Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-02-16
Mica Industry Of Custer Co.


A Custer contributor to the Black
Hills Mining Review, in speaking Of the
mica industry OF Custer cornty, says:
Not since the early days Of the Black
Hills, has there been so much interest
shown in this material. All the Old
mica mines are being placed In working
order again and within the next few
weeks this output will be more than
doubled. The Chicago Mica Company
is the principal shipper. Last week o
carload of excellent mica was shipped
from the Crown mine, which makes FIVE
carloads shipped from that property in
the past two months. The main ledge
Is 18 feet wide and it contains. without
doubt, the largest books Of mica ever
found in the Black Hills. One book was
taken out last week that cut into sheets
20x 2s inches, the book being Eve inches
thick and weighing 50 pounds. The
value per pound was about sS, which
made the book WORTH over $500. This
Is considered the most valuable mica
book ever found in the United States
and the only mica that has ever rivalled
it has come from India, few rare
books. The mica in the Crown mine is
very clear and is absolutely free from
iron. 1t is possible to mine carload
of mica every nine days. 1t Is believed
that this mine will develop into a worlds
record breaker. Five separate ledges
OF mica have been fornd in small area,
the suppositiun being that they unite,
forming one great ledge Of mica.
The Chicago Mica Company is work
ing two other mica mines near Custer,
both being good producers. The mica
is shipped to Valparaiso, Ind, where 1t
is prepared for the market by this COM
pany. The demand for Black Hills mica
is growing steadily. Recently the Sills-
Eddy Mica Company Of New York bar
gained for the entire output Of the New
York mica mine, which is located eight
miles west of Custer. About one car
load per month is being mined and
shipped to the company's factory in
New York City. The mine is owned by
Sioux City, Ia, parties.
Southeast of Custer five miles, the
Black Hills Porcelain Clay & Marble
Company has opened up large ledge
Of mica and carload Of it will soon be
ready for shipment.
Recob & Company, Of Chicago, have
commenced work again on mica mine
near Custer, which was in former years
producer. A good grade of mica has
been opened up and shipment is soon
to be made.
The mica industry in Custer county is
employing something like 60 men and is
turning in a large amount of money.
The prices for mica depend entirely up
ON the quality. Mica free from iron and
cut into sheets ready for use brings from
81 TO $40 per pound, depending upon
the size of the sheets. The run Of O
mine will be taken for from $50 to $50
per ton. Waste mica brings at the mine
$25 to $35 per ton; stone mica, 81 to 81
per pound.
| It is believed that the mica resources
of Custer County have only been partly
investigated. There are hundreds o.
outcroppings of mica scattered through
out the county that have never beer
tapped with pick. Old prospectors ar,
now turning their attention to the find
ing Of mica deposits. A prominent mics
expert from the East recently stateC
that there was enough mica in Custe
| County to supply two-thirds of the de
mand of the United States.