The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-11-11
NO. II

Eer and copper. He says .sAs these noun
tains are ali GRANTEES and their associated
igneous rocks, they afford little promise OF
gold or other precious metsis.n Were the
Professor TO assert this in the presence Of a
practical miner of California, Utah or Colo
RADIO, he could give him many evidences OF
the fallacy of his as ertion. Prof. Ure says
The formations in which this metal gold I
occurs ere the crystalline primitive rocks,
the trachytic and trap rocks, aud allnvial
grounds all of which we Can ind within
radius of FIVE miles around EnchanteCl
Rock. Snd tn, re is hardly little stream
in ali that vicinity from which little
gold NAV not be easily obtained, and have
seen very strong indications of silver in this
same locality. Gold ia sta is usually found
associated with quartz, in veins passing up
ward from the granite into and through
all the trachytie and metsmOrphic strata,
but never penetrating the siluiian, and
therefore gold may not be looked for in or
above the Potsdam sandstone, the lowest
kof all sedimentary rocks. 1t is also found
! sometimes associated with iron. Tin veins
occur almost exclusively in granite, and are
considered the oldest of all metalliferous
deposits. 1t is therefore not impossible
that tin may yet be added to the long list
of minerals TO be found in Dlan0 and the
adjacent granite regions.
Professor Buckley also says: .sWe may
not expect TO find gold in the GRANTEES and
their associated crystalline rocks, but rather
in the still older metamorphic rocks, which
generally andertie the granite, or are in close
proximity to it," IL is generally conceded
that the granite underlies all other forma-
tions So far as human observation has been
able TO penetrate the hidden mysteries OF
III
ed the oldest of all rock formations. 1t is
true that granite dikes sometimes penetrate
and cut through the metamorphic strata,
but is rarely found overlyiug them, and
when so found only proves that the earth's
crust WAS once--if not Decentralization up
and moved about since the metamorphic
st<stA we're formed, when, through many u
rent and ffs-et9re, the material of which
granite is composed fowed uFssss FssssaFd az and
sometimes over, the previously solidified for
nation. do not think that Dana, whom the
Professor quotes without seeming to fully un-
derstand, would attempt to maintain the
theory that the metamorphic rocks were the
first sOliditied portions of the earth's crust,
for their we'll defined stratification would
surely indicate that they had pre-existing
solid foundation to rest upon. The GRANTEES
Of Llano, however, are not of the dixie char
acter, except in rare instances, and have
evidence OF being older than the metamor-
phic, and always found underlying the lat
ter, except where the effect of abrasion for
countless ages, or of displacement by up
heaval, has caused the metamorphic 70 dis
appear entirely, as we may see in many
places. Taking line southwest from Ri
ley mountain, from near the head of Hondo
creek, to Enchanted Rock, we have the
I
diately underlying the Potsdam sandstone
of the silurian, and pass successfully over
numerous strata of talcose. micaceous and
graphite states and shales, crystalline hme-
stones, gneiss, etc., until we reach the gran
lite, the stratiied rocks all dipping under to-
ward the silurian mountain and upward to-
ware. the granite hills, ss though an i'm
mense block of the earth's crust had been
tilted, its greatest elevation to the south
west and its greatest depression to the
northeast, with Riley mountain resting upnn
the point or ride of greatest depression.
| The position OF the strata here is unmistak-
aIle.
Were the Professors views accepted in
this respect, all previous theories Of metal
| liferous deposits must be abandoned, for all
true metalIIfefous usSures, -tUtf~5 -arr,s-eitr-
/ exist in the granite-the mineral always
coming from below, never from above.
! Whether injected in the condition of melted
matter, or rs sublimated vapors the fact is
still evident that they must at one time have
had egress from the intensely heated cen
tral regions of the earth; but had the me-
tamoiphic been the underlying strata--the
oldest soliditied rock--iloatiDg upon the sea
of molten matter that is still supposed to
exist beneath the rocky shell that envelops
s% for
their origin and commencement in them,
not in the granite. But mining experience
and geological science teach that slI true
metallferous veins or assures pass down
ward through all the other formations, and
if followed deep enough inevitably pass
into the granite. The mineral deposit may
change, and a wien become barren, as 1t
passes through different formations, but the
| hssure-the rent in the earth's crust that
has given egress to the mineral contents Of
the vein-iHvariabiy passes downward in-
terminably Sc far rs human power Of pene.
tration can follow it.
There are three kinds or descriptions oi
mineral veins, which. according to that mo-
menclaiure of the English miner, are called
respectively rake or fissure veins, pire and
| fiat veins. The ruke vein is true fssurs
that cuts all the strata in regular course
| for greater or less distance sometimes
for several miles-having well defined ''wal
rocks. - and extending downward in 8 near
" vertical direction. Il generally inclinei
more or less to one side, whicha ibclinatior
the miner terms the h0ds or dip of tn,
vein. The pipe vein is an irregular upward
offshoot from the true fssure which mus
exist deeper down in the granite, or per
haps passingupward through the metamor
phic, developing only pipe veins in the silu
rian. The pipe vein generally passes up
ward with the inclination Of the strata
spreading out fan-like, or forming extens
i've openings or cayernous deposits, whicl
sometimes yield immense quantities Of fin
mineral. The fiat vein is really form OF th
pipe vein. These veins, being more irregu
lar i'd their development, require mucl
greater mining skill 10 follow than the rak
vein, but they often yield large quantitie
OF mineral, and it is probable that much th,
greater proportion OF silver and lead mined
in the world is obtained from veins Of thi
character In the region Of country unde
consideration, very few rake veins pass up
ward through the siiurian strata and no
many even through the mefam0rphic, bu
10 both formations evidences of pipe vein
are abundant, especially in the lower silu
riau mountains. where / believe abundsn
deposits OF lead aud silver viii yet b
found.
But Prof. Buckley has thrown we
blanket upon the nliping prospects Of Liam
and vicinity, and very mueii weakened con
adence abrsmd among capitalists who hav
sought investment here. The PrOfesso
seems 10 have spent only 3 few dsys il
Llano County, hastily looking At few speci
mems uf mineral that iad isscii obtained b.
Others, and suppose hearing some vefba
accounts Of what little mining operation
had recently been carried on there II
then goes on TO ssy more particularly who
we may MT find in Lianp, than what ~
may fed. he seems to be ambitious o
appearing as the especial guardian and pro
tector OF the capitalist, but more particu
/. larry does be seem 20 seek TO copfuic the i'm
pressionswhich his particular friend koessle
had sent abroad to the world. Il = tru
! -...H r.. -. a.