The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-04-19
The Mineral Belt of Augusta,


prominently into notice as a region rich
in mineral wealth, and destined to be the
seat of extensive iron and other industries.
The March number of Hotchkiss' Yer
ginias contained Prof. Fontaine's reports
on a number of valuable properties con-
tiguous to the Shenandoah Valley railroad,
and in the April number will be published
a continuation of these reports. The sub
jects treated in the forthcoming number
are the Iron and Manganese Ores of
Sherando, 1.-THE Mount Torrey Ore Beds,
1.-The Ores Of the Kennedy Tract, ".'Bare
Bank Ore Deposits" ''Glass sand near
Greenyille, "Greenville Stalactitic Mar
bic, 1.-The Doyle property, n"Blue Bank, ;"
Fairfield Ochre, ''''Black Rock ore Bank,
''Kaolin Deposits at Black Rock and
other properties i'll the same range. Each
of these subjects is dwelt upon at more or
less length. The general result is certainly
most gratifying to those who are looking
forward to the day when all along the wes-
tern slope of the Blue Ridge mountain the
furnace fires will be lighted and natures
storebouse be made to yield it's treasures.
Another eminent geologist, Andrew S. Me-
Creath, chemist to geological survey of Pa,
has recently carefully examined this re-
markable section. The result of that ex-
animation has Just been published, and
parts of it will also be reproduced in the
| April Firgalids. This report is a very eX-
tensive one, covering all the country trib-
utary to the Shenandoah Valley railroad
| and its branches, from Hagerstown to the
Flat Top coal fields. 80 varied are the
geological features of this country" says
Prof. McCreath that every important
geological formation known to be in North
America can be reached within easy dis
lance; and it follows as q necessary conse-
quence that all the different minerals found
| in the various formations should be trib-
utary to the Shenandoah Valley railroad
system. The varied character of the min
erals, their great abundance and superior
| quality, taken into consideration along
with the other natural advantages-such
as ready facilities for mining, abundance
of water supply, numerous outlets to
market in every direction-should result
in the establishment of many industrial
enterprises along the lines of this system. :"
Our space will permit us, for the present,
to make only special reference to that por-
tion of Prof. McCreath's report which
| covers the properties embraced within the
limits of Augusta. Even in giving this
we must confine ourselves pretty much to
the analyses, leaving out the interesting
general information in regard to each sep
| arate property, which the character and
value of the deposits call forth.
1.-The Crimora Manganese is the first
that claims attention and this is spoken of
in high terms. A sample of the lump ore,
22S pieces, shows by analysis, binoxide of
manganese S1.703 per cent: protoXide of
manganese, 7.2S1. AS the English standard
| is 20 per cent. of binoXide of manganese,
the value of this ore may be better appre-
ciated. From the ore in Gaw's cut, Mt.
TOrrey property, a sample, 165 pieces
yielded: metallic iron 4S.450; phosphorus
| $50: silicious matter 1860; phosphorus
| in 100 parts iron l.l12. A sample of sill
| cious red hematite, consisting of 70pieces,
taken from the same property, yielded:
| metallic iron 22.650; phosphorus Jas sill
icious matter 63.700; phosphorus in 100
| parts iron .653. On the Kennedy tract a
sample of AZ pieces of loose ore, selected
from around abandoned dumps, yielded:
metallic iron, 52.575; phosphorus, .2S9:
silicious, matter 1880; phosphorus in 100
parts, $40. A sample of the manganif
erous iron ore, on the same property, IS
pieces, selected from loose ore lying around,
yielded: metallic iron, Il. $50; metallic man.
ganese, 30.7SS; phosphorus, .0S9; silicious
matter, 1850. A sample from the Bare
bank (CotopaXi Furnace property, of y
pieces, taken from the old dump, gave the
following analysis metallic iron 49.400;
phosphorus. 062: silicious. matter, 4.260:
phosphorus in 100 parts, .125. From the
Black Rock Bank, on same property, a
sample of 1856 pieces, from loose pieces lying
near the tunnel, showed: metallic iron,
$3.50; phosphorus, .095; silicious matter,
2S.290; phosphorus in 100 parts, PA. A
sample of l43 pieces taken from Mine
Bank, Newton's property, shows: metallic
iron, ALPS; metallic manganese, S.221;
phosphorus, .265: silicious matter. 14.830
Inorder to show the advantages possessed
by the section traversed by the Shenandoah
Valley railroad for the manufacture Of
iron, the following estimates of the cost
are given: AT Mines, $12.55 per ton: at
Buchanan, 1924: at Roanoke, $3.50; at
Central, $11.S9; on New River, $11.03.
For comparison the following figures have
been obtained from prominent iron masters
in different sections of Pennsylvania and
elsewhere, giving the actual cost of making
pig iron at numerous points: Middle Penn
sylvania, S1S.22 per ton; Harrisburg, Pa,
$685.; Lower Susquehanna District, $751;
to $19.6S; Lehigh Valley, $20.3s; Pitts
burg, $17.97; Phillipsburg, n. j. $17.S7.
In concluding his valuable report, Prof.
McCreath says: ANY comment upon these
comparative estimates would be super
fiuous. They show cOnclusively that pig
iron can be made at numerous points along
the line of the Shenandoah Valley railroad
system to such advantage that-apart from
the local demand for it which the develop
ment of the country will undoubtedly
make-it can bear long transportation to
markets and successfully compete with any
other locality, and yet leave q handsome
profit for capital judiciously managed.
THE advantages which the territory |
traversed by your several lines of railroad |
offers to the Iron Master may be summed |
up in few words: The ores are abundant |
and generally Of good quality; they can be
economically mined, for the country in |
many localities is broken up by numerous
ravines affording natural openings for
mining operations: most of the deposits
are within convenient distance of the rail
roads-with easy down grades; the water
supply, either for washing ore OF for man.
purposes, is ample and per-
at all seasons: limestone for fux-
ing purposes exists in unlimited quantities;
coke of the finest quality for blast furnaces
can now be obtained at a reasonable cost:
and the railroad facilities for reaching
markets in every direction are unusually
thus forming a combination of favor
able circumstances rarely equalled."
1t should be remembered that the sam