The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-06-10

MINOR produced practically all tn
meerschum used on the two hemi
spheres I'm the manufacture Of sundr,
smoking articles; but America hal
taken Its place as a meerscnum pro.
Queer, and extensive orebodies have
been opened up in Grant county, New
Mexico. from which thousands or tons
of the mineral have been mined milieo
and manufactured into satisfactory
meerschum smoking articles. With
the discontinuance Of Importation OF
foreign meerschum the demand has
been greatly increased for the United
States product and negotiations have
been attempted for shipments to
Europe.
Deposits Discovered in 1875.
Sepiolte or meerschaum, hydrated
magnesium sllicate, was discovered,
by prospectors en- route to the Upper
ella country, In Grant county, New
Mexico, early in 1875, being found as
float and later in distinct veins at the
surface near the Sapillo creek. Short
ly afterward Cornelius Mccarthy ano
William II. Hicks located several
claims on the main vein, but were
forced to abandon them owing to lack
of transportation facilities. In pros
pectors' cabins throughout the country
at the time meerschaum pipes began
to take their place with briar, clay and
eorncob showing the minerals value
was recognized early, Doctor Sauers
and associates of Silver City, N. M,
purchased the slams In 1901 and heid
them by doing the annual assessment
He later abandoned them and the next
owner became Ed Moulton Of George
town. n M. About 1904 James Hill.
Colorado miner, heard of the deposits
and, securing the services of James
Crittenden, staked 20 claims, which
were then open for location. Hill
brought the property to the attention
of New York parties who were tobacco
dealers and who realized the CONNER
cial value of the mineral They
bought his interests, and after expert
mental work on milling and manufac-
turing meerschaum, organized the
Meerschaum Company of America IN
1905 and began operations in a small
way with factory in New York. mn
practical methods of mining. milling
and manufacturing forced the com
pany into the hands Of receiver
However the product, when finished
was Of good grade and large de-
mand was created The company re-
organized in 1912 under the name of
the American Meerschaum & Pipe
Corporation, and a factory was estap-
lished at Ogdensburg, N. Y, where inn
practical machinery and methods were
Installed, Contrary to the advice of
engineers employed. the mines were
operated without regard for the future
and no effort was made to block out |
ore reserves. Although Handicapped |
by limited means the late manage i
ment extracted a large tonnage of
meerschaum, driving the main adt |
about 1900 feet in continuous ore and I
stopping in many places to the surface
Early in 1914 the company was again
in the hands of receiver with large
tonnage Of ore still in sight in the
mines
Situation of Mines.
The American meerschaum mines are
located in the mountains north of Sa-
pillo creek and south of the ella river ;
in the Alunogen mining district, Grant :
county, New Mexico. They are 90 /,
miles north Of Silver City, over a roao
almost impossible, and so miles north :
west Of Hanover, the loading point on h
the Santa Fe railroad, over compare 8
lively good roads. There are 90 claims =
IN the group, upon each of which =
neerschaum veinlets are traceable for !,
of feet. .,
The meerschaum deposits OF the .,
Alunogen district occur as a assure
Hing in a breceia, greatly resemblnE =,
conglomerate. 1t Is composed of \,
oarse fragments. angular IN appear -,
nee. Irregular and Heterogeneous In -,
haracter. In 1t are recognizable lime -,
tone. sandstone, quartz flint, ebert ~.
which IS classed as an impure hinD. 80
nd calcite, The cement of the brecc,,. ~,
calcareous In nature, with some con- -
olldated sand and volcanic tuff. The 90
gathering throughout the region mas 81
cen extensive and the country rock =
! general is exposed. 1t is difficult 20
III how II originated. The rock
lows no evidence of qualification ana
ould be classed as volcanic breccia. G
ling evidently an accumulation OF
neous particles through volcanic ac-
on. The color of the breccia Is vari- n
lie brown predeminating Renewed IN
ovement or contraction (probahly no,
'th) caused the assures in the rock. Il,
here are no faults in the vicinity OF II
e meerschaum veins or It's walls 90,
owing It Is not a friction brecc,a. r,,,
grounding this area are found the -, =
'o'''eS e''.,e'S' foot
eeurs as Fissure Filling in Brecela. r.
The American meerschaum occurs ~
assure filing in the breccla. de- a, !
lopment work proving the veins 10 ,,o,r
from to 2 feet in width The On
Ike OF the veins is almost north and CO..