News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-12-31
Steatite in Vermont.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME INVESTMENT
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT sOAPSTONE.

Steatite in Vermont.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME INVESTMENT
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SOAPSTONE.
TB II. Allbee in stone" OF Indianapolis
Vermont has enormous beds of steatite and
serpentine, but soapstOne or steatite is large
Nv in excess The two are but varieties of
the same formation and are always closely
associated. Steatite, in general, is an impure
tale or hydrated silicate of magnPsia hav-
ing the normal composition of silica, 62.14 =;
magnesia, 1892, water, "a. 1t is course
gray era yish-9reen and sometimes of bright
green color. 1t may be granular compact
or lamear but is never known in the form
of CRYSTALS. Its characteristic property is a
greasy fee whence the name sOapstOne. Its
impurities are in excess of any of the normal
component parts, peroxide of iron, alumina,
lime. oxide of nickel and other substances.
Serpentine or ophiolte is essentially a ny
drous silicate of magnesia, having the normal
composition of silica, 43.7; magnesia, 1913 !;
water. ID. Protoxide of iron often replaces
a portion of the magnesia and the impurities
are generally the same as in the steatitP.
Serpentine has be- n found in crystals exactly
like those of crysolite, belonging to the tri-
metric system, but possibly they are only
DseudO-morphis. Serpentine is from 3 to 4
rarely in hardness, and its specific gravity
is 25O7-2 SOL in some tibrous varieties
falling as low as 2.2-2.3.
Soapstone is commonin Vermont, and each
bed or outcroppng is generally of sufficient
extent to make working profitable. At least
so beds are known in the following named
towns, beginning at the south part OF the
state and proceeding nOrthwaTd in naming
the towns: Readsboro, Marlboro, Newlane,
Windham Townshend, Athens, Grafton,
Andover, Chester, Cavendish, Baltimore,
Ludlow, Plymouth, Brideewater, Bet hel, Rorh-
ester, Warren, Braintree Waitsfieid, More
H. W,+o YIrrrx
Cambridge, Waterville, Berkshire, Eden,
Lowell, Belvidere. johnson, Enosburg West
field Troy and Jay.
Beds of Serpentine are found in Dover,
Newfane, Windham, Ludlow, Cavendish,
Norwich Roxbury Warren, Waitsield,
Hazens Notch in Westfield, Wattrville,
Montgomery, Richford, Lowell, Westfeld,
Troy and Jay.
The towns in which so8pstone is found will
be noticed upon the map as extending in
line running along the principal mountain
range of the state. Beginning at the south
this line of beds follows the mountain north
erly until it reaches the of the mountains
and there it follows the two arms of the to
Canada, crossing almost from arm to arm
Just at the northern line of the state. Unlike
gold and coal and other valuable minerals,
soapstone is not in inaccessible places. 1t
is generally in spots comparatively easy to
reach with streams for transportation, and
railroad facilities are near to a large proper
ton of the towns where it is found. 1t only
needs the application of capital o make the
soap stone beds of Vermont yield an enor-
nous revenue.
Beginning at the south part of the state
some of the beds of soapstOne which exist
along the line of towns mentioned are: The
bed in Readsboro is situated in gneiss, very
uncommon location, though there are occa-
siOnal examples of such Il situation. In MARI
boro are three beds. The most southern is
on top of a hill in the west part of the town
The talcOse schist has a strike of N. 200 E.
and dips 500 easterly. Scrpentine is mixed
with it and devides it into parts. At its
southern end the bed is 80 .ppt wide, and
small opening has been made by quarrymen.
The southern extremity is covered only with
alluvlum. The stone is of the finest quality,
being entirely free from the brown spar
which Injuries many beds to a greater or
less extent, and the situation on II hill top
makes the quaTryIng comparatively easy.
Half mile or so north of the bed are two
smaller ones cropping out from the opposite
sides of brook. The rock between the two
is hOrnbend schist, and it is
probable that the beds unite under the
brook. The ontcrOppings are not as good as
the bed before mentioned, but it is likely that
a better quality would be found under the
soil, which could easily he removed by the
water of the stream. On tie line of strike
of these two beds is another in the northern
part of the town, situated in talcose schist
A portion is of green, rather bard rock inter
mediary between steatite and chlorite schist,
but much the larger area of the bed is of the
purest steatite wholly free from brown spar.
The bed is upon gentle HILL and has been
luarried, but the area of the quarry is as one
to 1000 when compared with the area of the
bed.
Adjoining Marlboro on the north is New
ane. the shire town OF Windham county A
&c
ed upon hill in the west part of the town |
l393 feet above the Connecticut river at
The rock that surrounds it is |
5alco micaceous schist, not very tough and |
quite irregular. The stone has been quar-
led to some extent and is of verygood quality |
There is present an unusual amount of deep |
green stone, regarded by many as the most |
'aluable and beautiful of ALL
There are traces of soapstone in Towns
lend but prospecting has not yet been car
led on very completely and the extent and |
'alue of the deposit is unknown Towns
lend adioins Newfane on the north.
North of Townshend is Athens, and north
If Athens, Gro fton, both have outcroppings
,f the same bed of soapstone only u short
Athens and Grafton, and worked to |
ONE extent at this time. The stone is most
y of average quality and comparatively
asy to get at.
In Windham, west of Grafton is a bed of
teatite l D rods long, and fourrods wide 1t
) mixture of good, bad and indifferent
tone Between this bed and Windham vii
age is another smaller bed, and it is not I'M
kelly that both are but outcroppings of the
anne continuous range of bed. Two miles
0 the north of the village of Widham is a
ed about II rods wide and of indefinite
myth which has been quarred to some ex-
INT. Half a mile east of this bed is another
hich is said to be of good quality North !
Windham, in AndOyer, is a bed of talcose
hist, probably connected wi h the beds in 4
Windham. In Chester. east of Andover
bed has been opened and much valuable
one taken from it. 1t is now being worked I
nd the business built by it is a large addi-
on TO Chesters financial status. Another
ed was opened but has been abandoned
Ludlow, north OF AndOver, has six differ !
1t beds, none of which have been developed
avendish, east of Ludlow, has at least four
eds. One of these formerly owned by Joseph {
reeman, OF Proctorsville, was worked to
'nsiderable extent at one time. mill
as built for the manufacture of the stone
Id prosperous business conducted The
larry is inexhaustible, but is little worked,
any, now.
In Baltimore, originally part of Caven-
sh, but divided from it naturally by Hawks
ountain, and finally legally by the legisla-
ire, is bed of soapstone which is being ex-
nsively worked. The quarry is owned by
en- Charles Williams, of Nashua, N. H.. the :
rgest dealer i'll soapstone and it's products
the world. An immense quantity of the
one has been uncovered and taken out but
i'll there is no appreciable diminution of the
post. II Is of the best quality and takes a q
autiful polish In the town of Weathers
Id, down the hill from the Baltimore quar-
=, IS another which has been worked to
me extent. The stone is of good quality
1t capital has been lacking in ats develop
emit.
Plymouth, north of Ludlow, has some fine
pOsits which have been worked in times
st. In Reading north of Cavendish is a
d of inferior steatite. In Bridgewater
nth of Plymouth, are two good beds, on
e west bank of the Otta Quechee river The
uthern bed is of little value the northern
e contains as good stone as can be found
Vermont. Stockbridge, northwest of
ldgewater, has some inferior beds, that is,
erIor Judging from outside appearances
ospecting might develop something valu-
lie. Bethel, north of Stockbrdge, enjoys
e possession of two beds. The stone has
an quarried in years past, but whether it is
ing worked now, the writer of this does
t know.
Vest of Bethel, in Rochester. near the line
tween the two towns. are three beds One
more of them have been worked and the g.
aspect is tar Tor securing a good quality of III
lne. Transportation facilities are discour-
ing, however. tn
n Braintree, is bed, but how extensive
OF what value it is impossible to say. In C.
arFen, Joining BFaintree of the northwest | -
? three beds. The beds appear to be insig \
icant, but might develop into unthougbt
values if worked
)ne mile from the village of Waitsfield a ar
Nn Joining warren on the north is a bed III
soapstone in talcose schst. 1t does not m
m probable that it is of sufficient yalue to
N hn 81