Arizona republican., 1903-11-11
THE MINING INDUSTRY


phasized phase of the work of the un-
derground circulation of meteoric wat
ers. Such a theory would make a
metalliferous vein out of all crevices
and assures at all points and at any
depth.
1t fully accounts for the existence of
mineral springs and hot springs, with
a possible and occasional adlniXture of
the metals in their waters; but it fails
TO explain the localization of the de-
posits. depreciates the Importance of
the eruptive rocks. and does not con-
vince US that the waters feeding the
springs of the earth are the same
which have deposited the millions of
tons of ore in the great mining dis
tricts.
That the waters in the vadOse region
above the groundwater-level should be
able to collect any respectable quanti-
~ CT metal seems improbable. in spite
of their greater activity in the more
.cTen rocks near the surface. These
waters. reinforced by every rain and
melting snow, do not search the rocks
nor leach much value from them, be-
cause they naturally choose the more
open spaces. enlarge them, and create
their own channels, IN which they re-
n.aip permanently. = en- these waters
reach the groundwater-level, they nat
urally spread cut upon its surface, run
OF laterally (there being less impedi-
ment to their course above this leveD,
and reach day light again at a lower
elevation.
That an underground sea of water,
continuous and saturatinS the rocks
throughout. really docs exist. seems a
cOrollary Of the fact that the water.
once held entirely At tna earth's sur
/ face and above il has gradually work.
| ed its way into the rO0iing Garth, the
only argument against Il consists in
the fact that a nurhe- OF shafts have
/ been sunk in wet ground for many
| feet. and at greater depth. encountered
a region free from water. Cannot this
be explained by the probable existence
Of an impervious stratum at the point
where the water ceased? i take ii
that such occurrence simply. illustrates
the very irregular contour of the
I groundwater surface. These shafts
if sunk still deeper. must encounter
water again, If the underground sea OF
water does exist.
II. then, the existence of an eXten-
sive belt of hydro-thermaI fusion be
admitted. and If it is true that this
belt is constantly supplied with water
by a permanent underground sea, il
will not be difficult to explain the min
eralization Of our veins and their local
ization. An extensive movement in the
crust creates a profound and compli-
iCatsd set of assures at certain points
These assures reach the belt of fuseC
rock. The blocks of solid rocks above
sink into the fused mass. and squeeZt
il into the assures toward the sur
face. This makes the bikes and sheet!
the veins. simultaneously or late
other assures, not sufficiently open Of
not in proper position to admit tn,
fused mass, start up the circulation o
the waters and begin the making o
a vein.
/ have attempted to show that tn
/. waters in the zone of open fracture il
the upper region do not search or leacl
the masses of rock. but that they floy
through them in open and perInanen
channels that the waters in the mid
die and lower zones of the under
ground sea are stagnant and not suffi
GENTLY effective; and that we mus
look still deeper for the source tina
ore found in the veins.
The invariable existence and eviden
. genetic relation CT the eruptive rCck
with our ore-deposits suggest tn
source. Is il the true one? l refer tn
matter TO geological specialists TO
, further consideration.