Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-09-30

springs just described, and its northern
limit extends TO point = few miles
north of Harney's Peak. As few, even
Of the class known as "old miners" are
acquainted with the geological forma-
ton in which mica is found, or with the
character Of mica deposits-some, even
of good general understanding, con-
founding this peculiar and beautiful
mineral with isinglass, purely animal
product-some information upon these
points may be Of interest The general
ignorance among miners who have
explored wide and far for gold and
silver and other metals in regard to
mica is proof Its scarcity; at least, that
1t Is not a widely difused mineral.
There are those who have prospected
from Montana to Sonora, from Pixies
Peak to the coast range, who will con.
fess that they know little or nothing
about mica. In the Black Hills mer.
chantuble mica Is nowhere found outside
the district designated. In all other
sections there it only exists in the
various rocks in minute particles or
small fakes, the same as 1t is generally
found throughout the world. Tho
known districts i'm which merchantable
mica is produced, in Europe and Ameri-
ca, can be counted OH ones fingers; yet
it Is indispensable in the manufacture of
all kinds of stoves at the present day,
and is needed in many other branches
of the mechanic arts, the difficulty being
to supply the rapidly increasing demand.
Before the development of the immense
mica deposits of the Black Hills Ameri-
can consumers were entirely dependent
upon the mica mines of New Hampshire
and North Carolina-few In number
and very limited in extent; but their
yield continued to grow smaller from
year to year, while the demand was
rapidly increasing, until the stove
makers, whose patterns were all design
ed with view to the use Of mica, began
to feel alarm. To artificially produce
flexible, transparent and incombustibls
sheets of plates, adapted to the i|lun,ina-
ton Of stoves, could not be done. What
was to be done? Well, when great nec-
essities have confronted mankind they
have usually been met and favorably
responded to by kind and accommoda-
ting Providence, and so it has been in
the case of mica scarcity. The vast mica
deposits Of the Black Hills were dis
covered and began to produce just when
it seemed impossible to carry on one Of
the leading branches of manufacturing
industry without them. We now 90 to
the wonderful mica mines of Pennington
and Custer counties In the Black Hills.
We find great dykes Of white feidspar
forced up through the granite forma-
ton, and tbickly studding the feldspar
we find the mica blocks-the blocks
being usually sci in the feldspar in posi-
tion perpendicular to their lines Of
cleavage or foliation-and they are
frequently blasted out eighteen inches
square and six inches thick. The mica
splits freely, into sheets as thin as iiy's
wing, il desired. In quantity, size of
plates, clearness and firmness this Black
Hills mica is unsurpassed by that from
the mines Of the Atlantic coast, of Rus
sia or Scandinavia. No outlay is requir-
ed for mills or other machinery. as is the
case in other kinds of mining-the en-.
tire cost of mining and preparing for
market does not exceed sixty cents a
pound, while the mica is retailed out at
figures ranging from ten to twenty dol
lars pound. We find the deposits of
the Anglo-American Companys great
mines, in Grizzly gulch, and of tho
famous Black Hills mine, near Custer,
practically inexhaustible. The product
from them this year will aggregate IOO,-
600 pounds. Development may prove
other mines to be equally valuable.
And so the problem is solved--demand
can again be fully met by supply-mica
may even be used in branches ofa and
manufacture in which heretofore it's use
was precluded by reason of scarcity, and
a great new industry ii growing up to
add to the wealth and fame of the Black
| Hills They will in the future be the
worlds chief supply for mica.
1t is now claimed that Capt. Payne is
in the employ of the st. Louis and San
Francisco railroad, and that this com.
pany is furnishing him the money nee.
essary for him to carry out his exploits.
In getting it's lin" through the territory
it is Of vital importance to the st. Louis