The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-09-02
IRON=BEARING
Review of Monograph of the
Vermilion Range.
written for Mines and Minerals by Kirby
ThOmaS)

| In6 IOfUV-UIUu VOLUME VI Ouc ulOuO'
graphs of the United States Geologi,
Cal Survey is devoted to the Vermilion
iron bearing district of Minnesota
This monograph is the fifth one of a
series of six which treat of the iron.
bearing districts of the Lake Snper.
ior region. The other volumes are
devoted to the Penokee, Marquette,
CRYSTAL Falls and Mesabi districts,
respectively. The sixth will be a
monograph on the Menomonee dis.
trict. These publications, together
with the notable work of r. d. Irving
on the copper-bearing rocks of the
Lake Superior region, represent more
than 20 years of work by the Lake
Superior division of the survey. This
remarkable series of Investigations,
begun under r. D. Irving and carried
to conclusion under G. r. Van Hise,
will be concluded by the publication
of final monograph on the Lake
Superior region as whole just SUBJ
mitted by C. r. Van Hse.
The geology of the Lake Superior
region has proven to be exceedingly
complicated, and the survey has had
to combat many erroneous concept
ions, often supported by names well
known in the scientific world. The
careful work and the comprehensive
deductions which the director, G. r..
Van Hise, inspired in his able assist
ants in the work has resulted in
finally establishing the general facts
of the geology of this important
section and in giving to science prac-
tically a new idea of pre-Cambrian
geology, furnishing recognized
standard for the study of these
ancient formations in all parts of the
world. These Investigations of Mr.,
Van Hise and his associates have
caused the textbooks on pre-Cambrian
geology to be rewritten and have es-
tablished important new facts in re-
gard to the physical history of this
early period of the earth's evolution,
Incidental to the general theories,
but first consideration in the inves-
-tigation, has been the development
Of rational theories as to the origin
and occurance of the valuable copper
and iron minerals in the formations
studied. While the scientific value
Of the work of the Lake Superior
division of the survey has been epoch
making, the practical results have
been freely recognized by the men in
terested in the economic development
of the mineral deposits of the dis
trict.
The Vermilion monograph was pre-
pared by j. Morgan Clements, under
the general direction of G. r. Van
Hse, Messrs. w. S. Bayley, G. X.
Leith and w. n. Merriam, who had
been trained in the work in the other
districts, assisted in the gologic map
ping. The topographic work was done
by Robert Muldrow and e. e.. Bebb.
The work was commenced in 1897
and continued to 1900. The manu-
script.was transmitted to the depart
ment at Washington, June 30, 1902,
but the publication was not made
until the close of 1903, an exellant eX-
ample of the inexcusable procrasti-
nation which is charged against the
publication section Of the United
States Geological Survey.
The geological investigation of the
Vermilion district had to contend
with more wrongly conceived theor-
les than perhaps any other made ia
the Lake Superior region. The
geology is exceedingly complicated,
and the earlier Investigations had
been made without due recognition
of the general principles established
in the Michigan and Wisconsin dis
tricts, which are now clearly proven
to be closely related geologically
with the Minnesota iron-bearing for.
nations. Mr.. Clements. with wide
experience elsewhere in the Lake
Superior work, has worked out the
general points of the Vermilion dis
trict in coordination with the general
principles established for the Lake
Superior pre-Cambrian formations
and has brought out an orderly
motion Of the district with the main
facts established beyond any further
controversy.
The Vermilion district lies in the
northeastern part of Minnesota. II
is a narrow belt from 2 to Is miles
wide and trending east northeast fol-
over 100 miles to and beyond the Can.
adian boundary. The total area is
approximately, 1000 miles. The
survey did not include the undeter.
mined area Of the formation extend
ing westward from Tower, Mimi,
which fact is to be regretted, for this
leaves a large area of undoubted iron.
bearing formation which has never
been officially reported on by the sur.
vey. In the whole.district examined
there are only two small areas which