The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-05-20

Discovery Of New Mineral In Oregon
More Precious than Gold.

Dlse0veFy OF new Mtncral IN Orf2on
More Precious than Gold.
About two years ago stranger in
this city strollcd into the Office Of Mr..
s. M. Lyon and .ecame very much In
terested in large collection af spcci-
men minerals and gold quartz then in
this assayer's office. II is we'll known
that Mr. Lyon has been dealer in gold
dust, aud has had large experience in
this line. lie courteousiy gave The
stranger permission TO take away scv-
eral specimens. Among them was n
quantity Of fine sand and elbow
ings" Of gold which contained the
black and shining particles that mort
miners are familiar with. aud which
have been regarded M PARTICLES Of iron.
Az they were heavier han gold they
could only be separated by the intro
daction Of the magnet, To which tllcse
PARTICLES would readily adhere, while
the gold, Of course, would not. IL was
this fact that gave rise 10 the prevail.
ing idea that these black PARTICLES were
iron. Mr.. Lyon heard no more of his
stranger, who soon after l'ft the city.
But u few days since the following let
ter came through the mail
MIAMI MEDICAL CoLLEGE,
Cincinnati, o., March 81, 1881.
S. M. LYoy, ESQ - Dear SRI arr
deSirous Of gaining some koowledge of
iridium, as to the amount found or the
quantity that could bc ohisiucd, ctc. /
therefore will thank you IL you will IN
form mo Of the amount y0u receiye er
could receive annually; ~heiher u il
found in your locality, and at what cost
il can be obtained.
II makes no difference whether IL il
in powder, grains or Inm,ss ]. am in
t1rcsted in an industry that may bring
il into more extensive us.., add il you
can obtain any will soon be able -
talk business. Yours truly,
Wa. l.. DUDLEY,
Professor II Chemistry.
Mr.. Lyon has no knr,. i,tg, nf the
author of this letter, ~ lio~ he came
To write To him, aud can acc 1nnt for it
on no other theory than that this j. the
stranger 10 whom he gave the sleci-
mems, or they were given TO this pro
fessor by the stranger. Investigation
reveals the fact that these shining par
ticles found in much Of the gold Of o.
egon in none other than this very iri-
dium. about which this inquiry is made.
This mineral ~ Described in Ze!rs En-
cyclopediA as follows:
IRIDIUM. Latin, iris. rainl,ow, from
the various tints which the salts of this
metal assume. (Chemistry) 4 white,
brittle metal resembling l~.l,shed steel.
found in connection with the ores oi
platinum. IL is generally combined
with osmium in the native alloy called
iriciosmi,,e or osaiiriIium Iridium j.
insoInhIe in all acids, Lut when nxii-
iz,d the oxide dissolvea ia murintir
acid. IL is very heavy, having sle-
cilic gravity Of 2ll5. les equivalent
is 1913. Iridium has been used foi
points Of gold pens. its extreme bard
ness cansing IL 10 last ior wears.
In addition 10 the above we nly state
that this metal has been cnmparatIvely
but little known. Recently IN Europe
and this country great deal OF Interest
in it has been awakened by the discov
cry of additional nses for which this
article IL especially adapted !, il nse'
by dentists for some OF their plates ans
for rivess, - il withstands the action o
any acids taken into the mouth bette
than gold or platinum. Its slA elf,
gravity, il will be seen. is greater exc,
than platinum, and il is more valuabl
than either.
| AS before stated, it is found mixe'
with gold in this State, aud appears n
black shining sand. in particles "a lii
tie coarser than blasting powder. Their
are portions of this State aud adjoinin
Territory where this metal may b
found In abundance so we have in on
midst an undeveloped source of wealt
that may outshine anything ever beior
known. Before the possibilities of thi
new and valuable discovery, the Woo
river excitement, aud even the Con
stock bonanzas, will pale as the morl
ing stars before the rising sun. Il
this iridium industry be investigated ;
: once, and it may be that the letter fro
this distinguished chemist may lead
: individual fortunes and general pro
perity in our State.-Portia1d Dai
4 Standard.