OCR Text |
Show 107 associated frequently with cerassite, galena, and malachite. These ores are chiefly deposits, no true fissure- veins having as yet been developed. Similar ores occur on the Sierra Madalena, ( Socorro mines,) together with frequent deposits of argentiferous cerassite. True fissure- veins of argentiferous galena occur at La Joya on the Rio Grande Extension, and valuable copper- mines are worked in the Burro Mountains, at Santa Rita, and on the Rio San Francisco in Arizona. Silicate, carbonate, red oxide, and sulphide of copper are the principal forms in which the copper is encountered. Colorado and New Mexico abound in mineral springs. These springs may be classified, as to their thermal conditions, into hot and cold, or, according to their prominent compounds, into soda, iron, salt, sulphur, lime, and siliceous springs. Hot salt- springs occur on the Rio San Francisco in Arizona; hot lime and soda springs at Ojos Galientes on the Jemez Greek, New Mexico; cold soda springs at Caiion City, Col.; iron springs on the Arkansas River ( Carlisle), aud in the Greenhorn Mountain Range a sulphur- spring. Spectroscopic investigations have always been combined with the . analysis, and thus the presence of lithia was detected in most of the classes of springs above mentioned. NATURAL- HISTORY BRANCH. The force at disposal has been directed with a view to the accomplishment of the largest possible results, which have proven entirely satisfactory. Considering the character and extent of the area entered, the attendant expense has been comparatively small. The subjoined report from Acting Assistant Surgeon fl. C. Yarrow, U. S. Army, sets forth the objects, operations, and results more fully. REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. C. YARROW, U. S. ARMY. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS WEST OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN, Washington, D. C, June 30,1874. SIR : I have the honor to submit the following brief rhum6 of the results of operations in the branch of natural history of the survey under your charge, during the past year, introducing incidentally facts bearing upon the results of the two previous years. Such a sketch would appear particularly desirable at this time, since as yet, excepting in two instances, the natural- history branch has been unable to publish either notes or descriptions of the specimens collected and studied during the period in question, notwithstanding many hundred pages of manuscript have long been prepared. The general plan for studying the natural history of the Western Territories has been to collect everything calculated to throw any light on the subject and add to our somewhat limited knowledge of the geographical distribution of animals and plants, and afterward to submit such collections to specialists for study, and a report of the results of their investigations; the specimens finally being presented to the National Museum at the Smithsonian Institution, by which establishment they are distributed to different institutions of a similar character throughout the world. |