Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-01-05
MINING DEPARTMENT.

MINING n D DEPARTMENT T.
The cross course referred to in my
last is only one Of several that may be
studied along the south shore OF Lake
Superior, and that will, by and by,
give character to that part of orr state
as a mining reagion. And there IS
good reason to suppose that there is
some relation between these cross eorSes
Of north and south barring in the
azoic formation of the region, and the
lines of physical disturbance that we
have noticed passing from the lead DIS
trict north ~ B4~ ~
If. when this explored tract, be-
tween the lead district Of the south
and this undeveloped mineral region
Of the north is explored, it viii be
true, that these lines Of physical dis
'turbance, or in other words axis Of
elevation, are following along systems
of dykes or cross courses, similar to
the one noticed in my last, then it is
probable indeed it is very possible that
along this axis will be found mineral
districts similar to what we find in
other parts of the world under similar
conditions.
Now is it impossible, or even unlikely
that there may be re appearance OF
lead and zinc along this line, or even
in connection with the cross courses In
the north. | was told while in Bay
field by responsible men there, that
specimens of lead ore had been found
near Bad river, some of which are, now
in the possession Of Mr.. Whittlesey,
of that place. The specimens ex-
amined looked as though they con-
tanned ST liver, and | should call them
good specimens Of argentiferous lead
ore.
In my rambles along the streams
running back from Bad river, Stun
bled on to one of those places where
it was said some of those specimens
were found. 1t was on the banks Of
a small stream, some distance to the
east of the river The rock where it
could be seen was brown trap, con
tanning a large amount of zeolitic min
erals, the most prominent of which is
laumonite. From the readiness with
which these minerals decompose, this
rock on the surface had what the min
ers would call a very rotten, appearance
and decomposed rapidly in the atmos-
phere, consequently but very little OF
the rock could be seen.
Where it was said this lead ore was
found * small stream oozing out
some dista zee up the bank, and along
its course down the bank, was fine
ochery slime, similar to what we notice
in the adit of some deep laine, though
which the watear pumped frcm the
mine had been running for several
years. 1t had rich mineral . like ap-
Ipearance, which together with the rich
ochery appear ance Of the decomposed
rock around it left no doubt on my
mind, as to thisbeing the place where
those specimens were found.
Although I had eaten nothing but
crakers for two days, should. never
theless, have done some mining, if |
had shovel along, and as it was, [
dug a considerable hole in the bank,
using my hands for shovel. But
finding this to be a tedious way OF
mining / abandoned the prospect, Gas
the miners call it) without finding
what I had reason to suppose might
find if / had shovel namely-a good
specimen of lead ore. 81 ga
Having received very satisfactory in
formation in reference to the azoic for
nation, and its lines of fracture and
our provisions getting short; and our
feet SO badly blistered that neither my
guide or myself could any longer get
our boots on, we concluded to return,
by the nearest route though the In
dian Reservation TO Odanah, where we
fondly hoped to find something to eat,
and some kind Of conveyance to take
us the remainder Of the way down the
river, and across the bay of Cheyua-
wegon to bayfield,. Two days after
this, while passing around the Apostle
Island, and looking back on this dense
but magnificent forest (though which [
had been wandering just as the sun
was throwing his morning beams on the
tree tops, | thought how very little the
most of us know of onr own state, or
the advantages it offered to industry.
Up to the time Of this visit, I had look
ed upon this part of our state, border
ing as it were on the arctic regions, as.
a bleak, sterile country, fit only to be
inhabited by the Indians and their
game. But now [ can look upon it in
no other light, than as the site of the
future metropolis of our state.
The indications Of vast mineral re
gion, not only of iron, but of copper
and lead, are legibly engraved by ma
ture on almost every bed Of these stra-
ia nor are the indications of vast agri-
cultural resources less distinct. I know
of no place, where the rocks yield so
readily, aud so abundantly, the ele-
ments necessary to a rich and durable
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