The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-12-24
ABSOLUTELY PURE
Worlds Fair Notes.


Worlds Fair Notes.
The Idaho mineral exhibit cor
} tains two small Walls filled Will
} sand from the placers in the Nes
district. This is ordinary, coarse
, looking sand of various colors from
white to black. But when it is ex
amined closely the brown and re.
particles are found to be small
crystals, and glitter like rubbies
This sand contains chromium, on
of the rare elements more preciou
than gold, being worth $65 al
ounce. It has about the same spe
cific gravity as gold, and in placer
mining it is deposited along with
the yellow metal. The name com
monty applied to these crystals is
hyacinth or ruby sand. Zircon Sane
is found at Helena, Montana; in
southern Colorado; Santa Fe, New
Mexico; and in Arizona. It is also
found in Idaho and Washington
counties in this state, besides in
the Neal district. At Warrens, in
Washington county it can be taken
out in paying quantities. The only
place in the United States for the
reduction of zircon sand is at Bal
timore. Chromium when heated to
a certain temperature emits white
light, and it has been utilized in
combination with gas for illumi-
mating purposes. Efforts will be
made in the spring to obtain more
of this sand for the Worlds Fair.
Every county in the state has
valuable mining interests. Efforts
have been made to secure speci-
mems from each one. When these
are all collected at Chicago Idaho
will have a magnificent display.
The space allotted this state in the
mining building is a prominent
one, being second from the main
entrance. The color of the pavil-
ion is white and gold. The style is
that of classic temple. Between
each set of pillars above the plate
glass is the word Idaho, on medal
lion. The pavilion is entered by
doors at both the sides and ends.
Idaho will have specimens enough
to fill all her space. F. B. Schem-
erhorn, who closed his work for the
winter the first of the month, can
vassed Owyhee, Cassia, Logan, Al
turas, Custer, Lemhi, Boise and
Bingham counties, and collected
over eighteen hundred samples.
This is in addition to the work
done by assistant commissioners in
each of the counties.
Pure aluminium extracted from
Idaho clay will be on exhibition at
Chicago. This comes from Koot-
enai county, where the clay banks
contain forty-five per cent of this
valuable metal. The pressed bricks
manufactured from this clay, sam
pies of which have been obtained
for the fair, are of an exceptionally
fine quality.
In the mineral exhibit is a piece |
of ore that looks like an ordinary
chunk of lead. 1t is specimen Of
almost pure galena, ground down
into two rectangular blocks, like
two boxes, one small one on top Of
the other. The top cube is engraved
with miners tools, pick, shovel and
hammer. On the side of the larger
solid is cut in gold letters the name |
Of the donor, l. A. Lusk, superin-
of the Queen of the Hills
mine at Bellevue, from which the
ore is mined. It is hard for one
who examines the specimen to
think that it is not lead bullion.
But it is native galena, containing
IS per cent lead 1866 per cent be-
ing pure galena) and about Is per
cent sulphur. The ore carries one
hundred and thirty ounces of sill
yer to the ton.
There are some very pretty spec
linens of wire silver among ldaho's
collection. Great care has
been taken in packing them that
they may safely make the trip to
Chicago. They are first wrapped
in tissue paper and then sur
rounded with cotton. These deli
cate silver threads of pure metal
clinging consciously to the galena
ore, are so handsome that they will
probably be placed in q separate
exhibit from the scientific depart
ment.
Idaho will have rare collection
IF gold nuggets for the Worlds
Fair. These chiefly come from
private cabinets that have been
saved from the placer diggings
since the early discoveries. These
nuggets are very valuable and are
only loaned for use at the exposi- !
ton. While many promises have
been received from owners of gold
it is hoped that others who
have not been heard from will send
in their collection, that the exhibit
may be as full az possible.
Idaho's collection of fossils is
not extensive, but efforts will be
made to increase it before the fair