Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-27

| SAMPLES received, and find that the samples
| Cbtained from the bottom Of the boring con-
1 slsts OF malIeable metallic iron, containing
1 little carbon ard silica, and no nickel In
4 this respect it resembles ordinary wrought
I 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 small pro-
4 portion OF the Various meteorites have been
| analysed, it would nor be safe or juslifable to
1 assume that they all contain nickel, aud thar
i any mass OF metallic iron that does not con-
| tain nickel cannot be a meteorite. Farther
| more, some meteorites that have been eE-
| 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
iu this case if no part of the mass can be
strate the fact that the mass pene-
trated is not nickellderous; and, there
fore, not meteor, unless 1t is sa
exception to all analytical experience so far
obtained. In the chemical, mineralogical add
other pecNliarties OF the deposits usssed
through, and in the depth and location of the
metallic mass penetrated, can find nothing IN
conflict with the idea that the metal found
m&y be an ancient meteOrite, as the facts aud
evidence indicate that meteorites have been
falling and accumulating 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
sGEi ciently well authenticated case on record
of The finding of metallic iron under such
conditions as would justify the statement that
II was nGtive metal and not wandering me-
teorite; IN fact, the record, SO far as il is re-
liable, poiats decidedly to the meteoric origin
of all the native metallic iron that has SO far
been found. In brief, it is possible that Tie
iron in question may be genuine native NAL
leable iron and not OF meleoric origin, but The
probabilities and record of facts would favor
the latter suppOsition. Yours truly,
G. A. MARINER.
METEORITE THEORY.
Mr.. Mariner favored the theory very
decidedly, that in consequence Of the
purity of the iron, the drill must be down
upon meteorite, and so he advised that
the cid 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, IL would be evidence to him that it
was not 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-
gressed IN 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 1,S00 and 1000 pounds; that it
falls one foot and q half forty-five 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
iy replied. "YOu have an artificial iron
mine. Particulars by mail" OF course
this could not be a fair test, nor was it
just to the iron man, for after the iron
was washed and taken up by magnet,
IL was quite pure, except from sulphur,
phosphorus and other metals with which
it 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. Newson 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, 1852.
c. B. Newcomb, Esq, President of the Har-
vester Works, st. Paul, Mimi:
DEAR SIR took one ounce of the wash
ings OF your supposed iron ore, marked No.
L, and put it under heavy heat, succeeding
in partially reducing it to a button and ltav-
ing the balance pure iron. This test showed
~ per cent. ofiron OF commercial value. It can
be found in the paper marked No Q. tEen
took two ounces of the original ore, not
washed, but just as handed to me
oy r5rH YOU hand and Paaf placing .s, it under
getting one ounce of pure iron, all of which
Is taken up by the magnet, aud making the
test of commercial value at 50 per cent. I
also examined the sand from q 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 10 come from the bottom of a
pit six feet deep, and this experiment was sug-
gested solely by myself, but was witnessed by
two or three persons. | also fouod ia two
places in rosd, this side of the plow works,
IN the sand, magnetic iron in sutiicieat guam
titles to warrant Investigation. Also found in
recent cut some four feet below the surface,
more iron. | hays 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 vour
factory or of the plow works, is point vet
unsettled.
1t is possible the point where you have been
drilling, could have been ''salt6d,'' but no
adequate motive appears for this Again, ii
an iron bar had been dropped into the hole
1t must rest upon sand stone, as no evidence
appears that the rock at the 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
weight of 1900 pounds upon it,
would force the iron through the
sand stone or break it, and the drill
would go down on its way, or it would get
caught in the cleavage OF the stone. Still,
again, if no iron bar or chunk is at the bot
tom OF the hole, but some one has dropped
two or three feet of iron scraps into 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. I
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 maleable iron, N ght say al
most steel, and hence this accounts for the
almost impossibiity of fusing. I intend TO
make some Investigations from a half to a
mile northeast, above your factory, and the
investigations2will settle the question. Re-
speclfuily yours, I. NJ. NEwsoN.
E1TRTuER