Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-03-03
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
NUMBER ..

1t is not the purpose Of your writer
to give a treatise on the subject Of
geology or mineralogy, but to relate
facts as they exist. However, to aid
the general reader in comprehending
the theory, according to which noun
tains are formed and the mineral with
in them, few cursory statements in
regard to the early condition of the
globe and the agencies that produced
the varied changes on its surface, will
prepare the mind for what is to follow.
It is an accepted theory that at a
time all matter was in a gaseous con-
dition that it began to take a tangi
BILE form or shape by slow process of
cooling; that those forms or atomic
elements began to take their place in
the economy of the universe in rela-
ton to each other according to chemi-
cal or elective affinity, density and
specific gravity, etc.; that the heavier
combinations sought a position near
the centre of the earth, while the
lighter near the surface. The oceans
began to form by condensation of the
or ethereal enyelop; as the oceans
grew larger the superimposed weight
grew greater, and as the cooling pro-
grcssd there began a slow, gradual
process of foldings and flexions of the
crust of the earth near the shores of
the continents, from lateral pressure,
aided at times by volcanic agencies,
together with the power of contraction
of the cooling of the seething, boiling,
molten condition of the interior por-
tions of the earth. These foldings,
fittings, or plications followed the line
of least resistance hence, mountains
were thrown up in every conceivable
shape, and to height far surprising
to any which now appear, being eroded
and denuded during the successive
ages which followed, exposing to view
the rocks of the earliest formation, be-
longing to azoic and paleozic ages, as
well as amorphic volcanic matter.
During subsequent and successive
long periods there has been, owing to
some one of the above mentioned
agencies, or all combined, breaking
through, cracking or splitting of the
mountains to an exceeding great depth.
These are sometimes exposed for miles,
while again vents or craters at inter-
walls denote their existence beneath
These assures, the now mineral store
houses of nature, were filled by pro-
cesses varying according to the char
acter of the formation and mineral
combinations which they contain. The
splitting and the filing may have been
simultaneous, or the latter closely fol-
lowing the former, and continuing for
long period of time, by volcanic
agency, not only occupying the space
between wall rocks, but overhowing
with tremendous force, pouring down
the mountain sides and spreading over
vast areas, often many feet in thick
ness. Again, the fumes or volatile
gases, evolving or emanating from the
molten mass within the earth's crust,
deposit or sublimate slowly their min
eral on the sides of the rocky fissures.
A gain, from out these assures, or era
tiers leading downward to the same,
great volumes of mineral waters have
flowed. boiling, seething, kissing, roar
ing and emitting with great violence,
like unto the geysers of the present
day The superficial assures travers-
ing the surrounding country now be-
come reservoirs of mineral held in So
luton, and by chemical action, evapo-
ration, decomposition, decomposition or
crystallization, the mineral becomes
solid mass from wall rock to wall rock,
or, if confined by natural boundaries,
would in time become a vast deposit
or mineral bed and, as the forces
within grow less active, the channel
through which it flows becomes mar
rowed, and, when extinct, one solid
body of ore Of dazzling brilliancy, en-
tending far into the bowels of the
earth. These now veins or lodes dip
at various angles of incline, seldom
vertical, and often intersect each other;
the latter may be due to subsequent
action The richest have trend usu-
ally from the northwest to the south
east, and varying from q few lines in
thickness to many feet in width, widen
ing as depth is obtained, and likewise
increasing in value, yet frequently
narrowing down and growing lean,
but it is only question of depth till
nature is made to unfold her hidden
wealth.
By the first mentioned process the
Leadville carbOnates were thrown to
the surface, not as carbonates, but be-
came so by chemical agencies in vast
deposits occupying different planes of
elevation. The vein matter when found
and depth attained, exhibits different
mineral combinations, as sulphurets of
lead and silver, ch brides of silver, tel
lurides of gold and silver, also native
or free gold, &c.
The chloride belt, or formation at
Silver Cliff, was thrown up in like
manner and remained exposed, show
ing vast area of volcanic disturbance,
while the formation at Leadville, being
much the same, is covered in many
instances hundreds of feet by the de-
trites from erosions and denudations
going on for perhaps ages.
The Leadville carbonates are asso-
ciated chiefly with iron, carrying silver
in all its combinations, whilst Silver
Cliffs chloride or horn silver formation
has for its mineral bearer the black
oxide of manganese chiefly.
BY the third process the craters of
the famous Bull-Domingo mine, ad-
joining the chloride belt, were filed
with galena ores, simply inexhausti-
BILE, and of almost unlimited extent.
By the same process the wonderful
Bassick mine, situated seven miles
distant, the richest mine probably in
the world, yielding some of the high
est grade ores known, worth $4,000
per ton, was formed, but its mineral
I