Blue Lead

Large accumulations of auriferous gravel, the lower parts of which exhibit a characteristic bluish color, in portions of Plumas, Sierra, and Nevada counties, Cal.; so called from the hypothesis that the gravel all belonged to the same lead, formed by the agency of an ancient river that flowed s. transverse to the course of the present streams. Though the observed facts have not confirmed the hypothesis in all respects, the name has been retained in common use. IMG:content-0556.jpg:[graphic]