The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-28
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE
STATE---REVIEW OF OUR
MINERAL WEALTH.

Our state Geological Survey mas been
prosecuted during the two years of its
| life SO quietly, that its existence Is we'll
| nigh forgotten by most of our citizens,
Its very noiselessness is, however, the
| best indication that its organization IS
| complete and it's workings successful.
Its wheels are well creased. Its mem
bers are so thoroughly in harmony with
| the work before them that they neither
disagree among themselves, nor find
| time to devote to attracting public at
| tention. It seems, however, right that
the public should hear something of
their doings, especially since no reports
have been printed.
1t is not an exaggerated statement to
say that no state survey has ever accom-
plished SO much in an equal space of
time, with the same money at command,
as ours has done. Since the inception
of the survey in May, 1873, an immense
together during the seasons of field
| work, and partly worked into shape dur
ing the winter. About one third of the
towns in the state have been entered
and examined. Upwards of fifty geo.
logical, Typographical and other maps
have been prepared of different portions
of the state with an accuracy and close
| ness of detail surprising those Of most
all state geological maps yet published
| in this country. Accompanying these
are several hundred sections, sketches,
etc., whilst material is hand for as
many more, Manuscript reports are al
ready made sufficient to constitute a
large ouarto volume. Still, not more
than two thirds of the material collected
| La- I,oo,, ,,-o,,1vo1 Mopu
| thousand specimens of ores, clays,
rocks, soils, marls, building stones,
peats, fossils and mineral waters have
been collected from all parts of the
state. Many of these have been care
fully examined and described in the
manuscript reports, whilst still more
await patient study These specimens
have all been numbered carefully, and
are referred to by number in the reports.
A set of them will go to the University
| and one to each Of the colleges In the
state, as well as to the Wisconsin
Academy of Sciences. Thus the reports
can always be verified and better under
stood by reference to the specimens
themselves Of the wonderful fossil of
the imestones of the eastern part of the
state, Professor Chamberlain, assistant
geologist, has collected no less than
fourteen thousand specimens, including
many new and undescribed forms.
Chemical analysis have been made of
the materials of practical value collected,
such as ores, clays, building stones, etc.,
The specimens for analysis have always
been selected on the ground with the
greatest care. Isolated specimens have
never been taken, but careful averages
made from man. pounds weight. When
it is stated that single iron ore analysis
is work occupying fully two weeks, the
amount the chemist has TO do may be
realized.
Of the results reached by the survey,
of Immediate practical value and special
interest, the following are worthy of
mention.
1. The completion of the topographic
al survey of the lead region, under Mr..
Moses Strong, assistant geologist. The
whole lead region has been covered with
counter lines at the distance of fifty
feet vertical and the dip of the rocks
carefully determined. With these data
it is now possible for any landowner in
the region to calculate closely whether
the material ground which is con-
fined to certain layers of rock-under-
lies his ground, and if 50 at what depth.
The accuracy of the geological and to-
geographical maps of this region are
especially worthy of remark
2. The detailed examination Of the
iron ores of the Penokie Iron Range in
| Ashland Country, by parties under r.
d. Irving, assistant geologist. This
whole range and its wonderful beds of
iron are low for the first time described
| in detail. The general structure of the
range, the relation of the iron ore beds
| in the surrounding rocks, the locality of
each outc1Op of ore and the exact rich
ness of the ore from each outcrop, have
been definitely ascertained In getting
at the last point, the mode of procedure
was as follows: On the ground care
full average sample was made by break
ing small fragments from all portions of
the outcrop, rich or poor, in a regular
manner. There fragments were then
carefully broken fine on the ground and
mingled thoroughly. From this mix
ture sample was taken enclosed in a
bag, and dispatched to the chemist
The results of these analysis have shown
the outcropping ores to be leaner than
the very rich Michigan ores-but richer
than many iron ores that are successfully
treated, and of a most wonderful degree
of freedom from the hurtful tempera-
lures, sulphur, phosphorus and titanium,
whilst they are almost always manganif-
erous. In this matter of freedom from
PHOSPHORUS they surpass any other ores
in the United States. Since examina-
ton by the geological survey, some lit
tie mining has been done and a richer
quality of ores has been obtained.
Some of this Ga large supply was sent
to the chemist of the survey and was
found to contain 81 to So per cent. of
metallic iron. The general run of the
better out cropping ores is 40 to 80 per
cent. Although the old miners saying
that s'ores get rich as they go down. is
entirely without warrant of fact, it is
altogether probable that the best
ores of the range are not those that
show themselves on the surface. In
asmuch as the richer ores are soft, they
readily crumble under atmospheric in
d.