Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-02-27
orthe Grant County Herald.
Report on the Geology of tine up.
Der mississippi Lead Mines.
INTRODUCTION.

while mining IN the nortneTn part oi this
Lead Region, noticed that the sandstone
which divides the upper from the lower
beds of magnetism limestone, dipped each
way from small spring branch, which
forms one Of the head waters of the Pc
catonica. This at first struck me as be-
ing somewhat singular, and my curiosity
was further excited by finding the same
principle to apply to all the water cour-
ses in that vicinity. In this way com
menced my study of Geology, which was
pursued by observation for number of
years before had an opportuni.y to pro-
cure any written works on this science.
The dip of rock each way from line Of
water course, shows that an elevating
force has acted along that line--this same
water course flowing through valley OF
denudation, shows that an abrading force
has acted along the same line as the ele-
waiting force. Here we have in miniature,
a history of all the forces which have
formed the ridges, valleys, mounds, and
walls of table lands of the Lead Region
an elevating force upifts the liidestones
and Sahd$tones-and an abrading force
Of air and water, wears Down the cracks
into valleys where these sttatifed beds
are bent over the lines of axis.
The discovery that all the elevating
and abrading forces are connected; or
that there is, SO TO speak, BIZ. one eleva-
ting and one abrading force; and that
those two agents have acted in concert,
or simultaneously along the same lines,
and with corresponding degrees of pow
er, reduces the geology of the Lead Re-
giOn to great simplicity and may be said
to be the key which unlocks its vast mi
neral wealth.
Fired L0ws 10 fhe DynamicS, or Geologic
cal Forces of the Lend Region:
lst. The water courses follow and
correspond TO the lines of elevating for
ceS, or anliclinal axis, that is: the Mis-
sssippi ard other rivers of the Lead Re-
gion all run on anticlinal lines. The
rocks dip from ali the rivers, creeks,
spring branches and valleys of the Lead
Region.
ID. The amoiint of dip Of the rocks is
governed by the distance between the
liues Of axis. The nearer these lines
OF the same magnitude, the greater the
dip and Uice Uersa: that is, where two Ri
vers run parallel half mile apart, the
basin of rock between them will be dee
per than between two spring branches
which run the same distance apart.
Sd. The eleVating and abrading forces
have acted along the same lines, and with
cores ponding degrees Of power: that is,
where there has been the greatest a.
mount of elevating force, along the same
line has acted sponding denuding
force. The lead bearing rocks have, as
it were, been held between these Two
antagonistic forces and by their concert
OF sGtien hes been formed The valleys,
ridges, MOUNDS and walls Of table lands
OF the Lead Region.
Rocks.
The cliff or mountain limestone, in
cludes all the lilnestones, forming table
lands, mounds, or beds, traversed by
lead veins. Prof. Owen, III his Survey
of the Lead Region, subdivided this cliff
rock into three beds 1StMe upper orShell
beds :: I'd, the middle on coraii,ne beds 81,
thstolosrIadte1r'Hg beds. The lower stra-
ia | have subdivideG into four beds,
which will be DESIGNATED By figures
z 3, d. These rocks are called by mi
ners the Upper magnetism limestone
They include all the productive rocks
yet prosed, and rest on the sandstone OF
the Wisconsin river.
No. /. This Is the upper layer, OF cap
rock, is fine grained magnetism lime
Stone in layers, from one to Two feet
thick, divided By lines Of qualification
and verticle joints, contains marine fos-
SiIs, which Vary in size from the small
est animalcules, TO others from six tc
eight feet in length. The seams of this
rock are pictured with vegetable forms
by the black oxide of manganese, is call
ed by miners cap rock, calico rocks
single rock, Sc, caps the ridges of the
Dubuque valley, the high grounds which
surround the mounds, and covers large
area in the central portion of the Lead
Region. The veins of lead ore in the
east and west caves west OF dialogue
the vertical openings at Potosi, the cave.
around the Susinewa aud Blue mounds
The vertical east and west veins, worke ed al
Platteyille, Hazel Green, and various
other mining locations in the central por.
tlon of the Lead Region, have been fount
hiled in assures, more or less capped o.
yer with this rider for the lead bearing
beds. This rock forms a fine building
stone quarries have been opened in il
on the bluffs at Dubuque, in the vicinity
OF Galena, and in many places in Grant,
La Fayette, and 10 Davies Countless
When this rock is over twenty five feet
thick it generally carries the veins be-
low The water level.
No. 2. This is an arenacious lime
Stone ; contains marine fossils, many Of
Them belonging 10 families distinct from
Nose found in No. l is stratifed in lay
e's from two TO four feet thick /; is ira
'ersed by vertical.east and west crew.
'es' generally about one hundred cards
apart These crevices in many places
ere formed in openings at the junction Of
we Two beds OF rock. These openings
ssr'hinate both above and below in fun-
"ei shaped chimneys in the two beds of
,u's' The lower chimi eys of these o.
n