The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-10
Peoples Column.

Mineral Resources of Maryland.
| EDITOR WING:
In the report of the Bureau of Industrial
statistics, of Md, "A. B. Howard, Jr..
chief-page AZ says, "a proper apprecia-
ton of the diversity of Maryland's
resources and of its limitless capabilities,
must bring the conviction that before it
lies period of unexampled prosperity.
This is no mere random assertion but
statement which has the trutu for its
warrant. 1t is borne out by every line
OF investigation, it is attested by all
present conditions Maryland's
advancement in the quarter of century
and more since the civil war has not
been commensurate with it's advantages
Ia PLAIN words the people of
Maryland are unmindful of the possibili
ties CT their state To the pre-
duct of field and forest of mine and mill,
are added the essentials of domestic com.
fort, cheap homes, food products in
abundance, etc, within the reach of all,
churches, school, and mild and health
full climate, all these in short, presenting
combination of natures handiwork and
mans supremacy, the ground work of
the most substantial growth and lasting
prosperity.
He says that the mineral resources of
Maryland are much greater than is gen
orally supposed. The minerals that are
being mined are-!copper ores-purple
copper, vitreous copper, copper pyrites,
malachite and black copper in Carroll,
Frederick, Baltimore and Hartford coun
ties; chrome he MATTE and limonite iron
ores in Cecil, Montgomery and eastern
and western counties; Clays-porcelain,
firebricks, brick and kaoiin in Cecil and
other counties; Granite in Cecil, Balti.
more, Howard and Anne Arundel;
Marble in Frederick, Baltimore, Carroll,
and green serpentine marble in Hartford
and Cecil; Mari in Kent, St. Mary's,
Cecil and others; sandstone and roofing
slate in Frederick and Hartford; car
Donate Of zinc and zinc blends in Balti-
lore and Carroll.
Minerals not mined to any extent are
asbestos, Ignite, French chalk, soap
stone aud emerald nickel in Cecil;
silicate of zinc, cobalt ore, silicate of
copper gold, cobalt pyrites, magnetic
iron ores in Carroll; emery, galens,
asbestos, gold, plumbago, molybdenite
and magnetic iron ores in Baltim ore
county; native copper and galena in
Frederick; gold, Ignite, black oxide of
MANGANESE, French chalk, and soapstone
in Montgomery; tripoli, deposit from
five to thirty feet thick in Anne Arundel;
Ignite pyrites and gypsum in St. Mary's.
White building marble is the best in
world. The Beaver Dam marble guar
ries in Baltimore county are now sixty
feet deep and are worked over a sur
face of five acres.
Verde antique or green serpentine has
no equal in the L. S. for ornamental and
polished work.
The granite industry is very large
one in Maryland the average annual
output is about S15, 100000. There are
twenty five firms in the state employing
1000 or more men. AS technically known
biotite (micacious) granite is quarried in
Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery
counties; biotite gneiss in Baltimore
county. Gneiss differs from granite in
having more slick and iron generally and
is lighter in color and it's mica is more in
layers.
In connection with the mineral re
sources of Maryland will state that the
other day Mr.. Thomas Dreunen called
and particularly to some samples of sand
which he had on hand at the Mutual
Insurance Company's office. The sand is
what is termed silica. 1t IS very small
grained sand silex about 1-2400 of an
inch cube with sharp angle worn off by
attrition. lie says there are thousands of
loads on his Sandy Hill farm in Elk
Neck.
The sands and clays of Cecil county
are varied and in great quantities. The
kaolin and friedrich clays are manu-
featured 10 North East, the porcelain
clays from that neighborhood are sent to
the potteries in Trenton, n J. ! do not
know whether the Iron Hill mines are
worked now Or not or that the Colora
chrome mines are, but there is an
abundance of either if wanted.
W. Il. GRosH.