The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-28

Of clay and huge deposits Of drift which
ove1pread the contiguous plains OF the Mis-
sissippi and Red River to the west and
south. This mountain outbreak covers an
area OF about four thousand square miles,
and terminates in the low drift hills called
the Hautereurs des Terres, which skirt the
summit level Of the Mississippi. From the
head Of Lake Superior. a low granite belt
Of this primary rock, Invested Of volcanic
debris aud concealed by drift, stretches
southwark to Sioux Falls in the Territory
of Dakota, revealed only where il crosses
the Mississippi about the Saak Rapids and
Little falls, and the Minnesota about the Cot
tonwocd and Red Wood.
The adjacent submontane basins Of the
Mississippi, Red River and Saskatchewan,
belong to the lower sluriau period Of the
great interior plain, oyerlaid with drift;
the lowest sandstone occurring about latitude
46 north Of st. Paul, aud rising rapidly TO
the south and southwest to the magnetism
limestone revealed in the bluff at st. Paul,
and along the Mississippi and Minnesota
till it reaches the lcsd.besring and coal
bearing group Iowa and Illinois. and as
cending in the northwest from the granite
belt already mentioned, to the magnetism
limestone OF the Otter Tail and Red River
valley, overland with argillaceous dluyial de-
posts ill the series eliminate in the creta-
ceous rocks Of the Missouri.
PROBABILITY OF COAL.
1t is a favorite theory Of our friend j.
w. Taylor, in his published addresses, that
coal must, according to all analogies, occu,
py the geological interval betwcnn the lime
stone OF Minnesota and this cretaceous for.
nation, on the James, Sioux or the Upper
Minnesota; and Featherstonaugh says, that
the cretaci0us rocks Of the Missouri rest
upon the carbonilerous limestone OF the Big
Sioux. The coal formation then, doubtless
exists in Dakotah, but probably overlaid
with superficial deposits so as TO be of little
economical value. According to letter of
Hon. II. X. Schoolcrait, addressed to SIi.
mans journal of Science, coal has recently
been discovered south of the Lake Of the
Woods. Owen and others decide conciu>
siveiy against the existence Of coal on tue
Blue Earth, the erratic specimens found in
its banks being brought down in the drift
movement, or more usually Ignite.
COPPER AND LEAD
In the mineral belt along the northern
shore of Lake Superior, copper veins OF
great richness aud in very large masses
have been found, and which promise to de-
velope wealthy and prosperous community
in region untitled for profitable agrieul
tHre.
Last summer valuable lead discoveries
were reported in the vicinity OF Lake City
on lake Pepin, There would seem to be
some probability that both lead and copper
may be found there. DR.. Owens in his final
abstract Of his theological Survey published
in Cincinnati in S5l says:
"The lower magnetism lime stone and even
the sand stone on the Half Breed Tract below
Lake Pepin, are metaitifcrous. yielding lead and
copper The latter is q hydrous bi.carbonAte,
mixed with some siliciats Of copper or copper
pyrites, yielding from ten to twenty per cent Of
metallic copper.
The lead ore !. .uirbare, similar to that &C.
curing in the Dubuque and Mineral Poin.
districts"
GOLD, coRSEfIAN AND AGATEs.
During the summer Of 1858 the people Of
the Southern Minnesota were thrown into
state OF great excitement from reported
discoveries OF gold on the Xumbro. In fact,
n minute diffusion Of gold dust was proba-
bly, found in the black earth on the banks
Of that stream, probably brought down by
huyiatile action from the disntcgratioD Of
the mineral veins OF Lake Superior, from
the prostration Of whose volcanic masses,
according to biologists, the rich quartz
fragments, comedians, agates and cbalcedo-
MES, which line our lakes, were distributed
by aqueous action.
LIMESTONE.
The limestone which crops ont pear the
surface along the banks Of the Mississippi
and its tributaries, in situations favorable
for quarrying, afford mines whose economi-
cal value for building purposes comPeDsates
Us to some extent for the absence OF more
precious minerals.
The limestone formations nearest the 81
face, such as those which form the pla
teauy on which st. Paul is built, has been
found especially valuable, II is grayish
buff colored rock, lying in layers OF from
four to twelve inches in thickness, easily
quarried and easily worked, though not cap
able Of high polish. Under this as at
West Saint Paul, St Anthony and else
Wn'tt, ~ HhVu, Citrs pItJH'1 iiH'TtofF Oh
blush gray color, which is the iavori,e bull
ding material Of the State. At st. Peters
occurs limestone resembling marble 10 it,
structure, and capable Of fne polish.
These limestone formations Astounding at
various points, contain large percentage
Of carbonate Of lime, which makes il valu-
able for burning. Highly productive lime
kins are established In the clia. belog II
Paul, a, Shakopce and elsewhere On the
Minnesota and other rivers The quality Of
lime yielded being Of excellent quality.
SAND STONE AND CLAfs.
Nieolle, suggests the utility 81 the foe
white loosely oemented sandstone as fonnd
in the bluffs Of Upper Mississippi for the
the manufacture Of glass. The blush clay
which ubderlies the soil about Saint Paul 4
used for the manufacture Of brick Of a good .
quality. The white mar OF which beds oc-
cur at Saint Anthony, yield q baff- colored
brick o, great beautv and tennrtty reseul