Page 57 - 1915, Springs of CA.

HOT SPRINGS. 53

extended-from the springs southward and westward 2 miles to the
Paradise Mountain gold mine.
The water issues on slopes 500 feet above the desert floor, but
evaporation in the region is so great that a considerable alkaline
deposit has formed at the springs. The water rapidly corroded the
pipe leading to the mine.
A prospect drift exposes iron-stained graphic granite about 40 yards
above the warmest spring, and there is a ledge of crumpled, quartzitic
rock near by. It seems probable that these dikes or ledges may act
as dams that here bring water to the surface from moderate depths,
at a locality where intrusive rocks have produced an abnormal tem-
perature gradient.

JORDAN HOT SPRINGS (TULABE 7).
All of the thermal springs that have been thus far described issue
from granitic rocks, are not highly mineralized, and have not formed
notable spring deposits. In the higher parts of the Sierra, however,
hot waters that do contain considerable amounts of dissolved solids,
issue at several places. Jordan Hot Springs, which are situated on a
tributary of the upper Kern River, have formed prominent deposits
of lime carbonate, the principal one of which is shown in Plate VIII,
B (p. 124), and the water is noticeably hard. About 14 springs issue
in a little flat along the banks of Ninemile Creek. Four of them have
been excavated to form bathing pools, and several others are used
as drinking springs. The water of the latter is distinctly carbonated,
but that of the larger springs tastes mainly of calcium or sodium.
The principal springs that are used range in temperature from 95°
to 123° and yield from 1 to 10 gallons a minute.
The springs are named after the man who first blazed a trail across
this part of the mountains, and although the locality is remote, there
are usually parties of campers at the springs throughout the summer.
A grove of trees and a convenient meadow make it a very good camp-
ing ground, and an old log cabin and rude tables show that it has
long been a campers' resort.
In connection with the deposit of lime carbonate at Jordan Hot
Springs may be mentioned a deposit of this material at Natural
Bridge, about 10 miles in a direct line west of north from these
springs, in an area of lava overlying granitic rocks. There are
only a few pools of slightly carbonated water near Natural Bridge
now, but springs of considerable size apparently issued there at a
former time. On the eastern side of Kern River canyon, about 20
miles in a direct line west of south from the Jordan springs, there is
also an extensive deposit of lime carbonate beneath a capping of lava.
Cool springs of small flow issue along the slopes at this place.