The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-22
NATIONAL INSTITUTE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE.
COPPER MINES, Zee. OF LAKE SUPERIOR By
n. RuGGLEs, lsT LIEUTENANT isT Re-
crMsNr UNITED STATES INFANTRY.
p,,,,o a brief period past have awaited, with
much solcitude, the results Of preliminary and ex-
perimental examinations in the coPper-mining 70
zion in the midst of which il has been charitably
supposed that this post il established.
AT an early period, an English company, under
the direction Of Henry, celebrated among northwest
ern Adventures, just AFTER the conquest Of Canada,
expended a considerable sum in an attempt to work
these Mines especially in tkD vicinity Of the Onton-
agon river. Their etforts-- misdirecsed probably
were entirely unsuccessful and led the total aban-
our revolutionary war; During nearly half a cen-
fury afterwards, little attention appears to have
been given TO the subject.
Not many years since, Captain Chen Leutenant)
James Allen, of the army, and Mr.. n. X. School,
craft, explored 90 tar as TO reviye IN some measure
the interest formerly existing. subsequently, Dr.
Houghton, with admirable perseverance,, explored
and deneated, in general terms, tho characteristic
geological features; vet, Judging from the slight
knowledge possessed the subject, the question Of
mineral wealth was then only presented, mot solved
Indeed, few subjects connected with the mineral
resources OF the United States comprise more ele-
ments Of doubt to the mind Of the geoloeist, than
the character EXTENT and value Of the copper mines,
in the aspect the subject has now assumed. The
material universe, il JEALOUS Of her mineral wealth,
has, in most instances, boarded it securely that
the wish that she had window in her bosom has
often been felt by those engaged in searching for her
treasures Yet in this, on reflection, must admit,
as in other things that Providence il both bountifu
and wise; since in mining, the mental and physical
powers Of man, happily directed, are as successful
in other great industrial pursuits of human econ
omy. Nor DO / consider that this region will prove
an exception to this great providential law Of ma
furo.
About year since was indebted to . friend for
some specimens of the ores of copper, CLEANED,
during the previous summer, from the surrounding
district, while under the superntendance OF General
Walter Cunningham, as commissioner OF MINES
Observation and experiment seemed to prove the
worthlessness of these ores, far as a limited
knowledge of the subject could be trusted as critic
ron; and the saDgune expectations of those in
feres,ed in the subject took color from hopes, rather
than the evidences of reality.
Circumstances, during the last spring, brought
me into more immediate CONTACT with the SUBJECT
and it's locales presenting 1t in it, most prominent
features to the mind. On landing, about the lst OF
June, we found some eight or ten persons, who
had continued in the country during the previous
winter, and to whom am principally indebted for
some particulars Indicating the character and extent
of discoveries previously made
Il appears that during the year 1SAS considera-
BILE number Of ssspdr-vcins" were examined with
more or less care; and that in of them minute
particles of native copper were found imbedded in
cacareous or silicous matrx, oflentimes intermix-
ed with trap-rock and, indeed specimens Of this de-
scription then somewhat rare, and more gener-
ally came from Isle Roynlo, Of which locality they
were esteemed especially characteristic, and only
aglimpse of that tabled shore whore mineral wealth
abounds Il must also be borne in mind that
the celebrated copper rock was borne from its en-
chanted vale the city Of Washington and that the
existence of this apparent anomaly OF nature, az well
der
scented the whole subject of copper mines, under a
new form, to the philosopIic mind. 1t is true that
DIR. Houghton, in his report on the subject mo-
tees some traces of the ores Of copper, such as
copper-black, the carboDates, silicate, &C. Yet
these have mostly escaped the unpractised eye of
the adventurous explorer. isA
Early last spring, almost by accident, az am in
formed small portion of vein was discovered in
the vicinity of Eagle river, about twenty-five miles
southwest Of Copper harbor, and connected, 1t is
reasonably supposed, with vein already known TO
exist in the bed of that river, in the vicinity of which
ii was found. This new discovery a vein about
eleven feet in width, we'll defined, Of which about
seven feet dark silcious trap vein stone, imbed
ling beautiful particles of metallic "copper" possessing
lhe briancy Of wrought gold, varying in size from
q pins head to that Of pea. This vein also con-
tanned silver associated with copper, rendering
many specimens very interesting.
This is the sum total of the knowledge possessed,
apparently, relative to the value and extent of the
mines in this region last spring. now remark,
that tho scate OF copper, called from the slight
examination have been enabled to give it, appears
to consist of an aggregation, mixture of an inn
pure oxide with tnge of the carbonates, in a we'll
dused matrix Of slick. 1t is said that it has been
found, on analysis, to contain traces Of gold. In
deed it is my conviction, that the peculiar brillancy
and beauty Of many of the particles of metallic
copper, even after exposure to the atmosphere, is
attributable to gold disseminated, and occasionally
other metals. This opinion, it is true, needs the
confirmation Of well-directed analysis.t
The foregoing considerations, viz: the general
diffusion of native copper in silicious rock and in
veinstone of mixed character, the peculiar charac-
teristics of the slcate just described, and the abb
sence Of the more fusible ores of copper, COM
bined with the volcanic origin and aspects of
the district presented to the view, in great meas
are confirmed an impression previously enter
tained, that the ignition producing and subse-
quently modifying the metallic ores in this
region had reduced most il not all of them, and dis
seminated the metallic bases throughout the trap and
senitic rock formation in such manner AZ to prove
Antrey unavailable to the industry enterprise of
man.
About this period nm enterprisng company,t com
Irisng citizens of Boston, Detroit, and 81. Louis,
made preparations for exploring and proving q
portion of the mines under their CONTROL and espe-
claily the vein already noticed at or near Eagle
river. Their operations have been conducted with
ability by Mr. Gratiot, who has been long engaged
in the lead mines of Wisconsin. The vein has been
opened some twenty or thirty feet lower than the
first discovery disclosed, and the proportion of ma
tive copper and silver has increased 80 much as to
render many of the specimens truly beautiful.
It is supposed that the copper will average from
6-l5 TO 1920 per centum, and the silver from
to per cent, and that, in order to separate
the "copper" 1t will be necessary TO reduce the trap
rock ma'rix to powder by machinery, and subse-
guently washing and fuxing the residuum. With
regard the silver entertain the opinion that the
proportion will increase to such an extent as to
render it of material importance; thus far, this anci
results.
II is probable that gaena (sulphuret of lead) will
be found the most economical and efficient re-agent
in extracting the silver from this and such other
Dress as may from time to time present themselves,
Wisconsin, and, indeed, not distant from this point,
10 the eastward, on the southern shore of Lake SUI
perior the most favorable indications exist of an