The mountain Democrat., 1863-05-16
The Mineral Riches O1 the Lake 1ws
pertOF MegtoA. tt'f

copper aHd lr0n are Iouuo ~ exu3uaS"
less quantities in the Lake Superior re-
giOn, forming the noFthesn PsniasulOOf
ths State OF MickigAR. Their sxigtgDOS
has-iong been known q geOloGists hnt &
was not till the completion o. the SAnl9
st. Marie Canal, IN the year 1854. that
these mineral treasures bec4me so@mer.
eially available. Since that time, the
great impeachment to transportation being
removed, the resources Of the districts
severally known as Ontonsgon, Kewee-
nav Point, and Portage Lake have eeea
wonderfully developed The aggregate
value of copper exported from these points
in the year 1s45 was $500; 10 1850, the
amount reached 1884, ,00G. Seventy
sail of vessels and twelve steamers were
inadequate to do tho business bstwesA
ports on lakes Erie and Superior. Yet
the assertion is made that We have only
reached the morning Of copper wonders"
The great range comprised within the
districts above mentioned for the meSt
part remains ia its primeval state, though
mining is being practically methodized;
the most approved apparatus is in course
Of introduction for stamping and separat-
ing the rock; and the time is looked tor
ward to, as not far distant. when this He-
gion will supply the demand net only Ot
the United States but Of Europe. The U.
S. Mint refuses to receive any but the
pure metal to be obtained from Lake Su-
perior. The most extraordinary teatnEeG,
however, presented by the mines Of Lake
superior, are the enormous masses OF
pure copper blasted out at various points,
some of them weighing SEQ or zoe tbRs.
The copper stamping mills geOerally
stop once per year to make repairs, and
an account of the years work Is generally
made out at the period Of stoppage. We
learn from the Mining Gazette that dur.
ing twelve months operations In 1862.
the five stamping mills on Portage Lake
crushed and washed 1870, 900 tuns Of rock,
and taking 1oODs for each cubic foot Of
rock, it amounts to 1900, 900 cubic feet.
On Portage Lake, within radius Of Eve
miles, there are seven copper mines in
operation. Their produce iH 1859 was
over 1000 tuns Of copper. The Isle Roy.
al mine 10 the Oldest in the district; II has
been opened to a depth Of 474 feet It
produces stamp work, that Is, the rock
containing cop er is crushed by stamps,
then washed, the debris being carried in
to the lake, and the copper, containing
about fifteen per cent. Of Impurities, is re-
tained for smelling.
The deposits Of iron in this region are
Of great extent, and in several places
they form hills of ore several hundred
feet in height. The mines Tor QuarrjSs,
for the ore is simply thrown down BY the
use of powder from the side Of cliff
are fourteen miles back from Mafquette.
at which point several blast furnaces aIO
now in operation. Large Quantities Of
Lake Superior iron ore are exported to
Ohio, lower Michigan and Pennsylvania,
where it is made into pig iron. As every
special kind Of ore requires special treat.
ment, considerable experience is necessA.
ry in the smelling of this ore. We have
been informed that the pig iron obtained
from it in some establishments is of an
inferior character, 1t being what is called
"burnt iron !" while in other establish.
ments pig iron of an excellent quality Il
obtained. These differences of quality
| in IRON obtained from the same ore are
due to differences in the modes Of treat.
ing it in the smelling furnace. As It is q
| very pure ore, We have been told that Il
/ should be smelted under 8 moderate blast
and 9 comparatively low head Of fur.
nace.-Scienti6c American.