Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-18
MINERAL EXHIBIT is ATTRACTIVE.
Showing by New Mexico is a Surprise to
Most Visitors.
Omaha Rae

The New Mexico exhibit is the first
feature to attract the attention of visit
ors to the Mines building as they enter
from the Sherman avenue entrance. 1t
is the largest mineral collection in the
building and in many respects it is a
revelation to thousands of people who
were not previously aware of the ex-
tensive mineral resources of that vet
only partially developed territory. The
center space is filled entirely with hand
some eight-foot oak cases, so arranged
that the contents can be seen at a
glance. These are filled with rich
specimens Of gold, silver, copper, lead,
zinc, tin, iron and other metals, from
the dull gray sulphates to the most
beautiful and delicate forms of crystal
izations. The showing in each species
is exhaustive and affords a complete
study of the various formations and
varities.
For instance the gold specimens show
the metal in the forms known as wire,
nugget, scale, dust and -four, as well as
several kinds of rock, and in it's com
binations with other ores. The silver
specimens embrace so many formations
that they excite the wonderment Of the
observer at the marvellous work of ma
ture. Here are seen the wire silver,
flakes, nugget, horse, chlorides, sui
phides, sulphates, sulphurettes, bro
mides and numerous other forms be-
sides the formations in which the silver
is blended with the lead. iron, zinc and
other ores.
Next to these are shown the copper
nrnS and in hoo nfv on1 unrsotu ~ Fou
nation these excel any other form of
ore formation. The richness Of coloring
and the fine, delicate crystalizations of
the malachites, azunites and cuprites
form a study worthy of an artists pencil,
and command the unstinted admiration
of the visitor. The copper exhibit also
offers a wide field of study for the
mineralOgist, for in addition to the
varieties mentioned above there are
numerous specimens of native, wire and
sheet copper, as well as the lovely
pyrites, oxides and various other forms.
The lead ores also constitute an in
teresting study on account of the great
variety that is exhibited. They include
the sulphates, sulphides, wolframites,
carrussites, sand carbonates and various
other forms and crystalizations. Then
comes an exhibit of iron ores that shows
a similar variety of formations, and a
case Of mixed ores which include speci-
platinum, manganese, wolframite. sui
phur, phosphates and other species.
One of the most interesting features
to the general visitor is the extensive
exhibit of gems and precious stones.
These specimens include tnrquois,
rubies, amethysts, garnets, agates,
opals, topaz and a score of other and
less familiar variety. These cases COM
prise the center group on the main
aisle, but-at the side are a large num-
Der of additional cases which contain
particularly noteworthy specimens of
gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and iron
ores, as well as coal and coke. These
are also supplemented by a large ex-
hibit Of building stones. fire clays and
marbles.
In addition to the purely mineral
features the relic hunter finds a number
of interesting curios scattered through
the exhibit. One is the historic old bell
of New Mexico, which was cast in 1879.
1t swung peacefully in a church belfry
INV lOoO, WuCI UuC CHuICH was utS-
troyed by the Indians, and in 1874 it
was dug out of the ruins of the old Aztec
city of Grand Quivera 1t was then
taken to the San Miguel church at
Socorro, which was also destroyed by
the Indians and the inhabitants driven
out of the country. The town was
resettled in 1906 and the old bell was
again resuscitated, The bell weighs
461 pounds and is composed of gold,
silver and copper melted together. 1t
bears the distinction of having been the
first bell to ring on the American con-
tinent.
Another remarkable curiosity is an
old bottle that is alleged to be sig years
old. 1t was made in 1887 and was used
by the Spaniards as a means of convey
ing important documents. 1t was twice
sent to Rome by it's owners and brought
back filed with holy water for the
baptism of their children, and it is said
to be the Oldest bottle in existence.
Other relics of the same character are
shown, including an old compass, a
maidstone and a group of stone idols of
the pre- historic ages.