Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-05-29
For the Grant County Herald.
INNING in the Lower Magnetism
Limestone.
II.

Limestone.
NUMBER1r.
,Nr. Editor Perhaps there is no 9TH
.r class Of operatives as much exposed
the temptation of indulging in fanci-
HI calculations on matters pertaining to
heir calling as miners, that is mining
Izdyenturers while on the other hand
sad disappointments are SO frequently in
i4icted that both prematureiy Matched
put theories ana visionary schemes are
doomed to receive timely checks /; and
liter ali the ideas and conclusions of a
refully reasoning practical miner Ohio
nassisted by thorough geological trail
ling )may not be unacceptable to his fell
9w craftsman, OF even the scientific in
irer and the specializing capitalist
lcouraged by this reflection and by
faW partial cotnmendation of my late
Communication on the above subject,
Geuture to continue my remarks Oh the
same.
In my last | expressed an opinion that
4 he inferior strata Of lime stone present.
la fine field for enlightened enterprise,
Supported Of course, by a proper share
capital. 1t is only right that | should
Eyc you some Of my reasons for this as
&mption. AS the strata under consid-
ration are so far unexplored, with the
Exception Of the punctures, made on their
Enlsce, already described, and some
|orospecting on the west side of the Mis-
4s,ippi. to all Of which nothing hew has
een added up to the present time, it is
knpossibie to demonstrate from expert
|face, and it only remains for us 30 draw
1ncrences from analogy.
The two main questions which the
f5asilerate adgenturer' will ask before
Fy ending much money and labor in
\ new place, ere, frst-Is there any pro-
o4biiity Of the existence of large depos-
Us Of ore in the place selected and Sc
r ,a4'y.-IS the ground and situation of
That description which would make the
outlay profitable one, and the suisse
ient labor remnnerativc after discoye-
les may have been made These ques-
ions | sill attempt TO answer Gas APP
led to our ground as far as my expe-
enc and logic will enable me.
The lead ore found in the lower mag
csan limestone is undoubtedly indigo
ou', and much of it in stu, in place.
Ehny superficial miners are in the habit
calling all mineral which is not found
Irregular veins, by the familiar name of
l1at," probably because there is no bet
4 sr term at hand. Some geologist Of au-
o'ity ought 10 Introduce a distin otive
s,n tor those isolated specimens found
masses Of rock which show no evil
cnce Of ever having been disturbed in
n lr relative position, since their form
"o. OF such specimens the Hans Ma
b.. Prospects furnish an abundance. |
ave found crystals the size Of hazel
n and less completely enclosed in the
ard limestone; others firmly attached
h. Il; aud others again, generally Of
|b9oaling shape and smooth, encased in
pockets, which had no visible communi-
zion with tile opening. Pieces of min
rrJ, frequently of large size, fused with,
r grown 10 The flint Gas the pharse
4 Is ana embedded in it, are found in
plenty. accommodating themselves TO the
aqe Of The flint. Samples are album
@t which would lead the observer to
4me o The conclusion, that the mineral
was Younger than its matrix, to which a
seo!'cical age can be assign ed. All this
cues TO show that the rock is the gene
rating stratum. The widely dissemina-
led small float, properly so called, and
gravel mineral may or may not belong to
''is formation but this does not affect the
question before us. The larger chunks
D. tloat unquestionably do belong here,
as they are found in such positions, and
arranged in such manner as would
.nkc it difficult to comprehend how any
a!ernai, or superficial disturbance sho'd
have transported them thither and pla-
tel them as they arc found. 1t having
'ccn conceded then, that this species OF
rex bears the lead ore as its own pro-
PER production, it would be absurd to
''Ppoae it to be confined to the two or
farce quarter sections where it happens
to have been discovered and worked
with partial success. On the contrary,
The impartial distribution of mineral
iJles in the superior strata, over the
sAolc extent of country now known as
The mining region should assure us of
The existence of similar order of things
IN this lower stratum. Nay further, the
well known fact of surface mineral hav-
as oeeu found far off 10 the north and
northwest of what is known as the mi
ming district, would make us think that
the mineral is co-extensive with the
rocE. The upper limestone is known
to disappear not far north Of the latitude
Of Highland, Iowa County, and from the
Scattering information | have picked up,
| should conclude that the mineral spo-
ken of is found in localities resembling
the Hans Nagel vicinity.
Now, as to the probable quantity OF
mineral hidden in this rock--an asser-
ton that it must be there would only be
received with an incredulous if not a con-
lemptuous smile by our miners. The
nrst vein has to be discovered yet
When that shall have been accomplished
there will be picks and drills enough
laye, and pumps too if need there be,
10 admit candle light into the second one
and All tho rast 81 noSs;hle Prt this i