CONTENTS. B.-Hints for the use of Prospectors and Persons engaged in .. 107 the early Development of Mining Property... C.-Catalogue of the principal Minerals found in Nevada.... 123 REPORT. OFFICE OF THE STATE MINERALOGIST, To the Hon. the Board of Regents of the State of Nevada: } GENTLEMEN-In compliance with an Act defining the duties of the State Mineralogist, I have the honor to present the following Report, which will be found to contain a large amount of valuable information relative to the mining interests of our State; much more, I believe, than has ever been put together in a collective form at any previous time. The Appendix will be found to contain, amongst other items: First. An enumeration of nearly one hundred and fifty mining districts of the State, with such information relative to each as the limited means at my command have enabled me to procure. Second. A catalogue of all the principal minerals hitherto discovered in Nevada, with the localities in which they have been noted. Third. Analyses of ores and waters from various districts in the State. Fourth. A table of quartz mills in the State: and, Fifth. Two articles; one on "The Causes of the Decay of Mining Enterprises in many portions of the State," and the other "On the Early Development of Mining Property;" both of them suggested by circumstances which have come under my personal observation at various times. It is a cause of much regret that the Report is as imperfect as I feel it to be. It is not presented as a complete enumeration of our resources by any means, being little more than the skeleton of what I had hoped to accomplish when I received the appointment of State Mineralogist, in March of the present year. The following is a sketch of what the Report ought to contain, and which I earnestly hope may be accomplished during the Summer of 1867. First. An exhaustive sketch of the Physical Geography of the State, with such information relative to its geology as can be collected during the year. Second. A history of the State, dwelling more particularly on the development of its mineral wealth, the direction that the tide of exploration has taken, etc. Third. An enumeration of all the mining districts of the State, giving under each complete information on the following points, as far as the explorations can furnish them: A. The locality in which the district is situated. B. The date of its discovery. C. A copy of its local laws. D. Its geology. E. The character of the veins and other mineral deposits. F. The character of its ores. G. The facilities for reduction, including wood, water, and fluxes. H. Notices of any other valuable minerals. I. The agricultural resources. J. The amount of work done in the claims. K. The nature and extent of the means of reduction, including mills, furnaces, etc. L. The cost of working ores. M. Cost of sinking shafts, and inclines; and of tunneling. N. The number of men resident in the district. O. A map of the district, on a scale sufficiently large to show the chief features of the country in detail. P. Plans, sections, etc., of mining works. Q. Detailed descriptions of one or more typical mines. Fourth. Analyses of ores, etc. Fifth. Catalogue of the minerals noticed in the State, with the localities in which they are found. Sixth. Catalogue of the collection of minerals in the State Cabinet, with full description of each specimen. Seventh. Record of meteorological observations for the year. Eighth. Figures and descriptions of mining machinery in use in the State for hoisting, pumping, preparing timbers, crushing, concentrating, amalgamating, smelting, etc. Ninth. Appendix, containing communicated suggestions, reports on explorations, and any other papers of interest and value. I am well aware that the compilation of such a work would involve an immense amount of labor, and would be an expensive publication; but its value at the same time would be beyond question. With the necessary means at his disposal, a close approximation might be made by an energetic and enthusiastic worker. In justice to myself, it is necessary that I should explain the difficulties under which I have had to work during the present year, in order that they may be obviated during the coming Session of the Legislature, should that body feel that the objects to be accomplished are worthy of the continuance of the office. The Act creating the office of State Mineralogist, provided for the payment of his salary out of the Mining Fund, which it was hoped would accrue from the Act passed during the last Session of the Legislature, entitled "An Act concerning |