Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-28

samples received. and find that the samples
obtained from the bottom OF the boring con-
sists of maleahle metallic iron, containing a
little carbon and silica, and no nickel In
this respect it resembles ordinary wrought
iron, and differs from meteoric iron, which
contains more or less nickel, as evidenced by
the numerous analyses that have been made
and reported However, as but a small pro-
portion of the various meteorites have been
analysed, it would not be safe or Unsuitable TO
assume that they all contain nickel, and that
any mass of metallic iron that does not CON
tain nickel cannot be a meteorite. Further.
more, some meteorites that have been eX-
amined have been found TO contain only two
per cent. OF nickel, making it very probable
that some of the numerous INFESTED samples
may not contain even trace Of that metal.
ln this case il no part of the mass can be
found that contains nickel, it would demon
strate the fact that the mass pene-
trated is not nickellferous; and, there
fore, not a meteor, unless it is an
exception TO all analytical experience SO far
obtained. In the chemical, mineralogical and
other peculiarties of the deposits Lassed
through, and in the depth and location of the
metallic mass penetrated, can find nothing in
conflict with the idea that the metal found
may be an ANCIENT meteorlte, as the facts aud
evidence indicate that meteorites have been
falling and accommodating upon the earth's sur
face from remote geological ages, and that,
therefore, such material must exist and may
be found scattered through the different strata
OF the earth's surface. Again, there is not a
Sufficiently well authenticated case on record
OF the finding OF metallic iron under such
conditions as would justify the stat ment that
Ii was a native metal and not a wandering me-
teorite; In fact, the record, SO far as it is re-
liable, points decidedly to the meteoric origin
of all the native metallic iron that has SO far
been found. In brief, it is possible that the
iron in question may be genuine native NAL
leable iron and not of meteoric origin, but the
probabilities and record of facts would favor
the latter superstition. Yours truly,
e. A. MARINER.
METE0RITE THEORY.
Mr. Mariner favored the theory very
decidedly, that in consequence of the
purity Of the iron, the drill must be down
upon a meteorite, and so he advised that
the old drill be kept in motion until it
had passed through six feet more of the
hard substance upon which it rested, and
then, if it was still stopped in its pro-
gress, it would be evidence to him that it
was not a meteorite, but solid bed of ore.
Acting upon this advice, Mr.. Newcomb
ordered Mr.. Carey to continue the work,
and at the end of two weeks he had pro-
crossed III the hard substance about
twelve feet, SO that the meteorite theory
was abandoned. 1t should be borne in
mind that the weight of the drill is be-
tween $500 and 1000 pounds; that it
falls one foot and half forty-tive times
per minute, so that substance must be
very hard to prevent its passage, and only
IRON could do it.
In the meantime some of the washlngs
of the green mud, and afterward taken
up by magnet, were sent to an eminent
iron man in Pennsylvania, who prompt
ly replied. YOu have an artificial iron
mine Particulars by mail" Of course
this could not be fair test, nor was it
just to the iron man, for after the iron
was washed and taken up by magnet,
1t was quite pure, except from sulphur,
and other metals with which
1t was associated, but the announcement
created quite a sensation among the in
vestigatOrs of this iron. find, for, if it
was artificial, of course the bubble was
at once bursted, and all parties had been
deceived.
SECOND REPORT OF MAI. NEWsoN.
Maj. News0n had been employed by
the directors to prosecute investigations
and Immediately upon receiving the
above information, submitted the follow
ing report:
ST, PAUL. Mimi, July Is, 1882.
c. B. Newcomb, ESQ, President of the Har-
veSter Works, st. Paul, Mimi:
DEAR SIR took one onpce of the wash
lDgs of your supposed iron ore, marked No.
|, and put it under heavy heat, succeeding
IN partially reducing it to a button and leav.
ing the balance pure iron. This test showed
10 per cent. ofiron of commercial value. 1t can
be found in the paper marked No. 2. l then
took two ounces of the original ore, not
by you, and placing it under
I very heavy neat succeeded in
getting one ounce of pure iron, all of which
is taken up by the magnet, and making the
test of commercial value at 50 per cent. |
also examined the sand from pit, about six
feet deep and some $50 feet from your factory,
north, and found it to contain at least one,
third iron. Itried this sand in four or five
places, said TO come from the bottom of
pit six feet deep, aud this experiment was sug-
gested solely by myself, but was witnessed by
two or three persons. | also found in two
places in a road, this side of the plow works,
in the sand, magnetic iron in sufficient guam
Titles TO warrant Investigation. Also found in
a recent cut some four feet below the surface,
more iron. have also found small particles
of white stone, which contain iron on being
ground and applying the magnet. The sur
rounding soil for miles indicate oXid of iron,
whether produced from the scraps OF your
factory or of the piow works, is a poiut yet
unsettled.
1t is possible the point where you have been
drilling, eould have been "salted,' but no
adequate motive appears for this. Again, if
an iron bar had been dropped into the hole
1t must rest upon sand stone, a. NJ evidence
appears that the rock a. toe bottom of the
hole, is either syenite or granite. Now if this
bar or chunk of iron rested upon sand stone,
then the repeated drop of the drill, with
a weight. of 1000 pounds upon it,
would force the iron through The
sand store or break it, aud theEdrili
would go down on its way, or it would get
caught in the cleavage sof the stone. Still,
again, il 70 iron bar OF chunk is at the bot
tom of the hole, bu t. ssone one has dropped
two or three feeto ron straps info the hole,
then the action and the weight of the drill
would soon crush them into The sandstone
and the hard substance would be removed. l
am inclined to think that the action OF the
drill coming down In one hole, some twelve
feet, has turned the native iron ore into crys-
tails, or nearly maleab'e iron, might say al
most steel, and hence this accounts for the
almost impossibii4y of fuSing l intend to