alertly wait-
ing to act as soon as the Bill was signed, in the hope of there-
by avoiding any argument with any third person who might seek
to obtain some advantage by an intervening location.
LOCATION OF URANIUM CLAlMS
The JUly 1954 issue of Mineral Information Service in-
cluded in part the following passage:
"Although uranium in deposits on United States public
lands is reserved for the use of the Federal Govern-
ment by authority of the Atomic Energy Act of August
1, 1946, the Commiasion encourages prospecting for
new deposits of uranium on privately owned land for
which a license is required from the u.s . Atomic En-
ergy Commission . The Department of the Interior will
validate locations of uranium deposits on public lands
if they occur in association with other valuable min-
erals . In the unlikely event of discovery of uranium
unassociated with other valuable minerals. the Com-
mission will take steps to protect the prospectors'
equity."
With regard to these conclusions the A.E.c. offers the
following interpretation:
"Uranium on vacant and unappropriated public lands of
the United States as of August 1, 1946, was reserved
to the United States by the Atomic Energy Act of that
date . However, it has been the view of the Commission
and the Department of the Interior that this provision
did not prevent the staking of valid claims as a result
of the discovery of uranium or thorium whether associa-
ted with other minerals or not. In view of the fact
that a doubt existed in the minds of some as to the val-
idity of such claims, Public Law 585, 83rd Congress, of
August 13, 1954, for the multiple use of mineral lands
specifically provides that such claims located prior to
that date are valid . It also repealed the provision
of the Atomic Energy Act reserving uranium in the pub-
lic lands to the United States.
With regard to prospecting for uranium on private
lands, the Commission does not issue licenses or per-
mits giving a person the authority to prospect on such
lands. In order to prospect on private lands , however,
the permission of the landowner should be obtained.
We do not require that a license be obtained from the
Commission in order to prospect for uranium on public
or private lands or to engage in uranium mining opera -
tions, whether the property is owned outright or leas-
ed . However, it is required that a license be obtain-
ed in order to sell, transfer or receive more than
minute quantities of uranium and thorium ores once
they have been removed from the ground, no matter
where or when they are mined . Licenses for this pur-
pose may be obtained upon application ta the Licensing
Controls Branch, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington
25, D.c . "
AEC TO TERMINATE URANIUM CIRCULAR NO . 7
The Atomic Energy Commission has announced termination as
of December 12, 1954 of Domestic Uranium Program Circular 7.
No further Circular 7 leases will be issued and all lease ap-
plications remaining on file with the commission on December
12, 1954 will be rejected.
The Circular, published in the Federal Register, February
10, 1954 provided for the issuance of leases to make certain
17
public lands available for uranium mining purposes. It was
intended to apply to public lands which, at the time of leas-
ing for uranium, were not subject to location of mining claims
under the United States mining laws because such lands were
affected by the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended.
With passage of Public Law 585, signed by the President
on August 13, 1954, it is now possible to establish mining
claims on these lands, and the need fo~ issuance of leases
under Circular 7 no longer exists. The rights of existing
lease holders under their leases will not be affected, but in
general such leases will not be extended beyond the initial
5-year period . As indicated above, it is intended that no fur•
ther Circular 7 leases will be issued hereafter .
Public Law 585 not only permits location of mining claims
hereafter on lands affected by the Mineral Leasing Act but al-
so includes provision for the validation of mining claims lo-
cated subsequent to December 31, 1952 and prior to February
10, 1954, on these public lands. In addition, holders of ura -
nium leases or lease applications under Circular 7 have certain
prior rights under the new law during the period of 120 days
after its enactment to locate mining claims on the land cov-
ered by the lease or lease application.
The new law sets forth in considerable detail the means
whereby these and other rights may be perfected. It also con-
tains a number- of other provisions. In view of the time limi-
tation upon perfection of certain claim location rights, the
AEC points out the advisability of all lease holders, lease
applicants and others promptly familiarizing themselves with
the provisions of the law . The AEC Grand Junction office is
obtaining copies of the legislation which will be furnished
to interested parties upon request.
Rental payments submitted with lease applications under
Circular 7 will be returned to the applicants promptly after
withdrawal or rejection of the application.
About 30 leases have been issued under Circular 7 and ap -
proximately 1350 applications have been filed.
AEC RAW MATERIALS OFFICE TRANSFERRED
The New York Office of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission ' s
Division of Raw Materials has been transferred to Washington,
D.C., according to AEC General Manager K. D. Nichols.
This office, under the direction of Phillip L. Merritt,
Assistant Director for Exploration in the Commission's Division
of Raw Materials, has had responsibility for the AEC's domestic
and foreign uranium exploration programs . This function now
will be conducted in Washington under Dr. Merritt's direction .
R. D. Nininger will continue as Deputy Assistant Director for
Exploration. Director of the Division of Raw Materials i s
Jesse c . Johnson .
The Raw Materials Office was located at 70 Columbus Avenue,
New York, in the same building as the Commission's New York
Operations Office. The Operations Office will remain at that
address .
AEC SELECTS WEST COAST INFORMATION DEPOSITORY
Stanford Research Institute has been selected as an atomic
industrial information depository to serve the West Coast area .
Stanford Research is the third such depository named by
the AEC. Others, already in operation, are the Atomic Indus-
trial Forum, New York, and the John Crerar Library, Chicago .
Each of the libraries, designated as an AEC industrial
depository, receives as an initial complement of material some
700 reports of industrial interest selected from 9500 "basic
science" reports, drawings for the "Swimming Pool" reactor,
Nuclear Science Abstracts and bibliographies of selected AEC
reports of interest to industry . New AEC unclassified reports
of special interest to industry and additional engineering
drawings are supplied as they become available . In return,
organizations designated as AEC depositories agree to allow
general access to the AEC reports collection, to privide ade-
quate reference service to the reports, and to provide photo-
copies of other suitable single copies to requestors in accord-
ance with established prices for such services.
(Chemical and Engineering News, August 9, 1954 . )
18 Californ ia State Division of Mines
FIRST CALIFORNIA uRANTIJM ORE SHIPPED
The first railroad shipment of uranium ore from Califor-
nia was made on July 31, 1954 by the Miracle Mining Company
from their property near Miracle Hot Springs, Kern County, Cali-
fornia. The development work was performed on the No. 5 claim
of the Miracle Group and yielded approximately 46 tons of ore.
The deposit was discovered by H.B. Mann who detected a
change on the radiation counter while passing through the area
by automobile . Claims were staked about the first of January
1954 and location and development work was subsequently per-
formed by H.B. Mann, E. Bartlett, D. Bartlett, c. Musick,
W. Rogers , George Kilmer, and J . Mann; partners in the M! r-
acle Mining Company. The ore shipment aver~ged 0 . 62% U308·
The uranium-bearing minerals are principally autunite and
torbernite and occur in a northwest-trending fracture zone in
biotite-hornblende quartz diorite. A 240-foot drift extends
along one of the principal breaks in the fracture zone. Ura-
nium minerals are localized discontinuously along the fracture
zone and are in highest concentrations at the intersections of
fractures. The mine portal is in section 17, T. 27 s. , R. 32 E.,
M. D.M . about 100 feet south of State Highway 178, and a mile
west of Miracle Hot Springs.
The geology of nearby areas is described in two publica-
tions of the California Division of Mines:
California Journal of Mines and Geology, vel. 36, no. 4,
October 1940, containing descriptive geology of the Kernville
quadrangle, price 6o¢ (map alone, 25¢ plus 1¢ sales tax).
Bulletin 168, Geology of the Breckenridge Mountain quad-
rangle, 1953, price $1.75 plus 5¢ sales tax (set of maps alone,
$1.00 plus 3¢ sales tax).
Special Report 37, Rosamond uranium prospect, Kern County,
California, price 25¢ plus 1¢ sales tax.
URANTIJM REPORT REISSUED
The unprecedented interest in uranium shown by the general
public has prompted the Division of Mines to reissue its
SPECIAL REPORT 37.
The great demand for this publication entitled, ROSAMOND
URANTIJM PROSPECT, KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, exhausted the first
printing in less than eight months.
This report was prepared by George w. Walker of the u.s.
Geological Survey as part of a study for the Atomic Energy Com-
mission. New uranium discoveries in other parts of Kern County
have increased the usefulness of this publication as it serves
to introduce the salient geologic features to persons interest-
ed in this new important area.
The author found small quantities of autunite, hydrous
uranium and calcium phosphate, and another radioactive mineral
not yet identified occurring in tuffaceous sedimentary rocks
of the Rosamond formation of Miocene age at the Rosamond pros-
pect, which ie about 10 miles south of Mojave, Kern County,
California, in the Mojave Desert.
The autunite occurs principally ae coatings on fractures
and joint surfaces and, to a lesser extent, as disseminations
in the tuffaceous rocks adjacent to faults . A waxy, reddish-
brown to black radioactive mineral is found in small quantities
on slickensided fault surfaces, associated with iron oxides
and chlorite(?) . The uranium minerals are erratically distri-
buted over an area of about 15 acres . Assays of 12 samples
indicate a uranium content ranging from 0 . 002 to 0 . 59 percent
and an average content of slightly less than 0 . 08 percent ura-
nium.
SPECIAL REPORT 37, which consists of 8 pages including
photographs, maps, and sections, is priced at 25¢ . It may be
ordered by mail from the Division of Mines offices in the Ferry
Building, San Francisco 11, or may be purchased over -the - count-
er from Division of Mines in San Francisco, in Los Angeles at
State Building, 217 West Firat Street, Los Angeles 12; Third
Floor, State Office Bldg . 1, Sacramento; or in Redding at the
Department of Natural Resources Building, Cypress and Lanning
Streets. California residents please add 3~ ealee tax.
(Vol. 7
PO PUL~ COUNTER HANDBOOK REVI SED
"Prospecting ·with a counter" by Robert J. Wright of the
Atomic Energy Commission, has been revised to include all the
pertinent information necessary for the efficient operation of
radioactive counters. This easy to understand pocket-size
booklet has received wide distribution among persons interest-
ed in prospecting for uranium .
This practical reference serves to answer many of the
problems faced by the prospector in the field. The effects of
background, adsorption, topography, cosmic interference, etc.,
are all clearly discussed. In addition there are chapters
dealing with such topics as: types of counters and where they
can be purchased, gamma rays, radiations of uranium, counter
maintenance, measurement technique and special uses. "Pros-
pecting with a counter" is sold by the Superintendent of Doc-
Scintillation counter . Photo courtesy of the Radiac ~ompany.
umente, U.S . Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.
Price is 30¢ . The Division of Mines has copies for reference,
but none for sale.
INTERPRETING GEOLOGIC MAPS
Engineers and persons interested in interpreting geologic
maps as an aid in solving engineering problems will be interest-
ed in a recent publication by the United States Geological Sur-
vey. Prepared by the Geology and Groundwater Branches of the
Survey, this large (22 x 22 inches) folio-type book contains
six maps at a scale of 1:62500 and descriptive text .
This set of mapa ie designed primarily for use in teach-
ing the practical applications of geology and also should be
of interest to anyone who desires a better understanding of the
value of geologic maps. The set comprises two "basic data"
sheets- -a standard topographic map and a general-purpose geo-
logic map of the Hollidaysburg 15-minute quadrangle, Pennsyl-
vania --and three "interpretive" mapa of the same quadrangle.
These three maps show, by colors and explanatory text, that
interpretations regarding foundation and excavation conditions,
construction materials, and water supply can be made by a study
of the basic data sheets . A si~h sheet shows three hypotheti-
cal problems in the preliminary planning of engineering struc-
tures, with the kind of geologic f~cts needed by engineers
that can be deduced from the general-purpose geologic map. A
brief text explains the purpose and limitations of the set,
and suggests a number of problems for classroom use.
This publication is not for sale by the Division of Mines
but can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, u.s.
Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. Price $1.75 ·
A copy of this publication can be consulted at the Division of
Mines library in the Ferry Building, San Francisco. Hours: 8 -
5 Monday through Friday. Geologic maps of various quadrangles
in California are available from the Division of Mines. A
list of available publications will be sent without cost upon
request .
No. 10) Mineral Information Service
NEW LITERATURE SURVEY
A valuable new source of engineering and geol -
ogic information on the hydrography and bottom sedi-
ments of the San Francisco Bay area is now available.
"Inshore Survey, San Francjsco Bay: Literature
Survey", compiled under the direction of Parker D.
Trask of the Institute of Engineering Research, con-
tains contributions from eight authors . The book
covers such subjects as bottom sediments, run off,
tidal characteristics, salinity distribution, sub-
marine geology, and currents. All of these subjects
are of importance to the intelligent approach of en-
gineering and geologic problems in the bay area .
As part of a larger study being conducted by
the University of California's Institute of Engin-
eering Research, the "Inshore Survey" brings togeth-·
er a concise bibliography on the chemical and physi-
cal characteristics of San Francisco Bay water and
sediments . Although the book serves primarily as a
key to the literature, much valuable information can
be derived from the introductory summaries that in-
troduce the twenty subject -divisions and from the
numerous diagrams and tables .
This publication is not for sale by the Division
of Mines but can be consulted at the library in the
Ferry Building , San Francisco . Hours 8 : 30-5, Monday
through Friday. Inquiries regarding this publication
should be directed to the University of California,
Institute of Engineering Research, Berkeley, Cali-
fornia.
URANIUM BIBLIOGRAPHY
A great flood of written material has resulted
from the recent interest shown in radioactive min-
erals . Disseminated throughout the geologic physi-
cal and chemical literature are the results of re-
cent investigations in radioactivity . Without some
systematic grouping of these data much of the work
done would doubtlessly be lost to practical appli-
cation.
To meet this need, Margaret Cooper of the Atomic
Energy Commission has compiled a comprehensive bib-
liography on uranium and thorium and their occurren-
ces in the United States . The material is grouped
in three parts according to states with part one in-
cluding Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico; part two
includes California , Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wash-
ington, and Wyoming; and part three Colorado. The
material is arranged for easy reference by author,
subject, geographical location and by gazetteer.
Pub lished in the Bulletin of the Geological So·
ciety of America under the title "Bibliography and
Index of Literature on Uranium and Thorium and Radio -
active Occurrences in the United States", the sepa-
rate parts can be purchased from The Geological
Society of America at 419 West ll7th Street, New
York, New York . Price: part I - 50¢, parts II and
III - 25¢ each.
ESSAYS OF WILLIAM MORRIS DAVIS
one of the persons who bas contributed signi -
ficant theories to the science of geology is the
19
late William Morris Davis . As geographer , geologist,
and teacher Professor Davis distinguished himself
as a fundamental thinker; much of his work standS
today as the basic foundation of modern geomorphol-
ogy.
Davis's essays in geography, first collected
in 1909, serve as a keen insight into his powers of
observation and his teaching philosophy . To the
teacher these articles provide a stimulating method
of presenting geographic material - a method based
in part on inspiration . Davis's provocative theories
on the geographical cycle in an arid climate , writ-
ten nearly fifty years ago, are still a subject of
debate. His theor-ies on peneplanation, base-level,
glaciation , etc . all form essential elements in the
reading of any geologist or geographer .
This basic source book is again available,
now edited by Douglas w. Johnson and published by
Dover Publications under the original title "Geo-
graphic Essays". Price $5 . 50 at bookstores.
A logical supplement to this collection was writ-
ten by Davis on the lakes of California and published
in the Division of Mines quarterly, Journal of Mines
and Geology, April 1948 . It is amply illustrated with
block diagrams , drawings and photographs . Price 75¢ .
WOLLASTONITE
Wollastonite, a nonmetallic mineral ~CaSi0 1 )
has been recently tested and found to be suitable
for use as a filler and glaze in ceramics and as an
extender for paints. Other possible uses are being
investigated. A grinding plant capable of producing
60 tons of fine - ground material per 8 -hour day has
been constructed to treat material from a large dep-
osit near Willsboro, New York.
Wollastonite has a relatively low melting tem-
perature, requires only one firing to make certain
finished ceramic products, and often requires only
a short firing time; these advantages result in con-
siderable savings of manufacturing costs. The
ground product can also be used as a filler and ex-
tender in paints and pape~ for making mineral wool ,
as welding rod coating, and for non-conducting el -
ectrical insulators.
Wollastonite crystalizes in the triclinic sys-
tem; crystals are commonly tabular , but may also be
short prismatic . Generally it is in fibrous masses ,
although some is compact . Wollastonite is brittle
and bas one perfect cleavage . It is white, gray,
brown or rose with a vitreous luster and white streak.
Hardness is 4ito 5 and specific gravity is 2.8 to
2.9 .
The mineral most commonly occurs as white to
gray and sometimes brownish fibrous or compact mas-
ses in contact metamorphic zones where impure lime-
stone bas been metamorphosed. The most common asso -
ciated minerals are garnet, epidote, idocrase, diop-
side, calcite and other calcium silicates . Numerous
occurrences of wollastonite in California have been
reported but, to date, only a few are known to be
of possible commercial importance. It is probable
that many occurrences of this mineral have been over-
looked in the past because it had no commercial value
and becau~e it is not readily noticed in the field .
 STAT E. O f CAll f OIN IA
DEPARTMENT O f N ATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF MINES
fEU Y IU ILD IN G
SAN FRANCISCO 11 , CALIF.

RETURN . POSTAGE GUARANTEED

ORDER BLANK
Olaf P. Jenkins , Chief QUICKSILVER
State Division of Mines
Ferry Building copies , De Argento Vivo (History, quicksilver)
San Francisco 11 , California ----@ $1.00 each .

Please send me the following : copies , California Journal of Mines and Geology,
-----vol . 44 , no . 4 (Economic aspects of production)
URANIUM @ 75¢ each .

copies , Special Report 37 , (Rosamond uranium copies , 37th Rept . State Mineralogist , part d
------prospect, Kern County) @ 25¢ each . ----- (Exp l or ation program, U. S . Geological Survey)
@ 60¢ each .

•
copies , supplement to Minerals of California
-----(contains locations of bastnaesite and other copies , 33rd Rept . State Mineralogist, part a
rare-mineral occurrences) @ 35¢ each . ----( Geol ogy of deposits) @ 60¢ each .

copies , Bulletin 136' (Minerals of California)
----@ $3 . 00 each .
copies, California Journal of Mines and Geolog~
-----vol . 44, no . 1 (contains article on uranium)
@ 75¢ each .
CONCRETE
copies , 41st Rept . State Mineralogist , part b ,
----(Knoxville district; Use in batteries) @ 60¢
each .
copies, California Journal of Mines and Geology,
-----vol . 46 , no . 3 (Altoona mines, Trinity County;
• Skaggs Springs mine, Sonoma County) @ $1 . 00
each .

copies , Bull . 99 ( Cal ifor nia clay) @ $2.00
-----each .
copies , Report of the State Mineralogist , 31,
ch. 1 (Clay in Riverside and Orange Co's . )@
60¢ each .
copies, California Journal of Mines and Geology
----vol . 43 , no . 3 (Limestone in California) @ 75¢ .
copies , Special Report 27 , (Alkali reaction,
----concrete aggregates ) @ 35¢ each .
copies, California Journal of Mines and Geology,
-----vol . 46, no . 4 (Cachuma district , Santa Barbara
County) @ $1 . 00 each .
copies , 41st Rept . State Mineralogist , part a,
-----(central San Benito and northwestern Fresno
Counties) @ 6o¢ each .
copies , 26th Rept . State Mineralogist, part a,
----(Coso Range) @ 40¢ each.
_____copies , Mineral Map 1 (Quicksilver) @ 50¢ each.

~AME ----------------------------------------------~ADDRESS______________________________________________________--;
~ITY______________________________~ZONE STATE_________________________AMT. ENCLOSED $ -------4

Remittance should be made payable to State Division of Mines . Please do NOT send stamps . California
residents please add 3i sales tax to orders for all publications except Reports of the State Mineralogist
~nd issues of the California Journal of Mines and Geology, and subscriptions to the Journal; all prices are
!Postpaid.