Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-06-12

CHESTER COUNTY CoRUNDUM.-Somet time
ago We announced the fact that a valuable mine
OF corundum had been discovered about mile
and half from Glenn Hall Station, along the
line Of the Wilmington 4 Reading Railroad.
Coruudum is substance to some extent re-
sembling emery, but much harder than that
substance, and once Used almost exclusively
TOR grinding glass. In 1885 it was discovered
in Chester county, and firm of English plate
manufacturers sent scientific man to investi-
gate the discovery. At the suggestion of this
gentleman, Mr.. l.. White Williams, mineral
ogist, OF West Chester, bought property in New
lin township, containing deposit, which he
worked until about fifty tons had been shipped
to England, when the supply was apparently
exhausted. The land passed through several
hands subsequently, until it was purchased by
samuel Pussy, Spencer Chandler and George
Ball A correspondent: writes:
On Tu, sdaY last We visited the workings at
the new discovery, which we found on bleak
and barren looking hill, where the land seems
| too poor even TO raise an excitement, near Oak
| Hill School House, i'll Newlin Township, about
| a mile and a half from Glen Hall Station, on
| the Wilmington & Reading Railroad. Here we
| found George Ball, Esq, who with the utmost
uTbanity gave lis all the information in his pow
er in regard to corundum and the process OF
mining it.
The attention Of these gentlemen was first
called t" the value of the mineral by Morton
/ Poole. Esq, prominent machinist of Whining
p,who saw it used inI polishing wheels In 4 ma.
chine shop in Providence, Rhode Island, and
found that il was purchased from Mr.. Dough-
ery Of Philadelphia, who claimed that it came
from somewhere in Delaware county, for be i
known that at this time the utmost secrecy was
observed in regard to the place where it was tC
be found. Diligent inquiry disclosed the pres
| ent locality, which was purchased, and prospect
ing resumed upon large scale and kept up fol
some time, but without paying results.
The land was then leased TO New Yorl
company who did great amount Of digging
but failing to satisfy the expectations Of ih,
stockholders was given up The owners, then
during the summer Of 1872, called in the ser
vices Of John ii. Smcdlcy, Of Delaware county
| a mineralOgist Of experience, who came to Tie
conclusion that the scattered boulders fount
upon the surface indicated vein of the miner
al in the immediate neghbOrhood, and proceed
| ing patiently upon this theory, lis perseverance
was rewarded in September last by the find in;
of the large vein at present worked.
| The Irsi Indication of the vein was toIInt
about one foot beneath the surface in tie form
0l nodulcs, which continued 20 grow as the,
descend, until at ten feet down the vein present
Il surface Of about five fc,t in width, while q
| its length and depth II is impossible to say any
Thing definite. The vein has b,en cleared tel
feet OF more in length 10 a depth Of thirty fee
/ aud shows increasing dimensions all the way
| / with no indication Of innning out vertically
1t direction is nearly east and west, and it dt
, scends with slight inclination to the south.
g 1t comes out in boulders, weighing from
/ few pounds 10 few tors, and is broken gra,
I ually with sedges, then glound between I'll
e rollers Of powerful crushing mill until reduce
$ fine enough to be applied to the same use ;
emery, which ii surpasses, and is destined to Ell
S tirely supersede among manufacturers Of pla
Il glass, machnists, dentists and in all other maj
/ ufactures which require rapid and lasting Gu
ting material Of this kind.