Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1879 — THE NEVADA WONDER. [ARTICLE]

THE NEVADA WONDER.

Enough Salt for All the Market* of the United States. [From the Virginia City (Her.) Enterprise.] Capt. Rhodes, of Esmeralda county, ■who is in this city, is owner of what is known as Rhodes’ salt marsh, but which is a perfect laboratory of mineral wealth. The valley contains 4,140 acres. It is quite level, and is surrounded on all sides with high volcanic mountains. It is situated about fifteen miles northwest of Columbus. In this little valley is a sufficient amount of salt to supply all the markets of the United States, if not the whole world. A foot or two below the surface is found a solid floor of pure rock salt, as firm and transparent as ice. Indeed, when the sand that covers the surface is stripped off, the salt below bears a very close resemblance to a field of ice. In many places little streams of water bubble up through the mass of salt, and very frequently deep pools are found which look just like air-holes in a frozen lake. The salt made at the marsh is perfectly pure. When a tract of ground has been stripped of the surfaoe soil the salt water rises over the bed of rock salt to the depth of a foot or two. Then crystals of salt begin to form on the surface of the water, and as they form they sink to the bottom. If the salt is to be fine, for table use, workman stir these crystals about with shovels as they settle to the bottom, thus breaking them up. For use in working silver ore, coarse salt is as good as fine, and the solid formation may be dug up with picks, if necessary, but the loose crystals are more readily handled, and as much salt of this kind is formed as can be disposed of. Not only are there inexhaustible stores of salt in the little valley, but immense stores of borax. This borax is of the finest quality known, and 2 or 3 cents per pound more can be obtained for it in Europe than for any other borax sent to that market. Splendid specimens of tincal, or natural crystals of borax, are found in the marsh imbedded in the clay near the surface. Immense quantities of sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salt) and sulphate of soda (glauber salt) in a pure state is also found, but the extent of the deposits is not known. Common potash is found in great abundance, and among the curious specimens to be obtained are what are called “ cotton balls ” (boreate of lime) and fibrous crystalline borax. Also there is found an abundance of an unknown mineral. It is something described in none of the books. It does not appear in the shape of crystals, yet has a regular form of its own, presenting the appearance of branches of corals. It is thought that this may be some new salt. A quantity of it will shortly be sent East for examination.