Gold prospectors Henry Shepherd and Louis Eddenger were hunting gold in an old Spanish mine and noticed a large white formation nearby. They proceeded to file a claim to the general area, went back and started digging, then discovering they had found some type of Borate mineral (Colemanite crystals). They knew that meant a very high-grade borate deposit but didn't know how to mine it, so sold the claim off to Thomas Thorkildsen who owned other mines around California. He formed the "Sterling Borax Company" with others who were interested.
The mine operated from 1908-1918, you can't see any of the remains of the buildings anymore but can see a cut in the rocks in the valley to the left, that was cut through the volcanic rock for a small railroad to take the ore out to the town of Lang. At the begining they were pulling Calcium Borate at a rate of almost $500,000 a day out of the mine.
Part of the waste by-product of the mining was a mineral called "Howlite", discovered by Henry How in 1868 and named by James Dana shortly after. It's only found in a few places, Nova Scotia then found again in Calico, Death Valley, and here in Tick Canyon. Some Howlite crystals have been found in Turkey and Germany. The most common form is irregular nodules, looking somewhat like cauliflower. Here they can be seen all over the waste from the mining.
Howlite (Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5), is mostly white and chunks of it can be seen here and across the street where in making this road, they just moved the waste material down Tick Canyon. Howlite can be used for small carvings or jewelry. Howlite has some veining patterns running around and through it. It can be polished or dyed, sometimes taking the look of Turquoise or Red Coral.
In the Metaphysical world Howlite gems have a super-calming effect and can relieve stress. One of the properties is it can assist in journeying outside the body in dreams. Some believe it relieves insomnia and even strengthens teeth and bones!
As you look at the hillside you can see uphill where the mine was located. The Red-Brown rock outcrops that you see are Basalt which stands out, as mostly what you used to seeing is the Red and Yellowish sandstone of the Vasquez formation.
The following Material were used for Reference:
- UCSB Geology Department
- Crystal-Cure.com
- www.mineralsocal.org
- Mindat.org
- Mineral Explorer 3. 1-10 Pemberton, H.E. (1968) The Minerals of the Sterling Borax Mine.
- Wikipedia
Logging Requirements:
E-Mail me a note with :
1. Type in GC4XMZ3 "Sterlings Borax Mines Howlite" and how many people in your group today
2. What is the average size of the pieces you see laying around of Howlite
3. What happenes to the piece if you mark it with another rock?
4. What color is the veining?
5. Do you think it's a soft rock?