The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-03

We have just seen some beautiful spe-
cimens of zinc of extraordinary purity
brought to the city by Mr.. Gay. In
Europe, the impurity ofthis metal, from its
various combinations with sulphur and
carbon, is such as to render the purifying
process very expensive. The samples
exhibited by MIR. Gay are from the mines
in New Jersey. They are thus described
by the New York Eveaing Post:
ZINC AND CoPpER MINING IN New JERsEY.-The
Sussex Zinc andCopper Mining and Manufacturing
| Company have obtained a charter and grant OF
about two hundred and forty of land in the
county of Sussex, New Jersey, about fifteen miles
/ from the Morris Canal, near the town of Monroe,
| for mining purposes. Their grant covers the most
| valuable and productive mines in this country,
and the only one in the world where the red oxide
zinc procured in sufficient quantity for practical
| purposes. The locality has been known for many
years. 1t was opened by Lord Sterling, who first
opened the iron mines in Orange county, and con-
structed the first furnace there He worked it, pro-
badly, tor the copper IL contained long ago that
now there are forest trees foot in diameter grow
ing on the debris thrown out then. As zinc was an
article not much known at that time, and not in de-
mand, the copper must have been the object.
About ten years ago the United States govern
ment, under advice, worked these mines to obtain
zinc to use IN the composition OF brass for the con-
struction of the standard weights and measures of
the country The zinc was known to be Of such
excellent quality, that it procured without
gard to expense, for the purposes above mentioned.
The present company, however, under the man
agemcnt and direction of the skiful chemists
and intercollegiate have at length succeeded in
bringing their plans to perfection, and in obtaining
all the valuable economic minerals that the locality
affords.
The mineral crops out, at the summit of ridge
hot ah.t
eighths of mile in length. The removal of a
very slight covering of extraneous material lays
open the With this red oxide of lime is found
the mineral called Franklenite, mingling chemi-
cally and mechanically. This Franklenite is a
species OF iron ore, which, found here, yields
iron of the finest quality, and fully equal, in tenac
ity and hneness, to the Swedish, from which the
English manufacture their best steel. 1t is in veins
of from eight to twenty five feet wide, and lies be-
tween two veins of secondary limestone, the ave-
rage depth of which is reckoned, by biologists,
| about 1000 feet.
Taking the average of the ore, the zinc and
iron are nearly equal in quantity. In some veins
the zinc predominates, and in other veins the iron
Besides these valuable productions, the white
ide of zinc is manufactured also directly from the
ore, in quality superior to any ever made, and
white as the whitest snow. This forms of the
best paints known, being entirely free from all
poisonous qualities, and remaining for years
pure as when first put on. The French have made
use OF this oxide as pigment; but they have been
obliged TO first manufacture the ore, and then re
duce that to the white oxide at much greater
pense and without obtaining 80 pure an article
The sulphate of zinc, for medicinal purposes, has
been produced by DR.. Chiffon from this ore.
The company constructed great variety of fur
naces before they succeeded in form that
most advantageous. They now heat the to a
moderate red heat when the red oxide becomes of
the consistency of paste and the metal ID passed
through a sieve, and the zinc separated from the
iron. The iron in the condition in which il is
left at that stage is capable of being used. but by
passing through another process, is rendered fit for
the rolling mill.
Some of the iron that saw, when beat cold
did not crack or fracture, thus showing its great
tenacity and ductility.
The zinc has been manufactured by this compa-
ny into spoons, forks, covers, &c II has been
rolled thin as foil, and still presents smooth
and unbroken a surface platinum. II has also
been drawn into very fine wire, ductile as copper.