New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
AFTER MEXICAN MARBLE.
americans May ErplOit Rich Quar-
ries of Sister RepubHc.

number OF American capitalists are discussing
proposition for the exploitation a largo scale
OF the onyx marble quarries OF Northern Mexico.
The marble taken from these quarries is exceeding
ly fine in quality. and be extracted without
orbitant expenditure while its price in world mar
kets guarantees a profitable investment for idle
capital If the scheme TO execution, the
indications are that it WILL a new industry. under
the control OF United States capitalists. will soon
be hourishing in our neighboring republic.
One OF the most extensive fields OF onyx marble
IN Mexico lies along the border between the Sates'
Of Durango and Coahuila- Rich beds of this mar
bic found in the hummocks at the foot OF the
high mountains which fall within the jurisdiction
OF the Hacienda Jinlulco. and both sides Of the
Aguanava1 River This particular part OF the
country consists OF wide open valleys and plain
lands facilitating transportation from the foot OF
the mountains. where the quarries are The Mex
lean Central Railway traverses sections OF the
land Of the Hacienda Jirnulco the eastern part OF
the Hacienda being only a short distance from
Noria Station. and the western part having It's out
let through gateway TO Prealta station The
most important OF the quarries lies of the
Mexican Central. being about twelve miles from
Prealta at the foot OF high sierra on the way 10
Cuencame The beds east OF the railway lie in
similar position-in the hills the bottom Of deep
valleys. Some IN the Vivoras ravine. while
others Paso de Calvo about two and
half miles from Noria station. The proximity OF
the railway makes these beds extremely easy or
expIoltaLSn ana me quantity ana beauty OF t-.e
IN the eyes Of the enterprislng capitalist
of the Jimulco Hacienda the limestone rocks con
tanning the largest deposits OF onyx marble This
is attributed TO the fact that ncrustant waters have
oozed into the limestone caverns the colortng being
contributed by the metallic oxides The beauty OF
this color is OF the CHIEF characteristics OF the
Jimulco onyx, which compares favorably in this re-
spect with any other Mexican stone.
The origin OF the marble beds Of JinuIco shows
that they range according a general formation
They appear at the surface OF the land metal
veins. overlapping the land for distance of sew
eral centimetres. evidence OF this being given by
the contrast in color that exists between the white
OF the onyx and the black Of the limestone. Some
OF these beds close together that II would De
comparatively easy 20 exploit several OF them by
operating only one cut The thickness Of the beds
ranges from few inches 10 than twelve feet
and some of them than a thousand feet
in length. With few exceptions, the quality of the
Jlmulco onyx IS good from the surface down
though the deposits are the remains Of ruined
ems The onyx easily separates IN slabs. from
six to sixteen inches in thickness a lever being
used 10 remove these slabs from the cut If the
quarres subjected TO modern methods OF oper-
alton they would develop an industry Of great
profit the operator.