Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-12-08
Mining Column
The MlueralOgy of Southeast
Missouri.
BY THOMAS CALLAHAN.

BY THOMAS CALLAHAN.
II.
All metals have one base or funda-
mental substance. And whilst all the
classes of metals are based on this, so
that the science of metallurgy IL q unit
yet each class of metals is perfect in
itself-that is, it contains everything
needed to secure the very best results
in it's class.
For an illustration, take iron and re-
gard its various combinations, as q
class, by itself. It will be found that
the use of any substance in reducing
an ore Of this metal is a mistake, and
the best results will be secured by the
use of helps of which iron is q part.
Such will always be found in the vicin-
ity of large deposits of iron ore, being
evidently placed there by design.
Take Pilot Knob, for instance, con-
tanning iron ore. Close by it il the
Granite Quarry containing vast sup
ply of granite containing too much car
Donate Of iron to be useful as build
ing material. Instead, then, of using
lime as a f1ux, indications point to
ferrugineus granite, and all the more
strongly as fluer spar is deemed neces-
sary in reducing ore; and feldspar, an
other member of the same family, is
found in granite. 1t is not by accident,
then, that the Granite Quarry belongs
to the Iron Mountain Company.
But this same system classifies its
subjects. Metals stand as the grand
result, and minerals, rocks, earths and
gases, as auxiliaries in their prOduc-
ton. But to bring the matter to a
practical bearing, all indications point
to the organization of the iron interest
on a new basis. Hitherto in refining
iron it has been deemed necessary to
the best results to combine In definite
proportions the metals from different
mines.
Now take one step forward and or
gsnize an iron company, with GEN.
trail furnace to which the ore will be
furnished by the different mines in
definite proportions. Inspection will
show deposits of the various kinds of
iron ore, and substances containing
iron, arranged in clusters, or at least
accessible to central point.
Start with the idea that the iron sys-
tenn, including its auxiliaries, Is per-
feet, and it will soon be found to con-
tain everything necessary to the best
results. For example, in the produc-
ton of fine iron, and, still more, of
steel, abundance of carbon is needed.
Now, combine Pilot Knob, Iron
Mountain and the works on the Mera-
mec, and locate u central furnace
somewhere on the north side Of town.
ship "a, range l west, and it will be
easy for the writer to point out, within
striking distance, large ferruginous
deposit containing 95 per cent. Of car
bon. Its location has not been talked
of, because there is grave doubt
hanging over the ownership Of the
land.
But indications point to an entire
revolution in the near future in the
producing ores. The present system
will be abandoned, for the weakness
and unprofitableness thereof, or be-
cause it is inefficient; that is, It does
not yield the best results. 1t is expen-
sive, complicated, cumbrous and dirty.
One great difficulty in reducing ores
is in the fact that, owing to the mate
rials used III producing heat, the heat
produced has been the vehicle for sub
stances whose presence and effects are
Inconsistent with the best results. In
order 10 illustrate this point: Light,
like heat, is without weight, and yet 1t
is compound substance and requires
the prism to take out Of 1t all the
shades Of darkness; and, after the spec
trum has been formed on the serene,
that which il left IL pure dry light, in
which there is no darkness at all, and
30 the most complete medium through
which to study any object.
so, in order to reach the best results,
we must have pure heat; that IL, heat
which is not the vehicle Of any other
substance. All known substances melt
or volatile in galvanic current. Elec-
tricity lights the mine to day; toner.
row it will melt the ore at the furnace.
All metals have one base, and yet
that base IL not an elementary sub
stance; and 90, on the principle Of An
alysis, by which we reason from CIV
en- number back to unity, and then
from unity up to the required number,