The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-06


rhoretc woods and minerals.
Dr. Jackson then an interesting address ION tho
copper region Of Lake Superior" brief description,
said Of that tract of country might prove unner
esng to tho scientific community at time when public
attention is towards that country and mining enterprise
about be engaged in by many companies and indivdu
ais Some had too exalted views with regard the value
of mines while others were as much in error in over
Of capital should, however be distinctly detood,
that he who purchased mine bought only workshop
containing the material which to be rendered
valuable by labor and skill requisite then in the
miner that he should understand his business know
the extent and value of his stock far 1t could
ceraincd and how to convert it at the cheapest rate
into merchandise of value 1t often happened that the
extent and value of metaliferous might be ascer
tanned by measurement and calculation but fire.
quently only rude explanation could be obtained
o. the Irregularities of the veins Of and the
Hapy OF the lode to change in character Geological
science should come to aid in Investigations Of this
kind, and it would be well if attention paid
OF metaherous ores Geology had been reproached
for not giving adequate information this subject
and practical miner. The subject was one of
much practical and scientific interest, and he would
therefore commend 1t to the special attention of
those who might have occasion to explore localities
where the phenomena alluded to might be studied Che
misy would also take its part in researches of this cha
racter for nature often presented chemical facts very
different from those coming under observation in the la
boratory and others, fine illustrations of well known
principles He might have occasion to refer to this SUBJ
ect hereafter, and would pass directly to the
alteration OF the mineral region Of Lake Superior On
they left the fosserous limestone, which occurred
abundantly farther to the souhwestward the shores
of Lake Huron and to the red and grey sandsone
and conglomeraes which bordered Lake Superior. The
falls Sau st. Marie produced by the discharge
Of the waters of Lake Superior over slightly inclined
sheets of rod sandstone which dip towards the lake. and
form seres of shelves slips which the water
rushes with great velocity producing roaring rapid Of
and the distance thence to the lake about mile It
ntempated to cut ship canal from the lake to the
h
ed sandstone, will be easy whilst the rocky walls will
give to the canal embankments The ground
around the falls is covered with myrads of large blocks
of rounded sienite pophery traprocks and sandstone
Thcre are specimens Of the rocks bordering the lake
which were mostly brought to their present To-
over more elevated land than has been covered
have beon evidently two or more paroxsmal elovs.
tons of its borders subsidences of its bottom for
there two well marked ancient shores Of the lake
from one to two miles inland The first n the gravcy
bed Immediately behind the present shore the other is
the base Of the hills two miles further from the
slender white bech the first shore the space be-
tween this and tho other is dark Doggy swamp covered
hemlock and pine trees On the hills further back
there is good soil bearing heavy mixed growth of
rock maple, yellow berch, larch, and Norway pines.
These forests like those in the eastern part of Maine
and will furnish abundant supplies of charcoal for the fur
that will be erected for the fusion and sme
ing Of copper and other metals Limestone does not
the borders of the Lake but large veins of caca
spar found in sufficient quantity to supply all
for building purposes The sand stone is an excellent
material for the construction Of furnaces, and may
Thi. red Sandstone observed dip generally towards
the Lake. at least as far observations extended
At the outlet Of the the red and
strata alternating with each other The strata then dip
towards the lake. to the southwest ls degrees, and
run ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS At Eagle harbor the sand
stone dips to tho north norhwes twenty five degrees
but still towards the lake this generally the
towards the lake entirely around should be disposed
to regard az basin of depressonfor we could not
raising Of rim round this great sheet Of water. At
Copper Harbor the rocks conglome rate,
and trap dykes which ntersec it. In the former consi
derable quantities Of chrysoceller or hydrous .cae of
copper occur and has long been known az the Green
Rock The black oxide Of copper and brown sliceous
ide also hcrea vein having bcenpened during
winter at the barrack Of the troops Fort wilkins At
this place the trap rocks show themselves in large mas
found at the uncure of these rocks is filed with small
but very perfectly formed agaes and nodules Of
agates hence the name of the harbor From Agate to
Eagle harbor, cliffs of conglomerate and abutments OF
native copper, and the former large veins Of cacareous
spar occasionally strung together by amens Of native
these veins six feet under and may running
out into deep water in the lake At Eagle Harbor,
and copper, and fament. of the metal interspersed
The dalholto chrystas often contain scales Of bright
red metallic copper. Veins of prehne very album
copper One of these veins Sample No 81 is four feet
wide, and every chrystal of tho prehnte contains
scale Of copper thin gold foil and perfectly bright
II is certainly very remarkable that all the veins min
erals which have examined in the trap region,
tain more or less metallic copper either in fine particles
or in hlaments and Jumps. DR.. J. went at great
length in giving details of the mineral wealth Of this
region and such statistical details useful to the mi
ner He could not form satisfactory opinion to the
origin ofths copper; its copious silver
agreat difficulty but considering every thing he dis
its present state since some very remote period wher
the shell of the globe first broken up by the actor
cast in their present FORMS In conclusion he
his doubt Of the permanent fertility Of these mines;
native copper when found in masses was suspicious
could not be exercised by capitalists in listening pro
ects for working these mines before they made invest
| Prof. SHEPARD struck, during DR.. Jacksons ad
dress with the statements he made and the richness Of
the geological specimens presented by him. He also
fully concurred with him to the danger of overes
! mating the value OF these mines The appearance OF
native copper suspicious and he feared that disap
pointmen would follow any incautous enterprise in
gard to tho working of them 1t to be recollected
that where tap rocks occurred in ridges of sandstone
copper found; but it not known that such local
ties always presented abundant Mines and in this
these rocks would in all probability prove trap" to
| sPREspESr-Perhaps you underestimate them, PROBES
g. lest you should have too many competitors in
mining % III,
not strong enough to induce to give advice to
friend; contrary to their interests il did So it wou
| in this case. (Laughter)
Dr. Jackson added that before visiting the region de
scribcd his views similar to those Of Professo
Shepard and was impressed with the unpromsing nature
of the appearance Of native copper. In the West Indie
there never rich found in any place whore ma
tive copper occurred yet he say that the extraor
binary richness of the veins of copper found in hs
copper region of Lake Superior, made case not en-
| tircly parallel with others.
Tho PRESIDENT after looking at his watch asked what
else was to be brought up, the hour Of adjournment
| was ut hand.
Several members having replied, topics interesting
| to themselves,
| The President read the programme provided by the
business committee for Monday, and limited the desira
| blencss Of punctual attendance.
Professor RooERs also hoped that members would b.
regular in their attendance. From the programme jus
read, it would 10 perceived that there two papers
on Oregon There some ground for saying they hat
already occupied it, and there several other i'm
porant territories for their joint occupation Monday
he expected to them all at their posts at the cxpa
| ton Of this one days notice. Uaughter)
The Society adjourned TO Monday morning.
| New Haven.