The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-25
Very Valuable Mineral Discoveries
I'm the Valley OF Virginia.
To the Editors Of The Richmond Dispatch:

TO the Editors Of The Richmond Dispatch:
Gentlemen,-The interest you have
manifested in all that concerns the develop
ment of the great mineral wealth OF this
State induces me TO ask the use of your
columns in describing several extremely
valuable mines | have visited and ex-
amined i'm person within the last few days,
the existence of which has been unknown
10 the public generally, and, perhaps,
would have remained so for many years
but for the zeal, intelligence, and energy
of Mr.. Lorenzo Sibert, a native geologist of
the Valley, backed by the public spirit,
Sagacity, and ample means of Daniel L. c.
Brady, Esq, the wealthy and highly intel
ligent owner of Buffalo Forge and Mills, in
Rockbridge.
A thorough examination of these mines
has been made within few months, at
considerable expense and labor, and the
result is the discovery Of immense depo-
sits OF valuable minerals, which will be the
source of large profit 10 the owners, and
will add greatly to the tonnage onthe canal,
and doubtless tend to the establishment OF
important manufactures in this city.
The first mine l shall describe is of the
black oryde OF manganese. This is found
on the lands of Mr.. Brady, about five miles
above the junction of the North and James
rivers, at Balcony Falls, in Rockbridge.
Mr.. Brady owns between 5000 and 1000
acres of land bordering on the North River
canal for upwards of six miles. His man.
ganese mine is on The western slope OF the
Blue Ridge, and only about one mile from
the North River canal. By train-road
the manganese can be run down to the ca.
nal and "dumped " from trucks into the
boats, to carry it TO market. The deposit
is enormous, extending, as far as explora'
tions have been made, through two large
mountain spurs, and probably for miles
further on Mr.. Brady's lands. The demand
fer this mineral in its crude form in Eng
land is very great and steadily increasing,
as it is understood to enter largely into a
newly patented process of steel manutac-
ture, besides its old uses for bleaching. 1t
is already worth twenty dollars per ton, de-
liycred on the canal boats near the mines,
and Mr.. Brady will commence in January
to fill large English order for it. As it
"crops" out of the mountain side in huge
veins and boulders, the labor of mining is
very trifng one hand being able to get
out several tons a day.
The three next mines to which | shall
refer are of the Sulph0te Of bayta. The
two first are on the adjoining tracts OF
land of Messrs. Bechtel and Hatcher, on
the road leading from Lexington to the
Natural bridge, and about three and half
or four miles from the canal at the mouth
of Buffalo. Extensive excavations have
been made at different points, and develop
n large fright running" vein Of baryta of
great purity, as is shown by the analysis
In my possession made by Professor George
J. Popplein, aSSayer in the Baltimore
Chemical Laboratory, of two average spe-
cimens from these mines. The one con-
tanned 1888 per cent, and the other 9S.09
per cent. pure sulphate of baryta. There
is every indication that the deposits here
are very extensive.
The third baryta mine, not yet opened,
but traced by surface indications, showing
q large Fright running" vein, is Oh the
lands of Mr.. Booze, three miles north OF
Buchanan, in Botetourt county, and directly
on the turnpike, with down grade to the
canal.
The demand for baryta is large and in
creaSing, as it constitutes one half of all
the white lead paint in use. During the
last twelve months it varied in price in the
New York market from $40 to 500 pei
ton. 1t is found in few localities, the
greatest competition of American mines
being from abroad when the price is very
high.
The minerals have described have been
recently analysed and their purity and
value determined. Within three and a
half miles of the canal, in RoCkbridge,
there is another mine, from which Speci-
mems are now in the hands Of the chemists
for analysis; which, if the mineral proves
TO he what 1t is supposed, will be worth
more than California gold mine. OF it |
shall say nothing till the chemists have
done with it.
Leases of all these mines have been Sc
cured for long terms OF years by four en-
terpriSng Virginia gentlemen, who will
apply 10 the Legislature, as soon as 1t rejiSss
sembleS, for a charter, Under the name =
" The Rockbridge Mining Company"
the view of raising sufficient capital to put
them all in successful operation this winter
1t is their belief that ten thousand tons OF
these minerals can be raised and marketed
during the coming year-lS67.
As this is subject ofgeneral interest,
and there may be those who desire more
detailed information, which it will afford
me pleasure TO furnish, l depart from the
general rule of correspondents, and sub
scribe my own name. j. ID. lMBODEN.