Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-02-16
From the Madison Journal
Geological Survey Of the State Of Wisconsin.
BIT PROF. DANIELS

From the Madison Journal
| Geological Survey Of the State of Wisconsin.
| BIT PROF DANIELS
We have for several years past repeat.
ediy urged the zine resources of the State
upon puoilc attention. satisfied as we have
long been, OF their immense value. Tho
Report and an analyst of one of the ore,
proves this so conclusively that we cannot
90 better than to give the chapter entire.
CHAPTER TX.
These ores (popularly known as Black
Jack and Dry Bone are found in quan.
hty IN the lead district They are gen.
orally supposed TO be worthless, and.
hence, are thrown away among the rub.
bish OF the mines, no thorough attempt
having been made to ascertain their valpe
or to reduce them to use Impressed with
the importance of ascertaining their true
quality, l have caused them to be thor
oughly examined and analyzed, with a
tricw to determine their workable value.
Ibe experiments thus far have been made
with the dry-bone, as the black Jack is bet
ter known, and from its peculiar compost.
tion, is less valuable ore-being practi-
caily valueless from the great expense at
tending its reduction.
The examinations were conducted BY
DR.. Augustus Hayes of Boston, whose dis
tinguished reputation as a Chemist. and
large experience in the assay of mineral
ores, will inspire the fullest confidence in
the correctness of his results
His report upon the zinc ores submit.
ted to him. is given below. and shows that
this dry-bone contains from 79 to 90 per
cent. of the oxide of zirc. four ffths of
which is pure metal This large per cent.
age of metal is 50 favorablv combined as
to be readily separated By known process.
ses from the ore
The examinations were conducted at
my request, with especial reference to tho
capacity of the ore to yield the white OK
ide of zinc. which, from its great value as
q pigment, is becoming an article of the
highest Importance in the market The
results are of the most favorable charac-
ter proving tie existence Of 4 new source
of mineral wealth in this district. second
only to its wonderful lead veins The
white oxide of zinc, or Xibc White is now
rapidly superceding u Whitc Lead as paint,
owing to its superior quality, absence of
poisonous effect, aud greater cheapness OF
production. To supply the great and
constantly increasing demand for it, We
have in the United States only two man
ufactories-one in New Jersey and the
other in Pennsylvania. The New Jersey
| works have been in operation about three
years, and have prepared their paint from
the red oxide of zinc, which, until recent
ly, was supposed to be the only ore capa-
bic of yielding Zinc White without irst
reducing 1t to the metal. A recent dis
covery, however, has been made. which
proves this supposition to have been an
error. An ingenious metai.urgist, Samu-
ell Witherell, Esq has discovered process
OF manufacturing this article from the dry
bone or carbonate of zine The Pennsyl-
vania works have been erected for the
purpose Of applying this discovery upon
an extended scale to deposite of dry Lone,
discovered and owned by Samuel Smith,
of New York. to whose enterprise and
that of Mr.. Wetherell the public are in
debted for this important addition to the
available resources of the country
The works have just been completed,
and commenced operations. An extract
from the American Mining Journal will
show the success Of the invention in prac.
/ tice
The assertion that the oxide of zinc
could not be made from the Caamine
| (dry- -bone) unless by first reducing the
zinc to metallic state, and then sublimat-
ing 1t, has been proven within the present
week untrue. This fact, is not merely the
result of analytical experiments, but is
daily accomplished, making four tons of
oxide of zinc, or twenty four tons per week.
q frOn nffIc IF to
that they will at once proceed to enlarge
their works, and increase their product
to ten tons per day, or 5000 tons per an
mum. This at 8 80 per ton, would amount
to $500 900, which. ground in oil, would
sell for $50 per ton, or S550,000 per an-
mum These estimates may be relied up
on as demonstrated by the actual working
of the mandatory. The white oxide
produced By this process will compare ia
vorably with the French White, besides
being superior to it in body"
DR.. Hayes has shown that our ores are
fully equal, if not superior to those of
Pennsylvania. They are found in sufi.
cient abundance to supply extensive works
with raw material. They could be obtain
ed very cheaply, both On account of their
present association with lead veins, and
the quantities already thrown out upon
the surface in mining for lead. They are
within $50 miles of Milwaukee and Chi
cago, to which ports they will be connect
ed in one year by railway communication
To these places they could be conveyed
at cost of 81 so or $500 per ton: or, if
preferred, coal could be transported in
land at corresponding prices Every ton
of ore will yield from 400 to 1000 pounds
of pure white oxide. This could be sold
at the door of the factory for $50 per tor.
The cost of the ore and manufacture would
not exceed $50 per ton, leaving clear
profit of 80 upon every ton of the oxide
manufactured. A factory producing ten
tons of oxide per day, would thus yield to
its owners net annual profit of $780,
600.
This is no fiction. These results are
realizable, and will be realized when cap