Miners in the Colorado Desert of Imperial County and southeastern San Diego
County, California marked mine claims with stone cairns. In surveys along the
Cargo Muchacho and Chocolate Mountains of Imperial County in 1975, I
encountered numerous stacked rock cairns that were approximately 48-inches high, about
20-inches at teh base, and thinner at top. Similar, if not narrower cairns were
observed around Table Mountain and Jacumba Mountain in San Diego County. Most
of the cairns contained Prince Albert tobacco cans or glass jars with mining
claim information. I think all of these dated from the early 20th century.

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.