Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-08-11
MINING DEPARTMENT.

Besides the fern of ore deposits refer
red to In nay last, which are in the strict
est sense surface deposits, produced alto.
gether by surface agencies there is an
other class. or form of deposit sometimes
called surface deposits that will do well
to consider.
Its relation to the surface, has no doubt
been brought about, and established by
surface, or atmospheric agencies. But its
origin, and normal condition the result of
very different class.
In order to have anything like correct
idea of the relative position of the ore de-
posits of any given district to the surface,
we must always take into consideration the
extent to which such surface has been
exposed to disintegrating, and denuding
influences. There is abundant evidence
to shew that deposits of ore first formed at
very great depths from the surface, depths
much greater than what has been reached
| by mining operations, have been brought
by those dis;ntegrating, and denuding
influences within the regions of human
industry. And even to the surface, where
little or no labor is required to find them;
or perhaps it would be more proper to say
that the surface in such cases, has been
brought down by those influences to the
| deposits, or they never could have been
reached by man.
In the geologic changes, and modifica-
tiOns that have taken place in the crust of
| the earth, during the vast cycles of time
| through which such changes and modifica
| tions have been going on, those produced
by denudation are very marked and i'm
portant. They have doubtless contribu-
ted their full share, in working ont the
present and peculiar phenomena of ore
deposits in their relation to the surface.
The origin of such deposits, then, or
| their relation to physical conditions act
| ng from below, cannot possibly be effect
| ed by those surface agencies that have
been instrumental in bringing them to
| the surface, by bringing the surface down
| 10 them.
Betwe cen the origin and form of deposit
referred to last week, and the origin and
form of the deposit now under considera-
ton, there is marked, indeed an es-
sential difference. For those interested in
mining, it will pay to sit down and exam
inc carefully the prominent features of
these two forms of deposit. And even to
bring out the features that are not so
prominent, by a stricter and closer exam
ination than we have been in the habit of
giving to this department of mining. At
the same time compare them with what
We know of the forms of deposit in our
own Mining Region, for to those we shall
come by and by, and we intend to examine
them infinitely, and in detail, showing
wherein they agree, and in what they diff
fer from other forms of deposit. The
study of mines and mining in this way
will improve very much our knowledge of
this important branch of industry.
have for some time been wanting to
say to the young men of the mining region
who are interested in mining-and | may
as well perhaps say it just now-that the
time has come when a mining education,
or an education for mining, is thought to
be just as necessary as an education for
| any other branch of industry. Mining
schools are now being established in many
parts of the United States. We have one
established in Wisconsin, in connection
with the University at Madison. It was
opened for students last spring. The
State has made ample provision, for this
| department of education. There is, in
connection with it, most excellent abor-
atory, and n very able professor, who is
himself graduate of a school of mines.
| 1t is TO this institution all shall look, with
| a great deal of confidence for young men
| who will help to revolutionize our old sys-
| tens of mining, and to put ii on new
| and broader basis
But I'VE must not lose sight of the fact
that. in order to be thorough, mining
education must be practical as well as
scientific. With the very best textbooks
in our hands, we shall fail, unless we
turn often TO the lessons found only in the
book Of nature. For this reason | am
anxious that our Mining Department
shall be somewhat educational, by furn-
ishing that class of information, and in
that way, that will stimulate thought on
| those questions that cannot be taught as
abstract principles in our schools, but can
be studied only in contact with nature.
If you will forgive this depression from my
usual path, l will return again next week
W it'll another form of surface deposit.