Page 112 - 1915, Springs of CA.

106 SPBINGS OF CALIFORNIA.

Moore tunnel, and forms a prominent ledge from which bowlders have
rolled down to the lower slopes. A specimen of the material was
examined qualitatively by K. C. Wells, who found that it consisted
mainly of calcium and magnesium carbonates, with only small
amounts of silica and water. It is not dolomite but is proba-
bly similar in composition to the material from Phillips Soda
Springs (Napa 8), of which a quantitative analysis is given (p. 162).
It differs chiefly from the latter in being much harder and in contain-
ing very little water. About one-half mile upstream from the Elgin
mine a ledge of onyx marble crosses the creek. This material is of
interest in connection with the hot springs farther downstream, as
it is considered to be a hot-spring formation. The deposit has not
been worked commercially, but a few specimens, of a brown color,
have been made into paper weights and other small articles.
The hot springs near the Elgin mine issue from sediments in which
secondary minerals, especially cinnabar, sulphur, and gypsum, have
formed. In several places the rock has been greatly altered by
solfataric action, and in these places a siliceous sinter has been pro-
duced which resembles that at The Geysers (Sonoma 4, p. 83). The
rock formation is also apparently similar to that at The Geysers,
as it consists of sediments with associated serpentine. Although
notable amounts of efflorescent salts were not observed near the
springs of the Elgin mine, and there are no vapor vents, in several
other respects these hot springs are intermediate in character between
those farther down the creek and The Geysers of Sonoma County.
The water of Sulphur Creek is warm and salty in the neighbor-
hood of the hot springs, and between the Elgin mine and Jones
Hot Springs it contains great numbers of slender, jointed creatures
that attain a length of about 2 inches. These organisms, which
are locally called "duck worms," were also found in two or three
small, warm, salty streams a few miles to the northeast; but they
were not observed in a fresh-water stream that enters Sulphur Creek
between Jones Hot Springs and the Elgin mine nor do they thrive
below Jones Hot Springs, where the water is possibly rendered
uninhabitable to them by tailings from the quicksilver mill opposite
these springs. They were not observed elsewhere in the State. Their
presence is noteworthy, as it appears to be closely connected with
the chemical character of the water.

CRABTREE SPRINGS (LAKE 5).
Crabtree Springs are situated in a narrow part of the canyon of
Rices Fork of Eel River, 14 miles by road northwest of Bartlett
Springs (Lake 9, p. 200). The springs were filed on by Mr. Crabtree
about 1875 and a road was built to the property, but high water soon
washed out the greater part of this road, and for many years the
springs have been accessible only by trail. In 1910 the property
changed ownership, however, and the road was rebuilt.