The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-21

toria, and Princess.
At the present time these deposits arc
only reached by the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway. AS there seems to be no
reason for doubling the existence
OF the measures carrying these ores for
several hundreds of miles through ,Vir-
glnia, in northeast and southwest
direction, it is quite within the range
OF probability that at no distant day the
large area carrying these measures,
now inaccessible, will be penetrated by
new railroads or branches from existing
roads, and the output of ore largely
stimulated thereby. This is particu-
larly probable from the fact that this
ore deposit, in connection with that of
No. V,hereafter noted, lies nearer to the
great coal folds than any other. Incl
dentally 1T may be stated in passing
that recent developments from Big Stone
Gap, Wise county, Va, and Middles-
borough, Ky, positively claim the ex-
lstence of the Oriskany ore at or near
those localities. This being the case,
1T seems to prove the continuity of this
ore deposit over several hundreds of
miles. The well-lnown aphorism, 'sall
is not gold that glitters," is thoroughly
applicable, not only to this great lead
OF ore, but to all other brown ores, to
be hereafter considered. Toouotc from
recognized authority, the late Profess
sor j. l.. Campbell, of Washington and
Lee University. Lexington, Va: GAL
though the Oriskany is the most i'm
portant of the ore-bearing formations in
TINS particular region, it must not be in
ferred that every part of it, or even the
greater part of it, is iron ore Large
portions consist of coarse gray sand
stone, that is frequently highly col
ored with iron rust and that breaks up
rapidly when exposed, and weathcrs
into round boulders of o brown color"
In many places gigantic bouldcrs, and
| even cliffs, 20 to 30 feet high. outcrop
on the mountain side, and strike the in
experienced observer as iron ore. pure
and simple; but oftentimcs these masses
arc fatally charged with silicious mat
ter, and are commercially valueless.
| Yet these are usually landmarks which
indicate large and valuable deposits of
good ore Immediately under them.
Great variations both in quantity and
quality occur in close proximity, even
in thoroughly good mining ground, re-
curing the watchful attention of the
practiced eye and experienced miner.
The usual pitch of the ore can be taken
at about 45 degrees, conforming to the
general stratification, but this is con-
stantly changing, at times fattening
out, and at other times nearly vertical.
Originally worked in and near the out
crop, as open cuts, the large mining
operations arc now chiefly underground.
The present mines at Longdale, Allie
ghany county, Va, give information of
much value, and serve as administration.
Originally supplying charcoal furnace,
requiring very limited supplies, open
cuts were made at the outcrop, about
400 feet above the creek level, on the
hillside. These ran as open cuts about
1000 feet in length, and about 100 feet
in depth. at tho outset these same
workings supplied the coke furnaces,
but at the depth of 100 feet it became
impossible to keep up tho wells, and
underground mining was resortcd to,
and is now the only source of supply.
In locating tunnel, shaft was
started at the floor level of the open cut
and sunk 200 feet, with a somewhat dis
/ appointing result, as the orc when struck
was at that point only about II feet
wide, and not of average quality. Not
outstanding, the tunnel was driven
| LOO feet, and struck the ore at the
| depth of 200 feet, but about $50 feet
northeast of the shaft The ore at this
point was 25 feet wide and fully ND to
the average. From hero adits were
driven along the ore 1,4O0 feet south
westerly and 1900 feet northeasterly.
| Still lower down the valley another tun-
mel was driven, striking the ore 12O
! feet below the bottom of the shaft.
giving thorough drainage to the whole
| mine.
From tho surface to this lower level
the ground is opened up by adits and
wines, making splendid piece of min
ing property, The ore holds throughout.
but turns and bends. and stands at every
angle, conforming to the interstratiiied
rocks from almost vertical to nearly fiat
The mine IS worked so that in coming
back the pillars arc drawn, the roof
allowed to fall and the hill completely
robbed. No better opportunity for study
ing tho peculiar characteristics of this
ore, with its variations, both as to occur
renee and quality, can anywhere be
found Tho changes in its approximate
quantities of silica and manganese, fire.
quently within few feet, can be fairly
detected by the eye. At the northeast
end of the ore line, where n ravine &C.
ours, the ore is entirely cut off, or if con-
tinuous, it is at very much greater
depth.
Those details have been gone into be-
cause the conditions found here are
likely to be characteristic of this ore
lead throughout tho whole length of
the State, and in localities now un-
touched, but before long to be brought
on the market.
The total output of this property up
to the first of this year has been about
100000 gross TONS and at the present
rate OF consumption, say $50 tons a day.
II dead work were to stop, there is
enough ground open to give four or five
years supply. The bottom of tho low
ic lr,S