The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-05-20
Manganese District.


relation to the manganese deposits along
the Western base of the Blue Ridge spurs,
in Augusta county. The indications are
favorable for large quantity of the ore.
but as yet there have been no developments
except that at Crimora, to justify the ex-
preston of an assured opinion. The fact
that in the whole United States. for the
year 1885, only about "a 900 tons of mall
ganese were placed on the market. and
that nearly $4,000 tons of that were taken
from the Crimora mines. is evidence that
if the district running through Augusta
county from the Rockingham to the
Rockbridge lines, should prove what the
surface showings promise, it will be a
most valuable mineral section, inasmuch
as it would be the only known manganese
belt in the United States, sufficiently free
from phosphorus to be used in the man.
ufacture of steel. The Crimora mine is
a phenomenal formation, without an equal
anywhere and yet it's probable other
equally rich and valuable deposits may be
found in the same range. South of it,
about three miles, on thea Watts place.
shafts have been sunk, and 200 or 800 tons
of excellent ore taken out. Drilling is
going on at the Kayser place, a few hun
bred yards from the Waynesboro juno
tion, but as yet there have been exposed no
assuring evidences OF manganese, al
though the parties engaged in the work
think it may be reached at $50 feet
Further South the surface indications are
man place, near Sherando, from shaft so
feet deep. a quantity of fine crystal
lied ore has been found. At Kennedy,
four miles south.of Sherando,..a shaft has
been sunk..S0 feet. going:through about IS
feet of manganese formation, and resting
on solid body Of the ore six feet below
water, and into which drill Was sunk
three feet without reaching the bottom
On this tract of $500 acres there are evil
dences of very large deposits of the ore,
extending four or FIVE miles in length and
between one and two in breadth. There
are not less than thirty places on this
land, where iron ore was worked for a few
years ago, at which manganese is exposed.
These openings. however. are not the most
favorable to be found for manganese, not
withstanding the excellent quality of that
mineral thrownout. 1t is believed that with
in a radius of two miles, almost inexhaust-
ible quantities of the ore will be found land
that shafts sunk in the low grounds would
reach it at a depth of from forty-fve to
sixty feet.
On the adjoining property to this. known
as the Trotter tract, large body OF land,
iron ore and manganese both exist, and on
the Shelton tract, south of this. manganese
and kaoin are found.
No systematic scientific examinations
of this district have ever been made, ex-
cept at Crimora. to determine the extent
of the manganese deposits. Examina-
tions have been made with the object of
ascertaining the general formations, out
with no special reference to manganese.
1t is from the surface indications and the
few superficial openings that have been
made that the conclusion is reached that
it is rich mineral section. and that the
predominant ore is manganese.
The limited supply of this ore in the
United States and the increasing demand
for it will cause more methodical efforts to
be made to learn it's quality and quantity.
Northern parties now have their atten-
tion drawn to lt,and if the quantity proves
to be as great as the surface showings in
dictate, it will not be long before develop |
ments will be made. which will prove of |
great advantage to all this portion of the
State