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Home > California > CA - Quarry Links & Photographs > Alameda County
“At present all of the sandstone produced in Alameda is used as macadam, rubble, or concrete. Years ago two quarries produced building stone, but they have been abandoned.”
"Alameda.
Area: 843 square miles
Population: 344,177 (1920 census)."Alameda County, while in no sense one of the 'mining counties,' comes twentieth on the list with a value of mineral products for 1919 of $1,304,685, an increase from 1918 total, which was $1,173,535. The mineral resources of this county include asbestos, brick, chromite, clay, coal, limestone, magnesite, manganese, pyrite, salt, soapstone, and miscellaneous stone.
"Commercial production for 1919 was as follows:"
(Headings for the information below are: Substance, Amount, and Value.)
Chromite, 80 tons, $1,264
Brick and tile, ---, $369,778
Clay (pottery), 5,011 tons, $12,127
Pyrite, 8,978 tons, $42,902
Salt, 157,751 tons, $552,178
Stone, miscellaneous, ---, $309,572
Other minerals,* ---, $16,864
(Total value) $1,304,685(* Includes magnesium salts, manganese, and potash.)
| Alameda County, 1916 Map, from California Mineral Production for 1919 (with County Maps), Bulletin No. 88, by Walter W. Bradley, California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco: California State Printing Office, 1920, pp. 189. |  |
Alameda County
"The geology of the western part of Alameda County has been mapped in the San Francisco, Concord, and Hayward quadrangles (Lawson, A. C. 14). Freshwater limestone occurs sparingly in the Orinda, Moraga, and Siesta formations (Pliocene) but in such small deposits in this county that most of them are not shown on the map. One small body on the county line about three-quarters of a mile south of Grizzly Peak is at the contact between the Moraga and Siesta beds. In a paper by Lawson and Palache, (02, pp. 383, 388), these deposits (principally in Contra Costa County) are described as 'compact, light gray rocks of uniform texture.Locally they contain numerous detrital fragments indicating a shallow-water origin for the deposit. They can scarcely be regarded as other than chemically-precipitated deposits although the conditions which determined the precipitation cannot be stated positively.'
"Some small travertine deposits from mineral springs were noted in the Berkeley Hills north of Berkeley but were not shown on the geologic map as they were believed to have been moved by landslides, and not in their original positions. So far as known, such depots have not been worked in Alameda County. Geologically, they are of the Recent series.
"The earliest lime production in the county was made at Mission San Jose, until the local supply of wood fuel was exhausted. Later this locality furnished some marl for agricultural use. There has also been a small production of limestone and lime from a deposit midway between Sunol and Pleasanton. More important than any other deposits in the county are the beds of oyster shells in the southern arm of San Francisco Bay. From 1931 to 1936 California Chemical Corporation and its successor, California Chemical Company, produced lime and shells at their Newark plant. In 1936 the latter company was succeeded by Westvaco Chlorine Products Company who built a plant in 1938 reported to have cost $1,500,000. Sea-water bittern from salt works and oyster shells from the bay are used to make magnesite. Bromine, chemical lime, shells, and gypsum are also produced."
(* Please note this list does not include sand or all gravel quarries.)
Mine name: La Vista Quarry; Operator: East Bay Excavating Company; Address & County: 28814 Mission Blvd., Hayward, CA 94544, Alameda County; Phone: (510) 538-5080; Latitude: 37.64, Longitude: +122.05, and Mine location number 2; Mineral commodity: Stone.
"Realty Syndicate, owner, and operated by the county. In Sec. 34, T. 4 S., R. 2 W. The quarry was opened twenty-three years ago. The rock is a hard, flinty, red jasper, interbedded with soft seams of red clay. This quarry furnishes all the macadam for Newark road district."
"Pacific Land and Investment Company's Quarry. In Sec. 10, T. 5 S., R. 2 W. The quarry formerly furnished a large amount of ballast for the Southern Pacific Railroad, but is idle at present. The north end of the quarry shows beds of red flinty chert, some siliceous shale, and red clay; the south end, some soft sandstone and shales; also small outcrops of manganese ore."
"Spring Construction Company's Quarry; J. E. Porter, superintendent; office, University Savings Bank, Berkeley. Located on Greenwood Terrace, about one half mile east of the reservoir in North Berkeley. The company is driving a 250-foot two-compartment tunnel, to connect by an upraise with the present floor of the old quarry. The rock will be broken down in the quarry and transported through the tunnel to the crushing plant on the hillside below. A Gates crusher is driven by electric power. The rock in the main quarry face varies, in a short distance, from hard, siliceous shale to a highly metamorphosed rock of coarse, sandy texture. It is to be used for macadam and concrete work. Twenty-five men are employed."
"The earliest stone building in San Francisco was constructed in 1854; dressed granite from China was used. Soon after this, granite from Folsom came on the market. In the sixties quarries were opened, on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay to furnish a bluish sandstone, and near Petaluma in Sonoma County for the production of basalt. During the eighties and nineties light-brown sandstone was quarried at Benicia in Solano County, and near San Jose in Santa Clara County. Sandstone of other colors was marketed from quarries near Alameda, Livermore, and Hayward in Alameda County during the same period, and some stone was imported."
"Collins deposit is reported to show a small outcrop of crystalline limestone on a hilltop in sec. 30, T. 2 S., R. 3 E., M. D. a mile or more southwest of Altamont. There is no record of work on it."
"Altamont Sandstone Quarry, in Sec. 28, T. 2 S., R. 3 E.; H. T. Knowles, 30 California street, San Francisco, owner; one quarter of a mile southeast of Altamont station. It was operated until 1888, the principal shipments being to San Francisco, where it was used in the Odd Fellows' cemetery. The stone is a massive, buff-colored sandstone, with occasional hard nodules in face."
"Hays School Quarry, near Hays school, in Brooklyn Township. It is a small quarry, the product of which is used locally for roads. The rock is much altered and contains considerable lime. It is idle at present."
"McLaughlin lithographic-stone quarry is in SW ¼ SW ¼ sec. 35, T. 1 S., R. 2 W., M.D., close to the Contra Costa County line. It is about 8 miles north of Hayward by the Cull Canyon road.
"This quarry (Laizure, C. McK. 29, pp. 433-434) was opened about 1905, exposing a vein about 5 feet thick for 25 feet along the strike. A test by Schmidt Lithographing Company indicated it might be used for 'penning', in which the design is painted on the stone instead of being cut. The stone exposed by the shallow work had some properties of a good lithographic stone but was not quite fine-grained and uniform enough for engraving. So far as known no recent work has been done on it. The outcrop extends for 570 feet, striking northwest."
"The earliest stone building in San Francisco was constructed in 1854; dressed granite from China was used. Soon after this, granite from Folsom came on the market. In the sixties quarries were opened, on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay to furnish a bluish sandstone, and near Petaluma in Sonoma County for the production of basalt. During the eighties and nineties light-brown sandstone was quarried at Benicia in Solano County, and near San Jose in Santa Clara County. Sandstone of other colors was marketed from quarries near Alameda, Livermore, and Hayward in Alameda County during the same period, and some stone was imported."
"J. D. Collins, Livermore, Owner; in Sec. 30, T. 2 S., R. 3 E. A small outcrop of crystallized limestone occurs on summit of hill, 6 miles northeast of Livermore. Undeveloped."
"Gray Eagle Talc Claim; A. J. Merchant, Livermore, owner. In Sec. 32, T. 4 S., R. 4 E., 20 miles southeast of Livermore. The talc is light green in color, and outcrops in several places in small seams in serpentine. The claim has been opened by a small pit."
"The earliest stone building in San Francisco was constructed in 1854; dressed granite from China was used. Soon after this, granite from Folsom came on the market. In the sixties quarries were opened, on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay to furnish a bluish sandstone, and near Petaluma in Sonoma County for the production of basalt. During the eighties and nineties light-brown sandstone was quarried at Benicia in Solano County, and near San Jose in Santa Clara County. Sandstone of other colors was marketed from quarries near Alameda, Livermore, and Hayward in Alameda County during the same period, and some stone was imported."
"Mission District Quarry; A. S. Escobar, owner, and operated by the county. On Sunol road, one mile above its intersection with Mission San Jose-Niles road. The rock is a black shale, recemented by lime and gypsum."
"Mission lime marl deposit is about a quarter of a mile east of Mission San Jose and outcrops at the base of a small hill, where some work has been done in an open cut. Other exposures nearby are reported. Although some production was made years ago, the property has not produced during the past 20 years.
Nitrogen, 0.46 (percent)
Calcium carbonate, 83.10 (percent)
Lime phosphate, 0.59 (percent)
Potash (soluble), 0.46 (percent)
Undetermined, 15.39 (percent)
"Berkeley Rock Company's Quarry; Berkeley Rock Co., J. T. Cochran, manager, Bacon Block, Oakland. This quarry is one quarter of a mile beyond the end of Broadway, Oakland, and is reached by College avenue. The deposit is a much altered trap-rock, and is used for concrete, macadam, and gutter rock. The company produces about 250 yards a day."
"Blair Quarries; The Realty Syndicate, 1160 Broadway, Oakland, owner. On Moraga road, just east of Mountain View Cemetery, and about 4 miles from the city hall. The main quarry is located near the summit of the hill, about 100 yards up the slope north of the road. It was opened in 1901. The rock is a chert (phthanite), mostly red, some yellowish, and is extensively used as road-dressing in Piedmont district and in the cemetery. The company is opening a 'blue rock' quarry, of metamorphosed sandstone, on the south side of the road, and is tunneling in quest of rock for a quarry 50 yards west of and below the larger Blair quarry. Twenty men are at work."
Ill. No. 135. Blair Quarry No. 1 (Macadam Rock), Oakland, Alameda County.
"Blake and Bilger Company's Quarry (formerly the Oakland Paving Company's Quarry); F. W. Bilger, secretary and treasurer, Central Bank Building, Fourteenth and Broadway, Oakland. Located on McAdam street, just off Broadway. It was opened about 1870, and has been operated almost constantly since. It is the largest quarry in Alameda County. The rock is typical 'blue rock,' as termed by the trade, and is a metamorphosed sandstone, with lime carbonate in seams. It is used for macadam, concrete, and gutter rock. Two Gates crushers handle all the rock. Two steam percussion drills are in operation. From 60 to 80 quarrymen are employed."
Ill. No. 136. Blake & Bilger Quarry (Formerly Oakland Paving Co.), McAdam Street, Oakland.
"Broadway Quarry, on both sides of Broadway, near Hudson street, Oakland. The rock is a soft, friable, buff-colored sandstone, interbedded with soft, slate-colored shales. Idle in October, 1904."
"Crusher Quarry; E. B. & A. L. Stone Company, 900 Broadway, Oakland. Near their crushing plant on Laundry Farm; opened about 1899. Reddish, decayed rock is hauled from face without crushing, and used for sidewalks, etc."
"Curran Quarry; John Curran, School street, owner. This was formerly the O'Brien Quarry, and is on Maple avenue, Fruitvale District. The rock is termed 'red cement gravel, and is a very much altered rock, recemented by a red clay. Used as a top dressing for roads and walks."
"Diamond Canon Quarry (Heyland Quarry); Hutchinson Company, 401 Fourteenth street, Oakland, owner. There are two quarries; in the upper one the rock is a hard, medium-grained, gray sandstone; in the lower quarry face in the canon, 100 yards below the road, is a flinty, dark-colored, metamorphosed sandstone. The crushing plant is abandoned and badly out of repair."
"Easton & Wilson Quarry; Clark Avery, at quarry, owner. On Lincoln avenue, 1 mile from Diamond P. O. It was opened about 1899 and worked intermittently for two years. The rock, a blue metamophosed sandstone, occurs in boulders. Large quantities of soft sandstone and slaty shales made so much waste that it was unprofitable to work at the time. Two other small openings show similar characteristics."
"Fruitvale White Gravel Mine (Packard Quarry); George Mack, in charge. A small quarry at the end of Maple avenue, Fruitvale District. A disintegrated quartz rock, with a clay cementing material in seams; used as a top dressing for roads and walks."
"Leona Heights Quarry; E. B. & A. L. Stone Company, 900 Broadway, Oakland, owner; G. H. Luchs, superintendent. It was formerly the California Improvement Company' quarry. It is on Laundry Farm, on the summit of a prominent ridge, one mile north of Mills College. The rock is a fine-grained basalt, and is used for macadam and concrete. The quarry face is about 125 feet high. Two gravity trams, one 2500 feet long and the other 1200 feet, take the rock from the quarry to the crusher at the termini of the railroads, both narrow and broad gauge. About 300 yards a day are rushed by two Gates crushers. Electricity is used for power. thirty-five men are at work in the quarry."
According to Steven Mix, the Leona Rock quarries, which opened about 1909, are located "a mile up the hill at the present site of Merritt College. Three aerial and cable tramways hauled rock from the quarries, across the Observatory hill, and down into Laundry Farm Canyon to the Car barn site. From there, the railroad then hauled the rock down from the hills. It was used as macadam for local roadways." If you visit the area, you can still see the impressive concrete bunker. This article also mentions the now-closed Gallagher and Burk Quarry. Please use the link above to go to Steven Mix's web site for more history on these quarries.
Mine name: Leona Quarry; Operator: Gallagher & Burk, Inc.; Address & County: 7100 Mountain Blvd., Oakland, CA 94605; Phone: (510) 635-5200; Latitude: 37.78, Longitude: -122.16, and Mine location number: Map No. 3; Mineral commodity: Stone.
"Mills College Quarry; same owner (as the Leona Heights Quarry: E. B. & A. L. Stone Company, 900 Broadway, Oakland). Near the college grounds; opened about 1892. The rock is a red gravel and clay mixture, and is used as top dressing for garden and side walks, without crushing. Electric trains, both broad and narrow gauge, enter this and the 'Crusher Quarry.'"
"Piedmont Paving Company's Quarry; C. D. Bates, Jr., secretary, Macdonough Building, Fourteenth street and Broadway, Oakland. About three fourths of a mile above the head of Lake Merritt and one fourth of a mile from Wildwood avenue. It was opened in 1878 by the Alameda Macadamizing Company, and reopened by the present management about 1892. The rock is a grained, metamorphosed sandstone, bluish in color, locally termed 'blue rock.' It is used chiefly for macadam, but some is utilized for rubble and ballast."
| Ill. No. 137. One face of Piedmont Paving Company's Quarry, Oakland. |  |
"Ransome Construction Company's Quarry; office, 473 Fourteenth street, Oakland. This quarry is on the Old Fish Ranch road, about 5 ½ miles from the Oakland City Hall. It was opened in April, 1904. A tramway 600 feet long carries rock from the quarry face to the crusher at side of road. The rock is a fine-grained basalt, and is used for macadam and concrete. Some gutter rocks are sorted out. The rock is hauled to Oakland and Berkeley by wagon. Eighteen quarrymen were at work in October, 1904."
Red Rock Quarry, located in Oakland, owned by W. H. Maxwell.
"Syndicate Quarry; The Realty Syndicate, 1160 Broadway, Oakland, owner. Located on south side of Buckeye avenue, half a mile northeast of the Catholic cemetery. It was opened about 1901, and has been worked intermittently. The rock is a jasper (phthanite), similar to that in the Blair quarry."
"Eliot Gravel Pit; Southern Pacific Railroad Company, owner. One and three fourths miles east of Pleasanton. The pit is half a mile long and about 300 yards wide, and is operated as gravel is needed for ballast or concrete. The cars are loaded by steam shovel."
"Pleasanton deposit is midway between Sunol and Pleasanton on the Western Pacific Railroad. Some lime was burned there about 20 years ago and sold for use on land. No production has been reported in recent years."
"Farwell Sandstone Quarry; Wm. Farwell, Berkeley, owner. In Rocky Brook Canon, a tributary of Niles Canon. Idle since 1898. Last used in foundation of Masonic Home, between Niles and Decoto."
"Estudillo Quarry; J. H. Ravekas, owner; at present under lease to the E. B. & A. L. Stone Company, who are preparing to reopen it. Three fourths of a mile from center of San Leandro, at southeast corner of Estudillo and Grand avenues. The stone is an altered basaltic rock, much fractured and with serpentine in seams."
"San Leandro Quarry; E. B. & A. L. Stone Co., 900 Broadway, Oakland, owner. South and across the canon from the dam at foot of Lake Chabot, and about 2 miles east of San Leandro. It was opened in 1886 by the present owner. The rock is a regular 'blue rock' - a metamorphosed sandstone. At present the overburden, a red rock (jasper), covers the face of the old quarry by an immense slide. The original quarry is abandoned, only the jasper rock from the talus slope being used as a sidewalk material."
"Sunol Road Quarry, 2 ¼ miles from Mission San Jose, and 3 ¾ miles from Sunol, on west side of road. The rock is a hard, shaly, buff-colored sandstone. The quarry is idle.)"
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