The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-08-02
The Osusss of Heat in Mines.

thElnlS new Enterp7ser
Lime Is undoubtedly one cause Of
hest in our mines, but Il is not the only
nor lie great heat producer. Lime is
local in It's action; the heat produced by
il is confined TO certain sections Of the
mines. while underlying the whole
length OF the Comstock lode is that
which causes the general heat. namely.
the deposits of iron pyrites. The hot
test places in the mines are where the
Leaf is generated by both lime and py-
rites; il IS the heat from the lime added
to the general heat from natures work
shois below.
Tie hot springs of Colorado may de-
rive q portion Of their heat from the de-
composition Of lime. but this Is but .
secondary cause. The great and first
cause of beat in springs and mines is
the decomposition Of iron pyrites-
masses If iron and sulphur. At Steam
boat Springs and other places in Colo
RADIO. and at most Of the hot springs in
California, the heat is producedfby the
burning out or decomposition Of iron
pyrites. At Steamboat Springs the
course Of the deposits of iron pyrites is
northeast and southwest. the same as
thai of the great mineral bearing veins
of the State. The line of active springs
follows the course of this deposit, NOV
ing toward the northeast At the south
west end are TO be seen places where
the deposit of iron pyrites and similar
minerals carrying large quantities OF
sulphur has burned out, and the springs
have died away. The process Of burn
ing out is slowly moving to the north
east. In 1860 the writer saw a new
spring Just starting up through q thick
growth of grass in a bit OF meadow
land far in advance Of the older and
larger ones. but on the same general
line. we'll out to the northeast
The base metal deposit at Steamboat
Springs also has the same dip as tho
Comstock, and is working east as well
as toward the north BY going from
half to three-quarters of o mile west Of
the present active springs at Steam
boat, one may see where the springs
were ages ago. along near the crop
pings or upper edge Of the deposit or
pyriuc matter. As the decomposition
proceeded downward and eastward
along the dip Of the deposit. the steam
and hot water found or forced new ver-
teal channels OF escape. Some of these
openings are probably natural creyices,
but the majority are undoubtedly rents
produced by the force of steam and
pent-up gases. Even on the surface Of
Steamboat Springs are to be seen long
rents from an inch or two to over a foot
in width that have o northeast and
southwest course. In California some
Of the hot springs are observed TO be
dying out at one End Of their line and
advancing into new ground at the
other.
At Steamboat Springs we probably
see q big mineral vein (like the Com
stock) in process Of formation. Ages
ago there vas probably q line of hot
springs along the course OF the Com
stock. The mines of Europe and Mex
co, which are comparatively cold at
great depths. arc undoubtedly ages and
ages older than the Comstock. The
Comstock Is probably the youngest
mine in any part of the world that is
now known, or being worked. Here.
down in our lower levels, we are fol-
lowing close upon the heels Of nature
getting well down into her workshop.
As to the heat generating power Of
sulphur md iron. those who desire TO
do 90 may satisfy themselves. Take o
few pounds Of iron filings, borings and
drillings from q machine shop. wet
them and mix in . pound or two of sui
phur, then lamp the mixture firmly into
. hole In the ground-Hkea post holo-
covering with two or three inches Of
dirt, and in . short time there will be
seen . miniature volcano, the batch Of
Iron AM sulphur taking Ere spontan-
seusly