Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-12
THE BLUE WING MINE
A Copper District in North Carroll
ma and Virginia.
-1ho Atlantic and DanviIle md
IT'S Extcn-ion-I no n. e w. Head.
Ing for tho Mines.

For many years the Atlantic and Dan
vile railway has carried large quanti-
ties of high grade copper ore from Vir-
gilina, Va, and that section to New
Jersey, where it has been smelted.
The Boston capitalists who own the
Blue Wing mines at Virglina, having
prepared to erect a large copper smelt-
ing plant at West Norfolk. these mines
now possess unusual interest to the
people of Norfolk
Preparatory work has already been
begun on the plans for the new plan.
Mt West Norfolk. For some years it
has been known that copper ore existed
in Person county. n. c., and Halifax
county. Va, and recent surveys have
proved that the deposits are Of uneX-
pected area and value. The Blue Wing
mine. in this district, was opened III
1856 81 and about 500 tons Of ore taken
out. The old Nanccy mine and others
IN That vicinity were also prospccted.
TIE DEPOSITS UNNOTICED.
The reports made at that time were
not alluring. hence these vast ana rich
deposits have been scarcely noticed
until the past two years. In the past
two years the work of exploration and
development has been pushed and
about 225 car loads OF ore shipped. the
bulk of this going to the oxford Copper
Company To be mixed with Canadian
ores.
Nirgilna is Il station on the main line
of the Atlantic and Danvillc railway.
~ miles east of Danvillc. Va. and about
lo' miles south of east OF Norfolk. At
the Holloway mine. four miles south of
This section. one of the shafts is down
zoo feet and nearly 500 feet Of drifts
and stopeS have been completed The
iiluc Wing mine is three miles south of
Nirgilina and its shaft IS down 100 feet
and stoning is going on.
NOW LARGE PRODUCERS.
These mines have already become
large producers OF high grade ore. the
average being about 80 per cent copper
ANOTHER promising mine near by is the
ihomas mine, now down G5 feet and IL
VIII be carried To the loo foot level
RMS mine is Il half mile from the lIol-
loWay. but has struck IL different vein.
rms rich coDncr district lies in two
states as Virginia is on the Virginia.
North Carolina line. Prosncct shafts
nave been sunk for eight miles north
and miles south of the State line. and
many good seams of courcr ore have
is u mixture of copper glance. bonite
ana copper carbonate (maiachitc). with
occasional azur.tc ana IL trace OF chnl-
copyritc. The glance ana bonite is near
The surface and ;hc main mass of ore
from the upper levels carries consldcrn-
bic malachiic.
The country rock is slate uunrizitc
ana rorphyry of the oldest formations.
PROBABLY Convention and occasionally
shows copper bearing material away
from the seams Of ore. Calc.tc appears
occasionally. The greater part of this
copper district lies in Halifax county.
va, but the development thus far has
been mainly in Person county. y. e..
where are the Blue Wing Holloway and
lhomas mines. Tho Atlantic ana Dan
WIG pcneiratcs this entire district and.
MS the mines increase in capacity and
smelling works are established 90 meet
the demand. will bring .. steadily in
crcaSing amount Of copper ore to West
Norfolk
n. & w. TO THE MINES.
These mines have been sending out
their ore III wagons To Nirgiiina. three
or four miles To ;he Atlantic ana Dan
Vile railway. for several wears. but
spurs VIII be put in and it will b. more
economically handled By rail. 1t is re-
ported That the Norfolk ana Western
VIII soon reach the copper field from
It's LynchhurS and Durham branch
LOCATION AS TO NORFOLK.
The situation of this copper field re-
latively 10 Norfolk, the senbaard and
the colting district of Southwest Nir-
Einia, is of prime importance. This is
the nearest copper district in the United
states to the Atlantic scaboard. Il is
20 miles from the coking district Of
southwest Virginia. where fine coke
from Elkhorn, PocahontaS and other
points can be had chcaDly. The all
rail freight from Nirsilina to West Nor
FOLK is low and. with the new spurs 10
be put down. 1t can be placed on the
cars much cheaper than in the past.
The necessary limestone can be choaply
brought by water from Maryland to
West Norfolk.
The copper district is we'll rcadcd and
watercd. Coke can be laid down AT
Norfolk for $3.25 a ton and coal for 81 30
Timber is delivered at the mine for 81. 90
10 $l.25 Der cord.
EXTENSION TO COLUMBIA.
The rails. ties and other supplies arc
now at Virginia, Va. for the extension
OF the Atlantic and Danville railway t.
Columbia, 5. c.. and the work Will be
steadily pushed to completion.
AT present the Atlantic and Danvillc
has to deliver Southern .righ, To The
Southern railway at Danville, and there
receive Eastern freight from that sys
tenn. Under the new ARRANGEMENT
when the road is completed to Column.
bia. 1t viii reach Il competing point. and
the result will be n large incroasn in
its freight traffic. The new extension
viii pass through n very fine farming
section.
Coiored W"m"n'" Missionary Society
mt